**SOLVED** Crisis... Screw driver slip... Updated with a picture.

[jarsoffart]

Is there any conductive thing I can use to repair the trace (is that the name?) on the motherboard. I have the Abit NV7-133R and there is only one trace where the screwdriver slipped and cut it. Please help...

Pseudosolution
I called tech support and they told me to put the system speaker on. Everything then booted correctly. Then I shut down and took the system speaker off like I had it all along, and everything booted correctly...

 

[cmdrdredd]

well, I've slipped once or twice and never had a problem with breaking the traces in the PCB.

were you by chance using a hammer? because if you're even a bit careful you cannot break a PCB with just a screwdriver without serious force

 

[jarsoffart]

I didn't break the PCB, I scratched the surface which had a white line, which I think is called a trace. Is this damage covered under a warrunty?

 

[mechBgon]

You can repair the trace with a automotive rear-window-defogger repair kit. Go for it! 😀

BTW, if it's a real trace, it should be gold, not white. Maybe you just hit a silk-screened white marking line of some kind...? Pics?

 

[rbbnet]

I'm with Mechbgon on this so far. A minor screwdriver slip shouldn't have broken a trace. But without a good quality pic nobody here will be able to tell you much. On the other hand any conductive pen such as the rear window defogger fixin' pen will do. If you simply reconnect the broken lines and make sure not to get the ink on anything else all should be well. Even if it's not a trace that was broken, it can't hurt to fix a white line. Just remember to test the ink line width and such on a scrap cardboard or sumpin before attempting to connect the dots on you mobo. Practice makes perfect, haste makes waste! Don't waste a good mobo trying to fix what may not be broken.

 

[cmdrdredd]

try it out and see if it posts...if it does then I say don't worry bout it

 

[Evadman]

Whie = not a trace. white = information or marking line for when they are puting the components on the board. You have to break through the green epoxy, then break the copper line to actually break the trace. You did nothing. Don't worry.

 

[BZeto]

Is there something to prevent these mistakes other than being really careful? Like a rubber tip to put on the end of a flathead screwdriver?

 

[jarsoffart]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Whie = not a trace. white = information or marking line for when they are puting the components on the board. You have to break through the green epoxy, then break the copper line to actually break the trace. You did nothing. Don't worry.

Well, it won't POST... Thanks for all you guys' help. I'll try to take a picture tomorrow, but I have a lot of work to do tonight.

 

[kmmatney]

You can just solder a wire between the 2 traces. I had an old 386 motherboard with several hand-soldered wires (the wires were necessary to fix flaws in the motherboard design, I presume...).

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: BZeto
Is there something to prevent these mistakes other than being really careful? Like a rubber tip to put on the end of a flathead screwdriver?

After one near fatal "slip" with a screwdriver long ago, I started taking precautions. It's relatively simple really. I just cut a small piece of thin cardboard to the exact size of area next to the socket where the offending screwdriver would "hit" if I slipped. I leave a small bit of clearance/opening so that the clip can get over the lug on the socket and make the piece of cardboard as long as the socket is wide. That's it. 🙂 BTW, the cardboard isn't the "box" kind; it is the stuff that comes on the back of a writing tablet, like a legal pad. Perfect for this use. But you can use anything really. I have also used a piece of plastic before.
Of course, since I started this I have NEVER had to have it because I have never slipped again.

It figures but I know that Murphey's Law would haunt me if I ever got lazy and didn't cut out the piece and have it there, just in case. 😀

Well, it won't POST

Did it post before this happened or is this a new build? There could be other factors causing the "no post" problem. Maybe you can include a system component list (power supply included) and what you have done or tried to do to solve the situation. Did you check the CPU for damage?

 

[jarsoffart]

deleted.

 

[Inept]

That has to be the worst photograph ever taken! Try turning on the macro mode on your camera 🙂 Anyway, from that terrible picture, it only looks like some of the silkscreen has been damaged. It's got nothing to do with the operation of the mobo.

 

[jarsoffart]

Originally posted by: Inept
That has to be the worst photograph ever taken! Try turning on the macro mode on your camera 🙂 Anyway, from that terrible picture, it only looks like some of the silkscreen has been damaged. It's got nothing to do with the operation of the mobo.

I agree it is a lousy picture and putting the camera in macro mode is a very good idea, but the problem is solved anyways.

 

[rbbnet]

"Solved?"
I don't suppose you'd let us in on what you found to be the problem?

 

[jarsoffart]

Well, I told you the "pseudosolution." I don't know what was the problem. It doesn't seem like there was a problem. I thought the screw driver slip was the problem, but the system worked after I added a system speaker. Then I took off the system speaker and it still worked, so I'm just as confused on what was the problem as you.

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: jarsoffart
Well, I told you the "pseudosolution." I don't know what was the problem. It doesn't seem like there was a problem. I thought the screw driver slip was the problem, but the system worked after I added a system speaker. Then I took off the system speaker and it still worked, so I'm just as confused on what was the problem as you.

Sounds like the MB gremlins were at it again! 😉🙂 Glad to hear that you got it "fixed" anyway. As I suggested above though, next time try a bit of cardboard cut to size to protect your board and put your mind at ease next time. Again, congrats!! 😀 Happy faster computing (I hope!).