Develop Bugs

Digitizer replacement

Hi, has anyone replaced their digitizer on their desire z/g2? How did it go? It looks easy on the youtube vid.. have any problems? What way did you use to melt the glue? What digitizer did you use, where from?
Any info much appriciated as will be replaceing mine v soon due to 'invisible finger problem' that's driving me nuts..
Thanks..
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

Never done it on a g2 but should be pretty straight forward especially with a video lol. Use a heat gun to melt the glue, pretty much the only tool you SHOULD use to do something like that.

I replaced the digitizer on my third G2 after getting a refurb replacement from T-Mobile that had a black spot inside the actual digitizer glass, not on the outside or inside.
The process is very easy with the video, however, trying to keep dust and fingerprints from getting on the inside of the phone while you're trying to get it back together is a serious pain in the rear! If it's the same video that I watched, just use a hair drier blowing hot air to heat the adhesive on the inside of the digitizer and then pop the digitizer off very very slowly, because you don't want to accidentally bend the metal bezel around the screen.
You also may want to leave the original leftover adhesive on the inside, because when I cleaned mine off, light now always leaks out around the bottom edge of the digitizer, below the menu, home, and search buttons, even though I used the double sided adhesive strips covering the entire length of the bottom, so light shouldn't technically be leaking out. No biggie, though... it works like brand new, now!

Thanks for the reply.. I have seen that video and that's what I was using as a guide.. I ordered the digi today, should be here tomorrow.. the only thing I was wondering was the glueing process, as I have not ordered the double sided glue/tape stuff, as I was just hopeing to still use the original glue as I think you are saying.. I hope that works! Have to be careful like u say with dust/fingerprints etc..
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

Hmm, after reading your post again, maybee I should of bought the double sided tape afterall? Do you think the old leftover glue is enough for the new digi?
Many thanks..
Sent from my HTC Vision usingall XDA App

Run over to radio shack they must have some kind of glue you can use lol. google cell phone screen glue see what info you can find.

Ok, just incase anyone is interested, got my new digitizer, followed the video, used a heat gun cerfully to melt the glue, pulled the old digitizer out, and used the original glue whilst still warm to hold the new digi in, as all of glue stayed on the case rather than on the digi, which was pretty lucky.. put it all back together and everything perfect, touchscreen back to how it should be.. cost me 17 pounds.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

How was this accompilshed?
I replaced the touch screen as well and the problem persists. Plus I never ran into a part that required a heat gun did I use the wrong item?

A VERY confusing part is getting the midframe to hold to the hinge mounts. The side (black dots all down it) should overlap the stabilizer bar on the hinge. I fidgeted with it for hours until realizing it goes over, and inadvertently damaged the highly sensitive LCD screen, which resulted in me taking the whole thing apart again to replace the LCD and digitizer. UGH!
DO NOT get the cheapo digitizer on Amazon, look for one with gray spots where the menu, home, back and search keys are on the back side. The digitizers without them will not work when you swap over the white button caps on the back. I feel like this information is vital to anyone who is replacing their G2 digitizer, but most guides and videos make no mention of it.
I used a lamp to heat up the glass to remove it the first time. Took too long the second time so I used a hair dryer.

senser1080 said:
A VERY confusing part is getting the midframe to hold to the hinge mounts. The side (black dots all down it) should overlap the stabilizer bar on the hinge. I fidgeted with it for hours until realizing it goes over, and inadvertently damaged the highly sensitive LCD screen, which resulted in me taking the whole thing apart again to replace the LCD and digitizer. UGH!
DO NOT get the cheapo digitizer on Amazon, look for one with gray spots where the menu, home, back and search keys are on the back side. The digitizers without them will not work when you swap over the white button caps on the back. I feel like this information is vital to anyone who is replacing their G2 digitizer, but most guides and videos make no mention of it.
I used a lamp to heat up the glass to remove it the first time. Took too long the second time so I used a hair dryer.
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Click to collapse
So which digitizer did you end up buying and which guide or video did you follow? I am about to tear mine apart and could use the info.

senser1080 said:
A VERY confusing part is getting the midframe to hold to the hinge mounts. The side (black dots all down it) should overlap the stabilizer bar on the hinge. I fidgeted with it for hours until realizing it goes over, and inadvertently damaged the highly sensitive LCD screen, which resulted in me taking the whole thing apart again to replace the LCD and digitizer. UGH!
DO NOT get the cheapo digitizer on Amazon, look for one with gray spots where the menu, home, back and search keys are on the back side. The digitizers without them will not work when you swap over the white button caps on the back. I feel like this information is vital to anyone who is replacing their G2 digitizer, but most guides and videos make no mention of it.
I used a lamp to heat up the glass to remove it the first time. Took too long the second time so I used a hair dryer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I did buy mine from amazon.co.uk, there were a few for sale,, the one I bought was supposed to be a genuine t-mobile g2 replacement (refurb I think, pressumably this just means that it was from a second hand g2 that had problems and the digi was taken out - and I'm pretty certain this is the case as mine has a thin film (which u leave on) over the back of the digi covering the tracks etc, which had a few very small air/dust bubbles under it (just noticeable when screen off), where I own a desire z, so now it sais t-mobile instead of htc, but I can live with that.
The small grey bits that you talk about were floating about or stuck on my digi when I pulled it off the main chassis. I had a look, and as far as I could work out, were possibly just for giving colour to the tiny led's that give you light to the home/search keys etc (I may be wrong on their use), but if you look closely, the tiny grey things have even smaller rectangles on them that relate to the positions of the led's on the circuit board. So I picked the remaining ones off the old digi, put them back in their correct holes and stuck the new digi in. I've had no problems (with a digi from amazon with no little grey things on it) so far, but maybee this is due to mine being a second hand original part..
Edit : Now after reading your post again, you're talking about bits that are actually on the digi itself, not the white caps that I'm talking about! Whoops. I didn't notice any grey spots on the digi itself, but I guess I must have them..
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

