PC doesn't wanna boot (shuts down after few seconds)

Hi,

I just finished "building" my new PC, but there's a problem: it shuts down after a few seconds.

1 time I managed to see something about CPU temperature, but couldn't catch anything else (it obv. shut down), so I suspect that could be it. Sadly I can't get to BIOS fast enough to check the temperature.

I took the cooler off (standard Intel LGA1366 Core i7 cooler that comes with it; will use it for now until good real LGA1366 coolers come out) and noticed one interesting thing: the preapplied thermal paste was looking untouched. If it was properly mounted, shouldn't the paste scatter (disperse; can't find correct english word ) all over the CPU and/or heatsink?
(could the heatsink be too high and not be touching the CPU? and yeah, I definitely pressed it fully in)

Thanks,
Sporty

Edit:

After I took it off it looked exactly like this (having the same 3 "stripes" of thermal-paste; different heatsink obv.). Shouldn't those stripes be gone (= being one whole) if there was any real pressure between CPU & heatsink?

If the paste was not stuck to the heatsink and processor, then it wasn't properly mounted and could cause an issue similar to what you have. I believe the word you were looking for is "spread".

to the forums.

The retail processor comes with a little manual you can follow to ensure it has been attached properly. And yes, the paste should be spread over the surface when you apply pressure.