8525 Touchscreen Has Gone Crazy

[aroundlsu]

Ok so my Cingular 8525 is basically unusable due to the touchscreen thinking it's getting taps in the upper right corner (upper left in landscape mode). This has the nice effect of closing programs down to the today screen in portrait mode or constantly popping up the start menu in landscape mode (about three times a second). Any ideas?

I tried soft resetting and also removing the battery for several minutes. Haven't tried a hard reset as I don't want to go through that except for a last resort. Tried wiping the screen with a soft cloth. There are no weird programs on the device except what everyone here uses.

I still have 5 days before the end of my 30 days return period with Cingular. If I bring it back will they just give me another one?

[shogunmark]

Ok so my Cingular 8525 is basically unusable due to the touchscreen thinking it's getting taps in the upper right corner (upper left in landscape mode). This has the nice effect of closing programs down to the today screen in portrait mode or constantly popping up the start menu in landscape mode (about three times a second). Any ideas?

I tried soft resetting and also removing the battery for several minutes. Haven't tried a hard reset as I don't want to go through that except for a last resort. Tried wiping the screen with a soft cloth. There are no weird programs on the device except what everyone here uses.

I still have 5 days before the end of my 30 days return period with Cingular. If I bring it back will they just give me another one?

on your touchscreen problem.. i have seen this occur by someone improperly putting on a screen protector or maybe there is some dirt up there.. and if you take it back to the store they may give you a new one or make you call the warranty by mail line and get a replacement that way

[kevino]

..... or your OK button could be stuck down

[aroundlsu]

I took a bottle of lens cleaner from my camera bag and thoroughly cleaned the screen. I ran my fingernails under the edge of the screen and really made sure no dirt was under there. Lo and behold, it seems to be working fine now. I browsed some RSS headlines for about 10 minutes with no problems.

Weird though, I have used an Ipaq 4705 WM5 pocket pc for two years now and really ran it through the ringer. It looks like it's been to war and back (which it has in a since) and never experienced errant screen taps. Oh well, still enjoying the 8525 (last phone was 2125).

Thanks so much!

[shogunmark]

..... or your OK button could be stuck down

good point, i had that problem once also, forgot all about it

[mikechannon]

I took a bottle of lens cleaner from my camera bag and thoroughly cleaned the screen. I ran my fingernails under the edge of the screen and really made sure no dirt was under there. Lo and behold, it seems to be working fine now. I browsed some RSS headlines for about 10 minutes with no problems.

Weird though, I have used an Ipaq 4705 WM5 pocket pc for two years now and really ran it through the ringer. It looks like it's been to war and back (which it has in a since) and never experienced errant screen taps. Oh well, still enjoying the 8525 (last phone was 2125).

Thanks so much!

Just a note of caution!!! This is related to the screen alignment issue i.e. the touch sensitive area of the screen continuing beneath the bezel and causing unwanted touches whether through dust or the sticky gasket in there.

May not return, or will be cured again by the "business card" fix / or as you did a firm clean to release the screen from touching the bezel.

But, it's a question for you, if you only have 5 days left under warranty. Most people with the SA problem find the first signs appear in the first couple of weeks. I would certainly put it through it's paces, open up a few applications leave wifi on so it heats up, surf web over wifi etc etc as the added bit of heat generated internally was a known factor in exacerbating the problem. If all stays well over next couple of days maybe it'll be OK.

Would be good to get urgent feedback from anyone with a newer Hermes who's had this issue and what happened.


Mike

[aroundlsu]

Argh, it's back. OK, I'm certain it's a touchscreen problem and not a button sticking as holding down OK will not cause the start menu to pop up while an application is up and holding the windows key will not close an app. Also the problem is delayed if I hold the stylus down on the screen. It's just the upper right (portrait mode) of the screen that is getting the errant screen tap (about three or four times a second).

I've ran a business card through the edges and it doesn't help. I'm not going to take this thing apart. I did that several times with the 2125 to fix unresponsive keys and joystick but the problems always reappear. My one year old 2125 is barely functional now. My g/f would rather keep her crap LG flip phone then inhieret the 2125 after watching me battle it. That's pretty sad.

I'm going to try a hard reset (second one in three weeks) and if that doesn't help I'm returning it to Cingular and getting my money back. Then I'll either buy another one or a blackjack. I like the 3g and love this device. It's my third Windows Mobile 5.0 product. I don't like the sub-par build quality on my second HTC product now. I paid $599 plus tax for this phone at a local Cingular store (despite the web store saying $550).

[mikechannon]

My advice for what it's worth is take it back. This screen business has a habit of coming and going and it's entirely possible you hard reset and everything is fine and two weeks later it's back. Also would be better to return with the issue present (not that they wouldn't believe you -would they?)

On the whole though this problem is much more rare than it was, so if you do get the same device again hopefully you will be luckier. If you get directly from shop though check the firmness of the key board clicking into place that seems to still be fairly common problem.


