Need some help, dead digitizer or what?? - Atrix 4G General

Hey guys, I need some opinions about my problem, check my video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeApacv5_gE&feature=youtu.be
I think it's digitizer fault but before buy new one I need to be at least 90% sure its digitizer, tried to load many roms, pds fix...

Anyone? Somebody must know

Well honestly it is hard to say without actually having your phone here. But you can almost be sure of this. It is most likely either the digitizer or the multi pin socket that the digitizer plugs into. I am working on one right now that went into a swimming pool and the socket is bad. It does the exact same thing as yours with any digitizer that I try. I'm currently looking for a way to remove the corrosion from the inside of that sucker. Gotta find some kind of spray. I can't seem to get it good enough with emery cloth or scraping... On the other hand I've replaced the digitizer and fixed this same issue on my sons Atrix.
In case you decide that you want to try to replace it here are 2 on Ebay that have the frame built in. Link1 Link2 So far I've bought 3 that were assembled this way and it is so much easier than buying a ditizer alone. No messing with double sided tape or worrying about backlight bleed.
Hope you can get some relief.

Dude, I've got the same in the same places! It have to be factory defect... there is too much digitizer problems...

Yes its very good smartphone but too much bad digitizers disqualify it, so JdgM3NT4L sometimes when I squeeze frame bottom of the screen works fine but only for few moments, so there are three options: need to replace adhesive sticker, replace digitizer and pin socket. Damn even if I want sell Atrix for parts I am not sure if all of them are fine

I used to get that a lot, phantom touches that make the phone useless until I turn the screen off and back on.
Cannot say for sure but when I stopped using alcohol wipes to clean the screen and reduced the amount of static it was exposed to (keeping it polyester pant pockets seemed to make it worse believe it or not!), it seemed to pretty much stop.. now I've gone months without the issue.

lvl18 said:
Yes its very good smartphone but too much bad digitizers disqualify it, so JdgM3NT4L sometimes when I squeeze frame bottom of the screen works fine but only for few moments, so there are three options: need to replace adhesive sticker, replace digitizer and pin socket. Damn even if I want sell Atrix for parts I am not sure if all of them are fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the socket is on the motherboard, so no replacing that... For 30 bucks, I would try the digitizer. I should have explained the part about water damage. That's one of the few ways that the socket would have been damaged. That's kind of what I was eluding to when I mentioned not having your phone here. If I had it here I would know the history and whether or not it had water damage, etc. My apologies for not being more clear about that. I just don't want you to buy the digitizer and then be upset because I told you to leap right in. In my humble opinion. A new one will probably take care of the problem. 90% if I had to call it.
I wish you the best of luck. And if you have any problems installing it shoot me a pm and I'll be glad to Skype or email to help you get through it.

Thanks, my Atrix never saw water. I just dissasembly phone for every single part and cleaned all socket with alcohol. Put back together but no result. I'll try replace digitizer with frame from ebay, it's risky but hope it will solve the problem.

Its the digitizer I'm 99 percent sure I had an identical problem. Dead zones and the phantom touches. Replaced the digitizer and problem solved. I believe the digitzer design is bad for our phone and is prone to this kind of failure
Sent from my MB860 using xda app-developers app

