Database Users

[Q] Scratch removal

Hi,
after my wife dropped my phone (accidently she swears) I have some small scratches on the phone. (See Picture below)
Someone knows some ACME Cleaner&Scratch remover for that?
Greetings .. seems that I have had the HD2 for the longest time ...

OOO!! Ouch! Looks like it's time to see the phone doctor. Or, if you feel brave enough, you can fix it yourself. They have replacement screens on ebay. Since you have the EU model the contacts for the screen and the digitizer are soldered together. So you have 3 options. 1. Take it to someone else to fix it. 2. Attempt to order just the digitizer and if you have some time and surgical skills solder the contacts yourself or, 3. Get a fully assembled LCD and digitizer that is already soldered together and swap them out. The cheapest would be to just get the digitizer but if you have to factor in the time and headache of soldering those tiny contacts together, I think getting the assembled parts would be my choice. The US T-Mobile model has a small plug-in type connector on it so there is not soldering. I replaced mine and it is quite a chore. You have to be very careful and don't rush it or you will break things. Good luck!

Yeah you've got more than scratches there! You've got a smashed screen
You'll have to replace the glass
the guy above stated pretty much everything you need to know but here's a link to a lcd+digitizer combo that is fairly cheap: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-LCD-Dis...192999?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item45fdf14d27

I know guys, the scratches where just kidding
The complete replacement has been ordered already, will fix it by myself

RollerCoasting said:
Yeah you've got more than scratches there! You've got a smashed screen
You'll have to replace the glass
the guy above stated pretty much everything you need to know but here's a link to a lcd+digitizer combo that is fairly cheap: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-LCD-Dis...192999?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item45fdf14d27
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He was being sarcastic with the 'scratches' thing :L

MasterMerlin said:
I know guys, the scratches where just kidding
The complete replacement has been ordered already, will fix it by myself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great. Like I said be very careful in taking it apart. Especially the flex cable that controls the volume rocker. Take your time and you can get it fixed.
Check out this website: http://pocketnow.com/hardware-1/official-htc-hd2-disassembly-assembly-training-videos-leaked
It has some videos on disassembling and assembling the HD2 just so you see what you have to deal with. Also another good investment would be to see if you can get some double sided tape to stick the back of the LCD to main frame if you can't salvage the stuff that's there already. It can't be too thick though because you'll run into problems of getting it put back together. They have that on ebay also.

yes
option one.... change screen..
option 2...change wife.....

hahaha change your wife my friend

htchd2fix said:
yes
option one.... change screen..
option 2...change wife.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha change screen is cheaper i guess

Samsung is investigating the problem in the carcasses of White Marble Galaxy SIII

Is this normal after having taken time??? the phone is not 15 days

Your fault. You bent the battery cover too much when taking it off.

henrybravo said:
Your fault. You bent the battery cover too much when taking it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but the materials were not polycarbonate???

henrybravo said:
Your fault. You bent the battery cover too much when taking it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of people have the same or hardest problem on this thread http://www.htcmania.com/showthread.php?t=405612&page=10
Bent a cover to much is the easy way to break but, a lot people?

Many people have complained that the cap is broken or scratched with a glance.
Samsung has answered that them have broken it by misuse, but I do not think many people misused the cover.
Manufacturing defect? I think so...

henrybravo said:
Your fault. You bent the battery cover too much when taking it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have left many defective and no fault of the user.
The complaint we have begun in Spain, but this affects thousands of users.
Whoever wants to look the other way is your problem, the SIII to cost € 600 and is not acceptable by any means.

There are several places where this news
http://www.xatakandroid.com/moviles...o-tambien-tiene-problemas-con-su-tapa-trasera
http://andro4all.com/2012/07/problemas-tapa-blanca-samsung-galaxy-s-iii

well if you sell millions of these phones i guess there are bound to be some to have their top bent like that... personally mine's still pristine, been using my phone for a month now

klander said:
Have left many defective and no fault of the user.
The complaint we have begun in Spain, but this affects thousands of users.
Whoever wants to look the other way is your problem, the SIII to cost € 600 and is not acceptable by any means.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK I understand now. I've taken mine off 3 or 4 times with no issues, so I just figured the OP had been a little rough on the battery cover.
Edit: also, I didn't realize the OP was just copying pics from a web site.

