NUC11 threaded screw - help!

KraniX · 9 Dec 2024 at 15:05

Hi folks,

My NUC11 stopped switching on recently, I thought it may be the mains adaptor but a USB connected device is being charged so I presume it might be the switch.

So I tried to disassemble the NUC but I have a cross threaded screw I can't remove to even get the board out.

Here's a general shot.

And here is the corner view, right by the RAM slots.

It's weird as you would think the screw should be in the hole next to it rather than this weird position, especially as the other screws were in the other corners.

My heavy handedness has made it worse.

Any ideas how to get this out?

I tried supergluing a Philips head to it but no joy, not strong enough.

Any help would be gratefully received.

ANDARIAL · 10 Dec 2024 at 11:54

CAREFULL use of a needlenose pliers?

KraniX · 10 Dec 2024 at 21:00

ANDARIAL said:
CAREFULL use of a needlenose pliers?

I saw that suggested on YouTube too, I tried ordering a pair on Amazon but they were too big, any idea which sort might work?

Emlyn_Dewar · 11 Dec 2024 at 00:42

Small drill and steady hand.

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maybe these?

SpellowHouse · 11 Dec 2024 at 13:08

Emlyn_Dewar said:
Small drill and steady hand.

This is the way. You use a 1.5mm drill to start and move upwards .5mm at a time until the head falls off. You start very small or the head will just rotate. But even so, you may need some very fine pliers to grip the screw.

clone · 13 Dec 2024 at 09:19

Emlyn_Dewar said:
Small drill and steady hand.

This.

freddie64 · 13 Dec 2024 at 16:01

Looking at a video i found, the four corner holes are for joining the case top and bottom together.

There is only two screws holding the motherboard.

You could try epoxy glue to glue the screw head to a old screwdriver/allen key.

Don't get any on the motherboard or case and it takes a long time to fully cure.

Cyber-Mav · 15 Dec 2024 at 20:22

Cut a slot into it and use a flat head screwdriver

KraniX · 16 Dec 2024 at 18:37

Cyber-Mav said:
Cut a slot into it and use a flat head screwdriver

Pretty hard to cut a slot given the size and location. At least with my lack of skills and tools.

Will give the drill a go and see if I can get it off/out.

Cyber-Mav · 17 Dec 2024 at 06:56

KraniX said:
Pretty hard to cut a slot given the size and location. At least with my lack of skills and tools.

Will give the drill a go and see if I can get it off/out.

Id suggest you use a left handed drill bit which drills in reverse mode on drill machine that way no risk of pushing it in further.

KraniX · 17 Dec 2024 at 07:49

freddie64 said:
Looking at a video i found, the four corner holes are for joining the case top and bottom together.

There is only two screws holding the motherboard.

You could try epoxy glue to glue the screw head to a old screwdriver/allen key.

Don't get any on the motherboard or case and it takes a long time to fully cure.

I tried something similar with superglue but didn't work as not strong enough, I presume the epoxy stuff is a lot stronger?

Beans on toast Dave · 17 Dec 2024 at 07:57

with the risk of terminal damage to the board, could you not cut the post from underneath somehow?

KraniX · 17 Dec 2024 at 08:50

Beans on toast Dave said:
with the risk of terminal damage to the board, could you not cut the post from underneath somehow?

I don't see how, I'll post a pic from the otherside later but it's pretty much imprisoned in a steel cage with access from one side.

freddie64 · 17 Dec 2024 at 09:10

KraniX said:
I tried something similar with superglue but didn't work as not strong enough, I presume the epoxy stuff is a lot stronger?

Something like JB Weld is a lot stronger than superglue.

I'm not saying it will work for definite, but it does have a better chance.

You could drill the top off the screw and see if you can lift the motherboard out and then use pliers to remove the threaded part.
Be carefull of the bits of metal though and make sure to clean them off the motherboard.

Emlyn_Dewar · 17 Dec 2024 at 09:21

I'm a JB Weld fan, but I think the chance of it not immediately cracking when force is applied on the small connection area it has, is extremely slim.

f666 · 17 Dec 2024 at 09:25

Can you not disassemble the whole nuc and pivot to an akasa fan less case or similar? Would allow you to cut back the housing of the nuc OEM case then

KraniX · 17 Dec 2024 at 10:25

f666 said:
Can you not disassemble the whole nuc and pivot to an akasa fan less case or similar? Would allow you to cut back the housing of the nuc OEM case then

It seems like you can only get full access from the base.

This is the top

I removed the 4 corner screws which I think hold the metal fan assembly in place but you can't get this out from the top. At least I can't see a way to do so.

f666 · 17 Dec 2024 at 12:46

KraniX said:
It seems like you can only get full access from the base.

This is the top

I removed the 4 corner screws which I think hold the metal fan assembly in place but you can't get this out from the top. At least I can't see a way to do so.

Depends on the series, but my gung ho approach next might be to unscrew everything else I could, and I would then consider cutting away the case even. An excuse to upgrade the case perhaps.

Although seriously you might end up with the same limitation of the rounded screw.

Not sure if you can araldite on a hex or spline fitment or similar?

KraniX · 17 Dec 2024 at 12:55

So I went with the drilling the screw approach and this worked well.

Was still a ball ache as the motherboard wouldn't come out on its own as I've seen on other models but the whole metal surround came out and then I was able to get the board out.

Ta da.

The problem I have to deal with now is the sucker not booting.

If I plug the power supply in I can hear a feint clicking noise, pressing the power button doesn't do anything, fan doesn't attempt to spin or anything.

Any ideas folks?

I could order a replacement psu to entirely discount that being the problem. But I am getting power from the usb sockets so that kinda makes me think it's the board.

It will be out of warranty and Intel have passed all that to Asus now so I feel that's gonna be painful and expensive.