You sit down. You push the magic button and nothing happens. Your computer is obviously broken –dead to the world- past its prime – it’s not booting up. Fortunately there are some steps you can take initially to see if your computer really is ready for the technology junkyard in the sky, and even if these simple steps don’t work, the professionals most often can bring that machine back to life for you. So don’t panic. Just be logical.

1. Check Your Cords

Yes, I know you’re not an idiot, but your computer might not be plugged in. It’s happened to the best of us – especially those of us who suffer from an overweight dog who sleeps under the desk. Check the cord that goes into the wall. Check the plug those goes into the back of the computer. Check the plug to the surge protector. Change plugs to see if another one will work. Try a different wall outlet. Check around the room – are other lights off that should be on? Check your fuse box. If your power is up and running but your computer is not despite being plugged in perfectly, sigh a heavy sigh of frustration and move on.

2. Check the Switch

Is the switch on the computer turned off? If you normally use sleep mode or use the surge protector switch to fire up the computer, having the switch on the top or back of the computer turned off can slip your mind as a potential problem. Check to be sure that the computer switch is on. If it makes you feel better, flip it back and forth once or twice although don’t expect any outstanding results.

While you’re checking switches, check the switch and reset button on your surge protector. If you hit the switch on the power strip with your foot or your fat dog, it can get turned off and keep you from starting up. Be sure the switch is on and try hitting the reset button on the power supply if you have one to hit.

One more switch to check – is your monitor on? If you’re looking at a dark monitor, have you checked to be sure that the monitor is actually plugged in and turned on? Look for a light or screen saver indicating that it’s on and good to go.

3. Unplug Everything

All of those USB ports on your computer should be empty while you try to figure this out. Unplug your cell phone, the printer, the iPod, the keyboard, the mouse, the external hard drive and everything else you’ve got going into the computer. Leave the monitor attached so that you can see if the computer is working (should it deem to work now that everything is unplugged.)

4. Check the Temperature

When you work too hard, you get tired. When your computer works too hard it can overheat – especially if you have a dog who sheds, clogging up the fans with dog hair, but I digress. Feel the machine, especially if it turned off on you or was in use just a while ago. If the machine feels especially hot, let it sit for a while before trying again. No go? Let it sit awhile longer and try again.

If you’re handy you might take off the case of the computer to see if the fans are clogged. You can do this by opening the right side of the case after unscrewing the two screws on the right-hand side of the rear panel and sliding down the right panel when its loosened. Use canned air to blow off the dust, dirt and dog hair that is there. Even if it doesn’t solve the problem, it will make your computer cleaner in case you have to take it into a shop to be repaired. Just think of how much prettier the inside of the computer will look when they open it in the shop if it’s not stuffed with dust.

5. Check for Casualties

If none of the easy stuff is working, there’s a pretty good chance something died, although presumably it wasn’t the computer as a whole. Your computer won’t turn on if the on-switch has gone faulty or if your video card is busted. If some key components have gotten loose inside, you’re out of luck. Figuring out what internal component of the machine died, however, isn’t something the average user can do simply by taking off the computer case or waving a magic wand. If your computer is turning on and getting the blue screen of death, your operating system isn’t loading. If you push the button and nothing happens, something else is going on.

Note everything that you’ve tried and exactly what is happening when you try to turn on the computer. Unless you’re familiar with internal components of the computer, you probably shouldn’t start pulling out pieces to diagnose the problem yourself. Instead, take your computer to a professional repair shop and explain the problem as you’ve experienced it. The professionals will be able to dissect your computer to find the problem pieces and replace them in order to give you a working computer again.