The black plastic bit in one of my USB ports broke off. The metal contacts are in there, undamaged. The laptop thinks the port is functioning fine, and it does function... as long as the device plugged in is in contact with the metal. It's loose, so any movement on the laptop or device will unseat it. Anyway, I'm avoiding using it for now.
It's tempting to try to fix it myself. Is this possible? Any advice?
I think the laptop is still on warranty, but I don't know how much of a PITA that would be.
If the laptop was *off* warranty and you're real good with a soldering iron, you could go ahead and replace the port. It's likely to be a surface-mount connector with two through-holes for anchoring and shield ground. I've ruined a board by attempting this - don't try it if you aren't already experienced at repair work. (My old BlackBerry had the exact same problem, the plastic in the USB connector broke.)
What brand of laptop is it?
-Adam
-----Original Message----- From: Kat uniquegeek@gmail.com Sender: roundtable-bounces@muug.mb.ca Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:22:01 To: roundtable@muug.mb.ca Reply-To: Continuation of Round Table discussion roundtable@muug.mb.ca Subject: [RndTbl] usb ports
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Seconded.
If you go about the repair method you can get parts at Aactive electronics on route 90. Unless the laptop has special molded mounts.
The Laptop only has one USB port? I think it's time for a new Laptop ;)
On Thu, Dec 23, 2010 at 4:32 PM, Sean Cody sean@tinfoilhat.ca wrote:
Seconded.
If you go about the repair method you can get parts at Aactive electronics on route 90. Unless the laptop has special molded mounts.
-- Sean (mobile)
On 2010-12-23, at 3:27 PM, "Adam Thompson" athompso@athompso.net wrote:
If the laptop was *off* warranty and you're real good with a soldering iron, you could go ahead and replace the port. It's likely to be a surface-mount connector with two through-holes for anchoring and shield ground. I've ruined a board by attempting this - don't try it if you aren't already experienced at repair work. (My old BlackBerry had the exact same problem, the plastic in the USB connector broke.)
What brand of laptop is it?
-Adam
-----Original Message----- From: Kat uniquegeek@gmail.com Sender: roundtable-bounces@muug.mb.ca Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:22:01 To: roundtable@muug.mb.ca Reply-To: Continuation of Round Table discussion roundtable@muug.mb.ca Subject: [RndTbl] usb ports
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On 2010-12-23, at 3:23 PM, Kat uniquegeek@gmail.com wrote:
The black plastic bit in one of my USB ports broke off. The metal contacts are in there, undamaged. The laptop thinks the port is functioning fine, and it does function... as long as the device plugged in is in contact with the metal. It's loose, so any movement on the laptop or device will unseat it. Anyway, I'm avoiding using it for now.
It's tempting to try to fix it myself. Is this possible? Any advice?
I think the laptop is still on warranty, but I don't know how much of a PITA that would be.
--
Katherine Scrupa Network Technology CCNA, Hons.
Roundtable mailing list Roundtable@muug.mb.ca http://www.muug.mb.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable
If soldering isn't up your alley, epoxy is great for fixing plastic parts.
Sea
On 2010-12-23, at 3:23 PM, Kat uniquegeek@gmail.com wrote:
The black plastic bit in one of my USB ports broke off. The metal contacts are in there, undamaged. The laptop thinks the port is functioning fine, and it does function... as long as the device plugged in is in contact with the metal. It's loose, so any movement on the laptop or device will unseat it. Anyway, I'm avoiding using it for now.
It's tempting to try to fix it myself. Is this possible? Any advice?
I think the laptop is still on warranty, but I don't know how much of a PITA that would be.
--
Katherine Scrupa Network Technology CCNA, Hons.
Roundtable mailing list Roundtable@muug.mb.ca http://www.muug.mb.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable
On 2010-12-23 Kat wrote:
The black plastic bit in one of my USB ports broke off. The metal contacts are in there, undamaged. The laptop thinks the port is
Be very careful. If the wrong 2 pins touch (easy without the protective plastic bit) you will almost certainly fry the motherboard (completely). I've seen a dozen desktops blown up by USB wiring & breakage.
It's tempting to try to fix it myself. Is this possible? Any advice?
Adam's correct, a new USB port could probably be obtained. I would get it from digikey. Repairs like this only seem to have a 60-70% success rate because sometimes you can't get the exact same USB port and the trickiness of the soldering. I do this sort of stuff all the time so if you get stuck I could possibly help.
I think the laptop is still on warranty, but I don't know how much of a PITA that would be.
They may not honor this as a warranty problem as they can point to physical damage, unless you have the ADP type warranty (that cost hundreds $$ extra). Certainly worth a try as opening this case will void whatever other warranty you have.
Just a note on epoxy for those need it. The short cure epoxy available to consumers was water based and the long cure was oil based. Over the past couple of years the formula has changed on the long cure stuff and it's now a lame product as far as I'm concerned. I set watch crystals with epoxy. I never had any use for the five minute varieties.
I found an excellent replacement in Loctite E-30CL. I got mine at Adhere Distributors. I've got no affiliation with them other than loving their product line.
Cheers! Ian
On 24 December 2010 16:20, Trevor Cordes trevor@tecnopolis.ca wrote:
On 2010-12-23 Kat wrote:
The black plastic bit in one of my USB ports broke off. The metal contacts are in there, undamaged. The laptop thinks the port is
Be very careful. If the wrong 2 pins touch (easy without the protective plastic bit) you will almost certainly fry the motherboard (completely). I've seen a dozen desktops blown up by USB wiring & breakage.
It's tempting to try to fix it myself. Is this possible? Any advice?
Adam's correct, a new USB port could probably be obtained. I would get it from digikey. Repairs like this only seem to have a 60-70% success rate because sometimes you can't get the exact same USB port and the trickiness of the soldering. I do this sort of stuff all the time so if you get stuck I could possibly help.
I think the laptop is still on warranty, but I don't know how much of a PITA that would be.
They may not honor this as a warranty problem as they can point to physical damage, unless you have the ADP type warranty (that cost hundreds $$ extra). Certainly worth a try as opening this case will void whatever other warranty you have. _______________________________________________ Roundtable mailing list Roundtable@muug.mb.ca http://www.muug.mb.ca/mailman/listinfo/roundtable
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