My computer won't turn on after vacuuming the inside

[crazlunatic]

Hi. I'm not completely sure if it's safe to do so but I and (some people I know)have been vacuuming the insides of PCs for years and nothing ever happened.

Well today I did that and my PC won't turn on. I checked everything, and didn't vacuum any cords or connectors by accident...
I also tried using another PSU and only attached its ATX12V and the 4-pin (I'm not sure how many V)into my Gigabyte P35DS3R mobo and it did not turn on either.

What should I do? I think I fried my motherboard, and if I did, why did this happen? I grounded myself.

 

[Cutthroat]

It's far more likely you knocked something loose. Check again for loose connections, particularly the main power cord on the back of the PSU.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: crazlunatic
Hi. I'm not completely sure if it's safe to do so but I and (some people I know)have been vacuuming the insides of PCs for years and nothing ever happened.

why did this happen? I grounded myself.

Please share with us how you did this?

 

[crazlunatic]

I touched the case before operating and was not touching any carpet or wearing wooly clothes lol.

Well guess what, I think I really did fry it this time because Iconnected MY psu cords to my brother's mobo and his computer turned on!

There are only 3 reasnos left why my computer won't turn on:
1) I fried mobo (how I did this I have no clue)
2) The chasis' power on/off switch is broken (its an antec 900, i wouldn't be surprised because the USB ports in the front are already broken after only a yr of usage)
3) Some cord is not connected

Is there any way to turn on the computer without the power switch btw?

 

[JonnyBlaze]

the fast moving air can create static. hopefully you just knocked something loose but there's a possibility you damaged something.


to try it without the switch you just need to temporally make a connection to the 2 pins the switch connects to.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: crazlunatic

Is there any way to turn on the computer without the power switch btw?

Yes, short the power switch pins with a HD jumper (only momentarily).

 

[TestedAcorn]

A screwdriver works also....

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: TestedAcorn
A screwdriver works also....

A screwdriver is too risky. One slip and you see sparks, just before everything shuts down.
I know... :laugh:

 

[crazlunatic]

Can anyone teach me how to short the power switch pins with an HD jumper? Is there a tutorial somewhere?

 

[Blain]

The HD jumper has two holes for pins...
The MB power connection has two pins...
Connect the HD jumper on the two power pins for a moment (1/10th of a second).

 

[crazlunatic]

and if I do this for too long what happens

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: crazlunatic
and if I do this for too long what happens

Then it will be just like holding the power button for too long.
So it will just turn off or do nothing, depending on mobo, bios settings etc.

 

[crazlunatic]

there are 4 ways to try to connect the jumper to the PSwitch prongs and none of them did anything
do u need a vid card to turn on the pc? my mobo is weird, i rmbr b4 wen the CDrom was not connected, the same thing happened, but this time it is connected
so with the vga disconnected, is it possible to still have the pc on? i removed my vid card becuz it is near impossible to put my fingers through and do this task with the vid card connected

thx for all ur help guys

btw my friend suggested taking out the mobo battery... but I'm havnig trouble with that (yes Iknow there's a button for release.) do u have any suggestions for dat as well?

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: crazlunatic
there are 4 ways to try to connect the jumper to the PSwitch prongs and none of them did anything

This is probably a fruitless exercize, but here goes.
There are NOT 4 ways to connect the jumper as I stated before.

> Picture Here <

There are two power switch pins on the Gigabyte (or any), motherboard.
There are two pin holes on the HD jumper.
That only leaves 1 way to connect them.

Please have a friend work on your PC. :laugh:

 

[wwswimming]

depends on how you count. those 2 pins got to be shorted for a few seconds.

you can use paperclips, screwdrivers, coins. you could even have metal foil tips
crimped onto your fingernails. or use body-piercing jewelry. without even
removing it from your body.

 

[Blain]

The pins don't need "seconds" of contact. 1/10th of a second is plenty.
As for other items being used... read posts above.

 

[tcas]

Late to the topic and certainly no expert....

I "used" to vacumn computer case but caused a TU condition which I attributed to the static electricity flying around with dust/hose etc...One time was enough for me.

Had a Asus MB (p4) that wouldn't post....changed cmos battery and all was well.

Just wanted to share experiences...

michael

 

[crazlunatic]

what's TU condition? so you actually destroyed your PC vacuuming?

and about the jumper, i guess i was thinking too much... although i have openings on both sides of the jumper...

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: crazlunatic
and about the jumper, i guess i was thinking too much... although i have openings on both sides of the jumper...

It's not brain surgery.

 

[crazlunatic]

anyway I have an update on the situation.
So I took a P4 3.2 ghZ and put it in my mobo and it turned on, so I was certain that the CPU was fried, but when I put my CPU back in everything worked fine =S...

except that the CPU went from 30 degrees to 84 degrees in a matter of seconds.
the heatsink is inserted properly (I checked the bottom of the motherboard and all the pins are locked in place), and the fans seem to be spinning properly.

 

[Cutthroat]

Remove the heatsink, clean it up and the fan too. Re-apply a thin layer of thermal paste and re-install the heatsink. If you are going to 84C in a matter of seconds the heatsink is NOT installed correctly.

 

[crazlunatic]

i've reinstalled the heatsink at least twice, the problem may lie in the thermal paste but there still seems to be a good amount of it on the CPU

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Blain
A screwdriver is too risky. One slip and you see sparks, just before everything shuts down.
I know... :laugh:

Hee...Hee... I've always wondered what happens if you slip. Guess I know now.

Originally posted by: wwswimming
...or use body-piercing jewelry. without even
removing it from your body.

That brings up all kinds of images....

 

[Marty502]

And to think I've vaccumed the guts of my computer more times than I remember... carefully cleaned the corners of the HDD bay where my hard drive was...

I had no clue about the risk of static! I won't ever do it again! I got lucky it seems.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Is the CPU Fan connected and running?

Did you hear anything rattle going up the vacuum hose