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Genius may have stripped my pentalobe screws

ducatiti

ducatiti

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 18, 2011
932
153
I had my bottom case tightened earlier today. From the looks of it, the screws might have been stripped/rounded by the Genius. Can you guys confirm?:
DSC_40851.jpg


Same picture but zoomed in. A little blurry though:
DSC_4085.jpg


Or should I not bother to worry about this because it is meant to be non-user serviceable? It just irritates me that it is a brand new machine now with possibly stripped screws of which none of the Apple stores have replacement on hand. On the side note, no creaking now. Pardon my OCD but I'm expecting a premium product with no defects considering we paid a premium price.
 
They do look more rounded than my rmbp's screws. If want to get them replaced, you could call the store back that tightened them and ask them if they could schedule you another genius bar appointment at a time when they think they will have screws in stock. It was the genius's fault that they were damaged, so they should replace them for you or at least make a note so that if you come in for future repairs, they won't try and void your warranty by saying you tried to open it.
 
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I would bring it to their attention. I wouldn't want to be in a position a few months from now, with a Genius saying that I stripped the screwed or something.
 
I'd go back and ask them to fit new ones. Stripped screws could cause you a problem in the future.
 
unless u have to open to retina macbook urself, i wouldnt worry about it

theres nothing in there thats user replaceable anymore LOL
 
unless u have to open to retina macbook urself, i wouldnt worry about it

theres nothing in there thats user replaceable anymore LOL
 
iLikeTurtles! said:
unless u have to open to retina macbook urself, i wouldnt worry about it

theres nothing in there thats user replaceable anymore LOL
Click to expand...

That's not really the point, the OP could have cause to take the mac back in a year's time. It'll look like some ham-fisted idiot tried to open it, that could cause difficulty getting a warranty repair.
 
This happened to me also. One screw was stripped/deformed so bad that it started to snag on certain cloths. I brought it in to remount the bottom again(3rd time) because the creaking comes back. Also asked for screw replacement, but noticed the other day they only moved the screw to another position.

So one week after remounting, slight creaking returns again. Extremely annoyed by this as I am also OCD about these things. My past five Thinkpads for work have never creaked.
 
illmatic41 said:
This happened to me also. One screw was stripped/deformed so bad that it started to snag on certain cloths. I brought it in to remount the bottom again(3rd time) because the creaking comes back. Also asked for screw replacement, but noticed the other day they only moved the screw to another position.

So one week after remounting, slight creaking returns again. Extremely annoyed by this as I am also OCD about these things. My past five Thinkpads for work have never creaked.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing. Would you suggest for me just to leave it as is? No creaking at the moment. I ordered a pentalobe driver and will probably see how bad the screw is when it arrives. Actually, the close up picture I posted above looks actually worse than it actually is.
 
DEFINITELY get the bottom replaced. I would not accept this type of damage from an Apple Store. You never know what will happen down the road, and if you later need service Apple might say that you tampered with the case. Definitely get it switched and documented, also talk to the store manager about the quality of his/her employee's work.
 
AZREOSpecialist said:
DEFINITELY get the bottom replaced. I would not accept this type of damage from an Apple Store. You never know what will happen down the road, and if you later need service Apple might say that you tampered with the case. Definitely get it switched and documented, also talk to the store manager about the quality of his/her employee's work.
Click to expand...

What bottom? It's only the screw that is damaged. Actually, I am more concerned now that they might even further damage/scratch the unit, let alone have the creaks come back.
 
I would take it back to the store and have them replace the screws. You don't want them blaming you for stripping it.

I've encountered this before. Found a screw was loose, turned out the screw boss had broken off the top case. Of course the Genius denied it. A lot of complaining ensued. Got it fixed.
 
alphaod said:
I would take it back to the store and have them replace the screws. You don't want them blaming you for stripping it.

I've encountered this before. Found a screw was loose, turned out the screw boss had broken off the top case. Of course the Genius denied it. A lot of complaining ensued. Got it fixed.
Click to expand...

I called them but they don't have spare screws in stock. I'm just afraid that they would start installing or switching it from a display model, disregarding where the longer/shorter screws are actually used.
 
ducatiti said:
I called them but they don't have spare screws in stock. I'm just afraid that they would start installing or switching it from a display model, disregarding where the longer/shorter screws are actually used.
Click to expand...

Those are some serious considerations there.
 
