Kobo libra 2 bricked

stormporm · 01-10-2025, 07:36 AM

Hi I have a kobo libra 2 that only blinkes the white light and every now and then in the cycle flashes the screen shortly

Things I have done.
Hard reset.
flashed the sdcard with a fresh image, normal and rev E version
Tried the same thing with a new sd card.
The board type is 37NB-E70K1M+6F0 Does that mean it an F revision?

Checked if I could maybe get a uart terminal on the rx/tx pads on the pcb ( didnt work its just stable 3.3 volt coming from them. No bits) checked it with my buspirate.

Does anybody has any other ideas to try. I'm considering this ereader as junk so I'm more than willing get the soldering iron out.

stormporm · 01-10-2025, 07:58 AM

Things i forgot to mention:

I once got the do not shutdown logo with 3 dots but they went away and it started blinking again.
Dis and reconnected the battery

DNSB · 01-10-2025, 06:14 PM

One relatively easy item to try is cleaning the µSD card socket. I was going back through some old message and a couple of mentions that the socket needed to be cleaned of leftovers from the HZO coating.

Quoth · 01-11-2025, 10:31 AM

Acetone based nail polish remover (also dissolves plastics). Then IPA/Meths to remove the acetone.

afv011 · 01-11-2025, 01:08 PM

This appears to be a rather widespread issue, I had the same problem, and I recall reading that somebody else shared the same experience. Looks like Kobo are really skimming on quality SD cards. I could not revive mine, I may have caused some damage when I removed the old SD card, they went a bit overboard with the glue, not friendly for repairs. Best of luck with yours, you can request the SD image on the dedicated thread ont he Kobo forum.

Quoth · 01-11-2025, 03:06 PM

It's actually the HZO so called "waterproofing" (not glue) instead of real waterproof design that the original Aura H2O had. It's touted as a recent "nanotech", but it's been done since the 1930s on military gear. No doubt HZO has slightly different formula to other clear procoat/lacquers that are typically sprayed on. Sometimes dipped. It is a hazard for connectors and switches.

01-10-2025, 07:36 AM	#1
stormporm Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2024 Device: kobo libra, kobo glo	Kobo libra 2 bricked Hi I have a kobo libra 2 that only blinkes the white light and every now and then in the cycle flashes the screen shortly Things I have done. Hard reset. flashed the sdcard with a fresh image, normal and rev E version Tried the same thing with a new sd card. The board type is 37NB-E70K1M+6F0 Does that mean it an F revision? Checked if I could maybe get a uart terminal on the rx/tx pads on the pcb ( didnt work its just stable 3.3 volt coming from them. No bits) checked it with my buspirate. Does anybody has any other ideas to try. I'm considering this ereader as junk so I'm more than willing get the soldering iron out.

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01-10-2025, 07:58 AM	#2
stormporm Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2024 Device: kobo libra, kobo glo	Things i forgot to mention: I once got the do not shutdown logo with 3 dots but they went away and it started blinking again. Dis and reconnected the battery

01-10-2025, 06:14 PM	#3
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 41,929 Karma: 161810714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	One relatively easy item to try is cleaning the µSD card socket. I was going back through some old message and a couple of mentions that the socket needed to be cleaned of leftovers from the HZO coating.

01-11-2025, 10:31 AM	#4
Quoth Reading till the spring Posts: 12,703 Karma: 96948653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Acetone based nail polish remover (also dissolves plastics). Then IPA/Meths to remove the acetone.

01-11-2025, 01:08 PM	#5
afv011 Captain Penguin Posts: 2,960 Karma: 2079575093 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Device: Kobo Clara BW, Kobo Libra 2, Nook Glowlight	This appears to be a rather widespread issue, I had the same problem, and I recall reading that somebody else shared the same experience. Looks like Kobo are really skimming on quality SD cards. I could not revive mine, I may have caused some damage when I removed the old SD card, they went a bit overboard with the glue, not friendly for repairs. Best of luck with yours, you can request the SD image on the dedicated thread ont he Kobo forum.

01-11-2025, 03:06 PM	#6
Quoth Reading till the spring Posts: 12,703 Karma: 96948653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	It's actually the HZO so called "waterproofing" (not glue) instead of real waterproof design that the original Aura H2O had. It's touted as a recent "nanotech", but it's been done since the 1930s on military gear. No doubt HZO has slightly different formula to other clear procoat/lacquers that are typically sprayed on. Sometimes dipped. It is a hazard for connectors and switches.

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