OK, I wish I had pictures to show, but I have none. Sorry. (My phone is my only camera)
So a couple weeks ago I managed to break my digitizer. Thought I would post my experience with replacing it, to better inform those daring enough to try, and to warn off those without the tools to do so.
Tools needed: screwdriver (Phillips head), something to open the case, and aheat gun, and lots of time and patience.
First I ordered in a new screen replacement. It was a touchscreen/LCD package deal. This one: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Orig...-mi-Assembly-with-front-frame/1593196482.html
Then opened the Sim card tray and took out the two screws that must be removed to take the back cover off
Once the back cover is removed, there are to covers to remove, 3 screws on the bottom cover, and I believe 8 on the top cover. Once the covers are removed, there are 2 more holding in the motherboard.
Now for the annoying revelation. You don't swap the screen, you swap everything else to the new screen. Seriously, the frame that the screen is mounted to has everything that isn't screwed to it, glued to it. This is where the heat gun is needed. Heat the parts glued down, and gently pull them up. Then stick them to the new frame. EVERYTHING must be swapped.
The entire process took me about 2 hours to work through and figure out. I broke a connector on the motherboard to the high frequency antenna on the left side of the battery. Phone works without it, but I list 1 signal bar everywhere I go now. I also managed somehow to break the backlight for the buttons at the bottom of the screen, and lastly, I somehow messed up the back camera. Its no longer focused right. I don't see much difference in overall quality between the front and back cameras now.
Will update with links later, and attempt the borrow a camera to get some decent pics to show what all is involved. I've replaced screens before on other devices, but never anything anywhere this complicated before.
So a couple weeks ago I managed to break my digitizer. Thought I would post my experience with replacing it, to better inform those daring enough to try, and to warn off those without the tools to do so.
Tools needed: screwdriver (Phillips head), something to open the case, and aheat gun, and lots of time and patience.
First I ordered in a new screen replacement. It was a touchscreen/LCD package deal. This one: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Orig...-mi-Assembly-with-front-frame/1593196482.html
Then opened the Sim card tray and took out the two screws that must be removed to take the back cover off
Once the back cover is removed, there are to covers to remove, 3 screws on the bottom cover, and I believe 8 on the top cover. Once the covers are removed, there are 2 more holding in the motherboard.
Now for the annoying revelation. You don't swap the screen, you swap everything else to the new screen. Seriously, the frame that the screen is mounted to has everything that isn't screwed to it, glued to it. This is where the heat gun is needed. Heat the parts glued down, and gently pull them up. Then stick them to the new frame. EVERYTHING must be swapped.
The entire process took me about 2 hours to work through and figure out. I broke a connector on the motherboard to the high frequency antenna on the left side of the battery. Phone works without it, but I list 1 signal bar everywhere I go now. I also managed somehow to break the backlight for the buttons at the bottom of the screen, and lastly, I somehow messed up the back camera. Its no longer focused right. I don't see much difference in overall quality between the front and back cameras now.
Will update with links later, and attempt the borrow a camera to get some decent pics to show what all is involved. I've replaced screens before on other devices, but never anything anywhere this complicated before.
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