Computers are still alittlecomplex, whether youre building a basic rig orcooling your systemwith scary, parts-destroying liquids.

Tragic as some of these instances might be, theyre always great learning opportunities.

I disconnected my SSD to do some cable management.

Reconnected it and couldnt boot into Windows anymore.

Tried to disconnect/reconnect it many times.

Figured the SSD just died.

Ordered a new SSD.

I connect it and then figured I never reconnected sata power to the old SSD, only data.

Never told my wife I changed that SSD for nothing.

Few weeks ago my Z170 mobo died.

She asked if it died, or if it died.

Shes onto me…

Redditorsjgodin03story is a familiar one.

What I did notice, however, was that my primary hard drive wasnt turning on.

If that doesnt work, I try other cables, break out a second power supply, etc.

The less I have to remove and replace actual hardware, the better.

Ignore the switch, and your plugged-in PSU wont do anythingnor will your PC turn on.

(This is also handy to know if youre ever jumping into your case to mess with your system.

I am ashamed to admit that Ive repeatedCantstandyuhsissue many, many times.

By some miracle nothing broke.

If it wasnt broken before, it sure it was then!

Remember, your computers natural tendency is toget hot.

And dont forget toclean all those intake ventsso you could get great airflow, too.

Easy enough I did this often.

Well the test computer cases were cheap and I cut open my finger and was bleeding pretty bad.

Been there, done that,Oshien.

I usually slice my fingers on the metal fins of the bulky aftermarket coolers.

It doesnt sting, so I dont tend even notice something happened until I see a redsploton my motherboard.

Use them, and avoidIM_the_Marksbig mistake.

I picked up the cpu and dropped it right in the socket.

Every single contact and pin on the lower half of the chipset bent at a 90 angle.

Thanks to msi though for fixing it a fair price of 300usd.

Those little pins on the bottom of your processor are precious.

Do not getthermal pasteall over them.

Do not bend them.

Oh, anddont throw your CPU.

In fact, do everything you’ve got the option to to ensure itdoesnt go flying… anywhere.

He still tells me to confirm and plug in the right connections whenever I build stuff now.

I dont think Im ever going to live that one down, lol.

Thankfully it was none the worse for wear since the header was never powered.