Broken laptop screw

Gilbretto · 30 Nov 2008 at 02:29

Just got home to see my 4gigs of new laptop memory had arrived.

Grabbed my screwdriver and tried to unscrew the single screw holding the memory cover in place. Wouldn't budge. I tried so hard that i have actually damaged the screw. Causing a 'stripped screw head' i do believe.

I definately wasn't going to be defeated by a tiny screw so i decided to take the back of the laptop off to gain access to the memory.

I start unscrewing one by one the MANY screws holding it in place. And then i get to the last one, and surprise surprise, it wont budge. I didn't go crazy and try and get that one out to avoid possible damage.

So, how do i get this initial screw out? It's firmly wedged in place (probably down to a retarded Dell system builder), and after my efforts its stripped and retains no grip of the screw driver.

I've read about screw extraction tools. But for such a small screw it seems over kill to buy £20 worth of equiptment.

I could physically force the cover off, but i'm guessing finding a replacement would be tricky.

Any idea's??

fobose · 30 Nov 2008 at 10:00

Is the screw driver the right size for the screw, and not slightly too small (or big)?

reflux · 30 Nov 2008 at 11:35

I had Dell XPS M170 followed by an Inspiron 9400. The screws for the RAM cover don't come off, they are fixed in place with a washer. What machine do you have?

J.B · 30 Nov 2008 at 15:58

If you can get a small flat head underneath the top of the screw then pry up while unscrewing it in the traditional sence then this may work. Has happened to me before with various different computer screws

Nanobot · 30 Nov 2008 at 18:34

You can get screw extractors that let you unscrew worn out screw heads, always worth having a set if not just for this.

PhillyDee · 30 Nov 2008 at 18:37

Problem is the size of the screws . . Cant use easy-outs and the reverse screw ones will probably just drill the head off and damage the casing.

Gilbretto · 30 Nov 2008 at 20:59

reflux said:
I had Dell XPS M170 followed by an Inspiron 9400. The screws for the RAM cover don't come off, they are fixed in place with a washer. What machine do you have?

Inspiron 1520.

Thats ridiculous, what if the ram cover needed to be opened for replacing broken ram?

If that is the case i'll be thoroughly **** off.

Gilbretto · 30 Nov 2008 at 21:03

fobose said:
Is the screw driver the right size for the screw, and not slightly too small (or big)?

Used the correct size mate, it just wouldn't budge. But after trying for so long the screw is now damaged. As i said before, i think its called a 'stripped screw head'. There is nothing for the screwdriver to grip on to now.

Gilbretto · 1 Dec 2008 at 00:40

I think i know what i'm gonna do.

drill a small hole in the top of the screw. Fix an old screwdriver to the screw using some epoxy. hopefully that should set well and should allow me to get the ****** out.

Unless anyone has a better suggestion?

tipsy · 1 Dec 2008 at 02:54

I recently had to drill a screw out from a freinds vostro 1500 laptop, completely drilled through & later replaced the screw with new one

judt take it care & pick a drill that i the same diamater a the screw & away you go.

Aod · 1 Dec 2008 at 09:34

Gilbretto said:
Inspiron 1520.

Thats ridiculous, what if the ram cover needed to be opened for replacing broken ram?

If that is the case i'll be thoroughly **** off.

no, he means that the screw is captive, as in, once you've unscrewed it and lifted the cover off, the screw it attached to the plate and can't be lost.

your problem is probably that the screw was threadlocked in place.

reflux · 1 Dec 2008 at 10:17

Gilbretto said:
Inspiron 1520.

Thats ridiculous, what if the ram cover needed to be opened for replacing broken ram?

If that is the case i'll be thoroughly **** off.

Well I just got my 1520 out and unscrewed the RAM cover in five seconds. The screw is indeed 'captive'.

I guess you must have had a broken thread on yours or something

Gilbretto · 1 Dec 2008 at 11:46

tipsy said:
I recently had to drill a screw out from a freinds vostro 1500 laptop, completely drilled through & later replaced the screw with new one judt take it care & pick a drill that i the same diamater a the screw & away you go.

The problem is i dont have a drill. And i doubt i could really justify buying one to remove a single screw.

How much would a suitable drill cost?