Aura H2O Broken Kobo Aura H2O Screen

[xtine]

Thanks, sparkle Back to the PW1 for now and I'm slowly adjusting to the blotchy screen. Checking Chapters everyday for when they finally have the sleep cover back in stock. I could order from Kobo directly but after the shipping nightmare last time, I would prefer ordering somewhere else. It actually comes out cheaper if I order from Chapters too, since they charge in CAD vs USD for the Kobo store (or so I've heard).

[xtine]

Chapters finally has the H2O Sleep Cover in stock again. Even with shipping charges, my order (Kobo Aura H2O + Sleep Cover) came out to CAD 236.80, about US $191. I paid Kobo $179.99 for my first H2O. This means that I paid just $11 more for the sleep cover if that makes any sense

[Mostsb]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

Nice to have a video of this.

Although I'd recommend just using your fingers instead of an instrument, since the instrument is what made my glue turn all lumpy and it doesn't fit back together too well afterwards (unless you fancy removing the glue entirely and applying new, e.g. a double-sided adhesive 2mm tape).

He also says you can be as harsh as you want with the instrument since there are barriers inside the bezel... I'd not recommend that either, those barriers are actually the optics for the touchscreen IR, you want to be extra careful with those, anything happens to those barriers and your touchscreen is dead.

Hello, I'm the creator of that video and I just wanted clear up some misconceptions as I may not have been clear enough in the video and I sincerely don't want anyone to damage their device.

Why I suggest using a guitar pick is because it is slim, flat, and will not damage plastic while prying. You can use any flat instrument to slice the glue underneath to be honest, but other instruments may be harsher than the pick.
Why do I personally not recommend fingernails? Forcefully pulling apart two surfaces glued together can cause unnecessary strain on interior surfaces and components as well as leading to possible damage to the front panel. If you wish to preserve the glue, don't open the device as once you open it using any method, there is no guarantee the glue will keep out the water (dust and debris may cause gaps).

Second, I can agree with you that you dont want to damage the interior bezel, and my comment saying you can be as harsh as you want wasn't the best choice of words on my part, hopefully I can clear up what I meant.
There are somethings I assumed when making the statement:
A) the viewer is using a guitar pick (because my exact words were "you can be as harsh as you want with your guitar pick")
B) the viewer is being careful opening their device.

The interior bezel is surprising thick and sturdy, and unless you are forcefully jamming a metal screwdriver into it, i dont see how you could break it. Especially since the exercise was to simply cut the glue underneath.
What may break the bezel is opening the glued portion with your fingernails as that could cause strain on interior parts.
Ill agree my choice of words was poor in that segment.

I have added annotations to the video so people are aware of the issues you have listed.

[Fat Abe]

Mostsb, thanks for posting the video. Replacing the battery looks to be quite challenging, since it is glued to the motherboard, and the mere act of flexing the board can cause traces to break. Also, touching it can cause electrostatic discharge damage to the chips on the board. Kobo did not design the reader to have user replaceable parts, and this is very unfortunate.

[frostschutz]

Originally Posted by Fat Abe

Also, touching it can cause electrostatic discharge damage to the chips on the board.

http://megatokyo.com/strip/70

Seriously though. It's fine if you don't wear anything that's extremely prone to static charging (wool, fleece, ...) and you touch something that's grounded first. PC case or radiator or whatever. If you're really worried you can get an antistatic wrist band for $5...

As for the battery, it's not glued to the PCB, rather the PCB has a battery shaped hole - I think. So it's glued to the frame between PCB and display; worry more about not breaking the display in any case, the frame will have holes in it (to save weight and possibly make even more room for the battery, who knows).

If a credit card or guitar pick does not work for the battery, maybe you can floss it out with a piece of string. I did something similar for my old reader which also had a glued in battery and it worked well there.

[invention13]

I wonder what kind of glue they use.
I was thinking about the differential on my old mercedes - the 2 halves are sealed with silicone rtv (the kind you can buy at home Depot). It seals perfectly, but is easy to pull apart. I have a kobo h20 that I ran over (don't ask) - I'm going to take a look.

[matt3o]

Hey guys,
it looks like I got the same problem - the screen of my Kobo Aura H2O is broken. Kobo Customer Care told me they would not be able to repair it so I would like to do that myself.
Therefore my question would be:

• Does anyone know a good source for Kobo Aura H2O Displays (maybe a european seller)? The only the thing I found so far was aliexpress and they didn't seem very reliable to me..
• Or can it be replaced with the display of another Kobo like the Kobo Glo HD? The display specifications are pretty close though not exactly the same. Did anyone already try to something like this?

Thanks a lot!