Related

My HTC HD2 Disassembled to the LCD

I posted in another thread about the issue of digitizer being glued to lcd. I had more pics to show, and decided disassembled pics are useful to all! So new thread for full set! If you want more I can get more! If I get enough questions I might make a tutorial for dis assembly.
General Disassembly
Slideshow:
http://img96.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=htchd2wificam2.jpg
Desoldered Digitizer Pics
Slideshow:
http://img705.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=htchd2desolderedtermina.jpg
Digitizer Removal w/ Razor
Slideshow:
http://img696.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=htchd2digioffrazor.jpg
ENJOY!
This really is a great phone!
can't see anything. please use a different host
brandi said:
can't see anything. please use a different host
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed problem!
OH NO!! what HAVE U done!!!
I know...The horror...I haven't re-assembled to see if still working...HA!
I disassembled because of a cracked digitizer.
looks like a fur or "plastic" carpet, hope you don't end up with ESD related problems
ESD as in ElectroStatic Discharge ^^
Phone still works just fine.
If anybody knows how to un-solder the digitizer away from the lcd, help would be appreciated!
New images added.
Next up:
digitizer/lcd separation
any updates?
Have you managed to fix it yet?
We all want you to succeed so we can operate on our own cracked ones! Maybe you need the "unglue" chemical - you know, like superglue has an antiglue for reversing it's stickiness. If you could find out what glue bonded it, then a specialist adhesive supplier probably knows how to reverse it.
I'm sure you'll like this (if it isn't posted here before...)
http://pocketnow.com/hardware-1/official-htc-hd2-disassembly-assembly-training-videos-leaked
Still not clear, has he finally removed the lcd on that video from the digitizer? to me it looks they're still cemented
tamas970 said:
Still not clear, has he finally removed the lcd from the digitizer? to me it looks they're still cemented
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if they're cemented (hopefully with some hyper-glue), thats a GOOD thing. Then this will be (hopefully) my first device with NO dust under the glass.
Don't you people have insurances on your devices? Talk to the ensurance company and you will get a new device for a small excess - that is, if it's beyond repair
Halle said:
Well if they're cemented (hopefully with some hyper-glue), thats a GOOD thing. Then this will be (hopefully) my first device with NO dust under the glass.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not ... I have dust under the displayglass.
Floatheavy, and everyone else.
I'm currently on my second HD2, first suffered a hairline crack on the digitizer and it went COMPLETELY unresponsive. After getting the second, I had nothing to loose and disassembled the first. I got everthing apart up to the LCM, this module has everything (the glass digitizer, the LCD and the backlight) all cemented together. As I took the phone apart, priodically I would test that it still worked - everything except the digitizer. When I tried to separate the digitizer from the LCD and baclight I ended up tearing the layers of the LCD apart, now one layer is still glued to the digitizer and one is still glued to the backlight. I have yet to see how this can safely come apart and untill I can buy the LCD the phone is totaly screwed. I think one has to purchase an entire LCM and not just the digitizer.
For those that want to try separating the digitizer - BEWARE, noone seems to have found the secret yet! If I manage to discover something new I'll post.
Yeah. I tried the heat method to separate the digi from the LCD...
No luck
It seems it is more than the simple adhesive broken down by heat.
To get the bezel away from the LCM you can use heat to make easier, but to get the digitizer away from the LCD itself remains a mystery to me.
Anybody get any other results?
OKAY..
Pics updated again...
I was able to get the digitizer apart from the LCD, using a razor.
for separate lcd and digitizer
For separate lcd and digitizer, I used nylo fisher string... and it work good... just right my problem is how to past new one ? neopren glue ?
Honestly, I plan on just adding a dot of super glue to each corner.
I believe most phone adhesives are a sylicon based glue.
It`s almost impossible to un-solder the digitizer away from the lcd, i have succeeded a few times whit hot air and very sharp cutter, but still broke 2 screens from 5...it has to be a solution for this...anyway 3 phones from 5 its not the best rate...

Dropped my precious HD2 ... doh!

