Open
Close

The computer is broken and won't turn on. Reasons why a computer or system unit does not turn on. What are the symptoms of a malfunction?

Just yesterday the computer was working properly, but today when you press the power button it shows no signs of life. What could be the problem? Can I fix it myself or can I do it without the help of a professional? Let's figure it out.

As practice shows, in most cases the power button of the system unit “Power” stops starting the computer for the following reasons:

  • lack of voltage in the 220 V electrical network;
  • malfunction of the surge protector or uninterruptible power supply through which the PC receives power;
  • damage to the network cable or lack of contact at its connection points;
  • malfunction of the power supply unit (PSU);
  • lack of contact in the block through which the power supply is connected to the motherboard;
  • failure (lack of charge) of the BIOS memory battery;
  • sticking or failure of the “Start” button on the system unit;
  • The system unit button does not work due to blocking by a static charge.

If The computer does not respond to pressing the Power button, the first thing you should start with is checking the reliability of the connection of the system unit to the network.

  1. Make sure that the power supply button (on the back of the system unit) is in the “ON” position.
  2. For a while, try connecting your computer to the outlet directly, without a surge protector.
  3. Check whether the outlet itself works by connecting any other working electrical appliance to it.
  4. Next, check the power cord for damage (especially if there are toothy animals at home). Make sure that the plug is firmly seated in the socket and that there are no signs of heat at the contact point.
  5. It would be a good idea to check/replace the CMOS memory battery in which the PC configuration parameters are stored. If the computer is more than 5 years old, then it is recommended to replace the battery even for preventive purposes.

If all of the above measures do not produce results, you will have to open the system unit for a more detailed examination and diagnosis.

  1. Remove the case cover and check if the LED indicator on the motherboard is lit.
  2. The indicator lights up, which means power is supplied to the system unit.
  3. If there is an LED, but it does not light up, check the contacts in the connectors and make sure there are no broken wires.

The next step is to diagnose the Start buttons.

How to check that the Power button on the system unit is in working order

The task of the system unit's Start button is to turn on the power switch. After this, the power supply carries out self-diagnosis, and if all network parameters are normal, the power supply sends the corresponding signal to the processor - the computer starts booting. All pre-launch activities take a split second.

If the Power button does not close the contacts well, the computer will not start.

To check if the start button works, you need to:

  • Check the wires going from the button to the motherboard. The connection occurs through a chip that is placed on the contacts of the system board.
  • Make sure that the chip fits tightly and is well fixed to the contacts.

To do this, carefully remove and reattach the connector;

  1. Disconnect the computer from the network, disconnect the wires of the Power button;
  2. Turn on the power to the system unit again and use a screwdriver to briefly close the PowerSwitch (PowerSW) contacts. If the computer starts, the problem is due to a non-working button.

Unfortunately, in most cases it will not be possible to purchase the “Start” button separately; you will have to replace the entire housing. However, there is an alternative way to fix the problem.

The simplest solution in this case would be to transfer the functions of the Power button to the Reset button, which is used very rarely.

To do this, just swap the two-pin connectors “power sw” and “reset sw”.

How to turn on a computer without a power button?

To turn on the computer without the Power button, do the following:

  1. Remove the cover of the system unit case;
  2. Find among the wires going from the front panel of the system unit to the motherboard a pair with the inscription on the Power Switch (PW Switch) connector;
  3. Disconnect the indicated connector;
  4. Using a screwdriver, connect the 2 exposed contacts with a screwdriver or the tip of a ballpoint pen. Closing contacts should be fast, literally in one touch.

VIDEO INSTRUCTION

Computer problems happen sooner or later, and one of the most unpleasant in my opinion is when computer won't turn on at all. This is when you press the Power button, but nothing happens, or the lights come on, start and then the computer turns off. Or the lights are on, but there is no image on the monitor, and the computer beeps.

Let's look at all the possible cases why the computer won't turn on. The problem is certainly not a pleasant one, but it is much simpler than, for example, data loss. So, first things first.

Why doesn't the computer work?

