Taking Care Of Your Electronics

Computer Won't Turn On? 2 Things To Check Before You Take It In For Repair

by Aiden Knight

If your computer won't turn on at all, it could be something wrong with one of the internal components, such as the motherboard. This would likely warrant a trip to a computer repair shop. It could be due to other things that you can easily repair on your own. This way you will not end up paying a large computer repair bill for something that was easy to fix. Below are two things you should check first.

Power Cord

The first place to check is the power cord. Check that it is securely connected to the power outlet. It could be plugged into a wall outlet, or plugged into a surge protector. If everything checks out there, look at the connection where it plugs into the back of your computer. Unplug it and plug it back in to be sure it is secure.  If you are using a power cord extension, make sure you check the connection there also.

Look over the power cord and extension cord for any visible damage, such as exposed wires or any kind of breakage. If you find this is the problem, replace the cord(s) immediately. If you smell any kind of smell like plastic burning, you should replace the cord even if it does not look damaged in any way. This is important, because this is a fire hazard.

If you have not found any problem, it could be the electrical outlet itself. Plug the power cord to a different outlet to help you determine if the electrical outlet should be repaired.

Power Supply

The problem could be the power supply unit (PSU) that is inside the computer. The PSU converts the electricity that comes from the outlet to a direct current. The direct current is then sent to the components inside the computer case. Over time, the PSU will go bad just like any other battery.

PSUs can fail due to age, electrical interference, such as with lightening or a power strike, or it could be due to dirt, such as house dust or cigarette smoke. If the ventilation is full of dust, the PSU can overheat. Fortunately, the power supply is easy to replace and you should be able to do this on your own.

Before you purchase a PSU, you need to make sure you purchase the right wattage for your computer. You can find this information in your computer manual. If you do not have this, go to your manufacturer's website for this information. This is important, as if you purchase a power supply with more wattage than your computer can handle, it could damage other components.

If you are still having problems with your computer, you should take it to a computer repair shop to have it repaired or contact a business such as Americord extension cords

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