Info If you're doing internal hardware maintenance, upgrades or repairs, unplug your build or turn off the PSU switch.

[LegoTekFan486]

I was replacing the graphics card (or was I removing it to blow dust out of the fans? I don't recall) but I dropped the screw and it fell right into the PSU.

Thankfully, I already had unplugged the machine before I started working on it, or else I probably would have fried the PSU, and with my luck, possibly the main board as well.

Now, I side with those who say "don't take apart the PSU" but being an electronics major in college, I knew how to safely discharge the high voltage capacitor(s) in the PSU. However, in order to take it apart, I would have had to unscrew it from the case, then unscrew the PSU itself.

I took a short cut and turned the whole computer upside down and shook it and tilted it until I got the screw back out.

 

[Bob.B]

I was replacing the graphics card (or was I removing it to blow dust out of the fans? I don't recall) but I dropped the screw and it fell right into the PSU.

Thankfully, I already had unplugged the machine before I started working on it, or else I probably would have fried the PSU, and with my luck, possibly the main board as well.

Now, I side with those who say "don't take apart the PSU" but being an electronics major in college, I knew how to safely discharge the high voltage capacitor(s) in the PSU. However, in order to take it apart, I would have had to unscrew it from the case, then unscrew the PSU itself.

I took a short cut and turned the whole computer upside down and shook it and tilted it until I got the screw back out.

Electronics 101......shake it till it works.

 

[CountMike]

I was replacing the graphics card (or was I removing it to blow dust out of the fans? I don't recall) but I dropped the screw and it fell right into the PSU.

Thankfully, I already had unplugged the machine before I started working on it, or else I probably would have fried the PSU, and with my luck, possibly the main board as well.

Now, I side with those who say "don't take apart the PSU" but being an electronics major in college, I knew how to safely discharge the high voltage capacitor(s) in the PSU. However, in order to take it apart, I would have had to unscrew it from the case, then unscrew the PSU itself.

I took a short cut and turned the whole computer upside down and shook it and tilted it until I got the screw back out.

Electronics major in college, what do they teach nowadays ?PSU not connected to anything, just short any 12v wire on 24pin to ground and power leed contacts When connected to MB, depress power start button for few seconds. That discharges all capacitors in PSU and MB.