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Thread ID: 62214 2005-09-30 12:26:00 Why I'll Never Make it as a PC Technician Greg (193) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
392303 2005-09-30 12:26:00 After my woes from trying to simply add a stick of RAM, things have turned to custard. PC won't boot. I'm pretty sure I stuffed the slots somehow. So this genius goes and buys a new motherboard... not a top-of-the-line unit, but a grade above my old one.

Now, just about to fit it and replace all the components, and remember, um, what about thermal paste for the CPU!?

Doh! :annoyed:
Greg (193)
392304 2005-09-30 12:53:00 Hmm. Static electricity, cracked motherboard, bad caps. Should be able to see if the the memory slots were damaged.

I usually manage to bump an IDE cable loose..

Don't worry a warranty repair contractor somehow managed to stuff up a motherbaord replacement, at my work the other week. I got a faster CPU out of it though :D Ye old bad capacitors (which are afflicting Dell Optiplex 270s).
gibler (49)
392305 2005-09-30 13:03:00 It gets worse. It's been over two years since I built this PC, now I can't even figure out how to detach the CPU (Socket 478) fan. :eek:

The small handbook that it came with is in the spare bedroom... somwhere. But because we're moving to a new house next week I haven't bothered to replace the blown lightbulb. *aaargghhh*
Greg (193)
392306 2005-09-30 19:36:00 I think I've got an instruction book somewhere . . . oh wait, it's in the spare bedroom somewhere :groan:

After about 5 comps it gets a bit confusing which books go with which comps, even if the light bulb is going!

PS, I have heard that thermal paste is fairly important to the to the efficient running of a CPU . . . was too scared to assemble mine and blow all that money, so humbly asked the comp store to do it for me .
Shortcircuit (1666)
392307 2005-09-30 20:50:00 It gets worse . It's been over two years since I built this PC, now I can't even figure out how to detach the CPU (Socket 478) fan . :eek:

The small handbook that it came with is in the spare bedroom . . . somwhere . But because we're moving to a new house next week I haven't bothered to replace the blown lightbulb . *aaargghhh*
Remove the drives, add-on cards, graphics etc - all that stuff first . Then when you have nothing but the board and CPU attached, undo all the MB screws and remove the board with the CPU still attached .
Lay it down on a static free surface and THEN remove the cooler and CPU - much easier to work on and you can see clearly what you are doing .
Same with the new board - install the CPU and cooler before putting the board into the case .
Use some isopropyl alcohol to remove the old crusty paste then apply a SMALL amount of fresh paste to the cpu . You do not want blobs that weill ooze out all over the place once the heatsink goes on .
pctek (84)
392308 2005-09-30 21:26:00 Great advice pctek, thx. Much of which I'm basically aware of, but gross amounts of beer just don't go too well with comp repairing :dogeye: (well the missus is away after all) :D Greg (193)
392309 2005-10-01 00:06:00 After my woes from trying to simply add a stick of RAM, things have turned to custard. PC won't boot.
I find with one of my boxes that almost every time I fiddle with the memory, the motherboard flexes just enough to pop the sound or graphics card out = no boot.

First time it happened, I was sure something had gone wrong with the memory and was about ready to send it back / get a refund / cry. Possibly all three. Thankfully, I somehow realised all I needed to do was give the sound card a tap in the right direction.

Can't live with 'em... ;)
MyHost (8982)
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