New barebone with stripped screw problem - any solutions?

I got my W150ER barebone today and when installing components last i came to the single wifi screw which is stripped (not completely but pretty badly) and also seems to be screwed in tightly... Does anyone have any expirience or good idea how to unscrew this screw?
Im kinda stuck now until i get this figured out and i really dont want to send it back and wait for a replacement due to a single friggin screw :s.

 

Since my english is not as tech-savvy, what do you mean by "stripped"?
Do you mean "damaged, so you cant unscrew it"?

If so, then I will share my experience on how to remove it.
1.) If you are handy (by that I mean really good with instruments), then use a battery drill with the tiniest possible drill and carefully slowly make a tiny hole into the head of the broken screw. Then insert a small cross screwdriver and start twisting to the left until it pops out.

2.) You may use a pair of nippers to try and turn the head of the screw and unscrew it. Might take some steady handling and heavy grip.

3.) If you can, use a larger screwdriver and press HARD on it, then try to unscrew it.

These methods worked for me on some occasions. Ive never had to remove a bad screw from my laptop, but I had a 2-day nightmare with my external HDD case that had some alluminum screws. It turned out okay, though, as I used method (1) to remove the bad screw and succeeded!

Advice: if you plan on opening your laptop frequently (to clean it from dust, etc.), then I suggest you change all your back panel screws to high quality ones.
I did it from the beginning and I have an easy time cleaning my laptop, since the screws are rock-solid and never give me any problems.

I hope I helped!!!!

 

If it does unscrew, you may use the old bic pen trick.
Remove the cap on top of the bic pen plastic cylinder, heat it up till the plastic almost melts, then push it firmly on the damaged screw till it solidify with the screw itself.
Try to unscrew it now firmly.
This method helped me a lot in some cases specially back in times with my old xps m1730 (dell screws were the worst I've ever seen).

 

A stripped screw is a screw in which the "tines" of the screw, the part that the screwdriver pushes, have been flattened due to soft metal and there is nothing for the screwdriver to turn. Once you get them out, you don't want to put them back in because removing them always involves damaging them further.

Off topic: does anyone else feel like there have been way more double-topics recently?

 

Do as b0b1man told (1.), but do not unscrew with the screwdriver, just continue to drill with the low rotation ~2mm left-speed drill.

 

Flat Blade screwdriver tight into the slots on the posi screw should work. Also try tightening a little just to start it moving. Worst case scenario reverse threaded drill bit.

 

And do it on a stable surface, use lots of lighting (bring some lamps if you must).

And do it reeeeally slow.

 

Ok so it looks stripped, have you tried unscrewing it? If it unscrews just use another screw.. If it doesn't, then as was said above

"Worst case scenario reverse threaded drill bit." (easier and safer than drilling it out which is another option)

 

I do the flathead all the time with stripped screws if there is a tiny bit of anything to still grip to. If you are comfortable you can try to force divits with the flathead, but try not to break the entire board.

I wouldn't do solution 2 of the nippers thing... maybe that's the same as needle nose pliers but that can crack the plastic components... so not a good idea.

 

I successfully unscrewed a stripped screw by placing a rubber band over the screw. The rubber band filled in the gaps, and I slowly turned the screw until it came out.

The drill is probably a better idea though.

 

Scott: they're Pozidriv and not Phillips screws?

 

Just desolder the mounting post it is screwed to.

 

Ok so i tried the following thus far:
Drilling with a tiny diamond drill (dentist equipment - laid out a plastic bag round the screw with a hole in the middle to keep the filings from getting in the laptop) to restore the original philips shape.
Then tried using both philips and flathead screwdrivers.
Using rubber band.
Super glue a screwdriver (cleaned it out with the drill again).
Tried heating with hairdryer.
I applied as much force as i felt comfortable using without stripping it and the damn screw wont budge. Its really tight in there... Why the hell would they do that in a barebone -_-?
Im getting real annoyed here.
A single screw managed to totally ruin an otherwise fun expirience of receiving and assembling a new laptop !

So the problem now isnt really it being stripped but stuck in there... I dont have any good idea what to do now. I dont want to do something extreme to break a new laptop (desoldering sounds kinda scary on a motherboard).

 

I think you're right actually, I'm just used to saying posi. Whatever they are, they're not the best. I use ph screwdrivers but have never been totally happy with the fit. Id much prefer they switched to torx.. Or square.. Or posi.. And used better quality. They should then be able to get them to a more consistant tightness so this problem would never arise. Haha wishful thinking though.

 

Sounds like you might have to drill it out HeavenCry. Try source a reverse thread drill bit so if it grabs it pulls the screw out instead of tightening it. If you have access to a drill press use that!

 

Here is what you can do:
1.) Take another of these screws for measurement.
2.) Note its lenght.
3.) Stick a sticker on your drill (be it reverse one or normal one) to mark the depth so you dont overdrill it.
4.) Drill untill you make the screw itself hollow (or not entirely, just barely to the tip of it)
5.) Get a very small cross screwdriver (the ones that they use to repair armwatches, tiny ones) and stick it carefully inside the hollow screw. If there is some space, stick some duct tape around the screwdriver so you get a grip
6.) Start unscrewing by twisting a little in an oval shape
7.) PROFIT!!

BTW, you could buy a pack of these cheap chinese tiny screwdrivers, pick a bigger one and grind it so it becomes like a sandpaper and stick it in the hollow screw. Good grip, high chances of unscrewing it.

MAJOR EDIT: Post some pics of the thing, so we may give better advice, man! We need to see the thing!
Here is what I mean:

 

I have a few sets of jewelers screwdrivers and a large assortment of drills but im sadly not comfortable doing this on a new barehone. Its just too risky. I took it to two laptop service shops this morning and none could remove the screw. Ive decided to ask the reseller for a replacement or another solution. This shouldnt be so hard to start with - it is a defect as i see it and id rather wait for a replacement then wrecking a new laptop - i just dont trust myself enough to drill through it...

 

Good call, HeavenCry. If you are not comfortable enough, just leave it. Better safe than sorry!

On another note: the reseller might just remove the screw and ship the same laptop back to you. If they promise to replace the whole laptop, then take a note of the serial number and check it later with the "new" one.

I might be wrong and Im sorry if I offended the reseller by the above statement. Just stating my personal opinion, no insult intended. Resellers in the USA are generally WAY more honest than anywhere else. Customers really are a priority for them, for which I admire them! Keep up the good work!

 

Sent it back today and i was promised a new barebone to be shipped on the same day this one arrives back to them.

Im rather OCD and i keep good track of such things as serial numbers . And you can tell straight away if its a brand new unopened barebone from the factory or not anyway.

I do hope they wont try to send back the same barebone - theyve been nice and understanding so far (but considering i bought two barebones from them - W150ER and P170ER and some components worth over 2000€ id expect them to be). If they did send the same one back id certainly demand a refund and take my business elsewhere.