Hey guys,
Just got out the car, fell over the cat and my HD2 has slipped from my top pocket and slammed screen down into the concrete driveway, doh! The screen is obliterated with cracks ... however
1. The picture is 100% clear/fine
2. The touchscreen works 100%
Can I just replace the top glass cover/screen, or is it an all in one combined unit? Im confident with electronics, just wish to know the answer before part hunting and stripping the device.
Cheers
Mike
Vapourmike said:
Hey guys,
Just got out the car, fell over the cat and my HD2 has slipped from my top pocket and slammed screen down into the concrete driveway, doh! The screen is obliterated with cracks ... however
1. The picture is 100% clear/fine
2. The touchscreen works 100%
Can I just replace the top glass cover/screen, or is it an all in one combined unit? Im confident with electronics, just wish to know the answer before part hunting and stripping the device.
Cheers
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would call HTC. They are good on their prices when it comes to fixing stuff that is out of warranty. A guy I knew got his Nexus One screen replaced for $90.
ap3604 said:
I would call HTC. They are good on their prices when it comes to fixing stuff that is out of warranty. A guy I knew got his Nexus One screen replaced for $90.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem is, I cannot afford to be without my phone, the phone is still usable its just difficult to read through the cracks, the image and touchscreen still work perfect, it's as if another layer of glass sits overtop.
Im 100% confident in stripping electronics etc, was just after a quick answer as to whether anyone knew if this was likely to be an entire screen or just a digitizer, if no one knows I will just strip it down tomorrow when I can get to my T drivers.
check out this vid on dissembling the hd2 - you might find your answer there..hope it helps
http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/02...g-the-htc-hd2/
look on craigslist. a lot of shady places replace your broken screens for cheap
Moschino02 said:
check out this vid on dissembling the hd2 - you might find your answer there..hope it helps
http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/02...g-the-htc-hd2/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/02/official-htc-step-by-step-video-for-disassembling-the-htc-hd2/
mrroey said:
look on craigslist. a lot of shady places replace your broken screens for cheap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm happy to repair myself as I see no reason to pay someone money when I work with electronics daily and I can locate parts easily, just need to know if its the digitizer or the LCD that's broken without pulling the device apart.
Also, thank you for the link above, will give that a look now, I really think it's just the top digitizer as the screen still shows a crystal clear image, the backlight works fine and the touchscreen works too, its just badly cracked.
This happened to me (apart from the cat), however it seems you got lucky, the LED screen decided to break, has all funny white lines over it but the glass is perfect.
^^ As far as going to fix it your self is concerned, I would have tried myself, however I just know with my luck that something would go wrong and it wouldnt work D:
I usually go via the DIY route but I've seen too many stories where HD2 repairs have gone horribly wrong. It seems that replacing one part is fairly straightforward but avoiding damage to others is not. I'm sure that as miniaturization continues repairs, even by talented amateurs, will become impossible.
It's your digitizer. It's available online. Just make sure you get the right one for your country. TMO-US uses a different one than everywhere else, I believe. Also, watch the video linked above. The digitizer removal I hear is somewhat tricky. Good luck!
Hi there and hello from Croatia!well,i must say changing digitizer on hd2 aint easy.lcd is glued with some special glue type and after you glue them up u need to glue digitizer for housing,for that im using ebay double sided iphone 3m tape but it is not strong enough.as for the hardware inside u ned to be 100% concentrated on this cuz flat for keypad is 30$...digitizer around 50$...chinese resellers with good quality.good luck!

[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.

Replacing Touch Digitizer fix NonResponsive Screen?

