Fix a Broken Thumb-Drive USB Connector
by Zakaria.K in Circuits > USB
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Fix a Broken Thumb-Drive USB Connector
![Thumb.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBI/2FS5/HXDONLRE/FBI2FS5HXDONLRE.png&filename=Thumb.png)
This instructable is not for beginners you must know how to Solder (neatly).
Have you ever had a USB drive that's connector had broken off? Its a common problem that can be easily fixed in under 10 minutes...
Materials
![20140709_052502814_iOS.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FKS/ZTGK/HXDONLJ4/FKSZTGKHXDONLJ4.jpg&filename=20140709_052502814_iOS.jpg)
You will need:
* Soldering Iron
* Solder
* Broken USB
* Component holder (optional)
If you have lost your Thumb-drive's connector you can buy one from your nearest raidio-shack or Jay-car.
Align the Pins
![20140709_052322999_iOS.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZ7/8BU6/HXDONLIK/FZ78BU6HXDONLIK.jpg&filename=20140709_052322999_iOS.jpg)
![20140709_052338748_iOS.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FJX/PMT2/HXDONLIT/FJXPMT2HXDONLIT.jpg&filename=20140709_052338748_iOS.jpg)
![20140709_053237398_iOS.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FLM/SY4I/HXDONLJ9/FLMSY4IHXDONLJ9.jpg&filename=20140709_053237398_iOS.jpg)
Align the pins before you place the drive on the component holder.
Adjust the component stand until the pins line-up like before.
Solder
![20140709_053912341_iOS.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FIQ/S0PV/HXDONLKS/FIQS0PVHXDONLKS.jpg&filename=20140709_053912341_iOS.jpg)
Solder the pins that you aligned.
Close It Up!
![20140709_054020043_iOS.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4I/VMZC/HXDONLL6/F4IVMZCHXDONLL6.jpg&filename=20140709_054020043_iOS.jpg)
![20140709_054027171_iOS.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FEQ/E5A1/HXDONLLP/FEQE5A1HXDONLLP.jpg&filename=20140709_054027171_iOS.jpg)
![20140709_054044139_iOS.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FLF/YMDE/HXDONLM2/FLFYMDEHXDONLM2.jpg&filename=20140709_054044139_iOS.jpg)
Put your fixed thumb-drive back in it's enclosure.
Test & Finish
![20140709_054152364_iOS.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1H/DKRC/HXDONLMY/F1HDKRCHXDONLMY.jpg&filename=20140709_054152364_iOS.jpg)
![Thumb.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5D/1BDZ/HXDONPPP/F5D1BDZHXDONPPP.png&filename=Thumb.png)
Put the fixed Drive into a computer to test.
- Wait until your PC recognizes and installs drivers for the drive.
- Open the drive in explorer/finder and see if your files are intact.
That's all from this Instructable but, you can do many more things like attach wired to make the connection longer.
Bye!