Laptop Won't Turn On
Power button pressed but nothing happens could be a failed battery, faulty charger, or motherboard issue.
Learn more →209 common computer problems — understand what is wrong and how we fix it. Browse by category or search for your issue.
Power button pressed but nothing happens could be a failed battery, faulty charger, or motherboard issue.
Learn more →Laptop gets extremely hot and shuts down unexpectedly often caused by dust-clogged fans or dried thermal paste.
Learn more →Battery drops from 100% to zero in under an hour ageing battery or background apps consuming power.
Learn more →Constant loud whirring sound dust buildup, failing fan bearing, or heavy CPU load.
Learn more →Some or all keys unresponsive liquid spill, loose ribbon cable, or driver issue.
Learn more →Cursor frozen or jumpy disabled in settings, driver conflict, or hardware failure.
Learn more →Programs take forever to open, multitasking lags low RAM, failing hard drive, or malware.
Learn more →Plugged in but battery percentage stays at zero faulty charger, damaged charging port, or dead battery.
Learn more →Liquid damage to keyboard or motherboard immediate action needed to prevent permanent corrosion.
Learn more →Screen wobbles or won't stay in position worn hinge mechanism, loose screws, or cracked plastic mounting points.
Learn moreDust, debris, or liquid residue causing individual keys to stick, jam, or fail to spring back up common after food or drink spills.
Learn moreLoose or damaged internal display ribbon cable causing intermittent screen flicker when adjusting the laptop lid.
Learn more →Camera indicator light turns on but display is black — privacy shutter engaged, driver conflict, or camera module hardware failure.
Learn more →Cursor jumps around or drifts across the screen without touching the pad often caused by a worn trackpad, a swollen battery pressing underneath, or outdated drivers.
Learn more →The keyboard backlight stays dark even with the brightness key pressed — a disabled setting, a driver issue, or a faulty backlight ribbon cable.
Learn more →Typing on the main keyboard produces numbers instead of letters, usually because the Num Lock key is toggled on or stuck.
Learn more →Laptop hangs at the brand logo before Windows loads — a failing hard drive or SSD, corrupted boot settings, or a hardware fault preventing startup.
Learn more →The laptop powers on with the fan spinning and power light on, but the screen stays black — a loose display cable, faulty LCD panel, or a RAM or graphics driver issue.
Learn more →Performance drops sharply the moment the charger is unplugged — Windows power saver mode, CPU throttling, or a degraded battery limiting power delivery.
Learn more →The laptop runs only on its weaker built-in graphics because the dedicated GPU has vanished from Device Manager, often after a driver failure, a Windows update, or a hardware fault.
Learn more →Power comes on but Windows never loads corrupted boot sector, failing hard drive, or RAM issue.
Learn more →Computer shuts down and reboots without warning overheating, faulty PSU, or driver conflict.
Learn more →Windows crashes with a blue error screen hardware failure, driver issues, or corrupted system files.
Learn more →Screen locks up, mouse won't move insufficient RAM, dying hard drive, or overheating CPU.
Learn more →PC turns on but screen stays black loose cable, faulty GPU, or monitor failure.
Learn more →Press any key but screen stays black power settings, driver issue, or failing hardware preventing wake.
Learn more →Pressing the power button does nothing the front panel connector may be loose, the button itself could be faulty, or the power supply may have failed.
Learn more →A burning smell from your desktop PC often indicates an electrical short, dust buildup on heating components, or a failing power supply -- immediate action is needed.
Learn moreExcess dust clogs fans and heatsinks over time, causing desktop temperatures to spike and CPU or GPU to throttle under load.
Learn moreTouching the metal PC case gives a mild tingling sensation, caused by improper electrical grounding or a faulty power supply unit.
Learn more →Graphics card not showing up in Device Manager or BIOS after installation or update. Common after driver updates or hardware changes.
Learn more →Power comes on but nothing appears on screen — faulty RAM, CPU, or motherboard preventing the system from completing the POST sequence.
Learn more →The PC turns back on minutes after being put to sleep, usually a wake timer, network adapter, or mouse that keeps waking the system.
Learn more →System powers on, shuts down, and retries in a loop, often caused by a failing power supply, poorly seated RAM, or a motherboard short.
Learn more →Windows shows only half of the memory you installed — usually a loose RAM module, a faulty slot, or a compatibility issue, which can cause crashes and slow performance.
Learn more →Pressing the BIOS key (Del, F2, or F10) does nothing and the PC boots straight into Windows — fast boot, a USB device, or a failing keyboard can block the setup screen from appearing.
Learn more →The computer drops into sleep or the screen shuts off while you are still working — usually a power plan setting, an accidental sleep timeout, or a faulty power button.
Learn more →Computer boots to a black screen saying no bootable device found — often a dead or disconnected drive, corrupted boot records, or the wrong boot order preventing Windows from loading.
Learn more →The PC lands in the BIOS or boot menu instead of loading Windows, usually because of a wrong boot order, a failing boot drive, or a corrupted boot loader.
Learn more →Physical crack or spider-web pattern on display impact damage requiring screen replacement.
Learn more →Display rapidly flashes on and off loose video cable, failing backlight, or driver issue.
Learn more →Tiny black or stuck-colour dots that won't change physical pixel damage to LCD panel.
Learn more →Screen is visible but very faint failed backlight inverter or LED strip.
Learn more →Horizontal or vertical lines across the display GPU failure or damaged LCD ribbon cable.
Learn more →External monitor plugged in but not appearing faulty cable, wrong input source, or outdated graphics driver.
Learn moreTouch input stops recognising taps or gestures often caused by driver conflicts, digitizer failure, or screen damage.
Learn more →An incorrect screen resolution makes everything look stretched or blurry, usually caused by outdated graphics drivers, wrong display settings, or a faulty HDMI cable.
Learn moreScreen goes black momentarily then recovers usually caused by corrupted or outdated graphics drivers after a Windows update.
Learn moreGhost images or shadows remain visible on screen after displaying static content for long periods.
Learn more →The monitor displays "No Signal" even though the desktop tower is powered on and fans are spinning; typically a loose video cable, faulty GPU, or wrong input source selected.
Learn more →Screen registers taps and swipes you did not make — usually a faulty digitizer, grounding issue, or driver corruption causing erratic input.
Learn more →Screen shows washed-out or incorrect colours even after adjusting settings, usually a faulty cable, wrong driver, or failing panel.
Learn more →Patches of light leak around the screen edges or bright cloudy spots appear, usually a faulty backlight or pressure on the LCD panel.
Learn more →Fast-moving images leave a blurry trail on screen — slow panel response time, a faulty cable, or a refresh rate mismatch.
Learn more →Screen flickers or pulses only at specific brightness settings, usually a failing backlight inverter or PWM driver issue.
Learn more →The image splits into horizontal lines during fast movement, usually a refresh-rate mismatch between the screen and the graphics card.
Learn more →Part of the desktop is cut off at the screen edges or the picture is larger than the monitor — incorrect scaling or overscan settings in the display or graphics card software.
Learn more →Text and icons look soft or out of focus — wrong screen resolution, incorrect display scaling, or a loose or damaged VGA or HDMI cable.
Learn more →Brightness keys and settings have no effect on the display — usually a missing or outdated graphics driver, disabled function key, or a failing backlight inverter.
Learn more →The screen goes black and comes back repeatedly, usually caused by a loose video cable, a failing monitor power board, or a graphics driver glitch.
Learn more →Everything takes minutes to load fragmented hard drive, too many startup programs, or malware.
Learn more →Old mechanical hard drive is bottlenecking performance upgrade to SSD for 10x speed boost.
Learn more →Computer struggles with multiple browser tabs or applications 4GB-8GB no longer enough.
Learn more →Fan spinning full speed even when nothing is open background crypto miner or bloatware.
Learn more →Applications randomly close corrupted software, insufficient RAM, or hard drive errors.
Learn more →Loud fan noise even when idle dust buildup, failing thermal sensors, or background malware.
Learn more →The system hangs on the manufacturer logo or Windows loading screen for minutes caused by too many startup programs, failing hard drive, or corrupted system files.
Learn more →When Task Manager shows 100% disk usage constantly, your computer becomes painfully slow -- this is often due to Windows Search indexing, Superfetch, or a failing hard drive.
