stripped screw in 3820TG (or any acer stripped screw advice would help)

So I was gonna open up a 3820 for it's first time but the middle screw in the back plate was faulty and the treads disintegrated the second I tried to turn it. The rest came out perfect, smooth as butter, but I can't get that plate off with the middle screw stuck.

What should I buy to get down into that hole at that screw. Theres barely a tread on it. I'm thinking the right sized square or torx might work but I don't want to harm anything. Suggestions?

 

Try a very small torx or small allen wrench and see if you can turn it that way. If not, try a small jeweler's file and file a slot in the screw to take a conventional screwdriver. Another option would be to make a slot with a dremmel. If all else fails, you can try a vice grips on the head and see if you can back it out like that. I think it's too small for an easy-out.

When you get it resolved, I may have a spare screw. If you live in the US, I could drop one in the mail. Nice job by the way .

Bronsky

 

lol... Nice job eh? Funny. I don't even know my own strength . But honestly though, the thing just fell apart. If it was me I would have "screwed" all the screws.

All great ideas Bronsky. I'm gonna get out to a few places later. I'll take a screw with me for a reference. I might even end up a jewelers (which is a brilliant idea BTW). I doubt a vice grip would work though, it doesn't look like it in the pic but it's the recessed middle screw in the back panel.

I'll pay shipping for an extra screw if you can send it. I'm in Canada though.

Thanks
-dam25

 

That is a very interesting question. I am also wondering how you're going to get that sucker out.

My 4820TG has one stripped screw that holds the wifi card. The card isn't bad but I was going to use an Intel 5300 instead.

Anyways, let me know which solution worked out best and I will attempt on my 4820TG.

 

PM me your address, I'll send a couple of screws. I'm sure I have a few spares. If you have a local tech shop nearby, they should have no problem getting it out.

Bronsky

 

If you can't get ahold of it with needle nose vice grips (they make them) then you can try easy outs (kinda a reverse drill), or you can grind off the head and then after the panel is off use vice grips on what's left of the shaft to get it out.

 

So I went to Canadian Tire and tried everything that would fit in the hole and eventually a torx caught enough of a thread I was able to loosen the screw and get it out. What an ordeal.

@King - Bronsky had the amazing idea of using a jewelers file. I'd much rather take the laptop to a jeweler with steady hands to file slits into the screw then try and use a tiny drill bit myself.

@Sxooter - Yeah, I have a cheap "PC repair kit" but it's a P.O.S. It's the included screwdriver that caused this mess. It's a pointy phillips head and it didn't fit the screw nicely so ended up stripping it. The kit has needle nose 'tweezers' that aren't strong enough for a women to do her eyebrows with. Time to invest in a few actual tools.

 

I think there's a grommet on the back of that screw. Keep it if you can. Let me know if you want me to mail one. I can post it at work tomorrow for free.

Glad you got it out.

Bronsky