Laptop Screw Organization

[Airframer]

When I was working on aircraft, the (many) windscreen screws were of different lengths and some were non-ferrous for the compass. The simple solution was to punch the screws through a thin piece of cardboard as we removed them.

After I got out of the Navy and returned home, I thought it was funny how my father kept trying different ways of organizing screws for his laptop repairs sorted while the computer was disassembled.

When I started helping him, I would take 2 sheets of printer paper, one for the screws on the underside and one for the top, and just pop screws through the paper as I went, like a template for the windscreen screws. I will just pop them through in about the same spot on the paper relative to the holes on the laptop.

This may sound pretty low-tech, and may already be in use by ya'll, but it was an insight for my father. Thought to post this after watching a podnutz video where he tries to keep the screws nearby the hardware/ panels he pulls and they seem to scatter about

 

[MrUnknown]

very nice suggestion. I will have to try this the next time I take apart a laptop which may be later today if all goes well.

 

[iptech]

Good tip. In fact if you lay a sheet of A4 paper across the back of a laptop before you begin removing the screws you should be able to mark the exact position of the screws.

My hobby is old classic cars and punching components through cardboard as you remove them is a great way to ensure everything goes back together the same way it came off, it can save hours of frustration during reassembly and you won't be left with any worrying 'spares' afterwards.

 

[DanF]

I will be dis-assembling a laptop today as well. From what the client told me... ants are attacking the laptop

Last time I've cleaned the laptop's keyboard from 7UP, and the smell was disgusting. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I will have to open it up and check what's inside for sure... eek!

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

I think everybody just finds what works for them. I just try to lay them out as they come off in the same pattern. Takes up a more bench space that way but its the way I've always done it. Of course since I've done enough of particular models I can pretty much just throw them in a zip lock bag if I'm waiting for parts and figure it out while I'm reassembling. I've got plenty of ice cube trays laying around for collecting screws but I never seem to utilize them.

 

[NYJimbo]

I dont care what anyone says, I still tape them to a piece of paper when I remove the bottom or if the internals are complex. Nothing worse than finding a screw is too short when you a rebuilding it and realize you mixed up lengths and now have to tear it back down or hunt for a new screw. Also how can anyone remember which screw holes do NOT get a screw when its totally torn down.

Just the other day I was working on a older HP and as I was reassembling it if I didnt have the screws labeled in some way there was no way I was going to remember which screw holes should be empty on some of the holes.

There was a internal mount for a hard drive with four screw holes. Only two get screwed from the inside, the other two get one from the bottom and one from under the keyboard. Not something I would have memorized.

 

[arrow_runner]

Sheet of magnet FTW

 

[MBF]

I lay out the screws on the bench/table. But I like this idea better and will give it a try soon. Thanks for the tip.

 

[usacvlr]

There is a far easier method for organizing and no I'm not telling. Plus after you've done enough you just know how any given system is built and what screw goes where.

 

[14049752]

There is a far easier method for organizing and no I'm not telling.

Why? Is your business going to suffer so terribly much by revealing how you organize screws? Is it some super-top-secret method? I doubt it.

 

[ITG Tech]

I gues he wants you to beg him befire he will spill his trade secrets. My, I thought this was a share with fellow fixers forum, not "I know something that you don't know". Oh well, I did get a lot of ideas from the other post.

 

[AtYourService]

i have a rectangle shaped plastic drawer and i put the screws in it lined up the same position where i took them out

 

[MrUnknown]

usacvlr probably does my current method, I put each screw in a laptop shaped jello mold and let it set in the freezer.

I actually usually try to put the screws into the item they were removed from when possible. Like if I remove a LCD, I put the screws into the hinges that they came from. If that isn't possible, I tape it to the component it came from.

 

[breadtrk]

I use an egg carton or 2 or 3. I have most of the manuals and just download if it is a new model. Each step or component goes into a different egg hole. Revers order putting it back together.

 

[usacvlr]

I'm a mail order and local business so sorry guys but some of you may be my competition. Some of you may have forgotten that yourselves. The guy down the street may be reading this. I'm very vague on here usually. You don't make a living giving out secrets.

No the thing with the mold idea is not it but that's clever. I did the old taping screws to paper method when I started out on laptops 3 years ago. But anyway, yes there is a trick of the trade which will eventually dawn on anyone who does enough of these. One thing is that every single laptop goes together essentially the same and once you realize the order in which it does you will never put a long screw in a short screw space etc. The only systems that do not fit the standard model are Sony and Fujitsu but after doing enough of them you will have them completely apart in 5 to 10 minutes and back together in the same.

Anyone who does anything long enough learns skills unique to their niche and those are valuable to have. Once you learn them your work will be blazingly fast because of it. A good magician never reveals his secrets.

One area that makes me cringe when I see attempted repairs are people's soldering jobs. I have seen the worst soldering on power jacks. Essentially everything you learned out of a do it yourself soldering book is wrong. Heating the joint first and applying solder to the joint will not work. Experiment with rosin core solder and you'll learn why. A dirty joint conducts no heat and will melt no solder.

I don't even let other techs in the area into my local shop and I will rarely take anything apart in front of anyone. My walk in business is nothing fancy, a few very sturdy wood/steel folding tables and long power strip runners, an oscilloscope, a couple of multimeters a good soldering station, an imaging pc, my software repair tool library on thumb drives, some special hand tools and that's about it excluding the point of sale system etc. Your primary tool in any business is your knowledge and experience. It's not your certifications and it's not your learned theory(in case of electronics). It's your troubleshooting ability and logical thinking skills. If you have those then you will beat any cert test answer memorizer any day.

Why? Is your business going to suffer so terribly much by revealing how you organize screws? Is it some super-top-secret method? I doubt it.

 

[usacvlr]

That's a good method too. Not what I do but certainly clever!

I use an egg carton or 2 or 3. I have most of the manuals and just download if it is a new model. Each step or component goes into a different egg hole. Revers order putting it back together.

 

[arrow_runner]

@usacvlr Oh how I hate Sony...

 

[14049752]

If you don't want to reveal your "secret" method of organizing screws, that's fine. Nobody really cares. It's not necessary to make a post that says "There's a better way but I won't tell"...it's really kind of childish.

Now, if someone asked something that really mattered, like say a partnership with a supplier that gives you a major advantage, and you didn't want to disclose that...sure.... but something like organizing screws? Nobody's going to send you work because you're some genius screw organizer.

 

[AtYourService]

i give out all my secrets, thats what this site is all about, im not in this business to be a millionaire, i just make a living doing what i like to do
i even had competition in my shop the other day and i showed him around and even gave him pointers on the best methods for spyware removal. id rather see more people in our field that know what the hell they are doing and not raping the customers with shitty overpriced work.

yea you fix laptops but youre not gonna go belly up because you told someone on a forum how the hell you kept your screws in order

 

[Crgky127]

A good magician never reveals his secrets.

I know exactly what you mean, as I studied magic for over 10 years, and nowadays I often refrain from posting techniques I use in this job. However a good magician also doesn't rub into the audiences faces 'I know something you don't know, nan na nah na nah'. Just do the trick, and don't talk about how you aren't going to tell the secret. We shouldn't post everything on this forum, as it is public to competitors and customers, but what we do post should have a point.