Pixel on GrapheneOS won’t boot after screen damage (maybe?) possible to recover photos and contacts?
So we issue Pixels with GrapheneOS to our employees. One of them drops his phone, shatters the screen. No big deal, I repair it using the IFixIT kit, he gets it back, looks fine except I accidentally left the little camera window protector on.
Instead of just bringing it back to me, this guy decides “I’ll fix it myself.” After watching a youtube video he blasts it with low heat from a heat gun. Sticks his pocket knife in there, the glass separates from the OLED, smells “staticky,” and he panics. He rips up the screen and unplugs the entire screen assembly because that’ll help. He held the power button down and swears it vibrated like it was booting. Now? No vibration, but when I hold the power button I get this faint buzzing sound if you hold it to your ear, like the power menu is popping up and trying to buzz but can’t. It still warms up on charge, but that’s the only sign of life other than the buzz.
Plugged it into my laptop (Qubes OS) to see if I could at least check for signs of life, nothing on lsusb. Granted it is BFU. We’ve got a new screen showing up Monday, but I’ve got a sinking feeling the board’s half-fried from the heat gun.
At this point it’s less about saving the phone and more about whether we can salvage his photos and contacts. With GrapheneOS encryption, I know if it doesn’t boot we’re basically screwed, but… what are the odds this thing actually springs back to life when the new screen goes in?