I hope you like reading:

My problems all started with my CPU had temperature that always stayed between 70 & 75 degrees regardless of whether i just turned on the computer or whether i was playing a game like UT2k3. I use Via HM 2.04 to monitor the temps. First i taught that Via HM was giving false readings but they were the same in the bios when i checked.

I use the same fan that came bundled with the Athlon 1800+. i think it's an 4500rpm. So when anyways, I bought some thermal paste. Although i pretty much understood to install things like CPU's, RAM, etc., i had never before install thermal paste.
So i read all the tips at all the sites i found. Everything from: making sure that no debris from old paste is between cpu and heatsink: to spreading the paste over the heatsink, etc. I bought a packet of the white paste. and i just applied a little bit in the centre of the heat sink and in the centre of the cpu. that's all.
I had a little trouble getting the fan and heatsink off of the cpu because the fan will clamped down so tightly. The screwdriver i used to get it off, hit the motherboard hard when i slipped. but there weren't any marks left.
So now that i applied the paste and reinstalled the fan/heatsink, the computer won't boot. When i turned it on, it just gave off a beep, and then a another beep, and another and another, and another................................
I got no display from the monitor, and also there was no hard disk activity.

Now i was forced to use my old motherboard and cpu, (SIS530/5595 w/t AMD k6-2 500). Although i now have all 512mbs of ram installed on it, it moves so slow in comparison to my Athlon XP & board.

What has happended to me? I'll post again if you need more info.

While the people on this board are good, none of them read minds. What is the motherboard, CPU, memory. How about the beeps? How many are there? Or does it just keep on beeping and never stop?

Sorry for leaving out that. it slipped me.

The motherbaord is a Biostar and it has a via chipset M7VKQ. Socket A of course.
AMD 1800+ XP
512mb SDRAM

And as for the beeping. It goes on and on. it doesn't stop. all the fans spin and i don't get any display.

Thanks in adv.

That is usually a CPU error -- heres a couple things to check: reinsert your CPU -- be sure its well seated and your little pole thingy is all the way down (be sure to reapply paste when putting fan back on) and you might wanna also be sure your heatsink is plugged into the correct power outlet.

Jason

I did all of that.

still nothing.

Well..for one thing i know you did wrong was spreading the compound on the heatsink. Never do that. When you are positioning that heat sink you could of gotten some of the compound off on the side of the cpu. And you also mentioned that you scraped the board with the screw driver. In that case you might have to remove the cpu and test it in another board. Another thing, check to see if the video card and all other cards didnt come lose when you hit the board. I hope this helps

I think it's the one where the compond gets to the sides of the cpu. can that damage it.

The compound i used is all around the sides of the cpu.

dont worry if paste is around the sides of the core of the cpu, putting too much pasted on the cpu can make it run hotter beleave it or not.
try this :
1. clear CMOS by moving jumper or taking battery out for a few moments
2. if its beeping continues then its telling you that there's a problem with them memory
3. how many memory do u have sound to like you need to re-install memory or remove some
if it beeps all the time then its deffently the memory so try changing the mem m8 bet that sorts it out :)

oh yes 1 more thing if u keep removing the heat sink then if i was u i would buy a SHIM to fit your cpu becouse sooner or later u will damage or even crack the cpu core and thats a FACT! trust me a SHIM is a very good idear becouse it evens out the stress that the heatsink is putting on the cpu core use google to find out where to get a SHIM for you cpu DONT WOT EVER USE A COPPER SHIM WITH ANY TYPE OF ATHLON CPU !!