Member Avatar for rabbitz

i dont know much bout computers, but i need help fixing one
i was messin around with the pins in my computer (award something or other, with a p3) when the processor fan sparked and stopped running.. and started smelling bad

it worked but the fan wouldnt turn, so i tried to pull the fan out and replace it with another one from another computer, but in the process of trying to pry it out with a screwdriver and pencil, i think i accidentally jabbed my motherboard. I replaced the fan, and accidentally left the ram out (had to remove it to get the fan out) and it started beeping.. so i replaced the fan with the old non-working one, put the ram back in and now my computer wont start (the leds are always on - even when the computer is "off", the harddrives + cd drives start up and everything seems to be working properly except for the fan, and theres no beeping sound, and no signal to my monitor)

any help would be greatly appreciated, fast too please im on a deadline T_T

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by chrisbliss18

Dani AI

Generated

For — the spark and burned smell point to an electrical short or a failed fan motor that may have damaged nearby parts. Do not keep powering the PC while it smells burned; unplug it and work only after the PSU is disconnected.

Quick triage (prioritized):

  • Visually inspect the board around the CPU fan/header for melted plastic, scorch marks, cracked or bulging capacitors and damaged traces. If you see obvious burn damage, the motherboard is likely compromised.
  • Strip the system down to a minimal bench build on a non-conductive surface: PSU, motherboard, CPU + heatsink, one known-good RAM stick, video card (if required) and a system speaker. Power that minimal setup and watch/listen for POST behaviour (beep codes) and any video output.
  • If fans and drives spin but there’s no POST/beep/video, isolate PSU from motherboard faults by testing with a known-good PSU or using a PSU tester/multimeter (only if comfortable with basic voltage checking). A constantly powered PSU/LED despite the switch can also mean a shorted front-panel connector or a stuck power switch — briefly disconnect the front-panel power/header to rule that out.
  • Check the CPU fan header and nearby wiring. A motor short into the header can scorch the board or the regulator that supplies the header. If the header is physically damaged, do not power a replacement fan from that header until the cause is fixed.

When to conclude the board is dead: clear visible burns, persistent failure to POST on a bench setup with a known-good PSU and known-good RAM/video, or repeated smoke — replace the motherboard or seek a repair shop. Hard drives that still spin can be removed and connected to another PC/enclosure to recover data.

Cautions: avoid repeated power-ups when there was a burning smell, ground yourself when working inside the case, and if unsure about voltage checks or soldered repairs, get professional help. Other replies here raised BIOS reset and replacement as possibilities; prioritize the physical inspection and bench isolation above a reset when a short/smoke occurred.

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Member Avatar for goldeagle2005

If you were messing with the pins while the machine was on, you've blown your mobo and have to get a new one. If not, try removing the BIOS battery and reinstall it after half an hour. If this doesn't work, get back to us and we'll go from there.

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