White screen - slightly different problem

unger76 · 01-14-2008, 04:55

Hi,

I have a white screen problem that I haven't read about yet in the forum:

The screen of my X5L turns white almost every time I turn it on (it used to be only from time to time in the past but now its almost a standard thing to happen).

However when I slide the power button downwards to "hold" and hold it for about 3-5 secondes the device switches of. When I then press the power button again the X5L starts normally.

With that "workaround" I wonder whether my issue is really hardware-related.
Is there anyone else with that specific white screen issue?
I haven't formatted the drive (just removed 5-6 Mb as the harddisk was very full) or updated the firmware yet. Should I try that?

I also wrote to the German Cowon helpdesk a week ago but didn't receive a reply yet.

Thank you very much for your help!
markus

GSV3MiaC · 01-14-2008, 05:48

I'd try updating the firmware, but I suspect it is a hardware problem.

I wonder if the X5 original firmware tries to load something (options file or whatever) from the HDD when it boots, and is failing to do so because the disk is a bit sticky getting spun up? (Obviously the second time getting it moving would be faster and easier).

I don't KNOW mind you, I'm psychically debugging here. 8>. I use the Rockbox firmware which loads nearly everything from the HDD, which might be a big problem if the disk is going bad.
Does it work better on USB power?

unger76 · 01-14-2008, 05:52

Hi,
thanks for your quick reply. With USB it starts immediately without any hassle.
Markus

GSV3MiaC · 01-14-2008, 07:58

Sounds like the disk &/or the battery are getting old and tired then. Unless you want to delve into self-replacement of both (expensive and/or risky), sending the unit back to Cowon for a refurb (and a battery swap) might be the best approach.

How old is it, and have you noticed the battery life getting shorter??

unger76 · 01-14-2008, 08:15

Hm, then I gonna write to the Cowon support again. Thanks again for your help!
The device is about 2 years old. I haven't noticed the battery life getting shorter.

markus

breakfastchef · 01-14-2008, 09:10

GSV3MiaC is probably right that the hard drive or your batteries are wearing out. Two years is about the time you would see the batteries deteriorate significantly.

You could still reformat the hard drive and see if that helps. Remember, a reformat will wipe everything, but the firmware, so back up any files you need.

unger76 · 01-14-2008, 09:51

Thanks!
I assume I have to format the drive anyway before I send the unit to Cowon? So I'll try the reformat.

markus

GSV3MiaC · 01-14-2008, 10:48

You don't have to reformat it before sending it back, but you do need to be aware that anything on it is likely to vanish during their repair efforts (mostly because they'll probably send back a different unit, and they'd reformat and upgrade the firmware anyway I guess).

eejimen · 02-14-2008, 20:34

I too have the white screen of death (WSOD). The player is about 2 yrs old and the battery is now useless. The player is now being used for a portable drive. I just thought my player was slowly dieing. Never really figured out what the problem is but it usually resolved itself. Replacing the battery is now on the agenda. I'll report back if this fixes WSOD.

unger76 · 04-30-2008, 13:02

Hi,

to give you a little update: as everything I could do at home (upgrading the firmware, resetting etc.) didn't help with the white screen I sent the device to Cowon Europe in Germany - twice actually.
The first time they sent the device back with a letter that they didn't see the error as the X5L started normally with them. So I made a video of the error which I sent to them together with the X5L again.

About two weeks later I got the device back - so far up and running perfectly, no white screen.
The letter from Cowon says that the put a new mainboard and a new lcd into my X5L as well as upgraded the firmware (again?).

markus

Tanthalas · 04-30-2008, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by unger76

The letter from Cowon says that the put a new mainboard and a new lcd into my X5L as well as upgraded the firmware (again?).

markus

He'd need to upgrade the firmware again after putting a new mobo in, as the new mobo's ROM would be running the stock firmware.

Glad to hear it's working again for you.

I've had the odd white screen now and again, generally after changing the battery or flicking the power straight after yanking the player out of its cradle. Normally waiting a few seconds and trying again solves the problem.

