Did I kill my E4400?

[Password]

I built a system a few months ago buying an Abit IP-35E MB and a E4400 C2D with a Cooler Master TX 2 HSF. All was well until I decided to add a couple of hard drives today.
When I was finished, I let my daughter play ToonTown. After about an hour she said that their was a problem. The screen was black with only the cursor showing, that you could move with the mouse. The computer would not respond and had to be turned off by the ps switch. After that the computer will not turn on. The MB light is on but nothing happens when you hit the power button...no fans, nothing. I noticed that the HSF was loose.
I must have knocked the connecting pins out of place when I installed the HDs. I tried a new PS {I was planning on selling it new on e-bay } but still nothing happens.

So, is the CPU dead? I thought that there was a thermal protector that would shut down the computer? I didn't try to clear the CMOS but since nothing happens when you try to power it, it wouldn't make a difference?

The cpu wasn't overclocked when it happened.

TIA

 

[covert24]

def. clear the cmos. also check your ram modules to see if they are faulty (ie. take one out and test one of them and vice versa) unhook all of your drives and see if it posts.

 

[sutahz]

High quality or cheap as dirt PSU can go bad at any time... but for arguements sake, what psu was in there when this happened?
In other news, do you have family/friends w/ a intel computer? One that runs on at least 800FSB? If so borrow their computer and try out their CPU. If not.. go on ebay or CL and buy the cheapest s775 cpu you can.
Hopefully you can borrow a whole s775 computer (capable of operating your E4400) so you can test your cpu in said system.

 

[GundamF91]

HSF was loose? Is it on only 3 "legs"? That could mean that heat was not dissipating, then your chip've been fried. THen again, Conroe/Allendale suppose to shut down at critical temp, so it could've survived. Once you have new PSU, give it a shot

 

[Password]

It came back to life! I cleared the CMOS and it powered up. Only two pins were connected on the HSF. It was a real pain to get get all four pins to lock. I figured out that the space between the MB and the side of the case was too thin to allow the pins to fully go down and lock. The pins were being blocked by the case wall. I loosened the screws on the MB and took a thick speaker cable (well insulated) and ran it under the board to raise it up enough so the pins could have the space to lock. It worked. Thank you for your help.
BTW the PSU is an Antec TruePower ll 480.

 

[VirtualLarry]

It's usually better for those push-pin heatsinks to apply the heatsink while the mobo is still out of the case. Just FYI.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
It's usually better for those push-pin heatsinks to apply the heatsink while the mobo is still out of the case. Just FYI.

Most motherboard related work is best done with the board out. If it's mounted on a sliding motherboard tray while it's out, even better.

 

[Mondoman]

nerp - as long as the MB tray has a hole under the CPU so you can push the pins all the way in without them running into the tray...