The easiest way to determine the cause of the malfunction is by the sounds of the speaker. If nothing works, but the computer beeps, i.e. beeps, then you are in luck because you can determine the source of the problem. If you have never heard sounds from the system unit, then perhaps the beeper is not connected to the motherboard. If a speaker is installed in the system unit or the tweeter is included with the motherboard (but is lying around in the box), try connecting the speaker to the “Speaker” contacts on the motherboard (for more details, look in the instructions for the “motherboard”).

The sounds produced differ depending on the BIOS manufacturer (Award, AMI, Phoenix Bios). If you do not know the name of your BIOS, you can also find it out from the instructions. The most common BIOS sound signals:

Award or Award - Phoenix BIOS

  • 1 long beep and 3 short beeps – the video card is not found or is not working
  • Long repeating signals - RAM not found or not working

AMI Bios (American Megatrends, Inc)

  • 2, 3 or 4 short beeps – RAM problem
  • 5 short beeps – the processor may be faulty
  • 1 long, 3 short beeps – video card malfunction

Phoenix Bios

  • 3 very short and 4 short beeps – video card is faulty
  • 2 short beeps and 1 long beep – RAM fault.

Let's identify the main reasons why the computer does not start, and we will follow the path of identifying the source of the problem:

  1. Problems with 220V power supply
  2. The power supply is faulty
  3. Battery ran out
  4. A lot of dust
  5. Bad power button
  6. Motherboard is faulty

Problems with 220V power supply

Yes, it’s trivial, but some people simply forget about it. Therefore, first make sure that the outlet has 220V power. To do this, just connect to it some other device, such as a mobile phone or a lamp, instead of a computer. Pay attention to how many other devices are connected through extension cords or splitters to one outlet. It is possible that the permissible load has been exceeded and the protection is triggered.

Try turning off all devices, leaving only the computer, and see if it works now or not. If the voltage in the network is very low or high, the computer may not turn on or even burn out. You can check the voltage with a special tester or by eye using an incandescent light bulb (not an energy-saving one). At a lower voltage, the light bulb glows dimmer than usual, and at a higher voltage, on the contrary, it glows brighter, or it lights up, but burns out quickly... But this is a last resort, of course a tester is better.

It happens that everything is fine with the outlet, but electricity does not reach the computer due to poor contact of the power cable. You need to try to pull out the power cable from the system unit and insert it back tightly.

If it is clearly visible that the cable is weak and very Chinese, then in any case it is better to replace it with something more decent (you can take the cable from the monitor to check). And don’t forget to turn on the button on the power supply, which is located next to the power socket (not everyone has it), it should also be in the “On” state :)

WARNING: If your power supply has an input voltage switch (usually red), do not touch it under any circumstances! It is designed to switch the input voltage level of 127 and 220 volts, respectively, for countries with a network voltage of 127V, for example the USA, and 220V, like ours.

The power supply is faulty

We have sorted out the power supply, let’s assume that everything is in order with it, then it is supplied to the power supply. In many cases, the problem lies precisely there. Savings have not yet been canceled in our country, and this applies to power supplies in computers quite often. Not everyone still understands how important a high-quality power supply is. And this is not only a reserve for the maximum permissible power, but also the quality of workmanship and the manufacturer’s brand.

This is also good if the power supply quietly fails and the system unit does not turn on. In this case, simply replacing it with a better one will completely solve the problem. But it’s much worse if he takes away some components, or even the entire computer. Then you will have to change almost everything. Scared? It’s too early to be scared; it’s quite possible that everything is fine with you.

If you don’t have a known good power supply at hand, you can try checking the existing one. To do this you will need a voltage tester. You can measure the voltage only if the lights at least light up when you turn on the computer. To do this, take any power connector and measure the voltage: between any black and red wire there should be 5V, and between black and yellow 12V.

If the voltages differ (a deviation of 5-7% is allowed), then definitely look for a new power supply. If it is not under warranty, then you should not bother with its repair.

When some power supplies wear out, the internal protection may “stick”. Try unplugging the power cable and leaving the computer without power for 5-10 minutes, then plug the cable back in and try turning it on. If the computer still does not turn on, and there is no other power supply at hand, let’s go through other points.

Battery ran out

Every motherboard has a small 3V lithium battery. It supports volatile CMOS memory, which stores BIOS settings. On computers that have worked for 3-5 years, or have been in warehouses for a long time, the battery runs out and the settings are lost. This is easy to notice if the time is reset every time you turn on the computer.

