Computer startup problem

[KriKri]

Hello.
I was wondering if someone here could help me or at least point me to
a resource where I can find more details about my problem.
Specifically:

I have a desktop PC with an Intel motherboard which uses socket 478.
The processor is a Pentium IV running at 1.7 GHz and the power supply
is 300W. After installing an internal CD/RW drive and experiencing
strange behavior from my PC (freezes, reboots etc.), I decided to take
a look inside. I removed the drive to see if this was the problem and
then I noticed that one of the handles that the cooling fan uses to
attach itself onto the processor was broke. After I removed the
handles, I thought I should clean the dust from the processor just in
case, so I removed him, blew to the socket and replaced the processor
back in. Of course, without the handles the fan isn't attaching
properly so my PC is now lying on the one side with the other side's
cover off.

My problem now is that when I press the power button I can hear the
hard disk spinning, the DVD drive working but that's all. No monitor
or other kind of activity from this point. Could it be that I haven't
inserted the processor or the fan properly or have I accidentally
fried anything ?

I have double-checked the monitor/graphics card connections FWIW.

Thanks for your time.

 

[user]

Hello.
I was wondering if someone here could help me or at least point me to
a resource where I can find more details about my problem.
Specifically:

I have a desktop PC with an Intel motherboard which uses socket 478.
The processor is a Pentium IV running at 1.7 GHz and the power supply
is 300W. After installing an internal CD/RW drive and experiencing
strange behavior from my PC (freezes, reboots etc.), I decided to take
a look inside. I removed the drive to see if this was the problem and
then I noticed that one of the handles that the cooling fan uses to
attach itself onto the processor was broke. After I removed the
handles, I thought I should clean the dust from the processor just in
case, so I removed him, blew to the socket and replaced the processor
back in. Of course, without the handles the fan isn't attaching
properly so my PC is now lying on the one side with the other side's
cover off.

My problem now is that when I press the power button I can hear the
hard disk spinning, the DVD drive working but that's all. No monitor
or other kind of activity from this point. Could it be that I haven't
inserted the processor or the fan properly or have I accidentally
fried anything ?

First off, you should secure the processor fan ASAP as it is critical
to the regulation of the processor temperature. Running the processor
while too hot can damage it. A damaged processor will prevent booting.

Secondly, assuming you have installed the processor properly and have
not disturbed the RAM from its sockets, I would look closely at the IDE
cables you removed from the CD/RW unit. A reversed IDE cable will often
ground out the address bits on that cable and it will prevent the
computer from booting.

Ken