HELP! Have I ruined my MB?

[eljay69]

I got thermal grease (Zalman ZM-STG2) in the RAM slots on my MB. I know, possibly the dumbest thing in the world. If you really have to know how it happened, I'll tell you, but right now I really need to know how to fix this.

I used q-tips and 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean up as much as I could, but the q-tips are too big to fit in the holes. How can I clean up this mess? What can I use to get in there?

Thanx.

 

[rolli59]

Anything that fits and does not leave lint behind, just make sure you get everything out before you power it on.

 

[eljay69]

Any suggestions as to what would fit? I think I need something like a q-tip that I could swirl around a bit, but obviously an actual q-tip is way too big.

 

[rolli59]

A folded good quality paper towel is narrower then rinsing it out with alcohol and let it dry would work, a job that requires patience.

 

[Pinhedd]

Go to your local automotive or electronics shop and get a can of electronic contact cleaner. Use the included spraytube to spray inside the sockets, it should melt the paste away rather quickly.do not use this stuff indoors

EDIT: It looks something like this

http://www.cpcares.com/TAE/puretronics/TAE-5000.html

Some are greasy, avoid these. If you can get a can that's based on HCFCs then get that as it will work better than the non-HCFC compounds which are coming to market due to the CFC/HCFC phase out.

 

[vertical777]

+1 for contact cleaners, dries up very fast and gets the job done. just try not to spray it all over the place, use the included straw nozzle thing.

 

[terryd75]

maybe use a ram stick that you dont care about? it would fit perfectly into the slot......soak it up good first with the cleaning solution and plug it in a few times........best idea i can come up with.

 

[eljay69]

Thanx for the tips. I'll get a can of contact/circuit board cleaner and give that a try as it was also suggested to a kindred bonehead in Australia with the same problem.

 

[Pinhedd]

Thanx for the tips. I'll get a can of contact/circuit board cleaner and give that a try as it was also suggested to a kindred bonehead in Australia with the same problem.

The same problem? How many people are putting thermal paste in their DIMM slots?

 

[eljay69]

Update:

Went to a few stores and couldn't get any circuit board cleaner, so I tried another method before ordering some online.

Using a soft toothbrush dipped in 91% isopropyl alcohol and brushing in the slots, I'm able to pick pieces of the paste out with a pin, pull them out with tweezers and wipe some away with a lint-free paper towel. Still a bit of a patience game, but it's working well enough that I think I'll be able to complete the job this way.

Thanx again for all your help.

- eljay

 

[Pinhedd]

If it's stupid, but works, it isn't stupid.