Problems removing a stock Intel Fan

[Verponian]

So I'm putting together my second build and have run into a rather spectacular problem.

I did a test boot and the mobo didn't post and threw up a debug message (MSI Mpower, message: b2 or 62).

One suggestion was that I should check the CPU was seated properly/there weren't any bent pins etc. Now this was the last resort and I checked lots of other things first but eventually came back to this.

And here's the problem, the stock cooler is stuck fast. One leg just won't retract. I've made sure all the pins are unlocked, I've tried putting the others back in and pulling up the offending leg first but no joy. I've tried rotating the leg round to slightly different positions. Still nothing. I've tried to push the pin back through from the back of the motherboard but nothing. If anything, when the leg is in the 'unlocked' position, it seems stiffer somehow.

I've reached a stage where I don't know what to do. I'm concerned the more I try to turn the locking mechanism, the more I'll chew up the plastic screw head to the point where it's impossible to turn. the more I try and push it through from behind, the more I chew up the stupid pins and make removal even more difficult, not to mention increased risk of damaging the board.

What can I do? If anything is faulty, it's going to be difficult to return when the offending part is stuck to another component (not to mention the problem that the CPU didn't come from OCuk) plus the more I try to take off the fan, the more damage I cause to it which screws me over if it turns out I have a dud CPU.

I really am stuck and feel genuinely sick right now.

 

[wazza300]

any wd40? spray a tiny amount at the back on the plastic pin and inside the sliding pin on the otherside of the board,it should loosen it up then

be carefull not to spray it on any other parts,just the pin

 

[hyperst]

You are pushing the right part of the pin back through?

The white inner core is the one that moves back up from behind the motherboard.

 

[Verponian]

This is just typical. I spend the better part of an afternoon stressing out over something, scour the internet, finally admit defeat and decide to post on a forum, then the very next thing I try works.

Thanks everyone. In the end I installed the mobo in the case then directed a lamp at back of pin in question to see if it would soften up a bit.

So second question, if my CPU is indeed dud, what's the general likelihood of the seller being funny about refunding/replacing it if I've, let's say, chovelled the stock cooler a bit?

EDIT

You are pushing the right part of the pin back through?

The white inner core is the one that moves back up from behind the motherboard.

I was trying to push the core up (black in this case) and then squeezing the split pin back together enough. I'm wondering if the there's something wrong with the leg now. Looking at it, the core bit seems as though it's really stiff.