Help A21M fan assembly removal !!

[srkumar1946]

Hello Friends,
I am disassembling my A21M 2628G2U laptop for reseating the cpu to sort out the power-on problem which has been reported by quite a few members of this forum.I am following the procedures as per the hardware maintenance manual.While removing the cpu fan assembly one of the screws marked 1a in the manual didnot come out and inadvertantly i spoiled the head of the screw.remaining four screws marked as 1a and 1 are removed.with this problem i am unable to take out the fan assembly to get access to the cpu.is there a way out to remove the damaged screw without damaging any components or systemboard?or will it be possible to take out the fan assembly along with heatpipe and once these items are out,then try to remove the damaged screw.any suggestion to solve my above problem will be very helpful in proceeding further.this is the first time i am attempting to disassemble a laptop,even though i am quite conversant with desktop computers repair and troubleshooting.i must tell that disassembling a laptop is a tricky but great learning experience.regards to everyone of this forum.thanks.
ramkumar

[spuddog]

I had a similar problem and used a small left-handed drill to back them out.

Scott

[srkumar1946]

Dear mr.Scott,
thanks for your reply.will you kindly explain how you managed to take out the screw with the left handed drill?regards.
Ramkumar

[dsigma6]

a small left-handed drill

That reminds me of the left-handed smoke sifter joke we used on the newcomers in scouts.

[vlyne]

Ramkumar,

There are a variety of tools available for taking out screws with stripped heads. Check your local hardware store. The left-hand drill bit will have to be used with the drill in reverse drilling mode. The idea is that as the drill bit "bites" in reverse mode it will apply enough torque to loosen the screw. If you are going to use this method, mask off the area so that bits of metal don't fall onto the motherboard. Apply masking tape to the head of the screw as well. One of the real dangers with a drill is that if it slips you will damage the motherboard!

If you can get access to the screw head use a very fine file to cut a thin channel into the head of the screw and then use a standard flat blade screwdriver to get out the screw.

Sometime you can get a small but sharp-sided flat-blade screwdriver into the stripped head, work is sideways so that the ends get a grip onto the screw, apply a bit of downward pressure and unscrew. It will either work or break the screwdriver head!

Having said all that you have to ask yourself what is the real risk that (1) even if you do succeed in taking out the screw, the problem is not with the CPU, and/or (2) you can't extract the screw and you end up damaging the motherboard even more. Given your predicament, I'd look at all other possibilities before trying to extract out that screw.

Good Luck!

[spuddog]

The reply by vlyne explains it very well. Believe it or not almost all cutting tools are made in left or right hand configuration depending upon the application.

Scott

[srkumar1946]

Dear Mr.Vlyne,
Thanks a lot for ur excellent suggestion and the caution to be exercised while removing the damaged screw.as advised by you,i am having a rethink whether it is worth the trouble of removing the screw and in the bargain spoil the systemboard,and it turns out the problem is not with the CPU.certainly i will look into other options.thanks a lot to everyone who responded positively to my predicament.
regards,
ramkumar