Database Users

How would you test a used 8525?

I just won a slightly used unlocked 8525 on EBay. Since I won't have a warranty, it seems like a good idea to verify that the device is in full working order as quickly as possible.
Do any of you have tips on what you would do to fully (or almost fully) exersice an 8525?

Theres no menu like the nokias have to see if its ever been serviced but theres a few things i do when looking at pocket pc's although i've never purchased a used one because i haven't found one's which look that sound.
First thing i would do is look at its physical state. Scratches etc. which will show if it's been dropped or handled roughly.
Second i'd take off the batter cover and look at the screws to show if they've every been removed. You can tell this by either seeing small scratches on them. Also the I-Mate Jasjam screws are black so you can tell easily if a screws been in them.
Then i'd remove the battery and the sim card(if inserted) and see if theres a little felt/paper square. This should be white and changes color (to purple i believe) if it ever got wet or moist. Inspect the little bit of the circuit board thats visible under where the sim would go for imperfections.
Now I'd go back to physicl aspects. Look at the screen, if it has a screen protector thats marked up, remove it and inspect the LCD and see if itself has scratches, if there are scratches and they are small i'd suggest the pocketpctechs screen protector which covers up blemishes.
Press the bottons on the front and sides and see if they feel well (are they hard to press, do they got stuck etc.) Slide the device open a couple of times and see if its locks into place or not and if its rough/smooth to open/close.
When its open i'd go and press each button on the keyboard and see if any of them stick and look for things as you would with the other buttons.
Then turn on the device and test all the buttons, and the keyboard on a new notepad. See if the screen is aligned by opening a new note and draw a line from one corner to the opposite corner, make sure the line is under the pen. Align the screen and keep in mind when you did it and cross your fingers and hope it stays aligned. If it does have the SA issue, go to the wiki for a fix.
I guess thats all i can think of right now... hope it helps you in deciding whether you want to keep the device or not. Oh yah, also check if the memory slot works and inspect the Mini-Usb port, and the stylus silo (haven't heard of it becoming loose on the hermes yet)
Good luck and hopefully you got no problems with it and its a sound device. Enjoy it and welcome to the Xda-Devs!

Thanks fone_fanatic! Looks like some great advice that will help me make a checklist.
Having come from a Palm T3 + a Sony Ericsson T637, I'm long overdue for an upgrade and really excited about converging devices with the 8525.

dont forget to make a phone call bring your sim, sometimes people forget the obvious

WooHoo!
It tests out great. There were only two problems
1)a slight creaking in the top left corner - really more an annoyance than anything else
2)The phone was sold as unlocked but prompted me for the unlock code which the prevous owner did not know. This problem was easily overcome with the unlock solution posted on the Wiki.
Thanks for the testing tips as they help me feel far more secure in my purchase!
Now I just need to get used to the PocketPC OS (seems a little complicated coming from PalmOS). After I get the feel of the OS figured out, I will start trying to write some apps.

Hi creaking top left corner is actually fairly normal. The screw will be tight but it's not in the corner (see battery compartment). The screw passess through camera board and holds it slightly proud. If it really bugs you, you can remove back (a warranty voiding activity) a place a piece of papervas padding to take up slack - otherwise not a big issue.
Glad it's working fine
The voyage of discovery and frustration begins - enjoy
Mike

Enjoy your device. They really are the best PPC around.

Tytn / hermes / 8525 freezing up when I slide close

It seems that my 8525 with Black Satin (WM6) has recently started crashing when I slide it close after sending a message or after sliding it open when recieving one.
The screen goes all dim and interlaced looking but it's really "off" as when I press the power button it actually boots up. When this happens that current text message is GONE poof!
I sat there and slid it open and closed 20+ times and couldn't repeat it but when trying to use it for real is when it freezes. It's not only with the text messaging though as I tried to slide it open to reply to a message on the internet (via wifi) and it locked up there also.
I did a search and haven't really found anything... guess I could reinstall but man, I hate having to do that... what all will I need to rememeber to back up? Text messages, phone numbers, settings for tomtom? bah!
Anyone ever experienced this?

