Compatibility of screws between A1278 2008/09 and the newer models

Hi all,

I have a macbook pro 13-inch 2008/09 on my hands, unsure exactly which, but the type where the bottom cover is split, and there is a separate latch for opening the battery/hdd compartment.

I note that the screws attached to the big base are just small screws, and not the three longer ones that should be there. Is this a problem?

I tried inserting one of the longer spare screws from the newer A1278 (14mm), but it wasn’t a good fit, and I was unsure if it was safe to leave these in. I understand the right screws should be 13.8mm but they seem nowhere to be found.

Any thoughts on this? The computer isn’t powering on (not sure if it can or not), and not sure if these ‘screw’-problems affect the ability to start… (or the safety of operating said computer)

Any input would be appreciated!