Bent screw, probably during assembly

Troubleshooting a Bent Screw on Your New ASUS A15: A Cautionary Tale

As technology enthusiasts, many of us eagerly anticipate upgrading our devices to enhance performance. However, sometimes the assembly process can present unexpected challenges. I recently encountered a frustrating issue with my brand-new ASUS A15 laptop while attempting to expand its storage capacity with an SSD—a task that should have been straightforward.

Only a day into ownership, I carefully began the process of removing the back panel to make room for the new drive. However, as I unscrewed one of the screws, I noticed it was unusually tight. My initial instincts told me to apply a bit more force to loosen it. Unfortunately, this approach led to a scraping sound against the laptop’s casing, indicating that something was amiss. Despite the warning signs, I persisted in my attempts to remove the screw, which ultimately resulted in it stripping out of the thread.

This experience has left me feeling quite disheartened, particularly given that my device is still so new. I’m concerned about the implications of this damage, as it could potentially be viewed as my responsibility even though the screw may have been incorrectly assembled from the factory. The situation has prevented me from fully accessing the laptop’s internals, and now I find myself at a standstill, gearing up to reach out to ASUS support for guidance.

If you’ve faced similar issues with new devices or have advice on navigating support conversations, I would love to hear from you. Your insights could prove invaluable for anyone dealing with manufacturing oversights.