Spilled Thermal Paste

[Jan1234]

My laptop had a history of shutting down when running programs such as games. After some researching, I figured out that it may be due to overheating. I decided to clean out the fan and apply new thermal paste to allow the system to be cool again (because the laptop was several years old without anyone doing it). When applying the thermal paste, some went a little to the sides and went on the little gold things around the area where you need to apply the paste (it didn't spill underneath on the pins). I cleaned it off and when putting the computer back together it has a black screen on start up. I made sure that everything was plugged in properly. I could hear the fan and see the lights of the laptop turn on, its just a black screen.

Is there anyway to fix this?
The little gold things are now silver, if I manage to clean them back to gold, could it fix the problem? is there anyway to do so?

 

[Jan1234]

I listened to it again, its just 2 beeps. 1 beep and then a beep less than a second after it

 

[damric]

Try reseating the RAM modules. There should be a small CMOS battery on that motherboard somewhere. Remove it.

 

[Jan1234]

Remove it and put it back in?

 

[damric]

Remove it, and leave it out for now. make sure your cooler is attached. Power back on. See what happens.

 

[Jan1234]

Do you know where it would be roughly? on the Sony Vaio VPCCW21FD

 

[damric]

Do you know where it would be roughly? on the Sony Vaio VPCCW21FD

I really have no earthly idea, but I can try google...

 

[Jan1234]

Could we maybe continue with the troubleshooting tomorrow? I have been trying to fix the laptop for a few hours and I am stumped..

 

[damric]

Yeah man. Hit me up anytime.

Anyways this is a generic video for finding the little ah heck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg_wvp1YdSI

 

[Jan1234]

So all I have to do is continue typing into this thread sometime tommorow, and you would be able to see it?

 

[damric]

Yeah I get updates on stuff.

 

[Jan1234]

I think I found it, is it this maybe?
http://puu.sh/9cnex/3eb273ca0f.jpg

 

[Jan1234]

I re seated my ram and the computer booted up! The laptop only shows 2 gigs of installed ram when I have 4. I'm trying to fix that at the moment (one of the ram slots feel a little loose). Ill keep you updated

 

[neon neophyte]

it's aallliivee!! *said like raising frankensteins monster*

i bet that feels good.

 

[Jan1234]

Feels amazing!
Just re seated the ram again, 4 gb ram! SUCCESS!
I was just reading around and found out that the little gold spots on a ram should barely be visible, so I tried inserting the ram the way they said and boom! worked!

Thanks guys, first time using tomshardware and I will be definitely using it again!

 

[Nitesdeath]

Feels amazing!
Just re seated the ram again, 4 gb ram! SUCCESS!
I was just reading around and found out that the little gold spots on a ram should barely be visible, so I tried inserting the ram the way they said and boom! worked!

Thanks guys, first time using tomshardware and I will be definitely using it again!

Congratz sir, and as future reference. Anytime you want to add thermal paste onto a CPU you put a little pea drop in the center and then put the heatsink right on it and screw it on. As you screw it in it applys pressure spreading the thermal paste. Do not spread it around yourself with a credit card or anything. Thats bad. The cores of a CPU are all located in the center and thats whats most important. The corners not so much.

 

[Nitesdeath]

Feels amazing!
Just re seated the ram again, 4 gb ram! SUCCESS!
I was just reading around and found out that the little gold spots on a ram should barely be visible, so I tried inserting the ram the way they said and boom! worked!

Thanks guys, first time using tomshardware and I will be definitely using it again!

Congratz sir, and as future reference. Anytime you want to add thermal paste onto a CPU you put a little pea drop in the center and then put the heatsink right on it and screw it on. As you screw it in it applys pressure spreading the thermal paste. Do not spread it around yourself with a credit card or anything. Thats bad. The cores of a CPU are all located in the center and thats whats most important. The corners not so much.

 

[damric]

I'm glad this had a happy ending.