Or by only putting one stick of memory in, or changing the slot you’re using.

I was assembling a computer and everything seemed to be correct, the fan would spin up, I’d get some lights, but there was no image on the screen, not even the BIOS. I saw someone else make this suggestion and didn’t think it was likely to work, but it did. First I just tried one stick, and it booted. Then I tried both sticks and it didn’t work, but I reseated and then it did.

(Also worth pointing out that your motherboard should have diagnostic lights which if you check the documentation may point out which component has an issue)

Thinking about Lemmy’s demographics many here may have heard of something like this, or have more helpful suggestions about troubleshooting which would be welcome. But thought I’d write out a little post about my experience to contribute to Lemmy SEO supremacy.

  • Blackmist
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    3 months ago

    If something is super fucky and defying all logic, try a different PSU. It’s the one thing apart from the motherboard that can effect every area of your PC.

    I have a folder of photos on my PC, shared over the network. I could browse that folder fine locally. I could look in other shared folders over the network. If I looked in the photo folder over the network, the PC would power off instantly.

    Swapped it out for a different one (I’d borrowed it from work while mine was being repaired), problem went away and never happened again.

    There is zero logic I can see for this, and makes me want to throw computers down a well and live in a cave.

    • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      If your computer is acting haunted, its the PSU.

      If its being temperamental like a fussy teenager, its typically ram.

    • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      3 months ago

      Ive built 7 or so computers in my time

      in that same time 3 PSUs were DOA, 2 died a month in under pathetic loads, and one fried in a lightning strike (this one gets a pass as only the PSU fried so it did it’s job)

      It’s so often the goddamn PSU

    • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      This. I built a new machine and assumed the PSU was the least likely to be the issue. After testing the video card, ram, cpu and motherboard… I tried my spare PSU and it worked great. smh