Database Users

[Q] I cracked my digitizer....hard to replace?

So I was pretty careless and dropped my N1 in work, landing perfectly on it's screen It still functions perfectly and the AMOLED screen hasn't been damaged, simply the digitizer. I've already ordered a new one with all the tools necessary to replace it, but I'm yet to find any definitive guide on replacing the N1 digitizer.
I came across thread #751923 (Can't post links as I'm new) which seems really helpful but a guide with pictures/video would be awesome. There's a 45 step youtube vid on how to replace it as well but the quality/clarity isn't great. I'm sure I can use both of these to replace it just fine, It just seems a little daunting.
Basically I'm looking for consolation along the lines of 'It's damn easy to fix' Any love for a fellow N1-er?

It is easy to fix. Two tips: don't use metal spatulas to pry the plastic under the battery off and gently wiggle and push the motherboard out only after disconnecting all the little connectors on it.

Im also waiting on my digitizer. I'm going to folllow these 2 guides.
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nexus-One-Teardown/1654/1
http://cnn.cn/shop/google-nexus-digitizer-p-8252.html

Have done it and you actually found better tear-downs and tutorials. Use youtube as well. The videos help because they show the techniques as well. Hardest part i would have to say is sliding the motherboard out the bottom under the metal separator. I think it was great and taught me a lot about my phone. The thing you have to watch out for is dust and fingerprints under the screen. Once it's on...it's on, anything underneath is stuck lol. make sure it's all clean and you won't have any annoyances like dust particles like i have.

I did it, mostly successful. I damaged the cable to the trackball, so be careful at that step, otherwise nothing difficult, just takes an hour or so.

Cheers for the info and advice guys, should hopefully get my replacement digitizer tomorrow so I'll keep this thread updated with the outcome

I have replaced my digitizer. It cost me $45.00. It was challenging but not impossible. The hardest thing is not tearing any of the ribbons when dissasembling. It was a successful replacement. The only gripe I had was the digitizer I bought did not come with the adhesive to glue the digitizer to the frame. Make sure you have a way to attach the screen to the frame before you begin the process. Other than that it should be easy as long as you take your time.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

I replaced mine.. it took a solid hour or so, just be very careful not to tear any of the ribbon cables.. everything is super small and delicate.
I now get lots of dust in the corners of my screen because i didn't seal the new digitizer properly, but its not a huge deal to me.

replacing the digitizer is easy... its taking apart, and putting the rest back together that sucks. just make sure you know what length screw goes in what hole... very important. take notes as you disassemble.

nexusonemeover said:
just make sure you know what length screw goes in what hole... very important. take notes as you disassemble.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha reminds me of when I took my laptop apart to re apply thermalpaste. I ended up with 7 extra screws >.< But the thing was together and has been running fine for the last 6 months so O.O

I did it, not too bad if you go slow and deliberately. I also have dust under my screen now. I sort of wish I would have just sent it to HTC but the money saved is worth a little dust.

A useful tip for disassembling is to cut out a paper template the same shape as your N1 and push the screws through it in positions corresponding to the screw holes in your N1. Its much easier to figure out where they all go when you come to reassembling it, just dont knock your template and screws on the floor .

rob61280 said:
A useful tip for disassembling is to cut out a paper template the same shape as your N1 and push the screws through it in positions corresponding to the screw holes in your N1. Its much easier to figure out where they all go when you come to reassembling it, just dont knock your template and screws on the floor .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a great idea, rob. I always think whenever I take apart a phone that I should have a video camera handy to record what I'm doing so I can play it in reverse when I'm putting it back together

For $115 you can send your phone back to HTC and have a QUALIFIED technician replace your screen.
Yes, it's a little more but you don't have to worry about messing anything else up and you're getting back your phone without any installation flaws.

