Database Users

End key button - press hard to register

Recently the end key button on my Titan has become a button that I need to press with a good amount of force on the very left or right side of it to have it work. I have ruled out a ROM problem (was using a prior DCD rom, now using 3.2.6) and I have never dropped my phone or had any extreme pressure/vibrations.
Has anyone else has this happen? The button still sounds like it clicks like all of the other buttons. Are there instructions out there for taking apart the Titan, or at least the front of it?

suprax said:
Recently the end key button on my Titan has become a button that I need to press with a good amount of force on the very left or right side of it to have it work. I have ruled out a ROM problem (was using a prior DCD rom, now using 3.2.6) and I have never dropped my phone or had any extreme pressure/vibrations.
Has anyone else has this happen? The button still sounds like it clicks like all of the other buttons. Are there instructions out there for taking apart the Titan, or at least the front of it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do you carry your phone? My VZW case would press my down arrow in and that caused alot of issues with the arrow. might be your case just wearing it out. remember, you dont have to drop it to wear out the metal contact underneath the button.

blksprk said:
how do you carry your phone? My VZW case would press my down arrow in and that caused alot of issues with the arrow. might be your case just wearing it out. remember, you dont have to drop it to wear out the metal contact underneath the button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I carry is in my right side pocket in my pants, without anything else in there (keys, etc). I've had it since January of this year and babied it pretty well so I'm just surprised that with normal usage the button would become that hard to press.
I guess my options are taking it apart to look or bringing it to Verizon.

i posted a similar thread about the End key not to long ago... I had to press it extra hard to get it to register, then it just finally stopped working... i then had to use the touch screen end button... I got tired of it, so i took it back to sprint and they replaced my Mogul for free (as of 10/27/08). i also had issue with my keyboard, which keep repeating certain letters and having to type very hard to make them work. I searched and found a zip-file program that fixed that issue... but if you cant find a solution to the End Key problem, take it back to the store and let them handle it.

The Titan keyfix cab has fixed many of our problems with the keyboard and hard keys. Worth a shot I guess...

was your phone insured to be replaced?

[DISCUSSION] Back button to touch gesture

Any way to simulate back button function with a touchscreen gesture?
Every time I use the back button i get the feeling next time won't work
Sent from my ROOTED X10i using XDA App

i feel the same :s

I was thinking the same. Even a software key would be nice.

maybe would be a nice idea to implement it by using the light sensor would be easy i think

I'll take anything that gets me off the back button ^^
Sent from my ROOTED X10i using XDA App

100 views and no ones got any ideas?

thor2002ro said:
Every time I use the back button i get the feeling next time won't work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean you get the feeling 'next time won't work' ? Does the key feel flimsy or something?

This would involve very serious Hacking of the Android Framework, which is not doable ATM

synlar said:
What do you mean you get the feeling 'next time won't work' ? Does the key feel flimsy or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no ... its psychological... , I mean what will we do if in a couple of months the button doesn't work any more? the phone becomes unusable... that doesn't sound really good...
sim-value said:
This would involve very serious Hacking of the Android Framework, which is not doable ATM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you mean we cant simulate a lousy button press? or call the back function from a application?

I agree with "thor2002ro" it's wil be fantastic to have "application" to simulate back button function with a touchscreen gesture ( and i think this button he should be visible always on the screen)
PS. sorry for my English

I don't understand why? don't we have a hardware back button?

dan-htc-touch said:
I don't understand why? don't we have a hardware back button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course we have hardware button , but like wrote "thor2002ro " ..every time I use the back button i get the feeling next time won't work ( I now it's stupid feeling )
regards

dan-htc-touch said:
I don't understand why? don't we have a hardware back button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they mean to say - by the prolonged use of the back button, if, in the near future, it dosnt work anymore, then it will be really difficult to use the phone.

main problem hardware buttons can break down really fast..... even faster if SE cheaped out on the button hardware parts(hopping this is not the case...)
and i cant believe its that hard to call the back button function... or if we cant call the function we should be able to simulate a press from /dev....hopping the buttons are "mounted" there

