Cannot Start the Computer

Problem: You can’t turn your computer on.

Solution: The problem is generally one of two things. Either your power cord is bad and needs to be replaced, or your power supply is bad. Check both and replace an item, if needed. Check power cord, try a known good cord. Verify monitor is functioning.

Problem: Intermittent power off  

Solution: Check that the ac power cord is plugged into the outlet and the computer properly. Check air vents to be sure that they are clear, thermal protection circuitry may shut system down, also check the cooling fan to see that it is operating, if it is not, replace the fan, or if the fan is in the power supply, replace the power supply, or if you are technically inclined that fan. Replace the power supply. For those of you highly technically inclined, it is a common problem in the power supply to have bad solder connections on the circuit board sometimes on the output wire connections, sometimes on high heat components.

Problem: ROM Basic not present, Invalid system disk, invalid command interpreter or flashing cursor.

Solution: Floppy or hard drive is missing DOS system files. Contact technical support.

Problem: Fixed disk controller error.
Solution: Possible bad hard drive, invalid CMOS setup for the hard drive, bad hard drive controller, bad system board.

Contact technical support.

PROBLEM: Internal hard drive doesn't operate, it is not spinning up.

Solution: This is a real common problem with computers, the cause may be from lack of proper cooling and ventilation. The symptom of a hard drive not spinning up is called Stiction or static friction. It is a condition in which the drive heads are stuck to the platters in a way that the platter motor cannot overcome the sticking force and spin the drive up for operation. You can tell if you have the Stiction problem if you listen to the hard drive and no motor noise is heard, also the hard drive lights should light up. This problem occurs when the system has been shut off for a week or more or the drive has been run under very hot conditions and suddenly shut off and left off for a long period of time. Also, this problem does not indicate a drive failure. The hard drive can be started up again and run and have the problem never occur again, but I have also seen some drives do it every time the drive is turned off and require drastic solutions of reviving it every time, this drive required replacement. There are steps to take to revive a drive with the Stiction problem. First, turn the power on then off repetitively, this may break the heads loose from the platters and the drive may spin up. If this does not work, try banging on the side of the computer with your hand, don't bang too hard, you don't have to break the case or your hand. If this does not work, open the cover and remove the hard drive and place it on a piece of cardboard or paper on the floor and spin it counter clockwise a number of times, be sure not to drop or suddenly jar the drive. If all of this fails, take the drive in your hand and bang on it lightly. If this still does not work bang real hard on the drive. Another problem with hard drives is head crash where the heads hit the platter surface and damage themselves or the platter, this can happen if you bang or jar the hard drive too much, of course if the heads are frozen to the platters this will not happen. If none of this works replace your hard drive. After reviving the hard drive run tests on the hard drive like Norton Utilities and do a surface scan to see if you encountered a head crash, the symptom for this would be new or excessive bad blocks. If you had a head crash, your hard drive will have to be replaced. I have revived hundreds of hard drives and have rarely caused a head crash. Also these solutions are valid solutions, they are documented in many technical manuals.