I need help with screws.

[Genesis15]

Hey, my friend said he would give me his CPU 3200+ a64 and motherboard for $100 if I can help him figure out how to get his motherboard out.. the screws on the motherboard are stripped, the heads aren't completely gone but they aren't in the best of shape. When he turns the screwdriver they don't turn with it.. I've been reading a ton of screw removal guides, but all of them compromise the motherboard possibly, and I know my friend wouldn't risk ruining his motherboard.

 

[mechBgon]

You can get a brand-new retail-boxed 3200+ and a brand-new motherboard for not much more than $100, so keep that in mind. If the screws are the type with wrench flats, try a socket driver. If they're not, try a high-quality #2 Phillips screwdriver.

 

[Genesis15]

sup mech, i know, but my friend is hooking this up cause my moms paying for it and she wont buy me new stuff.

 

[RKS]

are mobo screws hexagons? if so use a socket wrench.

 

[btcomm1]

So your moms paying for it, but she won't buy you new stuff even though the new stuff would cost the same?

 

[WildHorse]

The motherboard holes are simple non-threaded pass-through holes. Screws just stick through the holes but don't "catch" onto the mobo with threads.

Screws usually thread into standoffs, which are individual little pieces with a male end threaded into the case wall, and a female end that receives the screw coming through the motherboard.

So the point is: don't worry about the screws because you can destroy them and totally mangle the metal standoffs underneath the motherboard which they thread into, and replacement of that hardware will cost $0 to maybe $5.00 max. Only thing to be CAREFUL with is the actual motherboard itself.

Maybe drill a little bit into the screw heads with a Dremel tool, & push or lightly tap a small screw extractor into the holes you made, & back screws out???

To benchmark the value of your friend's offer, Newegg has a DFI Lanparty mobo & AMD Athlon 4000+ combo deal right now for $199, http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Shopping/Shoppingcart.asp?submit=ChangeItem

 

[jackschmittusa]

Hard to imagine that you could torque the screws enough to damage the heads without crackibg the mb.

Use a 1/8" drill bit in a power drill to drill the screw heads off. The screwdriver slots will automatically center the drill bit. If 1/8" is too small to remove your particular screwheads, use a slightly larger size. A reasonable amount of care while doing this will not damage the mb. Just be absolutely sure to clean off all of the metal chips when you are done.

 

[bruceb]

If there is enough room, try grabbing the screw head with an Electricians Pliers or a Small Needle Nose Vise Grips
You could also try cutting a Slot in the screw head with a handheld hacksaw Blade .. you do not even need the frame
as these screws are not hard and it will only take 4 or 5 passes to make a slot .. then use a Flat Blade Screwdriver

Also, if they are Phillips, use a #2 Tip which is Hardened ... usually Black in Color .. you could also get a #2 Posidrive
bit / screwdriver .. this type of tip has little Ridges on it to help it bit into the screw better

 

[bjp999]

I can understand that this could happen to one screw, but are all 9 screws in the shape? Was the wrong size screw used?

Would swapping cases with him be an option?

If the screws heads are stripped but not in too tight, you may be able to superglue a nail to the screwhead, let it dry overnight, and then use that to turn the screw. Flatten the nailhead a little first, and give the nail a couple of light taps into the screwhead when you apply. You want as much contact area as possible. I did this once with a stripped screwhead in a speaker and it worked.