Stripped screw gpu advice please?

[catinthehat]

Hi guys my first posting here, was wondering if anyone can give some advice. I have a Geforce Gtx 560Ti and well as i was trying to remove the plastic covering to clean the fan/heatsink there was one screw that i couldn't remove until i looked online and saw that they are called stripped screws. Now this is my first time ever dealing with something like this, and my gpu really needs cleaning heats up in games etc..

What can I do? can i take the gpu somewhere to get the screw removed? I dont have a drill or any tools to be exact. I have read about rubber band and/or tape method, will that work? By the way the screw is on the side of the plastic covering.


Thanks for any help.

 

[bystander]

A picture would help, but if it is just a screw to the plastic shroud, I'd just put back any screws you've taken out, and not take the card a part. There isn't much reason to take it a part. Try using compressed air if there is dust bunnies in the heat sink.

 

[daniel_blacke]

So, did you strip the screw? because you are not exactly being clear.

 

[catinthehat]

@bystander
Will try to post a pic. Ok but if I use compressed air wont the dust just go every where especially since the plastic shroud isnt removed? I also need to apply thermal paste to it, do I have to remove the shroud? thanks for the help.

@daniel_blacke
Yes I didnt know that can happen, but this card wasnt new though idk if the original owner did since i just thought the screw was just tight.

 

[daniel_blacke]

Please take bystander's advice. Stripped screws embedded in plastic on electronic equipment can easily destroy said equipment, even when being removed by an experienced tech.

 

[smorizio]

if the head is gone on the screw..you can try a bigger blade to get it out. also check the head of the screw it may be a hex head and not a reg headed screw. some vendor also use lock tight...if it was used you have to break the lock tight bond. if the screw goes to the back of the card sometimes pushing on it will get the screw to turn and fall out. if not one trick is to use a old screw driver or hex key and lock tight then together then turn. you last fix is walk into an autoparts store with one of the other scews and pick up a tap and dye set for that size screw and tap the screw out.