Forum Discussion
My Windows Computer Won't Turn on, Why?
I am having a serious issue where my computer will not turn on at all. When I press the power button, absolutely nothing happens—no fans spin, no lights come on, no beeping sounds, and the screen remains completely black. I have already tried checking the power cable to make sure it is plugged in securely, tested the wall outlet with another device to confirm it is working, and even tried a different power cord, but the computer still shows no signs of life. I also attempted to hold the power button down for thirty seconds to drain any residual charge, but that did nothing either. Has anyone else experienced a complete failure to power on like this, and is there anything else I can try before assuming the power supply or motherboard has died? Any step-by-step troubleshooting advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
3 Replies
It sounds like you're talking about a desktop here. If the PSU worked before, it might still work now. But if it's not the original one, or it's from another machine, that's one thing. Interpret the "30 seconds" as meaning that you unplug everything, buy a new CMOS battery, which you'll replace before you remove the old one, or pull it out if you can't remove it, and with a metal object that conducts current, short-circuit it for thirty seconds, then insert the new battery or plug it back in, and everything else as it was. Plus, it's good to have a Windows 10 installation media USB plugged in. When the computer starts, it asks what to do, usually you have to press "F1" to go to the BIOS, where you can make a general setting or just set everything to default, which is not a very smart idea, because if it has a virus, it is better to set it up. and "First Boot On USB" where the OS is, then when it has been read and starts, you press the "DEL" button and "First Boot On Windows Start Manager" i.e. the Hard Drive and then throw everything on it out during the setting, so that only the completely empty disk remains. but then you have to set up each driver in Windows afterwards, if not then "Driver Booster free or pro" , it might help. It's good if the Windows 10 on the USB is Professional RTM and has a key, of course. https://www.simplysup.com/
I can hear how concerning this is—nothing happens at all when you press the power button. That "no signs of life" symptom actually helps narrow things down, because it tells us the issue is almost certainly with the power delivery chain rather than something like a display problem.
Hello,
It definitely sounds like a major component failure, most likely the power supply (PSU) or the motherboard, as previously suggested. Out of curiosity, did you attempt a BIOS update right before this issue occurred?
To isolate and eliminate a potential motherboard or short-circuit issue, you can try the following steps:
Out-of-case test (Breadboarding): Remove the motherboard from the computer case and place it on a non-conductive surface (like the motherboard's cardboard box) with only the bare minimum components installed (CPU, one stick of RAM, and power cables). This will help determine if there is a short circuit or ground conflict with the case.
Jumpstart the motherboard: Disconnect the front panel header cables. Use the tip of a flathead screwdriver to gently bridge the two PWR_SW (Power Switch) pins on the motherboard for a second. If the system boots up, your case's physical power button or its wiring is faulty.
To test the power supply:
The Paperclip Test: Disconnect the 24-pin ATX connector from the motherboard. Use a paperclip to bridge the Green wire (PS-ON) and any Black wire (COM/Ground) on the connector, then plug the PSU into the wall and turn it on. If the fan spins, the PSU is capable of turning on, though keep in mind this doesn't fully guarantee it can handle a load.
If you have a multimeter, using it to check the voltage rails (12V, 5V, 3.3V) on the PSU while jumped, or checking the motherboard's standby power, would be the most accurate and convenient way to diagnose this!