Gembol said:
Many people have complained that the cap is broken or scratched with a glance.
Samsung has answered that them have broken it by misuse, but I do not think many people misused the cover.
Manufacturing defect? I think so...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Manufacturing defect and bad materials

anarki919 said:
Manufacturing defect and bad materials
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Click to collapse
I disagree.
The material used is allowing some flexibility but it's very thin to allow for little weight and thickness of the overall phone. Even if it was made by carbon OF titanium and it was that thin it could brake. Its not unbrakeable. I have taken the cover off and on lots of times and I always take it slow and careful. What's the point of overreacting? You are holding 600€ of delicate electronic equipment covered in thin covers. You think just because you paid that amount it should also be unbrakeable?
I have had my share of confrontation with htc for their one S but that is because they claimed its so durable that doesn't need a case, though it chipped in a week without any misuse. But this claim to samsung's rear cover I think its pushing it.
Just get a new rear case and be careful how you handle the phone. Its not a hand tool but delicate equipment.
sent with WSGS3

I still have no idea how people break the Samsung battery covers and the SGP Neo Hybrid frames. As shown in the YouTube videos, you can literally bend the crap out of them. People must be extremely rough with theirs.

did you guys ever see the video of the S2 back cover being bent in two and it was fine, looks like it does not apply to the S3
John.

Mine has lots of dinks in it all around the side I'm not happy at all of course somehow have applied pressure to course this but I'm aware that I handle my phone very carefully so I think the battery door is very very poor quality
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

vasp3690 said:
I disagree.
The material used is allowing some flexibility but it's very thin to allow for little weight and thickness of the overall phone. Even if it was made by carbon OF titanium and it was that thin it could brake. Its not unbrakeable. I have taken the cover off and on lots of times and I always take it slow and careful. What's the point of overreacting? You are holding 600€ of delicate electronic equipment covered in thin covers. You think just because you paid that amount it should also be unbrakeable?
I have had my share of confrontation with htc for their one S but that is because they claimed its so durable that doesn't need a case, though it chipped in a week without any misuse. But this claim to samsung's rear cover I think its pushing it.
Just get a new rear case and be careful how you handle the phone. Its not a hand tool but delicate equipment.
sent with WSGS3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We all try to carefully S3, but we must recognize that the quality of the finishes are terrible.
Youtube videos are very nice and the lid bends easily, try to cover your S3 and comets that we ido this to you and if possible record, you'll take a big disappointment.
The S2 was a great phone, both in quality and performance, the S3 is very good interpretations but not the quality of their materials.
regards

Tomatoes8 said:
I still have no idea how people break the Samsung battery covers and the SGP Neo Hybrid frames. As shown in the YouTube videos, you can literally bend the crap out of them. People must be extremely rough with theirs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this also??

My solution.
I took out my original battery cover and put this one in its place along with the bumper. Mine did not break, I just wanted a better looking cover some form of protection.

Sango2 said:
My solution.
I took out my original battery cover and put this one in its place along with the bumper.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not the solution, the solution is to give the samsung.
I do not like to take my S3 as Robocop

klander said:
We all try to carefully S3, but we must recognize that the quality of the finishes are terrible.
Youtube videos are very nice and the lid bends easily, try to cover your S3 and comets that we ido this to you and if possible record, you'll take a big disappointment.
The S2 was a great phone, both in quality and performance, the S3 is very good interpretations but not the quality of their materials.
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, apparently not all are carefully with their phones. If you regard the you tube videos of presentstion of the phone as how much you CAN bend the cover, then you are wrong. The people testing the phones are there to sometimes show you the limits of the phone's capabilities or reach them, not to show how you can use it everyday.
The first time you hold the phone you understand that the rear cover is very thin and the clips are delicate. That should increase your attention on how you open and close the cover. Quality is fine ifyou ask me, as I consider quality the fact that the case doesn't squeek and the cover fits well the rest of the phone. I feel you have to go into a lot of effort to crack a clip.
Sorry, that's how I see it.
sent with WSGS3

klander said:
That is not the solution, the solution is to give the samsung.
I do not like to take my S3 as Robocop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know. That is a brushed aluminum battery cover.
Robocop, I like that ha ha, good name! Actually it was a friend who suggested me to go with that. My original choice was to get a case-mate tough case which I did with my Galaxy Nexus but then it appeared to make the phone too bulky even thou it did have good protection so I wanted to something slimmer without adding much bulkiness and have some form of protection.

[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.

[Q] replacing only the glass (without the digitizer)

how difficult is it to replace it?
I'm thinking about doing that but read many comments about cracking the digitizer...
so , should I try it or should I just give up and live with that little crack?

rotman253 said:
how difficult is it to replace it?
I'm thinking about doing that but read many comments about cracking the digitizer...
so , should I try it or should I just give up and live with that little crack?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not just the hazard of breaking the digitizer...the result would not be that same as before. Initially the gorilla glass is glued together with the digitizer and the replacement is most probably a cheap plastic, that cannot have the same feeling nor the same response

aris_p said:
It's not just the hazard of breaking the digitizer...the result would not be that same as before. Initially the gorilla glass is glued together with the digitizer and the replacement is most probably a cheap plastic, that cannot have the same feeling nor the same response
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe I bought an original replacement from UK ...
question is how complicated is this procedure and if by hitting the device screen so much I can harm the digitizer or some other internal parts...

