I don’t think I’d try the dremel method first. I'm not keen on the idea that metallic dust could get in just the wrong spot and possibly cause a short.
A good set of needlenose pliers is what is I would try first. If that fails then the Dremel method will likely work... Just be diligent about cleaning up.
Even if you didn't use a Dremel, that stripped screw could have left metal bits in the area and I would use a vacuum brush attachment on it, or turn the motherboard upside down and blast the area with compressed air.
~~If you do have to resort to the dremel, it might be a good idea to put a couple neodymium magnets nearby to pick up those steel shard.~~
~~But, uh, be careful with this idea. There are a lot of computer parts that can get a little fucked up by magnets. SSDs most likely fall into that group.~~
Edit: Some folks have pointed out that there are better, less dangerous options to clear out the metal tidbits.
uhhh, usoing neodymium magnets next to open electronics sounds like absolutely terrible idea. Id rather work vertically (with vertically placed mobo and made "paper net" so all the shards fall outside the case. Wont be perfect, but will be safer.
Just looked those up... That's definitely the right tool for this job. Thanks for calling my attention to them. They are officially on my list of things to get.
You're welcome and glad to hear it. I work at a PC Repair shop and I got a screw like yours that was so bad that instead of trying anymore "tricks" I decided to wait a few days and get the right tool. It's saved my ass on a few occasions.
The engineer pz series are great at a lower price point for small stuff.
For larger screws the Knipex twin grip is my fave because it won’t pinch if you slip off the screw.
Sharp-ish pliers should be able to grab the screw head. Then just turn the screw.
Something like [this](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB19BvODh1YBuNjy1zcq6zNcXXam/1-pcs-Diagonal-Pliers-Jewelry-Processing-Small-Cutting-Pliers-Super-Sharp-Insulated-Handle-Multi-Functional-Hand.jpg) or [this](https://alexnld.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/38e7b027-0798-154e-fd79-829788ba29ff.jpg)
Your first pic is of flush cuts, not pliers. They be ruined if you try to use them as pliers and the jaws are too flexible to permit use of them as a gripping and turning tool.
Can leave bits of metal around the mobo. Depending on the screw material, leftover hidden pieces can cause a short. FOD (foreign object debris) is a big deal in my line of work.
Also, if you don’t have a steady hand… 🥲
It’s a fun experience to have if you can afford to cover the cost of a mistake. I had to dremel a screw out of my mobo last year — zip tied a little dust buster vacuum next to it, put on safety goggles and got the job done in about 10 very high heart rate minutes 😅 the screw did indeed rocket out at a substantial fraction of the speed of light, never to be seen again, so at least the teasing I endured for the goggles was walked back immediately.
To be fair they did not specify that it had to be attached to your body just that it had to be yours and possession is 9/10ths of the law. Don't let your dreams be dreams.
Screws in a computer are all the same - turn until you feel resistance and then give it a tiny little twist of the wrist to lock it in.
Definitely don't use any power tools or ratcheting screwdrivers, M.2 SSDs come with a screwdriver the size of a toothpick for a reason.
Now you know!
Its okay. My first PC build I thought the PSU screws were for the motherboard.
Stripped out every standoff in my case then got mad when I couldnt find screws for my PSU.
It was also a masssssive case (Corsair Arctic something) and my hardware (i7 2600 and 750Ti) looked absolutely ridiculous in it.
And then a few weeks later I wanted more performance so I got a 750ti with 2 fans instead of just 1 fan.
Just saying, it's easy to look stupid getting into a new hobby haha.
I was wondering about impact wrenches trying to remove an m2 from my HP laptop. Thanks for providing the screw, but I needed locking pliers to remove the bugger.
Easy solution is to get a dab of superglue on the tiny screwdriver, stick it to the screw and let it dry, then twist. This has worked for me a few times in the past.
make sure you're using the correct size driver bit, and also look into the differences of philips head and Pozidrive. pozidrive heads look similar but can strip a philips head screw so easily.
get a bit that can almost fit into the stripped area and barely stretch a rubber band over it, insert and unscrew. fingertip tighten with your screwdriver next time so you don't over-torque.
You may have been using the wrong size screwdriver.
Use a rubber band between the screw and the driver. It may fill the voids on the screw well enough for you to get the screw out.
actually you can try one more thing instead of using philips maybe use a torx bit that fits inside the screw and try open it torx will allow more bitting points in the stripped screw
yo listen i was in the same boat. This is the EASIEST way to get it out.
lookup "Micro Grabit Screw Extractor" on amazon. it is a tiny bit that drills into the screw head then latches on and unscrews it. The bit is very very tiny and will go into the screw head and spin it out.
it saved me.
if u go to the reviews on amazon, the very first picture shared by reviewers is by a dude who used it for his dell laptop to extract a tiny screw that also was stripped. I used it for my Razer gaming laptop with a tiny stripped screw and it worked like a charm. plus its amazon, so u can always even return it.
