Problems with Samsung u700? Let's fix its flex flat cable!
Samsung U700: Front view of the phone. Pretty nice isn't?
I own a Samsung U700. In my opinion, a part from some little problems (metallic silver edge painting flaking off and the touchscreen buttons sometimes irresponsible or too sensible), I never had something big to complain about in my 9 months with it.
The great stuff from this phone is definitely a great call quality, something which not all phones have. Also notably is its battery life which can last you 4 days of regular usage.
I also appreciate the good PC software which comes with the phone. It's easy to use but full of features. I'm also happy that the phone also works pretty good under Linux with Kmobiletools, a must-have feature for a Linux only guy like me.
Recent issues
In the last month the phone started acting weird. The touchscreen buttons didn't work anymore, it just seemed that the phone would hangs.
I started thinking of some software issues: I hard reseted the phone. Nothing changed. I reinstalled the firmware. Nothing changed. I upgraded the firmware. Nothing changed.
Guess what? It probably wasn't an issue with the firmware. I started thinking that the problem could be hardware.
I started googleing around looking for people with similar issues and I finally understood that the problems could be very well related to some hardware issues.
The Flex Flat Cable
Some users on various forums suggested that my problems could have been related to a damaged Flex Flat Cable.
This is the cable which in the U700 connect the lower part of the phone to the sliding part (with the screen, speaker, camera and touchscreen buttons). All the data such as screen images, camera pictures, speaker sounds pass through this cable from the main board which is located in the lower part of the phone.
Unfortunately, each time one opens the phone, the cable slides between the two part of the phone. In the long term, as the cable is thin and soft and this movement causes frictions between the cable and the parts, the cable consumes itself. the damage of the cable could results in weird effects on the phone.
Some issues that could be related to a flex cable damaged:
- screen: black or reverted image, disturbance
- audio: non working speaker or ringtone
- power button: unable to switch on the phone
- camera: unusable or acting weird
- touchscreen buttons: unusable or acting weird
The funny thing is that, depending on how fast you open the phone, problems can actually be hided as the cable does not break contact.
Another thing to note is that once damage starts it progressively get worst so that you'll get more issue with time. Unfortunately the damage degenerates till a completely broken phone.
In the picture below you can see the detail of my broken flat cable. The silver colored area is where the damage occurred. You can understand how that could impact the data transmitted over the cable.
My Samsung U700 broken flex flat cable: Note the silver colored area. That's the damage. The right connection have been accidentally cut out during the removing, that's why it's missing.
Fixing your Phone
Do you know the good news? Replacing the flex flat cable on your Samsung U700 is possible and actually pretty easy. I replaced the cable by myself and the phone is now working again without any problem at all!
I only tested the following procedure on my Samsung U700, but it will probably work as well on successors phones, such as the the U700 Evo. Please post a comment if you have been successful on other phones.
DISCLAIMER: The following procedure could cause damages to your phone. Opening your phone could break its warranty. Proceed only to your risk and knowing what you are doing.
Needed Tools and Replacing Parts
I suggest you to proceed only once you get all the following tools. They are pretty common tools, if you don't have them you could ask to your friends or family. Ask to the geeky people.
You will need:
- a precision soldering iron
- a precision screwdriver set: you'll mostly need a very thin crosshead screwdriver but I also advice you to have a thin flathead screwdriver. It's pretty useful to separate composing parts joined like "puzzle pieces".
- two Safety pins: one little, the other normal sized. You'll find them useful during the disassembling procedure.
Obviously you will also need a new Flexible flat cable for your Samsung U700. You shouldn't have problems buying one on the internet. I bought mine from ebay, new and sealed, for 10 Euro including shipment. If you are going to buy on ebay just search for u700 flat cable, u700 flex cable or similar.
Disassembling
The first thing you have to do is to disassemble the phone. I found a quite detailed video on youtube made by cr4ig.
You can see the video below:
I have a backup of the video so contact me if for any reason the above video disappears from Youtube.
So, just follow the video above. I haven't got any problems just use the tools and follow the instructions. Remember to always be very gentle: it's a sophisticated device, it can be damaged easily. Be careful in not loosing any screws, they are really little and loosing them is pretty easy.
There's also a part 2 of the disassembling video. You won't need that. It's about disassembling the screen but it's not useful for repairing the cable.
Remove the Damaged Flexible Flat Cable
Samsung U700 flex cable soldering
Once you have followed the video you'll find yourself with the phone disassembled. The bottom part of the phone will no more be connected with the screen part.
The flat cable will be only connected to the screen part. The annoying thing is that it is not only plugged but also soldered to the chip board.
