I desoldered the regulator and the CP86 capacitor, took measurements between ground and PT24, and there’s a short. I’ve done some research, and this is very bad news. There’s a high probability that the SoC is shorted, thus ruling out any possibility of a viable repair.
The voltage measured for the good board is indeed quite different from yours.It is indeed possible that the short circuit of the SOC caused this component to be damaged.
And what is PT24?
Sorry tp24 its test point 24. The regulator output line
Given the short circuit between ground and TP24, can we conclude that the SoC is dead and the board is irreparable?
Yes, in that case, this might directly damage the SoC. You can contact the merchant to arrange for a factory return and repair.
I’m not going to let this go unresolved. I just ordered the regulator online; I have to wait a few weeks for it to arrive before I can try soldering it and see what happens. I know the chances are slim, but I’m not going to let this opportunity pass me by just because I didn’t buy a regulator that costs less than a dollar.
In a few days, I’ll post whether the board is definitely dead or if it’s working again.