Sometimes the simplest things solve problems….
How many times have I had this kind of phone call…. “my computers not working”… “the light on the monitor is on, but there aren’t any lights on the keyboard. everything seems connected, but there’s nothing on the screen.” Usually, my first question is along the lines of… “have you tried turning it off and back on.” I sometimes hear “I can’t use the start button” or something like that. At this point, I suggest that they try disconnecting the power and letting it sit for a few moments (5-10 seconds is usually enough.) Plugging it back in and trying the switch.
It’s kind of amazing that I still get calls like that, but it is basic troubleshooting. Unplug all power from it, let the capacitors drain (that’s why we let it set ~5-10 seconds) and try plugging in and flipping the switch again. Check the outlet, has a fuse blown? Do the lights on the PC come on?
In the most recent case, flipping the switch (ok PUSHING the switch) was all it took to get things booting again. I don’t know how it went out, but if things come up normally, it probably isn’t a big issue.
While I’m on the topic of simple fixes…. I can’t begin to count how many times “our server is down” has turned into “maybe the network cable got bumped when you moved your desk?” Check the connections, reboot, try again. In some cases, the best way to check a connection is to unplug/replug…
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