Can I continue running the PC with damaged front USB pins on the motherboard?
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up vote
8
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I have a PC that has been running fine, except with non-functioning front USB ports. Below images explain why. My question is: Can I continue running the PC like this (provided that it's been running like this for weeks) or is there a reason to change the motherboard immediately? Would prefer to do a proper upgrade at a later stage rather, if possible.
usb motherboard
edited 6 hours ago
Alex Myers
1177
asked 11 hours ago
Guit4eva
434
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
favorite
I have a PC that has been running fine, except with non-functioning front USB ports. Below images explain why. My question is: Can I continue running the PC like this (provided that it's been running like this for weeks) or is there a reason to change the motherboard immediately? Would prefer to do a proper upgrade at a later stage rather, if possible.
usb motherboard
edited 6 hours ago
Alex Myers
1177
asked 11 hours ago
Guit4eva
434
You should really ask this questions on the electronics stack exchange. Please also note that modern motherboards are often in the range of 14 layers, and traces in the middle layers are often run very close to the through-holes so please don't go drilling or scraping around them .
– Sam
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
favorite
up vote
8
down vote
favorite
I have a PC that has been running fine, except with non-functioning front USB ports. Below images explain why. My question is: Can I continue running the PC like this (provided that it's been running like this for weeks) or is there a reason to change the motherboard immediately? Would prefer to do a proper upgrade at a later stage rather, if possible.
usb motherboard
edited 6 hours ago
Alex Myers
1177
asked 11 hours ago
Guit4eva
434
I have a PC that has been running fine, except with non-functioning front USB ports. Below images explain why. My question is: Can I continue running the PC like this (provided that it's been running like this for weeks) or is there a reason to change the motherboard immediately? Would prefer to do a proper upgrade at a later stage rather, if possible.
usb motherboard
usb motherboard
edited 6 hours ago
Alex Myers
1177
asked 11 hours ago
Guit4eva
434
edited 6 hours ago
Alex Myers
1177
asked 11 hours ago
Guit4eva
434
edited 6 hours ago
Alex Myers
1177
edited 6 hours ago
Alex Myers
1177
edited 6 hours ago
Alex Myers
1177
1177
asked 11 hours ago
Guit4eva
434
asked 11 hours ago
Guit4eva
434
asked 11 hours ago
Guit4eva
434
434
You should really ask this questions on the electronics stack exchange. Please also note that modern motherboards are often in the range of 14 layers, and traces in the middle layers are often run very close to the through-holes so please don't go drilling or scraping around them .
– Sam
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
You should really ask this questions on the electronics stack exchange. Please also note that modern motherboards are often in the range of 14 layers, and traces in the middle layers are often run very close to the through-holes so please don't go drilling or scraping around them .
– Sam
5 hours ago
You should really ask this questions on the electronics stack exchange. Please also note that modern motherboards are often in the range of 14 layers, and traces in the middle layers are often run very close to the through-holes so please don't go drilling or scraping around them .
– Sam
5 hours ago
You should really ask this questions on the electronics stack exchange. Please also note that modern motherboards are often in the range of 14 layers, and traces in the middle layers are often run very close to the through-holes so please don't go drilling or scraping around them .
– Sam
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
Looks like you had a short in a power supply line near that header, which overheated things considerably. Eventually it got so hot that things separated enough that there was no longer a short. But something must have been limiting the current somewhat - otherwise the power supply would have shut down.
My concern would be that there's no reason (given that things there are just not mechanically stable) that ordinary thermal cycling couldn't cause things to move around enough that it wouldn't short out again, and maybe do more damage.
In other words, I'd replace it as soon as possible.
answered 11 hours ago
Jamie Hanrahan
16.5k33775
2
Note that if the short were contained only to the USB header itself, on many modern motherboards it would probably be fine, since many motherboards now have fuses on the USB ports. That said, given this damage is in the traces on the board itself, I agree with this answer.
– Moshe Katz
11 hours ago
You may be able to just Not Use That Port anymore, and just use other ports. However, we don't know what other traces were running nearby the visibly-damaged part. I would leave it physically disconnected, back up everything and move important functions to another PC, until I'd replaced the motherboard. My maxim : always assume it will catch on fire.
