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darthbane2k

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 22, 2009
1,804
2,014
I was really pleased to pick up my 27" imac today and already had bought an additional 4GB RAM to slot inside it. Took it home, opened it up and tried to remove the 3 screws from the RAM hatch. Removed the first two but the third would not budge no matter what precision screw I used. Seems the third screw came stripped and so I will have to take it back to the apple store tomorrow. think they will let me slot the ram in-store? will I have any problems with the return considering im trying to upgrade memory? I have not switched the mac on at all.
 
You're allowed to return it. As you're allowed to upgrade the memory, why else would they give you guides, and make a user-friendly RAM hatch :p

Just take it back, and say the screw hasn't be threaded correctly, can you get a new one :)
 
I've found similar problems in the past. My remedy has been using a similarly sized standard screwdriver instead of a phillips because I've somehow accomplished leverage that way. Don't do anything too hard, I suppose, but it might be worth a try.
 
I was really pleased to pick up my 27" imac today and already had bought an additional 4GB RAM to slot inside it. Took it home, opened it up and tried to remove the 3 screws from the RAM hatch. Removed the first two but the third would not budge no matter what precision screw I used. Seems the third screw came stripped and so I will have to take it back to the apple store tomorrow. think they will let me slot the ram in-store? will I have any problems with the return considering im trying to upgrade memory? I have not switched the mac on at all.

you shouldnt have a problem. ram is user repalceable they should be able to remove the screw and just give you an unstripped one
 
Another solution is to use a pair of needle nose vise grips to grab the head of the screw and turn it out. Drilling the screw head off will work too, but this is risky.
 
You need downward pressure and leverage. What I have done before is to clamp a small vise grip onto the screwdriver and while I push down I turn the vise grip.

If it was me and I couldn't get the screw out (or stripped it) I would send it back and get a new one.
 
I've found similar problems in the past. My remedy has been using a similarly sized standard screwdriver instead of a phillips because I've somehow accomplished leverage that way. Don't do anything too hard, I suppose, but it might be worth a try.

For some silly reason, many Phillips screwdrivers have a lengthy point at the centre of the X. This means they rarely fit the smaller screws properly making it difficult to get enough of a hold on the screw head, which makes it difficult to remove tightly held ones.

A normal screwdriver (or some "properly made" Phillips screwdrivers) is flat on the end, so fits further into the screw head, making it much easier to get a hold on the screw head. Although you can have a problem of the flat screwdriver being too narrow to get a good enough hold as well.
 
id see if they could replace the part unless the rivet itself is jammed or messed up.
but thell probably do a complete replacement. goodluck!

For some silly reason, many Phillips screwdrivers have a lengthy point at the centre of the X. This means they rarely fit the smaller screws properly making it difficult to get enough of a hold on the screw head, which makes it difficult to remove tightly held ones.

A normal screwdriver (or some "properly made" Phillips screwdrivers) is flat on the end, so fits further into the screw head, making it much easier to get a hold on the screw head. Although you can have a problem of the flat screwdriver being too narrow to get a good enough hold as well.

Yep Ive noticed this too...i like the flat-ended (not flathead) Phillips screw driver, also doesnt put much wear on the screw either.
 
What is the value of 4 - 2GB sticks as opposed to 2 - 4GB sticks?

Is it the same principle as the laptops where you see a performance boost with all slots filled?
 
Cost per stick. Lower memory density = cheaper. I'm guessing that Apple includes the lower density modules strictly based on cost on their end.
 
For some silly reason, many Phillips screwdrivers have a lengthy point at the centre of the X. This means they rarely fit the smaller screws properly making it difficult to get enough of a hold on the screw head, which makes it difficult to remove tightly held ones.

A normal screwdriver (or some "properly made" Phillips screwdrivers) is flat on the end, so fits further into the screw head, making it much easier to get a hold on the screw head. Although you can have a problem of the flat screwdriver being too narrow to get a good enough hold as well.

You are describing a pozidrive screwdriver rather than a Phillips screwdriver
 
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