Oh sugar, now I've really bust it

donny-gal

After learning my problem might be my CPU, I looked further at my heat sink and found it full of dust. Its a Pentium 4 3ghz. I figured out how to remove it and hoovered it out. Put it back and now when I switch on the fan goes round but nothing else seems to happen, nothing on the screen. I swopped video card but still nothing.

HELP!

DG

Nelski

donny gal i have no advice to offer at all sorry I know nothing techie but just had to come on say you really made me laugh with that post - now I know you are truly OS (maybe a microfibre cloth would have been safer:D )

Hope you get it sorted

espresso

Check that you have not disturbed any other cables while removing and refitting the heatsink/fan.

Blacksheep1979

was there a cable from the heat sink (from its fan) to the motherboard - you need to make sure that's plugged in.

donny-gal

Yes the cable has been plugged back in, the fan would not have gone round otherwise would it?

I am sure I checked where the cable was and put it back on the same corner, but could I have put this the wrong way round?

Pentium 4 3ghz

CHR15

When you removed it did you make sure the PC was powered off??

I dont just mean powered down, I mean switched off at the wall? motherboards have power to them even when the PC is powered down.

I think it safe to assume you didnt have anything by way of Anti-Static wristbands so did you earth yourself to the metal chassis before sticking your hands inside.

I would go round all the connectors inside and refit them.

Does the PC make any beeps when it starts, can you hear the hard drive spin up??

donny-gal

I took the fan+heat sink off and put it back, now will not power up at all. Looks like I am queuing at Aldi tomorrow morning!

donny-gal

Yes completely disconnected.

CHR15

It's best in this situation to leave the PC plugged in but switched off at the wall.
This leaves the Earth connected so you can ground yourself on the chassis.

What about the beeps etc?

Are you sure the heatsink was fitted correctly before switching on (a cpu will last about 3 seconds without a heatsink fitted!)

BritBrat

Did you remove the heatsink form the processor?

If so you may need to clean both surfaces and apply new heat transfer paste.

instructions You also need to clean it with special fluid or isopropyl alcohol.

It's best in this situation to leave the PC plugged in but switched off at the wall.
This leaves the Earth connected so you can ground yourself on the chassis.

I use a lead with no fuse in it.

Are you sure the heatsink was fitted correctly before switching on (a cpu will last about 3 seconds without a heatsink fitted!)

Normally they will just shut down at start, unless you keep trying it I am sure it will be OK. but you need to remove it again and clean it and apply paste.

When fitting it back it is not that easy as parts get in the way, but you need to try and NOT tilt it and fit it flush. I even remove parts to gain a better access if it's really hard, sometimes I fit it outside of the case then fit the motherboard in with processor already attached.

PaulK_3

Check everything is seated fully, check all cables are in place, do any other fans start spinning? Do you hear any hard drive spinning up?