Screw broke in DVI bracket

[BenG7]

So just today I was taking my desktop downstairs and when I was disconnecting my DVI connector, the one from my monitor to my desktop, the bracket screw actually came off with the connector. So I got the screw off the connector and put it back in the bracket. As I was doing this the screw actually broke off inside of the bracket. So now if you look at the back of my computer, the DVI port has only one of those bracket screws on it (The two screws on the left and right of the actual connector). I do have another DVI port next to it, but I'm not sure if I should use that one or if that one even works. Will I still be able to use the DVI port with the broken off screw, and only the left screw tightened in? What should I do? Thank you very much!

 

[scout_03]

that is screw on the cable holder or the one the bracket that is on the graphic card ?

 

[BenG7]

that is screw on the cable holder or the one the bracket that is on the graphic card ?

The one that's on the bracket of the graphics card. So it broke off and it's basically in my computer you could say. It's broken off in that little hole on the bracket of the video card.

 

[scout_03]

this is the one that broke http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-10-PC-Mac-Computer-Video-Graphics-VGA-Card-Expansion-Slot-Bracket-Screws-/150700402236?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231671a63c and if it is yes most computer shop should have some for a cheap price .

 

[smeezekitty]

Should work fine without it too.

 

[BenG7]

this is the one that broke http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-10-PC-Mac-Computer-Video-Graphics-VGA-Card-Expansion-Slot-Bracket-Screws-/150700402236?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231671a63c and if it is yes most computer shop should have some for a cheap price .

Yes, that is the one. The problem is though, is that the screw is broken off inside of the bracket. I don't know how I'd be able to get it out.

 

[Kari]

open the case and find that loose screw, you dont really wanna turn on the pc if there are loose bits of metal somewhere inside, might cause shorts and break stuff...
the dvi output will still work just fine

 

[BenG7]

open the case and find that loose screw, you dont really wanna turn on the pc if there are loose bits of metal somewhere inside, might cause shorts and break stuff...
the dvi output will still work just fine

Alright, thank you. And I thought I should do that too, but I figure there's probably a backing to it. I'll check to make sure. If it does go all the way through and I can get the screw out, then I can easily replace it. My problem is how I can get the screw out. But it'll be fine if it still works.

 

[Kari]

I think I've misunderstood what you meant, so the actuall screw broke in half and the lower threaded part of it is still stuck inside the bracket/connector housing where it is supposed to be in the first place. If this is the case then you can probably get to the other end of the screw from 'behind' so to say, I checked couple of old cards of mine and some have the screw ends visible and could easily turn them with narrow pliers or something, on one card the dvi connector is a bit thicker and the screw is completely hidden inside of it, that would be alot trickier...

 

[BenG7]

I think I've misunderstood what you meant, so the actuall screw broke in half and the lower threaded part of it is still stuck inside the bracket/connector housing where it is supposed to be in the first place. If this is the case then you can probably get to the other end of the screw from 'behind' so to say, I checked couple of old cards of mine and some have the screw ends visible and could easily turn them with narrow pliers or something, on one card the dvi connector is a bit thicker and the screw is completely hidden inside of it, that would be alot trickier...

Yeah, that's the exact situation you just described. I'll open up the case and see what I can find. That'd be great if it's the first scenario haha. And thanks a ton for all the help. Really appreciate it.

 

[bigpicture]

Yeah same thing happened to me with those bracket screws, you have to be careful. especially around those galvanized screws which are cheap quality, same goes for 80% of all screws. Those bracket screws if you overnight just a little they can snap off and be stuck in the thread. Luckily it didnt happen to a good card of mine, only a low profile silent Nvidia for a HTPC happened to the vga, so yeah you may be able to get it out from the back, if so use something to push n twist it out or an untested idea would be to get a reasonably strong magnet n twist on it perhaps will pull it out

rule of thump to go by for generally all screws is;

"the more times you fiddle with it, the more likely something will break"

Tip to avoid such problems, replace the screws on the bracket each time you remove them. you can do that more easily than it is to remove a snapped off screw from the thread. just saying..