How can I replace a broken M.2 SSD mounting standoff for my motherboard?

This is baffling since—if what you are saying is true—the M.2 mounting screw being fused makes no sense; it should simply be a standoff with a small screw in it.

Looking through the official ASUS Z97I-PLUS manual doesn’t help much either. The only thing I can glean from all of this is your motherboard can handle 2242, 2260 and 2280 sized SSDs; 22mm is the width and 42mm, 60mm and 80mm are lengths.

While you state:

I think my best bet is just to order a bag of these online somewhere for 89 cents.

Your point-of-view on the cost of these screws is understandable in broad terms. But I am pretty sure that kind of “89 cent per-bag” pricing is for very commonly available screws; not for odd-ball parts like this.

That said, I would say your best bet to find a replacement is to either successfully get through to someone at Asus who can better help you, or contact a specialty supplier such as LaptopScrews.com and see if they can assist you. And yes, they seem to have tons of screws but no standoffs/sockets. But I am pretty confident a place like that—which has seen close to everything—would be a good neutral source of info that might be able to help you out of a bind like this.

I just picked up a Asus 797-A motherboard with the standoff screw fused in exactly the same manor as discussed above. The motherboard standard scews are two large and local technology shops don't have the smaller stand-off screw. Ended up taking a 15mm standard bolt with same thread, measured the placement height of the Samsunf Evo m2 card and screwed into that height. Bolts avaible from electrical retailer / hardware shop.

Asus are beyond a waste of time. They spent more time telling me that the screw and standoff can't be fused than offering a replacement.

I had the same problem. I used a needle nose pliers and a tiny wrench to hold them. They didnt move. I put some heat to the stand off and twisted again and POP, It came right off. Make sure to not get it too hot, its soft aluminum.