They are way more complicated than they need to be. A certain Mr H.F. Phillips came up with this great invention for a screw head that is extremely easy to use and allows a certain flexibility when deciding what size screwdriver is required to get one of the things in or out? So why do a lot of manufacturers still insist on using screws that require the most precise of tools to use them. Perhaps it’s a safeguard against tampering hands like my own.

My Sony Ericsson w810i has taken some beatings over the past 16 months, not least the screen. It works as well as the day it came out of the box but on Friday night I must have dropped it six too many times because the plastic covering that protects the glass plate above the LCD has enough scuffs and scratches to make using the phone a real headache.

Much to my pleasure there are sellers on eBay who can provide replacement parts for a lot of popular brands of phone and the w810i was no exception. Rather hastily I bought what I thought was the right part, the screen cover.

If you look at this phone, you will notice that there is a groove at the top of the plastic protective layer. I guessed that this was for taking it out, a flat head screw driver under there could easily pry it out. Apparently not because when I tried that, it only cracked a little more. Not to worry though because I am planning on replacing it anyway.

So the new bit arrived only but to disappointment. I found a little flipbook album that goes through how to take the phone apart, which I duly began to undertake. I hit a road block however when two particular screws were too small and too damn fiddly to get out. My teeniest, tiniest screwdrivers and allen keys are still too large, so for the time being I am not sure what to do. It’s a bit of a pain in the arse to say the least to have to go out and buy a new screwdriver.

After about an hour of trying my damn best to get these screws unscrewed without completely destroying them, I realised my new part was not suitable anyway. What I had was simply the glass plate that covered the LCD, and not the plastic layer that is so heavily beat up. It seems that part is part of the entire front facia.

Fortunately you can pick one of those up from eBay too for a few quid. Well worth it if it breathes some new life in to the phone, as it should make it appear brand new. Unfortunately, to replace that I am still going to need to get those two screws out.. arg.