Windows Power and Charging Issues

How to troubleshoot Power Issues on Desktop or All-In-One

Whether you have a Dell, HP, Lenovo, or any other brand of Desktop or All-In-One computer, the steps to troubleshoot power issues are relatively the same. 

Symptoms

• Desktop or all-in-one does not turn on.
• The power LED on the desktop or all-in-one is off.
• The power LED on the AC adapter of an all-in-one computer is off.
• None of the LEDs on the desktop or all-in-one respond when you press the power button.
• There is no LED or sound indication that the desktop or all-in-one is turned on.

Cause

There are several factors that could cause power on issues on a Desktop computer. One of the main causes would be related to the unit’s power supply. If the power supply has failed, the computer won’t turn on. 

Try the following steps to determine what the issue may be:

Perform a Hard Reset
More often than not, simply restarting a computer can resolve many issues. 

1. If the computer is not already turned off, simply press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds. 
2. Disconnect the power cable from the computer
3. Disconnect all external devices such as USB Flash Drives, External Hard Drives, Printer Cables. Note: You may leave your Keyboard & Mouse connected.
4. Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds to drain all residual power from the computer.
5. Re-connect the power cable to the computer
6. Turn on the computer by pressing the power button once. Note: No need to hold the power button in. 

If this did not resolve the issue, please go to the next step below.

Inspect the power cable and the power connection port on the desktop computer for any damages
It’s possible that the power cable or AC adapter may experience wear, leading to frays or cuts that may expose the wires. To check the power cable, AC adapter, and the power connection on the computer:

1. Unplug the power cable or AC adapter from the wall outlet.
2. Unplug the power cable or AC adapter from the computer.
3. Inspect the power cable or AC adapter’s cables for any signs of physical damage or overheating. 
4. Check the pins inside the power plug on the computer where the power cable plugs in for any signs of bent or damaged pins. 

If you do not find any damage, go to the next step below.

Confirm that the power strip and power outlet are functioning as they should

1. Unplug the power cable or AC adapter from the power outlet. 
2. Connect a known-working device directly into the power outlet to confirm that the socket is working correctly. 
3. Plug the power cable or AC adapter directly into the power outlet, to bypass any power strips, surge protectors and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).
4. Try to power on the computer

If the power cable and power outlet are functioning correctly, and the computer still won’t turn on, please contact our support team for further assistance.

Additional Information: 
Dell Desktop computers such as the Small Form Factor (SFF) and Towers have an integrated Self-Test located on the power supply. To try this method, please see the following article from Dell. 

How to troubleshoot Power Issues on Laptop or Windows Tablet

Whether you have a Dell, HP, Lenovo, or any other brand of Laptop computer or Windows-based tablet, the steps to troubleshoot power issues are relatively the same. 

Symptoms

• Laptop or Windows-based tablet does not turn on.
• The power LED on the Laptop or Windows-based tablet is off.
• None of the LEDs on the Laptop or Windows-based tablet respond when you press the power button.
• There is no LED or sound indication that the Laptop or Windows-based tablet is turned on.

Cause

Follow the steps in the sections below for detailed troubleshooting guidance.

Perform a Hard Reset

More often than not, simply restarting a computer can resolve many issues. 

1. If the laptop or tablet is not already turned off, simply press and hold the power button for 10–15 seconds. (Tablets can be hard reset with a combination of the holding the power button and volume button together for 15–30 seconds) 
2. Disconnect the power cable from the laptop or tablet.
3. Disconnect all external devices such as USB Flash Drives, External Hard Drives, Printer Cables. Note: You may leave your Keyboard & Mouse connected.
4. Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds to drain all residual power from the computer.
5. Re-connect the power cable to the computer
6. Turn on the computer by pressing the power button once. Note: No need to hold the power button in. 

If this did not resolve the issue, please go to the next step below.

Inspect the power cable and the power connection port on the desktop computer for any damages. It’s possible that the power cable or AC adapter may experience wear, leading to frays or cuts that may expose the wires.

To check the power cable, AC adapter, and the power connection on the computer:

1. Unplug the power cable or AC adapter from the wall outlet.
2. Unplug the power cable or AC adapter from the computer.
3. Inspect the power cable or AC adapter’s cables for any signs of physical damage or overheating. 
4. Check the pins inside the power plug on the computer where the power cable plugs in for any signs of bent or damaged pins. 

If you do not find any damage, go to the next step below.

1. Confirm that the power strip and power outlet are functioning as they should.
2. Unplug the power cable or AC adapter from the power outlet. 
3. Connect a known-working device directly into the power outlet to confirm that the socket is working correctly. 
4. Plug the power cable or AC adapter directly into the power outlet, to bypass any power strips, surge protectors and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).
5. Try to power on the computer

If the power cable and power outlet are functioning correctly, and the computer still won’t turn on, please contact our support team for further assistance.

Windows Power and Charging Issues FAQs