hey all, I just registered here cause Im pretty desperate for help. I bought a new PSU with the intent on upgrading it so I could eventually upgrade my videocard.

Basically ive installed a few PSUs before, but never unsupervised...

this time Im on my own. So, I go step by step, removing the different connections from the old PSU and replacing them with ones from the new one. Eventually im finished and everything is hooked up. So I go to turn on my PC and theres nothing...the fan in the PSU doesnt start, the fan in the PC doesnt start, theres no booting of any kind...

So, I think "****, I wonder if my new PSU is bad...lets put the old one back in and go from there." So I do it...and then sure enough, it still doesnt turn on at all. Again, no fans spinning or anything.

What did I do?

what connections, minimum, do I need to get the fans in the PSU running? Is it possible I somehow busted my power button? I know theres a way to use a fork to "mimic" the power button and start a system, how do I go about that?

I just dont get why nothings running at all...its not good!

I went from 250 watts to 400...

my PC was a compaq presario, i forget the model number off the top of my head but if you need it I can easily get it. Any help in fixing this would be wonderful, since I feel a mix of anger, and worthlessness do to my failure here...

Hya and welcome to PCHF

Check the back, there's a little on/off switch, flip it to on, and plug it in

thanks...

but seriously, my old PSU accidently fell and kind of knocked my mobo a bit, it didnt seem like it was anything too bad but i sort of fear it broke my board and thats why I cant get anything working...

I also seemed to have kind of busted my power button, it came loose from the case, but the button itself appears to be undamaged. But again, I fear THIS could be the problem too...

So basically, how can I test these things? Im on the verge of dropping like 200 on a CPU/MOBO combo and working from there....

Hi welcome to the forum you can test the power switch by removing the plug at the mainboard and touch the 2 pins together with a small screw driver for a second it should turn on. Wtih the droping of the power supply if would have to be pretty hard to damage the mainboard there coated a resin to protect them unless you scratched it badly or have visble damage like a crack it should be ok are you sure you pluged all the power leads in.

there is a video here but on newer PC there is an extra 4 pin plug that goes to the mainboard
Install PC Power Supply - How to Install Power Supply in a Desktop PC Video - About.com

So, Im 90 percent sure my mobo is done. Using the paperclip trick I was able to power my CD/DVD drives no problem, but my HDD wouldnt try to boot at all. This was until I removed the connection from the mobo, once it was no longer connected to the mobo it booted fine.

the model board is A7V8X LA

is it wise to try to buy a new one and replace it? I admit I ****** up installing a power supply...so doing the cpu and every single component on a new board might be tough. Then again it would be a good learning experience.

What board could I buy to replace my A7V8X LA?

Is there a better way to ensure the board is really shot?

Also, should I get a new case since i broke the power switch on this one? If so, does the case I get matter? Or could I just get any old kind...

Thanks.

You may wanna edit the f word there

Your motherboard is fine from the sound of it, it may be your PSU is just ****, sometimes it happens. Try returning that one and if they refuse raise hell saying it won't work and false advertising and what-not, and buy a new one. I highly doubt the motherboard is shot though

Edit: Ok, we can say the f word but we can't say cr ap? O.o

If it is an IDE hard drive I'd say you had it pluged in the wrong way which would cause the problem turn the connection around and try boot it up.

This is a very common mistake

P.S don't swear in this foum we have some younger users here