Dang, could be time to start over :(

[JKnife]

I built a cabinet a few years ago and spent LOTS of time here learning as I went. Last week noticed it was running really slow (MK II running choppy for example) and figured it was dust built up in the heat sink--it's happened before. So I took it apart today to clean it out but unfortunately when I pulled the heat sink out it took the CPU with it! 

A few pins were bent; I bent them back into place with a tiny screwdriver, cleaned and reassembled. But now when I power it up it shuts itself off before it ever starts to boot windows.

Man, I don't even know what CPU it has in it. i'll have to dig out the old books and receipts. If I can't replace it with the exact same one, I'll have to re-install windows. And if I have to do THAT, I probably will have to format C: and re-do my front end, re-install all my emulators and roms, re-program my IPAC. Geez, I could be in for months of work.

I guess nothing lasts forever. I'm bummed. 

[JKnife]

Post count 4? WTF? I had a LOT more than that...

(hey, not that it matters. I've got bigger fish to fry)

[EwJ]

Man, I don't even know what CPU it has in it. i'll have to dig out the old books and receipts. If I can't replace it with the exact same one, I'll have to re-install windows. And if I have to do THAT, I probably will have to format C: and re-do my front end, re-install all my emulators and roms, re-program my IPAC. Geez, I could be in for months of work.

Prob wouldn't have to reinst OS.  If replacing processor, get fastest one your mobo can handle (bios update if req'd).
Were any of the pins broken?  Were it me, I'd carefully try again to straighten any pins and reseat it - you have nothing to lose at this point.
Were you able to detach the processor from the heatsink? (overheating an issue?)
Will it POST? You say it won't make it to windows - but does it get to bios post? and recognize processor, etc?

[cmoses]

Just checking but you have reinstalled the heatsink and fan right?  Alot of systems will shut down if this is not in place.

[Haterot]

you wont HAVE to reinstall the OS if you replace the CPU with a diffrent version. The system should recognize a hardware change and install accordingly. you will probably have to reboot several times but by no means should you re install the OS. What Mobo do you have and what CPU was it, you should  find that basic info printed on each piece.

[EwJ]

To clarify, if it does post and you get no error beeps, don't mess with the pins.(it kind of sounded like you were getting nothing but hard to tell from your description).
If it posts, as cmoses said - heat - if you haven't already, a good cleaning and fresh thermal paste can work wonders. (what i meant by detaching and overheating in last post).

[zzaz3]

Well, you could always install another hard drive with the OS on it and run the games from the other hard drive.  It's not the best setup, but it beets having to erase everything and start from scratch.

[thecheat]

Did you plug the CPU fan back in or is something preventing it from spinning? Lots of older motherboards had a CPU protection feature that would prevent the computer from booting longer than a few seconds if the CPU fan wasn't running.

This can also happen if you plugged it into the wrong fan header. I had a motherboard with "CPU FAN" and "SYS FAN" connectors right next to each other.

[swamprat96]

and when is back - consider buying a large memory stick and backing up the setup/fe etc  to it. Won't save the OS but will save the rest. I now buy one for every cab- back it all up and screw it inside the cab for just this event.

[Jack Burton]

also, correct me if I'm wrong, but MAME doesn't add any registry keys or OS dependent stuff so you should be fine with just copying over your MAME installation to another drive and reformatting, then copying it back.

The I-pac also saves it's settings so you won't have to reprogram it.

I don't know about your front-end.

[JKnife]

Good advice guys, thanks. Yes I tried taking the CPU out again and all the pins look straight now. I can't see any that are bent or missing. The heat sink and fan were in place. I did break one of the clips that holds the fan and heat sink down tight but the other three are intact, it's still pretty snug.

It does post a BIOS message, I can't read that quick, and then it shuts down. I'll keep trying...

Oh, and it's a socket 478 ASUS mobo.

[Gavica]

just plug the hard drive to another pc and back everything up.

[daywane]

Good advice guys, thanks. Yes I tried taking the CPU out again and all the pins look straight now. I can't see any that are bent or missing. The heat sink and fan were in place. I did break one of the clips that holds the fan and heat sink down tight but the other three are intact, it's still pretty snug.

It does post a BIOS message, I can't read that quick, and then it shuts down. I'll keep trying...

Oh, and it's a socket 478 ASUS mobo.

Find another crapped out socket 478 mobo.
the legs will come out. it is  a simple plastic rivet with pull pins.
YOU NEED ALL 4 LEGS! over heat will happen.
I just fixed my son in laws PC doing this.
If I had another socket 478 laying around I would pull it for you.
I do have 2 CPUs here if you need a new one.
1 is 2.6 ghz
1 is 2.8 ghz
look on eBay and buy the cheapest socket 478 mobo you can find
it is really simple to take the CPU Fan holder off

[daywane]

Take my word on it. NO amount of Jerry rigging will work.
I have tried everything.
I would bet $$$$ that the leg broke long ago and this was the start of your problem from the get go.
I do not know why but socket 478 has a tendency to break legs off 

[daywane]

this will fix you up
$8.00 shipped
I have no clue what that cross looking piece is?
I have built and repaired many socket 478 mobo's
never saw that before? but the bracket you do want.
let me know if you need a CPU.
I am done with socket 478.
PC2100 ram and 4x vid card and even the mobo are getting hard to find.
ram is not but price is out rated because the demand is not that high

[JKnife]

Whew! Big relief, a $15 heat sink and fan fixed the problem! 

Now I'll be backing up every file that isn't a ROM. Thanks for the support!