I’ve been having some overheating problems lately, especially in games and other 3D applications. Usually I can quell this momentarily by putting a freezable lunch cooler under my computer, but it’s been getting so bad that even that’s not helping. So I figure I’d unscrew the part of under my laptop that unscrews, and as I went to do so, I realized that one of my screws has a stripped head. So my question would be, do any of you know how to remove a stripped screw that small? I don’t have an extractor that would fit that tiny screw.
Drill it out and replace it.
Get one of those bases for laptops full of fans.
Even I am not dumb enough to do that.
But yea, try drilling it out, and replace it and/or tape it closed from now on and/or be very gentle with it from now on.
I’m thinking the free route.
You don’t know what it’s like where I live, man.
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. I’ll try drilling it out. I wonder if I have a bit that small…
Tell it to put clothes on.
Be careful with drilling out screws, you don’t want to ruin your laptop by using too big of a drill bit. If you don’t have a Dremel tool, get a screw extractor kit; you can get a set of extractor bits and a t-handle screwdriver (yes the t-handle is important) at home depot for around $15 and do the removal by hand. Not quite free, but much better than paying for a new computer!
post a pic. we might be able to offer more suggestions/know what wont work.
Yeah, after making several attempts at removing the screw, I got scared and figured it was probably best to just leave it alone for now so I don’t screw anything up too bad.
I will definitely look into this! Thanks 
EDIT: Well, I hooked up the only USB fan I have and it’s working wonders. This will tide me over as I put off fixing the screw… :\ It’s freaking frustrating that they don’t use high-quality screws on these laptops. Maybe it’s just a problem with Gateway, but I’ve had plastic toys with better quality screws than this computer that was significantly more expensive :hmph: