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Stripped one of the tiny Mini PCI screws

HeroOfPellinor

HeroOfPellinor

Lifer
Thing was really in there and I was carefully using a precision screwdriver set, but that didn't help. This is obviously in a notebook, so I can't just go about drilling or grinding. I tried a philips then a flat then a square bit and it's only gotten worse.
 
Dremel drill and patience, that's your only hope

Position the notebook upside down and go at the screw with the cutting wheel. Cut a slot in the screw head. Having it upside down will keep most if not all of the filings from getting in the laptop.
 
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Superglue the bit to the screw.
Click to expand...


If it's in there really tight that usually won't work (I've tried it) though the same idea with a little hard drying epoxy might do the trick.
 
I usually try to use the screws with a nut head that way I'm not totally fvcked if/when this happens. But in a notebook you probably had no choice.

Is the screw large enought to use a dremel to cut a new slot?

I've actually found I strip screws less by using a larger screwdriver rather then a smaller one. I'm not sure why...I guess maybe the larger head applies itself over more surface area.
 
Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Superglue the bit to the screw.
Click to expand...


If it's in there really tight that usually won't work (I've tried it) though the same idea with a little hard drying epoxy might do the trick.
Click to expand...

I tried that with gorilla glue last night. No luck.

Yeah, I could dremel out a slot for a flat head screw driver, but, even upside down, I'm pretty sure there's be metallic shards all throughout the notebook.

Any clean way of slicing a couple grooves? Let me go grab my pair of mini bolt cutters and try.
 
Wasn't enough exposed to use the bolt cutter to cut some grooves.

Ran out and bought a pair of needle nose vice grips (I'd already tried plain needle nose pliers). I figured if these didn't do the trick, that I'd resort to a razor blade to try and gradually slice a couple grooves.....seemed like it would make less mess than a file or dremel that would grind little bits everywhere.

Luckily the vice grips snagged it. 🙂
 
the safest option would be for a reverse drill out screw extractor. it mounts in a drill, and it's designed to bite the screw head and be drilled backwards pulling out the screw
 
Originally posted by: Mday
the safest option would be for a reverse drill out screw extractor. it mounts in a drill, and it's designed to bite the screw head and be drilled backwards pulling out the screw
Click to expand...

All the screw extractors I know of stop at #6's. We're talking about a really tiny screw here....smaller that the screws in the back of the notebook.
 
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Thing was really in there and I was carefully using a precision screwdriver set, but that didn't help. This is obviously in a notebook, so I can't just go about drilling or grinding. I tried a philips then a flat then a square bit and it's only gotten worse.
Click to expand...

..don't ya hate that?? some of thsose screws are made of putty.

 
What a PITA, I hate stripped screws.

I say lay cloth or napkins or something over the rest of the notebook interior to cover from debris & dremel the screw.

What is the screw screwed into?
 
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
What a PITA, I hate stripped screws.

I say lay cloth or napkins or something over the rest of the notebook interior to cover from debris & dremel the screw.

What is the screw screwed into?
Click to expand...

Yeah, does it need to come out?
 
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
What a PITA, I hate stripped screws.

I say lay cloth or napkins or something over the rest of the notebook interior to cover from debris & dremel the screw.
Click to expand...

That's what I was planning for my last resort.....lay plastic wrap over the entire bottom them just punch the screwhead through.
What is the screw screwed into?
Click to expand...

Mini PCI screws are actually on little risers. They're smaller than other notebook screws and very little of the head is exposed at all. Even being very careful I managed to lightly damage the riser. The replacement screws were shipped to me last week and should be here today so I can finally have wireless on my new Asus notebook.
 
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
What a PITA, I hate stripped screws.

I say lay cloth or napkins or something over the rest of the notebook interior to cover from debris & dremel the screw.

What is the screw screwed into?
Click to expand...

Yeah, does it need to come out?
Click to expand...

It's used to hold the wireless card down.
 
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
What a PITA, I hate stripped screws.

I say lay cloth or napkins or something over the rest of the notebook interior to cover from debris & dremel the screw.
Click to expand...

That's what I was planning for my last resort.....lay plastic wrap over the entire bottom them just punch the screwhead through.
What is the screw screwed into?
Click to expand...

Mini PCI screws are actually on little risers. They're smaller than other notebook screws and very little of the head is exposed at all. Even being very careful I managed to lightly damage the riser. The replacement screws were shipped to me last week and should be here today so I can finally have wireless on my new Asus notebook.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, I guess you're right. Its been a while since I've had a notebook open and paid attention to that.

Pic I took: http://www.laptoplogic.com/data/reviews/images/112/upgrade_lrg.jpg
 
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