Yahoo.com suspect site?

I don't know if this is a hardware or software problem, so here goes. I fired up my computer (a 3ghz Compaq Presario) and it told me my CMOS battery was low. So I changed it. Booted it up again and now it tells me that my home page (Yahoo for news and email) is a suspect site with a bad certificate. Eh? I forced it to let me on, but all I get is text--no graphics--and email works weird. I can read but can't delete. I'm doing a boot sector scan right now (wow 8% done!) so am using my IPad, but what the heck happened? If nobody has a quick fix I'll try restoring to an earlier date. Weird.
Keith

 

Hey buddy, try here http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

 

Thanks for the reply. I tend to think the issue is more likely related to the loss of CMOS data though. That was the only recent change. Also, when I attempted to restore to an earlier point, there were no earlier points. The only point was at the day/time of the battery replacement.

 

I got that error already, makes it seem like a hellish problem when actually it's quite simple - and related to you changing your CMOS battery.

Your PC uses this battery to keep your CMOS settings and DATE & TIME!

Your PC uses your pc date and time to authenticate the certificates.
Chances are your date is somewhat back in the dark ages and your pc will for some reason refuse to use the internet to update it and fail all website certificates... as they will be in the 'future'.

Therefore: Simple fix - SET your DATE and TIME to CURRENT.

Now try your home page - problem solved!

 

That was it. Thanks.

Now why is it running so slow on the internet and hot?! Slow I can maybe understand as it re-acquires data and cookies from the internet. Hot though? When I had it apart I removed the cooling tower, cleaned it thoroughly and cleaned the base of it with alcohol and very fine grit sandpaper (1200) until it was shiny. Then cleaned the CPU and applied a thin layer of thermal grease as smoothly as I could. I've done this to other computers successfully many times. Not so much this time... I'm using Speedfan and it's telling me that the CPU is 111 degrees... CENTIGRADE (230F)! Down to 85 Centigrade when the CPU isn't busy. This is way hotter than it was before.

 

You're welcome --> and there's a thanks button.

I couldn't tell you for sure without more info... you may be on to something with the sandpaper... see below

A possibility, though unlikely.

YOU DID WHAT?
The only thing you should be cleaning that heat sink and cpu with is alcohol, soapy water, a soft cloth, maybe microfiber and make sure it dries before applying thermal paste... sandpaper!?!... you were drinking the alcohol weren't you?

NEVER NEVER NEVER do that again... EVER!

You most likely cut the heat sink, ever so slightly at an angle to the position it was meant to be in and the heat sink clamps would make it uneven, also you could have cut one area ever so slightly deeper than its surroundings making a small hollow... those may not seem like much, but for the temperatures and heat dissipation rate we're talking about here, it is very significant indeed!

The purpose of thermal paste is to close/bridge the very tiny air gap between the heat sink and cpu, but changing those dimensions, you have changed the very nature of the thermal relationship between those two objects.

Change could mean better or worse, I guess you were just lucky those first few times.

Now I suggest you buy a new heat sink, or face some thermal problems. You could try sanding again and attempting to level the surface, but I do NOT recommend that.

You may also attempt a placing a fresh layer of thermal paste, from previous research, what works best, is a pea sized sphere of thermal paste in the center, not spread in any way, and clamp the thermal paste on top of that. That way, may fill some of the hollows you may have created.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/What-is-the-Best-Way-to-Apply-Thermal-Grease-Part-1/1303
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/howto_install_cpu_and_apply_thermal_paste

 

This problem moved over to the hardware section as the computer starting doing random shutdowns. Turned out to be the (probable) overheating of the CPU as a new CPU fixed it. Cleaning the heat sink and re-applying thermal paste also cooled the temp down to 62-66c, which is in its normal operating range (Intel Pentium 4 631 3.00GHz). But then it heated up again after about an hour to 79c, at which point I shut it down and haven't looked at it again. So, over to hardware at this point.
Keith
p.s., I'm really liking this quiet laptop more and more