[Resolved!]

I traded my cousin some really expensive RAM that I happened accross for his old desktop, that he put his graphics card into that he swapped from his newer computer. If I plug the desktop into the wall and try to turn it on nothing happens. If I open it up I can see that the where the wire from the power supply plugs into the graphics card there Is a little light on. So clearly some power is getting somewhere…

How do I go about trouble shooting this, and what tools do I need? I assume at minimum a multi meter? Not really sure what to do, it’s been decades the last time I built a computer.

Board says “Asrock H110M-HDS”

Edit: Attached a Pic and noticed the light is actually on the graphics card, not motherboard. Added addtl info.

Update: So now all of the sudden the fan spins. I am at a loss as to why it spins now, as I haven’t actually really done anything. I ordered a speaker for the mobo, so waiting for that.

Final update: It works! I apparently had either a bad monitor or bad display port cable. But using another monitor with DVI I was able to finally get it to fully boot!

I am not sure what got the fans to eventually work, maybe just a cable was jostled.

I really appreciate all the advice! I definitely know a lot more and feel better equipped to do things with it now.

  • @CorkyskogOP
    2•23 days ago

    So it worked and he gave it to you, and when it arrived at your place it no longer worked?

    Yep, that’s the story. He’s a good guy, so I have no reason to doubt it. If there are any shenanigans, it would be the guy at the shop (that I don’t personally know) maybe tricking him into showing it booting properly. But that seems far fetched.

    Is there a particular order to work through, that makes most sense troubleshooting wise? My hand is having trouble being nimble enough to reach a lot of places.