Root What to do, my screen finally died :(

[mrterry]

Well the day has finally come that the screen on my droid finally went out. Its been bugging out on me for a while now, doing random things as if a ghost were manipulating it. I know this is not entirely uncommon, and I had hoped to eke out another month or so until the sgs2 or bionic actually hit the stores.

Alas my luck ran out today when my phone got splashed at work. Not submerged, just a good splash. I immediately pulled the battery, slid it open and dried it as best I could- for what its worth, not very much water got between the slabs. I let it dry out in some heat for a few hours, put the battery back in, and when it booted the screen had a mighty flicker to it. I saw the boot animation one time as it dimly flickered, and that was it.

Several hours later it still hasn't returned so I have made the assumption that the screen is indeed dead. The phone itself still seems to work, the camera even took a picture (at least it went through the motions and made the right sounds), but the screen is as dead as can be. The capacitive buttons still work, power switch and volume rocker as well, but nary a lumen from the lcd.

So my dilemma is now this: replace the lcd, or upgrade to something I dont really want at this point? Im not super technical with electronics, and the task of replacing the lcd seems daunting. I refuse to buy a new droid to replace it. Ideally, what I would like to do is grab a tbolt or something similar to carry me over until sgs2/bionic finally drop, but I am unsure of vzw's return policy. Will they do a 30-day deal where you can swap/upgrade if you dont like the handset you get? No insurance on the current handset so a claim isnt in the cards. (Wont be making that mistake again.)

Ideas anyone?

 

[mobrienjr]

I believe the return policy is now 14 days, so you might be better off just getting a phone off craigslist or Ebay and then just upgrading when the time comes.

 

[breadnatty08]

Do you have an old phone that you can live with for a few weeks?

 

[PhilosoRaptor]

Last time I talked to a store rep a few months ago about phone returns, there was a restocking fee. I can't remember the exact amount, but I think it was something absurd like $50 or at least $25.

Also, I don't think insurance would have been worth it for the Droid at this point because you would have had to pay a $90 deductible and you can consistently find used Droids in good condition on Craigslist/Ebay for less than $90. This is why I initially get insurance on a phone while it's still new/expensive, but I drop it after several month to a year when used prices start getting close to the deductible.

If I were you and I didn't have an old feature/flip phone to hold me over for a few weeks until the Bionic or Galaxy S2 launches, then I would go ahead and upgrade to a phone of your choice with a new contract, then sell it toward the phone you're actually waiting for when it actually launches.

 

[anadashmaria]

I have exactly this same problem (and I got a free replacement) and my only irrational fear is returning the old phone with all my stuff on it (and I can get the SD card out) but I need to convince myself I haven't saved any images or anything and log out and eradicate all cache settings and then for good measure format the phone a few times. I have 4 days before I need to return my phone. Since I cannot enable USB mode on it I am having a hard time because I want to remotely enable USB mode and don't know how. The other thing I wanted to do is maybe somehow redirect graphics output from the phone to my Computer LCD so I can manipulate stuff that way. Lastly, I would replace my LCD assuming that was all that was wrong and I technically have a replacement with me that I can cannibalize at least temporarily. BUT if someone knew exactly how to do everything through USB that would help. I have no backup assistant installed. The only other option would be a side by side blind button press using my new phone as a guide and just pressing what I think the buttons are on my old one....