Any hardware techie interested in working on an EE?

[Yellowman1]

Any hardware techie (in the U.S.) interested in working on an EE with a defective touchscreen side? I will cover shipping both ways, pay you for your time and cover the cost of the parts (if any). If you go to this threads https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=143462
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=143319
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=143035
and read my posts you will know what my issue is.

The EE still powers on (the blue light comes on) but nothing shows on the touchscreen side (the backlight on the touchscreen side shows very well in the dark, but nothing shows on the screen itself). When I connect the EE to my laptop, Windows recognizes it as a removable device, but the drive is inaccessible in Windows and the disk size is "0" (asks me to insert a disk in the drive whenever I click on it). I have tried accessing the drive on a Linux machine (I installed ubuntu on one of my laptops just for this) but I still get the disk size being "0".

Here are my thought-out ways of fixing this problem (and please note I am not a techie or in that field at all, so if any of thought-out ways sounds ridiculous, blame the Einstein in my head that went on vacation, lol). The software side I can try out myself (with proper directions/instructions), the hardware side, I can't touch:
Software:
I think that, with the EE connected to another PC, if I can load drivers or files on it that will make the disk in it recognizable and fomatted to its 4gb size, my issue may be resolved, because then I may be able to run either the golden update or the ermine. Right now with the disk size being recognized as "0", there is no where for the update to load & instal on the EE.
Hardware
Alternatively, I think that replacing either just the hdd or the chip that sends a signal to the touchscreen side (and not the whole motherboard) should do the trick. And if all of these fails, I'm sure replacing the motherboard will do the trick.

So, if anyone has ideas that I can try to accomplish the software fix I thought of, let me know and I will try it. If it doesn't work, I am ready to ship it to any hardware techie willing to give it a shot. If there is no hardware (or software) techie willing to give it a shot, but you know of a place within the U.S. that I can send it to try and get it fixed, please let me know and I'll try them.

Thank you all,

[ivanjt]

Your PC is unable to see the EE disk size because USB is not enabled on the EE.

Replacing the motherboard isn't going to happen unless someone gives you a working EE - then you wouldn't need to - or you have contacts in China that can find the manufacturer who may have spare boards.

BTW the hd is a chip soldered to the board. I also doubt that any replacement chips are available outside China.

[Yellowman1]

So..., any suggestions, ivanjt?

[emusan]

I think your problem is with the ribbon cable that connects the LCD to the motherboard, though it could be a fried chip as well. If it is the ribbon cable you would need to clip it before the break and solder a new one into there, I could /maybe/ do it, though I haven't really done anything like it before. Maybe one of the EE's here will be able to help more.

[msavides]

Here is a suggestion for the parts you need.


http://cgi.ebay.com/BROKE-enTourage-...item519a2211d7

then you will need someone to tear them apart and put all the good parts together.

[emusan]

Originally Posted by msavides

Here is a suggestion for the parts you need.


http://cgi.ebay.com/BROKE-enTourage-...item519a2211d7

then you will need someone to tear them apart and put all the good parts together.

that's assuming that they don't have the same thing broken... I'm surprised by how much these broken EE's are going for, you could just get a new one for about $50 more, and those are buy it now, this is a bid so it could very well go up(not to mention $15 shipping)...

[msavides]

Originally Posted by emusan

that's assuming that they don't have the same thing broken... I'm surprised by how much these broken EE's are going for, you could just get a new one for about $50 more, and those are buy it now, this is a bid so it could very well go up(not to mention $15 shipping)...

AN EE for $150 Where? I want a second one.

It says in the auction that the eink screen is shattered. The chances that something else it wrong with it is possible but probably not likely due to the obvious damage., This was up for auction for 150 and did not get a single bid. so I don't think it will go up too much more.


I am tempted to buy it just for the spare battery. as it would cost me that much for just the battery overseas. hmmm.


Mark

[MasterTec]

I wouldn't pay that much for it. I would send the seller a message and tell him that if he puts it up for $80 with free shipping then I'd bid on it.

