Topic: Cleaning an old computers coolers

[Earthmother]

Well downstairs there is this realy realy old computer wich sadly my mother still uses....

The thing is just one big jucky ball of sigaret stain and dust...

Now i have cleaned allot of computers but this is a special case!
Me mum smokes allot and I think thats the reason there is well 2-5 cm of black/brown weird looking stuff on the cooler of the proccesor.
It is hard as stone and I am afraid to use the screwdriver again on the old thing(yes it is that hard)

Any one knows what would get the cooler unit clean again?

[Phoenix]

uhm...

Replacing it with a new one??

Think there is not much else, because, i think if you try to clean it, you break it...

But ofcourse you can try carefully with some tweezers
or some soap, and wash it carefully..

[Doc Nyar]

and wash it carefully..

Very carefully

[Earthmother]

Well she got a new comp but the programs she used for work are not on that one so she is still forced to work on that crappy thing

Btw soap didnt work and neather did some alcohol based things

[gryphon]

Install her programms on the new computer ?

[Phoenix]

Well she got a new comp but the programs she used for work are not on that one so she is still forced to work on that crappy thing

Btw soap didnt work and neather did some alcohol based things

as i said, replace it by a new one....
find an old fan somewhere... and replace it..

[Earthmother]

Its not the fan thats hard to clean no its clean now but the cooler element the metal piece thats the problem

And the program she uses cant be installed on the new comp becouse she does not have a copy of it and her boss thinks it costs to much to buy it again (its €800,- or above)

[gryphon]

And the program she uses cant be installed on the new comp becouse she does not have a copy of it and her boss thinks it costs to much to buy it again (its €800,- or above)

what software costs more then €800 and can be that important ?

[Earthmother]

Some banking software

[Phoenix]

Its not the fan thats hard to clean no its clean now but the cooler element the metal piece thats the problem

And the program she uses cant be installed on the new comp becouse she does not have a copy of it and her boss thinks it costs to much to buy it again (its €800,- or above)

Take some Acid and put it in it for a while... something like Hydrochloric acid...
(becarefull with aluminum)

[Earthmother]

Fixed it using coca cola  

[Phoenix]

Phosphoric acid...
That works also...