Inkpad 3 crashes

pondscum · 08-06-2021, 02:56 PM

I've got a Tea-branded Inkpad 3, about 2.5 years old, that I installed the regular PocketBook firmware on. Lately it's been crashing all the time -- when it's sleeping, when turning a page -- except when the USB charger cable is plugged in, when it works fine. Getting it to reboot after a crash also requires plugging it in. I tried upgrading the firmware from 5.20 to 6.1, went back to 5.20, did a factory reset and cleared memory, etc, nothing seems to help. Is there some sort of hardware diagnostic I can run, or a kernel log I can examine for problems? (I don't know much about Inkpad internals, but I'm a long-time Linux user with some kernel knowledge as well.) I thought that maybe if the battery has gone bad I could buy a replacement, but I'm probably just going to buy a new Inkpad if I can't pin down what's wrong with the one I have now. I really like this e-reader but it's pretty annoying that I'm now tethered to a power supply with it. Any other ideas or suggestions to try first?

wold · 08-07-2021, 06:00 AM

No idea. Guessing the battery can't supply sufficient or stable voltage.
Or failing electronics that deal with battery power (conversion).

You can root the device and explore sysctl, but no idea if that provides more info.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=325185
For laptops, one could check temperature that way, at least on BSDs. Though battery info was handled by some daemon/service, but that's all beside the point here

When checking dmesg, be sure to use the proper --levels:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...60&postcount=8

pondscum · 08-08-2021, 06:21 PM

Hmmm. I was kind of hoping I could get it to run some hardware diagnostics, like the BIOS on my laptop.

Well, I guess it is time for a new e-reader, since this one is out of warranty now and there is probably no repair service in the US anyway. It was nice while it lasted....

wold · 08-11-2021, 02:10 AM

Support may have an app for that...

You could try replacing the battery. No guarantees, as it can also be caused by circuits dealing with the battery. The back cover can be pried off, and batteries are usually connected using a plug.

If you're uncomfortable doing so, try finding a repair cafe. They'll be happy to help.

coco72 · 08-20-2021, 06:56 AM

Hi, my 2,5 years old Inkpad 3 began to freeze and crash when on battery the same way you describe it. Everything is working perfectly when plugged to the AC, which enables to boot it. When run on AC, it shows battery fully charged at 100%.

I've opened the back cover, and checked the battery voltage: 3,88V, which is good, and it looks in perfect condition, not puffed up like a dammaged LiPo can look.

I gess something wrong on the motherboard, related to the power on battery... but I don't want to send it to the polish service FIXIT company as required by Pocketbook support, because no more under warranty, I may have to pay for shipping, diagnostic and eventually outcosted repair.

The better solution woud be to find an Inkpad 3 with a broken screen to get a spare motherboard from it.

pondscum · 01-11-2022, 09:16 PM

OP here. I replaced my Inkpad 3 with a Kobo Forma not long after I posted about it not working unless it was plugged in, and stuck it in a drawer with some other gizmos I don't use often. I was just looking in there for something else and realized that the battery in the Inkpad had become very swollen so that both the screen and the back are visibly bulging! Time for a trip to the local hazmat disposal facility.

FWIW, I'm happy with the functionality of the Forma, but handling the Inkpad again I think I prefer the way it feels in my hand and the button placement. Main thing that prevents me from ordering another one at this point is concern about the battery life and safety, having already run into that issue once.

08-06-2021, 02:56 PM	#1
pondscum Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 7556 Join Date: Jan 2019 Device: none	Inkpad 3 crashes I've got a Tea-branded Inkpad 3, about 2.5 years old, that I installed the regular PocketBook firmware on. Lately it's been crashing all the time -- when it's sleeping, when turning a page -- except when the USB charger cable is plugged in, when it works fine. Getting it to reboot after a crash also requires plugging it in. I tried upgrading the firmware from 5.20 to 6.1, went back to 5.20, did a factory reset and cleared memory, etc, nothing seems to help. Is there some sort of hardware diagnostic I can run, or a kernel log I can examine for problems? (I don't know much about Inkpad internals, but I'm a long-time Linux user with some kernel knowledge as well.) I thought that maybe if the battery has gone bad I could buy a replacement, but I'm probably just going to buy a new Inkpad if I can't pin down what's wrong with the one I have now. I really like this e-reader but it's pretty annoying that I'm now tethered to a power supply with it. Any other ideas or suggestions to try first?

08-11-2021, 02:10 AM	#4
wold Zealot Posts: 137 Karma: 87012 Join Date: Apr 2021 Device: Lux 5, Libra 2, PRS-T2N	Support may have an app for that... You could try replacing the battery. No guarantees, as it can also be caused by circuits dealing with the battery. The back cover can be pried off, and batteries are usually connected using a plug. If you're uncomfortable doing so, try finding a repair cafe. They'll be happy to help. Last edited by wold; 08-11-2021 at 02:49 AM.

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08-07-2021, 06:00 AM	#2
wold Zealot Posts: 137 Karma: 87012 Join Date: Apr 2021 Device: Lux 5, Libra 2, PRS-T2N	No idea. Guessing the battery can't supply sufficient or stable voltage. Or failing electronics that deal with battery power (conversion). You can root the device and explore sysctl, but no idea if that provides more info. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=325185 For laptops, one could check temperature that way, at least on BSDs. Though battery info was handled by some daemon/service, but that's all beside the point here When checking dmesg, be sure to use the proper --levels: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...60&postcount=8

08-08-2021, 06:21 PM	#3
pondscum Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 7556 Join Date: Jan 2019 Device: none	Hmmm. I was kind of hoping I could get it to run some hardware diagnostics, like the BIOS on my laptop. Well, I guess it is time for a new e-reader, since this one is out of warranty now and there is probably no repair service in the US anyway. It was nice while it lasted....

08-20-2021, 06:56 AM	#5
coco72 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Paris, France Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 3	Hi, my 2,5 years old Inkpad 3 began to freeze and crash when on battery the same way you describe it. Everything is working perfectly when plugged to the AC, which enables to boot it. When run on AC, it shows battery fully charged at 100%. I've opened the back cover, and checked the battery voltage: 3,88V, which is good, and it looks in perfect condition, not puffed up like a dammaged LiPo can look. I gess something wrong on the motherboard, related to the power on battery... but I don't want to send it to the polish service FIXIT company as required by Pocketbook support, because no more under warranty, I may have to pay for shipping, diagnostic and eventually outcosted repair. The better solution woud be to find an Inkpad 3 with a broken screen to get a spare motherboard from it.

01-11-2022, 09:16 PM	#6
pondscum Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 7556 Join Date: Jan 2019 Device: none	OP here. I replaced my Inkpad 3 with a Kobo Forma not long after I posted about it not working unless it was plugged in, and stuck it in a drawer with some other gizmos I don't use often. I was just looking in there for something else and realized that the battery in the Inkpad had become very swollen so that both the screen and the back are visibly bulging! Time for a trip to the local hazmat disposal facility. FWIW, I'm happy with the functionality of the Forma, but handling the Inkpad again I think I prefer the way it feels in my hand and the button placement. Main thing that prevents me from ordering another one at this point is concern about the battery life and safety, having already run into that issue once.

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