ian577416 said:
I replaced the touch screen as well and the problem persists. Plus I never ran into a part that required a heat gun did I use the wrong item?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rekon u replaced the wrong thing! Maybe the lcd?
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

i just replaced mine with this one:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/230685692541?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
actually it says HTC on it and looks a lil bit differently than on the picture.
never the less, i replaced it really carefully and checked every connecting.
But somehow the Touchscreen doesn't work at all.
Can anyone help me ? what could be the problem ?
Wrong digitzer ?
is it okay, that the digitizer has direct contact to the frame where it is glued to ?

jmpcrx said:
... as will be replaceing mine v soon due to 'invisible finger problem' that's driving me nuts..
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi!
I have the same problem, I have asked it already here
So you had invisible finger press in the screen, and the screen was bad responsive?
...Just to make sure my problem is digitizer problem! The service wont change it in warranty unless the problem is there all the time! But its driving me crazy! why is it happening randomly, why isnt it all the time? How could i make the screen to do this problem when i'm at the service?

[Q] Random touches with replaced digitizer

I replaced my digitizer on my inc and now it will randomly have touches on the screen. I have no idea why this is happening. I have tried two different digitizers with the same problem. It gets worse, i have tried the first digitizer i got on a second phone and this phone has the same problem.
I am running cyanogenmod and have "show touch" turned on so i can tell when its happening and where. The random touches appear to happen all on there own. I can not reproduce them. They do generally happen in about the same spot/spots each time. There are two general areas and when its registers a touch it moves a little, meaning when it touches it self it dances around a little. how ever if i turn off the screen and turn it back on it usually fixes the issue for a while.
Any idea what may be causing this problem and how to fix it?

Funny, I am having the same exact problem. Replaced my digitizer about a month ago and routinely get the "random touches" or just general unresponsiveness while using my phone.
I just assumed it was a side effect of my less then perfect installation but now I wonder if the digitizer itself is shoddy.

freestylesno said:
when it touches it self it dances around a little.
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Click to collapse
Haha, excellent...
Have you considered the trackpad as the possible culprit? I know when my phone does similar things (swiping homescreens, moving the cursor when typing, etc) it's usually because the trackpad is dirty. I can't really think of why the digitizer (assuming it was properly replaced) would be causing that problem..

My buddy Bob had this happen to his Incredible too when he cracked his screen and had it replaced. He had it replaced 3x through Best Buy because each time it came back it would freak out like that. It turns out that something inside the phone was shorting out to the chassis, it would only happen when he squeezed/held the side of the phone. They ended up just giving him a new one after the third time.

brando56894 said:
My buddy Bob had this happen to his Incredible too when he cracked his screen and had it replaced. He had it replaced 3x through Best Buy because each time it came back it would freak out like that. It turns out that something inside the phone was shorting out to the chassis, it would only happen when he squeezed/held the side of the phone. They ended up just giving him a new one after the third time.
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Click to collapse
Yeah im thinking it could be something shorting but no real way to test. But after many take apart's i seem to have got the screen to a point where it does it like all the time rendering the phone useless. i have put back on the original screen and am seeing if there are problems there. (i got a new plastic housing)
k_nivesout said:
Haha, excellent...
Have you considered the trackpad as the possible culprit? I know when my phone does similar things (swiping homescreens, moving the cursor when typing, etc) it's usually because the trackpad is dirty. I can't really think of why the digitizer (assuming it was properly replaced) would be causing that problem..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i have disconnected the track pad and tried that with no change. and i tried disconnecting the light bar for a try and it would not boot. but i only tried once and i could have messed something else up when i put it back together.
i will report back with how the stock screen does and i'm thinking that will confirm that its the replacement digitizers .

Well the stock digitizer is doing the same thing. So its someting on the board, but i have tried it on two different phones.
So im up for trying just about any suggestion at this point. I have 2 phone and 3 digitizes doing this.

Mine does the same thing. I replaced just the screen awhile back.
I thought it might be related to maybe an upgraded screen family and the kernel not supporting it or something..
Like this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15132827&postcount=3626
I usually take off the back and then pull the battery and snap the case back on. Seems to fix the problem until I mess with the battery again.
Anyone know how to see what touchscreen version you have?

ok so i have 3 phones(boards) 3 digitizers. 2 phones are the same hardware version i believe, one isn't. and all three experience this problem. This is even with swapping around the digitizers. I'm thinking that somehow all of these share something similar. All i can think of is me putting them together.
Any idea on what they share?

