I upgraded to the S5 with JUMP and for the first week had no issues. However, over the past 2 weeks, touchwiz stops responding and freezes at random times. The only way to reset the phone is by battery pull. The shutdown menu pops up when I hold the power button, but the touchscreen doesn't respond to my command to reboot or shutdown. I can launch google now and Svoice by the home button, but neither app understands the restart phone command.
Google Now: "restart" and "restart phone" commands search for restart on the google search engine
Svoice: "restart" - There is nothing to restart, "restart phone" searched web, "reboot" replies: "OK, cancelled"
Over the past 3 days the freezing happens daily, and today it happened twice. Getting a bit frustrated
I did not root the phone, not knowing if there will be a fix to reset Knox (kind of defeats the purpose of subscribing to Jump if I have to pay an additional $175 to Assurance and half of the value of the phone ($330 + $175) for the next upgrade next year.
I'm thinking some of the bloatware has to do with this. I'm using "autorun manager" to minimize the number of apps that autostart but without a rooted phone some apps can't be stopped from starting up.
Phone has all official available OTA updates and has not been modified..... yet..... kinda losing my patience, first apps can't write to extSD card, now this... pulling battery in front of my iphone user friends...... didn't have these issues my previously rooted galaxy phones once I got rid of the crapware..
Any thoughts?
Why not just send it in for warranty if it's past the 14 days?
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
dpshptl said:
Why not just send it in for warranty if it's past the 14 days?
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I"m thinking that it's a software problem.. something I installed
issue is when you're not rooted
you're at the mercy of t-mobile..
rhesus98 said:
I upgraded to the S5 with JUMP and for the first week had no issues. However, over the past 2 weeks, touchwiz stops responding and freezes at random times. The only way to reset the phone is by battery pull. The shutdown menu pops up when I hold the power button, but the touchscreen doesn't respond to my command to reboot or shutdown. I can launch google now and Svoice by the home button, but neither app understands the restart phone command.
Google Now: "restart" and "restart phone" commands search for restart on the google search engine
Svoice: "restart" - There is nothing to restart, "restart phone" searched web, "reboot" replies: "OK, cancelled"
Over the past 3 days the freezing happens daily, and today it happened twice. Getting a bit frustrated
I did not root the phone, not knowing if there will be a fix to reset Knox (kind of defeats the purpose of subscribing to Jump if I have to pay an additional $175 to Assurance and half of the value of the phone ($330 + $175) for the next upgrade next year.
I'm thinking some of the bloatware has to do with this. I'm using "autorun manager" to minimize the number of apps that autostart but without a rooted phone some apps can't be stopped from starting up.
Phone has all official available OTA updates and has not been modified..... yet..... kinda losing my patience, first apps can't write to extSD card, now this... pulling battery in front of my iphone user friends...... didn't have these issues my previously rooted galaxy phones once I got rid of the crapware..
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man do you happen to have ART as runtime system?
Uninstall the Autorun Manager! KitKat manages memory VERY well on its own, no need for that program, and it might actually be causing the issue.
Don't know if you have power saving on.. if you do it restricts the cpu depending on if you have it set up that way and sometimes, at least for me when I was on stock, the phone would run horrible. BUT, you could have a faulty software if you did the official Ota update.. sometimes things go wrong, very rarely though.
rhesus98 said:
...Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought about it for a long time: to root, or not to root. I'm also on the JUMP program, and I'm planning to turn in my device after 1yr, whenever The Next Big Thing is Here™. I'm banking on them taking my warranty-void (KNOX-tripped) hardware for the trade, and they had better not give me any grief about it.
My reasoning? After 1yr, the warranty is expired anyway. After 1 year, it should make no difference whether the warranty is void, expired, or never present to begin with. If the handset is in good working order (e.g. the typical no-liquid-or-physical-damage-and-powers-on), then I expect they'll take it back.
I'm not necessarily suggesting you do the same, but I figured I'd share my reasoning.
xxjrsmith3xx said:
Hey man do you happen to have ART as runtime system?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I did not set that as the default nor have I experimented with this feature. Are folks finding it worth switching to this new feature?
Aou said:
I thought about it for a long time: to root, or not to root. I'm also on the JUMP program, and I'm planning to turn in my device after 1yr, whenever The Next Big Thing is Here™. I'm banking on them taking my warranty-void (KNOX-tripped) hardware for the trade, and they had better not give me any grief about it.
My reasoning? After 1yr, the warranty is expired anyway. After 1 year, it should make no difference whether the warranty is void, expired, or never present to begin with. If the handset is in good working order (e.g. the typical no-liquid-or-physical-damage-and-powers-on), then I expect they'll take it back.
I'm not necessarily suggesting you do the same, but I figured I'd share my reasoning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To root or not to root. That's a great question. I have seen some posts about this and whether folks have been able to return a modded phone. Some posts claim they can but these companies are looking for a reason not to exchange the phone or for a reason to make you pay more money. I think it's naive to think that Tmobile hasn't caught on to it and a big leap of faith to assume they're not going to make you pay for a modded phone. With the galaxy S4 that was not an issue (I never accepted the knox update). It seems like the Note 3 has a software mod for resetting the knox counter. If this could be found for the galaxy, then I'm all ready for the root. Otherwise I guess I'll just be patient and wait it out.
Just to provide an update, I looked at my free storage and it was only 1GB (had offline storage of a reference book)
I deleted a bunch of files and freed up total of 3 Gigs. It hasn't crashed yet..
Another gripe at Samsung and Google: The former for only offering 16GB (this was not an issue with the GSIII) and at Google who by not allowing apps to write to external card have limited the usefulness of using an external card for data storage.
