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Computer Hardware Question - Broken Pin on Hard Drive

G

GHZpc

Jan 1, 1970
0
I accidently broke Pin #1 on my Maxtor hard drive. Unfortunately, I had very important data that was not backed up. Yes, I have already learned my lesson.

The pin broke off so deep that there is almost no metal visible to make 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.

I think my best bet (besides buying a new hard drive), would be to remove 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.

If you have any other suggestions, they would be greatly greatly greatly 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.


Thanks for your replies.


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K

Ken

Jan 1, 1970
0
GHZpc said:
I accidently broke Pin #1 on my Maxtor hard drive. Unfortunately, I had very important data that was not backed up. Yes, I have already learned my lesson.

The pin broke off so deep that there is almost no metal visible to make 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.

I think my best bet (besides buying a new hard drive), would be to remove 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.

If you have any other suggestions, they would be greatly greatly greatly 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.


Thanks for your replies.


--------------= Posted using GrabIt =----------------
------= Binary Usenet downloading made easy =---------
-= Get GrabIt for free from http://www.shemes.com/ =-

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.
 
J

James Sweet

Jan 1, 1970
0
GHZpc said:
I accidently broke Pin #1 on my Maxtor hard drive. Unfortunately, I had
very important data that was not backed up. Yes, I have already learned my
lesson.
The pin broke off so deep that there is almost no metal visible to make
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.
I think my best bet (besides buying a new hard drive), would be to remove
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.
If you have any other suggestions, they would be greatly greatly greatly
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.
Thanks for your replies.


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.
 
S

Sam Goldwasser

Jan 1, 1970
0
James Sweet said:
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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Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
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F

Franc Zabkar

Jan 1, 1970
0
I accidently broke Pin #1 on my Maxtor hard drive. Unfortunately, I had very important data that was not backed up. Yes, I have already learned my lesson.

The pin broke off so deep that there is almost no metal visible to make 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.

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

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
 
P

Puckdropper

Jan 1, 1970
0
*snip: description of problem and possible solution*
-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

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

--
www.uncreativelabs.net

Old computers are getting to be a lost art. Here at Uncreative Labs, we
still enjoy using the old computers. Sometimes we want to see how far a
particular system can go, other times we use a stock system to remind
ourselves of what we once had.

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

James Sweet

Jan 1, 1970
0
Puckdropper said:
*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.

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.
 
A

Asimov

Jan 1, 1970
0
"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 <[email protected]>
Ke> Xref: core-easynews sci.electronics.repair:341724


Ke> GHZpc said:
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.
 
A

Asimov

Jan 1, 1970
0
"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" <[email protected]>
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.
 
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