2nd Gen Ipod Touch screen just went dim

Question

2nd Gen Ipod Touch screen just went dim

On my 2nd gen ipod touch my screen just went dark, no "backlight" or brightness. I'vwe turned off the auto brightness, I've restored the whole ipod and I am running iOS4.1. Up until today I have had no problem like this. I, of course, can't find anything on the forums similar to this. When I bring the ipod out of sleep I have a lit screen until I slide the bar to unlock, then boom no light. If I catch the screen in the right light I can see the apps, but other than that, NO Deal. Is there a fix??? Is anyone else having this problem???

thanks
Tim

eMac 800mhz, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Dell Windows XP

Posted on Nov 4, 2010 6:33 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 31, 2011 7:18 AM in response to Tim Reisinger

I had the same problem with my 2nd gen. touch & here's my fix.

My problem was a hardware issue as the fix indicated. Most likely "chip creep", whereas a connection worked its way out.

After viewing some disassembled pics from the net, I saw that there is a flat ribbon cable that connects the backlight to a logic board, which I can only suspect worked-out, being I did not remove cover.

Fix - I layed the ipod glass side down on a towel down on a hard flat surface (so not over-flex the LCD, glass or circuit board,etc) using my thumb, applied enough pressure to moderatley flex the rear cover to re-insert the connection. I pressed 5 places. 1st at the very center, then 4 "corners" at about an inch down from the top & bottom & 3/4" from the sides. flipped it over & screen was lit like new.

FYI: Apple does have some support here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2771, but they do not address hardware issues for this.

Caution: Dont press crazy hard as this may or may not work for you.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL

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Answer 2

Nov 5, 2010 7:51 AM in response to Tim Reisinger

The Same thing has happened to my 2nd generation iPod Touch. I tried restoring it a few times and the backlight still will not work. I also tried putting the ipod in recovery mode then restoring it, but that did not help at all. I also reset it in it's settings menu, with no luck.

Can anyone help with this situation?

-Not Jailbroken, iOS 4

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Answer 3

Jan 3, 2011 5:19 PM in response to Tim Reisinger

Mine is having a similar problem. But it's always dim now. It started by going dim just a few times. Now it won't go back to bright. Luckily I got a extended warranty through the store I bought it from since mine expired a few weeks after I had the problem. Now it's just a matter of sending it in and dealing with not having it for awhile.

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Answer 4

Feb 28, 2011 2:32 PM in response to Tim Reisinger

now we're going into March and my ipod touch is still randomly going dark. I'm onto OS 4.2.1 and I keep hoping that each new OS is going to fix it, but still no luck. I have reset and restored it numerous times and it still is doing it. It even does it while plugged into the computer, it flashes on when it gets plugged in then goes dark, no backlight.

do Apple techs ever look through these forums??

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Answer 5

Feb 28, 2011 2:55 PM in response to Tim Reisinger

I have now tried turning off all of my apps and resetting my ipod and still no backlight. I wonder if it is something in OS4 or one the apps that they included in the OS?? I don't have any use for GameCenter and I would like to be able to turn that one off to see if it fixes it, but I understand that there is no way to get rid of Gamecenter...Why??

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Answer 6

Feb 28, 2011 3:09 PM in response to Tim Reisinger

I can't believe that I have to pay $29 to have somebody tell me on the phone that there is nothing they can do. I can't even send some tech head an email telling him the problem and have him give me some ideas as to how to fix it. is it all a ploy to get people to buy new devices??

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Answer 7

Mar 4, 2011 10:30 AM in response to Tim Reisinger

Same Problem here. running 4.2.1 and screen randomly went super dark. restarted, updated, restored, etc. nothing helped. It spontaneously recovered once after 4 hours and was fine for about 20 hours and then went dim again and has stayed that way for 2 days and counting.

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Answer 8

May 3, 2011 5:22 AM in response to Tim Reisinger

Well, I think it is fixed or I have gone the longest amount of time with the screen not going dim, no thanks to Apple.

I went as far as trying to jailbreak my ipod and "downgrading" to iOS3. I got it jailbrokenm but could not downgrade to anything, so I went back to iOS4.2.1. It actually worked worse while jailbroken, the screen never lit up. The "fix" came about when I created a whole new library for the ipod, loaded a fresh download of iOS4.2.1 and took all of the extra apps off and so far the screen has been staying lit all the time. the only thing i can think off was that there was something wrong with library file. Now if Apple could come up with an easy was for me to have my ipod open the new library when connected istead of me having to do the Shift+click method, becasue I am not sure if it is safe to delete the original library file.

Anyone having the same problem try creating a new iTunes library and copying your music files over, hopefully it helps you too.

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Answer 9

May 23, 2011 4:12 PM in response to Tim Reisinger

Well.... almost 3 wks of nice bright screen, just went dim. I made the mistake of putting some apps back on since it was working. So ,1)start removing apps, nothing...2) reset, nothing...3) finally, restore andstart out as a new user, don't use back up!!!!, back to nice bright screen. I think I prefer bright screen to apps.

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Answer 10

Jun 26, 2011 11:49 AM in response to tonyfromwichita

unfortunately this little fix stopped working for me and now I am back to a non-lit screen. I have tried everything that I can and still no luck. what is really sad is that I still don't see any other ideas from Apple, I guess they never look at this forums.

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Answer 11

May 6, 2012 11:21 AM in response to Tim Reisinger

I have exactly the same problem and mine has been dim for about a year and a half now and I have just about managed. I read somewhere on the internet that it is a problem with the backlight, and because this is built into the screen you need to replace the whole screen. I don't know if this is right but it is about the only proper solution I have found on the internet.

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Answer 12

tgtbq

Level 1

0 points

Jun 14, 2012 4:06 PM in response to Tim Reisinger

markfromperkasies fix did work on my ipod touch 2nd generation. Also, the reason it does this is because the backlight wire is loose. if you take it to a repair shop it will cost you over a 100 dollars to fix it. like i said markfromperkasie's idea worked perfectly and once you get the back light working again you just have to care for it very carefully, dont drop it or throw it, dont even throw it on something that is soft like a pile clothes or your bed even. eventually you will have to replace it.

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Answer 13

Sep 22, 2012 7:03 AM in response to Tim Reisinger

I have recently started using my ipod touch 2nd gen again, with ios 4.2.1 already onboard. Fine for about a week then last night dark screen, no extended warranty so came here for answers.

Wondered if alternative to opening up device is available yet

Restored via itunes today but no backlight still

Any advice would be a great help

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Answer 14

Sep 26, 2012 1:16 PM in response to Tim Reisinger

Try holding the power button and home button together until it asks you to shut the ipod touch off. DONT TURN IT OFF THOUGH! CANCEL AND GO BACK TO THE HOME SCREEN AFTER. Wait about two minutes then press the home button. It should be nice and bright again. I was just trying stuff and that worked. I hope this helps :-) if not I hope you do find a way to fix it :-)

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Answer 15

Sep 26, 2012 1:16 PM in response to meddler23

Try holding the power button and home button together until it asks you to shut the ipod touch off. DONT TURN IT OFF THOUGH! CANCEL AND GO BACK TO THE HOME SCREEN AFTER. Wait about two minutes then press the home button. It should be nice and bright again. I was just trying stuff and that worked. I hope this helps :-) if not I hope you do find a way to fix it :-)

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