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Good morning all. Call me Imp. I have built a computer from scratch - no problems. A friend shipped his to himself when moving via USPS and when it arrived it wasn't working (and of course his insurance claim was denied).
When he turns it on it rattles and hums and there is no display. Now he's bringing it to me to see what I can do (he's like the guy from Jurassic Park - computer are afraid of him). I have read through several of your threads to get an idea of what to look for and will post my findings here along with details of the machine itself. Right now all I know is that he's running Windows 10.
Glad you guys are here. Wish me luck!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by rproffitt

Dani AI

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For the system described by (rattling/humming on power‑up and no display), here is a concise, prioritized troubleshooting checklist that expands on ’s safety point and focuses on safe isolation and diagnosis.

Start with a cold visual inspection (power unplugged): remove the case side, look for loose screws, shipping foam, dislodged standoffs, broken fan blades or cables trapped in a fan, and an unsecured GPU or heatsink. Check the CPU socket area for bent pins only if comfortable and experienced; otherwise leave that to a shop. Smell for burned components and note any cracked solder or bulging caps.

If nothing obvious is found, power briefly with the case open to localize the noise (keep fingers clear). Use a non‑conductive “stethoscope” (a short plastic tube or wooden stick) to listen and a flashlight to watch fans and spinning parts. If the noise comes from the PSU, stop immediately — do not open the PSU; swap it with a known‑good unit. If a fan (case/GPU/CPU) is the source, identify which one and replace or reseat it.

Addressing the no‑display: perform a minimal POST outside the case or with peripherals disconnected — motherboard, CPU + cooler, one RAM stick in the recommended slot, PSU 24‑pin and CPU 8/4‑pin, and a video device (onboard or GPU). Clear CMOS, reseat RAM and GPU, try alternate monitor/cable, and attach a motherboard speaker or use onboard debug LEDs to get POST codes.

Useful items: flashlight, Phillips screwdriver, anti‑static strap, non‑conductive probe, spare PSU or GPU, and a small system speaker. If rattling points to PSU or visible board damage, stop further power cycles and consider part replacement or professional repair.

Member Avatar for rproffitt

Good luck with the rebuild.

My thoughts is you should NEVER power on this one until you open it up to find the rattle and then try again. A rattle could be as hard to find as it was in my car. That is I was just about to tear it down and start over.

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