Or by only putting one stick of memory in, or changing the slot you’re using.
I was assembling a computer and everything seemed to be correct, the fan would spin up, I’d get some lights, but there was no image on the screen, not even the BIOS. I saw someone else make this suggestion and didn’t think it was likely to work, but it did. First I just tried one stick, and it booted. Then I tried both sticks and it didn’t work, but I reseated and then it did.
(Also worth pointing out that your motherboard should have diagnostic lights which if you check the documentation may point out which component has an issue)
Thinking about Lemmy’s demographics many here may have heard of something like this, or have more helpful suggestions about troubleshooting which would be welcome. But thought I’d write out a little post about my experience to contribute to Lemmy SEO supremacy.
There’s probably a hundred reasons it might not post. One time, my CPU wasn’t seated properly. I have heard RAM is a common way. If you’re using only one stick, be sure it’s in the right slot. Edit: or even with two, make sure it’s the right slots, read that manual!
As long as we’re going for general tips, sometimes it’s as simple as remembering to turn on the switch on the power supply and surge protector/UPS if plugged into such things (hopefully it is)
Indeed. Every motherboard has a small speaker that will beep if a error is found. Usually you can find the beep error codes for a particular board online or in its manual. I think for mine its 4 fast beeps to let me know my ram is not seated properly.
Unless you haven’t attached the CPU power cables, only the motherboard ones. In which case it will boot, the fans will spin up, the SSD will activate, but it won’t boot and it won’t beep.
That was a fun one to diagnose :)
Every board does not have this feature, some newer ones do and for older ones you can buy a post beeper that inserts into a speaker slot. Your manual will tell you if you have one
Well older to a point. Go back to to anytime before late 2000s and every board had a speaker!
Nope. A lot of them back then either had a small speaker in the box that you had to connect, or relied on the case speaker, and they just had the motherboard headers.
I used to have a small collection of the speakers, because you could guarantee that the friend’s computer that you were repairing didn’t have a way for you to listen to the BIOS beeps :)
I had similar happen to me. Put all of it together, turned it on, then panicked a little when it wouldn’t boot up.
Turns out one stick of RAM was not fully slotted in, so obviously that’s not OK. Was easy to spot once I double checked components. Popped it back out and in, then it was good to go.
One time for me it was the DVD drive. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