MC218 Screen has no touch

[bodders]

Hi

I have an MC-218 which has just lost its touch screen ability. It worked for about 30 seconds or so after powering up & then went off, leaving me to navigate using only the keyboard (which works OK).

A couple of questions on this :

1. Has anybody experience this problem before & is there an easy wasy of fixing it ?

2. Failing that, does anybody know of anyone in the Brighton, UK or Central London (City) who fixes Psion/Ericsson PDA's ?

3. Finally, does anyone know how to start the Contacts application using only the keyboard - I cannot seem to find out how to do it.

Thanks for any help

Bodders

[MikeMcC]

1. Has anybody experience this problem before & is there an easy wasy of fixing it ? Try a "soft" reset first and if that doesn't fix it, backup and try a "hard" reset, which will destroy all internal data. If that still doesn't work, try a "very hard" reset - both main and backup batteries out and leave it without any power for a couple of hours (or overnight). This will allow any residual charge to dissipate from all of the components. That really is the last thing you can try - if that doesn't sort it, it must be a hardware fault requiring repair.
2. Failing that, does anybody know of anyone in the Brighton, UK or Central London (City) who fixes Psion/Ericsson PDA's ? The options are essentially Psion themselves or Pinnock.

Pinnock Organiser Services Ltd.,
143 Streatham High Road
London SW16 6EG

Tel: 020 8677 9246
Web: www.posltd.com
Email: sales@posltd.com
3. Finally, does anyone know how to start the Contacts application using only the keyboard - I cannot seem to find out how to do it. Press Ctrl-Tab to bring up the directory tree. Move the cursor up to highlight the "Disk" line and type Z. Press Enter to return to the System screen which will now display the "Z" drive (the machine's ROM). Navigate to the Contacts.app file which is in the path Z:\System\Apps\Contacts\Contacts.app highlight it and press Enter to launch the application. You can return from "Z" drive to "C" or "D" by pressing Ctrl-Q. (Note that you must have Show 'System' folder enabled in the preference settings to access the System folder and its sub-folders.)

In the longer term, something like "Macro5" would let you launch applications from ROM more easily.

[diem]

An alternative keyboard shortcut for Contacts is to type Ctrl-10067 when in the System screen. A full list of such keyboard shortcuts is at

http://www.ericlindsay.com/epoc/mkeys5.htm

[bodders]

Thanks for the replies

Unfortunately the resets failed to bring the touch screen back to life, but at least I can now access all the Contacts.

[trev_t]

Normally for Psion S5's I recommend the £75 repair on www.posltd.com,
unfortunatley I know that the Ericsson machines cannot be fixed by standard
repair centres. POS say on their website:
"Please note that we do not repair the Psion Series 7, Psion Netbook or
Ericsson MC218. You should address any enquiries to Psion Teklogix on 01235
443068, or the Ericsson Suport Line on 08705 237237."

Alternatively you could buy a replacement used unit on www.ebay.co.uk. If
you are UK based, I would offer you £20 for your machine for spares for my
ageing Series 5mx.

Thanks

Trevor Tyrrell
www.trevor.tyrrell.com