HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Help!

Last night, my N900 was knocked out of my hands by a random stranger swinging arms wildly about in a drunken manner. Phone went flying & hit the ground, guts all spilled out (back fell off and battery on the floor).

All credit to Nokia, there were no signs of any damage once reassembled. In fact it looks perfect, apart from the fact it cracked my LCD touchscreen, so much that it doesn't display anything except beautiful multi-coloured cracked glass pattern.

Primary goal : recover my contacts / address book, buy a replacement / or somehow get Nokia to repair the screen (Nokia HK don't seem know about this model)

Disaster! The phone was still responsive for a little after this (I even sent a text message!) in the tiny corner of the screen where I could just about make out the send button. Now the screen is totally dead, and I can't see the keypad through the crazy colours in order to enter the device pin code to get it to fully boot up.

***
I need to download all my contacts, can I still do this over USB?
Desperately need to download this data... photos etc not as bothered but would be ideal.
***

Any help really really appreciated!

( I did have an older contacts backup but that was on my SD card which maemo kindly wiped randomly (see other thread!) )

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Don't forget you can still plug in the TV-Out cable, though I'm not sure if there's a shortcut on the keyboard to get to the necessary apps (such as backup). If the touchscreen still works, then it'll work perfectly.

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

I would do what unkno said.. OMG! I seriously feel bad for you!!! Man, dropping the N900 is sooooo scaryyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you get it fixed and fix you issue asap! Best of luck!

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

I guess the OP was just unlucky...from one of the drop tests, there were absolutely no physical damage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmSw5lHS1kA

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Good idea... but I'll have to find myself a cable from a shop somewhere... I'm away abroad and didn't think to bring my TV out cable! Hopefully the touchscreen layer of the screen hasn't deteriorated anymore and still works to enter my pin number.

Does anyone know would such a fault be covered under Nokia Warranty? Seems extremely odd that the phone dropped (not with great force) - it looks in completely perfect mint condition.

Question:

Is there anyway to force it into some sort of USB direct mode without entering the pin number? (I recall some sort of USB symbol on boot up in the top right corner... ) or is that only for flashing the device?

Thanks

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Lol that guy in the video is crazy! Mine was dropped from about half that height onto a much less rough surface, and has no scratches... grrrr... everyone drops their phone at some point... just very odd it broke so easily.

My g/f dropped her iphone 3 times and all it's got is some scratched case. Likewise 2 other friends ... scratches....

Build quality issue?

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

I can't see you getting this under warranty: it's a bit like trying to get your car repaired under warranty when a stranger drives into it. If you don't have specific insurance then I would see if your house contents insurance covers it.

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

If the touchscreen is still active, plug in the USB cable and select PC Suite (the button is located in approx. the lower third of the screen, aligned to the center).

Use the synchronize option of the Nokia PC Suite computer program to copy your contacts into one of the supported Outlook or Lotus programs.

If your contacts are stored on the sim you'll need to have entered the sim code to retrieve them, if they're stored on the phone then you should be able to do this without a sim at all (in case you get stuck at the sim lock).

Good luck mate, I hope you're able to recover your contacts!

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Aside from what DanielMartin said, there isn't much you can do unless you have, say, openssh-server installed. If you can navigate the terminal blind (I can), then you can do a lot more, but I'd imagine if you could do that, you wouldn't be asking us... :(
If you tap the next button up from the PC Suite button (on USB connect), then you can grab all your files. Unfortunately, the N900 exports /home/user/MyDocs over USB rather than /home/user (presumably so newbies don't trash all their settings by accident, wondering what the .dotfiles are), so you can't directly access things like contacts using Mass Storage.
Good luck!

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

I've had the exact same thing happen, I can guarantee you it is *not* under warranty, but I can't guarantee they won't *find* it under warranty. Yes it sounds weird. The website says that physical or water damage is not covered by the warranty. They also say they'll send payment options if it is out of warranty and they can fix it. I sent mine in ages ago and it says they're waiting on a replacement device to send me. No payment options, no send it back option, just like that.

I dropped mine from about 3 ft to the floor of the Panera, and it fractured the screen (thankfully only in the corner), but still rendered it very difficult to use. Few things of note: 0 external damage at all, turned off you couldn't tell it was ever dropped. The TV out cabled is VERY USEFUL in these situations. Doing a full back up to the microSD card is also very helpful to preform. And if you choose to send it in, be prepared to A) Pay, or have it shipped back broken. and/or B) Wait. Mine was sent in on the 10th, it is now the 31st.. I've waited 21 days and still haven't gotten it back or gotten word that they have the replacement device. >.<

Here's the Jpeg of the repair status of this morning:

http://wake.ath.cx/n900%20repair.jpg

edit: Here's where you want to go to get it sent out for repair: http://www.nokiausa.com/get-support-...repair-locator

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

I'm not sure what Nokia's policy on this is, but just as an FYI, most companies I've dealt with will make you pay return shipping on a device if they deem the warranty void and you refuse to pay for repair. Something to doublecheck before you send it off...

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

I think the biggest problem is the device pin lock which I foolishly enabled... I suspect (can anyone confirm) I won't be able to use USB networking / SSH / TV OUT, until it's booted past the device lock stage?