Sometimes an error occurs when starting and you have to re-save the settings. But in some cases, the computer may not turn on at all or turn on only once. Checking the battery is not difficult if you have a voltage tester. If it is not there, then the battery just needs to be replaced. They are sold at any computer store.

A lot of dust

If the insides of the computer are covered with a centimeter layer of dust, then you don’t have to wonder why it doesn’t turn on :) We clean the system unit and components from dust using a vacuum cleaner and a brush.

Then you should clean the contacts of the RAM and boards. We completely de-energize the computer, remove the memory from the slots and, using a regular eraser (grater), clean the contacts until they shine. Just be careful not to touch microscopic parts that may be immediately above the contacts! Then we take some kind of brush (you can use an old toothbrush, shaving brush or brush) and clean the contacts of the memory slots from dust.

Then we take a wide screwdriver and CAREFULLY, without applying pressure, go over the contacts of the memory slots to knock down oxidation. It is advisable to do the same with the video card and other cards.

We also clean the fans and see if they are spinning. If the fans do not spin after turning on the computer, it may immediately turn off. By the way, there may be a lot of dust due to this.

Problems with components or cables

Here we need to work by exception. The problem may lie in any components inside the system unit: RAM, video card, hard drive, cables, expansion cards (TV tuner, sound card, external controllers). To begin with, we leave only what is necessary for the initial startup of the computer, and turn off everything else. Those. We leave the processor with a fan, RAM, video card (if not built-in) and keyboard connected to the motherboard (check if its connector is tightly inserted).

We try to insert the RAM into another slot or leave only one stick (if there are more of them). If the computer turns on, then connect the hard drive and see if the operating system boots. If yes, then we connect the devices one by one and thus find the culprit. By the way, the culprit device may actually work, but the whole problem lies in the cable or cables. Therefore, they must also be taken into account.

Bad power button

One of the reasons why the computer may not turn on is the computer’s “Power” button. If it does not close the contacts well, then it is logical to assume that the computer will not turn on. It's easy to remove a button. To do this, you need to find on the motherboard the place where the wires from the front panel of the case are connected, and find the “Power” connector there. The connector must be pulled out and the two contacts carefully closed with a screwdriver. If the computer still does not turn on, then move on.

Motherboard is faulty

The last option is the most disappointing. After all, the motherboard will most likely have to be replaced with a new one, and this will cost a pretty penny. I think you will want to take a newer board, and this will include a new processor, and possibly RAM, and then lo and behold, the video card will catch up, followed by the power supply, in short, change the entire computer :) Please note that if you change the motherboard to another one of the same level, it should have:

  • same processor socket (socket)
  • required number of RAM slots, of the same type (DDR2, DDR3, DDR4...)
  • interface for connecting an existing hard drive (IDE, SATA)
  • a sufficient number of expansion slots for existing cards (PCI, PCE-Express)

If the new motherboard has a different set of system logic, you may have to reinstall the operating system.

It makes sense to repair the motherboard if the cost of repair does not exceed 30% of its price. You can preliminarily determine the cause of a motherboard malfunction by the sounds of the system speaker if the computer beeps.

There is no point in doing any more amateur activities; you could make things even worse. If all else fails, don't despair. Call a computer technician and he will definitely help you. If you liked the article, share the link with your friends via Twitter or social networks, I will be very grateful! There will be a lot more interesting things to come. If you don't want to miss out, subscribe to blog updates right now!

In the meantime, relax, forget about the problem and watch a video about cool sky flyers!

Edited: 2018-07-04

My name is Alexey Vinogradov, I am the author of this wonderful site. I am interested in computers, programs, programming. We have more than 20 years of experience and a lot of wasted nerves :)

  • Comments (573 )

  • In contact with

    Ruslan

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Ruslan

        Answer

        Answer

    • Answer

      • Alexey Vinogradov

        Answer

        • Alexei

          Answer

          • Alexander S.

