# Computer: Won't Power On **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923 "2003-11-07T17:21:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/1 "2003-11-07T17:21:51Z")
That’s basically it. I turn on the switch and the other components (monitor, printer) go on but the computer itself sits dead. I plugged and unplugged it, and tried plugging it directly to the wall - no go. What could this be? ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/2 "2003-11-07T18:32:04Z")
The usual suspects. Motherboard or Power supply. Anything else and you should have at least gotten a post or a loud series of beeps from your motherboard. Power supplies are cheaper to try to swap out. Have you been getting random lock ups? Or your computer rebooting for no reason while you’re using it? Has there been any other flaky behavior before this? Someone with a better idea then me though will probably be along shortly. ---
**Author:** ![merge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@merge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merge)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/3 "2003-11-07T19:27:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by IzzyR \* > \*\*That’s basically it. I turn on the switch and the other components (monitor, printer) go on but the computer itself sits dead. I plugged and unplugged it, and tried plugging it directly to the wall - no go. > > What could this be? \*\* What kind of Computer is it? Have you upgraded anything recently? I had this problem with a Mac 2 weeks ago… and there is actually a button on the motherboard next to the battery that I had to press, and it came right back on. Other things you can try… reseat the ram, video card and cpu… pain in the ass, but it has worked for me… You can also test the power supply by connecting 2 of the pins with a (metal) paperclip… This is online somewhere… google “testing atx power supply” at leats you will be able to rule it out… If the power supply works… maybe a dead motherboard… ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/4 "2003-11-08T05:29:57Z")
Some PSes have a hard switch on the back. Check that. And the 110/220 switch at the back. Testing the PS on another MB is really the best general idea. Keep in mind that sometimes, both the MB and PS take each other down. There can be all sorts of inane little things as well, maybe something of zero cost to try. E.g., clear the CMOS. (Worked for me on a laptop.) ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/5 "2003-11-08T14:51:44Z")
Most newer mobos has an LED power indicator. Open the case to see if yours has one. The LED should be on as long as the power supply is connected to the mobo, functional, and is switched on (your computer doesn’t have to be on). If the LED is not on, it is highly likely to be your power supply. Otherwise, the mobo is most likely to have died. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/6 "2003-11-08T15:33:43Z")
Had this same problem when my computer’s heat spiked. Apparently the power source just won’t juice when such a thing happens. I’d seriously check the power source, then the fans. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/7 "2003-11-08T18:59:08Z")
Before you do anything else, here’s what gets the computer to come on again about half the time (I troubleshoot desktops a lot at work). Unplug the power cord, and disconnect the phone line from the computer. Then hold in the power button for about 60 seconds (with it unplugged). After holding the power button in for 60 seconds, if you have a 115v/230v switch on the back, switch it to 230 and then back to 115, but be SURE to do this with the computer’s power cord unplugged (check three times just in case you are having a brain fart). Then plug it back in and see if it will come on. This discharges the capacitors and resets the power supply. If that fails, and you are comfortable going into the case, you might try unseating the modem, a lot of times a bad modem will hold down the whole system. If that doesn’t work, disconnect power cables (the ones with red, black, and yellow wires with white plug) from the various drives, and see if that helps. If you unplug a power cable from a drive and that gets the system to turn on, it’s often that particular device that is bad. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/8 "2003-11-09T03:18:31Z")
Of course, after you tun on the power, you can always check if the power supply fan is spinning. Very rarely, the fan can get stuck by dust, so if you want to be extra sure, get a can of compressed air to blow it clean first. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/9 "2003-11-09T05:58:19Z")
I had an experience where the computer would not start until I unplugged the fax/printer and then switched the computer on. Only happened once, still using the same components. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/10 "2003-11-09T18:33:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > \*\*going into the case, you might try unseating the modem, a lot of times a bad modem will hold down the whole system. \*\* Quickest $20.00 (and I fellt guilty charging that) pull card, power, replace card, pull card anothher card, power… “Looks like you’ve got a bad modem.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/11 "2003-11-10T07:29:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Computer: Won’t Power On Er… How did you post this message? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-wont-power-on/211923/12 "2003-11-10T20:11:15Z")
Thanks a lot, guys! It was the power supply (something I had never heard of prior to darkhold’s post). I have a brother who has tinkered with a computer or two, and I asked him - he immediately assumed it was the power supply, informed me that he had some good parts sitting around in an old computer that he didn’t need, and proceeded to replace it himself (it now works). While he was at it he also upgraded a couple of other stuff, so all worked out for the best. 🙂 Anyway, thanks again to all.