Broken back button

sonofaresiii · August 7th, 2012, 05:25 PM

Hope this is the right forum, didn't think support/troubleshooting was right since this is a hardware issue.

My droid x is about a year and a half old and the back button has finally given out. It's not just unresponsive-- I literally can't click it, it's permanently depressed. It seems like maybe the sensor or something has slipped from under the hard button.
Also, while the other three hard buttons have a white light shining through them, the back button is now green. I wouldn't think motorola would have powered different color lights in there, so I suspect maybe it's a symptom of whatever the problem is-- maybe something has broken allowing another light to shine through. I'm not sure though.

Does anyone have any solutions? Can I re-map the hard keys? (I never use the search button anyway, and I'm rooted). This phone is NOT under warranty, so if it's something that can be fixed by cracking the phone open (and if I can find a guide that's easy to follow and gives me relative assurance I won't brick my phone) I'd definitely be willing to do that.

The problem hasn't rendered my phone unusable, but it does make it practically useless except to make calls on.

Thanks for the help.

Savagerun · August 7th, 2012, 08:50 PM

Since your rooted there are some apps available to put the buttons on your screen. Try Button Savior app it's free in the playstore and im sure there's at least a couple other apps you can use.

bigbadwulff · August 8th, 2012, 08:45 AM

I thought my on/off button was broken when in reality it had a piece of sand/dirt in it. I blew it out with compressed air and it's worked fine for 9 months now.

sonofaresiii · August 8th, 2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbadwulff

I thought my on/off button was broken when in reality it had a piece of sand/dirt in it. I blew it out with compressed air and it's worked fine for 9 months now.

if it were stuck in its normal position, maybe, but since it's permanently depressed, it's unlikely anything's stuck under it. more like the button underneath is just gone

bigbadwulff · August 9th, 2012, 09:35 AM

My power button felt like it was depressed(well not THAT depressed). The piece of whatever kept it from coming up all the way. I'd at least try it. Nothing to hurt. But use an app in the mean time.

Hardwair · August 9th, 2012, 11:44 AM

If you have a screen guard protecting the screen, it could have some debris between the switch and the plastic. try either cleaning with a thin knife edge (carefully) between the switch and the guard, or removing the guard and trimming the bottom edge about the thickness of a sheet of paper.
good luck.

sonofaresiii · August 9th, 2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbadwulff

My power button felt like it was depressed(well not THAT depressed). The piece of whatever kept it from coming up all the way. I'd at least try it. Nothing to hurt. But use an app in the mean time.

fair enough, i'll give it a shot

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hardwair

If you have a screen guard protecting the screen, it could have some debris between the switch and the plastic. try either cleaning with a thin knife edge (carefully) between the switch and the guard, or removing the guard and trimming the bottom edge about the thickness of a sheet of paper.
good luck.

ah, good thought but no screen guard

mruno · August 15th, 2012, 01:50 PM

i had the same problem with my home button. I used an app similar to button savior until i wanted it fixed. there are little plastic bubbles that the buttons sit on. if they move 1mm the button will not work. to repair it, it is a lot more trouble than taking it apart and trying to reposition the bubble and securing them down. so either use that app, or get a new phone.