What to do if your computer turns on and off immediately

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

A few manipulations will help to revive the device - perhaps even without going to a service center.

You press the power button, the computer starts up, but something goes wrong and it turns off. The reasons for this behavior can be different. Below we will tell you how to find the cause of the problem and fix it.

Important: The above operations can be performed only after disconnecting the computer from the power supply, unless we are talking about updating or resetting the BIOS.

What to check if the computer turns on and off immediately after assembly or upgrade

Processor power

If the PC screen does not even have time to display the motherboard logo, make sure that you connect the cable from the power supply to the appropriate processor connector. Most often this is an 8-pin cable. On some blocks, two 4-pin plugs are used for this, and top-end game processors can use as many as two 8-pin connectors.

Read the instructions for your motherboard and power supply if you are not sure what to connect to. But in general, the power plugs are designed in such a way that it is difficult to plug them in the wrong way - only with the use of force. The main thing is to make sure that the latch falls into the groove.

System cooling

Sometimes the reason for the computer shutdown is cooling problems. Make sure to properly apply thermal grease to the processor heat spreader cover and apply power to the processor cooler or water cooling system.

Peel off the tape from the heatsink before pressing it against the processor. Newbies often forget about this. Or maybe it's a conditioned reflex from the days when the TV remote control was left in its packaging.

Smear a thin layer of thermal paste. After pressing the heatsink, it should not spread around the processor, otherwise a short circuit is possible.

Power Supply

Sometimes novice assemblers connect overly voracious gaming components to an insufficiently powerful power supply. Check if your device has enough power. This can be done using special ones. If the power supply does not take out your hardware, replace it with a suitable one.

Fixing the motherboard

Another possible cause of the problem is a short circuit between the motherboard and the case. In theory, it is attached to the base plate with thin screw-in struts that come with the case, but some manage to bolt it directly to the metal. As a result, the board closes, and it is not a fact that it can be repaired at the service center.

Before applying power, look at where the rack holes are located on the board. Place the stands on the base plate in the desired locations and attach the board to them, not to the plate itself.

RAM

Remove all strips, then insert one of them into the first slot. When installing the plank, apply a little pressure on it so that it fits snugly. Try starting your PC. If it turns on normally, the problem is in one of the planks. Go through all of them in this way, find the defective one and replace it.

Pins connected to the motherboard

Make sure the power to the motherboard is correct and the main power cable of the PSU is connected properly. It's easy to guess which cable from the power supply to where to connect: their plugs differ in size.

Check if the video card is tightly seated in the connector and if additional power is supplied to it.

See if you have correctly connected the front panel of the system unit. If you can't figure out the plugs, look at the instructions for the motherboard.

Perhaps the wires of the power button are simply not connected correctly, so the PC "will not start".

New components and devices

If the problem appears after upgrading your PC, remove all excess memory, a new video card, sound cards, Wi-Fi modules, hard drives and additional drives other than the boot drive, fans and other peripherals. Ideally, connect your monitor directly to the video output of your motherboard if your processor has a video core.

Then connect the accessories one at a time. When you reach the faulty one, the PC will stop turning on. The component will have to be replaced with a working one.

Be sure to read the instructions when connecting components, especially the small plugs from the fans or the front of the computer. Incorrect connection leads to polarity reversal and shorting.

Motherboard firmware revision

If all the hardware is working properly, and the computer stubbornly refuses to boot, make sure that the revision of the motherboard firmware is suitable for your processor. You can find out on the website of the board manufacturer.

In order for the motherboard to start working correctly with the processor, it is sometimes necessary to update the BIOS. If you are not confident in your abilities, take the board to the service. If you want to do everything yourself - borrow a suitable processor from someone for the time of the update, flash and install yours back.

What to check if the computer turns on and off immediately without any action on your part

Cleanliness inside the computer

Dust is a common cause of computer breakdowns, as it can short-circuit the contacts on the motherboard. Therefore, the old and out of service PC needs to be cleaned. Replacing thermal grease will also not hurt.

To reduce the annoyance of dust, use magnetically attached dust filters. Some make them from old tights, but it is better to buy ready-made ones (if, of course, they were not included in the kit).

Power cables

Make sure that the cable that connects the PC to an outlet or uninterruptible power supply is in good condition. To do this, connect another wire and, if everything is in order with it, immediately replace the old one. Using damaged power cables can lead not only to equipment failure, but also to electric shock.

Power Supply

If you know how to service the power supply, remove it and clean it. Check if the capacitors are swollen, if there is an unpleasant smell, and if the cooler is spinning normally.

If you do not want to climb inside this box, take it to the service for prevention. Replacement may be needed.

Do not connect a potentially faulty power supply to a working hardware, otherwise you will damage it too.

RAM

RAM occasionally, but can still get damaged. Remove all brackets, insert one into the first slot on the motherboard and start with it. Repeat until you find the defective one.

BIOS settings

If there seem to be no problems with the hardware, and the PC still does not display the coveted Windows 10 logo, reset the BIOS. To do this, do one of the following:

• go to the board settings through the graphical interface;
• press the corresponding button on the board;
• remove the round battery on the board for 10 minutes;
• close the required contacts with a jumper.

Read more in our manual or in your motherboard documentation.

Windows state

Finally, if the computer successfully boots up to the Windows 10 logo and the problems begin only later, the point is not in the hardware and not in the BIOS, but in the system from Microsoft. Perform a repair or reinstall and you should be fine.