Hardware problems

Hardware problems have a range of symptoms and causes.  Causes can range from defective/marginal hardware to incorrect installation to completely dead hardware.  Just like a car your hardware can wear out.  At this day and age your hardware is obsolete before it physically wears out but it can happen.  And just like cars the higher quality you buy the longer it will last.  So if you computer stops turning on at all and you DON'T SEE ANY TEXT AT ALL don't have a mental breakdown and think that everything is lost because unless you were just hit by a power surge [and they can come in on the cable and phones lines too] or your hard drive just failed your data is probably safe for the moment.

The first thing to do is check to see that everything is turned on.  No one feels more obtuse than paying for a technician to come out only to find you hit the off button on the surge protector.  You might want to also power everything off then power everything back on again.

After that make sure all of the connections in the back of the computer are secure.  Take the time to unplug the wires and plug them back in [but do so one at a time so you don't forget where they go].  And please be careful.  Most wires do have connection pins that if bent can render that connection useless.  If something doesn't want to do back in check to see how the pins are lined up and the connector in the back of the PC and line them up.  You're not being timed for speed.

If none of that works try letting the computer "sit" with the power turned off and the power plug disconnected.  If that fails to help the problem you then would need to contact a technician.  Here are some very important things to determine before you call the technician:

1) What were you doing when the computer failed [and be honest.  If you spilled coffee on it please tell us].

2) There are normally green, red, or some kind of lights on when a PC is on and functioning.  Determine if the power LED [or light] is on after you push the power button.  There may also be a flashing light when the hard drive is being accessed.  Tell the technician if these lights are on or off after hitting the power button.

3) Most displays now come with a sleep mode.  Try and press the power button on your display to make sure it is indeed on.  Once again a simple mistake that happens often.  If you unplug the display and it is still powered on normally you will see some kind of text or picture displayed.  If you don't see anything then you display could also be dead or then again it might be working fine but just not display anything when a computer is not running on it.  Computers fail more often the displays do.

4) If it is determined that the system does have a serious hardware problem it will most likely have to be looked at in a shop or lab.  In that case ask the technician what to bring with you.  99% of the time we do not need the display.  Same thing applies with cords.  Most likely we will not need them but it is always good to ask.

*Note: With laptop we ALWAYS need the power cord*

If there are any newly installed hardware please bring along any documentation with the system.  It would be a good idea to bring along any of the CDs or DVD's you received when you first purchased the system.   About 50% of the time we actually need them but it is always better safe than sorry [with gas prices no one likes driving if they don't have to].

ALWAYS check your invoice that came with your system to see the date of purchase.  That will determine if your system would be covered under any warranty.  Nothing is better than a free ride and nothing is worse than missing a free ride.  If at all possible try and bring you invoice in to your place of purchase/place of warranty or have it readily available for a phone support personnel.  In most cases you will be asked for it.  And please keep in mind its not that we think you're a thief, we just need to protect ourselves.  And we're not elephants so we can't remember everything.  The last important note is to ASK if the system us under warranty before any work is done on it.  And if it is not determinable at that time just ask to hold off any work until the warranty status can be determined.

Just keep in mind things fail.  Its not your fault but its not our fault either.  Unless we manufactured the individual part we rely on the company that makes it for a good product.  Once in a while things happen.  We will try our very best to rectify the situation as quickly as possible and in a manner but suited to both parties.