I'll update to post to indicate that this may have been a limited storage issue or if it recurs, I'll probably end up trying to uninstall Autorun
Related
To get to the point, people DON'T UPDATE YOUR VIBRANTS and T-MOBILE HANDLES THE ISSUE HORRIBLY! Obviously this is not a universal problem, but if you do happen to be one of the lucky ones that bricks their phone with the update there is no saving it (at least with the help of T-mobile).
I just got off of the phone with tech support and they were less than helpful. After the regular punching in numbers, talking to two different people, and trying to re-boots that everyone with half a brain have tried, they informed me that they would replace the phone but I had to PAY for shipping. While I realize this is a normal policy when it comes to random malfunctions, which may or may not have been the users fault, this is absolutely ridiculous when the problem is 100% their fault. Seriously, T-mobile ships a top of the line phone that has some major flaws and inactivated software (media hub), then breaks the phone with it's official update, and somehow this is MY responsibility to pay to get fixed? The rep even asked if I at this point wanted to add insurance so next time I wouldn't have to pay for shipping and if I wanted to pay extra for expedited shipping! They were trying to make an add-on sale while fixing an issue THEY caused!
That's not even the end of it, because I was so irritated they sent me to a "loyalty specialist" (who sounded like a used car salesman). He rambled on about how he would waive the shipping fee (he made it sound like he just saved my first born child). I told him I appreciated that but it didn't fix the fact that T-Mobile was not handling the issue well. When a large number of phones break from an issue originating from the provider they should either 1) have re-furbished phones (or even set aside new phones if necessary) to replace these broken phones as they come up or 2) offer free over night shipping of the replacement phone. He told me that these options were too expensive for T-Mobile, and that if I like I could sign up for either of their two insurance plans, as they would allow me to do an in-store replacement (he later noted that one of them was only available within the first 14 days of owning the phone...). I couldn't believe they were trying to another add-on sale! The best part being, I later called around to all my local T-Mobile owned stores and none of them have the Vibrant available for in-store replacement (and never have).
So the Cliff-Notes of my rant:
1) DON'T UPDATE YOUR VIBRANT
2) If you did brick your phone, make sure to complain and they should refund the ridiculous shipping charge
3) If you don't own a Vibrant and are thinking about it consider the following (Don't let it stop you, just consider it):
- Still on 2.1, when Nexus One has been on 2.2 for months (and the Galaxy S 2.2 official ROM has been leaked so it does exist in some form.) => Meaning updates are super scarce and extremely late.
- T-Mobile is selling a good phone with many flaws, and their first attempt to fix it bricked many phones (do a google search I am not the only one).
- While it may be better than other companies, T-Mobiles customer service is FAR from flawless
P.S. My phone was completely stock (so please don't mention how I did this with a lag fix, etc.). I waited at least 15 mins before I pulled the battery, before which I had noted the T-Mobile sound starting without the animation (seems like a timing issue or something). And finally, I realize this is a duplicate post to many others but I want people to find this info (not be at the bottom of a really long thread) to get the word out how T-Mobile deals with their errors.
I hate when people mess with their phones then get angry at a company for "breaking" their phone. Im running stock rom with root and also got bricked, but, I manned up and knew I was in the wrong and accepted what happened. I didn't put the blame on TMo, because completely untouched vibrants that I was aware of had no issues with this OTA. If you added functionality to it after the fact that it wasn't originally on there before when you initially purchased it; then its YOUR fault that it bricked, NOT T-mobiles. Take some responsibility and stop crying.
Had the same problem but this is a pretty fix using Odin.
If you install an update from an OTA T-Mobile should be held responsible
I don't know about you guys but when you have been a customer for 10+ years, T-Mobile will pretty much suck your balls.
Either way, if you guys rooted it, then that takes the fault from T-Mobile to you. You changed the phone. The update was designed for a pristine un-edited Samsung Vibrant, if you changed anything in the system by rooting or flashing it is your fault for changing the equation. T-Mobile is NOT at fault for your actions.
Yeah why warranty the phone when you can just ODIN and fix it yourself? Do a xda search. If you're gonna use xda to complain at least use it to solve your own problems as well. Unless your phone is hardware locked it is 100 % fixable.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
starkiller86 said:
I hate when people mess with their phones then get angry at a company for "breaking" their phone. Im running stock rom with root and also got bricked, but, I manned up and knew I was in the wrong and accepted what happened. I didn't put the blame on TMo, because completely untouched vibrants that I was aware of had no issues with this OTA. If you added functionality to it after the fact that it wasn't originally on there before when you initially purchased it; then its YOUR fault that it bricked, NOT T-mobiles. Take some responsibility and stop crying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
P.S. My phone was completely stock (so please don't mention how I did this with a lag fix, etc.). I waited at least 15 mins before I pulled the battery, before which I had noted the T-Mobile sound starting without the animation (seems like a timing issue or something). And finally, I realize this is a duplicate post to many others but I want people to find this info (not be at the bottom of a really long thread) to get the word out how T-Mobile deals with their errors
Did you not read that part?
I bricked two stock Vibrants with the update. The second one failed during Mini-Kies update and was hardware locked.
It is a known issue according to the Tech guy that I spoke to while getting my replacement.
First phone wouldn't power on after failure, second phone was hardware locked so un-fixable.
No, no.
This happened to me, I had a rooted phone I had uninstalled the inflight internet, etc on it and hadn't overclocked or anything like that. Phone kills itself. I went to the tmo store and they only make you pay for shipping if you take the overnight option.
