Hello! could people please share tips and things to remember when buying a used universal? I mean what are the things that you should do to check or find tell tale signs of defect, hardware, the firmware the os, I have already done a search in the forums and already know some, but there might be things that I have missed, so help would be very nice, I will be meeting the seller so I get to inspect the device up close so it would be nice to armed with the info how to inspect the device from how to check the bootload etc.
Thanks for the help and I hope that this helps others too
The Universal can be bought cheap at german eBay. Look for MDA PRO. You should be able to purchase one for around or less than 100 Euro.
Preferably look for the following signs:
1) Unmodded. Many users got the Universal within a contract from the operator, but did not use it much, because it is too big for them. Such Universals are normally in good condition. When advertised that it ships with an OS different than WM5, you know that the owner has been flashing it. I personally don't like that, because that means it belonged to a power user and must be more worn out.
2) Warranty stickers. Make sure the hinges have the warranty stickers inside. If they are missing, the device has been opened. You don't want to purchase one that has been opened.
3) Screen. Screen should be without scratches and should have had always a screen protector.
4) Speaker. The external speaker which is used for calls can break, as it is fitted with some kind of pogo pins. Make sure it is working.
If you get to test the device first, do as this:
- do a call (bring your SIM card)
- check WLAN and Bluetooth (bring a headphone and try it somewhere with WLAN activity)
- bring a SD card and see if it is read
- check for bad pixels
- play a song
- take a picture
- try the keyboard and touch screen
- try all the buttons
If everything works, that is the best you can check it for.
Of course it could break the next day, but it shouldn't.
Cheers,
vma
Great guide vma!
I´ll just add:
Take special care on the swivel piece (The one that gives Uni it´s great and unbeatable form factor: PDA - Micro Lap top)
take care of another thing when i bouted my universal after i used it for about 1 week the phone was hangs soo much the reason was in the memory crd .....so you must try a memory crd and play a small video on it about 10 minutes
The most important thing everyone forgot to mention is USB port. When looking for a device, see if the port moves in any way or wiggles in its opening. See if the device synchronises with AS, charges etc.
The fact the device had been flashed or opened wouldn't play a huge part for me if everything else works well and the body is in sound condition, e.g. the hinge is not loose, the screen rotates and closes properly, all keys are present and work, keyboard backlight works with and without sensor etc.
Speakers don't just break, as post No2 claims (POGO PINS??), but it is good to check that phone is capable of making/receiving calls, you can hear the other party and the other party can hear you, can play music and earphone plug is in working condition/attached properly
Not reading SD or SIM card is a biggie, dim screen, lost touch sensitivity, scratched or damaged digitizer, worn out buttons - all obvious signs. You can open the back, remove the battery and SIM card and check for a small white blotting paper sticker covering the small mainboard pins under the SIM card, any change in color towards pink - do not buy.
@enigma1nz:
Shame on me, I did indeed forget the USB port!!! You should of course check both: charging and Active Sync connection. A broken USB connector is a mayor issue and hard to solder without proper equipment.
Regarding the speaker: I am speaking out of experience, as one faild on me. The speaker is like a small button and it has two contact plates. They are not pogo pins, but act like them. The speaker will be pressed by the case against two contact points on the PCB. What happens is that apparently some car-holders do too much pressure on the sides of the Universal casing, causing the speaker contacts to bend back and forth everytime the phone is placed or removed from the holder. After a few months the contact gets worse and worse until one of both plates brake off. Because they are so tiny, it is impossible to repair the speaker - believe me, I have tried. I ended up buying a new speaker cell at eBay.
Cheers,
vma
vma said:
@enigma1nz:
Shame on me, I did indeed forget the USB port!!! You should of course check both: charging and Active Sync connection. A broken USB connector is a mayor issue and hard to solder without proper equipment.
Regarding the speaker: I am speaking out of experience, as one faild on me. The speaker is like a small button and it has two contact plates. They are not pogo pins, but act like them. The speaker will be pressed by the case against two contact points on the PCB. What happens is that apparently some car-holders do too much pressure on the sides of the Universal casing, causing the speaker contacts to bend back and forth everytime the phone is placed or removed from the holder. After a few months the contact gets worse and worse until one of both plates brake off. Because they are so tiny, it is impossible to repair the speaker - believe me, I have tried. I ended up buying a new speaker cell at eBay.
Cheers,
vma
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And believe me, I repair devices for a living. Thanks for the run-through, although I could give you the same. It happened to you, doesn't mean it happens often or it is a fault in design. I could give you a list of design faults in quite a few models of expensive cellphones on the market today, the mentioned speakers are not one of them.
I appreciate, the help people! any more inputs? I am happy that all the previous posts were, about how to inspect the device upfront and some other useful tips what to check other inputs will be highly appreciated
Battery can be also considered. Some are sold with good batery some with dead battery. It is not so expensive, but costs something. In general if battery shows less than 50% and devidce still works (even under load) that is a good sign.
