drywall screws not setting into drywall, sticking out

I know I have a problem with getting drywall screws into drywall so there is space to put mud. Don't know why. I have a Makita cordless drill which I love that I use. I just put the drywall up in the ceiling in one of two closets in the bathroom. On one side, the screws set in just perfect. 1/8th in. in so mudding will be easy.

The other side, none of the screws would go in far enough, they are all sticking out and I cannot get them in any further.

Before starting this, I purchased a part (sorry, can't remember the name of it) which goes into the drill as a bit, is magnetic, so I put the drywall screw onto the bit and it's intended to set the screw just into the drywall to make it easy to mud, no big dents, no ripped paper, just a nice neat little hole. On one side of this ceiling, it worked perfect...but nooooo, not on the other side.

Help please, what do I do that is the problem? I took the part out of the drill and used a philips bit to see if that would work in getting the screws in further but no luck. I backed the screws out some and tried again, all four (only needed 3) are sticking out at least 1/16th to 1/8th inch.

Being a closet ceiling, not that important but I would like to learn what I am doing wrong and, make it right.

 

How long are your screws?

 

1 and 5/8ths inch with 1/2" drywall.

 

Use 1 1/4. That's the standard screw for 1/2.

 

If it's an old house...you could be hitting really old wood as well. Had some I pulled out of a warehouse built in the 40's. You could not drive a nail or run a screw in w/o pre-drilling, no way, no how. Hammer blows didn't even leave dents. I have NO idea what happened to it now...

 

House is approx. 45 yo. Wow, 15 yo when I moved in.

Whole house seems to vibrate at night, been doing it for years. No cracks in basement floor (walk out basement) but for instance, Jar of coconut oil sitting on top of a box in the stair well will start out on one side of the box and be nearly hanging over on the other side after 2 days. I can feel it vibrating when I'm in bed...it's subtle and can just barely feel it in the floor when I get up. A book that is sitting on a box in the stairway also nearly vibrates off the box. Keep pushing them back and after two days, they're nearly falling off again.

Anyways, will get shorter screws and use those. I have several boxes, some have not been opened of the 1 & 5/8ths. If the shorter ones work, I'll donate the 1 5/8ths to Habitat for Humanity resale store nearby.

Thank You.