Learn moreYour gaming PC stutters, drops frames, or runs games at low FPS despite having good hardware, often due to thermal throttling, outdated GPU drivers, or background processes hogging resources.
Learn moreWeb browser becomes sluggish or unresponsive when multiple tabs are open due to high memory usage.
Learn more →Power supply unit cannot deliver enough wattage under gaming load, or GPU is overheating and triggering thermal shutdown.
Learn more →Your SSD feels much slower than when it was new, with file transfers crawling and boot times creeping up; often caused by the drive being too full, missing TRIM support, or outdated firmware.
Learn more →Your computer suddenly runs noticeably slower after installing a Windows update — background indexing, driver conflicts, or incomplete update installation consuming system resources.
Learn more →Games freeze for a split second every few seconds — often caused by background processes, driver conflicts, or thermal throttling.
Learn more →RAM usage stays above 90% with no programs open — background apps, browser extensions, or a memory leak slowing everything down.
Learn more →Takes minutes to wake from sleep, often caused by outdated drivers, hybrid shutdown enabled, or a slow hard drive.
Learn more →Graphics card usage stays at 50-100% even when you are not gaming — mining malware, a stuck background process, or a driver bug making the PC hot, loud, and slow.
Learn more →Videos pause, skip, or freeze during playback even on a fast internet connection — outdated graphics drivers, hardware acceleration conflicts, or high background CPU usage.
Learn more →PC works fine after restart but gradually slows down over time, typically a memory leak, overheating components, or too many background processes.
Learn more →Games run on the CPU's built-in graphics instead of the dedicated graphics card, causing low FPS — a wrong driver, display settings, or laptop power mode.
Learn more →Too many programs launching at startup pile up in the background and make booting and everyday use noticeably slower.
Learn more →Pop-ups, redirected searches, unknown programs malware infection needing professional removal.
Learn more →Files encrypted and a ransom demand displayed critical data held hostage by criminals.
Learn more →Search engine changed to something else, constant redirects browser hijacker malware.
Learn more →Ads appearing even when no browser is open adware infection in the system.
Learn more →Received emails with unknown files that may contain malware phishing attempt targeting your data.
Learn more →Software you never installed appears on your desktop bundled malware or PUPs.
Learn more →Malicious software silently records your keystrokes, browsing habits, or personal data often installed through fake downloads, email attachments, or cracked software.
Learn more →Antivirus subscription lapsed leaving your computer vulnerable to new threats and malware.
Learn more →Unauthorised access from a phishing attack or password breach — attacker can read, send emails, and reset other accounts.
Learn more →A fake virus warning or "Call Microsoft" pop-up locks the screen, tricking users into calling scammers who demand payment for fake repairs.
Learn more →Your antivirus keeps blocking or deleting safe programs you use daily. Overly aggressive detection can disrupt your work and delete important files.
Learn more →Cannot log in to important accounts because 2FA code is not arriving, authenticator app is out of sync, or recovery phone number has changed — account lockout risk, time sync issue, or SIM swap.
Learn more →Your contacts keep receiving junk mail you never sent, a sign the computer is part of a botnet and must be cleaned and secured immediately.
Learn more →The webcam indicator glows when you are not using it — a sign of remote-access malware or an unauthorised app spying through your camera.
Learn more →Your security software switches itself off or shows as disabled — often malware disabling protection, leaving the PC exposed.
Learn more →Fake email or SMS tricks you into clicking a malicious link that steals passwords or installs malware on your device.
Learn more →The fan spins up and CPU usage maxes out even when you're idle, a sign that hidden mining software is running on your PC.
Learn more →A silent infection that copies saved passwords, cookies, and banking details from browsers — usually caught after accounts get hijacked or money goes missing.
Learn more →The same virus reappears after cleaning, often hiding in restore points, startup entries, or a rootkit that standard antivirus cannot remove.
Learn more →Cursor moves, clicks, or types by itself — a strong sign of a remote access trojan letting someone control the computer, or a failing mouse or touchpad.
Learn more →Strange toolbars or extensions appear in the browser without you installing them, a common sign of adware or bundled software that can track browsing and show extra ads.
Learn more →Files emptied from Recycle Bin data recovery needed before they're overwritten.
Learn more →Repetitive clicking sound from inside the computer mechanical hard drive failure imminent.