Also as for the touch screen - the best test is to open note taker and try to paint something. The painted line must exactly follow the stylus movement if it jumps somewhere, then the touch sensitive layer is bad. I bouht such UNI on eBay (was described as perfect working order), had to replace the digitizer myself.
I do prefer buying not working UNI's on Ebay with good display. Once I bought not booting one - mtty job fixed that. Other time I bouht one where the display was still off - the flex cable popped out from connector. Etc....
Thanks for all the advice people! now, please welcome me to the HTC universal family, (well actually, I have a Dopod 900 but what the heck all are the same right?) your inputs had been essential, for me to get my new baby without any hitches I hope that nothing manifests after the one week assurance the seller gave me
Special thanks to enigma1nz for all the patience and help provided to me I asked her a lot of questions in the pm's but she answered in full detail
Now I have my own device so I will be flashing away, I hope without any problems. Again my thanks to the community hopefully there are more inputs for others who are thinking of buying their 2nd hand universal via meet ups
Excellent news! Congratulations!!! And welcome to the Uni family, of course. As you can see, we are one friendly bunch, all help and support will always be available. Have fun
Damn, I was hoping to do a very good Marlon Brando Godfather impersonation with 'Welcome to the family'
LOL
You started in the right direction!
to midnightsights : welcome
orb3000 said:
LOL
You started in the right direction!
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Click to collapse
No, sweetie, the right direction would be an Orb3000 impersonation and 'Welcome to the forums', but I was worried, being Orb2000, hehe, that I simply won't be able to compete with a more updated version
enigma1nz said:
No, sweetie, the right direction would be an Orb3000 impersonation and 'Welcome to the forums', but I was worried, being Orb2000, hehe, that I simply won't be able to compete with a more updated version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL.........
enigma1nz said:
No, sweetie, the right direction would be an Orb3000 impersonation and 'Welcome to the forums', but I was worried, being Orb2000, hehe, that I simply won't be able to compete with a more updated version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks dear, you´re nice
you´ll be Orb4000!!!
Cheers and have a nice weekend,
I've searched far and wide to find a video or tutorial for my problem, but didn't find much.
My problem; my middle button (Windows key) has stopped working - it does work at times but you gotta hit her in the right spot. It does feel like there is some physical damage to the underlying components.
My question is, how would I go about solving this problem? My HTC is out of warranty as far as I know and I've found one person selling replacement keypads in the US (I live in the UK), but is the keypad the correct component to replace or should I be looking to replace whatever is underneath?
Thanks, Az.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
I would rather pay money to HTC and make them repair it than buying it my self and doing myself anywayz,. it looks like its a physical problem, the button must be replaced.
If you want to, you can change the button, it's most likely it would be it the one's broken.
I deduce that you might not be too "experienced" with electronics as you were looking for a video on how to change this part or even how to open you PDA (even if I could totally wrong as there are many persons who like to have all the available info before proceeding).
Anyway, even if I haven't opened my HD2 (yet), I don't think it would be a problem, just be sure to be very careful when you open it, prepare yourself with all the necessary tools (little screwdrivers, I think you'll need a torxs T5 screwdriver, platic pliers, etc.), clean and illuminate your working area and proceed slowly without forcing anything.
To work with most of today electronics you'll need a very fine pointed soldering iron (or heavy skills in soldering, but it's better to have both) or two would be better, a magnifying lens lamp, pb free solder (even if you can use sn-pb solder with pb free solder); but all this stuff will be necessary only if you want to change the push button itself. I just saw how to take the HD2 appart and it seems like an "average" PDA disassembling, the only detail regards the final chassis disassembling, they ask to use a oven to soften three adhesive stripes, this could also be done with a good hot air rework station.
At the end, you'll have to decide if you want to change the push button or to change the whole front buttons board.
I hope this helps.
good luck
I have taken apart some many Tmous HD's, thank could do it with my eyes closed. But it is tricky. I think I'll make a video, and then post it.
I deduce that you might not be too "experienced" with electronics
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You pretty much hit the nail on the head - well, I am experienced, just not any good, being into building and maintenance by trade, I'm more used to smashing and brute forcing rather than using careful precision lol.
I actually forgot about this post - what would you guys say about the volume +/- buttons? They're sticky, would I need to replace those too? And what sort of estimated parts price would I be looking at for both the buttons and a screen? I want to make sure I'm not overpaying. The screen itself isn't smashed, but the the top layer. I know it sounds like I've abused my HD2 in a bad way, but it did this to itself on a night out - I don't know how lol.
I've seen the screen part going for around £20. I have no clue on the bottom buttons or the volume keys. Would I be better off getting a dead HD2 for parts? And are there different part versions as such or are they universal?
Hello everybody,
I have an HTC Desire A8181 that it's approx. two years old now so, in one day I thought it could be a good idea to clean it up a little bit with a rudimentary air blower near me which was used to blow all the dust from it.
Well, the bad part is that I managed to break the microphone since now I can call and hear the person at the other end but seems that my phone is deaf as long as the call is unidirectional.
