# computer started smoking... wtf?
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997
**Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic
**Created:** [October 18, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997 "2006-10-18T20:39:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997/1 "2006-10-18T20:39:21Z")
was gong to re-install windows fresh when I got home tonight…backed up thunderbird and restarted (going into the setup). Since my dvd drive has been acting up (wont always read cd’s correctly) it was giving me a copy file error. So I shut it down and went to install a spare I have laying around… set it to master (and totally unhooked the dvd drive) and started it up.
as soon as the fan started spinning I saw arcs/sparks coming from inside the case along with a ploom of white smoke and the smell of burning electronics. I quickly shut it back down and thought I fucked it up pretty bad (maybe fried processor/memory/video card?). I went thru and double checked everything and nothing was out of place. I waited a few seconds and tried it again. Works fine and nothing seems to be damaged.
wtf? :wtf:
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### Author:  [@The\_Russian](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/The_Russian)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997/2 "2006-10-18T20:44:08Z")
bad ground somewhere and something cooked, probably a transistor or capacitor. I was gonna say power supply until i read the whole thing.
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### Author:  [@Skurge](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Skurge)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997/3 "2006-10-18T20:45:48Z")
WTF! wow man thats messed up
its working fine now though?
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### Author:  [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997/4 "2006-10-18T20:48:05Z")
well I’m installing windows now and everything “seems” normal so far… I’m posting this from the linux box.
I’m just glad the video card wasn’t the thing to go… I would of been pissed
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### Author:  [@Skurge](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Skurge)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997/5 "2006-10-18T21:27:36Z")
linux FTW lol
yea vid card would have been shitty, could have just taken your 9700 back 😛
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### Author:  [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997/6 "2006-10-19T04:39:29Z")
heh… windows installed ok and everything seems to be working 100% fine… I wonder what the hell it was :wtf:
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### Author:  [@Vile](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vile)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2006, 8:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997/7 "2006-10-20T08:29:59Z")
u dropped a screw behind or on the mobo…or u are t3h suck.
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### Author:  [@JustinH](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JustinH)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2006, 9:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/computer-started-smoking-wtf/18997/8 "2006-10-20T09:06:32Z")
holy shit thats random…
Sure the power supply isn’t on the way out?
They pop and smell when they go bad sometimes.
Or did you have the dvd power cord installed upsidedown? If you force it sometimes i’ve seen ones that can go in either way.
If down the road you end up buying a desktop or laptop, check with me first.
We have been getting in alot of nice stuff, some of it is brand new, boss will let it go cheap.