F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop A screw dislodged and became lodged in the motherboard, which might have caused a short circuit

A screw dislodged and became lodged in the motherboard, which might have caused a short circuit

A screw dislodged and became lodged in the motherboard, which might have caused a short circuit

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yongri
Junior Member
11
02-18-2023, 02:19 PM
#1
I’m not sure if the troubleshooting section fits here since the PC is now functioning normally. Still, I want to learn what happened so I can confirm whether further steps are needed. Here’s how it unfolded: The machine was running fine until a strange noise was heard while I was changing a panel. I moved the PC in various directions hoping to locate a screw, but no sound came out. Eventually, after finishing the work and sealing the case, I powered it back on. The motherboard failed to boot up properly, and the CPU debug LED showed errors (CPU not detected or faulty). I tried rebooting, removing the graphics card, resetting the BIOS, and even taking out the heatsink, but nothing changed. Then I removed the screw and reinserted the CPU, which resolved everything. After reassembly, all systems checked—USB ports, audio, Wi-Fi, stress tests with OCCT, and SSD self-test passed without issues. The motherboard had dark marks before, possibly from old paint. I wonder if this wasn’t a short circuit at all. Could excessive movement or force during handling shifted the CPU into the socket? I re-seated it and removed the screw, but I can’t confirm what fixed it. The PC remained on for several minutes after shutdown. If a short circuit existed, it usually cuts power instantly, which didn’t happen. What do you think? Could the photos help explain why no damage appeared? Your insights would be valuable. Thanks for reading!
Y
yongri
02-18-2023, 02:19 PM #1

I’m not sure if the troubleshooting section fits here since the PC is now functioning normally. Still, I want to learn what happened so I can confirm whether further steps are needed. Here’s how it unfolded: The machine was running fine until a strange noise was heard while I was changing a panel. I moved the PC in various directions hoping to locate a screw, but no sound came out. Eventually, after finishing the work and sealing the case, I powered it back on. The motherboard failed to boot up properly, and the CPU debug LED showed errors (CPU not detected or faulty). I tried rebooting, removing the graphics card, resetting the BIOS, and even taking out the heatsink, but nothing changed. Then I removed the screw and reinserted the CPU, which resolved everything. After reassembly, all systems checked—USB ports, audio, Wi-Fi, stress tests with OCCT, and SSD self-test passed without issues. The motherboard had dark marks before, possibly from old paint. I wonder if this wasn’t a short circuit at all. Could excessive movement or force during handling shifted the CPU into the socket? I re-seated it and removed the screw, but I can’t confirm what fixed it. The PC remained on for several minutes after shutdown. If a short circuit existed, it usually cuts power instantly, which didn’t happen. What do you think? Could the photos help explain why no damage appeared? Your insights would be valuable. Thanks for reading!

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StormDemons
Member
68
03-07-2023, 02:37 PM
#2
It likely caused a temporary issue without lasting harm. A short circuit might have interrupted a low-voltage signal, which usually doesn’t leave noticeable marks or odors. Unless power traces were connected incorrectly, the device should still function properly.
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StormDemons
03-07-2023, 02:37 PM #2

It likely caused a temporary issue without lasting harm. A short circuit might have interrupted a low-voltage signal, which usually doesn’t leave noticeable marks or odors. Unless power traces were connected incorrectly, the device should still function properly.

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willdoespixel
Member
208
03-07-2023, 03:26 PM
#3
It appears I'm quite unlucky, but I'm very fortunate. If I notice anything suspicious on the motherboard next time, I'll definitely disassemble it and verify thoroughly. Thanks.
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willdoespixel
03-07-2023, 03:26 PM #3

It appears I'm quite unlucky, but I'm very fortunate. If I notice anything suspicious on the motherboard next time, I'll definitely disassemble it and verify thoroughly. Thanks.

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privy223
Member
115
03-07-2023, 04:49 PM
#4
I once damaged a motherboard during my younger years. A loose screw was jostling inside my case somewhere. Every time I moved my PC, I could hear it. I never looked for it, just left it there. Really naive, I know, but it persisted for months.
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privy223
03-07-2023, 04:49 PM #4

I once damaged a motherboard during my younger years. A loose screw was jostling inside my case somewhere. Every time I moved my PC, I could hear it. I never looked for it, just left it there. Really naive, I know, but it persisted for months.