I've search for solutions to this problem om the net, maybe a direct microphone replacement but found none so far!
Hence my request to you: does anybody know from where I can buy such a part and replace it to make my phone usable again? I'm interest in the part number... or something equivalent from other phone manufacturer that will work.
I understand that it's rather difficult to unsolder the bad microphone and replace with the new one but I have a friend of mine who's working at a GSM service... so it will be no problem in switching the parts.
Thank you,
L
You sure you didn't just blow crap into the microphone? Try cleaning out the tiny opening on it so it's not blocked. Use a pin and be VEERRRRYYYYY GENTLE and careful.
miulius13 said:
Hello everybody,
I have an HTC Desire A8181 that it's approx. two years old now so, in one day I thought it could be a good idea to clean it up a little bit with a rudimentary air blower near me which was used to blow all the dust from it.
Well, the bad part is that I managed to break the microphone since now I can call and hear the person at the other end but seems that my phone is deaf as long as the call is unidirectional.
I've search for solutions to this problem om the net, maybe a direct microphone replacement but found none so far!
Hence my request to you: does anybody know from where I can buy such a part and replace it to make my phone usable again? I'm interest in the part number... or something equivalent from other phone manufacturer that will work.
I understand that it's rather difficult to unsolder the bad microphone and replace with the new one but I have a friend of mine who's working at a GSM service... so it will be no problem in switching the parts.
Thank you,
L
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would probably be easiest to try find a bricked/broken/faulty phone and just transfer the microphone because the chances are the microphone would still work on a broken phone. I don't think you can buy them individually.
Unless its on these two parts:
http://www.htcrepairparts.com/flex-cable-for-htc-desire-g7-p-3598.html?language=en <- most likely
http://www.htcrepairparts.com/motherboard-for-htc-desire-g7-p-3231.html?language=en <- unlikely and expensive
Hello,
Just wanted to let you know I have a pretty much useless old Desire A8181, i think i ruined the proximity sensor as everything else worked fine. Until you got call or tried to ring someone and held it to your head. Coudn't even hang up! It's sitting here with a cpl of spare batteries if you wanted to work out some arrangement?
Cheers
how price of desire mic?
lukyjay said:
You sure you didn't just blow crap into the microphone? Try cleaning out the tiny opening on it so it's not blocked. Use a pin and be VEERRRRYYYYY GENTLE and careful.
It would probably be easiest to try find a bricked/broken/faulty phone and just transfer the microphone because the chances are the microphone would still work on a broken phone. I don't think you can buy them individually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
thanx for infos! In fact it's the second alternative (the expensive one). The microphone is found on the back side of motherboard PCB. Unfortunately for me I have to buy a new htc desire to make it functional. a broke phone would be enough. Even so, it's way to expensive compared to a "simple" microphone.
Cheers,
L
Hi,
I have a two-year old HD2 that developed a problem with the digitizer (I think that's the part). It occasionally stops responding to touch on the screen which, as you can imagine, is a slight problem. I've found a strong press of the power button tends to re-connect whatever part is loose on the system board, but it is a real problem to live with day to day. I've replaced it with an Amaze 4G. I now have this HD2 sitting around that needs some type of disposition. I hate to send it off to the recycling center since it is mostly good, but I can't sell it as working.
Anyone need an HD2 for parts or some other use that can be done without much touch interaction? Make me an offer if so. It has two working batteries and is in otherwise perfect condition physically.
BigBlueEdge said:
Hi,
I have a two-year old HD2 that developed a problem with the digitizer (I think that's the part). It occasionally stops responding to touch on the screen which, as you can imagine, is a slight problem. I've found a strong press of the power button tends to re-connect whatever part is loose on the system board, but it is a real problem to live with day to day. I've replaced it with an Amaze 4G. I now have this HD2 sitting around that needs some type of disposition. I hate to send it off to the recycling center since it is mostly good, but I can't sell it as working.
Anyone need an HD2 for parts or some other use that can be done without much touch interaction? Make me an offer if so. It has two working batteries and is in otherwise perfect condition physically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
50 US$ + shipping: first call/offer.
This should be posted in the Marketplace section found here.
Sold. Thanks.
Received, OK!
BigBlueEdge said:
Sold. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Package received, everything's OK!
Thank you!
hello
my hd2 'was' dropped, it is working, but backlit isnt.
Now... do You have an idea how can I use this phone, while backlit is not working?
Is that possible to stream audio from one to another android device? im thinking in connecting hd2 to my old panasonic midi hifi ect.
Do you have another ideas?
Beside that, would be Note 2 good replacement for hd2? i'm concerning baout the size.. i was using note1 for short time, in pocket i was ok, but i was not too handy to use only with one hand.
Buy a new lcd & digitizer combo for about 20USD & fix it.
Note 2 is big to use daily if not a lover of large devices. Assume you are an android user & if so plenty of device choice from likes of LG too with removable battery, sd slot & status LED which are basic features missed out on some of today's cheap designed so called advanced technology smartphones ...