I was returning a customers second PC (after removing an infection, and upgrading RAM from 128mb to 380mb), when he asked me to upgrade the ram in his main PC.

I said I’m running late for my next appointment, so I’ll take a quick look, so I can order the correct part.

It needs some PC2700 RAM, so I then close up the PC, and head over to my next customer.

He calls back soon afterwards, saying his PC won’t start… and he needs it for tomorrow morning.

So I return later that night, and sure enough, the lights come on,but it won’t start.

All I did during my earlier visit was to slide the PC out of its alcove, open the side panel, shine a flashlight to look at the ram, close the side panel, and then put the PC back in its alcove.

I eventually track the problem to… drumroll… a faulty power supply.

When I take out the old PSU, I notice a rattling sound from within… A careful look shows that there is a loose screw inside… hmmm, that could be dangerous!

Being curious, I take the old PSU home, open it up, and I find a screw similar to the screws holding the PSU case together.

There are no empty holes where the screw might belong, so I don’t think it could have vibrated/worked its way loose. So its probably a manufacturing defect.

There is also a bulging cap, so the PSU probably needed replacing anyway.

But what really bugs me is when things seem to break when I “touch” them.

Luckily it hardly ever happens to me, but its irritating nonetheless.