It's difficult to do it without proper tools. Putting the new screen on the digitizer is also difficult.
But if you have experience in these kind of thing, then you can do it.

Lennyz1988 said:
It's difficult to do it without proper tools. Putting the new screen on the digitizer is also difficult.
But if you have experience in these kind of thing, then you can do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what tools are those?
got a heat gun and plastic spudgers ... it came as a kit with the glass I bought

A UV light to set the glue is best. Makes it more responsive.

rotman253 said:
I believe I bought an original replacement from UK ...
question is how complicated is this procedure and if by hitting the device screen so much I can harm the digitizer or some other internal parts...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There isn't any genuine glass replacement as I was informed by Samsung Greece. Officially they only replace the glass WITH the digitizer.
readyfordeals said:
A UV light to set the glue is best. Makes it more responsive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are some people that they use this glue (without it, the responsivness after some time is decreased a lot ) but the problem is that they use too much and at the points that the UV light hasn't reached it is still liquid and can go everywhere

Does anyone repair PH-1 phones (screen seems to have failed).

My wife's Essential PH-1 screen filled with lines while she was using it (listening to music). Phone continued working until she tried to reboot it.
After reboot screen now looks like this. I tried powering off, then power+vol-up and power+vol-down but just see the same.
I think the cpu is still working as pushing buttons elicits the tactile vibration response but screen seems gone.
Obviously Essential is out of business. In addition I've read a few posts that even when they were in business they were not repairing dead/cracked screens rather just replacing the phone.
So here is the question. Is it repairable? If so, by whom? At what cost?

dorkshoei said:
So here is the question. Is it repairable? If so, by whom? At what cost?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the issue is really just a failed screen and not the mainboard, it's most definitely repairable, and the replacement can be done relatively easily at home (been there, done that). Good quality aftermarket replacement screens are available and not expensive (I bought mine on Amazon more than a year ago for US$70, and now I can see them for less than $50). The process itself is of average difficulty (not too bad compared to some other phones), but could be a bit too much for someone with no experience whatsoever. Fixez.com has a great and useful video (don't use the guide from ifixit.com, they screwed up this one).
I am sure any repair shop would be able to do this job, if you are not a DIY kind of person, but I have no idea what they would charge. Or think of any friend you may have who is good with electronics (hobby or pro)...

kt-Froggy said:
If the issue is really just a failed screen and not the mainboard, it's most definitely repairable, and the replacement can be done relatively easily at home (been there, done that).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I'd read that the PH-1 was very hard to access, that iFixit basically trashed one trying to get it open. It has a 1/10 repairability rating on the site.
I've done LCD screen replacements before on other phones but always the ones with a plastic case where it's just a simple task of opening the back using a spudger.
Yeah, no clue if this is the screen or a mainboard issue. $50 isn't bad if it's the screen but it's wasted cash if it turns out to be a deeper problem.

Okay, that's funny. I just put my fingernail under the bezel and saw it was loose. Lifted slightly and the entire screen popped off as it there was zero adhesive.
Okay, screen replacement looks fairly simple at this point, IF IT IS THE LCD. I have a tube of B-7000.

dorkshoei said:
I thought I'd read that the PH-1 was very hard to access, that iFixit basically trashed one.
I've done LCD screen replacements before on other phones but always the ones with a plastic case where it's just a simple task of opening the back using a spudger.
Yeah, no clue if this is the screen or a mainboard issue. $70 isn't bad if it's the screen but it's wasted cash if it turns out to be a deeper problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I said don't do it the way Ifixit did, LOL... Watch the video from fixez.com. You need to be careful, and know how to use a heat gun properly. Otherwise, it's not that hard. And you need to get either a narrow (1mm) adhesive tape or a liquid glue to mount the new screen. Also, a couple of things to watch out for around the earpiece opening and silicone gasket for the front camera. If you consider a DYI job, feel free to PM me, I'll be happy to help. My PH-1 has been working perfectly since the repair in Feb 2019, and I've done screen replacements quite a few times on similar phone designs like Sony Xperia Z series.

kt-Froggy said:
You need to be careful, and know how to use a heat gun properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an SMD rework preheater that works great for softening the glue on screens, far more precise than a heat gun .... but as I said above I don't think I'll need it
Now, the issue is whether it's a mainboard issue or LCD.

