PC troubleshooting:
What to do if your PC won't turn on
You have just finished building your PC and now it won’t turn on but don’t panic. There is usualy a very simple solution for your problem and in this article, I am going to talk about common errors, problems, and how to fix them. I will also mention what to do if your PC won’t boot or just display a blank screen. In the unlikely event that any of the PC components you have used in your computer are damaged or malfunctioning, you can easily find out what Part is damaged and contact the seller no matter if you bought it used or new.
PC not powering on after build
If you have tried to turn on you PC and there was no sign of live (you dont hear any noise, there is no light, fans aren’t turning) then follow this steps to find and solve your problems.
Step 1: Check the Main Power Connection
Let’s start with the simple problems. Check if you plugged the power cable into the PC and the socket. Next, check if the switch on your power supply is turned on. You can also check if your socket is even working so plug in another device from which you know that it is working.
Step 2: Check the connections on your motherboard
Next, check if you connected all the connectors from the power supply to the mainboard in the right way. You should have connected a 20+4 Pin for the mainboard as well as the 4+4 Pin for the CPU. If you don’t know how to connect your cables check out our power supply cables guide. Another fault could be your front panel connectors. Take out your motherboard manual and see if you connected them the right way. If you are unsure that the front panel is working you can check it by connecting the Power GND and the Power SW with something out of medal. By doing that you simply do the same thing that a button would do: connecting both parts. It could also be that the motherboard isn’t grounden enough so make sure the screws sit snug.
Step 3: Check your Powersupply
Another reason for your PC not turning on might be a faulty power supply. You can check that by installing another working power supply. You don’t need the best out of the best if you want to check that a cheap old one does the job as well. If you don’t want to test it by yourself you always have the option to go to your local electronics store. They usually check it for free because it only takes a few seconds. Don’t try to fix your power supply that would just be dangerous and irresponsible because it might even cause death.
PC starts but shuts down instantly
In most cases, this means that the CPU is overheating. The computer is saving itself from any damage. A cause could be a falsely connected CPU cooler. Or the CPU cooler has way to less power.
PC goes on but shows no image
This time your PC is turning on but it won’t show any signs of life (no boot-up, no image). But you can tell that it is on (you hear noise, there is light, fans are spinning).
Step 1: Check Monitor
Check the connection of the Monitor if they are connected. Also, make sure that the monitor is working with another computer so you can short out that the monitor isn’t the reason for not showing any image. Try turning the monitor on with its buttons and changing to the system that you are using HDMI 1 or HDMI2,… . If you have internal graphics with our CPU you can try out if this works which indicates that there is a problem with the graphics card.
Step 2: Go through the same steps as above check other componets
Now go back in this article and go through the same steps mentioned above. If that wont help either some other Parts might be broken. You can try to remove part by part and try rebooting it again, this way you can narrow down the problem zone.
Pc starts but cycles on and off
If your PC starts but power cycles on/off frequently, it is likely to be caused by a hardware issue. The problem can be related to your power supply, motherboard, or CPU. One of the most common reasons for this issue is a faulty PSU. Make sure that your power supply unit is providing enough power to run the system. A failing motherboard or CPU can also cause power cycling. Check for any loose connections on your motherboard or replace the CPU to see if it resolves the issue. Another solution could be to check your computer’s cooling system; overheating can cause power cycling as well. Make sure your system is clean, and its fans are working properly. Another pro tip is to listen to the beep codes that your computer ist giving you and find some information on them through the internet. If the issue persists, it might be time to seek professional help.
Finding additional help
One great option is joining a Reddit forum dedicated to PC repair. There, you can ask questions and receive advice from a community of knowledgeable users. There are also numerous tech support forums that can offer guidance. Additionally, you could try reaching out to the manufacturer of your computer or individual parts for more specialized support. Whatever route you take, don’t hesitate to seek out additional help to ensure your PC is up and running smoothly. Thanks for reading this article. You can also write a comment and i will give my best to help you out.
It caught my attention when you said a PC shuts down immediately after starting because the CPU is overheating and it’s saving itself from damage. The problem is that I do not know the reason why my CPU is overheating. I’m in a cool room, and it’s not overloaded with information, data, or applications.
Hi Elaina,
if your CPU is overheating despite being in a cool room and not under heavy load, the possible reasons could be a faulty cooling system, inadequate airflow, overclocking, faulty temperature sensors, or a malfunctioning CPU or power supply. If I were you, I would dismount the cpu cooler, clean it and reassemble it with new thermal paste. If that isn’t solving the problem it might be one of the other things mentioned above. I hope that fixed your problem.