Macbook Pro screws too tight - unable to add RAM upgrade - what can I do?

[Deja Q]

My new MacBook pro (2.4GHz/250GB/nVidia GTX120)'s screws that, as indicated in the manual, are to be removed for RAM upgrades, came too tight. What can I do to loosen them?

it's not been 14 days yet so I could get an exchange, but why?

Any advise would be great. Thanks!

[Deja Q]

1. Found a lead here:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/apple-notebooks/138615-upgrading-ram-macbook-pro-screwdriver-tip.html

#00 Philips screwdriver.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. MacPro or MacBook Pro?

[Deja Q]

3. Pro...

I got the #0 screwdriver. All but one comes out with ease. I don't want to strip it, but I have no qualms exchanging units until I get one that some idiot didn't overtighten to begin with...

WTF...

[Stinky The Clown]

4. I upgraded my RAM without a hitch. Yes, I used a small phillips head

I also had to get a replacement box. My first one got lost between China and here. They shipped a second one from China with an expedited ticket. It got here in three days.

[Deja Q]

5. Box of what?

:)


Even though I have an extended warranty, I'm going to have Geek Squad take the risk on installing the RAM or get an exchange.

The link I posted earlier also has people saying they're having the same problem. Apple can get this back and sell it as refurbished; I want one that actually does what the effin' manual says it can do. No screw should be this damn tight, especially when I got all the others out without the slightest difficulty.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. "box" = "computer"

[Deja Q]

8. Oops, sorry about that

:blush:


Just got my Macbook pro with the 4gb integrated. Wish I got it outright; the student discount was $200... I would have saved a lot of hassle... :dunce:

[Deja Q]

6. Actually,. I'm going to take the hit and just get the mid-level Pro...

the extra $500 is worth it compared to the headaches from what should a simple operation, per their own instructions.

It's worth it, but with all the reports of overly-tight screws, and always just one screw, Apple is up to something.

[struggle4progress]

9. If you could cool the screw slightly without cooling its channel, that might loosen it

You might get a pair of rubber gloves and a can of compressed air: blow compressed air on the screw driver until it is well-chilled, then see if applying the chilled screw driver to the screw contracts the screw slightly