The PCIe hot swap caused the motherboard to fail.
The PCIe hot swap caused the motherboard to fail.
Hello Forum, I wanted to install and configure pfSense (open-source firewall) on my old PC. The problem is that the CPU doesn't have onboard graphics and I only have one PCIe slot because the motherboard is ITX form factor. So I used AMD Radeon dedicated GPU but then I was asked to install the second network interface (TP Link Network Card). That means that the GPU has to be removed in order to install another PCIe card. So I possibly did something very stupid and hot-swapped the two cards in order to try a blind configuration with only following tutorial steps and pressing keys. After I removed the network card and installed the GPU again, CPU and case fans are running, even GPU fan is running. But no boot signal and no picture. I removed every component except CPU but it still won't give any signal that RAM is missing. Does it mean that the motherboard is dead?
You might try a BIOS reset and then attempt it again with the GPU installed. Just keep expectations realistic. The safe method involves turning off the CMOS battery for a short time, then reinserting it. Ensure all system power is cut beforehand so the battery is disconnected completely. Only reconnect it once the battery is back in place. After that, reset the BIOS settings because it will be completely cleared. If you see prompts to install software, remember that means installing the necessary drivers or firmware. Then shut down the machine and remove the components while still powered off. Once the system restarts with your chosen card, the OS should recognize it and launch using the installed software. It’s best if you already have the hardware set up—otherwise it may not work. Attempting this without proper preparation usually leads to failure. Also, consider that this setup requires at least two PCI-E slots, which isn’t possible with a single slot, so make sure your board supports it. If it’s supposed to be hot-swappable, double-check the instructions before proceeding.
I wonder if you destroyed everything. However, the Logic Board, GPU, and NIC seem severely damaged.
You gotta live to learn and this is one such example. As the poster above said you probrably toasted the GPU, board and networking card you was wanting to use. I'd suggest getting a board with at least as many PCI-E slots as you need, that would be of use to you. Just remember to always have the machine powered down before removing/swapping stuff around and you'll do fine.