Well I eventually got my digitizer this morning. It took until I had everything taken apart to realise they had sent me a compatible but ill fitting digitizer. It doesn't even have the appropriate buttons (it did in the selling image) at the bottom. At this point everything works fine but it doesn't look perfect. I guess it'll have to do, thanks for the advice guys

omgdwong said:
For $115 you can send your phone back to HTC and have a QUALIFIED technician replace your screen.
Yes, it's a little more but you don't have to worry about messing anything else up and you're getting back your phone without any installation flaws.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow thats cheap, I just got quoted for around $300US to fix my phones screen.. not including labor.. argh
Does anyone know if HTC in america repair phones from the other side of the world even though they were purchased from google's store?

I just sent my phone into HTC to be repaired for a cracked screen expecting it to be $115 and was pleasantly surprised to find that it would only be $55 including shipping! HTC was also extremely quick to get back with me for the quote. I sent the phone out Tuesday at 4pm and they have looked at it and quoted me the repair cost by Wednesday at 2 pm.

I recently cracked my digitalizer as well.
I called HTC 2 times without giving any information about myself before calling a 3rd time to do the actual swap.
I was quoted at $115 for me to send in my N1, wait a week without a phone, and have them replace the digitalizer, before shipping it back.
I then further inquired and found out they have a Swap program where they mail you a new(refurbished, but perfect) phone, and a FedEx label, which they still quoted me $115 to fix the screen, and a possible $275 if they needed to replace the logicboard, but they would get a quote back to me with all the things they would need to replace. It would require a $529 charge to my card, incase i didnt send the phone back at all.
I mentioned that my camera was broken, as well as my trackball was loose, and he said the quote would include this as well.
I called back a 3rd time, requested a swap phone, and had one 2 days later.
i mailed my phone into HTC, and two days later i had my quote.
I paid $55 after it was said and done, and have a new (refurbished) phone
I was rooted,unlocked, and running Kang-O-Rama 1.0 when i shipped the phone in. I didnt bother to fix that.

Changing Nexus One Hosing

Ok so my Nexus One got a few Dings and scratches nothing critical or crazy. but I'm really picky about my phones looking New so I invested on buying a N1 housing on ebay and I wanted to know any pointers from people that done this before. I do have some experience on changing housings but where I'm hesitant about taking apart the digitizer since its glued I believe to the middle part and people are just putting double sided tape to hold the thing together which in my opinion it doesn't last. So maybe you guys got better pointer than people I see on youtube and other blogs. Thanks

How would you source a new housing without spending at least $200, if you don't mind me asking?

I got my housing on ebay for 45.00 for battery door bottom part and the middle housing. Now if i brake anything inside it will cost me alot more than 200.00.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

If you are just replacing the housing you do not have to do anything about the digitizer/lcd. You just pull it out of the old and put it in the new. I did this recently with my N1 and am very happy with my shiney new looking phone. There are plenty of videos on youtube to step you through the process just be patient and careful. The hardest part for me was the connectors for the docks in the bottom back plate.
Sent from my Nexus One

paperecho said:
If you are just replacing the housing you do not have to do anything about the digitizer/lcd. You just pull it out of the old and put it in the new. I did this recently with my N1 and am very happy with my shiney new looking phone. There are plenty of videos on youtube to step you through the process just be patient and careful. The hardest part for me was the connectors for the docks in the bottom back plate.
Sent from my Nexus One
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You made my day! I was having a hard time finding a video to confirm that. most people replace the broken digitizer or they just disassemble the phone without taking the digitizer off. Now I'm just waiting for my housing to arrive from China.

the bottom cover part(not the battery door) was a little easier to take off than i expected but it was tough though. I used a pry tool like this http://www.accessorygeeks.com/pry-tool-plastic-case-bu.html
Highly suggest picking one up.
For the bottom piece across the top part there are three little tabs that you pop up then in think two little ones you have to work downward on the sides then it will slide off.
replacing the aluminum unibody part does require a full disassembly.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1054682
Check out the site linked in my post there. Any use to anybody?

