thermal pad / paste

[AlexDC]

I rather recommend to replace pads with new pads and not paste, as when I replace such pads on the reverse side of board (where two pads which connect powered elements to metal case) my DC simply won't boot at all. I remove paste and add pads back and my DC runs as always. So I presume these pads not only dissipate heat, but maybe also conduct electricity? Maybe connect these elements to the ground. But thats just my opinion.