Could do with a nice screenshot of where the buttons are for the device lock prompt... I could then print out and overlay it on my touchscreen!!! - any volunteers?

Fingers crossed... else I'll be very very upset :-(

Thanks all for your help.

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

stuff like this makes me worry for the n900

they are sending out new phones for phones that have damaged screens , where is the sense in that??

does this mean there is lack of spares for the n900?? does it mean there are any spare parts for the n900

i really cant believe they would send out a new device for a damged screen it does make me worry a bit

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

TV-Out should work regardless of the pin lock.

@buxz777
Most times, it is more cost efficient to send a new device than to use the manpower and time to repair one.

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

@unkno
Thanks. I'll give it a try, see if I can get a TV-out cable in Hong Kong. I suspect I won't be able to unless there's another Nokia model with similar feature... the cable is proprietary for N900 isn't it.... perhaps I can get it shipped out from UK....

Request:
In the meantime can someone screenshot / photo me the boot-up device pin entry screen? If I can get it booting up, I think I can locate my osso-terminal shortcut blind and bring up usb0 and wifi from command line blind, and get data off the device...

Thanks

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Here you go

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

there should be heaps of cables in HK. The N95 used the same cable...

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

The N900 is easy to open and reassemble, though i have not tried separating LCD from touchscreen. The only hard part is getting hold of a replacement LCD. In many countries, Nokia would be required by consumer law to have replacement parts available.

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Thats interesting, I think they're definitely onto you though. I sent mine in, they received it the 28th and shipped a replacement device the 28th, it's already here in Portland and I can expect it here at my home by Monday the 1st at 3:00 p.m.

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

@MartinNZ
>> there should be heaps of cables in HK. The N95 used the same cable...
Thanks... I was wondering about that if they were the same cable...

Nokia store wanted 260 HKD for it... that's like 20 GBP... ouch! I'll see if I can find it somewhere else ;-)

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

This company has replacement touch screens, front covers etc.

http://www.gerry-mobilfunk.de

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

59.00 € Touchscreen - I hope that includes the LCD!
Just a back cover is €28. Its worse than car parts.

There is some advantage to following the flock and buying a iPhone. parts are cheap and readily available. At least the N900 doesn't have a glass screen. Is the LCD on glass?

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Just for information, and except if your N900 is a stolen one or bought via ebay, there is a video cable included in the box

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Are you saying you got it replaced under warranty? What exactly you said when you send your phone back?

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

I accidentally just stepped on my phone while it was in my pocket and I can't see anything on my screen.

but i can still touch to get to things like answer my phone. Thats weird.

so i think this lets me know the digitizer isnt attached to the lcd screen and hopefully i can just buy an LCD screen and replace it myself. I wish this was under warranty considering the amount i paid for the phone.

I only had it for 4 months

-------
lcd screen:

http://cnn.cn/shop/nokia-n900-screen-p-8736.html

repair guide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVEHm325-z8

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

The LCD and digitzer are 2 separate parts. If you buy a replacement digitizer, make sure you get one with the earpiece on it already.

Only replacing the LCD is very easy. Doing the digitizer is harder since you have to separate the framing. If you can spare the extra $30, just get a new framing (both). Otherwise you will have to reuse it and you will be able to tell they were once separated.

And those drop tests mean nothing. There is 1000's of ways the n900 can land, plus different heights, angles, surfaces, etc. Even something as controlled as driving a car straight into a wall at the same speed won't cause the same damage each time.

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

i was running on the treadmill today at 10mph .... i caught the headphone wire with my hand and my n900 fell about 1 metre to the treadmill then flew off the end at 10mph ..... no damage at all!!!!

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

As heavy as the n900 is, it's pretty durable.

I have dropped mine plenty of times. One of the nasty ones the stylus tensioner broke. But no visible marks. I never did drop it drom 6 feet onto concrete though, most were waist level or less.

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

I think the broken-screens need to get together with the broken USB ports to make one new phone. Spare parts are prohibitively expensive when new N900s are as little as us$400 and dropping.

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

I've dropped mine twice and it's been okay. *knock on wood* But I have noticed that if I tap my finger near the top of the bezel (by the NOKIA logo) it makes a clicking noise. So something's separated. :/

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

are you saying i need to get the digitizer too? i can still touch my screen. its still responsive. i just have to use my tv out cord to my flat screen to look at my phone now.

i have dropped it numerous times and had nothing wrong. but as soon as i step on it changing clothes its done for. lol

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

i damaged my phone last night n there was no fall...

i had kept it in the same pocket as my house keys and somehow the inner touchscreen got damaged. there r no signs of damage on the outer screen or body.

my worries are
1) since i got it from US much before it launched here in India there would be no warranty for sure
2) availability of spares could be an issue
3) time n cost of repair would b very high!!

Re: HELP!!! N900 + pavement = broken screen + live but paralysed phone
 

Also note that you can run terminal by pressing shift+control+X

the video cable can be found even on other devices. go to any audio-video shop, they'll have it. Alas the price will be minimum 8 euros, up to 15 probably.