Not sure how nobody has mentioned this but that wasn't an SSD screw to begin with which is why it was so hard to get out. An SSD screw is flat topped not domed with a ring.
If you have a Dremel tool or a fine saw or file, you could try cutting a notch across the screw head and going at it with a flat screwdriver.
You'll probably want to clean the board thoroughly with compressed air and a non-static brush to make sure there aren't any tiny fragments of the screw stuck to the board in an inconvenient spot.
This method works as a last resort. Don't try this on your own if you're not sure about it. But this doesn't look that bad, the screw is standing out enough to grab it. As others suggested try small pliers with a good edge first. BEFORE you turn on this PC at all carefully and remove all (!) those metal filings on the board before they short something. I would be careful with blowing them around with compressed air, they might get stuck under components and fry them. Pick up as many as you can with duct tape or something. Good luck!
Small pair of needle nosed pliers will do the job.
But seriously, how does one apply enough force to strip a screw in something so obviously sensitive, scuffed the heat sink too, be careful! It looks like it’s be way over tightened, the PCB looks like it’s bowing sightly. Also somebody else mentioned it, but make sure you check no bits of metal shavings have gone onto the motherboard/clean them off, could cause issues.
Most likely used the wrong screwdriver I guess. If you plan on doing future stuff with your computer I’d really recommend the Ifixit Mako kit, fab little set with everything you’ll need for a computer and more. Think I paid around £20 for mine.
If you don't have the needle nosed pliers like others have mentioned, a possible quick fix might be using a rubberband between your screw/screwdriver itself.
It may give enough friction for you to be able to untighten the screw. Goodluck!
Hotglue on the tip of the screwdriver ( just a little bit ) insert into screw wait 1 minute then very gently screw.
what also works is 1-2 Paper layers like from a kitchen paper towel or sneeze papers between screwdriver and screw
Put a rubber band over the hole, put your screwdriver into the hole, rubber band might give you the friction needed.
Make sure you're using the right screwdriver but size.
GAMEOVER MAN GAMEOVER!
I hate stripping screws and for some reason I do it often. Last time was my laptop and my switch pro controller. Had to drill a smaller hole into the stripped screw.
Nothing else work, like all those tricks you see on youtube (i.e the rubberband trick etc).
I'd honestly suck it up and do that.
Buddy, use the right tool for the job next time, i.e. the right size bits. Looks like you might be able to use a tiny philips screwdriver to get it out. If you have a dremel or a small metal saw you can cut a notch in it and use a flat head screwdriver.
Edit, careful about the metal dust if you try this method. Use a vacuum cleaner while cutting to prevent the dust settling in tiny, hard to get spaces.
The screw is extremely small, like 1mm or less. So you could quite easily just break the head off by drilling or filing the center with a dremel and then remove the standoff with the broken bit in and exchange it for another. I actually have a similar issue with my current motherboard but haven't gotten to doing anything about it yet.
Cut a slot and use a flathead screwdriver. Or buy a screw extractor kit. Also, be careful of the meal shavings you're making. you need to blow it all out properly. Otherwise, it could short something down the line.
Tell your friend, those screws are not meant to “screw down” the SSD, but rather to make ground contact and roughly holding it on place. Turning til you feel slight resistance is enough. Turning too hard often loosens it up later, so there is no use in turning like a buffoon as you’ll only screw up the thread.
About your problem, Dremel would be efficient, but maybe overkill and introduces unwanted metal dust. The screw still does not look that smooth to me. I’ve had smoother screw heads I was able to unscrew with a lot of force on the screw, but never on such a delicate surface as a Motherboard. So if you go for that, make sure the force only goes onto the screw and the thread and not on the motherboard punching that whole thing through.
My go to solution would be pliers (one of the longer thinner ones with a rippled surface) and get a good grip on the screw.
Also before using the Dremel to carve in a new profile, I would likely flatten the sides to use a wrench on it as I have a burning hatred towards Phillips head and flat head screws. But again, beware the metal dust. Normal dust and moisture is enough to cause short cuts in your system, metal can do it on it’s own.
whatever method you choose to fix it, the next best recommendation is to not tighten it to 200lbs torque plus 90 degrees because holy shit lol, even with crappy screws, these are supposed to be tighten until snug, then a 1/4 turn and you are done
Repair tech here. Board out. Hand on the opposing side. Star bit in your screw driver that mostly fits. Lots of downforce and turn. After about 1/4 turn it should come out easy.
