Troubleshooting a Dormant desktop: Reviving a 2-Year-Old PC After a Long Break

After two years of smooth operation, I recently encountered an unexpected issue with my custom-built desktop PC. Here’s a brief overview of what happened: I constructed my first desktop from scratch with all new components, and for two years, it performed flawlessly. However, during my recent four-month absence for college, I switched off the power supply and unplugged it from the wall to safeguard against frequent power outages in my area.

Fast forward to my return over the holidays, where I eagerly plugged everything back in, but to my dismay, the computer failed to post. Initially, after multiple attempts to power it up, I finally got it to post on the third try. Unfortunately, that moment of hope was short-lived, as the device hasn’t posted since. Notably, when the system is unresponsive, the RGB lighting on my peripherals and RAM remains off, with only the motherboard lighting glowing.

In my quest for resolution, I undertook several troubleshooting steps, including:

• Testing different wall outlets and power sources
• Trying an alternate monitor
• Resetting the CMOS using the dedicated button on the motherboard
• Connecting HDMI directly to the motherboard instead of the graphics card
• Dismantling the system and reconnecting components one by one

Despite these efforts, the computer still refused to post, leading me to suspect that the motherboard might be malfunctioning. With tight finances, I wanted to ensure that purchasing a new motherboard was the right move before committing to any expenses. I welcomed any advice that could aid in diagnosing or fixing the problem.

After initial troubleshooting, I decided to replace the CMOS battery; however, this did not yield any positive results. Interestingly, the motherboard began displaying an error code 53, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. It’s worth noting that I have never overclocked my PC nor altered the memory speed, so this error was perplexing.

Update: The Good News!

I’m excited to share that I was able to restore functionality to my PC! I greatly appreciate the valuable insights and assistance I received from the online community, which proved instrumental in this journey. A special shoutout to user u/dcamp7gh for their guidance, which ultimately led me to the solution.

Now that my system is up and running, I can’t wait to dive back into my favorite games like Cyberpunk. If you ever find yourself in