So, you will need to unsolder it out. I suggest you to put your flathead screwdriver below the connection and using the soldering iron melt the soldered zones, they are on the sides of the connection.
Then push the cable away of the connection using the flathead screwdriver while you are melting the soldering. I suggest doing one soldering, push away that side, then the other one.
Insert the new cable
Now you can insert your new cable into its connection to the board. For best results you should solder again the cable. Personally I didn't do that because it looked just pretty stable even without soldering.
Just be sure to insert the cable with the same orientation as in the picture below.
Samsung U700 new flex flat cable: Pay attention to the orientation of the cable. The new cable just looks sexy to me.. seems that it's saying I'll work great! :-)
Insert the bottom chassis
It's now time to add the bottom chassis. The flat cable needs to pass through it. You can see how from the picture below.
Samsung U700 bottom chassis
Plug the CPU circuit board
Next you have to replug the CPU board with the cable. This has to be done with the board upside down. See picture below.
Samsung U700 plugging board
Once you did that flip the CPU board and reinsert it in the plastic chassis.
Samsung U700 flipped board
Final Reassembling
Once you get to this point you are ready to reassemble everything together. It's mostly a matter of following the disassembling video at reverse. You shouldn't have problems.
Screw back the screws into their places, insert the battery, cross your fingers then start the phone.
Conclusions
With this quite simple procedure I've been able to repair a strongly broken and unusable phone. Now it's perfectly working and I'm pretty proud of have it fixed all by myself.
Moreover doing this by myself saved probably quite a good amount of money and saved days (months ?) of service time.
Did it worked? Problems? Let me know!
Then please post a comment below. I'm always glad when people find my posts useful.
If you find any problem following the procedure or you have suggestions to improve it I also suggest you to post a comment below and I'll try to help you.
BATTERY TIME PROBLEM
i replace battery or samsung j700 but battery time is 13 hours
samsung sjh-j700
Ma samsung j-700 goes off and restarts automatically, this happens mostly when im makin calls or vice verse. pliz help
With a problem of this kind,
With a problem of this kind, you can't be 100% sure that it's a flex cable problem.. but it surely worth trying replacing it before getting it to the technical people..
Strange Issue After Switching On The Camera
Hi,
After I replaced the flex cable, my U700 works as new.
But now, when I switch the camera on, the sensor buttons start continuously blinking (sometimes only the "call" sensor button) or even they all become inactive with no light. The camera and the whole software become stuttering and very slow even after sliding the upper panel down and after few seconds the phone returns to its normal working condition.
So, everything works perfectly until I switch the camera on.
I was looking everywhere inside, even put some isolation bands between the plates - the same problem.
Any help and suggestions, please?
Anyone experienced the same problem?
Big thanks in advance!
My screen is broken
Im from kenya.I broke the screen of my phone (samsung U700 and am planning to buy a new screen,is there a way i can tel if the screen is genuine before i buy it ?
I'm not aware of any, sorry.
I'm not aware of any, sorry.
samsung u700 hanging
hi,l have a u700 samsung that is hanging after powering on sometimes it keeps restarting over and over again. am from kenya please assit
the passwors and user name for usb
when i put my usb is asking me password and user name
Never seen this behavior..
Never seen this behavior.. can't help you much on this sorry.
Samsung u700
Sometimes I kind of get the following Error message in my cell "Upload data to pc" on the screen & it hangs the cells(no response to any key)
I showed it to a technician & he is saying that this error is unrepairable:(
PLEASE HELP
Sorry, never had that issue..
Sorry, never had that issue.. can't help you much on this.
unfortunatly my U700 is
unfortunatly my U700 is slightly broken(screen not working) and i am trying to access the files on the phones memory via PC but its just coming up at a modem...can anyone help me with how to access and transfer the files to my PC please?
I think you need to install
I think you need to install the phone software.. there was a cdrom wich accompanied the phone.
Fixed
Thanks alot man for this easy to follow guide, fixed my phone no problems!! One day it just had no sound, did a google found this guide so i hopped on ebay, $3 and a week later phone is fixed, glad its fixed i like this old phone, hacked it and tweaked it a while ago so its just wat i want.
Again Thankyou from downunder!!
Phone
Hi
I own a samsung u700 and it's worked perfectly for nearly a year, then suddenly I couldn't hear any sound from calls, music pr anything. Now two weeks later it just gotten worse, vibration stopped working, can't start or turn it off (and unfortunantly it's turned off, so i can't start it!)
Do you know how much it would cost to get it fixed?
I think that here in Italy it
I think that here in Italy it would cost around 40euro. However, the price strictly depends on where you live.
