NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Notebook Forums › Dell Home (Inspiron, XPS, Studio) › unable to unscrew a few screws on the m1710 chassis
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

unable to unscrew a few screws on the m1710 chassis

post #1 of 9
7/2/06 at 2:11pm
Thread Starter 
I tried to clean the fans last night. I could only unscrew about half of the screws. The others ones would not come lose and maybe almost changed shape from the screwdriver. I used the same screwdrive that I did to change my ram with no problem. I don't know I will ever open the chassi to clean the fans or do any upgrade work to the CPU now. I got the smallest screwdriver I could find. Its like a few screws were just way to tight or something. Any suggestions? Has anyone run into this when trying to open the m1710?
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 9
7/2/06 at 2:23pm
get an exact fit screw driver or youll strip them up and not ge able to get them out ever
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 9
7/2/06 at 2:39pm
Thread Starter 
ya im araid that may have happened. on some of the deeper screws in the chassis I was just assuming they were unscrewing and they were not. hopeflly they are too stripped and I will be able to unscrew them. I would hate to have to take the computer to a "repair shop" to get my fans cleaned:/
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 9
7/2/06 at 7:19pm
super glue the screwdriver to the screw then twist it out LoL...
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 9
7/2/06 at 7:54pm
I had the same problem. The screws are pretty soft and if you dont have the right size screwdriver there is a decent chance you will strip one or two.

I used a dremel with a narrow grinder to grind off the head and then once the plastic is removed you can use needle nose pliers to get the screws out. You could also use a drill with a grinder bit or a metal bit...just be go slow and be careful.

Good luck!

Malcolm
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 9
7/2/06 at 11:17pm
Thread Starter 
^^^ malcolm thanks for the reply. Can you explain what a dremel is. Are you suggesting to use this"dremel" and grind offf the head of the screw that is in the chassis? Some of the chassis screws are about an inch below the plastic. Help a tool idiot invision what you are talking about becasue I do want to clean my system. thanks.

oh whats a grinder bit or metal bit and what do they do?
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 9
7/2/06 at 11:35pm
Hey Dave,

A dremel is just a hand tool that has various different uses. http://www.tylertool.com/drem395varsp.html That should give you a good idea.

Or if you have a drill you can buy a metal bit(designed to go through metal) or im sure you can probably buy a grinding bit.

Then you will use either the dremel or the drill placed down into the hole until you grind off the head of the screw which will then allow you to open your laptop. If they are on the bottom you will need to do extensive disasembly to access the stub which you can twist out with needle nose pliers.

Hope this helps. The screw I stripped was in the monitor attachments so once it was removed it was easy to access the stup.

Malcolm
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 9
7/3/06 at 1:30am
Thread Starter 
thanks that actually helped a lot. I gave u a bunch of positive rep for the advice and i think it affected you negatively. Something is up with the rep i think....
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 9
7/3/06 at 1:36am
Well, it appears that I have zero rep one way or the other. Thanks for trying.

Malcolm
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Notebook Forums › Dell Home (Inspiron, XPS, Studio) › unable to unscrew a few screws on the m1710 chassis