Computer Won't Boot, Jim


It happens to all of us eventually. You power up your PC and, for one reason or another, it won't boot into its operating system.
The most frightening scenario is when you press the power button and nothing happens at all. No lights illuminate, no fans spin up, and you don't hear the familiar chatter of the hard discs. It's as if there's simply no power at all.
That could very well be the case. Many times in the past we've come across this very situation, and most of the time the solution is fairly simple. The first thing to do is to check outside the computer. This may sound like a stupid question, but… is the computer plugged in?
(Before joining the tech journalism industry, I worked for a PC repair shop. I cannot tell you the number of times I went on service calls where I ended up solving the problem by plugging in a computer or a printer, and then, as I had to, charge an ungodly sum of money for the pleasure. It's actually not a stupid question.) If it is, make sure the switch on the power supply is in the on position; then check the power strip, surge protector, uninterruptable power supply (UPS), or wall outlet the computer's plugged into. Is there power coming from the source? Is the middleman plugged in and switched on? Check the breaker or the fuse if necessary.

Full article here

I always have to check if my cat is laying on the power button. I don't know how or why he thinks that is the best place to be somedays.