I would go to a used computer store or to a store that builds computers you do not have to have Dell screws, what I would do is take one of the correct screws with you (from the drive that is in there) so they can be compared.

I just put a new hard drive in my tower(NOT a dell) and luckily I have the type that just slides in and a lock snaps in place no screws to deal with.

going by your specs there that they would be 32x1/4 this looks like them
6/32 x 0.25

So if you used 3 screws from the case and one from an old Dell you should not have a problem. As long as there are still a couple of screws holding the sides on no harm can come

While it is not ideal you can use steal one screw from the floppy, the DVD/CD player and the original hard drive. Or better yet remove the floppy altogether and use those 4 screws. Floppy drives are no longer relevant really.

opps typo I meant 6/32x1/4 of course.

Lynn I did find this info on where you should be able to get this from Dell from another forum
Dell Spare Parts

look at the picture in that link and see if that is the type you need, some Dell's use shoulder screws and they are very different than the ones in that link. If you need shoulder screws they would look like this
Shoulder Screw

if the regular ones are the ones you need I am pretty sure you can get those at Radio shack too.

yes if your case screws fit it then you might want to use those and replace your case screws with the much easier to use thumb screws, I replace all of mine, my current tower has the blue ones since it has all the blue lights in it. Makes it way easier to open the case especially for my arthritic hands.
Blue Aluminum screw
you can buy those at Radio Shack, best buy, all over.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Raven and Owbist, I am so grateful to you. It seems I am safe using the screws for the hard drive bay that I already used. Raven - they are the ones in the first link. Owbist - I pilfered the only screw from my old Dell desktop that looked like the right kind. I only found one screw that seemed to match - I'm not certain what it was holding in - perhaps the power source or fan. At any rate, I think I best replace that before I might ever try to start that old computer up. I don't believe it had a floppy drive - or I'd be happy to remove it (it had just a cd drive).

The case is fairly secure for now - but I'd feel better securing it completely - if the cleaning woman bumps the vacuum against it - or my daughter roots around there for a lost ball or toy, it might accidentally open. There's no urgency there, but I'd rather get it taken care of.

I suppose I could open the tower again - and take out one of the screws - and match it at a store that builds computer parts. But if I don't have to, I'd rather not power everything down and unhook it. If the hard drive seems securing screwed in (and no part of the screw is protuding), can I safely assume it's fine - and just worry about replacing the case screws. that would be easier.

I wish I'd come here first - and saved myself some aggravation. not a single person at Dell was able to give me this information - even though they had all the information you guys did.

I truly don't want to have to buy from them again. They were similarly inept when I wanted to add a firewire port last summer. They have a front slot for it - but nobody had the right part numbers. Luckily the Dell forum was filled with trials and tribulations of others who'd attempted this - with no consistent accurate answers from Dell. At least someone there provided the necessary parts - in fact, when I ordered what Dell insisted was all I needed, it was only 1/2 of what I needed.

Soon my daughter will be ready for a new desktop. Is there a company to buy them from with good reliability and quality and good technical/customer support? Should I just have one built from a computer place that builds computers? that purchase is likely to be in 2010.

Thank you again.
Lynn.

in my opinion Dell is not what it once was especially their services depts. I know several large businesses that once used dell that have changed, most to HP. I have had several HP and liked them so that might be an option.
I like custom built computers, you get just what you want and know you have good quality parts and programs. My current tower is a custom built unit.

6-32 x 1/4" HX-TF ZPS TRI-PT

This may be a screw for mounting cards, the PCI card in your case.

This is a no. 6 screw with 32 threads per inch and 1/4" long. (an SAE or American inch based standard available in hardware stores.) The length is measured from under the head to the end of the screw. The rest of the nomenclature is a description of the screw head. For your application, several head styles may do, but a flanged head is nice. The flange acts as a load spreader washer with a small amount of locking ability. A head with a cross-recess or phillips slotting may be easier to install since there is less tendancy for the screwdriver to slip out and gouge something. [Cross-recess and phillips slotting are similar but different. Generally, the cross-recess is superior provided one has the proper driver points.]

What to do: If you have an older, junk computer, take a screw from it. If you do not have a computer to cannibalize, then remove a screw from your current computer and take it to a good hardware store for matching, or a computer shop. When you find a supply, buy extras and store in a convenient place in your computer room.

The Hard Drive mounting screws:

The most important item is length. Never apply a screw that is longer than the depth of the threaded insert on the drive. A screw that is too long can damage the drive if it is forced home.

I believe that hard drive screws are metric, so start with metric sizes when attempting to find a match. Again, a good hardware store may have what you need.

The mounting screws should have been included with the drive. If you have an old hard drive lying about, its screws may fit. Also, old floppy drives may have the same screw thread.

You have been screwed?

Go to ebay, you may be able to find many people who sell dead laptops at very reasonable price for parts.

dcarch

I spent a couple months working on the Dell 'Spare Parts' hotline. We almost never had screws in stock, unless you needed a whole box of them.

As we get many laptops as donations, we have had to buy more than a few screws. We found ours at www.laptopscrews.com They have a sizing chart which is a big help.

Thanks again everyone. I wound up getting some old Dell laptop screws on ebay. They look to me to be the same size (haven't tried them yet). I also asked another ebay seller who was selling the hard drive caddy and screws if his matched the inspiron 530. He said no, but pointed me to a listing of his which did have screws that matched. Once I try what I received (which is maybe 15-20 screws) - if it's not a match, I'll order those.

pkponder - thanks for your perspective as well. It may be that a few random screws couldn't be sold -although I think Dell should make these available as they're used for the hard drive bays (and it seems for some of the outside case). I'm sure folks have opened their computer and misplaced a screw or two. Seems a good company would make spare parts more available.

But worse than that was that not one of the 7 people I spoke with tried to be helpful at all. it clearly did not matter to them that I needed the screws - surely someone, somewhere at Dell should have a description of those screws so I could perhaps find them elsewhere. But to simply suggest that I buy from another store - and those screws do not come with the Dell originally - none of them were interested in being helpful. I have gotten so much more here on this forum. Surely someone in their customer care or technical assistance or spare parts department could have pointed me in these directions.

Jemdandy - thanks for the explanation of sizes.

I saw another post where someone questioned a recent Dell purchase. I will say that their computers have been very solid for me. But customer support is just dreadful and frustrating.

Thanks everyone.
Lynn.