What To Do When Your Computer Won’t Start

It’s frustrating when you press the power button and nothing happens—or the screen stays black. Before you worry, here are the simple steps I walk customers through across Harrison and nearby towns.

1. Check the Power First

It sounds obvious, but it’s the most common issue I see. Outlets, surge protectors, and power strips fail all the time.

Try plugging directly into a wall outlet
Try a different outlet entirely
On laptops: remove the battery (if removable) and plug in AC power only

If you hear no sound, no fans, no lights—this is a good first place to start.

2. Look for Any Signs of Life

Even a small light or fan noise tells us the system is receiving power. This helps narrow down whether the issue is the power supply, motherboard, screen, or something else.

Lights on the tower or keyboard?
Fans spinning?
Any beeps?

3. Try a Different Monitor or Cable

A dead screen doesn’t always mean a dead computer. I see this often in Lake George and Houghton Lake cottage systems that have been powered off for a while.

Swap HDMI or DisplayPort cables
Try a different monitor or TV
On laptops: shine a flashlight at an angle—if you faintly see the desktop, the backlight is bad

4. Unplug Everything Except the Basics

USB drives, printers, and external devices can stop a computer from booting. It’s more common than people think.

Disconnect all USB devices
Leave only power + monitor connected
Try powering on again

5. Listen for Beeps

Some systems beep error codes that point toward the exact failing part. If you hear beeping, let me know—each pattern translates to a specific issue.

6. When It’s Time to Call for Help

If the system still won’t start after these checks, it may be a power supply, motherboard, RAM, or failing drive. These require proper testing tools.

I diagnose these problems quickly and give you a clear explanation of what failed and what your options are—repair or replace.

Need Help Getting a Dead Computer Running?

I fix startup, power, and no-display issues every week across Harrison, Farwell, Clare, Gladwin, Beaverton, Lake George, and Houghton Lake.

Call / Text (586) 604-9813