Sorry about the not very technical nature of this post

I used Windows update for the first time last night (I have activated Vista) and when I started my PC up this morning it ran fine until I tried to open HL2 Lost Coast (first time I've run it) I set the options normally clicked to start a New Game and my computer just turned off. When I turned my PC back on I logged in then it just turned off straight away.

There are a few things I'm questioning:

1) Something wrong with Windows update

2) Simply the game, but that wouldn't explain the second restart and I have no issues with other source games

3) Steam thinking it's a cracked game, I copied the entire contents of the Orange Box from my old PC to save downloading, but I've had no issues with HL2 or TF2

4) Windows Live Messenger, how insecure is it? I've had several of the random links sent to me by friends who've obviously been retarded enough to put their details in somewhere is there anyway they could have infected my computer?


EDIT - forget about all that I've just started it again and gone into BIOS my CPU temperature was at 75 and raised to 80 in the few seconds I looked at it, system temp was at 29. Something seems very wrong about that even with my knowledge and I guess it's turning itself off as a safety measure, although I'm not sure how to tell whether it's miss reading or not.

It's an E6750 on the stock cooler. What should I do now?

If your SURE the CPU isn't overheating, you can usually set the mobo to "ignore" the CPU temp (i do this for the CPU fan speed as Asus mobos wont let it boot if the CPU fan isn't plugged in), however i'd want to take the heatsink off, clean it all up and then put it back on with some good thermal paste (ie AS5). If your not overclocking you shouldn't need a new heatsink, though.

Upon investigation my heat sink has fallen off

Seeing as I built the PC over a month ago I'm a bit puzzled as to why I haven't had issues before, it's obviously decided to fall off today, but why is beyond me.

Will it be safe to just try and reattach it and keep going, with whatevers left of the stock heatsinks thermal pad thingy?

What are the likely dangers of running a CPU too hot, in my case for a short time until the cut out turns it off?


I've also posted this on the Aria forum, though the activity looks low, is there another computer forum I could post on other than overclockers?

The best PC forum i can think of would be Overclock.net.

If you re-attach it, it will probably work, but the thermal pads will be borked. It will probably run a bit too hot, though.

The easiest way would be to clean it up, and then to add some more thermal paste.

If a CPU runs to hot it shortens it's lifespan. Intel rate your CPU for up to 72 degrees.

Where can I get thermal paste from quickly? I need to use the computer quickly would PC World sell thermal paste?

PC World probably will, realisticly Intel uses stuff worse than any other product on the market, so anything will do.

PC World only list this on their website

Quote from Jakg :

PC World only list this on their website

If you just put in thermal you get another option, I guess £8 is still a rip off but probably cheaper than ordering a single tube with delivery and certainly cheaper than next day. Do I need to use the whole tube or will I be able to get multiple uses out of it?

You only need to use a tiny blob. Arctic Silver have an application guide on their website that works for most thermal pastes, heres the one for your CPU.

Getting some of this won't hurt either - http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martp ... 8&category_oid=-28023

Oh so it's just a really thin line down the middle of the processor?

just clean off the CPU and the bottom of the heatsink...you _CAN_ get that pricey Akasa cleaning fluid...or you can be sensible and nick some of your wifes/sisters/mothers/girlfriends/(own????) nail varnish remover!
Works just as well and is a lot cheaper.
As for 'a thin line'...you need a small amount for sure, but spread it thinly over the WHOLE contact area. Best way I have found is to stick finger into a small plastic bag. put a small dollop of thermal paste on the bag, and spread it gently over the area.
You only need a thin smear...using too much doesn't make it any more efficient.
Also, if you have access to any precision measuring equipment in a workshop, you can always check the flatness of the heatsink base, as distortion will affect the contact area and render the sink less efficient.

Quote from Bladerunner :

just clean off the CPU and the bottom of the heatsink...you _CAN_ get that pricey Akasa cleaning fluid...or you can be sensible and nick some of your

It's not pricy. It's £3 a bottle.

wifes/sisters/mothers/girlfriends/(own????) nail varnish remover!
Works just as well and is a lot cheaper.

Tried, works nowhere near as well from my experience.

As for 'a thin line'...you need a small amount for sure, but spread it thinly over the WHOLE contact area.

The pressure of the heatsink will force if over MOST of the contact area, as around the edges there is nothing you need to cool.

Best way I have found is to stick finger into a small plastic bag. put a small dollop of thermal paste on the bag, and spread it gently over the area.
You only need a thin smear...using too much doesn't make it any more efficient.


Also, if you have access to any precision measuring equipment in a workshop, you can always check the flatness of the heatsink base, as distortion will affect the contact area and render the sink less efficient.

You can do this, but then what? To fix it you need to lap the heatsink, which makes it run a little cooler, but also voids the warranty.

...

Alex, it's a sign. Your PC wants some time off and is trying to persuade you to get out more. Go chase skirt or something.

I've got the paste and applied it but I'm not sure how the heat sink pins are meant to be set for installation (and unfortunately I've stored the instructions somewhere)?

I've reattached it, now idling at 25. One of the pins had been bent presumably my fault for not aligning it the first time and it gradually worked loose, I've made sure they're all properly in the holes and the dodgey pin is at the bottom so hopefully gravity will help it out