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Why the computer won't start. What to do if your computer stops booting. Black screen when reinstalling Windows

For many years, the computer has been an integral part of the lives of people of different ages and social status. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand the panic caused by situations when the computer does not turn on at all when you press the power button, and there is no signal from any indicator. There could be many reasons for this. When such cases occur, it is important, without delay, to figure out why the computer does not turn on and what needs to be done to fix this problem.

The source of malfunctions in the operation of such a complex device can be any factor that ensures its functioning.

The computer may not turn on, or when you turn it on, the operating system does not load, or the monitor does not work.

Understanding which one is relevant to a particular case is not always easy. Especially if the computer does not respond to the start button at all and does not beep. In this case, you may need the help of a specialist, but every user should know and understand what can cause malfunctions and what to do about it. The main reasons when the computer does not turn on include:

  1. Failures in the 220V power supply (malfunction of the socket, kinked cable, problems with the UPS).
  2. Malfunctions in the computer power supply.
  3. The battery on the motherboard is low.
  4. The degree of dust interferes with the operation of the computer.
  5. Malfunctions of components or cables.
  6. The power button is installed poorly or the contacts in its connection are broken.
  7. Faulty motherboard
  8. Processor faults
  9. Problems with the video card or RAM.

It is quite simple to identify the reason why a particular user’s computer does not turn on if the problem is one of the standard ones. The only thing you shouldn’t do is use physical force where intelligence is needed. If, after all the advanced versions and manipulations performed, the computer still could not be brought back to life, you should not knock on it, as this will provoke even greater problems and can lead to data loss - a more serious problem in terms of solution. It is best to contact specialists.

Power failures

The simplest version of why the computer does not turn on immediately and not a single light is on (button illumination, LED indicators on the motherboard) is related to the power supply. This is why the power supply problem tops the list of problems. Before you panic and brainstorm, check to see if there is any voltage at all at the outlet where your computer is plugged into. To check the serviceability of the outlet, just connect any electrical appliance that comes to hand.

There are situations when there is only one outlet in the room, but there are many devices that need to be connected to the electrical network. In this case, extension cords and splitters come to the rescue. And this, if the maximum load on one outlet is exceeded or in the event of a voltage drop, can cause the computer to not receive the required share of energy. To check if this is the case, you need to unplug all electrical appliances from the outlet and leave only the computer. Also make sure that the outlet in the extension cords to which the computer is connected is in good working order.

The computer cable may be to blame for poor power supply (especially if the monitor lights up when turned on and the lights on the speakers are on). What to do: unplug the cable from the socket and socket and firmly insert it into place again.

If your computer is connected via an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), to check whether it is the culprit of the problem, simply connect the cable from the system unit directly to the outlet.

The power supply is faulty

When you are convinced that the above is working, the next link in which failures may occur if power is properly supplied to the computer is the power supply. In general, power supplies fail due to drying out (swelling) of the capacitors. In addition, if a low-quality power supply fails, it can cause damage to other computer components, especially expensive parts such as the processor and motherboard. This problem is faced primarily by owners of cheaply assembled computers, in which low-quality power supplies are installed in order to save money.

It is very important to monitor the operation of the power supply fan. If it does not rotate, this device will overheat, the protection will trip and the computer will turn off.

If this part does not work, the solution to the problem is quite simple: replace the power supply with a new one. It is advisable that this be a high-quality unit, thereby extending the life of your computer.

To understand that this is the problem, you will need a tester (multimeter). When measuring the voltage in a working power supply, there should be 5V between the black and red wires, and 12V between the black and yellow wires. A slight deviation of the indicators, 7% maximum, is allowed - in this case the unit is operational. If not, then the problem is in the block, and the question “what to do?” The only answer is that it needs to be changed.

The battery on the motherboard is dead

A low battery will make itself known with the following message on the black screen CMOS checksum error – Defaults loaded. Press F1: to continue.

After pressing F1, the download will continue, but a lot of problems may arise in the operation of the computer.

Each computer motherboard is equipped with a 3V lithium battery that supports the volatile parameters of CMOS memory. This memory is responsible for BIOS settings.

If the computer system unit is used for a long enough time (3-5 years), the battery runs out. In this case, settings are lost, which can be noticed in advance if the date and time are lost when you turn on the computer. In this case, when the system boots, the BIOS may request a settings update.

