How “Turning it Off and On Again” Can Solve 90% of All Known Home User’s IT Problems

Yes, power cycling can solve most IT issues – and that is by simply turning your computer off and then turning it back on again.

It’s called power cycling, and it’s the act of turning a device or electronic equipment off, and turning it back on again. This is often done to computers and modems to correct a frozen, hung, or otherwise malfunctioning device. Normally, it is recommended to leave the device powered off for about 10 to 30 seconds before restarting. Sometimes in computer parlance, it’s called ‘restart.’

Of course, this is assuming that the problem is software in nature, and not hardware, and so, can be solved by power cycling. Here are a few ways to power cycle when using different gadgets and devices.

Remove the battery

If you have a gadget that suddenly freezes up and won’t work at all, pulling the battery is a good way to get it started. This applies to smartphones, laptops, digital cameras, and everything else with a removable battery. Before removing the battery, ensure the device is unplugged to ensure it isn’t receiving any power at all. Remove the battery, wait around 30 seconds, reinsert the battery, and turn it back on. The hardware will often come right back to life.

Long-Press the power button

Many new devices are coming without user-removable batteries, but users still need the ability to power cycle the gadget. If you have a device without a user-removable battery, there’s often a way to power cycle your device by long-pressing the power button. For computers, the power button is easy to locate. On Kindles, tablets, and most smartphones, long-pressing the power button for an entire 30 seconds will power cycle the device and force it to restart.

Unplug the power cable

If you have a device with neither a battery nor a power button, such as a router or modem, you can power-cycle the device by pulling its power cord and plugging it back in. However, you should wait at least 30 seconds to be safe, before plugging the device back in. If you plug it back in too soon, it may not lose power entirely.

If this didn’t solve your problem and your device still seems frozen (or dead), be sure that you’re following the correct procedure for your specific device. Check if your gadget has a reset pinhole instead of the power button, or may use a combination of buttons mentioned in the device’s manual. If following that process didn’t help, it’s possible that your hardware is dead and the device needs to be serviced or replaced. With computers, power cycling is synonymous with rebooting the whole system, this is why power cycling can also clean out whatever problem is inside the computer. If the problem persists, you may need to call a professional computer technical support company to see what the real problem is. Anything less than this, you might want to just turn off and turn on the computer or gadget to fix the problem.

Some Awesome Ways to Learn Basic Computer Troubleshooting

Whether it’s dealing with your dad’s decade-old computer or your own custom-built gaming rig, troubleshooting computer problems is a part of any computer’s lifespan, even if it’s not done daily. Of course, it’s good to be subscribed to a professional technical support company, but there are the simple problems that you may be able to handle if you only knew what to do. Ever heard of the common stories from tech support call centers about the caller who complained that his computer won’t turn on no matter how much he pressed the ‘on’ button? When the tech support agent asked the caller if he plugged the computer in the wall socket, the caller complied, and when he turned on the computer, the caller remarked, “My computer turned on; you’re a genius!”

However, let’s get something straight. Learning basic troubleshooting doesn’t take away anything from professional tech support personnel. It takes experience, training, and even a degree to learn how to fix and repair hardware problems. Professional tech support people had to go through school and on-the-job trainings, as well as taking a battery of exams just to earn a tech support license. So, let’s not forget them even as we seek ways to learn some basic troubleshooting.

Self-Learning or Do-It-Yourself

If you have the time to learn by yourself, or you’re the DIY type, the Internet has literally millions of sites and online resources dedicated to learning basic troubleshooting. If you’re subscribed to a tech support company, their official site usually has a page or pages dedicated to basic troubleshooting. As an example, take a look at this knowledgebase from Supportrix. If you’re using Microsoft OS and Windows, their official site has pages dedicated to basic troubleshooting. Other reliable sites that you can find troubleshooting tips and lessons are from reputable PC magazines and review sites. For video tutorials for basic troubleshooting, you can always turn to the ever reliable YouTube and type DIY basic troubleshooting in your search.

Short Seasonal Workshops

Occasionally and in many cities, colleges, universities, or major technology companies offer seasonal hands-on workshops that come with registration fees. They usually last from a couple of days to a week, depending on the type of training given. They are seasonal because they are usually given during spring breaks, summer vacations, or on long weekends, maximizing on the number of people who are free during these seasons. Search online for these or be observant of posters or ads announcing these workshops. They are worth your time.

Short Courses at Schools

Colleges, universities, and schools that specialize in computer science courses often offer short courses that range in 6 months to 1 year in duration. Some short courses are also really short are 2 to 3 months. If you have the money to spare, a course on basic troubleshooting will really go a long way for you or your small business. And the diploma on your wall can earn you bragging rights as well.