Learn more →Plugged in but nothing appears corrupted partition, failed enclosure, or physical damage.
Learn more →Windows asks to format the drive file system corruption or physical NAND failure.
Learn more →No space left for new files need to clean up, upgrade storage, or move to cloud.
Learn more →Photos or videos missing from camera memory card accidental format or card corruption.
Learn more →Cloud files won’t sync, showing offline status or sync errors often due to account conflicts or network restrictions.
Learn more →Accidentally reformatting a drive or SD card does not immediately erase your data -- professional recovery tools can often restore files if you stop using the drive right away.
Learn moreA document or spreadsheet that refuses to open or shows garbled text file header corruption, incomplete save, or malware damage.
Learn moreComputer turns on but the storage drive does not appear in BIOS can be a loose SATA cable, failed drive, or firmware corruption.
Learn moreYour computer or phone does not recognise the SD card at all. The card reader driver may be missing, the card may need reformatting, or the write-protect switch is engaged.
Learn moreYour SSD health monitoring tool reports SMART warnings like bad sectors, high wear levelling count, or uncorrectable read errors — the drive may be approaching failure and data loss is imminent.
Learn more →New or existing NVMe drive does not show up in BIOS or Disk Management — may be a compatibility, seating, or motherboard slot issue requiring diagnosis.
Learn more →Windows refuses to copy or delete files on an external drive because it is write-protected — a lock switch, a permission issue, or a filesystem error.
Learn more →Plugging in your drive shows a format warning before you can use it, the files are usually still there, so stop and get the data recovered first.
Learn more →Cloud folders fill with duplicate and conflicted-copy files when one document is edited on multiple devices, wasting space and causing confusion.
Learn more →External drive drops out mid-transfer and reconnects on its own — a failing USB cable, power issues, or a failing drive enclosure.
Learn more →Windows scans and repairs the drive on every boot — file system corruption or an ageing hard disk nearing failure.
Learn more →Windows asks for a BitLocker recovery key after a hardware change or update and your files become inaccessible.
Learn more →A USB flash drive suddenly shows 0 bytes or a smaller capacity than it should — a corrupted partition table, a failed format, or a counterfeit drive.
Learn more →Windows refuses to safely eject a USB drive because a program is still using it — file explorer, antivirus scans, or background processes can hold the drive open.
Learn more →Connected but no internet, or WiFi networks not showing router issue, driver problem, or hardware failure.
Learn more →Pages take forever to load despite paying for fast broadband router placement, interference, or ISP throttling.
Learn more →Connection drops every few minutes outdated drivers, router channel congestion, or faulty WiFi card.
Learn more →Computer cannot find the printer driver issue, network misconfiguration, or USB cable fault.
Learn more →Devices won't pair or keep disconnecting driver issue, interference, or hardware failure.
Learn more →Ink cartridges full but output is blank clogged printhead, driver issue, or incorrect settings.
Learn more →Websites won't load but internet appears connected DNS server failure, router misconfiguration, or ISP outage.
Learn moreVPN fails to connect or keeps disconnecting mid-session, often caused by firewall settings, outdated software, or network instability.
Learn more →Internet goes down several times a day and the router lights blink overheating, outdated firmware, or ISP line instability.
Learn moreTeams, Zoom, or Google Meet calls keep stuttering or freezing usually a WiFi bandwidth issue or router QoS misconfiguration.
Learn moreDevice shows WiFi connection but DNS misconfiguration, ISP outage, or IP address conflict prevents actual internet access.
Learn more →The Ethernet cable is plugged in with blinking port lights, but websites won't load; usually a router misconfiguration, ISP outage, or incorrect DNS settings.
Learn more →Windows shows "IP address conflict" message — another device on your network is using the same IP. Common in offices with many connected devices.
Learn more →Strong WiFi near the router but barely any signal in certain rooms — thick walls, interference, or router placement issues.
Learn more →Device keeps connecting to the slower 2.4GHz band and the faster 5GHz network does not appear often a missing driver, wrong adapter setting, or router band steering.
Learn more →Typing 192.168.1.1 or the router address in a browser does not open the admin page — wrong gateway IP, browser cache, or a firmware glitch.
