? for anyone

jmlikos · 08-23-2007, 09:17 AM

I hope I am posting this in the right place. I have a broken screw in my laptop, on the bottom, and I need to know what the best way to get it out is. Thanks, it is a screw holding in the DVD drive. TIA.

h20-ski · 08-23-2007, 09:42 AM

The best way is to drill it out with a drill that is slightly smaller than the screw itself

jmlikos · 08-23-2007, 11:02 AM

OK. I will give that a try. It is a pretty small screw though. Thanks, I appreciate it.

SpeedDMN · 08-23-2007, 12:36 PM

Do you mean broken as in the head is stripped or does it just keep turning and not back out?

jmlikos · 08-23-2007, 01:50 PM

The head is broken off, all you can see is the screw in the hole.

SpeedDMN · 08-23-2007, 02:19 PM

ahh..bummer. Is it deep in a well or can you reach the top of the screw? If you can reach it you may be able to "slot" it with something so maybe you can back it out with a small jeweler's flat head screwdriver. Something like a tungsten dart point even you might be able to scratch a groove in it. That would be better because then you could replace the screw. Otherwise h2o-ski is probably right in that you would have to VERY CAREFULLY drill it out. Unfortunately this would mean the stud would be ruined.

jmlikos · 08-23-2007, 02:31 PM

Yes, unfortunately it is in a well. Doesn't sound too promising!

Rick_EE · 08-23-2007, 03:07 PM

I would be real careful drilling it out. Be very careful where the chips go. Don't let any get inside the machine.

jmlikos · 08-23-2007, 03:30 PM

OK. Thanks. I am a little worried about drilling, but the screw is holding my DVD drive in and it has to be replaced.

blackdog · 08-23-2007, 05:35 PM

if you are going to drill it use a reverse drill bit and may be when drilling back words it will grab it and come right out

jmlikos · 08-23-2007, 05:50 PM

I can only hope to be that lucky!

SpeedDMN · 08-23-2007, 05:52 PM

Sweet idea. If it worked you could back it out and not worry about filings plus you could actually replace the screw if you needed to.

jmlikos · 08-23-2007, 07:24 PM

Let's cross our fingers!

3 of 7 · 08-24-2007, 10:26 AM

If the screw just goes through the plastic on the bottom of the case, you'll likely have more luck removing any screws that are near it and bending the bottom of the case down enough to slide the drive out with the screw still in it.
If you've ever tried drilling a steel bolt out of an aluminum part you'll realize that it's going to be impossible to drill a screw that small that's surrounded by a plastic part unless you have a steel bushing (or washers), that fit in the well to hold the bit centered.

jmlikos · 08-24-2007, 10:38 AM

Yeah, I am starting to see that problem. I tried the drilling and not so much luck with it. seemed like it pushed it in more than it pulled it out. I will try removing the screws around it and see if I can pull the drive out. Thanks.

08-23-2007, 09:17 AM	#1
jmlikos Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rocky Top Posts: 812	? for anyone I hope I am posting this in the right place. I have a broken screw in my laptop, on the bottom, and I need to know what the best way to get it out is. Thanks, it is a screw holding in the DVD drive. TIA.
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08-23-2007, 09:42 AM	#2
h20-ski Forget Wakeboarding Join Date: May 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 2,460	The best way is to drill it out with a drill that is slightly smaller than the screw itself __________________
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08-23-2007, 11:02 AM	#3
jmlikos Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rocky Top Posts: 812	OK. I will give that a try. It is a pretty small screw though. Thanks, I appreciate it.
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08-23-2007, 12:36 PM	#4
SpeedDMN Silicon Avatar Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hyde Park, NY Posts: 2,927	Do you mean broken as in the head is stripped or does it just keep turning and not back out? __________________
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08-23-2007, 01:50 PM	#5
jmlikos Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rocky Top Posts: 812	The head is broken off, all you can see is the screw in the hole.
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08-23-2007, 02:19 PM	#6
SpeedDMN Silicon Avatar Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hyde Park, NY Posts: 2,927	ahh..bummer. Is it deep in a well or can you reach the top of the screw? If you can reach it you may be able to "slot" it with something so maybe you can back it out with a small jeweler's flat head screwdriver. Something like a tungsten dart point even you might be able to scratch a groove in it. That would be better because then you could replace the screw. Otherwise h2o-ski is probably right in that you would have to VERY CAREFULLY drill it out. Unfortunately this would mean the stud would be ruined. __________________
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08-23-2007, 02:31 PM	#7
jmlikos Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rocky Top Posts: 812	Yes, unfortunately it is in a well. Doesn't sound too promising!
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08-23-2007, 03:07 PM	#8
Rick_EE Stuck in Jita Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,017	I would be real careful drilling it out. Be very careful where the chips go. Don't let any get inside the machine. __________________ "Your a looser"- internet phrase of the day.
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08-23-2007, 03:30 PM	#9
jmlikos Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rocky Top Posts: 812	OK. Thanks. I am a little worried about drilling, but the screw is holding my DVD drive in and it has to be replaced.
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08-23-2007, 05:35 PM	#10
blackdog Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: utah Posts: 102	if you are going to drill it use a reverse drill bit and may be when drilling back words it will grab it and come right out __________________ if it wernt for computing id have nothing to do system is a viper case k8ne-deluxe amd64 3500 cpu socket 754 1gb patroit 2x512 pc3200 ati 9800pro4 wd 200gb hdd 2xbootable raid 0 set 2x raid 0 set for storage and a wintvtuner sony dvd burner sony cd burner and a floopy new system asus a8n-sli 4gb ocz 3200 ddr400 ram 74g raptor 10000rpm hdd for os 2x 200gb hdd for storage dual dvd burner dvd rom floppy x700 pci express vc raidmax case 6 80mm fans 2 with neon lighting xppro media center os
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08-23-2007, 05:50 PM	#11
jmlikos Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rocky Top Posts: 812	I can only hope to be that lucky!
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08-23-2007, 05:52 PM	#12
SpeedDMN Silicon Avatar Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hyde Park, NY Posts: 2,927	Sweet idea. If it worked you could back it out and not worry about filings plus you could actually replace the screw if you needed to. __________________
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08-23-2007, 07:24 PM	#13
jmlikos Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rocky Top Posts: 812	Let's cross our fingers!
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08-24-2007, 10:26 AM	#14
3 of 7 You can run..... Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,660	If the screw just goes through the plastic on the bottom of the case, you'll likely have more luck removing any screws that are near it and bending the bottom of the case down enough to slide the drive out with the screw still in it. If you've ever tried drilling a steel bolt out of an aluminum part you'll realize that it's going to be impossible to drill a screw that small that's surrounded by a plastic part unless you have a steel bushing (or washers), that fit in the well to hold the bit centered.
(Offline)

08-24-2007, 10:38 AM	#15
jmlikos Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rocky Top Posts: 812	Yeah, I am starting to see that problem. I tried the drilling and not so much luck with it. seemed like it pushed it in more than it pulled it out. I will try removing the screws around it and see if I can pull the drive out. Thanks.
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