Problem with cpu fan

[Shadowwrath5]

Hi I have a mini itx computer that Iam trying to swap the stock fan to an aftermarket one. After installation, i noticed the fan was 4 pin where my mobo has a 3 pin. I read online that its fine to use the 4 pin on the 3 pin header i would just lose som fan control (not a problem its a htpc anyway). The new fan tries to spin, fails, then tries again but never actually starts. Also when I plug in my power plug to the pc little sparks fly out (after extensive examination nothing is wrong with the pc).
Im trying to determine if my fan was DOA, if I have the fan on the header wrong (out of the 4 wires green, red, yellow, black the green wire isnt on a pin.) or if I need a connector.
On a side note if I play the cpu fan into a 4 pin molex via an adapter, will I read any errors?

 

[i7Baby]

Is the HTPC the one in your signature? Post your build!

What stock cooler? What aftermarket fan? What mobo?

 

[Shadowwrath5]

Is the HTPC the one in your signature? Post your build!

What stock cooler? What aftermarket fan? What mobo?

My apologies. Its been a while but I think these are the parts:
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130759
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113364
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211717
I got the ram off of ebay so Idont remember the make but its 2 gbs. Also the psu is built into the case. I believe it was 55w maybe a little more. Im replacing the stock fan with this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835426048

 

[i7Baby]

1st link I get an error - just say what make and model

Athlon 5350

32gb Adata SSD

GELID Solutions CC-Ssilence-AM1 Ball 1U Low Profile Cooler for AMD AM1 - so you're replacing the cooler, not just the fan

ram - 2gb

built in PSU

Motherboard?

 

[Shadowwrath5]

Msi am1i mini itx motherboard. I didn't mean to hit best answer. Fat fingers win again.

 

[i7Baby]

Yep - http://au.msi.com/product/mb/AM1I.html#hero-specification CPU is a 3 pin fan header. Doesn't matter. 3 or 4 pin fans should work. Modern motherboards are all 4 pin now.

 

[Shadowwrath5]

Alright but why isnt my 4 pin fan working on the 3 pin header. I can only place the fan on the header one way. The fan will try to spin but will stop then attempt again. On the 4 pin fan there are 4 cables (green,yellow,red,black) as you can see on the product page in the link above. The red yellow and black wires are connected to the 3 pin header on the mobo where the green cable hangs off. Is this correct? Im assuming the black wire is the ground wire; shouldnt that be the one not connected to the header?

EDIT: I got it working. Dont know how exactly I just dismantled the entire system and rebuilt form scratch and the fan is spinning away. Thanks for the help