[GUIDE] I9000 Screen Replacement

[Taifuuni89]

This topic has clues for replacing the screen. I have not concluded an manual for chancing it yet but reading this whole topic gives you the big picture how it is done. Questions are always welcome and I try to answer them with my knowledge. This 1st post gives you 2 links to follow for pics about changing screen and my own starting point for chancing my own screen.

Has anyone bought and installed a digitizer+screen set which is on sale at ebay? I could not post direct link to ebay because I'm a newbie on these forums. You can find the product searching ebay with these keywords "I9000 digitizer". My galaxy's screen cracked and I need an replacement. Both screen and glass broke. I think that this set includes them both. There is also told in the questions that the set infact includes amoled display and not LCD as the title says.

Second question is that does someone have an service manual somewhere. Would be nice to know how to break apart my phone when replacing screen.

Third question is that doesn't samsung vibrant and galaxy s share the same chassis but different screen with more capacitive buttons. Could it be possible to install vibrant's screen to galaxy s?

PS. The way my galaxy brokedown is very funny. I lay down my phone on the kitchen table and the screen cracked. I was like OMFG when I heard the cracking noise. Phone was like 13 days old. Samsung does not repair it with warranty because they think that it wasn't an manufacturing defect. They said that I have dropped my phone and that's the way it broke. That could not be the case because I handled it like a baby. I would have to pay 255€ for new screen and digitizer. Hell no!! I'm a student so that sum does not fit with my wallet.

New screen installed, see posts http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7683527&postcount=37 and http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7710572&postcount=40

Edit: Ebay's prices have rised noticeable in the last couple of months. At the moment the price for these screens is around 100$. I found this site which sells them for 60£. http://www.shineyourmobile.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=8128

 

[Schmich]

Second question is that does someone have an service manual somewhere. Would be nice to know how to break apart my phone when replacing screen.

There are 2 videos on the net, both on youtube I think. Just search "i9000 Disassembly" and you'll find one of them.


The Galaxy S has a serious design flaw as the glass goes around the home button (and the call ear/speaker) so it's very vulnerable there to shattering. I had my phone in the pocket and suddenly when I take it out I see it cracked right next to the home button. What had I done during the time it got cracked? The only possible explanation was carrying a _small_ speaker that then probably hit it. I was so surprised when I saw it cracked because even a speaker hit, when I lifted it up, is hard to consider cracking the screen.

So international model Galaxy S owners, be careful at the bottom and top of the screen. They're the weak points of the glass. For me only the glass cracked and not the screen so it will be interesting to see how much it will cost to fix.

 

[Taifuuni89]

So international model Galaxy S owners, be careful at the bottom and top of the screen. They're the weak points of the glass. For me only the glass cracked and not the screen so it will be interesting to see how much it will cost to fix.

I think that you can't change only the glass. Amoled screen is so thin and I believe it's glued pretty thight to the glass. Separating them may be impossible without tearing the amoled.

 

[gallaxya]

the same...

i had a similar unfortunate event ... my screen cracked when i hit the phone to the metallic frame of a chair (it slipped out of my hand )...
it cracked exactly like you people said... near the home button.
i ordered the display + digitizer and i anxiously await its arrival to see if i can replace the damaged one.
it is quite tricky to dissassemble the display part but hope to succed...
keep you posted with the outcome
respect

 

[Schmich]

I think that you can't change only the glass. Amoled screen is so thin and I believe it's glued pretty thight to the glass. Separating them may be impossible without tearing the amoled.

Yeah that's my fear but I presume they just heat up the glue. That's how some industries do for other products. I think dental bracers (& its glue) have a different technique as well. So, will be interesting to see.

 

[ivas75]

i ordered the display + digitizer and i anxiously await its arrival to see if i can replace the damaged one.

Where did you order it from?

