Hey everyone, I'm having a serious issue with my Alienware PC that I bought pre-built from a friend a few years ago. It has a 2080 GPU and until recently, it's been running like a dream. However, after a Windows update last night, the computer started crashing frequently while I was just browsing the internet and playing games. Eventually, it got to the point where it won't even fully start. When I press the power button, it lights up for about 5 seconds before shutting off and then goes into an endless loop of turning on and off. I can't access the BIOS or any boot options because there's barely enough time for the monitor to come on. I've tried unplugging everything and holding down the power button to reset it, but nothing seems to work. I wish I could give more technical specs, but I'm not really a tech person—I just enjoy using my PC. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Based on what you're describing, it could be a few things. First, try disconnecting the two-wire connection for the reset button—might be a simple fix! More likely, you might have an issue with the power supply or the power cable. Those cables are usually easy to swap out, so check if you have any extra lying around. If the issue persists, it could be a problem with the CPU, RAM, or even the motherboard. Since you're not getting to any Windows screens, it's likely a hardware issue rather than software.
If you can't access any boot options at all, that's worrying. Have you tried entering safe mode with F8? You might need to do some deep troubleshooting if not. Things like bad hardware can cause boot loops.
Unfortunately, I can't even get to that stage. It's just cycling through on and off.
Do you see an LED two-digit display on the motherboard? Those displays can show error codes that might point you in the right direction for troubleshooting what’s failing.
First things first, check if the power button is stuck. It sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how often that can cause issues. If that's not it, try disconnecting everything and, if possible, removing the battery. Then hold the power button for about 5-10 seconds to drain any residual power. After that, plug it back in and see if it helps!
I actually tried that already, but no luck. It still won't start up properly.
Great, so it could literally be anything? I might just end up buying a new PC at this rate.