Anyone has experience replacing iPad glass/screen ?

[level42]

I don't think there is one piece of technology that gets more use in our home (and all over the place) than my iPad. I take it with me to work every day, and I travel al around the country. It is being moved countless times and all went fine.

Last friday, while in the hallway, my wife handed it to me after she got it out of the car. It was pretty cold and well, either she didn't confirm I had it completely in my hands, or it was the other way around but....it fell on the floor. Not it's first fall, but definitely it's highest and the landing zone were the tiles in the hallway...and no protective cover around it...

I will leave out the responses from both sides to keep things nice here, but yes, the glass was cracked on the top side. It works fine other wise though, for all you Apple haters....

Anyway, naturally I googled around. Looks like having it repaired is min. 150 Euro, but checking E-bay I noticed the screens themselves seem to be quite cheap (around $20 !!!!)
Also found plenty of youtube videos how to replace it and it doesn't look too bad to do, but I wonder the following things:

- is there any quality differences between those glasses/screens/digitizers ?
- did anyway do this job around here already and how did it go ?

[anunaki]

I've  never done this, but my girlfriends Iphone had a new screen twice: 1st time in a repair store for 107 euro, 2nd on the big market in Rotterdam for 30 euro.

We can't see any difference in quality, maybe it's an option for you? If you want I can ask my father in law where to do it. He's working for the company that organises the market.

[liquidx]

I did it for a friend. It's not super easy as there is glue and some fragile ribbon cables there, but it can be done. I just followed a video on youtube.
On top of the actual screen part you need some special tools but you can buy those at the same source as the screen usually.

To be honest, even though it went well, it was a bit stressful (not being mine didn't help) and I think I might just pay someone to do it if it happened to mine. After all, these people do it all the time and know the moves.

Also, this was an ipad2, no idea what an ipad3 is like for this.

[Blanka]

Guess it also matters which one you have. The newer ones have a sealed screen/glass plate.
Check ifixit.com for very good instruction videos.

[level42]

Wow 30 is very Patrick....

Yeah I watched a couple of videos, not easy, but not impossible either. I've opened the iMac many that I used to have a couple of times (no not because of problems, because of HD replacement (bigger& faster) and memory upgrade and at first I was a bit scary about that too but once done, it was actually quite easy...

I'll just order a screen with some tools and take the dip....

[Etienne MacGyver]

I'll just order a screen with some tools and take the dip....

Thats the spirit ! 

Thats the way i remember you   

[level42]

Puh, it's not that hard at all. I'm half-way through it though....

Turns out there is a kind of "gasket" or "bezel" (Plastic strip) around the edge and some people say you can remove the glass and leave this bezel undamaged, but I think that is only for the really experienced guys. At least, I damaged it. No biggie, ordered a replacement for 8 euro's at the same shop I bought the replacement glass.

Anyway getting it open with the special tool was pretty easy. I did watch a couple of videos before doing it of course. The area's you need to be very carefull is with the 3G and WiFi antennas, you need to look under the glass and make sure they are separated from the glass. I used my x-acto knife to do the antennas, much sharper and flatter than the special tool

I also took a lot of care in removing any adhesive remainders, these might hinder a good bond for the new adhesives.

Anyway, tomorrow I'll receive the bezel than I can do the total re-assembly. IMHO they should really advice to get both the digiter and the bezel in one go, esp. if it's the first time you do it.

I followed this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR0RPcQWpt4

This one has some nice tips too, especially the one about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tOOltJw4C8

Also this is nice to know where to place all those 3M adhesives....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G-OCx6a7cA

[level42]

I've done it. The end-result is still a bit uncertain, depending on how well the new adhesives will work...I put the iPad under a small stack of books and some extra weight for the night....

Although the process of re-assembling it is pretty straight-forward there are some pitfalls.

First of all is that the digitizer (that's how they call the glass/touch-screen combo these days) that I bought didn't come with pre-installed adhesives. So you have to figure out yourself where all the parts go....this helped however: http://www.ipadscreenrepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/iPad-2-Screen-W-Adhesive-Installed.jpg

However, I did first follow some other instructions which showed to put theme on the ipad case first, I can tell you DON'T ! Luckily I only had to get off one piece but still....

There was one moment of shock during the process. I had connected the new digitizer flex cable, and also reconnected the LCD and put it loosely on the iPad. Then I tried to power it up. Although I did notice some action on the screen, the back-light didn't turn on !
I googled around and feared I would have to replace a SMD part or do a jumper wire, but in the end it was very simple: I had forgotten to do a hard reset. I had to press the home button together with the one on top together for 20 seconds. After that the Apple logo re-appeared brightly which gave me a lot of relieve, soldering SMD is definitely not my hobby.....

Anyway, turned it on, tried the digitizer and it works great ! WiFi worked too, so I was confident enough to permenantly install the digitizer.

...and now.......we wait.