How to Check Your Computer Before You Call
Ten calm minutes that can save you a repair.
Before you ring anyone, it is worth a few simple checks. Sometimes they fix the problem. When they do not, they tell us exactly where to look, which makes the repair quicker and cheaper.
Step by step
- Write down what happened, and when. Did anything change just before: an update, a knock, a spill, a power cut?
- Photograph any error message with your phone.
- Restart the computer properly: shut down, wait ten seconds, switch on.
- Check every cable is pushed fully home, at both ends.
- Unplug everything you do not need: printers, memory sticks, hubs. Then try again.
- Look and listen: which lights come on, do the fans spin, are there any beeps?
- If it starts, copy your important files to a memory stick or external drive straight away.
- Find the make and model, usually on a label underneath or on the back.
What the result means
- It works after a restart: keep an eye on it. If it happens again, there is a cause worth finding.
- It works with everything unplugged: one of those devices is the culprit. Plug them back one at a time.
- Nothing changes: you have done all the right things. Call us with your notes.
Not sure? Call 020 7237 6805. We are happy to talk it through, and the assessment is free.
Questions and answers
Will I make things worse by trying?
Not with these checks. None of them opens the computer or changes anything inside it.
What should I tell you when I call?
The make and model, what it is doing, any error message, and what you have already tried.
When should I stop and call straight away?
If you smell burning, hear clicking from the drive, or the computer has been wet. Switch it off and call 020 7237 6805.
More guides
- Check your Hard Drive or SSD
- Check your Computer’s Memory
- Check If your Computer Is Overheating
- Check your Laptop Battery and Charger
- Check your Internet and Wi-Fi
- Check your Computer for Viruses
- Back Up your Files Before a Repair
Let us take a look
The assessment is free, the price is fixed before we start, and every repair carries a 3-month warranty. Call 020 7237 6805, or tell us what is wrong and a technician will reply.