Installation Fried My CPU

[doogster]

I was running windows xp fine.
I attempted to install windows 7 from a CD.
During installation the computer had to reboot which was fine.
When it rebooted my monitor appears to have not turned on.
I could hear the hard drive still working so I didn't think anything was wrong.
Then the computer shut down which concerned me. I noticed a burning smell coming from my CPU.
I gave it a few minutes before attempting to turn on my computer.
I attempted to turn the computer on. It did not turn on. I saw a spark underneath the CPU fan.

Is my CPU now fried? Please help. What do I do?

 

[gregrocker]

What happens when you press the power button exactly?

Does the fan spin up? If not, it may be a bad PSU. Try another.

Did you hear any beeps? Look up the beep codes.

Did you open the case beforehand and change anything? What?

 

[doogster]

What happens when you press the power button exactly?
I see a spark from underneath the CPU. I took off the CPU fan and tried to start it up. It is not a spark. It is an orange light off my motherboard which is a releif.
This sounds more like a failed PSU. But the PSU is brand new and a high end item. Corsair 550W
The CPU fan attempts to spin.
The computer then does nothing.
Here is the motherboard I am using
I have attached a picture where the orange light blinks when I try to turn on the computer.

Does the fan spin up? If not, it may be a bad PSU. Try another.
Yes. The PSU is a brand new PSU. I just installed it today.

Did you hear any beeps? Look up the beep codes.
There were no beeps

Did you open the case beforehand and change anything? What?

The case was open during the installation process.

Please help

 

[gregrocker]

Is the Power supply working?

Check all of your connections carefully.

 

[Wishmaster]

I would pull the HS/ and inspect the CPU itself for any abnormal signs , the motherboard as well.
Double check RAM, and GPU to make sure its seated properly.
Double check all wiring connections from PSU to MOBO



The following Award BIOS beep code descriptions may help you identify possible problems.

1 short: System boots successfully
2 short: CMOS setting error
1 long, 1 short: Memory or motherboard error
1 long, 2 short: Monitor or graphics card error
1 long, 3 short: Keyboard error
1 long, 9 short: BIOS ROM error
Continuous long beeps: Graphics card not inserted properly
Continuous short beeps: Power error

 

[doogster]

Is the Power supply working?
I do not know to be honest. It appears no. Which is shocking as this is a brand new PSU CLICK HERE

I checked all the connections quite diligently before I started the computer and installed Windows XP first. Before reformatting and doing an install from Windows 7.

To confirm I have connected a 24 pin connector and a 4 pin connector to my mobo. Was there anything I missed?

There is one other cable that fits into sys fan but I did not connect it. Could this have been the problem? Is this the cable for the PSU fan? Could the PSU overheated from not having the fan cable plugged in? The PSU was only on for maximum three hours.

Check all of your connections carefully.

There's a fireman in here if you need him
I do not get the fireman joke, lol

What you think, fireman?[/QUOTE]

This post is longer then three characters.

 

[doogster]

I would pull the HS/ and inspect the CPU itself for any abnormal signs , the motherboard as well.
Double check RAM, and GPU to make sure its seated properly.
Double check all wiring connections from PSU to MOBO



The following Award BIOS beep code descriptions may help you identify possible problems.

1 short: System boots successfully
2 short: CMOS setting error
1 long, 1 short: Memory or motherboard error
1 long, 2 short: Monitor or graphics card error
1 long, 3 short: Keyboard error
1 long, 9 short: BIOS ROM error
Continuous long beeps: Graphics card not inserted properly
Continuous short beeps: Power error

There are no beeps. But thanks for the post that will be useful information in the future.

Could you please read my above post in terms of the connections from the PSU to the MOBO.

Once again the computer was working fine before installation.

 

[Wishmaster]

The fan on the power supply itself should be running.
Is it?

As far as connections:
you should have the 24pin and a 4 (or8) Pin for the CPU to the MOBO, and the little CPU fan wire that connects to the MOBO.

It is quite possible the power supply went out, CPU Died, or both.
Although we could have another issue entirely.

couple Questions:
How does the CPU look? Any abnormal signs?
A burnt smell in the area still?
how about the board itself in that area?

Also, you should have a beep of some form. Even a short beep to confirm no issues.
It may be a great help to you to hook up the little speaker that came with your motherboard to help assist you narrow down the issue, if it isn't already. provided the MOBO is OK,
it will tell what is wrong through the series of beeps, or at least point you in the general direction to look,so that little speaker will help a lot.




At this point, I would disconnect everything that isnt necessary. Only 1 stick of RAM and all other things that aren't absolutley needed for basic operation. DVD Drives, Even the Mouse.

Unplug all power, and reset the CMOS.
Pull the little battery and wait 5-10 minutes.
put it back in and re-connect power

Try to boot again, and see what happens. if you can get to bios, reset to optimized default.

