Notebook repair

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Anyone have any experience in notebook soldering and whatnot? My ethernet port broke off of the motherboard a couple days ago. Sheared all 4 of the little gold thingies that connect to the motherboard. Now I'm stuck with wireless until I fix it. So, where do I start?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Fine PCB soldering takes practice but isn't too hard. Get a fine-tipped soldering pencil and narrow-gauge solder and you should be set. Biggest issue is using too much solder and and accidentally crossing circuits. I suspect that your ethernet connection is near an edge of the PCB where there's not much going on, and it'll probably have larger solder points anyway, so you probably don't have to worry about things being too crowded. Keep a desoldering braid on hand to manage excess solder and you should be set.
The other concern with PCBs is heating OTHER solder points and accidentally desoldering them. Remember you do heat the connection, not the solder, but don't fart around too long or you'll heat up nearby connections, too.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Meh, I just bought a wireless router...too much risk/trouble for me to repair it. Plus I can share the connection/cost with three roommates !