Quality software is worthless if your hardware goes bad or dies. But don't panic—there are several common-sense procedures to help you diagnose and fix hardware problems. The most vexing difficulties typically stem from some oversight in the troubleshooting process, so be thorough. A power outage is the easiest-to-solve hardware glitch. You don't have to be an electrician to check possible outage sources. First, read the manual. Does the device have a safety shut-off or shipping restraint that hasn't been removed and is preventing a normal POST (power-on self test)? Some power switches are nothing more than mechanical supply switches. Although they let current flow to the machine, they don't actually "wake" the machine into a powered-up state. Check the power source at the wall, right down to the socket. To do this, plug a known working device into the socket your failed equipment was using—we prefer a simple device like a small lamp or clock radio.
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