Desktop

Ask something
Question Locked

Is it moron act?

0 helpful
30 replies

by ideaddict

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hi

I seriously need your urgent replies as i did something stupid with my motherboard & other cards. I really worried and need to know some solid solution & hope this forum will solve my problem as it did before.

I intentionally sprayed WD-40 solution to all of my boards (motherboard intel D915 series; soundcard creative 7.1 support; TV Tuner Pinnacle; AGP Nvidia)and now can not figure out how to get rid of this problem. Can anyone tell me the perfect solution and whether it will affect these peripherals in future or not?

Another stupidity which i did was to removed the solution between processor & heat-sink element & now wondering what should i do for that?

Please save my PC & help me out

Best Regards

30 replies

by captbilly1eye

I have to ask.... what in heaven's name possessed you to do such a thing?

Anyway... the 'solution' you removed that was between the processor and it's heatsink was a silver colored grease called 'dielectric grease.' It is a compound specifically designed to aid in heat transfer but to not allow the transfer of electric current. You can purchase an inexpensive tube of dielectric grease from just about any on-line or local computer hardware supplier that sells processors or cooling fans. Do not connect your heatsink back to the processor or use your computer without replacing the dielectric grease between those two components.

As far as the WD-40 goes... that is going to be extremely difficult if not impossible to fully remove. The letters 'WD' stand for 'water displacement'. It is a non-water soluable lubricant. It should never be used as a cleaner.
I would use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and cotton swabs. CAREFULLY use the alcohol wet swabs and [b]gently[/b] dab and wipe off as much of the WD-40 as you can. Then allow them to air dry fully for several days. As a graphite/petroleum-based lubricant, much of the WD-40 will eventually evaporate. Using the alcohol will help remove the water displacing ingredient. Be sure that the components are all fully clean and [b]completely[/b] dry before attempting to rebuild your computer and connect it to power!

Good Luck.
...hopefully a lesson learned.

[It is greatly appreciated if you tag all useful responses as 'Helpful' by opening those posts and clicking the 'Mark Helpful' button at the bottom. That way, people with a similar situation in the future will be able to quickly see what ultimately helped. Thanks.]

by ideaddict

Unlimited thanks for your prompt reply & it will be far better if you choose some name for me as well :D

I think you suggested me a brilliant & very informatory solution and hope i will do that as you said.

There is one little problem, how can i wipe-out wd40 from all the slots & ports? somebody tell me that you can dry it or remove it by inserting cards(sound, vga, ram) & pins(mouse, keyboard) into their respective positions almost 30-40 times. What do you think? is it fine or do something else.

I once again appreciated your very useful reply and hope i'll save my pc.

Thanks & best regards

P.S. Can i use petrol or thinner as replacement of isopropyl alcohol or not?

by captbilly1eye

[b]DO NOT[/b] use petrol, thinner, paint remover, mineral spirits, nail polish remover, gasoline, kerosene, etc.!
They all have corrosive properties.
Use denatured or isopropyl alcohol ONLY.

To help clean out the slots in the board, you can use a can of compressed air. This is also inexpensive and can be found on-line, at just about retail store that sells computer equipment or an office supply store.

Again... the most important part is going to be allowing the pieces effected to all dry out COMPLETELY before reassembling.

Once you are done and everything is working properly, seal the computer case and never open it again. :)

by mjd420nova

First you need to get the WD-40 off the boards. A degreaser like Simple Green with half and half dilution with water. Flood the board and then rinse with clear water and let dry. During the next step it's best to wear eye protection and latex gloves. Rinse the board down with a can of spray cleaner that leaves no residue for electronic use. Remove the heat sink and fan unit off the CPU and clean with more spray cleaner on a paper towel. Replace the heat sink after cleaning it too. Put one small rabbit dropping size spot of heatsink compound, usually white paste. Be careful when you reinstall to check for insulating washers on the standoffs or glued to the board(maybe not anymore). Good luck

by sgt_shultz

We have an award I started here. Anybody with huevos enought to break something spectacularly wins it. You win.
If you have run you pc with the wd 40 in place, you might have big problems for sure due to shorting. but maybe it's ok. clean it off as these guys have stated and personally, you made me smile for your boldness. You go, Person!
The substance between the processor and heat sink is called 'heat sink compound' and you do need it. It is readily available at Radio Shack or places like that selling electronics. apply sparingly, you don't want a big gob of it, just a thin layer. without it you will overheat and shutdown pretty quickly.

by ideaddict

Thanks buddy

you awarded my rightly & i deserved it appropriately. You also made me smile for your bold comments :) & definitely thankful for the solution you provided. What if i successfully build my pc again? do you give me another award or let it to some other person?

Thanks & best regards

by ideaddict

Thanks for the prompt & good reply, but the problem is that "simple green" & "spray cleaner" is hard to find here, so can you tell me some easily available replacement of above products? is it fine to use petrol or thinner to degrease these boards or just rinse with mixture of water & detergent & then blow it with air? i am really also worried about slots of the board as i also sprayed wd40 into them [how sick i am :(]

Can you please explain more about "white paste", what's that & how & where i grab this thing?

Hope am not disturbing you seriously and also waiting your final thoughts

Best Regards

by older mycroft

I advise against the use of petrol!!!

Actually, I don't know if you are aware but, petrol is a corrosive as well as a combustible.

Whatever you were 'on' during the recent cleanup exercise, I suggest you desist for any repair/reclamation exercise.

If you find you cannot get hold of the above mentioned cleaners, approach your local chemist/pharmacy. You will be able to buy a small bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol if you explain why you want it.

