Doesn’t it make you frustrated when you notice your motherboard lights up but won’t turn on, does it? At the same time, knowing where to start fixing the error is a kind of difficult position indeed as your computer is not booting at all.
So, I am here to help you with tips that might show you why the motherboard lights are up while the computer is not turning on. I have provided you with the best guidance on how to resolve this issue.
Let’s explore.
Why Won’t Your Computer Turn On While Motherboard Light Up?
When your motherboard light is on, it means the PSU is supplying power to the motherboard. Most motherboards have many LEDs that are usually illuminated under certain conditions to indicate internal errors. Such as, a red LED on your motherboard usually indicates defective internal hardware or improper plugging difficulties. Besides, if you got a dead CMOS battery that may cause the error too.
Now, I am disclosing the step-by-step diagnosis process of the error. Before applying that you need to follow the below cautions.
- Before examining your PC, you should unplug the cord that supplies power to your computer first.
- Then, you need to check that the switch headers are connected to the power button on your PC case.
- There are usually wires running between them. And to detach them completely, you must remove the wire.
- Afterward, you might open your case to get access to internal components.
Now, you can go step by step to diagnose the error.
How to Diagnose a Motherboard That Won’t Turn On?
There are a couple of factors you need to follow one after another to diagnose the error. Relatively, you will need to follow the fixing suggestions too. Let’s explore the details.
Checking the PSU
You should ensure that your 24-pin motherboard and the 4/8 CPU power cables are connected.
Then, you need to check your PCIe devices like GPU and SATA. After that, you need to unplug everything and reconnect every component carefully to test which parts are causing the issue.
If you’ve done everything and still don’t see component status LEDs, the power supply may be faulty.
Error in the Fan
You need to check whether the fan is spinning or not. Or the connections with the fans are accurate or not.
Faulty Fuse
Another reason could be the faulty fuse for which reason your computer won’t turn on, but the light is up. Furthermore, the unnecessary cables of your CDROM drive may also obstruct your computer’s turn-on procedure.
Problems with Booting
The problem may occur if the computer does not boot for an extended period of time.
Faulty Power Button
One of the simple reasons of your PC is not turning on is the flawed power button. So, you need to check the front-panel power and reset buttons. What do you see? Are they stuck or out of place?
Insufficient Power supply
If your PC is getting energy, despite it is not enough to run your computer, the error may occur.
How Do You Fix the Motherboard Lights up But Won’t Turn On Error?
You need to identify the problem first in order to fix it. Hopefully, the previous discussion has helped you to diagnose it. Now, you will get the solution accordingly:
Checking for the IC Fuse
If there is any short-circuit in PSU, inspect it. You have to find out that particular IC fuse to replace it.
Then you should remove extra drives like CDROM and reconnect all cables appropriately.
Fixing the PC Power Button
After checking the power button, if you see it is damaged, you will have to replace it.
The CMOS Battery
Then, if you find the CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) battery defective, you can replace it with a new one. Alternatively, leave it for 30 minutes and reinstall it again.
Reseating the Memories
You can reseat the memory. A poor memory in a computer might prevent it from turning on.
If the issue continues, you should check the RAM. If the Motherboard lights are on yet the computer is not starting, you need to reseat the RAM and try again.
If your computer has not started yet, it is necessary to combine the RAM and CPU into a single slot. You should use the cooling facility at the same time.
The Issue with the New GPU
If you have installed a new GPU, there is a possibility that your GPU is the reason behind the error. You might try to turn on your PC without GPU.
Removing Corrupted Files
Damaged files or defective driver loaders could be the reason for not turning on of your PC. Using an external bootable device, you can reinstall your operating system.
Hopefully, you will find the solution to your problem with the likely causes mentioned above.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Force a Motherboard to Turn On?
Most of the motherboards lack a power switch and depend on the case switch to turn on the machine. In order to turn on the motherboard outside the computer case, you need to connect the header pins to the appropriate power switch.
Will the Motherboard Turn On Without a CPU?
There is no definitive answer to this question. It will vary depending on the model you are now using. Some motherboards will not start while others will. It’s a matter of doubt that your motherboard will switch on without the CPU if it doesn’t have a BIOS flashback feature.
Final Words
Thus before ending, I would like to recommend you to try the cheapest one to fix the issue before contacting an expert to expend some extra money. To follow the recommendation, you can now solve your problem quickly by following these guidelines.
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