How to remove stripped screws from laptop hdd bay

[paperwastage]

As title suggests, how do you remove stripped screws covering a laptop hdd bay?

note: screws are small, roughly 5mm diameter screw head

RESULT:

WD40 applied overnight

drilled one of the screw heads off (some damage to the surrounding plastic, but i dont care)

the other screw is harder as its recessed

EDIT: second (and last screw), only had to drill the head a little, then could use a normal flat-head screwdriver with enough grip to remove the screw

well, a more accurate description would be drilling most of the head off, with a little nub left where I can use a screwdriver and turn the screw out (using the head as grip)

second one, only had to drill a liitle to loosen it up and get a grip

 

[Motorheader]

What is stripped - the heads or the threads?

 

[paperwastage]

heads. I dont care about the drive itself (planning to replace it with an SSD)

thinking about drilling the head entirely or to make some cut on the head for a screwdriver to work

 

[janas19]

As title suggests, how do you remove stripped screws covering a laptop hdd bay?

note: screws are small, roughly 50mm diameter screw head

This is just an idea. I don't have any magical way of doing it and I've dealt with a fair number of stripped screws.

First of all, apply a small amount of WD 40 and let it sit for a few hours. The WD 40 will act as a lubricant and might allow you to loosen the thread just enough to get it out.

If that doesn't work, and you don't have any other options you could try putting a small bead of metal epoxy like JB Weld covering the entire surface of the screwhead. Let it set until it forms a solid bond. Then try gripping the epoxy with a set of pliers or tweezers and turn it. If it sets really well it seems you would have enough surface area to grab and turn. Since those screws aren't torqued but to like 8 lbs/ft, it wouldn't take much to get them loose.

I've never tried this before so I couldn't tell you how well it works, but it wouldn't be expensive to try.

 

[nickbits]

Drill the heads off

 

[GoStumpy]

First to say 50mm = 5cm = 2 inches... Those are some hefty screw-heads

If possible, a dremel with a very thin disk, cut a groove in the screwhead the entire width of the head, and then use a thin flat-head screwdriver.

If that fails, then you may have to drill it out...

There are screw removers called "Easy Out Removers" that are available, although getting one small enough might require buying online or ordering one in through a local auto-parts store

-edit-

This should all be attempted AFTER trying Janas19's advice, JB-Weld or other super-strong epoxy (JB Weld is the best) with maybe a coin embedded in it can and does work great for non-rusted stripped screws...

 

[paperwastage]

First to say 50mm = 5cm = 2 inches... Those are some hefty screw-heads

If possible, a dremel with a very thin disk, cut a groove in the screwhead the entire width of the head, and then use a thin flat-head screwdriver.

If that fails, then you may have to drill it out...

There are screw removers called "Easy Out Removers" that are available, although getting one small enough might require buying online or ordering one in through a local auto-parts store

-edit-

This should all be attempted AFTER trying Janas19's advice, JB-Weld or other super-strong epoxy (JB Weld is the best) with maybe a coin embedded in it can and does work great for non-rusted stripped screws...

whoops, meant 5mm

i'll see what happens and report back

dont have a dremel, looks like its rusty

 

[janas19]

I've tried those bolt extractors on engine bolts, and I haven't had much luck with them personally. And it's hard to see them working well at 5mm.

But I hope you have better success than me!

 

[GoStumpy]

My favorite has always been to grind a slot in the screw head, however it quite often (read: always) ends up with some grind marks on adjacent plastics/metal/paint...

 

[janas19]

My favorite has always been to grind a slot in the screw head, however it quite often (read: always) ends up with some grind marks on adjacent plastics/metal/paint...

Yeah, have to admit, that's probably the better way. ;-)

 

[C1]

Sometimes on OEM installations a form of "Loctite" is used on screws. Also, a reason why some screw heads will seem to strip easily is because they look like a Phillips (ie, X-slot), but they are technically not. I forget the name of this type of slot head, but I believe that it is primarily used in Japanese products and has a bit shallower of a depth and really needs a specially ground screw driver to fit correctly. (These type screws are profusely used in typical consumer electronic products such as DvD players).

Now the best bet is to deepen the slot hole using a small high carbon steel twist drill, apply a drop of WD40 then use a suitably sized very high quality Phillips (like Wiha - http://www.wihatools.com/pro_precision.htm ) to attempt removal. Press the Wiha point into the screw head with such force that it cuts into the old Phillips slot (the material removed from the screw center using the twist drill provides the necessary clearance for the Wiha to "bite" into the old X-slot). Apply as much force as necessary on the Wiha while rotating it (the Wiha will have a rotational cap for this purpose). Have someone help you (eg, apply the downward force while another applies rotational force) if necessary.

 

[Bubbaleone]

As title suggests, how do you remove stripped screws covering a laptop hdd bay?

note: screws are small, roughly 5mm diameter screw head

This pic is a different model Dell but it uses the same size screws. A standard #1 Phillips screwdriver is used to remove these M3 x 3mm screws. If you were trying to use something other than a #1 Phillips to unscrew these, get a #1 Phillips and they'll probably come right out...if you haven't buggered up the heads to badly.

 

[pcgeek11]

Since those screws aren't torqued but to like 8 lbs/ft, it wouldn't take much to get them loose.