PROTIP - DON'T ASK FOR EXTRA SPEEDY SHIPPING AND THEY'LL PAY FOR IT.
so i guess we are just SOL for the data on the phone? I just lost an entire vacation of pictures. I had not had a chance to root this phone either. this is ****ing awesome.
dechire said:
so i guess we are just SOL for the data on the phone? I just lost an entire vacation of pictures. I had not had a chance to root this phone either. this is ****ing awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess this is just an example of "store your pictures on the external SD card"
Then if you brick it you can still get your pictures back ....
watcher64 said:
I guess this is just an example of "store your pictures on the external SD card"
Then if you brick it you can still get your pictures back ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Word. That's one of the first things I did when I got the phone and was playing with the features. Switched it from phone storage to memory card.
Sorry to hear you lost photos.
Protip: Pay the damn overnight shipping fee...it'll be deducted from your bill (flex pay) which makes it free: )
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Here is the business side
If I am T mobile every time some person has a problem and I offered free shipping, the Every moron would be shipping the device back for Any problem. Way way costly, so that is not going to happen. If you Really believe the phone is factory defective then, pay the shipping and move on. If you messed with it at all then the burden to resolve is yours and be honest about that. Remember the reason people are in here is to customize the phone and improve it. Like the XDA mantra sez.......... It is not just the result... but the journey....
Like one of the other posts stated:
If you rooted it, then that takes the fault from T-Mobile to you. You changed the phone. The update was designed for a pristine un-edited Samsung Vibrant, if you changed anything in the system by rooting or flashing it is your fault for changing the equation. T-Mobile is NOT at fault for your actions.
Gr8gorilla said:
First phone wouldn't power on after failure, second phone was hardware locked so un-fixable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a hardware lock fix now, you really should flash that before you do anything else. Yeah, you run the risk of bricking with the hardware unlock, but it's probably a safer bet than flashing away.
dechire said:
so i guess we are just SOL for the data on the phone? I just lost an entire vacation of pictures. I had not had a chance to root this phone either. this is ****ing awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you Odin it with the JI6 update, you might still be able to get a working system out of it. Worth a shot to see if you can get it without having to flash to stock first (which will wipe).
With all the time you spent with tech support, you could have found the thread that delineates how to fix your phone and update through odin. Its very easy and, frankly why be on a developers forum when you are not willing to tinker around a bit.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
dechire said:
so i guess we are just SOL for the data on the phone? I just lost an entire vacation of pictures. I had not had a chance to root this phone either. this is ****ing awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as the phone still powers on you can still use ADB Pull and save the data from the /sdcard folder. This update isn't a totally bricking the phone (at least it didn't mine) just making the display and inputs not work. To quote Billy Crystal: "He's only MOSTLY dead"
Odin was really simple to reflash the stock ROM and then I was able to do a nandroid restore from there.
The T-Mobile OTA update left my phone only booting to the vibrant screen, but it was a pretty simple fix with Odin. The hardest part was getting the proper drivers installed in windows!
Mini kies wouldnt even let me update,so I rooted and flashed bionix 1.8,works great.**** tmo.
Fyi to the people with hardware lock. I did the update on my gf's phone which was hardware locked and it failed. The phone would only boot to the vibrant screen. The good news is the ota update unlocks the hardware because her phone is able to get into recovery and download mode even thought the update failed. The point is don't worry if ota fail on you because you can just use odin to fix it since it unlocks the download mode.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
mr2t32 said:
Fyi to the people with hardware lock. I did the update on my gf's phone which was hardware locked and it failed. The phone would only boot to the vibrant screen. The good news is the ota update unlocks the hardware because her phone is able to get into recovery and download mode even thought the update failed. The point is don't worry if ota fail on you because you can just use odin to fix it since it unlocks the download mode.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the update even gets that far...
just got this, new phone. I've been reviewing all its features, but it's started acting strange. when I plug in to charge, it no longer responds. the only way I got it to power on is after I remove/re-insert battery. I realize different phones will have different functions/settings, but my last phone never had these type of issues. I'm just at a loss as to what's going on. I have another week to return this phone, if it won't operate properly. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. I have the unlocked/no carrier logo, International I9300 version. It's running Android 4.1.1, which is what came installed.
twf498 said:
just got this, new phone. I've been reviewing all its features, but it's started acting strange. when I plug in to charge, it no longer responds. the only way I got it to power on is after I remove/re-insert battery. I realize different phones will have different functions/settings, but my last phone never had these type of issues. I'm just at a loss as to what's going on. I have another week to return this phone, if it won't operate properly. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. I have the unlocked/no carrier logo, International I9300 version. It's running Android 4.1.1, which is what came installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi I will save you alot of trouble here... Return the phone...Your phone should not be doing this especially a new one even if you can fix this it is something that is not normal and can spell trouble elsewhere with your phone.
I would recommend returning and getting another one
+1 return it and go for new one. Why to bother when return is an option.
hardware problem..just return it
turns off, won't power on, after/while charging
tallman43 said:
Hi I will save you alot of trouble here... Return the phone...Your phone should not be doing this especially a new one even if you can fix this it is something that is not normal and can spell trouble elsewhere with your phone.
I would recommend returning and getting another one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've done a factory reset & it seems 2 b responding, as it should. I'm hoping it means that just an app, I'd installed, was causing the issue. If not, I've alerted the seller that I'd be returning/exchanging. Does this type of thing tend 2 happen, very often?
Update: OK, it's been over 12 hrs. since I did the factory reset. I've not done anything else, except enter my local settings. I've not logged in 2 any pre-installed apps, either. So far, it's still working fine. Now, should I assume this DID have something 2 do w/an app or what? I'm really trying 2 exhaust all possibilities b4 returning, as this can only be returned, if there IS something actually defective.
Please advise, again.
