In an ideal world, a new PC or laptop would operate without
hiccups or errors when you unbox and set it up for the first time. But, we all
know computers aren’t perfect. The good news is that there are plenty of
troubleshooting actions you can perform to get your computer to do what it’s
supposed to do. In this article, we walk you through some of the common issues
that might arise when you’re getting to know your computer.
My Computer Won’t
Turn On
1) Start by making sure that you pressed the Power button on
the tower and the monitor. The Power button typically has an icon that
resembles a circle with a vertical line at the top.
2) If you have a desktop, unplug the power cable from your
PC (and the wall outlet) and then plug it back in. A loose cable is usually to
blame for a PC that won’t start. If the power cable isn’t the problem, look for
a switch near the cable at the back of the PC. Some computer power supplies
have a switch that can be flipped to cut off power. The On symbol is a vertical
or horizontal line and the Off symbol is a circle. Flip the switch and then
press the Power button again.
3) If you have a laptop, start by removing and reinserting
the battery. If the battery isn’t firmly locked into place, it may not provide
any power to the laptop. If this doesn’t solve the problem, connect the laptop
to the wall outlet and let the battery fully charge.
My Computer Is On But
The Screen Is Blank
If your monitor appears blank but your PC is active, be sure
to double-check the monitor-to-computer video connection.
1) Unplug the monitor’s power cable from the monitor (and
the wall outlet) and then plug the cable back in. Also, make sure the video
cable is firmly connected to your computer and the monitor. Reconnect any
unplugged or loose cables.
2) Is there a small colored light illuminated in the corner
of your monitor? If not, push the Power button to turn it on.
3) Open the monitor’s Brightness Settings. To do so, find
the button on the front of the monitor that has an icon that resembles a light
bulb or sun. Push it to adjust the brightness level to your desired setting.
You may have to consult your monitor’s manual for help if there is no dedicated
brightness button.
4) Your PC might be in Sleep or Hibernation mode. To “wake”
it and view your desktop, try pressing the ENTER key, moving your mouse, and
pressing the Power button.
My PC Is On But
Doesn’t Recognize Commands From The Keyboard Or Mouse
Press CTRL-ALT-DELETE to access the Shut down button if your
PC doesn’t respond to mouse clicks or use your mouse to shut down and restart
the system if the keyboard is causing the issue.
1) If your programs and applications don’t respond to the
keyboard commands, use your mouse to shut down the computer. Unplug the
keyboard from your PC and then reconnect it. Restart your PC to determine if
the reconnection corrected the problem. (If necessary, you can press and hold
the Power button to shut down the PC.)
2) If your mouse doesn’t respond, but your keyboard does,
use the WINDOWS, ARROW, and ENTER keys to open the Start menu and shut down the
computer. Unplug your mouse and then reconnect it. (If necessary, you can press
and hold the Power button to shut down the PC.)
3) If you’re using a wireless keyboard and mouse, ensure
that the peripherals are synced and in range of the wireless receiver. Install
new batteries.
4) If these steps don’t enable peripheral communication with
the PC, try reinstalling your device drivers. You can often download these from
the manufacturer’s Web site.
My Computer Is Frozen
The Windows Task Manager helps you find programs that are
not running properly.
1) Press and hold the Power button until it shuts down. Wait
approximately 10 seconds before you restart the system.
2) If your PC is working, but a program is frozen, press
CTRLALT- DELETE and click the Start Task Manager. Select the program that is
frozen and then click End Task. (The Task Manager’s Status column will probably
say “Not Responding” next to that program.)
My Laptop Won’t
Connect To The Internet Via Wi-Fi
If you notice a red X or yellow triangle in the Network And
Sharing Center, click Troubleshoot Problems to determine the cause of the
disconnection.
1) Locate the network icon in the bottom-right corner of the
Taskbar. Right-click it and select Open Network And Sharing Center. If you see
an exclamation point in a yellow triangle or a red X between your network and
Internet icons, click Troubleshoot Problems. Next, click Internet Connections
to run a diagnostic and follow any subsequent instructions.
2) If you have determined that the issue is not
software-related, check your wireless networking hardware, which should include
a broadband modem (connected by your Internet service provider to a phone or
cable jack), the attached wireless router, and a power source. Ensure that all
cables are properly connected and that both the modem and the router are
operating normally. Consult the device manufacturer manuals for more
information. If necessary, press any Reset buttons you see or unplug the power
cables from both devices, wait 10 seconds, and retry.
3) If you’re trying to connect via a hotspot, you may need
to enter a password. Many wireless networks are encrypted.
My Computer Doesn’t
Play Any Sounds
Speakers that don’t produce sound may only need to be
unmuted. To turn on the sound, click the speaker icon in the Volume slider.
1) Locate the speaker power or volume knob on your PC or
laptop. Ensure that the speakers are on and the volume is turned up and
audible.
2) Click the speaker icon in the Notifications Area of the
Taskbar. Click and drag the Volume slider up if it’s positioned at a low level.
Also, make sure that there is no mute symbol next to the speaker under the
volume slider. Click the bottom speaker icon to turn off Mute.
The Touchpad On My
Laptop Doesn’t Work
When the touchpad on your laptop is unresponsive, try pressing
the appropriate function key and the touchpad activation key.
1) You can often reactivate a disabled touchpad by simply
locat-ing and pressing a couple of keys. To do so, find the FN (function) key
on your laptop’s keyboard. Next, locate the corresponding F key (between F1
through F12). Press FN and then press the F key. A device settings dialogue
should appear and give you the option to enable your touchpad. If this doesn’t
work, press both buttons simultaneously and test the touchpad again. If these
steps fail to activate your touchpad, consult your laptop’s manual.
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