I hooked up my DVD drive and lost power to my entire system.
My CyberPowerPC already had a DVD drive installed, but it wasn’t working. I checked inside the computer and discovered the reason. There were no cables hooked up. No wires to be seen, even.
I managed to find a spare SATA cable for data. Now I had to take the back off the computer to see if there was a power cord to fit. Digging through the tangle of cables at the base of the computer, I finally found one.
With data and power finally hooked up, I assumed that it would be a simple matter of putting the case sides back on and resuming using my computer. You know what they say about assuming things. My computer would not even power on after that.
My first thought was that I accidentally disconnected a cable in the back, but a thorough check dismissed that idea.
I unplugged the DVD, both wires, but it didn’t make any difference.
Did I just short-circuit and/or burn out my system? Was there a reason that the DVD wasn’t connected in the first place?
I tried the usual troubleshooting. Removing drives, memory, and the video card. Unplugging everything and anything that could be unplugged. And, Nothing.
Finally, I noticed towards the bottom of the computer a very tiny thin plug that had the words “POWER SW” stamped on it. I must have pulled it loose trying to free the power cord from the back. I couldn’t see any labels on the motherboard that corresponded to what was on the plug.
I went online and was lucky enough to find a manual for the specs on this system. I plugged in the “POWER SW” to its proper place and … IT LIVES!
Since I’m a glutton for punishment, I again decided to try hooking up the DVD. I had it all unhooked at this point. And yet again, my system failed to power up.
I was going to give up on the DVD.
One of the problems I had hooking up this DVD was that the plugs for the power and data cords were tight up against the power connector cord attached to the motherboard. And I noticed that the four-pin connector on the main power connection was very loose and came out way too easily.
I took out the 20-pin connector. Then put the 4-pin one in first, and then replaced the 20-pin one again. That tightened it up. I kept the DVD hooked up and decided to test the system.
I’m relieved to say everything is working again with a fully functioning computer and DVD drive.
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