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Thread ID: 133433	2013-06-03 12:18:00	how to remove stubborn screws	Mirddes (10)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1344600	2013-06-03 23:51:00	pretty sure i was just given a **** screwdriver. screws are definitely too long. the screws are threaded into a laptop dvd drive, the wisth of the thread part of the screw is indeed smaller than atx standard.	Mirddes (10)
1344601	2013-06-04 00:14:00	im glad someone moved this, i was wondering how i ended up posting it in chat.	Mirddes (10)
1344602	2013-06-04 02:02:00	The two common sizes of screws used in computers are No 6-32 UNC with major thread diameter of 0.138 inches, and ISO M3 with major diameter of 3mm (0.118 inch) I doubt if screw extractors go that small. You could possibly drill the screw with a tap drill size for M3, 2.5mm, then clean up with an M3 tap.	Terry Porritt (14)
1344603	2013-06-04 02:06:00	The two common sizes of screws used in computers are No 6-32 UNC with major thread diameter of 0.138 inches, and ISO M3 with major diameter of 3mm (0.118 inch) I doubt if screw extractors go that small. You could possibly drill the screw with a tap drill size for M3, 2.5mm, then clean up with an M3 tap. Being a laptop drive it's probably even smaller than that, too.	Agent_24 (57)
1344604	2013-06-04 02:21:00	are you lot suggesting i convert these holes to bigger more universally stanard atx screws?	Mirddes (10)
1344605	2013-06-04 02:52:00	A laptop DVD Drive ?? :eek: Those screws are only 2mm, with a flat head,normally they dont actually screw into the Drive directly. They usually have a tab at the rear of the drive, that when the drive slides in the slot, the screw goes through the tab and into a mount inside the laptop or in the case of some laptops, you have to remove the covers, ( some Dells) and unscrew a single screw again via a Tab, should have nothing to do with the drive being able to open or not. I suppose if a screw was to long and was forced through a circuit board it could kill it. Any chance of a picture showing how it is.	wainuitech (129)
1344606	2013-06-04 09:07:00	I have removed many stubborn screws by placing a very small amount of fine carborundum valve grinding paste on the tip of the screw driver. You can buy a paste made of diamond dust for this purpose but it is expensive.	mzee (3324)
1344607	2013-06-04 09:27:00	the drive is not dead. just wont open (it tries to open) www.startech.com is mounted in this, stupid me used the included screws to mount the dvd drive seems screws were for somehow mounting a IDE-IDE adaptor to SOMETHING. neither this nor the dvd drive came with mounting screws. idiots everywhere.	Mirddes (10)
1344608	2013-06-05 00:27:00	Provided that you haven't reamed out the screw-head completely, it is possible to recover with the right type of driver, but you'd probably have to buy a set of both pozidrive and phillips bits to get the size and shape you'll need. Sometimes I've had to grind the tip off the bit to allow it to bite into what's left of the screw head. You then apply as much pressure as you can and turn the screw very slowly so that the bit doesn't slip and destroy the screwhead completely. It works for me 90% of the time, then for the other 10%, and provided it is not a recessed head, I use a cutting disc on a flexible lead to create a slot (Jaycar Cat TD-2459 $49.90 or TD-2451 $35.90 for a much less useful model.) Both are good for grinding tips off bits as well. That usually works OK. I recently cut slots to remove security screws on a door lock (the type that can only be tightened) and it worked a treat. Problem is, you may have access difficulties for cutting, so trying alternative bit types (pozidrive not phillips or vice-versa) first is a good idea. See Here (www.wikihow.com) for more ideas. Patience is important! Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
1344609	2013-06-05 06:46:00	I'd expect a small pair of vice grips and some patience would get them out. And I second the thought that you must be using the wrong screwdriver, a common mistake is to see a small phillips screw and assume it's the small size screwdriver when in fact it's a standard size one (no. 2 I think) that might look too big but fits perfectly. The smaller size is actually pretty uncommon and used on very small screws. Another common issue is people who can't tell the difference between phillips head and pozidrive screws, they tend to strip out each others screw heads because the angle is different. :+1: to this	gary67 (56)
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