Power button failure - Nexus One Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

First off, I know there are multiple threads not only here on xda but elsewhere on the internet that describe other cases of Nexus One power button failures. I believe mine is different.
I suspect this has something to do with it being submerged in a cup of beer for a half a second a couple weeks back (never letting that person touch my phone again btw). It's very intermittent and has gotten progressively worse, to the point where I think it'll eventually die and at that point I'll need to turn the phone on some other way. I think somehow it is a "short" electrically inside the device. It can sit on my desk and randomly turn on and off by itself, as well as make the reboot/power off menu pop up, as if I'm holding down the power button. This makes using the phone extremely irritating, especially now, as the problem worsens. I can't do much in Recovery, at least CWM, because the power button either turns off the screen or goes to the previous menu. And while typing, the phone screen will either turn off, or the reboot menu will pop up, and I'll accidentally tap something else. Frustrating. My question is basically...is there a way to disable the power button without opening the device? I'm guessing probably not, but it's worth a shot...I purchased the phone in 04/2010, from a third party, and it's no longer under warranty. I was planning on waiting to get the Galaxy Nexus, and if not, the Samsung Galaxy S 4G. I've been dreading the day I need to retire my beloved Nexus One....and it looks like it's going to be sooner than I wanted.
Thanks for any replies.

Normally I would say there is probably still a little bit of water in the power button housing but since it was a few weeks back I doubt it. But I guess you could always try the bag of rice trick. If then I don't know and you may have to open it up :/

I had the same problem for about 5 months and it has sense sorted its self out without me doing anything. Now the power button functions 100% (knock on wood).
I had placed it top down in my cup holder while driving for 3 hours and had not noticed a bit of condensation from that mornings water glass. I got home, grabbed my phone, and noticed a wet spot on my pocket and my phone had water on the top. It was in the Case-mate case in my sig and I let it dry over night and it worked the next day after blow drying the inside. But a week later the power button was clicking on and off. That was the longest period of use my G1 has seen sense I bought my N1.
Some days it would go on for an hour+ and would wreck the battery life. I tried everything and was unable to find a way to disable the power button presses.
I did not open the phone even though it was a month out of warranty. My assumption is there was still some sort of moisture inside that was causing a short. Because you never had a warranty in the first place, I would say your best bet is to take it apart and let it sit in rice for at least a couple days.

