Thermal paste won't come off of laptop heatsink.

[LowVitality]

I'm trying to re-paste my GL62 6QF laptop, but thermal paste gunk won't come out of the heatsink. I tried using microfiber cloths and q-tips doused with 99% alcohol and scrubbing it, but it didn't work. I heated the components using stress tests before opening it too, but it didn't help loosen the gunk at all. Soon after, I just pasted over the gunk to get my laptop working again. It's working fine enough though, but the temps only dropped slightly. I'm at a loss on what to do, and I need help. I'm planning to re-paste it once more since I ripped out some of the thermal pads.

 

 

[jaslion]

Might want to get one of those thermal paste remover kits then. Either way just some high amounts of force should get rid of thermal paste no matter how caked on. At worst use a plastic card or something for scraping.

[LowVitality]

8 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Might want to get one of those thermal paste remover kits then. Either way just some high amounts of force should get rid of thermal paste no matter how caked on. At worst use a plastic card or something for scraping.

The heatplate is copper. Will it deform if I put too much force? Will plastic cards scratch the copper heatplate too and possibly lessen the performance too?

[Master Disaster]

Use a toothbrush, its firm enough to dislodge any gunk but not hard enough to scratch the heatpipes.

[jaslion]

6 minutes ago, LowVitality said:

The heatplate is copper. Will it deform if I put too much force? Will plastic cards scratch the copper heatplate too and possibly lessen the performance too?

Shouldn't damage it. Of course don't put too much force on it that bends it. I mean you'd normally lay it flat on a table any way so I doubt you could even do that.

 

The toothbursh suggestion here is also a good idea.

[b1bs]

1 hour ago, LowVitality said:

I'm trying to re-paste my GL62 6QF laptop, but thermal paste gunk won't come out of the heatsink. I tried using microfiber cloths and q-tips doused with 99% alcohol and scrubbing it, but it didn't work. I heated the components using stress tests before opening it too, but it didn't help loosen the gunk at all. Soon after, I just pasted over the gunk to get my laptop working again. It's working fine enough though, but the temps only dropped slightly. I'm at a loss on what to do, and I need help. I'm planning to re-paste it once more since I ripped out some of the thermal pads.

 

 

Don't use any ol' alcohol. Get isopropyl alcohol and try again.

[LowVitality]

1 hour ago, b1bs said:

Don't use any ol' alcohol. Get isopropyl alcohol and try again.

I didn't type it right. I meant 99% isopropyl alchohol. 

[b1bs]

15 minutes ago, LowVitality said:

I didn't type it right. I meant 99% isopropyl alchohol. 

well if the paste dried out try letting it soak the alcohol in and the nwipe it off