I was installing my PC and may have accidentally dropped a few screws inside the power supply without noticing. I later powered it on, and the only response was a case fan spinning for about two seconds before everything shut down. Now nothing happens when I connect AC power and press the case power button. All cables are connected and the PSU switch is on. There is no obvious visible damage, but the PSU was inexpensive, and I'm worried that the short may have damaged other components. I haven't performed a jumper test yet. What should I do next, and how can I safely determine whether the motherboard or other parts survived?
2 Answers
Replace the PSU with a reliable model from a reputable manufacturer rather than relying on the current one for testing. Then test the system with only the motherboard, CPU, one RAM stick, and integrated graphics if available. If it still shows no signs of life, inspect the motherboard and connectors for damage. Do not reuse modular PSU cables from the old unit, since their pinouts may differ.
Double-check the basic power connections before concluding the whole system is damaged: the PSU switch, wall outlet, 24-pin motherboard cable, CPU power cable, and case power-switch header. The PC will not start merely by plugging in the AC cable; the case button must be connected and pressed. If those are correct, a known-good PSU is the safest next diagnostic step.
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload