Welcome to the No Boot / No Power / No Display Troubleshooting Wizard for Intel® NUCs.

Use this step-by-step wizard to help you fix the issue if your Intel NUC won't start properly.

What is the status of the LED on the top or front of the Intel NUC chassis?

The LED is lit up.

The LED is NOT lit up.

Thank you for using this troubleshooting wizard to resolve the problem!

We recommend you check Intel's support website first whenever you need assistance with an Intel product.

We're sorry you were not able to fix the problem by using this troubleshooting wizard. It is possible that your Intel NUC is defective.

Please contact Intel Customer Support for more help.

For the best customer support experience, be ready to provide the following information:

- SA# and serial number (found on the label on the Intel NUC)
- Exact symptoms of the problem
- What you have already tried

After checking the AC power source, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No

What is the status of the power LED on the Intel NUC chassis?

LED blinks in a repeating pattern of three blinks

LED blinks in some other pattern

LED is lit and solid; no blinks

Are the memory modules you are using the correct type and voltage for your Intel NUC model?

Yes, the memory is the correct type and voltage.

No, the type and voltage are not correct for my Intel NUC model.

What is the blink pattern you are seeing?

One blink every five seconds.

16 on/off blinks, then the Intel NUC shuts down.

Something else.

If the TV or monitor has multiple video inputs, make sure you select the correct source. This selection is usually made through an INPUT or SOURCE button on the display's remote control device.

If your Intel NUC has soldered-down memory, skip this step.

Try these other memory troubleshooting steps:

Remove and reseat the memory modules.

Check for a defective module by trying it in a known good system, if available.

If the Intel NUC has two memory slots:
- Try using just one module at a time, swapping it between the two slots.
- Use modules from the same manufacturer, with the same size and speed.

See additional Memory Issues information.

After trying these things, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No

After installing supported memory modules, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No

Did you recently make BIOS setting changes that may have triggered this no boot situation?

Yes

No

Restore BIOS settings to factory defaults:

1. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS Setup.
2. Press F9 to set defaults.
3. Press F10 to Save and Exit.

After restoring factory defaults, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No

Try a BIOS Recovery using the latest BIOS version available for your Intel NUC from Intel’s Download Center.

Warning: Before performing a BIOS recovery, make note of any customized BIOS settings you have so that you can restore them after the recovery is complete.

After performing a BIOS recovery, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No

You will need to purchase and install memory modules that are supported by your Intel NUC.

It is possible that the power circuit has failed on your Intel NUC.

Please contact Intel Customer Support for more help.

A blink pattern of 16 on/off blinks and then a shutdown indicates a processor thermal trip warning.

If any of the overheating symptoms appear, check the following:

The Intel NUC is on a hard surface.
The Intel NUC is positioned so the chassis ventilation holes are not blocked.

After taking care of ventilation issues, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No

Boot issues have been observed if a hard drive is defective.

After troubleshooting the drive, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No (or I don't have another drive to try.)

If the Intel NUC is connected to a TV through an AV receiver, try connecting directly to the TV instead.
If you are using a video adapter/dongle (like HDMI-to-VGA), try connecting to a monitor that allows straight-through connection (HDMI-to-HDMI) with a single cable.

The video cable you are using might be defective. Try a different one.

If your TV contains firmware, check with the TV manufacturer for a firmware update.

If you are using an AV receiver, check with the manufacturer for a firmware update.

After making sure the input source on your TV or monitor is set for the correct input from the Intel NUC, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No

After connecting the Intel NUC directly to the TV or monitor, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No

After connecting a different cable, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No (or I don't have one to try)

After updating the firmware on the TV or AV receiver, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No (or there is not a firmware update available for my TV or AV receiver)

Do any errors appear on the screen when you boot?

Yes, the error is "A bootable device has not been detected."

No error appears

If you see either of the following errors when you start the Intel NUC, it could mean that the hard drive installed has failed.

OR

Follow these steps to see if the drive is detected in BIOS:

Press F2 during boot to enter BIOS Setup.
On the Advanced > Boot menu, check the Boot Drive Order.
Press F10 to exit BIOS Setup.

If Boot Drive Order shows No Boot Drive, it is possible that the drive inside the Intel NUC failed.

Try these drive troubleshooting steps:

Remove and reseat the hard drive or SSD.

Check for a defective drive by trying it in a known good system, if available.

Try a different drive in the Intel NUC.

The first step is to see if the Intel NUC is getting power.

Lack of video on a monitor does not tell you if there is power to the Intel NUC. You must check the unit itself.

How to check:

1. Make sure a memory module is installed.
2. Connect peripherals (monitor, mouse, keyboard).
3. Plug in AC power and press the power button.
4. Check the status of the LED.

Check the AC power connections, both to the wall and to the power strip if you are using one.

If you are using a power strip, do not assume the socket you plugged the Intel NUC into is working.

Power strips can have individual defective outlets, and working outlets have been known to fail for no particular reason.

The following three-blink pattern on the LED indicates a memory error: on-off (1.0 second each) three times, then 2.5-second pause (off).

The most common cause of this error is that the memory installed in the Intel NUC is the wrong type or wrong voltage.

See System Memory Requirements for Intel NUC Products to confirm that you are using the correct type and voltage.

You can also check the Intel Product Compatibility Tool to see which memory modules were validated by Intel, validated by the memory manufacturer, or reported compatible by other owners.

The power adapter that came with the Intel NUC may be defective.

Test your power adapter on a known good Intel NUC - OR - try a different power adapter, if you have one available.

After trying a known good power adapter, is the problem fixed?

Yes

No (or I don't have a different adapter to try)

Intel® NUC - No Boot Troubleshooting Wizard