Million $ Questiosn: HD screw size and wahz a good PC DVD player?

Tony S · 04-29-2001, 01:10 PM

Looking to throw a DVD player into the MP3TC(truck computer). What's a good PC DVD player?

Also, what size are mounting screws for HD's? Thanks.

Arby · 04-29-2001, 03:07 PM

Well, I do know that different hard drives use different sized screws...

I think most use the same size as case screws, some smaller.

Tony S · 04-29-2001, 03:35 PM

The thread looks like 6 or 8 by 32. I don't even want to chance stripping the threads on the drive.

Falcon62Travis · 04-29-2001, 07:00 PM

I have found that most hard drives screws are the same thread as the screws that hold your light socket cover on. (Here in the USA at least) You could try one of those for size and then decide how long of a screw you want to get.

etrik · 04-29-2001, 07:27 PM

my drive uses 4-40 screws....

Tony S · 04-29-2001, 07:28 PM

Light cover, eh?...no kidding..

Well, I'm gonna go with the 6x32. I finally got down to Ace h/w and went through all the various sizes. I figured definitely metric. It seems to fit nice and tight with very little play. If this ain't right I'd still appreciate being corrected for future reference. Cheers!

crazyshaxs · 04-30-2001, 12:42 AM

Hahaha, you guys are so technical

I have tons of different hcomputer screws from various places and I just picked and screw in. Somtimes too small or too big... so I just change it. No problems stripping so far. =)
-Jason

lstrunk · 04-30-2001, 05:58 AM

Yeah, I agree, you guys are a little overboard about your Screws. I might have 2 or 3 screws laying around in my tool box, and if those don't fit, I usually steal a few from somewhere on the case or Mobo.

Tony S · 04-30-2001, 09:02 AM

That'd be great if they were long enough, however the regular support screws aren't.
I've no metric sizes laying around long enough for my application. BTW, I've found the answer. WD's use M3-6mm. Cheers!

Magnum · 04-30-2001, 10:01 AM

First, these mounting screws are standard metric machine screws. They are NOT SAE standard.
Second, they are M3 or M4 screws. Floppy, DVD, CD-Rom, are usually M3 because they have less weight. Hard drives are usually M4 because they are quite heavy for M3 hardware. I rarely have seen M5, but it’s possible.
Third, in order to find out which one of them to use, you have to look for stamped numbers—something like M3 or M4 or M5. Usually these stamped identification numbers are located on each side of HD mounting surface (two holes on each side). If you find M3—it means that you have to use M3 machine screw (Metric). Go to your local hardware store; they have everything. Get a good quality screws with large flat surface. Get 5 or 6 mm in length or you will damage inside components.
DON’T USE ANYTHINGS ELSE and don’t jam any screws you like. These HD cases are made of very soft cast aluminum and it’s very easy to strip threads if you don’t know what you are doing. It happened to my friends before. And they all had very nice IBM 75GXP 7200 HDs for $400.

Get Pioneer DVD-115 slot or tray. They are the best performing DVD players on a market right now.

Good luck

Meatballman · 04-30-2001, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Get Pioneer DVD-115 slot or tray. They are the best performing DVD players on a market right now.

Actually, their latest and greatest in the ATAPI slot-load version is the <a href="http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/CDA/Industrial/IndustrialProductDetails/0,1444,1742,00.html">DVD-106S</a>.

Definitely a good choice for Auto applications.

Tony S · 04-30-2001, 09:03 PM

Finally found some M3 and M4's today. A few of the M3's in the box I tried did fit the Western Dig but most did not. For some reason the 6x32's fit the best. I don't think I rethreaded or stripped the holes in the drive trying the 6x32's because there was no shavings. I'll have to check the drive for markings. Though, now I'd be honestly surprised if it said M3 since I already tried those. M4's were too big.

Thanks for the tips on the DVD, too.

PatO · 04-30-2001, 11:29 PM

Jeez....
Just run down to your local computer shop and ask for a couple harddrive screws...

Aaron Cake · 05-01-2001, 11:32 AM

For what it's worth, only use the proper screws on CDROMs, HDs, Floppies, etc. Most screws are too long and can damage the mechanism inside.

Tony S · 05-05-2001, 02:31 PM

Mounting holes on the bottoms of most drives I've seen are not open so bottoming out a screw into the platters ain't gonna happen.

Well, after all that I went with the 6x32's by .75" long. This wasn't a regular PC case install, otherwise I would've used the regular mounting screws.

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