Impossible to remove screws on MoBo

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

get a juniour hacksaw and cut a nice groove in the screw head, then you will get a nice big flat head screw driver in there, the bigger the better.
Hacksaws are cheap, take your time and you will do it. Be careful not to scratch anything and clean up all the filings that come off.


alternatively

give up.

 

[dorsetknob]

alternatively

give up.

Final option is to Pay some one else to do the job
There are times that when you cannot do the job yourself you have to pay for it to be done

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

One of pics looked like one screw we inserted at an angle, if thats the case then:

If that bracket is plastic, you take an almost red hot (wood handle not plastic) pointed blade knife (or anything with a sharp pointy end) and very slowly melt the bracket by sticking the point right next to the screw head. Do not push hard, lightly push down, and be careful the knife doesnt slip and hit the motherboard. Reheat knife as needed. You should be able to remove the bracket completely this way and use (needle-nose) pliers to remove the screw.

If that bracket is aluminum, I doubt it tho, you will need to drill it out if you cant use the superglue/nut method previously suggested.

Safety first: use thick cloth gloves when handling the knife, patience wins the day.

 

[OneMoar]

the amount of dangerous and just plain stupid ideas in this thread is astounding
slow down and think before doing something you will avoid 90% of your problems that way

 

[lilhasselhoffer]

Let's review the thought process here, just for giggles.

A motherboard is laminated fiberglass layers with adhesive and copper traces sandwiched between some sort of masking coating.
Sharp knives, drills, heated tooling, etc... have the tendency to both damage delicate items (glass) and shatter delicate copper traces.
Chemicals are a fantastic idea, but with the demonstrated aptitude may well end up everywhere.
A screw driver that was too small was already used, egging out the cuts needed to turn a phillips head screw.



Now, let's figure this out together.
1) Use a buffer material between the screw head and screwdriver, like the rubber band mentioned earlier.
2) What is the thing screwed into? I've seen more than one person turn a bolt and nut, without ever making sure the nut was secured.
3) What tools do you have access to? If you strip a screw driver you're either using the wrong tools, cheap crap, or way too much force. The dollar store set of small screwdrivers looks good on paper, but they're generally crap metal that either shatters or strips because it's extremely weak. It may cost $20, but a good set of screwdrivers will last more than a decade and save you frustration.


In short, there's no magical screw extraction methodology. You're working with glass and copper, so applying huge forces isn't an option. If you can't do this seek some help. A $10 charge will save you a $50 motherboard (or more, I'm assuming the lowest end cost for argument's sake).

 

[Hugis]

You could also try blutak..... To fill out that borked head

 

[Ferrum Master]

As I said... standart procedure is to heat up the darn screw so it expands and then cools down and becomes more loose. I do it daily!

 

[Mindweaver]

That bracket is plastic. Try braking the bracket off and use a pair of pliers and take it off. I've done this before and the head of the screw is off the motherboard enough to grip it. It's tricky but that plastic is hard enough to crack and brake off by just using needle nose pliers or a pair of snips.

EDIT: Don't let the pliers or snips hit the motherboard or you are screwed. Just do it about half way and it should just crack and brake.

 

[dorsetknob]

you are also talking about somebody that apparently can barely operate a screw driver

and being advised by morons

You could also try blutak..... To fill out that borked head

 

[Mindweaver]

and being advised by morons

Hey I'm not a moron.. maybe a peon..

@Everybody - Let's tone it down a bit. Warning issued

 

[dorsetknob]

@Mindweaver

re read my post please my comment was not intended for you but the suggestion of filling screw head with blutak to help unscrew was moronic
blutak is sticky plasticene how will that help remove said screw

 

[Solaris17]

Well if he has any type of technical aptitude (Assuming this is just a case of screw fucked from factory) does OP have a dremel with a cutting wheel he can use to slit the head and make it approachable via flathead? I do this regularly on old machines or stripped screws.

 

[natr0n]

Mission Impossible : Screw Job

 

[Mindweaver]

@Mindweaver

re read my post please my comment was not intended for you but the suggestion of filling screw head with blutak to help unscrew was moronic
blutak is sticky plasticene how will that help remove said screw

I was only joking with you buddy.

