There could be many reasons why your computer won’t turn on, ranging from a disconnected power supply to a faulty motherboard. Before you take it to a professional for repairs, there are some steps you should take to try and identify the problem yourself.
1. Check all of the connections. Make sure that all cables including the power cord and monitor cable are secure and connected correctly. Try switching out the power cord if you have an extra one lying around.
2. Inspect your components. Check all of the components inside the computer for signs of physical trauma or damage. If any of the parts appear to be malfunctioning, broken, or missing, this could be the cause of the issue.
3. Test the power supply. Unplug the power cord from the back of your computer and use a multimeter to measure the voltage on the power plug. The voltage should be between 3 and 12 volts depending on the type of power supply. If the voltage is too low, the power supply may need to be replaced.
4. Try a different monitor. If the display does not appear when the computer is turned on, try another monitor or try connecting the monitor to a different source such as a laptop or tablet.
5. Perform a hard reset. If possible, remove the RAM (random access memory) sticks from the motherboard then press and hold the power button for 30 seconds. Plug in the RAM sticks and try turning on the computer again.
6. Examine the BIOS. If you can access the BIOS settings, make sure that the correct settings are enabled. This includes verifying that the correct hard drive is selected and that the correct date and time are set.
7. Check the fans. Use a can of compressed air to blow away dust and debris from the CPU fan, GPU fan, and other components. This can help reduce the amount of heat which can cause the computer to shutdown unexpectedly.
8. Update the drivers. Make sure all of your device drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can cause issues with your hardware and software. To keep your device drivers up to date, you can use an automatic driver update tool.
9. Test the hard drive. If possible, you should test the hard drive to make sure it is working correctly. Using software such as the built-in Windows Check Disk utility, you can scan the drive for errors and repair them if necessary.
10. Replace the motherboard. If none of the above solutions have worked, the motherboard may need to be replaced. It is best to bring the computer to a professional in this case as the process can be complicated and time consuming.
No matter what the issue is, there are usually multiple solutions available and one or more of these tips should help you get your computer up and running. If none of the above solutions work, it may be time to take the computer to a professional.