Instructions for replacing digitizer? - Thunderbolt General

It didn't take long, but i've cracked my digitizer. My phone fell out of my pocket last night and digitizer cracked. I've purchased a new one online, but don't really know how to replace it when it arrives. Anybody know of a place where I can find directions/instructions on how to disassemble the thunderbolt?

Maybe you can get some help here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1022519

The last dude to try this was an electrical engineer and even he destroyed his phone in the process. Read the link above.

From a Cell Phone Technician...
I recommend that you DO NOT try to replace the digitizer on your Thunderbolt as it is currently rated (by me) the most difficult phone to remove the digitizer from without breaking the lcd screen. Getting the phone apart isn't bad, but installing a new digitizer requires removing the LCD from it's chassis and that is no easy task. I can do it but it takes me well over an hour to do and I have very specialized tools that I have created myself to do so. Anyone without experience would never ever be able to do it on their own without breaking the lcd screen which is a part that isn't available yet so you'd be SOL if you did break it. Just my advice...

Related

Chances that an LCD + digitizer will fix this?

A coworker I started working with a few months ago told me about the much-better Sensation he had before his MyTouch 3G. It seems that he still had it, but stopped using it "because the screen cracked." I correctly surmised that it was a simple and cheap to replace touch screen digitizer and described to him that it was "just the glass cover" and that it was "cheap to replace." I have done many such repairs on other phones and gadgets.
He then told me that he had continued to use it until the LCD went blank. There is no reason to think that the LCD inside suddenly cracked, but I can only assume that it also sustained some kind of damage and now also requires replacement. Knowing that the LCD isn't cracked, what are the chances that a replacement LCD + digitizer will restore the phone? I'm concerned because we've already purchased a kit for $65.
Nobody can tell you that off the internet. If we do, that would be pure guess, just as accurate as you would have guessed.
sawo said:
Nobody can tell you that off the internet. If we do, that would be pure guess, just as accurate as you would have guessed.
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Well, someone could have had the exact same problem and already tried it. I ran into people with the same problem already. I'm just looking for more because some, no doubt, have tried it and others may have an alternate explanation. Reasonable.
there is a good chance that will fix the problem. but since the LCD was working for a while until it blank out, it is possible the problem might be with the circuit board. only way to know is to try it out.
CZroe said:
Well, someone could have had the exact same problem and already tried it. I ran into people with the same problem already. I'm just looking for more because some, no doubt, have tried it and others may have an alternate explanation. Reasonable.
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The LCD could go blank for several reasons. Faulty LCD, loose cable, faulty board etc. etc. Even if someone had the same problem, the reason for it could be completely different, thefore this wont help you at all except for giving you hope. If this is what you need, then i would say "yes, the change of lcd & digitizer should fix the problem" but you never can be sure unless you try When you start the phone, do you hear the startup sound? This could at least indicate that the phone isnt completely faulty.
brabusamg55 said:
there is a good chance that will fix the problem. but since the LCD was working for a while until it blank out, it is possible the problem might be with the circuit board. only way to know is to try it out.
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The plus side is that you can't make it worse. So you've got nothing to lose by trying to repair it, other than the few bucks for the parts.
Well, I took it apart to re-seat all the cables and it's still blank. Reading online, I see that a lot of dropped Sensations/Pyramids develop a loose/broken SMT capacitor component near the headphone jack, but I'm not registered on any of the forums I see it discussed on and I can't see the pics. They describe a slightly different problem anyway (screen goes blank after standby). I needed sleep, so I put it all back together and I'll check that out when the parts get here. My hunch is that the LCD panel is fine and that I'll have an extra, assuming the capacitor problem is fixable. I've done some delicate soldering work before but I can't really say that I'm good at it! I didn't see any loose SMT components rattling around so I hope it didn't fall completely out somewhere.
Skipjacks said:
The plus side is that you can't make it worse. So you've got nothing to lose by trying to repair it, other than the few bucks for the parts.
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Thanks but it's almost $70 for the parts.
Works great! Well, it had the touchscreen sensitivity issue pretty badly but the T-Mobile OTA update fixed that. Transferring all the adhesive bits from one screen to another was down-right frustrating, but I pulled it off and I only see a single spec of dust inside. The dude will be thrilled. I broke the earhook on my Looxcie so I did not make a video but it was full of me tearing and ripping the things anyway and not a good example of how it should be done!
FWIW, there was no way to remove the old screen without denting up the backing plate and prying the heck out of it to free it from multiple adhesives and glues, so I would not have had two good LCDs after testing the replacement even if there was nothing wrong with the original. Good thing it was the LCD at fault! I didn't have to drill anything like the glass replacement video I watched instructed me to do. They didn't realize that the LCD removal allows the flex PCB through just fine. I forgot to thread it back through before seating the replacement LCD in the adhesives and tape left-overs but it flexed enough to allow it through without removing, which was quite a relief after seeing how the original fared after being removed.

