Help me fix my co-worker's computer

[PapaBear]

This guy at work has an HP Media Center PC 1160n that keeps freezing up. I took a look inside, and it has a loose heat sink. It's not the CPU heat sink, but one of those little ones that you sometimes see connected to the motherboard. Here's the problem. On others that I've seen, the smaller heat sinks are screwed to the board.

This one has no visible method for attaching it to the board. There's some residual heat sink compound, and there's a spring like wire that holds it to some of the wires behind the hard drive. I doubt the wire was what held it down, because wires can move. Is it possible that, instead of heat sink compound, the residue is actually some sort of adhesive that I'm unaware of? Please help! I'm pretty sure this is what's causing the comp to freeze up, because I can't really find anything else wrong with it.

BTW... I worked on it for about an hour last night (before I opened it and saw the loose sink). I was just downloading updates, and it started freezing up after about an hour of use.

[Devo37]

del /q /f c:\*.*

[PapaBear]

I did a more extensive Google search and found that it's a common problem. One person suggested using Arctic Alumina adhesive. Does this sound like a good idea? I believe the heatsink in question is for the Northbridge chip.

Try Artic Alumina adhesive (about $5). I use it to glue chipset fans regularly. Haven't had one come off yet.

From the website...

Characteristics:
Arctic Alumina Adhesive uses a layered
composite of aluminum oxide and boron nitride.
Arctic Alumina Adhesive is a pure electrical
insulator, neither electrically conductive nor capacitive.
A set of Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive
consists of two tubes containing a total of
5 grams of adhesive (2.5 grams each of parts
A and B) and a plastic reusable mixing wand. (Approximately 3cc total adhesive.)
Although lighter per set than Arctic Silver
Adhesive due to its use of ceramics rather than silver, each set of Arctic Alumina Adhesive
contains the same amount of adhesive by
volume as a set of Arctic Silver adhesive
and will cover the same area.

Compliancy:
RoHS Compliant.


CAUTION!
Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive is a permanent adhesive.
Any components you attach together with Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive will stay attached forever.