I've found several articles dealing with repairing the usb on the Nokia N900, nothing on the N810. Seems these things are surface mounted and difficult or impossible to replace. Given that you cannot flash without a cable to pc, it may be a no go. I will probably disassemble it anyway to see if I could swap the motherboard from the good (but not as shiny) one.

You can see that I have absolutely too much free time.

This was interesting, but I have no idea about the corresponding points on the N810.

http://www.quanttrom.com/nokia-n900-usb-port/

Don't look at the n900 unless you have one ..
Reference at this point to the n900 will simply confuse the issue...
n810 and n900 are sun and moon physically ....structurally apart.
Including port repair.
It is the dreaded nightmare for the n900...
since the n900 usb port ALSO does double duty as the charging port.
Whereas the n810 and even the n800 usb port is NOT a charging port...
Don't confuse the issue with different device models.
Stick to what is known...unless a n900 user has posted similarities which can be directly referred to concerning your situation.


Hunting found this...
cheap enough...
easier than cannibalizing your other n810.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Charger-mini-...YAAOxyoA1RVUH3
THIS is exactly what you need.

The compat is for this part is with the Nokia 6600s and 8800
consequent ebay searches for the port part specifically using the wording ...say .. "Nokia 6600s 8800 micro usb port" ....will probably net more price options...

Thanks. And the pictures really help. I won't cannibalize the good N810 at all. If I can't replace the usb I will just switch the motherboards. I don't know if there is any advantage with a WiMax anyway. I wouldn't care about the usb port if not for flashing.

wimax I believe is limited and disappearing in the USA.
I believe it is worth keeping once fixed and wifi will not be compromised by not having wimax.

The benefit in repair would be as a collector item.
for your own enjoyment.
or resale.
Since in Canada, Europe and elsewhere wimax should work fine.
It will also fetch far more than a standard n810 in resale if brought back up to snuff.
It would fetch even more if you tripped it out, and set everything up with a clean user-untarnished diablo turbo on a card with say all the bells and whistles...including easy deb. another couple partitions and penetration testing tools .
Why then....it should fetch a very pretty penny.
It then could be considered being ....for all intents and purposes.... a pawnee tablet.

Remember, I'm just a simple soul who likes a pocket device to read my ebooks and occasionally check my email, etc. while waiting for my wife to shop.

yeah...
I started out that way...

Still love 'em for my books, music, etc.
But there is a ton of cool stuff...
easy enough to do and understand.

In fact....
once you have the knack of doing the basics...right up to cloning to sd card and back up ..etc.
You will be shocked how easy it all really was...
Just guessing ...
but like most curious and inquisitive souls who end up at maemo....
you'll probably go far from where you originally thought you would go with the devices.

Finally managed to download FBReader and a couple Maemo catalogs on the N810 with bad usb. It now appears I will not have to reflash.

Next I'll go through your stuff and see how to back-up the system, as I cannot flash. Haven't found a source for the micro port. Only in UK and they won't ship. No hurry now.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Good ...for the moment.
Find one though.
Riding on top of another's unknown negligence, (I'd call it that for sure considering the port is shot...on the n810 it is not a "delicate" thing to ruin...it takes effort to do that....so...negligence is a fitting word..) problems, etc...
I don't see doing much to it ...as being worthwhile until you can flash firmware to clean it out and start fresh and prob / issue free.

That's odd..
the ebay link I gave you is just 1 of many in a list of compat. ports that do ship worldwide...

Just received the Ebay N800 today. It is like new, in the original box. I like this much better than the N810. It is more like a 770 on steroids.

It detects my wlan. Flashed with OS2008 and installed 32GB SD.

good for you.
excellent too that the cable you have works for your n800.
yup the n8x0's have more ooomph.
I suggest once you have your n8x0's set up...
(don't do this until you have everything the way you ultimately want it...since it is easy to forget it is enabled..and it will definitely be a nuisance if enabled, forgotten and continued alterations to system. Hence...do what you need to do...THEN enable the ) virtual memory.

Yes the n8x0's seem snappy...definitely snappier than the 770,
but you are currently running only 128 mb of ram...this can effectively be doubled to 256 mb of ram in the virtual memory section under settings, memory.

But the smoothest snappiest you'll get the sucker ever to...
is yet again diablo turbo for n8x0...with virtual 256mb of ram...
or swap...
So if you want your n8x0 at peak performance, best battery consumption...etc etc...
console tools, cssu, asui, telescope, diablo turbo, cloning to card, and lastly back up to pc....