* Computer Hardware Question * - Broken Pin on Hard Drive

important data that was not backed up. Yes, I have already learned my lesson.

contact with. I tried a safety pin and attempted to use my average soldering skills to solder a new pin in place. I have still had no luck up to this pont.

daughterboard on the outside of the hard drive and then have more access to where pin #1 is located. Does this sound like a safe thing to do? I would have to be aware of any small thin cables sticking out of the hard drive so that they do not get broke too.

appreciated. And please, please tell me that there is still hope. After all, it's only one pin. I refuse to believe that an entire hard drive can be useless just because one pin broke.

You have the right idea about replacing the pin, but you must be careful in doing so or you will make the situation worse. If you are skilled at soldering, fine. If not, find someone who is. Taking a pin from an old logic board that came from a defective HD is the way to go.

very important data that was not backed up. Yes, I have already learned my lesson.

contact with. I tried a safety pin and attempted to use my average soldering skills to solder a new pin in place. I have still had no luck up to this pont.

the daughterboard on the outside of the hard drive and then have more access to where pin #1 is located. Does this sound like a safe thing to do? I would have to be aware of any small thin cables sticking out of the hard drive so that they do not get broke too.

appreciated. And please, please tell me that there is still hope. After all, it's only one pin. I refuse to believe that an entire hard drive can be useless just because one pin broke.

Get a cheap IDE cable, take the wire for pin 1 (the one on the edge with the stripe on it) and cut it right at the connector then peel a couple inches away from the rest of the cable. Now look at the board on the drive and find where pin 1 from the connector solders to the board. Tack solder the wire to that and plug in the connector, you should be able to use the drive then.

If you want a more permanent fix pull the connector off a dead drive and solder it on, I might even have a board you can have to salvage one from.

That's real risky for someone who may not have proper desoldering skills or equipment. It could render it useless.

Go with the first plan. :)

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On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 04:39:13 GMT, "GHZpc" put finger to keyboard and composed:

important data that was not backed up. Yes, I have already learned my lesson.

with. I tried a safety pin and attempted to use my average soldering skills to solder a new pin in place. I have still had no luck up to this pont.

If you snip the rear of the pin, will the stub pull out from the front? If so, then use a fine drill bit to drill out the hole. Then remove a square pin from a suitable header (by snipping away the retaining plastic?), push it through the hole, and solder it in place from behind the socket. If this doesn't work, then forget I suggested it. :-)

-- Franc Zabkar

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Franc Zabkar wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

*snip: description of problem and possible solution*

If you have another drive of the same model, you can USUALLY swap the logic boards out on them. I won't guarantee anything, but it would be much easier than trying to redo the soldering on around 40 pins.

Puckdropper

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still enjoy using the old computers. Sometimes we want to see how far a 
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ourselves of what we once had.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

This used to be the case, lately I haven't had much luck with it. Personally I'd resolder the pins if that's the problem.

"Ken" bravely wrote to "All" (09 Sep 05 12:04:44) --- on the heady topic of "Re: * Computer Hardware Question * - Broken Pin on = Hard Drive"

Ke> From: Ken Ke> Xref: core-easynews sci.electronics.repair:341724

Ke> GHZpc wrote: > I accidently broke Pin #1 on my Maxtor hard drive. >

Ke> You have the right idea about replacing the pin, but you must be Ke> careful in doing so or you will make the situation worse. If you are Ke> skilled at soldering, fine. If not, find someone who is. Taking a Ke> pin from an old logic board that came from a defective HD is the way Ke> to go.

Just thought of another way, break open the cable's pin 1 wire and jumper it across to the drive's solder pad. He will then have to leave that modified cable permanently connected to the drive but it's SO much easier to do than adding a new pin.

A*s*i*m*o*v

... I worked hard to attach the electrodes to it.

"GHZpc" bravely wrote to "All" (09 Sep 05 04:39:13) --- on the heady topic of "* Computer Hardware Question * - Broken Pin on Hard = Drive"

One way would be to pull the remaining pin 1 stub out the back of the socket hole. Leave it soldered to the pcb to avoid damaging this. Then push a scavenged piece of same diameter pin through into the front. (ref. facing the socket) A little heat might help in either operation. Then solder or crimp the new piece to the old one at the back of the socket. Make sure nothing shorts then add some epoxy or a hot glue gun to make things solid.

Another way would be to cut away the plastic header around pin 1 of the socket until there is enough space cleared to solder a piece from another scavenged pin. Then line up the new pin square to fit and use

2 part epoxy (or other) to build up the plastic that was removed so as to support the solder joint.

You might need really tiny fingers and tools for either method. No guarantee for either repair method... Good luck!

A*s*i*m*o*v

GH> From: "GHZpc" GH> Xref: core-easynews sci.electronics.repair:341703

GH> I accidently broke Pin #1 on my Maxtor hard drive. Unfortunately, I GH> had very important data that was not backed up. Yes, I have already GH> learned my lesson. GH> The pin broke off so deep that there is almost no metal visible to GH> make contact with. I tried a safety pin and attempted to use my GH> average soldering skills to solder a new pin in place. I have still GH> had no luck up to this pont. GH> I think my best bet (besides buying a new hard drive), would be to GH> remove the daughterboard on the outside of the hard drive and then GH> have more access to where pin #1 is located. Does this sound like a GH> safe thing to do? I would have to be aware of any small thin cables GH> sticking out of the hard drive so that they do not get broke too. GH> If you have any other suggestions, they would be greatly greatly GH> greatly appreciated. And please, please tell me that there is still GH> hope. After all, it's only one pin. I refuse to believe that an GH> entire hard drive can be useless just because one pin broke.

GH> Thanks for your replies.

... The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts.