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Common Problems with tf300

I'm planning on buying this tablet soon and I just wanted to know what I should test out on the tablet first to still be eligible for returns if ever something is wrong. So what are some problems that usually occur with the tf300 so that I can test it out as soon as possible? And what are the usual things I should look out for? By the way, I'll be getting the one bundled the keyboard.
Another question, with the white tf300, does dirt get stuck easily on the back of the tab because of the circular texture? Thanks
Edit: In simpler terms, can you write down the common problems with the tf300 for us to look after for?

Mine had a slightly loose back-cover and made a sound when pressed firmly on the sides. Although most people probably won't be bother by it.
I haven't had any other "problems" with it, but i would suggest checking the screen for dead pixels and if the touchscreen functions properly.
Also search through the forum here for people reporting problems and check for those.

Not sure if anyone else has this issue but the screen appears to register touch before you actually touch the screen, it's only when your finger is extremely close to touching thescreen that this occurs ( maybe mine has a fault or I am too electrically charged :cyclops: ) .. Also I put on a wet type screen protector and thought my screen was faulty but found out later it can take a day or so for the screen protector to settle in ?
Works fine now though...

chriwu said:
Mine had a slightly loose back-cover and made a sound when pressed firmly on the sides. Although most people probably won't be bother by it.
I haven't had any other "problems" with it, but i would suggest checking the screen for dead pixels and if the touchscreen functions properly.
Also search through the forum here for people reporting problems and check for those.
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Click to collapse
Regarding the cover, does dirt get stuck easily when you slide your fingers around the back cover?

o0o.paw said:
Not sure if anyone else has this issue but the screen appears to register touch before you actually touch the screen, it's only when your finger is extremely close to touching thescreen that this occurs ( maybe mine has a fault or I am too electrically charged :cyclops: ) .. Also I put on a wet type screen protector and thought my screen was faulty but found out later it can take a day or so for the screen protector to settle in ?
Works fine now though...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the touch screen problem is normal from time to time since that happens to my phone as well at times.
Are wet screen protectors too thick to be able to dock the tablet? I read a couple of users had trouble docking. I was thinking of getting the acase screen protector just to be safe since it's dry.

Another thing to watch out for is software related. Many of the TF300s, mine included, have invalid serial numbers. They can't get automatic updates, use the Asus device locator, or validate registration on the Asus webpage.
Hope this helps,
Dave

CodeLion said:
Another thing to watch out for is software related. Many of the TF300s, mine included, have invalid serial numbers. They can't get automatic updates, use the Asus device locator, or validate registration on the Asus webpage.
Hope this helps,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you get an invalid serial?

I just returned my TF300 16 GB to Best Buy because after 2 months the touchscreen went haywire...It registered all sorts of touches I never made. I'm hoping its just a manufacturing issue and not a design issue. I normally keep it docked and hope that's not the cause.
Props to Best Buy who made the exchange very painless...for $20 more they gave me the 32 GB despite being past the return date.:laugh::good:

Ulric099 said:
Regarding the cover, does dirt get stuck easily when you slide your fingers around the back cover?
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Click to collapse
Not that I've noticed.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using XDA Premium HD app

It comes that way. It would appear Asus' factories failed to register quite a large percentage of the tablets with the update server.
One way to check is to use the Asus device locator. If it refuses to let you use your serial number, then yours is one of the invalid ones.
Dave
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using xda app-developers app

The loose/unbonded screen issue...

So, I've just received my third Infinity, after having to send the first two back because of defects with the screen. The first had a large speck of dust trapped right under the centre of the screen, and the screen on the second gave everything a horrible yellow tinge.
The one I've just received has what looks like a perfect screen image wise, but there's a horrible clicking sound when I press along the right hand edge - so, it appears that this infinity also has a fault, which I know from reading these forums is fairly common.
I'm really starting to loose heart with this tablet - it's my first one, and as much as I want to love it, I'm sick of receiving defective units. If I return this one, then I'm going to be running the risk of receiving another with a dodgy screen or worse.
If I decide to keep this one, what are the chances of the clicking/unbonded screen becoming worse? Can anyone who's had this problem comment on whether the area that clicks has expanded over time, or if your screen has started to separate noticeably? Is this likely to happen?
I've bought through Amazon so I'm able to return it without any hassle, but I'm reluctant to go through the ASUS quality control lottery for a fourth time.
I would appreciate any advice or comments.

Mine is 2 months old and i had the clicking issue from the beginning but it didn't got worse and to be honest i don't even notice the clicks anymore (i guess that my brain got used to it ).
Inviato dal mio ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T con Tapatalk 2

Ok, thanks mate... hopefully it won't get any worse. I'll give it a week or two and see if mine spreads at all.

Nexus 7 has same problem
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

MisterEz said:
So, I've just received my third Infinity, after having to send the first two back because of defects with the screen. The first had a large speck of dust trapped right under the centre of the screen, and the screen on the second gave everything a horrible yellow tinge.
The one I've just received has what looks like a perfect screen image wise, but there's a horrible clicking sound when I press along the right hand edge - so, it appears that this infinity also has a fault, which I know from reading these forums is fairly common.
I'm really starting to loose heart with this tablet - it's my first one, and as much as I want to love it, I'm sick of receiving defective units. If I return this one, then I'm going to be running the risk of receiving another with a dodgy screen or worse.
If I decide to keep this one, what are the chances of the clicking/unbonded screen becoming worse? Can anyone who's had this problem comment on whether the area that clicks has expanded over time, or if your screen has started to separate noticeably? Is this likely to happen?
I've bought through Amazon so I'm able to return it without any hassle, but I'm reluctant to go through the ASUS quality control lottery for a fourth time.
I would appreciate any advice or comments.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Send it back - that's not acceptable for a highend electronic product. You keep doin this until you get one with accaptable build quality or you buy another brand. Choice is yours. But never accept poor build quality in high end consumer electronics

Had mine for about 3 weeks and received a screen protector a couple of days ago, no problems with the screen but was worried applying the screen protector would show up any defects clickingwise. Panic over screen protector on and display is looking good.

Yeah, I think too many people here accept the fact that their unit has some fault and then just think "well, it could be worse. Be happy with what you got". No way! this should be THE high end tablet, one of the most expensive ones there are and then it has this kind of faults.
IF everybody would be same and think "well this is ok" then Asus wouldn't even learn from their mistakes. They would just keep on with the crappy QC and nothing would be fixed. Maybe they would even worsen the qc to save money and try to find out where is the line that people don't accept the product.
For me, I spend a lot of money and I want my unit be perfect out of the package. It is other issue then if I break it..

I too am having some screen issues, but I think I will have to send my unit back to ASUS completely. Most Dutch retailers only have a very short return period, and I've already had mine for 19 days. I guess I will contact the retailer and ask them what I should do. However, it is really unacceptable that you pay a high price for such a premium product and that it has issues that really should not ocur. The reason why I didn't go back to the retailer was because I didn't really notice it at first, it just got more annoying later on...
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app

Mine has the loose screen issue all around. But no clicking. So I'm having the same debate in my mind. I think I'm going to return and try for another one.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app

I'm returning my 2nd TF700t tomorrow 'cause of loose screen. This time it also made the clicking sound :/

Mine has a loose screen but it's the lower left hand corner by the headphone jack, hdmi port, microphone area. You don't even need to squeeze it hard, it feels hollow in that area and it makes a crunching sound. My biggest fear is the ports there are either going to get damaged or cause a short touching the case. Amazon is sending me a replacement which I should have tomorrow.
Amazon was really gracious in taking my 201 back that I bought in May, but man, WTF, I love Tegra games so the samsung tab is out and I hate Samsung with their wishy washy update and the fact they stop supporting their legacy products fairly fast.
If this next one is trash I don't know what to do, I don't want to be banned by Amazon for returns, sucks ass.

Thanks for all the replies and comments - it seems that this loose/unbonded screen issue is more widespread than I first thought...
All those who have said that I shouldn't accept this on a premium device are, of course, correct. Although the tablet seems to work properly now, I'm worried that several months down the line the screen might start to separate or some other related problem will arise, & I'll be left to deal with Asus direct for a warranty repair. It makes far more sense to get it replaced now, so I'm just about to contact Amazon to tell them that this tablet, the third one that they have sent me, is also faulty.
Here's hoping my fourth will be fault free as it'll be the last one I get - if there's a problem with it then it'll be returned for a refund & I'll start to look at other brands of tablets to buy instead.

MisterEz said:
Thanks for all the replies and comments - it seems that this loose/unbonded screen issue is more widespread than I first thought...
All those who have said that I shouldn't accept this on a premium device are, of course, correct. Although the tablet seems to work properly now, I'm worried that several months down the line the screen might start to separate or some other related problem will arise, & I'll be left to deal with Asus direct for a warranty repair. It makes far more sense to get it replaced now, so I'm just about to contact Amazon to tell them that this tablet, the third one that they have sent me, is also faulty.
Here's hoping my fourth will be fault free as it'll be the last one I get - if there's a problem with it then it'll be returned for a refund & I'll start to look at other brands of tablets to buy instead.
Click to expand...
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If you check out the Nexus 7 forum (also an ASUS tablet) you can gleam some interesting information about the screen separation issues. It's not as easy to take the Infinity apart, so fixes aren't readily available, but I'm sure the issues are related.

