Inspiron 5160 Won't Boot After Cleaning

Question

I cleaned my cooling hardware per these instructions http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins5160/en/SM/thermal.htm#wp1084976 Now I can't get my laptop to boot after putting everything back together. I have NO IDEA how to even begin to troubleshoot this problem. I would HUGELY appreciate any help that anyone could give me. I hate messing with hardware, and this is exactly why. So here is what is happening (if it helps): - I press the power button - The power light comes on - The fan kicks in - I hear the hard-drive make a little noise - The DVD/CDRW drive lights up - The fan slows down - NOTHING SHOWS UP ON THE SCREEN (completely black.. not even a flicker) I'm not sure the display is hooked up properly. I'm wondering if I didn't get the cooling hardware put back in place right.. It definitely doesn't seem to be starting up Windows or anything. It pretty much just sits there powered up. PLEASE HELP. Thanks so much.

ejn63 · Answer

Yes, those.

trobutta · Answer

I opened it up again. Loosened all four (each one popped out - I assume that means they were locked). Then I re-tightened each one in consecutive order. Pressed the power button again. Same thing happened...

Any other ideas? Should I completely remove the cooling hardware and try replacing it again??

ejn63 · Answer

Make sure you secured the lockdown screw on the heatsink - if it is not in place and locked, the system will fail POST.

trobutta · Answer

Do you mean the four 'captive screws' as mentioned here: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins5160/en/SM/thermal.htm#wp1084976

crashovrride · Answer

You might want to make sure that the processor didn't become unseated while removing the cooling unit. If it did come unseated that would cause the system to have the problems that you are describing.

trobutta · Answer

WOW. I nearly destroyed my CPU. I didn't realize that the ZIF socket that the CPU sits in has a lock/unlock position.

ANYONE WHO IS REMOVING/REPLACING YOUR CPU/HEATSINK - MAKE SURE YOU USE THE LOCK/UNLOCK FEATURE IN THE ZIF SOCKET BEFORE YANKING IT OUT AND JAMMING IT BACK IN. ON THE 5160 THERE IS A LITTLE NOTCH TO THE LEFT OF THE HEATSINK AND YOU CAN SEE THE LOCK/UNLOCK DIAL DOWN THERE.

The documentation doesn't spell this out plainly enough for those of us who are messing with a cpu for the first time. Everything is working now, but I don't see how I didn't bend every pin on the chip. Thanks for your help.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

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