Note: To clarify I know that won’t is the contraction of will not ( that is basic level grammar so off course I know that, my question is about a totally different thing) . Ex: As an IT support specialist you will probably work on lots of computers that won't start . My question: why “won’t “ instead of “don’t want to”. Example : that won’t start / that don’t want to start. 95% of the time I hear this and our teachers did not explain that to us in our English classes . So here I am trying to get to the native level on my own . Thanks

Question

Note: To clarify I know that won’t is the contraction of will not ( that is basic level grammar so off course I know that, my question is about a totally different thing) . Ex: As an IT support specialist you will probably work on lots of computers that won't start . My question: why “won’t “ instead of “don’t want to”.  Example : that won’t start / that don’t  want to start.    95% of the time I hear this and our teachers did not explain that to us in our English classes . So here I am trying to get to the native level on my own . Thanks

FushigiNashi · Answer

A computer is not a human. It doesn't have will or desire. It doesn't "want" to do anything.

That being said, you may say that the computers "don't want to start" if you wish to. This would be a form of personification - that is, describing something non-human with human traits.

"won't start"
or
"doesn't want to start"
are both valid for you to say. An instructor or textbook will probably stick with the more standard "won't."

HoosierDude · Answer

Both are correct, but saying "will not" signifies more that it just doesn't work, where "does not" means more it doesn't want to turn on. It's not a living thing (or is it?) so it can't want to not do something if that makes sense?

jimpjorps · Answer

"Won't" implies that something ought to do something but is unable for some reason.  "Don't want to" implies that it is actively refusing or saying no; you'd usually use "don't want to" with people or animals, but you can "anthropomorphize" a machine and treat it as if it has living emotions.

This printer can't print color photographs. (= it does not have that capability, and I don't expect it to do that)
This printer won't print color photographs. (= it has that capacity, but it is not working for some reason)
This printer doesn't want to print color photographs. (= I'm treating this printer as if it's being naughty or disobedient; I'm talking as if the printer purposefully refuses instead of just being broken)