# Computer problem -- won't start, not even a BIOS screen **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** computer-hardware\ **Created:** [October 26, 2025, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296 "2025-10-26T09:58:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/1 "2025-10-26T09:58:13Z")
I put it here because it’s my gaming computer, but if this should go into IMHO, that’s fine, too. I have a computer that I built a few years ago, say 6 years ago. Over the years, I’ve upgraded the hard drives and video card. A week ago Friday, it booted up and ran just fine, I used it all day for work, then I turned it off and went away for a week. I come home and it won’t start up. When I turn it on, the monitors come on (that is, you can see their backlight turn on), but there’s no beeping, no error messages. I tried it with one monitor, then the other, then HDMI through the video card (instead of the DisplayPort), then DP or HDMI through the motherboard. Then, I removed the video card and tried the motherboard outputs again. All, no luck. The keyboard lights go on (Num Lock, Caps Lock, and I can press the CL or NL key to make the lights go on/off), the fans go on, various lights go on inside the case. I don’t think it’s a power supply problem. I don’t even see the BIOS splash screen, which makes me think it’s not a hard drive problem. The motherboard is an MSI Mag Z390 Tomahawk. The processor is, I think, an Intel Core i7-9700. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/2 "2025-10-26T10:29:29Z")
Many motherboards have a system that displays error codes to let you know what is wrong on boot-up. Yours seems to have this. Here is what I got from Google. It’s a place to start as you troubleshoot your problems. * * * The MSI MAG Z390 Tomahawk shows error codes using its “EZ Debug LED” indicators . Instead of a numbered digital display, this system uses a set of four small lights on the motherboard to indicate the status of key components during the Power-On Self-Test (POST). How the EZ Debug LEDs work As the computer starts, the LEDs will briefly flash on and off. If the system fails to boot, the LED corresponding to the problem component will remain lit, helping you pinpoint the hardware at fault. The four LEDs indicate problems with the following components: - **CPU:** Indicates a problem with the processor. This light can also turn on due to uneven pressure from the CPU cooler. - **DRAM:** Signals an issue with your memory (RAM). It may stay on if your RAM is not properly seated or is incompatible. - **VGA:** Points to a problem with the graphics card. - **BOOT:** Indicates that the motherboard cannot find a bootable storage device. How to use the EZ Debug LEDs 1. **Start your PC.** As it powers on, observe the EZ Debug LEDs, which are located on the motherboard. 2. **Watch the sequence.** The lights will flash briefly as the system checks each component. 3. **Check for a stopped light.** If a component fails to initialize, its corresponding LED will stay lit, and the boot process will halt. 4. **Troubleshoot the issue.** Refer to the motherboard’s manual for specific troubleshooting steps for the lit LED. For example, a DRAM light may require reseating your RAM sticks. 5. **Reboot.** After addressing the issue, power cycle your system to see if the problem is resolved and the boot process completes normally. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/3 "2025-10-26T12:05:38Z")
Thanks. Looks like it’s the VGA light (with or without the card installed). I might still have an old video card I can try in there. I’ll look around and report back later. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/4 "2025-10-26T12:11:03Z")
It looks like the mobo has integrated graphics. You can probably test using that (HDMI). Worth a try. Your i7-9700 has integrated graphics too. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/5 "2025-10-26T12:20:47Z")
I tried pulling out the card and connecting directly to the mobo HDMI and DP, but no luck. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/6 "2025-10-26T12:25:55Z")
It may be they were disabled when you setup the PC. Consider a BIOS reset. It will reset y9our mobo to out-of-the-box settings. This should (probably) re-enable the video output of the mobo. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/s4W4XlLY3YQ/maxresdefault.jpg "How To Clear Your CMOS - BIOS Reset Tutorial") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4W4XlLY3YQ) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fGpf_hfOKgI/maxresdefault.jpg "How To Reset Bios (CMOS)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGpf_hfOKgI) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/7 "2025-10-26T12:41:23Z")
Also…remove the video card to use the built-in video. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/8 "2025-10-26T12:42:29Z")
I found my old GTX 970 and plugged that in, same problem. So, my guess now is that the video card slot is faulty at least? ETA: Yes, I removed the video card when trying the mobo video outputs. If there’s no video card, won’t the mobo default to the internal video without me resetting bios? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/9 "2025-10-26T12:44:10Z")
