Cannot remove motherboard because of a stuck screw

Goose · 22 Oct 2011 at 14:59

I built my new rig (see sig) a few weeks ago and everything went fine. Today i finally got round to installing my Noctua cooler and have now run in to a really annoying problem.

I unscrewed and removed the motherboard without a hitch but after re-installing it one of the screws has become wedged in so I wont be able to remove the motherboard again.

I inserted and lightly screwed in each one going from one side of the board to the other in order to keep it all aligned. The problem has come when screwing in the final screw in the very top left corner (as you look down on the board). I have included a fairly rubbish photo below.

As I gently screwed it in it became apparent that it was not going in straight so i began to unscrew it only to find that it will not unscrew complete and thus cannot be pulled out. If i try to screw it in it eventually stops and is wonky as shown in the picture. If i try and unscrew it it comes up part of the way but not fully and begins to make a "crack" noise on each 360deg rotation but without coming out any further.

Ultimately, it wont go in or out fully and so the screw and therefore the entire motherboard cannot be removed from my case.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Goose · 22 Oct 2011 at 16:06

Thanks for the replies guys.

Hyburnate said:
Use a drill

Haven't got one

King Damager said:
Undo the rest of the screws first, and see if this allows you to slightly push it so that the screw straightens up a bit, then unscrew it?

kd

All my attempts at removal have been with all the other screws out.

Jokester said:
You sure that's the right type of screw to use, looks like one of the bigger ones you get.

Its the same as the others i've used and they are the ones that came with my motherboard.

A few of you have said remove all the screws then the motherboard before removing the dodgy screw but i cant get the motherboard out with that screw still in. As far as i'm aware the standoffs also screw into the case so i dont think i can just pull the motherboard free with screw and standoff attached.

If anything i have said sounds retarded its because I am, I'm also a total spaz this sort of work

Goose · 22 Oct 2011 at 17:49

Managed to get it out. The weight of the Noctua NH-D14 was stopping me from wiggling the board enough to get the screw to straighten. Once the coolers was off it was no problem.

Goose · 22 Oct 2011 at 18:22

panyan said:
big beast isnt she

Colossal would be the word i'd use.

Goose · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:48

cats_five said:
You will use a new stand-off and screw now, won't you?

I dont have a spare screw or stand-off but both actually seem fine, it screws in and out without a problem.

Goose · 23 Oct 2011 at 12:11

FidelZastro said:
quod erat demonstrandum

My previous post should now make more sense