Hey everyone my HTC HD2 got the Non-Responsive screen problem a week ago, & did a lot of research and found out that it was most likely a hardware problem with a cable..... So a lot of people would tell the people with the problem that the "Touch Screen Digitizer" is dead (like the cable), or it needs to be cleaned... pretty well go out and buy a new one... BUT I have never found evidence that someone has done this and it has successfully "cured" their HTC HD2 Non-Responsive touch screen problem...
So I was looking for anyone on the forums that could confirm this is a solution or give me any tips on what I should do.... AND no I don't have enough money to get a new phone, nor do I live in the USA so I can't send it in to fix it...
This is what I was going to buy for it:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-OEM-HTC-...781?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519a3d2e45
Thanks for taking the time to read my Thread, its much appreciated!! I hope I can find a fix!!
PS: If anyone wanted to know what it looks like out of curiosity I posted 3 pictures with RED circle HIGHLIGHTING the problem when I try to touch something....
My digitizer has been a bit dodgy for the past few months. It's ironic that when I finally found out what the issue was and called HTC, my factory warranty had ended exactly 4 days prior to the call.
Fast forward 3 months and my phone has now been unresponsive for 3 hours despite my prying and tweaking various hard parts.
I disassembled the phone down to the main board just to see how hard the install is, but it's a bit intimidating once it's time to start pulling all the film and ribbons. A bit too tight and small parts for my liking.
Time to hit CL to see if I can find a cheap replacement.
Good luck with your repairs. I may be following in your footsteps if I can not find a good deal.
Yeah I will see how well it goes... if anyone has useful info, i will be more than grad to hear it
Thanks
Many people attempt to replace a digitizer, but I simply don't recommend it, we see enough of do-it-yourselvers who created problems in addition to the original ones.
What I do recommend, however, and I stated it on many threads already, is to get an LCD+DIGITIZER assembly. Simply because it is easier to fit. Not saying the overall fitting is easy, always depends on your overall skill, so ensure that you are familiar with the procedure BEFORE you begin. But you will save yourself a lot of trouble by getting the whole thing, as opposed to the digitizer only for the sake of a few bucks.
However, if anyone still feels intimidated by the whole thing, I am on the lookout for working main board. Advertised a few times in the marketplace with limited success. So if anyone smashed their baby and will be looking to replace, rather than repair - drop me a PM. I am in NZ. Will pay by Paypal.
Mm i've replaced my HD2 screen just last night. Trust me it's among the most complex phones around.
Unless you've done a few phones before i wouldn't advice you DIY. Otherwise you can look carefully at the Leo Ds. and Leo As. guides on youtube. those helped me!
Mm i killed my LCD in the process of removing the digitizer as it's stupidly glued on to each other and the LCD glass is thin as hell.
Get the set, it'll save you your time
Mm i got mine of ebay, from the seller goodgoodsecho. It works perfectly well for me!
All the best!
cheeselump said:
Mm i've replaced my HD2 screen just last night. Trust me it's among the most complex phones around.
Unless you've done a few phones before i wouldn't advice you DIY. Otherwise you can look carefully at the Leo Ds. and Leo As. guides on youtube. those helped me!
Mm i killed my LCD in the process of removing the digitizer as it's stupidly glued on to each other and the LCD glass is thin as hell.
Get the set, it'll save you your time
Mm i got mine of ebay, from the seller goodgoodsecho. It works perfectly well for me!
All the best!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much did the set cost?
cheeselump said:
Mm i've replaced my HD2 screen just last night. Trust me it's among the most complex phones around.
Unless you've done a few phones before i wouldn't advice you DIY. Otherwise you can look carefully at the Leo Ds. and Leo As. guides on youtube. those helped me!
Mm i killed my LCD in the process of removing the digitizer as it's stupidly glued on to each other and the LCD glass is thin as hell.
Get the set, it'll save you your time
Mm i got mine of ebay, from the seller goodgoodsecho. It works perfectly well for me!
All the best!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I will check it out, hopefully it won't be to hard and I hope I can repair it!! oh and could you post a link of the youtube & manual you used to replace your screen?? Thanks
Oh would anyone suggest then just calling HTC and sending it to them to repair?? or does that cost to much??
Thanks everyone for the help
One word of advice I have, is just remove the LCD/digitizer module assembly and don't remove anything else.
