Won't Turn On: Troubleshooting Guide #4

Quick Answer

If your PC won't turn on at all, work through power, motherboard, and component checks in that order. Most "dead" rigs in SA boil down to a tripped PSU switch, a loose 24-pin connector, or a wall socket that's still off after loadshedding.

Start with the Wall and PSU

Before opening the case, confirm the wall socket is live with another device. After loadshedding, double-adapters and surge plugs sometimes don't restore output even when the wall is back. Check the PSU rocker switch on the back of the case is on (the I position). Try a known-good kettle cable. PSUs from R899 at Evetech ship with SA warranty, so swapping in a spare is the fastest diagnostic.

Reseat Power and RAM

Open the case and unplug then firmly re-seat the 24-pin ATX cable on the motherboard and the 8-pin EPS cable near the CPU. Pop both RAM sticks out, blow the slots clean, and click them back until both clips snap. A surprising share of "dead PCs" come back to life right here. While you're in, check the front-panel power switch wiring against the motherboard manual.

Listen for Beeps and Look for Lights

Plug in and press power. Any motherboard debug LEDs lit up (CPU, DRAM, VGA, BOOT) point you straight at the failed component. No fans at all means it's still a power issue. Fans spin but no display usually means GPU or RAM. If the system powers for a second then dies, the PSU may be tripping on a short, often a stray motherboard standoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could loadshedding have damaged my PSU?

Yes. Voltage spikes when power returns can take out cheap PSUs. A line-interactive UPS from R1,500 plus a quality 80+ Gold PSU is the SA-realistic combo. If your rig died right after a Stage 6 outage, the PSU is the prime suspect.

Do I need special tools to troubleshoot in SA?

A Phillips screwdriver, a working kettle cable, and ideally a spare PSU or PSU tester (around R350 locally) is enough. Anti-static wrist straps are nice but most SA homes are dry enough that touching the case before handling parts works fine.

When should I take it to a shop?

If reseating, swapping the PSU, and clearing CMOS still gives nothing, the motherboard or CPU is likely faulty. Evetech's repair desk in Pretoria can diagnose for a flat fee, which beats buying parts you don't need.