So a few months back all three side buttons stopped working on my 5a -- juuuuust out of warranty period. I found apps to adjust the volume and to turn the screen off, so it wasn't really an issue, the phone otherwise works perfectly fine... until my battery died overnight. Now the phone will charge up to full and display its level of charge, but I cannot figure out how to turn the phone on without use of the side buttons.
I tried charging it to full, I tried plugging it into my PC, and I took it to Ibreakufix, which is a Google authorized repair facility and no one knew a way to turn it on. In fact they didn't really believe me that the phone works and insisted it was a separate issue bricking the device. They want to charge me $175 to replace the side button panel and see if that works, but a used 5a is about that price anway.
I found a thread somewhere saying that you can turn on the phone with ADB if the phone has USB debugging enabled, but of course this is the first phone I've had in a decade that I didn't actually have that turned on.
I would greatly appreciate any ideas you guys have. Seems a shame that this otherwise perfectly good phone is inaccessible just because I can't use the power button.
Replace the switch assembly. Replace the battery as well. Consider it routine maintenance...
blackhawk said:
Replace the switch assembly. Replace the battery as well. Consider it routine maintenance...
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Click to collapse
So the switch assembly failing is common on these? Didn't have much luck seeing anyone else with my problem, just motherboard issues
ExDementia said:
So the switch assembly failing is common on these? Didn't have much luck seeing anyone else with my problem, just motherboard issues
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Click to collapse
Well if it's the mobo you're boned. Unless dropped or flexed mobo's shouldn't just fail.
Since it's a moving part the switch be the prime suspect or a loose connector unless there are other known issues with this model.
blackhawk said:
Well if it's the mobo you're boned. Unless dropped or flexed mobo's shouldn't just fail.
Since it's a moving part the switch be the prime suspect or a loose connector unless there are other known issues with this model.
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Click to collapse
Ok, might order the switch online, I found a part.
Still so frustrating because I know it's a functioning phone that I just can't turn on. I used it for months without use of the side buttons, I just never let the battery deplete until now
If anyone knows a way to turn it on without use of the buttons I'm all ears
Related
My camera led light just started acting funny an hour ago. It turned on and it si now impossible to turn the damn thing off. It still stays on when the phone is turned off. I've tried removing the battery and then put it back again. As soon as the battery is in, the light turns on again. I've tried a soft reset and ultimately a hard reset. Light remains on.
Don't want to have to go to Sony for this because I bought the phone off the bay a month ago and therefore don't have a receipt so it won't fall under warranty. Anyone have any ideas? What a pisser.
hi,same here
I think its a hardware issue where the cables have been short and are giving direct connection. I dont know if this will work but try to tap the phone a little hard on your palm. If its just a loose contact it might get sorted. This is a very crude way.
You guys want help or just venting air?
Great story.... so ?!
If you guys want venting off air, that was it! If you are looking for help however, then KINDLY state some info, like:
what the frak is the phone model, firmware, recently flashed, if so to what. Branded or unbranded, built date, etc.!
After that, perhaps a few answers can be expected
MichaeltheImage: I doubt that in this case this had anything to do with software because of the fact that it remained on after a boot or when the phone is off.
Moleculez: Yesterday it ended up fading by itself after 2 or 3 hours. This morning it started again as I removed the battery. Tapped the led side of the phone on my palm a few times; and it worked. Thanks.
"Anything mechanical, give it a good bash."
Incase someone is still looking for a way to fix this problem:
I managed to pry the plastic covering off of the camera lense/ LED with a needle.
All it took was a slight nudge on the LED cluster to reposition it. It was situated slightly off to one side, causing the short circuit which lead to the LED being constantly lit.
Problem is, in my initial frustration I poked the LED and broke it which, as a result of the short, meant that although the LED was no longer lit it still drew power from the battery.
The only way I know that the later fix worked was by using a power consumption monitoring tool to verify that the LED (and the short circuit) was no longer drawing power.
Awesome.
Here's what is going on...
My Galaxy S I9000 (Bell Canada) was water damaged, after being dried for many days it turned on, but the battery almost immediately drained. I left the phone and forgot about it. Bought a new cheap phone without a SIM.
