Steps to Turn On a Computer: Easy Step by Step Images

In this post, I will show you the steps to turn on a computer. A few basic parts of a computer have to be connected correctly before you can begin.

This guide will allow you to go through all the essentials you require to start a computer.

If you follow the instructions carefully, you should be up and running.

Follow these steps to turn a computer on:

Summary:

1. Check that the computer is connected to power and is powered on.
2. Make sure that your keyboard and mouse are plugged in.
3. Check that the monitor (screen) is plugged into the computer using its display cable.
4. Ensure that the monitor is connected to power and is turned on.
5. Press the power button to turn the computer on.

These are the basic requirements and how to get your computer to turn on. If nothing comes on, make sure you have turned all the power outlets on.

You also need to have a keyboard and mouse connected to use the computer effectively.

If you don’t know some of these things, have no fear; here’s more information about what you need to know.

1. Check if your computer is connected to power

Make sure the computer cable shown in the image is plugged in. In most cases, there is a rocker switch near the plug. Make sure it’s set to the 1 position.

Check if the lead’s other side is plugged into a power socket. Make sure the power socket has been turned on.

2. Check to see if your keyboard and mouse is connected

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Follow the cables from the keyboard and mouse to see if they are connected to the computer.
These are the connections that the plugs can go into:

The two top sockets, known as PS2 ports, aren’t commonly used anymore. The two bottom sockets are known as USB connectors.

If you have PS2 connectors, the keyboard plug is purple, and the green one is for the mouse. A USB plug looks like this:

Make sure the keyboard and mouse are plugged into the corresponding socket type.

3. Check if your monitor is connected properly

There are four common ways your monitor can be connected to a computer. Here is a list of each type to ensure that the plug is inserted into the socket.

Ensure the relevant plug is plugged into a socket on the computer and monitor’s end.

VGA Connectors

VGA stands for Video Graphics Array. It’s not all that commonly used anymore, as it contains an analog signal.

That means that the amount of data it can display is rather limited. So the image on your screen won’t be of high-end quality.

DVI Connectors

DVI (Digital Video Interface) comes in an analog or digital version. The digital version is the superior of the two.

HDMI Connectors

HDMI (High-definition Multimedia Interface) is a commonly used connector for TVs and gaming consoles. It is a digital interface and provides good results.

DisplayPort

DisplayPort offers good resolutions and excellent speeds.

4. Check your monitor is connected and powered up

After you have the correct display lead plugged into your computer, check to see if your monitor (screen) has power hooked up to it.

It may have a power brick connected to a mains cable.

In this case, ensure the barrel plug is connected to the monitor, and the power cable end is connected to a mains socket and turned on.

If it doesn’t have one, connect the power cable directly to the monitor. Plug the other end into a mains socket and turn it on. It should look like your computer’s power cable.

5. Turning the PC on by pressing the power button

You are now ready to power up the computer. There will be a power button near the computer’s front end.

If you aren’t sure of which one it is, press one at a time. Continue through each button you can find. Wait fifteen seconds before trying the next button.

Eventually, you will hear the computer startup. When it does, stop pressing the buttons immediately.

Recheck the power connector if you have cycled through each button and you don’t get any lights to come on or hear anything.

Make sure it’s plugged into the back of the computer, and the other end of the cable is plugged into the wall socket. 

Also, recheck the switch on the back of the computer, where the power lead plugs in. Make sure that is in the 1 position.

Also, make sure the wall socket switch is turned on. If you still don’t hear or see anything happen, bad news, the computer is faulty.

If your computer sounds like it’s started and you don’t see anything on your screen, inspect the monitor for any buttons.

Check to see if your monitor has a power button you can press. It is likely to be turned off if you don’t see any lights on the screen.

Once you have pressed a power button on the screen and nothing happens, ensure it has power by rechecking your power cable to the monitor.

If you still cannot get an image or a light, your monitor may be faulty.

If you have an image and your computer is running, well done! You have been successful in starting up your computer.

Extra Tip: A much more advanced way to turn on a computer, is to set a wake-up feature in your computer’s CMOS.

You can wake it up using your keyboard, mouse, or device plugged into a peripheral port. Further details of this will be discussed in another post.

Conclusion to this guide

These were the steps to turn on a computer. We hope you were successful and you can enjoy completing many new tasks with it.

Happy computing!