Had my PC for about 15 years built from scratch. Over the years I've gutted and added new parts to the point that I have no original components anymore.
Theres two things I hate dealing with the most when it comes to PC building. Those are (1) building a PC from scratch from all new components (2) debugging a PC when a part died
This is because diagnosing the problem and identifying what was wrong could be so many possible things. Back then as well we also didnt have these nice tools like pcpartpicker.com, all of these great youtube tutorials, just a bunch of forums to debug issues.
PC not turning on? Maybe the power supply is not working.
Or maybe its the power button itself is having a problem, the switch might have disconnected. Or maybe the wall power outlet is having issues, and maybe can't handle the load. Maybe you changed out a part recently and didnt connect the pins correctly, or during transportation something disconnected. Have to manually check every wire. Are the fans spinning at least?
Is the OS not booting? Okay, is BIOs at least running? Before that, can you hook up a keyboard into the PC? Is that even registering? Does it need an adapter (older PCs didnt use USB 2.0 ports for keyboard mouse). Do you have compatibility issues with hardware components?
Is the computer registering the RAM? Did you check if you slotted it in correctly, by shoving the pins far enough in and latching it? Its possiblethe RAM you recieved was dead on arrival. Try swapping the outlets and see if anything registers
When you changed the CPU did you make sure you didnt bend any pins? If you did your SOL. Maybe you put too much thermal compound between the fan and CPU.
Between all of these steps, did you make sure to ground yourself and prevent static charge from frying your motherboard?
Is your OS booting but your having software issues? Run safemode and find the culprit.
The list goes on and on and it just never ends. Narrowing down the specific issue was always a PITA.
I remember realizing I could reassemble my dad's 386 out of the parts I had stopped using.
I used to go to a screwdriver shop (in Federal Way?) that had some memory and a power supply sitting around at the counter. They would POST a new CPU and board in front of you before you take them home. Less stress than ordering from some random in the Computer Shopper phonebook.
Theres two things I hate dealing with the most when it comes to PC building. Those are (1) building a PC from scratch from all new components (2) debugging a PC when a part died
This is because diagnosing the problem and identifying what was wrong could be so many possible things. Back then as well we also didnt have these nice tools like pcpartpicker.com, all of these great youtube tutorials, just a bunch of forums to debug issues.
PC not turning on? Maybe the power supply is not working. Or maybe its the power button itself is having a problem, the switch might have disconnected. Or maybe the wall power outlet is having issues, and maybe can't handle the load. Maybe you changed out a part recently and didnt connect the pins correctly, or during transportation something disconnected. Have to manually check every wire. Are the fans spinning at least?
Is the OS not booting? Okay, is BIOs at least running? Before that, can you hook up a keyboard into the PC? Is that even registering? Does it need an adapter (older PCs didnt use USB 2.0 ports for keyboard mouse). Do you have compatibility issues with hardware components?
Is the computer registering the RAM? Did you check if you slotted it in correctly, by shoving the pins far enough in and latching it? Its possiblethe RAM you recieved was dead on arrival. Try swapping the outlets and see if anything registers
When you changed the CPU did you make sure you didnt bend any pins? If you did your SOL. Maybe you put too much thermal compound between the fan and CPU.
Between all of these steps, did you make sure to ground yourself and prevent static charge from frying your motherboard?
Is your OS booting but your having software issues? Run safemode and find the culprit.
The list goes on and on and it just never ends. Narrowing down the specific issue was always a PITA.