Be careful with test pad, dude. They're bypassing protection circuit entirely (connected to chip directly), so using them as everyday USB 2.0 solution is putting Your daughter's N900 into risk of unrepairable damage.

Also, actually, there *are* perfectly working solutions on this very forum - from "fixing" design fail before port break (to save it), to actually repairing port, even in case, when USB pads are destroyed and useless. you just haven't searched effectively

Anyway, thanks for pictures and story. It's very good, that another N900 was saved from being trashed by Nokia "oxym.oron" care.

Just really, really avoid using this port when not necessary (like reflash), because every static (harmless normally) bring great danger now. Frying chip is no joy. Also, there is possibility that You won't be able to get real USB high-speed, due to lack of twisted-pair cable setup and shielding.

// Edit

dr_frost_dk, very interesting idea of re-creating protection circuits. I wonder if it would be doable in a way, that everything can still sit inside N900 + with achieving high-speed like in original, fully working port.

Parts shouldn't be expensive - if it would fit inside phone, that may be ultimate solution for every "hopeless" case, when soldering to internal parts (after port pads) isn't possible.

Damn, it would even allow to get full-sized port inside, for example, mugen cover