Liquid Metal cleaning.

Hello there. I purchased some TG Conductonaut in order to improve the thermals of my Lenovo Y50.

When applying it, the unthinkable happened: Some of it found its way under the CPU (right where the BGA contacts are).

I managed to remove a decent amount of it, but it seems some is still there. Laptop doesn't boot.

Does anybody know a method to remove the residual metal?
Thanks in advance.

 

@Papusan , @Mr. Fox any idea about this?

 

If you have started the machine with spilled liquid metal, is perhaps the machine destroyed Then there is not much you can do.

Maybe try the cleaning agent from CoolLaboratory's cleaning and see if this works http://www.coollaboratory.com/product/coollaboratory-liquid-cleaning-set/

See also the tips here http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermal-paste-performance-benchmark,3616-3.html

 

If you've provided it with any sort of power, its most likely dead.
That said, if you haven't, the only good method of getting residue from under the BGA array is to use an ultrasonic cleaner with a frequency sweep function along with a good cleaning solution.
Most shops that can do component level repair can do that no problem.
Should also mention, absolutely do not use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, that's how you accidentally dislodge a whole bunch of surface mount components.

 

I think this is what happened to his computer now.


Could always send back to the service center and see if they can accept the warranty, never say that you ever put metal on the laptop (remember that the customer is always right).

 

What Mobius said.

But, if you want to give something a try...

It's quite easy to remove CLU from a motherboard with rubbing alcohol but in your case, this might be difficult. Maybe a toothbrush soaked in rubbing alcohol might work? You'll need something to soak up the gunk that this causes. I've spilled liquid metal over a motherboard and attempted to power it on, cleaned it and then had no issues turning the system on - so it's not necessarily dead, although it's likely. (I intentionally tried this on a decrepit system, with the precise goal to test this)

 

Could always dislodge the liquid metal by gravity + alcohol soak.

 

I tried this and it doesn't really work because the liquid metal sticks quite well to most things - it has to wiped off with care.

I'd have a try with a toothbrush, to get into the small gap, as best as possible. Once done, mop up with a sheet of paper to remove the gunk. Worth a try but not being able to remove the CPU makes this much harder.

 

You may want to use a compressed air can with a small tip to possibly spit it out of spaces you can't see (like the bga contacts under the cpu).

 

So a quick update on the matter:
It took me like 2 days but I managed to remove it. I had to buy a couple syringes (regular and insulin types ), some ultra fine magnet wire from a dead motor. It booted. And I managed to do some work on it...
However last thursday, I unplugged it from the mains to work on battery and laptop shut down.... I had forgot to plug in the battery.
But then I replugged it and since then it has not booted.
What is going on? What could cause this?

 

Does the notebook have an SSD? If so remove it and see if you can boot into the BIOS. Some SSDs don't like a sudden power interruption.

John

 

I have removed the drives and still no boot screen. Not even BIOS.

 

Please put a stop to the suffering...

...can you remember whether it preferred burial or to be ubiquitously scattered throughout the sea ?

 

lol, try to not bury electronics or throwing them into the ocean haha...

 

I am thinking of reflowing the board, as an optional measure. I am getting anyway a new motherboard (kinda cheap).
If the board revives, I am planning on making it a mini desktop computer since it's cheaper than building one (also doesn't need a case).
I'll post updates especially if the board comes alive.

 

Reflowing won't help you. Reflowing is only good for cold solder joints which has cracked. In your case, it's the chip that's fried. Putting heat to it won't revive a fried chip.
Save your money and learn from this, pretty much the only thing you can do at this point.

 

@villahed94 just sell it as for parts / not working, and be done with it.