Screwdriver for HP Servers

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Smith
  • Start date Start date
J

John Smith

Hi,

Anyone know if you still need a special tool/screwdriver to open up the
cases of HP ML/DL servers? You used to need one for Compaqs but have HP
changed this? If you need one, where do you get it from and what is it
called?

Thanks,


John.
 
On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 12:15:11 GMT
Nope. To paraphrase Gertrude Stein, "A Torx is a Torx is a Torx."
Same Torx here in the US as elsewhere. Torx screws do not need
different voltages or metric vs. English tools. That's probably one
advantage of Torx. For the masses who need to work on HP and Compaq
computers with Torx head screws, Sears in the US sells a nice little
kit with smaller Torx tools, as well as small screwdrivers. Hey, once
you have your own set of Torx tools, you can open up everything and
remove circuit boards from hard drives (Yes, I've done this to recover
data). For anyone who spends any amount of time working with computer
hardware, a set of Torx tools is indispensible. And, compared to the
more usual Philips head and "flat" screws, Torx screws rarely strip or
break.

In hindsight, I guess I can't hold against computer manufacturers
using Torx, altho Torx screws were one pain in the ass until I bought
the necessary Torx tools... Ben Myers
Click to expand...

Once you've got the tools Torx are nice--haven't stripped one
yet, which is more than I can say for flat head and philips.

One possible gotcha is "tamperproof torx" which have a pin in the middle
of the recess in the screw so that a standard Torx driver doesn't fit.
Sometimes if you can get the right angle on it you can pop the pin out
with a chisel or a pair of vice-grips. If not, Jensen Tools
 
Cant answer your question specifically. But HP used to use "TORX" screws and
bolts in there kit. The best way I can describe a TORX head is a bit like a
star. The screwdriver bit sizes were known as T2, T6, T8, T10 etc
(increasing in size). Mind you this is in the UK so maybe known differently
in other countries???

temor
 
Nope. To paraphrase Gertrude Stein, "A Torx is a Torx is a Torx." Same Torx
here in the US as elsewhere. Torx screws do not need different voltages or
metric vs. English tools. That's probably one advantage of Torx. For the
masses who need to work on HP and Compaq computers with Torx head screws, Sears
in the US sells a nice little kit with smaller Torx tools, as well as small
screwdrivers. Hey, once you have your own set of Torx tools, you can open up
everything and remove circuit boards from hard drives (Yes, I've done this to
recover data). For anyone who spends any amount of time working with computer
hardware, a set of Torx tools is indispensible. And, compared to the more usual
Philips head and "flat" screws, Torx screws rarely strip or break.

In hindsight, I guess I can't hold against computer manufacturers using Torx,
altho Torx screws were one pain in the ass until I bought the necessary Torx
tools... Ben Myers
 
Actually few owners of HP, Dell, Compaq, or Gateway computers ever consider
cracking the case. They are the customers usually seen at most local
computer repair facilities and/or the ones whose homes or offices are
visited by a repair technician. Those that build their own have any tools
needed, and do their own repairs.

Ben Myers said:
Nope. To paraphrase Gertrude Stein, "A Torx is a Torx is a Torx." Same Torx
here in the US as elsewhere. Torx screws do not need different voltages or
metric vs. English tools. That's probably one advantage of Torx. For the
masses who need to work on HP and Compaq computers with Torx head screws, Sears
in the US sells a nice little kit with smaller Torx tools, as well as small
screwdrivers. Hey, once you have your own set of Torx tools, you can open up
everything and remove circuit boards from hard drives (Yes, I've done this to
recover data). For anyone who spends any amount of time working with computer
hardware, a set of Torx tools is indispensible. And, compared to the more usual
Philips head and "flat" screws, Torx screws rarely strip or break.

In hindsight, I guess I can't hold against computer manufacturers using Torx,
altho Torx screws were one pain in the ass until I bought the necessary Torx
tools... Ben Myers
Click to expand...
 
Mind you...if you are an ex-hp engineer with a twisted streak, you can
always fill in the Torx head with Loc-Tite, Superglue or something just as
nasty to get right up the nose of any future repairers. Not that I did that
personally of course ;-)
 
So YOU'RE the ONE!!!

Temor said:
Mind you...if you are an ex-hp engineer with a twisted streak, you can
always fill in the Torx head with Loc-Tite, Superglue or something just as
nasty to get right up the nose of any future repairers. Not that I did that
personally of course ;-)
Click to expand...
 
Not only that...... The service manual instruction which says "secure screw
to hand-tight" !!!!!! Muhahahahahaaaa......yeah right, oh boy, oh boy.
 
Temor said:
Mind you...if you are an ex-hp engineer with a twisted streak, you can
always fill in the Torx head with Loc-Tite, Superglue or something just as
nasty to get right up the nose of any future repairers. Not that I did that
personally of course ;-)
Click to expand...


Dremel with a cutting wheel...
Makes any screw compatible with a flat head screwdriver! :)


-WD
 
I managed to find a reference on HP's site to the fact that their servers
are 'tooless' - thanks.... but do I trust them!?
 
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Nope. To paraphrase Gertrude Stein, "A Torx is a Torx is a Torx." Same
Torx here in the US as elsewhere. Torx screws do not need different
voltages or metric vs. English tools. That's probably one advantage of
Torx. For the masses who need to work on HP and Compaq computers with Torx
head screws, Sears in the US sells a nice little kit with smaller Torx
tools, as well as small screwdrivers. Hey, once you have your own set of
Torx tools, you can open up everything and remove circuit boards from hard
drives (Yes, I've done this to recover data). For anyone who spends any
amount of time working with computer hardware, a set of Torx tools is
indispensible. And, compared to the more usual Philips head and "flat"
screws, Torx screws rarely strip or break.
Click to expand...

GM uses lots of Torx screws as well (and has since the early '80s or so), so
if that's what you drive, it's worth having a set. (FWIW, just a T-15 will
get you into most Compaqs...they tend to not use the other sizes, unless
you're also counting things like the tiny screws that hold controller boards
to hard drives and such.)

_/_ Scott Alfter
/ v \ (e-mail address removed)
(IIGS( http://alfter.us Top-posting!
\_^_/ pkill -9 /bin/laden >What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

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[followups trimmed to one group, per convention (comp.sys.hp.hardware)]

Indeed, T15 is the most common torx I've encounterd in now 15-odd year
of messing about with HP kit. Just recently I came across some T10
used as drive bracket screws on the internal mechs on an rx2600.

The other common torx I've used has been a T25 - for the screws used
to fasten items to racks. I'm having trouble remebering a time when I
needed a T20.

rick jones
 
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