Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Desktop computer wont boot, lights on

Jan 19, 2014 11:31AM PST

I've had this desktop for almost exactly a year now and I have never had problems getting it to work. My current problem is that when i click the power button nothing happens. But the LED lights on the motherboard are on when the computer is connected to a power supply. For a brief moment last night when i tried to turn it on the rest of the lights and fans came on, but quickly stopped.

One thing of note is that the inside of the computer is very dusty, which im planning on fixing with compressed air when i can. Would dust be enough to cause this problem? Or could it be caused by a virus potentially?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
boot into BIOS
Jan 20, 2014 2:45AM PST

quickly go into the section where temps are given, watch to see if the temp climbs before it crashes. If not, then time to test PSU or look for a power drain somewhere like a failing hard drive.

- Collapse -
Answer
Dust...may have already killed it.
Jan 20, 2014 6:19AM PST

When you created your post, the FORUM TEMPLATE contained RED TEXT suggesting you provide:
(1) the PCs/Laptops manufacturer's (mfg's) NAME; i.e. "HP"
(2) the mfg's SERIES; "Pavilion" (very important)
(3) the mfg's complete MODEL number; 15-e006se (critical)

In addition, knowing whether it's a DESKTOP (including Slim-line or SFF) or a LAPTOP and whether
it's 10 years old, 10 months old, 10 weeks old or 10 days old and the primary use...GAMING, PHOTOSHOP, AUTOCAD, or general purpose as it's significant to those who try to help you.

Without the info suggested above....we're more in the dark about your PC than you are.

Please take a moment to provide the suggested info so that you can be helped. The better the
detail, the better chance you'll get pertinent advice/answers vice wild guesses.

NOTE: If you have a CLONE vice a PC made by Dell, HP, ACER, Gateway, etc., please provide complete
Information about the motherboard, the CPU, the GPU (video card) and the power supply (PSU).

VAPCMD

- Collapse -
Answer
Do what you can
Jan 21, 2014 1:42AM PST

Since, you have the PC open, then clean it out. it has to be done to get it out of the way. It's pratically required to do this to maintain a less stressful heat enviroment. The fans all that have to be checked to se that they're working. However, as already pointed out to you it maybe already too later. It begs to suggest that your PSU has dunked out and needs to be replaced. Find a similar one or a better one of higher wattage and possibility dual fan setup. Plus, since this happened roughly a yr. after day 1, it suggest also you're pushing it or the dust is so bad it took it toll on the PC. Heat build-up is baddie in any system, so clean it up and just get a new PSU or one you trust to work. I believe yours will be a generic type setup so any of the those found online that match your physical size should do of course check the specs for the requirements you need. The decal on the side of the PSU will offer what's current in your PC.

tada -----Willy Happy