Computer won't start after moving it from table to the ground.

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the Tom's Hardware community: where nearly two million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Will test this when I get home from work. Thanks a lot for your people's help...If this forum wasn't here, I would have tossed this thing out the window already.


 
Just a quick update. I am in the process of returning the GIgabyte x48 since I can't get any power to it...I picked up the Asus Rampage Forumla today which is a sweet ass board and plugged that sucker in...First a spark shot out so I turned it off, went through everything and changed a fan connector...Turned it on again, spark hit my leg, burnt like a mother, turned it off again...Decided to never turn it on again untiL I get a new PSU..It's gotta be the PSU ...The pSU must be sending out crazy voltages or something which is why it screwed the other board..


 
Haha it was insane. It was like fireworks in my bedroom. I was literally freaked the hell out...I'm afraid of going back in that room with that damn thing!
 
I have the motherboard, GPU, RAM, testing on a piece of cardboard and everything is working.... Can I basically plug in the rest of the computer on this piece of cardboard becausae it must be the way I'm placing it in the case that is messing it up.
 
Yes you can build it all on the cardboard, temporarily of course. I thought your problem was a short to the case, the 3 standoffs and screws was my first clue. You need to get that worked out or replace the case. I would really try to get all 9 screws in. Make sure the mobo isn't touching anything metal except the standoffs.
 
zorg! I have everything powered up but the graphics card is getitng the 3 red lights!! If I can get that fixed I can figure out if it's the case that is the problem.
 
I assume you have the PCIe connectors plugged in. When you short out the mobo, especially when you get a fireworks display, voltage can go a lot of places, at high amperage, that it's not supposed to go and multiple components can get damaged. You may need to trouble shoot the card in another machine again, or more likely the mobo may be damaged. There is a chance that everything is ok though.

Let me see if I can get the manual for the card and take a look at it.
 
Well right now it's on the piece of cardboard and I have everything plugged in as if it were to be sitting in the case... I turn it on and everything turns on...THe 4870 runs at high fan speed...like really loud...and it displays 3 red lights...

It did this before but it was becausae I was missing a power connector to the board...But right now everything is where it should be.
 
Just took the GPU out and plugged it back in and it's now running at normal fan speed but still displays the 3 red lights. Maybe I have to reseat everything.

Thanks for lookin Zorg
 
ATI's site irritates the he!! out of me every time I go there. You would think these a-holes would do a better job with their site, since they make computer components. F_ing Dorks.

Needless to say I can't find a manual there either. They really like you to use their asinine interactive dorkdom instead of just letting you download the PDF.
 
The manual that came with the card is the biggest joke ever. It has like 10 pages...each page is a different language and all it shows is a picture on how to plug it in...And then it has some text but nothing worth reading.
 
It makes you want to beat them about the head and neck with rubber hoses. Didn't someone post about the LEDs earlier in this thread?

Nope, nothing.
 
Yeah I did but they really don't make any sense... This is so frustrating...
I just want this thing to power up normally...If only those 3 red lights would go away!
 
We don't even know if they are supposed to be lit or not. Wait, you tried the card in another machine, right? were they on or off?

I really think you need to trouble shoot for bad components. Do you have an old PCI video card? That should let you know if the mobo will post. I have fears about the short that scared the he!! out of you.
 
I moved to Sweden and this is the only PC that is in this house...Well besides the laptop I'm on now...I don't really know anyone here so I can't ask to test it one on it...

The 3 red lights shouldn't be on because when it worked on the other mobo they were off...
 
Do you think it could have to do with my HD being corrupt or something? Remember i installed Windows and the computer shut down in the middle of installing it. the Hd boots but maybe it's corrupt?
 
No, it has nothing to do with the HD. In order to rule everything out, only use the mobo, ram and 4870. You are only trying to get it to post and give you video output, you can worry about booting to the OS after the machine works.

Oh yeah, and keyboard and mouse.