So I received the $5 pentalobe screwdriver from Amazon.

I was able to loosen and tightened all the screws however the way the pentalobe screws look like really bothers me (looks rounded and stripped, considering it's a brand new system. Pardon my OCD please.

My 14 day period ends tomorrow and I will have to make a final decision tonight. Might as well wait for Haswell and not playing the LCD lottery game.
 
ducatiti said:
So I received the $5 pentalobe screwdriver from Amazon.

I was able to loosen and tightened all the screws however the way the pentalobe screws look like really bothers me (looks rounded and stripped, considering it's a brand new system. Pardon my OCD please.

My 14 day period ends tomorrow and I will have to make a final decision tonight. Might as well wait for Haswell and not playing the LCD lottery game.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't bother returning the whole unit, you already called them and they mentioned they were out of stock on the screws. What I would do is call them up again, let them know what happened and ask if they can put aside a set when they come in and call you to come in and switch it out.

Be polite about it, let them know that you're happy the creaking is gone but you want to be safe in case down the road you have issues and the blame is put on you.

It's a simple fix, the Genius's in the back ( The smarter ones ) know to not put the small screws in the big holes....
 
illmatic41 said:
This happened to me also. One screw was stripped/deformed so bad that it started to snag on certain cloths. I brought it in to remount the bottom again(3rd time) because the creaking comes back. Also asked for screw replacement, but noticed the other day they only moved the screw to another position.

So one week after remounting, slight creaking returns again. Extremely annoyed by this as I am also OCD about these things. My past five Thinkpads for work have never creaked.
Click to expand...

Mind sharing what your final decision was? Did you just end up returning it for a refund?
 
ducatiti said:
Mind sharing what your final decision was? Did you just end up returning it for a refund?
Click to expand...

I received my Creakbook Pro Retina a week after it was announced, so I've had it for awhile now. Apple won't replace it with a new one due to creaking when I asked Applecare on the phone. They offered to send it in for repair so the servicing depot could look at it.

I plan to get the screws replaced at some point. It's just kinda lame that I have to bring it into an Apple store to do it. I'd rather just order a pentalobe driver and put the screws in myself. I used a Thinkpad for work and when I needed a black sticker that covers the screws on a laptop, Lenovo thru IBM, overnight sent the screw kit, which had every screw, bolt, sticker, washer, etc. for the laptop...I just wanted one sticker.

The screws are minor. I just don't like how the jaggedness of the rounded screws snag on this old school woven bedspread that I have. I don't think you should worry about it. Get the screws replaced when they get them in. My creaking only happens on soft surfaces...still sucks though.
 
I requested replacement screws over 3 weeks ago and was told it would arrive within a month. No call ins or anything but I can confirm the screws are built in 3 different lengths . The top 2 centered around the Macbook Pro label is the shortest length, followed by the longest on the top 2 and mid section, than all four on the bottom are mid-sized screws.

My reason for replacing was because my mid section screw fell off somehow after it was fixed. Since that very first week I request replacement screws I purchased my own set of MBA screws and using them temporarily, but are meant to fit the middle top holes around the label. Hope my experience gave you a better insight of what to expect before you return it.
 
boto said:
I requested replacement screws over 3 weeks ago and was told it would arrive within a month. No call ins or anything but I can confirm the screws are built in 3 different lengths . The top 2 centered around the Macbook Pro label is the shortest length, followed by the longest on the top 2 and mid section, than all four on the bottom are mid-sized screws.

My reason for replacing was because my mid section screw fell off somehow after it was fixed. Since that very first week I request replacement screws I purchased my own set of MBA screws and using them temporarily, but are meant to fit the middle top holes around the label. Hope my experience gave you a better insight of what to expect before you return it.
Click to expand...

From what I've seen, there are 2 sizes, the short ones are the two around the label, and the rest seem to be the same. I believe they are 3.0mm, while the smaller ones are 2.0mm(same as the Macbook Air). The iFixit guide lists these sizes on their teardown of the rMBP.

So you requested screws to be sent straight to you? Or to an Apple store? I seriously want new screws after looking at how mangled they are now.
 
You people bagging on this guy for complaining about a stripped screw (that thing is stripped) have obviously never dealt with a stripped screw before when performing any type of maintenance. The implications are far from cosmetic but that shouldn't stop you from being able to spout ignorance.
 
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