Power Cycle
Problems with your device are often solved by rebooting.
This is the simplest form of a power cycle.
What is a power cycle?
The unit's power is turned off completely and then turned back on.
For devices with a battery, it is more difficult to shut off power completely.
What does a power cycle do?
The purpose of a power cycle is to allow the device to start up from a neutral state.
The hardware, as well as the software, can then start with a clean slate.
Sometimes wrong data is stuck in working memory, sometimes it's about current stuck in a capacitor, sometimes the system has completely crashed.
Using a power cycle
How best to apply a power cycle depends on the type of device.
This is a list of commonly used methods, some models have their own instruction set.
Desktop
Turn off the device.
Remove the power cable from the desktop.
Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds.
Connect the power cable to the desktop.
Turn on the device.
Laptop
Turn off the device.
Remove the charger from the charging port.
If you have a removable battery, disconnect it.
Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds.
If you have a removable battery, insert it back into the laptop.
Connect the charger to the laptop.
Turn on the device.
Smartphone & Tablet
Smartphones and Tablets often have their own specific instructions that you need to look up.
Note that this is often not a true power cycle.
Conclusion
A power cycle is always the first step in diagnosing a device.
In some cases, a power cycle solves the problems completely.
It is worth trying!
