Remove stripped screw from laptop harddrive caddy

quinnd6 · 08-11-2017 06:30AM #1

I was trying to screw a hard drive out of a laptop caddy and the damn screw was tiny and fragile as heck and got stripped.
Now I can't move the damn screw.
I stupidly tried a tweezers which of course was never going to work because the screw's too small and embedded in the caddy so that just made it even worse.
How could I remove the stripped screw?
I don't have a soldering iron.

GBX · 08-11-2017 12:26PM

If you have a rubber band, try that between the screw and driver. Its possible if its not too stripped it might grip it and turn it for you.

johndoe99 · 08-11-2017 05:25PM

another way is to put a tiny drop of super glue into the top of the screw, leave to dry and then press the screwdriver into it and turn.

quinnd6 · 08-11-2017 08:55PM

What does the super glue do?
Would that not make it worse?
The screw is too small to use super glue on anyway.
I don't think the rubber band trick is going to work.
I tried it and it has failed to move it so far.

mordeith · 08-11-2017 09:46PM

quinnd6 wrote: »

What does the super glue do?
Would that not make it worse?
The screw is too small to use super glue on anyway.
I don't think the rubber band trick is going to work.
I tried it and it has failed to move it so far.

I'd imagine the glue just forms a grip in the screw head to allow the screwdriver to adhere to something. You might have to drill it out

artanevilla · 08-11-2017 09:49PM

You could cut a slot across the head of the screw and then use a flat head to remove it.

quinnd6 · 08-11-2017 11:36PM

It'd need to be the smallest most accurate knife in the world.
I don't know what I'm going to do.
I might try bringing it into a repair shop or something.
At the moment it's just a nightmare its not going to budge.

SteelyDanJalapeno · 08-11-2017 11:43PM

Is it sunken? If theres a lip you could try a pliers.

Any pics

quinnd6 · 08-11-2017 11:59PM

Yep its flat and sunken.
Its a screw that fits into a laptop 2.5 harddrive.
So it should screw out with a J000 screwdriver but it doesn't because hole in it looks like a tiny diamond now.
In other words its stripped too bad.

Esel · 09-11-2017 01:20AM

Can you post a pic of the caddy?

Are all the other screws loose? If they are, this will put more tension on the problem screw. Tighten them, and try the problem screw with a flat screwdriver. Try to set it in the screw head before turning.

quinnd6 · 09-11-2017 02:52AM

I'm after putting the laptop back together for the night so can't take a photo at the moment.
The laptop is a Fujitsu a514.
I can't get a replacement caddy for it either as I was thing of doing that.
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Fujitsu-LifeBook-A514-Hard-Drive-Caddy-/202079709197?

That's the caddy.
It has 2 screwholes for the screws.
One on the left and one on the right.
The screws are very small I was using j000 screw head.
I don't know if you can make it out where they are but they on the left and the right.
I might post up a pic tomorrow.

GhostyMcGhost · 09-11-2017 02:56AM

Try with a torx head

aido79 · 09-11-2017 04:02AM

Something like this might help :
https://m.ebay.ie/itm/5PC-DAMAGED-SCREW-BOLT-STUD-EXTRACTOR-REMOVER-EASY-OUT-OUTS-NEW-FI-/222484161903?nav=SEARCH

Car99 · 09-11-2017 05:47AM

Drill the head off the screw , that will release the caddy and tension on the threads , with caddy off remaing shank should twist out easily.

elfy4eva · 09-11-2017 05:57AM

Actually had the exact same issue with a ps3 hard drive caddy a while ago. A small Needle nosed pliers did the job for me.

quinnd6 · 09-11-2017 11:54AM

If I break the screw where would I find a replacement screw to screw the harddrive to the caddy?
There doesn't seem to be any replacement parts for this damn laptop anywhere on the internet.

bonzodog2 · 09-11-2017 12:13PM

All 2.5" drive screws are the same
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pack-of-10-M3-x-4mm-Laptop-2-2-5-HDD-Hard-Disk-Drive-Black-Screws/112242190233?epid=519261348&hash=item1a2227e799:g:2icAAOSw6DtYWD1J

Falcon L · 09-11-2017 12:21PM

I have some stuff out in my garage that has saved me many times. It's a little tube of jelly type stuff with diamond grit in it. You squeeze a small bit into the screw head and apply a suitable screwdriver. The diamond grit provides a surprising amount of grip. I have this tube for about 30 years, so don't ask me where I acquired it.

Edit... Just scoured ebay and no sign of it. Not much help, sorry. The damn stuff is probably some kind of nuclear waste.

quinnd6 · 09-11-2017 12:35PM

bonzodog2 wrote: »

All 2.5" drive screws are the same
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pack-of-10-M3-x-4mm-Laptop-2-2-5-HDD-Hard-Disk-Drive-Black-Screws/112242190233?epid=519261348&hash=item1a2227e799:g:2icAAOSw6DtYWD1J

Some are 3mm in length and some are 4mm so am not sure which I'd need.
I suppose measuring the screw that does come out would be the best idea there.

Car99 · 09-11-2017 07:30PM

Falcon L wrote: »

I have some stuff out in my garage that has saved me many times. It's a little tube of jelly type stuff with diamond grit in it. You squeeze a small bit into the screw head and apply a suitable screwdriver. The diamond grit provides a surprising amount of grip. I have this tube for about 30 years, so don't ask me where I acquired it.

Edit... Just scoured ebay and no sign of it. Not much help, sorry. The damn stuff is probably some kind of nuclear waste.

Screwgrab is one brand still readily available.

Esel · 16-11-2017 11:09PM

Any joy, OP?

Remove stripped screw from laptop harddrive caddy

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