My Kobo Clara HD is suddenly (totally) dead

seaofwine · 10-09-2023, 03:28 AM

It's frozen to death!!! Without any reason.

Yeah, I know, 'try to manually reset the device'. Done it. Even if I try to connect it to every possible power supply (PC or direct supply or anything) it doesn't react at all. I sent it to the service department of the store where I bought it and they answered: "The cost of service is unaffordable". Bull***. I am in Greece and I am sure they can't fix it due to lack of experience with that kind of device.

I wish I could send it somewhere in Europe. In any decent service store. I even chatted with the operator on the Kobo site and wasn't helpful enough. Said you are out of guarantee we can't help you further. I bought it just three years ago and it's gone.

It's totally frustrating, it's gone 😔😭

meeera · 10-09-2023, 04:38 AM

Can you post a photo of the screen, and detail _every_ step you took to try to reset it?

seaofwine · 10-09-2023, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

Can you post a photo of the screen, and detail _every_ step you took to try to reset it?

https://imgur.com/a/fB2PSb1

this is the dead device.
What happened was that I used to Power OFF the screen, after reading, because I noticed that if it was in sleeping mode battery got consumed after 1-2 days. So, one day after a Powered-off mode, I tried to reopen it and it couldn't. Then I read the instructions, I plugged the device into the PC and what troubled me was that it didn't recognise it for the first time. Then, I plugged it into a direct battery charger (for a smartphone) and after a while; it took some breath. This means that it reopened. I left it charging for long and when I plugged it off; it didn't start again. From then on, every move I make is ineffective. It doesn't respond at all.

Szybet · 10-09-2023, 01:35 PM

how much "tech savy" are you?

connecting serial, measuring voltage on the battery etc. There are many things to check

neil_swann80 · 10-09-2023, 02:12 PM

If it's out of warranty, no harm in opening it up to test the battery. Disconnecting the battery for a few seconds, then reconnecting may help anyway.

You say you've tried various chargers... I presume at least one of them is a fast-charger?

I assume you've tried holding the power button down for 30 seconds, releasing, then again for 15?

seaofwine · 10-09-2023, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Szybet

how much "tech savy" are you?

connecting serial, measuring voltage on the battery etc. There are many things to check

Well, not a great technician, but I can handle some things. I can assign it to a tech here in my town. Do you mean that it's a battery issue?
Someone told me to try changing the microSD.

seaofwine · 10-09-2023, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

If it's out of warranty, no harm in opening it up to test the battery. Disconnecting the battery for a few seconds, then reconnecting may help anyway.

You say you've tried various chargers... I presume at least one of them is a fast-charger?

I assume you've tried holding the power button down for 30 seconds, releasing, then again for 15?

I tried many things by charging it with various devices. I think not a fast- charger, I will try it.
The holding power button etc I tried it for more than 30 seconds, 50, a minute.
I suppose you expect it's a battery problem. I wish because it's something that can be replaced easily. Do you suggest buying a new one? And if yes, which one?

neil_swann80 · 10-09-2023, 11:46 PM

This should be the battery needed:
https://batteryint.com/products/3-7v...ire-plug-tools

I personally wouldn't want to spend any money at attempting to fix the device at this stage as I wouldn't be certain it is the battery, but I would want to rule the battery out. It should be simple to do with a plastic pry tool to open the case and a multimeter to test the battery.

With the back of the device open you'll also have access to the microsd which you could test.

If the microsd is faulty, some have had luck in copying an image of the firmware to a new microsd.

If you need a copy of the microsd image for your device you can request it here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=355778

To copy the image to a new sdcard:
https://duckrowing.com/2022/02/11/ex...ra-hd-storage/
or,,,
https://yingtongli.me/blog/2018/07/29/kobo-sd.html
You can do this on a Mac or Linux PC... if you only have Windows you could create a Linux boot usb for this task.

A mobileread thread where you may be able to ask for assistance with the microsd:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=313468

seaofwine · 10-11-2023, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

This should be the battery needed:
https://batteryint.com/products/3-7v...ire-plug-tools

I personally wouldn't want to spend any money at attempting to fix the device at this stage as I wouldn't be certain it is the battery, but I would want to rule the battery out. It should be simple to do with a plastic pry tool to open the case and a multimeter to test the battery.

With the back of the device open you'll also have access to the microsd which you could test.

If the microsd is faulty, some have had luck in copying an image of the firmware to a new microsd.

If you need a copy of the microsd image for your device you can request it here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=355778

To copy the image to a new sdcard:
https://duckrowing.com/2022/02/11/ex...ra-hd-storage/
or,,,
https://yingtongli.me/blog/2018/07/29/kobo-sd.html
You can do this on a Mac or Linux PC... if you only have Windows you could create a Linux boot usb for this task.

A mobileread thread where you may be able to ask for assistance with the MicroSD:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=313468

Well, I brought my Clara to a local tech. We opened the back of it, and he managed to measure the battery and it was okay.

He pulled out the microSD and re-put it in in case of any instability produced by falling down etc. The screen is still frozen. He connected it to the PC and it gave an immediate perform format message.
I think my last chance is to replace the microSD with a new one. I don't really care to create an image of my old microSD. I only have to put a new one but I have to understand how to install the OS of the device .

