Hi G=B2,
"You =A0have no choice but to separate the heat sink and processor so you can release the lock lever on the socket. I would warm the heat sink up with a hair dryer which will likely soften up the thermal 'adhesive' so yo can pry it apart. It is IMPERATIVE that you do not put any force =A0between any layers of the processor as that will destroy it. An Xacto knife or razor blade between the processor top and the heat sink can crack it loose."
Thanks for the tip!
"BTW why did you want to pull the heat sink?"
It was accidental I needed to get to the P4 Heat Sink Retainer and thought the Heat Sink would just pop off when pulled up on it.
Instead I pulled off the Heat Sink and P4 CPU!!!
So may have already killed it?
"I have removed heat sinks more times than I can remember usually for installing a faster processor. When I release the heat sink retainer clamp I rotate the heat sink a little to get it loose as the thermal pad on the sink can be a little stubborn."
Agree the Dell 2350 adhesive seems like a black rubber? Have you had any experience with it?
Thanks again for your help!
Ken