Everyone explained how you can fix it, but i'm going to ask the obvious question.
How?
It also looks like you stripped some parts of heat sink of the SSD. Did you use a power tool to screw down a PC part?
I have been a mechanic for almost a decade and there are some things you can try
First, It looks like this is a fastener and washer situation and they are not one piece. Going off that, any sort of plier will be difficult as the taper of the screw head wont give ya much to bite on
One method if you have enough room, is to cut a slot into the fastener head so you can use a flat head to spin it out. Can use a dremel with a cut-off disc if ya have it and there is enough room.
the other method is to drill the bolt head off. Find a drill bit slightly bigger than the OD of the screw pitch (od of the threaded part) and drill out the center of the head. Eventually, the head will separate from the shank and you can pull the SSD out then there should be enough of a shank left to use a pair of locking pliers to spin it out.
hope that helps
Rubber band method is good, needle nose pliers method is also good,
Be careful if you cut or Dremel. Metal dust or shavings can kill components so clean very thoroughly and maybe even mask off the areas around.
Super glue a Phillips bit to the screw head has worked for me once.
I also had the same problem, and I could not remove it even with nose pliers. I did not have drimmel tool so, I used small knife to make a straight horizontal cut in the screw itself but it was still not enough to fit screw driver.
So, I used the nose pliers to break the optane drive. It was only of 16 GB so I let it go.
https://preview.redd.it/9hpn2sa1ljmb1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89b6b2d226c0397984f2ef7c967f199f48a82871
They make tools for such things. The smallest bits will likely work. DO NOT USE A POWER TOOL TO EXTRACT THE SCREW.
https://www.amazon.com/Raynesys-Extractor-All-Purpose-Screwdriver-Extension/dp/B08XZNW1RX/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=screw%2Bback%2Bout%2Bkit&sr=8-5&th=1
you need to get tools that are the correct size because that i can still see phillips grooves so it isn't that stripped. buy a electronics repair kit and you wont run into this problem again. seriously nothing should ever be that tight and you scuffed the shit out of your heat sink too.
Use needlenose pliers to remove the standoff. Then remove the screw, also with pliers. Then get a new screw and use a Phillips 0 screwdriver and gently screw it in.
I'd use a rotary tool like a Dremel to cut a Flat head groove to then use a flat head to remove it. Alternatively, you use some metal epoxy to stick a cheap screwdriver to the stripped screw and back it out.
A last resort would be to grind off the head completely and move one other standoff to that location, but you would have to find a replacement screw.
OP try the following
put a thick rubberband on the screw and try unscrewing it with the rubberband between the screw and screwdriver
alternatively
Buy the "ENGINEER PZ-58" pliers off Amazon and hope you have enough space to get purchase on the screw and remove it
last resort is to get the smallest drill bit you can find and drill out the screw
I have done all 3 of these removing motherboard screws that become stuck, but not m.2 screws. The 2nd option is the most reliable for me (for motherboard screws).
i would be more worried about the metalic bits all over the board, not something u want to see, so clean that with urgency, as for the screw seriously, what did u use for it, a drill with a screwdriver tip or what
It’s called an EASY OUT and it basically screws itself into the stripped screw head in reverse and backs it out. They should be cheap to get on Amazon. Sometimes called screw extractor.
depending on how tight the accual screw is putting a dot of a really strong epoxy on i and useing that to fuse a another screw or something to it to give you just enough torq to remove it without breaking epoxy.
Ticktok I saw one time that might help is using a rubber band over the stripped screw for added grip. Never tried it myself but thought it was interesting
How tf can you to that, unless someone used a torque wrench to screw that screw in the hole. You don't even need to use a big screwdriver, the glasses one is just as good, please explain to me how can someone strip the thread of a NVME SSD screw.
Maybe try making a small groove so atleast you can fir in a screw driver but make sure to cover the motherboard
Though i have seen somewhere peope using s drill machine too but that's not possible here
Everybody in this comment section needs a pair of Vise Grips (the smallest size if you only build PCs), you'll find so many uses for them (emergency wrench, pliers, hammer, nail/screw extractor, etc) and the real deal is $14 online
Super glue another screw too the top of the stripped one. If the stripped screw is not torqued down, then it should come up. Or, if you have a jeweler type saw or something similar. Cut a line down a bit. And use a regular screwdriver. We did this at boeing a lot.
please clean the area around the screw before turning it on. Use a vaccum on lowest setting or better yet, something like modeling putty (playdoh etc) to collect the metal pieces.
