unable to take out steam deck screws

[erv99]

so long story short, i am trying to open up my steam deck. the big 4 screws: no problem, but i can't get most of the small ones out, i am using the ifixit screwdriver, from what i see, the screws themselves are refusing to budge. What should I do ?

[Haruspex]

What size screwdriver bit are you using? Should be the #0.

[erv99]

for the small ones, yes i use 0

[Haruspex]

I'm really not sure what to tell you. I've opened three Decks before. Two LCD models and one OLED. The first LCD I nearly stripped a screw for using the wrong size screwdriver. They can be snug, but it's not really a problem. All the screws use a #0 bit, both the longer and the shorter ones. (Edit: Except the OLED, which uses Torx.)

Is it used? Has someone else opened it before? Maybe they used Loctite or something and now it's extra snug. Or maybe the screws are already stripped out and now it's not getting any grip on the heads.

[Broseph Joseph]

Put a decent good amount of pressure into pushing down the driver so that you know its not going to torque out of the screw and strip it. now gently 'rock' the screw thread by torquing it and releasing over and over until you feel or hear it start to break the binding. sometimes tapping gently with a spoon or something on the other end of the driver helps to release a bound screwthread too. Above all just take your time, a stripped screw head is way more annoying to deal with than what youre facing now.

And number one cause of stripped screws [after not giving the driver enough downward pressure], make sure you use the correct driver. Phillips is not the same thing as pozidrive. Quick look at my deck looks like the screws are PH0 size, but doublecheck that.

[erv99]

i bought my steam deck brand new and it has never been opened before. if i am correct stripped means like damaged, which the screws don't seem to be. I would want to provide the pictures of the screws on steam, but i dont see any option to do so.

[Broseph Joseph]

Then theyre probably just really tight from the factory and youll have to work them out nice and slow.

[erv99]

what do you mean by "rock", torquing it, break the binding?

[Broseph Joseph]

twist it until you dont want to twist it harder for fear of stripping it, ease off, do it again etc. until the screw starts turning.

[sgtnoodle]

Try squeezing the deck's clamshell together a bit while you turn the screw.