I have no idea why these videos and manuals have you pulling circuit boards, flex cables, and disconnecting stuff just to remove the LCD module. All you really have to do after removing the rear housing is to cut through the double-sided tape holding the LCD module to the main frame, being careful to know where the flex is and not to go too deep there. I used a credit card for that, but anything similarly flat and thin should do.
GnatGoSplat said:
One word of advice I have, is just remove the LCD/digitizer module assembly and don't remove anything else.
I have no idea why these videos and manuals have you pulling circuit boards, flex cables, and disconnecting stuff just to remove the LCD module. All you really have to do after removing the rear housing is to cut through the double-sided tape holding the LCD module to the main frame, being careful to know where the flex is and not to go too deep there. I used a credit card for that, but anything similarly flat and thin should do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yah I was looking at the video's and they were taking off EVERYTHING... it looks really hard to do.. I don't know whether I want to do it anymore.....
oh and are you talking about the digitizer itself or the LCD+digitizer for your method?
Thanks
Heronization said:
Yah I was looking at the video's and they were taking off EVERYTHING... it looks really hard to do.. I don't know whether I want to do it anymore.....
oh and are you talking about the digitizer itself or the LCD+digitizer for your method?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, there is absolutely no reason to take off everything like some people seem to think is necessary.
The way I'm talking about requires removing LCD+digitizer. In fact, I think you'll always have to remove both because the connector for the digitizer is under the LCD. Anyway, the way I did it, I went from removing the the phone insides from the rear housing straight to separating the LCD+digitizer assembly from the frame. No removal of any boards or flex cables. The only cable to be disconnected is the LCD+digitizer assembly one. Getting it disconnected and reconnected does require unplugging the front button flex and removing the screws for the bottom logic board to loosen it, but that's all.
GnatGoSplat said:
Yep, there is absolutely no reason to take off everything like some people seem to think is necessary.
The way I'm talking about requires removing LCD+digitizer. In fact, I think you'll always have to remove both because the connector for the digitizer is under the LCD. Anyway, the way I did it, I went from removing the the phone insides from the rear housing straight to separating the LCD+digitizer assembly from the frame. No removal of any boards or flex cables. The only cable to be disconnected is the LCD+digitizer assembly one. Getting it disconnected and reconnected does require unplugging the front button flex and removing the screws for the bottom logic board to loosen it, but that's all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that sounds pretty simple! and for you it all works perfectly now?? no calibration needed or problems?? Maybe I will try it after all..... but what screw drivers to I need to dissemble it?? the screws look different from normal..
Heronization said:
Wow that sounds pretty simple! and for you it all works perfectly now?? no calibration needed or problems?? Maybe I will try it after all..... but what screw drivers to I need to dissemble it?? the screws look different from normal..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it's not that simple because simply getting the HD2 insides out of the rear housing is difficult if you've never done it before. I believe the screwdriver you need is a Torx T-5. Once you get the screws out, you will need a plastic opening tool to go between the digitizer and rear housing frame. They look like this:
http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Plastic-Opening-Tools/IF145-000
I found it comes out much easier if I use the tool to make a gap along the top edge and then slide the entire end of a scrap credit card into that gap, then that makes the whole assembly easier to pry out along the sides with the tool. I know on one of the vids, the guy takes forever doing this part and I can understand why, but once I figured out sliding a credit card into the top gap as far as it would go, I was able to get it apart much easier.
I can't answer whether the phone will work properly, because I just ordered the new digitizer over the weekend and haven't put it back together. I did remove the LCD+digitizer assembly and then re-connected it and put it back, then powered on the phone just to make sure pulling the LCD didn't hurt it - it didn't, everything worked as well as it did before. I did manage to crack the digitizer more when I tried to get the insides out of the rear housing before I figured out the credit card trick, so fortunately I was not trying to save my digitizer as it was already cracked. If you are just wanting to try to clean or fiddle with the connection, then you're going to have to be a LOT more careful than I was because it was all too easy to crack the digitizer!
