Attached firmly to the CPU cooler as if it was welded in place
Attached firmly to the CPU cooler as if it was welded in place
Warm it up, add alcohol, let it evaporate, use a flat screwdriver and move gently from the edges, be mindful not to slip and cause harm to yourself or others. If possible, ask someone for assistance. Make sure the alcohol reaches the paste and the space between CPU and cooler. Be patient, then apply pressure finally. This was done on a friend's 3700X. There were bent pins, you fixed them, everything worked. It was a pita.
I was considering a different angle on the joke, focusing on keeping the hammer firmly on the cooler rather than letting it float freely. The paths would then be limited to vertical or horizontal directions.