GUIDE to replacing x51v DIGITIZER?

[MonarchX]

Is there a detailed guide about how replace the digitizer on your own?

I don't even see easy to access screws on my Axim....


Also, is $60 for a digitizer an overkill?

[bigbop]

Do a search for my earlier posts - I've posted about 3 detailed sets of instructions for this in the past year in this and the sub forums. I paid around $50 for mine, new, from Dell Axim X50v & X51v (VGA) Digitizer/GlasstopNOT FOR THE AXIM X50: PDAparts is the Palm Treo, HP iPAQ, Blackberry, iPhone, PDA Parts and Repair Specialist
They only ship within the US though.

You need a T5 Torx screwdriver and very small philips and slot drivers.
The screws are under the rubber feet.

Good luck

[MonarchX]

Do a search for my earlier posts - I've posted about 3 detailed sets of instructions for this in the past year in this and the sub forums. I paid around $50 for mine, new, from Dell Axim X50v & X51v (VGA) Digitizer/GlasstopNOT FOR THE AXIM X50: PDAparts is the Palm Treo, HP iPAQ, Blackberry, iPhone, PDA Parts and Repair Specialist
They only ship within the US though.

You need a T5 Torx screwdriver and very small philips and slot drivers.
The screws are under the rubber feet.

Good luck

Slot drivers?

[MonarchX]

I ordered a digitizer from eBay for some $8 (plus $8 shipping). I hope it was not a scam (its from China/Hong Kong and takes 2 weeks to arrive). I also ordered a T5 Torx screw driver.


Why are there such huge price difference? $8 from China, and $50 from USA?!!


I don't have any SLOT drivers... is that OK? Don't even know what that is...

[bigbop]

I ordered a digitizer from eBay for some $8 (plus $8 shipping). I hope it was not a scam (its from China/Hong Kong and takes 2 weeks to arrive). I also ordered a T5 Torx screw driver.


Why are there such huge price difference? $8 from China, and $50 from USA?!!


I don't have any SLOT drivers... is that OK? Don't even know what that is...

Slot screwdriver = flat blade screwdriver
You use it for gently prying stuff. You'll probably need one that is really small - get a kit of "jewelers screwdrivers" at your local Radioshack or dollar store.

You will also need a very sharp X-acto knife with a fine tip - used for slicing the old digitizer from the metal frame it's bonded to.

Did you find any of my posts on how to replace the digitizer?

[MonarchX]

Slot screwdriver = flat blade screwdriver
You use it for gently prying stuff. You'll probably need one that is really small - get a kit of "jewelers screwdrivers" at your local Radioshack or dollar store.

You will also need a very sharp X-acto knife with a fine tip - used for slicing the old digitizer from the metal frame it's bonded to.

Did you find any of my posts on how to replace the digitizer?

I saw a guide somewhere... I think I got the correct instructments at this point, but its no problem. There are packages for $8 that have just the right stuff.


Do you think this is legit - LCD Touch Screen Digitizer for Dell Axim X50U X50V X51V - eBay Other Mobile Phone Accessories, Mobile Phone Accessories, Mobile Home Phones (end time 20-Sep-07 10:26:54 BST) ???


Awful cheap and says NEW digitizer! But I think since they are MADE in China then its cheap for them to sell it!

[bigbop]

I've been buying 'cheap' parts from a few ebay stores in Hong Kong and Tiawan without issue. I've never purchased the cheap digitizer before, so I can't comment on that. You just need to take your time when replacing the digitizer - I've done 3 now. The first was not pleasant, as I scratched the LCD surface. This happened when I tried to cut off the digitizer from the LCD frame while it was still on the LCD assy.
After that, I discovered that you can gently pry the metal frame off the front of the LCD assy, then cut the digitizer off of it. That is the safest way.
Of course, the trick is removing the metal frome from the LCD assy very gently by prying back the sides of the frame.
Also, you need to have a can of compressed air so you can blow all dust off the surfaces before your re-assemble. If you blow on it, you stand a good chance of getting spit on the surface - been there, done that ;)

[MonarchX]

I've been buying 'cheap' parts from a few ebay stores in Hong Kong and Tiawan without issue. I've never purchased the cheap digitizer before, so I can't comment on that. You just need to take your time when replacing the digitizer - I've done 3 now. The first was not pleasant, as I scratched the LCD surface. This happened when I tried to cut off the digitizer from the LCD frame while it was still on the LCD assy.
After that, I discovered that you can gently pry the metal frame off the front of the LCD assy, then cut the digitizer off of it. That is the safest way.
Of course, the trick is removing the metal frome from the LCD assy very gently by prying back the sides of the frame.
Also, you need to have a can of compressed air so you can blow all dust off the surfaces before your re-assemble. If you blow on it, you stand a good chance of getting spit on the surface - been there, done that ;)

OK...please link me to your guide again! I don't want to risk. I've micro soldering and things of that nature, so I have faith!

BTW, any idea how long digitizers take to replace? After a year or so they will start getting misaligned again, right?

[bigbop]

OK...please link me to your guide again! I don't want to risk. I've micro soldering and things of that nature, so I have faith!

BTW, any idea how long digitizers take to replace? After a year or so they will start getting misaligned again, right?

