Shutdown due to "Thermal Event"

[JohnResch]

Hi, I apologize up front, if I've put this into the wrong category.

What's happening is my system shuts down almost immediately upon power up. Yesterday I could keep hitting the power button and it would intermittently get a little further into the boot sequence, finally getting to the screen where the "Thermal Event" message displayed and gave options to either hit F1 to continue (where it would usually shut down again), or F2, where I would get into the setup, mess around a little without making any changes, then exit out and the system would boot up and run fine until I powered it down.

The issue began after I installed a new SSD and upgraded to Windows 7. I upgraded from a 32 bit version of XP to the 64 bit version of 7.

I've seen solutions in other threads calling for a fresh layer of thermal paste on the cpu, but am not sure why that would be the problem.

I know there isn't a lot of info in this post, but I figured I'd see what you think first, then answer the relevant questions.

Thanks in advance

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Turn on ya machine, enter the BIOS and go to the Monitoring section. The BIOS load generally only puts a miniscule load on the CPU, but this might give ya a hint as to whether it is the problem.

 

[ronintexas]

When you power up - are all of your fans spinning? Any noise or slow fans?

When you were able to get into CMOS settings - can you see the temperatures for components?

 

[americanbrian]

Yes try changing thermal paste and checking that your Heatsink/Fan is properly mounted.

It is because thermal problems that manifest seconds after boot indicate that the CPU is not being cooled AT ALL<<<<<

It is either due to an air gap caused by thermal paste that has "cracked" or the mounting for the whole assembly is off kilter.

Why are you stubbornly refusing what obviously LOTS of people that have dealt with these problems before have recommended?

You most likely bumped the HS/F when upgrading your HDD to an SSD. I think a pin has popped out probably from the HS/F mounting holes

 

[JohnResch]

Pretty sure the fans were running when it did power up. It doesn't seem to want to get that far now.

I didn't think to look at the temperature components.

Unfortunately, I'm at work right now, and this is for my home system.

 

[JohnResch]

I'll check the heatsink/fan mounting and reapply some thermal paste.

Thanks.

 

[JohnResch]

I applied a fresh layer of paste with no positive results. I cleaned off the first application and reapplied to see if would make a difference, but it didn't.

Machine will not stay on at all. I do see that all the fans start to spin before shutdown.

 

[ronintexas]

To troubleshoot further, I would bread board the system (remove from the case and connect on a table), and make it the most simple circuit possible (remove DVD, extra HDD, extra RAM) and see if it will boot.

If it doesn't, try another PSU first, if it isn't the PSU, it may be the mobo/CPU.

I would lean towards the PSU, as adding additional hardware into the system, even though the SSD doesn't require much power, could be overloading the PSU. As a rule of thumb, I usually go for +25% over the calculator here:

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

So if it calculates 100W, go with 125W. And as always, get a good brand name PSU. It is one of the most important parts of any build - and usually the biggest shortcut system builders (manufacturers included) use.

 

[americanbrian]

I suspect he has blown the CPU.

A PSU will not cause a "thermal event" shutdown immediately after POST. He repeatedly toasted his CPU with no cooling properly mounted, all the while refusing to apply the recommended fix. I think it has given up finally after its repeated abuse. Expensive lesson.

 

[JohnResch]

Why are you stubbornly refusing what obviously LOTS of people that have dealt with these problems before have recommended?

... all the while refusing to apply the recommended fix. I think it has given up finally after its repeated abuse. Expensive lesson.

I got on this forum at work (on Monday) the day after I was having problems with my PC at home, so I didn't see the recommended fix until after the fact. After I got off work Monday, I went to Best Buy and purchased thermal paste and immediately went home and replaced the old with the new.

 

[americanbrian]

I am sorry if I came across a bit mean. It is just frustrating to know the (likely) problem and from what you had written I felt like you were looking for an alternative solution to the very simple one needed.

I am sorry that you have lost your CPU (or whatever it is, if this is not the case). I strongly suspect that it has been damaged due to overheating. It is likely that everything else is ok though, so it could be worse.

For example, I recently spoke to a guy who sprayed what he thought was compressed air into his bitcoin mining rig worth a couple thousand dollars. Needless to say it was not just air, but contained water and solvent based cleaner and added "bitterant". Whole rig destroyed.

 

[JohnResch]

Thanks, Brian, I appreciate that.

 

[hedwar2011]

I suspect he has blown the CPU.

A PSU will not cause a "thermal event" shutdown immediately after POST. He repeatedly toasted his CPU with no cooling properly mounted, all the while refusing to apply the recommended fix. I think it has given up finally after its repeated abuse. Expensive lesson.

Ok wait a minute!

Why did this response even begin to take place? Is there another thread that I didn't see or something? You have no right to flame like that against a new user (warranted or not) because remember, you were a new user once too.

@JohnResch: How old are the parts you're using? For future reference, with any build I take in (whether it's prebuilt or custom) I always go in and replace the thermal paste or pad with Artic Silver. I've used it for 7+ years and have not had a hiccup yet.