When the battery is completely discharged, the computer will turn on, but will not boot beyond the POST procedure, that is, it will not get to the point of starting the operating system. If the computer does not turn on, you should reset the BIOS settings using the Clear CMOS jumper.

You can also check if the battery is working using a multimeter.

High dust level

In cases where during the entire period of working with the computer the user has never cleaned it of dust, one should not be surprised that after a couple of years the system unit will not be able to turn on at all. When a significant amount of dust accumulates, the computer gives appropriate signals: it overheats, reboots, and begins to freeze.

Pay special attention to cleaning coolers (fans). If, when turned on, the cooler spins and then stops or does not spin at all, this gives rise to further malfunctions in the operation of the system unit and overheating of the computer. We pay special attention to the operation of the fans of the central processor, graphics on the video card and the cooling system of the hard drives. When critical temperatures are reached on these components, the computer turns off spontaneously - overheating protection is triggered. The next time you turn it on, it will turn off immediately, you need to wait until it cools down a little, and it is better to clean the dust at this time. It should be remembered that prolonged operation at extreme temperatures significantly reduces the service life of these expensive components.

It also doesn't hurt to renew the thermal paste after cleaning the fan on the processor. A layer of thermal paste improves contact with the cooler, protects against overheating and ensures reliable operation.

Malfunctions of PC components and cables

The most difficult stage in finding the reasons why the computer refuses to turn on. Each of the components can influence the activation and operation of the system as a whole.

What to do, how to find out what exactly the problem is? First, we disable all components of the system unit that do not affect the process of initially turning on the computer. Leave connected:

  • motherboard with processor;
  • RAM;
  • video card;
  • keyboard.

If the computer does not turn on with the above configuration, do the following:

  • we check by replacing or reinstalling RAM in another slot;
  • to check the video card, disconnect the cable from the monitor and connect it to one of the VGA, DVI or HDMI inputs (if available) on the motherboard, or install a known working video card;
  • If the computer does not turn on after assembly or cleaning, check whether the wire from the power supply to the processor voltage supply socket has come loose.

If we were able to turn on the computer, we connect the cables to the hard drive and analyze how the operating system boots and works. If everything works when you connect the hard drive and all the lights are on, connect the remaining components one by one (TV tuner, sound card, external devices). This exclusion method will make it clear which part of the unit does not work and leads to a violation of the system startup. Then the solution to the problem will be to replace the component or repair it.

Important. All operations should be carried out only with the computer turned off. When disconnecting the cable from the video card, be sure to turn off the monitor, otherwise disable this expensive component.

Poor power button

The computer power button often plays an important role in a situation when the computer does not turn on. If the power button does not close properly, the computer will not respond when pressed. In this case, the backlight often does not work.

You can check whether the power button is involved in the problem by finding the Power connector on the motherboard and removing it. After this, carefully closing the wires, you need to make sure whether the switching result changes. If yes, then this is a signal that the problem is really in the button; if not, the search is not over yet.

Faulty motherboard

As always, the most undesirable scenario is considered last. So it is in this situation, because if the computer does not boot when this version is confirmed, such an important working component of the system unit as the motherboard will have to be replaced. And this is a rather expensive process (it makes sense to repair it only if the cost of a technician’s services does not exceed a third of the cost of a new component). Damage to the motherboard can be caused by malfunctions of the power supply, exceeding the temperature conditions of its components, excessive efforts when installing the processor and its fastening in the system unit, due to the appearance of microcracks. If you notice swollen capacitors, then this also indicates its inoperability.

It is worth noting that if during assembly all, even minor, parts were connected to the motherboard, then most likely it is equipped with a speaker that will signal a malfunction. In simple language, this is a sensor that makes sound signals (disgusting squeaks) making it clear that the problems are in the operation of the motherboard, and a set of combinations of such squeaks (different for different BIOS versions) even allows you to accurately determine the coordinates of the failure.

What to do if nothing beeps during a failure? Most likely, such an insignificant part is simply not connected, since the user was assured that it was of no use. You can connect it yourself. This will take, with the right amount of intelligence, a little time. To carry out such an operation, you will need the instructions for the system board. The instructions will not only tell you which connector on the motherboard to connect the speaker to, but will also decipher the signals it beeps. Depending on the type of board and BIOS, the set of signals with which the speaker beeps may be different and mean one of the options:

  • processor malfunctions;
  • problems with the connection or operation of the video card;
  • faulty RAM sticks or poor contact.

