I have had a problem getting a PC to bootup and it has been suggested that maybe the CPU needs to be reseated. How do you get the heat sink free of the CPU when the 2 of them are cemeted together so I can unlock the lock on the CPU (478 pin socket)? Where can you find the cement to rejoin them after they have been seperated? Thanks!

You might get by without reseating the CPU. There is a lever to lock to cpu pins to the base. Raise and lower this lever a few times. That will approximate the act of reseating the CPU.

That's the problem, I can't get to the ziff (?) lever. The heat sink is cemeted to the chip and I'm thinking I could bend or break one of the pins.

I don't think your CPU needs re-seating. The ZIF socket is such that it is not a problem. The ZIF socket grips the pins far tighter than any push-in socket. I doubt very much if the heat-sink is cemented to the CPU either. Cementing heat-sinks to CPUs is not a normal thing to do. The only time you might cement a heat-sink to the CPU is if the clamp mountings are broken. If that is the case your screwed. Heat-sinks are clamped to the CPU. If you look carefully you will see a metal clamp going through the heat-sink and clamped to either side of the socket. Remove this clamp and the heat-sink comes off. They can be difficult to remove as it is a tight clamp. Two screwdrivers are often required, one to press the clamp down and one to lever it outward. You will need to replace the thermal compound on the heat-sink when you replace the heat-sink. Having said that, if a computer wont boot, a lose CPU is the last think I would be looking for. Stuart

This sink has a clamp on each side of it. I have those removed and it is stuck very tight against the chip. I just don't see how you can remove it from the chip. I've used pretty good force and it just won't budge. I can't reach the lever to release the chip. The sink hangs over the chip all the way around. Doesn't the thermal compound dry to a gray color and then pretty well stick to the chip or does it still pliable? Thanks

I am having almost the exact same problem as Jackman. Although I managed to remove the heatsink from the computer, however as I pulled it away the cpu detatched itself from the motherboard. What has happened is that the heat transfer gel (or whatever they used) has solidified and effectively cemented the top of the CPU to the bottom of the heatsink. I have removed every clamp there is, the only thing holding the CPU on is the gel, and I also would like to know if anybody has a decent solution to removing this. I have tried to pry it off with a screwdriver and a pocket knife so far, and neither of them have been helpful. Any better solution? Thanks

Hey! I'm having exactly the same problem - I removed the heat sink and the processor was stuck to it. It seems impossible to remove. Any ideas? Knock it with a hammer? A really really good solvent? I might have to replace the CPU altogether, which is such a pain. Cheers, D.