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    Severe Overheating -- What's going on?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by VinConigs, Mar 30, 2010.

  1. VinConigs

    VinConigs Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a Dell Inspiron 1526 that won't boot because the CPU gets very hot in only a few seconds. I was getting a CPU failure code (blinking num lock LED) so I changed the CPU. Same problem.

    In desperation, I changed the motherboard. Unbelievable, but the same problem! I tried to do a diagnostic start up (hold Fn key while powering on) and it shut down in about 40 seconds. When I went to swap the CPU, the heat sink was so hot that I couldn't touch it. I let things cool off and restarted with the unit on its side. Testing the heat sink with my finger, it became too hot to touch in only about 15 seconds, and shut down in about 30 seconds. The first thing you're going to suggest is that I didn't tighten the CPU ZIF socket screw. I checked twice, and it was tight. There's thermal paste on the CPU and the fan is plugged in. There's no dust on the cooler assembly.

    Any ideas would be appreciated. After all this time and money, I really want to find out what's wrong. A new motherboard and new CPU should fix just about anything that's wrong with a laptop, except this one.

    Further info: Running from battery or AC adapter makes no difference. Original problem was that the unit was dropped and the display broke off the unit, but it still worked in 2 pieces (connected only by the video cable). I replaced the hinges and display bezel to fix the display, and it would not boot. Doing a diagnostic start gave me the 'CPU not found' error code (blinking num lock LED). Is there something in the display that could be causing this?

    Any ideas would be appreciated. I'm stumped. Thank you.
     
    VinConigs, Mar 30, 2010
    #1
  2. chaugh

    chaugh Notebook Consultant

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    very weird. im no expert, but even if ur fan isnt working and ur cpu has no thermal paste, i doubt it would overheat to the point of shutdown in what 30 secs?

    since u changed ur cpu and motherboard to no avail, i was going to suggest the psu, but running on battery gives the same problem. all i can say is maybe u had 2 bad motherboards? i mean, what else can overheat the cpu??
     
    chaugh, Mar 31, 2010
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  3. Joel

    Joel coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee

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    Check out your fan, also, clean the system out using compressed air.

    EDIT: Maybe it's all faulty? Just unlucky I guess. This is really strange, I'm going to investigate further!
     
    Joel, Mar 31, 2010
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  4. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    Perhaps you have a short circut somewhere feeding extra juice somewhere. Have you checked all wires to see if any where nicked?
     
    DR650SE, Mar 31, 2010
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