Related

Broken Power Button

Anyone else have a broken power button from regular day to day use?
Mine started acting up like 2 weeks ago. I noticed I had to press the power button more than once to turn the screen off/on. As the days went by the presses increased til it eventually gave out entirely this weekend as I landed in Vegas. I had to get someone to call my phone so I can turn the screen on and download "no lock" to enable trackball wake. I've also been paranoid about not letting the battery die since I won't be able to turn the phone on.
Calling Google/HTC tomorrow.
Btw, this is my second nexus one. First one had dead pixels. I had this second one maybe a month before the power button gave up!
Bummer.. Thought this might be a weak point in the design. Thanks for the heads up on "no lock". Will use that when @ home.
I've read about it happening a couple of times
Oh my god I'm having the same problem. Thought my N1's power button is now getting harder and harder to press to turn the screen on and off.
I was so angry about that, but after sometimes I figured out that the problem is not from the button (the hardware), it's because of the software. I dont know exactly from what apps which caused this, uninstalled some apps (especially apps for root only - which I thought are the main causes), but sometimes the problem occurs.
*Im using MCR r13.
And for your poor N1's button, I think it's broken because when facing with that trouble, you tried to press too hard... Bless your N1!
(Sorry for my bad english!)
Not A Software Problem...
The issue you are having is indeed a hardware problem. Well for the OP it is. I had a Nexus that was in the same situation. You can tell its not a hardware problem because if you remove the battery and put battery back in, the phone wont power up unless you press the power button like 8 to 10 times. That my friend is a hardware situation.
I created a small fix for mine. I should have created a youtube video of it lol. What I did was removed the back cover and batter and inbetween the Power Button and The Phone itself youll see like a small crack or very small gap of space between the phone and button. I stuck some small very small thin piece of paper in that gap. This will raise the buttun away from the phone just a lil bit. Put the battery back in and back cover back on. And noticed my button working 100% again.
So long story short the button itself starts to not make contact with the switch on the mother board or somethin. My bootloader was unlocked so i never got HTC involved. If your on cyan lates rom you can set it to wake via trackball under settings.
In the end, I ended up selling that N1 on craigslist for loot for a HD2 and HD2 was gargage (out dated OS and 65k color max display at LCD) and ended up selling the HD2 and got another nexus.
PS - I did have one of them argyle clear body cases on it that fit the N1 very snug and tightly, and wonder if that had somethin to do with power button goin out since it was rubbing against it repeatily.
same story happend to me, with a regular daily usage. It really bummers me, i unlocked the bootloader too, so i cant send it to HTC.
And I can't sell it in this condition too, sux!
Anyone with the same problem that sent it to HTC?
My wife had her's for about a week before having issues with the power button. Got a replacement and haven't had issues yet.
I had the same problem as the OP. Had to push the button several times to get the phone to respond.
HTC swapped my original N1 with dust under the screen and then sent me one that eventually had the power button crap out.
My GF's Nexus One has had no issues at all and we bought around the same time. My current (third) N1 is now rooted so I'm crossing my fingers that I won't need to deal with HTC again.
I love both the N1 and Android, but from my experience, I'm shocked and disappointed with it's poor build quality.
hypersonicx said:
The issue you are having is indeed a hardware problem. Well for the OP it is. I had a Nexus that was in the same situation. You can tell its not a hardware problem because if you remove the battery and put battery back in, the phone wont power up unless you press the power button like 8 to 10 times. That my friend is a hardware situation.
I created a small fix for mine. I should have created a youtube video of it lol. What I did was removed the back cover and batter and inbetween the Power Button and The Phone itself youll see like a small crack or very small gap of space between the phone and button. I stuck some small very small thin piece of paper in that gap. This will raise the buttun away from the phone just a lil bit. Put the battery back in and back cover back on. And noticed my button working 100% again.
So long story short the button itself starts to not make contact with the switch on the mother board or somethin. My bootloader was unlocked so i never got HTC involved. If your on cyan lates rom you can set it to wake via trackball under settings.
In the end, I ended up selling that N1 on craigslist for loot for a HD2 and HD2 was gargage (out dated OS and 65k color max display at LCD) and ended up selling the HD2 and got another nexus.
PS - I did have one of them argyle clear body cases on it that fit the N1 very snug and tightly, and wonder if that had somethin to do with power button goin out since it was rubbing against it repeatily.
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Click to collapse
Wow... I'm shaking my head at this. You'd think HTC would have thought about this some more...
Crossing my fingers, cuz my power button still "works the first time, most of the time"..
Yea I gave myself a good month of testing this phone before even considering rooting and I'm glad I did.
My first unit was rooted and it was hell to get htc to support my fix over a dead pixel so naturally on my second phone I avoided rooting.
With the build quality on these phones (unfortunately) I would recommend NOT rooting for a good month or so to make sure you don't need warranty support.
I've ended up doing the repair option because I can never justify a $529 hold. Will get a ****ty flip phone loaner from Tmobile for the time being.
sorry to hear your issues but thank you for pointing out that app "no lock". I've been waiting for something like this! Now I can wake my Nexus with the volume button rather than the power button(wear and tear) or the trackball(it gets dirty from touching too much so I never do).
Have any app can replace power button?
I got a ****ty samsung flip phone loaner from tmobile. Ironically, I feel the call quality on these old phones are better than all the smart phones i've owned lol
Will this issue eventually happen to every one? That would be horrible..
Eclair~ said:
Will this issue eventually happen to every one? That would be horrible..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that all depends on how much people "baby" their phones. Then again, we all die eventually.. same with technology.
ChillRays said:
I guess that all depends on how much people "baby" their phones. Then again, we all die eventually.. same with technology.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phone was never dropped and was in one of those gel cases. I use my phone heavily but no more than I've used any of my other phones. That power button is definitely not made for heavy use. I'd hope froyo has a trackball awake feature because from what I read on the interweb this problem is definitely not exclusive to a select few people.
That really blows about the power button. I've heard of that alot now and feared it as well. I'd never heard of the "nolock" program so I'm really glad you mentioned it. Downloaded it and fired it up. Talk about a sweet program, I can't believe it flies to far under the radar. I'm not rooted so it's definately a great program as I wanted trackball wake. Plus you can create a widget on the desktop so you can toggle it off. Sorry about your phone but thanks for the program. I hope you get your phone fixed soon.
Wow a 1 day turn around. My phone should be back here tomorrow in the morning. Seems like HTC customer care is improving?
uansari1 said:
Wow... I'm shaking my head at this. You'd think HTC would have thought about this some more...
Crossing my fingers, cuz my power button still "works the first time, most of the time"..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh TBH I've heard of iphones with the same problem. Manufacturing tolerances in any product inevitably produce a few faulty units...that's what the warranty is for.
Just be glad your N1 will never decide that its automatic backup is now encrypted and password-protected and that you can't use your phone until you figure out what the password you never set is (happened on my brother's iphone 3G)
hypersonicx said:
I created a small fix for mine. I should have created a youtube video of it lol. What I did was removed the back cover and batter and inbetween the Power Button and The Phone itself youll see like a small crack or very small gap of space between the phone and button. I stuck some small very small thin piece of paper in that gap. This will raise the buttun away from the phone just a lil bit. Put the battery back in and back cover back on. And noticed my button working 100% again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please explain how to remove the power button? Can it be removed alone or you have to remove all the screws and body of the phones?