I wonder if the glass and digitizer on this tablet are stuck down by something similar to double sided foam tape.
Might be a contact film type adhesive too.
My experience with these type of sticky adhesives is that sometimes a little warmth or just over time they will adhere better.
I did have a slight clicking on the bottom of my tablet, it's not there now.
Just some thoughts.

Thats OK said:
I wonder if the glass and digitizer on this tablet are stuck down by something similar to double sided foam tape.
Might be a contact film type adhesive too.
My experience with these type of sticky adhesives is that sometimes a little warmth or just over time they will adhere better.
I did have a slight clicking on the bottom of my tablet, it's not there now.
Just some thoughts.
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Click to collapse
From the ASUS Nexus 7 forums I understand that the loose screen/screen separation may be due to adhesion issues that can be somewhat or completely solved by gentle heat followed by light, consistent pressure. Someone did try that with his Infinity with limited results but I think his frame may not have fit properly as well. The crunching sound some have reported may be due to a really crunchy type of tape used to hold down the battery, if there's any excess flex that causes the screen/digitizer to touch the tape. There was also a screen lift/light bleed issue caused by over-tightened screws in the frame holding the motherboard, etc together. That was user fixable, by just loosening the screws and making sure that they were all fairly evenly tightened. That also really helped with the light bleed issues too.

I received my replacement from Amazon, this one is all good, it even has the cooler color screen I like compared to original, sweet!

I have just sent back my second tablet to amazon after receiving the first one with nearly jammed in buttons and a clicking screen. The second one I got had a little clicking to start and then got progressively worse until I chose to return it. Amazon emailed me and said that they are just going to refund me my money instead of sending out another one with probably similar problems... don't really know what to do now... any other good tablets coming out? Haha
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

The way these tablets are held together is via a longer L shaped plastic edge on the faceplate that mates top edge first to a the ledge built into the backshell. Once inserted under the shell at the top edge the rest of the screen can lay down into the rest of the backshell. There are smaller L shaped clips up and down the outsides which click into place via finger pressure. The bottom edge is secured by two metal slide locks which mount the front to the back much like an old style door chain where the round part fits into a large hole and then slides into a narrower opening to latch it into place.
The point of this post? if the sides or top seem loose you can probably click them together with finger pressure. if the bottom is loose the latch got locked without the round part in place. for this you should return if you have warranty left. If it crunches they probably broke an L shaped clip while assembling.

I received my 2nd Infinity today and I immediately noticed the screen on the bottom left hand corner is above the frame and the rest of the bottom part of the screen flexes when I hold it normally. I'm sending it back. I'll give the Infinity one more chance and hope I get a good one. If not, I'll have to look at other options. At some point enough is enough.
My advice for anyone that has build quality issues with their Infinity is to return it. That is a lot of money to spend to keep a tablet that could break down the line. I wouldn't take any chances, but that's just me.

Seriously though, does anyone know of any other top end tabs coming out soon? I'm tired of dealing with sh*t quality
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Charger port aluminum popped up? Should i send it back?

So everyone was alright with my tab. the software was a little buggy with jellybean but nothing i couldnt live with. then one night after i finished charging it i look at the charger and see the picture i am attaching. i dont know how this happened. that part always clicked when i pressed it and now it doesnt but it looks like someone dropped it. i contacted asus and i sent pictures and they are starting an RMA. but should i do it and have my tab gone for 3 weeks and maybe it wont be fixed and i might have to pay for it.i told them i was having random reboots and stuff in hopes they would replace it and send me a new one. are my dreams far fetched?
I mean it isnt that bad but its ugly and not my fault. do you think they will fix it or replace it and do you think its worth the 3 weeks without it?

That happened to my wife's tablet, I thought it was due to the loose screen in that area and then docking it. I had her send it back to Amazon at about 3 weeks old and got a new one. I told her to be more careful when docking.

This happened to my wife's tab also, just bent it back. Does not sit well with me that it is so easy to bend but even if you return it, this will likely happen again.

You cn bend it back to almost normal as long as there is no crease. If you have a hobby hammer that the head is made out of silicone, you can tap it back to perfect, just be careful not to hit the screen of hit it hard, just do small taps until your satisfied. It happens usually when docking or undocking.

