What causes the RROD?

The Red Ring of Death is typically caused by broken solder joints between the Graphics processor chip and the motherboard. Heat is a major contributing factor to the RROD. Under high temperatures the solder can soften and break away from the board. The motherboard itself is a big contributing factor to this issue. The motherboard under constant high heat can begin to flex or become concave. When this happens it starts to pull away from the rigid chip and break the solder joints between the chip and board. There are some other issues with various chips that can attribute to this issue but the GPU is the most common.

What exactly is an Xbox 360 reball?

In simple terms a reball is when a chip is removed from a motherboard, cleaned, and set up with new solder balls on each contact point of the chip. The chip is then soldered back down to the motherboard. Ball Grid Array or BGA chips are designed in this fashion. The graphics chip on the Xbox is a BGA type chip and can be reballed to fix certain issues like the Red Ring of Death.  From the factory the Xbox GPU is soldered to the motherboard using lead-free solder. Most reball techniques used to repair the GPU issue use lead based solder. The lead-free solder has a different melting temperature, moving to lead based solder generally results in a stronger longer lasting bond between the motherboard and the chip. Reballing is a corrective measure whereas reflowing is a patching method.

What is a reflow?

Reflowing can and does work to fix the Xbox 360 RROD issues. Reflowing is where various chips are brought back to the solder melting temperature in order to rejoin the BGA chips solder balls back to the motherboard. If a reflow is done correctly with the correct tools it is capable of lasting for months to years. This method has been the norm for many repair centers and home repair techs. Equipment and processes however can vary greatly and will provide different results. At Repair Sharks we have engineered a method which has lasted our customers and we cover our work with a two month warranty so customers can have peace of mind.

Why reball over reflow?

Reballing is generally considered a longer lasting repair method. Reflowing works very well if done correctly using the proper equipment but a reball if done correctly can help to alleviate some of the issues that actually cause the RROD to begin with. The move from lead-free to lead based solder is an improvement over the intial design however Microsoft has not corrected their design flaws with the Xbox 360 units. Unfortunately there is no 100% fix for this issue. Xbox users have to deal with the high probability that their console will fail at some point no matter what is done to correct the issue.

Which should I choose, reflow or reball?

Reflow is generally the first choice for repairing the Xbox. The cost associated is generally much less than a Reball due to the time and equipment needed for each process.  Make sure to use a reputable company that has a solid process in place. There are many ways to reflow an Xbox and some will cause more harm than good in the long run.  By talking to a professional technician at Repair Sharks we can help determine which method is best for your situation.  If you’re Xbox has been repaired already and you are experiencing the RROD for a 2nd or 3rd time then many people lean toward a reball service.

Are there any other options for my Xbox 360?

Repair Sharks is now offering enhanced build-ups for the Xbox 360 console. We have introduced two new custom cooling mods that can aid in reducing internal temperatures by up to 8 degrees Celcius. Given the heat issues with the Xbox this is a significant cooling increase over the stock setup. We offer custom internal heat transfer upgrades which draw more heat away from the board and transfer it to the metal housing of the Xbox. Additionally we have introduced a third fan mod into the Xbox which increases airflow draw and push within the console helping to reduce GPU temperatures. The combination of these two mods has proven to work well and Repair Sharks engineered these two mods to work together.  Other repair centers choose to re-wire the main fans so that they operate at 100% all the time rather than variable as the Xbox is originally set up. This causes an extremely high DB of sound emanating from the rear of the Xbox. It becomes unbearable at times the console sounds like a jet engine running next to your TV.

Repair Sharks offers Reflow, Reball, and enhanced cooling mods for the Xbox 360 console. Reflowing is generally a quicker process and can be completed within 1-3 days of receipt. Reballing is a much more involved process in which we take our time to ensure the best possible results. Turn-around time for this service is about 10 business days. We have combo repairs available that include our reflow service with our enhanced cooling mods. This method has proven to work rather well. Repairing the initial problem then adding in additional cooling components helps alleviate the causes of the problem. Once again there is unfortunately no 100% fix for this issue but Repair Sharks is dedicated to providing the best possible service for helping our customers. Feel free to contact us with any questions. You can also visit our Xbox 360 repair page.