Huge problem with G1...

Yesterday I was texting someone, didnt even finish the message because something else demanded my attention. So I close the keyboard and put it in my pocket.
5 minutes later I take my phone out, and its off. I try to turn it on but nothing happens. Tried taking out the battery and SIM, waiting a few minutes, and put them back in, still nothing. I take it up to T-mobile and they tell me its a month out of warranty.
So earlier today, I say "ehh what the hell" so I try again, this time I held the power down for about 10 seconds, while its connected to a charger, and it boots up! I get past the G1 screen to the Cyanogenized boot screen (5.0.7 test 5 if it helps...) and in excitement I call someone in to show them. As I pick up the phone to show them, the usb cable is yanked out, and the screen goes black. Never felt ****tier. Tried to get it to power on again....back to square 1.
About an hour or two later, I look over and the face keys and keyboard are backlit, but still nothing on the screen. I also noticed that if I take the battery out while its off the charger, the backlight for the buttons will turn off, but will immediately come back on once the battery goes back in.
Basically, Im stumped, and any help would be appreciated.
EDIT: Now the button backlight is off...
I think your phone didn't shut off actually.
Try the 3 finger solute!
Hold send, end, and the menu button.
I've also had this happen to me, and to tell you the truth it didn't turn out good. :/
After awhile My touch went completely out.
It happened when I was running an experimental rom.
Also try restoring a back up if you created one before it started happening. :/
Well I know its off, Ive taken the battery out, and havent gotten it to come back on except for the one time. And Ive removed the battery since then as well. Ive tried power+home, power+camera, power+menu+send. None of them have worked.
One of two things, hopefully the first:
1.) You have a bad battery, replace it, or borrow a friend's and see if that works.
2.) You have a new paperweight. In that case, my condolences, friend.
Seriously, though, from what you described, it sounds like your battery just bit it. Try taking it out and examining it for any bulging or swelling that may not have been there before.
The woman at the T-mobile store tested a different battery and a different charger, so in my case its not likely, but I will give it another shot, since things have somewhat perked up. Right now the button backlights will randomly come on and stay on for a while, slowly dimming, and then eventually turn off, only to come back on later.
thegreatcity said:
The woman at the T-mobile store tested a different battery and a different charger, so in my case its not likely, but I will give it another shot, since things have somewhat perked up. Right now the button backlights will randomly come on and stay on for a while, slowly dimming, and then eventually turn off, only to come back on later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After reading you tried different batteries, I think you're in the market for a new phone. =[
The battery idea was the only thing I could have thought of as well.
Hope you manage to figure this out without having to buy a new phone, though. =[
In regards to your most recent post, sounds like some kind of short. There wasn't any water exposure was there? I've actually heard of people having there phones in their jeans pocket and sweating enough to turn the indicator and fry the board.
But yeah, it sounds like phone death. I would totally disassemble it and check for any corrosion though. Who knows, you may save it, then you have fat bragging rights
Ninjineer said:
In regards to your most recent post, sounds like some kind of short. There wasn't any water exposure was there? I've actually heard of people having there phones in their jeans pocket and sweating enough to turn the indicator and fry the board.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They must be doing some serious running.... or be really, really fat.
Btw, you can check to see if your G1 got exposed to water, OP. Take out battery and there's a little sticker under the IMEI sticker. Its round. If it's white - you're good. Any other color (i think it turns red or blue?) there's water damage.

