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AMBER93

Q: Damaged USB port - replacable/repairable?

After installing new HD noticed that one of the two USB ports inoperative.
Is it repairable? How easy to replace?

One port was missing the black plastic that supports the 4 gold pins, yet it was operable for years. . Now it does not work. I may have inserted a cable the incorrect way and damaged it. The right gold post is bent back towards the bottom of the port (looking at the laptop from the rear with the bottom down). Normally it stands up straight alongside the other 3.

If I remove the battery what about striving to straighten it? (with battery in metal touching it restarts the laptop)

Alternate?? How can it be replaced? Easy or Hard? Difficult to find the part?

This is a not the day to day computer, but occasional demonstrations to small groups and/or as an emergency go computer.

Ideas please

T1 laptop G4 400 mhz 120GB HD, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Nov 11, 2010 1:39 PM

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Q: Damaged USB port - replacable/repairable?

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  • by eww,Helpful

    eww eww Nov 11, 2010 3:54 PM in response to AMBER93
    Level 9 (52,994 points)
    Nov 11, 2010 3:54 PM in response to AMBER93
    The port is not repairable except by replacing the logic board to which it is soldered. You may just want to buy a powered USB hub and connect it to the good port, if you need to use more than one USB port at a time. It isn't worth replacing the logic board in such an old machine now.
  • by AMBER93,

    AMBER93 AMBER93 Nov 11, 2010 11:23 PM in response to eww
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 11, 2010 11:23 PM in response to eww
    THANK you.
    I understand.
    But this question. Suppose I remove the battery and attempt to straighten the bent gold post so it is again upright. Even if it breaks it's no worse than now; and it if doesn't then that port would again be usable in an emergency.
    thoughts?
  • by eww,Helpful

    eww eww Nov 12, 2010 12:26 AM in response to AMBER93
    Level 9 (52,994 points)
    Nov 12, 2010 12:26 AM in response to AMBER93
    Well, sure. Go ahead and try to straighten it out if you like. You have nothing to lose but the peripherals you plug into it.

    For myself, I wouldn't plug anything more valuable than a throwaway USB flash drive (I have a few old, small ones that clients have given me with files on them) into a USB port that I knew was damaged. Particularly not if the insulating fin inside the port that keeps the contacts separated from each other and from the ground were broken or missing. I just wouldn't use that port for fear of shorting out the computer itself and/or the device I was connecting to it.
  • by AMBER93,

    AMBER93 AMBER93 Nov 12, 2010 11:26 AM in response to eww
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2010 11:26 AM in response to eww
    Okay. I understand. Appreciate the point of view.
    That black plastic part was missing when I purchased it in 2005 and its always worked fine until recently. Good thing I didn't know the plug perils without it!!. A powered mini hub will work in the other one as suggested.
    Thanks