PC Freezes

[dberg35]

I have an interesting issue. I am working on a PC and it will boot up fine but after a short time it just freezes and all I can do is reboot. I assumed it was the hard drive and switched it still same results. I have unplugged all components accept the hard drive still same issue. Even if I put in a Windows CD and try to go to recovery console still same issue it freezes. Any insight would be great.

 

[fj62alex]

1. Open the side cover and boot up. Check if the CPU fan is working. If it's not ---> this is your problem.
2. Remove one memory module at a time and see if it helps.

 

[dberg35]

Thanks but got it figured out. I had removed the heat sink but forgot to put on new grease. Also I cleaned the fan so the CPU isn't over heating now.

 

[kjv1611]

That reminds me of something I have to laugh at myself about. Back when I first started tinkering with computers, or at the time just had a desire to do so, I had a Pentium 1 computer given to me (Pentium 3 or 4 was the top of the line, basically at the time, I think) b/c the couple were going to just throw it away anyway, b/c they thought it was broke.

Well, to get the knowledge and experience, I took the whole thing apart, meaning to put it all right back together... of course, it sat a good while, so I was guessing my way through putting together. I got it all right except for one important piece that I overlooked!

I had misplaced the clamp to hold the heatsink onto the processor, and couldn't get it to stay. So, I got to thinking - HEY, super glue will hold ANYTHING! (well not really, but it was my thought at the moment). So, I super-glued the heatsink to the CPU.

I managed to reinstall the entire system, figured out the issue was with the software all along. Even installed Command and Conquer: Red Alert 1 on the system, and that's when I noticed the issues. The machine began freezing up in the middle of game play on the system.. more and more frequently.

So then I told a relative about it who had way more experience in PCs... about it overheating. His first question with a smirk: You didn't use super glue between the CPU and heatsink did you? I was blown away! Apparently some other guy he knew had done the exact same thing not long before.

So, pretty funny, the whole deal. I killed the CPU, but I learned a VALUABLE lesson!

CPU does NOT equal CPU grease.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[cisconooblet]

I was working tech support one time and had a guy tell me he put the grease on the motherboard and then put the processor in. (socket 7) I said huh? He said I dotted all those little holes and then put the processor on the Motherboard. I said you did what? lol You dotted 371 holes? Yep! lol and he wondered where the little puff of smoke came from lol. I told him to clean it up, call the company he bought it from and say NOTHING of what he just told me lol. Funny story though.

CCNA
Network +

 

[kjv1611]

[ROFL]

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[dberg35]

The stories we all can tell!!! I have been doing this for 5 years now and I missed the simplest thing.

 

[BadBigBen]

KJV1611 - I still got an old Pentium I, that I glued the heatsink onto, but instead of SuperGlue, I used Silicon Gasket Sealant and it is still working today...

I had figured at that time, that if it can withstand the 180 degrees Celsius of a engine, then it can deal with the heat of a CPU, sure enough did...

oh, for the curious, here is a German Website that deals with customer stupidity their own way...

http://translate.google.de/translat...rm.de/gallery.html&sl=de&tl=en&hl=de&ie=UTF-8

PS: DAU = Dümmster anzunehmender User = translates to Luser



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"