Hi Everyone.
The 60mm fan in this laptop has died. With the bottom cover of the machine removed all components are easily accessed.
I am finding it impossibe to remove the heatsink and radiator assembly in order to replace the dead fan.
I think I am right in saying that there are only 5 screws involved. 4 in the top of the heatsink and 1 through the side of the laptop case into the radiator.
When these 5 screws are removed, the whole thing remains rock solid and I don't want to use brute force.
Can anyone help please?
[img=http://img29.picoodle.com/img/img29/6/10/19/dream_worrier/f_PIC0232m_78120eb.jpg]

Hi Dream Worrier and welcome to D-A-L (I hope worrying about dreams is something you enjoy!)

Radiator? Ummm, is your laptop liquid cooled? If not, I don't think there's a radiator. Do you mean the heatsink or maybe a heatpipe assembly?

For some reason, I cannot find any information on the A4B00L on the ASUS website so I cannot download a manual or find any pictures.

Note that some laptop makers use thermal adhesive to secure the heatsink to the CPU as opposed to regular thermal paste or pads plus some other fastening mechanism. If that is the case here, you need to power up the laptop to get the thermal adhesive warm, then power down. Then gently but firmly give the heatsink a slight twist back and forth to break the seal.

Look here.

Hi Digerati
lol - the name is a mickey take of a mate who calls himself Dream Warrior ;-)
I have added photo now.
Thanks for your solution I will give it a go in the morning.
I spent all day yesterday trawling for info on the subject - found a French guy who stuffed his board up by removing his.

I almost typed Warrior when I first saw it. Yeah, that's a heatpipe/heatsink assembly, though I admit it looks and acts like a radiator. Same Laws of Physics are applied here.

I have not worked on a set up like that but I have on similar systems. Using your picture, it looks like you should be able to remove the 4 outer screws to loosen the whole assembly using a slight twisting action. However, it it does not want to come off, I would not force it and instead would take it to a shop where any damage done is their problem to "worry" about, and pay for.

Hi Digerati
Your advice was 100% accurate.
Once heated up the assembly came off with just a little persuasion.
A real bonus was that I did not need to replace the fan - It was just a case of removing 2 years worth of fluff and dust that was stopping the fan from turning!
As good as new :-)
Thanks very much.

Great - glad it worked and thanks for the followup.

BTW - You should NEVER reuse thermal paste. Instead you need to carefully clean the mating surfaces with 91% Isopropyl alcohol or acetone (without sloshing excess everywhere) then apply a fresh, clean super-thin layer of new paste. I have a canned text for doing that if needed.