Listener Carolyn Needs Some Help Getting Her Computer Working After A Power Outage

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Carolyn asked: “I had a power outage and my computer crashed. If I just buy new cords, will my computer be back to good again? Help!”

If something burned out due to a power surge, it almost certainly wasn’t a cord, your power cord can handle a lot more power than your computer’s internal components.

If your computer doesn’t react when you try to turn it on it’s likely that its power source is fried, the cost of replacing it will depend on how much power your computer needs, but there is a chance that other things will be damaged as well.

Unfortunately, you almost certainly won’t be able to bring your computer back by replacing cords, you will probably have to take it somewhere to get looked at by someone who can tell you what the problem is and how much it may cost to fix it.

The good news is that it’s fairly simple to see if the cord is the problem, since all power cords are basically the same. There are two prong and three prong variants, but the power cords on most electronic gear are otherwise interchangeable.

Borrow a power cord you know to be good from another device and plug in your computer using that cord. If the computer starts up, you need a new cord. More than likely, it won’t, because as we said, the power cord can withstand an incredible amount of abuse, FAR more than the power supply or the components inside your device.

Sorry to say it, but if your computer doesn’t power on at all following a power outage, it’s likely time for a trip to the repair shop.

For everyone else out there, this a good reason to consider getting surge protectors for your electronics. They’ll be a lot cheaper than the cost of fixing a problem.