Article: Gaining access to your computer's heatsink and/or CPU will vary depending on what you have. Refer to its owner's manual to find out how to identify, access, remove, and reinstall the necessary parts. If you don't have a hard copy, search the manufacturer's website for a copy online. Once you have safely removed the heatsink, get rid of any dust in its vents. Use a small brush and/or a can of compressed air. Be sure to do this well away from the computer's other parts so the loose dust doesn't end up where it doesn't belong. Find the heatsink's copper cores. Scrape away as much of the old thermal paste as you can with the flat end of a spudger (a small handheld tool used to manipulate computer components). However, you obviously want to be careful not to scratch any parts, so if you're nervous about this step, feel free to skip to the next. Alternatively, you could use a dry cloth or paper towel to rub off most of it if you're worried about scratching the components. Even if you used a spudger, don't expect it to get rid of the old paste entirely. Whether you skipped the previous step or not, grab some coffee filters, lint-free cloths, or q-tips. Wet one with either rubbing alcohol or a cleaner specifically designed for thermal materials. Then use the wet end to moisten, loosen, and remove the old paste. Repeat as needed with fresh filters, cloths, or q-tips. After all traces have been removed, repeat this step once more to get the surface ready for a new application of thermal paste. Cleaners designed for this specific purpose are usually labeled as TIM cleaners (thermal interface material). Inspect it for any thermal paste where it came into contact with the heatsink. If you find any, use the same steps to clean the surface. However, if you use a spudger to scrape the old paste away, only use a plastic one to reduce the chance of scratching or otherwise damaging parts. If you don't have one, don't attempt scraping. Be especially mindful about where the old paste ends up. Once it's loosened, you don't want to accidentally brush it off so that it ends up lodged elsewhere in the processor. If your last application of thermal paste dried to any other parts, use the same method to clean it up. However, use q-tips, paper towels, or other soft material rather than a spudger, since other parts may be more fragile. Additionally, try using a compressed-can of CFC (chlorofluorocarbon)-based automotive electronic contact cleaner if the paste has dried in thin, hard-to-reach gaps.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Refer to your user manual for access. Dust the heatsink's vents. Scrape off old paste. Rub away the residue. Repeat with the processor. Do the same anywhere else thermal paste has spilled.