My computer is not booting. What can I do to troubleshoot this?
If your PC is not booting up/starting, here are some things to check.
– Is it plugged in?
– Is the power switch on the back turned on?
– Do you hear fans spinning inside? If not the power supply may be faulty or something inside may be unplugged. If fans are not spinning, then problem is hardware related.
NOT Booting – Blank Screen
– Unplug all peripherals from the PC except for the monitor, a keyboard and
the mouse (the mouse is optional.) and try booting.
– Check if the RAM is bad.
– Turn off the PC and open it up. Leave it plugged in and the mouse, keyboard, and monitor still plugged in.
– Remove all but 1 stick of RAM and try starting the PC.
– Continue attempting to boot with 1 stick at a time. If it boots ok then the problem is bad RAM. If all RAM sticks fail to boot the PC then the problem may be a bad video card.
– Check the Video Card.
– Try plugging the monitor into another computer. This will make sure the monitor is not bad. If it works on another PC, suspect the video card.
– Try booting into Safe Mode. Check your motherboard manual for how to do this. (Try F8 for most PC computers).
– Once in Safe mode, try adjusting the screen resolution or refresh rate to see if that fixes it.
NOT Booting – Screen Hangs/stops
– Unplug all peripherals from the PC except for the monitor, a keyboard and the mouse (the mouse is optional.) and try booting.
– If unplugging a peripheral allows it to boot that means a driver is not loaded for something. Try booting after reconnecting one peripheral at a time.
– Listen for any Beep Codes that the computer may give. Sometimes this series of beeps will help indicate what the problem may be. These codes can be found in the motherboard manual or online.
– Does Windows display an error msg. or missing file? If it is missing a boot file or System 32 file, try repairing the operating system.
– Try booting into Safe Mode. Check your motherboard manual for how to do this. (Try F8 for some computers).
– Check if the RAM is bad.
– See above for instructions on how to check RAM.
When you need help, Sweetwater has the answers!
Our knowledge base contains over 28,000 expertly written tech articles that will give you answers and help you get the most out of your gear. Our pro musicians and gear experts update content daily to keep you informed and on your way. Best of all, it’s totally FREE, and it’s just another reason that you get more at Sweetwater.com.
Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. Select manufacturers may require that only the manufacturer’s products qualify towards the minimum purchase amount needed to be eligible for promotional financing. Otherwise, an invoice that meets the minimum purchase amount and contains at least one qualifying manufacturer product is eligible for promotional financing. No interest will be charged on promo purchase balance, and equal monthly payments are required on promo purchase until it is paid in full. The payments equal the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next whole dollar. These payments may be higher than the payments that would be required if this purchase was a non-promo purchase. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to the prior months’ rounding. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.
Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. No interest will be charged on the promo balance if you pay it off, in full, within the promo period. If you do not, interest will be charged on the promo balance from the purchase date. The required minimum monthly payments may or may not pay off the promo balance before the end of the promo period, depending on purchase amount, promo length and payment allocation. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases and, after promo period ends, to the promo balance. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.
The estimated required monthly payment shown which excludes taxes and delivery equals the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next cent. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to this rounding. These payments apply only with the financing offer shown. If you make these payments by the due date each month, you should pay off this amount financed within the promo period, if it is the only balance you are paying off. If you have other balances on your account, this payment will be added to any other minimum monthly payments.
Applies only to select items from this manufacturer. Ask your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for more details.