Desktop PC Won't Turn On or Shows No Display
No lights, a click and nothing, fans spinning with a black screen, or repeated beeps. We find which part has failed before replacing anything, so you pay for the actual fault.
Free diagnosis · Fault named before any part is ordered · No fix, no fee on drop-off repairs
A desktop that won't start looks alarming, but the cause is often one inexpensive part: a power supply that has given up, memory that's come loose or failed, a graphics card that isn't getting power, or a dead CMOS battery. Replacing parts at random gets expensive quickly, so we test instead of guess.
Your files are almost always safe. When the drive is fine and the fault is elsewhere, we can get the data off even if the PC itself isn't worth fixing. Tell us what you see and hear, and we'll tell you what it usually means.
What Each Symptom Usually Means
Nothing happens at all
No lights, no fans. Often the power supply, a wall or power-bar problem, or the power switch lead. Worth checking the cable and switch on the back of the supply first.
Fans spin, screen stays black
Commonly memory, the graphics card, or a motherboard that can't finish starting. Reseating the RAM and trying the monitor on a different port are the first steps.
Monitor says "No signal"
The cable plugged into the motherboard instead of the graphics card is a frequent cause. Otherwise the card, the cable or the monitor itself.
Beeps or flashing diagnostic lights
The motherboard is telling you which part it has found faulty. The beep pattern or light code points to memory, graphics or the processor.
Starts, then shuts off in seconds
Overheating from a failed fan or cooler, a failing power supply, or a short. We check temperatures before anything else.
Restarts in a loop, or won't get past the logo
Failed updates, a corrupt Windows install or a failing drive. Fixable without a new PC in many cases.
Died after a storm or power surge
The power supply usually takes the hit and sometimes the motherboard too. We test what survived.
Quick Checks Before You Bring It In
Check the power cable and the switch on the back of the power supply, try a different wall socket (not a power bar), and unplug extra devices like USB drives. If the screen is black but the fans run, try the monitor on a different cable or port, and make sure the display cable goes into the graphics card, not the motherboard.
If it still won't start, don't keep pressing the power button, and don't open a PC that has been through water. Message us what you've tried and what you see or hear. That narrows the cause quickly.
Power Supply and Part Replacement
If the power supply is the fault, we explain which replacement suits your PC (wattage, connectors and size) and quote it before ordering. A decent supply protects the parts attached to it, so we don't recommend the cheapest one.
When the motherboard or processor has failed, we'll tell you plainly whether repair is worth it. On an older PC it often isn't, and in that case we can recover your files so you can move to something new.
From First Message to Fixed
Step 1: Tell us what you see and hear
Lights, fans, beeps, what's on the screen, and anything that happened beforehand. A phone video of the startup helps a lot.
Step 2: Free diagnosis
We test the power supply, memory, graphics, drive and board methodically, and tell you exactly which part failed and what it costs.
Step 3: Approve, repair, test
Nothing is ordered or replaced until you approve the quote. We then fix it and run it under load before it comes back.
What Desktop Repair Costs
| Diagnosis | Free |
| Repair labour | Quoted after diagnosis |
| Power supply or other parts | Quoted upfront, you approve first |
| Data recovery from a PC that won't start | See data recovery pricing |
On drop-off repairs, no fix means no fee. Pickup and return are charged by location and confirmed before you book. See full pricing.
Desktop Won't Turn On FAQs
Why won't my desktop computer turn on?
The most common causes are a failed power supply, loose or faulty memory, a power cable or switch problem, or a motherboard fault. Whether anything lights up or spins tells us which to test first.
My PC turns on but there is no display. What's wrong?
Check that the monitor cable is plugged into the graphics card, not the motherboard, and try another cable or port. If the fans run and the screen stays black, memory, the graphics card or the motherboard are the usual suspects.
Is my data safe if the computer won't start?
Almost always. The files live on the drive, which is separate from the parts that usually fail. We can recover them even if we don't repair the PC.
How much does it cost to replace a power supply?
It depends on the wattage and quality your PC needs. We quote the supply and the work after diagnosis, and you approve it before anything is ordered.
Why does my computer beep when I start it?
Beep patterns are the motherboard's error code, usually pointing to memory, graphics or processor trouble. Tell us the pattern and your motherboard model and we can narrow it down.
Is it worth repairing an older desktop?
Often yes when the fault is a power supply, memory or graphics card. If the motherboard and processor are both old and dead, we'll say so and help you move your files.
Do you fix all-in-one computers?
We diagnose most all-in-one PCs. Some use proprietary parts that are hard to source, so we confirm what's available before quoting.
Can you collect a desktop from my home?
Yes, pickup and return are available across Toronto and the GTA, charged by location and confirmed before you book. You can also drop it off at our North York workshop by appointment.
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Get Your Desktop Started Again
Message us what it's doing. We'll tell you what it likely is and book a free diagnosis.