[Yellowman1]

Originally Posted by MasterTec

I wouldn't pay that much for it. I would send the seller a message and tell him that if he puts it up for $80 with free shipping then I'd bid on it.

Thanks guys, I already saw this and I am hoping to buy it, but first I have to be sure that I can get someone around here to switch the motherboard. I have been in touch with the seller about bringing the price down or offering free shipping, no deal (I even offered to BIN at the price, to include shipping, Nope!). So I'm going to try & buy it, & if anyone needs parts from it, I wouldn't/don't mind sharing. Although I must say I agree with Emusan about just buying another EE or PE for $30/$40 more, I've been thinking about that avenue too. Whatever, que sera sera, :-).

[emusan]

Originally Posted by msavides

It says in the auction that the eink screen is shattered. The chances that something else it wrong with it is possible but probably not likely due to the obvious damage., This was up for auction for 150 and did not get a single bid. so I don't think it will go up too much more.

There was one user that got one for $150 (might have been buy it now as well), and mentioned that the seller had another one going for the same price(both fully working).

Also, given that all the important electronics lie behind the e-ink I would find it hard to believe that whatever smashed the e-ink didn't break anything else back there. If I'm right and it is the ribbon cable replacing the motherboard wont do anything anyway, it may be that the ribbon cable in the damaged EE is fine, but that's a bit of a long shot, and you can probably get an equivalent cable many places for far less money(even free).

[Yellowman1]

According to the seller, everything else works fine on the unit (but now that you've said most of the electronics is on the e-ink side, I'm not sure how far I should believe them on that).

I'll probably take mine to my local computer renaissance and see if they can check it out and try to fix the ribbon cable for me (assuming that is the problem), Best Buy wouldn't take it from me because I didn't buy it from them and I didn't have a receipt for it. If only I had a way to format the hd, I believe I would be fine if I could accomplish that. Or maybe that is my wishful thinking...,

[ivanjt]

Originally Posted by emusan

There was one user that got one for $150 (might have been buy it now as well), and mentioned that the seller had another one going for the same price(both fully working).

Also, given that all the important electronics lie behind the e-ink I would find it hard to believe that whatever smashed the e-ink didn't break anything else back there. If I'm right and it is the ribbon cable replacing the motherboard wont do anything anyway, it may be that the ribbon cable in the damaged EE is fine, but that's a bit of a long shot, and you can probably get an equivalent cable many places for far less money(even free).

To a large extent it would depend on where the break in the e-ink screen occurred - if it was the lower half of the screen there shouldn't be too much electronics there, it's mostly battery in the EE.

Strangely enough, even though we work in hardware for a living I've never taken my EE apart just for a look see and I'm not breaking the rule I enforced when I started the business - too many times we get equipment in for repair that someone just took apart to see how it worked. Yes, if anything does go wrong with mine I'll take it apart, and document it with pictures and notes but as long as it works it stays together.

[msavides]

Originally Posted by emusan

There was one user that got one for $150 (might have been buy it now as well), and mentioned that the seller had another one going for the same price(both fully working).

Also, given that all the important electronics lie behind the e-ink I would find it hard to believe that whatever smashed the e-ink didn't break anything else back there. If I'm right and it is the ribbon cable replacing the motherboard wont do anything anyway, it may be that the ribbon cable in the damaged EE is fine, but that's a bit of a long shot, and you can probably get an equivalent cable many places for far less money(even free).

Yea that was me that got it for $150. I don't expect to find that price again. That was a lucky fluke. I keep checking ebay for a spare battery but have yet to find one. Yellowman. if you buy it and don't have a need for the second battery I will buy it from you for $50


Mark

[Yellowman1]

Okay, so my friend checked out my EE and does think it is the motherboard that needs to be replaced. I just bought the broken one on ebay, going to take it my friend once I get it and hopefully I should be back in business soon.

@ msavides: yes, when I am done fixing mine, and if I don't need the battery on the one I bought (which I honestly don't think I'll need, my battery is practically brand new 'cos I haven't used my EE that much because of Android limitations, especially 1.6), you can have it for $50+ whatever it costs to ship it to you.

[msavides]

Sweet.

Let me know.

Mark