CIRCUIT REVIVAL

Workshop Gallery IV

March 10, 2025 Hands On Hardware: “Ryan Strikes Back Again”

On March 10, 2025, Circuit Revival was back with another workshop titled “HandsOnHardware: Computer Repair Workshop” for Algoma University students, featuring returning guest speaker and mentor Ryan Fukunaga. This workshop built upon Mr.Fukunaga’s previous workshop, offering students practical experience in troubleshooting and repairing laptops.

Ryan began with an overview of hardware diagnostics, explaining how to identify issues such as overheating, boot failures, and hardware malfunctions. He highlighted key repair techniques, including testing power supply components, reseating memory modules, and replacing faulty storage devices, emphasizing the importance of systematic troubleshooting. The session also covered sustainable repair practices, encouraging students to reuse functional components and minimize e-waste.

During the hands-on portion, students practiced disassembling laptops, replacing internal components, and applying thermal paste to improve cooling efficiency. They explored resolving common issues like loose connections and BIOS errors, guided by Ryan’s expert demonstrations. These exercises helped students understand workflows such as safe part replacements and hardware diagnostics, essential for real-world repair work.

By leading his second session, Ryan reinforced the importance of hands-on repair skills, helping students gain confidence in maintaining and fixing their devices. His mentorship not only enhanced technical knowledge but also promoted sustainability, encouraging participants to view repair as both a practical skill and a step toward reducing electronic waste.

Ryan, starts the workshop with a demo of a damaged laptop, ways to fix it.
Students going through damage diagnosis methods and repair technique guides.
Ryan demonstrating how to open up laptops, identify parts, and replace the damage components.
Most important items for a open-source repairmen; USB with Linux image.
“Open Source is the way to do it, if you are a non-profit like FreeGeeks Toronto!”
“Lets strip down an unrepairable laptop!”
“Lets have some fun refurbishing!”
Students opening up the laptops.
“Student inclusion in these hands on workshop is what motivate me in organizing these workshop at the university” – Prof. Ushninsh Sengupta (Project Lead)
“Crank that screwdriver and get those part out to recycle.”
Students opening up parts to recycle.
“Lets open those laptops now!”
“Prof. Gupta might be a CESD professor, but he’s secretly
a tech wizard!”
“Women in tech? Absolutely the best!”
“Laptops get a little dusty too, so don’t forget to give them a spa day!”
“Lets take care of the broken fan and the heatsink”
Prof. Gupta, Project Lead (left) and Ryan Fukunaga, FreeGeeks TO (Right)

Photo credits to POV(Photos Of Virtue): The photography club of Algoma University.