"My Computer Will Not Turn On!" - Does Not Mean "It's Dead!".

I walked into my office and I pushed the button to turn on my computer and then I went for a cup of coffee. When I returned to my desk a few minutes later, sipping my warm brew, the screen was still dark. I reached out with a slightly shaking hand (not from lack of caffeine), heart in my throat, and pushed the power button again. Now, I’m upset! My computer will not turn on, and everything on my to-do list for the day is a distant memory.

We would all like to think that this is a “hypothetical” situation, but the sad truth is, that this happens thousands if not tens of thousands of times every day. It really has happened to me and it has really happened to many people that I know, including other IT professionals. This has to be one of the most dreaded things to happen to you, and worse yet, to have to tell your IT or tech support department.

You know that the first question you are always going to get is, “Are you sure your computer and monitor are plugged in?”. Of course, that is the first thing you checked. The power cord leads from the computer to the surge protector and the surge protector to wall. Yes, you checked it!

I can’t tell you how many times this has happened in front of my own eyes. Many times. And, I can’t tell you how many of those times the answer was so simple, it only took 30 seconds to remedy. There is no exact percentage, but more than half of the time that I have been presented with this problem, the answer was as easy as unplugging the computer and/or monitor and plugging it back in.

Yes, that is what I said. Unplug the power cord from the equipment that is not working and reseat it. Unplug the cord from the wall as well, but first pull it out of the computer connection and then put it back. Do this to all of the connections between the equipment and the wall itself. I usually just pull them all, and put them back, one at a time. Then, take a deep breath or sip of your caffeinated beverage of choice, push the power button.

Of course, this will not make a lick of difference if there is actually a mechanical problem with your equipment. But... It is uncanny how many times I have seen the connections look absolutely fine, but be in fact, not quite right. Yes, it seems very rude of me to crawl under a desk and begin unplugging and re-plugging, all the while hearing my patron tell me that they have already checked the power cables. When it works, it works. And it makes me look omnipotent.

Next time you encounter this problem yourself or on someone else’s computer. Do the dirty work. Crawl under, over, or behind and check each and every connection. Oh, and It doesn’t hurt to lay hands on your monitor and say a little prayer as well.