I built my PC back in January 2025, and I've been facing a few issues with it, like my GPU occasionally not being detected in the task manager, which forced me to uninstall and reinstall the drivers. Now, my computer won't even boot, and all I see is a steady underscore on the screen. I've tried accessing the BIOS but can't manage to get in. I attempted to boot from a USB drive with the media creation tool, but that hasn't worked either. I recently got a renewed MSI PRO B650-P WiFi motherboard. Should I consider replacing the motherboard? Could it also be the reason behind my GPU issues and the need to reinstall drivers frequently?
2 Answers
Before jumping to replace the motherboard, check the debug lights on your board when you start the PC. There should be four lights indicating the status of the CPU, RAM, GPU, and BOOT device. It can help narrow down the issue. Blindly replacing parts can lead to wasting both money and time. Try these steps first: 1) Use just one RAM stick in the second slot and test each one, 2) ensure all cables are securely connected, and 3) reseat your CPU while checking for any bent pins. The motherboard might be the issue, but let’s explore these cheaper options first.
After taking out the RAM from the 4th slot and testing the 2nd slot, my PC actually booted up to the BIOS! What's the best way to test the RAM now?
It sounds like you're on the right track with testing the RAM. If you've confirmed that it's detected in the BIOS but still face issues after adding the second stick back, there could be problems with that specific RAM module or its slot. Consider testing each stick in different slots to isolate the problem. If everything still fails, then it might indeed be time to look into motherboard replacements.
I checked the RAM in BIOS, and it all looks good, but once I tried adding the second stick again, I was back to the endless black screen with the underscore.
I checked the lights, and the CPU light is red while the DRAM light is yellow. The VGA light isn't showing anything, maybe just a faint yellow due to the DRAM. When the BOOT light turns off, the light stays white.