HTC One S USB Port Replacement

Written By: Adam Redmond (and one other contributor)

Comments: 35
Favorites: 2

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes

Introduction

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for replacing the USB port on the HTC One S. Intermediate soldering skills are required to remove the component.

Tools

Buy these tools

Parts

No parts required.

Step 1 iOpener Heating

We recommend that you clean your microwave before proceeding, as any nasty gunk on the bottom may end up stuck to the iOpener.

Place the iOpener in the center of the microwave.

We recommend that you clean your microwave before proceeding, as any nasty gunk on the bottom may end up stuck to the iOpener.
Place the iOpener in the center of the microwave.
For carousel microwaves: Make sure the plate spins freely. If your iOpener gets stuck, it may overheat and burn.

Edit

Step 2

Heat the iOpener for thirty seconds.
Throughout the repair procedure, as the iOpener cools, reheat it in the microwave for an additional thirty seconds at a time.
Be careful not to overheat the iOpener during the repair. Overheating may cause the iOpener to burst.
Never touch the iOpener if it appears swollen.
If the iOpener is still too hot in the middle to touch, continue using it while waiting for it to cool down some more before reheating. A properly heated iOpener should stay warm for up to 10 minutes.

Edit

Step 3

Remove the iOpener from the microwave, holding it by one of the two flat ends to avoid the hot center.

Remove the iOpener from the microwave, holding it by one of the two flat ends to avoid the hot center.
The iOpener will be very hot, so be careful when handling it. Use an oven mitt if necessary.

Edit

Step 4 Rear Case

Handling it by the tag, place the heated iOpener across the bottom casing.

Handling it by the tag, place the heated iOpener across the bottom casing.
Let the iOpener sit for at least a minute to soften the adhesive beneath the casing.

Edit

Step 5

Gently place an opening pick in the corner of the gap between the bottom casing and rear case.

Slide the opening pick along the side of the casing, prying it away from the adhesive as you go.

Gently place an opening pick in the corner of the gap between the bottom casing and rear case.
Slide the opening pick along the side of the casing, prying it away from the adhesive as you go.

Edit

Step 6

Use your fingers to pull the bottom casing off the rest of the phone.

Use your fingers to pull the bottom casing off the rest of the phone.

Edit

Step 7

Starting at the groove near the headphone jack, use a plastic opening tool to lift the top casing.

Starting at the groove near the headphone jack, use a plastic opening tool to lift the top casing.

Edit

Step 8

Use your fingers to pull the top casing off of the rest of the phone.

Use your fingers to pull the top casing off of the rest of the phone.

Edit

Step 9

Remove the following screws holding the rear case to the rest of the phone:

Remove the following screws holding the rear case to the rest of the phone:
Two 3.15 mm Phillips #00 screws
One 4.15 Torx T5 screw
One 4 mm Torx T5 screw

Edit

Step 10

Place your fingers on either side of the phone and gently push up on the rear case.

It is important to start from the bottom of the phone because the rear case wraps around the front of the phone at the top which makes it impossible to start prying from there.

Place your fingers on either side of the phone and gently push up on the rear case.
It is important to start from the bottom of the phone because the rear case wraps around the front of the phone at the top which makes it impossible to start prying from there.

Edit

Step 11

Pull the rear case away from the rest of the phone with your hands.

Pull the rear case away from the rest of the phone with your hands.

Edit

Step 12 Battery

Using the pointed end of a spudger, lift the battery cable and release the connector.

Using the pointed end of a spudger, lift the battery cable and release the connector.

Edit

Step 13

Switching to the flat end of the spudger, work your way underneath the battery and peel it away from the adhesive.

Switching to the flat end of the spudger, work your way underneath the battery and peel it away from the adhesive.

Edit

Step 14

Remove the battery from the phone.

Edit

Step 15 Motherboard

Remove the three 3.15mm Phillips #00 screws from the turquoise case.

Remove the three 3.15mm Phillips #00 screws from the turquoise case.

Edit

Step 16

Using a plastic opening tool, lift the turquoise case from the end near the headphone jack.

Using a plastic opening tool, lift the turquoise case from the end near the headphone jack.

Edit

Step 17

Remove the turquoise cover from the phone.

Remove the turquoise cover from the phone.

Edit

Step 18

A camera filter is now free to move, so remove it using tweezers.

A camera filter is now free to move, so remove it using tweezers.

Edit

Step 19

Use tweezers to lift the yellow polyimide tape that covers the ZIF connectors.

Use tweezers to lift the yellow polyimide tape that covers the ZIF connectors.

Edit

Step 20

Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift the white tab on the largest ZIF connector opposite the USB connector.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift the white tab on the largest ZIF connector opposite the USB connector.

Edit

Step 21

Use the pointed edge of a spudger to work the ZIF cable out of its connector.

To do this, you may have to slowly work both sides until the whole cable is released.

Use the pointed edge of a spudger to work the ZIF cable out of its connector.
To do this, you may have to slowly work both sides until the whole cable is released.

Edit

Step 22

Repeat the procedure from steps 19 and 20 to remove the cables from the remaining ZIF connectors.

Repeat the procedure from steps 19 and 20 to remove the cables from the remaining ZIF connectors.

Edit

Step 23

Using the pointed end of the spudger, pop the antenna cable from its connector on the motherboard.

Using the pointed end of the spudger, pop the antenna cable from its connector on the motherboard.

Edit

Step 24

Remove the 3.15 mm Phillips #00 screw from the motherboard.

Remove the 3.15 mm Phillips #00 screw from the motherboard.

Edit

Step 25

Remove the motherboard from the rest of the phone.

Remove the motherboard from the rest of the phone.

Edit

Step 26 USB Port

Using tweezers, remove the adhesive tape around the USB port.

Using tweezers, remove the adhesive tape around the USB port.

Edit

Step 27

Using a soldering iron set at 400 degrees Celsius (752 degrees Fahrenheit), heat the solder joints lateral to the USB port. Use a pair of tweezers to lift the port from the board.

Using a soldering iron set at 400 degrees Celsius (752 degrees Fahrenheit), heat the solder joints lateral to the USB port. Use a pair of tweezers to lift the port from the board.
Extreme caution should be taken when working with high-temperature equipment to reduce the chance of burns.
Care should be taken while desoldering the joints as the heat could melt the plastic casing on the port. It is strongly recommended that soldering surface-mounted components guide is referenced before proceeding.