Today millions of people own and use personal computers in their daily lives, and as with any piece of technology there are going to be some inherent issues that go along with their operation. Today, we’re going to discuss common PC problems that may occur when you first start up a computer, and how to troubleshoot and hopefully resolve them.
The very first step in using a computer is turning it on, most commonly this is achieved by pressing the large power button on the front of the computer’s tower. If the machine does not turn on, ensure that the AC power cord is plugged into an electrical outlet as well as into the back of the tower. Some computer towers will also have an additional manual switch on the back of the tower, often located near the top; ensure that this switch is engaged to the vertical line symbol. If your computer still does not start up, and you are sure that the electrical outlet is not at fault, then the most likely cause is a blown power source within the tower. Power sources are a common issue with computers, as most people neglect to clean them regularly, if you are at this point for troubleshooting, then you are best off taking your computer into a professional for service.
If your computer tower has started up and the monitor is blank your first step should be to check that the monitor is receiving power, check that the AC power cord for the monitor is plugged into the wall and connected to the back of the monitor. Secondly check that the monitor display cable is securely attached to the appropriate port on the computer tower and to the back of the monitor, ensure that the connection is tight, many monitor cables have built-in screws which should be tightened fully with your hand. Your monitor should have several buttons on the front of it, usually bottom right, press the menu button or similarly named button, if nothing displays on your screen than the device is faulty and you should return it or take it in for service.
If the menu screen does appear, then there is an issue with either the monitor cable or the settings for the monitor.As all manufacturers will have different menu layouts and labels, there is no general approach, but try to get the settings to a default or low position to get the screen to display. If the menu appeared on screen, and the default or low settings are used, then the device is faulty, the display cable is faulty, or the computer itself has an issue. The best approach to diagnose the issue is to connect a different monitor to the computer; if the second monitor displays an image then the original monitor is faulty, if the second monitor does not display an image, then the fault lies with the computer and likely the video card. To determine if your display cable works try using display cable that you know works, if that resolves the issue then you should get a new display cable.
If your mouse or keyboard do not respond, first ensure that they are connected to the computer, most keyboards and mice are USB devices, older devices are known as PS2 connections, and have specific connections which are indicated on the back of the tower. Most devices are able to be installed automatically; however some will come with their own software, check the box the device came in to see if there is a CD in there to install the appropriate software. If there was no included software, check online for specific drivers which can be downloaded, these can often be found on the manufacturers’ website or even from Microsoft’s website. For USB devices, try connecting the device into the USB ports on the back of the tower, as not all USB ports will provide power.
If you’ve tried all of the above computer tips, and your PC is still experiencing difficulties, then a simple scan with PC Cleaner Pro might help you out. Or, if the problem is more serious, you may need to take it into independent computer repair specialists. Good luck!