[Q] Power button issues

So, i was using xperia z for 2.5 weeks and everything was great so far.
But four or five days ago i noticed that power button changed the way it presses. Now, if i havent turn the screen on for some time, the button makes a little crunch when it is touched. This effect repeats in lighter way on the secong press of the button, and there is no such issue if button is in constant use. But the problem appears again, if device has not been used for an hour or more.
And the proccess of pressing is sort of going in two stages: in the beginning goes the crunch (the feeling is like the button scratches something with some resistanse. There is also a little dangle of the button while unpressed), next the gap ends, button touches its membrane smoothly and silently. Sure, the issue is not really unbearable, but it does concern me as it is the only big problem i experienced on my device.
So, should i wait for issue to disappear itself, is it possible to make any steps to improve the situation on my own or is it better to visit service centre at once?
I forgot to mention this: device has been used gently and carefully, it has never fell down, it has never been used or carried in conditions that could possibly make damage to button, neither sand nor dirt could penetrate button's mechanism and so on.
Get a replacement to be honest I wouldn't want water getting in. Sounds like the button has loosened or something.
This has happened to people with game controllers with the Wii, ps3 Xbox etc
Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2
The problem has surprisingly disappeared today. There is still a little gap, but annoying sounds went away and the pressing of button feels just fine.
I guess i'll immediately visit service center if the issue will happen again, though.

[Q] xperia z mobo replace/water damage

hey guys here is a story
so i removed my xperias factory screen protector (because of a major scratch on it) and it left some
residue on the screen. so i started washing it off in the sink w/soap and water. although after i finished i dried it off and
noticed that the water enter the ports (headphone and charger) because the rubber bits were broken. (so i thought it cant be that bad i
took a shower with my one s multiple times and it didn't fritz up or anything) then i noticed my back light flickered and i
thought this is bad so i proceed to turn it off but it wouldn't stay off (it practically boot looped several times) then it finally
turned off then i placed my charger in just to see what would happen it had a red led w/ 3 vibrates after a bit i
blow dried it with a hair dryer and sucking and blowing my device like CPR and finally burred it in rice (what i should of done
before) and left it over night then i woke up plunged it in the charger and my screen had water and my lock
button doesn't work although it seams everything else works (i think the usb is buggy)
although i think im going to have to buy a new button thinginy and i was also wondering if i replace my mobo with a 6603 because i have a locked tmous version. could everything run normally and have an unlocked boot loader?
read the red if tltr;
You water damaged your phone, so you will have to replace more than the "button thinginy".
You will be better of just buying a new phone, as the cost of all the parts you need will be in excess of buying a new one.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
honestly for all the trouble of finding a motherboard, disassembling your device to fix it DIY, you might mess it up and it might cost you more.
unless you REALLY know what you are doing and have NOTHINg to lose, just send it in for repairs. or just buy a new phone.
you two are probably right about not taking the risk although I did find out I have a faulty battery and the buttons I found out that the volume up key took the place of the power button (it can only wake the phone) and it also does it's normal duties
I'm going to do a change log soon (yes a change log) on my phones states for any solutions
plz I didn't even own it for more than 6 months sad panda Is sad