01-14-2008, 04:55	#1
unger76 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 9	White screen - slightly different problem Hi, I have a white screen problem that I haven't read about yet in the forum: The screen of my X5L turns white almost every time I turn it on (it used to be only from time to time in the past but now its almost a standard thing to happen). However when I slide the power button downwards to "hold" and hold it for about 3-5 secondes the device switches of. When I then press the power button again the X5L starts normally. With that "workaround" I wonder whether my issue is really hardware-related. Is there anyone else with that specific white screen issue? I haven't formatted the drive (just removed 5-6 Mb as the harddisk was very full) or updated the firmware yet. Should I try that? I also wrote to the German Cowon helpdesk a week ago but didn't receive a reply yet. Thank you very much for your help! markus

01-14-2008, 05:48	#2
GSV3MiaC Ancient Cranky Technocrat Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Shropshire, England Posts: 1,348	I'd try updating the firmware, but I suspect it is a hardware problem. I wonder if the X5 original firmware tries to load something (options file or whatever) from the HDD when it boots, and is failing to do so because the disk is a bit sticky getting spun up? (Obviously the second time getting it moving would be faster and easier). I don't KNOW mind you, I'm psychically debugging here. 8>. I use the Rockbox firmware which loads nearly everything from the HDD, which might be a big problem if the disk is going bad. Does it work better on USB power? __________________ iAudio G3 (1GB), M5L (20GB), I7 (8GB) Sennheiser PX100, PMX100, HD595

01-14-2008, 07:58	#4
GSV3MiaC Ancient Cranky Technocrat Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Shropshire, England Posts: 1,348	Sounds like the disk &/or the battery are getting old and tired then. Unless you want to delve into self-replacement of both (expensive and/or risky), sending the unit back to Cowon for a refurb (and a battery swap) might be the best approach. How old is it, and have you noticed the battery life getting shorter?? __________________ iAudio G3 (1GB), M5L (20GB), I7 (8GB) Sennheiser PX100, PMX100, HD595

01-14-2008, 10:48	#8
GSV3MiaC Ancient Cranky Technocrat Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Shropshire, England Posts: 1,348	You don't have to reformat it before sending it back, but you do need to be aware that anything on it is likely to vanish during their repair efforts (mostly because they'll probably send back a different unit, and they'd reformat and upgrade the firmware anyway I guess). __________________ iAudio G3 (1GB), M5L (20GB), I7 (8GB) Sennheiser PX100, PMX100, HD595

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01-14-2008, 05:52	#3
unger76 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 9	Hi, thanks for your quick reply. With USB it starts immediately without any hassle. Markus

01-14-2008, 08:15	#5
unger76 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 9	Hm, then I gonna write to the Cowon support again. Thanks again for your help! The device is about 2 years old. I haven't noticed the battery life getting shorter. markus

01-14-2008, 09:10	#6
breakfastchef Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 773	GSV3MiaC is probably right that the hard drive or your batteries are wearing out. Two years is about the time you would see the batteries deteriorate significantly. You could still reformat the hard drive and see if that helps. Remember, a reformat will wipe everything, but the firmware, so back up any files you need.

01-14-2008, 09:51	#7
unger76 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 9	Thanks! I assume I have to format the drive anyway before I send the unit to Cowon? So I'll try the reformat. markus

02-14-2008, 20:34	#9
eejimen Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 20	I too have the white screen of death (WSOD). The player is about 2 yrs old and the battery is now useless. The player is now being used for a portable drive. I just thought my player was slowly dieing. Never really figured out what the problem is but it usually resolved itself. Replacing the battery is now on the agenda. I'll report back if this fixes WSOD.

04-30-2008, 13:02	#10
unger76 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 9	Hi, to give you a little update: as everything I could do at home (upgrading the firmware, resetting etc.) didn't help with the white screen I sent the device to Cowon Europe in Germany - twice actually. The first time they sent the device back with a letter that they didn't see the error as the X5L started normally with them. So I made a video of the error which I sent to them together with the X5L again. About two weeks later I got the device back - so far up and running perfectly, no white screen. The letter from Cowon says that the put a new mainboard and a new lcd into my X5L as well as upgraded the firmware (again?). markus