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Solve : I think I broke my CPU?

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I have (had?) a Dell SmartStep 250N laptop.

Had two problems with it:

1) It overheated, and

2) Something wrong with the mobo, when I booted, I had to press power and then Ctrl+Alt+Del. (When I pressed power, the green lights would come on, and then shut off. While they were on, if I hit Ctrl+Alt+Del, we'd start cooking)

So:

To fix the overheating, I took it apart to blow it clean.

When I took the screws out of the heat sink, the heat sink stuck a little.

When I pulled the heat sink up, the CPU came with it. (A P4)

So I (carefully) popped the CPU off the heat sink, put everything back, and tried to reboot.

Nothing. (Well, the COOLING fan comes on)

Even when I hit Ctrl+Alt+Del.

When I power up, I DON'T get that brief green light showing that it's gonna try, but fail.

So, I'm GUESSING this is a CPU issue.

It doesn't LOOK damaged  - that is, all the pins are nice and straight.

Static-free environment....

Does a P4 "snap" in, or does it gently rest?

Is there another way to easily test this?

================================

If I can't recover, I do have info on the HD I need to retrieve (couldn't do a full BACKUP without overheating, shitting down... Hence the heatsink cleaning project).

Any thoughts on how to pull info off a laptop's HD? I have access to a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop, but no access to any kind of tower computer. (Without renting one!)


Thanks,


rjbLook for a lever to lift up on the side of the socket. Quote

Look for a lever to lift up on the side of the socket.

You mean, as in, once it's sitting correctly, a little lever will snap up?

Yikes, sure didn't see that...


Dell™ SmartStep™ 200N and 250N; Microprocessor Thermal-Cooling Assembly and Microprocessor ModuleLifting the lever up will release the cpu from the socket, pushing it back down (flush) will lock the cpu into the socket.Thanks, Commando... The picture in that link explains what Fed was talking about.

Now....

That lever didn't pop UP when the CPU came out!!!!!!! So....

Oh, well, I will try tomorrow.

Trying not to obsess! Lay in bed until 2:30 coming up with contingency after contingency after contingency!!

Here's one thought:

1) Pull the hard drive out of my Dell SmartStep
2) Plug the hard drive into my Dell Inspiron 6000 Laptop
3) Boot the Inspiron off CD (right? Different processor, etc.)
4) Back up the hard drive to an outside source
5) Shut down the Inspiron and put its hard drive back in.


That should work, right?

PLEASE point out any flaws to my thinking BEFORE I screw up ANOTHER machine!!!!

Or, is there a way to take the hard drive out of my Smart Step and mount it as an external drive to my Inspiron? Is there a USB interface or something? That way I can just copy the subdirectories I need!

Thanks,


and Thanks again! Quote
...That lever didn't pop UP when the CPU came out!!!!!!! ...

It's not supposed to.  The CPU is locked-in and can only be removed when you lift the lever.  Conversely, CPU can only be inserted when lever is lifted.  It's called a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket.

Assemble it according to instructions and it will probably operate properly.
...That lever didn't pop UP when the CPU came out!!!!!!! ...

It's not supposed to.  The CPU is locked-in and can only be removed when you lift the lever.

Which is what has me worried. If the CPU is only supposed to come out when the lever is up... And the CPU did come up, and the lever was down... Did I break something along the way?

Tomorrow, I'll lift the lever, put in the CPU, put the lever down, and pray like heck!

Sorry to be such a mo-ron... I've never really messed around in the guts of a laptop, and it all seems soooo MUCH more delicate than the big towers I used to tear down for fun at work. (Well, to piss off the IT guys, anyway).

It's kind of like when I stopped working on early 60's Fords and bought an 87 Vette... Didn't recognize a THING under the hood.

Anyway, here's hoping it works!

rjbAll the little pins are probably still in the socket or bent at right angles.   Quote
All the little pins are probably still in the socket or bent at right angles.  

That's encouraging.

They APPEAR straight. All of 'em.

Next update - c. 10:30AM Thursday! Quote
They APPEAR straight. All of 'em.

That's a good sign.  I am typing this on the "broken" machine.

It booted!

Lift the lever, pop in the chip, close the lever... MAGIC!

Thanks for your help, and for the link to the picture.

Thank you for saving me time, heartache, and probably $$$$$$$!!!!

Thanks again!!!!


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