Chapter 1
Startup Problems
IN THIS CHAPTER
Powering on the PC
Diagnosing hardware
Running startup tools
Finding the operating system
Loading the operating system
Signing in
Starting programs
If this book were about troubleshooting a computer that isn’t turned on, it would be a pamphlet. Obviously, when a PC is turned off, it performs quite reliably. After power is supplied, however, trouble looms like a flatbed truck loaded with loosely packed logs on a bumpy road.
To best understand PC startup problems, this chapter walks you through the power-on process, from peaceful electronic slumber to full electron-invigorated operation. When you appreciate the computer’s power-on sequence, though it may be technical, you can better pinpoint a startup problem and address specific issues.
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