Ron Hardin wrote:
I've stripped two of the screws holding the hard
drive in my laptop (apparently lock-tite'd, from
the crack! noise the other two made when unscrewed
in my best philips screwing technique). (The chat
agent on the line unhelpfully had just asked me to
try removing the HD and memory, which is the rough
equivalent in this model of ``remove roof and
temporarily set aside'' for home repairs, as you
have to remove the screen and keyboard to get at
the memory. It must have been a little chat-agent
joke. Anyway that project stopped when the screws
stripped.)

I take it the next step is a screw extractor,
which I see too large a variety of to make a
choice. What's the most probably successful kind
of screw extractor? I have no experience with
extractors. I'd experiment, but would like to get
it done as neatly as possible on the first try.

Very tiny philips screw. A 3/32 drill fits in the
hole left by the other, removed, screws.

I don't know how badly you have torn up the head, but before resorting
to heroics, if there is anything left try Screw Grab

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/pa...=3,41306,41329

with a good Phillips screwdriver. Two options are

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,43411,43417
or
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,43411,43417

If this doesn't work, or there isn't enough of a head recess left, drill
into the screw with a jeweler's drill or a Dremel and a steady hand so
that a micro extractor can be used. Note that the correct size drill
bit is on the opposite end from the extractor.

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/pa...,32272&p=32272

Softening Locktite, if that has been used, is best done with a paint
remover that is rich in methylene chloride. Methylene chloride will
attack plastics with a vengeance so be very careful to not place it in
contact with your laptop's case.

Good luck.

Boden

Boden