02-16-2008, 11:00 PM

So, I switched out my hard drive today and while I was putting the screws back in I was so **** excited that I ended up accidentally putting one in next to the monitor port. basically, one of the normal screws (the ones that go around the edges of the computer) is stuck inside the screw that holds the monitor cable in place.

i've tried magnets, i've tried duct tape, i've tried silly putty-like adhesive...i don't know what else to do.

if i take it to apple they will void my warranty. (i figured if i had problems with anything later down the line i'd just put the old drive back in and send it off for repair)

now they're gonna know for sure i've tampered with it. i'm such a dumbass...

at least i didn't drop it or anything. it's just that **** screw that's stuck in there...i'll never be able to use that monitor port (or fill in the missing screw) until i get it out of there.

any ideas?

02-17-2008, 12:45 PM

no ideas?

02-17-2008, 12:59 PM

pliers?

02-17-2008, 01:25 PM

You can't unscrew it with a screwdriver? If not, I'd try using pliers while rotating like a screwdriver. That might help to minimize the damage.

02-17-2008, 02:27 PM

Theres something called "screw extractors" aka "easy out" it's a drill bit which is like a self tapping screw with a reverse thread.
If you can find a small enough one it might get the screw out.
If it were mine I wouldn't use a drill though, I'd attach it to a screwdriver and do it by hand.
I don't know how big the screw you stuck is though. Won't work on tiny ones.

02-17-2008, 02:37 PM

this thread is useless without pictures

good luck! i wouldnt use a drill anywhere near my mac. the magnetic field created by them will mess with your ENTIRELY METAL MAC for sure

02-17-2008, 04:43 PM

Unfortunately I know exactly what to do. The threaded monitor port screw receiver is the perfect size to lose those screws. You can't drill it, there isn't an EZ-out small enough, it isn't even really screwed in, it is just sort of rattling around. You can't get any plier in there around it. Look at magnetic tipped tools, I had a #00 Phillips screw driver with a magnetic tip in my gunsmithing tools that worked.

02-17-2008, 08:14 PM

I would put a dot of hot glue on the tip of a pencil (or toothpick) and stick it in there making sure it touches the screw. Once the glue dries, pull it out, and peel the screw off the hot glue (hot glue does not stick to smooth surfaces very well).

02-17-2008, 08:54 PM

sounds like the screw isnt threaded, but maybe be trapped/confined to the insides of the threaded hole?

if thats the case, hot glue could work, on the end of a broken toothpik or something.

i dont think tweezers exist that are that small.

did you open the pro up and see what the other side of the hole looked like?