It happens that when purchasing, the user does not pay attention to the compatibility of the motherboard with other components. If a person has decided to replace the motherboard and has found the means to do so, he will certainly be attracted to new, improved models (if, of course, he understands this). Then, during the purchases, the processor, RAM, and video card are included in the kit with the motherboard. This madness can be stopped by a zero balance on the card account or in the buyer’s wallet, or a completely assembled and equipped new computer.

But, if a limited budget restrains the user’s desire to completely upgrade the computer, when choosing a new motherboard, it is important to pay attention to a number of key details so that the new component fits perfectly into the system unit. So, the purchased board should have:

  • processor socket (socket) identical to the old motherboard;
  • the required number of RAM slots of the same type as on the faulty motherboard (DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc.);
  • the same interface for connecting an existing hard drive (IDE, SATA);
  • corresponding PCI-Express video card slot (PCI-E 1x, PCI-E 4x or PCI-E 16x);
  • The number of expansion slots for existing PCI cards is sufficient for the user’s needs and identical to the old board.

If the set of system logic of the new motherboard differs from that of the faulty motherboard, then most likely you will need to reinstall the operating system. But, in the overall scale of the problem, this will not be difficult or costly. Remember, no matter what the problem is, the light will not converge on it like a wedge. Everything has a solution, it is important to approach it correctly.

A common but frightening problem for users is when the computer turns on, but the operating system does not start. At the same time, the coolers are working, the system unit is noisy, but the greeting and desktop are not visible. In fact, the recovery process can be carried out independently, and it is not as long and complicated as it seems at first glance.

Reasons why your computer won't boot

Malfunctions look different:

  • black screen with inscriptions - physical or system errors;
  • blue screen - problems with RAM or drivers.

There are malfunctions on different computers: Lenovo, Samsung, Msi, Asus and so on.

There are two types of reasons:

  • Physical- due to the computer hardware: rusty contacts on the boards, broken wires, poorly inserted video card, damaged hard drive, dried out thermal paste, dusty processor. There may be very simple reasons, for example, the monitor is not connected.
  • Software- the mathematical algorithm of the system is broken: incompatible drivers, viruses are installed, the user accidentally deleted files necessary for work, Windows is out of order, problems with the video driver.

Safe mode

When you simply restart the computer, pressing the Restart button on the system unit automatically restores the system.

If this does not help and the operating system does not start loading, it is advisable to turn to Safe Mode.

This is a way of operating a computer when it loads a list of necessary components without unnecessary elements.

  • Remove all information media from the computer: flash drives and disks.
  • In versions of Windows 7 / Vista / Windows xp / 2000 / ME / 98 / 95 - immediately after turning on, press F8. In Windows 8 / Server 2012 / Server 2012 R2 / 10 / Server 2016 - a combination of Shift and F8 at the same time.
  • Select Safe Mode.
  • Sign in.

F8 restores the version of the operating system to the previous changes.

Example

You can load the Last Known Good Configuration of Windows 7 like this: F8 or Del - Last Known Good Configuration (Advanced).

The mouse does not work in this mode; control occurs through the up-down and Enter buttons.

Damaged HAL.dll

The following steps will help fix the error when the computer reports that the HAL.dll file is damaged or missing, and restore the operation of the OS:


Startup recovery

Checking the monitor, components, connections

The external condition of the device is important.

Perhaps the reason is hidden in external damage:


After turning on the computer, a squeak follows - a Bios signal. In normal condition, this is one short “squeak” and the computer boots. If there is a malfunction, the sound changes. It is important to know the name of Bios and count the number of signals. This way you can figure out the problem using the signals.

Video card driver conflict

The computer cannot turn on due to installed video drivers. In this case, go to Safe Mode - Start - Control Panel - Device Manager - Video adapters - Disable/Update drivers (program conflicts are visible here in the Properties - Resources tab).

In some cases, after updating the drivers, the problem disappears.

Removing programs that block OS loading

From time to time, programs that conflict with Windows cause a malfunction. It is advisable to correct the situation through Safe Mode:

Start - Programs and Features - Uninstall a program - Uninstall.
You can delete in Safe Mode using CCleaner.

