Screw grooves/ram upgrade/few other issues

Hi all, I just installed 32GB of Corsair ram and was wondering:-

1) What do you do if you encounter screws with worn out grooves? I happen to notice quite a few and I only managed to unscrew after a lot of effort.

Does Dell replace the screws? Or if you're unable to unscrew, what do you do?

2) The metal cover protecting the memory slots under the keyboard had one of those screws that had worn out grooves (the one on top), to get at it I just bent the metal piece (at the top since I was able to remove both the screws at the bottom of the piece) and installed the ram. When I tried bending it back, one part of it snapped off (the part that hooks to the edge on the right) I know I should have waited till I had the screw removed, but I didn't want to wait too long especially after I had already gone through the trouble to get everything opened and had no idea who could remove the screw.

Can I get a replacement for that or am I screwed? (haha)

3) I have 1TB 5400 and the stock 2 x 4gb ram that came with the machine that I switched out. Can I get rid of it? Or do I have to keep it for Dell warranty purposes?

4) After replacing the ram and putting in the 4 x 8gb sticks of ram, I noticed that the laptop is running a little hotter. It's a few degrees higher than usual and the fans are running a little more than usual. Could that be due to the piece of metal breaking off for the ram slots under the keyboard? Or just that more ram makes things hotter?

I'm not sure.

Please advice!

 

More power = more heat. Power supply has push out more power for your extra ram.

 

Well,

I have 1) and 2) and 4) answered (thanks)

Contacted Dell support and a technician will be coming over to replace the screws for me and will change the memory module cover as well.

I received the laptop with some horrible scratches at the bottom of the laptop, they're going to change the bottom cover as well.

So I'm happy enough!

 

3) Better to keep it for warranty purposes.
4) more performance means more heat, just make sure they don't get more than 90C.

 

I've had my M18x apart so many times it should have zippers instead of screws, LOL. (That's part of the fun in owning a serviceable machine and I truly love working on this beast! I am re-impressed by it every time I take it apart. It's like working on a muscle-car or well-built European machine, minus the dirty hands.)

Anyhow, with respect to the screws, mine have never worn out. You may want to try using a slightly larger screwdriver. If the tip bottoms out in the Philips slot it before the sides get tight you will strip out the heads very easily. When using the correct size screwdriver, you should be able to have the screwdriver stand up on its own without having to hold onto it. If it falls over when you let go, the screwdriver you are using is too small. (This tip is only holds true if the slots in the screws are not already worn out.)

To remove a screw with a stripped head, try tapping the end of the screwdriver lightly to fully seat it into the screw slot. While lightly tapping on the end of it, try to loosen the screw.