Just wondering if you ever fixed the problem or got it figured out to some extent?
Same thing is happening on my phone ever since I replaced the screen/digitizer. Took it back apart and cleaned all the ribbon connections and the problem is still there. Thinking it might be a grounding issue possibly since it seems like it goes away (most the time) after I vigorously squeeze the bottom of the phone, by the trackpad and capacitive buttons. But it invariably comes back, and seems to be worse when plugged in to the charger for whatever reason.
Also, since you've also taken apart and reassembled your phone, have you had an issue with the trackpad not sitting flush with the screen? No matter how I reassemble everything, it seems like my trackpad is recessed now and it's even worse when I use the little rubber gasket that was on there originally...

I haven't been able to determine what the problem is, but mine seems exactly like yours. When charging I pretty much can't use my phone random touches everywhere, or it doesn't fully reconize my touch. I just took my INC all the way apart and cleaned everything connections and all. I read somewhere it could be a dirty optical pad so cleaned that good too. Just powered on *Fingers Crossed*

odlay75 said:
I haven't been able to determine what the problem is, but mine seems exactly like yours. When charging I pretty much can't use my phone random touches everywhere, or it doesn't fully reconize my touch. I just took my INC all the way apart and cleaned everything connections and all. I read somewhere it could be a dirty optical pad so cleaned that good too. Just powered on *Fingers Crossed*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when you replaced it did you make sure you the ground straps where connected to the screw holes with nothing interfering? i pulled my LCD out of my screen on my dev phone because there was dust under the glass. after i put it all back together i was getting the same thing descried in the OP. so i took it apart and noticed that the thread lock used on the screws pealed off and on the ground straps. so i cleaned them up with Alcohol and a cotton swab. put it back together and haven't had it happen sense.

synisterwolf said:
when you replaced it did you make sure you the ground straps where connected to the screw holes with nothing interfering? i pulled my LCD out of my screen on my dev phone because there was dust under the glass. after i put it all back together i was getting the same thing descried in the OP. so i took it apart and noticed that the thread lock used on the screws pealed off and on the ground straps. so i cleaned them up with Alcohol and a cotton swab. put it back together and haven't had it happen sense.
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Click to collapse
When you say ground straps, are you referring to the two tiny screws that are near the top of the actual screen (after you've taken of the red battery compartment thing and the board)? I remember there being these little metal mesh strips that were in those screw holes that I think I promptly lost after taking the screws out..

k_nivesout said:
When you say ground straps, are you referring to the two tiny screws that are near the top of the actual screen (after you've taken of the red battery compartment thing and the board)? I remember there being these little metal mesh strips that were in those screw holes that I think I promptly lost after taking the screws out..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes. after removing the board on the back of the LCD screen there are 2 straps on the top that ground the screen to the frame. the screws had blue thread lock on the bottom. sometimes it will come off when you remove them.
basically make the head of the screw is clean and the metal straps are clean to make a good enough ground.
EDIT:
if you lost the screws you can try to pick up an eye glass repair kit. the ones used for glasses. they have small phillip screws that might work. you can normally buy the kit at a $.99 store.

I was wondering what the screws were for since it didn't look like they were actually holding anything in.. I didn't lose the screws, just the grounding material, which were those metal mesh adhesive strips. Trying to think of what I may be able to replace that with, maybe just some aluminum foil or something? There has to be some better material, I'm just not thinking of it..

k_nivesout said:
I was wondering what the screws were for since it didn't look like they were actually holding anything in.. I didn't lose the screws, just the grounding material, which were those metal mesh adhesive strips. Trying to think of what I may be able to replace that with, maybe just some aluminum foil or something? There has to be some better material, I'm just not thinking of it..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the straps fell off? (the straps are on the back and should be soldered to the drivers on the rear of the screen) i wouldn't recommend aluminum foil. try going to a store like radio shack or any do it your self electronic store and see if the can sell you some fine wire mesh.

Hm, I think we must be thinking of different things, cause these were just tiny little pieces of wires mesh that those screws held into place that were stuck to the metal on the back of the screen. Might have to open it up again and snap a picture or two to clarify if I can't find any other grounding issues, etc.

k_nivesout said:
Hm, I think we must be thinking of different things, cause these were just tiny little pieces of wires mesh that those screws held into place that were stuck to the metal on the back of the screen. Might have to open it up again and snap a picture or two to clarify if I can't find any other grounding issues, etc.
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Click to collapse
yea thats what im talking about. the 2 straps on top that are screwed in. they need to have a clean connection from the strap to the screw heads that it sits on after screwing them down.

Well I'll be damned, I think that was it! I "borrowed" a little bit of that wire mesh stuff from the back of the screen (it's holding down the screen's ribbon connector and covering other things) and put the screws back in holding little strips of the mesh down and stuck to the metal on the back of the screen. I haven't been using my phone much but the phantom touches and vibration haven't come back, crossing my fingers that it stays this way!
Thanks again synisterwolf, mashed your thanks button a bit
To the OP: I'd highly recommend making sure the screen is grounded properly with those two tiny screws towards the top of the screen.

