"It is a frequent mistake when building PCs to accidentally use 6-32 threaded screws into motherboard standoffs expecting an M3 screw.[citation needed] The result is that the screw will not go all the way, and the threads become stripped and "lock". Once locked, attempts to remove the top screw typically result in the entire standoff unscrewing from the case and potentially flexing the motherboard. In that situation, the screw and the standoff cannot be separated without removing the entire motherboard and subjecting it to potential damage while it is flexed in place."
I've come across mini-wrench sets that I've been able to use to remove stuck stand-off screws of incorrect type without having to remove the motherboard. The standoffs survived, but the screws had to be discarded. I'm not sure where these wrench sets can be obtained.