I need help! Busted my PC!

[hog_driver111th]

Here's the situation: I decided yesterday to clean out some dust from the case. I wasn't concerned with making it look new, I just wanted to get the fans clean. So I removed the fan tube over my processor and the heatsink. After scrubbing off the dust from both parts and making sure the grease or whatever it is was still there, I replaced the heatsink and fan tube. Then I cleared a few other fans, wiped the bottom of the case , closed it up, replugged everything and turned it on. Here's where the problem showed. (see picture below). I reopened the case, checked all connections, pulled the graphics card out... Issue is still there. I have no idea what could cause this. Any of you have an idea? It also will not boot into windows. The last picture is the user select page. It looks like this for about 3 seconds, then reboots in an endless loop, always looking the same.

 

Edited August 15, 2012 by hog_driver111th

[lokitexas]

Did you clean off and replace the thermal paste on the proc? Or did you just put the cooler back on it? It could be that the proc is overheating if it isnt flush.

[hog_driver111th]

I didn't remove the actual processor. I had removed the fan tube and heatsink again and tried starting without those with the same effect

[Layzie]

Looks like you have just entered the MATRIX lmfao...Ill trouble shoot it with you over Facebook messenger or Skype.

[Chazz_BMF]

You dont need to remove the actual processor to replace the thermal paste. Even the slightest little gap between the the cooler and the cpu will result in heat issues. Check the fans are spinning?! Also next time you decide to clean out the dust, get a can of compressed air. Also be carefull, with static electricity, this can ruin everything in a blink of an eye :-/

[PeterP]

DON'T USE THIS COMPUTER ANYMORE UNTIL YOU REPLACE THE THERMAL PASTE !!!

 

What probably happened: By your cleaning "After scrubbing off the dust from both parts and making sure the grease or whatever it is was still there" You probably broke the the hardened thermal paste - Its first a "greasy" stuff but it becomes hard after the first use when in heated up.

 

The mechanical force on it (scrubbing) made it loose optimal contact between processor and heat-sink - and there is no good contact any more to transport the heat. It has to be renewed.

Edited August 15, 2012 by PeterP

[Paganus]

My guesses...

 

Heat issue.

Cooler -> CPU as well as Fan -> Cooler

Check the video card cooling as well.

 

Connection issue.

Pull the video card. Do some gentle cleaning on it. Same with the cable connection. If you use a KVM switch or extension cable, they are notorious for this sort of graphic glitch. (not the rebooting though)

 

Power issue.

That sad old PS can't quite drive the rig anymore. Why now right after a cleaning? Who knows, but it happens.

 

Good luck!

Edited August 15, 2012 by Paganus

[hog_driver111th]

Well, I had planned on buying a new PSU which is why I opened the case in the first place. That's when I noticed the dust on the heatsink and thought to clean it.

[cichlidfan]

Generally speaking, unless you are replacing the heatsink/cooler, there is not much of a good reason to remove a properly installed one for general cleaning purposes. If the fan can be separated from the heatsink then by all means pull it off and clean it but leave the heatsink in place for the reasons mentioned in Peter's post.

 

Compressed air is good, a high power blower is even better.

[hog_driver111th]

Had I though of that before I would have left it on. :doh: not 100% that's the cause though. Should it screw things up even at initial startup?

[PeterP]

Too much heat = Death of the CPU

 

- I don't know if what I mentioned is exactly the cause - but it is by no means advisable to find it out by let the Computer running until you didn't have replaced the thermal paste.

 

Example - when I disable my fan for the CPU it raises the temperature beyond 50° Celsius within the first 15sec... normally it stays at 35° with a properly working fan.... - I found out after not connecting the fan properly .

And my motherboard noticed me of this by a beeping alarm.

Edited August 15, 2012 by PeterP

[cichlidfan]

With regard to replacing the thermal paste. You want to make sure both surfaces are completely clean before applying new paste. You can get a nice package with new Arctic Silver paste as well as cleaning and surface prep fluids. Note: There is at least enough material in this package to build your next five machines. I'm sure Amazon UK has the exact same thing.

 

 

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound 3.5 Grams with ArctiClean 60 ML Kit

[Corrigan]

You can just use alcohol if you can't get any of that cleaner.