Fixez seems to have a screen for $24
https://www.fixez.com/essential-phone-ph-1-screen-replacement

dorkshoei said:
Okay, that's funny. I just put my fingernail under the bezel and saw it was loose. Lifted slightly and the entire screen popped off as it there was zero adhesive.
Okay, screen replacement looks fairly simple at this point, IF IT IS THE LCD. I have a tube of B-7000.
https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Digitizer-Replacement-Assembly-Complete/dp/B07CLNDBZS/
@kt-Froggy Is the above what you were referring to. I guess I can always order, see if it fixes, else return it.
Fixez has one for $24
https://www.fixez.com/essential-phone-ph-1-screen-replacement
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, that's exactly the screen I got, and left a detailed review on Jan 29, 2019 (from a user KT). $24 from Fixez is even better, and sounds like a no-brainer. And if your screen is already removed, then you don't have to do the most difficult part. Just plug in the new screen and confirm if it works Like I said, be careful around the earpiece opening and the gasket. Good luck!

Ok, ordered from Fixez. We shall see if it corrects the issue.

dorkshoei said:
I thought I'd read that the PH-1 was very hard to access, that iFixit basically trashed one trying to get it open. It has a 1/10 repairability rating on the site.
I've done LCD screen replacements before on other phones but always the ones with a plastic case where it's just a simple task of opening the back using a spudger.
Yeah, no clue if this is the screen or a mainboard issue. $50 isn't bad if it's the screen but it's wasted cash if it turns out to be a deeper problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search the Reddit AMA posts on the Essential sub-reddit from the fall of 2017. Essential was asked about iFixit's teardown and rating. Essential's response was that they gave iFixit instructions to opening the phone but they ignored them completely. They said you apply heat to the sides, even gave a specific temperature, to loosen the adhesive and use a suction cup to lift the screen off. Most people use some thin tools to get under the screen though. But it's much easier to do than iFixit makes you think. I'm not sure why they ****ed that up so badly. Ignore their guide and find a better one.
My concern is how fragile the screen is. I want to replace the battery but haven't opened this phone yet. I have seen lots of people replace the battery and damage the screen.

gk1984 said:
Search the Reddit AMA posts on the Essential sub-reddit from the fall of 2017. Essential was asked about iFixit's teardown and rating. Essential's response was that they gave iFixit instructions to opening the phone but they ignored them completely. They said you apply heat to the sides, even gave a specific temperature, to loosen the adhesive and use a suction cup to lift the screen off. Most people use some thin tools to get under the screen though. But it's much easier to do than iFixit makes you think. I'm not sure why they ****ed that up so badly. Ignore their guide and find a better one.
My concern is how fragile the screen is. I want to replace the battery but haven't opened this phone yet. I have seen lots of people replace the battery and damage the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, big surprise with the guide from iFixit... This one left me scratching my head. Probably the only one I know where they so royally screwed up.
A few comments from my experience replacing the screen on PH-1... The screen on my phone was shatterred badly enough to make a suction cup useless, so I had to pry it out (still, with a heat gun). There was no concern about saving it, anyway. But if I had to open up the phone again, e.g. for replacing the battery, I am pretty confident I could do that safely. From the repairability standpoint, there are two problems with the screen on this phone. One is a very narrow shoulder to mount the screen assembly to the frame (but this is also a good thing, as there's not that much adhesive to struggle with). And the other is a very fragile "sandwich" behind the glass that contains the LCD and the backlight components. It's too easy to damage that sandwich from the sides with a tool, even made of plastic. It will be pretty obvious once you have a replacement screen in your hands and take a close look at it.
A general issue with disassembling the phones of this design at home is that most people will not be able to heat the perimeter evenly to lift the screen off by a suction cup only (I know I can't). So, you would most probably have to use some tool around the edges. The trick is to NOT pry the screen out (or you will crack the edge), but only use a tool to carefully undercut the adhesive as you pull with a suction cup, so the screen can separate from the frame. This way, you can gradually work your way around the perimeter, while heating it up and lifting the screen with a suction cup. A thin plastic spudger would work. If you really feel adventurous, maybe a hobby knife, but I don't recommend it. I would suggest starting from the top, as the adhesive strip under the earpiece is extremely thin, and it would be easier lifting off that part of the screen as you heat it.
Another thing is to NOT reach deeper than about 1mm under the edge of the screen with any tool, otherwise you are risking damaging the LCD assembly.

Update. Screen from Fixez.com ($28 shipped) fixed the issue. Happy wife. Happy me.
Easy install, just used some B7000 glue I already had. Clamped screen down for 24 hours.
@kt-Froggy thanks for your help and encouragement.