DirkGently1 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1054682
Check out the site linked in my post there. Any use to anybody?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://cnn.cn/shop/google-c-976.html this is where I bought few things before but not for my Nexus One
Thanks for all your help guys !! I got my housing today and replaced it is hard but not as hard as I thought your tips helped alot

I did it 2 days ago, pretty easy, do take care of the power button though

[GUIDE] Xperia Arc Disassembly

EDIT
"meyourchum" has provded a link to get offical disassembly instruction with lot more information.
Check it for yourself
Hello folks,
I had a chance to work on my friends arc who bought a Rogers version and dropped it. He had it totally mess on the case and needed the full housing replacement.
I hope that doesn't happen to anyone. I didn't take any photos but I am trying to explain everything as it was to help anyone with this.
General Note:
- Anywhere you got stuck, watch some X10 Disassembly video
- Be very gentle to your phone in this process
- Besides all the screws the rest of the phone is put together with glue(Sticky Back) and snap(plastic for main board)
- Using this information on your own risk as I don't take any responsibility if anything happens to your phone.
Instruction
1) Remove the back battery cover. Thats the easiest part
2) Need star shaped screw driver[Trox](I bought the set for $5) there are 4 screws like that and two which opens with phillips screwdriver(tiny) This is what I bought
All the above we all have seen them
3) After removing the 6 screws remove the front fascia of the phone with a guitar picks, something skinny but sturdy*
* I recommend not using anything other than rubber or plastic in the whole process.
4) Main board is snapped in with plastic to the body which easily can be opened.
5) Little board on the bottom is glued(sticky back @ top) which you can remove with pulling little hard but make sure you don't break it.
6) Majority of the wire you see connected to mainboard can be discounted (snap in wires)
7) Removing the screen: from outside of the phone (like you are looking directly to screen like you normally do) you need to put something under neat and raise up the screen. This part has glue as well and its hard to lift but I did it and it should be possible.
8) if you are doing a full housing replacement, then there are stuff here and there that you need to remove and re-use it on the new housing(Like 3.5 mm jack, HDMI lid, etc.)
Good Luck and let me know if you have any questions.

1st time... ehm.. taking the Arc apart, that is!
Helluw there
Just read your post, and thought I wanted to share with you, that I might be opening one of these slick little things. My friend broke his display, and the ISP is talking about some 'off the scale' repair prizes.
...So, he asked me to do the job
Told him I didn't have any experience on the disassembling of this phonetype, but he trusts me it seems
I might return with some questions in case of problems, is that OK with you Nimche?
Greetingz

Hope u have the courage to make a video next time
Sent from my Arc using XDA premium App

xelion said:
Helluw there
Just read your post, and thought I wanted to share with you, that I might be opening one of these slick little things. My friend broke his display, and the ISP is talking about some 'off the scale' repair prizes.
...So, he asked me to do the job
Told him I didn't have any experience on the disassembling of this phonetype, but he trusts me it seems
I might return with some questions in case of problems, is that OK with you Nimche?
Greetingz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, no problem. I would be more than happy to answer. Lets see just some general stuff...
Note: anywhere you got stuck, watch some X10 Disassembly video
Note: be very gentle to your phone in this process
- you remove the back battery cover. Thats the easiest part
- you need that star shaped screw driver(I bought the set for $5) there are 4 screws like that and two which opens with phillips screwdriver(tiny)
All the above we all have seen them
after removing the 6 screws
note: besides all the screws the rest of the phone is put together with glue and snap(plastic for main board)
- remove the front fascia of the phone with a guitar picks, something skinny but sturdy*
* I recommend not using anything other than rubber or plastic in the whole process.
- main board is snapped in with plastic to the body which easily can be opened. I change full housing and not sure if you have to remove the hard key button from the bottom end of the phone too or not but that little board on the bottom is glue which you can remove with pulling little hard but make sure you don't break it.
- All the wire you see connected to mainboard can be discounted (snap in wires)
- There is a big one which goes to the screen you have to dis-attach that before removing the screen
- Removing the screen: from outside of the phone (like you are looking directly to screen like you normally do) you need to put something under neat and raise up the screen. This part has glue as well and its hard to lift but I did it and it should be possible.
Good Luck and let me know if you have any questions.

