[ihatescrews] Screw stuck on stand off

[Sheza]

Hello,

I'm in the process of replacing my motherboard, CPU etc and have come across a slight problem. One of the screws between the motherboard and the case will not come loose. When we come to unscrew it, it "clicks" back into place. It's just this one screw out of 18 or so that doesn't come off.

We've tried "pushing" on the back of the screw whilst the other person unscrews at the front but this still hasn't helped.

Last resort is to drill the screw hole, which will obviously slightly impact the case and mean I can't use that hole for mounting my new board.

That aside, I was wondering if any of you had solutions / tips for unscrewing the damn screw!

Thanks,

Alex

EDIT: as one is off another is stuck to its standoff. Looking for spare standof and screw but doesn't help my old mobo's resalability.

 

[potatis]

Thought i was the only one who managed that, mine is still stuck though

 

[seumasbeathan]

This happened to me so I just took it out with the screw hole and then put a screw hole I deemed less important in place of it, I only actually have screws as I only had 4 when I put the motherboard in and honestly I really don't feel that I need the rest of them.

 

[Jason-CL]

Well, there's one of 2 ways to go about it. It depends if the standoffs are soldered onto the case or not (usually not).

SO, here's what you COULD try.

1. Get needle nose pliers, slip it between the motherboard and the tray, and clamp down the standoff while unscrewing it.

2. Drill the screw out. Now, you could do it from the motherboard side, or behind the tray. You'd either be drilling the screw itself or the standoff out. If you use the right size drill bit, you won't damage your case or motherboard.

Be warned, I'm not responsible if you damage anything, lol.

 

[Terrifictez85]

Get some pliers and hold the stand off then with the other hand unscrew the screw. Happens to me all of the bloody time lol

 

[SieB]

What the others said but when you put the stand offs back in the case, before you screw the motherboard in give them a little tighten with some pliers, will stop it from happening again.

 

[Terrifictez85]

That or use a socket set and tighten it in with the correct size.

 

[TheOsTech]

I would try for a long time before I even considered the drill. can you get a flat head screwdriver under the screw head and gently pry up while you unscrew. pry by twisting the flathead not lifting up. be careful not to pry too hard and risk cracking your board.

if not flathead screw driver try a paperclip. unfold it so you have a long strait section. then use a tool to bend the end to a small u shape that fits under the screw head to hook it so you can lift up while unscrewing.

 

[TheOsTech]

also is the stand off is unscrewed cant you pull the mb out without it being held in place by anything?

 

[Sheza]

I don't think I have stand offs.

Literally, there is a tiny bit of the bottom of the screw poking out through the back of the mobo mount thing. In fact it's slightly IN the hole so there's no way to grip it at all. The screw loosens at first but as it almost becomes fully loose it slips (or "clacks") back into place. I can't find these standooffs you're talking about, hence nothing for the pliers to grip.

 

[Terrifictez85]

I don't think I have stand offs.

Literally, there is a tiny bit of the bottom of the screw poking out through the back of the mobo mount thing. In fact it's slightly IN the hole so there's no way to grip it at all. The screw loosens at first but as it almost becomes fully loose it slips (or "clacks") back into place. I can't find these standooffs you're talking about, hence nothing for the pliers to grip.

Tighten it back up and the thread should pop back out then you can grip it.

 

[TheOsTech]

maybe his mb trey is the type that just has raised metal bumps and no standoffs. if upward pressure on the screw doesn't work you can also try using a tiny fillips head screw driver on the back of the screw and have someone else try tapping the top of the screwdriver with a small hammer. gently though and long pauses between while unscrewing constantly. you don't want it to come loose and drive up into the hole hard.

 

[Sheza]

Aha, upon closer inspection I found the very hidden stand offs. Re-screwed it and held it really tight with pliers and it came off.

Thank you all very much for your suggestions - had I not posted on here we would have gone straight to the drill.

 

[Terrifictez85]

Aha, upon closer inspection I found the very hidden stand offs. Re-screwed it and held it really tight with pliers and it came off.

Thank you all very much for your suggestions - had I not posted on here we would have gone straight to the drill.

Your welcome fella

 

[Sheza]

Bah, another screw is now well and truly stuck to its stand off (albeit safely off the case). No amount of 2-person plying and unscrewing seems to help, plus the screw head is slightly mangled after trying.