Date: 27th March, 2025
This miniscule, niche website has begun in part thanks to my willingness to learn how to do something by myself. The entire website is static and that is the intention - a simple outlet to express myself with no nonsense that I don't yet want or need. There are many easier ways to accomplish an installation and running of a glorified blog, but I thought that learning the very basics of HTML and CSS, just enough to write these short articles, was worth it.
Similar logic has helped me learn to learn how to repair computers and phones. Back in the day, when I was still a middle schooler, my access to new, modern electronics was limited and to get by with what I had I would sometimes need to find ways to squeeze the most out of it. At times it would involve some sort of technical repair. It never was anything very interesting - no soldering or chip flashing, just replacing a keyboard on this old laptop, swapping a swollen battery and putting on a new glass back on this phone, changing that phone screen, etc. Even when there was access to a technician, I'd put my hands on the situation first because 15 year old me wasn't flush with readily available cash to bring a device for any sort of repair; 15 year old me, however, knew how to order a new phone battery online.
For those who wonder, how is it possible to learn how to repair stuff, the answer is simple. First, have something that you want or need to repair - be it your laptop, your mom's smartphone, your grandma's printer; the possibilities are plenty. Second, be patient and look for the information online. That's it - if you have a will and an hour or two, you can replace a Macbook Pro screen that the warranty service has refused to take in for servicing due to so-called cosmetic defects (and save 300 or more joyfulnesses!)
These repairs most probably will require some sort of tools, most probably screwdrivers, in more rare occasions something to heat up the glue with. Such tools are readily available online and anything that contains the most common bits for contemporary laptops, phones and Apple devices will come in handy. In more rare cases, such as the aforementioned Macbook screen replacement, make sure that you have all the necessary screws - sometimes manufacturers like to play the obscurity game, be cool and all. You can ensure the readiness of your bits by checking them, for example, against the tutorial that you will be following.
Before you start repairing just remind yourself that this is something to be patient with and that no amount of rushing your job will help avoid the humbling feeling when you have to bring in the device for a technician to repair. That, of course, could also be a learning opportunity - of patience, of humility, but also maybe a networking opportunity with your local technician? If you are sure you can do this, then start looking for the most clear tutorial there is for your situation at hand. Many, many Youtube videos, iFixit tutorials, laptop and phone manufacturers' hardware maintenance manuals most probably will end up as your source of support while carrying out the job. If something seems unclear or it starts getting confusing, take a step back, relax, maybe take a pause or come back to the task at a later time. Maybe everything is going just fine, but it turns out the seller shipped a wrong part which is barely different from the one you actually needed? Maybe all the screw organising made you dizzy? It will all be soon alright.
It is also important to make a break mid-repair in order to carry out a test of the repair's quality. Say, you just installed a new phone screen, but you're not sure, whether the flex cable could have been damaged or that it's a dud - before re-assembly take a moment to connect as little connectors as is necessary for the device to turn on and very carefully inspect the functionality. It might be annoying, especially when you have to do it so often, but it's invaluable when it comes to preventing your time from being wasted in the long run. Again - if the part was defective and you were to find out only after the full re-assembly, it will be humiliating, especially if it's something as simple as a disconnected cable.
Some devices are easier to repair than others. Some devices are manufactured to be hard to repair. The more repairs you do, the more you'll find this out. Maybe this will influence your future purchase patterns; perhaps you will talk about it with your family and friends as you help them out swap their phone battery. It is not a bad thing to not want and to not be able to make these repairs since it could be the time otherwise spent earning more money than that repair would cost at a repair shop; but these repairs also shouldn't be artificially difficult.
P. S. basic electric safety, such as unplugging the device from the power outlet or the power adapter, disconnecting the battery, pushing the power button for several minutes to discharge all the capacitors, among other things - all that goes a long way, too!