Help needed!!

Hey guys, I was too tired after doing an all nighter and I accidentally inserted an sd card into the blu ray slot. To get it out, I decided to disassemble my laptop and my problem is that I realised that one of the screw's head was ruined and I don't think I was at fault because I managed to unscrew the other ones with the same screwdriver. Are there any other ways to unscrew it?? Any advice would be appreciated!! I need to use the slot..

 

If the head is completely rounded out so that no screwdriver will fit (flat or otherwise) then your options are very limited.

If you can take photos of the location perhaps members here might be able to better advise you.

Alternatively - do you have accidental cover on your laptop. If so call Dell.

 

I actually have a special bit that I bought from sears that removes bad screws. You can go to any home depot and they will have these special bits. However, try using a rubber band?

HOWTO remove a stripped screw with a rubber band - Boing Boing

 

@KenFitzhaving problems uploading the photo?? it says that the image is too large..
@SlickDude80 thanks for the advice! I am gonna try the rubber band method tomorrow

However, do any of you guys know any method of getting the memory card out straight from the slot?? I have seen people using paper and stuff but I think I might have pushed it further in.. :/

Anyways, on the bright side, it made me realised how easy it is to disassemble my whole laptop as I was always afraid in disassembling it..Now,it would be much easier to do the repaste..

 

Ray, do you have a pair of long tweezers? That's might work

 

thanks for the advice but will inserting them into the slot too deep scratch the drive??

 

Maybe, but as it stands now, its unusable. You have nothing to lose

There was a post on here not that long ago where someone also inserted their SD card into the DVD slot. Same as you, late night, they weren't concentrating and BAM! They used long tweezers to remove the card. Just be gentle, you should be ok

 

when i replaced my wireless card on my m17x the screws on the keyboard were so tight they wouldnt budge, even with the proper screwdriver. i didnt strip them but had to resort to a pair of needle nose pliers and gripped the sides of the screw and twisted. worked pretty well.

 

i still have no luck in trying to get the card out.. So, I guess that I should get some professional help in removing the screw. There is a laptop repair shop nearby that offered me to get it done for a student price or should i call Dell support but I don't have any accidental cover??
Any advice would be appreciated..

 

I'd have the people at the shop do it first. Then you can have dell replace the optical drive. I just wouldn't want a Dell tech finding the stripped screw because thats obvious evidence that you tampered with it and he could possibly void your warranty. Once the screw is replaced, then have Dell do there thing with the optical drive.

Another alternative, if the card is still visible is to create a fish hook type paperclip and try and fish it out.

 

@ SlickDude, thanks alot for the tweezers advice . Managed to get it out with the help of some double sided tape on the tweezers!

About the stripped screw, the repair will cost £45 and its quite expensive for me. So, should I call Dell? I am afraid that they will void my warranty.
And one last thing, I stupidly forgot to screw back the screws under the keyboard panel. Will it affect my laptop? I am just afraid that I might break the hinge cover(central control cover) because my last disassemble was kind of tough for the cover.(small dent)

I apologise for being such a newbie. Thank you

 

I have done exactly what you did, but I could still get at it with a long pair of tweezers.

Hope you get it sorted!