Thanks for the info guys! Does anyone have a pic of this mesh stuff. I think my old screen had it, but the new screen does not..

odlay75 said:
Thanks for the info guys! Does anyone have a pic of this mesh stuff. I think my old screen had it, but the new screen does not..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr4uy9yKqIE
3:30 MARK is what we are talking about.
---------- Post added at 11:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:32 AM ----------
k_nivesout said:
Well I'll be damned, I think that was it! I "borrowed" a little bit of that wire mesh stuff from the back of the screen (it's holding down the screen's ribbon connector and covering other things) and put the screws back in holding little strips of the mesh down and stuck to the metal on the back of the screen. I haven't been using my phone much but the phantom touches and vibration haven't come back, crossing my fingers that it stays this way!
Thanks again synisterwolf, mashed your thanks button a bit
To the OP: I'd highly recommend making sure the screen is grounded properly with those two tiny screws towards the top of the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are welcome. glad i could help and glad i took mine apart. now i can see how it all works. it was hard with my big hands but it was fun.

[Q] How to open up a mT3GS?

Well, I kind of play in sand soccer with my phone in a pocket, and now dust it's all over inside. That's actually it's not what I care, because I already have a bit in the screen. I think is broking something inside because sometimes when I open or close the screen goes divided and up-down, left-righted. The thing is that I cannot send it to any USA services, so I have to do it on my own, I'm from Venezuela.
How to do it without breaking something else?
I have something like "electronic contact cleaner" but I saw what does that to plastic, and I don't want to take the risk.

The ribbon is damaged.
sent from an HTC sensation on CM7 alpha #10

vabeachfc3s said:
The ribbon is damaged.
sent from an HTC sensation on CM7 alpha #10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand.
I open the phone, the half of the keyboard, and I clean the flex, but I can notice that it is like stained in some parts.
I couldn't open the half of the screen. How I can do it?
I think of buying the flex and mount it myselft, but it have any welding?

The screen half is held in place by 4 screws hidden under 2 black adhesives on top and bottom, at the back of screen half. These adhesives are like the back (with the dots), but you can lift them with a sharp knife and some care.
And no, you don´t need any welding to replace the flex cable. Just study the interior with care and you´ll find out how to completely dismantle the phone, and clear everything. I bought mine used and I did a full cleaning on it, it looks like new now.

Thanks! I'll give it a try. Don't you have any pics? I did see all that you told, but I couldn't pass trough that. .

There is a thread in this section that has a lot of pics showing how to take the phone apart
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

A Google search for "mytouch 3g slide disassembly" should link you to several videos...
That's what I used this weekend to replace a busted digitizer.

GoPadge said:
A Google search for "mytouch 3g slide disassembly" should link you to several videos...
That's what I used this weekend to replace a busted digitizer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, there are a couple out there that walk you through the disassembly step by step. Small phillips and t-5 torx needed.
I replaced my flex cable last week, and it's pretty easy (all snap connections). Just be careful and take your time.

Replace Chrome trim on SGS2?

I'm trying to find a source on whether I can replace the trim know my phone since it's been dinged from the previous owner as well as myself.
I've found some the link to the replacement screen thread but it doesn't say if the lcd is part of the top or how to get it out? I've seen some oem housings online but not sure if I can remove my lcd which is fine and put it in the newer housing?
Is there glue or adhesive that holds it in?
Thanks for any help.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

You just need to unscrew the backplate and exchange it.
No glue no adhesives or something. it just sits there.
It will take about 10 minutes or so..
Here is a picture of the part:
Mine fell out of its place, the last i had the phone opened and i´m to lazy to put it back.
Edit: sorry for that huuuuge picture.. blame our 8mp camera.

supermult said:
You just need to unscrew the backplate and exchange it.
No glue no adhesives or something. it just sits there.
It will take about 10 minutes or so..
Here is a picture of the part:
Mine fell out of its place, the last i had the phone opened and i´m to lazy to put it back.
Edit: sorry for that huuuuge picture.. blame our 8mp camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry - but I think we have a misunderstanding. I'm talking about the chrome trim around the entire LCD not the camera.

oh.. honestly i don´t think that the part you described is chrome. Atleast not on my GSII
and the thing i posted is the shiny ring around the headphone plug.

OP its not chrome its plastic..
1) replace the whole screen housing with with working parts from say ebay
2) buy a whole SGS2 housing unit and plus top screen ( this option you'll need to remove youe current lcd screen and once replaced in new housing the top screen needs to be bonded to housing. (M3 double sided tape or a thin silcon glue)
3) take it to a service centre
4)keep it as it is..
as par your question
Is there glue or adhesive that holds it in? Yes.
Top screen will need to be heated with hot air to release it from its bond.

Nyssa1104 said:
OP its not chrome its plastic..
1) replace the whole screen housing with with working parts from say ebay
2) buy a whole SGS2 housing unit and plus top screen ( this option you'll need to remove youe current lcd screen and once replaced in new housing the top screen needs to be bonded to housing. (M3 double sided tape or a thin silcon glue)
3) take it to a service centre
4)keep it as it is..
as par your question
Is there glue or adhesive that holds it in? Yes.
Top screen will need to be heated with hot air to release it from its bond.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - that's what I wanted to hear. So it's more effort than I'd like to spend on it. Looks like I'll just move the phone to try something else.

My experience fixing Xperia PLAY phones.

