Replacing Digitizer

[GeekMom]

Hi!

I am looking for a little moral support. Next week, as soon as the part arrives, I'll be replacing the Digitizer on my x5.

I've built & refurbished several PCs in the past, but this will be my first time "going in" on a PDA.

The online directions w/photos for doing these seem to me to be very straight forward. I'm just looking for any additional advise/cautions from those who have ""gone inside" their Axim x5s.

Also, while I have it open, any preventive maintenance advise? I thought I'd go ahead and wrap the cable which sometimes gets worn by the mail button.

I read at the other Axim site about someone modding their dpad button to make it less flimsy - has anyone here done that? It's not a huge priority for me, I'm not really into games, but I would like a little better responsiveness when reading ebooks, if it's not too difficult.

Thanks in advance!

[Perryinva]

Hardest part is keeping dust out. I havn't done an X5 digitizer, but I have done an NEC P-300. Get a can of Spaire (dry "air" in a can) Use it to gingerly blow away dust. Don't use too much or you will get liquid spray which leaves marks. Really helps to keep dust away. Use an old well washed t-shirt to work on. NO paper towels. I did replace my whole screen, so I've had the unit apart. I'd definitly do the electrical tape on the ribbon trick, always worth it. Be careful when you take the halves apart, as the red plastic IRDA piece on top is sort of tucked/latched to the bottom half, and it is easily broken off. You sort of have to slide it down and unlatch at the same time. Don't forget to unhook the tiny wire for the tiny speaker. Real PITA. I did the D-pad mod and didn't like it at all, things kept accidentally geting picked. So I bent the little copper spring behind the D-pad, and now it's less sensitive than it was before I screwed with it. Be wary of that one!

[Drifter]

I've posted this a few times, but here goes.

If yout axim x5 is stuck on screen align, the following are instructions to take it apart and fix the problem.

These are my own instructions and are built up after a lot of experience of fixing x5's

You need the following items.

Small cross head screwdriver, small containor to save screws etc, small clean piece of plastic, a pin, insulation tape.

Remove the main battery,the backup battery and any CF, SD cards or filling strips.

Carefully pull off the two top rubber feet and stick them loosely down on the piece of plactic ( be careful you want them to remain sticky so you can use them again.. If not, have some thin double sided tape handy - glue will not do it).

Under the feet, you will see small screws, undo and remove these, place them safely in your containor.

At the bottom of the axim , you will see two screws that are normally hidden by the main battery, unscrew these and place them in the containor.

Each side of the main battery compartment, you will see a small black rubber plug pushed flush to the surface, use your pin to carefully remove these and expose two more screws. Save the rubber bungs in your containor.
Unscrew these two screws and again save them.

Carefully pull away the two side rubber grips, use the pin to start you at the bottom pointed end. (Take care as you need these to remain sticky). Place these face up on your clean plastic.

Starting at the bottom of the X5, by the connectors, use a credit card or finger nail (- I use the latter), to split the case by depressing the latches that are between the top and bottom case. TAKE care not to break them.

Use the credit card or finger nail to carefully open the case all the way arround on both sides and lift away the rear case.

Look at the bottom left of the exposed motherboard. You will see a very small clear plastic connector with two small wires. This is the speaker cable, carefully disconnect this from the motherboard.

With the axim face down, lift the motherboard up by the bottom connector to approx 20 degrees and pull backwards. It may help to hold the top of the case and pull this carefully away from the motherbord so that the speaker connection is free.

You should now have the motherboard, screen assembly clear of the case.

Turn the assembly over so that the screen is upwards. It is a good time now to fully clean the screen.

Bottom right/middle of the screen is a clear plastic ribbon with 4 stripes in (above a red brown ribbon cable). If you look, on the left of this, you will see a small depression, possibly even bare metal. It is this giving the problems. Cut a piece of insulation tape approx 1/4 inch wide and place this to cover all or at least the left edge of the ribbon cable ( you can wrap it under the cable also).

Some people prefer to remove the screen assembly to fix the cable. It is not essential If you choose to remove the screen, the following steps ( optional) are added.

Turn over the assembly so that the screen is away from you. On each side their are 2 small plastic clips that hold the screen against the motherboard. CAREFULLY prise one top clip away from the motherboard and push( or pull) the the motherboard/screen appart. Repeat on the other 3 clips until the MB/screen are seperated.. Careflully turn over the assembly and hinge the screen forwards by the bottom. Support this well, you do not want to break a cable.

Their are 3 connectors. The large left connector holds the cable by a strip on plastic that has a grey handle each side. Lift these handles TOGETHER ( you risk breaking the strip if you do one at a time.. my first axim died this way).
The two other cables are held by a similar arrangement, but the cable is released by pushing the handles towards the bottom connector on the motherboard.

The screen should now be free.

Repair the worn cable as previously stated

Reassemble in the reverse order., and remember the speaker cable.