Disabling unnecessary Startup items

Safe Mode - Start - In the Start command line, enter msconfig.exe and press Enter - In System Configuration there are 5 tabs:


If the problem disappears, you need to go into Safe Mode and add one program at a time to startup in the “Services” list and restart the computer in normal mode.

As soon as the problem returns after adding another program to startup, the root has been found, but this program must be disabled, updated, or deleted altogether.

To enter the normal Windows operating mode: In the “Start” menu, write “msconfig.exe” and press Enter - System Configuration - General - place the checkbox on “Normal Startup” - Click OK and restart the computer.

Reverting the system to a working state

Via F8 go to the menu.


Infinite reboot

The reason that a computer or laptop does not boot beyond the manufacturer's screensaver is an initialization failure, an emergency power outage, or a full disk with files (movies, photos, etc.).

When the computer turns on again after “Welcome”, you need to:

  • restart your computer several times;
  • hold down F8 - the Advanced Boot Options window will appear - go to Repair Your Computer - Enter
  • if the endless startup to the logo continues: Safe Mode - My Computer - drive C - copy and move files to D.

If the startup repair tool cannot automatically restore the system, you need the help of removable media.

Using a Live CD (Boot Disk)

The boot disk with the image is the second operating system. It contains a recovery console and will help in solving the problem.

Disc functions:

  • diagnostics;
  • virus checking;
  • useful utilities.

Many errors, for example, 0xc0000098 when starting Windows 7 (problem with starting files), are solved using boot disks.

Boot Manager Recovery

If there is an initialization error, the system does not see the hard drive. You need to start from the boot disk.

Press R - the console appears - enter “chkdsk c: / f /r” and press Enter - then enter “Bootrec.exe / FixMbr” and Enter - then “Bootrec.exe / FixBoot”.

So the commands restored the resume bootloader.

Overwriting the sector Bootrec.exe/RebuildBcd will work if the hard disk is intact.

If “NTLDR is missing” (file access is not complete), it is advisable to try to restore boot records. If this does not help, copy the file from the disk to the system partition with the command: E:\i386>copy ntldr C:\ - Enter, reboot and the system is restored.

MbrFix utility

The program is included in Hiren's BootCD. After starting MbrFix, enter into the command line: MbrFix.exe /drive 0 fixmbr/ win 10

The described option is suitable for Windows 10. Helps if the boot manager is missing or damaged.

4MRescureKi

Includes services for copying data, preparing for reinstallation, diagnosing problems in a hard drive, and checking for viruses. Works on Windows and Linux.

Viruses

Malicious programs are also the reason why the monitor stopped turning on. It is necessary to detect the infection and clean the device. It happens that a virus contains a game or a picture from the Internet. An anti-virus scanner is required, which is loaded before the operating system runs.
Antiviruses on removable media are good: disks and flash drives. They have their own boot records and menu interface. For example, Avast and Kaspersky are excellent at resuscitating “sick” files.

Reinstalling the system

If the previous methods have been tried but failed to fix the problem, reinstalling the operating system is an option to solve the problem.


Black screen when reinstalling Windows

The reasons for this situation are:

  • Unsuitable Windows, in this case you need a different operating system.
  • Bad sectors of the hard drive, damage to the storage medium from which the OS is installed.
  • It is recommended to install the operating system on another partition of the hard drive.

The hard drive has failed: how to determine and what to do

If you suspect that your hard drive is not working, it is important to carry out diagnostics. If you format it, the saved files will be lost.

It is advisable to check the hard drive in several ways:


Signs that the hard drive is completely broken:


Useful video

Computer users often complain that their system unit does not turn on, without providing details about the problem. Most often it turns out that we are talking about the inability to load the operating system, and not about problems with turning on the computer. When your computer won't boot due to operating system or BIOS errors, you need to look for a solution to the specific problem. However, situations are possible in which the computer does not actually turn on - that is, its loading does not even begin or immediately stops before the software starts working. There are not many reasons why this situation may arise, and below we will look at the main ones.

The computer does not respond to the power button

In most cases, the problem due to which the computer does not turn on is quite trivial - lack of electricity.

First of all, you need to make sure that the system unit (or laptop) is connected to a power source. Inspect the wire connected from the outlet to the computer's power supply for mechanical damage, and also make sure that the connector itself is not physically damaged.

If everything is in order with the power cable, you need to start diagnosing the outlet to which the computer is connected. Plug another electrical appliance into it and make sure it is in working order.