In addition to the constant influx of iPods and iPhones friends, family, and coworkers bring me to fix, I've taken apart a few different Xperia PLAY phones more times than I can count, so I thought I'd give a few "pro tips" to people who need to know the ins and outs of it. This isn't a disassembly, assembly, or even a repair guide, it's just the stuff I think those guys missed.
First, don't use a heat gun to loosen the adhesive on the front glass + digitizer. The plastic frame wrinkles and melts readily, particularly right under the face buttons.
Second, make sure you transfer as much as possible when you replace the frame. Replacement frames usually do not include the rubber shroud for the proximity sensor and it will not work right without it. I had one phone that seemingly worked fine until the screen protector peeled off while inserting in a pocket and then no amount of clear tape, screen protectors, or Sharpie-marking would fix it. A salvaged rubber shroud fixed it right up. Some replacement frames have a film-backed adhesive for holding it there and some don't. It probably depends on when they were yanked from the manufacturing line, assuming that they are original parts and not replica parts. You also want to make sure you transfer are the inner dust gasket that goes underneath the frame/glass or else things will be filling up with dust quickly. There is no speaker grill and the foam around it does not stop intrusion. A salvaged frame/glass adhesive is likely to allow dust in unless you didn't have to pick much out of it when swapping (usually glass shards). There are also little metallic grounding foam rectangles crammed in the corners that only one replacement frame I've seen has ever included (was probably salvage though listed as "new"). They probably aren't necessary and I've gone long periods without them, but why wonder if a static charge build up is responsible for your erratic touch screen?
Next, be extremely careful separating the glass from the frame. I've managed to crack good ones even going slowly and leaving gaps filled with picks and pry tools. Heat didn't seem to help much and, as mentioned earlier, is discouraged. Cleaning the screen after man-handling it isn't always easy, but don't avoid touching the back side because you will probably need the area to spread the pressure and avoid a crack. I use a levered "mini suction cup" from Harbor Freight on the top side and as many fingers as spread out as I can on the bottom, but the suction cup is near useless on a cracked screen (even tape-coated). I do suggest covering a shattered screen with tape to hold all the bits together but you are still going to have a hard time cleaning the adhesive up. You can always buy a frame with digitizer pre-installed but I know a lot of you want to buy complete replacement housings instead and it's kind of a waste, but at least you don't need to worry about that adhesive (still: don't forget to transfer the other bits!).
The digitizer parts I've salvaged from phones had higher version numbers than the ones I've seen sold as replacement parts and seemed to be more erratic so I prefer salvaged ones. There can be other problems as well. The flat flex cable from the digitizer is supposed to have an adhesive backing that holds it still where it connects to the tiny cable from the earpiece. Replacements often do not have it, which is yet ANOTHER reason to prefer salvage parts. It may not seem like such a big deal considering that there is a black plastic piece screwed down over it to protect it from getting caught in the mechanism, but the connector does not hold on very well and the phone will not boot if it is slightly out of alignment. If you reassemble it and just get a buzz from the vibration motor with no display and no other sign of booting, check this connection (same thing if the digitizer suddenly stops registering touch). Even a small drop/impact will cause it to happen again, so I recommend securing it with precisely cut tape or hot glue (stay clear of the sliding rails).
Now, keep it clean while you work or you will be staring at that contaminate or thumbprint for a long time. I usually wear fresh latex gloves when working on the glass but it doesn't do much good if you keep transferring oils from the rest of the phone. Wash your hands right before you start and clean the outside of the phone. Before you begin, try just touch a used dish soap dispenser with a damp thumb and run all along to screen except the buttons and earpiece. Do it again with just the damp thumb (dilutes the soap that remained from the first pass) and wipe it with a clean lint-free cloth. Your own clean and dry fingertips/palm should readily absorb any remaining streaks/oils. Be sure to wipe down the rest of the phone too and don't transfer it back to the glass. Once inside I use layer after layer of clear tape to lift gunk from the earpiece (no mesh, remember?). Put on new gloves before you start handling the glass after disassembly, even if you were wearing some for disassembly. To clean the back of the glass I put the adhesive between wax paper while I clean using lint-free cloths, 90+% alcohol, and acetone. For the LCD, use tape to lift most contaminates and resort to alcohol + lint-free cloth if that doesn't work. It doesn't need to be too perfect, especially if scratched from cracked glass. Most imperfections only show when it's off.
Hot glue is great for removing adhesive screw covers without showing pick marks or other signs of tampering but you have to make sure to leave an edge exposed so that you aren't just picking it out of the glue instead. I've been getting mine off cleanly without any tricks like this but it came in handy when I was first disassembling one and there weren't any guides to tell me that there weren't screws under the large silver strip (just covers rivets or injections mold points, IIRC). It's also good for sealing off water sensors, like the one you see through a hole under the battery door. There's another one by the contacts on the battery itself, one by the microphone under the gamepad, and one in the opposite corner under the PS Certified logo. I had an AT&T rep tell me that a brand new phone had a tripped water sensor (LIES!) so I would look for ways to do this with most any new phone.
I can't count how many times I've left the power button out while reassembling. It's not usually that I forgot: It's that it falls out while snapping the back on. I've left the face buttons out a few times too.
My first one had the cable folded wrong after reassembly. It still worked fine for a couple years but did eventually require replacement. Once it folds wrong it'll probably stay that way even after correct reassembly (like mine did). Do not try to attach it to the main PCB using a spudger, butterknife, or whatever to awkwardly push the connector down with everything pulled apart. The only thing you need to do is to slide the cable into the phone's closed position, align the plastic posts on the connector with the corresponding holes on the PCB, and then push down on the PCB until it snaps. I'm sure I tried this first back then but chickened out because the connector didn't snap very easily but that is how you are supposed to do it.
