Troubleshooting Kindle Paperwhite screen flashing bug

Dawidsu · 11-22-2018, 04:43 AM

Hello, I'm new to the forum, so first of all, hi everybody!

Now, to what ails me!

I've just bought a used Kindle Paperwhite 1st edition. Everything seemed to be working until I plugged it into the computer. The screen started flashing like crazy and wouldn't stop. I unplugged it, but it kept refreshing. Finally, I restarted it holding the button (because I couldn't select anything on the screen).

Here's a video of what it looked like: https://youtu.be/1sPXM1ntj2g

When my Kindle booted up, the flashing was no more. I can plug it into my PC now and everything seems to be working fine. Now the question is - will it happen again? Can I fix it, or should I return it to the seller?

BookCat · 11-22-2018, 11:37 PM

It shouldn't do that. I'm assuming you bought it from ebay? Depending upon what you paid, send it back. However, if it was very inexpensive it might be worth keeping to see whether you have this issue again. If you don't mind doing a restart every time it happens, keep it.

PW1's had other known issues of uneven lighting. This wasn't fixed till the PW2. I would recommend returning it, then buying an officially refurbished PW2 or 3 from Amazon.

Wecome to mobileread. Have fun here.

Dawidsu · 11-23-2018, 04:24 AM

Thanks for the reply. It was pretty cheap, so I'm thinking I'll keep it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

PW1's had other known issues of uneven lighting.

You mean the LED lighting or is there something bad with the e-ink screen itself?

BookCat · 11-23-2018, 05:37 AM

I mean the LED lighting.

Dawidsu · 11-23-2018, 05:49 AM

I did without the lighting in my Kindle keyboard, so that's no trouble.

But does anyone have a clue what could have caused that flashing anyway?

BookCat · 11-23-2018, 05:53 AM

I'm just guessing here, but could it be a battery problem? If it was a used device, the battery could be very worn down.

Hopefully someone more technical will be along soon.

Robmonster · 11-23-2018, 09:54 AM

It almost looks like it is trying to make a USB connection with the PC. Mine flashes a little like that before the Connected Via USB screen comes up on it.

Atunah · 11-23-2018, 12:07 PM

I was going to say, I had that happen with my new Oasis2 when I apparently used a wrong or bad cable to connect to my computer. Just kept flashing. Couldn't get it to go into usb mode. Got rid of that cable and no issues since.

I think I grabbed an older Fire tablet cable instead of the many kindle cables I have. They were both black.

11-22-2018, 04:43 AM	#1
Dawidsu Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2018 Device: Kindle keyboard/Kindle paperwhite 1	Kindle Paperwhite screen flashing bug Hello, I'm new to the forum, so first of all, hi everybody! Now, to what ails me! I've just bought a used Kindle Paperwhite 1st edition. Everything seemed to be working until I plugged it into the computer. The screen started flashing like crazy and wouldn't stop. I unplugged it, but it kept refreshing. Finally, I restarted it holding the button (because I couldn't select anything on the screen). Here's a video of what it looked like: https://youtu.be/1sPXM1ntj2g When my Kindle booted up, the flashing was no more. I can plug it into my PC now and everything seems to be working fine. Now the question is - will it happen again? Can I fix it, or should I return it to the seller?

11-22-2018, 11:37 PM	#2
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	It shouldn't do that. I'm assuming you bought it from ebay? Depending upon what you paid, send it back. However, if it was very inexpensive it might be worth keeping to see whether you have this issue again. If you don't mind doing a restart every time it happens, keep it. PW1's had other known issues of uneven lighting. This wasn't fixed till the PW2. I would recommend returning it, then buying an officially refurbished PW2 or 3 from Amazon. Wecome to mobileread. Have fun here. Last edited by BookCat; 11-22-2018 at 11:42 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kindle PW3 with frozen, distorted screen and periodically flashing backlight	spinda	Kindle Developer's Corner	2	01-01-2017 07:44 PM
screen flashing kindle touch	pspvhp	Kindle Developer's Corner	10	06-24-2016 06:14 PM
!!! no more screen flashing !!!	khmann	Kindle Developer's Corner	98	06-20-2016 07:22 PM
Kindle 4th NT flashing screen	CharlO	Amazon Kindle	0	01-02-2014 05:06 PM
Flashing screen question	johngreen99	Which one should I buy?	6	01-12-2008 07:54 PM

11-23-2018, 05:37 AM	#4
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I mean the LED lighting.

11-23-2018, 05:49 AM	#5
Dawidsu Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2018 Device: Kindle keyboard/Kindle paperwhite 1	I did without the lighting in my Kindle keyboard, so that's no trouble. But does anyone have a clue what could have caused that flashing anyway?

11-23-2018, 05:53 AM	#6
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I'm just guessing here, but could it be a battery problem? If it was a used device, the battery could be very worn down. Hopefully someone more technical will be along soon.

11-23-2018, 09:54 AM	#7
Robmonster Wizard! Posts: 250 Karma: 548228 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Device: Paperwhite, Voyage + Oasis2	It almost looks like it is trying to make a USB connection with the PC. Mine flashes a little like that before the Connected Via USB screen comes up on it.

11-23-2018, 12:07 PM	#8
Atunah Wizard Posts: 1,817 Karma: 23400001 Join Date: May 2012 Location: USA Device: K1/K3/BasicK Voyage/Oasis1/Oasis3	I was going to say, I had that happen with my new Oasis2 when I apparently used a wrong or bad cable to connect to my computer. Just kept flashing. Couldn't get it to go into usb mode. Got rid of that cable and no issues since. I think I grabbed an older Fire tablet cable instead of the many kindle cables I have. They were both black.

Advert

Advert