Failure to Launch: 7 Possible Reasons Why Your Computer Won’t Turn On

Close to 90% of American households — and nearly all businesses — own some sort of a computer or laptop.

But if your computer won’t turn on, then you know that sometimes, technology can be anything but convenient. Before you press a thousand buttons and end up deleting the files or making the problem worse?

If your PC won’t turn on, take a breath and read this post.

In it, we’ll fill you in on some of the most common reasons why your PC won’t power on or why your laptop won’t turn on.

We promise you — this can be fixed.

1. Because It’s Not Powered Properly

Before we get into the more complicated reasons why a PC won’t power on or why your laptop won’t boot up?

Let’s start with something that everyone seems to overlook: the fact that the power supply or charger isn’t actually plugged in.

Yes, we’re serious.

First, make sure that the socket is completely plugged into the wall, whether it powers a laptop charger or the PC computer. Also ensure that the charger you’re using is compatible with your device, and that it isn’t broken or damaged in any way.

Make sure that your power supply is actually working, as well.

If your computer won’t turn on after this, then it’s time to look at other common cases.

2. The Battery Is Dead

Though there are tons of accessories you can get for your computer or laptop, few things are as essential as the actual battery.

If you notice that things work well when your charger is connected to your laptop, but that you can’t ever unplug it without your computer dying?

It’s likely a sign that you’re in need of a new battery.

If you can, try to actually take out the battery and see if the laptop is able to turn on when you’re using only the charger. If so, then you’ll know for certain that it’s time for a battery replacement.

In some cases, you may be able to get a new CMOS battery for as little as ten dollars.

3. There’s a Problem With the Motherboard

Next, take a quick look at the motherboard of your computer.

If you own a desktop computer, take a look to be sure that the power switch and the motherboard are actually connected. You should be on the lookout for a pair of red and black wires.

If the wires are loose or are unplugged, then this is likely the reason behind the computer’s loss of power. Plug them in, and things should work.

In some cases, you may need to replace the motherboard on your desktop computer altogether.

Unfortunately, getting a new motherboard for a desktop computer is much easier than getting one for a laptop. You’ll need to take your laptop into a professional if it still won’t turn on and you think the motherboard is the issue.

4. Because the Computer Keeps Freezing

While in some cases, your PC won’t turn on at all, in others, it may turn on, freeze, and then immediately turn itself off again.

This is frustrating, and it may actually mean that you’re dealing with loose hardware. This fix is a little more labor-intensive, but serves as a “last ditch” effort before you decide to take your laptop or PC into a professional.

First, turn off the computer and wait for 2-3 minutes. Then, reboot your computer. Make sure that you’re operating in “Safe Mode” during the reboot by hitting the F8 key.

If you’ve recently installed new software, now is the time to uninstall it. In some cases, the problem may be fixed here. But if things persist, you’ll need to keep going.

You should use a screwdriver to open up the back of your PC, with your hand on the metal at all times to prevent shocks to the system. Remove the memory card, the graphics card, battery, and wires.

Walk away for five to ten minutes, and then gently put all the parts back in again. Then, plug the computer back in, and attempt to reboot it.

This should solve your issue.

But if it doesn’t…

If Things Still Aren’t Working

So, you’ve tried all of these things, and your computer won’t turn on no matter what you do.

It’s likely time for you to get the help of a professional, as there might still be a way to save your computer.

You could be dealing with a broken fan in the computer, there could be other internal part errors, or your power supply unit may be altogether broken.

In some cases, the issue could be with your hardware, or even the result of a coding issue, faulty update, a virus or cyber attack, or more technical glitch.

Check out this website to learn what you should look for in computer tune up specialists.

When Your Computer Won’t Turn On: Wrapping Up

We hope that this post has helped you to understand some of the most common reasons why your computer won’t turn on.

Whether you’re dealing with a poor connection, internal parts issue, or something else altogether, don’t lose hope until you take it into a professional if the problem persists.

Of course, if you’ve damaged, spilled something on, or dropped your computer or laptop — or if it’s just old — it could be time for a new one.

When you’re looking for more tech advice and computer reviews and information, be sure to explore our blog