I'm guessing yours probably needs replacement though. I sent my HTC Surround in for a funny acting digitizer, and the digitizer was replaced.
Oh, and if I would have bought an LCD+digitizer pre-assembled unit, that would have been super easy to replace. However, I opted to save $50+ by buying just the digitizer. Not too sure how I'm going to prevent dust getting in it, and I've read thickness of the adhesive is critical. I may regret it later!
GnatGoSplat said:
Well, it's not that simple because simply getting the HD2 insides out of the rear housing is difficult if you've never done it before. I believe the screwdriver you need is a Torx T-5. Once you get the screws out, you will need a plastic opening tool to go between the digitizer and rear housing frame. They look like this:
http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Plastic-Opening-Tools/IF145-000
I found it comes out much easier if I use the tool to make a gap along the top edge and then slide the entire end of a scrap credit card into that gap, then that makes the whole assembly easier to pry out along the sides with the tool. I know on one of the vids, the guy takes forever doing this part and I can understand why, but once I figured out sliding a credit card into the top gap as far as it would go, I was able to get it apart much easier.
I can't answer whether the phone will work properly, because I just ordered the new digitizer over the weekend and haven't put it back together. I did remove the LCD+digitizer assembly and then re-connected it and put it back, then powered on the phone just to make sure pulling the LCD didn't hurt it - it didn't, everything worked as well as it did before. I did manage to crack the digitizer more when I tried to get the insides out of the rear housing before I figured out the credit card trick, so fortunately I was not trying to save my digitizer as it was already cracked. If you are just wanting to try to clean or fiddle with the connection, then you're going to have to be a LOT more careful than I was because it was all too easy to crack the digitizer!
I'm guessing yours probably needs replacement though. I sent my HTC Surround in for a funny acting digitizer, and the digitizer was replaced.
Oh, and if I would have bought an LCD+digitizer pre-assembled unit, that would have been super easy to replace. However, I opted to save $50+ by buying just the digitizer. Not too sure how I'm going to prevent dust getting in it, and I've read thickness of the adhesive is critical. I may regret it later!
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Ok thanks I think thats what I am going to do, first dissemble it then try to move the cable around because, just yesterday it started to work again and then today it isn't working. I will contact you if I have a problem or get stuck, if that is ok with you
Thanks a lot
Heronization said:
Ok thanks I think thats what I am going to do, first dissemble it then try to move the cable around because, just yesterday it started to work again and then today it isn't working. I will contact you if I have a problem or get stuck, if that is ok with you
Thanks a lot
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Click to collapse
Yeah, no prob. I can post a pic of the digitizer lifted from the frame which shows where the adhesive tapes are that you have to go through, if it would help.
GnatGoSplat said:
One word of advice I have, is just remove the LCD/digitizer module assembly and don't remove anything else.
I have no idea why these videos and manuals have you pulling circuit boards, flex cables, and disconnecting stuff just to remove the LCD module. All you really have to do after removing the rear housing is to cut through the double-sided tape holding the LCD module to the main frame, being careful to know where the flex is and not to go too deep there. I used a credit card for that, but anything similarly flat and thin should do.
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Hey lolz I need your help already, I just took off the back housing and now Im lost on what to do... It looks to me as if you do have to remove the cables from the motherboard to get to it?? and what is the double sided tape? and isn't everything connected to the lcd?? lolz this is my first time doing any phone disassemble.. Thanks
added a picture of what I was thinking of doing... or am I doing this all wrong... because you did say we don't need to remove any flex cable or wires and stuff
Thanks!!
Heronization said:
Hey lolz I need your help already, I just took off the back housing and now Im lost on what to do... It looks to me as if you do have to remove the cables from the motherboard to get to it?? and what is the double sided tape? and isn't everything connected to the lcd?? lolz this is my first time doing any phone disassemble.. Thanks
added a picture of what I was thinking of doing... or am I doing this all wrong... because you did say we don't need to remove any flex cable or wires and stuff
