What the heck happened to my smart phone?

[flightsimmer]

As this screen shot shows, the upper third of the screen looks like the old time cathode ray tube television screens used to.

The other day I noticed what looked like a wet spot between the glass face and the screen underneath it, about where I put the red dot. The next day the spot was gone but the lines were still there.

What do you think happened to it?

 

[SEIndSAM]

Ellen killed your screen......

 

[451_Detonics]

We told you not to pee on it....

 

[flightsimmer]

Yeah, I figured I'd get some of that.

But really, I know of nothing unusual that happened to it.
I've had it since the HTC, Thunderbolts came out a few years back.

 

[bwframe]

Have you backed up your data and done a factory reset?

 

[flightsimmer]

Have you backed up your data and done a factory reset?

No, but I removed the battery. Other than that, I don't have any idea how to do a factory reset.
I don't see any holes for a reset and the manual doesn't address that.

I think I should let the local Verizon store do something like that.

 

[VUPDblue]

Uncoiled rice?

 

[MontereyC6]

Uncoiled rice?

How do you uncoil rice?

 

[bwframe]

No, but I removed the battery. Other than that, I don't have any idea how to do a factory reset.
I don't see any holes for a reset and the manual doesn't address that.

I think I should let the local Verizon store do something like that.

There might be a moisture indicator somewhere inside your battery compartment. A white adhesive dot that will turn red if moisture has been present.

 

[flightsimmer]

There might be a moisture indicator somewhere inside your battery compartment. A white adhesive dot that will turn red if moisture has been present.

I know for a fact it has never been wet.
The wet looking spot was the only way I knew how to describe it.

 

[bluewraith]

How old is the phone? May have gotten some dust or something inside and shorted something. Things anymore are packed so tight it wouldn't take much to short something out

 

[bwframe]

I know for a fact it has never been wet.
The wet looking spot was the only way I knew how to describe it.

I had that impression. That's why I suggested the reset. Software/firmware issue possibly? Maybe your Verizon guy will know just what to do? It might be worth googling your your phone with some keywords for advice. Normally there is a button or keystroke path.

Moisture is always a concern though. Years ago, I worked warranty service on phones. Lots of phones went belly up from moisture corrosion around the mike (from breath) and headset plug (from any tiny drop of any bit of moisture.)

 

[selinoid44]

Here's one for you. Motorola Droid HD. A great phone until a few weeks ago the internal speaker was vibrating so bad I couldn't understand any incoming calls without the external speaker. Sounded like it was blown. All other speakers are fine. I googled the problem, turns out its not blown. An app was causing the problem. I deleted almost all my apps. Turns out it was the last one I installed. My voice command app. Uninstalled it and the problem is gone. I read other apps can also cause the same issue. Maybe there is a relation with yours leading back to an app.

 

[Fishersjohn48]

Has anyone suggested placing it in uncoiled rice yet?

 

[BiscuitNaBasket]

Has anyone suggested placing it in uncoiled rice yet?

Yes.

Also, I will vouch for this trick. Did it three times with the same flip phone... and it always pulled through. However, I understand that, as the OP stated, his phone never got wet.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Looks like you've lost half the horizontal electrodes for that section. Could be shock breaking loose a batch of bad solder joints, wouldn't even have to be a hard shock, it would accumulate over time. Try banging on it (seriously) in various directions and see if any or all of it comes back, or at least flickers.

 

[1911ly]

My guess is there is pressure on one corner of the display. Lay it flat face down and see if it lays flat. It does not take a lot of pressure to cause that wavy look. The phone probably was dropped or leaned on or sat on. I have seen it before it displays I have worked on. The frame on the phone might be bent.

 

[Shadow8088]

GENERALLY, when we see this at Geek Squad, it's a hardware problem. We always try a factory reset (after the customer has backed up their pics and whatnot) just to rule out software, but every single one I have worked on with this problem has been a hardware issue. Depending on the age of the phone, carrier, etc., it may be time to upgrade. The fix for this problem (if there's actually one available to you) would probably cost you more than the phone is worth.

 

[flightsimmer]

I went ahead and ordered a new digitizer and screen assembly.

 

[flightsimmer]

I installed the new screen/digitizer assembly and it was easy, took only about 15 minutes and it works like new.

The guy at the Verizon store said it was a common problem with older phones, that's why they push newer ones.
What ever.