3.0 USB card problem

[unrox]

I recently tried to install a USB 3.0 card. When I did the screen went black. I took the card out and rebooted, the computer turned on , barely, the fan would just turn, stop and start again. A week or so ago I installed a MCI video card, I disconnected it , no change I then started disconnecting wires to see if it would change. I unhooked a wire on the top of the board, that was connected to a 4 pin male connection, this started the computer, at least the fan went back to normal and sounded like a good reboot. The problem now is I have no video, even when I rehook the video card.If I put the wire that I disconnected back it stalls the computer again. Wierd. Any ideas? T.I.A.

[Asmodian]

This should probably be in the Hardware section but it sounds like you have might have a bad power supply. Of course it could also be the motherboard.

[hello_hello]

I recently tried to install a USB 3.0 card. When I did the screen went black.

Are you saying you put the card in while the PC was running??
If so, you've probably damaged the motherboard. Ideally you should disconnect the PC from the power and drain the power supply before adding/removing stuff.

I unhooked a wire on the top of the board, that was connected to a 4 pin male connection

Where does the wire go? The 4 pin connection should have a label printed close to it somewhere on the MB. What does it say? What's the make/model of the MB?

As both the video card and the USB card are PCI Express, I think you might have damaged the MB.

[unrox]

This should probably be in the Hardware section but it sounds like you have might have a bad power supply. Of course it could also be the motherboard.I actually tried another PW with no success.

[Asmodian]

Well I guess it is the motherboard then.

Did you really plug in the card while the computer was on? That would do it.

[CWR03]

Make sure all the other cards and all the connecting cables are seated in their sockets properly.

What is the wire for that you can unhook and get a good boot but no video?

[Asmodian]

I am pretty sure it the the extra 12V power that most modern motherboards have, a 4 or 8 pin connector with black and yellow wires. It is sometimes connected to a standard D-plug if the power supply doesn't have one.

It could also be the video card that died, a random short or power surge can destroy almost any part that was connected.

[QuantumRand]

I am pretty sure it the the extra 12V power that most modern motherboards have, a 4 or 8 pin connector with black and yellow wires. It is sometimes connected to a standard D-plug if the power supply doesn't have one.

It could also be the video card that died, a random short or power surge can destroy almost any part that was connected.

Was the wire a 2x2 square connector, plugged into an area similar to that shown in this photo:

http://quantumrand.net/misc/WP_000014-thumb.jpg (http://quantumrand.net/misc/WP_000014.jpg)

If so, that's your CPU power connection. The processor needs that to function. Without it, the computer won't even power on far enough to realize it needs to power down.

I'd recommend re-seating all of your add-on cards (the PCI and PCI-E cards), particularly your video card. Do this with the computer powered off and unplugged, of course. If you could get us a clear shot of your motherboard, we might also be able to help spot any missed connections.

Adding a PCI card while the PC is running will definitely crash the computer, but it's rare that it would do any permanent, physical damage to any of the components; however, bumping something and causing a short on the PCI lane could easily take out your whole PCI-E lane (which carries your graphics connection).

[hello_hello]

Was the wire a 2x2 square connector, plugged into an area similar to that shown in this photo

I guess as that's the third time someone has inquired about the disconnected wire and the question was ignored the first two times, it might be something we're not permitted to know.