Xbox 360 Repair

A screen installation on the iPhone 4 and 4s models requires full disassembly to access the front panel. On top of the many screws that need to be removed, some of which in tricky spots, there is double sided tape holding the glass to the framing. You need to remove this without damaging any underlying components. Some of these components are actually attached to the glass that you are removing and are necessary for reinstallation on the new glass. We see many types of cable tears in various areas of the phone. The home button can tear, the top power button can tear, even when installing a new iPhone front glass if you are not careful you will tear the cables on the new glass LCD and digitizer.

The battery connector on the iPhone 4 and 4s models is rather delicate. We see breakage here quite regularly and even get calls from other shops having issues after breaking this particular connector. Any type of minor board damage can result in a completely useless logic board.

On older iPhones the connectors on the board can become spread apart and not make solid contact with peripheral connectors like the LCD and digitizer. Some of the cabling is intertwined very compactly in the corners of the casing. There aren’t as many screws as an iPhone 4s but 3G and 3Gs models do have a few nuances.

There are many more things to consider when fixing an iPhone so it is important to do all your research. Here is a video below that shows a basic repair on an iPhone 4 AT&T model. Keep in mind that these are just instructional videos and other models such as the Verizon CDMA version and iPhone 4S use different methods.

I was pumping gas at a local station and after I was done I jumped in my car and drove away. It wasn’t until about 10 seconds later that I realized I left my iPhone 4 on my car while I was pumping. Well, the iPhone fell off my car and into the street apparently. When I went back to get it I watched as 4 cars ran over my phone. I honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was shattered beyond belief.  ( James Scara)

James decided to give the Repair Sharks a call and I bet he is glad that he did. James lived in eastern Long Island. He was a bit concerned about making the trip to Western Nassua since he was pretty positive his phone was done for. To make a long story short, somehow we managed to save the entire phone for him. We installed a new front and rear glass housing, changed out his dock and battery. We also had to fix a connector on the board. Miraculously after our repairs the phone worked perfectly. The story he told us had us laughing pretty hard but James was really happy we were able to save his phone.

It’s a great feeling knowing how many people we have helped. From minor issues to major overhauls we have helped thousands of people get back on their feet.  Stories like this always remind us of why we went into business in the first place, to help people. It also gives us something fun to talk about.

iPhone 4S Repair Sharks

As with all our repairs we offer Mail-In service, Drop-Off service, Free Diagnostics, Free Warranty and Free Return Shipping with any repairs we make at Repair Sharks. Give us a call at 516-499-6892 or visit our website at www.repairsharks.com if you need assistance.

We have recently heard of heat issues with the iPad 3. Apparently there are some concerns that the iPad 3 gets hotter than its counterpart the iPad 2. Some tests have shown that the increase in temperature is rather significant after an hour of use. Comparing the new generation model with its predecessor heat concentration profiles is different inside the unit. Thermal tests have shown higher temps with the 3rd gen over the 2nd gen.

Other issues that are becoming apparent with the iPad 3 are its battery charge reporting. Apparently the iPad 3 in its current version and firmware is showing a full battery even though the battery hasn’t fully charged. Testing has shown that to acquire a full charge can take up to 2.5 hours more than what the charge indicator is actually showing. While the iPad 3 is showing a 100% charge it is actually a 90% charge. Although the battery is larger than the iPad 2 the reporting of the battery level is not as accurate as it should be. We don’t know if Apple will ever get this right. It seems like reporting of actual system performance gets cloudy with Apple’s products. Take the iPhone 4 for instance. The iPhone 4 was / is known for reporting false cellular signal strength.

