Revive an iPhone 5S from the dead?
 

I have an iPhone 5S here that is as dead as they get. I've tried all the tricks, including attempting to put it in DFU mode - but nothing helps.

Any other tips on how to get an iPhone back to life? I guess this is payback for all the mean things I've said about them, but I use this one with a speciality piece of equipment, and would prefer to save myself a trip to the "genius" bar :(

Does it even turn on? Did anything happen to it?

Nothing at all. Nothing on the screen, no Windows "ping" when I plug it into any computer.

Weird.

Maybe the battery got disconnected?

Crack it open. There is either severe moisture damage or the battery is loose. How to guide looks easy, but you'll need a special screwdriver.

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone+5+Teardown/10525

That, moisture/build-up damage, or something else is loose/not connected inside the phone.

It may well be something wrong is with something in the phone; but it could be worthwhile first ruling out a problem with the charge/USB cable and/or charger.

Those are the hardware problems. The firmware/software-related problems are a beast of their own. It may also be worthwhile trying to do the hard reset process and be patient with that taking place while the phone is plugged into a tested charger -- even if it appears that nothing is going on, something could be operating in the phone still.

This might sound asinine if you have already done it, but in the event that you haven't...plug it in to THE WALL via the apple cable/brick overnight, at least 8 hours.

This works quite often if it's a result of being dead for a while. So while you may have had another problem that's sorted itself out, it won't "revive" until this is done. I've had more than a few neglected electronics that just needed some love from the wall.

Also...if you got it wet, I've read putting any phone, into a bowl/bucket whatever, surround it with dry rice, that the rice absorbs the moisture. I've never needed it, but I've heard of lots of people getting success from this.

If its been more than a day or two after getting it wet, and it has been plugged in the "rice trick" won't do anything. (If it would even do anything at all, silica gel packets like are found in shoes, handbags, etc work 10x better.) Working in the world of wireless the worst thing to do is to plug a phone in after it got wet (it will cause some components to short out), and the next is instant rice.

If you can pull the battery out right away, and if you're daring enough opening it up and using a rinse of first distilled water to remove any minerals left behind, and then a rinse in denatured alcohol to remove the water is the best shot. If it is trashed-trashed, a denatured soak is the best bet. Though, if there are any signs of a short, nothing will fix it.

You can buy the silica gel at Wal-Mart in the crafts section, grab a ziploc and the phone, and let it sit for two to three *days*

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Silica-Gel...b-Tub/24547309