Database Develop

Can a broken screen be fixed?

HELP! A few days ago I sat on my PDA as it sat in my pocket and cracked the screen beyond repair. It's a spiderweb now that displays random colors. Is there any way to affordably replace the screen?
Thanks

screen repair.
these people can fix your screen: PocketPCTechs.com

if you found a new screen you can fix it your self ,its easy
just download the service manual and follow the steps for opening you device and change the screen with a new one
here is the service manual
http://rapidshare.com/files/50116541/htc_xda_ii-mda_ii_service_manual.pdf

but make sure you buy the correct screen there are 2 types A and B, B has a gold ribbon, A has a silver ribbon

dont know where you live but these are a uk supplier
Code:
http://www.apexlaptops.co.uk/htclcd.htm
(straight to the right page on their site)

Replacement screen
Thats way too much for a screen. I see them on ebay for half that price.
I have a Qtek 2020i and I had it all apart. The P/N 60H00022-03 is the screen I have in mine. It uses a little plug that connects it to the motherboard.
This is a link that explains in detail how to open the PDA: http://www.modaco.com/HTC-Alpine-dissassembly-t232579.html
BE CAREFULL taking off the antenna cover. The little tabs will break. I was able to do it, so you should be able to do it too. Good luck.
The manual in this post: http://rapidshare.com/files/50116541/htc_xda_ii-mda_ii_service_manual.pdf3 is for a different PDA. Be carefull, the antenna cover come off differently.

skeeve666 said:
but make sure you buy the correct screen there are 2 types A and B, B has a gold ribbon, A has a silver ribbon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mentioned the two types of screens, do you know the effects of the wrong one being used. Cos i think that might be a solution to the problem im having.

DJKai said:
You mentioned the two types of screens, do you know the effects of the wrong one being used. Cos i think that might be a solution to the problem im having.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As best I can tell, the type "B" has a ribbon cable that is on the side. It has a little plug that plugs into the motherboard. This is the type I have in my Qtek 2020i. I believe the type "A" has a ribbon that is on the top and does not have a plug. I do not know how it attaches. They are not interchangeable.
This link will show you different screens: http://www.apexlaptops.co.uk/htclcd.htm
This is the screen I have.TD035STEB2 They must use their own part # .

Having just taken apart an XDA II in the (sadly vain) hope it's screen was the same as mine (I lucked out), I can tell you the following:-
The 'B' type screen (also known as a generation II screen I think) is the one you mentioned with the ribbon cable that has the small plastic plug on it, that plugs into a matching socket on the mainboard.
The 'A' type screen used in eary gen XDAIIi and XDAII (generation I screen) had a slightly different flexi circuit board at the back, the ribbon cable still extends out the side like the other screen, but it just ends in a row of shiny metal contacts. This plugs into a matching socket on the mainboard that has a flip-up latch to secure the cable once it's in postion. obviously there is no easy way to use a 'B' screen in an 'A' device and vice-versa as the actual device mainboards have different connectors and wiring layouts.
When replacing the screen it is easily possible to do it in under the 20 minutes of life you get out of the backup battery, so you shouldnt lose any data
(I have a B type screen on order from ebay atm to fix my PDA)
P.S while waiting for your replacement screen, use SOTI Pocket Controller to 'drive' your PDA from the PC (handy for finding out who the hell has texted you!) and Microsoft Voice Command will mean it can still be used for sending/receiving phone calls in 'blind' mode very easily.
Also, if searching on ebay for your replacement screen you can easily see in photographs the difference between the two ribbon connectors: all you need is one that matches the connector on your broken screen.
Hope this is of some help -
Joe Pinball, now owner of a surplus 'A' (plain ribbon, no plug) type screen if anyone wants to make me an offer?

Joe Pinball said:
Having just taken apart an XDA II in the (sadly vain) hope it's screen was the same as mine (I lucked out), I can tell you the following:-
The 'B' type screen (also known as a generation II screen I think) is the one you mentioned with the ribbon cable that has the small plastic plug on it, that plugs into a matching socket on the mainboard.
The 'A' type screen used in eary gen XDAIIi and XDAII (generation I screen) had a slightly different flexi circuit board at the back, the ribbon cable still extends out the side like the other screen, but it just ends in a row of shiny metal contacts. This plugs into a matching socket on the mainboard that has a flip-up latch to secure the cable once it's in postion. obviously there is no easy way to use a 'B' screen in an 'A' device and vice-versa as the actual device mainboards have different connectors and wiring layouts.
When replacing the screen it is easily possible to do it in under the 20 minutes of life you get out of the backup battery, so you shouldnt lose any data
(I have a B type screen on order from ebay atm to fix my PDA)
P.S while waiting for your replacement screen, use SOTI Pocket Controller to 'drive' your PDA from the PC (handy for finding out who the hell has texted you!) and Microsoft Voice Command will mean it can still be used for sending/receiving phone calls in 'blind' mode very easily.
Also, if searching on ebay for your replacement screen you can easily see in photographs the difference between the two ribbon connectors: all you need is one that matches the connector on your broken screen.
Hope this is of some help -
Joe Pinball, now owner of a surplus 'A' (plain ribbon, no plug) type screen if anyone wants to make me an offer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all the info. I thought the "A" screens ribbon cable extended from the top. Having never seen one, I learned something...