Experts say that the new thermal profile of the iPad 3 is normal and within comfortable operating conditions. Some users have pushed testing to the limit and have noticed the difference from the iPad two but have also noted that it isn’t uncomfortably hot, it is just warm. A lot has to do with the new Retina display as some have noted.  See below for some published thermal graphs that compare the two models.

iPad 3 Heat Profile vs. iPad

The Retina display on the iPad 3 actually uses 2.5 times more backlight power compared to the iPad 2 hence why you see a steady warm area throughout the entire iPad. We are wondering that even though this is working within the thermal limits of the unit how does it affect longevity of the internal components? How will the iPad 3 compare to the iPad 2 in terms of burnout? We will just have to wait and see. Given our inquiries already the front glass will and has cracked so don’t be too surprised if a minor fall causes major issues. As of right now, it doesn’t look like there are many options for reducing the power usage within the iPad 3. Since most computers these days can stay powered on for years without any issues it may prove not to be an issue. We can suggest turning off the display when not in use, turning off wi-fi, killing running applications, and monitoring you’re charging as good things to keep in mind.

If your iPad 1, 2, or 3 does break be sure to give Repair Sharks a call. We have extensive experience working with these units. Our level one and two technicians can resolve

Recently a leaked picture of the new digitizer assembly has surfaced. It looks similar to the iPad 2 but there are a few noticeable differences such as the cable placement.

The new iPad 3 should have a faster processor amongst other things. The addition of an LED based backlight setup is supposed to be used on this model. It doesn’t seem apparent what the processor will be yet as some are stating some new version of the A5 chip or even possibly an A6 chip. If it follows suit with some of the other releases that Apple has done in the past then we may see the same chip in the iPad 3 that will be used with the iPhone 5 when it is released.

Does it pay to upgrade? I guess it really depends on how and what you use the iPad for. The iPad 2 is still a very good device and functions well on the web. A faster setup should allow for even better aps running on the iPad platform. Overall it will be interesting to see how Apple differentiates this from the iPad 2. It’s hard to improve on an already sleek and well performing design.

We will certainly be looking to dissect the iPad 3 when it comes out and engineer a new repair process for the device when it is released. It may take some time for repair parts to surface but given the release of digitizer pictures it looks like some of these parts are already in the works. If you do break your iPad 3 contact us to see if there are repair options available.

iPad 3 Digitizer

Many of you have probably heard the old rice trick. Well we wrote an article on that a few years back and it seemed to spread as a successful post liquid / water damage repair method. In case you want to read about it here it is; Water Removal with Rice . The article does outline a more drastic than normal process for repairing water damage. We originally I heard about the water trick from my grandfather who was a master jewelry designer. He used to repair high end watches and he would use this trick on water damaged watches before he repaired them. It makes perfect sense once you think about it. Rice absorbs water much like the silica packets you find with clothing and products we buy. The only problem with rice though is that it is slow acting and most people can get ahead of themselves and prematurely remove it from the rice in hopes of getting it working.  It could take days to remove all the moisture from a phone using the rice method alone.

Luckily for you we have better equipment these days and can do a more thorough job of repairing water and liquid damaged devices. We recommend taking a few steps that will help raise your success rate for getting the iPhone working again.

Step 1.

• Xxx Do NOT turn on the iPhone!  Xxx
• If the phone is on after the water damage takes place turn it OFF immediately!
• Remove Battery if possible (not recommended for iPhone users, some batteries are difficult to remove without the proper tools)

Phones that are water damaged can still be working properly. The introduction of electricity into the mix of things will just make matters worse. The water can short circuit componentry, cause hot spots, chip cracking, or even accelerate the corrosion process. It is essential that the iPhone is dried and cleaned completely before ANY attempt at turning the phone on is made.

Step 2.

SHAKE IT OUT! Once removed from the soda, juice, coffee, tea, or whatever else it may have ended up in shake it out vigorously. Yes, shake it out. Get all the excess liquid substance away from the phone as quickly as possible.

Step 3.

