Re-House Your Xperia Play : Things to Know

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216Monster

216Monster

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Oct 17, 2011
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mocool05 said:
whew just whet through 14 pages of this thead! paranoid me strikes again. it looks kinda easy but im still slightly worried. gonna try rehousing my play this summer. i know you're probably tired of people posting on a dead thread, but i just wanted to thank you for the detailed break down. i bought an orange housing, if anyone's interested, here is the link. will post screetshots this summer hopefully. thanks again.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Replacement-Orange-Housing-Cover-Case-for-Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-Play-R800-Z1i/290910801016?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D7445912472441885120%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D290910801016%26 (only 13 days left)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Not at all ! I love to this that this is still helping people, If you attempt it and have any questions please feel free to post here or pm me! I just rehoused mine and built an Orange one for a co-worker (he is a first time Play owner!) .. I have so many pieces for this phone..

Again, your welcome!
 
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mocool05

mocool05

Senior Member
Dec 14, 2011
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Sh*t

Well after a long time of pondering and thought, I decided to replace my housing. All went well... until i got to the screen. Following repairs universe video, i tried taking out the top part of the flex cable (at the top of screen) i tore it. I freaking tore it. I put the phone back together, and thank god the phone booted up and everything worked except the front of the phone with the 4 buttons and touch screen. Im guessing i have to buy a new cable. Any thought? ( Im freaking out here)
 
J

JAY48

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2013
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8
Colombo
Did you flash firmwares before disassembling your phone? If not, this is definitely a hardware problem. Your first course of action would be to order a new ribbon and fix it. Be patient and it'll all work out! So to summarise; your LCD, buttons and digitiser doesn't work? Or is it just the digitiser?
If you're buying a digitiser, have a look at this thread-

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2224237


Regards.
 
Last edited:
C

CZroe

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2011
707
100
Newnan, GA
This thread of mine is extremely relevant here:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=2332296

216Monster said:
From the research I have done there is only one difference being that the GSM r800i/r800a has one extra antenna sticker on the middle housing to make a connection with a gold pin, and the r800x doesn't need because it has a slightly different motherboard, I will post a photo and elaborate on this once I get home :)

Sent from my R800x using xda premium

EDIT : The photo attached below is a shot of the middle housing from an r800a (on the left) next to the middle housing from and r800x (on the right). I have circled the antenna sticker on the r800a that you will need to remove from your current housing, and you will notice that the r800x housing does not have this antenna, and place this antenna sticker into the new housing you receive. I call it a sticker for lack of professional terms.... You will need to remove that antenna, tweezers or a kitchen knife will do the job, just remove it slowly and try not to bend it or break it, dont be alarmed if you have to bend it a little when removing but just dont rip it. Then once its off, simply apply it in the same place on the new housing.

That is the only difference I have come across for the r800i/r800a compared to the r800x.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I compared an R800x to an R800at and the R800x has a thin wire behind the volume buttons. Also the black tape under the battery door hides more flexible RF antennas which could be different.
 
Last edited:
mocool05

mocool05

Senior Member
Dec 14, 2011
289
112
JAY48 said:
Did you flash firmwares before disassembling your phone? If not, this is definitely a hardware problem. Your first course of action would be to order a new ribbon and fix it. Be patient and it'll all work out! So to summarise; your LCD, buttons and digitiser doesn't work? Or is it just the digitiser?
If you're buying a digitiser, have a look at this thread-

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2224237


Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

definitely a hardware problem. you know the small cable at the top of the screen at the back? well that tore. i am worried. the software, gamepad, and power button works fine. the front lcd displays fine. the 4 buttons(search back home menu) and touch screen does NOT work. help please?

PS: thx for link, checked it out. still a bit confused.
 
216Monster

216Monster

Senior Member
Oct 17, 2011
1,233
363
Ohio
I have learned so much since I wrote this thread. I could probably do an entire overhaul and re write , I have built so many Xperia Plays of every model now, looking back on my words looks funny.

Sent from my Xperia™ PLAY R800at
 
216Monster

216Monster

Senior Member
Oct 17, 2011
1,233
363
Ohio
mocool05 said:
definitely a hardware problem. you know the small cable at the top of the screen at the back? well that tore. i am worried. the software, gamepad, and power button works fine. the front lcd displays fine. the 4 buttons(search back home menu) and touch screen does NOT work. help please?

PS: thx for link, checked it out. still a bit confused.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

The cable at the top your talking about is built into the digitizer , if I'm understanding you correctly. If you buy a new one your problem will be solved.

Sent from my Xperia™ PLAY R800at
 
C

CZroe

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2011
707
100
Newnan, GA
216Monster said:
The cable at the top your talking about is built into the digitizer , if I'm understanding you correctly. If you buy a new one your problem will be solved.

