FACES & PLACES
TECH TALK
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

Why Doesn’t My PC Work? (Part 1)

Computers are great tools for getting things done, but sometimes they cause problems that generate frustration, despair, and even anger!  In this article, I’m going to discuss some of the reasons why computers stop working, behave badly, or otherwise don’t do as they are told!  In this Part 1 of the series “Why Doesn’t My PC Work”, I’m going to focus on problems (typically hardware) that occur before Windows or your operating system of choice is even loaded.  In our next article, we’ll review some problems that occur while Windows is loading or after it has loaded completely.

Problem: My computer doesn’t turn on at all!

The reason for this problem could be many things actually.  First we need to define what this means.  Are there any lights on at all on the computer or the monitor?  There are exhaust vent areas on the computer where hot air is expelled from the computer (near where the power cord plugs in on a desktop and usually on the side of a laptop).

If there are no lights and it seems the fans are not running, then the first thing we should check is whether the computer is plugged in!  Maybe someone accidentally unplugged the cord?  Are we also sure that the circuit breaker didn’t trip?  Try plugging something else into that electrical outlet to see if it turns on.  Many times computers are plugged into surge protector power strips that also have their own circuit breaker, check this too. 

Once we are sure that where we are plugging the computer into is supplying power, we can proceed to our next logical conclusion…The power supply is not working!  This is fairly common and luckily not an expensive repair.  If you have a technical background and the necessary equipment (a voltmeter), you can quickly test to see if the power supply (in a desktop) or the power adapter (in a laptop) is putting out the required voltage.  Even if it appears to be putting out the correct voltage when tested, sometimes when under an actual load such as powering up the computer, the power supply just can’t deliver the amount of power required and needs to be replaced.  Testing for this condition is easiest by swapping out a known good power supply or testing with more advanced equipment.

If we know that the power supply is working, but the computer still shows no signs of life, troubleshooting the problem can become a little more complex.  It’s possible there is a component failure on the motherboard, or some other serious issue needing a professional such as myself to review.

Problem: My computer turns on but hangs, freezes, is showing strange characters on the screen, etc.

Sometimes a computer will power on, but before loading Windows or whatever operating system you might be using, it will suddenly stop, freeze, or hang and not go any further.  You can always try turning your computer off, but if you get the same symptoms again, most likely it is a failure of a component causing the problem.  Many times the computer will beep a sequence of long and/or short beeps that can be translated to give you a better idea of what is wrong.  This is especially helpful if the computer turns on but is not displaying anything on the screen!  Resolving problems like this generally requires a professional with the troubleshooting skills and equipment to diagnose and resolve the problem, however I will give some DIY helpful hints to those who would like to try a few things first before consulting a professional. 

Typical problems in this category may involve failed leaking capacitors (see below picture), bad memory modules, failed or failing graphics cards, failed heat sinks, failing power supply, etc, etc, etc!  Some of these issues require desoldering components on a motherboard and replacing with new components.  This is best left to a professional with experience in component level motherboard repair such as myself. 

Figure 1.  Picture showing failed capacitors on a motherboard that are leaking and out of specification causing a system non-boot condition.

Sometimes though the problem is simple and related to the memory modules, so you can try this yourself in an attempt to fix your computer!  If you have a desktop PC and are so inclined, you can open the side of the case and try removing and reseating the memory modules.  Many times the contacts on the memory modules getting oxidized and no longer make a good electrical connection.  The simple act of removing and reseating the memory modules might just fix your problem!  You can do the same for a laptop as there is generally a small cover with a screw or two on the bottom of the laptop that once you remove, you can remove and reseat the memory modules.  If you have a desktop PC you can also try to remove and reseat any expansion cards to eliminate that as a potential problem.

Figure 2.  Example of reseating memory in a desktop PC.  Pressing outward on the white plastic clips will cause the memory module to pop out of its socket.  Simply press the memory module back down until the white plastic clips lock back into place.

Another simple DIY fix is the CMOS battery.  If the battery is dead, you will sometimes see an error message on the screen that the date/time and other settings are invalid.  If you notice that round shiny circle above my left thumb in the picture above, that is a CR2032 3v coin cell, which can be found at pretty much any store that sells batteries.  It’s usually quite simple to remove the battery and replace with a new one (Please make sure the computer is unplugged when doing this!).

Many times troubleshooting issues can be very complex and only when you have years of prior experience does it seem “easy”.  That said, many times you might be able to fix the problem yourself with a little detective work and if not, I’m always available if you have questions or problems you just can’t seem to figure out.  In our next article, we’ll continue with Part 2 of “Why Doesn’t My PC Work?”

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Rob at Inline Tech is a 15+ year technology professional in the IT industry with years of experience in computers, electronics, and pretty much everything technical. If you have any technology related questions or need computer repair work in the New Hope, PA area, feel free to contact him via his web site at www.inlinetech.com.