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    Here's one you probably haven't heard of...

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Maximvs007, Apr 17, 2010.

  1. Maximvs007

    Maximvs007 Notebook Enthusiast

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    So I'm screwing in one of the cross brace screws for he heatsink and its turning way too much...the head of the screw snapped off...

    SO, now I have a screw stuck in like the most important screw hole in the whole computer.

    Any ideas on what I could do? Should I just leave as is?

    I was going to drill the screw hole from the other side, it's open on the other end.
     
    Maximvs007, Apr 17, 2010
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  2. woofer00

    woofer00 Wanderer

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    Your odds are worse than 50/50 that some metal shavings will get loose and short out the worst possible circuits. Be very careful about how you do this. It happens on occasion, but when it has, I've had enough left to grab with a needlenose and very painfully twist it out.
     
    woofer00, Apr 17, 2010
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  3. carthikv12

    carthikv12 Notebook Evangelist

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    can you put up a picture?

    if it broke off cos its too tight then i guess its quite secure... if it feels a bit loose, you should probably try to take it out... in either case, make sure you are keeping an eye on your system temps to ensure nothing dangerous happens...
     
    carthikv12, Apr 17, 2010
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  4. woofer00

    woofer00 Wanderer

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    Was going to edit just now, but there's an intervening post:

    I haven't stripped screws in years, but when it did happen it was because I overtorqued when the screw head was already flush. You're lucky the metal fatigued at the head instead of stripping the threading in the slot. That ends up wrecking whatever post you're screwing into. I had to replace an entire heatsink once because the post was basically some threading cut into the fins. Very bad lesson to learn.
     
    woofer00, Apr 17, 2010
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  5. Maximvs007

    Maximvs007 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I thought about that....so you've had this problem before?

    You missed the point, the head snapped off with the rest of the screw IN the post, so the heatsink is not screwed in, not attached, at that post. And I can't screw another one in because there's the piece of screw already in there.
     
    Maximvs007, Apr 18, 2010
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  6. Fintan

    Fintan Notebook Consultant

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    Properly sized drill bit (inner side thread), properly secured board and a drilling stand should get rid of it easily enough. Make sure to clean it very carefully afterwards. Done it a few times without any trouble.
     
    Fintan, Apr 18, 2010
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  7. TANWare

    TANWare Just This Side of Senile, I think. Super Moderator

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    You can use a dremel tool and place a razor thin slice on the top right into the post and through the screw. Make sure it is not deep but enough to get some traction against the screw that was left in.

    Other option is a small really thin reversed drill bit. If it grabs it will back the screw out. You had mentioned the post was hollow all the way though. If the threads are all the way through as well a screw in the back end may alow you to back out the other screw with a few twists. Also if you us a small drill from the back into the screw as it grabs it will try and back the screw out too.

    I haven't done this on a main board yet, thank god, but FULLY disassemble the system and properly clean up afterwards. And remember there is such thing as TOO CLEAN.............
     
    TANWare, Apr 18, 2010
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