Learn more →Typing a familiar address lands you on fake or ad-filled pages, a sign your DNS settings or router have been tampered with by malware.
Learn more →Phone hotspot won't show up or devices can't connect — carrier restrictions, driver issues, or incorrect APN settings.
Learn more →Wireless keyboard, mouse, or earbuds drop out or cut in and out — driver conflicts, signal interference, or a failing Bluetooth module.
Learn more →Windows keeps rejecting the right WiFi password — usually a corrupted saved network profile, wrong security type, or outdated driver.
Learn more →Your own WiFi network is missing from the list of connections, often a hidden SSID, disabled wireless adapter, or outdated driver.
Learn more →Games lag and rubber-band even with fast internet, usually from Wi-Fi interference, router congestion, or ISP throttling during peak hours.
Learn more →Computer dead with no signs of life failed capacitors, power surge damage, or component short.
Learn more →Strange colours, lines, or shapes on screen during gaming GPU overheating or failing VRAM.
Learn more →Computer won't turn on at all PSU no longer delivering power to components.
Learn more →Devices not recognised when plugged in driver issue, physical damage, or motherboard fault.
Learn more →Series of beeps when powering on BIOS POST error codes indicating hardware failure.
Learn more →Camera shows black screen or not detected privacy shutter closed, driver issue, or internal cable failure.
Learn moreYour computer keeps resetting to a wrong date and time on every boot the small CMOS battery on the motherboard has died and needs replacement.
Learn more →No sound from built-in speakers even when volume is turned up could be a faulty audio jack sensor, blown speakers, or loose internal cable.
Learn more →A constant high-pitched squeal or buzzing from inside the case vibrating inductors on the GPU or power supply under load.
Learn moreYour printer spits out random symbols, wingdings, or garbled text instead of your document, usually a corrupted print spooler, wrong driver, or faulty USB cable.
Learn moreOne or more cooling fans stops spinning causing heat buildup; could be a loose connection, dust obstruction, or failed fan bearing.
Learn more →CPU temperatures spiking above 90°C causing performance drops, random shutdowns, or sluggish response under load.
Learn more →External monitor connected to laptop or desktop flickers, goes black intermittently, or displays distortion — loose video cable, mismatched refresh rate, or failing GPU output port.
Learn more →Closing the lid doesn't put the laptop to sleep — the magnetic sensor or reed switch inside the palm rest has failed.
Learn more →Monitor, keyboard or external drive plugged into a USB-C docking station is not recognised could be an underpowered dock, a faulty cable, or a missing driver.
Learn more →A rattling or grinding sound from the CPU cooler indicates a failing fan bearing, dust buildup, or the blades catching on a cable.
Learn more →The heat-transfer paste between the CPU and cooler hardens over time, causing high temperatures, throttling, and sudden shutdowns.
Learn more →Plugging in headphones produces no sound or crackling audio — a damaged audio jack, loose connection, or faulty sound hardware.
Learn more →The GPU fan stays still while gaming, causing overheating, crashes, and shutdowns — dust buildup, a worn bearing, or a dead fan header.
Learn more →Random freezes, blue screens and app crashes that worsen over time, often a failing or incorrectly seated RAM module.
Learn more →Mouse, keyboard or flash drive drops out and reconnects repeatedly, often caused by a failing USB port, driver conflict, or power-saving settings.
Learn more →Updates stuck downloading or failing to install corrupted update cache or disk space issues.
Learn more →Upgrade from older Windows fails midway incompatible drivers, insufficient space, or corruption.
Learn more →Word, Excel, or Outlook crashing or refusing to open corrupted installation or licence issue.
Learn more →Sound, graphics, or network stopped working after Windows update incompatible driver version.
Learn more →Apple logo stuck or flashing question mark corrupted OS, failed drive, or NVRAM issue.
Learn more →Locked out of your own computer need password reset without losing data.
Learn more →Phone plugged in via USB but computer doesn't recognise it driver, cable, or port issue.
Learn more →No sound from speakers or headphones muted output, wrong playback device selected, or corrupted audio driver.
Learn moreWindows keeps booting into Automatic Repair and never reaches the desktop usually caused by corrupted system files, failed updates, or driver conflicts.
