Hi, my friend asked me to look at his computer he bought off another guy, “it powers up but doesn’t work” the fan on the processor is noisy (it vibrates) I took the fan off (undone 4 screws) the fan seems fine off the processor. I now want to take off the processor but I don’t want to break anything, there seems to be silver bracket holding the heatsink on. This bracket is clipped onto a lip at each side of the processor. The processor is square.

Usually, there's a spot where you can insert a properly sized flat-blade screwdriver and push downward to release the clip. There's most often a "V" shaped piece of tensioned metal that pushes the heatsink into contact with the processer...it is this same piece that then protrudes out and hooks on.

it is plastic around the bottom of the CPU not sure how strong though I would have to use this as the lever will this be OK?

HERE'S (http://www.dansdata.com/coolers.htm) some excellent information and photos showing where the spring clip attaches. It doesn't take all that much downward pressure to release the spring clip.

The ones I have installed actually necessitated a forward pressure to hook them under. When released they actually extend slightly away from the heatsink and spring away from the sink.

They seem as though they were actually designed to faciltate removal...imagine that! ;)

Some of the newer P-III and P-4 heatsink clips I've seen are plastic with a lever that clamps the heatsink on. I doubt if a used machine would have one, but if it is that type, look for a lever that's usually a different color than the black clamp. Once opened the whole thing should come off easily.

Mark,

Establishing which component is malfunctioning might be advisable prior to CPU removal.

If you were intending to just replace the CPU, and hope the PC is fixed, think again. You could fry the new CPU if another component is at fault.
“it powers up but doesn’t work”
If you care to post back with particulars of symptoms, many here can assist you analyze the problem.

Mark,

I've put on and taken off many heatsinks, and I always consider myself lucky if nothing happens. Among other things, you can break the post off that holds the heat sink bracket or you can ruin the motherboard by poking it with the screw driver.

Follow Juan Dos's advice and try to figure out what the problem is before you disassemble everything.

I agree - I have had more time to think this out - I connected the monitor - no BIOS - so I think I'm back to the drawing board (I was told the monitor showed the BIOS) I have also discovered that the Motherboard screws were loose so was the Floppy drive & CDROM giving me the impression this tower was put together quick for the sale.
There is also a PCI slot cover missing telling me a VGA card has been removed, though the board is suppose to have on board Graphics.

I don't have the manual I asked my friend to contact this other guy for it, I am now wondering whether the Motherboard is being Powered, I am getting feeling that the M/board may have only been fitted quick to sell.

If you have a spare video card just slip it in and see if it works.

No I don't have a spare card..... If this computer had been mine I would have done as you say. I am trying not to get too involved really, but I'm curious now, because my friend said there was a display when he got it off this other guy. But I think there was a PCI video card in then.

If the computer sounds like it is posting normally (fans turn, hard drives spin up, floppy. CD, HD accesses) but you have no display, then it might be worth while getting a video card to try.

If it doesn't seem to post normally, it is probably not worth fooling with. With a bad CPU fan, the processor may have gotten fried.

Until you see something on the screen, you can't tell what you have. Probably with onboard video were not talking about an expensive computer. If you can figure out what motherboard you have, it may provide some clue as to the age of the system. Also the size of the CPU heatsink might help - a tiny heatsink would indicate an older CPU. The number of PCI slots vs. ISA slots may provide a clue as to age.

Finally, the previous owner may have tried to fix it by putting a PCI video card and when it didn't work, he just took it back out.

Yeah - I am listening to what you are saying - the fan on the Heatsink is very noisy - making it impossible to hear the hardrive. The motherboard is the Matsonic (ms8308e). A quick search on the net for a PDF Manual gives me the impression its about 2 years old. (is this old?)

Do the floppy, HD, and CD access lights go on and off during startup? That would indicate that the computer is booting normally.

Two years old could be worth saving. On the other hand, if it has cheap components, they could all be failing by now.

the floppy drive light did come til I removed the battery to reset the BIOS - maybe unsettled the connecters - hardrive light comes on then off again - cd spins and lights up.

Yeah. This thing may not be dead afterall. Sounds like it is at least partially booting.

Wish you could try a video card. Then you would know for sure.

i'm going to ask around - maybe somebody will have a spare video card.