BleepingComputer.com: Computer rebooting at random

Well, it won't turn on at all this morning.

I did note, when I accessed the BIOS last night to see what it said my CPU temp was, that just sitting in the BIOS the temp read as 86°.

I shut the system down, normally, though. It didn't do a self-shut down...

Okay. I've removed the heatsink/fan assembly. It looks like the sticker(?) that was on the processor has melted. I've included photos.

The hs/fan doesn't sit quite right on the mobo. I can't tighten all the "screws" on it at once. If I tighten one, it pulls on another, so it wobbles over the CPU.

This post has been edited by digitaldraco: 18 February 2010 - 02:33 PM

I cleaned the grey stuff off of both surfaces, reseated the hs/fan so that it fit snug without wobbling... and it still won't turn on.

Everything is connected properly, inside and out of the case.


EDIT
I guess some RAM was loose? Anyway, it's up and running and the CPU cores are idling at around 20 - 30°C, though it's still up around the high 40's to low 60's C when running WoW. But that's without the thermal paste. So we'll see what happens when that arrives. I've ordered some via Newegg.

This post has been edited by digitaldraco: 18 February 2010 - 06:01 PM

Good news, indeed.
This:

Quote

looks much better

I got the thermal paste, applied it, reseated the heatsink/fan... and now I'm back to it not turning on at all.

I cleaned off the paste, checked to make sure all the components were seated firmly, and still no luck.

I'm worried I may have accidentally shocked a component because I can't think of any other reason for it not to turn on. But, how would I be able to tell??

Help!

Okay. It's not dead... apparently it has something to do with how the heatsink/fan is seated over the CPU? I nudged it and it started to turn on and then shut off again!

This post has been edited by digitaldraco: 24 February 2010 - 12:17 PM

I got it to turn on briefly but when I got to the desktop, it would not recognize my wireless mouse or keyboard. It began running the New Hardware Wizard and then shut down again.

It appears to me you have something that is loosely connected making intermittent connections.

Any time you make access to the inside of your computer, I strongly advise you do the following......

No. 1 Always disconnect the AC power cord from the power supply!

No. 2 Always disconnect the monitor from the video card!

No. 3 Always keep one hand on the computers encloser metal surface, this equalizes the IONs between you and the computer ( same theory as to why lightening strikes a (-) Negative charged surface) If you're IONs are different then those inside your computer, a damaging electronic ARC is produced, this ARC contains enough current to completely distroy IC chips found inside computers.
There are wrist straps available commercially that you wear like a wrist watch, which are wired with an alligator clip on one end for attaching to a metal surface of the computers case.


With those precautions addressed.

You obviously have a loose component.

I would recommend removing the processor from the zero insertion slot and reseating it back into the slot. (while it is out check for heat damage)

Make sure you remove any rubber or paper patches found on the heatsink bottom, those do not transfer heat in my opinion, they are a cheap excuse for a heat transerfer medium and actually act as an insulator more than a heat transfer helper.

Add enough heat sink thermal paste to cover the entire metal surface of your processors header, do not glob it all over the outer surfaces of the processor's board.

I personally use Formula 5 Silver Thermal Compound found at Staples stores or visit the product's web site at http://www.antec-inc.com

Reseat your processor, reattach the heat sink to the processor, making sure it is level and making full contact with the processor's header, attach the clips to the slot that hold down the heat sink, be very careful not to slip with the tool you use, as permanant damage to the motherboard can result with a slipped screw driver through the board or at the least damaged circuit traces!!

Make sure all connections are secured, all power wires, all data cables are securely pushed all the way into their sockets.

Make sure all add-on cards such as Video cards, PCI, PCI-E devices, riser cards .ect are firmly pressed into their slots and the hold down screw or clip is not causing the card to tilt or dislodge from its full insertion into its expansion slot.

Recheck everything, making sure you have not over looked anything that might be loose.

Reconnect your AC power supply and monitor connection to your video port and power up the computer.

Post back your results.

This post has been edited by MrBruce1959: 24 February 2010 - 02:30 PM