HTC HD7 Emergency Repair

[MartinT]

My HD7 experienced the 'Black Screen of Death' fault where the proximity sensor decided that I was on a call and so would not display the screen. I could use bluetooth to make a call in the car, but I could not do anything with the screen. I tried a warm boot and a cold reset (losing all my data) but still got a black screen. So there was nothing for it but to try the very last resort...

http://www.mtc.me.uk/images/HTCHD7Dismantled.jpg

This level of dismantling was horrific, with the flexible circuit board being stuck to the screen and tiny, tiny connectors everywhere. Anyway, it was worth it as I gave the sensor a clean and reassembled everything. I now have a working phone which is reloading all its data again.

Thanks to this excellent YouTube clip :)

4UBCFsMDTGA

Yes, Marco, I can hear you: "get a bloody ordinary phone that just makes calls..." :lol:

[prestonchipfryer]

Man you have lots of patience! :) I'm sure most would get rid of.

[bobbasrah]

Yep Martin, been there done that, wondered what the bit was left over and started over again, albeit with an earlier HTC model and a Eten prior to that.
Quite a heart-stopping moment when you finish, check, switch on, and that 0.5 second initialisation delay seems waaaaay longer....
Well done.

[Puffin]

Nokia 1100. Simples

[aquapiranha]

I have had to do that a couple of times on other phones, mind you I had 10 years stripping and rebuilding laptops and printers and such so not too bad. I have realised today that my current account gives me insurance for my mobile so I will have to sort that out before I drop it - brand new S3.

[Ali Tait]

Get an android phone. Never had a single problem with the four I've had.

[MartinT]

How does the OS affect reliability, Ali? Underneath the bonnet, most of these phones have very similar hardware. The OS is down to preference, and I far prefer Windows Phone 7 over Android.

[Ali Tait]

It doesn't. I was just trying to get an OS war going. :D

[MartinT]

It doesn't. I was just trying to get an OS war going. :D

:rfl:

[AlexM]

I tried to do that with and HD2, and it didn't turn out at all well. There was a very nice youtube video showing the disassembly process, but unfortunately the prototype they were dismantling didn't have the sticky black label thing inside the battery that covers the flex board.

When I removed that, part of the flex board came away with it. game over!. luckily I found another on ebay for £50, so not too costly.

Regards,
Alex

[Ali Tait]

With these new phones it's worth having insurance IMHO. No worries about a replacement.

[MartinT]

Proof :)

http://www.mtc.me.uk/images/HTCHD7Repaired.jpg

[MartinT]

With these new phones it's worth having insurance IMHO. No worries about a replacement.

I have an O2 SIM-only data contract and buy my own phones. Warranty takes care of any early failures. I find it better than getting locked in to an 18 month contract with no ability to upgrade.

[Ali Tait]

Aye, there is that.

[northwest]

I have an O2 SIM-only data contract and buy my own phones. Warranty takes care of any early failures. I find it better than getting locked in to an 18 month contract with no ability to upgrade.

That's my view too. Nothing is "free".

I have the new mute switch for my iPhone sitting on the workbench. I glance at it once in a while knowing I should just get on with it but after the last major rebuild (dropped it and broke a few bits) I just walk on by and leave it for another day:rolleyes:

[MartinT]

I have the new mute switch for my iPhone sitting on the workbench. I glance at it once in a while knowing I should just get on with it but after the last major rebuild (dropped it and broke a few bits) I just walk on by and leave it for another day:rolleyes:

I guess the second time's a charm!