There are a few things you can do here. If you have a hairdryer handy then we suggest drying it out with a hairdryer for 10-15 minutes. Specifically for such devices as the iPhone 4 and 4S there are a few points that you will want to focus on. The top and bottom of the device are susceptible to water penetration so we usually recommend these areas. Don’t worry about the heat just don’t stick your hairdryer on top of the phone, wave it around slowly like you are drying your hair in the areas on top and bottom of the phone. Do NOT turn on the phone!

While in Miami once I dropped my Motorola Timeport into a bucket of water. It was the only bucket around and my phones just happened to flip out of my hand and land in it. I am not even sure if it was water.  I used to sell Verizon phones back in the day and the Timeport was pretty sick when it came out for those that can remember that far. I was in a pinch and though hey I’m in a hotel and it’s hot and humid. Let me stick this thing by the Air Conditioner for the night. The next day the phone worked fine. My point of that story is to tell you that an AC can help you. It pulls a lot of moisture out of the air.

If you don’t have a hairdryer or AC one of the most tested methods is to use rice as we mentioned above. There are also silica based packs that act as a dehumidifier. These are the packets that come with clothing and inside boxes to keep them dry.  Both of these methods take time.  Don’t be in a rush to fix your phone after liquid damage. Some extra time drying won’t hurt. The components are very intricate and the device has a lot of cabling, water can seep into many areas. If you want to try the rice method check out our write-up linked above.

Step 4.

Step 4 is the most important step in the list. Have a professional look at your iPhone. There is no sense in risking a $600+ iPhone. For the cost of a professional to clean and treat your internal components it might save you a big headache down the line. It is not uncommon for liquid damaged phones to sustain more problems over time. You can never be certain what will happen until it gets professionally inspected. We have seen a lot of phones post water damage have other issues. It may look like it is working correctly but internally be degrading over time. A professional repair center can stop this from happening and extend the life of the iPhone for you.

By following these steps you can minimize the impact that water and liquid damage have on any device. Android phones are no different and similar processes can be followed for all model phones. None of these steps are guaranteed and water can and will cause severe damage if not taken care of properly. We do not recommend opening up your phone but if you have the correct tools and experience you might want to also open the back of your phone and remove the battery if accessible.

In the event that you do have water damage on your iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Android device Repair Sharks can help. We offer water damage repair services for almost all the models we service. Free Diagnostic services are available on our Repair Sharks website.

A lot of avid iPad users like the iPad 1 over the iPad 2 due to the accessibility of jail breaks that the iPad 1 has had. Not until recently have we seen an A5 jailbreak (Absinthe) that actually works. Will this be the change of tide that will move iPad 1 users to the next platform? Possibly, but we still think there is a lot of value in the iPad 1 that a consumer may want to reconsider upgrading to an iPad 2. With talk of the iPad 3 stirring up in news blogs consumers may feel compelled to jump to the new iPad 3 when it is released. It will be interesting to see the market once there is a 3^rd gen model available of this revolutionary tablet. The design has changed drastically from the 1 to the 2 and it is our guess that much of the iPad 2 platform will be transitioned into the iPad 3 models. We still see room for improvement and we believe Apple leaves this gate open for future models, otherwise users would have a hard time justifying the upgrade.

We just repaired an iPad 1 actually that was completely smashed. All 4 corners were damaged severely and the class was actually falling off the device in many areas. We removed the old glass / digitizer, or as we like to call the touch panel, and replaced it with a brand new piece. The corners were repaired individually to allow for the new glass to be installed properly. iPad 1 glass repair is much different than the iPad 2. We wonder what the newest generation will bring to the table.

Due to the complexity of these tablets and the potential for lots of collateral damage we always recommend having a professional repair the iPad 1 or 2. We see many damaged iPads from repair attempts gone bad.  Some of the components are extremely critical to the devices operation and damage to any of the micro sized cables or components can end with a non-working Apple iPad.

