Can I replace usb ports?

Question

MacBook Unibody A1342

2.26 or 2.4 GHz / White plastic unibody enclosure

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Simon G @repair2recycle

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Yan 1, 2016

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Can I replace usb ports?

Both my USB ports got burnt out somehow, now not working.

What replacement options do I have? Can I connect a USB hub to the Ethernet port, or the MiniDisplay Port,

I am running Yosemite 10.10.5 and 8Gb RAM

Here are some photos of the logic board. I see no damage, but the USB ports don't work. Can anyone see any thing? Is there a simple tweak I could do to get them working again?

I know the usb ports come out with the logic board, but is there any way of replacing them?

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Yes you can replace the usb port if you can find the part, or buy a broken a1342 for parts. However, you may only need to re-solder the ports that you have. What do you mean by "got burnt out"? Was there smoke or did they just stop working?

crwdns2934271:0Yan 1, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 LEMON+AID crwdne2934271:0

Thanks.

Stopped working but smelled of burnout.

crwdns2934271:0Yan 1, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Simon G crwdne2934271:0

Thanks for the insight Dan

crwdns2934271:0Yan 28, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Simon G crwdne2934271:0

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Rany @rany

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iCenter SARL

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Yan 28, 2016

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Are you sure the USB ports themselves aren't working? It may be a controller on the board, or the circuit "surrounding" it. You need to trouble shoot those first. If you can determine that nothing is wrong, you then move on to replacing the ports themselves. Won't be an easy task since they are anchored very strongly and improper technique may damage (burn/flex) the board.

Of course you can send it out for repair, but then again you could be spending as much as the cost of a new board or even a used laptop.. after all it is a 5 years old machine, so you need to weigh your options.

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I have decided to replace the logic board with a 2nd hand one. However, there seem to be two reference numbers for the same model computer.

Is there likely to be much difference? How do I find the reference number of my original? Any comments gratefully received. Thanks.

crwdns2934271:0Yan 28, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Simon G crwdne2934271:0

What are the numbers you are seeing?

crwdns2934271:0Yan 28, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Rany crwdne2934271:0

820-2567-a 661-5395

820-2883-a p7550

crwdns2934271:0Yan 29, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Simon G crwdne2934271:0

Ok those are indeed the board numbers. Check the one you have and get the corresponding board. This number is "etched" onto the board. Good luck finding it.

crwdns2934271:0Kul 3, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Rany crwdne2934271:0

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Yes you can replace the usb port if you can find the part, or buy a broken a1342 for parts. However, you may only need to re-solder the ports that you have. What do you mean by "got burnt out"? Was there smoke or did they just stop working? — LEMON+AID
I have decided to replace the logic board with a 2nd hand one. However, there seem to be two reference numbers for the same model computer.

Is there likely to be much difference? How do I find the reference number of my original? Any comments gratefully received. Thanks. — Simon G
Ok those are indeed the board numbers. Check the one you have and get the corresponding board. This number is "etched" onto the board. Good luck finding it. — Rany

score 3 · Answer 1 · 2016-02-01T10:17:32-07:00

mayer @mayer

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MacHale Enterprises

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Yan 1, 2016

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Before you burn out another port please tell us what you are hooking up that does this.

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I think it must have been an external DVD reader, I hooked it up via usb, and plugged it into the wall socket. I guess I had the wrong AC cable. All I know is that neither usb port has worked since that day. :-(

I don't plan on using that DVD again, not with the same ac cable at least.

;-)

crwdns2934271:0Yan 1, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Simon G crwdne2934271:0

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score 3 · Answer 2 · 2016-02-27T08:15:48-07:00

Dan @danj

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Self employed contract worker

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Yan 27, 2016

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More likely you damaged the logic board here Vs the USB ports them selves. This will require deep logic board skill set to diagnose what components burnt and access to the correct part to replace to salvage the logic board.

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Mitchell shelton @link270 crwdns2934065:0crwdne2934065:0: 209 3 · Answer 3 · 2016-02-01T12:48:55-07:00

Mitchell shelton @link270

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Yan 1, 2016

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If you have experience with soldering then you should technically be able to replace, or simply re-solder the ports to regain functionality. Are you having any other issues with the computer besides those? If the damage has gone further into the board than the base of the USB ports then you may need to look into replacing the logic board entirely to really regain the functions.

As far as your other question, there isn't a hub for ethernet or mini display as far as I'm aware. There is for newer computer that have the thunderbolt instead of mini display, but not much more than that unfortunately.

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As far as I know there are now other problems. I have been reading up o USB ports and have seen suggestions to do an SMC reset, so I Will give that a go later.

crwdns2934271:0Yan 1, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Simon G crwdne2934271:0

Yeah, and SMC reset and pRAM reset are always quick easy things to try before anything else, but they usually only resolve somewhat minor software issues. If the usb ports really have been damaged in some form then you're going to need quite a bit more work on it unfortunately, either way, let me know how it goes!

crwdns2934271:0Yan 1, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Mitchell shelton crwdne2934271:0

I tried both and they didn't help me. I am still without USB ports. I can get by, but I would love to get them working again.

I know I could buy a replacement logic board, I've seen one on AliExpress for under 80$ including shipping.

However, it would be better not to have to splash out those 80 bucks.

crwdns2934271:0Yan 27, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Simon G crwdne2934271:0

From what you are describing here you damaged the USB control logic on the logic board.

Replacing the USB ports them selves won't help here (unless they too are damaged by a bad USB plug).

Sorry, time for that new logic board or find someone with the skills to troubleshoot the logic board and replace the damaged components.

Lastly, mark your AC cords! Use a label maker to mark both the device and the AC cord unit for each device you have (correctly mated). As it gets expensive putting the wrong power unit to the device burning it and your system up!

crwdns2934271:0Yan 27, 2016crwdnd2934271:0 Dan crwdne2934271:0

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MacBook Unibody A1342

Can I replace usb ports?

Update (02/01/2016)

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