      Answer

      • Alexey Vinogradov

        Answer

        • Answer

          • Alexey Vinogradov

      Victor
      Dec 12, 2018

      Answer

      • Alexey Vinogradov
        Dec 12, 2018

        Answer

    JanaanBoine

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Dmitriy

    Answer

    Answer

    Answer

    Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Natalia

    Answer

    Michael

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Alexei

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Stepan

    Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Answer

        • Alexey Vinogradov

          Answer

          • Alexey Vinogradov

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Answer

        • Alexey Vinogradov

          Answer

    • rplubbp

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Alexander

        Answer

        • Alexey Vinogradov

          Answer

    • Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Alexander

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Answer

        • Alexey Vinogradov

          Answer

    • Vlad
      Jan 06, 2019

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Ervin Abdullaev

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Ervin Abdullaev

        Answer

        • Alexey Vinogradov

          Answer

          • Ervin Abdullaev

      • Madina

        Answer

    Alexander

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Anastasia

        Answer

        • Alexey Vinogradov

          Answer

          • Alexey Vinogradov

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Maksim

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Larisa

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Sergey Nemchenko

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Vladimir

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Sergey Nemchenko

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Vsevolod

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Eugene

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Answer

        • Alexey Vinogradov

          Answer

    Alexei

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Alexei

        Answer

        • Alexey Vinogradov

          Answer

          • Alexei

            Alexey Vinogradov

    Valery

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

      • Answer

        • Alexey Vinogradov

          Answer

    Nikita

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Vyacheslav

    Answer

    Alexei

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Alexander

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Catherine

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Alexander

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Answer

    Andrey

    Answer

    • Alexey Vinogradov

      Don't confuse the concepts!

      Hello, dear visitors of our site. To avoid confusion, let's immediately discuss a few points. By the phrase “the computer doesn’t turn on at all,” we mean the case when you press the power button, but nothing happens: nothing starts to hum, the lights and diodes don’t light up, the coolers don’t spin. Those. there is no reaction. Or the system unit made the usual noise, but literally switched off after a few seconds. It is these situations that will be discussed in this article. We tried to consider all possible reasons and options why the computer may not start.

      If there is still some reaction, then we will assume that your computer is starting, but we looked at what happened to it next in other articles. You may need one of these. The first one talks about possible hardware faults, i.e. problems with hardware - components of the system unit, provided that everything is normal with the image on the monitor. The second is about problems with the software part, i.e. when Windows won't boot for any reason. The third is when the system unit makes noise as usual, but there is nothing on the screen or the message “No signal” appears.

      Please note that if your computer stops turning on, but you bought it relatively recently and it is still “under warranty,” then the best thing to do would be not to do anything yourself. Even if you are completely confident in your knowledge and qualifications. The best option would be to take it back to the seller or contact the warranty workshop indicated in the service book or documents. They gave them to you when you purchased them, right?

      If you decide to look “under the hood” yourself, but end up doing nothing or, even worse, damaging something, then you will definitely be denied warranty repairs. As a rule, all new PCs are covered with warranty stickers. It is enough to damage one of them, and the seller will probably deprive you of warranty service.

      Now let's finally move on to solving the problem you're having. We have collected all (or almost all) reasons why the computer often does not turn on, and now we will tell you what to do. They are arranged in order from the simplest to the most complex. And as an addition, we will give you some useful tips that should help in eliminating this problem. If you do everything correctly, you will not need the help of specialists. If all else fails, then computer help at home in Moscow can be provided by our service center.

      The computer does not turn on because... There is no voltage at the input of the power supply

      No matter how trivial it may be, this reason is one of the most common. Clients often call us to get advice on why their computer may not turn on and what they should do in this case. And then they are very surprised when we suggest they check this option first. Let's look at a few typical situations, each of which could cause a problem:

      • General problems with electricity - take the time to see if other electrical appliances are working in the apartment. And it’s better in this room where the computer is located. Maybe you haven’t noticed that there is no electricity in your apartment. For example, neighbors were doing renovations and as a result, traffic jams were knocked out. And now you’re wondering why your computer won’t start. Or some other planned outage. This also happens.
      • The socket is faulty - the ideal option would be to check whether the socket (extension cord, surge protector, etc.) into which the PC is plugged in is working. Connect a kettle, iron, lamp or even a phone charger to it. In general, some other electrical appliance.
      • Our long-term practice shows that very often users forget to check whether the surge protector (extension cord) is turned on. There is usually a special button on it and sometimes someone can accidentally press it.
      • The power supply switch may be turned off. You can find it on the power supply itself if you look at the back of your system unit. Both a child and you yourself can press it when wiping off dust, for example. If you want, then you can.
      • The electrical cord that connects the system unit to the outlet is faulty. In this situation, you need to find another cable that is known to work. You can take it from another PC, because they are all identical.

