Every hero realizes her superpower eventually. For me, it happened as a child.
My grandfather informed my family that he had purchased a brand new machine, simply because his great-but-slightly-older computer would not turn on.
After he shared his story, I walked over to the retired device and noticed the power cable lying on the floor. Once plugged in, the great-but-slightly-older windows 95 machine, whirled back to life. That was my first foray into the computer world.
In the years since, I have encountered many similar scenarios – loose power cables, unplugged chargers, turned-off surge protectors, unrecognized power buttons – that have lead many a frustrated tech-user to dismiss their technology as dead.
Maybe you’ve encountered this scenario yourself. Before you run to the store and purchase a brand new computer (or iPhone) to replace the paperweight that was once your prized device, why don’t you check for the following first?
- Is the power cable plugged into the wall? Maybe the cat bumped it or maybe your husband needed an outlet for his disco ball lamp. I’m sure it’s happened before.
- Is the power cable plugged into a surge protector? If the cable is not plugged directly into a wall outlet, it should be plugged into a surge protector. (Actually, this is ideal in case of power surges.) If it is – good job! Now, make sure the surge protector is on.
- Is the power cable plugged into the computer (or device)? We’ve all done it. We’re in such a rush that we never actually connected the cable to the device. I wonder why it won’t turn on? (Also make sure the cable is plugged in tight – those cable ends can be deceptive.)
- For desktop computers: Is the power cable plugged into the monitor (aka screen)? The easiest way to check for this is to look for a button with a light on it. If there is no light, press the button. If the issue persists, check the cables on the monitor (see above.) If your login screen appears, see note below.*Note: In most situations, the button on the screen does not control the power to the computer. A second button (on the tower, or “rectangular box”) will also need to be pressed. I once had a tech-user declare his computer was dead because he was unaware of this important fact. Another important fact to consider: not all buttons are power buttons. There should only be one power button on each component. If the device is off, it won’t hurt to try them all until you find it.
- For other devices: Can you try a different cable? Sometimes cables go bad. Some (like laptops) have a light on the cable that displays if it is receiving power. Many times a device is dead because the battery is dead. Plugging it into a different cable may bring it back to life.
- For battery-powered devices: Have you tried a fresh set of batteries? Maybe you forgot to turn off your wireless mouse. Or maybe taking all those photos of your husband dancing with the cat under the disco ball lamp wore down your camera. Crazier things have happened.
These things may seem like common sense to someone familiar with technology, but even the best of us panic when our beloved cell phone won’t turn on.
Fear not, tech-users. It’s rarely the worst-case-scenario.
(But if it is… make sure you check out the next episode before you encounter this scenario.)