A few general questions about thermal pads and copper tarnish

[skyhawk]

This is the controller board for a 2 year old hard disk drive.

The drive started displaying odd behavior and failing self-tests, so I was about to throw it in the garbage when I figured "let's take a look at the controller board for shits and giggles"

2 "repairs" later using a boxcutter and a white eraser, and the drive is now back in service, and appears to be operating fine 

I've got four other drives of the same make and model, and I have now performed the same "maintenance" on them as a preventative measure. Am I being paranoid or are thermal pads supposed to have the plastic cover removed before they're pressed onto something?

[helius]

It's a little hard to tell, but that might be a Sil-Pad: a heat conductive silicone spacer.

[T3sl4co1l]

Yes, the plastic cover is supposed to be removed.

Tim

[skyhawk]

Yes, the plastic cover is supposed to be removed.

Tim

Should I be concerned about the fact a shiny new drive (made probably about 2 years later) has the exact same plastic on the thermal pad?

[T3sl4co1l]

Probably not. It's been working for them so far... 

Tim