How can I replace a microchip in my Amstrad sky+ box?

You can replace the chip using a very high intensity light to heat the chip up and then it will come off the board. The light must be directed very well so as not to affect other components. The new chip could be put on in the same fashion. But the chip is probably programmed with a specific program and you wouldn't have that or the programmer to program it with.

SkyGuy
September 2012

Those chips are 'stuck on' in the factory by machines using Surface Mount Technology. This makes the board extremely difficult to repair and so mostly repairers replace the whole board. However (here's another gotcha) due to the high level of large scale integration (to keep the price down) the boards are expensive and therefore it is usually cheaper to replace the box rather than repair it.

If you call Sky they will do this for about £65.

t
July 2007