I recently bought a PC from a seller on eBay, and it worked well for the first week. However, I'm now facing an issue where, after shutting it down, the next day I try to power it up, and it just flickers on and off. The fans briefly spin, but it doesn't fully turn on. To get it to start, I have to keep unplugging and re-plugging the PC, which is obviously a hassle. I've messaged the seller, but they only told me to check the connections on the motherboard, which I did, and everything seems to be seated properly. I even plugged it directly into the wall outlet instead of using an extension cable, but the issue persists. I'm really confused about what might be causing this problem. Also, I'm not sure how to post a video of the issue since I'm new to this. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
It sounds like a common problem with a short circuit. Make sure all the connections are secure, especially the power supply cables. Sometimes just checking visually isn't enough; try unplugging and reconnecting them.
Check for any lights on the motherboard when you try to boot it up. That can give you clues about what might be wrong. If you see any indicator lights, they might help troubleshoot.
You mean when it actually boots up? I don’t see anything other than the activity lights on my SSD.
It could be a power issue either with the power supply or the cables. Make sure to unplug the cables inside and reinsert them instead of just checking them visually. Also, after booting, check if any specific LED stays lit on the motherboard and look up what that color means for your model to get an idea of what’s wrong.
I haven't visually checked the PSU cables thoroughly yet. I'll take a proper look at them now.

Thanks for the tip! I thought I had everything plugged in correctly. I was using the PC just fine last night, so it's really confusing.