More recently I got a new battery for it and it turned on and was working great, staying charged and everything. When I went to the service provider to get a new SIM for it, we powered down the phone, pulled the battery and SIM card and put the new SIM in followed by the battery. Afterwards the phone would not power on, but the two face buttons on either side of the 'Home' button lit up and would react to touch. I tried removing the battery and SIM a few times and would get the same result.
After bringing my phone home and leaving it with the battery out for a few days, I thought I would try it again. It powered up again as if nothing was wrong. To test it again, I pulled the battery and SIM, replaced them, and my black screen/won't turn on problem returned.
Every so often it will power on and be useable. It is recognized by Kies, I've flashed it to firmware 2.3.4.
I'm looking for any helpful suggestions for what might solve my problem. I'm wondering if it's a hardware problem and short of isolating the part of the phone that is faulty and replacing it, the phone is toast.
Thanks for your time, and I apologize for the length of my post.
My friend has dropped the SGS into a pool before. Problem was fix after buying a new battery.
Either: Damaged screen + Contact. Or the reaction with water and the battery. hydrogen gas prevents screen from connecting to main-board.
It still turns on occasionally, and when it powers up, it's as if nothing is wrong. Screen works, displays everything fine, colour is crisp, screen reacts to touch. The big problem is it won't turn on all the time. Would what you said still explain this?
tacotbone said:
It still turns on occasionally, and when it powers up, it's as if nothing is wrong. Screen works, displays everything fine, colour is crisp, screen reacts to touch. The big problem is it won't turn on all the time. Would what you said still explain this?
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Click to collapse
The only thing I know (assuming the screen or motherboard is 100% functioning) is hydrogen gas being present. You might know TV remote with old battery casually respond to presses. After cleaning contacts it should work again.
I disassembled the phone and cleaned all the contacts on the main board with rubbing alcohol, I did not do anything to the screen though. Should I try taking it apart again and breaking it down further? (ie. separate the screen?)
tacotbone said:
I disassembled the phone and cleaned all the contacts on the main board with rubbing alcohol, I did not do anything to the screen though. Should I try taking it apart again and breaking it down further? (ie. separate the screen?)
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Click to collapse
No, I am starting to think it's a hardware fault if that didn't work
Hi all,
Last weekend I tried to fix the GPS on my Xperia Z (C6603) - it couldn't lock any satellite and according to all tests it was a hardware problem. When I opened the back cover I saw that the GPS antenna wasn't securely attached anymore (thanks to the third party who replaced my screen last summer I guess). While I was at it, I also wanted to check the speaker since the volume is generally quite low. Doing so I had some difficulty getting the battery out but it didn't look like anything was damaged by it.
I fixed the GPS antenna and reassembled the phone, but now it won't boot anymore...
When I try to boot it the LED blinks red three times and then stops. Nothing more. It only seldomly responds to a cold reset (vol up + power for 10 sec.) but mostly not. When I connect it to the wall socket or laptop the LED burns red continuously.
When I opened the phone I still had about 70% battery left so that should be fine. Nevertheless I've had it on a charger overnight (LED continuously red) and tried the next morning without success.
What I have found is that the red LED indicates either a broken bootloader or a hardware fault. Since it occurred after I opened the phone I would assume the latter.
I have managed to do a repair through the PC Companion software but without result. I can still get the phone in fastboot (LED turns blue) connected to my laptop to flash. The screen doesn't turn on, though I'm not sure if it should? I'm also not sure if being able to connect in fastboot excludes hardware failure?
I haven't tried to root/flash because I first want to ask for some advice on a more systematic approach to fixing it. Also, tonight I will pick up a friend's Xperia Z with a broken screen for spare parts (same model, he got it one month later). So except for the screen I have working replacement parts. Besides the screen replacement (with original Sony parts) the phone was still in original state both in hard- and software.
I would really like to fix the phone since I liked it and I'm stuck to a SIM-only plan until December still. Third-party repair is out of the question because of costs; then I'd rather spend it on a new XZ5.
Any ideas on how I should approach this?
After some trial and error, I have managed to flash a stock ROM (.253) on it. No luck with that unfortunately. When I try to turn it on, there is a small vibration after a few seconds and that's it. Again the phone responds to a cold reset, but when I try to boot it after the LED blinks red three times again. That's all it does.
I would say the only thing to still try now is swapping the motherboard with the other phone, not? Or are there any other suggestions?
