Question for the hardware people!
I'm not by any means a hardware expert, but I like to dabble and learn as I go. I've disassembled my G2 several times (screen+digitizer replaced, flex cable replaced, etc.) and I feel fairly comfortable with what I'm looking at. I recently attempted to transfer everything over to a new bezel, only to get 90% of the way done and find out they had sent me a D800 chassis rather than VS980. That's another story. When I put everything back into my original chassis, though, I now have a goofy issue with my digitizer. When waking the phone with the power button, I have to be touching the screen, or else the digitizer is either erratic or nonfunctional. In other words, if I just push the power button, the digitizer will not accept touches. If the screen times out and I immediately push the power button (before the phone locks), the digitizer will either not accept touches, or will start registering random phantom touches. If the phone wakes up due to a system event (phone call, notification, etc) the digitizer will not accept inputs. To remedy these problems I have to explicitly hit the power button to lock the phone, then hold my thumb down on the screen while I hit the power button to wake the phone again, at which point the digitizer functions properly.
So the question is, what might cause this? My first inclination is that it's some kind of grounding issue, but I'm not sure what I would be double-checking if I were to open the phone again. Does anyone have any DIY ideas or suggestions?
Thanks!!
Edit: Sorry wrong post, ignore my answer.
Related
Hello all.
So, long story as short as possible:
My Tilt got run over, LCD screen was busted but I could still make and receive calls by sliding it open, hitting the call button and using the keyboard to dial and 'enter' to connect.
I was also still able to connect to the phone via bluetooth from my mac, as well as syncing it on my PC partition.
Eventually, I think I hit too many random buttons and turned the phone off or something as I could no longer get it to dial out this way. I was always getting the flashing green and blue lights though.
After some research (and un-won auctions on eBay) I decided to see if popping in a new LCD screen would fix my situation.
I installed the new LCD last night, and the machine is almost back to living, however, I now have the current problems:
When the phone boots into 'normal' mode, the screen is display is very truncated. It doesn't display the full HTC updated today screen and won't respond to touch. It says 'no service' but wi-fi seems to connect. If I slide it open, the keyboard lights up but doesn't respond, neither do the front keys. Also, I get only a solid orange light in the upper left LED.
If I boot the phone into 'Safe Mode' it responds to touch, connects to the AT&T network, connects to Wi-Fi, etc. The front keys still do not do anything, and when I slide it open the keyboard does not light up or respond. Also, I get both the green light in the upper right and blue in the upper left.
Another thing, when I slide the phone open and closed there's a slight ripple in the middle of the phone like something is 'pressing' on it from the back.
Sorry for the novel. Any help is appreciated. I'm considering 'clearing storage' and returning it to factory settings or flashing the ROM. I've taken it apart and put it together like four times now, checking, double checking and triple checking connections.
Thanks!
Sounds like one of the headers isnt fully seated in the display region. IIRC there are two that I had to deal with with my 10min LCD swap routine
Yeah, I think you're basically describing symptoms of having put the phone back together wrong except that it's interesting it responds in this 'Safe Mode' and interesting that it would happen after four retries
It's probably going to need a hard reset then! You might want to check nothing has been bent, warped mountings/plastic could be the cause of the screen ripple issue.
Were there any active components on the touch film for the display? (Assuming you have replaced that too with the LCD, or that they're one whole unit) if that is the case, they may be different, newer revisions? Really grasping at straws there though; at the end of the day, the poor phone has been mauled by a wheel... best of luck!!
Thanks for the thoughts! I guess I could try and break it down again. As far as I could tell, everything looked like the phone in the disassembly directions; nothing appeared unduly bent or mangled.
"Sounds like one of the headers isnt fully seated in the display region."
I'll google it, but what 'headers' are we talking about? The small metal bits that seem to touch the upper outside edge of the LCD screen?
Would an improperly seated header cause the other symptoms? Unresponsive other buttons (keyboard, front keys) and connectivity issues with the network?
"Were there any active components on the touch film for the display?"