Would also be helpful for further troubleshooting in this case, if you have any spare PSU, (doesnt matter what size) that you know works, and a possible spare CPU you know is good.

 

[gregrocker]

Swear there was a fireman in here. I looked down at who was in the thread to see if you had more help coming, and there was some fireman460 or such. Sorry! :shock:

I'd post this in General to get max hits. They may move it to Hardware where it's slower but more specific.

 

[doogster]

I got a new power supply to test if it is the PSU or the mobo. But before I start it up I took a picture of my CPU and noticed the grey chalky texture, which can be scratched off. Is this normal?

 

[ViperGuy]

I got a new power supply to test if it is the PSU or the mobo. But before I start it up I took a picture of my CPU and noticed the grey chalky texture, which can be scratched off. Is this normal?

Yes that's the thermal compound, don't wipe it off. If the CPU works you should clean off that old compound and put some fresh paste on there.

 

[ViperGuy]

I just noticed you built you own PC, didn't you install the heatsink yourself? If you bought a retail CPU that is usually already applied to the bottom of the stock heatsink.

 

[skunksmash]

i dont really see how a spark could've come from under the CPU HS, unless it was the fan that went pop..??

CPU's are very hardy little beasts, you'll struggle to burn one out..... its more likely you shorted something on the board.

its a C2D so it would've shut itself down before it was damaged, unfortunately the only sure-fire way to know is gonna be to grab yourself a cheap P4 & check the board is still working..

 

[Orpheous]

To confirm I have connected a 24 pin connector and a 4 pin connector to my mobo. Was there anything I missed?

There is one other cable that fits into sys fan but I did not connect it. Could this have been the problem? Is this the cable for the PSU fan? Could the PSU overheated from not having the fan cable plugged in? The PSU was only on for maximum three hours.

Sys fan motherboard pinout is for 3 or 4 pin case fans, and it allows the system monitor to control the fan speed if a smart fan is attached. Do not connect any part of the power supply to this header, it will most likely wreck your motherboard.
The cable from your PSU was most likely a 4 pin floppy drive power cable that outputs 5 volts, and will short out your mobo.

 

[doogster]

Viper - I bought this cpu a few years ago. the heat sink paste was already applied. I uhh just wiped most of it of (newb) and I dont have any more paste of know where to buy some.


Would it be okay to put the fan on the cpu and try booting up now tha tmost of the paste is gone? is it that big of a deal?

I am trying to determine if the problem was my PSU, CPU, or mobo

Skunksmash - It was not a spark I confirmed it was a light on my mother board.

The cable I am wondering about is the PX cable which is a 4 pin horizontal connector. IT was not connected to the mobo. I actually forgot to install it it was installed on my last mobo. So I though that was the issue. Please advise.

 

[gregrocker]

Viper - I uhh just wiped most of it of (newb) and I dont have any more paste of know where to buy some.

Radio Shack. Includes application tool and instructions. Use precision, patience.

Would it be okay to put the fan on the cpu and try booting up now tha tmost of the paste is gone? is it that big of a deal?

It needs to have old paste removed, fresh paste applied if you wiped any off or broke bond.

 

[doogster]

just tried booting up with a new psu. fan does not turn on there is an orange light on the mobo thinking the mobo if fried but i have no idea how..its is brand new!!!

trying my old mobo now

 

[Orpheous]

Would it be okay to put the fan on the cpu and try booting up now tha tmost of the paste is gone? is it that big of a deal?

No, make sure you use a fresh smear of thermal paste... like Arctic Silver 5. Without it your temps will go sky high and you will either risk cooking your cpu or it will just lockup and shutdown constantly

 

[skunksmash]

Viper - I bought this cpu a few years ago. the heat sink paste was already applied. I uhh just wiped most of it of (newb) and I dont have any more paste of know where to buy some.


Would it be okay to put the fan on the cpu and try booting up now tha tmost of the paste is gone? is it that big of a deal?

I am trying to determine if the problem was my PSU, CPU, or mobo

Skunksmash - It was not a spark I confirmed it was a light on my mother board.

The cable I am wondering about is the PX cable which is a 4 pin horizontal connector. IT was not connected to the mobo. I actually forgot to install it it was installed on my last mobo. So I though that was the issue. Please advise.

but the system was working perfectly until you tried to install the new OS, correct..???

if the system weren't wired correctly it wouldn't of posted in the first place..??

this ''4pin connection'' your referring to, you say it was installed on your old rig.. whereabouts on the board..??, are you referring to the 4pin plug situated near the CPU socket..??

 

[Orpheous]

not sure what the PX cable is that you're referring to...
Welcome to Corsair :: VX Power Supply Product Information
shows a horizontal 4 pin cable = floppy power