Hi. I made a thread called Dell Dimension L933r won't power on http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?showtopic=127078 and mentioned my old dell computer in it. Unlike the Dell Dimension I talked about in that thread, this comp powers on. But it will not go to the desktop. It used to, but eventually it showed blue screen errors and the last couple of errors said The cover was previously open (even though it was closed when powered on) and another error on a black screen. The problem with this computer was in the male connectors on the mother board a couple of pins were bent on them both and when I tried to carefully adjust them, a pin a piece on the hard drive and cd drive slots broke off. The bent pins now that I saw them made me feel that they were problem in the first place. I couldn't find the pins to try what others said they did (they said they put the missing pins in their cpu female connector and snapped it very firmly into place when the CPU missed pins.) and I'm not sure what else to do. The computer I'm referring to is a Dell Optiplex Gx1p that had Win XP pro loadded on it. It had 512 mb of memory and is upgradable to 768 mb. Since the other comp might be out for possible motherboard/power supply issues I was hoping I could salvage this computer for my mom's use. Is it possible to salvage and use any motherboard that has even one pin missing? Like even a CD drive or Hard drive pin in the male motherboard connector? Please let me know what I should do to make this possible.
Hi leader2
this is quite an old and low spec machine that we are talking of here with an OS (XP) that is in its last 6 months of useful (safe life) without extraordinary care.
It is possible for a talented and experienced person with access to the correct tools to replace the components with the missing/damaged pins on the connectors, but from a commercial workshop point of view the machine is almost certainly beyond economic repair.
However as a learning experience it would be quite an instructive process to carry out the repair.
it would exercise the following:
1 Research skills in identifying the exact components required.
2 Foraging and purchasing skills in acquiring the required components
3 Dismantling and soldering techniques and skills in replacing the components.
4 troubleshooting techniques in checking that the repairs are effective and if any further remedial work is required.
5 If you decided to repair the actual pins, by building up using fresh metal, soldering into place and then scraping down to the exact dimensions it would be a good test of manual dexterity and patience!
Its not impossible to do and would be a useful way of passing the time and increasing skills, and testing measuring, metal scraping, fitting techniques….
Its the sort of job we would have given to a second year apprentice (40 or so years ago) to get them to appreciate the hand-eye co-ordination necessary in dealing with electro mechanical repairs and the precautions needed when dealing and "fettling" with tiny, and fragile components with little mechanical strength…
The idea of jamming a CPU down quickly into its socket, to try and make a good connection when pins are missing/bent/damaged is not something that we would recommend!
if you do decide to perform the repair, do let us know how you get on as there are folks who read these forums that might be very interested in your project.
Regards
paws
Hi leader2
this is quite an old and low spec machine that we are talking of here with an OS (XP) that is in its last 6 months of useful (safe life) without extraordinary care.
It is possible for a talented and experienced person with access to the correct tools to replace the components with the missing/damaged pins on the connectors, but from a commercial workshop point of view the machine is almost certainly beyond economic repair.
However as a learning experience it would be quite an instructive process to carry out the repair.
it would exercise the following:
1 Research skills in identifying the exact components required.
2 Foraging and purchasing skills in acquiring the required components
3 Dismantling and soldering techniques and skills in replacing the components.
4 troubleshooting techniques in checking that the repairs are effective and if any further remedial work is required.
5 If you decided to repair the actual pins, by building up using fresh metal, soldering into place and then scraping down to the exact dimensions it would be a good test of manual dexterity and patience!
Its not impossible to do and would be a useful way of passing the time and increasing skills, and testing measuring, metal scraping, fitting techniques….
Its the sort of job we would have given to a second year apprentice (40 or so years ago) to get them to appreciate the hand-eye co-ordination necessary in dealing with electro mechanical repairs and the precautions needed when dealing and "fettling" with tiny, and fragile components with little mechanical strength…
The idea of jamming a CPU down quickly into its socket, to try and make a good connection when pins are missing/bent/damaged is not something that we would recommend!
if you do decide to perform the repair, do let us know how you get on as there are folks who read these forums that might be very interested in your project.
Regards
paws
Thank you for your advice paws. It does help to instruct me about what this situation needs. However I wouldn't be able to carry out your recommendations since I have neither the skill level nor the tools to do the job. I'm grateful for your advice though since it gives me something for future reference should I ever be able to fulfill such a project.
