A bad motherboard isn’t the only culprit when a computer won’t boot. But it’s important to determine if a motherboard is bad when you’re troubleshooting a PC. Here are a few common visual and diagnostic methods you can use to check if a motherboard is bad.

A bad motherboard will fail immediately or show warning signs. If you can recognize the warning signs early, take preventative measures, such as backing up your critical files. A computer that won’t turn on is obviously the first sign of trouble. But it’s important to rule out simple causes such as a loose power cord, a damaged power button, or even low input voltage before it becomes a motherboard problem.

Be aware of these signs that may indicate a faulty motherboard.

The Power On Self Test (POST) is performed by the BIOS and is the first step in the pre-boot sequence. The self-diagnostics function ensures that the internal hardware and peripherals are functioning properly. Problems are indicated by a failure of the POST or a specific beep code. Beep codes can vary by manufacturer. For example, three short beeps indicate a bad motherboard on a Dell computer, while two beeps can indicate an improperly seated RAM module.