[MGlitch]

You'd have issues with the Glo HD screen as it's notably smaller than the screen of the H2O. I don't want to say it's impossible, but I think the amount of tweaking and jury rigging you'd need to do to get it to be functional would be rather extensive. Possibly to the point of making buying a new H2O the better option.

You might be able to use the screen from the Aura HD with better luck since they're the same size. However it's been noted that working with the screen is rather delicate work. They are, apparently, very easy to break once removed from the ereader casing.

[frostschutz]

Screens of other models won't work. It must be same size, resolution, the connector must be the same and even the position of the connector must fit perfectly.

[Ripplinger]

You might get lucky finding a used H2O and then try to swap out the screen. But as already said, the screens are rather delicate and you might end up breaking it while trying to swap them. And that's if you find any that much cheaper to justify the risk.

I really suggest you just get a new reader and keep it in a good case to protect it, and just be careful how you handle it.

[Omnigeek]

I picked up an Aura H2O last year to replace my dying Nook Glowlight. While it was noticeably heavier than the Glowlight and would freeze sporadically (very frustrating), I was quite pleased with how it handled shelving and the fact it worked properly with Calibre.

However, despite the fact I didn't drop it and kept it in a sleep cover, one day it had these strange lines on the screen (this despite the fact it had been perfect just 2 hours earlier). Kobo's response was that the screen was damaged by physical abuse and they would do nothing.

This response really torqued me but I liked the device enough that I would have accepted it if they offered some service to replace the screen, even if I had to pay for it. If I could find a source for the screen, I'd attempt it myself but Kobo won't offer a service to repair the device (even if you're willing to pay for it) much less a contact point for spare parts. I'm left with the conclusion that they designed a device with a (deliberately?) fragile screen and WANT you to just replace the whole device.

It seems like sourcing the screen and offering a repair service could be a small burgeoning business if this is how Kobo builds their products and treats customers.

[soulfuldog]

Originally Posted by Omnigeek

It seems like sourcing the screen and offering a repair service could be a small burgeoning business if this is how Kobo builds their products and treats customers.

No-one provides this kind of service, and although Amazon will often offer users a reduced price on a new reader to replace a broken one, its pretty standard that a broken screen on a ereader is not something that is covered by warranty, nor is it easy to repair, or particularly cost effective.

You'll know this because you've made the same post in two other threads where people have discussed broken screens, opening up an H2O and how the screen is pretty fragile.

Plenty of people have had ereaders that have lasted them for years without being broken, and Kobo's ereaders are no different from any others.

It's frustrating when the screen appears to crack for no reason, because you haven't dropped it. But I think it's important for people to understand that the screens on their ereaders are different to those on a phone or tablet. They are not as robust and it's not necessarily dropping them that can cause the damage, but pressure on the screen from either slight twisting or flexing of the ereader itself, or something leaning against the screen, for example while its being carried in a bag.

[howyoudoin]

It needs to be kept in mind that the causative stresses and strains that cause the substrate to crack need not have occurred in the immediate past. The cause could be something that happened days ago, like a fall or extreme sun and heat exposure, or wild temperature fluctuations, or torque applied to the reader in a backpack, and the end result could take a long time to propagate, develop and show externally. "It was fine just a couple of hours ago and didn't leave the table since then" doesn't really say much and is not a refutation of the Kobo CS's diagnosis of physical damage, for this reason.

[filmo]

When Sony was selling T1 readers they would replace a broken screen. Don't know how much the charged for the service. You might be able to by eink screen from ebay or alibaba but most of the screens I see on ebay are for kindle readers. MobileRead Forums has a Flea Market that might have used or broken reader for sale but unlikely good Kobo screen.

[lytich]

Hello everyone,

My Kobo H2o dropped at same high 3 feet and screen going cracked.

- so i have bought new screen from aliexpress, after 3 week i received it, but now i fact the problem of touch.

- For the benzen i have cracked a little, a litle dirty, but i have paint it with black, like new for benzen, but touch still not work, alway appear diagbox:"Water on your screen".

- I have re load new SD card with Mr Davisfor SD card Image, but still fact this issue.

- My question is:
1. how to know the IR working or not, cuz i doupt IR led not working, but don't know how to check it, but i have used phone camera to detect IR signal, but received no signal from camera.
2. My battery is dead too, connect to wall charge will boot it up, but not with battery, it's wont be charged any more cuz the power light is not light on when plush charging, don't know it is about battery or charging IC problem.
3. if my mainboard dead, where can i buy another one.
4. if my benzen problem, how can i fix it or where can i buy a new one.

- Look forwarding for everyone help.
- Thanks for everyone take time to read, please help me if you have any idea.
- Thanks you a lot.