Hey everyone! I'm new here and I just finished building my PC for the first time. Everything was running smoothly for about 15 minutes during the first startup, and I even managed to install Windows 11 from a USB. However, I ran into some problems where it wouldn't detect WiFi, so I downloaded some drivers on a USB using my laptop. When I plugged it in, I got a 'Power Surge on the USB port' message, and another USB port that my mouse was connected to stopped working until I switched to a different port.
After trying to restart the PC, it wouldn't turn on, and I noticed a burning rubber smell coming from the power supply unit (PSU). I can't see any visible damage inside the case, but the smell is quite strong when I check the PSU directly. Most of my parts were bought from Microcenter just two days ago, so I'm wondering if I should return the PSU and explain that it seems defective, or if it's better to let them inspect it. Also, is there a chance I made a mistake during assembly? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
6 Answers
To diagnose, disconnect all PSU connections and inspect them on both ends. Sometimes a short can happen at the connections, so see if that helps when you try to start the PC again.
If it smells fishy, that could indicate a leaking capacitor in your PSU or motherboard, which might be the root of your issue. I’d lean towards checking both the motherboard and PSU to confirm where the problem lies.
It sounds like your PSU might be defective, but it's hard to say without digging deeper. You could’ve made a mistake during the build, like connecting something incorrectly. If you can, take everything apart and test each component individually. If you don’t have extra parts to test with, definitely take it to the shop and have them look at the PSU first.
First things first, what make and model is your PSU? Knowing that can help figure out if it’s a faulty unit. Also, which USB ports were you using—those on the motherboard or on the case?
You might be facing a short in the PSU port. Try unplugging all the USB headers from the motherboard and then restart. If it works without those plugged in, you may need to look into getting some PCI USB cards to add working ports.
Microcenter has a pretty solid return policy, so if you’re having these issues, I recommend returning the PSU. It seems likely it could be faulty. I’d also check the motherboard since the USB issue could be related. Just explain what's going on when you return the parts—it’s totally fair to do that as a consumer!
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