All modern power supplies have an on/off button on the case, which interrupts the power supply if necessary. It is important to ensure that the button is in the On position.

Important: Some power supplies also have a button with a switch for various electrical networks (most often 220 Volts and 127 Volts). Such a switch is not made in the form of a button, and to switch it to another mode you need to use tools. If your network has 220 Volts, and the switch is in the wrong mode, you also need to switch it.

Once the power source has been checked, you need to make sure that everything inside the computer is connected correctly. It is also important to check that, otherwise the power button will not be able to perform its assigned functions.

Note: In many modern cases, the power button has an indication that confirms that it is connected correctly and indicates by its glow that the computer is connected to the power supply, and there are no problems with this.

The computer turns on and then turns off immediately

There is a situation when, after pressing the power button, the computer starts to turn on, but before the sound notification about checking the hardware for errors (“squeaking” when turned on), it turns off. This problem occurs for the following reasons:


Please note that in some cases the computer beeps to indicate which element is having problems. For example, if the central processor quickly overheats, the system unit will begin to “squeak”, and if there are problems with the video card, it may emit several long beeps when you try to turn it on. Depending on the BIOS version, the information transmitted by the computer’s “squeaks” when turned on varies.

The computer turns on but the monitor does not work

If the system unit turns on (the coolers are spinning and the indicators indicate that it is working), but the image is not displayed on the monitor, you should first check the reliability of the cable connection from the screen to the system unit. You can also try switching the cable from a discrete video card to one integrated into the central processor.

There is probably no need to explain that situations when the computer does not boot occur quite often. There may be a myriad of reasons that led to this. Now we will try to figure out why such situations arise and how to deal with them. Let's look at desktop computers rather than laptops, although in some cases the methods for solving the problem may be very similar.

Causes of download problems

First of all, in the question of why the computer does not boot, you need to understand that among the main reasons there are two main ones: physical damage to the components of the computer system and a malfunction of the software (in this case, Windows).

Both can cause serious problems. Let's look at the most common causes of failures and figure out how to eliminate the consequences.

Consequences of physical impact

As for damage to physical components, first you should pay attention to the initial stage of booting the PC. Probably everyone knows that when turned on, the system unit makes a characteristic sound (a single squeak). This indicates that all hardware components are in order. True, this is not always the case. The fact is that a hard drive failure is detected only after startup (the system does not see it).

Sometimes the system speaker may emit short and long squeaks. This is already worse. This can only mean one thing - some component is not working, has failed, or is simply incorrectly connected to the motherboard. The signals may vary for different BIOS versions. But all of them may indicate malfunctions in the operation of RAM, video card, central processor, etc. In some cases, there may be no signal at all.

In this case, it is recommended to remove the system unit panel and check whether all components are connected to the motherboard. It may well be that the device does not work not because of failure, but because the corresponding cable is damaged. Naturally, it is not possible to determine such a malfunction yourself, so you will have to turn to specialists.

There are often cases when the computer does not boot even when turned on. There may also be enough reasons for this. It is very likely that there is simply no power supply. It is worth checking the outlet or uninterruptible power supply. Sometimes, when a large number of electrical appliances are plugged into an extension cord, protection and much more may be triggered. You can check the battery that is installed on the motherboard. It is very possible that after replacing it, turning on and booting the computer will go as usual. Often no one pays attention to this, nevertheless the fact remains a fact.

In general, you should immediately check all cables, sockets, extension cords, etc. Maybe this is really the reason. That’s why it turns out that nothing starts, nothing loads, the computer is black and shows no signs of life.

Crash systems

Of course, you can replace the hardware, but with the operating system itself the situation is much worse, because no one obviously wants to reinstall the system, format the hard drive or partitions, which will entail data loss.

There are just a lot of reasons why Windows might crash: a sudden power outage, incorrect shutdown or shutdown, a software failure, the presence of viruses, damage to the hard drive, etc. The list is endless.

As for physical damage to the hard drive, the severity of the problem can only be determined after full testing of the surface and contacts. If it burns out, you know, you’ll have to shell out money for a new one, there’s nothing you can do about it. If the damage is minor, you can try to restore the damaged sectors. This will be discussed a little later.

Basic methods to correct the situation

As is already clear, in terms of hardware failure, when the computer does not boot, the black screen hangs constantly, the system unit does not make a sound, the solution would be a complete test of all components. It is very possible that reconnecting or replacing some of them will clarify the problem.

It is worth noting that in some cases, when the system does not detect the hard drive, the most trivial situation may occur. In the BIOS, the boot priority can be set to, say, CD/DVD/ROM first, the second device is a USB drive, etc. It is clear that when media of this type is inserted, the system will display a message stating that this is not a system drive.

It also happens that the computer does not boot from the Windows installation disk. Here you will have to check the disk itself. It is very possible that there are some scratches or other damage on it. By the way, perhaps the drive itself is damaged and simply does not work.

Now a few words about how to correct the situation when the computer does not boot, Windows 7 does not start, and in general it seems that nothing can be done.

Let us say right away: do not despair and panic. Bill Gates is not a stupid person at all. When creating his system, he left loopholes to restore the functionality of the operating systems, and today there are quite a lot of methods that allow you to quickly and effectively apply measures that can, so to speak, breathe new life into the system. Below we will describe the most common problems and methods for eliminating them specifically from the point of view of the Windows software shell.

Loading Last Known Good Configuration and Restoring the System

As a rule, even after very serious errors in the operation of Windows 7, as they say, it simply does not give up. On reboot (if everything is fine with boot records), testing occurs, and then in most cases a message is displayed about possible boot options, including loading the last known known configuration.

This happens because the system, as it were, remembers its last working state and offers to go to it, bypassing all the changes made before. In 90% of cases this helps. However, it also happens that the computer does not boot even if Windows self-healing, and the user eventually receives a message that such a configuration could not be loaded.

The same applies to using system restore, which may be offered when Windows starts. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. In principle, both services are very similar. In this state of affairs, more effective measures will have to be taken.

Safe mode

Many users, faced with a problem, for example, when the computer does not boot after updating Windows 7, clearly underestimate the benefits of safe mode, but it allows you to gain access to a fully functional system and fix many software errors.

To load safe mode after the system starts, you need to press and hold the F8 key. When the system boots, we can take care of our problem. In this case, you can check all the hardware components for functionality and the presence of the appropriate drivers, run a disk check for errors, and finally begin restoring the system.

System Restore

First of all, using the control panel, you need to go to the “Backup and Restore” section. It can also be accessed from the main Start menu under All Programs/Maintenance. Here you need to select a checkpoint (the last one created or one of those present in the list) and start the process itself. This, of course, can take quite a lot of time, but if you don’t want to reinstall, you’ll have to be patient.

Now let's say that after the updates the computer does not boot. In the same control panel, if you go to Windows Update, you can view the update log, in which, in fact, you will need to delete everything that was installed before the system crash, no matter whether these updates were installed automatically or in manual mode.

In many cases, this approach allows you to revive Windows without resorting to more serious methods, which not every user will be able to handle.

Using the Recovery Console

If the above method does not produce results, you will have to use other methods. One of the most effective and radical methods when the computer does not boot is to use the recovery console, which is available either on the Windows 7 installation or emergency recovery disk.

To use such disks, of course, you should make the appropriate boot priority settings in the BIOS, indicating the CD/DVD-ROM first in the list.

The boot menu will show a "Welcome To Setup" screen, after which you will need to press the "R" key to go directly to the console (command line). It is worth considering that if more than one operating system is installed on the computer, folders with files will first be shown, and then a request will follow which system the user wants to work with. Now you just need to enter the number corresponding to the number of the selected system. Next, you may be asked to enter the administrator password, provided that you have one. Now about the teams. What and how to enter and what to use, we will now figure it out.

Recovering the Boot.ini file

As a rule, one of the reasons for a system crash is damage to the Boot.ini boot file, which is responsible for loading the system. To restore it, almost all systems use a tool called Bootcfg. Bootcfg/Rebuild is entered on the command line (not counting other tools for scanning its entries, redirecting actions, adding identifiers, etc.). It seems that, apart from the main recovery command, the average user does not need anything else.

Recovering the Master Boot Record

The master boot record contains tables of all logical partitions of the hard drive. The so-called primary loader places the active and boot sectors in the tables, after which, in fact, the system starts. If the boot record is damaged, the active sector simply will not be able to start the system.

To restore in this case, use the Fixmbr command, after which you enter the qualified name of the disk or partition. In the case of drive C, the command will look like Fixmbr\Device\HardDisc0.

