TL;DR: Don’t keep power-cycling a dead/looping laptop before class. Unplug accessories, try one clean restart, and then protect your data—book a fast Diagnostic (In-Shop) if it still won’t boot.

SU student in a Stellenbosch library trying a safe hard-shutdown on a laptop stuck on the Windows logo

Stellenbosch is a laptop town—thousands of SU students depend on one device to submit coursework, take tests, and join remote lectures. When your machine won’t boot 20 minutes before class, panic taps the power button. That can make things worse. Use the safe checks below in a res room, library, or café. If it still fails, we’ll protect your files first, then get you back to a working desktop—often same/next business day.

What you’ll learn (fast)

The safest pre-class checks that won’t risk your data.
Red flags that mean “stop DIY” and bring it in.
Time & cost expectations in Stellenbosch.
Where Digissential steps in: diagnostics, backup-first recovery, and rapid reinstalls.

Identify the problem (what you’ll see)

No power: no lights/fan at all.
Boot loop: Windows “Preparing Automatic Repair,” logo → black screen → restart; or macOS stuck at Apple logo/progress bar.
Beeping/clicking: beeps at startup or ticking from inside the laptop.
Peripheral boot: system tries to boot from a USB/SD/dock.
After updates: failed Windows/driver update leads to loops or “Undoing changes.”

Safe steps (do this in order)

Wall power & brick — Plug directly into a known-good wall socket; avoid multi-plugs. Confirm charger LED.
Hard shutdown — Hold Power 10–15s to turn fully off. Wait 5s, then one normal boot.
Battery reset — Unplug charger; hold Power 20–30s; reconnect and boot. If removable, reseat the battery.
Remove everything external — USBs, SD, docks, external drives, HDMI/USB-C displays. Try a clean boot.
Try recovery (if reachable)
- Windows: From Sign-in/Start, hold Shift → Restart → Troubleshoot > Startup Repair.
- macOS (Intel/Apple Silicon): Hold Power/Touch ID until Options → Continue → Disk Utility/Recovery.
  If you can’t reach these screens, stop and seek diagnostics.
Protect your files — If the drive reads, copy Desktop/Documents to cloud/USB. If not, don’t run risky tools—request Data Recovery (Simple/Logical).
Plan the fix — If software corruption is likely, a Windows Reinstall (with pre-backup if needed) restores usability quickly. If hardware is suspect, start with Diagnostics.

Student shortcut: Need a working laptop today? Our Fresh Start Reinstall + Backup bundle grabs key files (when readable), reinstalls clean, and gets you back to class fast.

Do-nots (to avoid data loss)

Don’t keep hard-resetting through Automatic Repair loops.
Don’t run CHKDSK/First Aid repeatedly on clicking or failing drives.
Don’t reinstall over your only thesis copy without a backup attempt.
Don’t flash BIOS/UEFI mid-crisis unless advised.

Time & cost in Stellenbosch (realistic guide)

Diagnostic (In-Shop): fixed, published fee (see Standard Fees).
Standard labour: billed in 30-min blocks during business hours.
After-hours emergency: available at the published rate.
Reinstall paths:
- Windows Reinstall (No Backup): fastest when files already safe.
- Windows Reinstall + Data Backup: we secure key folders, then reinstall; often same/next-day if the drive is healthy.
Data Recovery (Simple/Logical): quoted by complexity/capacity; we confirm before proceeding.

When to stop DIY and bring it in

Drive noise: clicking/ticking, or SMART “Caution/Bad.”
Endless repair loops (Windows/macOS).
Liquid spill/overheating events.
Hard deadline today and you need a guaranteed working OS.

Book help (fast)

FAQs

Q: Can you save my thesis if Windows won’t boot?
A: Often, yes. If the drive still reads, we image it and extract Desktop/Documents first, then rebuild Windows. If the drive is failing, we’ll advise the safest next step and lab options.

Q: How quickly can I get back to class?
A: Many reinstalls/simple fixes complete the same or next business day, depending on queue and drive health. Expedited starts available when possible.

Q: I use OneDrive/Google Drive—do I still need a backup?
A: Versioning helps, but it doesn’t cover everything. We still recommend a quick manual copy of key folders or our backup-first workflow before reinstall.

Q: Will you keep my data?
A: By default, we retain recovered data only short-term for handover, then securely delete. Longer retention can be recorded in your job file.

Compliance & trust

Updated on 2025-09-22.

Close-up of Windows “Preparing Automatic Repair” screen on a student laptop, with USB drives removed to avoid boot hijack