Can you answer this??? It get's hot here (and also in the same spot on the front.. so what's inside at this point??

CPU is right behind the second cover. I wish I could take some photos.

Nimche said:
CPU is right behind the second cover. I wish I could take some photos.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the clarification. I was also suspecting since this area gets damn hot when playing games and even at charging (sometimes).
So seems like they move the CPU from behind the battery in X10 to near to the camera in Arc .

Can I change only the front faceplate around the screen without removing the mainboard? How easy would that be? I want to change mine to Misty Silver as Rogers only carry the Midnight Blue.
Also, for glued parts, do I have to glue them back on the new housing?

hellocng said:
Can I change only the front faceplate around the screen without removing the mainboard? How easy would that be? I want to change mine to Misty Silver as Rogers only carry the Midnight Blue.
Also, for glued parts, do I have to glue them back on the new housing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glue part, they are more sticky than glued. You just simply stick it back where it was.
Where is the silver face you found?
This is retarded from them...
Digitizer and screen(one part) are sticked to the front face. In order to for your to change the faceplate only(front) you may have to go through the whole process because the wires from digitizer are going through a big hole to the main board. You don't want to mess around with $700 or $800.
Inside, everything is small. really small. I thought I totally screwed up the whole thing. Technology has gone forward alot since I was a kid putting radio together.
Good Luck

prathaban said:
Thanks for the clarification. I was also suspecting since this area gets damn hot when playing games and even at charging (sometimes).
So seems like they move the CPU from behind the battery in X10 to near to the camera in Arc .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there are two board one above battery and one below batter @ bottom of the phone
On top is the main board
on bottom is the board for hard keys.
Nicely put together but they could have done a better job there....

Are there three parts to the housing? I assume there is the front plate, middle housing with the chrome, and the battery cover. The mainboard should be in the middle with the chrome. So I can't just detach the screen front the front plate? What is holding the three pieces of housing together? The six screws?
There are silver housings on eBay from time to time. Though, blue is a lot more common.

Three pieces. Back battery cover which is nothing.
Then there are two main pieces.
Chrome which is more like a holder of the fascia.
If I remember correctly, the front Fascia is the one holding all the board on it including that metal look piece(aluminum probably)
I will take photos and upload here...

Uploaded photos to the first post...

Hey, I'm looking to replace the chrome piece which has a few nasty chips in it, after removing the second back cover, how easy is it to take off that chrome piece?

Great post

How can I replace digitizer? I dropped my phone and the glass cracked

anyone know where i can get the tiny screw driver? I cant seem to find the correct one. they are either too small or too big.

how easy is it to replace the front cover, ive cracked the top of it and chipped a bit out the side (surrounding the screen) i presume it'd be simple enough. And does anyone know where i can get a good quality/genuine front cover replacement?

soldiers33 said:
anyone know where i can get the tiny screw driver? I cant seem to find the correct one. they are either too small or too big.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, you could have sent a private message.
I bought the screw driver here at local tool shop. Home Depot sells them.
Its called Trox Screw Driver and I bought exactly this one http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100087664&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100087664&ci_kw={keyword}&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-100087664&ci_gpa=pla&locStoreNum=618
I don't have the packaging but they should be standard.
Good Luck

mps83 said:
how easy is it to replace the front cover, ive cracked the top of it and chipped a bit out the side (surrounding the screen) i presume it'd be simple enough. And does anyone know where i can get a good quality/genuine front cover replacement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can find the whole housing between $30 to $40 but the front cover is that actual main piece that holds all the internal components + the screen.
If the crack doesn't bug you much, I would not do it since you have to replace the sticker behind you battery as well, which is not easy to peel off + you have to take the screen off the old front fascia which is glued and kind of hard to take off.
Downside of the whole thing for me was the sticker. I have to find an alternative for this problem.

