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Thread ID: 122826 2012-01-15 01:28:00 Soldering new plugs onto laptop - How hard ? Digby (677) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1254206 2012-01-15 01:28:00 Hi Guys
I used to be average with a soldering iron years ago.
I have a Compac laptop that my daughter and grandchildren have wrecked the plugs oin.

The Network cable port and the 3 USB ports.
They are all lose and don't work.

I imagine I could buy some replacement ports, but is it easy to solder them on ?

Or should I just kill all of my off spring ?

Thanks
Digby (677)
1254207 2012-01-15 01:35:00 Or should I just kill all of my off spring ?
That's usually the best option, but is frowned upon in some quarters.

Laptop construction varies a lot, dismantle it so you can see what you are dealing with and go from there.
fred_fish (15241)
1254208 2012-01-15 02:14:00 Need a low heat soldering iron, not just your average one..... pctek (84)
1254209 2012-01-15 02:27:00 Also depends if the mother board is damaged (probably is :horrified , not as sturdy as the plugs usually).
Might be a job for a professional.
feersumendjinn (64)
1254210 2012-01-15 07:19:00 Chances are you'd need to raid plugs from another mobo if you want any hope of them fitting into a laptop, or alternately (but very unprofessional) (but easier to do) you could run wires from what's left of the circuit board to replacement plugs outside the laptop... left dangling if you want to do a really shonky job, or all mounted in another little box if you wish to be a tad less shonky. Paul.Cov (425)
1254211 2012-01-15 07:56:00 As Paul said sometimes the board is damaged. Usually the pads have been lifted. Ethernet will be the tougher one, usb is 4x wires but ethernet is 8.

I reckon take it apart, post pics of how bad and we can recommend the best course of action. I'm sure someone will know a person capable of doing whatever needs doing if its out of your skill league.

Just wondering, is the laptop generally stationary or is it a travelling machine?
The Error Guy (14052)
1254212 2012-01-15 08:00:00 Something like this?
thereifixedit.failblog.org

I've got an old desktop (case transplant patient) with the front USB and a couple of PCI cards (due to missing backplane) held in place with black insultape.
Also a laptop, with a torn-off surface mount video cable connector held in place with a piece if rolled up plastic (ice-cream container lid IIRC) jammed between the vid card and the chassis.
fred_fish (15241)
1254213 2012-01-15 08:09:00 you can do it but you have to do it quickly because it will heat up very quickly. Slankydudl (16687)
1254214 2012-01-15 19:43:00 Thanks guys for all the suggestions.

I think I'll do what you say and open her up and see how hard it looks.
Digby (677)
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