      It happens when a joyful user comes home, presses the power button on his faithful friend, but he remains silent. The computer simply won't turn on. A person begins to panic and call friends who understand at least something about computers, and those, in a stupor from such a direct question, without explaining the reasons and features, do not even know how to answer. And okay, if the equipment was turned on to launch the game, but if its launch was necessary for work purposes?

      The computer just can't turn off and that's it. There is a reason for this, and more than one, so it is impossible to determine it without describing the features. But if you take a closer look at the signs of breakdown, then everything can be eliminated without difficulty. Such situations arise due to a variety of reasons. Some of them, after the problem is over, will only cause hysterical laughter, while others will empty your wallet.

      Lack of electricity

      It happens when a person just comes into the apartment, or just wakes up and immediately turns on the computer. But he, the infection, does not turn on. Thinking about what is the cause of such a tragedy takes a lot of time, but in reality there may simply be no electricity (after all, the TV, lights and other devices were not turned on at that time).
      It’s all easy to check, and you shouldn’t go to the Internet for advice in such situations. But it may also happen that all the equipment turns on, but the computer does not. There is a possibility that there is no electrical power in a particular outlet.

      Electricians know why this happens, but you can check it yourself by plugging in a hair dryer or other equipment. If it does not work, then the problem is in the outlet. The power supply must be connected to another source, and the outlet itself must not be touched until the technician arrives. If the reason is not in the outlet, then move on.

      Computer power

      It may be that everything is fine with the outlet, but the power still does not reach the computer. First you need to check the integrity of the cable and carry out a simple manipulation: remove it and insert it. If the appearance of the cord shows that it is time for it to go into the trash, then it is better to do so by buying a new one. Even if the reason for the poor PC startup is not in it.
      Also, there is a special button on the back of the system unit. It is rarely used, but accidentally catching it and then wondering why the computer is not working is quite realistic. It must be switched to the “On” position.

      power unit

      If there is no problem with the socket and cord, but the problem remains, then you need to follow the electricity. After the cable it goes to the power supply, which is where we go. People are used to saving on everything they can. In computers, power supplies come to the forefront of saving money. People don't fully understand how important this piece of technology is.

      If it breaks and needs to be replaced with a new one, it’s not a big deal and will cost $35-50. The problems will be more serious if not only the power supply is broken, but also other parts such as the motherboard or video card.

      It’s also not worth buying new parts right away; you need to check everything first. The easiest way to do this is if you have another, working power supply. If this is not the case, then you will need a voltage tester. There should be a voltage of 5V in the power connectors between the black and red wires, and 12V between the yellow and black wires. Deviation is possible only within 5-7 percent; if more, then the unit urgently needs to be changed. To avoid future problems with the inoperability of other elements of the system unit, it must be replaced and not repaired.

      When the power supply becomes faulty, the internal protection may become stuck. You need to unplug the power cable for a few minutes and leave the PC unplugged. If after this, it still does not start, the reason must be looked for elsewhere.

      My battery is almost done

      There is a small 3V lithium battery on the surface of the motherboard. It supports the memory system in which BIOS settings are stored. It is very difficult to check this battery before buying a computer, because in order to see it, you need to disassemble the computer. Yes, and checking performance by appearance is quite difficult. And it may well turn out to be used. Or it could have been sitting in storage for several years.

      When the battery runs out, the BIOS system settings are reset. A sign of such a malfunction may be a constant time failure. Also, if there are problems with the battery, when you turn on the computer, it will ask you to save the BIOS settings. In some cases, the equipment refuses to turn on at all. You also need to check its performance using a tester. If it turns out to be non-working, or you simply don’t have a tester at hand, then you can replace it. These batteries are sold in every computer store and are inexpensive.

      Checking the processor and hard drive

      If the cover of the system unit was removed to check the power supply and batteries, then at the same time you can look at the processor and hard drive. To find out if the processor is working, you need to remove the cooler from it, start the computer and put your hand on the heatsink. If it starts to heat up, it means it is working. But it's also worth taking a look to see if the cooler is working. If not, the computer will shut down to avoid overheating, and it will not always start.

