Troubleshooting a PC that Turns On and Off: A Guide

A computer tower with a power button lit up, indicating the computer is turning on. The button then goes dark, indicating the computer has turned off.



Are you facing the problem turn on and off with your computer or laptop? There can be different reasons why a computer or a laptop may turn on and off, which will prevent it from starting up. This problem can be solved with some troubleshooting steps, and in this article we will show you those steps which will help you on solving this problem with your computer or laptop.

Step 1:

Problems with Power Supply

A reason behind the problem when your computer or laptop turns on and off can be a power supply problem. If the power supply of your device is not providing enough power to the components can cause your device to turn off. If you want to check the power supply, you might need to use a multimeter to measure the power supply's power on output, and if the voltage power is not as required by the manufacturer, you might need to change the power supply. You can also go directly with changing the power supply as a test, if you do not have a multimeter to measure the power of your power supply.
Step 2:

Check the CPU (Central Processing Unit)

Another reason that can cause a computer or laptop to turn on and off is when the device has problems with the CPU (Central Processing Unit). If the CPU of your device is overheating it will cause the device to turn off. If you want to check if the CPU of your device is working properly, you can use a software like Core Temp to monitor the temperature of the CPU. If the CPU of your device's temperature is too high, you need to replace the thermal paste or the cooling fan since it may not be working properly.

Step 3:

Check the RAM (Random Access Memory)

A problem with the RAM (Random Access Memory) of your computer or laptop can also cause the device to turn on and off. If you want to test the RAM of your device, you can always use Memtest86 software. If the software find any errors after the test, you might need the RAM of your device to be replaced.
Step 4:

Check for Loose Connections

A loose of connections is also another possible cause of a computer or laptop to turn on and off. So, make sure that all cables and connectors are plugged in correctly to the motherboard and to the other components.
Step 5:

Check for Viruses or Malware

Viruses and malwares can cause a lot problems to your device and in some cases, if you are having the problem with your computer or laptop that turns on and off, it might be because of a virus or malware. Use an antivirus software to run a full scan of your computer or laptop to check for viruses or malwares.
Step 6:

Check for hardware conflicts

A hardware conflict can also lead to a computer or laptop to turn on and off in some cases. You can use Device Manager to check if there are any conflicts or errors. If there are found any errors, you need to try uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers of the device.
Step 7:

Try a System Restore or a Clean Boot

If none of the steps from above do not fix your problem, another thing you can do is to try a system restore or a clean boot of your computer or laptop.
What is a system restore? A system restore will take your computer or laptop back in time to a previous point when the device worked properly.
What is a clean boot? A clean boot is when your device starts with minimal drivers and programs required by OS, which will you help to identify what is causing the problem.


As we mentioned before, there are a lot reasons that can cause your computer or laptop to turn on and off, but if you follow these steps your problem will be gone.