Learn more →Windows loads past the logo but you only see a black screen with a movable mouse pointer Explorer.exe failed to start, or a graphics driver crashed.
Learn moreWindows gets stuck on the "Shutting down" screen for minutes or restarts instead of powering off, often caused by pending updates, driver conflicts, or fast startup bugs.
Learn moreUser Account Control prompts appear repeatedly even after entering the correct password.
Learn more →Corrupted mouse driver, conflicting background process, or failing USB controller causing cursor to vanish or lock up.
Learn more →Typing in the Start menu search bar returns no results, usually caused by a corrupted Windows Search index or stopped search service.
Learn more →Clicking the Start button or taskbar icons does nothing; often caused by a frozen Windows Explorer process, corrupted system files, or a recent buggy Windows update.
Learn more →Microphone works in some apps but is silent or distorted in Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet — privacy permissions conflict, wrong default input device, or outdated audio driver.
Learn more →Replacing your motherboard or CPU triggered Windows deactivation — watermark appears and personalisation is locked until reactivated.
Learn more →Fingerprint or face unlock stops responding after a Windows update or driver change usually fixed by re-registering biometrics or updating the driver.
Learn more →A program installer freezes partway or errors out — a corrupted installer, missing administrator rights, or insufficient disk space.
Learn more →Files open in unexpected programs or default apps reset after updates — corrupted file associations or Windows settings.
Learn more →File Explorer freezes or restarts repeatedly — a faulty shell extension, corrupted system files, or a recent Windows update.
Learn more →Icons on your desktop vanish or take ages to appear after login — a corrupted icon cache or Explorer problem after a crash or update.
Learn more →A program refuses to uninstall or the uninstaller hangs halfway, usually from corrupted registry entries, leftover files, or a blocked installer.
Learn more →Charger connected but battery icon shows 'plugged in, not charging' faulty battery or charging circuit.
Learn more →Battery visibly bulging, trackpad lifting dangerous lithium-ion battery failure, needs immediate replacement.
Learn more →Powers on for 2-3 seconds then turns off short circuit, overheating, or PSU failure.
Learn more →Your computer stopped working after a lightning strike or power outage the surge may have fried the power supply, motherboard, or other internal components.
Learn more →When your laptop does not detect the charger even when plugged in, the issue could be a faulty DC jack, a damaged charger cable, or a motherboard power circuit failure.
Learn moreCharging light is on but the battery percentage keeps dropping undersized charger, worn-out battery, or a power-hungry application running.
Learn moreThe DC jack inside your laptop can wear out or break from daily plugging and unplugging, causing intermittent charging, sparking, or no power at all.
Learn moreBattery indicator stays at zero even when the laptop is plugged in and charging.
Learn more →Laptop abruptly powers off at 20-30% instead of reaching zero, indicating a worn-out battery that needs replacement.
Learn more →Laptop shuts down instantly when unplugged from the charger, indicating a completely dead battery that can no longer hold any charge and needs replacement.
Learn more →Computer shows no signs of life after a blackout or power cut — no fans, no lights. Often caused by a tripped PSU protection circuit or surge damage.
Learn more →Windows or macOS reports "service recommended" battery warning — reduced runtime and potential swelling risk if ignored.
Learn more →Battery percentage drops steadily then plummets suddenly — worn-out cells causing inaccurate calibration and unexpected shutdowns.
Learn more →Battery loses charge overnight even with the laptop off or asleep usually caused by fast startup, a USB charging port left on, or an ageing battery.
Learn more →Taskbar shows no battery detected even though the laptop runs fine on AC power, usually a loose battery connector, failed cell, or driver issue.
Learn more →Battery percentage barely rises even after hours on charge — a weak charger, background apps, or an ageing battery.
Learn more →Battery level jumps between readings or reports the wrong charge — a miscalibrated battery, ageing cells, or a faulty charging circuit.
Learn more →Charger becomes hot to the touch while charging — a failing adapter, wrong wattage, or a short in the charging circuit that can damage the battery or start a fire.
Learn more →The battery charges only while the laptop is shut down and stops charging once it is switched on — a failing charger, worn charging port, or battery management driver issue.
Learn more →Charging stops at around 80 percent even though the battery still works — often battery protection software, a faulty charging circuit, or a degraded battery cell.
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