Laptops were once hard to come by and even harder to get fixed. Nowadays, they're as commonplace as desktop PCs. If your laptop won't turn on at all or starts up, but will not boot properly, you should bring it in to a Broward County computer repair center.

Our agency offers exemplary service at competitive rates, but you might as well make sure you can't get it up and running yourself first, right?

Right. Below are some troubleshooting tips that might solve common laptop problems before you need to involve a Fort Lauderdale computer service.

Problem #1: The laptop is dead (or appears to be). You plug the AC adapter power, hard drive and battery charge lights (LEDs) do not light up and the laptop does not respond to your pressing the power button.

Tip #1: Check the AC adapter. Test the output voltage with a voltmeter, or find an alternate, working AC adapter and test the laptop with it. It is possible the AC adapter is the problem, not the laptop. If the AC adapter is working properly and at correct voltage, but the laptop is still down, you most likely have a power issue on the motherboard and must replace it.

If you have to replace the AC adapter, make sure you use a correct one.

Problem #2: When you start the laptop, it makes a repetitive clicking or grinding noise.

Tip #2: Most likely you hear this noise because of a faulty hard drive. You can remove the hard drive and start the laptop without it. If the noise is gone, the hard drive is at fault and needs to be replaced. If that doesn't help, consult a Broward County computer service to get the assistance you need.

Problem #3: You start the laptop, which sounds like it's booting normally and the hard drive LED is flashing, but there are no images on screen.

Tip #3: Test the laptop with an external monitor. If the external screen works but there is no video on the laptop LCD, there is a problem inside the laptop display assembly. Work off the external monitor for now, then test the memory module. Failing that, consult us for the most personalized and comprehensive computer repair in Broward County.

Problem #4: The laptop boots into Windows and works for a while, but after that, shuts down by itself without any reason or warning. You restart, but the same problem appears again and again.

Tip #4: Most likely it’s a heat related issue. Listen for the cooling fan. Also, this problem might arise because of a faulty memory module. Run a memory test and if it fails, get in contact with a trusted computer repair service to replace the faulty module.

Problem #5: You plug the AC adapter, the power LED and the battery charge LED light up, but when you press power, the laptop will not start and you cannot hear any activity from the hard drive, cooling fan or DVD drive.

Tip #5: If the power LED lights up, it indicates the laptop gets power from the AC adapter as it should. Unplug the AC adapter, remove the battery and wait 1-2 minutes. Plug the AC adapter and try starting laptop again.

This simple trick often works - and you don't need a Fort Lauderdale computer service to charge you an arm and a leg to do it for you.

However, it also could be a memory related problem. Try removing the memory module from the slot on the motherboard and install it back in again. Try installing it into another slot (if available). If the laptop starts fine with one module in both slots, but won't start with the second module in both slots, the second module is faulty.