Repaired phone will not rotate

[MNKyDeth]

My Droid 2 screen digitizer died after about six months of of use.
I bought a Motorola Devourer to use while I researched parts and for a way to fix my phone.

I found the A955 screen digitizer and a guide online that I followed step by step very carefully to repair my phone. The good news is now my touch screen works again so I can use my phone like I would expect.
During the switch back to my Droid 2 I reset it to factory defaults and re-enabled it on my account.

I did this so it would be like a fresh clean phone again because I could not remember which changes I had done to it. It is currently not rooted and was not rooted when I re-activated it.

My problem is I get the "Welcome to Droid 2" screen. I touch the droid in the middle of the screen. I then skip the "Learn how to use your Droid2" screen.
At this point it wants me to setup my google account. I already have one so I click on sign in. I enter my username and passwd details. Then click on Sign in.

It goes to a screen and says "signing in". It then says "Signed in! Slide keyboard back to continue.

I then close the keyboard so only the screen is showing and my display will not rotate to the non-landscape position.

My phone turns on and is in the landscape postion. It does not matter if I have the keyboard out or put away. My phone will not rotate to the non-landscape screen. At this point I cannot continue or do anything. Shutting off the phone just makes it so I have to re-enter all the information again and end up in the same spot. My repaired droid2 seems to still be broken.

After some searching I find things relating to non rotating home screens and such but my issue is not the same. I cannot even get to the setting tools or home screen to adjust any settings at all.

If there is any info out there that could help me please help me. If you need more info on something specific let me know I will try to get it to you as best I can.

[UrbanBounca]

I used to work on Motorola phones, but haven't touched one since May, 2010. That said, I'm only questioning and hopefully finding a resolution.

When you took the phone apart, do you remember there being a small magnet anywhere in the phone? That's what manufacturers use to help determine whether the phone is open or closed.

[MNKyDeth]

There was a grey possibly metalic pad on the very back of the phone under the first plastic panel you pry up. I replaced that double stick tape, with new tape, not thinking about the grey material.

It doesn't seem to posses any magnetic capabilities although I guess I could be wrong. I still have it and upon carefully prying it off the previous tape a layer seemed to have stuck to the previous tape.

If this is what my problem is I will try to use what I have as it is still in one solid piece minus the layer. If I could find a new piece to replace it that would be great as well.

[UrbanBounca]

Well, it could be magnetic, but in my experience as a technician, I've never seen a "magnetic strip" used in a phone. They're usually very small magnets that sit in part of the casing. Unfortunately, most beginners aren't aware and lose them.

In the following picture, the magnet may have set in one of the two highlighted areas, but again, I've never opened up a Droid 2, so it's all speculation.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[MNKyDeth]

I will definately open my phone back up to check out those locations. Putting the grey pad back in the phone didn't seem to help.

If my magnets are gone. Is it possible to purchase these? Could I do a home brew mod on this some how to mimic those magnets?

If they are still there, most likely they are not hence my issue, what are my options?



Edit:

I was looking over my pieces I replaced. I replaced the digitizer like I said. But, I also replaced the Platic\metal piece that has the verizon logo on it. The top of the phone that the digitizer sticks into, since the plastic had cracked. As I was looking it over I noticed a small round metal piece in it. It is actually a fairly strong magnet. I believe this is what I needed.

Just for reference the part that you have the plastic circles on. The magnet was located on the piece to the right with the verizon logo. The magnet was at the very top just next to the speaker opening on the left hand side. It would be the right hand if the plastic part was flipped over so you were looking at the back side.

I really do appreciate the help and pointing me in the proper direction. I am busy for the rest of today. Not able to take the phone apart. But tomorrow after I get out of work this is the first thing on my list to try. I will let you know how I fared.

[UrbanBounca]

I'm glad I could help, good luck. If you did replace the plastic housing, chances are, the magnet is still stuck in the old broken housing. You can simply remove it from the old housing, and put it back in the new housing. If it's gone, you can find a small low-powered magnet and cut it down to size.

[MNKyDeth]

I decided to cut into my time a bit. But, I put the magnet into the new front panel and the phone works as if it was new. Currently installing apps from the market place and the phone rotates just fine on all screens.

SOLVED

[UrbanBounca]

I decided to cut into my time a bit. But, I put the magnet into the new front panel and the phone works as if it was new. Currently installing apps from the market place and the phone rotates just fine on all screens.

SOLVED

Fantastic! I'm sure this thread will come in handy sometime later as the Droid 2 is a discontinued model, and someone may be wanting to repair theirs.

[nmatias81]

Hello, I'm so happy I saw this post as I have my Droid 2 in pieces right now. I ordered a replacement Digitizer and have received it. I did notice there was some adhesive or glue holding some of the internal parts together and there is a cover for the back antenna that had that thick grey adhesive holding it to the back of the phone. I want to make sure before I put the phone back together that I use the proper adhesive or glue to put the parts back together. I was concerned that there may be some loose pieces if I didn't use some sort of adhesive.

My Droid 2 screen digitizer died after about six months of of use.
I bought a Motorola Devourer to use while I researched parts and for a way to fix my phone.

I found the A955 screen digitizer and a guide online that I followed step by step very carefully to repair my phone. The good news is now my touch screen works again so I can use my phone like I would expect.
During the switch back to my Droid 2 I reset it to factory defaults and re-enabled it on my account.

I did this so it would be like a fresh clean phone again because I could not remember which changes I had done to it. It is currently not rooted and was not rooted when I re-activated it.

My problem is I get the "Welcome to Droid 2" screen. I touch the droid in the middle of the screen. I then skip the "Learn how to use your Droid2" screen.
At this point it wants me to setup my google account. I already have one so I click on sign in. I enter my username and passwd details. Then click on Sign in.

It goes to a screen and says "signing in". It then says "Signed in! Slide keyboard back to continue.

I then close the keyboard so only the screen is showing and my display will not rotate to the non-landscape position.

My phone turns on and is in the landscape postion. It does not matter if I have the keyboard out or put away. My phone will not rotate to the non-landscape screen. At this point I cannot continue or do anything. Shutting off the phone just makes it so I have to re-enter all the information again and end up in the same spot. My repaired droid2 seems to still be broken.

After some searching I find things relating to non rotating home screens and such but my issue is not the same. I cannot even get to the setting tools or home screen to adjust any settings at all.

If there is any info out there that could help me please help me. If you need more info on something specific let me know I will try to get it to you as best I can.

[MNKyDeth]

It is a very thin and clear double sided tape that I used to put the backing back on the phone. Some of the tape inside the phone I didn't replace as I felt it was a bit over used myself.