Help with u600 please!
Hi,
I'm hoping you can help me...I have a samsung u600 whose screen has not been displaying; I was told that the flex needed changing. I am trying to to this myself as it will probably cost more than the phone is worth! I managed to purchase a replacement flex but am having major trouble removing the last screw which holds the chassis. I am using a precision screwdriver set but nothing seems to hold into this last crew...v annoying! Any suggestions gratefully received! Thanks
Can't really suggest much..
Can't really suggest much.. If the screw is one of those external I wouldn't worry doing some extra force on it.. the phone shouldn't get damaged.
If that doesn't work you may willing use some kind of lubricant.. In Italy we have something called Svitol which works pretty well in this situation. Don't know if you have it where you live. Anyway, any lubricant for blocked locks and stuff like that should work.
Let me know how it goes. Good luck.
Fabio
Samsung U700 - No ringing sounds, just vibration
Hi there.
I am an owner of Samsung SGH-U700 and the phone works perfect.
But suddenly the phone stopped producing ringing tone, and when I play a song in the phone nothing is heard. When I call someone, I cannot hear anything but the man on the other side can hear my voice.
That is the only problem I do have.
Please, can you tell me what is the problem and how could I fix it ?
Thank you very much
Bye, Ivan
cable
help me coz i cant get original cable.
just search for u700 flex
just search for u700 flex cable on ebay.. you'll get plenty of results..
if you are not able to do so, let me know what's your country and I'll search a local seller for you.
I cant get original cable for U700
Hi!!, i have a problem with my u700 flex cable Samsung.
I just bought it here in Italy but it looks different fro mthe original i see in the pic u show it.
Please where to find it. I checked in ebay but its not the same.
Do maybe the original is with other name??.
Please help me, thanks,
Alsc
It may be different in looks,
It may be different in looks, but if the connectors are the same and the lenght is >= it should just work.. you might wanna give it a try.
help
okay so i have the sgh-j706 phone from rogers samsung and and theeee end of dissasembling it where are the two hidden screwsss left and right of the camera
They should be behind some
They should be behind some rubber small parts which cover them. Just use your flat screwdriver to remove them.
I can make you a picture of where they are in the U700 to let you understand.. just ask if some pictures would help.
Video U 700
Hi, thnx a lot for all the important info- please e-mail a video.
The video is embedded in the
The video is embedded in the article body.. you should be able to see it without problems. Let me know if you can't.
difficulty in selecting the cable from eBay
when I searched for "u700 flat cable" on eBay.com, its showing many options for this item..out of that all are of varying prices..which one to chose is a difficulty. Also, I m in India, can I get it from some where in India?
If you post the links of the
If you post the links of the items you have doubts I can help you choose the right one. I don't know any India seller of them.
SALAMAT!
Thank you sooooo much! the video and instruction help me a lot.. the phone is my gift to my wife and now am fix'n it for her.. God Speed
samsung u700
hi when i switch my samsung u700 on it say upload data to pc pls help me
Dude, would you please
Dude, would you please elaborate a bit more your issue? I'm not sure I understand.
I had changed my u700 flat cable succsefully
I had my u700 flat cable changed succsefully and every function of the phone is working, thanks so much for the creator of this page...
there is a something i wanna warn u about
at first when i bought the cable it seemed to me that it's not the same with the original one...because it was longer and the contacts were at the same side, but i realised that the lower part of the cable can be bent and remain bented constantly
then the cable will be the same with the original one, ithink they made this bending issue so the cable is little longer so u can install it much easier then bent it after attaching both side
also my original cable wasn't solderd to the board
there is a video that explains flat cable exchanging from a2z
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awgZZCWlL6Y
thanks again
Different lengths and contacts on different sides
I've purchased a flex cable and replaced the broken one with the new one. However, I noticed that the new one is about 1 cm longer than the original cable, which results in the cable being bent (almost folded) when using the sliding mechanism. And because of this folding the phone can not be slid close completely.
Another thing that I realized when removing this new cable again, is that its contacts are not on the same side. Meaning that when you have the cable lying in front of you the contacts on one end will face skywards whereas the contacts on the other end will face down.
On the original cable, the contact strips on both ends are located on the same side of the cable.
In your description you have one image (labeled "Samsung U700 new flex flat cable") in which it looks to me as if your cable has the contacts on the same side (downwards in the picture).
So I'm wondering, do you know whether there are multiple U700 flex cables out there? Or might this be a scam by the online seller I purchased the cable from? Or did Samsung at some point change the design and layout of the phone's inner life (I also found that my phone's cable was not soldered to the board)?
