Loox 410 screen replacement procedure

[xtonda]

Hi, I own Loox 410 and came across Loox 420 with broken screen, so I wan to take working screen from 410 and place it into 420.

Now I am looking for some sort of service manual or instructions how to disassemble the device and remove screen, from my previous experience with cell phones I know there are some tricks needed sometimes to disassemble devices of this king and I don't want to go blindly inside.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Petr

[Konrad Pierce]

I don't know about the LOOX units, but I'm familiar with the iPAQs that LOOX form factors are (very) loosely based on:

- Back up all the data on the devices, just in case something you do ends up erasing them or forces you to do a complete reset. It's probably a good idea to make sure you have copies of your software, BIOS, whatever you can get, available to work with.
- You need some tools: Torx T5 and/or T6 precision screwdrivers, a Phillips ("+" head) size #000 or #00, and a small flat (dull) knife-blade. Some tweezers, needlenose pliers, or forceps are usually handy, too, if you have difficulty picking up any dropped screws. Make sure everything is non-magnetic, just to be safe. Make sure you take anti-static precautions (like grounding, and using an ESD strap, if you have one), just to be safe, especially when handling the circuit boards.
- Remove the battery. Remove the casing. Essentially remove all the screws you can find, including any under/inside the battery cover. Separate the front and back casings, using the flat tool and wiggling them around and using steady (but gentle) force. Be careful to look for anything like cables, connections, or more screws that might prevent it from separating. Don't use enough force to snap the plastics, especially any tiny "locking clasps" which join the edges, they can be very fragile.
- Disconnect any ribbons or connectors you see on the mainboard; they usually use little slide-bars or such things to allow for easy connect/disconnect.
- Unscrew anything that's holding down the mainboard (and other boards, if any), and gently lift them off; again being careful to disconnect anything that's plugged into them.
- Unscrew and remove the screen. The entire LCM should come off as a single piece.

To reassemble, just reverse the above steps.

I'd recommend taking apart the 420 first, since it's not working anyways so that even if my advice is bad or you make a mistake, you'll still have a working LOOX.

[Konrad Pierce]

Just for emphasis:

Make sure all your tools and surfaces are non-magnetic. Even just moving the parts near a magnet (or a magnet near the parts) can cause real damage to things like the CPU, RAM, ROM, and dedicated (WiFi, BT, IR, GPS, etc) chips through electrical induction. In the case of ROMs, it can range from merely corrupting all your data and/or BIOS all the way to irreversibly permanent destruction.

Make sure you take anti-static precautions. Again, some of the microcircuitry in your PDA can be permanently zorched through - what to you, or anyone else - would be completely invisible undetectably small electrical discharges.

It's not as scary as it seems; just know the risks and be careful. Good luck.

[xtonda]

I have already done the replacement some weeks ago. First I dismantled broken 420 to find out how things are organized inside and, exactly as you said, not to damage working device if something goes wrong.

Although all screws in Loox 400 are for cross shaped screwdriver, I was perfectly able to unscrew all of them with tiny ordinary flat screwdriver. There are two screws hidden under rubber stands at top of back of device.

After realizing that accessing display is quite difficult because I was not able to split front cover from body, something held it in place where audio jack is, I decided that it will be easier and less invasive to take main board from 420 and place it into 410.

So I did complete back up of 410, then unscrewed what was necessary, replaced the board, already knowing what and where is connected, it was easy, quick and clean job. Connected and screwed everything back, used back cover from 420 as well since it holds stylus more securely. Placed battery back, device booted perfectly, to my surprise I was able to restore backup from 410 into 420 without problem. And since that I have perfectly working Loox 420 instead of my 410.