Computer will not turn on? What to try and when to call us

You press the button and nothing? No light, no fan, a blank screen? Most causes are simple and quick to find. Here is how.

When a computer refuses to turn on, most people expect the worst. In reality the cause is often simple and can be found in a few minutes. Let us go through it step by step.

Start with the simplest things

Check the power. Is the cable firmly in the socket and in the computer? Does the socket itself work (try another)? On a desktop PC there is usually a main switch (0/1) on the power supply at the back that must be set to 1.
On a laptop, try the charger. A flat battery may show no light at all. Plug in the original charger, wait a few minutes and try again. Is the charging light on?
Hard power reset. Unplug the computer, on a laptop remove the battery if the laptop has a removable battery (most modern laptops have a built-in one), hold the power button for 15 seconds (this drains residual power), plug it back in and try again.

When something happens but it will not boot

Lights and fans spin, but the screen is black? Check the monitor cable and input (HDMI/DisplayPort). On a desktop with a graphics card the monitor must be plugged into the card, not the motherboard. The problem may also be the memory (RAM) or graphics.
Beeping or lights blinking in a pattern? Those are diagnostic codes. They reveal what failed (memory, graphics, board) and we can read them.
Boots and shuts down immediately? This is often the power supply, overheating or a short. See also computer shuts down by itself.

The most common causes

In our experience the usual culprits are a faulty power supply (PSU), a flat or disconnected battery/CMOS, loose RAM, a motherboard fault, or (on older machines) overheating from accumulated dust. On laptops, add a damaged charger or power connector.

When to leave it to us

If you have gone through the basics and the computer still shows no sign of life, more blind testing can do more harm. We will find the cause for free and tell you the price up front, before any repair. See how it works on the how we work page.

It is often related to the power supply or power and surges. Whatever the cause, get in touch and we will help.

Frequently asked questions

My computer will not turn on but the lights are on. What does that mean?

If the fans spin and the lights are on but the screen stays black, the problem is usually the graphics, the RAM or the monitor cable. On a desktop with a graphics card the monitor must be plugged into the card, not the motherboard.

My laptop will not turn on and there is no charging light. What should I try?

Plug in the original charger and wait a few minutes, the battery may be completely flat. If the laptop has a removable battery (most modern laptops have a built-in one), remove it, hold the power button for 15 seconds and try again with the charger connected.

Does a hard power reset help?

Yes, often. Unplug the computer, hold the power button for 15 seconds to drain residual power, plug it back in and try to turn it on. This fixes many cases where the computer froze while shutting down.