 

By the way, I'd guess that you've broken something. I've observed systems with improperly installed coolers several times (as well as without fans, without thermal paste etc), and never seen anything like that. Even when severely stress testing processors (almost up to 100 deg C), I've never seen anything like that. I suppose it's still possible that properly cooling the CPU will resolve the issue, but I'm going to bet against it, sadly.

 

 

EDIT: Removed bad advice ;)

Edited August 15, 2012 by Corrigan

[Kuky]

Don't use this PC untill you take off the heatsink again... clean the top pf the CPU and heatsink completely using Asopropyl alchohol (you can get it in hardware stores) and make sure it's very very clean... then apply very thin layer of Arctic Silver heat tranfer paste (you can get this in any good PC store) and only then try to start the PC once everything is back in its place.

 

usually if the CPU starts overheating it will auto shut... but you are best to go straight into BIOS on that first book and go into hardware monitoring page so you can observe the CPU temperature.

 

Only if it stays normal you can go into windows.

 

Now, from those screenshots I think you actually killed some memory (due to static electricity) on your video card, if cleaning the CPU/Heatsink and re-aplying new heat paste still doesn't help I'm afraid you did kill some memory chip.

[Cali]

Hog, when I talked to you over facebook I didn't think you removed the heatsink off the CPU, I thought you did it for the video card. If you removed the heatsink from the CPU you have to reapply thermal. Make sure you clean off the old stuff like the above post say. Do you even have any thermal paste?

[159th_Viper]

I'm with Kuky on this one - it's the Vid card I think. Had the exact same issue a while ago. RMA'd my video card and after looking at it, the manufacturer confirmed faulty memory. Screenshots looked the same. Remove the vid card and see if the PC starts without it.

[Chazz_BMF]

Also on a side note. Be careful if using artic silver, not to get any of that stuff on your motherboard or anywhere else. It is a very conductive material!

[Chazz_BMF]

I'm with Kuky on this one - it's the Vid card I think. Had the exact same issue a while ago. RMA'd my video card and after looking at it, the manufacturer confirmed faulty memory. Screenshots looked the same. Remove the vid card and see if the PC starts without it.

 

Agreed. Also try check if you have bend one of the the little gold pins, that connect to the slot. Or/and try another slot :)

[Wolf Rider]

I'd go with the VGA memory being damaged as well...

 

Check to see if a dust bunny might have got itself wedged in the fan well.

 

Oh, and resist the urge to use nail polish remover/ Isopropyl for cleaning off thermal paste, it can leave a fine film of residue on the mating surfaces. Try instead to get some surgical spirit from a chemist/ drug store, its 90% pure alcohol... not acetone or acetate

[Kuky]

Isopropyl alcohol is actually very good for cleaning stuff like this as it doesn't leave any residue, it's actually very high percentage alcohol :)

 

Check here: http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=NA106

 

You're right about the nail polish which shouldn't be used for cleaning CPU/heatsink

Edited August 15, 2012 by Kuky

[Wolf Rider]

You're right... I meant the Isopropyl rubbing "alcohol", such as stuff in the green bottle sold at the supermarket. Its about 70% alcohol and perfumed, even the alcohol swipes found in a first aid kit would be better :)

There is other lower grades as well.

Edited August 15, 2012 by Wolf Rider

[hog_driver111th]

I've checked everything. It's still doing it.

 

EDIT: big update... Before, after rechecking the graphics card, it was still doing it. This time, before putting the graphics card back in, I decided to plug my monitor into the onboard VGA port, and it works... So somehow something happened to my graphics card...

Edited August 15, 2012 by hog_driver111th

[Corrigan]

Yep, it looks like a textbook graphics issue. I think you'd best at least get used to the idea of buying a new one.

 

Also, edited my post regarding the acetone. :) I thought it was high enough alcohol content, but apparently not!

[hog_driver111th]

Well, my Bday is tomorrow and I had planned on getting a bunch of stuff for my cockpit instead, but I guess I'll have to get a new gpu. It might be something someone can fix (I have no skills in that department.) It's an ATI HD 4650 1Gb. I was thinking of getting either the HD 6950, or 6970, since they seem to be ok in price and will leave me a few bucks to get something else.

 

Not trying to advertise (admins, don't hurt me!) but if I get a new Graphics card, I'll sell this one to someone here in Europe that might be able to fix it and use it. Could just be dust under one of the memory banks.

[Kuky]

HD4650 aye... think of this incidence as "a sign from heaven" to get a new video card :D