Thanks for the info. I ordered one from ebay which came from China and installed it and it works!

NHL Fever said:
Thanks for the info. I ordered one from ebay which came from China and installed it and it works!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how much did it cost you? just bought my dad one for his xda2 from uk for £36 inc postage. seen as screen are the same for both.

Hey guys if the screen is showing a blue tinge on what was suppose to be a white colour. Would it be a problem with the newly installed LCD/ or would it have been incurred by the damage it had before hence replacing the screen.
Thanks,

DJKai said:
Hey guys if the screen is showing a blue tinge on what was suppose to be a white colour. Would it be a problem with the newly installed LCD/ or would it have been incurred by the damage it had before hence replacing the screen.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you sure you removed the protective plastic when you installed it? or you have a cheapo screen protector?
i have noticed on my dads spanking new screen the colours are alot deeper than my oldie-second-hand-when-i-bought-it unit never owed a xda2/i from new so never seen a new screen LMAO
p.s. bought mine from ebay seller said the screen was scratched to hell, i have some of that cream that polishs out scratchs on screens so wasnie bothered, turned out it was only a screen protector it was perfect under it.
moral of the story is ALWAYS BUY A GOOD SCREEN PROTECTOR it will save you cash!

keyboard not working after disassembling

i recently disassembled my tilt to find out if i could tighten the hinges because the hinge were loose but ended having problems with the keyboard. i hooked up the wire that connects from the keyboard to the motherboard. now the problem is that i could only use half of the character.
do you guys encounter this kind of problem? and did you guys fix it?
thanks

draztik_beast said:
i recently disassembled my tilt to find out if i could tighten the hinges because the hinge were loose but ended having problems with the keyboard. i hooked up the wire that connects from the keyboard to the motherboard. now the problem is that i could only use half of the character.
do you guys encounter this kind of problem? and did you guys fix it?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PM Mike, he will lead you in the right direction.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=335322

Buy a new keyboard with flex cable on ebay.
I replaced my tilt keybard (with silver keys) with the original all black keys.
The keys, the flex cable, the board ~ everything is one solid peace that's soldered and glued together, it's not removable (without damaging). The flex cable is actually sensitive and can break. If you try to mess with the keyboard, putting a lot of pressure on the silver part under they keyboard, or make a dent on the silver part under the keyboard (in the effort of trying to separate the keys and the board, which is impossible) ~ you might end up pressuring the flex board/wires and cause only half of the keys work and half doesn't, and the cap-lock and func light won't turn on.
Remember to get the keyboard with the whole frame and flex wires and not just the plastic keys by itself.
The whole black rim, flex cable/board and the silver bottom piece is all soldered together as one solid piece. The plastic keys are like sticker, lay on top of the board and flex.
(your board and flex seem broken anyway, but...)
If you only buy the keys without the whole board together, you will have to rip out the old plastic keys layer (because it's just a layer of sticker on top of everything) ~ do it carefully, or you might rip out the flex cables/board by accident.
Let me know if you want some pixs that I took when I replaced my keys.

draztik_beast said:
i recently disassembled my tilt to find out if i could tighten the hinges because the hinge were loose but ended having problems with the keyboard. i hooked up the wire that connects from the keyboard to the motherboard. now the problem is that i could only use half of the character.
do you guys encounter this kind of problem? and did you guys fix it?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wad there possibly a alternative from getting a whole new board as i only replaced the screen mine.............

