Desktop fell...

[vitrify]

Well, my desktop fell on its side and now it doesnt turn on.
I've opened up the case, tried different sticks of ram, removed all the hard drives but the one with XP on it, took out my video card, taken out the DVD drive, and it still doesnt boot. When I press the power button, my heatsink(thermaltake ruby orb) lights up for a fraction of a second and then turns back off. That's the only sign of any power to the computer other than the little light on the motherboard, and I have no idea what that's called.

Any idea what could be broken? I think it's the crappy noname power supply, but I'm not sure.

Help please!

Edit: the light that is on is the South Bridge light. Does this indicate anything?

[vitrify]

Well, after swapping out my PSU, I determinded that that was not the problem.

So is it down to Mobo now, or is CPU still a possibility?

[yatta]

did you try refasten everything? take it all apart and out it back together. I'm serious, rebuild it from scratch. cpu too then try to boot.

[vitrify]

did you try refasten everything? take it all apart and out it back together. I'm serious, rebuild it from scratch. cpu too then try to boot.

Done.
I'm pretty sure there is a piece that's screwed up. I just need to determine which piece, and I don't have another compatible mobo or cpu to swap out.

[sfu_lifer]

Could be the CPU got knocked loose. Before taking out the heatsink to check, just leave one stick of ram plugged in as well as the videocard and nothing else plugged into the mobo and try turning it on.

[ah802]

Possible that the old thermal goo... on the CPU hardened and got dislodged and is no longer making contact with the cooler and you go into a safety shutdown in less than a minute... Take out the CPU clean and re-goo, try again.

[vitrify]

IT's not that, Ah, my problem is that nothing turns on, none of the fans spin, the hard drives don't spin either.

I've already tried building it together piece by piece starting with an empty Mobo, lifer.

[nomaansikandar]

maybe when it fell, it pulled the power cord out of the surgebar/wall socket ..
if not, try changing the power cable (use the monitors if you dont have an extra one handy)

[Oversized Rooster]

Another power cable won't make a difference. I suspect it's either a mobo issue, PSU issue or memory issue because I've had those symptoms before.

First run Memtest86 on another machine for each memory stick separately to rule those out. Next, swap out the PSU. Finally, swap out the mobo.

Unfortunately you may have to go through an elaborate troubleshooting process.

[Mars man]

Have you tried removing the mb from the case altogether and assembling just the bare components and trying to post. Sounds like a shorting problem when the case tipped over. Please be sure to ensure every possible connection ie. cpu and hs/fan, gpu, and single ram stick are propely inserted and connected to power connectors securely. Good Luck and keep us posted on results.

[vitrify]

I took the processor out, and all the fans spun, even the GPU. If I put the processor (E4300) back in, then nothing works again.

I did overclock it, but the core temp was constantly under 50 degrees.

Could it be something wrong with the socket, or is the CPU dead?

[parkourster]

hmm small chance its a power button =O. try swiching the cases

[Mars man]

Can you try another cpu? Are you sure you've inserted it correctly and there is no damage to the mb or cpu pins? Do you hear any beeps when it posts?

[vitrify]

It never got as far as posting.

I bussed to TigerDirect today and got a new Mobo, now it works fine. I guess it was something with the socket on the old one.

[xtcnrice]

I'm guessing mobo. Happened to my brother's comp. It was time for a slight upgrade anyways so we bought new components (CPU, video, ram, etc.) and we decided to try the old mobo out with the new components. No go. New mobo, up and running.

He didn't drop his computer onto its side though. But the same symptoms occur, the split second surge of power through the computer and it vanishes.

If I'm wrong I'm sorry, just from what I've seen before.

Good luck

EDIT:

Sorry for being lazy and not reading the whole thread. Guess you got it working already.

Sorry for reviving this thread.