The PC I built isn't starting.
The PC I built isn't starting.
I have a custom-built PC that isn't powering on. I attempted to jumpstart the PWR pins, but it didn't help. Then I removed the CMOS battery and tried turning it on, which worked briefly before shutting off again. When I connected it via HDMI and GPU, it booted normally. However, after a day of gaming and putting it to sleep, it wouldn't turn on. The next morning I managed to power it on at work after leaving it in that state, but I had to press the power button to shut it down. Now I can't seem to get it back on. The machine has had previous problems, including a "no boot device" error during startup. I once had to restart it and adjust the boot settings to ensure it started from the right drive (two HDDs, one with Windows). I also experienced issues where the system clock changed after two months of inactivity, and the date stayed wrong even though the time was correct. It's unclear which component is causing the problem—could be the motherboard, SMPS, or BIOS settings not saving properly?
Have you swapped the CMOS battery? If not, make sure it’s correct—otherwise, it could be a sign of a faulty computer.
After installing the new battery, if the problem continues, carefully inspect all cables and connections. The fact that it powers on occasionally but previously had issues could indicate a faulty motherboard. Take it out of the case and test it separately, only installing what’s necessary to get it running. Re-seat the CPU, use a single RAM stick without GPU or drives, and see if it powers up. Then add the GPU and check for BIOS errors. Finally, install the drive and verify if the operating system boots successfully—this will help determine whether the issue lies with the motherboard or power supply.
I swapped the battery just on the last day, but it still wouldn't start after sleeping.
Do you have another PSU available? Someone who might be able to assist. PSU problems can become tricky, especially when it's near the end of its life. My old PSU worked fine for a long time until the PC stopped working. I suspected it was related to Windows 10 updates or restart issues, but it was actually the PSU. I replaced it and everything improved.
as discussed earlier, I have a friend who can provide it when I have the chance. Once I find time, I’ll test it out and see how it works. Thanks for the response! The main issue is that I built this in 2019, and it’s only been four years now—even though I’ve used it a lot.