Basic steps in troubleshooting a computer that won't boot

For computer users, there might be a time that you’ll be experiencing certain problems in your computer that might look complicated though it’s not. One of the most common problems of users is when their computer won’t turn on or just display a blank screen. Below are some tips which can help you resolve these kinds of problems.

• Check your power connector – Always check first if your power connector is properly inserted to your power supply because most of the time, it is just a loose connection. Always check your connections from time to time to prevent short circuits because of loose connections.

• Check your power supply – The power supply is the main source of power for your motherboard. If you’re experiencing automatic restarts, automatic shutdowns or even a blank screen, your power supply might be the issue. Open your case and check if the fan of your power supply runs after pressing the power button. If not, it is clearly a faulty power supply.

• Check your RAM – Check your memory if it is placed properly, some computers won’t display anything on your screens if there is no RAM or an improperly placed RAM is inserted on the slot. It might be helpful if you get a pencil eraser and clean your RAM. This also works most of the time. If your RAM might be the problem, replace it immediately.

• Check your VGA cable – If your computer turns on but a blank screen is still an issue, try checking your VGA cable if it is also properly placed. Check both ends of the cable, the connection from your computer and the connection from the monitor. If it still won’t work, try replacing your cable and test it again. If you think that your monitor is the problem, try using another monitor for this case. If it runs on other monitors, your monitor might be the source of the problem.

• Check your video card – If after another monitor and it still doesn’t display anything, it might be a problem on your video card. In this case, try using the built in video card if you are using a dedicated video card. If that resolves your problem, your video card is defective but if after using the built in video card and it doesn’t display anything, it might already be your motherboard.

The said tips are only the basic steps in troubleshooting a computer that won’t turn on. This might be helpful for beginners but always be careful especially in opening your system unit.