The IDC header holes on my WRT54G were filled with solder, so there was no way to stick the pins in. Here's how I figured out how to do it:
(The easy way - heat each hole and, while the solder is melted, stick a toothpick in the hole from the component side. Then just put the connector pins in the holes and solder.)
The method outlined below is waaaaay to complicated. Ripping out your pins from your header is probably not a good idea. It's in a package for a reason. Just do the toothpick trick above, and you'll come out a lot better. Besides the fact that soldering 2 pins freehand to the correct depth and straight up is waaaay harder than heating up 10 holes and cleaning them out. I was pointed here from a link that said this would be good for people who aren't that great at soldering. Trust me, the method below will not be easier for you. I almost thought it was a joke at first. I'll leave it here for completeness, but I think it should be scrapped.
here, for completeness, a really complicated way to install a header....
1) Yank out all the pins from your IDC header. They come right out.
2) Decide on two pins to solder in "manually" as keys. I picked pin 1 and pin 10.
3) Using pliers and a soldering iron, melt the solder in hole 1 and while keeping the heat on, insert the pin, try to get it reasonably straight and at the right depth, then let it set. Repeat for pin 10.
4) Now slide the IDC header on, fitting the sticking-up pins into the holes you took them out of. All the other holes should now all be lined up perfectly.
5) Push the black plastic part down. OK you've got two pins and a guide for the rest.
6) Now insert ONE more pin into the black plastic. It should stick up above the black plastic. This is good.
7) Flip the board over, so that the IDC header is on the bottom and the solder is on the top. Set the thing on a hard, flat surface.
8) Apply the soldering iron to the hole matching the pin you just stuck in, and, at the same time, press down *gently* on the board to push the pin in. It'll stop of course when the pin is flush with the black plastic. Remove the heat and let it set.
9) Congratulations! You've now soldered in a perfectly straight, perfectly aligned pin. Repeat 7 more times. Doing it this way is really fast and really accurate.
Sorry no photos, maybe next one I do I'll take pictures.