Remember the good old days when phones only had hardware buttons... you could bang on them all day, and never worry about the idea that they might not work all of a sudden...
Now with a touch phone, it just seems that hardware buttons just seem breakable...
Don't get me wrong - I feel exactly the same way, but I just keep reminding myself of the good old days...
Also, try something like AppSwipe - you can close programs with a gesture...
Now is it just me here that thinks the home key is strong enough to last me for ever, but only has a bad feeling about the back key...?

ya but in the old days phones wore cheap and the hardware buttons wore not that good as you say .... i got an old htc vox and couple of buttons i have to bang them with a hammer for them to work .... and the vox isn't that old really 2007 if i remember correctly,
if something like that wore to happen to x10 it will be hell....

Sticking on the topic... I've been doing some tries with Tasker, it allows you tu make gestures based on accelerometers... you can close some programs, lunch some execs, go home... but i didn't see any action for go back....

The back and menu buttons do feel a little fragile and it doesn't help that my first X10's menu button was a little sunken in and spongy.
The button still worked and I pressed it obsessively about 1 million times and it didn't get any worse, but it was a little annoying.
The replacement I got is a lot better but i'm always weary pressing it.
The home/middle button feels solid though.

Mod. edit: not dev related, moved to general
...and maybe later to t&a

i was hopping a dev will help us

The Infamous Unresponsive Digitizier Screen Possibly Solved!

Okay I wasnt going to post about this cause there have been way too many posts and alot of back and forth and debates and even flaming, but I stumbled across something that I think is the cause for MAJORITY of the issues with why we keep having this happen. It Happened to me Today, and I Found the cause.
Before ANYONE Flames me for bringing this up, READ the post, Remember I solved the cause of why it happens to most of us, I dont take responsibility if you choose to take it upon yourself to fix it! And I know 90% of the users are going to tell me I'm wrong or I dont know what I am talking about, so be it.
If you have nothing to add other then flaming the post, just hit the back button and be on your merry way and pretend you never saw it. But I am 98% sure I am right about why its happening!
So if your interested read on:
I actually for the first time had this, and I know this is going to get flamed but its not the Screen thats the problem. And I think (BIG IF) that the dreaded unresponsive screen issue that we keep reading about Majority of them I think is not the screen.
I have 2 HD2s and both have worked flawlessly without any problems, but today I was playing with my test phone that doesnt get used that much and I noticed after installing a new rom that my screen after I played with it for a bit went black (sleep) and when I woke it up it wouldnt respond, first thing that crossed my mind is I just lost my digitizier, and started wondering okay why, I went as far to re-flash WinMo stock HD2 rom, same issue, so I decided its time to find out exactly whats causing this, and I found it. I wasnt going to make a post again cause I figured people would be "Not another thread about this" but I know whats causing the screen issue, at least this is my suspicision and I have temporarily fixed mine.
The problem is HARDWARE, The Culprit: THE END KEY (Red Button)! The Answer to "How or Why": The "End" key is used to turn the phone on and off or to put it in sleep mode, it is the most used key out of all 5 keys, it is used probably 7x more then all the rest, Its used for just about everything, now how does this cause the unresponsive screen? Easy, the phone lock or sleep is associated with this key, Its the only way to make the screen go off other then waiting for the time out period. Because by habit we mostly hit the end key to turn the screen off the phone automatically associates this with locking the phone, once that happens the screen becomes unresponsive because of several reasons: 1) The contact under the actual key has dirt which causes the button to stick in the down position, 2) the contact is bent which the "end" key is pressing down on the contact which is making contact with the board and causing it to be unresponsive, 3) The contact is worn. This is the reason why if you press the end key a few times (anywhere between 2-10) and then try the screen responds, this is cause your "unsticking" the key which then lets the screen respond.
Most of us when we hit the end key press to the far right to avoid hitting the back key (The button with the left arrow) which causes the end button to lean toward the right. But you can wake the phone up with the other 4 keys to the lock screen which will allow you to unlock the phone. As a temporary fix for myself, on my test phone I now make sure to press on the left side of the key to prevent this from happening, since its a test phone I'm not worried, but the real solution is to take the phone apart and clean the underside of the end button, and the actual contact with alcohol to remove the build up of dirt and whatever else. And also if the contact frame is bent to GENTLY bend the right side back up alittle to stop it from happening, or sending it to htc and letting them fix it.
We have to RE-TRAIN ourselves to start using the other keys to wake the phone up and not rely on the end key so much.
Hope this helps anyone finally why we have this problem. And if it works for you then hit the Thanks button

