Low profile screw on hard drive

Question

Level 1

32 points

Low profile screw on hard drive

To replace the internal HD on my Quicksilver G4 minitower, one has to remove the "Low profile screw". It is a shallow hole Phillips head screw, too shallow to permit insertion of a normal Phillips screwdriver.

Is there a speciall tool for this? Where can I get the needed tool/screwdriver?

Posted on Nov 5, 2005 1:49 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 5, 2005 2:13 PM in response to John Roehm

Hi John

I'm not aware of a special tool as such. I seemed to replace my QuickSilver HD okay with only a small selection of screw drivers available. I assume it's the screw that secures the U shaped drive bracket to the bottom of the chassis. Thinking about it I may have used a traditional flat ended screw driver that fitted snuggly into two of the four slots in the screw head.

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Answer 2

John Roehm Author

Level 1

32 points

Nov 5, 2005 2:58 PM in response to Rodney Culling

Many thanks for the prompt reply. I loosened the screw with a precision blade screwdriver and got the HD out. Now I'm faced with 4 similar screws on the bottom of the U shaped drive bracket. Even using a pliers to add turning torque to the screwdriver, I cannot turn any one of them.

Any more brillaint ideas? Can one get a new bracket?

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Answer 3

John Roehm Author

Level 1

32 points

Nov 5, 2005 3:15 PM in response to Rodney Culling

I solved it. I used a Phillips head screwdriver that was obviosly "too large." It had a short enough taper to engage those very tiny screws. I suspect that would have worked with the original screw. I'll try it when I reinstall.

Again, a million thanks from Houston, Texas.

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Answer 4

Jeff

Level 6

12,316 points

Nov 5, 2005 6:13 PM in response to John Roehm

I've had a Stanley #1 phillips screwdriver for years, that's ideal for those low-profile screws because it has a blunt tip. Many #1 phillips screwdrivers have a very sharp tip, which bottoms out before the sides engage the shallow recess in the screw head.

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Answer 5

Nov 5, 2005 9:21 PM in response to John Roehm

Unless I recall incorrectly the screws need a #0 phillips, though some #1 or #2 seem to work on a hit or miss basis.

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Answer 6

John Roehm Author

Level 1

32 points

Nov 6, 2005 12:38 PM in response to Forrest McElfresh1

Many thanks to y'all for providing the answer. With such a small screw, I had tried the "obvious" small Phillips head screwdriver. An oversized screwdriver with a short tip worked great. I actually used a Sears Craftsman #2.

The new Seagate drive is in, formatted and working fine.

Mac people are so GREAT! Thanks again.

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