[Q] A bit cautious about installing a ROM again.. - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Well I have a GT-9300, I used to have custom ROMs on it. Until it received a SDS(In total the phone was 4 times in Warranty repair), they "fixed" it the first time.
After a while I got tired of the Stock ROM and it being Sluggish, wanted to install Cyanogen Mod. I did but the phone turned into a PDA, when I checked in Status(Settings>>About>>Status) the "Network" block said "Unknown"(IMEI & Serial Number were intact!). The phone is SIM free!
I sent the phone a second time to Warranty repair, they "fixed" it again.
Now after it returned, after a while I wanted to Update via Samsung Keis to 4.3, after I did same result that happened after first repair!(IMEI & Serial Intact but Network Unknown)
I sent the phone off to a 3rd time to Warranty, this time they replaced the entire Motherboard of the phone thus changing IMEI & Serial Number.
When it came back, when I went to pick it up at the store where I sent it off. I noticed that the SIM card slot is broken, sent the phone to warranty repair once a gain and got it back after a week with fixed SIM slot.
Now my concern is that even after the Motherboard has been replaced, if I will try to install a custom Cyanogen Mod I will hit the same error (IMEI & Serial Intact & Network: Unknown).
Has anyone had this kind of issue of SDS and Network:Unknown? After a new motherboard replacement did it solve it?
I really want to get rid of the TouchWiz, it's heavy and makes the phone sluggish!!

Related

[Q] HOX+ stuck in airplane mode, comes out of it for short periods

My HOX+ (international model) worked fine for months, but yesterday it suddenly lost signal and now it's stuck in the airplane mode. When that happened, I didn't reboot, upgrade or otherwise tampered with the phone. The phone was rooted and had Elegancia ROM 4.5.0 installed long time ago.
This problem is mentioned in few other threads, but in my case the phone randomly comes out of the airplane mode by itself for few minutes and then goes back. During these short periods everything works - i.e. I can make calls and get 3G data and see IMEI. That happens once every few hours. Perhaps this was the case for other people as well, but nobody mentioned that so far. Wi-Fi does work all the time, though - so only cellular network is broken.
I wiped cache, simulated battery pull, and installed Elegancia ROM 5.2.0 and re-flashed boot.img from it. Nothing helps. It looks like hardware problem, but before I try repair options, perhaps anyone here has other ideas.
Speaking of hardware repairs, does anyone have experience with repairing rooted HTC phones ? I understand that unlocking bootloader voids warranty, but they will still repair it for a fee - right ?
cozzamara said:
This problem is mentioned in few other threads, but in my case the phone randomly comes out of the airplane mode by itself for few minutes and then goes back. During these short periods everything works - i.e. I can make calls and get 3G data and see IMEI. That happens once every few hours. Perhaps this was the case for other people as well, but nobody mentioned that so far. Wi-Fi does work all the time, though - so only cellular network is broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you remember when those situations are happening if the cellular network signal is weak in this area? Is this problem occurring everywhere or specifically in a zone area e.g. only work, only at home,etc.?
Are you using the Power Saver mode?
Maybe your SIM card is just a bit loose in it's support, try to install a "scotch" tape cut-to-size on its back, it only takes 5 minutes to try and its free!
cozzamara said:
I understand that unlocking bootloader voids warranty, but they will still repair it for a fee - right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not at all! Your warranty with your provider can be void, but not with HTC.
Many reports of the same issue with the Nexus Galaxy HERE
Yes, I am absolutely positive now it's a hardware problem. The same SIM card works perfectly in another phone, and other SIM cards don't work in this HOX+ with the same symptoms. The phone doesn't even notice absence of SIM card when there's none - it says "No Service", and doesn't say "No SIM Card", which it normally did before.
Lucky Thirteen said:
Not at all! Your warranty with your provider can be void, but not with HTC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not what HTC told me. Their phone representative said that unlocking bootloader voids the warranty, regardless of how your purchased the phone.
I was ready to go ahead with paid repair, but after checking IMEI number, they told me this is a global (C2) model, originating in UK, and not only their warranty doesn't apply here, HTC USA won't even repair it for a fee because they don't have necessary parts. This was factory-unlocked international HTC One X+ (model S728E), purchased on US eBay, and yes - it is UK model, so I'm stuck now. I'll update when I talk to HTC in UK.
Update
As promised, I am posting an update to this story.
I called HTC UK and they said if the problem is not caused by firmware modification, it will be covered by warranty.
I filled RMA request on HTC UK support site, but then they changed their mind and told me that repair will cost because of the unlocked bootloader.
I didn't have any other options at that point, so I installed stock ROM, unrooted and re-locked bootloader and sent the phone to UK service center. I used the cheapest USPS shipping (about $20) and it took about 2 weeks for the phone to get there from NY, but once it got there, I received back repaired working phone here in the US in a couple of days. I was not charged any money for this, after all.
The serial number of the phone remained the same, but IMEI changed, which confirms that the problem was in hardware indeed.
By the time I got the phone back from UK, my eBay seller obtained RMA from US HTC (which they denied me directly).
This whole experience demonstrated that:
US HTC support is useless. Everything several of their representatives told me turned out to be outright BS.
UK HTC support is excellent.
HTC doesn't seem to have consistent policy regarding unlocked bootloaders. Formally unlocking voids warranty (at least on non-developer units), but in reality it probably doesn't, if the the hardware is faulty
My experience
HI,
I have an HOX which had the standard HTC firmware from new. The battery needed replacing so contacted my network provider who agreed to “replace” the battery for me.
Received the phone back, not my phone but a refurbished phone which now had branded firmware, not overly happy about that! But I did have “my” phone back.
After reinstalling all the apps I use regularly and using the phone for three days, I noticed that I could not get any network coverage for approx. 24 hours. I called at the network provider shop where the assistant said that it was unusual and appeared to be stuck in airplane mode, which I hadn’t noticed. After using factory reset and a new sim the problem was still evident.
Two options; return it to the network provider for repair or try one of the larger shops which have a technician on site.
Whilst deciding what to do (over lunch) my phone started working correctly all the network information appeared in the “about” menu, great, sorted. I assumed the new sim need to “register” its self :/ However, several hours later the phone again showed no network signal!!!!
I just left the phone to one side and decided that I should send it back for repair, again.
Having left the phone untouched, it again started working, the only thing that I noted was that each time it started working it had turned off power saver mode. I have left power saver off and for the last 24 hours the problem has not reoccurred. Early days, but fingers crossed
In summary I guess it is a firmware problem based on my experience.
I hope this helps anyone who experiencing the same problems.

