My T|E is suffering

ignatz · 03-02-2005, 02:51 PM

A small disaster has occurred today. The headphone jack on my T|E has completely separated from the motherboard, removing some of the conducting contact pads that joined the headphone component to the board. Previously I have had to solder the headphone jack back down, and I probably weakened the board with my inexpert work. Now it's off entirely, and I'm not sure what to do! I depend on my Palm as my poor man's iPod. Without the audio, it's only half the device that it was.

I shall have to do some drastic experiments to see if I can repair the damage. If it doesn't work, I may be back on the darkside again! I'll keep ya'll informed.

Bob Russell · 03-02-2005, 03:26 PM

Sorry to hear that. Hope you get it working again. But, hey, it's fun to upgrade! Even when you can't afford it, actually!... Just tell your wife she'll see her next meat when the new PDA is paid off

[Yes, yes, I know... that would lead to very painful consequences!]

Good luck.

ignatz · 03-02-2005, 07:45 PM

Looks like it's gonna be the $60 Tungsten E motherboard to replace the damaged one. There was no way to reattach the headhone jack. Not crazy about dropping $60 on a machine I would dearly like to replace, but with no obvious replacements in sight, this will do the job for now.

Bob Russell · 03-02-2005, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ignatz

Not crazy about dropping $60 on a machine I would dearly like to replace...

Wow, I'm impressed that is available so cheap. I think you came off great. Now you've got me thinking... my next PDA might be something like a broken VGA Dell x50v or HP 4700 cheap on ebay, plus a replacement part!

sUnShInE · 03-02-2005, 08:17 PM

Yea, seriously... $60 vs. $199? I'll take the $60 anyday. The glass is half full!

ignatz · 03-02-2005, 10:56 PM

Well, you guys have got me feeling better about it. The real culprit here is my Rhinoskin case and the poorly designed hole for the headphone jack. For some time it was putting pressure on the headphone jack when one was in and in turn this pressure loosened the solder points on the motherboard. When I had to go in and resolder the connector I also clipped off the offending portion of the case (which doesn't appear to harm the functionality of the case at all), but the damage had been done.

The new motherboard should be an easy install, as there is just a ribbon cable to connect to the display and you have to solder the battery in (doesn't come with one). I am lucky that PDAParts has one just now, as their stock of such items seems to vary quite a bit. I should have it in a few days. In the meantime I'll have to suffer along in silence, dreaming of the day I can afford a hard drive mp3 player.

Rosarita · 07-29-2006, 07:05 PM

Help!
First I purchased a battery for my TE, then when I received it and found out I needed to be able to solder, I purchased a motherboard with the battery attached. Now I'm out of money and need someone to give me instructions on how to detach and reattach the ribbon cable mentioned previously... I've tried searching the web and can only find info on installing the battery, not the motherboard. Can you help?

ignatz · 07-30-2006, 10:00 AM

Okay, hang in there, it's really easy. How far have you gone with this? Have you gotten the case open yet? I know this is a bit scary, but if you go forward with a delicate hand you shouldn't have problems. I've been in and out of my T|E a lot of times and it's still going strong.

Here's a basic guide to opening the T|E:
http://www.gethightech.com/Merchant2...Code=_TungEBat
There's also a video on this page:
http://www.gethightech.com/Merchant2...tegory_Code=RD

You don't need the tools that they specify. If you don't have a Torx wrench, a really small straight screwdriver will work. Popping the case can be a little tricky the first time. The best thing is a thin piece of rigid plastic. Now that I've opened mine a few times, a credit card will do it. The first time it might be harder.

I can't remember the ribbon cable work exactly. It's delicate, but not difficult. Let me know where you are with this and I'll see if I can help you through it. I can open mine back up and snap some pics.

Rosarita · 08-02-2006, 01:14 AM

Hey, Thanks alot for getting back to me with offers to help. I actually got it working! I replaced the motherboard and then the digitizer quit working! So, I took the unit apart again and cleaned the screen and around all the edges to make sure there wasn't any dust in between. I detached the ribbon cable and reattached it again to be sure it was connected good and put it all back together again. I was actually shocked when it started working correctly! This is the first time I've ever done anything like this and I'm pretty proud of myself for attempting a "do it yourself" repair job. I was stuck out of town for a month recently and when my TE died, I was devastated. I didn't have my email addresses, account numbers, etc... and that was horrible! I'm so glad to have all my info back!

It is wonderful to have this thread available. I really learned alot about my TE by reading this information. I appreciate everyone's willingness to help each other.

Thanks again!
Rosarita

ignatz · 08-02-2006, 09:44 AM

Congrats on getting it done! It's a bit scary the first time you do it, then after that you want to take apart all your devices. It's not as much of a mystery as it seems at first. The key is to go slow, be delicate, and keep track of your parts. Sometimes a digital camera can help, so you can be sure that you get things back in the way that they came apart.

