"No POST", "system won't boot", and "no video output" troubleshooting checklist

[tadej petric]

Ive seen many qouestions about that so I wonder how this is not sticky...
Dont know if you guys said about it in page 2 or 3 or 4 but still +1 for sticky!

Spoiler

or at least +1 for bumpers hehe

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Ive seen many qouestions about that so I wonder how this is not sticky...
Dont know if you guys said about it in page 2 or 3 or 4 but still +1 for sticky!

This thread was a sticky for quite a while. There is now a link to it in the "Buyer's Guides and Troubleshooting Tips" sticky, so there's no need for it to be its own sticky anymore.

 

[Aaron Finley]

Thanks, saved this noobs bacon

 

[Jonathan Anderson]

I recently had the problem of not getting my computer to POST. I had tried everything on this list, my error seems to have been a simple one, but its not listed here so I thought id add it in the hope other people will use this for a fix. I'm using a gigabyte Z77-d3h motherboard and a NZXT phantom 410 midi tower. When I attached the mobo to the case, I overtightened the screws, I assume this caused the solder to short entire circuits. Luckily I didnt fry the Mobo and having troubleshooted for 3 weeks found this issue and fixed it. I am still experiencing difficulties where the computer will occasionally not boot, but when it does come on it works perfectly, but thats for another thread

 

[xxhybridx]

So ive been trying to fix my computer and ran into this gem of a forum. Now ive tried all the steps noted in the original post. Someone else posted the same problem that I have. I can get the computer's fan and lights to turn on, (including the video card fans etc.) WITHOUT having the atx 4 pin connected plugged in. But of course without the ATX 4 pin the computer won't boot. Now the problem is, the second i plug in the atx cable, everything just turns off. The only way I can turn the computer back on(with just fans and lights), is if i unplug the psu from the back of the computer, and reconnected it, then disconnect the atx cable.

ive tried disconnecting parts and whatnot to see if any of them were faulty, but so far everything checks out. I even went and changed my motherboard. I will be trying a nwe PSU in the coming days, (i have a modular PSU if that matters). Should i try anything else before buying a power supply?

Thanks ion advance guys.

 

[coolcole01]

this is some very good stuff

 

[Mawkinbird]

This maybe a random answer or post, but I would just like to thank jsc the moderator, for guiding me to this troubleshooting thread, I had issues on trying to display something on the monitor from my new built pc, and when reading through the forums, I really didn't think I would get any help from here, but through constant reading especially jsc solutions and posts, I managed to be guided by superiority to this page.
PROBLEM/SOLUTION
My problem was I couldn't get anything to display on the monitor, despite having all fans fixated in the tower operating while the comp turned on. And yes I most definitely knew I put all cables hardware in the right place. Also one other problem I had when turning on my new computer was it turned on for a sec, then off again for a sec, then strangely on again, and stayed on, but still no display, and guys I was so close to taking it to the hardware specialist to get it fixed with the intention that I knew there positioned issues or broken hardware. But with my constant desperation in getting this computer to boot I found the solution.

SOLUTION
In the troubleshooting thread that I can most sincerely thanks jsc the moderator who led me to step 3. Guys if you have problems with trying to start up the display on your new computer and has that on, off then stays on again issue, you must, need and have to look at step 3 of the "No POST", "system won't boot", and "no video output" checklist. The standoffs under the motherboard that I so silly missed in the manual, but happily found in this site forums by jsc is soooooooo prominent in the booting and display of the monitor. So I once again thank jsc for his hardworking capabilities on here.

 

[Leo Bottinger]

None of this worked, my case has "Pre-Built Standoffs?" could that cause static malfunction

 

[Mawkinbird]

Remember even the most advanced technological motherboard you could ever get, even inserting the same two exact frequencies, gb and brand of RAM there will be no display on the monitor because simply the motherboard doesn't support that brand name or both amounts of gb/frequencies cannot co-exist to the compatibility of the motherboard, off course we are not to blame, nor the shop you buy it from, but it is advised that you pre-check what RAM is compatible to the motherboard you are going to buy on the motherboard's brand website.

 

[Joe Del]

Thank You! Worked perfect! I went through your check list and I have a Bad RAM Chip. Corsair 8GB died on me including the Power Supply. Thanks I have my computer back up and running now temp til I get my new power supply. Waiting on OCZ. Great Power Supply brand. They stand behind their product.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I'm closing the thread and cleaning up some of the comments. There were a lot of comments asking for help. If you have problems after performing all the steps in the checklist then you should start a new thread asking for help. Give as much information as possible about your system and all the troubleshooting already performed.

If you have a suggestion for something that could be added to the checklist you can send either myself or jsc a PM.