Aura H2O How to figure out if my screen is dead?

[gponym]

Kobo Aura H2O 1st edition: How to figure out if my screen is dead?

I think the screen on it is dead. The backlight still works. Little white lights on the power button still flash when it seems to be turning on or off. In lower left quadrant, the works "Powered Off" _never_ disappear. Otherwise, the screen is blank.

Can anyone suggest tests I can do to validate my hypothesis that my reader is working but the screen simply will not cooperate?

Not looking for 100% confirmation, but 98% would be nice. I need to know if to replace or if there's hope to resurrect this screen/device.

("Extra credit" for methods that do not involve complicated interfacing with a PC. Simple interfacing okay.)

Thanks. I'll be unavailable for a few hours after posting....

[ZodWallop]

Have you tried holding a mirror under its nose to see if it's still breathing?

Sorry, I know that's not helpful. I just couldn't resist.

[gponym]

Didn't think to try that! If you're a doctor, perhaps that's all the prognosis I need.

(It's weird in my experience to have a device just crap out like that with no apparent cause, but I suppose in the wider world, not so strange. In any case, I can no longer remember the last moment I used it; it's been on the shelf for awhile.)

[robko]

Post a picture or do a search of the forums for broken substrate and look at the pictures of that and you'll likely have your answer very quickly. My guess would be broken substrate and it's dead.

[gponym]

Thanks for all suggestions.

I tried connecting to Windows 10 machine. No go. Possible I did not manage to hit the Connect button, since I don't know where it is.

Connected USB cable, Kobo "on". Tried to find Connect button. Turned Kobo off and back on (to extent those flashing lights mean anything!). Disconnected then reconnected USB cable. Tried again--less carefully--to find Connect button.

A couple more details I forgot to add in the original post:

- Resetting the device (paperclip in the pinhole) also causes the power button light to flash, but the screen still does not change

Created a photo, should show here (first time adding image). Kobo "on" and backlight on. Photo angled as that was a quick way to avoid any shadowing on the screen caused by the camera and me.

Curious if anything new occurs to you. At this point it seems likely the device is a goner.

[gponym]

Also, searched for broken substrate. Good thought as I learned a bit about how screens are designed and why they are fragile. Apparently lots more fragile than a regular tablet (eg, iPad) screen. I still want an ereader (mostly for nighttime reading as they seem more restful) but guess will buy inexpensive since I seem to be hard on them.

[As an aside, a local ebook collection librarian in St Paul said today that their collection is more available to EPUB-capable readers than Kindle. Was surprised to find that out, but that fact certainly will be important in choosing new one. Have not had a Kindle, and because I like open standards and formats I've not favored them, but was considering a Paperwhite until the librarian weighed in. I read lots of not-so-new fiction and nonfiction, and suspect that those are more strongly supported by EPUB than Kindle format. Will try to find out.]

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by gponym

Thanks for all suggestions.

I tried connecting to Windows 10 machine. No go. Possible I did not manage to hit the Connect button, since I don't know where it is.

Connected USB cable, Kobo "on". Tried to find Connect button. Turned Kobo off and back on (to extent those flashing lights mean anything!). Disconnected then reconnected USB cable. Tried again--less carefully--to find Connect button.

A couple more details I forgot to add in the original post:

- Resetting the device (paperclip in the pinhole) also causes the power button light to flash, but the screen still does not change

Created a photo, should show here (first time adding image). Kobo "on" and backlight on. Photo angled as that was a quick way to avoid any shadowing on the screen caused by the camera and me.

Curious if anything new occurs to you. At this point it seems likely the device is a goner.

From what I can see, you haven't tried a manual factory reset. The pinhole reset doesn't do this. It just forces a power cycle. The factory reset instructions are in the Wiki. I don't think it will help, but, you should try it.

My guess is that the backplane is cracked. The blank power off screen is probably the worst one for showing that as it is a uniform black. If it was an image, you might see the problems. But, they can also be around the edge and not visible. If you open the device, and look at the back of the screen, it usually becomes obvious.

At this point, it might be worth opening and checking the screen and any connections. The light and screen are on different cables (in the devices I have opened at least), so the screen could have come lose. And you could try to reimage the internal SD card if there is nothing obviously wrong with the screen.

[gponym]

Thanks for the wiki link. I had not tried the no-dancing-squares reset. Just tried it, although given it's my first try at doing this, I might not have performed the tapping correctly. Anyway, tried my best, and nothing new happens.

The only effect had by any troubleshooting is to cause power button lights to blink or glow briefly, and to turn backlight off and on.

I'm going to give up on it and plan to get a new ereader. Don't have time to dissect it or even try to sell it as-is or give away, so just putting it on the shelf for now. Will be searching to see if any of low-moderate price are reputed to be more durable than the likes of Kobo Aura H2O 1st edition.

[Uschiekid]

If you've had it since 2014 (just basing that on when you joined mobileread and that the h20 v1 is a pretty old device that hasn't been sold for a long time), that's a fairly long life for an ereader. You might luck out and get one that lasts significantly longer, but I wouldn't call that not very durable either...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Uschiekid

If you've had it since 2014 (just basing that on when you joined mobileread and that the h20 v1 is a pretty old device that hasn't been sold for a long time), that's a fairly long life for an ereader. You might luck out and get one that lasts significantly longer, but I wouldn't call that not very durable either...

I have an original H2O purchased the year they came out and it still works very well.

[Quoth]

Me too, all of my other eReaders are far older. Though the PW3 was bought only last October, other people in the household have it and it's a 2015 "design".

Only non-touch keyboard models are really old ereaders and they can be fine, though some might need a new battery.

[Uschiekid]

I wasn't saying they couldn't last longer. I have a glo from 2012. I was saying, that 5 years is not particularly short lived, when it comes to ereaders. Saying that the h20 v1 is not durable after 5 years is possibly mistaking how long the type of device lasts in general. And is possibly showing unrealistic expectations, or blaming the "short" life on the particular device, rather than on the type of device. If it lasted only 1 year and they then complained the particular device is not durable, it would be fair, as in general ereaders last longer.

[BloodRagg]

Did you try booting from external sd card ?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Uschiekid

I wasn't saying they couldn't last longer. I have a glo from 2012. I was saying, that 5 years is not particularly short lived, when it comes to ereaders. Saying that the h20 v1 is not durable after 5 years is possibly mistaking how long the type of device lasts in general. And is possibly showing unrealistic expectations, or blaming the "short" life on the particular device, rather than on the type of device. If it lasted only 1 year and they then complained the particular device is not durable, it would be fair, as in general ereaders last longer.

I have a Sony Reader PRS-650 that still works. The only problem it has is that it could use a new battery. Otherwise, it works as it should.