Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] mounting screws

[Miles Malone]

The standard is #6-32 UNC for 3.5" harddrives, and most case-related
stuff including motherboard standoffs.  It's M3 standard for 2.5"
harddrives, 5.25" optical drives, etc, etc.

The lengths arent standard in general, though I imagine there's a
fairly standard harddrive length.

So you presumably want countersunk phillips head #6-32UNC screws of
appropriate length

Why on earth it's split between imperial and metric threads is a
mystery that shall go down the ages

Regards,

Miles

On Mon, 21 Feb 2022 at 08:37, Neil Bothwick <neil@××××××××××.uk> wrote:
>
> On Sun, 20 Feb 2022 15:05:09 -0600, Dale wrote:
>
> > I'll add this just to show how confusing this is.  My old DVD burner and
> > new Blu-ray burner uses a different screw than the hard drives.  Luckily
> > my case has slots for hard drives but my external enclosures require
> > screws which is how I know they are different.  Some will work fine with
> > what looks like a bolt head while others, like yours, require a counter
> > sunk screw head that sits flat.  Generally, the local home type stores
> > don't have any of this either.  I checked my local Lowes once.  They
> > have tiny screws but either the head is wrong, the threads, length or
> > something.
> >
> > It is annoying.  I ended up getting two types of screws.  One that fits
> > my DVD/Blu-ray drive and one that fits a hard drive, so far at least.  I
> > mostly have WD and Seagate.  Some other brand may have something
> > different.  The one I have that seems to work best is this:  6/32 6-32
> > 6#-32  I put all the combinations of that just in case.  The most common
> > is 6-32 but could vary by website.  Your mileage may vary tho.
> >
> > My advice, buy a grab bag of hardware for puters.  Then pray.  Or, find
> > what should fit, even if it is more than one type, order them all.  I
> > have collected a storage bin full of screws over the years.  I got case
> > type screws covered but drives seem to be different.
> >
> > Why can't they pick one screw type and make it the standard???
>
> Why have one standard when you can have many? ;-)
>
> Seriously thought, there is a standard size for hard drives and a
> standard size for optical/floppy drives. I've got plenty of each that
> have accumulated over the years, so if Peter lives in my neck of the
> woods he can come and help himself :)
>
> Otherwise, I've found Amazon a good source of fastener selection boxes.
>
>
> --
> Neil Bothwick
>
> "Bad dog! Leave that wire alone.....click.....###@*##....NO TERRIER