Computer help forum: Heat sink fell off processor & now windows wont start

Could the heat sink falling off cause windows not to load properly? I wouldn't think so but I tried my old hard drive and it did the same thing and both the old and current hard drive were working before.

Sony PCV-RZ30GN2
Window XP

Yes my mother board is very similar to the one you posted a link to & the heatsink that fell off is identical to the one in your link.

What exactly does the north/sout bridge do? And you do in fact feel this is the root of my problem which takes an all new motheboard?

Or will it work properly again if I reattach the heatsink?

There is no safety measure within the BIOS to help shutdown the PC if the "south/northbridge chipset is exposed due to heat rising. It failed and more than likely was running before you noticed the heatsink falling off. Further, your actual cpu heatsink with all its dust present allows me to assume, you used the PC until it failed or close to it. Returning the heatsink may not work as this was "glued-on" in order to best operate as I see no latching mechanism to keep it there. It looks too late to help this mtrbd., though you can play all you want otherwise. Since, that exposed IC is now probably failed and not socketed, no fix cheaply other than to replace the mtrbd.. Also, quite possibly the metal of the heatsink may have touched some electrical contact and caused other damage to seal it's fate. It's not seeing the required chipset and that's a change it can't recover from even though it appears to be booting, that lost IC from the failed component is too much and no card can be installed to continue on that I know of.

tada -----Willy

Ok so I have found a used motherboard A8115577A (Sony part number) for only $12 + shipping, not bad huh? My question is when I remove my old mother board reinstall all the parts and connections as long as the oringinal BIOS have not been rewritten then my hard drive should boot up as if it were my oringinal bios and motherboard?

Just try to remember what BIOS settings you had. Try the default and be prepared for it to not boot the Windows OS since the license is often tied to the motherboard.

You should not lose files since we always have a backup (those that don't learn fast why.)

Also we have this -> http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
Bob

So the windows license is tied to the motherboard, can that be changed?

If it's the same make board, should be fine but as always, be ready.
Bob

I found a motherboard, Sony part #A8115567A, for $12 + shipping, not bad, huh? After removing the old motherboard reconnecting all the components and wires my hard drive should boot assuming it is the same motherboard as the original and the Bios are still the same as set by the factory? Am I correct in assuming this?

IMO, you have a good running start at getting this to work. During that 1st boot-up enter the bios and reset whatever you think should be as it was before. Reboot and allow it time to boot, it may hang as it chugs away but it's really making itself at home, so give it time. If you're capable the basic stuff should all fall into place and any bios changes, just don't rush yourself and pay attention during the swap.

So, i take it it's a Sony for Sony swap? they are the same, again it should work minus some attention to details. good luck -----Willy

I do believe the motherboard is nothing more than one taken from another Sony computer that uses the same model motherboard.

R. Proffitt mentioned that the Windows license may be tied to the motherboard. If this is a problem will getting a new hard drive, installing it as well and then running my restore disk to get all the orignal programs back or is the restore disk also tied to the original Windows license?

Sorry but we can't know this till we do it. It should be fine, but past that we are guessing.
Bob

I completely understand and I truly appreciate everyone's expertise. I guess at $12 I may as well go for it as Willy suggested. Never tread the waters quite this deep but I have added memory, changed out the hard drive and loaded various software so I guess it's worth a shot.