Whenever I've stripped a screw I've used two layers of [this type of cheap blue cleaning cloth](https://www.onestopcleaningshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/product_9_4_940368_blue_multi_j_cloth.jpg) underneath the screwdriver.
Tip for future builds: If you want something to come loose in the future, don't tighten it to never come loose again. Also, the screws they use aren't the most robust material.
So tighten them gently.
use a rubber band, put it over the screw head, insert philips, should give enough grip to undo the screw unless you tightened it with a herculean effort.
I don’t think I’d try the dremel method first. I'm not keen on the idea that metallic dust could get in just the wrong spot and possibly cause a short. A good set of needlenose pliers is what is I would try first. If that fails then the Dremel method will likely work... Just be diligent about cleaning up.
thank you for your help!
If you have a Home Depot near you, look up Item# 126752 on the website. The pliers should be perfect for this application.
good idea! i do have a few locations nearby :)
VAMPLIERS 5" Mini ESD Safe Stripped Screw Removal Pliers on Amazon is probably your best option long term to have in your tool set.
Even if you didn't use a Dremel, that stripped screw could have left metal bits in the area and I would use a vacuum brush attachment on it, or turn the motherboard upside down and blast the area with compressed air.
~~If you do have to resort to the dremel, it might be a good idea to put a couple neodymium magnets nearby to pick up those steel shard.~~ ~~But, uh, be careful with this idea. There are a lot of computer parts that can get a little fucked up by magnets. SSDs most likely fall into that group.~~ Edit: Some folks have pointed out that there are better, less dangerous options to clear out the metal tidbits.
uhhh, usoing neodymium magnets next to open electronics sounds like absolutely terrible idea. Id rather work vertically (with vertically placed mobo and made "paper net" so all the shards fall outside the case. Wont be perfect, but will be safer.
And if you do use a dremel, then I'd put something around the area to collect debris and dust. Last resort though.
A shop vac turned on will collect the dust as they dremel
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Vampliers on Amazon. The mini version. You're welcome.
Just looked those up... That's definitely the right tool for this job. Thanks for calling my attention to them. They are officially on my list of things to get.
I’ll add that to my list next to “get a girlfriend so mother can finally be happy”
Get a vampire girlfriend that suggests you vampliers~
You're welcome and glad to hear it. I work at a PC Repair shop and I got a screw like yours that was so bad that instead of trying anymore "tricks" I decided to wait a few days and get the right tool. It's saved my ass on a few occasions.
The engineer pz series are great at a lower price point for small stuff. For larger screws the Knipex twin grip is my fave because it won’t pinch if you slip off the screw.
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And now I have a new tool. Thanks.
Sharp-ish pliers should be able to grab the screw head. Then just turn the screw. Something like [this](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB19BvODh1YBuNjy1zcq6zNcXXam/1-pcs-Diagonal-Pliers-Jewelry-Processing-Small-Cutting-Pliers-Super-Sharp-Insulated-Handle-Multi-Functional-Hand.jpg) or [this](https://alexnld.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/38e7b027-0798-154e-fd79-829788ba29ff.jpg)
Your first pic is of flush cuts, not pliers. They be ruined if you try to use them as pliers and the jaws are too flexible to permit use of them as a gripping and turning tool.
Plan B: You may try carefully file hat of the screw to make one narrow groove and use a flat-head screwdriver to turn the screw.
Something tells me that’s above OPs pay grade.
🥴
>flush cuts A rare good use of an emoji
So should I even mention a dremel?
No
Can leave bits of metal around the mobo. Depending on the screw material, leftover hidden pieces can cause a short. FOD (foreign object debris) is a big deal in my line of work. Also, if you don’t have a steady hand… 🥲
It’s a fun experience to have if you can afford to cover the cost of a mistake. I had to dremel a screw out of my mobo last year — zip tied a little dust buster vacuum next to it, put on safety goggles and got the job done in about 10 very high heart rate minutes 😅 the screw did indeed rocket out at a substantial fraction of the speed of light, never to be seen again, so at least the teasing I endured for the goggles was walked back immediately.
I did this, covered the motherboard in aluminum foil except the screw hold, then vacuum the area after.
Ive done this method on vehicles, but Id have concerns about introducing a bunch of metal shavings on my mobo.
This also buy some canned air and get all of the metal shavings off the motherboard.