I had a similar problem when replacing the screen on my wife's Tilt recently. I took it apart a second time and put it together again very carefully, particularly with the small ribbon that connects to the motherboard, as I believe that is the ribbon that connects the keyboard to the motherboard.
Take a look at this video to see the part I am referring to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96iXd5jG2-U#t=2m45s

screen problem, most of the time do not work

Hi, i think i have problem with my screen, it's not work anymore, so I decided to reflash device with official Rom. But it didn't work.
Moreover before windows system start for the first time ir requires to tap on screen to boot. So now I cannot use my TytnII at all.
Is it any options to boot it without tapping on screen?
Or just to flash with other ROM, but HARdspl is not installed so a bit afraid to brick my phone. please help

hurdleman said:
Hi, i think i have problem with my screen, it's not work anymore, so I decided to reflash device with official Rom. But it didn't work.
Moreover before windows system start for the first time ir requires to tap on screen to boot. So now I cannot use my TytnII at all.
Is it any options to boot it without tapping on screen?
Or just to flash with other ROM, but HARdspl is not installed so a bit afraid to brick my phone. please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
install hardspl (same procedure as flashing) and then install rom of your choise if it dosn't work have you done any of the following
dropped it in water
gone in the washing machine
etc.... stuff like that

why don't you get a new digitizer??? it's $10 for kaiser?? i've been changing them like underwear...every half a year.
what is it, what's asking you to click on screen? if it's just a welcome screen, put welcome.not file in root.

papo said:
why don't you get a new digitizer??? it's $10 for kaiser?? i've been changing them like underwear...every half a year.
what is it, what's asking you to click on screen? if it's just a welcome screen, put welcome.not file in root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hehehe funny expression 'changing them like [email protected]
what do you only change your underwear 2 a year

hehe, i live in Lithuania, so price with shipping will be around 25$. I think this isn't very cheap. Finally got screen working, but after 30min of using again no respond to tapping, then again working fine, and after that again no. it's annoying. I think it's problem with digitizer? I haven't it dropped to water, it almost brand new

hurdleman said:
hehe, i live in Lithuania, so price with shipping will be around 25$. I think this isn't very cheap. Finally got screen working, but after 30min of using again no respond to tapping, then again working fine, and after that again no. it's annoying. I think it's problem with digitizer? I haven't it dropped to water, it almost brand new
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats good you got it working
hope the problem doesn't happen again

if we assume the problem is harware, it would most likely by at one of two spots.
place, where the ribbon cable is soldered to lcd
or place where two piecies of digitiizer are connnected to each other.
might help if you check on the ribbon and glue a plastic tape all around the edge of digitizer, making it press little bit more on it
well, if that's hw probllem. but first you shoud try different rom. you can reflash without digitizer working. and check for pocket controller or similar if you want you can control pda from pc with it. there are two free and Pocket contr is trial.

if you just want to bypass the "tap here to use your device" message on the first boot up, search for "welcome.not".
create a blank file named "welcome.not" and place it in the root of your sd card and then power on the device for first boot up.
make sure it is a blank file. make sure it is named EXACTLY "welcome.not". if you are doing this with your windows pc, make sure you have turned off "hide file extensions of known file types". otherwise, the file might actually be named "welcome.not.txt" but might show as "welcome.not" on your pc.
search about it for more information.

hi, have tried differnt rom, but problem still persist. screen is not working, but sometimes it starts working very well. but most of the time it not respond. when backlight goes out and touch screen it starts to light but can't touch any options on. So what can be the problem, only digitezer or whole screen?

it was more probable it would be hw. but we need to eliminate all possibilities and reflash was easiest.
Still there is more things which could be the problem.
And there is no way to tell for sure what is it.
Did you say the pda is new? or digitizer?
And then you said when backlight goes off, digitizer will stop working, but still reacting on touch (to light the backlight) Is this right?
When will it stop / start working? Does it change if you press on body - case?
Does it change if you slide keyboard out or in?
There would be a short test each time pda/screen is powered, if digitizer fails in this test, it would be ignored till next test pass. Could this be your case?
digitizer could be broken on corner, or has bad contact inside
- You can test it, if you'll solder test wires on it and measure resistance, which should be around 500 ohms without touch and going down on each touch, can't go higher! test for both H & V
but the same reaction could be if ribbon cable connecting two parts of kaiser is broken (or connector on mobo side)
but if it's new it shouldn't.
and at last there could be problem on mobo. inside the controller chip or on it's connection, soldering. But not very probable.
It definitely looks like bad connection somewhere. You need to find out where, so you'll not buy digitizer if it's good or ribbon cable.
Put plastic tape around digitizer inside, as I wrote before, inspect ribbon cable and digitizer and it's connections. Try to locate event when it goes wrong.
If you'll not open it and check on these things, then maybe get a new part which will show bad, then I don't see how more we could help you.
You can use it without touch screen somehow or get a new phone.
Digitizer is US$8 with shipping to Lithuania. That's really cheap, even for us from central european countries.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HTC-P4450-Ka...m&pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item5192adf317#shId
and ribbon cable have fair price too,
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Flex-Cable-R...ewItem&pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item3cadad06a3

papo very informative
All i want to add is that it's easier to replace the whole screen with a digitizer already on as the digitizer is very hard to remove since glued to the glass more than likely will get wrecked and not able to replace new, whereas full kit wont cost a lot more and will be less stress just 4 screws on the back plate of Tilt "where sim door is".

