That shows how little testing they do after the repair... I always test out everything after and during the repair to make sure all works smoothly.
I hope things work out nicely for you ~

Yeah, I was so disappointed when they installed the digitizer with the bad button. It's so basic to test components before you seal everything up! I'm just a hobbyist and even I know that... And what kind of professional breaks pins off the motherboard just by connecting and disconnecting something? They tried to tell me that's common, and I'm like 'um, only if you're not careful...'. Didn't say that to them but really wanted to.

Blargh. Next time I will pay for the stupid Applecare Warranty, even though I think it's overpriced. ^^;;

Yes you're completely right...

"I'm just a hobbyist"
Would you elaborate on that one ?

I've just taken apart some electronics--mostly handheld game consoles--for fun. Fixed most of them. :3 So messing around with electronics is a hobby.

You just got massive amount of awesome-points from me hahahaha

Whoo! I liked following your progress on the computer on Weasyl. When you first posted the pics of the cables I was like "what is going on??" lol

So at the risk of losing some of those awesome points, the 3ds xl got the better of me. I bought one off ebay with a bad top lcd--way overpaid for it, but I wanted one I could be sure of the issue. I got it all disassembled and replaced the lcd, but then when it came to feeding the ribbon cable through the case, I managed to tear the ribbon cable for the camera in the process. At least it was the camera cable and not the lcd cable--lcd is way more expensive to replace! I've never messed with repairing/replacing ribbon cables, but then I'd never torn one before this repair.

I never did find a good way to feed the ribbon cable through the case hinge... It's been sitting on my workbench for about a year now. >.>

I gave up on that project because of lack of processing power, but it got upgraded albeit it takes whole lot more space now...
http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/NewMusicPlayer.jpg
http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/NewMusicPlayer1.jpg
http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/NewMusicPlayer2.jpg
http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/NewMusicPlayer3.jpg
I ran into some timing issues, the slot on cables won't work because apparently the wires are too long. I'll have to rethink some bits now.
Here's whole lot more electronics, art, food, music and games related stuff : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/

Ribbons are pretty much impossible to repair, at least ones that get some kind of strain on them such as the ones that go through the hinge of a device. it is incredibly difficult to solder on the ribbon and get the masking off to even expose the copper. The copper layer is very fine and easy to rip off, and on modern stuff the traces are so fine you'll not really be able to solder on anything them anyway...

I have only messed around with a DSlite, and I had some problems with getting the ribbon through the hinge also. I no longer remember what I did there though, I imagine it isn't much different on the 3DS, and afterall humans are the ones assembling those things. There's definitely only one way to go about it.

Nice site. You are running a repair business? Or is it just for fun?

I reshelled a DSLite, fixed about half dozen 3DS systems, and attempted just one 3DS XL. The ribbon cables in the upper shell were a pain in all of them, but much much worse on the XL. I actually couldn't figure out how to detach the top part of the shell from the bottom on the XL because guides are limited right now. They barely show you how to do anything because that's how repair shops are making their money at the moment.

Good to know it's not really feasible to repair ribbon cables. I feel less bad about ordering a whole new camera now. :p

Umm so I have to look around the house when I get home, but I might have some leftover car speakers from when I replaced mine... I miiight have finally just thrown them out because I had nothing to do with them, but they might still be sitting in a box in the corner of our living room, LOL. If I have them, could you use them for anything? They're nothing special, just stock speakers from a Chevy Cobalt.

I don't run a business per se but I occasionally repair stuff for others but most of the time it is all for fun. I used to work at a repairshop but I mostly worked on computers there. I'm the one who can handle the hardest problems in my area, people bring me the things they cannot figure out themselves haha.

Did Nintendo fix the hinges on the new stuff ?
Ribbons are a PITA, when one is broken you'll definitely want to replace rather than attempt repair (any repair will be highly temporary). When I am back in home (helping parents with some renovation) I can show you some stuff I did to a DSlite I got for free that came in two pieces lol.

They would certainly be useful, but I think any shipping costs would probably be a little too much, unless you live in Estonia or some other neighboring country lol.

I think I ended up tossing those speakers but I found something potentially more interesting: my set of old computer speakers. They're by M-Audio and I believe the item # is AV 30. They were very good speakers up until they failed... They started making strange buzzing sounds one day and died a few days later. I kept them because I thought it would be fun to open them up and see what was wrong with them, but I never got around to it.

If you want to PM me your City and Zip Code I can run the shipping through an estimator and see if it'd be worth shipping them?

Oh wow, those speakers look really good. Not quite sure what died in them but it is certainly the integrated amp in some way. They could be turned into a pretty nice pair of passive speakers though being 4ohm it means you don't have much choice as far as amps go, it seems most stuff out there is designed for 8ohm load (the amp I am building takes 2 ohms with no sweat haha).

Sending you a PM now.