I need help i dentifying a screw.

swampthing451

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Sep 15, 2013
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There are two screws that need to be removed to access the hard drive on the bottom of my Sony vaio vpcee41fx laptop. One of them is easily removed with a Phillips screw driver but I'm having trouble finding a screw driver to remove the other one. The other screw has what appears to be a circular indentation on the top of it. What type of screw driver do I need to remove this screw? Thanks in advance for any help.
 

USAFRet

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Given a picture, and I'm quite sure someone here could readily identify it.
 

swampthing451

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Sep 15, 2013
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Here are a couple of images of the screw I am talking about. I know they're low quality and blurry but it's the best I

could do with what I had. All replies are appreciated.


http://postimg.org/image/emc4488o5/


http://postimg.org/image/wof0743bf/


http://postimg.org/image/npdbey5e7/


http://postimg.org/image/vzrvc29l3/
 

USAFRet

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Those appear to be Torx head screws.

p_080435000_1.jpg

(bottom row, the two on the right)

Available in sets of multiple sizes at any bigbox or smaller hardware store.
 

swampthing451

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Sep 15, 2013
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Thanks for all the replies. I thought that it the screw might be a torx head screw as well. I picked up some precision torx screw drivers at home depot this afternoon, but those screw drivers don't work either. Are there any other possibilities for the screw identity besides a torx head screw.

It's funny because every screw on the bottom of the laptop has a "cross shaped" indentation except this one. If it is indeed a damaged philips head screw as casey suggested, does anyone know how I can remove it?
 

USAFRet

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Not to be an ass, but a clearer pic would help.
 

swampthing451

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No I don't see six points. The screw has a circular pit in it. I don't know why the hard drive cover would be secured with two different types of screws. It's odd. Do any other possibilities for the identity of the screw come to mind? And thanks for the suggestion you offered so far.
 

USAFRet

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If it's just a circular pit, a stripped out screw would seem to be it.

As for removal of a tiny stripped out screw....that would be a careful extraction
 

swampthing451

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Sep 15, 2013
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What is the best tool to use for this extraction?, do you know where I could purchase a replacement screw once I get stripped out screw extracted? Thanks for you time.
 

swampthing451

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Ok thanks to you and everyone else for all your help.
 

nathanalgren

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Jan 11, 2014
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I have the exactly same problem. One of the screws don't match any of my screwdrivers. I was able to remove almost 10-12 screws, except that one stubborn one that holds the CD-DVD Drive. There are 3 dots next to it. I don't understand why and how they would make one of the different.

My laptop has never been to service and it hasn't been opened. So the chances of it being a damaged screw is low, however I think that is the case, because making a screw different than all others doesn't make sense to me.

Any ideas? And if it is indeed a damaged one, how may I remove it?
 

hayley3

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Jan 19, 2011
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I have the same problem but mine is stripped. I just bought a mini drill off of ebay, because I can't think of any other way to remove it except by drilling the screw out. Most screw extractors are too big. I haven't got the tiny drill yet, but I'll try to return and post my results.

Here's the link to the youtube video showing the micro drill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8IacnMmzHM