Is It Bricked Or Can It Be Fixed?
A "bricked" device, a PC that just isn't going to work ever again, an Xbox 360 that suffers the dreaded Red Ring Of Death, an iPhone that you might as well start using as a coaster, can be frustrating and, if it's one of your prized possessions, something that you use to get a lot of work done, a little heartbreaking and might even set you back on some money you could be earning.
From the minute you see the blue screen flash on your monitor at startup, you get that feeling like there's a rock in your stomach, and you start mentally calculating what it'll cost to replace your busted computer. But, before you go all Office Space on your PC tower out in a vacant lot, consider that it might be fixable! Here are some easy fixes for devices that seem all but ready to start pushing up daisies:
Windows 10 Blue Screen of Death
If your PC or laptop suffers from the Blue Screen of Death, error C1900101-20017, with installation of Windows 10, here's what you can do: Go to C: . Windows . Software Distribution > Download, and delete every single thing in the folder. Then go to the $Windows.~BT folder in the root directory of C:, and delete that, too. Now if you want to install Windows 10, you'll want to download the ISO files from the Microsoft website. Prepare a bootable USB drive or DVD, and reboot your computer. Tap F12 or Delete when the display appears, and this will take you to the BIOS menu. Disable overclocking, enable UEFI bBoot from BIOS, reboot from your USB or DVD, and you should be good to go.
Xbox 360 Red Ring Of Death
This is a hardware issue, but it's usually an easy one to fix. Note: It will void your warranty unless you have a professional handle it. What you want to do is replace, reattach and recamp the heat sinks in your system. A heat gun applied to the motherboard's solder joints can improve your rate of success here. The fix is pretty easy, and some people make some nice supplemental income buying broken Xboxes and fixing them for resale.
Phone Or Tablet That Won't Turn On
In many cases, a hard reset is all you need to get your phone or tablet running again. You can boot into recovery mode on most devices by holding the volume up and the power button until you see the word "Start." Some devices may have their own ways of doing this.