Well, it is not new, i've bought it from one girl, but it's like brand new, no scratching at all, very good condition.
also, yesterday i checked all the connection inside it, but the problem persisted.
I think I have understood what kind off problem it is...when remove sim card it stars to work perfectly. When insert sim, it work some time very well. Then again screen start not to respond, any ideas?

hurdleman said:
Well, it is not new, i've bought it from one girl, but it's like brand new, no scratching at all, very good condition.
also, yesterday i checked all the connection inside it, but the problem persisted.
I think I have understood what kind off problem it is...when remove sim card it stars to work perfectly. When insert sim, it work some time very well. Then again screen start not to respond, any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mm, I know some pretty good spells, but you need a magic wand to make them work. If you don't have any you need to:
tape the screen as I wrote before (half millimeter tape),
if no help, hardwire analog multimeter on digitizer and test it properly (while pda off and open) as I wrote before
tape bended paper across connector on mobo.
OR just get a new digitizer straight away. it's $8 and pretty good chance that it's the issue. it's maybe 50% chance but what I mean is:
You have $200 phone (now on market) let's assign it 200 points
It's working on 20% with digitizer broken, now you have 40 points
digitizer 8 points to add. With 50% chance to fix = 16 points to add
result: by adding 16 points you gain 160 (200 - 40) that's 10x gain = good risk

WTF with my screen? post photos. on the first my screen, on the second lcd screens which are beiing sold on ebay.
I decided to buy new digitizer, but when looked at my screen, it realized have completely different layout where digitizer is connecting to screen. Am i right? Is the digitizers which are sold on ebay will suit my screen?

that's fine. they all work. They are not oem but works well. Maybe not so scratch resistive.
You may get the digitizer solo, but they will not include a special double side tape which goes around and is holding it together. You can make that tape, but it's pain as stylez said. A lot of cleaning the used old one, then cutting small strips of ds-tape. and you need to put a paper or something in between two layers of tape as you need a little space in between. And then soldering that ribbon. Better just get whole assembly.
==
I see you tried that tape, before you buy it, try the last thing. The place where digitizer is soldered to lcd modul.
On that piece you sent photo of, you need to open back cover.
check the picture:
1. peel off antistatic tape from connector, from up -> down
2. take cover off
3. there will be attachment of digitizer behind the cover, like on your second picture.
Check for good connection
AND
check if soldered pins could not be touching the back cover you took off
( i had this problem once)
put electric tape accross it a give it a try - that will isolate it from back cover & make a little pressure if bad connection
=

X1 felt down --> no display

Hey
A friend of mine called me yesterday if I wanna buy his broken X1 (it felt down :/) and repair it, because I'm the man for such jobs
Do you think it's only the LCD-flex-cable or another repairable damage?
I think I can get that device for 2-3 days and then decide if I buy it...
Some ideas? Is there any chance to repair it?
Thanx, Carbon

yes, probably even a loose connector on flex cable
Hello,
I am quite certain it is an easy problem, i have seen many x1 phones with just a minor loose connector which causes the screen not to respond.
The best way to check it if it really is just the screen/flex cable is to turn it on, and check if the side lights flash in all colors.
If that works the phone should work normally. (even if the screen doesn't work)
After opening:
Re-insert all the cables in the screen flex cable and check if it works..
if that doesn't work then replace the flex cable.
If the screen works:
Then check out the screen if it has any crack's or black spots.
In that case you will have to replace the screen/touch screen also.

Generally, if there is no physical damage to the LCD itself and the phone buzzes on startup with all appropriate sounds - replace the flex. Flashing lights are attached to the flex and are positioned ABOVE the LCD on flex connection, therefore will not light up if the flex is damaged and neither will the upper keypad and other less obvious things.
The flex replacement is not minor, just be aware of that. Bad falls are also the reason for main PCB damage, in which case there will be nothing you can do.

Thank you so much
It was a "very short" call by this friend, but when i take the device, I want a precise report what happened...
atm I don't now if the sidelights show reaction, but I will report
I'm afraid of a real PCB damage...

In flex problem side lights will not light up, as i mentioned, they are positioned above the Lcd connection, so if the main flex connection ribbon is damaged, as is most often the case, all of the upper level functions will be gone, but you will get a startup with buzz and sounds present.

