USB 3.0 Header sucks. Please help.

[NoahField]

When I first built my PC a few years ago I did literally 0 cable management. Tonight I opened my case to clean out the dust, and saw the horrible mess of cables I'd left there. So decided to do some cable management.

 

Long story short, was having trouble getting the USB 3.0 header out of the MOBO, saw other people online had similar issues, but I kept trying. Eventually I got it off...except the plastic pin protector thing came with it. Now I can't manage to put that plastic bit on, think maybe one or more of the pins may have been slightly bent. Impossible to get on. Any ideas or tips on how to proceed? 

 

All help appreciated, thanks!!

 

Also feel free to call me stupid or whatever you please, I deserve it. 

[jaslion]

All pins seem to be fine and even straight so. Put the plastic back on, plug it back in and act like it didn't happen :p. But for real just do that and see if it still works. If it does glue it back on carefully and next time be a bit more gentle.

[Senzelian]

This has happened to me more than just once. It's not your fault; they just suck...

 

The pins don't look very bend. You can try to get the plastic protector on again - believe me, it's not impossible - or plug the USB connector directly into the pins. This can lead to the pins bending and breaking off tho. 

[NoahField]

Thanks for the tips guys...

I managed to get the USB connector directly onto the pins, which actually straightened them up enough that I was able to force the plastic bit back onto the pins. A little bit barbaric, and I swear I almost broke the pins so many times (accidentally or on purpose).

 

Everything looks "good" now, and the cable is back in, so I don't reckon I'll need any glue. Tip for anyone that comes across this with a similar issue or just a stuck header....if the plastic bit starts to come off, push it back on. Don't just say "FK it" and pull the whole thing off because you've been pulling at the header for half an hour. 

 

Peace.