P.s. Strangely whatever moves he made the screen is constantly frozen as nothing happening.

neil_swann80 · 10-11-2023, 10:57 AM

I think Windows would show the reformat message regardless. You'd need to check it on a Mac or Linux system to see the partitions. Windows doesn't like microsd cards or usb sticks with multiple partitions.

DNSB · 10-11-2023, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaofwine

Well, I brought my Clara to a local tech. We opened the back of it, and he managed to measure the battery and it was okay.

He pulled out the microSD and re-put it in in case of any instability produced by falling down etc. The screen is still frozen. He connected it to the PC and it gave an immediate perform format message.
I think my last chance is to replace the microSD with a new one. I don't really care to create an image of my old microSD. I only have to put a new one but I have to understand how to install the OS of the device.

The message about formatting on a Windows PC is completely normal. Just don't do it. Your µSD card has 3 partitions plus a chunk of free space. One partition is FAT32 but the other 2 are Linux ext4 partitions which Windows wants to reformat.

At this time, I suspect that the issue is elsewhere in your Clara HD's hardware and not an issue with the µSD card so replacing/reimaging the card would not be helpful.

seaofwine · 10-11-2023, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

The message about formatting on a Windows PC is completely normal. Just don't do it. Your µSD card has 3 partitions plus a chunk of free space. One partition is FAT32 but the other 2 are Linux ext4 partitions which Windows wants to reformat.

At this time, I suspect that the issue is elsewhere in your Clara HD's hardware and not an issue with the µSD card so replacing/reimaging the card would not be helpful.

So, by hardware you mean that there's something ruined on the motherboard because it's the only thing that remains.

DNSB · 10-11-2023, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaofwine

So, by hardware you mean that there's something ruined on the motherboard because it's the only thing that remains.

Pretty much yes.

seaofwine · 10-11-2023, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Pretty much yes.

And do you think that this issue is repairable?

DNSB · 10-11-2023, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaofwine

And do you think that this issue is repairable?

Repairable? Possibly. Economically repairable? Probably not.

The last person I knew who got a quote on repairing their ereader purchased the new generation and saved about 60% compared to the quote.

10-09-2023, 03:28 AM	#1
seaofwine Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: Greece Device: Kobo Clara HD	My Kobo Clara HD is suddenly (totally) dead It's frozen to death!!! Without any reason. Yeah, I know, 'try to manually reset the device'. Done it. Even if I try to connect it to every possible power supply (PC or direct supply or anything) it doesn't react at all. I sent it to the service department of the store where I bought it and they answered: "The cost of service is unaffordable". Bull***. I am in Greece and I am sure they can't fix it due to lack of experience with that kind of device. I wish I could send it somewhere in Europe. In any decent service store. I even chatted with the operator on the Kobo site and wasn't helpful enough. Said you are out of guarantee we can't help you further. I bought it just three years ago and it's gone. It's totally frustrating, it's gone 😔😭

10-09-2023, 02:12 PM	#5
neil_swann80 0000000000101010 Posts: 5,888 Karma: 12981955 Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: An island off the coast of Ireland Device: PB632 [HD3]	If it's out of warranty, no harm in opening it up to test the battery. Disconnecting the battery for a few seconds, then reconnecting may help anyway. You say you've tried various chargers... I presume at least one of them is a fast-charger? I assume you've tried holding the power button down for 30 seconds, releasing, then again for 15? Last edited by neil_swann80; 10-09-2023 at 02:15 PM.

10-09-2023, 11:46 PM	#8
neil_swann80 0000000000101010 Posts: 5,888 Karma: 12981955 Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: An island off the coast of Ireland Device: PB632 [HD3]	This should be the battery needed: https://batteryint.com/products/3-7v...ire-plug-tools I personally wouldn't want to spend any money at attempting to fix the device at this stage as I wouldn't be certain it is the battery, but I would want to rule the battery out. It should be simple to do with a plastic pry tool to open the case and a multimeter to test the battery. With the back of the device open you'll also have access to the microsd which you could test. If the microsd is faulty, some have had luck in copying an image of the firmware to a new microsd. If you need a copy of the microsd image for your device you can request it here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=355778 To copy the image to a new sdcard: https://duckrowing.com/2022/02/11/ex...ra-hd-storage/ or,,, https://yingtongli.me/blog/2018/07/29/kobo-sd.html You can do this on a Mac or Linux PC... if you only have Windows you could create a Linux boot usb for this task. A mobileread thread where you may be able to ask for assistance with the microsd: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=313468 Last edited by neil_swann80; 10-10-2023 at 12:08 AM.

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10-09-2023, 04:38 AM	#2
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,814 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Can you post a photo of the screen, and detail _every_ step you took to try to reset it?

10-09-2023, 01:35 PM	#4
Szybet Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 3892 Join Date: Feb 2022 Device: Kobo nia	how much "tech savy" are you? connecting serial, measuring voltage on the battery etc. There are many things to check

10-11-2023, 10:57 AM	#10
neil_swann80 0000000000101010 Posts: 5,888 Karma: 12981955 Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: An island off the coast of Ireland Device: PB632 [HD3]	I think Windows would show the reformat message regardless. You'd need to check it on a Mac or Linux system to see the partitions. Windows doesn't like microsd cards or usb sticks with multiple partitions.

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