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Dead Laptop? 
8 Tips to Troubleshoot and Fix a Laptop That Won’t Turn On

Note: This article links to the Microsoft website throughout. We do not control any of the content provided from those links.

If your laptop won’t power on or shows no signs of life, don’t worry; there are a few things you can try before heading to a repair shop. Here’s a step-by-step guide, starting with the simplest and least expensive solutions.
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Safety warning

This complimentary blog post offers general information on diagnosing a few common standard device issues that are not the result of accidental damage. It is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. You follow any instructions at your own risk. To the fullest extent permitted by UK law, we disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from reliance on this content. If you are unsure about a fault, consult the device’s manufacturer or retailer before relying on—or acting upon—the information that follows. 
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Accidental damage:
This blog cannot assist if the device shows any signs of liquid damage (inc liquid spills, drops, impact) - instead, it will be recommended to:

  1. Unplug the charger and switch the device off immediately & seek advice from the retailer or the manufacturer (to ensure safe handling). 
  2. Check whether your warranty or insurance policy covers accidental damage. Standard device warranty typically will not include this. If it does, arrange service through the original manufacturer or insurer. If it is not covered, liaise with a reputable local or specialist repair shop for an assessment.

Devices that show signs of accidental damage should remain out of use until a qualified technician declares them safe. In many cases, migrating your data to a replacement device is the simplest route.

Excessive heat:

A device will emit more heat when it's running heavier workload. However, if the device remains uncomfortably hot even if it is not heavily used:

  1.    Power it down and disconnect it from the mains. 
  2.    Seek advice from the retailer, or the manufacturer if they could assist under warranty.
  3.    Alternatively liaise with a local or specialist repairer if they can assist in getting the device to run cooler. This could sometimes be a very straightforward tasks. 

Keep the system powered off until it has been inspected. Acting quickly reduces the risk of permanent damage to the device and your surroundings. 
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1. Try a Different Charger

Sometimes the issue isn’t with the laptop itself, but is in the charger.

  • Test with a compatible charger (make sure the connector and wattage match).
  • Check for charging lights or symbols on the laptop.
  • Let it charge for at least 15-30 minutes before trying to power it on.


Even if your current charger looks fine, internal cable breaks or power brick failures are surprisingly common. Avoid low-quality generic replacements, as they may not deliver consistent power.

 

Use a compatible power bank, check the wattage, to see if the laptop draws any power, the charging port itself could be faulty.
Alternatively using a plug-in energy monitor or smart plug with energy monitoring can help to see if the charger or charging port is faulty.
 

2. Test with an External Display

If your laptop turns on (you hear fans or drives), but the screen stays black, the issue may be the built-in display.

  • Connect the laptop to an external monitor or TV via HDMI, USB-C, or DisplayPort (if available).
  • Power on the laptop and check for a signal on the external display.
  • You may need to press:
    -Windows + P (on Windows) to switch display modes.
    -Or close and reopen the lid for MacBooks while connected.


If the external display works, the laptop itself is functional and you’re likely dealing with a faulty screen or display cable.
 

3. Perform a Soft Power Reset

A soft power reset helps drain any residual power from the laptop’s motherboard and internal components, which can clear temporary power issues or conflicts in the laptop's circuits. This can often fix problems like the laptop not powering on, unresponsiveness, or frozen states

 

How to perform a soft power reset:
For laptops with removable batteries:

  • Unplug the charger and remove the battery.
  • Hold the power button for 15-20 seconds.
  • Reinsert the battery, plug in the charger, and try turning it on.


For non-removable battery models:

  • Unplug the charger.
  • Hold the power button for 30 seconds.

4. Pay Attention to Diagnostic Alerts

While it varies per model and manufacturer, if a system isn’t turning on there is sometimes a blinking light or speaker beeping to indicate a hardware fault.

 

  • The lights may be near the power indicator or on the keyboard (where the caps lock/number lock light usually is)
  • Lights may alternate between colours - try searching this combination with the manufacturer’s name (i.e. Dell 1 White 3 Amber)
  • Speakers will alternate between long tones and short tones, and should be searched for in the same way (i.e. Lenovo 3 Short 1 Long)

5. Check the Blue Screen Of Death for an Error Code

When your system reaches this point, Windows is trying to boot but isn’t able to. The good news is that Windows will give an error, either a little piece of text or a scannable QR Code.

 

The solutions can vary greatly depending on what the error is - and whether or not the error changes each time.

 

Turn your system on, then off immediately as it starts to power on. Then power on, this should give you a menu where you can choose to boot into safe mode. This disables lots of drivers that aren’t critical for Windows to load - helping you figure out whether your system has a software problem or a hardware problem.

6. Check Warranty or Contact Seller Support

If none of the above steps work and your laptop is still within its warranty period, don’t open it up just yet.

  • Manufacturer warranty: Visit the brand’s website and enter your serial number to check coverage.
  • Seller warranty: If you bought from a retailer or refurbisher, contact them directly they may offer support, repair, or replacement options.


Always check your warranty status before paying for repairs—you might save money or qualify for a no-cost fix. Breaking the manufacturer's warranty seal may also void any remaining warranty so it’s always good to check first.

 

7. Visit a Local Repair Shop

If you’re out of warranty, want a faster repair or don't feel comfortable trying yourself, a local computer repair shop can help.

 

  • Look for a shop experienced with your laptop brand (e.g., Dell, Lenovo, Apple, etc.).
  • They can test your battery, motherboard, charger port, and more.
  • You can have the system diagnosed to decide whether you want to perform the repair.

 

Note: When seeking a repair shop to fix a laptop or any other device, it's crucial to ensure that the shop offers a warranty on their repairs. This warranty serves as a form of protection for you as the customer and ensures that you’re not left dealing with additional issues after your laptop is repaired.
 

8. Check manually

For anyone out of manufacturer warranty and who don’t want/can’t use a repair shop, here’s some extra ideas you can try:

  • If the system seems to power on but doesn’t boot normally, safely follow the manufacturer's hardware service manual and try removing (or replacing) the RAM and/or SSD. Faulty components can interfere with the boot process, and if you can remove the problem they might boot. (If your system only has 1 RAM or SSD module then this may be harder to diagnose)
  • Swap the user-serviceable components from a working system (RAM/SSD sometimes are user serviceable, refer to the service maual) - this can help you identify what exactly is causing the problem.
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Maybe it's time to give it up

If you've worked through these steps and the laptop still refuses to power on—or if professional repair costs more than a replacement—then it may be time to move on. Older systems especially can reach a point where they are simply beyond economical to fix (e.g. due to parts scarcity, age-related failures, or high labour costs).

 

At this stage, it’s worth considering buying a new or refurbished laptop. A newer device will come with a fresh warranty, improved performance, and better energy efficiency, saving you future headaches (and money) compared to constantly patching up an aging system. If you need help picking a replacement, check out our range of refurbished laptops designed to offer great value and reliability.

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