Hobbies And Interests
Torx Screws and Screwdrivers
Also referred to as a "star screwdriver," Torx screwdrivers feature a six-point star pattern as opposed to the four-point Phillips screws or single-slot flat screws. While other screws will force a screwdriver out of the screw in the event of over-tightening, referred to as a "cam-out," Torx screws prevent cam-out. Torx screws are used in factories and assembly lines where the increased torque provided by the Torx screws can be used to save time during assembly and prevent damage from cam-outs while using automatic screwdrivers.
Tamper Resistance
In addition to providing increased torque and greater resistance to cam-outs than Phillips and flat screws, Torx screws provide minor tamper resistance due to their unorthodox and non-commercial design. While the design for Torx screwdrivers is no longer copyrighted, the bits are not used commonly enough to be included in many home tool kits. Precision screwdriver kits include Torx bits in addition to Allen and other screwdriver bits used in the assembly of electronic devices.
Removing the Outer Shell
The outer shell of the Xbox 360 seals the interior of the console without the use of screws and must be opened in a precise order to prevent damage to the case. The face plate must be removed first by holding the console upside down and gently pulling at the finger holes. There are six tabs on the vent plate, the top plate and the top of the console shell that are secured by clips that must be pressed in with pliers while gently sliding each plate upward.
Hard Drive Screws
The Torx-6 screwdriver can be used when removing the internal hard drive from the Xbox 360's mother board. There are a total of four Torx-6 screws on corners of the hard disk drive, one of which is located beneath a Microsoft seal. Tampering with this seal will negate your Xbox's warranty.
Chassis Screws
The motherboard and SATA drive for your Xbox 360 is located below the external shell of your console and is protected by six Torx-12 screws and eight Torx-7 screws. A Torx-10 screwdriver may be used to remove the Torx-12 screws in the event that you do not have a Torx-12 screwdriver. The Torx-7 screws will be black while the Torx-12 screws will be silver and shorter than the Torx-7 screws.