A laptop that won't turn on feels like the worst-case scenario, but it's rarely as terminal as it seems. Most "dead" laptops are fixed by ruling out a handful of common, non-catastrophic causes first. Run through these four steps before assuming the worst.

Step 1: Rule out the power source

Plug the charger directly into a wall socket, not an extension lead or USB hub, and check for any light on the charger or laptop indicating power is reaching it. Try a different socket and, if you can, a different cable - charging cables and power bricks fail more often than the laptop itself.

Step 2: Force a hard reset

Disconnect the charger and remove the battery if it's removable. Hold the power button down for 30 seconds to drain any residual charge, then reconnect power and try turning it on again. This clears a surprising number of "stuck" power states.

Step 3: Watch and listen for signs of life

With the lid open, hold power and check for fan noise, LED indicators, or the hard drive or SSD clicking or spinning. Signs of activity with no display suggest a screen or graphics issue rather than a fully dead machine - a very different, and usually cheaper, repair.

Step 4: Try an external display

If you have an HDMI or equivalent cable, connect the laptop to an external monitor. If an image appears there, the laptop is working - the fault is isolated to the internal screen or its connection.

What this diagnostic actually tells you

• No power at all: likely the charger, battery, or a fault on the motherboard
• Power and fan noise but no display: usually a screen or graphics fault, not a dead laptop
• Nothing at all, even with a known-good charger: time for a professional diagnostic

Repatch can take it from there. Book a repair, a courier collects your laptop from home or work, a technician runs a full diagnostic and repairs the actual fault, and it's returned to you - often within 2 hours.