It does seem a mobo problem. Try to make the built-in video work. If the mobo is busted that sucks. They usually never break…usually. Nothing lasts forever and maybe you got unlucky here. Know if you try to replace parts and they do not work you can return them. It’s a hassle fer sure but you have some financial protection here. Be careful to keep all the bits in order if you need to return. ETA: If you have a Microcenter near you it may be worthwhile to have then troubleshoot it. Just an idea.(and that costs money) EETA: > [@RitterSport](#): > > ETA: Yes, I removed the video card when trying the mobo video outputs. If there’s no video card, won’t the mobo default to the internal video without me resetting bios? I am not sure. I would definitely try resetting the BIOS as described above. It may not solve anything, probably won’t, but at this point I think it is worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/10 "2025-10-26T12:48:22Z")
Did you try a different monitor? Did you check the settings on the monitor and make sure it’s not a setting like brightness got turned all the way down? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/11 "2025-10-26T12:57:51Z")
I have two monitors, tried them both, HDMI and DisplayPort, through the two different video cards and through the mobo display output, with a card intact and out, reset the BIOS by pulling the battery, putting it back in, shorting that jumper, tried again with the mobo outputs, no luck. Just tried one of the monitors with this laptop, no problem. When I plug into the mobo outputs directly, there’s a thing that pops up on the monitor, a little rectangle, maybe 10 VGA pixels wide, one high. I think I’m screwed. Unless anyone has any other ideas, maybe I’ll ask to have this thread renamed to help me find a partially built machine where I supply my own drives and video card. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/12 "2025-10-26T13:01:42Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > …help me find a partially built machine where I supply my own drives and video card. I JUST built a new PC for myself and I am about to sell my old PC (which is still really good…I gamed on it till a month ago and it did 1440p gaming really well on almost everything). I live in Chicago. Not sure where you are and if it is worth the hassle to ship. But…I have a nice PC for you at a good price 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/13 "2025-10-26T13:02:25Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > maybe I’ll ask to have this thread renamed Probably better to create a fresh linked thread and leave this one to die. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/14 "2025-10-26T13:10:05Z")
What are the specs? I’m in NJ. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/15 "2025-10-26T13:19:51Z")
[![](https://i.imgur.com/e3igies.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/e3igies.jpeg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/co4BrQP.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/co4BrQP.png) [![](https://i.imgur.com/JVu6Hl3.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/JVu6Hl3.png) [![](https://i.imgur.com/FoaGr4M.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/FoaGr4M.png) [![](https://i.imgur.com/SsY927B.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/SsY927B.png) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/16 "2025-10-26T13:34:30Z")
Also: 1TB M.2 NVMe hard drive. Samsung 970 or 980…I forget. Whatever it is it is a very good one. And it comes with licensed Windows 10 (which is free to upgrade to Windows 11). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/17 "2025-10-26T14:25:57Z")
Have you tried reseating the RAM? I know you say the board lights indicate a VGA issue rather than RAM but it’s an easy thing to try and it’s super weird that both the PCIe slot and onboard graphics would stop working. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/18 "2025-10-26T14:42:58Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > …it’s super weird that both the PCIe slot and onboard graphics would stop working. I very much agree with this. I really doubt it is the RAM but, as said, it is a really easy thing to try. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/19 "2025-10-26T14:53:58Z")
I don’t have a useful diagnostic suggestion, but did you have any nasty weather and lightning during the week the PC sat unused that might have fried something? Those sorts of failures are utterly mysterious in that absolutely any component could have been killed with no visible evidence and no apparent rhyme or reason. The other fun thing about those sorts of failures is there’s no requirement that there be one neat failure in one replaceable component. You might have two or three such that the collection of symptoms seems inconsistent. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296/20 "2025-10-26T16:43:27Z")
I’ll try reseating the RAM when I get a chance, but I’m not hopeful. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296.md?page=2)