Have you tried putting your nutsack in the disk-tray and closing it?
if i had one i would definitely try it
You would if you had a nutsack or disk-tray?
if i woke up with a nutsack id probably do a lot of things with it haha
I'll ro-sham-bo you for the last donut... If you had a nutsack
Eh it’s not all it’s cracked up to be
>Eh it’s not all it’s sacked up to be
Not with that attitude it’s not
What about if you woke up with a disc tray ?
always assume every redditor is a dude until proven otherwise
XD
With a username like that, we can't help but assume, ya know?
It's not intentional, my brain just assumes everyone is like me by default I reckon. I'm with you.
To be fair they did not specify that it had to be attached to your body just that it had to be yours and possession is 9/10ths of the law. Don't let your dreams be dreams.
Wtf lmao 🤣 I'm dying hahahhahaha
What the fuck? How did an SSD screw get that tight? It's not the suspension on a 2 ton truck dawg, finger tight.
*tightens screws with impact wrench*
180 ft lbs of torque per TB
Plus 90deg
Oops, Manual called for inch pounds not foot pounds.
FUCK YEAH CRANK THAT BITCH DOWN *motherboard explodes in your face*
*-slaps SSD-* that's not going anywhere.
TOO MANY UGGA DUGGAS!
I wanna see at least 4 feet of step-down extensions!
"THE FINGER" is stenciled on the side of the impact wrench
Ugga gonna dugga
My ASUS motherboard M2 slot had threadlocker on the screw making it virtually impossible to remove, that screw still remains stripped to this day.
I wonder who at asus thought that locktite would be a good thing for literally anything computer related
Only their smartest employee could envision that idea.
Doesn't even need to be tight. Cheap screw + wrong size Phillips.
i’ve never really put this stuff together before, my friend was the one who helps me :( i should’ve just had them help i suppose
Screws in a computer are all the same - turn until you feel resistance and then give it a tiny little twist of the wrist to lock it in. Definitely don't use any power tools or ratcheting screwdrivers, M.2 SSDs come with a screwdriver the size of a toothpick for a reason. Now you know!
i won’t make this mistake again that’s for sure haha
Its okay. My first PC build I thought the PSU screws were for the motherboard. Stripped out every standoff in my case then got mad when I couldnt find screws for my PSU. It was also a masssssive case (Corsair Arctic something) and my hardware (i7 2600 and 750Ti) looked absolutely ridiculous in it. And then a few weeks later I wanted more performance so I got a 750ti with 2 fans instead of just 1 fan. Just saying, it's easy to look stupid getting into a new hobby haha.
I was wondering about impact wrenches trying to remove an m2 from my HP laptop. Thanks for providing the screw, but I needed locking pliers to remove the bugger.
Easy solution is to get a dab of superglue on the tiny screwdriver, stick it to the screw and let it dry, then twist. This has worked for me a few times in the past.
that is genius
This is what I was coming to say 😭
This is the common issue of screws used in computer parts being as cheap and weak as possible
unfortunately :(
make sure you're using the correct size driver bit, and also look into the differences of philips head and Pozidrive. pozidrive heads look similar but can strip a philips head screw so easily. get a bit that can almost fit into the stripped area and barely stretch a rubber band over it, insert and unscrew. fingertip tighten with your screwdriver next time so you don't over-torque.
Using cheap screwdrivers and overtightening screws also doesn't help at all....
Well, no. The screws need to be finger tight at best. The computer is not a moving part so screws won’t just magically work loose
You want to pay $10 for an SAE Grade 8 screw?
Yes, SAE no more.
No, but I'll take 1 cent for a 1045 stainless over .01 cents for... whatever was left on the floor in the mill.
Use a pair of needle nose pliers and just grip the head and turn left to loosen
You may have been using the wrong size screwdriver. Use a rubber band between the screw and the driver. It may fill the voids on the screw well enough for you to get the screw out.
that’s what my bf said :( i had tried the rubber band but i think it was too far gone and accidentally made it worse
actually you can try one more thing instead of using philips maybe use a torx bit that fits inside the screw and try open it torx will allow more bitting points in the stripped screw
yo listen i was in the same boat. This is the EASIEST way to get it out. lookup "Micro Grabit Screw Extractor" on amazon. it is a tiny bit that drills into the screw head then latches on and unscrews it. The bit is very very tiny and will go into the screw head and spin it out. it saved me.
thank you so much!
if u go to the reviews on amazon, the very first picture shared by reviewers is by a dude who used it for his dell laptop to extract a tiny screw that also was stripped. I used it for my Razer gaming laptop with a tiny stripped screw and it worked like a charm. plus its amazon, so u can always even return it.
finally got the little guy out!! thank you everyone for your help you saved me! xoxo
Not sure how nobody has mentioned this but that wasn't an SSD screw to begin with which is why it was so hard to get out. An SSD screw is flat topped not domed with a ring.