Before I talk about the replacing the slide cable, I want to express my annoyance at all the eBay/YouTube/iFixIt.com people who call it a "flex cable." I don't like the term flex cable because generally ALL cables should be flexible and that doesn't distinguish what it is well enough for people looking for the part. Technically, it's a flat cable or a slide cable, though I wouldn't object to it being called a flex PCB (flex PCBs usually have components other than just connectors like a rigid printed circuit board would). "Flex cable" is silly, redundant, and does not describe anything more specific than just "cable." To complicate matters, there are several actual flex PCBs in this phone to distinguish from when ordering the part. Why did so many people start calling flex PCBs "flex cables" in the first place?! In our case the sliding portion is a *flat* cable, so I can see where "cable" was introduced from, but people say "flex cable" for any flat cable made like a flex PCB these days whether fixed or sliding. At least you know now that you are probably going to have to use the incorrect terminology to find what you want online and sift through many useless results.
*whew*
Now, slide cable replacement is easier than it would seem but intact removal isn't and brand new replacements can be defective. It was a troubleshooting nightmare when I encountered a defective one because I replaced the LCD and glass + digitizer at the same time and suspected/checked everything else first, even taking apart my personal phone multiple times to test parts. The plastic part of the connector on the PCB end must be transferred to the new cable and the old one will not reliably stick back down to it even if you did not contaminate the adhesive. I successfully transferred a cable from a water-damaged phone to my personal phone before fixing up the water-damaged donor phone with a new one, so the adhesive on the salvaged part was weak and I didn't realize how hard it was to remove intact until later. When separating the defective new one there was seemingly no place to pry on one end other than underneath the part where the earpiece/camera connector was located. This broke the side of the connector that holds the locking flap though I was still able to use/lock it. I claimed warranty on the defective part anyway because the connector was not needed for proving the cable was defective (a functional cable works with that connector populated or not). This new part was slightly different from those found originally installed in the phone (different colored plastic connectors and such). The second new one I ordered from elsewhere had double-sided adhesive down the middle, a foil quality control sticker, and the same odd connector colors. I didn't think there was a market for replica parts on this phone but it does seem like more than simple factory revisions. Anyway, removing it involves removing metallic tape then lifting a plate that is still adhered underneath with amber-colored Kapton tape. You can see it from the slide mechanism below. I pinch the plate from above and below with two fingers and lift, gradually peeling the tape which I then fold inside and secure to avoid contaminating the adhesive. The cable has a plastic band across it that fits between fingers on this plate. When secured, this isolates the end with multiple connectors from the movement of the sliding portion, so make sure this is in place when reinstalling. It may be best to avoid removing the adhesive backing paper until after the plate and cable are securely taped back down with both the Kapton and metallic tape while the fingers are holding it in position. If you stick it down first and then secure the plate you may find it slightly too long or short to position inside the plate when securing it all back down. To thread the main connector through the slide board opening it may seem that it will only fit by folding the cable but DON'T! Coil it. Without flattening it, bend the connector 90-degrees over from the cable path and then adjust the angle until you have a coil-shape that you can work through with the connector sideways.
I ordered a "no useable parts" dummy phone just for the heck of it and, other than the Sony Ericsson logo on the fake battery door and maybe the stickers that cover the screws, they really don't have any salvageable parts. You can't swap any buttons, keys, springs, covers, etc into a real phone. The closest would be the face buttons. They will fit in a real phone, but they are too tall and put constant pressure on the PCB switches causing unintended key-presses (especially back and search buttons). The extra height easily protrudes out the top and is not the issue so filing them down vertically won't fix anything. I snipped some excess rubber to more closely match the design of the original buttons but it didn't help. I unscrewed the screw in the corner under the search key and unsnapped the bottom edge of the frame from the back/slide board and they work great until the phone inevitably snaps back together. I'd say they felt better then the original with the extra height (I can't stand how close they are to the screen). It's tolerable with ICS/JB's Navigation Bar (on-screen key functions), but I would rather salvage real buttons or pay too much for the eBay ones ($10-$20; very uncommon part; always sold with crap you probably don't need).
I have yet to find a replacement battery door that includes the rubber trim around the speakers and the foam piece surrounding the rear/noise-canceling microphone. I've ordered a few auctions that show them in the pictures but they always arrive bare. You can transfer them with a razor but it likely won't be perfect. Without them the speaker audio will probably echo around inside the battery compartment and make its way into the mic, though people usually don't notice it. Painting on some Plasti-Dip might do the trick, so try that if it bothers you.
Unlike an iPhone with a million different screws, you don't have to keep track of what goes where and everything is easily accessible. Bare minimum to take it all apart: Some fingernails, a T5 or T6 (pick one) and a PH0, 00, or 000 Phillips (pick one). There don't seem to be any tamper/warranty seals and the only concealed screws are the two obvious ones underneath metallic cover stickers on the display/slide board. There are no screws under tape or labels and no water sensors covering them either. All 6 Phillips screws are the same size but you'll likely want to keep the two with adhesive in their original holes to re-use the covers (adhesive usually remains on the screw instead of the cover). There are only two different Torx screw types but it's obvious what goes where (6 stubby flat ones on the top and bottom, 7 long thin ones around the battery area).
There are bits and bobs taped to and embedded in the rear housing including antenna/RF stuff, some more obvious that others. I've compared and the R800x is very different from the R800at even though the plastic frame looks really similar (R800x has a blocked SIM slot, of course). IMO, any housing swap should be limited to the front frame, the gamepad, and the battery door (only colored parts anyway). If you nicked your chrome, hopefully it was on a button or something that can be swapped (springs are a pain). It may be possible to transfer everything but I wouldn't trust it after all the peeling and picking. The one report I've seen of someone transferring between a GSM/CDMA models seems blissfully unaware of the metal wire behind the volume keys on the CDMA model that isn't there on GSM (at least it's not there on my R800at GSM).
That's all my advice for now. If you are having any trouble, let me know.

