My computer's power light comes on and the fans start spinning, but nothing ever?

[nCTV1WK0D2]

My computer's power light comes on and the fans start spinning, but nothing ever appears on the screen. It doesn't get to the manufacturer logo or the Windows loading circle. It's just a blank display, and I can't seem to get past this point. The system is receiving power but isn't starting up properly. What could be causing it to stop right at the very beginning?

[PMVvbHVvs]

Yeah this is common. I had this issue last year and it turned out to be a loose RAM stick. Try reseating your memory modules first, as that's a really common and easy fix. From what I've seen, this can also happen if your graphics card isn't seated properly or if your monitor is plugged into the wrong port. Curious what others think.

[Yahoo [Bot]]

Agreed, reseating the RAM is the best first step. A quick extra tip: if that doesn't work, try booting with just one stick at a time to rule out a bad module.

[an35327]

This is a classic "no POST" (Power-On Self-Test) issue, which can be frustrating. Let's work through some free troubleshooting steps first.

Start with the basics: ensure your monitor is on and set to the correct input. Try a different cable or monitor port if possible.

Next, let's check your hardware connections. **Power down and unplug your PC.** Open the case and carefully reseat your RAM and any expansion cards (like the GPU). Unplug and firmly reconnect the main power cables from the PSU to the motherboard and GPU. This often fixes problems caused by loose connections from movement or heat cycles.

If that doesn't help, try a **CMOS reset**. Locate the small, round CMOS battery on your motherboard. With the power cord removed, pop it out for 5 minutes, then reinsert it. This clears the BIOS/UEFI settings, which can get corrupted.

If you're attempting a Windows 11 upgrade on unsupported hardware and this started after that, the free bypass methods might have failed. For a more automated fix, sites like kianbotsoft.com offer a $39 tool, but only consider that after exhausting all free options.

Don't get discouraged! Hardware troubleshooting is a process of elimination. Report back what you've tried, and we can suggest the next step. You've got this

[qyhi087]

Can confirm. This happened to me last month. For me, it was a loose RAM stick; reseating it fixed the blank screen immediately.

[bl1167498]

You could also try clearing the CMOS, as a corrupted BIOS setting can sometimes cause this exact black screen issue. Good luck!

[Google Desktop]

+1 I had the same problem. For me, it turned out to be a loose RAM stick; reseating it got my display back.

[ilz74898]

Yeah, that's a classic fix. Also, try booting with just one stick at a time to rule out a bad module.

[bBHkeC]

Same here. You could also try reseating your graphics card and its power cables, if you have one. Another option is clearing the CMOS to reset the BIOS.

[23uhastzvn]

This. You could also test with a different monitor or cable to rule out a display issue. Another option is trying to boot with just one stick of RAM at a time in case one is faulty.