How to remove motherboard screws from spinning standoffs?

[USSCrazybat]

Hello!

During the course of my first build, which I'm currently typing this from, I panicked and unscrewed the motherboard multiple times because I wasn't sure, in my infinite idiocy, if the GPU was plugging into the PCIE slot correctly. As a result, a few of my screws are spinning along with their standoffs. The motherboard is secure enough, but there are some issues - the top USB ports are slightly out of alignment with the IO shield due to the fact that the top left screw is not fully screwed in because its standoff turns with it.

Furthermore, I've been having second thoughts about the case I've used - if I were to try to swap out the case, it might prove difficult, even nigh impossible. I've tried the suggestion of needlenose pliers, and I got nowhere with that. I've heard of computer shops providing a service to remove spinning standoffs, but I was wondering if there are any simple DIY solutions to this issue.

Also, I used rubberised thumbscrews for a few of the motherboard screw holes. WHO DOES THAT?

 

[Supahos]

Vice grips to pinch the back of the standoffs threads on backside of mobo tray?

 

[USSCrazybat]

Vice grips to pinch the back of the standoffs threads on backside of mobo tray?

I imagine that'll go the same way as the needlenose pliers - simply shaving off scraps of standoff and not achieving anything.

 

[InvalidError]

If your standoffs are hexagonal, check if you have an appropriate size ratchet socket.

If you cannot screw the motherboard in because standoffs "keep spinning", it either means that your standoffs aren't lining up with holes (your IO shield is "too high" in this case due to the standoff preventing your motherboard from going down to its correct height from the motherboard tray) or you have stripped the holes.

If you are having a hard time getting the screws out of the standoffs with pliers and a screwdriver, you may have cross-threaded the screws and in that case, you may be F'ed. Your options are: use a vise grip and a screwdriver to attempt to unscrew the screw or cause the screw head to shear off, use a metal saw or grinder to remove the threaded part of the standoff so it can at least sit on the motherboard tray instead of interfering with fittment, or drill the screw head off.

 

[scuzzycard]

I'm assuming these are the ubiquitous brass hexagonal standoffs that we all know and love? Remove the board, stuck standoffs and all. Even if the screws are cross-threaded into the standoffs, when you turn the screw, you will also be unscrewing the standoff at the same time. Once the board is out, grab the standoff from the back of the motherboard with the vice grips, and unscrew the screw with your philips head. They shouldn't be TOO hard to budge. Do that for each standoff that got messed up.

 

[USSCrazybat]

I'm assuming these are the ubiquitous brass hexagonal standoffs that we all know and love? Remove the board, stuck standoffs and all. Even if the screws are cross-threaded into the standoffs, when you turn the screw, you will also be unscrewing the standoff at the same time. Once the board is out, grab the standoff from the back of the motherboard with the vice grips, and unscrew the screw with your philips head. They shouldn't be TOO hard to budge. Do that for each standoff that got messed up.

Could I just do this by pressing onto the back of the standoffs and unscrewing?

 

[USSCrazybat]

I'm assuming these are the ubiquitous brass hexagonal standoffs that we all know and love? Remove the board, stuck standoffs and all. Even if the screws are cross-threaded into the standoffs, when you turn the screw, you will also be unscrewing the standoff at the same time. Once the board is out, grab the standoff from the back of the motherboard with the vice grips, and unscrew the screw with your philips head. They shouldn't be TOO hard to budge. Do that for each standoff that got messed up.

Could I just do this by pressing onto the back of the standoffs as I'm trying to unscrew? Would that shift them enough?

 

[scuzzycard]

If your problem includes stripped holes in the motherboard tray, then yes, that would help.