Help!!! My rig just died

cozumel · Aug 21, 2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

best i can recommend is to take the card out, completely clean it and make sure the slot is free of dust and debris before you reseat it

I just had some free time so I took out the 8800GT to follow the advice above from this respected DH moderator. Cleaned up the motherboard and card real good using a wire brush, sandpaper and good old-fashioned brasso with duster. Kept going until I both motherboard and card were shiny and I could see my smily face reflecting back at me. Vacuumed out all the metal dust (didn't want to short anything). Made sure I was earthed the whole time.

So now I've got a new problem. I've fitted the card back in the PCIe slot and plugged the PSU back in. Turned on the power but nothing comes on the display. The fans are turning okay. Just no picture. I don't get any beeps but then I haven't got a case speaker installed. Anyone got any ideas what the problem could be?

I'm having to send this post on another rig. If it works out okay for the rig above then I'll give this rig a good clean-up to.

**Mousey** · Aug 21, 2008, 12:14 AM

Sandpaper? Wtf were you doing cleaning up the motherboard with sandpaper?
A cloth and some air does the job perfectly well. Does the fan on the 8800 spin? It's dead if not, If you have any Power LEDs on your board are those lighting up? And are your HDDs spinning up?

cozumel · Aug 21, 2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mousey

Sandpaper? Wtf were you doing cleaning up the motherboard with sandpaper?
A cloth and some air does the job perfectly well. Does the fan on the 8800 spin? It's dead if not, If you have any Power LEDs on your board are those lighting up? And are your HDDs spinning up?

I used the sandpaper as I always believe that if you're gonna do a job then you have to do it properly. And it cleaned all the gunk off brilliantly. Used different grades of sandpaper to make they were properly smooth and then the brasso to get the shine up.

Gigabyte don't put any lights on the board but the light on the Auzentech soundcard flashes just fine (I'll have to clean the Auzen some time too).

HDDs are spinning up okay too.

What do you think it could be? Anything else you think I should check or try?

**Mousey** · Aug 21, 2008, 12:24 AM

Hmm.. Maybe the 8800 is dead then?
If everything's lighting and spinning up but there's no activity... Maybe it's the card, or perhaps it's your memory.
I dunno just a thought

And i'm sure that sandpaper killed something dude wtf were you thinking, you probably scratched a layer of PCB Off or something!

Falstaff · Aug 21, 2008, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cozumel

I used the sandpaper as I always believe that if you're gonna do a job then you have to do it properly. And it cleaned all the gunk off brilliantly. Used different grades of sandpaper to make they were properly smooth and then the brasso to get the shine up.

Gigabyte don't put any lights on the board but the light on the Auzentech soundcard flashes just fine (I'll have to clean the Auzen some time too).

HDDs are spinning up okay too.

What do you think it could be? Anything else you think I should check or try?

um....
your kidding right?

cozumel · Aug 21, 2008, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falstaff

um....
your kidding right?

I'm pretty upset as it goes. I've spent a lot of hard-earned cash putting this rig together.

Tyrsonswood · Aug 21, 2008, 12:36 AM

I feel for you...... but seriously the sandpaper, brasso, and wirebrush stuff is comedy right?

Zardon · Aug 21, 2008, 12:47 AM

lol cozumel you really have too much time on your hands.

poor mousey.

CDsDontBurn · Aug 21, 2008, 12:49 AM

yea man, sand paper?!

email me some pix. i PMed you my email addy.

**kris23** · Aug 21, 2008, 12:52 AM

i feel for your loss man but sandpaper was definitely not the way to go, do you know the chemical properties of gold and WHY it is used on the contacts of today's computer components?

to increase contact efficacy, eliminate corrosion and make it so people like us dont have to use sandpaper on components.... the most that will ever be needed is isopropyl alcohol, some gloves and maybe a soft, fine NYLON brush.....

now if you meant to say you sanded the heatsinks and polished them then very good.... that should cool them better and this shouldn't be the problem, but if you REALLY butchered the stuff.... to say the least, you've voided the warranty

but after all that.... i hope it was all a joke... ill help you out, but first.... we should check the graphics card, did you get the 4870 yet?

Zardon · Aug 21, 2008, 01:00 AM

this is better than tv.

**kris23** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:02 AM

please tell me this is a joke...

**Mousey** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

lol cozumel you really have too much time on your hands.

poor mousey.

Shush lol, i thought at first it might have been a feasible if slightly abstract option.
Cozumel man, i'm sorry but it is kinda funny

.
All of you are so harsh, any chance you can get replacements?

CDsDontBurn · Aug 21, 2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mousey

All of you are so harsh, any chance you can get replacements?

not for physical damage....

**Mousey** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

not for physical damage....

Ouch. Cozumel dude, just... ouch.

**kris23** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:06 AM

this is like a nightmare on my end like............. holy lord jeeesus....

CDsDontBurn · Aug 21, 2008, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

this is like a nightmare on my end like............. holy lord jeeesus....

actually....more like a scary movie that has come true

**kris23** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:11 AM

oh yea......

Tyrsonswood · Aug 21, 2008, 01:13 AM

Somebody tell me he didn't really sandpaper his motherboard...... right? He didn't really do that.......

**kris23** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:14 AM

hey coz u around?

cozumel · Aug 21, 2008, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

hey coz u around?

I'm just pretty distressed. It's like everyone's laughing but no-ones making useful suggestions to help. All I want is some advice to help and get her up and running again. You reckon there might still be some dirt or dust in there somewhere causing problems?

**kris23** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:32 AM

so it is true.... im sorry...

well the most important think to do is check which components actually work and which dont...

try to see if the motherboard works properly... maybe the yoyotech guys can help, even if you didnt buy it from them....

then test the GPU

and then any other components that you may have altered.

sorry about this man...

**Mousey** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:36 AM

Coz, i doubt your components can be saved if you've "scrubbed" them with sandpaper, it's probably shorted out your card and mobo. Try going round it with the vacuum again, you might pick up some bits and dust you didn't see before and then it's a long shot, but it could work

**kris23** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:38 AM

hey coz, can you post pics of the items you sanded? i want to see the damage... as in if its reparable... hopefully you didnt do too much damage and only scraped off the coating....

if you have the patience and precision, you may be able to resurrect your rig.

CDsDontBurn · Aug 21, 2008, 01:39 AM

try using the gfx card in another machine and use another gfx card in your gigabyte board and see which works...

also, all MoBos should have a system speaker somewhere. be sure that your system speaker is attached and see what noise comes out of it if anything.

[hobo]eclipse · Aug 21, 2008, 01:42 AM

try to find some conductive paint (usually found in auto parts store to repair rear window defroster) and going over any traces on the mobo or gpu you may have sanded short

use hot glue to re-create the actual layers of the PCB and lay your new traces over top

CDsDontBurn · Aug 21, 2008, 01:43 AM

cozumel, did you take the pix like i asked and sent it to my email?

i can tell you what we would do here in the states, but i'm not sure what would happen with it in Europe.

**kris23** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [hobo]eclipse

try to find some conductive paint (usually found in auto parts store to repair rear window defroster) and going over any traces on the mobo or gpu you may have sanded short

use hot glue to re-create the actual layers of the PCB and lay your new traces over top

erm,.. conductive paint? how about non conductive paint?

[hobo]eclipse · Aug 21, 2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

erm,.. conductive paint? how about non conductive paint?

sure you could prolly use that in place of the hot glue

**kris23** · Aug 21, 2008, 01:48 AM

man im like banging my head into the table pretty much.....

i dunno what else to do......

maybe someone with great electronics skill can help you?