Well, I would assume that it is a hardware problem, especially taking in to the account that you touched components inside.
Even if we all know how phone work, and where are all components are, its not recommended to touch anything inside if you dont have steady hand and environment to make any repair(clean place, no humidity, clean hands).
One bad plugged connector can brick your phone. One time I even had problem on other phone with really small rust on one pin that I touched with finger(sweat from it+time+really crappy weather where I had to use it), so it show how actually fragile phones are.
But few questions, when you managed to flash rom, you get all that android logo when you are in flashmode, and it show everything(loading bar etc) on screen?
Im asking because first symptom of bad battery connection is deformed or totally dead screen.
When you fixed gps antenna(that black plastic on top near camera) you used any tool that could damage board? its near microUSB so its easy to mess those small pins and make short circuit.
The same with battery, you could try to squeeze/move it a bit to see if there is any changes in phone boot behavior(not to gentle way to check it but sometimes it show if there is a problem)
Before changing motherboard I would replace battery from your other phone(charged before that) and check all pins on connector and board near it if there is any problem.
But as I said it should be made really delicate and in appropriate conditions.
Sadly I cant really help with it beside that, and I hope your phone gonna stand up after that somehow :/
Thanks for the reply Akinaro. Indeed the conditions are not ideal. At least I have one of those repair tool kits with the small screwdrivers, plastic pick and plastic levers for the connectors. I'll also set a reminder to take some latex/nitril gloves from the lab for next time
But few questions, when you managed to flash rom, you get all that android logo when you are in flashmode, and it show everything(loading bar etc) on screen?
Im asking because first symptom of bad battery connection is deformed or totally dead screen.
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Click to collapse
No, the screen is totally dead. No sign of life whatsoever.
When you fixed gps antenna(that black plastic on top near camera) you used any tool that could damage board? its near microUSB so its easy to mess those small pins and make short circuit.
The same with battery, you could try to squeeze/move it a bit to see if there is any changes in phone boot behavior(not to gentle way to check it but sometimes it show if there is a problem)
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Click to collapse
Possibly. I have used both the screwdriver and the plastic tools, but fiddling everything back in was tricky. The battery was disconnected though so it shouldn't have short-circuited. I will try with moving around the battery. But the more I think of it, the more I start thinking that I screwed up the motherboard by touching something there.
Before changing motherboard I would replace battery from your other phone(charged before that) and check all pins on connector and board near it if there is any problem.
But as I said it should be made really delicate and in appropriate conditions.
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Click to collapse
I have tried the other battery last night as well. I didn't charge it first though, I left it in my phone to charge overnight and tried to boot it this morning, without result.
So I've attempted to swap the motherboards. Good and bad news...
The good news is that the spare phone works with every combination of motherboard and battery, so neither of those is the culprit. The bad news: none of the combinations work on my own phone, even with swapping all the other hardware components (camera's, gps, antenna etc.).
On the other hand, by now the LED doesn't turn red anymore. The phone just stays completely off. I didn't have time to try and charge it for some time though, so I'm not sure if it's a good or a bad sign.
I fear that the main multiconnector running under the battery might be damaged when I took out the battery and antenna module the first time. That is the only component that I cannot swap for it is so integrated - it would mean swapping the screen to the spare-parts-phone and using that one.
Any ideas still before I should consider it a write-off completely?
After getting reboots at ~20% battery life I went ahead and tried to swap mine out. Everything seemed to go fine... I was very careful and didn't break (at least I think) any ribbon cables. I put the phone back together and now it won't boot. Plugging in the usb cord does not give any indication it's charging either.... It's just dead.
I cannot see anything that seems wrong. I tried putting the original battery back in and it's still dead. Can anyone think of what I may need to check? Any suggestions? I'm travel a lot and dead in the water without a phone....
Make sure the shape of the battery matches the curve of the back. You shouldn't have to use a lot of effort to put things together. Use a small tool (like a dental pick) and a magnifying glass to examine the connections for each ribbon cable to the board. They should be locked in place in the connectors. Double check the mid-frame and power button connection.
I think the power and volume buttons are attached by a small ribbon cable. If this cable is not connected or is damaged, the phone will not power on.
The phone should give indication of charging though, plugged in or wirelessly?
