Did something break because I didn't apply thermal paste?

miamiparis · Mar 5, 2016

I have a Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop. For the first time in my life, I replaced a motherboard. I followed Dell instructions. At the end, the laptop couldn't start. Then I searched on the internet and found out that I should have put thermal paste on the CPU, so I did it. This time, it started up but the laptop was restarting by itself randomly. I managed to install Windows Vista, install drivers and some software, and then it started again to restart by itself randomly.I removed the hard drive and it restarted by itself. I removed 1 RAM at the time and it succeeded in doing a hardware diagnostic successfully, but it froze while doing chkdsk.
Did something break because I didn't apply thermal paste? If yes, what component? motherboard? CPU? hard disk?

JohnBonhamsGhost · Mar 5, 2016

there's a good chance the CPU was damaged by the heat with no paste. if getting no specific errors pertaining to CPU failure you can't be sure though.
those periodic restarts are usually a sign of main hardware failure; cpu, ram, psu, motherboard. since the CPU recently went through this i would assume it is that.

if you get another crash and error; best bet may be to copy & paste the error info here or in google search to see exactly what it pertains to.

Donnie73 · Mar 5, 2016

Why did you replace the Motherboard to begin with? What was it doing before that???????

JohnBonhamsGhost · Mar 5, 2016

Donnie73 :

"the laptop couldn't start"
doesn't mean much but guessing it just wouldn't post at all?

miamiparis · Mar 5, 2016

The problem is that there is no error message, no blue screen, it's just restarting. I replaced the motherboard because the power jack was not working.

miamiparis · Mar 5, 2016

JohnBonhamsGhost , yes, it wouldn't post at all.

Karsten75 · Mar 5, 2016

I'm sorry to be hyper-critical, but you "followed Dell instructions"? I don't know any instance where Dell sends out motherboards and advise users on how to replace them. Dell would have you send it in to an authorised repair facility since a laptop is extremely hard to service.

I suspect you bought something in the aftermarket, probably eBay or somesuch, Googled some instructions and hoped for the best. Any set of instructions that did not include thermal paste or thermal pads is bogus to start with.

Many modern processors have thermal protection, but that might not always work if the cooling solution is not applied. A short time running uncooled will either shut down the processor (current symptom) or damage it beyond repair.

At this time the best I can suggest is either find a competent tech in your area (hard to do) or send it in to Dell for repair (that's gonna be expensive, given the current state). Overall it might be cheaper to buy a new laptop and chalk this up to experience.

miamiparis · Mar 5, 2016

I bought a refurbished motherboard from Dell (with a 90 day warranty, but it's already too late). The motherboard came with no instructions so I used the Dell service manual at http://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-1720_service%20manual_en-us.pdf YIt is fast to check that what I'm saying is true. Download the manual, press Ctrl+F (search) and type "paste" and you'll see that it's not found.

JohnBonhamsGhost · Mar 5, 2016

miamiparis :

windows may be creating log files about the problem you may be able to find in Windows\Logs.
or showing in Event Viewer. type "event" in the search box on taskbar or in start screen/menu.
if not about the crash itself then possibly what was going on right up to it.

but you would have to move the hard disk to another system to view them now with the system dead.

Karsten75 · Mar 5, 2016

But they mention "thermal pads" about 28 times.

Laptop usually get thermal pads, not paste and the clearance in the cooler is different to accommodate for that.

miamiparis · Mar 5, 2016

Well, it finds the word "thermal" 28 times, but "thermal pads" only once. . It exactly says: "NOTE: If a new processor is installed, you will receive a new thermal-cooling assembly, which will include an affixed thermal pad, or you will receive a new thermal pad along with a tech sheet to illustrate proper installation.". The problem is that I was not installing a new processor, I kept mine, so I didn't care about this instruction.

Karsten75 · Mar 5, 2016

OK, whatever. You can't replace a thermal pad with paste. Until the proper cooling solution is in place it's futile to try and diagnose your problem.

miamiparis · Mar 5, 2016

I found this morning on Dell web site a way to Test a specific device. It is located at http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/servicetag/HYR4KF1/diagnose?c=us&l=en&s=gen
My laptop can restart after 10 seconds or 10 minutes, it varies. Maybe I will have time to check the box only for CPU and test it. I will be clsoe to my laptop on monday and can try that.

JohnBonhamsGhost · Mar 5, 2016

every time you run it, or even power it on, you are risking further damage

miamiparis · Mar 5, 2016

I don't need this laptop anymore, so giving it to repair would be too expensive for me. I just wanted to resell it on eBay but now that it doesn't work, I am trying to see if I can fix it by replacing 1 component and not having to reinstall Windows, or by selling parts on eBay.

azzazel_99 · Mar 5, 2016

problem is powering it on without proper thermal pad or paste has almost certaintly fried your cpu. Chances are since you have created a new issue aside from the old problem (bad charging port) the only thing changed aside from the motherboard was your cpu not having new thermal transfer pad or paste......this points more to the cpu being damaged than anything.

Karsten75 · Mar 5, 2016

Modern processors may shut down on thermal limits exceeded. The fact that he has an improper cooling solution (paste instead of pads) means that I'd expect the symptoms he' seeing of the processor shutting down after a variable, but short, period of time.

OP's insistence on running diagnostic tests without having applied thermal pads and making sure all components are installed correctly is foolhardy and unproductive. Sourcing thermal pads, cleaning off the paste and performing a proper installation of the thermal pads and then ensuring the heatsink is installed tight enough might actually fix all issues.

But you know what, I'm done with this thread.

azzazel_99 · Mar 5, 2016

lol Karsten75 not sure why you're getting an attitude and acting high and mighty. Everyone including you are giving advice. No need to be crappy towards anyone or to develop an attitude like you're being forced to reply to this thread.

miamiparis · Nov 18, 2016

Finally, I went to a store and the cpu was upgraded. The random restart problem disappeared but a new one appeared: Windows freezes after a few minutes. It also freezes during a chkdsk. Could it be that all the previous random restarts damaged the hard drive?

azzazel_99 · Nov 18, 2016

Could be. Doing a fresh windows install couldn't hurt

miamiparis · Nov 18, 2016

OK, I can try to upgrade Vista to Windows 7.
I did the Dell Pre-Boot System Assessment and the hard drive passed the test.

miamiparis · Nov 18, 2016

I did a "Data lifeguard diagnostic" and my Western Digital Hard drive passed the test.

azzazel_99 · Nov 18, 2016

miamiparis · Jan 22, 2017

I installed Windows 7 successfully, then I did an update to Internet Explorer 11 and it froze while "installing required updates...".
What should I do?

JohnBonhamsGhost · Jan 23, 2017

miamiparis :

there is no actual way to test your CPU, motherboard, PSU, etc without having a compatible laptop around so your only option is to keep replacing parts one by one until you find the culprit.

since you state:

miamiparis :

give it to your local garbage or recycling company to properly dispose of, keep for spare parts, sell for spare parts. any local shops may also have free disposal options available. you DO NOT want to put this thing in the trash due to hazardous materials.
unless you enjoy doing diagnostics and buying and replacing parts, some actually do this for fun.

Did something break because I didn't apply thermal paste?

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