Aug 21, 2008, 12:14 AM	#2
Mousey Synth's Long Lost Bro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Web Design Hell Posts: 7,189 Rep Power: 245 System Specs	Sandpaper? Wtf were you doing cleaning up the motherboard with sandpaper? A cloth and some air does the job perfectly well. Does the fan on the 8800 spin? It's dead if not, If you have any Power LEDs on your board are those lighting up? And are your HDDs spinning up? __________________

Aug 21, 2008, 12:24 AM	#4
Mousey Synth's Long Lost Bro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Web Design Hell Posts: 7,189 Rep Power: 245 System Specs	Hmm.. Maybe the 8800 is dead then? If everything's lighting and spinning up but there's no activity... Maybe it's the card, or perhaps it's your memory. I dunno just a thought And i'm sure that sandpaper killed something dude wtf were you thinking, you probably scratched a layer of PCB Off or something! __________________ Last edited by Mousey; Aug 21, 2008 at 01:06 AM.

Aug 21, 2008, 12:49 AM	#9
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,795 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	yea man, sand paper?! email me some pix. i PMed you my email addy. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 21, 2008, 12:52 AM	#10
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	i feel for your loss man but sandpaper was definitely not the way to go, do you know the chemical properties of gold and WHY it is used on the contacts of today's computer components? to increase contact efficacy, eliminate corrosion and make it so people like us dont have to use sandpaper on components.... the most that will ever be needed is isopropyl alcohol, some gloves and maybe a soft, fine NYLON brush..... now if you meant to say you sanded the heatsinks and polished them then very good.... that should cool them better and this shouldn't be the problem, but if you REALLY butchered the stuff.... to say the least, you've voided the warranty but after all that.... i hope it was all a joke... ill help you out, but first.... we should check the graphics card, did you get the 4870 yet? __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Aug 21, 2008, 01:02 AM	#12
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	please tell me this is a joke... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Aug 21, 2008, 12:47 AM	#8
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	lol cozumel you really have too much time on your hands. poor mousey.

Aug 21, 2008, 01:00 AM	#11
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	this is better than tv.

Aug 21, 2008, 01:06 AM	#16
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	this is like a nightmare on my end like............. holy lord jeeesus.... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Aug 21, 2008, 01:11 AM	#18
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	oh yea...... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Aug 21, 2008, 01:14 AM	#20
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	hey coz u around? __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Aug 21, 2008, 01:32 AM	#22
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	so it is true.... im sorry... well the most important think to do is check which components actually work and which dont... try to see if the motherboard works properly... maybe the yoyotech guys can help, even if you didnt buy it from them.... then test the GPU and then any other components that you may have altered. sorry about this man... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Aug 21, 2008, 01:36 AM	#23
Mousey Synth's Long Lost Bro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Web Design Hell Posts: 7,189 Rep Power: 245 System Specs	Coz, i doubt your components can be saved if you've "scrubbed" them with sandpaper, it's probably shorted out your card and mobo. Try going round it with the vacuum again, you might pick up some bits and dust you didn't see before and then it's a long shot, but it could work __________________

Aug 21, 2008, 01:38 AM	#24
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	hey coz, can you post pics of the items you sanded? i want to see the damage... as in if its reparable... hopefully you didnt do too much damage and only scraped off the coating.... if you have the patience and precision, you may be able to resurrect your rig. __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Aug 21, 2008, 01:39 AM	#25
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,795 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	try using the gfx card in another machine and use another gfx card in your gigabyte board and see which works... also, all MoBos should have a system speaker somewhere. be sure that your system speaker is attached and see what noise comes out of it if anything. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 21, 2008, 01:42 AM	#26
[hobo]eclipse ...just bummin 'round Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,907 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	try to find some conductive paint (usually found in auto parts store to repair rear window defroster) and going over any traces on the mobo or gpu you may have sanded short use hot glue to re-create the actual layers of the PCB and lay your new traces over top

Aug 21, 2008, 01:43 AM	#27
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,795 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	cozumel, did you take the pix like i asked and sent it to my email? i can tell you what we would do here in the states, but i'm not sure what would happen with it in Europe. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 21, 2008, 01:48 AM	#30
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	man im like banging my head into the table pretty much..... i dunno what else to do...... maybe someone with great electronics skill can help you? __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!