Not the best start to the new year!!
Mike

[aroundlsu]

Well I got desperate and hard reset... I could barely get past the screen alignment startup so needless to say that didn't fix things. Having gone this far and thoroughly pissed at having to reinstall everything I decided to loosen those screws on the back and run a card around the edges.

So far, it's working! I'm not content settling on this hack though so I'm bringing it back Tuesday and will update on my experience at the retail store (not looking forward to that).

Happy new year and thanks for all the super fast responses guys!

[mccreath]

I was browsing the www the other day and saw a korean/ japanese site showing the inside of these precious devices, and (as pointed out above) how the seal/ gasket underneath the bezel is the root cause of our anguish.

There were some detailed pics of how you can DIY, and remove the gasket, but it's no where near me basic level of competency.

Why would they design a touch-screen to big for the device I wonder???

:confused:

[shogunmark]

there is also the business card trick about sliding it underneath the edges to loosen the gasket... there is a whole thread on this screen alignment issue

[johniz1967]

There is a post about someone seeing a site showing how to fix the gasket proplem on the touch screen. Could I please get the URL??

[mikechannon]

There is a post about someone seeing a site showing how to fix the gasket proplem on the touch screen. Could I please get the URL??

Look down this page. Keep in mind non of the theoretical solutions is guaranteed/

http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Hermes_Problems

Mike

[aroundlsu]

Just got back in from my local Cingular store and actually had a pleasant, hassle-free experience exchanging my 8525 for a brand new one. I explained to the CSR the issue and she immediately understood the problem (must not be the first guy walking in there about this).

Unfortunately, she didn't have any in stock but merrily called around and found six others in stock at nearby stores. So off I went to the next store and had the old 8525 exchanged for a new one in less then ten minutes. The CSR didn't even bother to look at the old phone or check the accessories I returned with it.

The new 8525 is syncing up as I write this and immediately I notice some things are different. First of all, written on the side of the box is 12/26. So we know this phone is probably brand new. The keyboard does indeed click in and out more firmly then my old one. The USB cable plugs in tighter (a good thing, I was always getting USB connection problems), and lo and behold Windows Vista installed HTC sync drivers then Media Player automatically recognized the device (never did any of that on the old one).

I'm using the Windows Mobile Device Center Beta on Vista RTM and it just finished syncing without any problems. Moral of this story is if your 8525 is experiencing any problems at all and you are within 30 days, return it for a hassle free refund.

[mikechannon]

Good news and you're absolutely right about getting it back within warranty if there's a fault.

Great stuff!

Mike

[shogunmark]

Just got back in from my local Cingular store and actually had a pleasant, hassle-free experience exchanging my 8525 for a brand new one. I explained to the CSR the issue and she immediately understood the problem (must not be the first guy walking in there about this).

Unfortunately, she didn't have any in stock but merrily called around and found six others in stock at nearby stores. So off I went to the next store and had the old 8525 exchanged for a new one in less then ten minutes. The CSR didn't even bother to look at the old phone or check the accessories I returned with it.

The new 8525 is syncing up as I write this and immediately I notice some things are different. First of all, written on the side of the box is 12/26. So we know this phone is probably brand new. The keyboard does indeed click in and out more firmly then my old one. The USB cable plugs in tighter (a good thing, I was always getting USB connection problems), and lo and behold Windows Vista installed HTC sync drivers then Media Player automatically recognized the device (never did any of that on the old one).

I'm using the Windows Mobile Device Center Beta on Vista RTM and it just finished syncing without any problems. Moral of this story is if your 8525 is experiencing any problems at all and you are within 30 days, return it for a hassle free refund.

since your appears to be new from 12/26.. i am curious what firmware is on that phone.. details please

[wedgesurfer]

I am having a problem with the touch screen on my 8525. My phone was working fine then the then the screen stopped responding. I was able to navigate via keyboard but that was it. I did a soft reset and it did not help. I then did a hard reset and the screen went to the setup and wants to align the screen which obviously I cannot do.
The changes I have made the same day prior to it not working are as follows:
-Unlocked with Hermes SIM Unlock
-Installed latest Cingular ROM
-Installed fit4cat Hermes Tweaker v1.1a
The phone worked fine for about 12 hrs before the touch screen stopped working.
Any suggestions?

[crazyut]

Hey there, I have had the problem before (about 3.5 weeks ago). I had to send it in for service (since I am not a Cingular customer anymore but use the 8525 with T-mobile).Good luck.I am having a problem with the touch screen on my 8525. My phone was working fine then the then the screen stopped responding. I was able to navigate via keyboard but that was it. I did a soft reset and it did not help. I then did a hard reset and the screen went to the setup and wants to align the screen which obviously I cannot do.
The changes I have made the same day prior to it not working are as follows:
-Unlocked with Hermes SIM Unlock
-Installed latest Cingular ROM
-Installed fit4cat Hermes Tweaker v1.1a
The phone worked fine for about 12 hrs before the touch screen stopped working.
Any suggestions?