Computer wont boot now I have removed and cleaned heatsink

[Tyren]

Hello,
My computer was working fine (except the fan was making a weird motorbike like noise), I read on the internet that it may just be a build up of dust if I can move it around with my fingers easily (which I could).
I therefore removed the heatsink and the fan and cleaned them.

I admit I used a flathead screwdriver to remove the clips from my intel processor fan.

I then reseated the heatsink and the fan correctly and it booted up to a black screen with just 256 MB RAM, which infact it has 786.

I then tried to reboot and there is no beeps but everything on the motherboard seems to boot up (the fans etc).


I bought some more thermal paste to put on, but still nothing (i didnt think this would do any difference anyway.


Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

[ShyguyXPC]

make sure no cables and parts are loose in the case, you could of bumped something loose like the RAM sticks, or power connectors.


as to the heatsink, when you first took it off, you should of cleaned the old thermal paste off, and put new thermal paste on the CPU when you reapplied the heatsink and fastened it down. (Small grain of rice or BB sized bit in center of CPU, and apply heatsink, clamping pressure will spread the paste out evenly).


Make sure the CPU Heatsink is Securely attached to the Motherboard and not loose. If this is the Intel Push Pin design heatsink, then those push pins are notorious for having one of the 4 pop back loose while trying to secure all 4, its like a game of Whack A Mole.

Which is why I have given up on Push Pin coolers and will only buy ones with Bolt on methods now days for Intel Systems.



But really sounds like the RAM could be loose.



Also its possible, though not likely, but depending on where you are, if you have problems with Static discharge (static shocks), that you could of had an ESD (Electro Static Discharge) on some of the components like the RAM, and fried them some how, which is possible, but not very common these days, since just touching a metal case, is enough to ground ones self, and most Prebuilt PC's use a metal internal frame, as does most aftermarket cases.

[Tyren]

Thanks for the fast reply.

I will check the cables & the RAM, I didn't check those.

I cleaned the heatsink & applied A LOT of thermal paste , I smothered the processor in it :/, I'm guessing I need to take it off and clean it now (first time I've ever put thermal paste be kind )

I also ensured the pins were all set down, what you said actually happened the first time, which was very frustrating

I'll try your suggestions and see what happens with the RAM when I use one but not the other.

The RAM worked perfectly before though, so it will puzzle me if it works after I take one out.

Also
I cannot turn the computer off via the power button (held it down for approx 2 minutes) the loading light (underneath) is a solid orange colour asif it was loading constantly. The only way to switch it off is to use the main power switch at the back.

Thanks once again for your reply.

[ShyguyXPC]

smothering the CPU could be a problem as well, since too much paste will act as an insulator and prevent it from transferring heat to the heatsink, hoping you didn't kill your CPU doing so.

Plus if you used Silver based Paste, its possible excess oozed out on to circuits and shorted out stuff, effectively killing your motherboard.

Have a friends system here, who had his buddy do just that, but was with a chipset heatsink instead.


Power button could be broken, or the front panel connectors on the motherboard, where the buttons wire leads plug into, could be disconnected.

Using the pic of my current system, you can see in the lower right of the motherboard, the multi colored cables connected to the board, these are the front panel wires.



most motherboards have them located in the same general area on the board. One for Power Button, one for Reset Button, one for HDD LED, one for Power LED, and one for Speaker if it exists.

also make sure the 20 pin or 20+4 pin ATX main power connector is securely fastened, as a couple of those pins are responsible for turning on and off the PSU. possible the connector is loose or something.

[Tyren]

Tried all of the above and to no avail.

The only thing I didnt try was the power lead cable because it turns on fine, but just seems to be trying to load constantly.