Excellent guide, thank you for taking the time to type this up. I think a mod should sticky this.....

Awesome guide! Thanks much for it!
@ozzmanj1 Agree, so more people will notice it.

Thanks for help buddy!!!

As for the case of the digitizer, mine has some parts (lower left) that are not recognizing touch inputs. Will realigning the digitizer cable help? I' d really not want to buy a new one right now as I am quite on a tight budget. Please help. Totally in distress here with my very sickly Play.

So, first I want to say thanks for this post as it's been invaluable in my working on my own XP.
I'm in the process of changing out the LCD and slide cable and am wondering about versions of the phone and compatibility. On Ebay I'm finding lots of parts listed as being for R800i\R800x\R800a. Very few parts are listed for R800at (which is what I have)
In changing out parts (anything hardware related) what parts are interchangeable and what parts are not? Anyone able to help?
Right now I'm looking at LCD screen and slide cable, but in the future I would like to change out the digitizer (I read the other page about having to possibly roll back to a different kernel) and perhaps other inner workings of the phone as well. I would just like to know what I can use from other models of the XP and what are model specific.
Thanks!

Arevyn said:
So, first I want to say thanks for this post as it's been invaluable in my working on my own XP.
I'm in the process of changing out the LCD and slide cable and am wondering about versions of the phone and compatibility. On Ebay I'm finding lots of parts listed as being for R800i\R800x\R800a. Very few parts are listed for R800at (which is what I have)
In changing out parts (anything hardware related) what parts are interchangeable and what parts are not? Anyone able to help?
Right now I'm looking at LCD screen and slide cable, but in the future I would like to change out the digitizer (I read the other page about having to possibly roll back to a different kernel) and perhaps other inner workings of the phone as well. I would just like to know what I can use from other models of the XP and what are model specific.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just about everything but the chrome back housing is a simple swap. LCD, slide cable, digitizer, camera/earpiece, face buttons, game pad, slide board, front frame, camera, headphone jack, etc. The only parts tied together for compatability are the motherboard and the chrome back housing and that is because it has all the antennas installed in it. It's probably possible to move all the components but I've never even had to take the speakers out and can't speak to the difficulty or possibility for certain. I'm worried that lifting the adhesive films would damiage the antennas inside. As I mentioned in the OP, there are other little parts to move when you compare the two and note the differences. Good luck!
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

CZroe said:
Just about everything but the chrome back housing is a simple swap. LCD, slide cable, digitizer, camera/earpiece, face buttons, game pad, slide board, front frame, camera, headphone jack, etc. The only parts tied together for compatability are the motherboard and the chrome back housing and that is because it has all the antennas installed in it. It's probably possible to move all the components but I've never even had to take the speakers out and can't speak to the difficulty or possibility for certain. I'm worried that lifting the adhesive films would damiage the antennas inside. As I mentioned in the OP, there are other little parts to move when you compare the two and note the differences. Good luck!
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! Thanks so much.
---------- Post added at 06:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:11 PM ----------
CZroe said:
Just about everything but the chrome back housing is a simple swap. LCD, slide cable, digitizer, camera/earpiece, face buttons, game pad, slide board, front frame, camera, headphone jack, etc. The only parts tied together for compatability are the motherboard and the chrome back housing and that is because it has all the antennas installed in it. It's probably possible to move all the components but I've never even had to take the speakers out and can't speak to the difficulty or possibility for certain. I'm worried that lifting the adhesive films would damiage the antennas inside. As I mentioned in the OP, there are other little parts to move when you compare the two and note the differences. Good luck!
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you noticed a difference in an LCD screen with a green cable vs one with an orange cable? I have an orange one in mine, and wasnt sure if its a different part, or just a different batch of screens

Arevyn said:
Awesome! Thanks so much.
---------- Post added at 06:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:11 PM ----------
Have you noticed a difference in an LCD screen with a green cable vs one with an orange cable? I have an orange one in mine, and wasnt sure if its a different part, or just a different batch of screens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am color blind and never took notice but I switched LCD between R800i, R800x, and R800at and they were all compatible. They have no reason to make anything in that half of the phone different, so they don't.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

narflynn619 said:
As for the case of the digitizer, mine has some parts (lower left) that are not recognizing touch inputs. Will realigning the digitizer cable help? I' d really not want to buy a new one right now as I am quite on a tight budget. Please help. Totally in distress here with my very sickly Play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I've also experience same problems as yours... I just wonder is it the flex cable or digitizer....

