How to save a dead computer, or at least try to revive it

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Press the power button to start the computer...but there was no response. It's dead, or it looks like it's dead. However, even in this worst case, there are ways to make it restart. If not, you can usually still recover files and data, even if your device is basically a very expensive brick – so don't panic.

When your desktop or laptop fails to boot, it means there is a problem with its hardware or software. Identifying the root cause of a problem is not precise science, but you can troubleshoot many potential problems by taking a organized troubleshooting approach.

When performing these steps, remember that there are many reasons why your computer won't boot. Finding and fixing problems often requires a lot of trial and error. We may not be able to include all potential issues, but we can guide you to find solutions to some of the most common issues. If all methods fail, we will explain when it is best to turn to the professionals.

Check hardware problems

First check if there is any problem with your hardware. To reduce the risk of electric shock, make sure your computer is completely powered off before you start operating. For most brands and models, you can hold the power button for a few seconds to turn off the machine. Then, unplug all unnecessary peripherals, such as printers and scanners, before attempting to restart, to ensure they do not cause interference.

Next, make sure your machine is receiving enough power. If you are using a laptop, plug it into the power supply and make sure the charging indicator light is on. For desktops, double check that the monitor is securely connected. For any type of computer, make sure you are using the included power cord – or if the original power cord is damaged, you have an exact replacement. If you have (or can borrow) a spare cable, try switching to that cable to make sure it is not the cause of the problem.

[Related: How to lower the computer temperature]

After turning off all power, briefly press the power button to restart the machine. If your computer boots up, for at least a few seconds, the culprit could be the broken software…but that doesn't completely rule out hardware issues. So, check if there is any message on the screen that might suggest the problem. Does the computer explain why it cannot start? Is it not able to detect a hard drive or other specific component?

If the power button does not respond, it means that there is a problem with the hardware. In this case, if you have tried a backup power cord, it may be time to go to your local repair shop for a professional evaluation.

Can we find out the clear hardware problems? We can't cover all situations here, but if you have an old computer or have recently moved the machine, the components may be damaged or loose. For desktops, you can try to turn off the machine, open the chassis, and double-check all connections to the motherboard. But we only recommend that you perform this step if you are sure you can operate the computer inside yourself. For the rest of us, professional assessments may be better.

Generally speaking, one of the most common causes of hardware failure is the impending damage to the hard drive. If your computer makes strange noises, such as high-pitched buzzing or warning beeping, that could be your problem. Screen messages about disk issues may also point to the same issue. Again, replacing a hard drive is usually the job of your local repair shop or retail store. While replacing a disk is a relatively simple task – it involves disconnecting the power and data cable from an existing drive and then plugging it into a new drive – there are a lot of errors if you are not completely sure what you are doing possibility. Of course, if you are confident in your abilities or don’t care what happens to your device or data, you can jump to the DIY Data Recovery section below.

That is, if your computer does boot up for a while, especially if it runs to the operating system loading screen, you are more likely to face software problems.

Handling software problems: Windows

When the software refuses to let the computer start, it is usually due to data corruption: the system cannot find the file it relies on correctly started. If you are lucky, you will see a message on the screen explaining the problem and what to do next. Otherwise, you have to go through some troubleshooting steps to pinpoint the problem.

On Microsoft machines, the computer can try to repair it by itself. If it fails to boot three times in a row, Windows 10 and 11 will automatically display the recovery console on the screen, called boot repair. When a large "Auto Repair" title appears, click to restart and the system will try to do many repairs. This may be enough to get you back on it.

However, if you try to boot and return to Auto Repair instead of your usual Windows desktop, click Advanced options to enter the Windows recovery environment. From there, click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Start Settings. Here, select and you will eventually see a list of startup options. Select Option Four or press F4 on your keyboard to enable safe mode. If you need to use the internet, select option five or click F5. Both options will launch a thin version of Windows, enabling only the necessary applications and utilities. You may be able to start Windows with this minimum state. If you can, try uninstalling any programs or devices you have recently added as they may interfere with system startup. If you can't even start this thin version of Windows, try system reset. We have a complete guide on all Windows 10 and 11 reset options, but the basic steps for Windows 10 are: Turn on your computer's settings via the

gear icon

on the Start menu and click to update and safe, and select Recover. Under Reset this computer, select to start to start the reset process. On Windows 11, you will select System > Restore > Reset this computer > Reset the computer. After that, Windows will replace and repair many critical operating system files. It will also provide erasing your personal files, but you should choose to keep them unless you have an extremely latest backup. This final measure should fix most software-related startup issues. However, if your computer still doesn't boot, the culprit may be the hardware. As mentioned in the previous section, we recommend that you seek expert help to fix such errors.

