Wwjd?

[Morph]

What Would j00 Do?

I've been popping Advil for a while now because I have the biggest headache ever. I have come to the realization that 512MB of RAM does not cut it for the programs I am running, and so I need more. I had 1GB, but half of it broke for some reason - either the stick or the slot it was in is now defective. I can't really narrow it down, because one of the screws was in there so tightly that I actually stripped the head of the screw trying to get it done so I could check it out.

So now I have 512MB RAM, a stripped screw, and a monster headache. Apart from breaking the RAM compartment cover (it's a Laptop, FYI) on the bottom and 'living with it', the only other thing I can think of is to drill out the screw. Of course this also will accomplish the same thing - not being able to put the RAM compartment cover back on completely. I still have one screw that could go in, so I could ghetto rig some tape or something after I figure out the problem...

What would you guys do? I'm debating just biting the bullet and snapping the compartment off on the corner where the stripped screw is and then dealing with it later, but I'm not sure if this is a very wise idea. The notebook is already out of warranty so I'm not too worried about that...I just don't want to have to drop a few thousand dollars on a new computer, which means I don't want to royally mess anything up.

[ItalianPenguin]

I'm going to go with try to rig something up before you break anything.

[Thumper]

windows xp can handle up to 3gb of ram. FILL ER UP!

edit: oh its a notebook. see what fits.

[ItalianPenguin]

Um, that's not the question he was asking.

[SiDeWiNdEr]

Could you not just go and spend a tad bit less than a few thou on a 1Gb stick to replace the 512 one that's still working? and forget about the second one all together, that's what I'd do personally.

but nobody ever listens to me anyway >_>

[ShadowClaw]

I think the problem is he can't get to either one. In most laptops both RAM sticks are located next to each other under a little removable piece of plastic that is held in place with several small screws.

@Morph
I would say that carefully drilling out the screw would be one of the only ways of getting to the RAM if the screw is stripped out. Besides that I can't really think of anything sorry.

[Titanium]

I agree with carefully drilling out the screw. Then afterwards, you could get a self threading screw a little larger than the original screw to fit the larger hole, or get a tap of the right size for the new hole and thread it and get a screw that fits the new hole and thread size.

[Coz]

I don't know what you have tried, but sometimes a flat head screw driver can be "tapped" in and you can get enough grip to get it out. Buuuut, tapping anything in on a computer isn't a good idea. I had to fight a stripped screw a couple days ago on my main computer and using some plyers worked... But the screw head wasn't flush with the surface either... :(

[Titanium]

From your response, I would guess you don't know what a tap (the tool) is. A tap is a thread cutting tool. They come in many sizes for different hole sizes (drill bit sizes) and you drill a hole with the correct size drill bit and then thread the hole with the correct size tap so you can put a screw in. The tap isn't the risky part of the procedure here, drilling out the screw is. If you drill too far or the drill bit slips off the screw, you could seriously damage the computer. One way to protect against drilling too far is to wrap some masking tape (or other suitable type of tape) around the drill bit to mark the spot at the distance from the tip of the drill bit that you don't want to go beyond.

[Coz]

When I say tap, I mean taking a hammer and lightly tapping on top of the screw driver to get a better grip, not an actual tool. That's why it's not a good idea to do it on a computer because any type of beating on a computer isn't good.

[NuclearDreams]

http://a517.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/112/l_b4927e99d308efba279720cf388dd3c4.jpg

[Coz]

Morph, looks like NuclearDreams has the perfect solution. You can always build a computer that's not half bad for around a thousand instead of 2000...

[Morph]

I think I'll just snap the piece off. It's $45 to repair it, and I don't want to risk breaking the computer. Snapping the piece off should have no effect on how my computer runs, so I'll be in good shape for that.

TY for the feedback

[Gaucho8788]

When I say tap, I mean taking a hammer and lightly tapping on top of the screw driver to get a better grip, not an actual tool. That's why it's not a good idea to do it on a computer because any type of beating on a computer isn't good.We knew that from your first post and thats why Titanium posted what he actually meant, vs what you thought he meant.

I think I'll just snap the piece off. It's $45 to repair it, and I don't want to risk breaking the computer. Snapping the piece off should have no effect on how my computer runs, so I'll be in good shape for that.

If anything you can just tape the piece of plastic back on.

[Coz]

We knew that from your first post and thats why Titanium posted what he actually meant, vs what you thought he meant.

No, what I was talking about was completely seperate from his post. :) I wasn't even thinking of his post when I posted mine.