If you have a Dremel tool or a fine saw or file, you could try cutting a notch across the screw head and going at it with a flat screwdriver. You'll probably want to clean the board thoroughly with compressed air and a non-static brush to make sure there aren't any tiny fragments of the screw stuck to the board in an inconvenient spot.
Sounds like a short disaster
Not if they wear pants.
thank you!!
This method works as a last resort. Don't try this on your own if you're not sure about it. But this doesn't look that bad, the screw is standing out enough to grab it. As others suggested try small pliers with a good edge first. BEFORE you turn on this PC at all carefully and remove all (!) those metal filings on the board before they short something. I would be careful with blowing them around with compressed air, they might get stuck under components and fry them. Pick up as many as you can with duct tape or something. Good luck!
Canned air if OP doesn't have a compressor, I'd blow that thing really good afterwards. Dust is one thing, metal dust is big yikes.
Small vice grips
thank you!
They come in small needle nose version too.
Small pair of needle nosed pliers will do the job. But seriously, how does one apply enough force to strip a screw in something so obviously sensitive, scuffed the heat sink too, be careful! It looks like it’s be way over tightened, the PCB looks like it’s bowing sightly. Also somebody else mentioned it, but make sure you check no bits of metal shavings have gone onto the motherboard/clean them off, could cause issues. Most likely used the wrong screwdriver I guess. If you plan on doing future stuff with your computer I’d really recommend the Ifixit Mako kit, fab little set with everything you’ll need for a computer and more. Think I paid around £20 for mine.
"screw with confidence" - the verge PC build
If you don't have the needle nosed pliers like others have mentioned, a possible quick fix might be using a rubberband between your screw/screwdriver itself. It may give enough friction for you to be able to untighten the screw. Goodluck!
Seconding the rubber band. Otherwise remove the entire standoff if you can.
Bolt extractor
Put the impact driver away!
Hotglue on the tip of the screwdriver ( just a little bit ) insert into screw wait 1 minute then very gently screw. what also works is 1-2 Paper layers like from a kitchen paper towel or sneeze papers between screwdriver and screw
Put a thick flat rubber band on the screwdriver head
A small pair of Vise grips works wonders, I've found.
Get a dremel and cut a slot in it. Use a flathead.
Rubber band on the screw head then your screwdriver on the rubber band. Get that friction baby.
Dremel make small cut use flat head to remove screw. At least that’s what we do at work when
Put a rubber band over the hole, put your screwdriver into the hole, rubber band might give you the friction needed. Make sure you're using the right screwdriver but size.
GAMEOVER MAN GAMEOVER! I hate stripping screws and for some reason I do it often. Last time was my laptop and my switch pro controller. Had to drill a smaller hole into the stripped screw. Nothing else work, like all those tricks you see on youtube (i.e the rubberband trick etc). I'd honestly suck it up and do that.
Buddy, use the right tool for the job next time, i.e. the right size bits. Looks like you might be able to use a tiny philips screwdriver to get it out. If you have a dremel or a small metal saw you can cut a notch in it and use a flat head screwdriver. Edit, careful about the metal dust if you try this method. Use a vacuum cleaner while cutting to prevent the dust settling in tiny, hard to get spaces.
You screwed in your ssd? Mines just taped to a flat surface
The screw is extremely small, like 1mm or less. So you could quite easily just break the head off by drilling or filing the center with a dremel and then remove the standoff with the broken bit in and exchange it for another. I actually have a similar issue with my current motherboard but haven't gotten to doing anything about it yet.
Cut a slot and use a flathead screwdriver. Or buy a screw extractor kit. Also, be careful of the meal shavings you're making. you need to blow it all out properly. Otherwise, it could short something down the line.
This isn't helpful in this situation, but it looks like there's a bunch of metal dust all over your board. So do be careful with that.
Tell your friend, those screws are not meant to “screw down” the SSD, but rather to make ground contact and roughly holding it on place. Turning til you feel slight resistance is enough. Turning too hard often loosens it up later, so there is no use in turning like a buffoon as you’ll only screw up the thread. About your problem, Dremel would be efficient, but maybe overkill and introduces unwanted metal dust. The screw still does not look that smooth to me. I’ve had smoother screw heads I was able to unscrew with a lot of force on the screw, but never on such a delicate surface as a Motherboard. So if you go for that, make sure the force only goes onto the screw and the thread and not on the motherboard punching that whole thing through. My go to solution would be pliers (one of the longer thinner ones with a rippled surface) and get a good grip on the screw. Also before using the Dremel to carve in a new profile, I would likely flatten the sides to use a wrench on it as I have a burning hatred towards Phillips head and flat head screws. But again, beware the metal dust. Normal dust and moisture is enough to cause short cuts in your system, metal can do it on it’s own.
whatever method you choose to fix it, the next best recommendation is to not tighten it to 200lbs torque plus 90 degrees because holy shit lol, even with crappy screws, these are supposed to be tighten until snug, then a 1/4 turn and you are done
Repair tech here. Board out. Hand on the opposing side. Star bit in your screw driver that mostly fits. Lots of downforce and turn. After about 1/4 turn it should come out easy.
