(8 Fixes) How to Fix Computer Won't Turn On(8 Fixes) How to Fix Computer Won't Turn On

"Why won't my computer turn on? I just built my first PC, and I've got everything assembled, but it still won't boot. I'm sure the power cable is plugged in correctly, and I've even replaced the power supply once because I thought it wasn't working."

It can be frustrating when you're ready to start your day's work, only to find that your computer won't turn on. There could be several reasons behind this problem, ranging from hardware failure, software issues, or human errors. This article aims to gather eight solutions to fix all these problems. Before trying the troubleshooting methods below, download the Todo PCTrans tool to back up your data in case of data loss.

Tool Todo PCTrans - Rescue Data When the Computer Won't Boot

Your first priority should be to save your data, since some of these methods may take a while and you risk losing information. Some of these might be difficult for you. To protect your data, it's a good idea to download a data recovery tool. This type of data transfer software can help you retrieve programs, accounts, and files from a damaged computer.

As a professional data transfer software, Todo PCTrans excels at moving data from one computer to another, backing up important files, and shifting programs to a different hard drive. It's an excellent way to transfer files from one PC to another.

Step 1: Remove the hard drive from your old computer.

• Unplug the computer. If you have a laptop, remove the battery as well.
• Open up the case of the old computer so you can access the hard drive.
• Use a screwdriver to open up the case and get to the hard drive.
• Disconnect the power cable and data cable from the hard drive, then remove it from the old computer.

Step 2: Connect the hard drive to the new computer.

Multiple connectivity options:

1. USB hard drive enclosure: This special case allows you to connect your old hard drive and its casing together, then connect it to the new computer via USB.
2. USB hard drive adapter: This is a "cable" that connects one end to the hard drive and the other end to a USB port on the new computer.
3. Desktop computer: If the new computer is a desktop, the old hard drive can be connected directly as a second internal hard drive.

Step 3: Restore/migrate apps, files, and accounts from the old drive.

1. Download and run the Todo PCTrans tool. Choose "Data Transfer" mode, then click "Start."

2. Review the steps, then click “Scan.”

3. Make sure the hard drive is connected to your computer. Select the old drive you want to recover, then click “Continue.”

4. Choose the apps, files, and accounts you want to restore.

5. Wait a few seconds for the data to transfer.

This process will require you to open your computer case. If you experience any difficulties, please contact our online客服 via the LiveChat on the left side of the page. Let's proceed with the repair.

8 Solutions for a Computer That Won't Turn On

After saving your data elsewhere, try the following reliable solutions to address the issue of your computer not starting up.

Your computer might not turn on, but the lights on the motherboard are on, your computer has power but won't turn on, or your computer won't turn on when you press the power button. We'll cover fixes for all of these scenarios from hardware to software to user error.

1. Check the power supply

If the lights aren't blinking and the fan remains quiet, it's likely that your computer isn't getting enough power. Unplug the charger from the surge protector and plug it directly into a wall outlet instead. Sometimes surge protectors can fail. If you're using a laptop, make sure the charger is fully inserted into the correct USB port.

2. Replace the CMOS battery

Your motherboard has a CMOS battery, which controls system configuration and boot-up procedures. When the CMOS battery is drained, it can affect the data on your motherboard's BIOS. This can cause your BIOS settings to become corrupted, preventing your computer from turning on.

A CMOS battery can last for years, and you can buy a new one for a few dollars at an electronics retailer.

3. Overheating

If your computer turns off after only one second of being on, this could be your CPU's way of telling you that it's overheating! Considering the age of your computer, the thermal paste between your CPU and its heat sink may have dried up.

Now you'll need to remove the old thermal paste and apply new thermal paste to the CPU. Then, you can power on your computer. Alternatively, you can buy a can of compressed air to clean dust off of the copper heat sink and PC fan.

Check the display

If the motherboard hums as normal, but the monitor still will not turn on, you'll need to check if the monitor is damaged, or if it's not connected to a power source.

Try using your computer with another monitor, if it works, then you should purchase a new monitor from an electronics store. Also, make sure that your monitor is plugged directly into the wall.

Scan for malware

When you randomly visit unknown websites or download software, your computer might get attacked by malware. You can change your BIOS settings and use an antivirus disk, such as the Kaspersky Rescue Disk. Follow these steps to boot your computer from a USB drive.

Step 1: Turn on the computer.

Step 2: Press F12 to enter the BIOS screen.

Step 3. Under Boot, select the rescue disk as the boot device.

Step 4: Restart your computer and scan for malware.

"Boot Device Priority" setting

6. Set Safe Mode

If your computer still won't turn on, try pressing F8 as it boots up. We mentioned Safe Mode earlier to fix the black screen error on Dell laptops. Safe Mode boots your computer without loading third-party drivers, so it's easier to fix system errors.

Press and hold Shift + F8 to go to Recovery mode > Advanced repair options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Windows Startup Settings > Restart.

7. Disconnect any external devices

After we've ruled out hardware issues and malware, we can guess that your PC is having a conflict with a USB flash drive, external hard drive, webcam, or another device. If the peripheral works fine on other computers, it should be able to communicate with the host. However, this expansion card might be conflicting with an existing computer component, casting your PC into darkness. Try removing it and rebooting!

Inspect or replace a new hard drive

usually due to a hard shutdown or power outage. Okay, well, as they age, hard drives do tend to slow down. If you're not sure if your current hard drive in the case is damaged or loose, use a screwdriver to open up the case and tighten the power and SATA cables. Still no luck after rebooting? Time to buy a new one from an online shopping website!

Check the power cord and SATA cable

Conclusions

Is your computer not turning on? In this article, we list 8 troubleshooting methods to handle issues with power, CMOS battery, overheating, monitor, malware, Safe Mode, external devices, and hard drive. Before attempting these solutions, make sure to use the Todo PCTrans tool to salvage your data from the hard drive.