I completely agree with you. I've had the "dead digitizer" since December. It was pretty apparent it was a hardware key problem, as I could generally solve the issue by pressing the "Off" button to turn the screen off, and then one of the other keys (usually the back button, but occasionally one of the others) to wake the screen up, and the digitizer would be alive again.
As I am still under warranty, I sent mine off last week, and expect to hear back within a few days. But if I had the confidence to open it myself, I was sure it would be fixed with a good clean.
Anyway, thanks for crystallizing all this into a post. Thanked!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFO. i have had so much trouble with unresponsive screen after installing typhoon 2.6.3 and it from holding down the red button all the time for install and the past millions times for everything else.

Thanks for the heads up
Sent from my HD2 using XDA App

U maybe be right about why this issue happens but if u rely on other key then will also wear out soon ...
What I did is I remapped my volume up n down keys to power and back button which I believe are the most used in android and then found a app to manage my volume in android that way I don't lose my sound on rhw phone
Also I went ahead and got a another app which places virtual buttons on ur screen so u can use then instead of the actual hardware buttons
For button remapping
get the BUTTONREMAPPER for android and for on screen android buttons get BUTTON SAVIOR
hope this helps
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

Good to know... will now wake my phone up with the green key as its hardly used in Android. Button Savior is a great app, been using it a while now. Took a bit to retrain myself to not use the back key.
Sent from my HD2 using XDA App

i'm going to agree with your hypothesis or at least suspect that dirt is probably a bigger factor than most people think in these cases. i just bought a non-responsive phone today and while i stuck my nail (yes, i should probably clip them) around the edge, in between the screen and housing, i was surprised to see just how much dirt was in between that crack. same with the area around the buttons; there's a lot of grime there.
since i just got the phone i haven't even opened it up but the first thing i'm planning to do is give it a good interior clean around the buttons for sure as that seems to be the sensitive spot. touch screen devices are very delicate and the micro particles of dirt which build up over time probably create a hazard that people really don't really anticipate. compound that with having to mash on those buttons all the time probably crams the debris in there even tighter.
i'll attempt to clean and check the contact as you suggested and will report back if it helped in my case.

About hardware keys:
I don't use them at all, only for wake up the phone (it can be wake up with any key)
There is an app in market called "button saviour" it's just excellent app to keep your hardware keys for a long time