I got a new LCD and digitizer (is that what you mean by other active components?).
Thanks again!!
AtillaDNun said:
Thanks for the thoughts! I guess I could try and break it down again. As far as I could tell, everything looked like the phone in the disassembly directions; nothing appeared unduly bent or mangled.
"Sounds like one of the headers isnt fully seated in the display region."
I'll google it, but what 'headers' are we talking about? The small metal bits that seem to touch the upper outside edge of the LCD screen?
Would an improperly seated header cause the other symptoms? Unresponsive other buttons (keyboard, front keys) and connectivity issues with the network?
"Were there any active components on the touch film for the display?"
I got a new LCD and digitizer (is that what you mean by other active components?).
Thanks again!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any cable that attaches to the circuit boards, re-seat every one you can find. One faulty connection can cause a lot of problems. I have a similar problem with a button on my PSP but im to lazy to fix it.
a couple weeks ago i cracked my screen. I bought a new one and replaced it myself. All was well until i tried to text with my physical keyboard and discovered that the i,m,n,k, and period keys were all unresponsive, these keys are also all in the same area.
I took apart my phone again and discovered that there is a thin strip that connects the keyboard to the unit. on this strip are 7-8 parallel lines running atop it(not touching). I noticed that the far right line had a break in it with a width much less than a needle head.
I don't know much about board circuitry but i think the lines are made of copper. I've voided my tilt warranty by opening up my phone so i'm here for suggestions. Are there general cell phone repair shops? Should i attempt to solder it myself? or is there no hope?
now concerning software my phone is out of control. When i try to message someone with the rest of my physical keys my phone will randomly insert enters and spaces into my typing which is really annoying and forces me to use a slow virtual keyboard. My phone screen will turn back on when i press the little side button, and when i have a call it will randomly put people on hold.
My phone will alos freeze up some times and an error message will popup with the option to dump some sort of file which i have to to continue. Is this some sort of virus on my phone?
I have the hyperdragon saphire rom with the radio that came with it. Do i just need to reflash? I apologize for the length of this thread all responses are appreciated.
as for the software craziness i'm sure you have tried the system restore(if you havent do it: shut off device, hold down the two 'blank buttons' and holding down the soft-reset button with the stylus at the same time then press the SEND button [green call button]) so since you probably have definitely reflash. My advice for repairing your phone is try to determine if the price for getting it repaired by a general repair shop or if repairing it yourself is better (because they might charge you who knows what )
For the sleep issue go to Settings/System/Key Lock and change it too 'Lock all buttons except power button'(mabye you did this). Also it is possible to have a virus on your phone although a system restore or reflash should fix this.
"I've voided my tilt warranty by opening up my phone so i'm here for suggestions"
actually... if u look at the phone the "warranty void" sticker is under the battery, not under the LCD. I cracked my LCD before and replaced it, after doing so, my SIM wouldnt register (phone took a heavy hit breaking the screen and sim slot). I figured what the hell and called AT&T and swapped it under warranty... They didnt say anything and I got a brand new Tilt back
So yesterday my toddler son was playing with my Sprint Diamond when I saw him drop it onto the carpeted ground. The phone probably fell maybe about a foot but I guess the angle it hit the ground caused the battery cover to pop off.
When I picked up the phone, I noticed the screen was off and assumed it was in sleep mode because the battery didn't dislodge or anything. But when I pressed the power button, the phone wouldn't come on. I tried pulling the battery, hard resetting, etc but the screen still won't turn on.
While I was playing around with it, holding down the volume down button, power button and enter button at the same time, I could see the screen come on for a bit, then go blank again.
Physically there's no visible damage, there isn't even a scuff or scratch on the corners where the phone probably hit the ground. However, by some freak chance I think the fall caused something to go wrong internally, maybe the LCD digitizer became loose?
When I pull the battery and restart the phone, it vibrates as if it were powering up. But the screen never comes on.
