replacing batteries

I've been trying to replace the batteries on my eMac. The Support in Apple page is very clear but I simply can't find the suitable Phillips screwdriver
to remove the screw on the memory access panel.

I'd be grateful if you could give me specific details about this screwdriver.

Many thanks in advance.

MGG

"eleonora66" <eleonora66@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:Lj%vj.4785$ay3.3470@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...

I've been trying to replace the batteries on my eMac. The Support in Apple page is very clear but I simply can't find the suitable Phillips screwdriver
to remove the screw on the memory access panel.

I'd be grateful if you could give me specific details about this screwdriver.

Many thanks in advance.

Likely NOT a Phillips. There are several drivers that are similar in appearance. Most can be found at after market auto parts stores such as AutoZone and PepBoys.

Some office supply stores have them as well.

Previously, eleonora66 wrote:

I've been trying to replace the batteries on my eMac. The Support in Apple page is very clear but I simply can't find the suitable Phillips screwdriver
to remove the screw on the memory access panel.

I'd be grateful if you could give me specific details about this screwdriver.

It's probably a torx screw:

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_10664>

If so, you'll need a set of torx wrenches / drivers, available at your local electronics shop (Radio Shack, Fry's Electronics, and so on).

Previously, eleonora66 wrote:

I've been trying to replace the batteries on my eMac.

Note: There is only one battery.

The Support in Apple page is very clear

Which page is that? URL please.

Jolly Roger wrote:

The Support in Apple page is very clear

Which page is that? URL please.

Well, he should have provided it, of course, but since I just looked it up myself:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=34885

And I have to say I'm quite confused by his confusion, since it's a plain old Phillips screw, requiring a plain old Phillips screwdriver, from most anyone's toolbox. The battery is under the memory access panel, which I've removed lots of times to install RAM for clients.

Previously, Mike Rosenberg wrote:

Jolly Roger wrote:

The Support in Apple page is very clear

Which page is that? URL please.

Well, he should have provided it, of course, but since I just looked it up myself:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=34885

And I have to say I'm quite confused by his confusion, since it's a plain old Phillips screw, requiring a plain old Phillips screwdriver, from most anyone's toolbox. The battery is under the memory access panel, which I've removed lots of times to install RAM for clients.

I've done it plenty myself on an eMac. Not having one in front of me at the moment, I assumed if it wasn't Phillips, it must be torx. I admit thinking "Why would Apple use torx for a memory access panel?" though.

Previously, Jolly Roger wrote:

Previously, Mike Rosenberg wrote:

Jolly Roger wrote:

The Support in Apple page is very clear

Which page is that? URL please.

Well, he should have provided it, of course, but since I just looked it up myself:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=34885

And I have to say I'm quite confused by his confusion, since it's a plain old Phillips screw, requiring a plain old Phillips screwdriver, from most anyone's toolbox. The battery is under the memory access panel, which I've removed lots of times to install RAM for clients.

I've done it plenty myself on an eMac. Not having one in front of me at the moment, I assumed if it wasn't Phillips, it must be torx. I admit thinking "Why would Apple use torx for a memory access panel?" though.

Even if it is a Torx, the phillips head screwdriver (while not ideal) will likely be able to undo it (I went through this changing the battery in my mum's eMac a few months back).

Andy.

Andy wrote:

Even if it is a Torx, the phillips head screwdriver (while not ideal) will likely be able to undo it (I went through this changing the battery in my mum's eMac a few months back).

Except it's not a Torx, it's a Phillips, and I have no idea why you went through this with your mum's, since, as I've mentioned, it's not a Torx, it's a Phillips.

Previously, Mike Rosenberg wrote:

Andy wrote:

Even if it is a Torx, the phillips head screwdriver (while not ideal) will likely be able to undo it (I went through this changing the battery in my mum's eMac a few months back).

Except it's not a Torx, it's a Phillips, and I have no idea why you went through this with your mum's, since, as I've mentioned, it's not a Torx, it's a Phillips.

Sheesh! Call my memory hazy then. I know there was *one* torx a while back that I needed to shift (it was probably to remove the stand - you know, so you can actually access the removable bottom panel in the first place?)

Phillips head screwdriver worked fine.

Andy.

Previously, Andy wrote:

Previously, Jolly Roger wrote:

Previously, Mike Rosenberg wrote:

Jolly Roger wrote:

The Support in Apple page is very clear

Which page is that? URL please.

Well, he should have provided it, of course, but since I just looked it up myself:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=34885

And I have to say I'm quite confused by his confusion, since it's a plain old Phillips screw, requiring a plain old Phillips screwdriver, from most anyone's toolbox. The battery is under the memory access panel, which I've removed lots of times to install RAM for clients.

I've done it plenty myself on an eMac. Not having one in front of me at the moment, I assumed if it wasn't Phillips, it must be torx. I admit thinking "Why would Apple use torx for a memory access panel?" though.

Even if it is a Torx, the phillips head screwdriver (while not ideal) will likely be able to undo it (I went through this changing the battery in my mum's eMac a few months back).

You won't do it more than once, and after that neither torx nor Phillips will remove the screw. But have fun...

Previously, Dave Balderstone wrote:

Previously, Andy wrote:

Previously, Jolly Roger wrote:

I've done it plenty myself on an eMac. Not having one in front of me at the moment, I assumed if it wasn't Phillips, it must be torx. I admit thinking "Why would Apple use torx for a memory access panel?" though.

Even if it is a Torx, the phillips head screwdriver (while not ideal) will likely be able to undo it (I went through this changing the battery in my mum's eMac a few months back).

You won't do it more than once, and after that neither torx nor Phillips will remove the screw. But have fun...

It was for the plastic stand the eMac sits on IIRC. I've undone it/done it back up at least twice now, no problems. Not ideal though, as I said.

Andy.

Andy wrote:

Previously, Jolly Roger wrote:

Previously, Mike Rosenberg wrote:

Jolly Roger wrote:

The Support in Apple page is very clear

Which page is that? URL please.

Well, he should have provided it, of course, but since I just looked it up myself:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=34885

And I have to say I'm quite confused by his confusion, since it's a plain old Phillips screw, requiring a plain old Phillips screwdriver, from most anyone's toolbox. The battery is under the memory access panel, which I've removed lots of times to install RAM for clients.

I've done it plenty myself on an eMac. Not having one in front of me at the moment, I assumed if it wasn't Phillips, it must be torx. I admit thinking "Why would Apple use torx for a memory access panel?" though.

Even if it is a Torx, the phillips head screwdriver (while not ideal) will likely be able to undo it (I went through this changing the battery in my mum's eMac a few months back).

This is just an observation, and not a value judgement.

This is exactly why my toolbox has a large sticker on it that says "No Tools Loaned".

Yes, a phillips can torque open a Torx. Heck, some size metric wrenches will work with near-sized imperial nuts. As long as you don't ever have to use those fasteners again under less than ideal circumstances, you will be fine.

The kicker, of course, is that less-than-ideal circumstances are sort of all you get most of the time.