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What could be wrong with my computer?

Tags:
  • eMachines
  • Power Supplies
  • Computer
  • CPUs
  • Computers
Last response: in Computer Brands
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October 11, 2012 7:39:36 PM

OK, so I just got this old computer for free that I need to use for something, and stupidly, I took the CPU out before booting. It definitely worked before, and I just wanted a look at the CPU, but its a really weird design where the CPU comes off with the heat sink and isn't clamped to the motherboard. I put it back and plugged everything back in ant tried to turn it on. The power supply has a fan that goes when the switch on it is turned on and supplies power, because the optical drive works. There was no display, but the CPU heat sink got really hot and I realized I hadn't plugged the fan in. The fan is really small and the case has virtually no airflow, so I cant see that this would fry the processor, but after turning the power supply on and off a few times, the on button doesn't do anything and it doesn't display on screen, but does make computery kind of noises when I turn on the power supply. The computer has a Intel celeron 1.8 GHz, I have no idea what socket but its really old and the computer is an e machines something. The hard drive also vibrates when I turn the power supply on, without pressing the on button which tells me that something is working.

Is there any way I can fix it?

Thanks in advance

More about : wrong computer

October 11, 2012 8:13:36 PM

I just realised that I can turn the computer on and off if I hold the on button, but still no input on screen and the fan doesn't work.
a c 143 ) Power supply
a c 129 à CPUs
October 12, 2012 7:52:35 AM

If it is possible to take pictures of the inside of the machine, someone may be able to help but your descriptions are a little too vague for me to follow.
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October 12, 2012 9:52:50 AM

Nothing is visibly wrong with the computer it just doesn't work. Could it be the power supply not powering some parts of the motherboard?
October 12, 2012 7:29:34 PM

The only question I really want answered is How did I break it by taking out the CPU?
October 12, 2012 8:08:02 PM

No It looks more like the socket in picture 1 but way smaller. The bit I was confused by was that it had a lever thingy, but no bracket that locks down, like the 1155 socket. Was I meant to clip the lever over it or something?
October 12, 2012 8:15:01 PM

I think that was it, I had the lever down before installation because the processor was fused to the heat sink and I don't have any thermal paste. The heat sink had to be held down really tight, so could I have crushed the processor?
a c 143 ) Power supply
a c 129 à CPUs
October 12, 2012 8:35:29 PM

Possibly bent some pins, worse yet, some may have broken off. The lever is the clamp and works by sliding the base slightly to either release pressure (up) or create pressure (down) on the pins to hold the CPU in place. You might try taking the CPU out (releasing the lever first) and checking that no pins are bent/missing.
October 12, 2012 9:03:24 PM

No, all the pins are fine, and I took the heat sink off and now I just need to clean it and get some thermal paste. If all the pins are fine, then will that not fix it, I really have no other ideas about what the problem could be.
a c 143 ) Power supply
a c 129 à CPUs
October 12, 2012 9:08:06 PM

Actually, a picture of the mobo without the CPU/heatsink in place may be helpful
October 13, 2012 10:47:42 AM

Here is the motherboard with the processor but no heatsink.


Here is the socket of the motherboard.


and here is the processor.


Sorry for the bad quality images, also some are upside down.
a c 143 ) Power supply
a c 129 à CPUs
October 14, 2012 12:41:30 AM

I'm going to venture here (once you get your thermal paste replaced) that you attempt to start with the ram in the slot closest to the processor.
Also, is the system the type where the heatsink is passive (no fan attached) but the fan is connected to the back or door?
October 14, 2012 8:48:41 AM

No the fan is connected to the fan header on the motherboard but I thought that maybe if the processor wasn't in properly or something it might not have registered that the fan should be going. I don't have a clue really. What would changing the slot of the ram do?
!