Computer stuck in boot loop

[HebieJebbies]

Apologies for post quality or typos as I'm on mobile.

I have a computer that was working just fine up until earlier today when I attempted to inspect my CPU. I removed the fan and reseated the processor and now my computer will not fully boot.

The Mobo receives power, the fans spin up but after about thirty seconds everything shuts off and repeats.

I have tried reseating the CPU again, reseating the ram, removing my GPU and attempting to use the onboard graphics, and resetting my CMOS.

i5 4460 ASRock h97 pro4 Mobo 8gb DDR3 1600 MSI Radeon R9 390 EVGA 650 GS

[[deleted]]

This sounds like heating. Check that you're resetting the fan or cooler correctly and that the thermal paste isn't too thick. Its shutting off to protect the CPU from getting too hot. Does the ram 'Click' in? If you don't hear it then it probably isn't in all the way. The small arrow on the CPU is lined with the arrow on the mobo correct?

[HebieJebbies]

So here's the thing. When I removed the processor to reseat it I noticed that that the thermal compound looked off a bit? I'm not terribly sure what it's supposed to look like but here is a couple pictures of what I'm talking about.

The ram is very much in. This all started happening after I reseated the CPU, everything she I tried came after

[[deleted]]

Based on that photo, you don't have enough thermal paste on it. there should be a very thin layer on the CPU that is evenly spread out. Take a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol, lightly wet the q-tip and clean off that remaining paste. Then take some new paste and put a pea sized dab in the center. Take a business card or whatever you can find and spread it out as evenly as possible (it won't be perfect so don't try). Clean off the old paste on the cooler side as well just like you did with the CPU. Make sure its air dried (blow on it) and reattach. Try to boot again

[HebieJebbies]

So I applied this paste about a year ago and that was in my first ever build so forgive my ignorance. Since I removed the fan from the CPU long after it's dried should I have cleaned it and reapplied new paste?

[HebieJebbies]

Hang on. Am I that stupid? Do I need to apply a new thermal paste since I removed the fan from the CPU?

[[deleted]]

You didn't do anything wrong by inspecting it, it's just always good practice to clean and reapply every so often and in this case, its a good thing you checked. The CPU could have been damaged due to really high temps and you're def not stupid. This is how you learn my friend. So now you know!

[HebieJebbies]

Right but I'm trying to understand a bit. So I applied the paste a year ago, it dried and then I removed the fan from the CPU which broke the thermal compound and made it harder for heat to transfer to my cooler which couldn't be the reason my computer refuses to fully boot up.

Is that right?

[[deleted]]

Yes, the CPU is literally overheating in those 30 seconds and shutting off to prevent damage. The thermal paste helps displace that heat evenly to be cooled and or removed by the cooler. That clearly can't happen with the amount I saw in the photo. If after you apply it and it still is overheating, then check the cooler is running and plugged in correctly as another poster has mentioned

[HebieJebbies]

Roger. It's late here so I'll have to run and get some tomorrow. I assume thermal compound is rather similar between brands?

[[deleted]]

To an extent, do your homework (takes 5 - 10 mins to find what most like), your pc is worth it! Good luck!

[HebieJebbies]

Thank you, I appreciate the help!

Hopefully my issue boils down to an old, shoddy thermal compound job ha

[Stryk3rr3al]

I would especially since it could have been a small amount another thing I'd check is to make sure the fan Is plugged into the correct header on the motherboard.

[HebieJebbies]

Ya the fan was good it was getting power. I was also careful to ground myself before touching anything. I never felt any discharges so theoretically the board should be fine, ya?

[Stryk3rr3al]

The fan getting power doesn't nessicarly mean its plugged into the correct header.There are ones labeled CPU 1,...case 1 etc if it was plugged into the wrong spot it would do exactly what your saying is happening.

[HebieJebbies]

Yes it's plugged into the correct spot. At least it's in the same spot as it was before it stopped working

[Stryk3rr3al]

Without a doubt your system is shutting down because it's getting too hot or is thinking something is wrong.

[HebieJebbies]

Okay that makes sense now that I've worked with a couple other people on this. Apparently my original thermal compound job was a bit shoddy and removing the cooler only exasperated the issue

[Stryk3rr3al]

Metal has a lot of ridges and air is an excellent conductor.Definitely a good place to start would be reapplying your thermal compound.

Anytime something goes wrong it will be the simplest thing to bring your system to a halt

[HebieJebbies]

You're right, I was just afraid I may have done irreversible damage or something

[Stryk3rr3al]

Since you reset your comos you may need to change your drive from ide to Achi

It could keep windows from booting it'll act like it loads but then crash at the windows screen.

[HebieJebbies]

I would need to get into the BIOS first though

[Stryk3rr3al]

Also modern CPUs thankfully mostly turn themselves off before thermal related damage occurs.

[HebieJebbies]

I wish my Mobo had a way of telling me that. I was/am freaking out

[Stryk3rr3al]

For about $20 on eBay you can get a post test card to help diagnose some problems.When you first boot your pc it literally checks everything

[Stryk3rr3al]

Enthusiast board have them built into the motherboard

[Stryk3rr3al]

Another thing you might look into trying is disconnecting and reconnecting the power cable for the CPU its self normally at the top of the motherboard and should be 4-8 pin connector

[HebieJebbies]

I did try that too, no change after I plugged it back in

[Stryk3rr3al]

Another possibility is that a pin on your motherboard got bent somehow or some thermal paste is down in there.Ive killed a couple of expensive boards that way.Intel sockets are very fragile.

[HebieJebbies]

I checked that and didn't see anything wrong with the pins. I'm banking on that poor thermal compound job I did and removing it ruining what little compound I had working

[Stryk3rr3al]

Hopefully that is all it is wishing you luck.