Glo Only part of the screen updates - fix or replace?

[MikeNorrish]

Hi all,

I've had my Glo for just over a year, but I've been a long time user of Kobo before that one

Recently, it's developed a fault with the screen - after waking it up from sleep one afternoon, a large chunk of the book cover remained on the screen, obscuring the text, and a wide band of pixels along the middle of the screen remained blank.

These artifacts have survived through power cycling, resetting, turning pages until the forced refresh, and allowing the battery to run down to the full black screen (the band in the center remains white). When left over time (about three weeks now), some of the pixels have inverted themselves, but remain unresponsive to deliberate attempts to change them.

So, is it possible (doubtful though it seems) that there's a software solution to this? If not, is it repairable, or am I better off replacing my device?

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by MikeNorrish

Hi all,

I've had my Glo for just over a year, but I've been a long time user of Kobo before that one

Recently, it's developed a fault with the screen - after waking it up from sleep one afternoon, a large chunk of the book cover remained on the screen, obscuring the text, and a wide band of pixels along the middle of the screen remained blank.

These artifacts have survived through power cycling, resetting, turning pages until the forced refresh, and allowing the battery to run down to the full black screen (the band in the center remains white). When left over time (about three weeks now), some of the pixels have inverted themselves, but remain unresponsive to deliberate attempts to change them.

So, is it possible (doubtful though it seems) that there's a software solution to this? If not, is it repairable, or am I better off replacing my device?

If its out of warranty your going to have to replace it. However it could be the ribbon strip that connects the main board to the screen may be slightly loose either at the mainboard or the screen connectors. Its usually (although not sure here) a slide in type interface with a push down/in fastener. Back things up first and then attempt to look if you feel up to it. here is a tear down for the touch should be similar but it will show you what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SmYg4q9ai4



regards

Jack

[MikeNorrish]

Thanks, I'll give that a try

[meeera]

Originally Posted by MikeNorrish

Hi all,

I've had my Glo for just over a year, but I've been a long time user of Kobo before that one

Recently, it's developed a fault with the screen - after waking it up from sleep one afternoon, a large chunk of the book cover remained on the screen, obscuring the text, and a wide band of pixels along the middle of the screen remained blank.

These artifacts have survived through power cycling, resetting, turning pages until the forced refresh, and allowing the battery to run down to the full black screen (the band in the center remains white).

Are all of the artifact lines on the screen absolutely perfectly horizontal? If so, it may be a fault. If there are any diagonal lines at all, it's likely to be a fractured screen. (A good photo would clear this up).

If it is a fault, not a fractured screen, and it's barely over a year old, you may still be covered by statutory warranty in some countries, like Australia. Filling in your country in your profile will mean it shows under your name when you post, which can be very helpful.

[cybmole]

that sounds like exactly what happened to my almost new Sony T3, the screen is broken & will need repair or replacement.
I had a byzantine dispute with sony's appalling & dysfunctional support/customer services/sales that ran for over 2 months until I eventually got a refund -see sony forum. Hopefully Kobo will treat you better.

[MikeNorrish]

It's a fractured screen, alas. I opened it up last night, and there's a spider web of cracks around where the dead pixels are.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by MikeNorrish

It's a fractured screen, alas. I opened it up last night, and there's a spider web of cracks around where the dead pixels are.

Thought it might be :/ I believe that if it's cold overnight, a crack caused by torque can become apparent when you wake the device up the next day. Fractures can happen with any e-ink device, and despite cybmole's insistence, they're not a manufacturing fault.

Was it in a good rigid book-style case?

I doubt that replacing the screen is going to be cost-effective for a Glo, so I guess it's shopping time for you? Sorry about that. (Or yay, depending on how you feel about a new device!)

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by MikeNorrish

It's a fractured screen, alas. I opened it up last night, and there's a spider web of cracks around where the dead pixels are.

you said over a year old, so probably out of guarantee anyway, but opening up any e-reader is a no-no if you want to then claim under warranty

replacing the screen is most likely a delicate operation, even if you can find one on sale ( ebay ?).
I'd be inclined to look for a working, used , identical model on ebay so that you have one that works & one to cannibalise as needed e.g. if the sleep switch were to fail next.

or conclude this is gods way of hinting that it's time to upgrade to an aura HD