Common Troubleshooting Tips for New PCs

Common Troubleshooting Tips for New PCs

When receiving a new PC, it is essential to have some troubleshooting knowledge and understand your system’s requirements. Using Apex Gaming PCs as an example, we follow industry-standard packing and support techniques to ensure the safe travel of all PC components for domestic and worldwide shipping.

After taking the PC out of its case box and removing the insta-pack inside, issues like no power distribution, no display, poor to no WiFi connection, or other miscellaneous come up between shipping and initially setting up a PC.

Understanding the issue can take some time, so here are some quick tips for diagnosing and troubleshooting a new PC.

Common Issues In Initial Setup 

When setting up a PC, it is crucial to have all the necessary components to turn on and ensure everything works. You will need the following:

 three-pin wall power connector- A three-pin connection is used on a power supply (PSU) to provide the PC power from the wall. Depending on your preference, it should be plugged into the wall/surge protector/UPS (Uninterruptible power supply). High-end Surge Protectors and UPS's provide more security in a power outage and are preferable to plugging cables directly into a wall outlet.

A DisplayPort/HDMI Cable- If you have a modern monitor, there is a significant chance there will be HDMI or DisplayPort. Depending on the capabilities of your connection, the maximum frame rate may differ depending on your monitor's specifications per connection. Look at this blog covering connectors and displays supported for more information. 

A keyboard and mouse- A keyboard and mouse are necessary to interact with a PC. When setting up a PC for the first time, some Bluetooth devices may only function once Windows can update devices. If this becomes an issue, use a wired keyboard and mouse for the initial setup before switching to wireless.

An Internet connection- When setting up a new PC, Microsoft dedicates communication for windows installs to notify users when an update is present for windows/drivers/and the internet. This can happen in one of two ways, an Ethernet connection or a WiFi connection. Ethernet is preferable depending on the modem's proximity; WIFI works as well, however the difference in ping and general connectivity becomes evident if the modem/router is far away

Going Through Symptoms of Common PC Issues

We will get into common issues exhibited after the initial setup with the accessories above.

My PC is plugged in but won’t turn on.

Solutions:

  • The switch at the back of the PSU should be in the ON or “I” position and not the OFF or “O.”
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  • Check to ensure no connections to the motherboard are loose or undone from shipping. Some necessary connections are the 24-pin power connector and the front panel power connector responsible for the power button. 
    •
  • Ensure that the RAM is fully secured, as shipping could cause unseated RAM. Here is a helpful video on how to reseat RAM in a PC. 

    • Symptom: My PC powers on, but my monitor has no display. 

    Solutions:

  • Check that the HDMI Or Displayport isn't plugged into the motherboard but goes into the dedicated GPU. (Integrated graphics is exempt from this as there is no dedicated GPU in the system)
    •
  • Check that the monitor has power, is in an ideal state, and that the connections are secure in the back. If one connection is having issues, try a different port or cable. 
    •
  • (Optional) If your motherboard has debug lights, see what light the motherboard holds on. That component will be the source of the computer's inability to boot.
    •

    Symptom: My PC turns on, then turns off and back on in the same loop

    Solutions:

  • Unplug the PSU chord from the wall and press the power button for at least 10 seconds. Then try again.
    •
  • If this continues, check that the 24-pin power connector is securely seated along with the CPU power connector(both plastic clips should clasp the corresponding clip on the motherboard) and turn the system on afterward.
    •
  • The next step is to reseat your RAM in their sockets.
    •
  • The final cause of power cycling is an internal error with the motherboard or power supply unit, which requires an RMA process.  
    •

    Symptom: Everything boots on my PC. However, I need help getting the WIFI to connect.

    Solutions:

  • Try plugging the WIFI adaptor into a different USB connector, preferably on the front of the case.
    •
  • To find our Apex Gaming PCs wireless USB, type in “device manager” into the Windows search bar and look for the network adaptor (For USB adaptors, there is usually a name designation of USB/Wireless or something similar.) Right-click it and select uninstall. Then restart your computer.
    •

    Symptom: Bluetooth will not connect 

    Solutions: 

  • Check if the Bluetooth function is operating correctly in the system tray. Go to the bottom right of the taskbar and see if the Bluetooth icon is visible.
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  • If not visible, ensure the Bluetooth USB is installed and use another USB port to see if the issue persists. 
    •
  • If that doesn't work, type “device manager” into the Windows search bar and look for the Bluetooth icon. Click the Bluetooth icon, and a drop-down will appear. Right-click your affected device and hit uninstall. Then restart your computer.
    •

    Symptom: My PC RGB is on, but I can't change color

    Solutions:

  • Diagnosing how your RGB is controlled will give a lot of explanation on how you can change your system color. There are three primary modes of control: software, manually pressing buttons on a controller behind the back panel, and remote control.
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  • To see which one you have, you can undo the back panel to find the RGB Fans tag going into a controller with buttons to press to adjust the modes. 
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  • Depending on your case, some will have a dedicated LED button on the outside of the case going into the controller. This allows you to change the color by pressing the button outside the case. If you can change the colors by hitting the reset switch or LED button, removing the panel is unnecessary!
    •

    Symptom: My RGB Fans and or Strip are off

    Solutions: 

  • If your RGB is not working, let's inspect the connections responsible for chaining the RGB fans and light strips. Remove the back side panel and look for a white tag marked “RGB Fans.” If it leads to a controller, ensure the connection to the controller is secure.
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  • If the “RGB Fans” wire leads to the motherboard, ensure that the chain of RGB connections in the back of the case is secure. 
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  • If you identify that a connection is not making good contact and will only light up when pressure is applied, tape or zip-tie the wire into the connection to ensure the RGB chain has good continuity.
    •

    Symptom: Windows isn't activated

    Solutions:

  • Type in the Windows search bar, “See if Windows is Activated.” You will see a red message explaining why Windows is inactive from here. Regardless of the message, try the troubleshooting option.
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  • If troubleshooting does not fix your issue, call or email our customer support email at support@apexgamingpcs.com or (215) 565-1069.
    •

    Symptom: Windows stuck on the loading screen when first booting

    Solutions:

  • If your Windows installation is stuck on the loading screen when you first boot, force shutdown of your system, then hold the F9 key and press the power button to enter the Windows Recovery Environment.
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  • Click Troubleshooting>Advanced Options>Perform a Startup Repair. From there, you can reset your PC correctly and setup Windows 11 to boot with no long loading times.
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    Wrapping Up The Initial Setup Of The PC

    Whether setting up an older second-hand PC or a brand new one straight from Apex for the first time, it can be nerve-racking and exciting. Going through the steps above is easy to rule out most issues that users can fix without removing components from your system.

    If the above steps solve any issues, you now have a gaming-ready PC! To start customizing your operating system and preferences, look at this tutorial for basic customization of Windows 11.

    If you need help with any issues listed above or feel that more guidance is needed, please email Support@ApexGamingPCs.com or call (215)-565-1069. We have a team of capable representatives able to assist with your issue. We hope to serve at Apex Gaming PCs for your support needs! 


    Written by William Wilson
    Header Photo Credits: Pavan Bhakta
    Edited: 2/27/2024


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