Broken screw on drive, can't safely drill or...

4GHZ_or_bust · 10-26-05, 04:39 PM

Dumb cheap screws that came packed with my Lite-On DVD burner (new 2 mo ago) wouldn't come out and when I twisted it hard, the head broke off but the shaft is still in the drive. It is sticking out just enough that I can't force the drive out of the cage but there's nothing for a plier to grip on. And I don't want to drill or use dremel to it as metal flakes is likely to get where they aren't supposed to be and I don't want to spend another $60 for another DVD burner. Plus strippimng the PC case of everything else including WC set would take too much time.

The drive cage is rivited together so I can't even take that apart. Any idea on how to remove the drive with broken screw? I feel like I got shafted here.

The drive works fine, I just want to move it down so I could mount the fan controller at the top most space where it'd be closer to the exhaust fan. Right now I can still put the fan controller in the space below the DVD burner but the heat from variable regulator may slowly roast the DVD burner to death.

rogerdugans · 10-26-05, 07:17 PM

While it is generally reccommended NOT to do so, by everyone including me, drilling in a case with a computer in it IS possible, though risky.
I have done it more than just a few times and had no problems.

It DOES require a lot of extra care and caution and being more careful than usual. (See how I stress the point?

)

IF you can't get it any other way, here is what I would do:
*Power down and disconnect the system from power.
*Cover everything besides the screw you need to drill out.
*Carefully and SLOWLY (low speed works best to avoid sending chips flying) drill through the screw; keep the system positioned so that the metal inside the DVD drive falls to the bottom of the case, NOT into the mechanism.
*Remove the drive and disassemble it carefully, blowing it out with a can of compressed air or similar to remove any shavings that are in there.
*Carefully remove all the material used to cover the other stuff in the case.
*Re-assemble the drive and reinstall it.
* Pray to whatever computer gods you personally believe in.

* Power up the system.

While I have done similar things myself many times, I really do NOT recommend doing this. In other words, if something breaks/dies, don't blame me, ok.

corruption · 10-26-05, 07:59 PM

I know that you can get a bit that will remove screws after you have stripped the + (in the case of a phillips head screw). If you can find one small enough, you can use it to remove the screw with no damage at all to your components.

An example of what I mean can be found here.

Xtreme Barton · 10-27-05, 02:03 AM

air compressor would be handy.. know anyone that has one ??

dremel what you have to and get it out.. blow out the case and call it a day ...

SB911 · 10-27-05, 02:35 AM

Shop Vac right by your working bit also.

Xtreme Barton · 10-27-05, 02:37 AM

^^^

yes that would help too.. get somebody to hold it right by where your buzzing it off..

dont get to worried man !! its not that crazy !!

Benvanz · 10-27-05, 03:16 AM

Quote:

dont get to worried man !! its not that crazy !!

just remove EVERYTHING (that you can that is

) and start drilling

Xtreme Barton · 10-27-05, 03:17 AM

i would say just buzz off as much as you need to get it out.. and leave it in there.. dont chance messing up you drive drilling it out.. there are other screw holes to use ..

Albaholic · 10-27-05, 05:52 AM

happened to me once too, i just warped the 5 1/4 bay till i could slide the drive out, then gently warped it back into place. This was with a Lian Li case BTW

tae_moh · 10-27-05, 06:08 AM

If you are patient enough, you could epoxy the exposed part of the screw and a flat head screwdriver together... I did this before 'cept that I used a broken screwdriver(grip and shaft;no tip)...

It's more difficult than what the others suggested, but if you really really don't want any metal flakes....

Good luck with it!

RoadWarrior · 10-27-05, 06:14 AM

I'd maybe sharpen up a chisel and take it off with a couple of smacks.

4GHZ_or_bust · 10-27-05, 09:48 PM

I got it out and everything is fine. When I took the drive apart, I tried to use the plier to remove that stubborn screw from the inside out but no go. Tried dremmel to add a slot, my small screwdriver became warped and useless. I had to grind the screw stump down so it'd be flush as it simply wouldn't turn. I've never seen a screw that seized that badly.

One screw hole gone, 3 more left on the same side. :P I haven't tried burning any disc yet so I don't know if it still works or if they became junk.

10-26-05, 04:39 PM	Thread Starter #1
4GHZ_or_bust Now 6GHz or Bust! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Michigan	Broken screw on drive, can't safely drill or... Dumb cheap screws that came packed with my Lite-On DVD burner (new 2 mo ago) wouldn't come out and when I twisted it hard, the head broke off but the shaft is still in the drive. It is sticking out just enough that I can't force the drive out of the cage but there's nothing for a plier to grip on. And I don't want to drill or use dremel to it as metal flakes is likely to get where they aren't supposed to be and I don't want to spend another $60 for another DVD burner. Plus strippimng the PC case of everything else including WC set would take too much time. The drive cage is rivited together so I can't even take that apart. Any idea on how to remove the drive with broken screw? I feel like I got shafted here. The drive works fine, I just want to move it down so I could mount the fan controller at the top most space where it'd be closer to the exhaust fan. Right now I can still put the fan controller in the space below the DVD burner but the heat from variable regulator may slowly roast the DVD burner to death. __________________ space for rent
	QUOTE Thanks

