Here are the most common problems you might encounter when your computer will not start up and how you might be able to fix it.
Failing Self-Test
You’ve probably heard the term “POST” before in reference to PCs. It stands for “Power on Self-Test” and it refers to a series of self-diagnostic tests a PC will run upon first powering on. Both Mac and Windows computers will run these tests and if everything succeeds, your computer will boot up as normal. When building your own PC, getting your PC to post is a huge achievement because it means the build was successful. If the POST process encounters an error, it will not start, and you’ll need to figure out why. Most of the time, you will get an error code which will be a sequence of beeps. Check your motherboard manual for beep code meanings or Google the model number and beep codes or the number of beeps.
Is it Plugged In?
We hate to say it, but make sure you plugged it in. Fans should be spinning, lights should come on, etc. If none of that happens, you know you have a power-related issue. If everything seems to be working except your fans, your computer will not power up in order to protect the components from overheating thanks to multiple protection circuits on most motherboards.
Will Not Boot After Installing New Hardware
If you’ve just replaced any hardware components in your PC, remove them one by one to see if perhaps the new hardware is messing you up. If it is, that may mean that the hardware is defective or not compatible.
A Brand-New Build Will Not Power Up
If you have a brand-new build, make sure all your cable connections are in the correct spots and secured tightly. This is a common mistake among many new PC builders.
An Old PC Will Not Boot
If this is an older build and your motherboard has a BIOS chip, that can become loose over time and cause post problems. Open your case and lightly press down on the BIOS chip to make sure it’s not loose.
Memory Errors
One of the most common post problems is a memory error. This could be an issue with a bad memory module or improper installation, and you may be able to fix the issue by taking the memory out one by one and reinstalling it. If you can get it to boot with even one or more sticks, you might have some bad memory and, in that case, if it’s new, hit up that warranty! Since we’re Team Kingston, we’ll let you know that all Kingston memory comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. If you can get the memory to work in one slot but not another, you may have a defective motherboard.
Try Safe Mode
If your computer POSTs, but won’t boot up afterward, you should try booting up your computer in safe mode by hitting the F8 key on your keyboard right as your computer starts up. This will start up your computer with the bare minimum software running and if it starts up successfully, you know there’s some software issue at play, perhaps a driver, spyware or a virus. Some antivirus programs might have their own boot disk that will let you scan and clean your PC without booting into Windows. If safe mode doesn’t work either, you can use the startup repair tools built into the Advanced Options in the Safe Mode menu. If that doesn’t work, you may need to do a full operating system reinstall.
If you’ve got a problem not solved by any of the fixes mentioned in this video, leave it in the comments and we’ll see if we can help.
