Aura H2O H2O bricked?

BadDeath · 12-13-2014, 05:31 PM

Hey there!

I just tried to update my Auro H2O via Wifi to the new 3.12 software version. It showed the update screen with its animation and everything looked normal. So the Kobo rebooted and showed something "random".
I tried to restart it after a few minutes (just to ensure that I don't interrupt the update process) and now I guess, it's bricked!

If I press the power button, the light near the button turns on, the screen flashes one/two times white-dark-white, but withtout any screen content. The same with the reset hole.

Any ideas how to rescue him, without opening or use of warranty?

Thank you very much!

davidfor · 12-13-2014, 06:07 PM

The first thing to do when this sort of thing happens is to charge it. Even if it was full when you started, it is likely that the battery has been drained a lot. Charge if for a couple of hours and try again.

After that, you can try a factory reset. For a H2O, this is done by:

- Start with a charged battery
- Hold the power button down for at least 20 seconds. This is to ensure the device is completely off.
- Turn it on and quickly tap both bottom corners of the screen at the same time. Tap a few times until something happens.

If that doesn't work, try again but extend the times a bit.

If that doesn't work, then talk to Kobo and claim the warranty.

BadDeath · 12-13-2014, 08:29 PM

Ok, I tried this now for serveral times - with alternating tapping and simultaneous - with and without power cord. No reaction...

Any other ideas? Maybe to copy an old image on external SD card in hope the device will use this as an "update"? I'm a bit desperate, now

but thank you for your help

Cesco · 12-14-2014, 03:01 AM

Look here, maybe can help you:

http://www.kobo.com/help/en-US/artic...r-kobo-ereader

sbwtxj · 01-27-2015, 06:50 AM

The happening of the problem only lies in the system update process is canceled.

Now,
While I use a USB cable charging process, the power light is flashing.
Both the initial charge, and the initial boot, the screen is flashing white and black, and then there are the blank screen.

Through the USB cable to connect the computer, the computer can not find H2O DEVICE DISK.

So i can not use manual methods to restore factory Settings.
But
“- Turn it on and quickly tap both bottom corners of the screen at the same time. Tap a few times until something happens.”
the screen twice white and black,then the power light is flashing.

If anyone I encountered this kind of problem for KOBO aura H2O?

I must return to factory maintenance device?

thanks

sbwtxj · 02-03-2015, 10:21 AM

Manual factory reset
Manual factory reset processes:

Reset #1 - For use on a device that can be powered on
1.Ensure that the device is turned on
2.Straighten a paper clip
3.Open the water proof door at the bottom of the device
4.Very quickly perform 4 basic resets by clicking the internal reset button 4 times
5.A screen will appear asking if you want to perform a factory reset
6.Tap the checkmark icon. You may have to put the device to sleep then back on in order for the screen to respond to touch
7.Complete the device setup after the reset completes

Reset #2 - For use on a device that can or cannot be powered on
1.Press and hold the power button for 5 to 6 seconds to turn it off
2.Press and hold the power button
3.With two fingers, simultaneously and repeatedly tap the bottom corners of the touch screen
4.Continue to tap the corners repeatedly until the device begins to reset
5.Complete the device setup after the reset completes

i use step 2 to life! thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tyger · 02-24-2017, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

The first thing to do when this sort of thing happens is to charge it. Even if it was full when you started, it is likely that the battery has been drained a lot. Charge if for a couple of hours and try again.

After that, you can try a factory reset. For a H2O, this is done by:

- Start with a charged battery
- Hold the power button down for at least 20 seconds. This is to ensure the device is completely off.
- Turn it on and quickly tap both bottom corners of the screen at the same time. Tap a few times until something happens.

If that doesn't work, try again but extend the times a bit.

If that doesn't work, then talk to Kobo and claim the warranty.

Does one hold the power button down while tapping the bottom corners of the screen?

davidfor · 02-24-2017, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyger

Does one hold the power button down while tapping the bottom corners of the screen?

Yes, you do. You found a very old version of the instructions. When I have posted them since, I have been clearer. I have just added the instructions to the Wiki.

