Question MOBO/CPU not correctly working after reapplying thermal paste

[MeO123]

Hello tom'sHARDWARE forum!

So... For the record. I am not a newbie in Tech, but I've running out of ideas. Trying to research more on the forum, but all the ideas are simply not working.

So for the first my Setup:
Processor: intel core i7-9700K
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 4GBx4 (3600Mhz, 18-19-19-39)
MOBO: ASUS Prime Z390-A
AIO Liquid Cooling -SPC Navis Pro 120
Not relevant hardware I think:
Graphics card - MSI Nvida Geforce 1070
M2 Samsung Evo 860
WD 2 TB Hard Drive
Samsung SSD Evo 960

Photos of CPU:

https://imgur.com/r7c3zvC

View: https://imgur.com/r7c3zvC

https://imgur.com/wSwOZib

View: https://imgur.com/wSwOZib
photo of CPU after second thermal appliance)

https://imgur.com/cZuMs5F

View: https://imgur.com/cZuMs5F

Photos of RAM:

https://imgur.com/HTM3QnW

View: https://imgur.com/HTM3QnW

https://imgur.com/CzYMXsf

View: https://imgur.com/CzYMXsf

Photo of MOBO (pins and other):
Backplate:

https://imgur.com/oROWDMm

View: https://imgur.com/oROWDMm

https://imgur.com/Dk8ezfM

View: https://imgur.com/Dk8ezfM

https://imgur.com/frx2QVR

View: https://imgur.com/frx2QVR

Pins and frontplate:

https://imgur.com/p854OAW

View: https://imgur.com/p854OAW

https://imgur.com/W13B6xT

View: https://imgur.com/W13B6xT

https://imgur.com/TyIaThX

View: https://imgur.com/TyIaThX

https://imgur.com/ZzLn2g0

View: https://imgur.com/ZzLn2g0

https://imgur.com/hctgH7s

View: https://imgur.com/hctgH7s

RAM channels:

https://imgur.com/FGt8whI

View: https://imgur.com/FGt8whI



List of things happened in general first:
(I wanted to change Thermal Paste and clean fans)

1. Ofc. I did all the stuff that could prevent electrical interference (used special gloves for it) and plugged out all the stuff from electricity (I know it's basic, I'm avoiding silly questions, sorry)
2. Cleaned all the mobo and fans with small paintbrush (brush had very light hair, not harsh brush that could scratch my mobo)
3. Used hoover to clean all the dust in the process (I didn't touch the mobo or any other hardware with it)
4. Removed graphics card to clean it
5. Removed AIO Liqud Cooling (only part from the processor, no point to remove all of it)
6. Cleaned heat sink on Liqud Cooling and processor from remaining old thermal paste
7. Reinserted thermal paste (I am using dot method)
8. Installed again AIO
9. Installed graphics cards

So... I didn't remove RAM. It was seated all the time.
I did this method 4 times before. Without any issues.
Aftermatch:
My computer didn't boot. Light were stuck on DRAM. And that was it.

After some reading of other people problems, I tried to install only one stick of RAM. It didn't work at the beginning. I've reseated RAM, checked all the RAMs, tried couple combinations (A1, B1, A1+A2, A1+B1, A1+B1+A2+B2). Tried also switching MEM_OK II but there was no use of it.
Restarted MOBO by taking out CMOS battery. Tried with one stick on A1. It worked and motherboard POST normally.

Well, after that I though it will work normally. After getting into BIOS I did:

1. Updated BIOS to version 1802
2. Setup normal time and date (it didn't setup automatically)

I booted normally to Windows. It worked normally for 10 minutes. I seated another RAM for A2 and everything was running fine (half and hour) until...
Windows randomly freeze. After I restarted system, after 5-10 sec, problem happened again. And it wasn't going off.
And that was where I was starting getting a little bit out of ideas, but I didn't gave up.
What I did when I got OS freeze:

1. I've repeated all the process I listed above. (paste was firmly good, a little bit outside IHS (not in MOBO tho), so I've cleaned that part and placed smaller dot)
2. Also checked for broken pins - well, I didn't found any (checked on CPU, backplate of MOBO and near RAM seats - pictures above)
3. Tested RAM with memtest86 from USB - no errors detected on all of 4 sticks.
4. Tried to run my system without my Graphic Card installed - same issue.
5. Unplugged all my hard drives and m.2 - with only Linux based OS on stick installed - system froze after 10 seconds again.
6. Tried to use AiO-SRT Toolkit - and well. After first attempt to boot from USB stick, boot stuck on Lubuntu logo. And after that BIOS stopped seeing (??) my USB stick. Tried to do it with another USB stick, but the result remains.

