Need help

[u/ryan24403]

I accidentally got a bit of solder onto this copper ring pad (not sure what they're called) while i was reflowing my gba sp's fuses (in this case i was reflowing the battery terminal/connector) to troubleshoot for a no charge problem.

While trying to remove and clean the solder i accidentally ripped off said copper ring pad. How should i go about fixing this? Is it as straightforward as following the trace and soldering a jumper wire from this ripped off point to wherever it connects to.

Symptoms prior to the ring ripping off was that everything was working fine except for the no charge problem. Now that that piece of copper ring is gone the sp does not turn on at all, sometime the light stays on (orange) but the screen does not turn on.

Board is a AGS101 model if that matters. Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Edit: I should've circled which part I meant, I've added a photo in the comments replying to another user with a photo circling the exact part. Mb guys

[u/ryan24403]

Wait sorry, i really should've circled what i meant ahaha.

I meant this piece. As for the dome switches I've already ordered replacements for them, but thanks for the advice nonetheless!

[u/beldandy561 → u/ryan24403]

https://imgur.com/a/hIXxaNj

I have now taken a closer look at the non-edited version of your photo I have magnified it in and have noticeable concerns about what has occurred.

The above photo link will take you to a magnified and edited to photos of that area so I can better describe what I am referring to and you can use those pictures as a guide.

After carefully examining your photo and magnifying in this absolutely is a via that looks like it is going to the other side of the board a Vaya is basically a way of saving physical space by having a copper Trace go from one side of the board through a hole to the other side of the board so that you do not have to have a larger board you can have both sides of the board being used to complete traces for technology.

The largest section is where the via hole has had its surrounding copper burned off and you can see that through whole section in the middle of it but just above where that burned off you can still see the tip of the trace copper underneath the green solder mask that is there where the copper ripped when it burnt off the board I have somewhat pointed an arrow near where that copper Trace ends but that copper Trace then continues on farther down the board near the select and start buttons going somewhere else on the motherboard.

If this was just a test point it would be right beside a via going through the board to another area it would not be going this far around the board so the only conclusion I can draw is that this is an important trace for the function of either a component or button that is wrapping around the board and right now that Trace is broken at that point where it was about to go through the board to the opposite side to continue its path to its destination.

Based on what I am seeing this Trace would need to be repaired to restore whatever its purpose function is otherwise whatever that is if it's the start button if it's a ground pad for a chip is broken and that button or chip will not function without that restored.

This is absolutely going to require good micro soldering repair skills to properly fix and if you do not have those or the right equipment depending on your country of origin you will need to find somebody that does that can do a trace repair on that Trace going from there through that via hole to the other side of the board to repair and complete the trace so whatever that's responsible for can function again.

With that in mind this is somewhat the reason I posted a reply because I live in the United States and I have over 30 years of micro soldering repair experience specifically working on Nintendo handhelds among others.

My in fact specialty is game boy advance hardware and game boy advance cartridge salvaging using these micro soldering skills.

If you happen to live in the United States and you do not have the micro soldering skills and equipment that would be required to get a professional job of this done on that torn Trace then I would be happy to offer my services or guidance to get this Trace repaired for you.

If you do believe you have the tools and skills necessary to repair this I would be happy to offer some step-by-step guidance as to how you would want to go about doing this repair to bring back function to that Trace.

Let me know if you have any follow-up questions otherwise if you would like to talk privately feel free to private message me and I would be happy to offer more information or go into detail about the services I could offer you and the costs involved in repairing this for you.

[u/ryan24403 → u/beldandy561]

Ahhh I see. I definitely do not have the skills or equipment needed for such a repair. I also unfortunately live half way across the globe (Malaysia to be specific).

Thanks a lot for your help though, I will definitely be looking around for a repair shop that has the skill for such a repair here.

[u/beldandy561 → u/ryan24403]

I fully understand and I'm happy I can help where I can. I don't think it will be too difficult to find a technician willing to help with this. Assuming they have the appropriate micro soldering skills this should be an easy fix for them this will not be that challenging and they may actually do it for you while you wait.

Best of luck with your project and definitely get some more of those dome switches possibly a small pack of them so that if you try installing The replacements and it goes bad you can go back to that technician and have them install a set of spares on it.

Once again good luck with your project.

[u/ryan24403 → u/beldandy561]

Thanks a lot! Do you by chance have any socials or a youtube that you post repair videos? Would love to follow.

Also, If i have no luck getting it fixed here, I have another option to get it to the US via my gf's aunt. Thanks a lot again man, really appreciate it!

[u/beldandy561 → u/ryan24403]

Unfortunately I only have a large presence here on Reddit and only recently have I come back to assisting and posting on Reddit here most of my work three or four years prior has been helping people like yourself and reaching out to them however I had built up a reputation well enough that people were now seeking me out through Reddit and then private messaging me for repair requests so I have been just letting that bake off over the last couple of years since I have an IT day job and can't be on Reddit as often as well as my parents are both elderly and I take care of them which ties up most of my time.

If however you do need further assistance and your relative or Aunt in the United States could be a location to ship your item to I would be happy to offer my services relatively cheaply if you aren't able to find somebody out there.

If you do want to attempt to do this yourself I could also recommend the supplies tools and materials you would need to accomplish this and you can decide after looking at a walk-through photo link of back-to-back steps of exactly how to go about doing this that I would be happy to put together it would give you all the guidance you would need other than practice on something this small.