Nothing is more frustrating than a PC that refuses to respond when you press the button. Unfortunately, pressing it repeatedly or harder doesn't really help! Neither does kicking it do any good. Before you give up and call the technician, here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do when your PC kicks the bucket. In most cases, these can revive your PC from what seems to be a 'cardiac arrest'.

A close friend of mine works for the offshore customer support operations of one of America's leading PC retailers. She once told me that she receives at least one support call everyday about a PC not working because the power has not been switched on. Though it sounds dumb and stupid, it is actually true. Sometimes, your problem is as simple as that. Check the power switches in sequential order starting with your wall outlet. Next, it’s your UPS or power-strip if you use one. Modern UPSs have voltage cut-off features which won’t provide power unless it gets the required voltage from the wall outlet. Read your UPS manual for details on this. If you don't see indicative lights on your UPS, it could have blown a fuse. If you are tech savvy, finding out is not a big deal. If not, call your vendor. Some PC cabinets have a switch on the power supply unit at the back. Often called the rear power button, make sure it’s switched on. On is indicated by the "I" symbol and off is indicated by the "O" symbol. If everything is working till here, your power supply fan should be blowing air on your hand if you hold it behind the power supply. If not, you may have a faulty power supply unit. In this case you have no choice but to repair or replace it. Also, your house could have different power phases for different rooms and the one in your study may have tripped. Check the circuit breakers on your junction box.

With peripherals becoming necessary by the day, the cable clutter behind your desk is probably nearing unmanageable proportions. What started with one PC and one monitor has today become a mess of wires with the printer, scanner (maybe a MFD), 4.1 speaker system, laptop/mobile/MP3 player charger, external USB devices, gamepads - the list is endless. And throw in another computer like mine and God help you. My maid refuses to clean up the dirt and dust behind the desk due to the fear of electric shocks. Try to create some semblance of sanity in the chaos and make sure that all cables are securely attached to their respective connectors at both ends. Loose cables are a major cause why a computer does not turn on. Also check if the connections are correct and have not been interchanged during your last attempt to be a geek.