Thx,
Tereasa
No, only when the user corrupts the firmware/data.
twf498 said:
I've done a factory reset & it seems 2 b responding, as it should. I'm hoping it means that just an app, I'd installed, was causing the issue. If not, I've alerted the seller that I'd be returning/exchanging. Does this type of thing tend 2 happen, very often?
Update: OK, it's been over 12 hrs. since I did the factory reset. I've not done anything else, except enter my local settings. I've not logged in 2 any pre-installed apps, either. So far, it's still working fine. Now, should I assume this DID have something 2 do w/an app or what? I'm really trying 2 exhaust all possibilities b4 returning, as this can only be returned, if there IS something actually defective.
Please advise, again.
Thx,
Tereasa
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way to really understand what's going on without testing but that takes time and that is something you haven't got seeing as you need to return the phone within a week..
You could install one app at a time test then uninstall that app and move on to the next app to test but that is very time consuming depending on how many apps you had installed. (And it might not even be that what is causing the problem)
You could flash a new stock firmware and test but again that is time consuming plus you don't want to be doing that if you are returning the phone.
I can only tell you what I would do and that is to return it..The reason why I say that is because not having your phone respond when you plug into a charger would be a big issue for me especially on a new phone and like i said in my first post this could be signs of trouble elsewhere.
I would probably ask myself this question... maybe it was just a app or maybe it's something worse "can i take the risk" Phones cost alot of money and I think you should expect them to work without any problems when first purchased.
tallman43 said:
There is no way to really understand what's going on without testing but that takes time and that is something you haven't got seeing as you need to return the phone within a week..
You could install one app at a time test then uninstall that app and move on to the next app to test but that is very time consuming depending on how many apps you had installed. (And it might not even be that what is causing the problem)
You could flash a new stock firmware and test but again that is time consuming plus you don't want to be doing that if you are returning the phone.
I can only tell you what I would do and that is to return it..The reason why I say that is because not having your phone respond when you plug into a charger would be a big issue for me especially on a new phone and like i said in my first post this could be signs of trouble elsewhere.
I would probably ask myself this question... maybe it was just a app or maybe it's something worse "can i take the risk" Phones cost alot of money and I think you should expect them to work without any problems when first purchased.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good:Well, as it turns out, it must be a serious issue w/phone. I've still not logged in/installed any other apps & it's starting do it all, again. So, back it will go. As u said, it's expensive! I really appreciate ur assistance.
Alright so lets start with the basics. This phone has been rooted (cf auto root) and still contains factory recovery. All these issues popped up at the exact same time, Saturday morning.
1.) The volume control (not just button, but also in the software side to load it up) will lag for about 30 seconds and nothing is responsive except for the power button. If I hit the power button I will be in a loop for about 2 minutes of the screen staying black with the buttons lighting up. But the button works perfect in recovery.
2.) The camera has server connection issues or pops up with the camera failed issue. Once when i was exiting the camera during one of its laggy moment to try and load the image portion (the software buttons would load sometimes but the "view finder" wont) of the camera and the camera actually popped up for a second or two as I hit the home button to exit it and has only done this once. For this I tried clearing cache and data which did not fix it.
3.) Most programs (stock apps or 3rd party) randomly crash including system.
I also tried loading in safe mode before the reset which just told me it was not a 3rd party based issue.
I have already performed a factory reset and wiped cache but has not fixed this. Is the hardware actually messed up or is there some random chance that the software is just so messed up that even the reset will not fix it? Cat logs needed?
I left the S3 for power button failure and don't want another hardware issue (had it for 2 years before the button failed).
TIA
***New issue***
4.) Now lockscreen is hardly letting me load into the phone.
I think I'm just going to go to the store and throw this phone at someone.
Go into a store and get it replaced. Hope that they don't check knox.
You tried flashing stock via Odin and see what happens ?
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
mahanddeem said:
You tried flashing stock via Odin and see what happens ?
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't bother. If it's within 14 days, you have a right to a working phone.
aooga said:
I wouldn't bother. If it's within 14 days, you have a right to a working phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would bother if it's just a matter of stock odin flash then everything comes back to normal, you can never know if next device would be defective or not, will you replace AGAIN ?
mahanddeem said:
I would bother if it's just a matter of stock odin flash then everything comes back to normal, you can never know if next device would be defective or not, will you replace AGAIN ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I would. If I pay $700 for a phone it better work properly or I'm going to keep exchanging it.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Went to the store with it rooted and had to go home to unroot it, after that the paperwork was started. They are overnighting a phone out to arrive Tuesday. The problems just keep popping up too, can no longer send message or make phone calls. I had the phone for 26 days so I was still in the grace period for buying the warranty, which I now did and the cost of replacement is only $5. I think I was unable to buy a warranty on day one due to some bs with plan changes (I was on an ancient plan with unlimited data and zero throttling for cheap back from when the Vibrant came out). My brother who also got an S5 a week later on the same plan was unable to buy a warranty as well for the same reason.
The only thing I did not do was odin a stock rom but with the cheap cost I figured it was worth it to just get a new phone. This phone has come into contact with many chemicals (had a pocket full of powdered sanitizer that broke open all over me) and plenty of barley dust so I figured why not just exchange.
mahanddeem said:
I would bother if it's just a matter of stock odin flash then everything comes back to normal, you can never know if next device would be defective or not, will you replace AGAIN ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a risk have to be willing to take I guess.
DeadDoc said:
Went to the store with it rooted and had to go home to unroot it, after that the paperwork was started. They are overnighting a phone out to arrive Tuesday. The problems just keep popping up too, can no longer send message or make phone calls. I had the phone for 26 days so I was still in the grace period for buying the warranty, which I now did and the cost of replacement is only $5. I think I was unable to buy a warranty on day one due to some bs with plan changes (I was on an ancient plan with unlimited data and zero throttling for cheap back from when the Vibrant came out). My brother who also got an S5 a week later on the same plan was unable to buy a warranty as well for the same reason.