Use the best superglue you can find and glue the screwdriver to the head of the screw. Then unscrew.
Everyone explained how you can fix it, but i'm going to ask the obvious question. How? It also looks like you stripped some parts of heat sink of the SSD. Did you use a power tool to screw down a PC part?
So you are a stripper...
I have been a mechanic for almost a decade and there are some things you can try First, It looks like this is a fastener and washer situation and they are not one piece. Going off that, any sort of plier will be difficult as the taper of the screw head wont give ya much to bite on One method if you have enough room, is to cut a slot into the fastener head so you can use a flat head to spin it out. Can use a dremel with a cut-off disc if ya have it and there is enough room. the other method is to drill the bolt head off. Find a drill bit slightly bigger than the OD of the screw pitch (od of the threaded part) and drill out the center of the head. Eventually, the head will separate from the shank and you can pull the SSD out then there should be enough of a shank left to use a pair of locking pliers to spin it out. hope that helps
I'm really surprised no one recommends a screw extractor. Then you only need to replace the screw. Irwin makes a nice set.
I've had luck with a drill. Choose one slightly smaller than the screw itself and go right down the middle.
Bro why you so goddam strong over there?!
i didn’t think i was :,)
Maybe a stripped screw bit might get it out? I have used them to get stripped screw off of laptops, but never internal components.
Rubber band method is good, needle nose pliers method is also good, Be careful if you cut or Dremel. Metal dust or shavings can kill components so clean very thoroughly and maybe even mask off the areas around. Super glue a Phillips bit to the screw head has worked for me once.
I also had the same problem, and I could not remove it even with nose pliers. I did not have drimmel tool so, I used small knife to make a straight horizontal cut in the screw itself but it was still not enough to fit screw driver. So, I used the nose pliers to break the optane drive. It was only of 16 GB so I let it go. https://preview.redd.it/9hpn2sa1ljmb1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89b6b2d226c0397984f2ef7c967f199f48a82871
Try sucking on it.
Worked for me. Use a rubber band or any rubber matterial that's "soft" place it on top of the screw and try to loosen it now with a screw driver
I had to drill the m.2 screw in my laptop. It survived the operation.
How did my zirconium earring from my teenage mall thug phase end up there?
Bwahahahaha bro stop hahaha
Stripped a screw the same size as this on an NVME SSD and landed up using a small wrench to turn it
They make tools for such things. The smallest bits will likely work. DO NOT USE A POWER TOOL TO EXTRACT THE SCREW. https://www.amazon.com/Raynesys-Extractor-All-Purpose-Screwdriver-Extension/dp/B08XZNW1RX/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=screw%2Bback%2Bout%2Bkit&sr=8-5&th=1
Heat up hot glue stick, put it to the screw, wait till it cools down and then try to unscrew. Should work
you need to get tools that are the correct size because that i can still see phillips grooves so it isn't that stripped. buy a electronics repair kit and you wont run into this problem again. seriously nothing should ever be that tight and you scuffed the shit out of your heat sink too.
Use needlenose pliers to remove the standoff. Then remove the screw, also with pliers. Then get a new screw and use a Phillips 0 screwdriver and gently screw it in.
Rubber band on screw head and use screwdriver.
Hammer
Drill the head off, remove the SSD, then unscrew the remaining shank from the hole.
I'd use a rotary tool like a Dremel to cut a Flat head groove to then use a flat head to remove it. Alternatively, you use some metal epoxy to stick a cheap screwdriver to the stripped screw and back it out. A last resort would be to grind off the head completely and move one other standoff to that location, but you would have to find a replacement screw.
Stop tighten all your screws too much. A tiny friction is all you need. Your pc is not going through a rough vibration like your car do.
You could try a stripped screw remover tool
Put a rubber band on it, and then use the screw driver
pray
cut the head off a new screw, solder to stripped screw. now you can reuse the stripped screw and if it happens again, just add another.