8 Ft/lbs? That is not possible with screws that small.

 

[stahlhart]

Sometimes on OEM installations a form of "Loctite" is used on screws. Also, a reason why some screw heads will seem to strip easily is because they look like a Phillips (ie, X-slot), but they are technically not. I forget the name of this type of slot head, but I believe that it is primarily used in Japanese products and has a bit shallower of a depth and really needs a specially ground screw driver to fit correctly. (These type screws are profusely used in typical consumer electronic products such as DvD players).

http://www.justbrits.com/pozi/pozidriv.html ?

 

[C1]

It is these:

Sony, and other Japanese electronics manufacturers, use a machine screw
standard which resembles a Phillips head, but is actually slightly different. This
standard is called JIS (Japanese Industry Standard). If a conventional Phillips
screwdriver is used with such screws, it is very easy to damage the slots in the
head of the screw. The best approach is to use JIS screwdrivers, but these are
sometimes difficult to locate outside Japan.


A number of electronics tool distributors sell JIS screwdrivers because they are
commonly needed for service of Japanese professional and consumer electronics
products. One such American vendor is Jensen (800-426-1194,
www.jensentools.com). Jensen supplies five different JIS screwdrivers in sizes
from #00 to #2. These have plastic handles and hardened tips, and are made
by Hozan of Japan. The most suitable size is the #1; Hozan part number D-150-
100, Jensen Cat. No. 8-104. The cost is about US$5.00.

 

[janas19]

8 Ft/lbs? That is not possible with screws that small.

Oops.

I meant 8 in/lbs.

 

[C1]

It is these:

Sony, and other Japanese electronics manufacturers, use a machine screw
standard which resembles a Phillips head, but is actually slightly different. This
standard is called JIS (Japanese Industry Standard). If a conventional Phillips
screwdriver is used with such screws, it is very easy to damage the slots in the
head of the screw. The best approach is to use JIS screwdrivers, but these are
sometimes difficult to locate outside Japan.


A number of electronics tool distributors sell JIS screwdrivers because they are
commonly needed for service of Japanese professional and consumer electronics
products. One such American vendor is Jensen (800-426-1194,
www.jensentools.com). Jensen supplies five different JIS screwdrivers in sizes
from #00 to #2. These have plastic handles and hardened tips, and are made
by Hozan of Japan. The most suitable size is the #1; Hozan part number D-150-
100, Jensen Cat. No. 8-104. The cost is about US$5.00.

WARNING - NOTE TO ALL
This business of inability to remove a screw from an electronic device because of mutilation of the screw head comes up quite often in these forums. The reason is simple and obvious. It is because these JIS screws are used all over the place and people assume them as Phillips.

Just a word of advice from an old duffer which is that although you dont ordinarily need a JIS compliant driver to successfully extract these JISes, you need to be cognizant/careful about it. Always use high quality drivers and be aware of the driver fit. The JIS has shallower depth and as a result, the choice of the size and fit of the Phillips driver used often becomes critical particularly when you dont want to leave any telltale marks indicating that a screw has been tampered with. Note: Whenever I consider buying a used electronics device or open box, the first thing I look for is any indication that the device was worked on by someone. If so, I tend to avoid it. Remember, it takes almost nothing to mar, deform or rub off the black coating along the x-slot edges particularly of a JIS screw attempted to be removed using a Phillips driver.
================================
Ref: http://www.sdds.com/pdfs/technotes/TN99043001.pdf

 

[gsaldivar]

Be damn careful if you're going to drill anything attached to a computer. Tiny metal shavings will go everywhere and can easily cause a short...

 

[paul878]

Use a Left Hand Drill bit, the screw will come right out.

 

[stahlhart]

WARNING - NOTE TO ALL
This business of inability to remove a screw from an electronic device because of mutilation of the screw head comes up quite often in these forums. The reason is simple and obvious. It is because these JIS screws are used all over the place and people assume them as Phillips.

Just a word of advice from an old duffer which is that although you dont ordinarily need a JIS compliant driver to successfully extract these JISes, you need to be cognizant/careful about it. Always use high quality drivers and be aware of the driver fit. The JIS has shallower depth and as a result, the choice of the size and fit of the Phillips driver used often becomes critical particularly when you dont want to leave any telltale marks indicating that a screw has been tampered with. Note: Whenever I consider buying a used electronics device or open box, the first thing I look for is any indication that the device was worked on by someone. If so, I tend to avoid it. Remember, it takes almost nothing to mar, deform or rub off the black coating along the x-slot edges particularly of a JIS screw attempted to be removed using a Phillips driver.
================================
Ref: http://www.sdds.com/pdfs/technotes/TN99043001.pdf

Interesting -- never knew about this one. Thanks for the information...

 

[paperwastage]

WD40 applied overnight

drilled one of the screw heads off (some damage to the surrounding plastic, but i dont care)

the other screw is harder as its recessed

EDIT: second (and last screw), only had to drill the head a little, then could use a normal flat-head screwdriver with enough grip to remove the screw

 

[janas19]

drilled one of the screw heads off (some damage to the surrounding plastic, but i dont care)

the other screw is harder as its recessed

You drilled the head off, wouldn't the threaded shaft still be in the socket?

 

[paperwastage]

You drilled the head off, wouldn't the threaded shaft still be in the socket?

well, a more accurate description would be drilling most of the head off, with a little nub left where I can use a screwdriver and turn the screw out (using the head as grip)

second one, only had to drill a liitle to loosen it up and get a grip

 

[janas19]

:thumbup: Glad you got them out.

 

[paperwastage]

yep. the old hdd booted up w/o any problems. dont think I killed/damaged anything

time to put in an SSD and see how much life I can get out of it