The only thing I did not do was odin a stock rom but with the cheap cost I figured it was worth it to just get a new phone. This phone has come into contact with many chemicals (had a pocket full of powdered sanitizer that broke open all over me) and plenty of barley dust so I figured why not just exchange.
Just a risk have to be willing to take I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, see the chemical thing would have been good to mention in the OP.
aooga said:
Yeah, see the chemical thing would have been good to mention in the OP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was mostly just powdered sanitizer and none got inside the case. And at the same time, my Vibrant and S3 were both in the same work environment. I wonder if the phone can handle falling in beer....
Hello everyone,
I might have a big problem.
This morning I booted my HTC One M7 as usual, and when it finished booting it opened a browser tap with a fake whatsapp update. I closed the browser immediately, and five minutes after this, the exact same thing happened. I started thinking how this could happend, and honestly I have no clue. All my apps are from the play store, and I only download documents for school. I haven't even downloaded a new app in the last week, however 15+ of my apps aren't up to date.
I scanned my phone with malwarebytes and it couldn't find anything. I rebooted my phone after the scan, and the problem seems to be gone. I was telling this story to a friend of mine this afternoon, and my mother said that she experienced the same thing, just a couple hours before I experienced it. After further investigation, it wasn't exactly the same. When she opened whatsapp, it asked her to do a weekly back-up of her chats. At first, she closed whatsapp, but when it appeared again, she clicked yes. She wasn't very clear about this, so I don't know if it was a fake menu, or the real deal. I have also scanned her Moto g (2013), and it found no malware.
I don't know if this could be harmfull. Especially because my parents use their phones for mobile banking.
This is a screenshot of my HTC
It could easily have been done through whatsapp. Part of the reason most people have stopped using it. Viruses run rampant I'm just about all of Facebook apps. And no anti virus will find them as they are vastly different then normal viruses.
zelendel said:
It could easily have been done through whatsapp. Part of the reason most people have stopped using it. Viruses run rampant I'm just about all of Facebook apps. And no anti virus will find them as they are vastly different then normal viruses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the Netherlands literally everybody uses it, but it's good to know that this could indeed happen! Should I be worried about this, and what should I do when it returns?
Dark-shot said:
In the Netherlands literally everybody uses it, but it's good to know that this could indeed happen! Should I be worried about this, and what should I do when it returns?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I heard alot of people in Europe use it alot, here in the states almost no one uses it really except for kids. Most have moved to hangouts.
If I was you I would completely back up the device and then wipe everything and reflash the device.
Things like this will not be picked up by so called virus scanners.
I'am afraid that it is something like ShiftyBug (https://blog.lookout.com/blog/2015/11/04/trojanized-adware/). In the article it says that you have to install apps from third parties, but I have almost never done that. I have downloaded popcorntime in the past, but I have deletet it almost 6 months ago.
I'm afraid that if I reflash my device, that it will come back fairly soon. Is it possible that it has spread over my wifi network? Because of the fact that my mother got something similar on the same day.
But how do I know for sure that it is a virus? After I restarted my phone (12 hours ago), it hasn't shown up yet. Am I worried for nothing, or is there a big chances that I'm infected?
Thank you for all your replies!
Dark-shot said:
I'am afraid that it is something like ShiftyBug (https://blog.lookout.com/blog/2015/11/04/trojanized-adware/). In the article it says that you have to install apps from third parties, but I have almost never done that. I have downloaded popcorntime in the past, but I have deletet it almost 6 months ago.
I'm afraid that if I reflash my device, that it will come back fairly soon. Is it possible that it has spread over my wifi network? Because of the fact that my mother got something similar on the same day.
But how do I know for sure that it is a virus? After I restarted my phone (12 hours ago), it hasn't shown up yet. Am I worried for nothing, or is there a big chances that I'm infected?
Thank you for all your replies!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The key word there is almost. If you reflash the device and it comes back then it maybe something that someopne else downloaded and was shared through your network. As you said your mother also saw it so I would go through her phone as well.
There are many apps out there that do this that are in the play store. So it is all a matter of being careful.
There is a chance. If it is big or not depends on how you use your device. It could also have come from a website someone visited. Im not saying you did but many porn sites are set to infect devices when they visit them.
If it was me. I would just start from scratch with each device and make sure that all the things installed are legit.
You could also run a logcat and try to reproduce it. That would tell you what is causing it.
Doesn't seem dangerous.
JohnColston said:
Doesn't seem dangerous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you have not been paying attention. Any browser pop that tells you to update an app is 99% an infected apk. It is a common practice for those that take apks and re-package them with malware
After reading more i must admit you are right.... My bad:good:
So I have to flash my phone, aren't there any other options? And if not, how do I reflash The HTC firmware to my phone?
Should I make a back-up before doing this, won't the malware spread again if I instal the back-up on my phone?
Thanks again!
EDIT:
Unfortunately, I still haven't been able to reproduce the problem.
I still haven't been able to reproduce the pop-up.
I do propably know where the problem came from, a friend of mine sent me a older version of soundcloud (the new one can't cache music). I installed that app, decided that it was to old for me and deleted it. The malware must have spread right after the first use. I'm planning on flashing my phone inthe weekend.
EDIT: I can reprodce the pop-up! It's linked to opening the app 'night mode', this app was downloaded in the official play store 2 years ago. Since then it hasn't got a lot of updates though.
Hey,
Time for a little update.