Sent from my Xperia™ PLAY R800at
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

There are TWO cables at the top and they attach to each other. He said he tore "the small cable" and, well, the smaller of the two is NOT part of the digitizer. It's part of the assembly that includes the earpiece, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and front-facing camera.

That would be this part:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eerpiece-Fr...e_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item27d1f7ffc3
 
mocool05

mocool05

Senior Member
Dec 14, 2011
289
112
CZroe said:
There are TWO cables at the top and they attach to each other. He said he tore "the small cable" and, well, the smaller of the two is NOT part of the digitizer. It's part of the assembly that includes the earpiece, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and front-facing camera.

That would be this part:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eerpiece-Fr...e_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item27d1f7ffc3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Thanks. Thats the same part I purchased. I also purchased a new digitizer ( old one was scratched). Thanks for the help. Will get back to this forum when it ships. Thanks again.
 
mocool05

mocool05

Senior Member
Dec 14, 2011
289
112
mocool05 said:
Thanks. Thats the same part I purchased. I also purchased a new digitizer ( old one was scratched). Thanks for the help. Will get back to this forum when it ships. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Hello once again. My parts have just arrived in the mail, im picking it up today. ( I ordered a new digitizer and flex cable-earpiece) anyway, so as I mentioned before, I tore the cable, and in going to need some help please. @216Monster if possible, I could add you on hangouts(gtalk)? Thanks again.
 
Last edited:
saqibkhan

saqibkhan

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2012
771
310
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
I would like to change the FACEPLATES only my phone.. is that possible ?? I mean only the Battery COver .. changed from black to white.. and the Front Black plastic part..

My assumption as follows. please answer this also.
why do I need a screen digitizer ?? why cant I use the old one from the original phone..i mean just change the front black plastic part.
 
S

Spatinator

Senior Member
Aug 24, 2012
372
42
saqibkhan said:
I would like to change the FACEPLATES only my phone.. is that possible ?? I mean only the Battery COver .. changed from black to white.. and the Front Black plastic part..

My assumption as follows. please answer this also.
why do I need a screen digitizer ?? why cant I use the old one from the original phone..i mean just change the front black plastic part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse



The digitizer is glued on top of the faceplate. It's a pain to remove the digitizer, and will most likely break while doing this. Also you have to think of how to glue it back on the faceplate without accidently glue the lcd or the outter part
 
addictivesundew

addictivesundew

Senior Member
Aug 1, 2010
55
1
Lahore
saqibkhan said:
I would like to change the FACEPLATES only my phone.. is that possible ?? I mean only the Battery COver .. changed from black to white.. and the Front Black plastic part..

My assumption as follows. please answer this also.
why do I need a screen digitizer ?? why cant I use the old one from the original phone..i mean just change the front black plastic part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Well i actually was able to change the digitizer twice. Once when i was rehousing my play, and seconf time when i sold "a spare digitizer" and the client asked me to replace it for him. The second time it was just a 10min job. But first time it was a bit difficult. Trick is to use a hair dryer and just heat up the corners of the screen to loosen the adhesive holding the digitizer with your front part of casing. Just b carefull not to apply much pressure while removing as u might damage something. So keep a soft hand and u r good to go.
 
216Monster

216Monster

Senior Member
Oct 17, 2011
1,233
363
Ohio
mocool05 said:
Hello once again. My parts have just arrived in the mail, im picking it up today. ( I ordered a new digitizer and flex cable-earpiece) anyway, so as I mentioned before, I tore the cable, and in going to need some help please. @216Monster if possible, I could add you on hangouts(gtalk)? Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Been away a while, If you still need help, send me your gtalk in a pm and I will give you hand.
 
G

gamerdell

Member
Feb 25, 2013
7
1
Possible?

I was just wondering friend, is it possible to change the housing without buying a new digitizer screen as in using the one that I currently have. I only have a damaged housing but everything else is still okay. Do share your advice and insight. Thank you and have a nice day. :)
 
C

CZroe

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2011
707
100
Newnan, GA
gamerdell said:
I was just wondering friend, is it possible to change the housing without buying a new digitizer screen as in using the one that I currently have. I only have a damaged housing but everything else is still okay. Do share your advice and insight. Thank you and have a nice day. :)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Yes, but it can be hard to separate without cracking. A heat gun helps but it will ruin the old housing. The other issue is adhesive: The new frame may or may not include replacement adhesive and it may be hard to salvage the old adhesive, especially if the digitizer cracks. When installing into the new frame make sure to align against the top so that there is maximum room for the buttons at the bottom, otherwise, some buttons have a tendency to stick down when you use them.
 