I got it
And LEDs are flashing and you can start it complete normally, but you see nothing... i'm going to open it and check the Flexcable

Carbon386 said:
I got it
And LEDs are flashing and you can start it complete normally, but you see nothing... i'm going to open it and check the Flexcable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best of luck.

[Q] Repairing/assembling G1 -> broken volume rocker and touch panel

Well, I fixed my old broken G1 with new screen, touchscreen panel, case and keyboard.
Now I have 2 issue:
1) Sometimes my touchscreen goes grazy!! If I use the touch test application I see that sometimes when I touch the screen in an area there is another virtual touch in another zone of the screen. I read that it can depend from the current source when I charge the phone.. but I'm going crazy!! I opened my phone 10 times (I thought there was a problem in the cable that link TouchPanel to LCDPanel, because when I lock the cable with the clip it tends anyway to go out from the connector, now I put some scotch tape to fix but the problem is here.. so I think is another problem).
2) My volume rocker doesn't work!!
I bought 2 new keyboard to fix this problem, but no one of that fixed the problem. I thought the first new keyboard had volume keys broken, so I bought another one, but the problem persists!!
Now the Touch problem rarely happens, but the volume rocker is completely unusable..
Someone have experience about G1 assembling/repairing ?
Thanks and sorry for bad english

if you have put in multiple keypads have the same issue i would assume that it is the connection going to the motherboard. just a guess there but its either that or you have had a bunch of faulty keyboards.
only other thing would be a software problem
does the keypad work in recovery (let you go up down throughout the list) ?
as for the touch screen, probably need a new digitizer or flex cable, both are cheap and it sounds like you have the knowhow to replace them.

Ok, but digitizer is new!! screen also is new, and I have bought a total of 4 flex cable because I see that they are fragile (I broke the first I bought).
I tried to change flex cable but the problem remain the same.
The only thing that can be damaged is the LCD cable that links to the flex cable: it has a small cut where the cable have a curve, but the cut don't reaches the contacts (the cable is transparent). I also use some glue and scotch tape to mantein lock the cable.
The digitizer cable is connected to the LCD cable, and then they go to the flex cable that connect them to the motherboard.
The strange thing is that seems a software issue, because if I turn off and than turn on the screen, the problem is fixed for some seconds, minutes and sometimes hours...
Another strange thing is the possibility to control the screen with some metal objects from the moment that the virtual touch problem appear (I can control the screen also without touch it, with hand and piece of metal)
video:

have you tried a factory reset if you think it may be a software issue? if that dosent work you can try install a whole new rom.
really it sounds like it isnt the hardware since you appear to know what youre doing. i have a had a few phones that had screen (digitizer) issues and a new rom flashed cured it just fine
since you dont mind putting a few dollars into it, and your familiar with the inside, you can always try to pick up a cheap motherboard or spare phone from ebay or what have you, then swap the motherboard and you could then hopefully find out if it is the hardware or software

nagash91 said:
Another strange thing is the possibility to control the screen with some metal objects from the moment that the virtual touch problem appear (I can control the screen also without touch it, with hand and piece of metal)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh sounds like you got a cheap digitizer than. Most good digitizers use heat to touch. If it's literally touch, then sounds like its a fake/meh digitizer. i hate the digitizers that aren't heat, but press. I see them all the time in those first samsuck touchscreen phones. And they usually die in a bit. I had a Samsung behold with a screwed up digitizer

demkantor said:
have you tried a factory reset if you think it may be a software issue? if that dosent work you can try install a whole new rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I flashed 3 or 4 roms after a wipe (I tried also super-wipe.zip), but the problem is here..
The digitizer works well some times, but sometimes get crazy (you can see in the video).
I don't that my new digitizer is fake, but I really don't know!
BTW I'm trying to repair my phone for fun (now I have desire z) and because I am fascinated by my old G1.
PS:
I see another strange issue--
If I touch the screen when the phone is on a table the screen digitizer is not very sensitive and can't take input from fingertips.
If I touch the screen when the phone is in my other hand, the screen digitizer is a lot more sensitive and it take input from fingertips.
My impression is that there is an electric field or something similar that disturbs the digitizer, and when I take the phone in my hand I discharge that field to ground. Also when I turn off the screen, seems that the electric field discharge so when I turn on the screen is ok, but after some seconds the field returns to disturbs the screen.
I really don't know, but is the impression that I have.. something that is not shielded.
Now I'll try to use my phone in airplain mode.
Thanks guys, I'm happy to see that this forum is still very active