Alright. Now I've done it!!!! Quick advice before I head out Best Buy??

[mayhemandchaos8]

Got some advice about replacing my cpu with a slightly faster one on an old HP a1224n.  Replacement went find.  But when I plugged it back in, power supply light was flashing. . Tried their troubleshooting steps, including putting the old cpu back in, but no luck.  I unplugged the P/S plug from the motherboard, and when I plugged power back in, power light stayed lit up.  So I have F&*^# up my motherboard, right? 

Anybody know of a quick check or something to look for before I head out.  I was very careful, grounded everything, including me before I started, and didn't have any trouble getting the cpu replaced.  Before I started though, I took the guy's advice from Radio Shack where I bought the arctic paste, and bought some compressed air with a cleaner in it to clean the inside before I started.  Any help.  I'm mostly concerned about getting all the info off my hard drive.  Okay, that, and the $700 I gotta spend on a new box.  jeff

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Jeff:

Did you apply a very light amount of that Arctic Siver thermal compound? 

I once put too much on, and it must have overflowed into the socket and fried my motherboard because that stuff conducts electricity.

Paul

[mayhemandchaos8 · Accepted solution]

Actually, I figured it out.  I don't understand it, but I figured it out.  I started unplugging everything again, but this time, I pulled out the battery on the motherboard.  When I started plugging stuff back in and checking it, it all came back fine.  Battery's still out so no backup, but the machine's running great.  And definitely faster!  Thanks again for your help.  jeff

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Glad you got it up and running, and for $2.50 you can get a new battery and you're good to go!