3.5mm jack into USB by mistake

Author
Discussion

technodup

Original Poster:

7,576 posts

129 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
As per title, I've stuck a headphone jack into a USB on my laptop. Died immediately and won't switch back on. I'm guessing I've shorted something but any clues as to how I fix it?

Or am I fked?

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Most inappropriate username ever hehe

technodup

Original Poster:

7,576 posts

129 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
Most inappropriate username ever hehe
Unfortunately for me its a music reference although I do have a degree in technology and business. Still useless practically though.

megaphone

10,696 posts

250 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Can you remove the battery? If so give that a try, wait a few minutes for anything to 're-set' and try to switch on?

Mr_S

414 posts

198 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Look carefully into the USB slot, you may have bent one or more of the pins, the USB socket will be permanently screwed but if you straighten the pins and stop them touching each other or any metal the laptop will probably boot fine.

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

236 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
How do you even do that?

technodup

Original Poster:

7,576 posts

129 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
FurtiveFreddy said:
How do you even do that?
Unfortunately quite easily.

I've got most stuff backed up but it means I have to use the stupid tablet now. And I hate those things.

Its an Asus something, will be out of warranty. Needed a new one anyway so it'll speed that up.

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

236 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
technodup said:
Unfortunately quite easily.

I've got most stuff backed up but it means I have to use the stupid tablet now. And I hate those things.

Its an Asus something, will be out of warranty. Needed a new one anyway so it'll speed that up.
It's usually the stupid little things which write off laptops these days.

I think the most vulnerable sockets are the mini usb/hdmi type sockets. So many similar-looking fragile plugs and sockets on these things now!

[Luddite mode] Nothing wrong with 1/4" jacks and 'D' Types if you ask me [/Luddite mode]

LeeThr

3,122 posts

170 months

Friday 31st July 2015
quotequote all
I've found shorting the 2 middle pins on a usb port tends to cut out a pc.

Found this trick out in school, could really annoy people, "look over there" they turn there head, stick something metal across the two pins in the front usb socket by the time they look back all there left with is a black screen and have to boot up again hehe

Fetchez la vache

5,568 posts

213 months

Friday 31st July 2015
quotequote all
Purity14 said:
LeeThr said:
I've found shorting the 2 middle pins on a usb port tends to cut out a pc.

Found this trick out in school, could really annoy people, "look over there" they turn there head, stick something metal across the two pins in the front usb socket by the time they look back all there left with is a black screen and have to boot up again hehe
You had USB ports in school?

I have never felt old before. frown
I used the same "look over there" trick to shuffle peoples punch cards back in the day in computer class, or add more holes with a hole punch ...

(feeling younger now?) smile



I'm lying by the way...


...I used to run a magnet down their magnetic drum

Bullett

10,873 posts

183 months

Friday 31st July 2015
quotequote all
I used to hid their floppy (5.25") floppy discs.

At least until we can a network HDD. oh yes, 5mb of glorious storage for the networked BBC model B's.


TurricanII

1,516 posts

197 months

Friday 31st July 2015
quotequote all
technodup said:
I've got most stuff backed up...
It is also probably possible to remove the hard drive and use a USB caddy to attach it to another computer to get your stuff off. Or you can just attach the hard drive inside a normal sized computer as a slave.