AngelDeath said:
The problem is HARDWARE, The Culprit: THE END KEY (Red Button)! The Answer to "How or Why": The "End" key is used to turn the phone on and off or to put it in sleep mode, it is the most used key out of all 5 keys, it is used probably 7x more then all the rest, Its used for just about everything, now how does this cause the unresponsive screen? Easy, the phone lock or sleep is associated with this key, Its the only way to make the screen go off other then waiting for the time out period. Because by habit we mostly hit the end key to turn the screen off the phone automatically associates this with locking the phone, once that happens the screen becomes unresponsive because of several reasons: 1) The contact under the actual key has dirt which causes the button to stick in the down position, 2) the contact is bent which the "end" key is pressing down on the contact which is making contact with the board and causing it to be unresponsive, 3) The contact is worn. This is the reason why if you press the end key a few times (anywhere between 2-10) and then try the screen responds, this is cause your "unsticking" the key which then lets the screen respond.
Most of us when we hit the end key press to the far right to avoid hitting the back key (The button with the left arrow) which causes the end button to lean toward the right. But you can wake the phone up with the other 4 keys to the lock screen which will allow you to unlock the phone. As a temporary fix for myself, on my test phone I now make sure to press on the left side of the key to prevent this from happening, since its a test phone I'm not worried, but the real solution is to take the phone apart and clean the underside of the end button, and the actual contact with alcohol to remove the build up of dirt and whatever else. And also if the contact frame is bent to GENTLY bend the right side back up alittle to stop it from happening, or sending it to htc and letting them fix it.
We have to RE-TRAIN ourselves to start using the other keys to wake the phone up and not rely on the end key so much.
Hope this helps anyone finally why we have this problem. And if it works for you then hit the Thanks button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just hit d nail on d head pal...My HD2's touchscreen also stopped responding and nothing i did (software-wise) worked...i flashed several WinMo ROMs and Android builds with no luck, till i read somewhere online dat some guy seemed 2 solve his touchscreen issues by installing "CleanRam", ran a level 3 clean up (use MyMobiler for this) and by pressing real hard on the red end key button..I did just dat and voila it works!!
I have a Tmobile HD2 which is no longer covered under warranty and i'm not willing 2 part with almost $200 here 2 have d whole lcd & digitizer replaced...I recollected dat in d forum i read the suggestion from, a lot of ppl came n posed their views on why it's not possible but i tell u it is cuz it worked for me..Nw i'm comfortably dual-booting WinMo & Android via sd. i use "button savior" and "extended control" to navigate and power down/reboot respectively.
Hweva i believe its not a permanent fix as it simply refuses 2 allow me run android full-time thru MAGLDR, & i think i know y..pressing down on d end button 2 launch MAGLDR/CWR options after install messes up d connection with d digitizer underneath and d touch screen thereby causing it 2 fail again when android boots up....I just might try opening it up myself n cleaning dat area up as u suggest but dat'll be when my current fix fails cuz as d saying goes "If it aint broken? then don't fix it"

Just installed Button Remapper, and not to sound like an idiot, but can someone tell me which one I would have to remap to make the volume up key or down key to put the phone to sleep and wake it up, and would that still be able to use the volume key to turn up and down the volume as well?

AngelDeath said:
Just installed Button Remapper, and not to sound like an idiot, but can someone tell me which one I would have to remap to make the volume up key or down key to put the phone to sleep and wake it up, and would that still be able to use the volume key to turn up and down the volume as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm...i don't use d app but from wat i can gather on d dev's thread, you would have 2 remap ur volume keys to "Power"...Also checkout dis review 2 learn hw 2 mk d remapped button work even in sleep-mode.

I can agree but mine's been in twice on repairs with the same error but screen was replaced both times amongst the digitizer, backcover (Can't understand why) and 3 other things were replaced. Buttons weren't replaced.

CaCtuZ123 said:
I can agree but mine's been in twice on repairs with the same error but screen was replaced both times amongst the digitizer, backcover (Can't understand why) and 3 other things were replaced. Buttons weren't replaced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I'm to base how the HD2 is setup internally, they wouldnt replace the buttons, they would replace the contact or contact board under the buttons, remember the buttons are like a keyboard, they dont wear out, its what they push on that gets dirty or worn.

I was traveling and this happen t me and became desperate.
Following the instructions I come to the clear conclusion that our HD2 has this hardware problem.
If I do not use the end call button no issues with the screen, really, no issues.
Hope my feedback will be helpfull as well. Great job done here!

pauloviegas said:
I was traveling and this happen t me and became desperate.
Following the instructions I come to the clear conclusion that our HD2 has this hardware problem.
If I do not use the end call button no issues with the screen, really, no issues.
Hope my feedback will be helpfull as well. Great job done here!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah HTC screwed up on dat...its just as said,1 has 2 be careful n avoid using d red end key button as much as possible 2 enable d device last much longer...And if u do ave 2 use it, press on d left-most part of d key (closer 2 d back arrow button) to get d job done.