Tyger · 02-25-2017, 12:03 PM

Thank you, so much!! It worked.

camelriders · 03-10-2017, 02:09 AM

For what it's worth I recovered my H20 using reset #2 from above and all I had to do was power on the device and tap in the corners a few times, I did not have to hold down the power button while tapping in the corners.

Good advise, thank you.

khaavren · 11-06-2017, 08:35 AM

The manual (hold pwr while tapping bottom corners) method worked for me. I thought my device was totally bricked. Thank you!

Szyhawk · 09-28-2021, 09:06 AM

The 2nd option worked for me as well.

My technique with the tapping was to hold down the power button with one hand (left, in my case) and using the ‘Texas Longhorns’ hand sign 🤘( with my right hand), I tapped the bottom corners at the speed of the amazing Beatles song Helter Skelter. (U2 version might be too slow?) I stopped as soon as something happened, which was after about 3-4 seconds. This worked perfectly on the first try!

Thanks for your help Davidfor, the wiki is very helpful.

Aurel143 · 04-29-2022, 07:54 AM

Hello all.
I have found one day my Kobo H2O bricked, the screen stucked on sleep screen and the only reaction I can get now is a 10s switch-on of the power button LED each time I "long-press" the button.
It occured some days after updating to last official firmware (through integrated Kobo's update manager) yet, right after the update, eveything was working well.
I have charged it for hours and hours, tried both reset methods but nothing worked.
Do you guys think I can try something else before I throw it away ?

frostschutz · 04-30-2022, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurel143

I have found one day my Kobo H2O bricked, the screen stucked on sleep screen and the only reaction I can get now is a 10s switch-on of the power button LED each time I "long-press" the button.

Your internal SD card might have failed or unseated itself somehow.

If you open the device *very* carefully the card can be replaced but you lose the waterproof property of the device (if you meant the original H2O)

some old posts:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...66#post2998466

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...84#post2998984

- the display is fragile so you have to be very careful when opening it
- the front bezel is what makes the IR touchscreen work, so you also cannot bend or damage that
- when putting it back together, the front bezel has to be aligned perfectly for touch to work again (it has these little notches in the corners that go into the mainboard of the device)
- I cut a hole in the back for direct sd card access without opening it a second time ;-)

Aurel143 · 05-04-2022, 05:03 PM

Thank you. You were right, the SD card was simply dislodged... Not a great design!
I have however bent the corner of the screen... I am a bit mad at me for this mistake you warned about. Advice for next candidates: don't think the bezel will come off easily. Make sure you insert a knife/opening all around of the device. Repeat until the glue is damaged enough so the bezel can be removed easily.

01-27-2015, 06:50 AM	#5
sbwtxj Groupie Posts: 154 Karma: 26294 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: kindle keyboard,kindle touch,PB touch lux	The happening of the problem only lies in the system update process is canceled. Now, While I use a USB cable charging process, the power light is flashing. Both the initial charge, and the initial boot, the screen is flashing white and black, and then there are the blank screen. Through the USB cable to connect the computer, the computer can not find H2O DEVICE DISK. So i can not use manual methods to restore factory Settings. But “- Turn it on and quickly tap both bottom corners of the screen at the same time. Tap a few times until something happens.” the screen twice white and black,then the power light is flashing. If anyone I encountered this kind of problem for KOBO aura H2O? I must return to factory maintenance device? thanks Last edited by sbwtxj; 02-01-2015 at 06:07 AM.

11-06-2017, 08:35 AM	#11
khaavren Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2017 Device: Kobo H2O	Thank You! The manual (hold pwr while tapping bottom corners) method worked for me. I thought my device was totally bricked. Thank you!

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12-13-2014, 05:31 PM	#1
BadDeath Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2014 Device: Kobo Aura H2O	H2O bricked? Hey there! I just tried to update my Auro H2O via Wifi to the new 3.12 software version. It showed the update screen with its animation and everything looked normal. So the Kobo rebooted and showed something "random". I tried to restart it after a few minutes (just to ensure that I don't interrupt the update process) and now I guess, it's bricked! If I press the power button, the light near the button turns on, the screen flashes one/two times white-dark-white, but withtout any screen content. The same with the reset hole. Any ideas how to rescue him, without opening or use of warranty? Thank you very much!

