K3 (keyboard) Screen is Frozen

[liveoutloud91]

The top half of my K3's screen is completely unresponsive. My mom was going to turn the screen on to read her book but the image from the screensaver remained in the effected half of the screen. However the other half of the screen is still reponsive, however the frozen image overrides the text.

I've tried doing a hard reset and doing a factory reset from the software settings, both without effect. I've contacted Amazon about this before, in fact this is the FOURTH Kindle to be replaced by Amazon. Needless to say, I'm tired of dealing with customer service reps and I want to find a real solution to this problem.

The only thread I could find that was similar to this problem was here

The Kindle is on the latest firmware for that model (3.1?)

It should be noted that each Amazon rep I've spoken to has accomodated me and shipped my replacement, completely free of charge.

[RainingLemur]

Possibly the dreaded broken screen substrate, or the screen controller being shot?

[l_macd]

Possibly screen damage? A cracked substrate will 'freeze' part of the screen while the rest displays fine. Does it look anything like these two?

Broken screen
Dead Kindle

[Mike L]

I had exactly the same problem a few months ago. It was indeed a cracked substrate. Like you, Liveoutloud91, I was able to get a free-of-charge replacement (even though the device was about three years old).

Mike

[geekmaster]

Sadly, amazon only offered to sell me a replacement for half price for my damaged K3 3G. And now my DXG has a cracked screen too, but I am afraid to call them on that one because I could get a used one one for much less than their half-price cost.

[HarryT]

The "real solution to this problem" is to treat your Kindle with a little care; if you've broken four screens, it sounds as though you're really not doing so. Basic things first - what sort of case do you keep it in?

[geekmaster]

My two broken kindles were in protective cases. As far as I can tell, the K3 only fell off my desk into my lap, after which a crack started slowly growing from between the right next-page and prev-page buttons. No shock or pressure damage that I am aware of. My DXG was in my carry-on luggage on an international flight, and I also was not aware of any bumps. Perhaps vibration can cause problems?

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by geekmaster

My DXG was in my carry-on luggage on an international flight, and I also was not aware of any bumps. Perhaps vibration can cause problems?

Perhaps not a bump or vibration, but a twisting of the unit while in the carryon. it's not all that hard to break the substrate, the glass is exceptionally thin.

[liveoutloud91]

Originally Posted by l_macd

Possibly screen damage? A cracked substrate will 'freeze' part of the screen while the rest displays fine. Does it look anything like these two?

Broken screen
Dead Kindle

It looks like the second one.

[liveoutloud91]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The "real solution to this problem" is to treat your Kindle with a little care; if you've broken four screens, it sounds as though you're really not doing so. Basic things first - what sort of case do you keep it in?

My case is the leather folio type with book light. I treat my Kindle with extreme care actually.

[liveoutloud91]

I have a hypothesis that it may have something to do with the firmware version (3.1), as this problem was nonexisistent before that update, as far as I can tell.

It should also be noted that no modding, soft or hard, has been done to the Kindle.

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by liveoutloud91

It looks like the second one.

That second one is a classic broken screen. Although unlikely, it is possible to replace a standard image in the firmware with a hacked one that LOOKS LIKE a broken screen. That would make a nice JOKE screensaver image.

But really, the second image is a broken screen.

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by liveoutloud91

I have a hypothesis that it may have something to do with the firmware version (3.1), as this problem was nonexisistent before that update, as far as I can tell.

It should also be noted that no modding, soft or hard, has been done to the Kindle.

My hypothesis is that something cracked your screen sometime after the firmware updated. If the screen is cracked, then the update is almost certainly not the cause.

[liveoutloud91]

I spoke with an Amazon representative today and I'm being sent a replacement. I mentioned to her that this would be the fifth replacment for the same exact issue and she replied that Amazon had recently issued a recall for that model.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by liveoutloud91

I spoke with an Amazon representative today and I'm being sent a replacement. I mentioned to her that this would be the fifth replacment for the same exact issue and she replied that Amazon had recently issued a recall for that model.

A recall on the third generation Kindle? I don't believe that. It would be all over the ebook blogs. I'd say you got an Amazon rep that isn't too familiar with the Kindle.