Last weekend, I contacted HTC's customer support due to the fact that I couldn't find my software version. They told me that I should execute a RUU, but they couldn't find the right version, so I had to contact the Dutch customer support (I didn't do this in the first place because the Dutch customer support wasn't open in the weekend).
The next monday (23-11) I contacted the Dutch customer support and asked them for the ROM, and unfortunately due to the regulations they don't publish the ROM's. However, they told me to do a factory reset and that should solve the issue. Unfortunately, it didn't. After the reset, I now get a different Whatsapp pop-up once or twice a day. The pop-up isn't connected to opening an app, like it was before the reset.
A friend of mine experienced the same problem this week on his new Moto X. All the other phones in my home network don't have this problem.
I hope someone will be able to help me!
Thanks in advance!
Dark-shot said:
Hey,
Time for a little update.
Last weekend, I contacted HTC's customer support due to the fact that I couldn't find my software version. They told me that I should execute a RUU, but they couldn't find the right version, so I had to contact the Dutch customer support (I didn't do this in the first place because the Dutch customer support wasn't open in the weekend).
The next monday (23-11) I contacted the Dutch customer support and asked them for the ROM, and unfortunately due to the regulations they don't publish the ROM's. However, they told me to do a factory reset and that should solve the issue. Unfortunately, it didn't. After the reset, I now get a different Whatsapp pop-up once or twice a day. The pop-up isn't connected to opening an app, like it was before the reset.
A friend of mine experienced the same problem this week on his new Moto X. All the other phones in my home network don't have this problem.
I hope someone will be able to help me!
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a chance that it might've spread over a certain network.... Is you and your moto x friend uses the same network ?
sdeepb said:
There's a chance that it might've spread over a certain network.... Is you and your moto x friend uses the same network ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, we both use the wifi network at our high school. But I did the factory reset friday evening, and since then I haven't connected to that network.
It might have spread through that network though.
Dark-shot said:
Yes, we both use the wifi network at our high school. But I did the factory reset friday evening, and since then I haven't connected to that network.
It might have spread through that network though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depending on the malware a factory reset will not remove it. In fact most malware cant be removed that way. You have to flash the whole device to get rid of it.
Dark-shot said:
Yes, we both use the wifi network at our high school. But I did the factory reset friday evening, and since then I haven't connected to that network.
It might have spread through that network though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my opinion after starting all over again as you've already been told, you should do all that you did before and monitor each step with patience and concentration to actually understand what's behind this... This may help out
sdeepb said:
In my opinion after starting all over again as you've already been told, you should do all that you did before and monitor each step with patience and concentration to actually understand what's behind this... This may help out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As he said. Here is what I would do if I was in your place. Anyone got any extra steps to add feel free to chime in. This would kinda suck for a bit.
You will need a custom recovery. And a bit of time to set up
1. Take everything off device.
2. Format full device in recovery. Not factory reset. Format system, data, internal storage and both caches.
3. Flash complete stock firmware.
4. Get root before rebooting
5. Reboot, do not connect to wifi during set up. Do not restore anything.
6. Get Catlog from the play store and run it.
7. Then continue set up. Wifi and ect. Scan backed up files with a pc virus scan but only return what you really need.
8. When restoring from TIBU install apps fresh from the market and restore data only to apps. (sucks I know but only way to be sure) make sure to delete old back and redo.
Then monitor catlog. This will tell you everything going on. You would be able to figure it out.
Lol... Use adaway or adblocker and such pop up will be gone ... These are the new tricks from those freaking advertisement companies. They are now smart buddy. Even they can access the vibration as the pop up will come phone will get vibrate and users understand this as genuine and click on those ads . You got whatsapp pop some got browser pop up. Hope this will help u ...
Even you can flash moaAB ADBLOCKER from recovery.
veer.killerboy said:
Lol... Use adaway or adblocker and such pop up will be gone ... These are the new tricks from those freaking advertisement companies. They are now smart buddy. Even they can access the vibration as the pop up will come phone will get vibrate and users understand this as genuine and click on those ads . You got whatsapp pop some got browser pop up. Hope this will help u ...
Even you can flash moaAB ADBLOCKER from recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you would've read it fully than you'll know that the case is far bigger than what you're thinking it is
I lucked into a sale on a HUAWEI Y538 smartphone at Best Buy the other day, knowing we have no Boost Network around here for the cellphone service. Perfect!
I just wanted it as a nice little media player and access to my LAN, like my KitKat tablet. Nothing terribly fancy. I rooted it with Kingo, hoping to remove that nag cellphone activation every startup. I have to press Accept, then Self Service comes in and I click the no button. In addition as many of you know, Lollipop has a lot of unwanted background apps running . I spent a whole day trying to tame this and the only good news is that I worked out the factory reset.
My real question is if it's possible to remove that startup nag entirely, but either way, to ask if it's possible to downgrade to KitKat or something else? As a WiFi-only media player Lollipop would seem to be quite awful.
I've been on computers for decades but no experience with Android except my happy KitKat tablet. If some kind soul could be persuaded to help me out, well that'd be really cool.
JoeyTablet said:
I lucked into a sale on a HUAWEI Y538 smartphone at Best Buy the other day, knowing we have no Boost Network around here for the cellphone service. Perfect!
I just wanted it as a nice little media player and access to my LAN, like my KitKat tablet. Nothing terribly fancy. I rooted it with Kingo, hoping to remove that nag cellphone activation every startup. I have to press Accept, then Self Service comes in and I click the no button. In addition as many of you know, Lollipop has a lot of unwanted background apps running . I spent a whole day trying to tame this and the only good news is that I worked out the factory reset.
My real question is if it's possible to remove that startup nag entirely, but either way, to ask if it's possible to downgrade to KitKat or something else? As a WiFi-only media player Lollipop would seem to be quite awful.
