Alright, so what better way to open up with the easiest of all computer tasks:
Turning on the Computer.
Now you may be sitting there and saying… “Ok, this is too easy, I know how to at least turn on the computer!” But what do you do if you hit the power button and nothing happens? Before you bring it into the store and pay outrageous fixing fees, let’s check a few things.
So first let’s go through some steps to check before you hit the all powerful power button.
#1 Is your computer plugged in? I would suggest getting a nice surge 
protector for the computer. Some of you have spent a lot of money on this modern piece of machinery and it would be horrible to see it all gone with one zap from a thunder storm. If you live in Florida, you especially know what I mean!
#2 Push the power button on your computer. It will usually be on the front 
of the computer. Sometimes, and I mean sometimes, you have to lift something in order to get to your power button. If you do it should be just a small plastic flap. If you have a laptop, more than likely the power button will be near the screen above the keyboard. If not it may be on the side.
#3
Something else you may want to check is whether or not your monitor is turned on. This may seem like a no-brainer but I have caught myself sometimes wondering why the machine won’t power up when all I needed to do was turn on the monitor. Now each monitor can be completely different. I have seen the power switch on the front (like what is shown on the picture to the right); I have also seen the power switch on the side, bottom, and top. So you may have to search it out.
Troubleshooting:
If you have your computer plugged in, pushed the power button on the computer and made sure the monitor was on, and the computer still doesn’t power up here are some quick things to check.
#1 Does the surge protector work or outlet you are using work? Is there a switch on the wall (like a light switch) that controls that particular outlet?
#2 If you are using a surge protector, does it need to be reset? Sometimes if there is a surge of electricity the surge protector will turn off, this is a good thing and it is how it protects your equipment. Some surge protectors need to be reset after this though. It could be as easy as flipping it on and off. Other surge protectors have another little reset button.
#3 Is your monitor plugged into your computer by the cord with two blue ends?
There can be a variety of simple things as to why your computer isn’t turning on or you are getting a blank screen on your monitor. Usually it is a simple answer! So before you pay tons of money to replace a power supply or buy a whole new computer… look for the simple answer…
-until next time…
Have a question? Leave it as a comment, and I will try to help you to the best I can.
