CPU question

[xarryier]

New to computer and little time on my hands I asked for something to clean the conducting grease from the CPU at a retail shop and I was told and given CRC Contact cleaner . The CPU now has a dark patch around the chip . I guess now the solvent has tried to dissolve th fixing compound beneath the chip .
Can anyone advise me as to the state of the CPU ? It's an Athlon XP 2600+ . I am using it in my computer but the harddrives keep breaking down , I most probably because the electricity circuit board in this old house is outdated to the tune of $3500NZ to $4250NZ !
yikes!

 

[GavinO]

Solvents probably aren't a really good idea to be putting on a processor. Usually you just scrape the grease off with something non-metallic. The only way to really tell if anything has been damaged is to power it up; make sure there's no obvious deposits on the chip first though. May want to run some kind of stress-test app to make sure.

 

[xarryier]

Stress test is something I have not considered yet . And just now I remember being told the processor would not be responsible for a failing harddrive , that the more likely reason is not enough power to the harddrive .
When I know the electricity in this old house has been dealt with I will look at a stress test . Good idea , thanks GavinO

Edited: just to say I bought some 100% Isopropyl Alcohol today to try to clean the mess left by the Contact Cleaner I used to clean the Thermal grease from around the CPU chip .

Edited: cleaned with 100% Isopropyl Alcohol and it is great to use , efficient and tidy , and though it was suggested to me it would clean the patch the solvent left on it , the dark patch left by the solvent remains .