G2 screen broken or just lose ribben cable?

Tonight I came home and turned on my phone just to find the screen is potentially broken.
Everything else works fine except the screen. Whenever I press the power button it gives me a black screen with a few lines on it. If I smack it a little then the lines change.
I'm wondering if it's just a lose ribbon cable or the screen is actually going bad.
I'd take it apart but I don't have the tools for it but if it's still as simple as that then tomorrow I'll just go buy a screw driver

Orite said:
Tonight I came home and turned on my phone just to find the screen is potentially broken.
Everything else works fine except the screen. Whenever I press the power button it gives me a black screen with a few lines on it. If I smack it a little then the lines change.
I'm wondering if it's just a lose ribbon cable or the screen is actually going bad.
I'd take it apart but I don't have the tools for it but if it's still as simple as that then tomorrow I'll just go buy a screw driver
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK 1st the LCD (and the digitiser incidentally) are not jaw & ribbon connectors but are pop connectors.
Look in the youtube i posted below.
I have had considerable experience digging around inside Desire Z's. In all honesty unless you dropped your phone its more than likely your LCD is fubared
Even if you did drop it its probably fubared ..... your starting to get the theme eh??
Whatever your LCD is probably fubared
However the good news is the Desire Z is the easiest phone I have ever dismantled/reassembled, as it is mostly held together by lots of high quality screws, so you don't need to take risks and get frustrated levering bits around to try and remove them.
Also LCDs are easily obtained and cheap.
Check this basic disassembly guide its the best i know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-dR8CHEGjY&list=PLEBB8603769CE1417&index=16
This one below is stills only no vid, but it shows some small parts steps to in the above, defo 2nd best unless you want to remove small components
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SliyuYBvfic&list=PLEBB8603769CE1417&index=14
Oh yeah since you need to completely strip the Desire Z to replace LCD.
You may as well do something about that pesky weak hinge spring whilst you have it in bits.
This is a VERY worthwhile mod it takes 2 mins and transforms the keyboard hinge mechanism.
If you can't be bothered buying an upgraded spring (which is actually WELL WORTH IT) then you can just stretch the old spring and replace it to get a good result, just not as good as the upgraded spring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-28oXfIbg&list=PLEBB8603769CE1417&index=13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYK18FfAmzE&list=PLEBB8603769CE1417&index=15
Just be slow and careful, better it takes 2 hours to do a 10min job than 15mins and a busted smartphone component.
Hope this helps bro
Zeb

hi, well, being the most unlucky person in the world, i too have had plenty of experiance dissmanteling the desire z. been through two phones, changed 2 digitizers, 2 LCDs, and now i have a broken flex ribbon cable (i know this for certain). i ordered the only one, as far as i can see, in the uk, which turned out to cause the phone to overheat when the screen was on. typical. sent it back, but the idiot sold the only other one he had to someone else when he knew i needed a replacement! sooo, without wanting to hijack this thread, does anyone know where i can source one it the uk? (the complete flex ribbon cable and hinge mechanism, as just the ribbon cable would be very tough to replace on its own without damaging something) many thanks..

[Q] Cracked screen. Best option.

Ok folks, there's probably a thread on this somewhere, but I haven't found it yet, and frankly I've got plenty to do as it is, so forgive me for not making a thorough search.
Anyhow, I've managed to crack the screen just above the home and app buttons, which is a pain, but **** happens. I've noticed that on eBay the screen + LCD combo is around A$140 while the front glass alone is only A$27. Now, since the Lcd isn't damaged, that kinda looks awesome, right? Except, I haven't found any instructions on how to replace the front glass alone with out ****ing with the LCD too. Anyone know?
Plenty of vids on YouTube on how to change the combo, which is a bit of a pain in the arse compared to other phones. All I want to change is the glass. Any help would be much appreciated.