Great, I think it's a loose connection somewhere... I noticed it was out and I had only put it down, not closed the slide. So just now when it was just idle I tapped on it and poof it locked up.
Great... Now what!

gilligan8 said:
Great, I think it's a loose connection somewhere... I noticed it was out and I had only put it down, not closed the slide. So just now when it was just idle I tapped on it and poof it locked up.
Great... Now what!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's still under warranty, take it in and have them look at it.
If it's not, look for one of the many disassembly instructions around, take it apart and reseat the cables.
I took mine apart not long ago to fix a non-working camera and it was amazing easy to get into the phone and remove and reconnect the cables.
Just make sure to read everything before trying it.

I bought it off ebay (supposed to be brand new) to unlock and use on a regional company's network. So doubt I'm covered.
http://pdasmart.zftp.com/instructions/Cingular 8525 Instructions.pdf
Is that a sufficient set of instructions? I'm not opposed to doing this, I repair laptops all the time and they are just about as difficult if not worse sometimes. I had attempted to take apart a friends dead 8525 a year or so ago but didn't know where the retention tabs were to get it opened beyond the obvious screws.

gilligan8 said:
I bought it off ebay (supposed to be brand new) to unlock and use on a regional company's network. So doubt I'm covered.
http://pdasmart.zftp.com/instructions/Cingular 8525 Instructions.pdf
Is that a sufficient set of instructions? I'm not opposed to doing this, I repair laptops all the time and they are just about as difficult if not worse sometimes. I had attempted to take apart a friends dead 8525 a year or so ago but didn't know where the retention tabs were to get it opened beyond the obvious screws.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be the basics. I noticed that it doesn't say anything about the tape for the large ribbon cable, so there may still be some snags if you use those (I don't know if the tape is present on all the various rebadges of the hermes).
Nice that they use a tool to take it apart, I used something like a debit card on mine.
If you are comfortable disassembling a laptop, you should be fine. As with a laptop, just take it slow and be careful.
(shudders at the memory of disassembling a compaq and Apple laptop)

Word, I hate working on laptops... but I guess I got to!

I'll bet it is the battery header on the board. I had a similar issue and needed to repair a solder joint there.

same here.. i was lucky it was still under warranty..
good luck with the dissasembly!

it has been rather calm lately... though I am a lot more gentle when sliding it open and close...
I know it couldn't have been a fluke... maybe some dirt got in and now is out... I'm sure I will have to get at it eventually... till then I'll just keep treading lightly!
Oh, and Mike, thanks for those links... VERY good stuff!

Touchscreen not responding, backup question

Hi all,
Looks like my Sprint Vogue is flaking out on me. The touchscreen is suddenly and without warning not working at all. Everything else works (all other buttons, activesync, all functions). I'd like to do a hard reset before giving up on it, but I'd really like to sync my contacts/messages/photos/etc before doing that. So here's the problem- I use Dashwire to sync, and I'm unable to hit the "SYNC NOW" button!
Any ideas on how to switch to and activate the bottom left and bottom right menu buttons without being able to touch them? For example, the Inbox and Menu buttons on the Mail app screen, or Album/Slideshow on the Photos and Videos screen? If I can get to those I'll be able to activate the sync. Any help would be great!
Thanks,
Bogus

There is a application called "MyMobiler" which allows you to control your phone over ip/usb/bluetooth. If i remember correctly launching the installer on your pc while your phone is connected to activesynch will install it without having to press anything.

Awesome, thank you. That did exactly what I needed it to!
Once it finishes sync'ing I'll give the reset a shot and see if the screen is really borked or not.

No problem glad i could help. If the touchscreen refuses to work you might wanna try replacing it. The part is called a digitzer and they go for 15-20 dollars online. I bought one and it wasn't difficult at all to replace.

Yeah, that's the plan. Hard reset didn't fix the problem, so I'm guessing that part is busted. Between this site and PPCG I found the guide for taking apart the phone, so it's looking like I'll be doing some minor surgery in a few days.

bogus83 said:
Yeah, that's the plan. Hard reset didn't fix the problem, so I'm guessing that part is busted. Between this site and PPCG I found the guide for taking apart the phone, so it's looking like I'll be doing some minor surgery in a few days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would the touch screen instantly not work?
maybe someone let it fall and put it back to normal like nothing happened
and i know what u mean.I dont wanna give up my vogue. EVER,
but im 15...by the time im 30, i wont remember what vogue is.LOL.