I've been on computers for decades but no experience with Android except my happy KitKat tablet. If some kind soul could be persuaded to help me out, well that'd be really cool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.techmesto.com/unlock-bootloader-huawei-honor/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/and...how-to-data-off-shell-command-tasker-t3370783
Well I can't thank you enough for trying, but it seems Huawei changed their procedure. I got the 4 informations required and registered with Huawei. Going to the unlock page changes to Chinese and says too much traffic for servers in English. So I emailed Huawei Mobile support and got the following reply:
Dear User,
Huawei Customer Service is pleasure to be at your service,sorry to bring you the trouble,if you want to unlock your phone, you should meet these conditions as follow:
1.Please register your Huawei ID in our official website http://huawei.com/en/ on your phone.
2.Log in your Huawei ID for continuously 14 days.
3.Each Huawei ID should not apply for the unlock code more than twice within half years.If you meet the information,please go to http://emui.huawei.com/en/ and click the 'download'button to login your Huawei ID other than any other third party ID to apply for the unlock code.Please contact us by mail or local service hotline as following if error message appears.
TEL: http://consumer.huawei.com/en/contact-us/index.htm?tag=hotline
Mail: http://consumer.huawei.com/en/contact-us/index.htm?tag=email
Please submit your mobile model, SN, IMEI/MEID and erro message in your e-mail.We also need to know that your phone is rooted, it can be out of the best working state and part of functions may not be able to work normally. In additon, the system is vulnerable to be invaded by viruses once your phone is permitted to unlock. What's more, for the lacking of fully tested, the third party software will not be compatible with your phone. Unlocking will bring unexpected negative impacts and the device will be not normal, and can not be restored, Huawei after-sales service office will not provide warranty service for your rooted phone, and you may bear the cost. So we strongly advise you to think it twice.
If you have any other problems, please send your feedback to us. We will be at your service to help you to solve your problems.
Once again thank you for contacting Huawei device.
Best Regards.
Huawei Device Customer Care Team 3206
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I 'm reading that right they want me to log in every day for 14 days, which is kind of nuts.
To be fair the phone may possibly be rooted using Kingo (fast boot showed an "unlocked" message which I don't know if that means rooted but probably not boot unlocked), and for all I know that changes some of the information.
So I'm just replying FYI so you know how it went. Maybe I should do factory reset and try again?
Long day I'll go crash and see how it looks in the morning. Thanks for trying!
Joey
Happy here to report a partial solution, 1/2 way there!
If you take out the SIM card inside the phone it only nags once and saves probably 30 seconds of boot-up time. It's a great improvement!
bg260 said:
https://www.techmesto.com/unlock-bootloader-huawei-honor/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/and...how-to-data-off-shell-command-tasker-t3370783
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought the same phone at BB ($10 on sale) to use like you do (unactivated). What you're trying to do is actually super simple. Merely put the device in Airplane mode, then turn back on the wifi (and GPS if you like). You will not be prompted to activate your device. You actually should be doing this anyway as it saves your battery by not having the cell radio constantly trying to talk to the tower.
In case you missed it, there is a firmware update to the phone that can be downloaded via the Emui app on the phone. I'm not sure what all the update affects, but it doesn't impact your ability to use the procedure I described to avoid the constant activation reminder.
I believe this was in response to your question @JoeyTablet
bg260 said:
I believe this was in response to your question @JoeyTablet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oops, sorry, yes it was meant for @JoeyTablet
zerozed99 said:
I bought the same phone at BB ($10 on sale) to use like you do (unactivated). What you're trying to do is actually super simple. Merely put the device in Airplane mode, then turn back on the wifi (and GPS if you like). You will not be prompted to activate your device. You actually should be doing this anyway as it saves your battery by not having the cell radio constantly trying to talk to the tower.
In case you missed it, there is a firmware update to the phone that can be downloaded via the Emui app on the phone. I'm not sure what all the update affects, but it doesn't impact your ability to use the procedure I described to avoid the constant activation reminder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe this was in response to your question @JoeyTablet
Remember, quote or mention the member if you want them to be notified.
zerozed99 said:
I bought the same phone at BB ($10 on sale) to use like you do (unactivated). What you're trying to do is actually super simple. Merely put the device in Airplane mode, then turn back on the wifi (and GPS if you like). You will not be prompted to activate your device. You actually should be doing this anyway as it saves your battery by not having the cell radio constantly trying to talk to the tower.
In case you missed it, there is a firmware update to the phone that can be downloaded via the Emui app on the phone. I'm not sure what all the update affects, but it doesn't impact your ability to use the procedure I described to avoid the constant activation reminder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
COOL! Perfect it boots and no need to click anything further - and besides it's less stray microwaves. Also to report Huawei replied and said they accept bootloader code requests at: consumer (at) huawei.com. They say to include IMEI and serial numbers in the email. Both can be found in Settings >> about phone or underneath the back cover.
Where to go from here, I'd also like to disable sneaky RAM-stealing apps like Sprint cellphone and some apps I'll never use, such as most Google Play. Add decent firewall and decent media player, and have a good time!
Recommend root method I'm good to go.
JoeyTablet said:
COOL! Perfect it boots and no need to click anything further - and besides it's less stray microwaves. Also to report Huawei replied and said they accept bootloader code requests at: consumer (at) huawei.com. They say to include IMEI and serial numbers in the email. Both can be found in Settings >> about phone or underneath the back cover.
Where to go from here, I'd also like to disable sneaky RAM-stealing apps like Sprint cellphone and some apps I'll never use, such as most Google Play. Add decent firewall and decent media player, and have a good time!
