CPU/Heat sink Dilemma

[Tical]

Hey guys.

Alright so. My mother has an old package computer bought from a local store, its about 3 years old and was fairly cheap when she got it.

Last night the fan on the heatsink went totally, completely died. The computer booted fine but overheated very quickly.

Today I bought a new fan for the Heatsink. I took out the heatsink to find the CPU *totally* attached to the heatsink. I mean won't even budge, impossible to get off. I thought alright thats strange, but i've put a new fan on that works perfectly i'll just fit the heatsink/CPU back in. But I can't.

The heatsink is very large, and with the CPU completely attached to it I can't keep the lever on the CPU socket up to attach the CPU. The lever has to be down to get the CPU/Heatsink anywhere near the socket. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to refit the CPU, as the socket has the lever down in the locked position.

What are my options? I've never ever had this problem before. Time for a new CPU or are there any workabouts? And no, the CPU is impossible to get off the heatsink, its stuck tight and the only way to budge it is to pry it out which will most likely break it completely.

Thanks guys.

 

[Cob]

The usual method would be to run the computer for a few mins to try to soften the thermal pad/paste. But that may be dangerous in your situation.

You could try a hairdryer.

 

[Mul]

I'd go with the hairdryer method. My old Pentium 4 was totally stuck to the heatsink when I removed it from my Dell. Took a hair dryer to it till the heatsink was luke warm, then lightly twisted the CPU. Came off quite easily then.

 

[Tical]

Never thought of trying a hairdryer. I'll try that a bit later.

Thanks for the tip, hope it works.

 

[Emlyn_Dewar]

Hairdryer vote +1

 

[PhillyDee]

They may have used thermal adhesive. Ive come across that stuff being used in the past. That said, its probably just old paste which has hardened.

 

[Tical]

They may have used thermal adhesive. Ive come across that stuff being used in the past. That said, its probably just old paste which has hardened.

Yeah I thought it was some kind of adhesive, it wasn't moving at all.

I blasted it with the hairdryer for 15 mins or so and it finally came off. Its all working now.

Thanks guys! Would've never thought of using a hair dryer.