Phone dropped, screen dead... Options?

Hey guys, the GF left her phone up high and was knocked down and now the screen seems to be dead. Lights up for a moment when turning on then just goes dark. Pretty sure it's operating fine underneath (still need to plug in to computer to check for connectivity), but assuming just the screen needs to be replaced, what are my options?
Is that something I could possibly replace or perhaps send it off to somebody on this forum for repair? How much ($) are we looking to fix? Better to just sell on ebay?
Thanks!
I did a quick search on ebay concerning a new LCD for the Atrix 2 and they seem to cost around 80 bucks... I don't know if that would be a worthy investment since depending on your contract you can maybe get a new one for about that price...
What I can tell you from personal experience is that it is most likely to be a major pain in the ass to replace the screen on your own... I once changed the front frame of my HTC Desire and I basically had to disassemble EVERYTHING including unglue-ing the touchpanel from the frame taking out all sorts of boards and stuff, and I never got rid of the little dust that would get between digitizer and LCD..... (the memories )
But I'd say if you're confident in your technical skills and a new LCD would be worth your money then you might consider going for it...
I don't know but I'd estimate the cost of a professional repair around $150-$200...
One tip just in case: Make sure that no dust gets onto your screen/on the inside of your tuchpanel because once you start "cleaning" it off (with a towel) you'll never get it as clean as it was...

[Q] Screen Issue

Hey All, Trying to help a coworker of mine. She dropped her phone the other day, and her screen now looks like this.
(PIC is in attachment)
Would something like this be the result of a damaged screen, or a contact that came loose in the phone. And would you even bother fixing this?
Thanks!
If the Device is Un-Rooted, and she has T.E.P. I would suggest taking it in to Sprint. It's the easiest way. That does look like a Hardware issue. It could be any of several things. I suppose you've already tried a Reboot ? If that didn't resolve it, and it's Un-Rooted take it into Sprint.
Sadly, no TEP.
Yeah, it's been rebooted many times. I took it apart even, to make sure all the connections looked good. Still got this issue.
You could try and find a cheap screen for it (amazon) and replace it
sent from a nuclear explosion
swolltitan said:
Sadly, no TEP.
Yeah, it's been rebooted many times. I took it apart even, to make sure all the connections looked good. Still got this issue.
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UGH . No T.E.P is not what you wanna hear. Unless your willing to take it all the way apart and replace the Digitizer assembly. The reason I say assembly, and not just the Screen is because of the way the sceen appears to be acting. It will be a safer bet to replace it as an assembly instead of just the LCD Screen. It will also be slightly easier. It is not an entirely difficult job. You just have to be very, very careful, and take your time. Wear latex Rubber Gloves, and work in as clean an environment as you can get. I like to work late at night when no one is awake. If you do decide to do it there are Videos I can link you to, or you can Google them. Your other option is to take it to a Cell Phone repair shop. Usually for a reputable place your looking at between $60 - $100 for a LCD / Digitizer replacement.

[Q] Top half of phone submerged in water...Touchscreen dead...

This happened to my GF's phone. The top half of the phone was in water. Somehow it survived...Turns on fine and boots fine, but the touchscreen is dead...
What I'm wondering is if this item has a chance of fixing it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-x-NEW-...699?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0e1583eb
Yes, her phone is this model. Figured we might give this $7 possible solution a go before buying a new phone.
Any chance it will work, or is it likely water damage to some other internal part that communicates with the touchscreen? I know there's no way of knowing for sure, just wondering if there's a decent chance this new touchscreen will fix the issue...Thanks much
As you may already know, the digitizer is what turns the display into a touch-sensitive one. I say, since you'd have to take the phone apart anyway, take it apart now, and take a look. There may still be moisture inside, or you might find corrosion, or loosening/damage to the digitizer's ribbon.
Cant answer your questionbut am curious, how long ago this happen? You already try putting it in brown rice for a few days?

Questions about Replacement Screen

Hi, is there a tutorial for when you buy the full screen assembly from aliexpress, this one:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Bran...or-OnePlus-ONE-free-shipping/32261491537.html
And dont need to do all the heating/separating stuff? Planning on replacing my broken OPO screen tonight but I cannot find a single tutorial that doesn't completely disassemble the phone into its component parts then goes messing around with the hot air gun like this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-one/general/repair-guide-oneplus-one-disassembly-t2979351
Anybody know what Im talking about? I just want to swap the screens...
With the way the phone is designed, especially how the connectors connect to the motherboard, I'm afraid there isn't an easier way of replacing the screen. But that's not to say replacing the screen yourself is difficult, there are many videos that explain what to do:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRQW666skQQ this is the one I found most useful, and helped me replace my screen.
If you don't feel confident enough to replace it yourself, for the peace of mind it may be worth paying someone else to do it.

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