Considering I don't have insurance on the phone, taking it back to Sprint is not an option and I'm out of the warranty period. Has this happened to anyone before? Any advice? Anyone have experience disassembling a Diamond? How hard was it? Thanks in advance.
the diamond (sprint) is a layered device.
you will need some very small screwdrivers lots of light and patience.
the screen is glued to the digitizer and the front housing, removal from the housing WILL crack it.
the boards and lower button pad con be removed safely, for inspection/reseating of plugs.
if the problem is not a loose plug,than a new screen and digitizer is in order and available on ebay from china
Hey guys,
The USB port of my HD2 broke off and I was forced to replace the motherboard. When I assembled the HD2 again, I could immediately see that there was something wrong with my screen. The screen couldn't display full color (only bright red/orange/white/dark green/cyan accents). Also, the 'hang-up button isn't responding anymore after I replaced the motherboard (and flexcable).
What happened? Is there something wrong with the lcd display or did something go wrong when I (dis)assembled the phone? I took the motherboard and the flexcable from another HD2 that had a broken display.
Thanks in advance.
bilaba70 said:
Hey guys,
The USB port of my HD2 broke off and I was forced to replace the motherboard. When I assembled the HD2 again, I could immediately see that there was something wrong with my screen. The screen couldn't display full color (only bright red/orange/white/dark green/cyan accents). Also, the 'hang-up button isn't responding anymore after I replaced the motherboard (and flexcable).
What happened? Is there something wrong with the lcd display or did something go wrong when I (dis)assembled the phone? I took the motherboard and the flexcable from another HD2 that had a broken display.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you completely voided your warranty through HTC and tried to fix the device yourself, then screwed it up. I'd still say send it to HTC and ask for a repair. I don't know if they'll do it or not, unless you used official parts. I know they do out-of-warranty repairs, but they'll charge you.....
Yep you screwed up the repair, those ribbon cables need a delicate touch & any handfisted moment ends up with what you have got now ...
Another careful strip & inspection of all ribbon connectors is needed ...
I bought it as a second-hand phone. The guy didn't give me a reseat and the HD2 was flashed a WP7 ROM.
For the button problem, how are you turning your phone on without that button? do you hear/feel it click when you press it? If not its just misaligned.the buttons are on a flex ribbon cable with two holes on each side. it fits on the plastic middle frame of the phone which has two small spikes coming out of it... it has to be perfectly placed for your buttons to actually click..
if the flex ribbon is broken however you can buy one off ebay for arround 10$ any will do, mine is not original works fine..
for the screen you could have messed up the lcd, did you separate from the glass-digitizer? if you did you probably screwed it up.. its not a easy thing to do.. also was not necessary for your repairs
the connection to the motherboard might not be all the in and clipped which might cause your problem... (being that two of the little pins provide voltage and ground while all the others provide data information if one of those pins is not in all the way a piece of data might not be displaying for example a color. Never seen that happen its theoretically possible thou)
well I have only opened my phone 3 times and dont claim to be a expert.. but this is my take on it... Good luck!
@pablow Thanks for the detailed response.
The HD2 is only turned on, after I place the battery. Otherwhise it won't start.
I hear a click on the (broken) 'off' button, everytime I press it. I also noticed that the inside of not all of the 'spikes' are empty. I can see a bit of the flexcable in the spike of the broken 'off' button. The spike of the (working) 'call' button is empty.
I think that the flexcable hasn't been connected securely to the motherboard. I'll try connecting everything again tonight.
not that it makes much difference but HTC wouldn't of fixed it through warranty because of usb damage anyway
I thought so, thanks for the heads-up anyways.
[Solved] Display is fixed
Update:
I disassembled the HD2 and reconnected everything (from coax to flexcable). Fortunately it worked! The display is how it should be.
I have another problem now. All of the buttons don't work now, exept for the dial button. Do these buttons break so fast? It's annoying as fuark, because I have to disassemble it another time in the future to fix the buttons.
I also couldn't re-attach the volume control tab when assembling the HD2.
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