Glad you got the help that you needed.

03-02-2005, 02:51 PM	#1
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	My T\|E is suffering A small disaster has occurred today. The headphone jack on my T\|E has completely separated from the motherboard, removing some of the conducting contact pads that joined the headphone component to the board. Previously I have had to solder the headphone jack back down, and I probably weakened the board with my inexpert work. Now it's off entirely, and I'm not sure what to do! I depend on my Palm as my poor man's iPod. Without the audio, it's only half the device that it was. I shall have to do some drastic experiments to see if I can repair the damage. If it doesn't work, I may be back on the darkside again! I'll keep ya'll informed.

08-02-2006, 01:14 AM	#9
Rosarita Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Texas Device: Palm Tungsten E	Tungsten E Motherboard Hey, Thanks alot for getting back to me with offers to help. I actually got it working! I replaced the motherboard and then the digitizer quit working! So, I took the unit apart again and cleaned the screen and around all the edges to make sure there wasn't any dust in between. I detached the ribbon cable and reattached it again to be sure it was connected good and put it all back together again. I was actually shocked when it started working correctly! This is the first time I've ever done anything like this and I'm pretty proud of myself for attempting a "do it yourself" repair job. I was stuck out of town for a month recently and when my TE died, I was devastated. I didn't have my email addresses, account numbers, etc... and that was horrible! I'm so glad to have all my info back! It is wonderful to have this thread available. I really learned alot about my TE by reading this information. I appreciate everyone's willingness to help each other. Thanks again! Rosarita

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03-02-2005, 03:26 PM	#2
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Sorry to hear that. Hope you get it working again. But, hey, it's fun to upgrade! Even when you can't afford it, actually!... Just tell your wife she'll see her next meat when the new PDA is paid off [Yes, yes, I know... that would lead to very painful consequences!] Good luck.

03-02-2005, 07:45 PM	#3
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Looks like it's gonna be the $60 Tungsten E motherboard to replace the damaged one. There was no way to reattach the headhone jack. Not crazy about dropping $60 on a machine I would dearly like to replace, but with no obvious replacements in sight, this will do the job for now.

03-02-2005, 08:17 PM	#5
sUnShInE Drama Queen Posts: 784 Karma: 11712 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: United States Device: Palm Tungsten T\|T3	Yea, seriously... $60 vs. $199? I'll take the $60 anyday. The glass is half full!

03-02-2005, 10:56 PM	#6
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Well, you guys have got me feeling better about it. The real culprit here is my Rhinoskin case and the poorly designed hole for the headphone jack. For some time it was putting pressure on the headphone jack when one was in and in turn this pressure loosened the solder points on the motherboard. When I had to go in and resolder the connector I also clipped off the offending portion of the case (which doesn't appear to harm the functionality of the case at all), but the damage had been done. The new motherboard should be an easy install, as there is just a ribbon cable to connect to the display and you have to solder the battery in (doesn't come with one). I am lucky that PDAParts has one just now, as their stock of such items seems to vary quite a bit. I should have it in a few days. In the meantime I'll have to suffer along in silence, dreaming of the day I can afford a hard drive mp3 player.

07-29-2006, 07:05 PM	#7
Rosarita Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Texas Device: Palm Tungsten E	Help! First I purchased a battery for my TE, then when I received it and found out I needed to be able to solder, I purchased a motherboard with the battery attached. Now I'm out of money and need someone to give me instructions on how to detach and reattach the ribbon cable mentioned previously... I've tried searching the web and can only find info on installing the battery, not the motherboard. Can you help?

07-30-2006, 10:00 AM	#8
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Okay, hang in there, it's really easy. How far have you gone with this? Have you gotten the case open yet? I know this is a bit scary, but if you go forward with a delicate hand you shouldn't have problems. I've been in and out of my T\|E a lot of times and it's still going strong. Here's a basic guide to opening the T\|E: http://www.gethightech.com/Merchant2...Code=_TungEBat There's also a video on this page: http://www.gethightech.com/Merchant2...tegory_Code=RD You don't need the tools that they specify. If you don't have a Torx wrench, a really small straight screwdriver will work. Popping the case can be a little tricky the first time. The best thing is a thin piece of rigid plastic. Now that I've opened mine a few times, a credit card will do it. The first time it might be harder. I can't remember the ribbon cable work exactly. It's delicate, but not difficult. Let me know where you are with this and I'll see if I can help you through it. I can open mine back up and snap some pics.

08-02-2006, 09:44 AM	#10
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Congrats on getting it done! It's a bit scary the first time you do it, then after that you want to take apart all your devices. It's not as much of a mystery as it seems at first. The key is to go slow, be delicate, and keep track of your parts. Sometimes a digital camera can help, so you can be sure that you get things back in the way that they came apart. Glad you got the help that you needed.

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