Troubleshooting software problems: macOS

macOS operating systems generally perform better self-healing than Windows (although Microsoft has caught up in recent years). That is, software corruption is still very likely.

As an analogue of Windows startup repair, macOS has recovery capabilities. To use it, run an internet search on your phone or other device to determine if your computer is using an Apple silicon chip or an Intel processor. If it is the former, press and hold the power button to turn on the Mac until the list of startup options appears. Click the option and then click to continue . If it is the latter, turn on the computer and hold Cmd R immediately until the image is seen.

When the computer loads, you will see a list of options. Starting with the Disk Utility , it will scan the internal drive of your Mac for problems. It will also try to fix any issues it encounters, which may make your computer work properly again.

[Related: 4 hidden Mac tweaks to speed up your computer]

If your startup issues start after a recent hardware or software change, you can fix them by returning to earlier versions of the software: From the recovery screen, try to restore from a Time Machine backup. Or, the streamlined operating system will still work. For this method you need to use macOS safe mode.

To enable safe mode on Apple silicon chip device, turn it off, then press the

Power button to turn it on and hold it until the boot option appears. Select your boot disk and press Shift until click to continue in safe mode. On the Intel machine, restart the computer, and immediately hold Shift until the login screen appears.

If you can enter macOS through safe mode, a normal restart may solve your problem. If not, try uninstalling any non-essential apps or devices – especially anything you set up at the start of the issue.

If you still have problems, you may need to completely reinstall. Return to the recovery screen and select Reinstall macOS. This will completely restore the machine's software to its factory state, so this will only be done after backing up all the important data. Like the equivalent Windows process, reinstalling should fix most software issues.

How to recover files from crash

Even if all these attempts fail, your valuable data may still be safe (unless the root cause of the boot problem is a corrupt hard drive). Of course, ideally you don't need to retrieve this data, because you have backed up all the files. However, if you don't have a backup available, you will need to extract data from your hard drive.

On the simplest level, you can remove the drive from your laptop or desktop and access it from another computer. For example, you could set it up as an external drive, but to do that, you need a model like Inateck ($12 for Amazon) or Sabrent ($12 for Amazon). Just make sure to buy a shell that matches the hard drive you extracted from your old machine.

After you get the case, you need to turn off the computer, remove the side panel or bottom panel, and disconnect the drive from its case and cable. You need to follow the online guide, which you can find by searching for the frozen make and model and the phrase "Remove the hard drive." If you are not used to dealing with hardware, we recommend that you hand over this task to a professional repair shop.

When you set up an old drive in the new shell, you can plug it into the working machine and it should show up as a normal external disk. If your original files are Mac files, you need to access them from another Apple computer, but if you don't have one, a program like MacDrive ($50, offers a five-day free trial) will allow you to access them on Windows ( Windows drives are easier to access, so you don't need extra software to read them on your Mac). You can then copy the files to your new computer—and make sure you back up this time.

Try other data recovery methods

Another option to recover data from a freeze is to access your files through a different operating system. However, this only works if your laptop or desktop can actually stay long enough for you to boot from your portable system.

If you can, set up a portable Linux operating system on the USB stick (full description is here). Plug it into a freeze, boot on the Linux operating system, and try to access the drive this way.

However, if you want to get as much data as possible from your drive and you are ready to pay for it with peace of mind, you should seek help from your data recovery service. A quick web search should find many options locally.

Most professionals will accept an entire computer or a separate drive and wrap it in a protective packaging. They will use the same technology we have discussed to access your data – but their staff may have tried a lot more times than you, so it is more likely to extract your information and deal with any issues that arise.

This story has been updated. It was originally released on May 2, 2018.

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