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Upgrading and Repairing PCs (19th Edition)
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Home » Other
What to Do If Your Computer Doesn’t Turn On
Author: Gabriel Torres
Type: Tutorials Last Updated: April 21, 2008
Page: 5 of 7
Real-time pricing for Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400.
Corsair XMS2 2GB 2 X 1GB PC2-6400 800MHz 240-pin DDR2 CL5 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit TWIN2X2048-6400 CORSAIR VALUE SELECT maxIBIE5A Electronics
Amazon: $30.00 Wal-Mart: $52.82
Buy.com: $35.31

Step 4 – Removing Bad Contacts

If your computer is still not turning on, you will need to clean the memory sockets, video card slot, and CPU socket, as it may be a bad contact between these components and their sockets. You will need to buy isopropyl alcohol, a pencil eraser, and a tooth brush, all available at any supermarket. (Ideally you should buy an anti-static brush, but a cheap toothbrush will do the trick.)

Fixing Bad Contacts
click to enlarge
Figure 4: Material needed to fix bad contacts

Remove the CPU (you will need to remove the CPU cooler first, of course), the memory, and the video card from the motherboard.

You will clean the edge contacts from the video card and the memory module with an eraser as if you were “erasing” them, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. Do this far away from the computer, and do not touch the edge contacts (a.k.a. “golden fingers”) after cleaning them. You should clean the edge contacts available on both sides of the memory module and video card. After rubbing the eraser, clean the edge contacts with the toothbrush wet in isopropyl alcohol.

Fixing Memory with Bad Contact
click to enlarge
Figure 5: Clean the memory module edge contacts with an eraser

Fixing Memory with Bad Contact
click to enlarge
Figure 6: Then clean them with a toothbrush wet in isopropyl alcohol

Fixing Video Card With Bad Contact
click to enlarge
Figure 7: Clean the video card edge contacts with an eraser

Fixing Video Card With Bad Contact
click to enlarge
Figure 8: Then clean them with a toothbrush wet in isopropyl alcohol

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