Overheated CPU problem

[Milliron1]

I just completed a build for a friend of mine. Unfortunately, it appeared that I didn't get at least one of the Socket 775 Intel heatsink pins completely through the mobo (the pin had actually bent back on itself--when are they going to get rid of that POS heatsink bracket?) The heatsink got loose and the CPU shut down the PC. My friend got an error message referencing an overheating problem and described the identified overheating alarm code to me. Everything had been working fine for the two months or so before this happened.

I unhooked everything, removed the mobo, reseated the heatsink and am satisfied now that it is definitely hooked on (had to restraighten the bent pin with needle nose pliers and carefully reinsert). I reattached everything correctly as far as I know. The BIOS is showing everything in place as before.

The problem I am having is with XP. It now refuses to boot XP in anything but Safe mode. If you attempt to load it normally, it puts up the Windows splash and then hangs. I am getting ready to attempt to fix this problem. Where should I start? Did the overheat torpedo Windows and I need to reinstall? Is there a component that is missing or hooked up incorrectly that would hang the boot? Advice here is likely to save me a lot of time, so any help would be appreciated.

The build is:
3.4 Ghz Intel Dual Core
Intel BOXD945GNTLKR Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 945G ATX Intel Motherboard
2 GB Corsair Value select
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/LightScribe and 5X DVD-RAM Write Black ATAPI/E-IDE
eVGA 256-P2-N583-AR GeForce 7900GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card
XClio 450BL ATX 450W Power Supply
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Thanks for your help.

Bob

[flanzig1]

Check the CPU temps in BIOS to make sure that it isn't still too hot. If you still getting high temps, should remove the HSU again,clean the old thermal pad off the CPU and HSU, apply fresh thermal compound.
Can also try to do a repair install of Windows.