You’re in the middle of typing an important document or on a critical Skype call when your computer suddenly crashes or switches off. It’s not responding to your usual prompts, and you have no idea how to recover your previous work or get it to come on again.
Whether it’s your Apple or Toshiba not turning on, there are a few things you can do to recover your data or get your laptop working again. Don’t panic and use the following tips.
LOOK FOR THE OBVIOUS
Have you made sure your computer is powered, plugged in and all attachments are unplugged? This might seem obvious, but checking this can save you the cost and embarrassment of a professional consultation when all that’s needed is a replacement charging cable.
If you’ve done all the above and it still won’t come on, it could be a hardware problem, which will need professional investigation. On the other hand, if it comes on briefly or there’s screen activity, it could be your software. If your screen displays any message (however briefly) take note of it as it could come in handy later.
DEALING WITH SOFTWARE PROBLEMS
Data corruption and missing files can cause software issues, and your approach will differ depending on whether you’re using a PC or Mac. With Windows, access Automatic Repair to recover your files and get running. If this doesn’t work, restart in Safe Mode and then try uninstalling your most recent programs and devices. If this doesn’t work, you might need to reset your PC manually.
With a Mac, you can start up in Recovery Mode, where you can select disk utility to scan your drives for problems. If this doesn’t work, you can enter Recovery Mode and select an earlier version of your software, using Time Machine backup. You can also start up in Safe Mode and uninstall any new programs and devices, just like you would do with a PC.
If neither of these options work, restore your computer to its factory setting once you’ve recovered your data and/or backed it up.
It’s essential you don’t attempt to do any fixes than the steps stated above. It’s best to consult a professional, telling them what you’ve done as well as if you need any data restored.