how to remove CPU

Question

I posted a question a few days ago about my inspiron just shutting off while in windows and never got an answer. I guess nobody had one.  I would like to remove the CPU and install some artic silver on it to maybe stop this problem with the laptop shutting off. How much trouble is it to do this?? It is a Inspiron 600m. The strange thing about this puzzle is that it will never shut off in safe mode I run it all night but the minute I start in regular winodws it shuts off after a few minutes????? I even went as far as installing another hard drive and trying to reload XP but it would shut off during the install, always at 32% when installing devices ,after the windows files were copied, The motherboard may be the problem but I would at least like to try something. Please help. TD

RoadiJeff · Answer

Leave the CPU on the board and remove the heatsink (microprocessor thermal-cooling assembly).  Clean the two surfaces, put a small dab of a good thermal paste such as Arctic Silver between the two surfaces and reassemble.    While you have everything apart use a can of compressed air and blow out all the fans, components and vents.   Here's the how-to on removing the heatsink for your 600m:  Removing the Heatsink

tdark · Answer

Thanks, I tried that and installed artic silver and thought I had it until a shut down again. The temp is a 49c right now on the CPU, Is that a little hot??, I hear the fan running.  I still am not sure that is what is causing this shutdown . Why will it never act up in safe mode?? When the computer is running in regular windows and I do a normal shutdown the second I hit shutdown it quickly shuts down. In safe mode when I go to shutdown it acts like windows is supposed to and there is a slight delay and then it shuts down normal and I can then restart without removing the AC connector and battery but not in regualr windows. I thought maybe the opertaing system was corrupt and that is why I tried to reload windows using another hd but it will never complete the load, shuts down when installing devices at 33% everytime. I am lost. I hope someone out there has had this problem otherwise we have a $900 computer that will be a paper weight and it is only 18 months old.

tonebalone · Answer

When in normal mode, how are you shutting down?  Using the Start|Shutdown menu, or are you using the power button?

tdark · Answer

I always Use  the Start|Shutdown menu,but it does not work correct, when I try and restart it shuts down instead of restarting and I have to remove the battery and ac connector and reconnect them to make it start back and I know that is not right..It will shut down correct in safe mode and also restart and that is the reason I first thought that something was going on with the operating system.    Now I am not sure because it will not load windows with another HD withour shutting off during the load.  This computer has never locked up in windows, only shut off while using it.   Now here is another strange thing. After trying to load windows many times on a new 20 gig harddrive I have it would never finish loading, always shut off with 34 minutes left while windows was installing devices.That makes me think for sure something hardware is causing this ,what I do not know.   So I reinstalled the original HD and It has been running for 6 hours now in regular windows and no shut offs so far. , The temp for the CPU is 108F. That is pretty good. Maybe the artic silver compound is doing some good after all, but I still have my doubts. I would not think that 120F would be hot enough to make this thing shut off and that is the hottest I am seen it using the program I installed to monitor temps.   I also tried to flash the BIOS and it would not work. When I was prompted to restart the computer after I run the flash EXE it shut down instead of restart and it still shows the same BIOS as before. Not sure that flashing would do any good but I am willing to try anything and an update is posted on Dells site.   Now when I try to run the flash I get an error and said to contact dell, well I refuse after calling and them telling me I will have to pay for tech support. This laptop is only 18 months old. I always have recommended my customers to buy Dells but that will soon change if I cannot get help on this one .    I work on computers everyday and I have probably recommended at least 50 Dells in the last 6 years and most of my customers bought them, just like the one I am working on. So you see where I stand, the person is looking at me for support and I am now lost on where to turn other than you guys helping me.

tdark · Answer

This is what I have now discovered. The laptop run for 16 hours in regular windows. I moved it to another room and let it run on the battery for a few minutes and when I plugged in the ac power the screen went out and it made a sound like it shut off but the led light was still on and the fan was still running, it was never really powering off just the screen going out. I then connected it to an external monitor and still no screen, so it looses some power but not all.  I help the power button down until it powered off and then it would restart again. Now why does it never go off in safe mode.??I need someone to guide me in the right direction or I will just throw this thing in the lake.Tom

tonebalone · Answer

I didn't see mention of your model number, but I had an 1100 that had the same symptoms, basically the screen went to sleep in standby and never came back on.  I imagine the 1150 and 5100/5150 probably do the same thing.  I don't know of a cure.  You could disable the standby screen blanking and live with it.

tdark · Answer

It is a Inspiron 600m. I am running this computer while I am typing this and it has shut down 5 times while trying to flash the BIOS. Everytime now when I try and run the flash exe it will show an error on the screen something about an application error 0x0000604, said for me to cantac Dell support or something like that. I have changed all the power setting from the control panel and nothing seens to help. Like I said when it shuts off I have to hold the power button down for a few seconds and let it completly power off and then restart. I am just curious on why it will run forever in safe mode and never shut off, the minute I boot to regular windows it shuts down after a few minutes or 16 hours like last night  and today it shut down  everytime I try and run the Flash utility.  I cannot run the flash from safemode, if I could I would and maybe that would solve the problem. Not sure though/.

thuang · Answer

I have a inspiron 700m and have the same problem. It is about one year old. At first I thought it is a software problem, so I formated my harddrive and successfully reinstalled xp but it still shuts down automatically. It is getting very frustrating!
Does anyone knows what is wrong? please help.

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how to remove CPU

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