Ultrabay Security Screw Required (W700ds) [UK]

[LavaChild]

Hello!

I require a Ultrabay Security Screw. It is for a W700ds laptop but I believe that the same screw is used across a large range of models, particularly the T500/W500/W700 ranges.

I'm in the UK so one here would be ideal however I don't expect postage would be unreasonable for an item of this size (though for a single screw (!!) it might still make more sense to acquire one locally where possible). Still - let me know and we'll work it out!

Thanks .

[TuuS]

From what I can tell one from a T/R/W 500 should work. I know I have one for a T61, but not sure I'd be able to find it. I've never seen anyone actually want to use it... kinda defeats the whole purpose of the ultrabay, not to mention if someone was trying to steal my drive, I'd rather they take it then break the release mech in an attempt to get the drive out. Besides, how much "security" does the screw really provide? Seems like a silly idea to me, but if you need one you can order a complete screw set pretty cheap which includes this screw. You can probably get it shipped out of china cheaper then the postage alone to ship you a screw.

[richk]

I don't have a w700 to look at, but they have been the same for as long as I remember. It is just an allen head screw. I think it is 3mm pitch, but I am not sure. I am out-if-town and my tap and die set is home. I can send you one, but the only packing supplies I have are for priority mail and shipping costs me $16.95 for a small flat rate box to UK. You should be able to find some chinese supplier for less (Their government subsidizes shipping to western countries), hower I looked at eBay and couldn't find one. An Allen head isn't much security. I would have expected a security Torx, but I checked all he screw kits I had and there were only Allen heads. If you feel you really want one, I'll send it for $17 including shipping.

[LavaChild]

Thank you for your replies, gentlemen, and your generous offers of help.

I managed to locate an eBay auction that did not sell and contacted the seller. They have agreed to post the Lenovo package (including two screws - a spare I presume) from Canada (to the UK) for 5 CAD (3.30 GBP) inc. delivery. It seemed like the easiest solution!

I'm still not sure of the benefit of the screws but at the moment I have no other ultrabay modules to use so it seemed like a 'why not' but I agree, kind of pointless! But it's ended up being pretty easy to acquire in the end so for 3.30 GBP it gives me the option to make my mind up.

Thanks again for all of your offers of help!

[RRHODY]

I've been able to get metric screws for my laptops at hobby stores. The screws are the same as those used in remote control cars. In the US the hobby stores stock products from DeBro with the Allen head and at 3mm pitch.

[TuuS]

I think the only point to the screw was to keep people from stealing optical drives from company laptops. I guess they figured a laptop was to big to smuggle out without being seen, but an easily removable part would disappear. As I mentioned, I'd rather lose an optical disc then have someone trying to pry it out of the bay when then ejector doesn't free it up, and I guess this is why lenovo never shipped these screws installed in the laptop, if they did, impatient people would probably damage the laptop trying to remove the drives. They also failed to include a note explaining why there was an extra screw in the box, which resulted in customers calling in to inquire.

Also when I looked this up earlier to see if one from a T61 would work, the info I found suggested that the T500 and up use a different part number... perhaps the same screw with a different number??? who knows... but when mine turns up I'll try it in various models to see.

In the end I think you'll realize there was little reason to worry about this, it's only an optional screw and serves no functional purpose other then stopping someone from removing the drive.