You can also use the black cap that covers the charging port by placing it above the bump and press down with light pressure until it returns to its normal position. This happened to me once with my Infinity. I wasn't paying attention to where the cord was and I ended up tripping on it:\ When I had the Prime it seemed easier to bend, less firm/Sterdy vs the Infinity. Waste of time RMAing it.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app

I bet they call it customer induced damage if you do... Not worth the wait.

curiousmileo said:
So everyone was alright with my tab. the software was a little buggy with jellybean but nothing i couldnt live with. then one night after i finished charging it i look at the charger and see the picture i am attaching. i dont know how this happened. that part always clicked when i pressed it and now it doesnt but it looks like someone dropped it. i contacted asus and i sent pictures and they are starting an RMA. but should i do it and have my tab gone for 3 weeks and maybe it wont be fixed and i might have to pay for it.i told them i was having random reboots and stuff in hopes they would replace it and send me a new one. are my dreams far fetched?
I mean it isnt that bad but its ugly and not my fault. do you think they will fix it or replace it and do you think its worth the 3 weeks without it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to delete/modify the pics that contain your complete serial #. That is something that you should keep to yourself - see the infamous ASUS device tracker thread for an example why: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1833442

curiousmileo said:
I mean it isnt that bad but its ugly and not my fault. do you think they will fix it or replace it and do you think its worth the 3 weeks without it?
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Click to collapse
I don't understand how you can say it's not your fault. It's certainly not the fault of Asus. Of course they would fix or replace it but it would be at your own cost. I don't see why Asus should cover the cost of putting it right?
Don't get me wrong, I would hate this to have happened to my tablet, but I also wouldn't expect to pass the cost on to someone else (which I believe you are implying) due to my carelessness.
Live with it, repair it yourself or pay to have it fixed for you.

Odd. My port is actually bent the OPPOSITE way haha. I just bent it back. I don't think it's worth the three weeks + your hard-earned money. :laugh:

This happened on my Prime. It is caused by pushing the power connector in at an angle and not being careful or once it is in, allowing something to rest on the connector pushing the frame up.
It is easy to fix yourself and you can push the metal back down with your finger. Best way is to get something made of rubber or softer plastic and reshape it back to normal yourself.

[Q] Dock developed fault in normal use - locking pin snapped off

Hi, I read with interest the posts about wobbly (back and forth) docks on the tf101.
My TF700T developed this also after just 1 month.
Aditionally and more seriously perhaps, I noticed it stopped docking securely. I examined both the dock and the tablet and eventually noticed the retaining pin (inside the hole) on the right side of the tablet seems to have broken off due to frequently docking and undocking the two.
Has anyone else seen this?
ive sent it back to Asus who are claiming customer induced damage. This make me very angry bcoz i looked after it like a baby. all i did was use it a lot both docked and undocked.it never left my house. I reckon its a design flaw and eventually all many more of you will notice this.

wailim_2002 said:
Hi, I read with interest the posts about wobbly (back and forth) docks on the tf101.
My Tf701 developed this also after just 1 month.
Aditionally and more seriously perhaps, I noticed it stopped docking securely. I examined both the dock and the tablet and eventually noticed the retaining pin (inside the hole) on the right side of the tablet seems to have broken off due to frequently docking and undocking the two.
Has anyone else seen this?
ive sent it back to Asus who are claiming customer induced damage. This make me very angry bcoz i looked after it like a baby. all i did was use it a lot both docked and undocked.it never left my house. I reckon its a design flaw and eventually all many more of you will notice this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, It happened to me too and this other guy. Go to page 2 of this section, and go to one with Broken lock .but seems like its only three of us til now.
There is no solution as is...I've tried to get a replacement parts (like iphone) but i had no luck.

No, it's not only the three of you. "Funnily", the locking pin snapped off on my dock yesterday. I haven't been this angry in years. As with most of the users with a dock, it hardly ever left the dock -- I think I have uncoupled it for at most 6 or 7 times, and as such, it's not even a question of docking it with force or gently...
The locking pin would seem to be unable to withstand keeping the tablet in place for such an extended period. I noticed that both locking pins have degraded considerably -- again, I hardly ever uncoupled the tablet from the dock, so it's 'slide damage'. This would qualify as a hardware design error in my opinion. What moron uses plastic clips on locking devices? That would need some nice metal engineering. This is not even close to the durability that I expect from a 700 euro device!
Once my blood pressure has gone down for a bit, I'll try and drop ASUS Netherlands a line and get my issue known. Then I'll see what their point of view is, and if it's "your own damn fault", I'll have to determine what to do: either proceed to professional help (a lawyer, to be more specific) or let it slide. I do not know what my route would be in this case -- I don't want to risk a stomach ulcer, but my lawyer does this for free (many Europeans have a lawyer plan so there is no financial impediment to asking support).
EDIT: I had secured the tablet to the dock with a few strips of heavy-duty doublesided tape to keep it from accidentally coming out of the dock. I cannot have the tablet's screen cracking from fall damage and ASUS having a stick to beat me with.

