7 Solutions to Fix the Laptop Won’t Turn on Issue

Why My Laptop Computer Won’t Turn On?

If your laptop won’t turn on, the cause can usually be grouped into four categories: power-related problems, hardware failures, display issues, or Windows startup errors.

The symptoms you see when pressing the Power button can help identify the possible cause and choose the right troubleshooting method.

Recover Data Before Fixing a Laptop That Won’t Turn On

If your laptop contains important files and cannot boot, recover your data before reinstalling Windows or resetting the BIOS.

You can create a bootable recovery USB using MiniTool Power Data Recovery and access files from an unbootable computer.

Before you start to recover data, you need to prepare:

• A blank USB flash drive with enough storage. Recommended size: 4 – 64 GB
• Another working Windows computer
• Keep the power supply connected to the dead laptop

Note that MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free does not provide the Bootable Media Builder feature. This feature is only available in advanced editions.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Launch MiniTool Power Data Recovery Bootable, then insert the blank USB drive into the working computer.

Click the Bootable Media icon and follow the on-screen instructions to create a bootable USB flash drive.  

Step 2: Now, remove the bootable USB drive and then insert it into the dead laptop. Get into BIOS and then use the Up and Down keys to select the USB boot disk or adjust the USB drive to the first boot order according to different computer brands and models.

Here we take selecting EFI USB Device and pressing Enter for example.

Step 3: On the main interface of MiniTool Power Data Recovery, scan the drive you want to recover data from.

Step 4: When the process is finished, you can start to select the files you need. Under the Path tab, the scan results will be displayed as a tree structure. You can look for your file in the Existing Files folder. If you want to find a certain type of file, you can go to the Type tab where the found files are classified according to the file type.

Additionally, you can click Filter to add filter criteria like file type, modified date, file size, etc. so as to filter out unwanted files.

Step 5: After you have selected the needed files, click Save and select your USB drive to save them.

How to Fix Laptop Won’t Turn On?

How can you fix the laptop won’t turn on issue?The right fix depends on what happens when you press the Power button.

• Laptop shuts down immediately: Check hardware failures
• No lights or fan: Check power supply and battery
• Power light is on, but screen is black: Check display issues
• Laptop turns on, but Windows does not load: Use Windows built-in recovery tools

Fix 1: Check the Charger, Battery, and Perform a Power Reset

Power-related problems are one of the most common reasons why a laptop won’t turn on. Before trying advanced troubleshooting methods, check the charger, battery, and power connection.

Try these steps:

1. Make sure the charger is properly connected to both the laptop and the power outlet.
2. Check whether the charging indicator light turns on.
3. Disconnect the power cable or the AC adapter and remove the battery (if possible).
4. Disconnect all devices such as USB drives, printers, webcams, and media cards.
5. Press and hold the Power button for about 20 seconds to drain the residual power.
6. Connect the power cable or AC adapter and battery.
7. Turn on the computer.

If possible, test with another compatible charger or power outlet to rule out power adapter problems.

Fix 2: Ensure the Screen Works Well

If your laptop won’t turn on but the power light is on, this may be due to screen issues.

When external devices connected to your laptop show signs of activity, such as LED lights, but the screen remains unresponsive, there may be an issue with the display. Try adjusting the screen brightness using the dedicated function keys or buttons on your laptop’s keyboard.

If you’re using an external monitor, double-check that it’s securely connected to your laptop and powered on. Ensure that all cables are properly connected to avoid any display issues.

Fix 3: Start Your Laptop in Safe Mode

Starting your laptop in Safe Mode allows you to troubleshoot software-related issues by loading only essential system files and drivers.

Here is the tutorial.

1. Start and shut down your laptop several times to enter WinRE. The keystroke to enter WinRE may vary from computer to computer, depending on the manufacturer and configuration of the computer.
2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
3. Press F5 to start your computer in Safe Mode with networking. If Windows starts normally in Safe Mode, there may be something wrong with a normal boot. You need to identify the reason to find a solution. For example, you can roll back Windows for compatibility issues, repair the file system for bad sector problems, etc.

Fix 4: Perform a Component Test

Performing a component test helps diagnose hardware issues on your laptop, including problems with the processor, memory, hard drive, and other essential components.

Different laptops may require different keys to perform a component test. Here, we take a Dell laptop as an example.

1. Restart your Dell laptop and press the F12 key repeatedly to access the boot menu.
2. Select Diagnostics or Diagnostic Test to run the built-in diagnostics tool.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the test and identify any hardware failures.

Fix 5: Use Startup Repair and Carry out System Restore

Startup Repair and System Restore are Windows tools that can help fix startup problems and revert your laptop’s system files to a previous working state.

To use Startup Repair:

1. Start your laptop and press the F8 key to get into the recovery environment screen.
2. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair to utilize the Windows built-in repair tool to fix your problem.

To carry out System Restore:

1. In the recovery environment screen, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.
2. If you have a computer password, input it.
3. Choose a restore point recorded on your computer to restore the system to a previous normal state.

Fix 6: Execute BootRec Commands

BootRec commands are used to repair the Master Boot Record (MBR) or Boot Configuration Data (BCD) on your laptop, which can help fix boot-related issues.

1. Enter WinRE and click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
2. Type bootrec /fixmbr and press Enter to execute it. After that, execute the bootrec /rebuildbcd command.

Fix 7: Reset BIOS Settings or Update BIOS (Advanced Users Only)

Resetting BIOS settings or updating the BIOS firmware can help fix hardware-related issues or improve system stability.

To reset BIOS settings:

Restart your computer and access the BIOS setup utility. The method varies depending on the manufacturer and model of your computer.

In BIOS setup, navigate to the Exit tab using the arrow keys and select Load Setup Default or a similar option. Confirm the reset when prompted, then save and exit BIOS. After that, your BIOS settings will be restored to their default values.

To update BIOS:

Go to the official website of your computer’s manufacturer and locate the support or downloads section. Search for your specific computer model and download the latest BIOS update package available. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to install the BIOS update. Be sure to carefully read and follow all instructions to avoid any potential issues during the BIOS update process.

Bottom Line

Not being able to turn on your laptop is a huge headache. To resolve this issue, you can try the fixes above. If you want to recover data from a dead laptop, try using MiniTool Power Data Recovery. If you encounter any problems using this software, contact the support team for help via [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions