Kobo Aura frozen screen

This is a short video I prepared for Kobo customer service where my kobo aura ebook reader froze after I tried to wake it from sleep. The screen became unresponsive and resetting the device did not restore functionality. The only choice I had was to exchange the device for a new one through Kobo. This was in December 2013 and unfortunately the replacement device has the same problem (February 2014) leading me to believe that there is some software glitch.

[TheValSawyer]

I loved mine from the moment I started using it probably a decade ago. Somewhere along the line it stopped working and went into a drawer. Yeah, that drawer. It surfaced a couple of years ago and for the heck of it I stuck it on a charger and lo and behold, the screen came to life and asked me if I wanted to update. Well, yeah. So, yesterday it froze. Ah well, I've been using it with a backlit so, no big deal but today I wanted to read outside so I started poking around. Holding this and that down and clicking and sticking a filed down finishing nail in the hole and it did go from 'sleep' to 'power off'. Tried in vane to get power on then plugged the charger into it for kicks. It's working. Keep fiddling around with it. I don't know. Thanks for the video.

[sabinevanosta]

I had the same problem, never got a decent reply or solution to the problem. My recommendation is to not buy a Kobo anymore. A pity for Kobo since I was a good client but after such a negative client experience, I will choose another brand instead.

[matiaschaker]

kobos suck never again I have the exact same problem, just going to stick to a kindle from now on

[Khoroshev_Pavel]

I have the same issue with KOBO H2O second edition. The screen had frozen and doesn't react to anything. What is really bad - they implemented very bad access to internal memory and I can't download all the books I had had inside once I can't press "connect (to a computer)" on a screen.

Never KOBO. This is shit.

[FallingSpiderPig]

From googling around it sounds like it's hardware not software: apparently it's very easy to just destroy the screen? I just sent in a support ticket today (mine is suffering the same issue), hopefully they'll send out a replacement soon.

[nicolasw.]

My kobo died after 8 years of good services. I'm very sad now I hope I can restore the screen.

[jamieburch]

I had the same problem with mine, after almost a month of use, after trying to reboot several times, mine started working again. I just bought the thing at the beginning of this month.

[merylmarie]

I just had the frozen screen problem after recharging. Tried the paper clip and fiddling with the orange button, and voila, it came back to life! Maybe I'm just having a good day? Anyway, thanks for the video.

[corke]

I'm having the same problem. The first Aura they shipped me (new) was dead on arrival. The customer care department is extremely unresponsive. Finally got a replacement after many calls and a couple of weeks. The second unit (new) died after about 10 days. Same issue...frozen screen. 

Here is Kobo's response:
Unfortunately, the screen appears to be damaged, and since that is not covered under our Standard Warranty we will be unable to replace or repair it for you.
The standard warranty covers only the manufacturing defects of the device itself, and, in the case of the screen, it means that the lines have to run either vertically or horizontally from side to side or top to bottom.
When the lines are not horizontal or vertical but diagonal or bending, this is a clear indication of physical damage rather than a manufacturing defect, and as such it is not covered under the One Year Standard Warranty that we offer on our devices.

They obviously have an issue, whether it be hardware or software, and are refusing to acknowledge it.