I just had this issue happen to me and thought it was my build... But I found another way, I use Cyanogen Mod 7, and in the drag down menu (from the top) I added a sleep option, because thats the only thing I use it for... and I never have a reason to press the end button now.
This is the best thing I have found to fix it without having to remap the buttons

I guess I'm lucky because I have never had a problem with the responsiveness of the touchscreen and/or end button. I got my HD2 a month before TMO release date and trust me it has been thru alot (scratches all over, even a piece of glass missing next to the call button). So my question is how much pressure and wear 'n' tear are you all putting on your end button or phone for that matter?

big3d said:
I just had this issue happen to me and thought it was my build... But I found another way, I use Cyanogen Mod 7, and in the drag down menu (from the top) I added a sleep option, because thats the only thing I use it for... and I never have a reason to press the end button now.
This is the best thing I have found to fix it without having to remap the buttons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can that be done with other roms? And wouldnt a shortcut or a widget on the main screen also work?
on1ydabest said:
I guess I'm lucky because I have never had a problem with the responsiveness of the touchscreen and/or end button. I got my HD2 a month before TMO release date and trust me it has been thru alot (scratches all over, even a piece of glass missing next to the call button). So my question is how much pressure and wear 'n' tear are you all putting on your end button or phone for that matter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all depends really Understand that not all HD2's go thru the same testing process when it comes out of the manufacturer. Also take into consideration that it also depends on how often you flash a rom, if your flashing a rom every day or every week expect that you will shorten the life of the end button, also it doesnt always mean that the button is bad, it could clearly be dirt underneath that could also be causing the issue. And I said the same thing when I saw posts about people saying that android killed their screen. I even responded to it but always maintained it was hardware, even though I didn have the problem, and I bought both my HD2's used in Dec. and the day it happened and I found out why I posted this, if I was to guess, I would say that I probably flashed both my HD2's close to 200 times with different roms, or upgrades, or testing fixes out.
So if your not a flash nut, then your probably safe. There are many factors that can play a role in the end button life cycle, And no two people use their HD2's the exact same way.

the non-responsive touchscreen problem happened to me this morning. I woke up trying to unlock my phone only to find that it would not respond to any touch gestures. I was however able to uninstall HSPL and Flash the stock WM6.5 rom since I was going to T-Mobile to get a replacement. When I took it to T-Mobile the employee resetted the phone by holding the 2 volume buttons and the power button then somehow the touchscreen started to respond to touch again. I was completely puzzled as I thought it was for sure a hardware problem. But now I'm going to flash Android and hopefully the problem will not arise again, if it does, back to T-Mobile I'll go!

What Android really needs is some sort of "X" button, or even a widget on the main screen that you can just tap and put it to sleep. The three most keys used in my opinion is the windows key (Apps that use it for a menu), the back key (Since there is no damn close button), and the end key (sleep, flashing, booting to magdlr).
Some one had a concept here of buttons that looked very similar to The desire HD, the greatest thing would be if someone could make the bottom of the htc sense (app drawer, phone, and the personalize) auto hide and have the desire HD buttons come up with a power button at the end and this way if you hit menu it would bring up the original 3 button screen.

[Q] Best way to use HD2 without buttons? (hard buttons no longer work on my phone.)

So i've been dealing with this for the last week or so and I finally decided to stop searching and scouring the internet and ask for some help from my XDA brethren.
I don't exactly know how or why, but all the hard buttons on my HD2 do not work anymore. Volume up and down, pick up, home, menu, back, and hang up buttons... all not working. They all stopped working at the same time.
I don't really care except for the fact that I cannot wake my phone up after it locks/sleeps. I tried an app called Shake and Wake with no luck. Any sugguestions? or should I just look for a new phone? I really don't want to give up on my HD2... we've been through a lot! Thanks a ton you guys, I really appreciate it.