      The hard drive could also be a startup problem. You need to check if all the plugs are tightly connected to it.

      Dust in the computer

      If there is a lot of dust inside the system unit, then it is not surprising that the computer does not start. To fix the problem you need a regular vacuum cleaner. The entire cleaning process consists of several stages:

      Viruses

      The reason why your computer won't turn on could be a virus. They become real computer killers; viruses can cause harm in a variety of situations. If a person uses the Internet and has a bad antivirus installed, or not installed at all, then viruses will quickly come to the computer from the World Wide Web. The best method of pest control is a high-quality antivirus. It must be official and should be updated periodically. There is no need to skimp on this software.

      But there are situations when the PC turns on, but the operating system does not. How to run the antivirus in this case? You should try loading the last known good configuration. To do this, when you turn on the computer, press F8. After pressing the key, a menu will appear on the screen in which you need to select “Load last known known configuration”.

      If you cannot start a successful configuration, you should try entering safe mode. You should also use F8 for this. When you press the key, a special menu appears on the screen in which you need to select the “Safe Mode” line. If you managed to start the OS, then you need to proceed as follows:

      • Go to the Start menu;
      • Select the “All programs” menu;
      • Select “Standard”;
      • Open the “Service” window;
      • Click on “System Restore”;

      BIOS Settings

      Most users do not even know what kind of BIOS system this is. In fact, there is no need to get involved in this issue; it is better to immediately eliminate the problem. If the computer does not turn on due to incorrect BIOS settings, then you need to remove them, reset them or return them to factory settings. You can call this process whatever you like. If the PC still turns on, but only sometimes, then you need to go into the BIOS when starting the system. In order to enter it, you need to press the Del or F2 key (depending on each computer). Next, in the menu that opens (blue), click on Load Optimized Files. If the computer does not turn on at all, then you need to reset the BIOS in another way.

      First you need to remove the cover of the system unit and find the motherboard inside. On its surface there is a “Clear CMOS” jumper, which is what we need. It needs to be “settled” in adjacent contacts, or simply removed for a few minutes. After that, put it back and start the computer.

      Motherboard

      If the settings are reset, the computer is cleaned of dust and everything is in order with the power supply, but the equipment still does not turn on, then the worst case scenario is possible. If the motherboard is broken, it will cost a lot of money. Especially if you want to buy a modern board, which will entail the purchase of a new processor, RAM and video card. As a result, you will have to update almost your entire computer. Well, it had to be done someday.
      The process of replacing a motherboard is not easy; when replacing, you need to take into account the following factors:

      • The new board must have the same processor socket;
      • You need to check the number of RAM slots, they must be of the same type (DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc.);
      • The hard drive connection should be similar;
      • The required number of slots for the required cards;

      If all this is not taken into account, a new problem will arise. Now the user will be tormented by the question of why the new motherboard does not start. Also, new equipment may have different system settings, and you will have to reinstall the operating system.

      The logical question would be, why not send the motherboard for repair? This can only be done if the cost of repair services does not exceed 30% of the price of the entire board. Repairing this part of the computer is a very complex process and there is no guarantee that it will work well in the future.

      If all possible methods for solving the problem have been used, but the equipment still does not turn on, then you should not be upset. You need to call a technician who will determine the cause of the problem and fix it.

      Every user may sooner or later have problems starting their computer. Problems with loading your computer are not always caused by a breakdown; very often we are the cause of this, and this can be fixed very quickly and easily. In this article, we will look at the most common reasons why your computer does not start, so that you can quickly solve the problem and you do not have to call a specialist.

