How to Fix Dead Computers

If a computer seems dead, here are some items to check:

• The plug: Is the computer plugged in?

• The surge protector: If the computer is plugged into a surge protector or a power strip, make sure that the surge protector or power strip is plugged in and turned on. If the surge protector or power strip has a light, it should be glowing.

• The On-Off switch: Make sure that the computer's On-Off switch is turned on. This advice sounds too basic to even include here, but some computers are set up so that the computer's power switch is always left in the On position and the computer is turned on or off by means of the switch on the surge protector or power strip. Many computer users are surprised to find out that their computers have On/Off switches on the backs of the cases.

  To complicate matters, newer computers have a Sleep feature, in which they appear to be turned off but are really just sleeping. All you have to do to wake this type of computer is jiggle the mouse a little. (I used to have an uncle like that.) You can easily assume that the computer is turned off, press the power button, wonder why nothing happened, and then press the power button and hold it down, hoping that something will happen. If you hold down the power button long enough, the computer will turn itself off. Then, when you turn the computer back on, you see a message saying that the computer wasn't shut down properly. Arghhh! The moral of the story is to jiggle the mouse if the computer seems to have nodded off.

• Tip 

  The fan: If you think that the computer isn't plugged in but it looks like it is, listen for the fan. If the fan is running, the computer is getting power and the problem is more serious than an unplugged power cord. (If the fan isn't running but the computer is plugged in and the power is on, the fan may be out to lunch.)

• The electrical outlet: If the computer is plugged in, turned on, and still not running, plug a lamp into the outlet to make sure that power is getting to the outlet. You may need to reset a tripped circuit breaker or replace a bad surge protector. Or, you may need to call the power company. (If you live in California, don't bother. It probably won't do any good.)

  Tip 

  Surge protectors have a limited life span. After a few years of use, many surge protectors continue to provide electrical power for your computer, but the components that protect your computer from power surges no longer work. If you're using a surge protector that is more than two or three years old, replace it with a new one.

• The monitor: The monitor has a separate power cord and switch. Make sure that the monitor is plugged in and turned on. (The monitor has two cables that must be plugged in. One runs from the back of the monitor to the back of the computer; the other is a power cord that comes from the back of the monitor and must be plugged into an electrical outlet.)

• Cables: Your keyboard, monitor, mouse, and printer are all connected to the back of your computer by cables. Make sure that these cables are all plugged in securely.

  Make sure that the other ends of the monitor and printer cables are plugged in properly, too.

• Monitor adjustment: Some monitors have knobs that you can use to adjust the contrast and brightness of the monitor's display. If the computer is running but the screen is dark, try adjusting these knobs. They may have been turned down all the way.

• Internal components: If you're reasonably competent and daring, try turning off the computer, unplugging it, opening the case, and carefully removing and then reseating components, such as memory and video cards. These components often come unseated from their sockets. Removing and reinstalling them can often revive a dead computer.