Actually, it seems to have developed a very small air bubble in the very upper left corner. I'm pretty sure that's causing the digitizer to think there's constant pressure in that area, evidenced by the "Start" menu occasionally activating when I turn on the phone. I ordered a new digitizer anyway- the set of torx screwdrivers I'd need to open the case cost the same as a new digitizer and the screwdriver I need. I don't really understand how the air bubble formed (or even what it is contained in), but one way or another I'll resolve the problem next week.
And I just turned 26- I'm sure by the time I'm 30 I'll be sporting a Touch Pro 4 running Windows Mobile 8.5

Well, the digitizer and tools came much faster than I'd anticipated (I won the auction on eBay on Friday, paid same day, and got it in the mail today, shipped from CA to NY!). So I dove right in. It was a straightforward affair- remove the four torx screws from the back under the cover, remove the speaker, pry open the front from the mainboard, disconnect the keypad circuit board from the mainboard and the digitizer from the keypad board, push out the old digitizer, swap in the new one and hook it all back up.
Not for the faint of heart to be sure, but for someone who likes to tinker it was a lot of fun. Took maybe 15 minutes because prying the case from the mainboard was difficult. More accurately, the top plastic case is extremely thin and fragile- if you do this you'll almost definitely crack it in at least one place. If not, you'll crack it pushing the digitizer out from behind. But I'm not that worried about cosmetics, I got my Vogue second-hand off-contract, refurbished, so it wasn't exactly mint to begin with.
On the plus side, the repair worked like a charm! I tested every touch feature I could think of and as many areas of the screen as I could, it actually seemed to respond better than when I initially got the phone. The odd part is I could still see the air bubble in the old screen, and couldn't flatten it out even by squeezing on both sides of it. I wish I knew how it formed so I could prevent it from happening again, but I'll just have to be careful.
So to anyone considering this project:
If you're worried about damaging the casing and have insurance or a warranty or something like that, take it to the phone company to get it repaired.
For anyone else, the $15 bucks for the screen and three tools is a lot cheaper than buying a new phone. Plus you get the geek cred for repairing your own phone.

beware: how to open the back casing

Its easy to break the sliding mechanism when opening up the back cover. There is a small slit on the bottom back when supposedly helps do that, but it does not work as intended. If you pull out on that slit, you will cause the sliding mechanism to break in that there will now be a gap in between the 2 halfs of the phone and it will not be tight as before. The way to open the back cover is to open the slide, hold the back portion on one side of the speaker grill (do not hold or pull on the top half of the phone) and use your fingernail to separate the back cover along the edge. It will come off easilly and when you have enough of the back cover peeled away it will separate easilly. I broke my first phone's mechanism by trying to pull on the small indent on the bottom which clearly does not work as intended.

I agree. The manual mentions that little slit on the bottom, but it's obvious once you start putting pressure on it that it's a quick way to break your new toy. I just went to the other side and started prying and got it off.

Deleted Post

I think this has happened to me, the gap is driving me nuts right now is there any way to fix it cause I don't think I have a case in order to return it and get it replaced. What is stupid is that the manual tells you to open the back like that. Edit: So I ended up trying to get a new surround and since I was over the 30 days (by 3 days) they wouldn't give me a new phone. My next choice is to send it to HTC and get it fixed but I am not too sure if it is worth it, or if it will get worse and that I should. Any comments?

nVd90 said:
I think this has happened to me, the gap is driving me nuts right now is there any way to fix it cause I don't think I have a case in order to return it and get it replaced. What is stupid is that the manual tells you to open the back like that. Edit: So I ended up trying to get a new surround and since I was over the 30 days (by 3 days) they wouldn't give me a new phone. My next choice is to send it to HTC and get it fixed but I am not too sure if it is worth it, or if it will get worse and that I should. Any comments?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should try talking to HTC's customer support. explain to them the situation. and let them know that the OFFICIAL user manual tells you to do it like this. I really don't think they can blame you for instructions they gave you. It's worth a try...

loose buttons but not something to worry about!

