EMERGENCY HELP!!

I accidentally got Artic Silver on the socket pins on my machine today trying to do pm with only one hand. How can I remove it without messing up the pins? I do have the Artic Silver Cleaner kit.
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I don't buy computers, I build them!!

Those pins can be easy to bend and break off.

I might try a soft tooth brush and a very light touch.
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I accidentally got Artic Silver on the socket pins on my machine today trying to do pm with only one hand. How can I remove it without messing up the pins? I do have the Artic Silver Cleaner kit.

My suggestion would be to try to avoid a brush or any mechanical contact with the socket.
I would try some electronic grade aerosol contact cleaner (or flux remover, many are mostly isopropyl alchohol) to soften the material and blast it out of the socket.
Let it soak a bit and then give it another shot. The aerosol pressure should help remove the compound without wrecking the socket.

Those sockets are so very easy to damage.
I once trashed a brand new mobo trying to remove some excess thermal past with a soft tissue....snagged a couple of the contacts and that was the end of that installation.
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"Ask not, what your kitty can do for you. Ask what you can do for your kitty."

As it is kitten, so shall it be done.

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. I ended up sending my stepson to get a couple of camel hair brushes, which in combination with alcohol and a can of air I was able to remove most of it. Awfully awkward using only the left hand since the right is in a sling due to shoulder surgery. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME.

For those of you that might be wingmen with tasks on my B-SYS, I apologize in advance for that machine is down for the moment and I don't know when it will be back up. It just stopped recognizing the ram sticks, and I don't have the strength to tackle it right now.

I am going to take a couple of pain pills now, so if you don't hear from this old man for a couple, don't worry!
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I don't buy computers, I build them!!

Ouch....
I DO so hope not recognizing the RAM does not mean a socket problem, as I believe memory controllers are on the i7 rather than the mobo.

Might try squirting the socket out again and making sure you allow time for it to fully dry...as isopropyl contains water. Might coax it along with a hair dryer until sure, and then reseat the CPU.

Hope it sorts for you.

(And I hope the shoulder heals quickly for you too.)
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"Ask not, what your kitty can do for you. Ask what you can do for your kitty."

As it is kitten, so shall it be done.

Thanks for the info guys, now I know something in case I ever need it.
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-Dave #2


3.2.0-33

Working in the medical field gets you full of knowledge you wish you didn't have

I sure do miss my good old Tri-chlor. :) Sorry, showing my age again. Used to use spray cans of it for electronics and 55 gal drums to clean just about anything else.

tri chlorolacetic acid? they use that to remove genital warts. Not sure what you were using it for.

Sounds like he's referring to Trichloroethane (TCE) electrical contact cleaner. When I was on the boats, we could only use it in port with lots of extra ventilation. Using it underway set off the atmosphere control monitors, and got you a special interview with the Chief Engineer, the Corpsman, and either the XO or the Captain. Strong stuff.