Hacking the Xbox

Appendix E - Debugging: Hints and Tips 255
condition the via prior to attaching the modification wire. Figure E-3
illustrates using a continuity meter to find an alternate soldering point.
Keep in mind that sometimes you will have to trace through several vias
to find the best alternate attachment point.
The next step is to attach a short jumper wire across the broken trace. Apply
a touch more soldering flux over the region of the broken trace. Cut a piece
of fine wire (about 30-gauge) that is about the length of the gap in
question. Place the wire over the gap, using the stickiness of the soldering
flux to aid the placement process. Hold the wire in place with a pair of
tweezers, and apply heat with the soldering iron until both sides have
bonded to the edges of the broken trace. Verify that the wire is in place by
gently pushing on it with the tweezers; the wire should not move. Also
inspect for shorts to neighboring traces using your continuity meter. If a
short is discovered, simply heat the jumper until it falls off the board and
try again. Figure E-4 illustrates what the repaired trace looks like.
Finally, attach the modification wire to the alternate soldering point that was
discovered previously using the continuity meter.
Figure E-4: Left, a jumper has been installed over the damaged trace. Right, the
modification wire has been successfully attached to the alternate soldering
point.