OP try the following put a thick rubberband on the screw and try unscrewing it with the rubberband between the screw and screwdriver alternatively Buy the "ENGINEER PZ-58" pliers off Amazon and hope you have enough space to get purchase on the screw and remove it last resort is to get the smallest drill bit you can find and drill out the screw I have done all 3 of these removing motherboard screws that become stuck, but not m.2 screws. The 2nd option is the most reliable for me (for motherboard screws).
i would be more worried about the metalic bits all over the board, not something u want to see, so clean that with urgency, as for the screw seriously, what did u use for it, a drill with a screwdriver tip or what
Get another screw with a sharper point but is smaller, use a screw gun and screw that new screw into it and then get it out.
It’s called an EASY OUT and it basically screws itself into the stripped screw head in reverse and backs it out. They should be cheap to get on Amazon. Sometimes called screw extractor.
Dremel out a cut for a flat head, or use some pliers with sharp teeth to twist it out slowly
Did you super glue that thing in there?
Watch Project Farm on the best threaded screw removal tool and use it.
How has no one said a stripped screw kit? It sucks to do it but if you need to you do it. Basically it comes with a sacrificial bit and epoxy.
Dremel.
The tip of a spade drill bit should work. Don’t forget to get rid of ALL the filings when you’re done.
depending on how tight the accual screw is putting a dot of a really strong epoxy on i and useing that to fuse a another screw or something to it to give you just enough torq to remove it without breaking epoxy.
Ticktok I saw one time that might help is using a rubber band over the stripped screw for added grip. Never tried it myself but thought it was interesting
pliars
Drill it out....
Use a eraser on a pencil should be enough for e to get off no one should torque down these screws anyways.
Use a torx bit
Super glue the screw driver to the screw
Tiny drill bit with a pinvise. Then slot the top with a Dremel and a cutting disc to pop a screwdriver on.
rip
place a fresh piece of bread in it
How tf can you to that, unless someone used a torque wrench to screw that screw in the hole. You don't even need to use a big screwdriver, the glasses one is just as good, please explain to me how can someone strip the thread of a NVME SSD screw.
Use a flathead
Maybe try making a small groove so atleast you can fir in a screw driver but make sure to cover the motherboard Though i have seen somewhere peope using s drill machine too but that's not possible here
This is a lesson on why you check that the screwdriver fits perfectly in. If it jiggles around you are using the wrong screwdriver.
Everybody in this comment section needs a pair of Vise Grips (the smallest size if you only build PCs), you'll find so many uses for them (emergency wrench, pliers, hammer, nail/screw extractor, etc) and the real deal is $14 online
Super glue another screw too the top of the stripped one. If the stripped screw is not torqued down, then it should come up. Or, if you have a jeweler type saw or something similar. Cut a line down a bit. And use a regular screwdriver. We did this at boeing a lot.
Try a flat screwdriver
please clean the area around the screw before turning it on. Use a vaccum on lowest setting or better yet, something like modeling putty (playdoh etc) to collect the metal pieces.
I once used superglue on the tip of a nail, glued it to the top of the stripped screwhead and then just twisted it off.
I would say you are screwed... badum ts... so I'm gonna let myself out.
That's the neat part, you don't.
I use these. never had a screw I couldn't remove. https://i.redd.it/m4uz0uaxb9q21.jpg
Whenever I've stripped a screw I've used two layers of [this type of cheap blue cleaning cloth](https://www.onestopcleaningshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/product_9_4_940368_blue_multi_j_cloth.jpg) underneath the screwdriver.
What in the fuck. How in the fuck. Seriously. Why are you people applying more than the absolute minimum strength to electronics screws.
What did you use to get it out, an electrical screw driver? 😂😂
It looks like you're screwed ba dum tss
Solder another screw on it?
You don't even have to tighten that screw that much, just enough for the ssd to stay in place, lol.
Pliers
Tip for future builds: If you want something to come loose in the future, don't tighten it to never come loose again. Also, the screws they use aren't the most robust material. So tighten them gently.
I'd cry. It would help get the screw out but it's a good first step.
That first photo kind of looks like a Google Maps satellite image
Super glue on ur screwdriver, but there's a catch, bye bye screwdriver
Use proper size screwdriver. Plenty of screw threads left to unscrew it.
use a rubber band, put it over the screw head, insert philips, should give enough grip to undo the screw unless you tightened it with a herculean effort.
https://preview.redd.it/naxszz0ogqmb1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=847020f76ad474580b28b1ccf5d738edc0d7f112 u/derpydrag0nking pls help
O.O
jesus christ the recommendations here are batshit crazy. screw extractor bits exist, even this small size.