I've tried the old battery and still nothing. The power on ribbon seems intact and in good shape but who knows. I may try buying a new button / ribbon assembly and see if that helps.
Is there any way to jump the power to try and get power on? I've got another phone to use but the real tragedy of the situation is the loss of my Magikarp.
Well, I've got a new power button cable assembly on order. No idea if it's the problem or not but for $15 shipped I figure it's worth a try.
I've checked the different connections and cannot find anything that seems out of sorts. Frustrating!
Update on my saga....
New power button assembly came in (both the button module and the part that connects to the mainboard). I've got that installed, all the screws in and still it won't power on. This is with both the old and new battery. Gentle pressing around the back when trying to boot doesn't make any difference either. I've inspected the different mainboard ribbon cables and have not found any that look damaged or loose.
Plugging the phone in to my computer and pressing the power on button never indicates any attached device so it's not like it's booting with a broken screen.
I miss my N6 =(
Can anyone think of any other options? There are a few files I'd like to get off of it but it's not the end of the world if I can't.
Lost Dog said:
Update on my saga....
New power button assembly came in (both the button module and the part that connects to the mainboard). I've got that installed, all the screws in and still it won't power on. This is with both the old and new battery. Gentle pressing around the back when trying to boot doesn't make any difference either. I've inspected the different mainboard ribbon cables and have not found any that look damaged or loose.
Plugging the phone in to my computer and pressing the power on button never indicates any attached device so it's not like it's booting with a broken screen.
I miss my N6 =(
Can anyone think of any other options? There are a few files I'd like to get off of it but it's not the end of the world if I can't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you hook up the power button flex ribbon correctly?
I wish my S8 plus was rooted?
---------- Post added at 09:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 PM ----------
BigM69 said:
Did you hook up the power button flex ribbon correctly?
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Click to collapse
BigM69 said:
Did you hook up the power button flex ribbon correctly?
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Click to collapse
Yeah, it's in correctly. I made sure of that (several times).
Either there is a ribbon cable somewhere that is loose (but I've checked them all as far as I can tell) or somehow the motherboard got fried when I took it apart.
Anyone else ever bring theirs back from the dead?
Lost Dog said:
Yeah, it's in correctly. I made sure of that (several times).
Either there is a ribbon cable somewhere that is loose (but I've checked them all as far as I can tell) or somehow the motherboard got fried when I took it apart.
Anyone else ever bring theirs back from the dead?
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Click to collapse
Hmmmm sounds like its time for a new logic board. Just a word of advice. You will have almost as much in a mint conditiin N6 as you will in a new/refurbished logic board! I have a mint condition nexus 6 im getting ready to list on swappa. If youre interested i can send you some picture's of it.
I wish my S8 plus was rooted?
BigM69 said:
Hmmmm sounds like its time for a new logic board. Just a word of advice. You will have almost as much in a mint conditiin N6 as you will in a new/refurbished logic board! I have a mint condition nexus 6 im getting ready to list on swappa. If youre interested i can send you some picture's of it.
I wish my S8 plus was rooted
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Click to collapse
Thanks, but I have a backup phone I'm using right now that will get me by until the Pixel 2 is released. I really do miss my N6 but mostly I'd like to get some files off of it. If I could just get one last boot I'd be happy.
It's also kind of a challenge at this point... see if I can make it work!
Lost Dog said:
Thanks, but I have a backup phone I'm using right now that will get me by until the Pixel 2 is released. I really do miss my N6 but mostly I'd like to get some files off of it. If I could just get one last boot I'd be happy.
It's also kind of a challenge at this point... see if I can make it work!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are tech savy then i have faith in you brother! Dont give up buddy!
I wish my S8 plus was rooted?
It's supposed to be water resistant, but I've never dunked it intentionally under water. Bought this in 2017. Unfortunately, I had an accident and it fell inside a sink full of hot water (while I was taking care of a patient) and it stayed there for a minute or two.
What happened are the following:
Power button no longer works - It was a little wonky as it kept turning the screen on and popping up the camera. I tried to turn it off, but it kept turning back on.
Stock camera app - doesn't work anymore. whenever I try to activate the app, it just crashes.
Rear camera hardware - focusing is gone. Using another app (camera zoom fx) I can access it, but pics are blurry. It can't focus on images 12 feet away.
