Something' Broked... please help

[Wabi SABi]

So this all happened while I was away... my friend was using the computer. It suddenly turned off. When it was first rebooted, it got to windows in safe mode and then turned off again. After that it would try to load windows then shut down. Then nothing would come up on the screen but it wouldn't shut itself off. Now, it trys to load, all devices start spinning, including fans but nothing comes up. Its trys over and over again to no avail. Sorry this is so long... so I got home and opened it up. The heat sink had fallen off. I haven't overclocked the processor so I don't think it has burnt itself out. I put the sink back on after cleaning both surfaces and applying new thermal paste. But, same problem as before. All plugs are plugged. Nothing seams damaged. I think it might be either the PSU (AhenaPower ATX-500w) or my harddrive (Seagate 200g ata). Any suggestions would help. Thanks

 

[grohl]

Can you try putting another processor in the same socket?

 

[Wabi SABi]

I only have the one processor 🙁

By all outward appearances, the processor looks fine.

 

[xsilver]

if it was an athlon xp processor, there is a high chance the cpu is smoked
I had a fan fail once the hsf got so hot that it actually burned my fingers

 

[Wabi SABi]

Well, it's close, it an Athlon 64

 

[xsilver]

nah, a64 shouldnt have the thermal shutdown problems,
when you power up does the cpu get hot? if not, well there's your problem

 

[Wabi SABi]

do I need to take off the hsf to check this??
Or can I just feel on the hs?

Just remembered that the processor was still pretty warm when I put the fan back on

 

[xsilver]

never run the computer without the hsf -- feel the hsf when the system is powered on for a while..... unplug the fan so you can feel it get warm -- obviously turn it off when the hsf gets too hot
if the hsf never gets warm... the cpu or mobo is shot

 

[Wabi SABi]

Ok man... its on right now. I'll respond in a sec when it has had a little time to heat up...

btw its a brand new system... dfi nf4 ultra-d with a 3200 athlon 64. Hope its not too broked.

ok, just felt heat sink and its warm

Only thing I've noticed that is working differently inside the computer is the PSU fan is spinning pretty slowly.