Win 10 / 11 · Maintenance

Fix a PC that won't start up

A dead screen at boot feels like a funeral for the machine, but most 'dead' PCs are one small thing away from life — and your files are still on the disk either way.

DifficultyMedium
Time15 min
RiskMedium
ReversibleYes
PlatformWin 10 / 11
UpdatedOct 3, 2026

Written and tested by emdottech

What that means

Medium risk. This fix changes system settings, services, drivers, startup items or security features — reversible, but taking it back takes some effort or knowledge, and it may temporarily affect stability. This change is reversible — you can return to the previous state without professional help or data loss.

Steps

01
- Check the boring stuff first: wall socket, power cable, and that little O/I switch on the back of the PSU. Half of all 'dead PC' calls end here
02
- Hard reset it: hold the power button for 10 seconds, unplug (or pull the battery if you can), wait 30 seconds, then try again — stuck electrical states look exactly like death and die with them
03
- Fans spin but no display? Try another monitor or cable before touching the PC. On desktops make sure the screen is plugged into the graphics card, not the motherboard
04
- Stuck on the Windows logo: force it off (hold power 10 seconds) three times in a row — the fourth attempt opens Automatic Repair → Advanced options → Startup Repair, then System Restore if that declines
05
- Before you boot into Safe Mode: on Windows 11 24H2 your PIN may not work there, so make sure you know your account password first
06
- Still dark? Boot Safe Mode from those same Advanced options and uninstall whatever changed — recent update first, new driver second. And before any reinstall: copy your files off the drive. Recovery is cheap; data loss isn't

How to verify the fix

The PC powers on and reaches the desktop (or Automatic Repair completes), with your files still accessible on the disk.

If this didn't fix it

Still dark after power checks, hard reset and monitor/cable swap — copy your files off before any reinstall; recovery is cheap, data loss isn't.

Next stop: the related fixes below, or start a guided diagnosis.

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Fix a PC that won't start up

Steps

✓How to verify the fix

!If this didn't fix it

Related fixes

How to verify the fix

If this didn't fix it