high-tech solution.....

[deep_sky]

i have a cd-rom that I am trying to remove from my case to test a new one in its place, and the manufacturer of the system screwed the screws so tight that I ended up stripping one lousy screw. Is there a high-tech solution to this ( can I get this drive out of the case) ????
any ideas/help appreciated.....

yes I am aware how stupid this sounds.....

[bdog]

When I test drives I usually leave the original in the case, and just unplug the wires. This works real well if you have got some slack to work with to connect the new drive. As far as getting the screw out, see if you can grip it with some pliers or vise grips and then turn it. If that doesn't work, I would say drill into it and use an ez-out to remove it, but be very careful of metal shavings getting inside your computer. If you end up having to do this, I would remove everything from your case first. A third option would be to use a grinder wheel on a dremel tool or a drill to grind the head of the screw away. Then you could bend the chasis out a little to remove the drive. This would create lots of shavings, and leave part of the screw in the drive forever.

[scotter]

well this has worked for me try a small flat blad screw driver some times they will still grab a pillips screw thats been striped if that does not work us a drill and just drill the head of the screw off the is one other way but you need to use a hammer and i dont think ya want to do that with your computer lol /forum/smile.gif

[welsh wizard]

before you go useing a drill try holding a soldering iron bit on the head of screw till it warms up a bit then retry philips screwdriver.
WW

[jman01pa]

You can go to your local hardware store and buy this liquid stuff (looks like a bottle of sper glue)that when dropped onto the head of the screw will temporarily let a screwdriver get back in. I actually saw it demo'd at a Sears. Good Luck

[deep_sky]

thanks for all the great suggestions, guys...i will try some of your suggestions and let you know what happens....dont think i will use the hammer and the drill idea is a last resort.....we will see....

[pickel]

deep_sky If you have a reversible drill try drilling out backwards. Might break it loose

[Eli]

You could try using a cutoff wheel in a dremel and cutting a slot in the head, which you can grip with a standard flat head screwdriver. That's worked for me in many non-computer applications... Good luck.

[Nathan G]

ok. here is the coolest tool for getting that out... i have used one-once, it works... plus its "high tech" as requested .. /forum/wink.gif
http://www.drillout.com/drillout/

me personally... I would try the methods allready mentioned first ( i am not that High-tech /forum/frown.gif )

ohh here is another cut the screw head with dremel so you have 2 flat sides. The use your handy-dandy RoboGrip™ pliers (Thanks Bob V.)
to grab/turn that mutha... good luck /forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Nathan G (edited 11-09-1999).]

[SysOpt]

One of the particularly narrow nosed vice grips might work - that's what I use for stripped screws.

[deep_sky]

did not have time to get to the hardware store, and i am a college student so I have no handy tools to work with, i think i am going to have to get it removed by the local computer fix-it place...

perhaps I should have phrased my problem more clearly....i stripped the head of the screw, not the threads, i tried a blade screwdriver and it did not budge, i would like to use a dremel but do not have one ( would have been my first solution if I had some tools!)...............i guess I gotta go to someone who has toolz to work with /forum/smile.gif