12-13-2014, 06:07 PM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,907 Karma: 47303748 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	The first thing to do when this sort of thing happens is to charge it. Even if it was full when you started, it is likely that the battery has been drained a lot. Charge if for a couple of hours and try again. After that, you can try a factory reset. For a H2O, this is done by: - Start with a charged battery - Hold the power button down for at least 20 seconds. This is to ensure the device is completely off. - Turn it on and quickly tap both bottom corners of the screen at the same time. Tap a few times until something happens. If that doesn't work, try again but extend the times a bit. If that doesn't work, then talk to Kobo and claim the warranty.

12-13-2014, 08:29 PM	#3
BadDeath Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2014 Device: Kobo Aura H2O	Ok, I tried this now for serveral times - with alternating tapping and simultaneous - with and without power cord. No reaction... Any other ideas? Maybe to copy an old image on external SD card in hope the device will use this as an "update"? I'm a bit desperate, now but thank you for your help

12-14-2014, 03:01 AM	#4
Cesco Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 8236 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Italy Device: Kobo Aura 2-Aura H2O-K1-LibraH2O	Look here, maybe can help you: http://www.kobo.com/help/en-US/artic...r-kobo-ereader

02-03-2015, 10:21 AM	#6
sbwtxj Groupie Posts: 154 Karma: 26294 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: kindle keyboard,kindle touch,PB touch lux	Manual factory reset Manual factory reset processes: Reset #1 - For use on a device that can be powered on 1.Ensure that the device is turned on 2.Straighten a paper clip 3.Open the water proof door at the bottom of the device 4.Very quickly perform 4 basic resets by clicking the internal reset button 4 times 5.A screen will appear asking if you want to perform a factory reset 6.Tap the checkmark icon. You may have to put the device to sleep then back on in order for the screen to respond to touch 7.Complete the device setup after the reset completes Reset #2 - For use on a device that can or cannot be powered on 1.Press and hold the power button for 5 to 6 seconds to turn it off 2.Press and hold the power button 3.With two fingers, simultaneously and repeatedly tap the bottom corners of the touch screen 4.Continue to tap the corners repeatedly until the device begins to reset 5.Complete the device setup after the reset completes i use step 2 to life! thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

02-25-2017, 12:03 PM	#9
Tyger Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2016 Device: kobo N416	Thank you, so much!! It worked.

03-10-2017, 02:09 AM	#10
camelriders Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 13112 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: USA Device: Kobo Aura H20	For what it's worth I recovered my H20 using reset #2 from above and all I had to do was power on the device and tap in the corners a few times, I did not have to hold down the power button while tapping in the corners. Good advise, thank you.

09-28-2021, 09:06 AM	#12
Szyhawk Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2021 Device: Kobo Aura H20	The 2nd option worked for me as well. My technique with the tapping was to hold down the power button with one hand (left, in my case) and using the ‘Texas Longhorns’ hand sign 🤘( with my right hand), I tapped the bottom corners at the speed of the amazing Beatles song Helter Skelter. (U2 version might be too slow?) I stopped as soon as something happened, which was after about 3-4 seconds. This worked perfectly on the first try! Thanks for your help Davidfor, the wiki is very helpful.

04-29-2022, 07:54 AM	#13
Aurel143 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2022 Device: Kobo Aura H2O	Hello all. I have found one day my Kobo H2O bricked, the screen stucked on sleep screen and the only reaction I can get now is a 10s switch-on of the power button LED each time I "long-press" the button. It occured some days after updating to last official firmware (through integrated Kobo's update manager) yet, right after the update, eveything was working well. I have charged it for hours and hours, tried both reset methods but nothing worked. Do you guys think I can try something else before I throw it away ?

05-04-2022, 05:03 PM	#15
Aurel143 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2022 Device: Kobo Aura H2O	Thank you. You were right, the SD card was simply dislodged... Not a great design! I have however bent the corner of the screen... I am a bit mad at me for this mistake you warned about. Advice for next candidates: don't think the bezel will come off easily. Make sure you insert a knife/opening all around of the device. Repeat until the glue is damaged enough so the bezel can be removed easily.

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