Broken screen?

Lucas Malor · 11-14-2015, 12:33 PM

Well, one day I found my Kobo Glo in this state:

As you can see, the bottom and left part of the screen is completely screwed up. I can see only the upper-right portion. Touch screen works, even on the broken part of the screen.

My Kobo was in my bag, with laptop, mouse, battery etc. Was the screen broken by pressure? Is there any chance to repair or substitute it?

HarryT · 11-14-2015, 12:56 PM

Classic picture of a broken screen substrate. I'm afraid you've broken the thin layer of glass that's under the outer plastic screen. The most common cause of this is a bending or twisting force applied to the reader.

JSWolf · 11-14-2015, 03:04 PM

Good chance the laptop put too much pressure on the Kobo and broke the screen.

HarryT · 11-14-2015, 03:10 PM

If you do replace it, I'd strongly suggest keeping the new one in a good-quality rigid case to protect it.

filmo · 11-14-2015, 04:19 PM

Not cost effective to replace screen because high cost of screen assembly. $60 or more. Most used broken e-readers have broken screen. Some companies have sold replacement screens not Kobo.

Lucas Malor · 11-15-2015, 07:47 AM

How about replacing myself? Is that so difficult? Touchscreen is not broken, so I guess I have "only" to substitute the glass.

JSWolf · 11-15-2015, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucas Malor

How about replacing myself? Is that so difficult? Touchscreen is not broken, so I guess I have "only" to substitute the glass.

It's not that easy. You would need to replace the entire screen.

HarryT · 11-15-2015, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucas Malor

How about replacing myself? Is that so difficult? Touchscreen is not broken, so I guess I have "only" to substitute the glass.

It's not technically difficult to replace the screen, it's simply (probably) not cost-effective. The eInk screen and the electronics of the screen controller are a single integrated unit, so it's not a matter of replacing just the broken glass, unfortunately.

Dr. Drib · 11-15-2015, 09:07 AM

Moderator Notice

Lucas Malor:
Please take a few moments to read our Posting Guidelines, in particular the part about the maximum image size allowed (600x600 pixels). Images that violate those guidelines will be deleted.

It is every member's responsibility to read our Posting Guidelines and follow them.

Thanks.

Lucas Malor · 11-15-2015, 09:48 AM

Fixed.

filmo · 11-16-2015, 08:54 AM

Onyx mobileread forum has posts about buying and replacing Onyx e-reader screen assembly bought from Onyx distributor. These screens are expensive and Kobo does not sell repair parts. If they sold as many Kobo readers as Apple sells phones then batteries and screens might be easily available and replaced you or expert repair person. But most of my electronics are not cost effective to repair and no experts available to make repairs. More than 20 years ago that I hand one repaired. Have disposed of once great still usable TV for new TV.

frostschutz · 11-16-2015, 11:21 AM

You could see if you can find a device with "broken touchscreen" on Ebay. I've seen several of them offered lately, and I have bought one myself. You have to check the product picture very closely for possible screen defects. Basically the seller should state that he can still power on the device and get to the language selection screen or whatever, just no touch functionality.

With any luck, you could use that display for repairing your own device.

I'm looking in the other direction, a broken screen Glo to fix the one w/o touchscreen. Unfortunately at least for Ebay Germany there are people bidding on broken Kobos like crazy (I've seen >40€ for one with obviously broken display... I don't understand why anyone would bid that much on a broken device)

freekobo · 11-16-2015, 07:18 PM

You can have mine, 20$ to cover the shipping cost and its yours.
posted a while ago here;

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=264669

USB port is broken, just swap motherboards with yours then you will have a fixed glo.
PM me if you want it.

Lucas Malor · 01-28-2016, 03:41 PM

Well, your Kobo is finally arrived.
I removed your circuit board and inserted in your Kobo my old one. Then I connected it to a charger.
It does boot up and the screen works. BUT, the touch screen does not respond at all.
There's a thin black layer between the screen and the circuit board. Maybe I have to substitute it as well?

frostschutz · 01-28-2016, 06:42 PM

Touchscreen failing on Glo seems to be a common case, I have bought a used one and since then seen at least three more offers on Ebay.

A broken IR emitter/sensor would be fatal, and hard to verify. Apart from that it can be obstructions in the optics anywhere and a not-properly-mounted board as it has to align perfectly with the case and everything else.

Not sure what the damage is on the other board, if it's just a broken USB port you could charge the battery with your board and then see if it works with a fully loaded battery? If the touchscreen works with that board but not with yours, maybe your damage went deeper than display level... :-/

Nonfunctional touchscreen is still a mystery to me, maybe there are other reasons for it as well...

11-14-2015, 12:33 PM	#1
Lucas Malor Pain in the arse Posts: 758 Karma: 77856 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle 4	Broken screen? Well, one day I found my Kobo Glo in this state: As you can see, the bottom and left part of the screen is completely screwed up. I can see only the upper-right portion. Touch screen works, even on the broken part of the screen. My Kobo was in my bag, with laptop, mouse, battery etc. Was the screen broken by pressure? Is there any chance to repair or substitute it? Last edited by Lucas Malor; 11-15-2015 at 09:47 AM. Reason: fixed image size

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11-14-2015, 12:56 PM	#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	Classic picture of a broken screen substrate. I'm afraid you've broken the thin layer of glass that's under the outer plastic screen. The most common cause of this is a bending or twisting force applied to the reader.

11-14-2015, 03:04 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Good chance the laptop put too much pressure on the Kobo and broke the screen.

11-14-2015, 03:10 PM	#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	If you do replace it, I'd strongly suggest keeping the new one in a good-quality rigid case to protect it.

11-14-2015, 04:19 PM	#5
filmo Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 1077205 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch, Sony T1, Kobo Mini	Not cost effective to replace screen because high cost of screen assembly. $60 or more. Most used broken e-readers have broken screen. Some companies have sold replacement screens not Kobo.

11-15-2015, 07:47 AM	#6
Lucas Malor Pain in the arse Posts: 758 Karma: 77856 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle 4	How about replacing myself? Is that so difficult? Touchscreen is not broken, so I guess I have "only" to substitute the glass.

11-15-2015, 09:07 AM	#9
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,442 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Moderator Notice Lucas Malor: Please take a few moments to read our Posting Guidelines, in particular the part about the maximum image size allowed (600x600 pixels). Images that violate those guidelines will be deleted. It is every member's responsibility to read our Posting Guidelines and follow them. Thanks.

11-15-2015, 09:48 AM	#10
Lucas Malor Pain in the arse Posts: 758 Karma: 77856 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle 4	Fixed.

11-16-2015, 08:54 AM	#11
filmo Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 1077205 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch, Sony T1, Kobo Mini	Onyx mobileread forum has posts about buying and replacing Onyx e-reader screen assembly bought from Onyx distributor. These screens are expensive and Kobo does not sell repair parts. If they sold as many Kobo readers as Apple sells phones then batteries and screens might be easily available and replaced you or expert repair person. But most of my electronics are not cost effective to repair and no experts available to make repairs. More than 20 years ago that I hand one repaired. Have disposed of once great still usable TV for new TV.

11-16-2015, 11:21 AM	#12
frostschutz Linux User Posts: 2,282 Karma: 6123806 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: none	You could see if you can find a device with "broken touchscreen" on Ebay. I've seen several of them offered lately, and I have bought one myself. You have to check the product picture very closely for possible screen defects. Basically the seller should state that he can still power on the device and get to the language selection screen or whatever, just no touch functionality. With any luck, you could use that display for repairing your own device. I'm looking in the other direction, a broken screen Glo to fix the one w/o touchscreen. Unfortunately at least for Ebay Germany there are people bidding on broken Kobos like crazy (I've seen >40€ for one with obviously broken display... I don't understand why anyone would bid that much on a broken device)

11-16-2015, 07:18 PM	#13
freekobo Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 2731310 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: Kobo Aura	You can have mine, 20$ to cover the shipping cost and its yours. posted a while ago here; https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=264669 USB port is broken, just swap motherboards with yours then you will have a fixed glo. PM me if you want it.

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01-28-2016, 03:41 PM	#14
Lucas Malor Pain in the arse Posts: 758 Karma: 77856 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle 4	Well, your Kobo is finally arrived. I removed your circuit board and inserted in your Kobo my old one. Then I connected it to a charger. It does boot up and the screen works. BUT, the touch screen does not respond at all. There's a thin black layer between the screen and the circuit board. Maybe I have to substitute it as well?

01-28-2016, 06:42 PM	#15
frostschutz Linux User Posts: 2,282 Karma: 6123806 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: none	Touchscreen failing on Glo seems to be a common case, I have bought a used one and since then seen at least three more offers on Ebay. A broken IR emitter/sensor would be fatal, and hard to verify. Apart from that it can be obstructions in the optics anywhere and a not-properly-mounted board as it has to align perfectly with the case and everything else. Not sure what the damage is on the other board, if it's just a broken USB port you could charge the battery with your board and then see if it works with a fully loaded battery? If the touchscreen works with that board but not with yours, maybe your damage went deeper than display level... :-/ Nonfunctional touchscreen is still a mystery to me, maybe there are other reasons for it as well...