IHS REMOVAL
 

I've always thought the CPU/GPU was the heat shield and never gone under it, which is where the actual CPU/GPU is.

Is it necessary to go under the shield and apply new thermal paste onto the CPU/GPU or is on the shield just fine? I know they are epoxied to the shield so would regular paste be okay?

As for the procedure to get under there, all I have to do is heat up the shield and wiggle it off, right?

No need to heat it just wiggle it off and apply new. I wouldn't suggest removing the heat shield unless you plan on removing and replacing the compound/paste.

IHS REMOVAL
 

After I got off the IHS, I noticed tears where the yellow spots are in this image after I removed the silicone:

img521.imageshack[DOT]us/img521/4231/mqdefaultz.jpg

The tears revealed a silver material, I put the system back together and now it doesn't turn on. It shuts off with three red beeps and a continuous red flash.

What could be the problem?

Ive replaced my thermal paste 1year ago and had no problems yet.

Also link to image no for working!
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Man i just seen the photo and thats not that it should look like!!!!
I looks like you removed the chip. Not Good.
it should look something like this. http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h...QEwBA&dur=2942

Those squares are not chips, they are heat shields/spreaders, under them is the CPU/GPU die.

You when too deep man! The thermal paste goes on the so called squares!

I didnt go so deep when I replaced my paste.

Yeah, I realize that now...

There's no need to remove the heat shields on the cpu and gpu. Simply just clean off the oem paste that's on it and put about a piece of rice length but thick amount of thermal paste directly in the center of both chips. When you put the heat displacing coil back on push down firmly and wiggle it around as much as possible without pulling up(this is so it expands the paste and makes no air bubbles), then screw it all back down. I noticed a 5 degree C temp drop on the gpu after I did this at system idle in multiman. My console never did YLOD, but while in idle it would start to kick onto the 2nd fan level which I didn't like, doesn't do that now anymore.