I had this problem with a Torx 5 screw inside a MacBook Air, tried every trick in the book to get the !@#$ thing out, to no avail. Here's what ended up working for me:
I very carefully sanded the surface of the stripped screw with 320 grit sandpaper, making extra sure I wasn't contacting any surrounding components. Then I cleaned the screw head off and applied some petroleum based soldering flux onto the sanded screw head. I then got my soldering iron up to temperature and melted some solder onto the head of the screw. I added solder until it filled the stripped out torx hole and formed a small dome on top of the screw. While the solder was still melted, I pressed a flathead screwdriver into the solder and kept it still until the solder cooled. When I removed the screwdriver tip, there was a perfect flathead impression in the solder. Then I just used the flathead screwdriver to remove the screw normally...it came right out! I suggest anyone who has the parts/supplies to do this, definitely give it a try.
Sorry for not mentioning that the laptop is on warranty until November 2011, so I wouldn't like to mess it up by Drilling or dremeling.
Using a bigger torx screwdriver didn't help, unfortunately.
由 sergesavranchuk 完成的
Don't go bigger...;-) use lemerise idea of modifying a flat tip screwdriver.
由 oldturkey03 完成的
the screw cap is so "screwed" that the screwdriver goes round and can't "catch" the screw to make it turn.
I tried to stick the screwdriver to the screw using super instant glue - didn't work.
My next step will be finding a flat screwdriver this small to fit into the screw cap.
If I turn to using a dremel the rotating blade should really be miniature..
由 sergesavranchuk 完成的
use your Dremel to modify your screwdriver. The jewelers screwdrivers a re great for that start with a flat tip a little bigger than what you have left from the screw head and modify it accordingly. If you do not have a Dremel any kind of small grinder will work
由 oldturkey03 完成的
thaks for the advice, oldturkey03, but can you please show a couple of images of the tools you are speaking about the Dremel and the grinder? that'd be really helpful.
由 sergesavranchuk 完成的
显示更多的4条评论