Well it looks as if my wife's laptop finally bit the big one. She had been having problems with turning on and booting up (the laptop I mean). I decided to play computer tech and investigate the reasons as to why the fan would run, but nothing else. Scouring the web for information, I had determined that the problem lies in either the CPU or the posts that connect the heat sink to the CPU. The first disassemble took a while, as I had neither a diagram nor the experience. Each subsequent time, of which there were many, increased my speed and efficiency (with less parts left over). I discovered that the heat from the CPU had caused the solder connections for the heat sink posts to break, allowing the heat sink to separate from the CPU. I reattached the posts to the mother board and secured the heat sink back on top of the CPU. Prior to this I unlocked the CPU from its socket and inspected both for visual damage.
I reassembled the unit and went to fire it up. The fan started running and a few lights blinked. To my surprise, it failed to boot up and run. I was sure that I had remedied the situation and my wife would have her laptop back. I would be a hero and she would be eternally grateful. It also dawned on me that I had failed to apply thermal paste to the top of the CPU, before reattaching the heat sink. I am going to disassemble again (trying to beat my previous time) and apply the paste. I have serious doubts to whether this will resolve the problem. I suspect the CPU is fried.
Getting a new laptop is not a high priority. We have two desktops and she can still access her laptops hard drive for her business. One bright spot in this sluggish economy is that the prices for laptops are plummeting and there are deals to be had if one has the patience to research and find the best value.
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