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A couple of days ago I started up my computer and for some reason, I would press the power button, the computer would power up and the fan would make the same noise as usual. Except, normally, it would slow down after about 5-10 seconds. However, the loud noise of the fan was persistent and wouldn't stop.

Furthermore, the OS wasn't starting and my screen remained blank. So I hoovered over the grills covering the fan to clear out the dust, which miraculously worked. However, today I am having the same issue.

This time however, I was the cause, as I dropped the computer on the floor and now the fan makes the loud noise when I power up the computer and the OS doesn't start.

Could you please tell me what the issue could be? My computer is a Dell vostro 200 slim with a Vista OS.

Hennes
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Yusaf
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2 Answers2

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Possible reasons for a system not booting after one has dropped it, in order of least likely to most likely:

  • Component dislodged from motherboard due to impact. Items to suspect in order are: RAM, CPU or case fan, expansion/graphics card, SATA cable, or possibly a jumper on the motherboard may have gotten loose.

  • Component damaged due to stress induced by attached cord pulling (i.e. VGA socket may be damaged if the fall caused a cable to pull on it too hard).

  • CPU worked loose due to impact and isn't fully making contact with board socket, or board socket has been damaged.

  • Component damaged due to impact. Items to suspect in order are: hard drive, daughterboard component along side containing USB or audio ports, power switch, power supply, motherboard or plugin-component such as RAM or motherboard.

LawrenceC
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Well, there's a few things I'd do. Your video card issues sound VERY much like the issues i had with the mini tower version of what i believe is a system of the same era. If its got a Nvidia graphics card card, its probably that.

Open up the system, unplug and replugin everything. Remove the video card, and the small back cover over the blue panel - there's a VGA connector for the onboard video card - test to see if that works. If not, go for a minimal setup (one stick of ram and power) to see what it does.

Shockingly enough, I've seen desktops run perfectly after being dropped off a desk, even if my first guess is that being dropped off the desk messed something up.

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Journeyman Geek
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