If I remove my CPU, can I put it back in, or will I have to buy thermal paste?

[TheAdam]

my power button does nothing, so I'm trying to follow the stickied checklist: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems
the only thing I can think of is that I somehow bent a pin (but I'm almost dogmatically sure I installed the CPU correctly). So I'd like to remove the heatsink and then the cpu to verify that I didn't bend any pins (or buy a new MB).

For what it's worth. I've had a similar problem with another (now dead, again the power button does nothing) computer in this house. So one might be tempted to blame the power outlets, but they seem to be fine; I can use them for anything else at all.

 

[alexoiu]

Try starting the board by shortly touching with a screwdriver the 2 pins on the board that correspond to the vase power switch.
Try also testing the power supply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FWXgQSokF4
See if a fan connected to it is spinning.

 

[TbsToy]

"but they seem to be fine? " What else seems to be fine?
W.P.

 

[TheAdam]

"but they seem to be fine? " What else seems to be fine?
W.P.

The power outlets in my house.

 

[TheAdam]

Try starting the board by shortly touching with a screwdriver the 2 pins on the board that correspond to the vase power switch.
Try also testing the power supply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FWXgQSokF4
See if a fan connected to it is spinning.

semi-related: the "boot with one stick of ram" is what lead me to the right solution (the checklist describes a voltage problem which must've been my problem)! The server boots (yaaay!) but my original question about removing and replacing a stock heatsink stands.

 

[alexoiu]

You'd have to clean the old paste and reapply new one, for avoiding heating issues later.