PC Not Turning On? Where to Start Troubleshooting

So you have decided to build your own computer. Congratulations on taking on the ultimate task in component customization - we promise it will be an incredibly rewarding experience. But when things go wrong and your PC will not turn on, figuring it out can be demoralizing and sometimes overwhelming. What should you do if your computer will not turn on? If that is the question on your mind, let's work it out together!

What Should You Do If Your Computer Will Not Turn On? May 2022

Nothing Happens

This can be the most demoralizing of all computer repair problems, because when your computer will not turn on, there is not much you can do. But nothing happening is a clue in itself. Somewhere in the chain where you press the power button and deliver power to the components, there is a problem, and the most likely cause is that something is not plugged in properly. Is the power cable plugged into the wall and the other end into your power supply? Are the wall outlet and the PSU switched on? Double-check each end to make sure everything is connected correctly. It is also worth checking that your motherboard and CPU power cables are seated properly. If you still get nothing when you press the power button, look for an idle indicator light on your motherboard to confirm that it is definitely receiving power. If it is not, you may need a new power supply. Before going down that road, though, we recommend swapping the power cable you are using and possibly trying a different wall outlet.

If your motherboard is receiving power, the next thing to check is whether your front panel connector is properly connected. It is different for every case, but most have a thin bundle of wires coming from your front panel (including the power button, indicator LEDs and any front panel I/O ports) that usually connects to a spot at the bottom. Take the side panel off your case and find that cable. Make sure it runs to the motherboard and is well connected. The pin location and layout vary depending on the case and motherboard, but it should generally look like two wide rows of pins placed in a plastic housing. The ends of the cables will say things like "HDD LED" or "PWR", and some have positive and negative contacts. Make sure they sit exactly on their corresponding pins, which are marked next to the pins on the motherboard or in your motherboard's documentation. If in doubt, unplug them and plug them in again.

There Is Noise or Light, but Nothing Appears on the Screen

If your system starts up but does not boot, look for the relevant section below. But if the fans spin and the lights come on when you press the power button while nothing appears on the screen, it is likely some kind of hardware problem. Before you start inspecting the system to try to find out what is wrong, make sure you are protected from static buildup as much as possible. This includes working on a flat, non-conductive surface such as a wooden or plastic table. If you are on carpet, wearing shoes is not a bad idea either.

Ideally, you will have an anti-static wrist strap, but if not, make sure your system's PSU is switched off (it should be anyway when working on it) and periodically touch the case to ground yourself.

Diagnostic Codes and Beeps

If you know where to look and/or listen, many modern motherboards will give you an idea of what is wrong. If turning on your system gives you a series of specific beeps, or if your motherboard has a display showing a specific error code, use your motherboard's manual to diagnose the problem. Some can be as mundane as forgetting to plug in a power cable, while others will tell you that your CPU is damaged and needs to be replaced. Each manufacturer uses different indicators to tell you what the problem is, so you need to consult your documentation to translate the error code on your machine.

Whether or not your system gives you a helpful error code, there are a few different fixes you can try to solve the problem.

Something May Be Short-Circuiting

If your system powers on, the fans spin, the lights come on and then half a second later everything shuts off, only to repeat in an endless loop, something metallic somewhere may be short-circuiting the system.

A short circuit occurs when a component in a system creates an improper electrical connection between components. For example, a frayed cable may be brushing the motherboard, or part of the case may be touching a component. Did you drop a screw behind the motherboard? Make sure all cables are intact, that no part of the case is in direct contact with the exposed PCB, and that the motherboard is mounted to the case on standoffs that raise it off the case surface.

This is a hard problem to diagnose, especially from our perspective, but if your system has these symptoms, you should probably keep it in mind for a moment. The best way to make sure this is not the case is to take everything out and rebuild it outside the case, but that is an extreme measure. If you think there may be a stray screw causing problems, tilting the case from side to side may help you find where it is.

Reset the CMOS

Instead of a hardware problem, you may be running into a strange compatibility issue or a settings error in your system's BIOS. This is the code that runs before your operating system starts and helps configure the computer for use. If this is what is causing the problem, it is a relatively easy fix.

If your motherboard has a CMOS reset switch or button, use it — see your motherboard manual for instructions on how best to use it. Otherwise, you will want to unplug the power cable from your PC and then find the flat silver battery on the motherboard. Remove it, hold the power button on your PC for 30 seconds, then put the battery and power cable back in and try again.

More Tech Articles

• Here Are Instagram Nickname Suggestions
• Instagram Post Times 2022
• How Do You Create Instagram Filters?
• How Do You Change Your Instagram Username? 2022
• What Are Instagram Photo Editing Tactics? 2022
• How Do You Add an Instagram Account to TikTok? 2022
• How Do You Create a Pinterest Business Account?
• Pinterest Account Finding Guide
• Pinterest Photo Download 2022
• Guide to Installing the Android Operating System on a Computer 2022
• What Is ThrottleStop, What Is It Used For and How Do You Use It?
• How Do You Fix the Throttlestop CPU Not Supported Error?
• Best Apple iPhone 13 Screen Protectors