PC functioned prior to thermal paste replacement, but now it's not working.
PC functioned prior to thermal paste replacement, but now it's not working.
I owned this computer for four years, regularly dusting it each year. Occasionally I needed to reset the BIOS, which happened because of failed overclocking attempts. Once everything was back to default, it functioned flawlessly. This time I opted to replace the old thermal paste on my Ryzen 3 2200G. It performed well—no extra paste required, pins intact, no damage detected. I grounded myself briefly to avoid electrical issues, connected all peripherals, and plugged in the power supply. At that instant, the blue LED next to the power button flashed, even though the PC was off. After a few seconds, I switched it on. It displayed both blue and red LEDs, and the BIOS loaded correctly. However, Windows 10 failed to start, showing error screens like system recovery or reset options. I toggled the PC on and off several times, trying all possible fixes, but nothing resolved the issue.
I avoided reinstalling the OS or installing another one, fearing loss of game saves and files in the C partition. Then I powered it off, disconnected the power cord, reset the BIOS using a jumper, removed the battery for about an hour, and reinserted it. After a short wait, I gave it power again and pressed the power button—still nothing happened. All fans spun, but no image appeared even after ten minutes. I also connected a working beeper, but it didn’t emit a single beep.
This time the blue LED reactivated, but the red one (for drives) stayed off—likely because the BIOS couldn’t access the storage yet. I removed components one by one, checking for obstacles to booting (excluding PSU, CPU, memory, and RAM). Nothing changed. I tried swapping the RAM slots and replacing the thermal paste again, but it didn’t help. Eventually, I took off the case and CPU to investigate further. All other parts worked except the power supply unit. After confirming no paste was inside the socket, I turned it on. No changes occurred.
The PC specifications are:
- BIOS: A320MH v6.0
- CPU: Ryzen 3 2200G
- RAM: 16 GB @ 2666 MHz
- Power supply: 200W Rhino PA500
- Storage: 120 GB Patriot SATA III SSD, 1 TB Western Digital HDD
In summary: when I pressed the power button, fans and the HDD spun, but no image appeared and no sound was produced. It seems the issue might be related to the motherboard or memory module, though it still powers up and spins everything mechanically. I’m unsure if it’s the CPU or the main board, but it’s definitely not functioning properly with visuals.
Check the CPU for any bent or damaged pins. If everything seems fine, ask someone with a PC to run a test on it. Edit: I just re-read the post and realized you mentioned there were no broken pins :c Updated January 30, 2023 by Cupcakez
I experienced a comparable problem once, which led to the fan not spinning properly. However, this time it appears more like a coincidence rather than a serious issue. I suggest creating a Windows recovery USB and using the basic troubleshooter there. There are many guides available on YouTube explaining how. This should resolve the matter. Let me know if it helps.
I first used the Windows recovery USB, but it didn’t work. After clearing CMOS several times, there was still no display—no picture, just a black screen. I changed ports (HDMI, DVI-D, D-sub) since it’s an APU, tested various cables, but nothing helped. Even after adding a standard GPU, the screen remained blank. I spent two days trying everything to get the UEFI menu to appear, then considered installing a new Windows, but still couldn’t see any signal on the monitor. It seems either the motherboard or CPU is dead. The motherboard powers all fans and USB ports, so if the CPU failed it would spin up fans and reset itself. But it just keeps spinning with the blue LED on continuously until I turned it off by holding the power button. The only option left was to bake the motherboard in an oven, but a new A320 MB costs 30-40 euros—probably not worth it. Thanks for your quick reply and taking the time to explain this detailed situation.
The CMOS battery is quite old, likely beyond its optimal lifespan. Given the system's age of at least four years, replacing it could resolve issues where settings reset or default. You might notice improvements if the display returns to normal. It’s also worth testing a standard graphics card first, as some setups struggle with onboard video functionality.