– Christopher Hostage
9 hours ago
3
My assumption is that it's unlikely to burn your house down, but regular backups have saved my bacon many times even without my house burning down.. TLDR; backup important data now, and don't start writing your thesis on this computer.
– Aaron
5 hours ago
@MosheKatz If there is a fuse in the path to the actual short here its current rating is clearly much too high! :o
– Jamie Hanrahan
4 hours ago
@JamieHanrahan that's why I qualified my statement with saying that I agree with you on this case. Mine was more of a general statement.
– Moshe Katz
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Well, I'd say it is unlikely that it would catch fire. The traces have already burned away as much as they will. And even if they did short-circuit again for some reason, it didn't burn too bad the first time; the PCB material is called "flame retardant 4" for a reason.
I'd say if you are planning an upgrade soonish, you can keep running it in the meanwhile. It's always a good idea to clean any accumulated dust from the enclosure and to check that your fire alarm works, but that applies equally for any PC.
The actual fault possibly resides in the USB connectors in the chassis, so in addition to the motherboard you should change also the enclosure or at least leave the USB cables unconnected.
answered 9 hours ago
jpa
1093
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
Looks like you had a short in a power supply line near that header, which overheated things considerably. Eventually it got so hot that things separated enough that there was no longer a short. But something must have been limiting the current somewhat - otherwise the power supply would have shut down.
My concern would be that there's no reason (given that things there are just not mechanically stable) that ordinary thermal cycling couldn't cause things to move around enough that it wouldn't short out again, and maybe do more damage.
In other words, I'd replace it as soon as possible.
answered 11 hours ago
Jamie Hanrahan
16.5k33775
2
Note that if the short were contained only to the USB header itself, on many modern motherboards it would probably be fine, since many motherboards now have fuses on the USB ports. That said, given this damage is in the traces on the board itself, I agree with this answer.
– Moshe Katz
11 hours ago
You may be able to just Not Use That Port anymore, and just use other ports. However, we don't know what other traces were running nearby the visibly-damaged part. I would leave it physically disconnected, back up everything and move important functions to another PC, until I'd replaced the motherboard. My maxim : always assume it will catch on fire.
– Christopher Hostage
9 hours ago
3
My assumption is that it's unlikely to burn your house down, but regular backups have saved my bacon many times even without my house burning down.. TLDR; backup important data now, and don't start writing your thesis on this computer.
– Aaron
5 hours ago
@MosheKatz If there is a fuse in the path to the actual short here its current rating is clearly much too high! :o
– Jamie Hanrahan
4 hours ago
@JamieHanrahan that's why I qualified my statement with saying that I agree with you on this case. Mine was more of a general statement.
– Moshe Katz
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
Looks like you had a short in a power supply line near that header, which overheated things considerably. Eventually it got so hot that things separated enough that there was no longer a short. But something must have been limiting the current somewhat - otherwise the power supply would have shut down.
My concern would be that there's no reason (given that things there are just not mechanically stable) that ordinary thermal cycling couldn't cause things to move around enough that it wouldn't short out again, and maybe do more damage.
In other words, I'd replace it as soon as possible.
answered 11 hours ago
Jamie Hanrahan
16.5k33775
2
Note that if the short were contained only to the USB header itself, on many modern motherboards it would probably be fine, since many motherboards now have fuses on the USB ports. That said, given this damage is in the traces on the board itself, I agree with this answer.
– Moshe Katz
11 hours ago
You may be able to just Not Use That Port anymore, and just use other ports. However, we don't know what other traces were running nearby the visibly-damaged part. I would leave it physically disconnected, back up everything and move important functions to another PC, until I'd replaced the motherboard. My maxim : always assume it will catch on fire.
– Christopher Hostage
9 hours ago
3
My assumption is that it's unlikely to burn your house down, but regular backups have saved my bacon many times even without my house burning down.. TLDR; backup important data now, and don't start writing your thesis on this computer.
– Aaron
5 hours ago
@MosheKatz If there is a fuse in the path to the actual short here its current rating is clearly much too high! :o
– Jamie Hanrahan
4 hours ago
@JamieHanrahan that's why I qualified my statement with saying that I agree with you on this case. Mine was more of a general statement.
– Moshe Katz
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
up vote
11
down vote
accepted
Looks like you had a short in a power supply line near that header, which overheated things considerably. Eventually it got so hot that things separated enough that there was no longer a short. But something must have been limiting the current somewhat - otherwise the power supply would have shut down.
My concern would be that there's no reason (given that things there are just not mechanically stable) that ordinary thermal cycling couldn't cause things to move around enough that it wouldn't short out again, and maybe do more damage.
In other words, I'd replace it as soon as possible.
answered 11 hours ago
Jamie Hanrahan
16.5k33775
Looks like you had a short in a power supply line near that header, which overheated things considerably. Eventually it got so hot that things separated enough that there was no longer a short. But something must have been limiting the current somewhat - otherwise the power supply would have shut down.
My concern would be that there's no reason (given that things there are just not mechanically stable) that ordinary thermal cycling couldn't cause things to move around enough that it wouldn't short out again, and maybe do more damage.
In other words, I'd replace it as soon as possible.
answered 11 hours ago
Jamie Hanrahan
16.5k33775
answered 11 hours ago
Jamie Hanrahan
16.5k33775
answered 11 hours ago
Jamie Hanrahan
16.5k33775
answered 11 hours ago
Jamie Hanrahan
16.5k33775
16.5k33775
2
Note that if the short were contained only to the USB header itself, on many modern motherboards it would probably be fine, since many motherboards now have fuses on the USB ports. That said, given this damage is in the traces on the board itself, I agree with this answer.
– Moshe Katz
11 hours ago
You may be able to just Not Use That Port anymore, and just use other ports. However, we don't know what other traces were running nearby the visibly-damaged part. I would leave it physically disconnected, back up everything and move important functions to another PC, until I'd replaced the motherboard. My maxim : always assume it will catch on fire.
– Christopher Hostage
9 hours ago
3
My assumption is that it's unlikely to burn your house down, but regular backups have saved my bacon many times even without my house burning down.. TLDR; backup important data now, and don't start writing your thesis on this computer.
– Aaron
5 hours ago
@MosheKatz If there is a fuse in the path to the actual short here its current rating is clearly much too high! :o
– Jamie Hanrahan
4 hours ago
@JamieHanrahan that's why I qualified my statement with saying that I agree with you on this case. Mine was more of a general statement.
– Moshe Katz
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2
Note that if the short were contained only to the USB header itself, on many modern motherboards it would probably be fine, since many motherboards now have fuses on the USB ports. That said, given this damage is in the traces on the board itself, I agree with this answer.
– Moshe Katz
11 hours ago
You may be able to just Not Use That Port anymore, and just use other ports. However, we don't know what other traces were running nearby the visibly-damaged part. I would leave it physically disconnected, back up everything and move important functions to another PC, until I'd replaced the motherboard. My maxim : always assume it will catch on fire.
– Christopher Hostage
9 hours ago
3
My assumption is that it's unlikely to burn your house down, but regular backups have saved my bacon many times even without my house burning down.. TLDR; backup important data now, and don't start writing your thesis on this computer.
– Aaron
5 hours ago
@MosheKatz If there is a fuse in the path to the actual short here its current rating is clearly much too high! :o
– Jamie Hanrahan
4 hours ago
@JamieHanrahan that's why I qualified my statement with saying that I agree with you on this case. Mine was more of a general statement.
– Moshe Katz
2 hours ago
2
2
Note that if the short were contained only to the USB header itself, on many modern motherboards it would probably be fine, since many motherboards now have fuses on the USB ports. That said, given this damage is in the traces on the board itself, I agree with this answer.
– Moshe Katz
11 hours ago
Note that if the short were contained only to the USB header itself, on many modern motherboards it would probably be fine, since many motherboards now have fuses on the USB ports. That said, given this damage is in the traces on the board itself, I agree with this answer.
– Moshe Katz
11 hours ago
You may be able to just Not Use That Port anymore, and just use other ports. However, we don't know what other traces were running nearby the visibly-damaged part. I would leave it physically disconnected, back up everything and move important functions to another PC, until I'd replaced the motherboard. My maxim : always assume it will catch on fire.
