Arrrgggghhh!!!! Broken Trace on Pro2-A

[NewBuilder]

I have a broken trace on my Pro2-a motherboard. It's my own fault. It happened when I was trying to mount a GlobalWin Fop32-1 heatsink oin my AMD 1Ghz T-Bird. It was the first time I had ever done it and I have learned a valuable lesson. I used a screwdriver and it slipped and it broke a trace close to the CPU socket. I was able to mount it with my hands once I got the hang of it (Too little to late!!). So ,my question is, should I even bother trying to troubleshoot the reason my PC won't boot or allow me to get into BIOS or can I bank on it that the damaged trace is the culprit and just install a new Pro2-a.

 

[AMD4ME2]

Yikes! yeah thats probably the reason it won't boot.. can you actually see that the trace is severed? did you really gouge into the mobo good? if so I wouldn't even bother troubleshooting. I hope that never happens to me.. I've done the screwdriver thing in the past and I was never comfortable doing it. I guess I'll have to stop doing it and see if I can make me a tool for those times when fingers just don't work well.

 

[toph99]

word of advice: use a chisle. they're wider and won't slip

 

[Subversal]

Are you absolutely sure sure you broke a trace? You can always use a conductive pen to reconnect the trace if it isn't too bad... might work. I've slipped a couple times, but only while taking the HS/F off (used a HUGE flat head screwdriver to push down and a smaller one to pull the clip over the notch). I practiced several times without the cpu in the socket before I proceeded.

 

[bluesky]

Yeah, I had to curse out quite bit to mount hsf on tbird. Luckily, I didn't break anything with the screw driver, but it was very uneasy work.

 

[slvrbullet]

To do mine I took apart a wooden closepin and then took the fan of the heat sink. Then I was able to slide the close pin down in the slot in the heat sink and push down the mounting strap. Latch it, remount the fan and your done.

 

[PCComp]

On a side note, it's easier to install the processor and HSF while the motherboard is out of the case...

 

[Sunny129]

yeah you might be able to salvage the mobo and see if the broken trace really is the problem by going to Radio Shack and buying a conductive pen. reconnect the trace with conductive ink and see if it solves any of your boot problems...

 

[John]

<< On a side note, it's easier to install the processor and HSF while the motherboard is out of the case... >>



I agree 100%

 

[NewBuilder]

How hard would it be to use a conductive pen? After taking a closer look and studying the traces I think 3 traces may be damaged or broken. 2 of them look like they would be straight lines but the other looks as if its part of an arch shaped trace. Would it even be worth trying to fix? I don't have a magnifier which would help but I'm pretty sure that 3 traces have been broken

 

[GustySoul]

I don't know much about broken traces, but I little tip I heard about installing heatsinks that might be useful in the future... if you must use a screwdriver, try wrapping some electrical tape about the tip. If it slips, as long as there's not so much force as it could crush something, there's less chances of scratches etc - good luck

obispo21

 

[NewBuilder]

Thanks! That is a good tip. But after this horrible experience I will never use a screwdrvier to attach a heatsink again.

 

[ginfest]

FWIW I've been using a popsickle stick with a v-shapped notch in the bottom and its worked well.
Mike G

 

[Jamey]

I would worry the wood would split....hmmm that sounds wierd

 

[Subversal]

<< I would worry the wood would split >>



Say that three times fast! Wait... nm its not that hard.

 

[DaddyG]

NewBuilder, I suggest tha you invest in a Digital multi-meter. Follow the traces and test them with the meter on the Ohms range. If they are open, you can try the cunductive pen and test again.

BTW, Radioshack on-line store has a DMM on sale for $19.95, good to have around the house.

 

[NewBuilder]

Thanks DaddyG. That's a good idea. Since this is my first PC my primary goal is to just get one up and running. I don't think I should be attempting to fix traces at this point. However, as I become more experienced maybe I would feel more comfortable doing it. I have another Pro2-A coming tomorrow and I will give it another try. I will attempt to RMA the one that has the broken traces if in fact it is defective and go from there. Thanks!

 

[heng1028]

i chips off a small chip from my Pro2-A as well when i was taking the orange heatsink out

but i can run it at 1gig with no problem luckily