MSI Vector 16 HX AI Fan Cleaning – Do This Before It's Too Late!, by KH COMPUTERS on YouTube. 9 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Shut the laptop down, unplug the charger and any cables, then hold the power button for about 10 seconds to drain leftover charge.
Ground yourself by touching a bare metal surface, or wear an anti-static wrist strap, so you do not zap the board.
Flip the laptop over and remove every bottom cover screw with the PH0 or PH1 driver. Sort them by length in a tray, since some hide under rubber feet.
Slide a plastic spudger into a corner seam and work around the edge until the clips pop. Lift the bottom panel away slowly.
Unplug the battery connector from the motherboard before you touch anything else inside the case.
Hold each fan blade still with a finger or soft brush, then blow short bursts of compressed air through the fins from the outside in.
Brush loose dust off the heatsink fins and clear the exhaust vents and side grilles with cotton swabs.
Reconnect the battery, press the bottom panel back on until the clips click, then refit the screws finger tight and snug them in a cross pattern.
Boot the laptop and watch CPU and GPU temperatures in a tool like HWiNFO while gaming to confirm the fans breathe better.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let compressed air spin the fan freely, because overspeeding can damage the bearings.
Skip the household vacuum cleaner, as the plastic nozzle can build static that kills components.
Keep the air can upright so it does not spit liquid propellant onto the board.
Clean every 6 to 12 months if you game often or keep the laptop on a soft surface that traps dust.
Questions
Do I have to remove the bottom cover to clean the fan?
For real dust removal, yes. Blowing air into the vents from outside only pushes some dust deeper into the heatsink.
Will cleaning void my warranty?
Opening the case can affect warranty terms in some regions. Check with MSI support first if the laptop is still covered.
Should I replace the thermal paste at the same time?
Only if temperatures stay high after cleaning or the paste looks dried and cracked. Otherwise leave it alone to avoid mistakes.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