Thanks!!
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Click to collapse
Nope, I didn't disconnect anything except the circled connector on the far right of your picture. You will need to do that to remove the LCD flex cable from the logic board.
I've attached a pic of the LCD module loosened from the frame. What you do is use something thin and flat to separate the adhesive tape holding the LCD to the frame. You will need to lift some of that black fabric tape on the edge to see where the LCD module meets the frame. Near the top, you will probably have to slide your separating tool all the way through to separate the tape (I used a scrap credit card). Avoid the area where the LCD flex cable is, because you could damage it! It's on the lower right of the LCD if you are looking from the front. When the LCD is loose, lift up from left to right (when LCD is facing you), pretending that there is a hinge on the right side. This is because you don't want to put any force on the LCD flex.
Once you've got your phone looking like my picture, you can remove the "captain" (orange tape), unlatch the LCD flex from the top, remove the button flex from its connector, then loosen the bottom logic board from the frame just enough to pull the flex out of the connector.
I hope that makes sense! It probably helps to know that a very strong double-sided sticky tape is all that holds the LCD+digitizer assembly to the frame, and there is only one flex cable connecting LCD+digitizer assembly to the rest of the phone.
GnatGoSplat said:
Nope, I didn't disconnect anything except the circled connector on the far right of your picture. You will need to do that to remove the LCD flex cable from the logic board.
I've attached a pic of the LCD module loosened from the frame. What you do is use something thin and flat to separate the adhesive tape holding the LCD to the frame. You will need to lift some of that black fabric tape on the edge to see where the LCD module meets the frame. Near the top, you will probably have to slide your separating tool all the way through to separate the tape (I used a scrap credit card). Avoid the area where the LCD flex cable is, because you could damage it! It's on the lower right of the LCD if you are looking from the front. When the LCD is loose, lift up from left to right (when LCD is facing you), pretending that there is a hinge on the right side. This is because you don't want to put any force on the LCD flex.
Once you've got your phone looking like my picture, you can remove the "captain" (orange tape), unlatch the LCD flex from the top, remove the button flex from its connector, then loosen the bottom logic board from the frame just enough to pull the flex out of the connector.
I hope that makes sense! It probably helps to know that a very strong double-sided sticky tape is all that holds the LCD+digitizer assembly to the frame, and there is only one flex cable connecting LCD+digitizer assembly to the rest of the phone.
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Awesome I will try it now, I do need to heat the screen some for the tape to get sticky so I can pry it off right?? and I am guessing once you have removed that tape you can't "just stick it back on together and it will work right?? right??
Heronization said:
Awesome I will try it now, I do need to heat the screen some for the tape to get sticky so I can pry it off right?? and I am guessing once you have removed that tape you can't "just stick it back on together and it will work right?? right??
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Click to collapse
You could try heating; I didn't, but maybe it will come apart easier if you do. In the HTC factory service video, they mentioned putting the whole phone into the oven to loosen the tape. I didn't know if it would be a good idea to do that complete with all the circuit boards or not.
No, without heat, the tape is definitely ruined and I will need to replace it. I was planning to use some leftover tape I have from fixing iPhone digitizers so I didn't even attempt to salvage the existing tape. Not sure if it's even possible to salvage that tape considering you need to stick some kind of tool in there to separate it.
GnatGoSplat said:
You could try heating; I didn't, but maybe it will come apart easier if you do. In the HTC factory service video, they mentioned putting the whole phone into the oven to loosen the tape. I didn't know if it would be a good idea to do that complete with all the circuit boards or not.
No, without heat, the tape is definitely ruined and I will need to replace it. I was planning to use some leftover tape I have from fixing iPhone digitizers so I didn't even attempt to salvage the existing tape. Not sure if it's even possible to salvage that tape considering you need to stick some kind of tool in there to separate it.
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Alright thanks I have to go and don't know when I'll be back, but I will try it tonight and hopefully I don't break anything...
Thanks for the help!

