Problem with my Kobo H2O

[Susan A]

My KOBO H20 blackouted in the middle of reading last night. I tried the paperclip reset. All that happens is the lindicator light at the top blinks. Any suggestions on what to do to get it to work again? Thannk for your help

[frostschutz]

Originally Posted by Susan A

All that happens is the lindicator light at the top blinks.

If it stops blinking after a few seconds... sounds like it's booting normally but the display is shot. If it keeps blinking indefinitely, something else is wrong. What does it show on the display? Stripes and lines usually mean a broken display.

[Susan A]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

If it stops blinking after a few seconds... sounds like it's booting normally but the display is shot. If it keeps blinking indefinitely, something else is wrong. What does it show on the display? Stripes and lines usually mean a broken display.

It keeps blinking until I hold the button down for at a ten count. Then the blinking indicator stops.

Nothing shows on the display at all. When I try to turn it back on, the screen does blink, but no lines.

When I connect it to my computer, the computer doesn't acknowledge it.

Although I use it for hours everyday, the device is not a year old.

[frostschutz]

"screen does blink" means what? Full black / white / black / white cycle but then nothing?

That should be a firmware issue then, maybe try the two finger tap reset method.

Hold the power button until the device is off (LED off etc.).
Wait a few seconds (usually takes a bit until it's really off).
Press and Hold the power button.
At the same time while still holding the power button, use two fingers to simultaneously and repeatedly tap both bottom corners of the screen.

If it works, H2O should go into factory reset mode. If it does not work, try again, most people need a few tries to get it right.

Failing that you're left with opening the device (losing warranty and water proof seal in the process) and putting a recovery image onto the internal SD card directly. There are a few posts and a youtube video regarding opening the H2O elsewhere in this forum.

Of course if you still have warranty you could just get a replacement for your device from Kobo or the store you bought it at.

[Susan A]

The screen is white. The indicator light is blinking blue-ish color.

When I insert a paper clip and press until I feel the slight give that tells me I did actually insert the paper clip, I hold for a 5 count, nothing happens, I release the paperclip and about 7 seconds later the screen blinks to full black twice, rapidly (no lines or images) and then returns to white screen with blinking indicator.

I called customer serivce and they tried a few things with the paperclip and now I have been told to let in charge in the wall for 2 hours and then try the factory reset again. If it doesn't work, they will start exploring my warranty options.

I will give your finger tapping method a try as well.

THank you!

[frostschutz]

If the display successfully goes from fully black to fully white then it's not broke.

So there still is hope best of luck to you

[Susan A]

Yippee! It worked. The CS plan did not work. However, when my daughter got home from school, I had her hold down the power button while I tapped as you instructed and the factory re-set was endabled.

I got it all re-set up and now I just have to re-load some of my books from calibre.

Thank you so much for your help!

[frostschutz]

Glad you got it back in working order.

In a German ereader forum there was another user with the same problem, blank screen after trying to update to 3.18.0.

Were you using any firmware mods?

[Susan A]

Under settings, it says I am using 3.18. I didn't do anything, I think it just updates when I plug it in to the laptop.

I'm not quite sure what a firmware mod is, but if it means did I make any changes to it, the answer is no.