we re here to entertain

[maks]

i already know the basics i guess
1) Is bios posting? If no, then
- do all fans and devices have power going to them? If no, then its the power supply. If yes, then its the motherboard
If bios does post, then its fairly simple determining whether or not its the processor or the hard drive from that point on
If graphical elements are distorted, then its the video card

I mean its not difficult but I know there are problems out there that I haven't encountered yet, and I wouldn't know what to do when they finally come along

the psu has a couple different voltage rails, it's possible that a bad one will still spin up the fans but won't post. you can pick up a power supply tester for like $20 on newegg

what do you do when a processor has a bent pin? I had that problem once and I ended up just getting so pissed that I took my processor out to the driveway and smashed it with an axe

If it's near the edge (it usually is) I use a small pocketknife to nudge it back. If not, take a mechanical pencil (the kind where you click on the eraser and lead comes out) remove the lead and stick the tip over the bent pin, then CAREFULLY bend it back.

[Plug Drugs]

the psu has a couple different voltage rails, it's possible that a bad one will still spin up the fans but won't post

ive had that happen before, but there's usually something funny going on with the power going to the mouse/keyboard then; like the mouse (if its optical) will be lit up solid red (as if you were moving it around) but the lights on the keyboard won't respond to pressing capslock/numslock/scrolllock

[maks]

the lights on the keyboard won't respond to pressing capslock/numslock/scrolllock

this is a very useful troubleshooting step that many people (even a couple of my coworkers) don't think of, you're better at this than you thought