Britec Tech Support Forum

What symptoms show that a processor needs thermal paste?

Here is some symptoms. Hot CPU, Stress Test CPU, overheating, crashing, BSOD, heatsink fan not spinning, failing heatsink ie: heatsink spins..but not at the right rpm 

Ohhh ok. My Windows explorer when opened displays as just a frame and where my folders should be is just a background from the desktop for several seconds and then my items show up which is odd since its a fresh install?so I'm trying to check off problems until a solution is found.

Check your RAM.

That's what loads up the desktop.

Alright thank you guiltyspark : ) , But check the ram as in physically inspect the ram or run some software tests like mem86 https://www.memtest86.com/?

Both.

Check to make sure the RAM is seated properly.
Take out one stick at a time and test each one in each slot to see if picture still disappears.

But run the memtest first as its just easier than fiddling with components.

Would be helpful if you could give some specs on the machine, RAM size, xxbit OS, Desktop/Laptop, Security programs etc.

Yep.... Sounds like something is delaying load times at start up.

Ahhh ok. It's a Dell dimension 8400, Intel 3.40ghz processor (hyperthreading enabled) 2gb of ram with a 32bit version of vista home basic. (The graphics card I'm using is ancient lol but its an ATI raedon 128mb, I believe its the stock graphics card .

I checked the ram and they seem to be seated properly and memtest86 said they passed

I am little lost on this thread, so I will take a punt and what I think your asking.

Run a clean boot to see how it starts up.
https://briteccomputers.co.uk/posts/perform-clean-boot-windows-8/

Check your CPU temp post screen shot and log file.