G

gamerdell

Member
Feb 25, 2013
7
1
CZroe said:
Yes, but it can be hard to separate without cracking. A heat gun helps but it will ruin the old housing. The other issue is adhesive: The new frame may or may not include replacement adhesive and it may be hard to salvage the old adhesive, especially if the digitizer cracks. When installing into the new frame make sure to align against the top so that there is maximum room for the buttons at the bottom, otherwise, some buttons have a tendency to stick down when you use them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Thanks for the advice .. still wondering whether to get the orange housing and a new digitizer in this case haha. =)
 
saqibkhan

saqibkhan

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2012
771
310
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
gamerdell said:
Thanks for the advice .. still wondering whether to get the orange housing and a new digitizer in this case haha. =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

hi.. do what did you decide then.. my Play has cracked plastic bits from back casing and front as well.. and Buttons looks old and worn out..

im getting the Full White Housing at 15$ and full Orange Housing at 22$

which do you think is better.. ive never had White before.. can someone having White let me know if it gets dirty very easily.. and paint wearing off.. I don't expect the Housings to be Original for this price though..

What about Orange ?? thnks a lot to all.. I think its the right time to refurbish my Phone.. as the 4.4.4 is Almost ready (wifi bt camera fixed then)for action :p
 
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    216Monster
    216Monster
    This is going to be basically a review, not a tutorial, of what I experienced after I re housed my R800x in white and the steps I went through to get it done, I have no prior knowledge on the process, I simple "went for it" and had success.

    ~~ Please Note: Performing this can seriously damage your phone and if done wrong will possibly permanently destroy your device, please read everything and do everything slowly, Please understand you may attempt this at your own risk, you have been warned! ~~

    For a good understanding on how to tear your Play apart and not break anything check this video out, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3n5ZfkqhzE

    You can find the White Housing I purchased in these 2 links

    The outside of the screen (digitizer) as seen in First photo
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Touch-Scree...&otn=2&po=LVI&ps=63&clkid=7007674525043897251

    The White Housing Top , Middle plate, Control pad plate and Back as seen in the Second and Third photos
    (I have seen a cheaper one since I bought mine, but this is the one I bought)
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/FULL-Housin...500747?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item27bf9d978b

    This link is another R800x thats branded Verizon but I doubt it having the service ribbon sticker (for lack of better words which comes into play later) because they dont show a back view of the Middle plate
    http://cnn.cn/shop/sony-ericsson-xperia-play-cdma-black-housing-verizon-branded-p-12588.html

    After getting your parts and watching the video you should be where I was at in Photo Four, my phone torn down and the new pieces ready to make this r800x look great.

    Photos Five and Six -are close ups reviewing it all.

    Photo Seven - is where I started, the touch joy stick pcb ribbon. It was kinda scary thinking if i rip this thing or pull to much that the touch pads wouldnt work anymore, and thanks to ShadowGun :D I was able to verify they still did. I used the blue tool for prying the phone , to help peal back the ribbon as you see it, you can give it a decent pull with your fingers as you get enough pealed up, try to pull as close to the glued end as possible so you dont risk tearing or something.

    Photos Eight and Nine - I had finished moving the touch pad ribbon to the new white control pad plate and started removing the Menu, Start and Select buttons and transferring them to the white plate. Using the blue tool again sorta scrap up the backing to each of the; Menu and Start and Select buttons, it helps to push from the other side on the button a little. You need to try and not to deform the sticker/glue piece that holds the buttons in place or it might Not stick to good on the new plate, a sweat gripping moment that I first thought would just never work but patience does pay off in this step.

    Photo Ten - it was all done, that piece at least.

    From there I moved onto the the Middle Plate, which required a few steps if you decide you want to swap these out. One in particular that left me clueless for a few days without service, bare with me on this part..

    There is a black Antenna sticker on the Bottom half of the Middle plate on your R800X, which has a gold ribbon on its opposite side that finishes a circuit, without this circuit completed your phone will Not have service and dialing *228 will not work your phone will tell you, in a mans voice "The code you have entered is in-correct please check you code and try again" - The first time I heard that I was thinking hmm thats probably not good and Verizon told me "thats not programmed in our system, you should Never get a msg like that or a mans voice" So I had them send me a replacement ( Of course I didnt mention this was all my fault and I re housed it, and thats the real reason I wouldnt go to the store to have it checked out, but that shouldnt matter right ;) )
    Upon getting the replacement phone I, for somehow the first time, Noticed the black sticker antenna on the back of the Middle plate. I grabbed my original housing and noticed the sticker antenna on it as well, so I pealed that off and revealed, to me which was previously unseen, this gold ribbon connects a circuit with two terminals on the phones mother board. The gold ribbons two ends slide into a slot on the Middle plate, underneath it to make the connection. I replaced this black sticker onto the new White Middle plate because the back of the L1 and R1 triggers are White and they are Black on the original Vz housing.

    Photo Eleven-Shows the back of the New white trigger Middle plate, no black sticker antenna
    Photo Twelve-The Middle plate from the Verizon replacement

    Photos Antenna 2 and Antenna 3-These are the other 2 antennas also needed for service, be sure to pull those off and place them onto the new middle housing of your new phone.