Recovering the boot sector of the hard drive

The boot sector is a small partition on the hard drive for storing data in FAT32 or NTFS file systems for booting. If it is damaged, use the Fixboot\c: recovery command (provided that the “OS” was installed on drive C).

Quick system reinstallation

Again, consider a situation where after updating Windows 7 the computer does not boot, and the system simply does not want to start. As a last resort, you can use the so-called quick reinstallation of the system in the same folder where the previous OS was installed. In some cases, this may correct errors.

After the system starts from the disk, the license agreement window will appear. You can agree to the terms by pressing the F8 key, after which you will be asked to select an installation method. Key "R" - restore the existing version, Esc - cancel the restoration and go to a new installation. In most cases, recovery proceeds without problems.

Virus check

Now a few words about another unpleasant situation, when the system does not start and the computer does not boot. A black screen may be the result of spontaneous viruses that either prevent the system from booting or change boot records.

In this case, it is recommended to use utilities such as Kaspersky Rescue Disc or Dr. Web Rescue Disc. As is already clear, such programs start directly from the optical disk, but, what is most interesting, they are loaded even before the Windows OS starts. They have a graphical interface, so working with them is not difficult. It should be noted that in 99.99% of cases, such applications remove even those viruses that are simply impossible to remove using standard scanners installed on the system. After all, they can “hang” even in RAM. At the end of the check, the computer terminal is rebooted, and, hurray, the system works again as if nothing had happened.

Conclusion

So we looked at the question of what to do if the computer does not boot. It seems that some solutions to this problem will be useful to many users. Of course, it’s quite difficult to say right away, right away, why a computer or operating system won’t boot. But if you conduct a comprehensive test and find out the cause of the problem, then you can choose the most appropriate method to correct the situation.

The computer may not turn on due to incorrect connections or faulty cables, software failures, incorrect assembly, or damaged internal parts. Some of these problems can only be solved by a specialist. But before you send your device in for repair, try the tips in this article.

If your computer stops turning on after you take it apart, check that all parts are properly installed, connected, and securely in place. Only then proceed to these actions.

1. If the computer does not respond at all to attempts to turn it on or turns off immediately

Make sure your outlet is working. Check the correct connection and integrity of the cables. If you are using an extension cord to connect to the electrical outlet, also check its button. Disconnect from the computer. There may be an additional power switch on the back of the system unit - check that too.

If you have a laptop, charge it and wait at least 30 minutes before trying to turn on the device again. If during this time the charging indicator on the power adapter or laptop does not light up and the device does not turn on, replace the charger with a working one.

Many motherboards have a removable battery, thanks to which some of the computer’s settings are not reset even after it is completely turned off. If you are not afraid of losing your warranty, unplug the device from the power supply and open the case. Then carefully try to remove the battery and after a few minutes replace it. This will reset all settings, which may be enough to get your computer to turn on.

If reinstalling doesn't help, your battery may simply be dead. This may also interfere with startup. If you haven't changed the battery for several years, it makes sense to buy a new one, install it in place of the old one and check the computer.

Be careful, some devices may not have a removable battery. In this case, replacing or reinstalling it will not work.

2. If after turning on you only see a black screen

Let's say that after startup your computer works, the lights are on, the coolers are noisy, but the screen does not react at all.

If you are using a separate monitor and its indicator does not light up, check the cable and that the monitor is connected correctly. Replace the cord if possible. If it doesn't help, take the monitor to a service center.

If the monitor light is working or you have a laptop whose screen remains black, then most likely there is something wrong with the computer hardware. In this case, it is better to contact a specialist.

If your computer beeps when you turn it on, disconnect all devices except the monitor and try turning it on again.

In some cases, reinstalling or replacing the battery on the motherboard also helps (see previous paragraph).

3. If the computer turns on but Windows does not load

If Windows doesn't even start to load or takes too long to load, use .

4. If the computer turns on but macOS does not load

Try starting your Mac in Safe Mode. To do this, immediately after turning on, press and hold the Shift key for several seconds. If you have a MacBook, first connect it to a power outlet.

If the computer boots in this mode, the system can automatically fix problems that were preventing it from starting. Restart your device without pressing any keys and check if macOS now starts. If unsuccessful, try restoring the operating system.

5. If all else fails

If the above tips do not help, you can contact a service center for help or try returning the computer to the store under warranty.