Macbook Pro 17 Inch Mid 2009 A1297 Keyboard Screw Stuck - Removal Advice

I need to replace a keyboard in a Macbook Pro 17 Inch Mid 2009. One of the tiny screws holding in the old keyboard is stuck and the screwdriver insert location is rounded off. Any idea how I can remove this screw?

These screws are the tiny ones that secure the actual keyboard to the aluminium keyboard recess, one of about 50. Too small to get needle nose pliers on.

Thanks

Unfortunately with stripped screw heads like this...there are fewer extraction options than there would be with larger screws. Is this a phillips head screw or a torx?

If a phillips head...the only possibility I can offer is...place the correct size phillips head screwdriver into the stripped screw. Then with as much force as you dare...tap the top of the screwdriver with something to try an make some "dents" in the stripped screw head so that it will "bite".

Good luck,

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Unfortunately with stripped screw heads like this...there are fewer extraction options than there would be with larger screws. Is this a phillips head screw or a torx?

If a phillips head...the only possibility I can offer is...place the correct size phillips head screwdriver into the stripped screw. Then with as much force as you dare...tap the top of the screwdriver with something to try an make some "dents" in the stripped screw head so that it will "bite".

Good luck,

- Nick

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Nick - many thanks, I posted the problem on several forums and received this little beauty.... Macbook Pro 17 Inch Mid 2009 A1297 Keyboard Screw Stuck - Removal Advice - Tech Support Forum

I'm gonna give it a go.

JonnyAlpha said:

Nick - many thanks, I posted the problem on several forums and received this little beauty....

Click to expand...

That is a pretty interesting idea. Of course it depends on the screw...and where it's located. There are tight areas that the heat of a soldering iron & soldering may do more harm than good. But in an area with nothing delicate close by...could be something to try.

I might also add that I've some across some pretty tight screws...and the force needed to loosen the screw would be greater than the "bending strength" of the metal rod/conductor on a capacitor/transistor.

But again...any idea is a good idea to try (as long as nothing is nearby that the heat could damage).

If you give it a try...please post back how things went.

Thanks & good luck,

- Nick

That is a creative solution. I have precision screw extractors that will work with screws this small. You can find them on Amazon, if this doesn't work out for you:

Moody Tools 58-0670 6-Piece Slot/Phil/Screw Extractor Combo Reversible Driver Set: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

That is a pretty clever solution, however, it depends on how tight the stripped screw is fastened. If the head of the screw has become stripped, chances are it's in there real tight and soldering a resistor to use for loosening isn't going to work. The resistor will break off first. The extractor set recommend by cwa107 is probably your best bet if the solder trick fails.

cwa107 said:

I have precision screw extractors that will work with screws this small.

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Very nice! I knew screw extractors existed for larger screws...didn't realize they had them for the "teeny" screws in computers. I'm going to have to get a set of these at some point.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Very nice! I knew screw extractors existed for larger screws...didn't realize they had them for the "teeny" screws in computers. I'm going to have to get a set of these at some point.

- Nick

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Got them for Christmas - I've only had to use them once and they worked like magic on a #00 screw.