Troubleshooting Kindle Gen 2 Black Screen

Karellen · 09-16-2021, 03:02 AM

Hello all,

I have had my very faithful Kindle Gen2 since 2009 and it has been great.

Two weeks ago I plugged it into Calibre to sideload a novel, and when I unplugged it, I ended up with a half black screen which I have not been able to fix. (see image)

I've read to plug it back in and sideload another book and that may fix it. No luck. I then tried the hard reboot (about 20 times) and no luck with that either. I then thought to try and install the latest firmware over the top, but I can't access the menu. I've tried a few blind tries to get the right menu option to update, but no luck

Would anybody know of any other tricks to fix this or is my Kindle pretty much dead?

j.p.s · 09-16-2021, 10:40 AM

It might be that the display cable connector has worked loose and needs to be reseated.

Karellen · 09-16-2021, 09:18 PM

Hi j.p.s

Thanks for the reply. Does that require removing the back case and fiddling? Do you have a post you can point me to that shows how to do that?

Thanks

j.p.s · 09-16-2021, 09:50 PM

Yes, it requires removing the back and fiddling with the connector, but, no, I do not know how to do it and I can not find a post showing how.

Dr. Drib · 09-17-2021, 09:58 AM

Looks to be as simple as making chocolate chip cookies. (I have no need for a pie this early in the morning.) To verify what Karellen said, then check here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrcxn5mQKe4

Look at around 3:00 for the display cable. (Better find something to hold all those screws while it's being disassembled.)

My two units are in storage, so I can't confirm the reliability of this, but it looks as if it's disassembly is the same as my now decrepit (re: 13 year-old) Kindle DX-G, which was simple as hell to take apart.

Probably time for you to buy a state-of-the-art ebook reader. They're now so good it will mess with your mind...

Karellen · 09-17-2021, 05:14 PM

Thanks @Dr. Drib that is a great youtube link. And yes, time to upgrade. When I looked a few weeks ago for new Kindles, Amazon was out of stock of every kindle model and looks like they are still out of stock as I checked again just now. Only some reconditioned models are available.

Though with a single connector it might be less likely it is a connector problem, or else the entire screen should be black? Anyway no harm in trying.

I won't try immediately though as I'll wait until I get my new Kindle. Even though the screen is unusable, I can still purchase books and deliver them to the Kindle which I can sync into Calibre. I am not aware if that is possible off an iPad or off a pc.

"State of the art"- Kindle or other? I suppose I'll stick with a Kindle though as that is where I have purchased my ebooks for the last decade. (yep, keeping myself locked into the amazon environment)

Thanks.

Dr. Drib · 09-17-2021, 05:34 PM

You're welcome.

By "state-of-the-art", I meant a newer Kindle.

I own both Kindles and Kobos, but probably lean more toward Kindle. But readers from both companies are perfectly fine.

09-16-2021, 03:02 AM	#1
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,094 Karma: 4911876 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Kindle Gen 2 Black Screen Hello all, I have had my very faithful Kindle Gen2 since 2009 and it has been great. Two weeks ago I plugged it into Calibre to sideload a novel, and when I unplugged it, I ended up with a half black screen which I have not been able to fix. (see image) I've read to plug it back in and sideload another book and that may fix it. No luck. I then tried the hard reboot (about 20 times) and no luck with that either. I then thought to try and install the latest firmware over the top, but I can't access the menu. I've tried a few blind tries to get the right menu option to update, but no luck Would anybody know of any other tricks to fix this or is my Kindle pretty much dead? Attached Thumbnails

09-17-2021, 09:58 AM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Looks to be as simple as making chocolate chip cookies. (I have no need for a pie this early in the morning.) To verify what Karellen said, then check here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrcxn5mQKe4 Look at around 3:00 for the display cable. (Better find something to hold all those screws while it's being disassembled.) My two units are in storage, so I can't confirm the reliability of this, but it looks as if it's disassembly is the same as my now decrepit (re: 13 year-old) Kindle DX-G, which was simple as hell to take apart. Probably time for you to buy a state-of-the-art ebook reader. They're now so good it will mess with your mind... Last edited by Dr. Drib; 09-17-2021 at 10:01 AM.

09-17-2021, 05:34 PM	#7
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	You're welcome. By "state-of-the-art", I meant a newer Kindle. I own both Kindles and Kobos, but probably lean more toward Kindle. But readers from both companies are perfectly fine. Last edited by Dr. Drib; 09-18-2021 at 02:59 PM. Reason: end-of-sentence redundancy deleted

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09-16-2021, 10:40 AM	#2
j.p.s Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,278 Karma: 98804578 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: pb360	It might be that the display cable connector has worked loose and needs to be reseated.

09-16-2021, 09:18 PM	#3
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,094 Karma: 4911876 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Hi j.p.s Thanks for the reply. Does that require removing the back case and fiddling? Do you have a post you can point me to that shows how to do that? Thanks

09-16-2021, 09:50 PM	#4
j.p.s Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,278 Karma: 98804578 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: pb360	Yes, it requires removing the back and fiddling with the connector, but, no, I do not know how to do it and I can not find a post showing how.

09-17-2021, 05:14 PM	#6
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,094 Karma: 4911876 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Thanks @Dr. Drib that is a great youtube link. And yes, time to upgrade. When I looked a few weeks ago for new Kindles, Amazon was out of stock of every kindle model and looks like they are still out of stock as I checked again just now. Only some reconditioned models are available. Though with a single connector it might be less likely it is a connector problem, or else the entire screen should be black? Anyway no harm in trying. I won't try immediately though as I'll wait until I get my new Kindle. Even though the screen is unusable, I can still purchase books and deliver them to the Kindle which I can sync into Calibre. I am not aware if that is possible off an iPad or off a pc. "State of the art"- Kindle or other? I suppose I'll stick with a Kindle though as that is where I have purchased my ebooks for the last decade. (yep, keeping myself locked into the amazon environment) Thanks.