I've recently run into a frustrating issue with my PC that I've had for about five years. It simply won't boot anymore. When I hit the power button, the fans spin for just a second before stopping, and then after a few seconds, the RAM lights up, but it stays stuck in that state until I unplug it. The inside doesn't look too dirty, but there's some dust buildup. Could that be the cause?
2 Answers
Don't just assume it's dust causing your issue. The typical problems here usually involve components failing under load. Try stripping your PC down to the essentials: just the PSU, motherboard, CPU, and heatsink without the fan. This way, if there’s an error code, you'll know it’s not a fan or RAM issue. If you get an error code, start adding only the necessary components back one by one. If it doesn't boot at all after that, you might need to consider swapping out the PSU, motherboard, or CPU to narrow down the issue.
First off, make sure to give your PC a thorough cleaning. Grab some 99% isopropyl alcohol, take everything apart, and clean it all out before reassembling it. It can do wonders! Good luck!
Is there a quick check I can do before taking everything apart just to rule out simple fixes?