[cc2001]

hello everyone
i have a hp ze 2000 laptop pc, windows xp. This computer goes mobile with me on the road, i use my cellphone as a modem, so it gets alot of plugging in and unplugging from the usb's. Recently both stopped working, first one, and a little later the other, i have reformatted with factory disk, which re installs windows, also deleted my hard drive partition and reinstalled a standalone copy of windows xp. Nothing helps, could anyone help me troubleshoot this, i really rely on this computer, and you guys have been great with my previous issues.

thanks
chris

[Advertisements]

if they're heavily used ports they could have physically gone bad...i assume you've tried more than one usb device in all the ports right?

[dsenette]

if they're heavily used ports they could have physically gone bad...i assume you've tried more than one usb device in all the ports right?

[cc2001]

I have found the problem, i removed enough screws to barely crack the case open and the ports are basically broken off inside, one actually fell out, if i could get the new ports I think i could resolder them, i do have some experience with this from my electronics engineering course, but getting the computer apart enough to do this seems very difficult, any advice?

[dsenette]

remember everything you take off if you take the thing apart...also remember you're soldering on a multilayer board so watch your heat on the iron

[cc2001]

would any usb socket do, or do they change as the newer models come out, I mean is there any special info I need to purchase these?

[dsenette]

not a clue really...i'd imagine they're universal except for the size and orientation of the ports...depending on how the ones you've got seperated from the board you might be able to reuse them

[PedroDaGR8]

As I have done a good amount of laptop dissassembly and reassembly I can help you a little here with a few tricks.


First, one tip is DIXIE cups. THose little drinking cups if you are outside the US. As you remove screws put them in labeled dixie cups based on where they came from. So say, Keyboard, EMI Shield, Base, Display, Modem and so on. Then order the cups in the order you removed the screws so that they can help you remember how to put it back together.

Next, for soldering, make sure you have a good high heat soldering iron. Multilayer boards often have a ground layer that is almost solid copper. This means there is a piece of metal the size of your board. You need a good wattage soldering iron (35W or higher). The reason being, it is better to have really hot for a short amount of time versus having to let it build up to that temperature.

Oh yeah one more thing. If something doesn't work after you have put the device back together, take the thing back apart as far as you had previously and put it back together. Just today I was working on my wife's laptop and the keyboard refused to work. Took out the keyboard and replaced it like 20 times, no lock. So I said screw it and took it all the way apart, noticed I forgot to reconnect a fan cable (no at all related to the keyboard) put it back together, everything works fine. Go figure.

Edited by PedroDaGR8, 27 February 2009 - 05:58 PM.