Bent IDE HD pin on MB

[jrockfl]

I bent one of the pins for the IDE cable on the MB and I dont think I can straighten it out. It's almost flattened in half. The cable still goes on. Will the hd still work?

[Gettinbye]

Probably not-if it does, it probably won't work correctly. You'll need to try and straighten it out (VERY, VERY CAREFULLY), or run your HDD from a different IDE channel.

[Sixpac_XP]

Probably not..

try heating up the pins (very very very carefully with a bit of blow from a blow dryer) and then take fine needle nose plyers and pull the pin fairly straight.

Be carefull NOT to rock the pin back and forth or else it will break and keep heat away from areas around your motherboard.

[jrockfl]

i will try to bend it back, but i dont think i can.

its the primary ide. can i setup the harddrive as a the master on the second ide?

[jmichna]

Originally posted by jrockfl
...its the primary ide. can i setup the harddrive as a the master on the second ide?

Yes, just change boot order in BIOS, from (usually denoted) IDE-0 to IDE-1.

[jrockfl]

the pin was flattened, i was able to straighten it out, but half broke off.

think it will work now?

[MitaDC]

probably as long as it is touching the IDE connector in the IDE cable itself...try it out..

[elroy]

If the half of the pin left doesn't make contact in the cable. Stuff a tiny piece of aluminum foil in the hole of the IDE cable that goes on that pin. This should help make the connection.

[jmichna]

Originally posted by elroy
If the half of the pin left doesn't make contact in the cable. Stuff a tiny piece of aluminum foil in the hole of the IDE cable that goes on that pin. This should help make the connection.

Good idea, but you might be better off with a very short strand or two of bare copper wire to put in the hole.

[haxxorpoop]

Just use a piece of conductive metal to connect the two if their not touching, but it should work otherwise.