After point 6 , I am losing hope, if it might be something other than MOBO/CPU failure. Now, I am not currently sure which one could cause problems with my system.
The reason, I'm writing here, because I want to know if I am not missing something and I can do something differently (my head those days is kinda overcrowded, so I am begging you guys - any help, even a little, will be really huge for me.)


EDIT:
In case, I will try to post what I did for other people. Next: I am searching for solution, that will help me determine if which component causing it (mobo/CPU) but, without going to repair shop, it might be difficult for me.
Now, I am preparing USB stick for UltimateBootCD - it might me less heavy for components, so let's hope it will not freeze.

 

[MeO123]

Question number 1: Is there a possibility to damage the pins while re-applying thermal paste without taking out CPU?

 

[MeO123]

Action 1 - I will try to straighten up the pins on the MOBO (I noticed some abnormalities, but I wasn't too sure )

https://imgur.com/dxrPBS2

View: https://imgur.com/dxrPBS2


Action 2 - after action 1, I will try to put CPU and test it with UltimateBootCD

 

[MeO123]

Action 1:
I have corrected a pins a little - things that have changed:

1. Now, motherboard lights are not repeating 3 times, like they did before (they were doing sequence like: CPU DRAM restart, CPU DRAM restart, CPU DRAM BIOS POST complete).
Now, they are doing normal CPU DRAM BIOS POST complete - means that something changed.

2. Tried with 1 stick, 2 stick and 4 sticks - everything seems fine. They are working now (all 4GB stick x 4 )

Action 2:
Tested memory and CPU. (without any disks, or GPU)

1. Memory tested with memtest 86 - all tests passed.

2. CPU tested 3 times - with Mersenne Prime Test:
a) Small FFTs - passed
b) In place Large FFTs - passed
c) Blend - passed

After that, I thought all will be good. Connected the SSD with Windows and HDD. I choose not to connect GPU for now.
Well... Windows still is freezing on boot (Windows 10 circle logo).

Tomorrow, or day after, I will try to connect again USB Stick with Linux distro, to check if fresh installation will solve the problem and system will be stable. That should at least point out if my OS didn't fail after a couple times restarting at the boot.

EDIT: also I will try to check, if I am not missing something in the BIOS settings after CMOS battery re-seating...

Any help will be very welcome.

 

[MeO123]

Action 3:
From observation : when I come back from work, I've turned on the computer just to again put the test on run (CPU). I've noticed again, MOBO is struggling to POST (MOBO LIGHTS was re-looping on sequence: CPU DRAM restart - 3x times) and after that it POSTED normally.

I've tried to open Lubuntu distro again, and again I was struck by an error:

https://imgur.com/CDaFQwD

View: https://imgur.com/CDaFQwD

After restarting two times, I don't even see an error anymore, just freeze right after Lubuntu logo.

Action 4: I am trying to dig up to BIOS setting a little. I will try to turn off every feature and I hope that will help.

 

[MeO123]

After action 4:
What have I changed:
Ai Overclock Tuner AUTO to Manual
ASUS Multicore Enhancement - Auto to Enabled
Intel SpeedStep Auto to Disabled
Turbo Mode Enabled to Disabled
DRAM Voltage Auto to 1.2000
Intel Speed Shift Technology Auto to Disabled

Seems like a progress, I've successfully booted onto Lubuntu.
Doing checks now, if this config is stable or not.

 

[MeO123]

I've successfully boot into Windows. Well, seems like there is some shortage in the mobo, and when I've increased Voltage on RAMs, everything seems fine (seems like I need to look more for voltages, set up everything right, and it should be fine) - still I am concerned why default settings are causing system CPU errors...