Hardware I just bought a replacement top screen. Everything but the new screen works now.

[CIH137]

I bought this. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EP17RGK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

I replaced it and now when I turn on my 3dsxl The sound comes on and the bottom screen has the menu and everything. Everything is responsive and I can even play games as if I could see them, but I can't.


I have checked the cables so many times. So my question is, is the screen itself broken or is it possible that I overlooked something.

I still have my old screen and I plan to try it eventually to see what the issue is, but for now I feel like waiting instead of spending another 2 hrs to do that.

Edit: to clarify the top screen turns on but it is just black.

 

[elmoemo]

I would try your old screen, if it works then the new screen could be dead (I've had dead screens for iPhones)

 

[SmileCitrus]

Are you sure there aren't any tears in the ribbon cable? Even a teeny tiny tear could cause the upper screen to only show solid black. This could also occur if there is damage to the connector for the upper screen.

Even if your old screen is cracked it can help you diagnose the problem, since if you get anything other than a solid black upper screen with the old one installed, you know the mainboard is fine and the new screen is likely the problem.

 

[loco365]

Are you sure there aren't any tears in the ribbon cable? Even a teeny tiny tear could cause the upper screen to only show solid black. This could also occur if there is damage to the connector for the upper screen.

Even if your old screen is cracked it can help you diagnose the problem, since if you get anything other than a solid black upper screen with the old one installed, you know the mainboard is fine and the new screen is likely the problem.

If there's a tear in the ribbon cable, wouldn't it then be faulty hardware and therefore fail the power-on self test all DS models have?

 

[CIH137]

If there's a tear in the ribbon cable, wouldn't it then be faulty hardware and therefore fail the power-on self test all DS models have?

I think you are correct from what I have seen in other posts. I think if something is wrong then both screens don't work. I bought the warranty so I think I'll file a claim in the mean time and see what that gets me. I might try the old screen tomorrow but school just started so I might be too lazy to do anything else.

 

[loco365]

I think you are correct from what I have seen in other posts. I think if something is wrong then both screens don't work. I bought the warranty so I think I'll file a claim in the mean time and see what that gets me. I might try the old screen tomorrow but school just started so I might be too lazy to do anything else.

If you bought extended warranty at a store, you're seriously ripping yourself off. They'll just replace the product - they don't do system transfers. However, since Nintendo does the NNID thing, you may be able to unlink your current NNID and link it to the new one that you get, and transfer your purchases, if you've made any, to the new system.

I know this because I was required to sell them at Target and I don't like them in the least.

 

[CIH137]

If you bought extended warranty at a store, you're seriously ripping yourself off. They'll just replace the product - they don't do system transfers. However, since Nintendo does the NNID thing, you may be able to unlink your current NNID and link it to the new one that you get, and transfer your purchases, if you've made any, to the new system.

I know this because I was required to sell them at Target and I don't like them in the least.

I actually meant on the screen. I figured if I broke it once I might again so I got a 2 year warranty on the top screen. it was $2 and I guess it worked out.

 

[SmileCitrus]

If there's a tear in the ribbon cable, wouldn't it then be faulty hardware and therefore fail the power-on self test all DS models have?

No, it'll still function the way CIH137 describes. A 3DS XL will power on fine even if there is no upper LCD connected at all. Of course, you won't see any image on the upper screen, but the system will still boot and work normally even if the upper LCD is disconnected or if the ribbon cable is torn.

What you might be thinking of is that if the backlight cable for the lower screen (P12 connector on the board) or the speaker/backlight/3D slider cable (P7 on the board) is damaged, then the system won't boot. The one backlight that is properly connected will flash briefly and the speaker will make a popping sound. But the LCDs themselves don't need to be connected for the system to boot.

 

[CIH137]

No, it'll still function the way CIH137 describes. A 3DS XL will power on fine even if there is no upper LCD connected at all. Of course, you won't see any image on the upper screen, but the system will still boot and work normally even if the upper LCD is disconnected or if the ribbon cable is torn in half.

What you might be thinking of is that if the backlight cable for the lower screen (P12 connector on the board) or the speaker/backlight/3D slider cable (P7 on the board) is damaged, then the system won't boot. The one backlight that is properly connected will flash briefly and the speaker will make a popping sound. But the LCDs themselves don't need to be connected for the system to boot.

The top screen turns on and is black (just the light coming from it really). Do I only need to check the ribbon going to the top LCD? I have checked the connection to the mother board many times and I think it is fine. Do I need to check other ribbons or the other side of the ribbon? Will it still work or should I get another?

 

[SmileCitrus]

The top screen turns on and is black (just the light coming from it really). Do I only need to check the ribbon going to the top LCD? I have checked the connection to the mother board many times and I think it is fine. Do I need to check other ribbons or the other side of the ribbon? Will it still work or should I get another?

If the backlight is on you know the speaker/backlight/3D slider cable is fine. This does sound like a bad upper LCD or damaged ribbon cable for the LCD. But you really need another upper LCD to test. If you still have your old screen you should connect that and see if an image shows up on it. Even if it's cracked, if you see anything at all other than blackness, it means the connector on the board is probably okay and the problem is the replacement LCD. It could have been faulty from the start, but it's also possible that it may have been damaged during installation. Even if you're very careful it's easy to accidentally damage it without noticing.

 

[CIH137]

If the backlight is on you know the speaker/backlight/3D slider cable is fine. This does sound like a bad upper LCD or damaged ribbon cable for the LCD. But you really need another upper LCD to test. If you still have your old screen you should connect that and see if an image shows up on it. Even if it's cracked, if you see anything at all other than blackness, it means the connector on the board is probably okay and the problem is the replacement LCD. It could have been faulty from the start, but it's also possible that it may have been damaged during installation. Even if you're very careful it's easy to accidentally damage it without noticing.

Thanks for the info. I might try my old screen tomorrow. It was playing games fine but the crack started to leak so I wanted it to look nice again.