10-26-05, 07:17 PM	#2
rogerdugans Linux challenged Senior, not that it stops me... Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Corner of No and Where	While it is generally reccommended NOT to do so, by everyone including me, drilling in a case with a computer in it IS possible, though risky. I have done it more than just a few times and had no problems. It DOES require a lot of extra care and caution and being more careful than usual. (See how I stress the point? ) IF you can't get it any other way, here is what I would do: Power down and disconnect the system from power. Cover everything besides the screw you need to drill out. Carefully and SLOWLY (low speed works best to avoid sending chips flying) drill through the screw; keep the system positioned so that the metal inside the DVD drive falls to the bottom of the case, NOT into the mechanism. Remove the drive and disassemble it carefully, blowing it out with a can of compressed air or similar to remove any shavings that are in there. Carefully remove all the material used to cover the other stuff in the case. Re-assemble the drive and reinstall it. * Pray to whatever computer gods you personally believe in. * Power up the system. While I have done similar things myself many times, I really do NOT recommend doing this. In other words, if something breaks/dies, don't blame me, ok. __________________ Still overclocked and running linux on watercooled computers after all these years.
	QUOTE Thanks

10-26-05, 07:59 PM	#3
corruption Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Paget, Bermuda (Until I can get back to Halifax, NS or get my fiancee to Bermuda)	I know that you can get a bit that will remove screws after you have stripped the + (in the case of a phillips head screw). If you can find one small enough, you can use it to remove the screw with no damage at all to your components. An example of what I mean can be found here. __________________ q6600 - 3.6 @ 1.525v (bios) ASUS P5K Premium/WiFi-AP 4GB PC2 6400 - Generic Transcend EVGA 460 GTX EE 1024MB - stock atm... Western Digital 250GB SATA - 7200rpm 8MB cache 2x Seagate 7200.10 250GB SATA - Raid0 OCZ 520W PSU Water cooling - MCP600, Apogee GT, ~~MCW60~~, Swiftech MicroRes, BIP3 "Don't start a fight with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
	QUOTE Thanks

10-27-05, 02:03 AM	#4
Xtreme Barton Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Omaha,NE	air compressor would be handy.. know anyone that has one ?? dremel what you have to and get it out.. blow out the case and call it a day ...
	QUOTE Thanks

10-27-05, 02:35 AM	#5
SB911 Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: BC Canada	Shop Vac right by your working bit also.
	QUOTE Thanks

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10-27-05, 02:37 AM	#6
Xtreme Barton Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Omaha,NE	^^^ yes that would help too.. get somebody to hold it right by where your buzzing it off.. dont get to worried man !! its not that crazy !!
	QUOTE Thanks

10-27-05, 03:17 AM	#8
Xtreme Barton Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Omaha,NE	i would say just buzz off as much as you need to get it out.. and leave it in there.. dont chance messing up you drive drilling it out.. there are other screw holes to use ..
	QUOTE Thanks

10-27-05, 05:52 AM	#9
Albaholic Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Oahu, Hawaii	happened to me once too, i just warped the 5 1/4 bay till i could slide the drive out, then gently warped it back into place. This was with a Lian Li case BTW __________________ Heat
	QUOTE Thanks

10-27-05, 06:08 AM	#10
tae_moh Registered Join Date: Jan 2005	If you are patient enough, you could epoxy the exposed part of the screw and a flat head screwdriver together... I did this before 'cept that I used a broken screwdriver(grip and shaft;no tip)... It's more difficult than what the others suggested, but if you really really don't want any metal flakes.... Good luck with it!
	QUOTE Thanks

10-27-05, 06:14 AM	#11
RoadWarrior Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada	I'd maybe sharpen up a chisel and take it off with a couple of smacks. __________________ Folder in disgrace. Folding rigs may be back online eventually, just as soon as real life gives me enough breaks. Black Belt Ubercloxx0r "Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous Folders have fallen or may fall into the grip of OCAU and all the odious apparatus of [H]ardOCP rule, we shall not flag or fail." "We shall go on to the end, we shall fold on the Newcastles, we shall fold on the Northwoods and Prescotts, we shall fold with growing confidence and growing strength on Venice, we shall defend our Forum, whatever the cost may be, we shall fold on the Winchesters, we shall fold on the Bartons, we shall fold on the Applebreds and Thunderbirds, we shall fold on the Coppermines; we shall never surrender!"
	QUOTE Thanks

10-27-05, 09:48 PM	Thread Starter #12
4GHZ_or_bust Now 6GHz or Bust! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Michigan	I got it out and everything is fine. When I took the drive apart, I tried to use the plier to remove that stubborn screw from the inside out but no go. Tried dremmel to add a slot, my small screwdriver became warped and useless. I had to grind the screw stump down so it'd be flush as it simply wouldn't turn. I've never seen a screw that seized that badly. One screw hole gone, 3 more left on the same side. :P I haven't tried burning any disc yet so I don't know if it still works or if they became junk. __________________ space for rent
	QUOTE Thanks

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