Nvme with no screw

josey99 · 27 Jan 2022 at 14:10

Weird question. Is it ok to run a nvme drive without a screw if it's still being held tight in place against the standoff?

I have two nvme drives. I've been doing a lot of troubleshooting with these drives over the past few months. One of the screws has ended up stripped. Its totalled. So I'm down to one screw for two drives.

I have this janky trick I've been using atm to keep using both drives. The drive in nvme slot one has a heatsink and a big squishy thermal pad. Basically I've mounted the drive with no screw and I'm using the heatsink and thermal pad to push the drive against the standoff and hold it in place. That heatsink is pushing the thermal pad, hard against the drive so it's not going anywhere. This works obviously. I already knew it did. I've been using this trick while troubleshooting my drives, all along.

And I know I need another screw. I will track one down and get one. This is just temp.

Grimley · 27 Jan 2022 at 15:07

If you have an old laptop lying around chances are one of the screws from that should fit.

josey99 · 27 Jan 2022 at 19:31

Grimley said:
If you have an old laptop lying around chances are one of the screws from that should fit.

I don't. It's only pc's in my house. No laptops unfortunatley. I'm pretty certain i have a plastic nvme anchor kicking around. I salvaged it from a dead asus motherboard. I just don't know if it will fit the holes in my motherboard. I'll have a look and see if i can find it.

In the mean time, through searching the net ive figured out that the standoff and screw serve no special purpose. They're only there to keep the drive in place. Take for example plastic anchors. It doesn't even act as ground. So as long as the drive is in place and held down, it should be fine. Believe me i checked to make sure it's def stuck in place. I even gave it a wiggle and a shake test. It's not going anywhere and it's working just fine for now.

But i will try and look out that anchor. Maybe even buy a kit from amazon. I'm pretty sure ill get this sorted at some point.

Quartz · 27 Jan 2022 at 19:40

josey99 said:
And I know I need another screw.

The screw is usually a flathead M2.0 x 2.5mm but may be up to 3.5mm. You'll need to check by measuring your current one or by looking up in your motherboard manual. They're available on the river place. OCUK might even sell them.