MartyHulskemper said:
No, it's not only the three of you. "Funnily", the locking pin snapped off on my dock yesterday. I haven't been this angry in years. As with most of the users with a dock, it hardly ever left the dock -- I think I have uncoupled it for at most 6 or 7 times, and as such, it's not even a question of docking it with force or gently...
The locking pin would seem to be unable to withstand keeping the tablet in place for such an extended period. I noticed that both locking pins have degraded considerably -- again, I hardly ever uncoupled the tablet from the dock, so it's 'slide damage'. This would qualify as a hardware design error in my opinion. What moron uses plastic clips on locking devices? That would need some nice metal engineering. This is not even close to the durability that I expect from a 700 euro device!
Once my blood pressure has gone down for a bit, I'll try and drop ASUS Netherlands a line and get my issue known. Then I'll see what their point of view is, and if it's "your own damn fault", I'll have to determine what to do: either proceed to professional help (a lawyer, to be more specific) or let it slide. I do not know what my route would be in this case -- I don't want to risk a stomach ulcer, but my lawyer does this for free (many Europeans have a lawyer plan so there is no financial impediment to asking support).
EDIT: I had secured the tablet to the dock with a few strips of heavy-duty doublesided tape to keep it from accidentally coming out of the dock. I cannot have the tablet's screen cracking from fall damage and ASUS having a stick to beat me with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, This is great news.... well erm... sorry for your trouble and all but it is good that the numbers who are experiencing/noticing this failure are going up as it lends weight to the design flaw theory. I agree 100% with you that the design does appear to be plastic clips inside the tablet and what I said in my RMA description is that if ASUS did not have an updated reinforced part, that I felt the unit was unfit for purpose and I did not want it back. I was prepared to give them 1 chance to repair it as this is the consumer law in Ireland but I was intending to test it thoroughly upon return. But now that they are trying to say I dropped it or something.... this is another story!
For me, I am still under 3 months and within the time scale to do a credit card charge back. I'd rather have them come after me if they feel they can stand over their design.

wailim_2002 said:
Hi, This is great news....
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Click to collapse
Heh. Thanks for your considerate reply. I was one of the first TF700 owners in the world, so I'm far past any warranty period in which they have to prove it my fault instead of me proving it theirs. I'm still too pissed to take up the phone right now, but I will try and send an e-mail to start with somewhere in the next few days.

[Q] TF700T won't lock to dock

I just got a refurbed TF700T from one of Newegg's ebay deals. Tablet seemed to work OK, but when I bought a used AD-01 dock, it wouldn't lock to it - the connectors would mate, but they would easily pull apart without having to move the latch button. I returned that dock, assuming it was defective, but I just tried another one and it has the same problem. Is there anything about the TF700 itself that could cause this? Or is it a frequent failure with the dock?
Thanks.

swechsler said:
Is there anything about the TF700 itself that could cause this?
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Click to collapse
There are small plastic noses on the tablet that the metal hooks in the dock hook into - they tend to break easily.
See http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Asus+Transformer+Infinity+TF700+Teardown/10306 - step 2, middle image (not the circled part, but on the right side of the hole).

_that said:
There are small plastic noses on the tablet that the metal hooks in the dock hook into - they tend to break easily.
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Click to collapse
Thanks! Those appear to be missing on mine, at least on one side. Hopefully I can get a warranty replacement on this.

swechsler said:
Thanks! Those appear to be missing on mine, at least on one side. Hopefully I can get a warranty replacement on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't bother. They wll break just as fast as the original ones. Check out this thread for a permanent solution (post 52+) with a few drops of JB Weld:
http://www.transformerforums.com/fo...ing-pins-snapped-off-poll-you-affected-6.html
I did this more than a year ago and the connection is still rock solid.

berndblb said:
Don't bother. They wll break just as fast as the original ones. Check out this thread for a permanent solution (post 52+) with a few drops of JB Weld:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, thanks. ASUS was less than helpful, giving the "refurb warranty does not cover physical damage" spiel. With issues like this, I am amazed that they continually come out on top in laptop reliability surveys (maybe those surveys don't rate customer service?).