My quick PS4 fan clean turned into a two hour hunt for a missing screw

I opened up my PS4 Pro to clean the fan, a job I thought would take maybe 30 minutes. After getting the outer case off, I found the fan was held by a tiny T8 security screw. My kit had the right bit, but when I went to put it back, the screw vanished. I spent the next hour and a half on my hands and knees with a flashlight, moving furniture and checking the carpet. I finally found it stuck to the magnet on the bottom of my vacuum cleaner, which I had moved earlier. The whole fix, which should have been simple, took over two hours because of that one small part. It really showed me how a tiny piece can bring a whole project to a stop. Has anyone else lost a crucial screw and had a similar hunt?

3 comments

3 Comments

tylerr291mo ago

A white towel is a good start, but it can still swallow small screws if they roll... I use a small metal baking sheet with a raised edge. The magnetic surface catches any steel screws that get away, and the lip stops them from rolling off onto the floor. It's saved me so many times when a screwdriver slips.

the_claire1mo ago

That "hunt for a missing screw" is the worst. I've started putting down a big white towel on my work surface now (like, a cheap one from the dollar store). It gives everything a solid, plain background so a dropped part just sits there staring at you instead of vanishing into the void of carpet or a crack in the desk.

elizabeth_williams1mo ago

Oh man, this whole thread is giving me flashbacks. I lost a tiny spring for a keyboard switch last year. Spent an hour looking. Found it six months later stuck to the bottom of my slipper. The towel idea is smart, but that magnetic tray Tyler mentioned sounds like a lifesaver for metal bits. I might need to upgrade my system.

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