Grrr, unscrewable screws.

just Scott

just Scott

just Scott

Soldato
Joined
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I'm trying to replace my motherboard but i can't unscrew the mounting screws that keep it in the case. Two of the screws just spin and don't unscrew. Does anyone know a way to get them out?

Yes, I'm very new to this, so please don't blame me for being a noob. :p
 
Behind the mobo there are standoffs that keep the mobo about a cm from the actual motherboard tray. This keeps the board from shorting out as contacts on the back of the board make contact with the metal tray.

What's probably happening here is you've accidentally unscrewed a standoff from the tray while it still has the screw in it. If it spins freely move on to the other screws then take the mobo out. You can then separate the stuck standoffs from the mobo and the screws.
 
I also find that sometimes it helps to try to slide something thin between the mobo and the head of the screw. Then put gentle pressure on it so the screw is forced upwards as you turn it.

Failing that just buy a whole new computer :D
 
BillytheImpaler said:
Behind the mobo there are standoffs that keep the mobo about a cm from the actual motherboard tray. This keeps the board from shorting out as contacts on the back of the board make contact with the metal tray.

What's probably happening here is you've accidentally unscrewed a standoff from the tray while it still has the screw in it. If it spins freely move on to the other screws then take the mobo out. You can then separate the stuck standoffs from the mobo and the screws.
Click to expand...

Hmm, yeah that's probably what has happened though. I've tried taking the motherboard out but it won't budge at all. The tray which holds the standoffs can't be removed from the case either. The screw moves freely in either direction, if that makes a difference.

Hades said:
I also find that sometimes it helps to try to slide something thin between the mobo and the head of the screw. Then put gentle pressure on it so the screw is forced upwards as you turn it.

Failing that just buy a whole new computer :D
Click to expand...

I've tried that also but my case is so tiny it's hard to do anything in it. Plus one of the screws is right in corner which is impossibly inconvinient. >_<

Psh, nah, I'd rather rip the thing out than buy a new one. I just bought a new mobo/CPU/RAM, so killing the old board wouldn't be that bad. :p
 
Last edited:
Damnit, I just tried again but couldn't get either of them out.

I think one of them is like what Billy said, and the mobo should be able to just pull out. But, I think the problem is other one (the one in the corner. The one that spins is in the middle near the PCI-E slot). I think the one in the corner has a damaged head so I can't unscrew it. :[

Oh, and when I put it all back together and turned it on my northbridge fan started making a very scary and loud noise. I got a POST error saying "Chip fan failed/speed to low". After fiddling with the heatsink for a while it was still making the noise but i decided to continue to boot into windows anyway. The noise stopped after 5 minutes of use and went back to normal (I was watching temps while it was making the noise, the mobo temp never went above 35C : / ). I wonder what happened there...
 
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