Edit: But in the future let's not break rules and call people names.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Beaten by a screw?

whats the matter with you all ?

if the head rounded as easily as it apparently has, it is soft and consequently it will be easy to take the head off the screw if you cant cut a groove.

retry your different size flathead screwdrivers, you may have dug enough of the head to gain a bit of "bite"

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Okay,
I see 2 choices.
First is to grab the bottom of the screw with a locking pliers like a Vise-Grip (I'd use one like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000BYD9A/?tag=tec06d-20) and turn it from that end - remember that you now have to turn it clock-wise. That will ruin the screw and maybe the threads in the plate. Once you've broken it loose, you might be able to use a screwdriver to finish removing it.
Secondly, get an "easy-out". I have not used these, but I like what I see in the adds: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRL3WP4/?tag=tec06d-20
WARNING: This will create metal shavings that are very dangerous to your system. Make sure you remove all of them.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

For some reason, part of my previous post did not post. My second option should go like this:
Secondly, get an "easy-out". I have not used these, but I like what I see in the adds: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRL3WP4/?tag=tec06d-20 If you use a driver handle, try not to wobble from side to side while drilling out the head.
WARNING: This will create metal shavings that are very dangerous to your system. Make sure you remove all of them.
Also, I don't think the slot advice you have gotten will work. There's no real way to get to the screw.

 

[Loosenut]

Okay,
I see 2 choices.
First is to grab the bottom of the screw with a locking pliers like a Vise-Grip (I'd use one like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000BYD9A/?tag=tec06d-20) and turn it from that end - remember that you now have to turn it clock-wise. That will ruin the screw and maybe the threads in the plate. Once you've broken it loose, you might be able to use a screwdriver to finish removing it.
Secondly, get an "easy-out". I have not used these, but I like what I see in the adds: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRL3WP4/?tag=tec06d-20
WARNING: This will create metal shavings that are very dangerous to your system. Make sure you remove all of them.

^The 2 best ideas so far.

BTW @thebluebumblebee, we call them easy-outs too and they work great!

 

[dorsetknob]

both your posts display in full from here it now looks like a Part double duplicate post

 

[thebluebumblebee]

both your posts display in full from here it now looks like a Part double duplicate post

Actually, it screwed up again. It won't let me fix it either. What's up? I've tried to fix it 3 times and my edits just vanish.

 

[Norton]

Okay,
I see 2 choices.
First is to grab the bottom of the screw with a locking pliers like a Vise-Grip (I'd use one like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000BYD9A/?tag=tec06d-20) and turn it from that end - remember that you now have to turn it clock-wise. That will ruin the screw and maybe the threads in the plate. Once you've broken it loose, you might be able to use a screwdriver to finish removing it.
Secondly, get an "easy-out". I have not used these, but I like what I see in the adds: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRL3WP4/?tag=tec06d-20
WARNING: This will create metal shavings that are very dangerous to your system. Make sure you remove all of them.

Actually the screw really doesn't even have to come out ... popping the head off the screw with a drill will allow you to remove both pieces w/o too much trouble.

Note(s):
- use a quality bit made for this kind of work
- cleanup the shavings afterward

@thebluebumblebee thanks for that link though. I like those, they're definitely on my christmas list now

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

I used to fix old laptops or computers with stuck screw. It is pretty easy to strip screw even with the right screwdriver head. Some screws are being screwed in too tightly and overtime can be stuck solidly. It also does not help that screw head are not of good quality metal.

Stuck screw removing is a frustrating art to get right. Usually the first step I take when screw heads are stripped is to use a screwdriver with an oversize head to see if it grip and I would press down hard in the screw with full body weight and try to turn it. Be careful as not to slip! As it can damage other components. If that does not work.

It is time for pliers and cutter those plier types. Grap the screw with plier and try to unscrew it like you would remove bolt. Most probably it is hard to grip. Now use a the cutter to grab the screw and try to it. And also try cutting points to grip. I don't think I explained this well enough, I'll upload a picture later for explanation. I do meet a screw which is so tight that above could not work. I have a screw in an LCD screw stuck shut and not even the torque of pliers could get it free. I solved that my spraying wd40 though the screw gaps and it finally loosen. Wd40 would be needed if it the screw seems "cold-weld" tightly.


Edit : Since you got the third screw out can you twist the backplate out? And the plastic bracket counter clockwise? You would have to destroy that plastic to remove the screw though by doing that way.

 

[Iceni]

It's for precisely this problem I own a set of reverse thread drill bits.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0002NYBJG/?tag=tec053-21

You use left handed ones so if they bite they loosen the screw rather than tightening it.

 

[Ikaruga]

As I said earlier, use a rubber band to get a tight grip + combine that with what Ferrum Master suggested:

standart procedure is to heat up the darn screw so it expands and then cools down and becomes more loose.

You don't need to buy expensive tools, just make sure you tighten the other 3 screws back before you start, it will work.