Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 266

Sort of broken...need suggestions

Well, I'm not sure what happened, but my Visor Deluxe is pretty screwed right now.

No matter where you tape the screen, it thinks you are tapping in the left most inch of the screen. So if I tap an icon on the far right, the one on the far left 'highlights' and launches. If I tap the Calc silkscreen button, it thinks I'm clicking the App silkscreen.....and Find acts like the Menu.

I've completely wiped it (hard reset) but when the digitizer comes up, I tap in the little X over and over and over. Like it's stuck in a loop, but I assume it's just because it can't tell where I'm taping. If I reset again I can get to the app launcher, but can only launch apps that are on the far left.

So, anyone have any ideas? I haven't called Handspring, since I've had it since the Visor first came out. I figure if they are going to charge me for the repair or a new screen, I should just buy a Prism.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions guys......

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Ryan Clayton
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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 121

me too....

I just had exactly the same thing happen to my wife's visor. She said she dropped it and since the "fingernail wedge" on the stylus is broken also, I assume it landed on the upper right hand corner. Same exact symptoms as yours, Ryan. Lemme know if you figured something out.

Dave

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

I think the digitizer is starting to go in my Deluxe as well. The lower left corner, where the view buttons are for DateBook, no longer respond correctly. It is always off the to the right of where I tap. I have had mine since they went available in retail outlets, so I have not called HandSpring either.

I would say get the Prism. Price is awesome for them right now.

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In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2

Registered: Dec 2001
Location:
Posts: 1

I came to this board for this exact same problem !!!

I did a search on "digitizer", and I found a couple of threads where it was suggested that you open the visor and close it back up (unscrew the case, open very carefully, and then close it up and replace the screws). I did it, and it's worked so far (okay, it's only been a few minutes, but it's better than it was). Anyway, it might be worth a shot.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 266

Ok, here's my findings. I opened her up and there is a thin ribbon cable that runs from the front of the screen over the top edge and then behind. It has 4 black traces that I would assume are 2 vertical and 2 horizontal. I assumed this is were the problem was. But since I'm getting a Palm M505 Color...I decided not to go gentle and ripped the white cover off where the ribbon plugs in on the backside. Once I got it open it looked as if the traces had slight corrosion on them. That could have been the problem. If anyone else wants to take the chance, open her up, pull that ribbon out (carefully) and clean the end with rubbing alcohol.....once it dries, put it back in and see what happens. I assume if I had cared more it would have worked.

FYI......LMK

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Ryan Clayton
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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

---

Originally posted by rclayton
pull that ribbon out (carefully) and clean the end with rubbing alcohol

---

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 121

No dice...

Tried all that...no corrosion on the traces, ribbon secured tightly, put all back together and still same results. Any other ideas?
Dave

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If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice...

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 124

I just dropped my Visor Deluxe about 40 minutes ago at a friend's house, and the screen has quit responding to my taps. Everything looks fine, but it won't respond to the stylus at all. I opened the Visor up and looked for broken components or a cracked board, but everything looks fine. I noticed the ribbon cable with the black leads and figured that was the touch screen. I can to the board wondering if anyone knew about any components to look for... I fixed a NEC Moblepro before, I'd like to fix this one as well. I bought my Deluxe from my step-mom, she had pre-ordered it before they came out, so I have also refrained from calling Visor. I just got a Matias Half Keyboard and a dictionary module for christmas, so I don't want to lose my Visor now! For the $85 they want for a new screen, I could add a few bucks and get a new Visor.

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"Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire." - John Parr

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 124

I looked closely at the board, and it looks like the piece the ribbon cable for the digitizer goes into might be cracked. I can't tell if it is a crack or just a ridge from the molding of the plastic piece. If this is difficult to follow it is because I woke up an hour ago and I just lost my Visor, something that has helped me through school and everyday life for the last 5 months. But back to my question... is this a crack or something from the manufacturing process? It is on the outside side of the peice, and looks almost in line with the last pin going into the mb.

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"Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire." - John Parr

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 124

found it

Ok, I found the problem. It isn't anything I think I can fix.... When I droped it it chiped a piece of glass off of the corner of the screen. This part of the screen had a couple leads going through it. Leads that are used for the digitizer. Look's like I'm buying a new PDA. I hope my transcriptions of my experiance can help someone else who might have a simmilar problem.

- I am sorry for all of the spelling mistakes. As you well know, my Visor is dead, so I was not able to look up words on my Dictionary module, as I have grown so fond of doing.

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"Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire." - John Parr

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 1

I had the exact same problem on my Visor Prism and just found the solution a few minutes ago.

A couple days ago the screen stopped responding to my stylus. I could hear it clicking but nothing happened. I finally did a hard reset and when prompted to calibrate the screen it got stuck in a loop, having me click in the center, upper left, lower right, and so on. The warranty ran out the week before!

In any case, I fixed it by accident. I unplugged the power supply but left the Prism sitting in the cradle over the weekend. When I turned it on Monday, the rechargeable battery was completely dead. When I plugged the cradle back in and put the Prism into the cradle, it reset without even turning it on. I was prompted to calibrate the screen and it worked this time.

It looks like doing a hard reset didn't completely clear whatever the problem was, but killing the battery did. Or it was just a fluke. Who knows.

- Rich
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Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 266

Hum, I definately tried leaving the batteries out (I had a Deluxe not the Prism) for over a week....this is after I gave up on the Visor....and came back to it a week or more later. I'm definately sure it was a problem with the ribbon cable......

Anyway....I'm glad to see you got your working again...mine is now in pieces in a ziploc bag as I totaly screwed up the traces on the ribbon cable when I was messing with it. No biggie....it's just more broken than it was before.

I'm just patiently waiting for Sony to release the Clie T615......supposed to be announced today. I love Handsprings products....but I want color and I've never liked the screen on the Prism. To me it looks like it has a very slow refresh rate and almost seems to flicker. But the 320x320 resolution on the Clie is beautiful......

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Ryan Clayton
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Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 251

gethightech.com has replacement glass, etc. for good prices. My coworker here use them once.

Maybe they have what you need.

Rolando

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 266

Thanks for the tip, I'll keep the link.....but I have decided to leave Handspring and go with the Sony Clie. I'm an itching for the announcement of the new T615 at CES today....what time is it in Vegas? hehe

I did just buy the wife an Edge....she didn't want color and loves the form factor....so we aren't a totaly Visorless household. =)

Can I still visit Visorcentral?

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Ryan Clayton
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Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 251

I was leaning toward an Edge, as well. Then, at my local CompUSA, I saw that inexpensive Clie (can't remember the number, but it was only $169.00). It's only slightly thicker than the edge and has the nice jog dial to boot.

Not having any Springboard investment to hold me to Handspring, I think that that entry-level Clie is the one to get if one is on a budget. At least, that would be my pick if my Visor Deluxe broke today.

Rolando

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 266

I just can't do an entry level myself....I'm ready for color....I've been holding out for awhile....and now with the high resolution screen I'm ready. I just couldn't justify why I needed a new PDA with the wife until mine broke (on accident, I swear!)

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Ryan Clayton
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