Screen not working & buttons being pushed when I push the plastic around them

kosstamogen · 02-17-03, 07:14 PM

I was wondering if anybody has experienced similar problems such as these...

If I push on the case, as in the plastic area right around the buttons, it will cause the buttons to be pushed (i.e. "contacts" will come up on the screen or "home" or whatever). When I haven't actually pushed the buttons at all but just squeezed the case a little bit putting pressure in areas around the buttons.
I'd say I'm squeezing about as hard as on a piece of paper if you didn't want somebody to pull it put of your fingers grasp.

OK this isn't a big deal and I can live with it but it is linked to another problem that is a big deal which is that my SCREEN stopped working, not responding to touch. I did reset, hard reset and nothing helped. In frustration I did that squeezing thing (not too hard) around the buttons and I saw a response, meaning contacts come up and I squeezed the top part near the power button and the power would turn off. I tried it a few more times and my screen start working again.

Could it be loose contacts?
Anyone think I should call DELL and get a replacement?

I'm not to happy with this because if it stops working once it will happen again and probably permanently

Anybody have any suggestions on what I should do?

Thanks

Therigwin · 02-17-03, 07:31 PM

call dell

get a replacement!

kosstamogen · 02-17-03, 07:32 PM

ok after thinking about it more it seems like those buttons don't travel very far down as you press them. It makes sense to me lightly pressing the plastic casing right above the button could and does set it off on mine.

What stumps me is why does my screen stop working? I have to apply a little pressure around the screen and then it works. YES it has happened again unfortunately.

I'm thinking I might have to get a replacement.

webster603 · 02-17-03, 07:55 PM

Did you by chance just put a new screen protector on? I purchased the ClearGuard protectors from Newton Electronics, and as soon as I put the first one on my screen completely stopped responding to taps. It would work on the cradle but not off of it. I called Dell and after three hard resets it finally started working again. I read somewhere on this site that some protectors that touch too far down around the screen edge cause the screen to stop responding. I am now using the Dell protectors and have not had a problem since. If you have tried numerous hard resets and it still doesn't work, I would definitely get a replacement. GL!

kosstamogen · 02-18-03, 01:04 PM

WOW WEBSTER....

I do have a non-dell Belkin screen protector that i had to cut with a knife to fit. I gently pushed the extra edges into the bottom of the screen. And I peeled it off and it seems to be working better. I haven't had another situation where the screen stopped working YET, but I will play around some more.

I'm very surprised that a screen protector could cause the screen to stop responding. Thanks for the heads up Webster

webster603 · 02-18-03, 03:21 PM

I am so glad that I was able to help. Hopefully that will be the end of your problem. It does seem odd that a little piece of plastic could cause the screen to stop responding, but in my case and now it sounds like yours, it can very easily happen. I wonder how many replacements have been sent out because of this very thing. GL!!! I hope your new toy keeps working!:D

Deelow · 02-18-03, 04:19 PM

Just this weekend I put on a screen protector that was a hair too long for the screen so I tucked it under the casing. When I turned it on I had the same problem...no response from screen touches. My wife gave me that look like I just wasted $300. LOL, it was funny. Anyway, I took the protector off and all was fine.

You're right webster, I bet they've replaced many Ax's because of this. Heck, I was about the call Dell and request a replacement.

kosstamogen · 02-18-03, 04:30 PM

Thanks very much Webster,
I can't believe that tucking that little bit would affect this thing so much. I was beginning to really get upset. Looks like i'm going to be getting myself some dell screen protectors.

cavuu · 02-18-03, 05:27 PM

The reason this happens is that the screen protector is a little thick and squeezing it between the case and the screen causes pressure on the screen. This is the same as holding your finger down on the screen and then trying to tap somewhere else. The screen protector is causing a continuous tap. I had a sliver of plastic from a homemade protector get caught under the lower left edge. This caused a menu to appear when I squeeezed the case in that area and occasional lockups.

kosstamogen · 02-19-03, 12:55 PM

Thanks Cavuu that makes a lot of sense. After thinking about the problem with what you said it seems to me my d-pad problems could also have been caused by the screen protector being too thick, as the game I play can be control with the screen or the d-pad. So it seems like when the screen is depressed causing the game to move down-left then the d-pad is not responsive. amazing

thanks for your help guys!:)