M.2 replacement

[Mentorron]

my HP mb layoutmy new SSDI was wondering where I could buy the correct mounting screws for M.2 NVMe SSDs as my EliteDesk 800 G4 SFF did not come with them installed. I have checked with local computer parts stores and they only sell screws they say will fit MSI, ASUS and GIGABYTE motherboards. They say my HP may be different. I called both HP support and Samsung support, but they could not supply any.

[itsmyname]

@Mentorron -- I have checked with local computer parts stores and they only sell screws they say will fit MSI, ASUS and GIGABYTE motherboards. 

Did you take your M.2 stick and your computer to those stores, for them to try various screws?

Note that an "owner/operator" small computer store may have a box-full of "random" screws, cannibalized from other computers. All you need is one that works.

[Mentorron]

I do not wish to disconnect and take my computer to various computer shops in the area. None of them seem interested in scrounging for a single screw. One shop suggested I buy an M.2 "kit" of screws for $10, but no idea if any of them are the right size. 

Two things amaze me:

HP Support's incapability of getting me one. Why weren't they ON the motherboard when bought ?

      ( I have HP support valid until June 2022, but of what value is it ?)

It seems motherboard manufacturers can make proprietary screws to install any NVMe SSD ?

      (The reason I say that is because the screw kits may vary by motherboard. See below.)

       I see in the Amazon kit that the screw diameters are different. WHY isn't it made a standard diameter ?

)

[itsmyname]

@Mentorron --  various computer shops in the area.  None of them seem interested in scrounging for a single screw.

That is nothing that anybody on this forum can do to help you. 

Maybe, I am "spoiled" to have a local owner/operator computer store, with an owner that handed their box-full of screws to me, and let me do the scrounging for the specific screw that I wanted.

> One shop suggested I buy an M.2 "kit" of screws for $10, but no idea if any of them are the right size. 

Don't they offer a "money-back-guarantee"?  On this forum, we cannot help you with that.

> HP Support's incapability of getting me one. Why weren't they ON the motherboard when bought ?

Good point. It would have been easy to do. However, on this forum, we are not allowed to speak for HP.

> It seems motherboard manufacturers can make proprietary screws to install any NVMe SSD ?

> WHY isn't it made a standard diameter ?

They (Dell, Lenovo, HP,  ASUS, Apple, Samsung, et cetera) have proprietary AC adapters & rechargers for their computers and smart-phones.  But, I doubt that any of the companies have a factory of their own that makes screws. They "out-source" the manufacture of those devices, and buy in "bulk".

There is some work within the European Economic Countries to force the companies to "standardize".

Is there an "end-of-life" recycling centre near to you? Perhaps, when they receive a "dead" motherboard, they will "cannibalize" the M.2 screw from that motherboard?

[Mentorron]

Well, I FINALLY found a computer shop that was user-friendly to say the least !

I told them about my issue and they showed me the kit they sold. Again it was for specific motherboards.

The tech said he would discuss it with the senior person. They agreed it would be nice

to give me 2 screws of different sizes to try out on my motherboard.

The largest of those screws fit perfectly. So, I'm finally up and running on my  new

Samsung 980 NVMe 500GB drive !!! 

E-mailed the tech to thank him for what he did to relieve my frustration 😉

[itsmyname]

@Mentorron --  The tech said he would discuss it with the senior person ... E-mailed the tech to thank him 

Did you also thank the senior person?

Success!  🙂