matfai said:
Hey, I've also experience same problems as yours... I just wonder is it the flex cable or digitizer....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If only some areas are responsive then I'm pretty sure it's the digitizer. The IC likely encodes the output so that all the raw connections don't need to be extended over the slide cable. IOW, the pins that carry digitizer data probably carry encoded data so that it's fewer pins. This means it would work either all or not at all if the slide cable had anything to do with it.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

CZroe said:
If only some areas are responsive then I'm pretty sure it's the digitizer. The IC likely encodes the output so that all the raw connections don't need to be extended over the slide cable. IOW, the pins that carry digitizer data probably carry encoded data so that it's fewer pins. This means it would work either all or not at all if the slide cable had anything to do with it.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for reply... So, do I have to replace the digitizer or just realigning the cable will help?

matfai said:
Thanks for reply... So, do I have to replace the digitizer or just realigning the cable will help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my experience, cable alignment has also been an all or nothing issue so you probably need to replace the digitizer. It couldn't hurt to realign the digitizer cable first just in case it can avoid an unnecessary expense. That fixed a Cubot C9+ I worked on Saturday (digitizer not working at all) but not the iPhone 4S I worked on yesterday (bottom row of digitizer not responding).
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

stuck in safe mode after replace slider cable(flex)
Hi i'm writing here in hopes you can help me, i bought and replaced the "flex cable" and it kinda worked, somehow it can only boot in safe mode and back, home and menu buttons on the front is unresponsive (i can use joypad though) i've tried opening it up again to check for loose connectors and i even tried disconnect the cable to the front buttons but safe mode persists, i tried to flash several official ftf images and a custom rom to see if it helped, but also without any luck.
I hope that you can help me.
Thx for a nice indepth post

docsmiley said:
Hi i'm writing here in hopes you can help me, i bought and replaced the "flex cable" and it kinda worked, somehow it can only boot in safe mode and back, home and menu buttons on the front is unresponsive (i can use joypad though) i've tried opening it up again to check for loose connectors and i even tried disconnect the cable to the front buttons but safe mode persists, i tried to flash several official ftf images and a custom rom to see if it helped, but also without any luck.
I hope that you can help me.
Thx for a nice indepth post
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are booting in safe mode, that "menu" button is always pressed. My guess is faulty/damaged flex cable. You can try your old flex cable and see can you enter flash/fastboot mode (test to see is back and search button is working)

Bakisha said:
If you are booting in safe mode, that "menu" button is always pressed. My guess is faulty/damaged flex cable. You can try your old flex cable and see can you enter flash/fastboot mode (test to see is back and search button is working)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search button is working as intended (also when booted into safe mode) and i can enter flash mode with back button and flash ftf files, back button is just not functional when booted (only on joypad).
I also figured it had to be the flex cable but i thought i was so carefull when mounting it so i didn't thought i damaged it.
The old flex cable didn't give any picture at all, so can't see if it boots into safe mode with that.

docsmiley said:
Search button is working as intended (also when booted into safe mode) and i can enter flash mode with back button and flash ftf files, back button is just not functional when booted (only on joypad).
I also figured it had to be the flex cable but i thought i was so carefull when mounting it so i didn't thought i damaged it.
The old flex cable didn't give any picture at all, so can't see if it boots into safe mode with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have received a defective flex cable before so it's possible you have also. In my case it didn't work at all (no picture).
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

Thanks for your replies I'll see if I can get it replaced
Sendt fra min Galaxy S4 med Tapatalk

slide flex replacement
hi, its my second time replacing the slide flex cable of my r800i, however this time, my digitizer is unresponsive to the flex i bought, i bought it in the same store where i bought the first one which was perfectly fine before,
my question is does the slide flex cable of xperia play 4G differs to the slide flex cable of the old one xperia play r800i,

dashu31 said:
hi, its my second time replacing the slide flex cable of my r800i, however this time, my digitizer is unresponsive to the flex i bought, i bought it in the same store where i bought the first one which was perfectly fine before,
my question is does the slide flex cable of xperia play 4G differs to the slide flex cable of the old one xperia play r800i,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are the same. I have also switched then between a "4G" R800at and a R800x. I have also received bad digitizer flex cables that were new. It really is luck of the draw. A lot of replacement parts on eBay are factory seconds, which may have been removed from the production line for good reason. That's why I always order parts in sets of two for anything I know I will need in the future and I always test both. For example, recently I got two iPhone 4S screens and one had the frame installed upside down. Before that I ordered two replacement iPhone 4 30-pin dock replacements and one had a defective microphone. Before that I ordered two iPod touch 2G digitizer/frame assemblies and one didn't work along the left side.
Here I am identifying a couple bad iPhone displays from a lot:
http://youtu.be/TbxzCiGhwPM
I didn't own an iPhone so I had to test them all with the phone the first customer provided.
Edit: Oh! And make sure the problem is not with the digitizer connection under the black plastic cover. Mine works it's way loose all the time and needs to be secured with tape. Even when inserted fully straight and locked, I put it together and find it not working or the display black until I take it back apart and reseat it. It will twist slightly and even the slightest angle affects the connection.