Recommend root method I'm good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've read elsewhere (here on XDA) that folks have gotten root using Kingo root (mostly tethered to a Windows PC and not the app version). Note that this root method often requires you to run the rooting program multiple times before it is successful. I'm not a fan of Kingo after being forced to use it to re-root another device (it took well over a dozen times before root took). Also, Kingo doesn't use SuperSu, it installs a Kingo version of SuperSu which CAN be removed (not exactly easily) but users of the Huawei Y538 Union have gotten bootloops trying to remove Kingo's proprietary SuperSu, so not advisable at this time. Even after rooted you are not able to remove the pre-installed bloatware because of the locked bootloader (which is different than the carrier unlock). To be honest, I've pretty much decided to just not root this device and just install an SD card if I need the space...I'd rather do that than risk bricking the device when (for me) there's really no need. I'm going to wait it out and see if anybody can figure a reliable way to deal with the device without bricking before I do anything else.
If you do root using Kingo, you might be able to "freeze" the background apps you don't want using Titanium Backup. I've read that folks haven't had any luck using TB to uninstall the bloatware, but if you're just trying to free ram it *might* work. I believe the risk would be the device expecting certain apps to run, and if unable it might bootloop/brick. Without a custom recovery allowing a nand backup bricking seems like a real possibility.
Please post your results if you unlock your bootloader. It surprises me that they're offering this, as I thought they only supported carrier unlocking. If you're able to figure out how to trim down the bloat please share.
I'm currently using Google's Play Music app for music/podcasts since I've already got 20,000 song's uploaded and since I can't delete that app anyway. Otherwise I'd just use Doubletwist for offline listening.
In case you, or anyone else with this phone is interested, I ended up purchasing a cheap ($5 delivered) case for this thing. Overall I like the case, but if you have any questions about that, let me know.
Yeah that case is perfect. I might have found the same on eBay searching " Huawei Union Y538 Case Innovaa".
As for Kingo ROOT, I have one hit and one miss to report. The KitKAt tablet it worked and I un-rooted after I got my business done. But the Lollipop phone is another story. I run a really tight ship on the Windows end, and Kingo rooted Lollipop, I got some functions involving root accomplished, but it ended at some point (completely offline except for USB tether to PC).
I factory reset the phone and tried again. Kingo downloaded more stuff and my firewall asked for access to PCAccelerator and acdsee.. The former is considered a virus and the second an image viewing app, which I don't use (maybe it's payloaded who knows).
I don't wish to scare anyone nor besmirch Kingo ROOT's reputation if it's a wholesome rooting app, but advise great caution and use a firewall that notifies things like this (I use NetLimiter on PC).
So I await the boot-unlock code and hope I live to tell about it Thanks a million zerozed99! That case is icing on the cake.
For what it's worth, no reply from Hauwei, and yesterday I sent another SOS asking, if not for boot unlock code, even just a stock KitKat ROM for the Y538. We know that model ran KitKat as well as Lollipop.
It just kills me to see this cute little quadcore wasted with all the bloatware taking up valuable RAM and battery power as well.
Ladies & Gentlemen, distinguished colleagues at xda-developers... Please bear with me.
I started coding on Macs in 1981(1981!). I later went on to 5 years formal education in Computer Science at a decent University, and spent the better part of 2 decades volunteering for low and no income people- those were the best years of my life!
Now I'm on the old side, with some heart disease that has four stents in my heart and the no-fun life expectancy that goes with it.
Now, being a reasonably informed geek, I'm seeing some disturbing things I want to air out in "public" if you'll so allow me.
The idea Hauwei will send you a boot unlock code, I don't think it's true. They make it easy to fill out a form with at least four identifying informations, but I have YET to see anyone receive their code! In my case the form advances to a page written in Chinese! I believe this is a spy device and priced to spy on a certain demographic. The almost perfect unlockability and easy bootlock application with no one reporting being sent a code.... there's a reason.
Granted one thing: I've never owned a cellphone nor did I even want cell access from this. Maybe you've noticed the same thing(s) years ago. I just wanted a little quadcore computer to play around with, to access my LAN and play media, and this has me worried the kind of entities that design such forced options.
Oh well, no luck. anyone else going to wait a bit or should I trash this?
Can't tell you how much I'd like Marshmallow and the evil bootloader out of there for something else.
Lollipop is not so bad IMHO except for the lack of privs to access our own SD cards.
If you hold down the volume-down button and press the power button until the phone starts up you can boot into fastboot mode. I've read here in XDA someplace that there are 2 available builds of TWRP custom recovery for the y6, both work on our phone, tho only one of the builds works fully. I have not tried to install either on my y538 yet, but I will, and I'll let you know what I find out.
If you can get the bootloader unlocked, you should be able to flash SuperSU from TWRP.
I suggest you google the xda guide to fastboot. It is not very complicated.
I doubt we can locate any custom ROM for this device. However, if we can get rooted we can backup stock and then remove all the bloatware. ES File Explorer is great in root mode for managing the SD card.
More useful info: I pulled my SIM out before I fired up the phone for the first time, and when I turned on the phone it didn't download any of the extra crapware from Sprint! I have the Virgin version, and I expected all that stuff to download, but it did not. Also, if you look in the App Manager settings, you will see a few apps which shipped on your phone in the Disabled state!! You may wish to enable Lookout or others of the stock disabled apps. Also, without root, you can remove the Sprint ID app here, and disable any of the Google spots you don't want, like Play News or Play Movies.
This is my first Huawei device, though it's my twenty-somethingh Android, and so far I am very pleased with the layout of the settings and of the notifications tray. This is way liveable, and they allow us to disable most of the bloat.
Good luck!