What a story!!
I bought a galaxy note 4 right on launch day first thing in the morning. Ive had just about every phone but have been waiting for a while now to get my hands on the new note 4.
I ended up buying the phone at the St . Bruno shopping center in Quebec, Canada and once i singed all the papers for my contract and got home, I finally open the box and took the phone out of the box. I loved it, it did everything one would expect from the highest end phone on the market.
A week later however, I started noticing that my buttons, especially my home button were slightly loose and my phone was also developing a weird oil spot under the home button.
So I went back to videotron but this time at St. Catherine street corporate branch store and the manager there obviously didnt know much about phones because he looked at it and proceeded with putting windex on a paper towel and wiping my screen with it and than told me that theres nothing wrong with it.
After frustratingly explaining everything to him, he told me that if the phone makes calls and works, than these issues arent covered for any kind of exchange as its not affecting the functionality of the phone. My logic tell me however that if one buy's a ferrari and realizes that the paint is f-up, wouldn't the dealership do something about it??? Anyways, without any luck I eventually left disappointed.
The following week After exhaustive attempt to solve the matter with Videotron to no avail, I found out that there was a store here in montreal called Service Absolute which is a samsung repair center that I could bring my phone to. I called them first to not waist more of my time and was than informed that yes they could help me but that it could take nearly a month before they would have any parts for this phone.
So after patiently waiting, I finally got a call back from them and droped off my phone the following day. I only had to wait two days before i got my phone back and thought that the turn around time was great! Only after few minutes of playing with it however, I noticed that the phone's new screen which now didn't have the oil spot was actually lifting from the housing about 1mm at the top of the phone and that the buttons were all still loose.
Its easy to imagine at this point how infuriated i was with all the time spent dealing with a phone that should of been right in the first place.. All the waiting, calling and runaround I got only to get a phone that was now even worst!! I could actually see inside my phone and behind the screen. Dust was starting to get inside the phone and under the camera lens and so on and I was really starting to freak out and was completly desperate to fix this issue asap to prevent things from getting worse and worse.
So I decided at this pont to take matters in my own hands and use my old trusty screwdriver to take this thing apart and get
To the bottom of the loose buttons and screen seperation.. I know! Scray [email protected]$ but it had to be done because at this point I needed a working phone for work and nobody seemed to help me. So after watching a few youtube videos, I unscrewed the screws at the back and gently seperated the phone from the metal frame with my fingers.
The whole assembly came out of the metal frame the same komd of way the old HTC phones used to. After doing so, the first thing i found out was that if your going scatch your phones metal frame which makes up most of the phone outer surfice, it's no big deal as it can be swapped out for around 40 to 50 bucks.
Next I noticed that all the buttons (volume and power) aren't adheared to the frame but only clipped in with a few pins stratigically placed. So its normal that they have play and wiggle. They're not gonna break and we're likely engineered to be this way. The wiggling is not really important as it won't affect anything on the phone's motherboard.
The next thing I noticed was that the glue between the inner midframe (the part that holds the motherboard to the screen assembly) also wasn't glued properly and was able to gently seperate it from the lcd/digitizer assembly without a heat gun or anything.. after doing so, the home button fell out and was simply dangling from its flex cable. It wasn't actually glued in place or held in with clips or anything. It's only connected to a flex cable on the left side of the button but thats it. I was easily able to pull it out and inspect it. It was built to be completely free floating between the midframe and the screen.
Which means that again, no need to worry about anything breaking as the home button is not a solidified part to start with and only in place where it is because of the space tolerence engeneered in the screen's home button whole. So it being slightly loose is normal and something that will eventually happen to all note 4's sooner or later. The slight looseness actually makes sense to me as any dust material that will get in between the home button wont get stuck as as much as if the space toleren was less. In my opinion, I thik that iPhones have less issues like this as the home button is part of the screen assembly and is also round.
In the end, I wasn't able to adhear the screen back in place as I didnt have double sided tape but manages to send it back to samsung and get it serviced again. I clearly asked them to fix it properly this time and it looks like they finally did and glued it back properly now.
This was a crazy experience and all I can tell you is that I definatly got an up close look of this phone and decided to keep it afterall as it's still better than a refurbished one and also because it's super easy to repair if anything ever broke on it.
Anyways i know this is a long post but I thought I'd share my experience with everyone and put some of your worries to rest.
Cheers!