      This can be either the simplest reason for the computer not turning on, or the most complex. Let's start with a simple one. If your computer does not turn on, the most common reason is a lack of power supply to it. This happens as a result of several factors:

      • Power supply turned off
      The power supply on/off button, which is located on the back of the computer, is set to the “Off” position. It is possible that you accidentally touched it when you were wiping dust or cleaning under the table. To solve the problem, you just need to move this button to the “On” position and that’s it – the computer will start.
      • The power cable is poorly inserted into the system unit
      Try unplugging and reinserting the power cable connected to the computer's power supply, make sure it is inserted all the way, and try starting the computer again. If this does not help, move on.
      • The computer power cord is pulled out or not inserted properly.
      In this case, firmly insert the plug into the outlet, and then try to start the computer.
      • Stabilizer or UPS does not work
      If your computer is connected through a stabilizer or uninterruptible power supply, then it is possible that they are faulty, so try connecting the computer directly.
      • The surge protector or socket does not work
      Well, the last of the simple reasons why a computer does not start is a faulty surge protector or socket. Try connecting the computer through another surge protector and socket, if it starts, then this is the reason, if this does not help, then the breakdown is more serious.


      Another fairly common reason why the computer does not turn on is the incorrect connection of its components in the system unit; this quite often happens when users clean the computer themselves and at the same time disconnect the wires or accidentally touch them.

      The next reason is a breakdown of the power supply; this is a fairly common breakdown in computers, since on average power supplies work for 3 years, after which they often fail. If the power supply is in working condition, then there are 2 options for failure: either the motherboard has failed, or the contacts have oxidized.

      Computer won't turn on, but fans work

      Your computer starts but nothing happens? Check all contacts and connections of components in the system unit. Most often this happens after self-cleaning the inside of the system unit and components. Also, in some cases, resetting the Bios helps; to do this, you need to close the corresponding terminals on the motherboard and restart the computer, making the settings of the reset Bios before starting.

      The computer does not turn on and beeps

      If the computer turns on and beeps, it means that one of the devices is missing or connected incorrectly. By the nature of the sounds made, or more precisely by the number of long and short squeaks, you can determine what exactly the problem is. It may be necessary to remove and reinsert this component, clean the contacts, or replace it due to failure.



      The computer turns on but does not boot

      If the computer turns on but does not start, then this happens for three reasons, let's look at them:

      • The computer does not see the hard drive on which the operating system is installed
      In this case, there may be 2 reasons why the operating system does not boot: either the hard drive is not connected correctly, or it has failed. Try turning off the computer and disconnecting the hard drive, then reconnecting it. Start the computer and try to listen to this hard drive, if it works and does not make any strange sounds, then move on to the next point. If the hard drive does not hum at all or hums somehow incorrectly, then try reconnecting it using other wires; if this does not help, then most likely the hard drive is broken.
      • The system boot loader does not specify or incorrectly specifies the partition from which it needs to boot
      Most often, this reason occurs due to the installation of a second operating system and the subsequent removal of one of them. In this case, you need to restore the bootloader. In the Windows operating system, this can be done as follows: you need to boot from the operating system installation disk, select “System Restore” from the menu, then select the operating system that you want to restore and click the “Next” button and click: “Command Prompt”. We enter the following commands on the command line: the first is “bootrec.exe /fixmbr”, then press “Enter” and enter the following command – “bootrec.exe /fixboot” and also press “Enter”. Then exit this menu and restart the computer.
      • Problems with the operating system
      If the previous action did not help or the boot loader sees the operating system, but the system itself does not start, then you can again try to restore it using the boot disk by selecting the item: “Startup recovery” or “System recovery”. If these actions do not bring results, then you will have to reinstall the system. We described this in detail in our separate article.


      The computer turns on, but there is no picture

      If the computer turns on, but there is a black screen, then the problem is probably that the monitor is not connected correctly. To do this, check that the cable going to the monitor is connected correctly, both from the side of the system unit and from the side of the monitor itself. Then check the settings on the monitor itself to ensure the correct connection type is set there: VGA, DVI or HDMI. Also check the power cable going to the monitor to ensure it is connected correctly.

      The next reason why there may be no image on the monitor is a video driver failure. Try booting your computer in safe mode and reinstalling the video driver. If this does not help, try connecting the monitor to the integrated video card, removing the discrete one. If an image appears, then there is a problem with the video card (try cleaning the contacts and inserting the card well into the connector), if there is no image, then it is possible that the problem is in the monitor.


      The computer turns on and immediately turns off

      This situation occurs for two reasons: the cooling cooler has failed or the power button is jammed. Therefore, check the functionality of the cooler, if everything is in order with it, then disconnect the start button from the motherboard and start the computer by shorting the start terminals (be careful and do not do this if you have no experience!), if the computer starts and does not turn off, repair the button .