Trick to getting screws out of 2.5 inch HDDs?

news.rcn.com wrote:
> Anyone know a trick to getting those star screws out of laptop hard drives
> please? I specifically bought the correct star screwdriver and one of them
> (usually at the top by the pins) always seems to burr over. However careful
> I am. I once even had one burr over when I had taken it out before and put
> it back in loose 'cos I knew I would have to take it out again sometime to
> try replacing the PCB
>
> Is there a trick or a way of getting a burred over star screw out? Dunno the
> size but it is the one for the PCB

Hi...

Am I correct in guessing that by star screw you really mean
a Phillips head?

If so, then I'd recommend investing in a set of jeweller's screwdrivers,
choose the absolute correct one. It's really easy to come close
to the right one without it being a perfect fit.

You might find one that will work nicely even though you describe it
as burred over, but if not perhaps you may be able to carefully
saw a slot into the head, effectively turning it into a plain old
flat head screw.

Take care.

Ken

On 7/28/06 8:31 PM, in article 5_adnXPHp44wS1fZnZ2dnUVZ_tidnZ2d.TakeThisOut@rcn.net,
"news.rcn.com" <news.rnc.com> wrote:

> Anyone know a trick to getting those star screws out of laptop hard drives
> please? I specifically bought the correct star screwdriver and one of them
> (usually at the top by the pins) always seems to burr over. However careful
> I am. I once even had one burr over when I had taken it out before and put
> it back in loose 'cos I knew I would have to take it out again sometime to
> try replacing the PCB
>
> Is there a trick or a way of getting a burred over star screw out? Dunno the
> size but it is the one for the PCB
>
>
At a swap meet, I bought a set of a hundred driver bits for about $10. While
some styles look like others, there can be significant differences between
them. For example, the aare about three or four kinds that look like Phillip
head drivers but are not.

Bill
-- Ferme le Bush

Ken Weitzel <kweitzel DeleteThis @shaw.ca> writes:

> news.rcn.com wrote:
> > Anyone know a trick to getting those star screws out of laptop hard drives
> > please? I specifically bought the correct star screwdriver and one of them
> > (usually at the top by the pins) always seems to burr over. However careful
> > I am. I once even had one burr over when I had taken it out before and put
> > it back in loose 'cos I knew I would have to take it out again sometime to
> > try replacing the PCB
> >
> > Is there a trick or a way of getting a burred over star screw out? Dunno the
> > size but it is the one for the PCB
>
> Hi...
>
> Am I correct in guessing that by star screw you really mean
> a Phillips head?
>
> If so, then I'd recommend investing in a set of jeweller's screwdrivers,
> choose the absolute correct one. It's really easy to come close
> to the right one without it being a perfect fit.
>
> You might find one that will work nicely even though you describe it
> as burred over, but if not perhaps you may be able to carefully
> saw a slot into the head, effectively turning it into a plain old
> flat head screw.

You can sometimes grab the head between center and edge with a pair of
sharp tipped diagonal cutters to loosen it. Then, any sort of small
screw driver will remove it entirely.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
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Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
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> You can sometimes grab the head between center and edge with a pair of
> sharp tipped diagonal cutters to loosen it. Then, any sort of small
> screw driver will remove it entirely.

Sorry for misdescription but Arno recognised and described it correctly as a
Torx.

There doesnt seem to be any room outside the edge of the screw which seems
to be sitting relatively flush with the PCB. It's not actually flush but it
is not proud enogh to get any sort of leverage can on it

>
> --- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
> Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
> +Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
> | Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html
>
> Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above
> is
> ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included
> in the
> subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.
>

> name) is the most tough head type out there. Are you sure you have
> the righ type and size?
It goes in, sits tight and 'cracks' all other screws on the drive relatively
easily: There is always just ONE which it burrs over however careful I am
> Arno

This message is not archived

Salmon Egg wrote:

> At a swap meet, I bought a set of a hundred driver bits for about $10. While
> some styles look like others, there can be significant differences between
> them. For example, the aare about three or four kinds that look like Phillip
> head drivers but are not.
>
> Bill

Those odd-ball phillips are probably a variant called bugle head, used
to drive bugle head screws.
Regards
Lee

news.rcn.com wrote:
>> name) is the most tough head type out there. Are you sure you have
>> the righ type and size?
> It goes in, sits tight and 'cracks' all other screws on the drive relatively
> easily: There is always just ONE which it burrs over however careful I am

Hi...