    For the r800i and r800a they have another antenna on the middle plate (I just dont have a photo :crying: I have an r800x) I can tell you at least that if your holding the middle housing and the Antenna 2 is on your right, the r800i/r800a other antenna will be on the left side of the housing.

    Photo Thirteen- I wanted the White triggers so I super glued the black sticker antenna back on, worked out pretty good if you ask me, minus my thumb print of course. .

    Photo Fourteen- I circled the inside area of the Middle plate where the you can see the opposite side of the gold ribbon that makes the connection with the mother board of the phone in the top half and you can see its not on the New Middle plate in the bottom half of the photo.

    If you decide to go ahead and swap the Middle plate, you will need to remove the speakers as well and I cracked my original plate removing the left speaker, they are in there pretty tight, I basically pryed up on them in anyway that I wasn't destroying any part of them. As seen in Photo Fourteen

    In Photo Fifteen I was now ready to replace the Top half of the phone and put the new Digitizer on. You wont need any extra glue here, the New White Half of the housing comes with a clear plastic film on it (sorry I had already removed before I took the photo) that was protecting some glue, thats seems to be holding up pretty good a week later and I dont think it will ever come off. Once you have replace you new Digitizer on the new Top half of the White housing, you are ready to reverse the steps seen in the Video linked at the beginning , once you have completed that you will be enjoying your newly housed in luxurious White and Silver Xperia Play as I am in the Final Photos.

    I hope this helps, this was the first time I tore a phone apart physically and might have my "names of pieces" wrong but I tried to explain it in a way that makes sense and simple to look at. I do wanna make a video or something because I think anyone looking to do this would benefit more from a better "visual tutorial" but I dont have much time as id like to and this should serve good.

    I hope in anyone who decides to go through with this, and enjoys having a white Xperia Play like I have
    View
    5
    H
    Hogwarts
    I would like to fill everyone in on more details of this because I went ahead and begged my mom to buy me the white one since my old one was ruined by my dog.

    I found out that there are more antennas to replace than he is showing you

    The Xperia play actually has 3 antennas

    The largest one he shows in his picture here.
    eYJ3t.png


    This is the antenna for the CDMA / GSM service.

    without it you will see weird errors like roaming (because you can't get a signal)

    You can make a new / stronger one out of aluminum foil but I'll explain how to do that later.

    The second antenna is a piece of brass wire that is sitting above the rocker buttons I'll show you it here.

    bb3Nx.png


    My theory is that this is the WiFi antenna because without the rod and the 3rd antenna I wasn't picking up ANY wireless signals at ALL. NONE.
    not even my house router that is 20 feet away.

    Now onto the last antenna that he never even saw I guess.
    kd0MZ.png


    This one might be the Bluetooth OR another component to the CDMA / GSM antenna array. either way you need this in there

    It peels up very easily just remove it and replace into the new shell.

    Hope this information helps you guys.

    ---------- Post added at 06:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:40 AM ----------

    Oh and here is the end result
    P6mFz.jpg
    View
    3
    216Monster
    216Monster
    jhonecide said:
    hey dude could you tell me how to reassemble the touch digitizer?? do we need adhesive??
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    The digitizer I purchased came with adhesive on the back already , it was protected by a non stick label (like a stamp) and it holds up very well. You will not need any adhesive if you buy from the same vendor I chose.

    wweeguy said:
    Thanks for this.
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    Your most welcome :D

    Blizzard89 said:
    can someone make a complete Video from rehousing the xperia play? i'm really interestet in the Process. My case has some little damages and the Digitizer a splitt
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    I may very well do that, I need to build my nephew an xperia play (for gaming only of course, hes way to young for using a phone) and I need to re house it for him. When I sit down to do the re house I will record it.
    View
    1
    brainard52
    brainard52
    Are there multiple colors of housings available? I'd love to have a purple play ;D
    View
    1
    216Monster
    216Monster
    mocool05 said:
    whew just whet through 14 pages of this thead! paranoid me strikes again. it looks kinda easy but im still slightly worried. gonna try rehousing my play this summer. i know you're probably tired of people posting on a dead thread, but i just wanted to thank you for the detailed break down. i bought an orange housing, if anyone's interested, here is the link. will post screetshots this summer hopefully. thanks again.


    http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Replacement-Orange-Housing-Cover-Case-for-Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-Play-R800-Z1i/290910801016?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D7445912472441885120%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D290910801016%26 (only 13 days left)
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    Not at all ! I love to this that this is still helping people, If you attempt it and have any questions please feel free to post here or pm me! I just rehoused mine and built an Orange one for a co-worker (he is a first time Play owner!) .. I have so many pieces for this phone..

    Again, your welcome!
    View

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