– Christopher Hostage
9 hours ago
You may be able to just Not Use That Port anymore, and just use other ports. However, we don't know what other traces were running nearby the visibly-damaged part. I would leave it physically disconnected, back up everything and move important functions to another PC, until I'd replaced the motherboard. My maxim : always assume it will catch on fire.
– Christopher Hostage
9 hours ago
3
3
My assumption is that it's unlikely to burn your house down, but regular backups have saved my bacon many times even without my house burning down.. TLDR; backup important data now, and don't start writing your thesis on this computer.
– Aaron
5 hours ago
My assumption is that it's unlikely to burn your house down, but regular backups have saved my bacon many times even without my house burning down.. TLDR; backup important data now, and don't start writing your thesis on this computer.
– Aaron
5 hours ago
@MosheKatz If there is a fuse in the path to the actual short here its current rating is clearly much too high! :o
– Jamie Hanrahan
4 hours ago
@MosheKatz If there is a fuse in the path to the actual short here its current rating is clearly much too high! :o
– Jamie Hanrahan
4 hours ago
@JamieHanrahan that's why I qualified my statement with saying that I agree with you on this case. Mine was more of a general statement.
– Moshe Katz
2 hours ago
@JamieHanrahan that's why I qualified my statement with saying that I agree with you on this case. Mine was more of a general statement.
– Moshe Katz
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Well, I'd say it is unlikely that it would catch fire. The traces have already burned away as much as they will. And even if they did short-circuit again for some reason, it didn't burn too bad the first time; the PCB material is called "flame retardant 4" for a reason.
I'd say if you are planning an upgrade soonish, you can keep running it in the meanwhile. It's always a good idea to clean any accumulated dust from the enclosure and to check that your fire alarm works, but that applies equally for any PC.
The actual fault possibly resides in the USB connectors in the chassis, so in addition to the motherboard you should change also the enclosure or at least leave the USB cables unconnected.
answered 9 hours ago
jpa
1093
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Well, I'd say it is unlikely that it would catch fire. The traces have already burned away as much as they will. And even if they did short-circuit again for some reason, it didn't burn too bad the first time; the PCB material is called "flame retardant 4" for a reason.
I'd say if you are planning an upgrade soonish, you can keep running it in the meanwhile. It's always a good idea to clean any accumulated dust from the enclosure and to check that your fire alarm works, but that applies equally for any PC.
The actual fault possibly resides in the USB connectors in the chassis, so in addition to the motherboard you should change also the enclosure or at least leave the USB cables unconnected.
answered 9 hours ago
jpa
1093
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Well, I'd say it is unlikely that it would catch fire. The traces have already burned away as much as they will. And even if they did short-circuit again for some reason, it didn't burn too bad the first time; the PCB material is called "flame retardant 4" for a reason.
I'd say if you are planning an upgrade soonish, you can keep running it in the meanwhile. It's always a good idea to clean any accumulated dust from the enclosure and to check that your fire alarm works, but that applies equally for any PC.
The actual fault possibly resides in the USB connectors in the chassis, so in addition to the motherboard you should change also the enclosure or at least leave the USB cables unconnected.
answered 9 hours ago
jpa
1093
Well, I'd say it is unlikely that it would catch fire. The traces have already burned away as much as they will. And even if they did short-circuit again for some reason, it didn't burn too bad the first time; the PCB material is called "flame retardant 4" for a reason.
I'd say if you are planning an upgrade soonish, you can keep running it in the meanwhile. It's always a good idea to clean any accumulated dust from the enclosure and to check that your fire alarm works, but that applies equally for any PC.
The actual fault possibly resides in the USB connectors in the chassis, so in addition to the motherboard you should change also the enclosure or at least leave the USB cables unconnected.
answered 9 hours ago
jpa
1093
answered 9 hours ago
jpa
1093
answered 9 hours ago
jpa
1093
answered 9 hours ago
jpa
1093
1093
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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You should really ask this questions on the electronics stack exchange. Please also note that modern motherboards are often in the range of 14 layers, and traces in the middle layers are often run very close to the through-holes so please don't go drilling or scraping around them .
– Sam
5 hours ago