 

[karakake]

If you were asked to pay more than $250 for screen replacement, then why don't you send it to Samsung in Korea? They will replace your SAMOLED for mere USD $100ish and ship it back to you for free (or may be not). This way you get a genium quality from original manufacturer and absolutely no hassles!

 

[Lamatrast]

I dropped mine from around 4ft onto a concrete floor and its fine. Maybe I just got lucky.

 

[Taifuuni89]

Digitizer+Samoled set ordered from ebay. I should get it in two weeks. If possible I try to take pictures of the changing process and make an manual. I hope it's not glued tight to the chassis.

 

[Will.1]

please do, i have some f***ing little scratches all over the screen, thought it was supposed to be scratch resistant.
Worst part is that it's in it's protective pouch all the time (maybe that's the probleme, dirt/dust might get trapped and rub against the screen).

 

[yrizan]

Got my digitizer and amoled screen t
oday. I will report back if its a hard job or not to replace it.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

 

[Taifuuni89]

Got my digitizer and amoled screen t
oday. I will report back if its a hard job or not to replace it.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

I tried to remove broken screen for 2 hours and no luck. Removing the motherboard is problematic because power button is glued to the chassis so I could only turn the motherboard aside and not remove it completely. I tried also to remove metal edge but I could only separate it from the left and right edge, not from top and bottom. I hope you have better luck and report how you managed to overcome my problems.

 

[yrizan]

I tried to remove broken screen for 2 hours and no luck. Removing the motherboard is problematic because power button is glued to the chassis so I could only turn the motherboard aside and not remove it completely. I tried also to remove metal edge but I could only separate it from the left and right edge, not from top and bottom. I hope you have better luck and report how you managed to overcome my problems.

Sorry to say got in to the same problems
Looks like the phone is build around the screen. Be careful with the metal ring, on top and bottom its between the screen and chassis, so if you brute force to much the screen cracks even more. The screen is glued to the chassis all around with superglue. I am not sure if its even possible to repalce the screen. It let me thinking that samsung wont repair broken galaxys , just replace them.

Ill keep working on the phone and keep trying, but compared to changing the screen on iphone is this like changing the screen on a iphone as a blind man without arms.

People thinking of buying this screen kit on eBay, don't do it. Just contact samsung for a repair.

Ill keep you posted.

 

[yrizan]

I got the screen off.
No need to loosen the metaling ring around. The screen in dropped in the chassis from the front.
On the mainboard, just pop off the screen cable, long and flat next to the SD card slot.

The next step is very strange, just use brute force and crack the screen off the chassis, start from the top

When you get around the home button, be careful. Samsung has clued 2 sensors to the screen and chassis for back and option button. Best thing to do here is bend the screen back a little and cut loos the sensors from the digitizer with a sharp knife/scalpel. Samsung has used insane amount of clue on this phone.

Both the digitizer and amoled screen was clued to the chassis.

The next step is to clean off all the clue, buy loads of glue. Fill the chassis with glue and press the new screen on.

Wish me luck.

Ill keep you posted.

 

[galaxysman]

Making me a bit scared reading this thread, I`ve just bought phone Insurance just in case.Good luck fitting your replacement screens, sounds a bit daunting.

 

[yrizan]

YES!!!

New screen in place and everything is working perfectly. Took about 3 hours first time (give or take). Its possible to do it a lot faster. The biggeste problem is the glue. Melting at about 120 celsius, but i was scared to heat the glas as i didnt know how much heat the mainbord could stand. All in all a pain in the a**, but doable.

I can also confirm this screen from ebay to be an orginal samsung amoled screen.

Best of luck too others trying a screen replace.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

 

[android53]

amoled or samoled though?

 

[yrizan]

My mistake. Its a samoled screen

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

 

[AllGamer]

Awesome!!! thanks for the review

did you manage to snap a few pictures meanwhile you were working in your phone?

 

[yrizan]

Im sorry, no pictures
The charger is missing to my canon camera, new one incomming from ebay. I'll post pictures next time ill change the screen ;-)

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App