Removing a stripped screw from a laptop?

[Axel]

I'm pretty much lost right now.

Trying to remove the screw holding in a mini pci wireless adapter and the heads stripped with very little trying.

Tried sticking a rubber band over it for traction and wont work, it's in ridiculously tight (thanks dell) and I honestly don't know where to proceed from here.

Suggestions appreciated.

[Praetor]

try using a pliers (pointy tip); if the screw is in a tight place only accessible by a screw drive then idk. :(

[Marshall Veteran]

I can't tell from the picture if the head of that screw has enough of an edge on it at the base but I would try needle-nose vice grips.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

could always try something like this http://www.amazon.co...ASIN=B001A4CWHO

i'm sure you could find a similar product at a local shop as well rather than waiting for it to be delivered

[t_r_nelson]

EDIT: I can't read. :cry:

[wahoospa]

Get a small flat file that you can file with using the side of the file. Cut a straight path across the screw so you can get a small straight screw driver into the new cut.

[threetonesun]

Laptop screws suck to deal with, because they're so small. You can try to cut a slot in it, as mentioned above, to get a flathead in there. Alternatively, you can drill it and pop it out that way. Depending on the type of screw, you could probably force a driver into it hard enough by hand to screw it out if you want.

[Dotdot]

Got a rotary tool? Thats what i use for grinding out worn heads on the screws/bolts in my RC cars.

[butilikethecookie]

maybe try and get under the screw, cut off the head, and use pliers to unscrew the rest?

[Axel]

Get a small flat file that you can file with using the side of the file. Cut a straight path across the screw so you can get a small straight screw driver into the new cut.

Yeah i might try this but a bit worried about the filings - will give it a crack over the weekend! Miffed a simple job is gonna take so long!

Thanks for the replies guys.

[sava700]

Last time I had a stripped screw in a laptop I grabbed my drill and a bit the size of the screw (not the head) and drilled it out... basically you can use a bit smaller and drill thru the screw (ONLY THE SCREW - Becareful here) so when the center of it is gone it relaxes its grip on the walls and should twist on out with a pair of needle nose.

[c.grz]

Sometimes a screwdriver with a bigger head works for me. The method that works for me the best is applying a bit more pressure than normal and quickly turning the screw. Sometimes just getting it to move a little bit in that jerking fashion is enough to get it loose enough to remove it normally.

The old T-40 series Thinkpads were notorious for that!

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

If you do decide to use an "abrasive" method to remove the screw (file, Dremel tool and so forth) you may want to make a mask around the screw by cutting an antistatic bag to fit and taping it around the edges so it's solid. You can use a piece of tape rolled in a loop to "pat" the dust/filings away.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

[ozgeek]

Tried using the screwdriver adapters on a drill driver? For those uber tight ones, the drill with a screwdriver attachment almost always helped unless the screwhead is mixed up. You could try filling the head with a settling solid agent (glue ??) with a screwdriver in it and then let it dry and then try turning the driver see if the screw comes loose.

[Detection]

Superglue the end of a screwdriver to it, if superglue is not strong enough, use something fast drying but strong like No More Nails or Fast Drying Araldite

[Hum]

;)

[techbeck]

tape off the surrounding area...grab a drill and drill out the hole where the screw is. Or grind off the head of the screw.

Orrr, grind a flat head screw slot on the screw then grab a flat head screw driver and remove the screw.

Problem solved.

[smooth_criminal1990]

looking at the thing, if you have a suitably sized flat headed driver, you might be able to fit it into the remains of the cross without having to attack it with a file.

[KillTheIrishman]

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=screw+extractor&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=15550387974493017076&sa=X&ei=wbq6T-GODMr06AHHvdzVCg&ved=0CMABEPMCMAA