While using it, DO NOT leave the top off the bottle otherwise it will evaporate quite quickly.

by triathlete1981

wow, i've heard dumb ones, but that's gotta take the cake. were you on meth when you did that?

by ideaddict

Dont know yet, why i did that? i required advises here but you people really spicing this discussion & it really lift my hopes.

Thanks & best regards

by sgt_shultz

yes, i think you are correct with your idea of detergent. you could also try alcohol. grain alcohol would be more fun than wood alcohol as you could treat yourself AND your pc.
the only thing to worry about is the soldermask on the circuit boards. so just try a little of the solvent you choose on an edge like over a large area of ground. let it sit awhile and see if it softens the coating. the reason i'd favor alcohol is it is waterless (relatively) and will dry quickly. good luck. keep on tinkering.

by ideaddict

Thanks & again thanks

Actually i know about petrol that you said. I want to use it very lightly but now discard that idea. Thanks for the suggestions and replies and i only feel it how generous you people are.

Best Regards

by sgt_shultz

I will make a special award for you when you get it working again. I will call it the 'Never Give Up' award.

by ideaddict

You really lift my spirits now, lol. Anyway what i learn from that stupidity is that, if you ever do silly things, dont published it on forums :)

Best regards

P.S. I'll let you inform after do these suggestions

by older mycroft

This address might take you in the proper direction for the cleaning supplies:

ABDULAMIR EFFENDY TRADING EST.
COMPUTER PRODUCTS
Address : 303/304, AISHA ARCADE, BLOCK L-2, GULSHAN IQBAL, KARACHI 75300 ,SIND ,PAKISTAN

Good luck.

by ideaddict

lol @ "Once you are done and everything is working properly, seal the computer case and never open it again."

I really thankful to you to give me brilliant suggestions & teach me perfectly. I'll tell you the status after doing what you instructed.

Thanks & best regards

by ideaddict

Lol@"grain alcohol would be more fun than wood alcohol as you could treat yourself AND your pc"

Thanks and now am enjoying with the comments you people are giving. I'll try exactly what you people suggested to me & hope now am do things perfectly.

Lets see what will be the outcome of that drama.

Best Regards

by dr dij

That stuff is good for cars, so it should be good for your computer. the WD-40 lubricates the electrons, makes them go faster.

If you really want to be smart, pour some Mobil-1 fully synthetic oil in there. The electrons will become indestructable and not burn up into a frying pan black crud and your case, power supply and CPU fans will never fail. You'll need to change the oil periodically but alot less than if you keep using the WD-40.

You may also want to take the cover off the hard drive and spray some in there to lubricate the platters and stepper motor.. Make it go faster. And definitely put some on the 'coffee mug holder', the slide out tray labled CD-ROm or DVD

And if women can be really hot, why not a computer processor? I don't think you need that white heatsink grease stuff at all. It's just a scam for the computer store to get $.90 out of your hard earned money.

:)

by retro77

I hope the original poster doesnt take you seriously....hahahaha!!! $.90!!! hahahaha!!!

by captbilly1eye

Too funny.
...specially the part about hot women and processors.
:^0

90???? Man! I've been gettin' ripped off! I paid $1.15 last time.

by tig2

Funniest moment of the day was reading that silliness!

This poor guy is just trying so hard it brings tears. At least he is good natured about the heartache he has brought on himself!

I think that the WD-40 can be overcome but I would stay with Billy's suggestion of denatured alcohol and a cotton swab. I have had to clean caked dirt out of a MOBO and that is what finally did the trick. And yes, it was greasy caked dirt. The pc was only used for one (mission critical) db so no one ever bothered it. Bad Plan. I pulled the covers and found dirt so thick you could have planted flowers.

Ca-ca occurs, I guess. I know that the unit can be salvaged.

Hope he learned something in all this...

by ideaddict

LMAO

Thanks & i also suggest you to do that with your pc :D

Best Regards

by tig2

Not certain of where you are but Isopropyl Alcohol should be available from a chemist or druggist. You can also purchase it online.

Same for heat sink goop. You should be able to find the right thing online if you do not have a computer parts store available to you. Be aware that the goop has to be the right stuff or you will have a problem on your hands. You can't substitute this stuff.

I have had some success in small areas using window cleaner. I don't suggest it for the large scale problem you have though. It may be corrosive and the one time I used it, I just had to get data off a box. Didn't care what happened to the computer once I had the data.

Good Luck to you. Keep up the positive attitude!

by dstovall

Has any one stop to think........ If he has done this to his computer, then who's computer is he on now?? Just thinking out loud.

by older mycroft

Probably one owned by a boring, stable, unadventurous member of society.

Someone like any of us!

by ideaddict

HI

Thanks for your wishes & suggestions, isopropyl alcohol is available here & i'll apply this solution tonight. You are absolutely right that the main thing is data & fortunately its save until now. If something worst happen to my machine, i'll buy new one which is cheap and fast as well.

Thanks & Best Regards

by ideaddict

Hi All

First of all i would like to thanks everyone who answer my question.

& here is the conclusion of that experience:

1. My PC is working now
2. Removing WD-40 is very easy from any circuit board
3. You can use water+detergent as a cleaner & air-blower as to wipe-out things quickly
4. Applying Dielectric Grease is not a big task
5. All the guys here are excellent persons & giving unconditional support to many people
6. Last, but not least, it wasnt a moron act

by triathlete1981

6. Last, but not least, it wasnt a moron act

Um, yes it was. It's like saying it's not a moron act to put a silverware set in the microwave and not expect catastrophe.

What's next? Smearing honey and jam all over the keyboard? Placing a strong magnet next to the tower? Or bashing the monitor with a ball peen hammer?

This discussion is closed to new replies.