I think I broke my phone :/

TLDR: I was cuddling my gf to sleep while using my phone. I fell asleep too. The phone was in bed with us for a couple of hours, but I don't think either of us lay on it, though my gf may have put some weight on it while getting up from bed to go to the w/c.
This morning it was unresponsive to touch, after rebooting it twice it won't turn on at all
When I press on the screen 1/3 of the way down with a bit of force, I feel it moving a bit and I can hear and feel a click on the inside.
The glass is intact.
-----------
I fell asleep with the phone in my hand and I must have let go of it in my sleep. I woke up when my girlfriend was going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. The phone was still in the bed near where my hand was when I was falling asleep, but it was also in the path of my half asleep girlfriend rolling out of bed. I checked to see if it was still alive by pressing the power button and the screen turned on. Satisfied, I put it on my nightstand and went back to sleep.
When I woke up this morning I tried using it. It wasn't responding to touch at all, not even the home row buttons. But the volume rocker worked and so did the power button menu, but I couldn't select reboot in the menu with the touch not working. I force closed it with power + volume up, and when it rebooted it still wouldn't respond to touch. I force closed it again and now it won't turn on at all. I tried numerous button combinations (power on + volume up, down, all three, holding for up to 20 seconds) and it doesn't respond to being plugged into the wall or to the computer either, no led light and it's not mounting on the PC. It had about 60% power left before force closing it.
The funny thing is is that I couldn't figure out what the cause was for a long time. I googled it and search results for Z1's "sudden death issue" appeared and I figured it was something like that. Or maybe it was a delayed effect of putting it underwater 2 days ago.
But then it dawned on me, it was (of course) what had happened in the middle of the night. The phone looks completely fine, but after examining it closer, when I press on the screen 1/3 of the way down with a bit of force, I feel it moving a bit and I can hear and feel a click on the inside. I wonder what that could be..
What are my options now? I got the phone just a couple of days ago. I doubt this is covered by warrenty right? User error?
I'm not sure if this is even the real cause though - I didn't see it happen.... but I guess it's the most logical explination.
My girlfriend is pretty small so I'd imagine she would have had to put all her weight on her hand or elbow when she was getting up to be able to break the phone like that. I have a foam mattress which probably absorbed a lot of the weight? If this is indeed the case, I'm a little disappointed in the build quality if this broke something in the phone's innards with relative ease.
Any advice would be appreciated. It's the UK model bought outside of the UK from a local retailer. This is my first good smartphone and I loved it for the short time we had together. I'm devistated about it and not really sure what to do next.
Someone hold me
No visible damage = return it as faulty
Just say it died overnight while charging.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
pricey2009 said:
No visible damage = return it as faulty
Just say it died overnight while charging.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that's the plan I just emailed the seller
Edit: They said to go to a Sony store to claim warrenty on it
adamk7 said:
Thanks, that's the plan I just emailed the seller
Edit: They said to go to a Sony store to claim warrenty on it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should have a 14 day guarantee with the seller if you bought from UK..
I would go back to them and demand a replacement..
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app
So I was just about to go to the sony store, I had the phone, cables and everything neatly packed up an ready to go. I decided to give it one last try just in case to avoid the all too common scenerio when it unexplicably magically starts working in the store. I plugged it into a wall charger and held down the power button and the red light turned on! I left it for a minute and then pressed the power button again, and the screen turned on with a battery charging logo! It looked like the battery was fully dead so I left it for 5 minutes and turned it on again. It booted up! Now the moment of truth: will the touch screen work....
Drum roll......
It does!
Everything works normally now. I have no idea wtf happened but I'm really happy that I don't have to deal with sending it in and everything.
Though I'm a little worried about what the screen clicking is, that's still there.
I'll post a video later and might take it in to sony anyway to see what they say
Edit: I made a new thread with the video: http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/help/video-pressing-screen-spot-makes-t2918289
adamk7 said:
So I was just about to go to the sony store, I had the phone, cables and everything neatly packed up an ready to go. I decided to give it one last try just in case to avoid the all too common scenerio when it unexplicably magically starts working in the store. I plugged it into a wall charger and held down the power button and the red light turned on! I left it for a minute and then pressed the power button again, and the screen turned on with a battery charging logo! It looked like the battery was fully dead so I left it for 5 minutes and turned it on again. It booted up! Now the moment of truth: will the touch screen work....
Drum roll......
It does!
Everything works normally now. I have no idea wtf happened but I'm really happy that I don't have to deal with sending it in and everything.
Though I'm a little worried about what the screen clicking is, that's still there.
I'll post a video later and might take it in to sony anyway to see what they say
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to hear it
I have the same phone symptoms as OP. Except, I was using the phone just 15 minutes before it refused to turn on. Also, for the first time I noticed the glass making a clicking sound when pressing coming from the middle of the screen, inline with the power button. I`ve tested the phone before and never heard this clicking sound.
At this point, even if the phone fixes itself, I`d rather send it in for repair before the clicking turns into a screen fracture.

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