Remove/Clean Heatsink & Re-apply Thermal Grease - Advice Please

[gramps]

One of my old Dell Dimension desktops is failing with the report "Shutdown after thermal event".
The fans appear to be working okay so I suspect that I will need to give it a thorough clean/blowout and remove the CPU heatsink and apply new thermal grease.

Apart from the obvious, (switch off power/earth/don't drop things on it etc), what should I be aware of and take care with in carrying out this process?
How much/where should thermal grease be applied?

TIA

 

[neil_g]

unclip the HSF,
wipe away the old paste,
reapply

good guide for the amount of paste and where to place it..

http://www.arcticsilver.com/methods.html

 

[Ozei]

wipe away the old paste

White spirit is good for getting the old paste off the mating surfaces (CPU & heat sink).

 

[gramps]

Cheers Neil, Maplins kit worked for removal/re-application and it now fires up without an issue