Troubleshooting Kindle PW2 scrambled screen after reset

Aethelyohn · 01-25-2018, 02:08 AM

Yesterday I reset a Kindle Paperwhite that hasn't been used in a while (preparing it for the kid, not because of a technical problem) and the screen came back all garbled.

The fonts are very thin and not anti-aliased and any solid image (book cover) is washed out and textured.

The screen worked perfectly before the reset.

I did restart a bunch of times, installed all the updates and did another reset but no luck - the screen comes back in the same bad state.

Also, I'm convinced this is not a faulty hardware issue:

I did another reset today and right after it restarts for the first time, the image with the tree and the word 'kindle' on top looks perfectly smooth and clear... after a while the image visibly degrades and it stays like that from that point on.

Unfortunately it looks like the 5.9.2.0.1 firmware cannot be downgraded.

Any ideas what might be going on and how to fix this ?
Thanks!

HarryT · 01-25-2018, 02:58 AM

Can you post a picture showing what it looks like?

Aethelyohn · 01-25-2018, 03:08 AM

Yeah, good idea! Here it is.

HarryT · 01-25-2018, 03:54 AM

That looks awfully like a failure of the screen controller to me, I'm sorry to say.

greentea · 01-25-2018, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That looks awfully like a failure of the screen controller to me, I'm sorry to say.

Either that, or - I got the same result when fiddling with screen cable. Open the Kindle, release screen cable tensioner, pull out the cable, clean everything you can with DeoxIT, put it all back together and pray.

HarryT · 01-25-2018, 06:19 AM

Either way, I'm pretty sure this is a hardware issue. Unfortunately I think it was just coincidence that it coincided with a firmware upgrade.

GlenBarrington · 01-25-2018, 11:32 AM

Sounds like a new Kindle is in you future!

Aethelyohn · 01-25-2018, 11:36 AM

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I'll open it up and take a look inside.

But I've been eyeing the Voyage for a while, looks like it's time for an upgrade.

01-25-2018, 02:08 AM	#1
Aethelyohn Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: Kindle PW2	Kindle PW2 scrambled screen after reset Yesterday I reset a Kindle Paperwhite that hasn't been used in a while (preparing it for the kid, not because of a technical problem) and the screen came back all garbled. The fonts are very thin and not anti-aliased and any solid image (book cover) is washed out and textured. The screen worked perfectly before the reset. I did restart a bunch of times, installed all the updates and did another reset but no luck - the screen comes back in the same bad state. Also, I'm convinced this is not a faulty hardware issue: I did another reset today and right after it restarts for the first time, the image with the tree and the word 'kindle' on top looks perfectly smooth and clear... after a while the image visibly degrades and it stays like that from that point on. Unfortunately it looks like the 5.9.2.0.1 firmware cannot be downgraded. Any ideas what might be going on and how to fix this ? Thanks!

01-25-2018, 03:08 AM	#3
Aethelyohn Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: Kindle PW2	Yeah, good idea! Here it is. Attached Thumbnails

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01-25-2018, 02:58 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Can you post a picture showing what it looks like?

01-25-2018, 03:54 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	That looks awfully like a failure of the screen controller to me, I'm sorry to say.

01-25-2018, 06:19 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Either way, I'm pretty sure this is a hardware issue. Unfortunately I think it was just coincidence that it coincided with a firmware upgrade.

01-25-2018, 11:32 AM	#7
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	Sounds like a new Kindle is in you future!

01-25-2018, 11:36 AM	#8
Aethelyohn Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2018 Device: Kindle PW2	Thanks everyone for the feedback! I'll open it up and take a look inside. But I've been eyeing the Voyage for a while, looks like it's time for an upgrade.

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