Makes me wonder if it isn't possibly done intentionally by the
manufacturer...

Just one of the screws made of softer material; perhaps even with a
drop of loctite (or similar) on it.

The "burring" would be pretty compelling evidence of tampering in the
case of a warranty claim.

Take care.

Ken

Cellphone screwdrivers, works best for me and comes with torx and star (for
samsung and such)

Bart Bervoets

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage news.rcn.com <news.rnc.com> wrote:


>> name) is the most tough head type out there. Are you sure you have
>> the righ type and size?
> It goes in, sits tight and 'cracks' all other screws on the drive relatively
> easily: There is always just ONE which it burrs over however careful I am

Hmmm. Strange. Can you post a photo? Of screw heads and screwdriver?

Arno

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage Ken Weitzel <kweitzel DeleteThis @shaw.ca> wrote:
> news.rcn.com wrote:
>>> name) is the most tough head type out there. Are you sure you have
>>> the righ type and size?
>> It goes in, sits tight and 'cracks' all other screws on the drive relatively
>> easily: There is always just ONE which it burrs over however careful I am

> Hi...

> Makes me wonder if it isn't possibly done intentionally by the
> manufacturer...

> Just one of the screws made of softer material; perhaps even with a
> drop of loctite (or similar) on it.

> The "burring" would be pretty compelling evidence of tampering in the
> case of a warranty claim.

There are better ways to do that: There are special paints for
securing screws. A bit like sealing wax. Would be cheaper, since no
special screw was required.

Arno

"news.rcn.com" <news.rnc.com> wrote in message
news:QfednXKnOZGOxlbZnZ2dnUVZ_qydnZ2d@rcn.net...
>
>
>> You can sometimes grab the head between center and edge with a pair of
>> sharp tipped diagonal cutters to loosen it. Then, any sort of small
>> screw driver will remove it entirely.
>
> Sorry for misdescription but Arno recognised and described it correctly as
> a Torx.

For future reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw#Types_of_screw_drive


It's entirely possible the manufacturer purchased a custom run of unique
screws, requiring an exact match driver to avoid stripping the head. Or,
they may have used a particularly strong screwlock compound under the head
which they know will cause head damage, which isn't a prob as the warranty
techs have loads of new screws -- this stuff would be tougher than Glyptal,
which is the trade name of the translucent blue or green (sometimes red)
resin seen on most consumer screw heads.
Either of these scenarios would be strongly indicated if it's the exact same
screw that gets stripped on each unit of a particular model or series of
drive. If the screw which gets stripped/burred varies in location, then
it's more likely that your driver isn't of sufficient quality (i.e., not
tight enough tolerance in machining).

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage Ray L. Volts <raylvolts.RemoveThis@removecapsgmail.com> wrote:

> "news.rcn.com" <news.rnc.com> wrote in message
> news:QfednXKnOZGOxlbZnZ2dnUVZ_qydnZ2d@rcn.net...
>>
>>
>>> You can sometimes grab the head between center and edge with a pair of
>>> sharp tipped diagonal cutters to loosen it. Then, any sort of small
>>> screw driver will remove it entirely.
>>
>> Sorry for misdescription but Arno recognised and described it correctly as
>> a Torx.

> For future reference:

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw#Types_of_screw_drive

Nice reference!

> It's entirely possible the manufacturer purchased a custom run of unique
> screws, requiring an exact match driver to avoid stripping the head. Or,
> they may have used a particularly strong screwlock compound under the head
> which they know will cause head damage, which isn't a prob as the warranty
> techs have loads of new screws -- this stuff would be tougher than Glyptal,
> which is the trade name of the translucent blue or green (sometimes red)
> resin seen on most consumer screw heads.
> Either of these scenarios would be strongly indicated if it's the exact same
> screw that gets stripped on each unit of a particular model or series of
> drive. If the screw which gets stripped/burred varies in location, then
> it's more likely that your driver isn't of sufficient quality (i.e., not
> tight enough tolerance in machining).

That sounds plausible to me. More likely the screw is really fixed in
place, I think. Also I just thought of another possibility: Is it
possible that this one screw is threaded with a left-hand thread, i.e.
needs to be turned into the other direction to come out? I have seen
this some years ago in some HDD model (can't remember which one) for
one screw.

Arno