WestAussie said:
Ok folks, there's probably a thread on this somewhere, but I haven't found it yet, and frankly I've got plenty to do as it is, so forgive me for not making a thorough search.
Anyhow, I've managed to crack the screen just above the home and app buttons, which is a pain, but **** happens. I've noticed that on eBay the screen + LCD combo is around A$140 while the front glass alone is only A$27. Now, since the Lcd isn't damaged, that kinda looks awesome, right? Except, I haven't found any instructions on how to replace the front glass alone with out ****ing with the LCD too. Anyone know?
Plenty of vids on YouTube on how to change the combo, which is a bit of a pain in the arse compared to other phones. All I want to change is the glass. Any help would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use a hairdryer for loosening the adhesive to separate glass and digitizer , being patient is the key but there is a good chance of messing it up

It was my understanding that the screen assembly was next to impossible to disassemble without damaging the other layers of the screen. It seems hard enough to separate from its housing I can't imagine the difficulty in de-laminating the glass from the digitizer/LCD.
I just replaced my front with the combo part from etradesupply it was pretty expensive but 0 hassle. A couple of screws later and I moved to the old main board to the new front part... No heating no heavy prying.
Good luck with your fix.
P

pietro_spina said:
It was my understanding that the screen assembly was next to impossible to disassemble without damaging the other layers of the screen. It seems hard enough to separate from its housing I can't imagine the difficulty in de-laminating the glass from the digitizer/LCD.
I just replaced my front with the combo part from etradesupply it was pretty expensive but 0 hassle. A couple of screws later and I moved to the old main board to the new front part... No heating no heavy prying.
Good luck with your fix.
P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't you have to heat the battery to move it when you did the swap? My fear is ill damage one of those wafer thin ribbon cables in the process too. Just looks like a mission of a job from the vid I watched on YouTube. Would hate know how much a tech guy would charge though.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

WestAussie said:
Didn't you have to heat the battery to move it when you did the swap? My fear is ill damage one of those wafer thin ribbon cables in the process too. Just looks like a mission of a job from the vid I watched on YouTube. Would hate know how much a tech guy would charge though.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine had a battery.
This is the part I bought.
OEM LG Nexus 4 E960 LCD Screen and Digitizer Assembly with Front Housing and Battery
from this page (they ship out of Hong Kong)
http://www.etradesupply.com/lg/android-models/lg-nexus-4-e960-parts.html but it appears to be out of stock now. (Maybe I got the last one)
Like I said, it was pricey, but i couldn't risk me screwing it up further since I run my architecture firm with this phone. I was looking for a minimal down time solution because the alternative for me was just buy a new phone in a retail store the next day. Not having access to the lower parts of my screen was seriously limiting. I slogged away for a week using all sorts of work-arounds to activate the dial pad, use parts of the keyboard etc while I waited for the replacement part.
This guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZDAIgwbXk4 does not show the heating stage but he is so freaking calm, it can't be that bad... Do remove the main board before prying on the battery if you go that route...
-p

I just want to add, for anyone finding this thread, that the part I got from etradesupply.com has some pretty obvious yellowing of the screen. This screen was either removed from someone else's n4 because of this defect or taken from the reject bin at the factory.
In the future if I have any breaks, I will sent it to an LG facility.

Does anyone know of another place to buy the front screen with housing? It is OOS at etradesupply....

Just saw this one posted. I have not used them.
http://www.globaldirectparts.com/LG-Nexus-4-s/20969.htm

pietro_spina said:
Just saw this one posted. I have not used them.
http://www.globaldirectparts.com/LG-Nexus-4-s/20969.htm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks... looks like mixed reviews about this company, though.