If I were you I would head on over to the nexus one threads and ask the question.
That phone only has one button, and some folk have had that not work, so they are used to the problem, and I'm sure they will have a solution for you. Worth a try anyway........

Button Savior - free from Market

Jadrobe, I really like button saviour but that still doesn't solve my problem, how do I wake the phone up without any buttons?!!

do your volume buttons work? if so, you could use ButtonRemapper (paid app) to remap one of your volume buttons to work as your power button and do the rest with button savior.

Nope, none of the buttons work!! I'm screwed!

Then yes, you are indeed screwed. Sorry for your misfortune.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

paolovazquez said:
Nope, none of the buttons work!! I'm screwed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much. If you have one working button then you could use an app called "button remapper"

Have you flashed back to stock/something different yet? Seems a touch coincidental that they all go at once. The bottom 5, or the two volume yea, cos they're on two separate input busses, but for both to fail together... not saying it couldn't happen, just saying it could be something else.

If there not working how do you turn on your phone?

When I slide the battery into the phone it automatically boots up as if I pushed in the power button.. it never used to do that before.
And also right after it powers up it sends me straight to slide to shut down which kind of makes me believe I may have the power button stuck on or something? I'm going to try to flash the stock rom and see what happens. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks!

Dude!! Proximity Screen Off (look in Abdroid Themes and Apps sub-forum) could fix you up in combination with button savior !
It has an option to use the prox sensor to put your phone to sleep and to wake it. The downside is it will drain your battery faster than normal because the prox sensor is in use when the screen's off. But it could keep your phone useable til you can get your buttons fixed (probly just your power button is malfunctioning it sounds like to me)
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

Thanks a ton Huggs. I'll definitely look into it, as the main reason I love this phone is for Android roms!
So far i've had good luck with this Winmo 6.5 app. I had to revert to the base/stock Tmo rom and it works okay.
Shake and Wake
http://www.xda-developers.com/windows-mobile/shakenwake-mod-for-hd2/

Anyone a bit annoyed at the lack of sensitivity of the back button on the HTC one?

I really do love the phone, but in find that the back button is a lot less sensitive that I would have liked.
I am coming from a GNex which had all buttons on the screen, and that worked great.
I can get used to not having a centre home button where the HTC logo is, but
I just find this back button a little annoying.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

wyase9 said:
I really do love the phone, but in find that the back button is a lot less sensitive that I would have liked.
I am coming from a GNex which had all buttons on the screen, and that worked great.
I can get used to not having a centre home button where the HTC logo is, but
I just find this back button a little annoying.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought the same but it seems more about hitting the button in the right place. Once you have it sussed it's not a problem

animaleyes76 said:
I thought the same but it seems more about hitting the button in the right place. Once you have it sussed it's not a problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. The area of capacitive sensitivity is just a tiny bit larger than the back button icon itself. This means precise hitting is required. I think they should have made the touch sensitive area larger....

Ahh., I see what you mean. I will have to practice a bit. Yes, it is annoying, but it is just nitpicking a bit, I will have to manage it.
Thanks for the tips
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

animaleyes76 said:
I thought the same but it seems more about hitting the button in the right place. Once you have it sussed it's not a problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly, its just the button seems to be quite small - im not sure if thats a physical thing or a software thing (dont know how those "digitizer" things work) but maybe it can be changed in custom rom? who knows

It is too small then, this is the most annoying thing about this phone...when combined with the three dots, I keep hitting the menu!
I hope this can be improved.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

Well, because you are Nexus user. I am sure you can disable hardware buttons, and use only on-screen. If that is the problem to you.

if you put the vibration mode on it is easier to judge where the home button is ..
settings
sound
and select vibrate on touch
so every time you hit the home button you can physically feel it ... no vibration .. wrong place

sensetivity
Larger button area would make it easier to hit by mistake having just switched from my Desire s I too have found myself tapping the screen trying to get a response but it just takes a little getting used to and after just a few days I'm finding it works almost every time now unless I'm a bit pissed lol