A pin or cable is bent, broken, or missing

Many computer cables have pins on one or both of the connector ends, and those pins cannot be bent, broken, or missing. If you use a cable with a damaged or missing pin, it may cause connectivity issues between the computer and the other device. A bad cable may result in lost data, which causes problems such as a malfunctioning printer or video distortion.

If you find that one of your cables has a bent, broken, or missing pin, see the following suggestions.

Straighten the pin

If a pin is bent, it may be possible to straighten the pin out using needle-nose pliers. Depending on the severity of the bend, you could straighten the pin out enough to make it usable again. However, if the bend is severe, it may not be possible to repair. Also, be aware that you could cause damage to other pins when attempting to straighten a pin out, so take extra care when using pliers to straighten a pin.

Repair a missing pin

If a pin is broken, you can try taking the cable to a computer repair shop and have them replace the pin. In most cases, however, the computer repair shop recommends you replace the whole cable. The cost of replacing the broken pin may be more than the cost of a new cable, when you figure in labor costs. Some cables cannot be repaired in this manner, requiring you to replace the whole cable.

Replace the cable and prevent future damage

If the cable cannot be fixed, the only other option is to replace the cable. In the future, to prevent cable damage, be careful when attaching a cable to a computer or related device (monitor, printer, etc.). Attaching the cable slowly helps prevent damage. Never force a cable that doesn't want to connect.