The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Macbook Pro RAM enclosure screw problem...

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by cdnalsi, Mar 9, 2008.

  1. cdnalsi

    cdnalsi Food for the funky people

    Reputations:
    433
    Messages:
    1,605
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    So I bought 2x2gb RAM and tried to install them and when I removed the battery and started unscrewing the small RAM enclosure screws, one of them just got stripped. So I can't get it open at all. The only thing someone suggested was actually drilling the head of the screw but that would ruin it FOREVER! :D

    So my question is this:
    I know that if you replace your RAM (upgrade) that doesn't void my warranty, but how about that screw? Can I go to an Apple Store and just tell them to do whatever it needs to be done to replace the screw - and go into my warranty, or if not, how much would I have to pay for that? Any ideas?

    Cheers! :D
     
    cdnalsi, Mar 9, 2008
    #1
  2. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,400
    Messages:
    3,376
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    McGrady, Mar 9, 2008
    #2
  3. gengerald

    gengerald Technofile Extraordinaire

    Reputations:
    674
    Messages:
    1,961
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    If you have the warranty, you can take it back and ask for them to fix it, but before, ask for a quote if they end up charging you. Could mean a new frame piece, or just popping out the threads and re-gluing a new one in.
     
    gengerald, Mar 9, 2008
    #3
  4. mpullen

    mpullen Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    There are tools called "backouts", which are reverse threaded drill bits. You can get them at HomeDepot, Lowes, or any other hardware supply stores. You do not need to put them in a drill, just put the bit in the stripped screw and do the left hand turn under pressure, it will "bite" and loosen the stripped screw.

    Don't use the same screw again, it should be replaced with something you could find at the above mentioned stores, or RadioShack.

    Hope that helps
     
    mpullen, Mar 10, 2008
    #4
  5. cdnalsi

    cdnalsi Food for the funky people

    Reputations:
    433
    Messages:
    1,605
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Thanks you guys, I'll check it into an Apple Store this weekend. I'm really curious about how much money would they charge me for a stripped screw if they wanted to charge me $1,000 for 4Gb of RAM :D
     
    cdnalsi, Mar 10, 2008
    #5
  6. mpullen

    mpullen Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    new screw from radio shack = $0.07
    screw backout from home depot = $7
    effort to take it out yourself = $0
    learning how to solve a new class of problems yourself = pricele$$
     
    mpullen, Mar 10, 2008
    #6
  7. enter260

    enter260 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    when i was upgrading my ram, one of the screws came out pretty easily but the others were very stubborn. i was afraid i would strip the screws so i called up my local apple store to see if they could just open it up for me. they said they're not allowed to do that unless i buy their "authorized" ram. no way was i going to pay $1000 for apple certified ram.
     
    enter260, Mar 11, 2008
    #7
  8. jjfcpa

    jjfcpa Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    418
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    4 gig RAM upgrade from Apple - $ 1,000
    4 gig RAM upgrade from Crucial - $ 101.29
    Cost to install it yourself - $ 0

    Increased speed of Macbook Pro after 4 gig upgrade for $ 101.29 - priceless!
     
    jjfcpa, Mar 11, 2008
    #8
  9. cdnalsi

    cdnalsi Food for the funky people

    Reputations:
    433
    Messages:
    1,605
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I got it, one of my friends is a sound tech and he just drilled the head of the screw out, and then removed what was left, I put my RAM inside, I bought a new small screw, I screwed the little enclosure back, and now..

    I have 4gb of RAM! :D Yay!

    Thanks for all your help guys!
     
    cdnalsi, Mar 11, 2008
    #9