Front cam hardware - there was a mist that fogged the camera. but it seems to be working fine after.
Screen - the screen was relatively ok after the dunking. However, water got inside the S-pen port. I immediately removed it and started drying the phone for 48 hours. I tried to return the s-pen after, but it seemed to trigger something and the screen started flickering. it lasted for a day but it's now completely normal.
Aside from those, everything is fine with the phone. I managed an online backup to Samsung account and everything.
If you're still here, here are some of my questions. I appreciate all your help.
1. I've now turned it off for a complete drying. Now I can't turn it on. Is there a way to turn it on? Is a USB C jig available to do this?
2. I left some sensitive data in the phone *coughbootypicscough*, is there a way to access the memory and wipe it? or maybe factory reset the phone without turning it on?
3. Can the cameras be replaced / fixed?
Hoping for all our help.
maxram said:
It's supposed to be water resistant, but I've never dunked it intentionally under water. Bought this in 2017. Unfortunately, I had an accident and it fell inside a sink full of hot water (while I was taking care of a patient) and it stayed there for a minute or two.
What happened are the following:
Power button no longer works - It was a little wonky as it kept turning the screen on and popping up the camera. I tried to turn it off, but it kept turning back on.
Stock camera app - doesn't work anymore. whenever I try to activate the app, it just crashes.
Rear camera hardware - focusing is gone. Using another app (camera zoom fx) I can access it, but pics are blurry. It can't focus on images 12 feet away.
Front cam hardware - there was a mist that fogged the camera. but it seems to be working fine after.
Screen - the screen was relatively ok after the dunking. However, water got inside the S-pen port. I immediately removed it and started drying the phone for 48 hours. I tried to return the s-pen after, but it seemed to trigger something and the screen started flickering. it lasted for a day but it's now completely normal.
Aside from those, everything is fine with the phone. I managed an online backup to Samsung account and everything.
If you're still here, here are some of my questions. I appreciate all your help.
1. I've now turned it off for a complete drying. Now I can't turn it on. Is there a way to turn it on? Is a USB C jig available to do this?
2. I left some sensitive data in the phone *coughbootypicscough*, is there a way to access the memory and wipe it? or maybe factory reset the phone without turning it on?
3. Can the cameras be replaced / fixed?
Hoping for all our help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fact that water was hot made it easier to gain access to the inside of the phone and personally I'm going to say it's now a hardware issue and the phone is likely no good anymore.. If you're worried about certain pictures on the phone just destroy the phone so no one could possibly take parts out of it and try to use them. Smash it with a hammer, drive over it, you get the idea.. Just get another phone at this point the reason I know it's a hardware issue is because of what your camera did so the water made it past the seals mainly because it was hot and loosened the glue to get past it.
MrMike2182 said:
The fact that water was hot made it easier to gain access to the inside of the phone and personally I'm going to say it's now a hardware issue and the phone is likely no good anymore.. If you're worried about certain pictures on the phone just destroy the phone so no one could possibly take parts out of it and try to use them. Smash it with a hammer, drive over it, you get the idea.. Just get another phone at this point the reason I know it's a hardware issue is because of what your camera did so the water made it past the seals mainly because it was hot and loosened the glue to get past it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it actually still works. I tried hard not to turn it off because the power button is broken. Last night, I fell asleep and forgot to charge it and battery drained and phone turned off.
It still charges but I can't turn it on because the power button is broken.
I was hoping if anyone knows if a USBC jig can help and turn it on for a bit or any other way to trigger download mode and then restart.
Try to hold Volume down + Bixby button and plug the cable in, it may be goes in download mode amd than you can reboot you phone. If not try only with Volume down and cable.
zyxw-androidiani said:
Try to hold Volume down + Bixby button and plug the cable in, it may be goes in download mode amd than you can reboot you phone. If not try only with Volume down and cable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try that again. For now, I'm placing the phone inside a box with desiccant to ensure that it dries completely. Hopefully, it restores some function to the powerbutton.
maxram said:
I'll try that again. For now, I'm placing the phone inside a box with desiccant to ensure that it dries completely. Hopefully, it restores some function to the powerbutton.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try opening and removing the simcard tray while the phone rest in the box with desiccant. Hopefully can remove water vapors better and faster.
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