Repair Sharks has repair options available for iPad 1 and iPad 2. We will be sure to be re-engineering the repair process for the iPad 3 when it is finally released. If you or a friend needs help getting their iPad repaired give us a call and we can help.

iPad 1 Glass Repair

Android Smartphone Repair Sharks Services

For the last year and a half we have been repairing Android Smartphone Screens. We have been able to handle a wide variety of Android smartphones such including brands as HTC, Samsung, Motorola, and LG. Coming from the world of the iPod and iPhone repair the Android phone design has its ups and downs. Since there are so many flavors of Android phones on the market there are also many different designs used internally. Each manufacturer, and even from model to model in the same line, can have layout changes.  If you look at the iPhone 2G to 3G and 3G to 4G model upgrades this is also the case. The designs internally from generation to generation vary greatly.

Here are some of the major differences between the iPhone and Android design that we regularly see when repairing either device.

1. The internal flex cabling is setup differently. Due to board and battery positioning cabling can vary from model to model. The iPhone 4 for example has an upside down L shaped layout that runs from top to bottom. This allows for a direct connection with minimal cabling for such parts as the LCD and Digitizer screen. Some of the Android models use longer flex cables to make these same connections.
2. Some of the Android phones are available with slide-out keyboards. These keyboards make it tricky to disassemble at times. There are cables that slide with the keyboard and they are generally intertwined with the phones internal framing making it difficult to remove in some models.
3. It looks like overall the entire design approach is different from the iPhone. Many of the connector types are similar but the way they are actually placed inside the casing is completely different. Some of the Android phones remind me of doing iPhone 2G repairs. If anyone has ever tried to repair a 2G iPhone then you are familiar with the difficulties of the design.
4. The screen designs vary from model to model. Some have LCD and Digitizers that are separable newer models like the iPhone 4 and 4s have fused screen designs meaning they come as a single piece from the manufacturer. As a consideration, the screen design can impact the cost of repair in the future and even the cost of insurance.
5. User replaceable battery in Android models vs. non user replaceable in the iPhone. A big difference especially if you plan on keeping your phone for a few years. We replace many iPhone batteries, although it is rather a straightforward repair it should still be performed by a qualified technician.

Overall both the Android and iPhone models are well performing products.  There is a host of other difference obviously and some are more profound than others. It seems like Android phone manufacturers are starting to adapt their design methods to include new innovations in cable and board manufacturing technology.

Android repair services for HTC, LG, Samsung, and Motorola are available in our repair center. Mail-in or walk-in repair services are available for your Android or Apple iPhone 3, 3gs, 4, or 4s. We are always adding new models to our lineup. Visit our website for more information at www.repairsharks.com.  You can also visit our Android Repair page for more information.

Android Repair Information

When your front glass digitizer or LCd cracks on your iPad 2 in most cases the best option is to have it repaired. The cost of replacing the iPad can far exceed the cost of repairing it.  The front glass on an iPad can be replaced safely using new replacement glass and adhesive. The repair must be performed by an experienced technician. An experienced technician will know the proper methods for removing and replacing the damaged components. There are many components that are directly tied to the front glass panel; these components can easily be damaged. The repair can take a technician up to 4 hours depending on how bad your glass and unibody housing is.

Repair Sharks is an experienced iPad Repair center located in Long Island, New York (NY). We accept mail-in and drop-off service 6-days a week.  We have services iPads, iPhones, and iPods from all over the US and internationally. Our services include Free Diagnostics, Insured Return Shipping, and Warranty with our iPad 1 and 2 repair services.

Call us at 516-499-6892 or visit our website www.repairsharks.com for more information or to sign up for our Free Diagnostic Service.

Front Glass, Digitizer, LCD Repair

We do not suggest repairing an Apple iPad 1 or 2 unless you don’t care if you damage it. Once you damage another component it becomes much more involved to get the iPad working again properly. Through doing these repairs we noticed that the glass itself is very dangerous. It can become very sharp and splinter easily during the removal process. Sometimes we repair these using 2 technicians to speed up the repair process depending on how bad the crack is.

Give us a call for any repair questions you have regarding the iPad 1 or 2. We stock glass in both white and black and have performed hundreds of repairs on them.

www.repairsharks.com