With proper care, digitizers will last the life of the PDA. I've never had to replace an existing digitizer except for cracked ones.
You just need to remember to keep chemicals, sharp objects, dirt and liquids away from them.

Personally, I wipe the tip of my stylus with my finger and wipe the surface of the touchscreen with a kleenex tissue (and my hot breath) everytime I start using my PDA in the morning and I check the surface of the touchscreen throughout the day to make sure there is no dirt on it. I've made it a habit. I also have a screen protector as well on a couple of my units.

Look here for instructions: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/1007230-post8.html

[MonarchX]

With proper care, digitizers will last the life of the PDA. I've never had to replace an existing digitizer except for cracked ones.
You just need to remember to keep chemicals, sharp objects, dirt and liquids away from them.

Personally, I wipe the tip of my stylus with my finger and wipe the surface of the touchscreen with a kleenex tissue (and my hot breath) everytime I start using my PDA in the morning and I check the surface of the touchscreen throughout the day to make sure there is no dirt on it. I've made it a habit. I also have a screen protector as well on a couple of my units.

Look here for instructions: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/1007230-post8.html

Mine was always always clean and had a protector on the screen.

However, some spots are dead and there is much misalignment..


BTW, does it mean I need a new screen protector now (since I am replacing my digitizer). I have a one-time use only protector...

[bigbop]

Mine was always always clean and had a protector on the screen.

However, some spots are dead and there is much misalignment..


BTW, does it mean I need a new screen protector now (since I am replacing my digitizer). I have a one-time use only protector...

Get a new screen protector.

By the way - you can screw up your touch surface if you install a screen protector incorrectly or remove it incorrectly.

When applying a screen protector, none of it should touch the sides of the case around the display. In fact, there needs to be a clean gap between the top surface of the digitizer and the case that surrounds the LCD display. One problem users have is they get a very small amount of dirt stuck between the case edge and the touchscreen - just enough to press on the touchscreen and screw up it's output.

Many digitizer issues have been fixed by taking apart the PDA and cleaning the underside of the case opening around the display as well as the touchscreen surface itself. Then, taking care to re-assemble and verify the gap around the display edges. You should be able to place the edge of a piece of paper in the gap and slide it along without any sticking.

When removing a screen protector, you must NEVER just pull it off. It needs to be peeled back very slowly, making sure that you slide your finger along on the actual touch surface to keep it from pulling away too far from its glass base. just yanking a screen protector off (especially the cheap ones) can pull the top of the touchscreen out so far, it breaks or cracks the electrical contacts along the edges of the digitizer assembly.

You can check your digitizer with this utility: Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine Forum - Digitizer Check for Pocket PC, FREE app

You can also look at my instructions for replacing the digitizer:
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/x50-h...ml#post1125033

Good Luck!

[MonarchX]

Get a new screen protector.

By the way - you can screw up your touch surface if you install a screen protector incorrectly or remove it incorrectly.

When applying a screen protector, none of it should touch the sides of the case around the display. In fact, there needs to be a clean gap between the top surface of the digitizer and the case that surrounds the LCD display. One problem users have is they get a very small amount of dirt stuck between the case edge and the touchscreen - just enough to press on the touchscreen and screw up it's output.

Many digitizer issues have been fixed by taking apart the PDA and cleaning the underside of the case opening around the display as well as the touchscreen surface itself. Then, taking care to re-assemble and verify the gap around the display edges. You should be able to place the edge of a piece of paper in the gap and slide it along without any sticking.

When removing a screen protector, you must NEVER just pull it off. It needs to be peeled back very slowly, making sure that you slide your finger along on the actual touch surface to keep it from pulling away too far from its glass base. just yanking a screen protector off (especially the cheap ones) can pull the top of the touchscreen out so far, it breaks or cracks the electrical contacts along the edges of the digitizer assembly.

You can check your digitizer with this utility: Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine Forum - Digitizer Check for Pocket PC, FREE app

You can also look at my instructions for replacing the digitizer:
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/x50-h...ml#post1125033

Good Luck!

Thanks so much! I also have another question - how to deal with those soft screw covers that are glued on top of the screws? When I try to take mine out, they tear and I am afraid I won't be able to put them back in and make them stay!

Do I need some kind of a glue for that?

[japasco]

Simply excelent!!!!! I have change my ROM from english A12 to spanish A04.

Thanks so much!!!

[bigbop]

Thanks so much! I also have another question - how to deal with those soft screw covers that are glued on top of the screws? When I try to take mine out, they tear and I am afraid I won't be able to put them back in and make them stay!

Do I need some kind of a glue for that?

I slowly peeled mine back just enough to get the screws out then let them down in order to keep them in place. Don't super-glue them or they will need to be destroyed to get them off. Just use a small dab of rubber cement.

[MonarchX]

I slowly peeled mine back just enough to get the screws out then let them down in order to keep them in place. Don't super-glue them or they will need to be destroyed to get them off. Just use a small dab of rubber cement.

Oh yeah, I get it. It will work for big pads, but not for the tiny ones (but I guess they are not that important). I was thinking of using some simple glue or double-sided tape.



There is such a difference here. I spent $20 overall to replace a ditizer and PDA Repairs would charge me about $180!