Thanks for your answer.
there is a something i wanna
there is a something i wanna warn u about
at first when i bought the cable it seemed to me that it's not the same with the original one...because it was longer and the contacts were at the same side, but i realised that the lower part of the cable can be bent and remain bented constantly
then the cable will be the same with the original one, ithink they made this bending issue so the cable is little longer so u can install it much easier then bent it after attaching both side
Hi there, the new flex cable
Hi there, the new flex cable I bought was exactly the same of the original one. The contacts are on the same side but when you mount it the cable remains folded so that contact are inverted.
I don't think that Samsung changed the cable or internal design but I don't have any way to verify this. I also think that there is only one U700 cable so probably your seller sold a different model cable.
You can try using that one if this is a viable solution or just order the correct one. Now that you know how the cable looks like mail the seller asking them to verify the cable length and contacts before buying it.
Hope this helps, please add another comment if you need more help.
Thanks
Thanks for your answer.
However, it looks as if there are either multiple (different) versions of the cable available, or lots of eBay sellers are selling wrong parts.
In this picture you can see the front and back of the cable as well as the "U700" print on one end of the cable (this is the cable I ordered and which turned out to be wrong).
I found one or two sellers who seem to be selling the proper cable, so I'm gonna order one of those.
Cheers...
Cannot initialize memory card any more
My Samsung U700 won't initialize its 1gig memory card any more. The memory card was in the phone before but it was taken to a new phone to download images, video clips and music into the new phone, Sony Ericsson. But when inserting it back to the phone it did not initialize it and kept on restarting whenever I try to access any music,video clip or image. But it can only open cards with the lower size, 256mb without any problem. Can you help??
I would suggesting formatting
I would suggesting formatting the memory card. Google for instructions on how to do this. Keep in mind that when you format it you'll loose any data on it, so back it up before formatting it.
Would you happen to remember
Would you happen to remember the seller you bought it from? I bought mines a few months back, and just installed it recently only to find out the seller sold me the wrong flex. And the flex itself was longer than the original.
ur flex cable
Hi,
your flex cable is actually the correct one.
Although it is longer if you fold the end over on itself where the plug attaches you will find that the length is in fact correct and the design has changed maybe for mechanical strength.
Have a play with it compare with the old one u will work it out
have a good one
Totalcon
I checked on my past emails.
I checked on my past emails. It's called vitacell and it's an Italian seller.
I don't know if they still sell it nor if they provide international shipping. I would look for a local ebay seller though.
Hope this helps, good luck.
please help.. different phone but same problem
I have a Pantech Duo c810. this phone slides horizontally to expose a qwerty keypad and vertically to expose a number keypad. but it is not supposed to open horizontally and vertically at the same time. Last night it fell really hard and the battery flew out and the phone slid open both horizontally and vertically. when i finally got it to close i realize i cudnt power it on and i noticed the flex ribbon stickin out.
could the flexi ribbon be the real reason it isnt powering on or something else?
and to replace the flexi ribbon do i need to get a pantech flexi ribbon or any1 will do
plz help!! :(
Sure it could be a flexible
Sure it could be a flexible cable problem. You need the specific flexible cable for your phone, you can't use a generic one.
broken flex cable
Hi there, just read your advice and I indeed have all the problems you described (first no sound, than my screen sometimes went to black, and than my screen nor my touch buttons worked when I turn it on.)
I already bought a new phone, but I was wondering If I could fix it temporary without replacing the flex cable, so I could transfer some data (contacts, pictures) to my pc. Thanx
I don't know any temporary
I don't know any temporary fix. But you should be able to use the USB cable to connect the phone to your PC even if it is starting to give you flexible cable problems. Just attach it to the PC and from the Samsung software you should be able to access your contacts, picturs, etc..
U700 not coming ON after changing the flat cable
I bought a new flat cable after finding tha my U700 cable was damaged.I change the cable but now the screen is not coming ON only the buttons are coming on.
The power on button, the
The power on button, the keyboard, the battery are all on the same part of the phone. While the screen and the joystick wheel are on a different one. This two parts are connected by the flat flex cable. If your screen doesn't turn on and your joystick keyboard neither.. well you either installed the new flexible cable incorrectly or your cable is damaged. If you still have the older one around you could try reinserting the older one and see what happens.
Hope this helps.
NO RINGER SOUND and VIBRATION
Hi,thx for providing procedure to fix the flex.I did the same as described but there is no sound as well as vibration. I changed three flex cables but nothing positive else phone is working nice. Pleeeeeeeeeese help
Thx in advance
What problems did you phone
What problems did you phone have before changing the flex cable?
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