F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Computer starts up but fails to boot. No electricity reaching connected devices.

Computer starts up but fails to boot. No electricity reaching connected devices.

Computer starts up but fails to boot. No electricity reaching connected devices.

A
Amegahoney
Posting Freak
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789
08-14-2017, 01:29 AM
#1
Hello everyone, this is my last attempt to locate a fix before I think I damaged my setup. Last night I installed an SSD and intended to reinstall Windows onto it. While doing that, I decided to give the whole system a thorough clean and reapply thermal paste, as it’s an older machine. Here are the details:

- System: ASRock Killer SLI z370 i7-8086k GTX 1060 2x 8GB RAM (G.Skill Ripjaws V) Corsair Vengeance 650M
- Specs: SSD installed, old HDD removed, CPU refaced with fresh paste.

After using pressurized air to clear dust and reapplying paste, I reinstalled the old hard drive (just the new SSD) and tried turning on the PC. When I pressed power, everything seemed to activate—lights and fans started—but no signal reached my screen. USB ports didn’t power any peripherals or flash drives.

I’ve tried several things online:
- No debug LEDs visible, possibly hidden under heatsinks
- Swapped out the GPU and connected it to the motherboard
- Used different monitors and cables (HDMI, DVI)
- Disconnected all fans, removed RAM modules one by one
- Replaced the SSD, then reinserted the old boot drive
- Removed the CMOS battery to reset
- Took out the CPU and inspected pins—none bent

Despite these efforts, nothing is working. The screen lights up but no data appears, and USB devices don’t respond. It’s confusing. Am I definitely shorting something, or is there another explanation? Thanks for your help.
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A
Amegahoney
08-14-2017, 01:29 AM #1

Hello everyone, this is my last attempt to locate a fix before I think I damaged my setup. Last night I installed an SSD and intended to reinstall Windows onto it. While doing that, I decided to give the whole system a thorough clean and reapply thermal paste, as it’s an older machine. Here are the details:

- System: ASRock Killer SLI z370 i7-8086k GTX 1060 2x 8GB RAM (G.Skill Ripjaws V) Corsair Vengeance 650M
- Specs: SSD installed, old HDD removed, CPU refaced with fresh paste.

After using pressurized air to clear dust and reapplying paste, I reinstalled the old hard drive (just the new SSD) and tried turning on the PC. When I pressed power, everything seemed to activate—lights and fans started—but no signal reached my screen. USB ports didn’t power any peripherals or flash drives.

I’ve tried several things online:
- No debug LEDs visible, possibly hidden under heatsinks
- Swapped out the GPU and connected it to the motherboard
- Used different monitors and cables (HDMI, DVI)
- Disconnected all fans, removed RAM modules one by one
- Replaced the SSD, then reinserted the old boot drive
- Removed the CMOS battery to reset
- Took out the CPU and inspected pins—none bent

Despite these efforts, nothing is working. The screen lights up but no data appears, and USB devices don’t respond. It’s confusing. Am I definitely shorting something, or is there another explanation? Thanks for your help.

Reply
Reply
C
CougillM
Member
Find
162
08-14-2017, 06:50 AM
#2
Shut down the system and disconnect the power source. Take out the CMOS battery and store it until you finish inspections. Look for any debris in the connectors. Remove every cable from the motherboard. Keep the SSD separate. Reinsert RAM into slots A2 and B2, ensuring no dust has formed and all connectors are tidy. Connect all power cords, but only attach a monitor to one port if using HDMI on a display.
Reply
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C
CougillM
08-14-2017, 06:50 AM #2

Shut down the system and disconnect the power source. Take out the CMOS battery and store it until you finish inspections. Look for any debris in the connectors. Remove every cable from the motherboard. Keep the SSD separate. Reinsert RAM into slots A2 and B2, ensuring no dust has formed and all connectors are tidy. Connect all power cords, but only attach a monitor to one port if using HDMI on a display.

Reply
Reply