Anyone gone through front glass replacement?

Recently got a GS5 and my mom doesn't have a phone right now so I'm handing my N4 down to her. The front glass is cracked and I wanted to get that fixed before I do. The digitizer and lcd are not broken, just the glass, everything else looks and functions fine. I guess what my question is, if I take it to a repair shop can they just replace the front glass or am I looking at around 100ish to replace it all? I'll be going in and getting quoted but just wanted to see if I got any input from here first, it will likely be a week or so before I take it anywhere due to this damn weather.
wareju said:
Recently got a GS5 and my mom doesn't have a phone right now so I'm handing my N4 down to her. The front glass is cracked and I wanted to get that fixed before I do. The digitizer and lcd are not broken, just the glass, everything else looks and functions fine. I guess what my question is, if I take it to a repair shop can they just replace the front glass or am I looking at around 100ish to replace it all? I'll be going in and getting quoted but just wanted to see if I got any input from here first, it will likely be a week or so before I take it anywhere due to this damn weather.
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Click to collapse
The same thing happened with my friends N4. The glass, digitizer and LCD all had to be replaced as they all come as one unit. Cannot get them separately.
Amazon/ebay has parts where you can just order the LCD/Digitizer etc, but then to separate them you have to have a heat gun etc. if you touch any part by mistake you will get finger prints or smudges permanently. So not a good idea unless you are one of those super careful person. http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-Nexus-4-...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
if you are handy, you can order the whole assembly online (amazon) for about 60 bucks or so) http://www.amazon.com/Touch-Screen-...r=8-1&keywords=nexus+4+lcd+screen+replacement
I personally got it replaced in So Flo for about 95 dollars + tax. I have been quoted about 140 at a chain fix up places.
bluesteve3 said:
The same thing happened with my friends N4. The glass, digitizer and LCD all had to be replaced as they all come as one unit. Cannot get them separately.
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Click to collapse
Sure they do. FYI, the "glass" is[ the digitizer. If "everything works", then technically all that needs replacing is the digitizer.
However, digitizer replacement is far from an easy thing to do. Not only does it require some specialist equipment (suction cups, heat gun, glue), you're probably going to screw it up unless you've done it before.
wareju said:
Recently got a GS5 and my mom doesn't have a phone right now so I'm handing my N4 down to her. The front glass is cracked and I wanted to get that fixed before I do. The digitizer and lcd are not broken, just the glass, everything else looks and functions fine. I guess what my question is, if I take it to a repair shop can they just replace the front glass or am I looking at around 100ish to replace it all? I'll be going in and getting quoted but just wanted to see if I got any input from here first, it will likely be a week or so before I take it anywhere due to this damn weather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can buy just the screen assembly off eBay for about $45, which has the digitizer already mated with the LCD. However, this requires removal from the bezel (again, a heat gun is recommended), then gluing the new one back in. For $60 you can get the entire front assembly (hey, brand new phone!), which is the easiest way to go about things. I'd also recommend buying a new battery ($20) and replacing the old, tired one while you've got the phone apart.
It's not all that difficult to do it yourself. You'll need a T5 TORX driver, something thin, sturdy and plastic to pry the phone halves apart (you can buy screen assemblies that come with all these tools), and some patience. Do everything on a fluffy white towel so the little screws don't get lost. The tricky part is the little rubber gasket thingy that goes over the proximity/light sensor module. Most people who have done a screen replacement have found that reassembly screws up the prox sensor, causing it to always read "near" (meaning during a call the screen will stay off and you can't hang up or use the dialer). The common fix is to put the gasket in backwards.
There are a number of threads here, some youtube videos, and a good teardown tutorial on ifixit.com.
I thought the digitizer was what recognized touch input? Either way I don't think I'll be doing any of this work myself, I'll just take it up somewhere for her for the repairs.
wareju said:
I thought the digitizer was what recognized touch input?
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Click to collapse
It is. It's built into the front panel of glass (which is made up of a bunch of different layers of stuff). Don't ask me how it works, it's all magic to me. But when you break the front glass, yet everything still works, that's the digitizer. If you look up digitizers on eBay you'll see that it's the front glass panel, with a cable and other electronic stuff attatched.
Either way I don't think I'll be doing any of this work myself, I'll just take it up somewhere for her for the repairs.
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Click to collapse
It's honestly not all that difficult to do yourself. Hell, send me the phone and screen assembly, and I'll do it for free. Seriously. I'll even through in a couple TPU cases I'm not using.
If you do take it somewhere for repairs, make sure you ask what they're doing. Replacing the screen assembly, or replacing the digitizer. For a $100 fee, it could be either. They could buy a $20 digitizer and the remaining $80 is in labor, but it'll take them a lot of time and effort, or it could be a $45/$60 screen assembly that takes far less time and effort to do. Personally, it costing the same, I'd rather have the screen assembly replaced, since replacing only the digitizer can lead to complications. Since it has to be reglued onto the LCD, you might get bubbles, dust/lint, dead spots, and that rainbow affect when you hold it in the light at the right angle.

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