Motherboard replacement procedure

I have a 16GB Galaxy SIII GT-I9300 international.
A few days ago it started repeatedly rebooting. The reboot frequency increased until it would not reboot at at all.
I tried a number of fix suggestions. None worked.
None of the software/firmware fixes will work because the phone simply won't switch on.
I believe the problem is with the motherboard memory. The phone is a month out of warranty so I don't think Samsung will fix it for free. Besides, I opened the case.
I'd like to know exactly how I can can make sure I order the right replacement board and and what other steps I need to take to get phone working. Fortunately I have a full SD card backup
TEXT to large cannot read it .
jje

Low/No connectivity from repaired S3

Hi All,
I had to get my S3 repaired by Carphone warehouse recently, they replaced the entire LCD screen.
So before I had it repaired the phone would connect to my home wifi while I was in my room, but since having my phone repaired I can't connect from my room anymore. When I'm near the wifi, 5-6m away the phone will connect fine.
Could they have done something during the repair which has stopped it working? Or could it be something else?
Ah also on the rare occasion that my phone picks up my home wifi when I try to connect I get an authentication error...
Thanks for any help
Deep
Could be several things, you didn't say why the screen was replaced -dropped? Aerial module damaged or not properly connected, software updated.
You'd probably be best to take it back and describe the problem.
First delete and remake your wifi settings to the router .
Fails then restore your Nandroid or factory reset fails return the phone .
boomboomer said:
Could be several things, you didn't say why the screen was replaced -dropped? Aerial module damaged or not properly connected, software updated.
You'd probably be best to take it back and describe the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The sensitive buttons on the bottom of the phone had stopped working. That was the only issue with the old phone
JJEgan said:
First delete and remake your wifi settings to the router .
Fails then restore your Nandroid or factory reset fails return the phone .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done that
Looks like it'll be another trip to CPW tomorrow.
Bit annoying as this is my second S3. Bought one in May last year and early this year the phone kept restarting, CPW 'fixed' it but the issues remained to they gave me a new one in April time.
Sent the brand new one off for repair just last week for the problem with the touch screen buttons.
Both phones were in excellent condition, no marks or drops! This has really put me off buying another Samsung phone unfortunately
Haven't with worked on the s3 but on many of the other galaxy phones the WiFi reception is extremely poor with the back removed... Seems the actual antenna is mounted in the back and contacts the main board when the back is installed. It's possible that those contacts got bent or something when the back was off.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

IMEI Fix due to new motherboard?

Hi guys !
A few weeks ago, I accidentally deadbricked my Galaxy Note I717 (known in Singapore as the Note 1 LTE/N7005) , so I sent it to a repair shop to get the whole motherboard replaced. I just got it back yesterday, and I could not get a stable signal at all , only LTE and GSM on rare occasions for a few minutes. I checked the IMEI and found out that the software's IMEI did not match the one printed on the back of the phone.
Any ideas how can I get this issue fixed WITHOUT buying a 3rd party SDT Box or such items?
Thanks !
From what I know, replacing the motherboard is like getting a different phone. So, you may need to contact your service provider and tell them that you repaired your phone. See if they can update your account to make your service work on the phone.

[Q] Bricked Nexus 5, please help !!

Hi,
Here is my story.
I have Nexus devices since the first one, and every year i replace the old model for newer one.
Yesterday i bought i Nexus 5 to replace my current Nexus 4.
I did the same old show i always do when i buy a new Nexus : rooted it and installed my favorite rom, AOKP. I used Nexus Root Tookit 1.8.1 to unlock and root.
Everything seemed to be fine until i tried to use mobile data connection for the first time (i was using Wifi only until then). What happens : the Nexus keep connecting and dropping connection. The 'H' icon appears and suddenly disappears, then even the signal bars fade out. Then the signal bars appear again , then the H, then i see the arrows trying to connect and... boom, the process starts all over again. Restored a Nandroid backup from the stock rom, same problem !
I thought was a failed device, so i went to the shop to replace , as i bought it yesterday.
BUT when i get there, the sales guy refuses to replace it because i rooted the phone. Well , i always read this kind of thing, if you root the phone, you void warranty, but as i've been doing it for years, never worried about. But now...
So this is my situation : i just paid about us$ 600 (i live in Brazil) for a phone that does not work.
I really want to believe it's a software problem and some tweak will fix it. I'm a software developer and i never see something like you damage hardware components by installing software... makes no sense.
And if the device already had this problem before the root process i will win the bad lucky prize...
Please help, any hints will be VERY appreciated. It's not easy to earn 600 bucks, believe me
Cheers
The entire thing turned to be a mistery.
I could unroot and relock the bootloader, so the sales guy agreed to replace the device.
But the new one, just opened, had the same problem !
So i went to the carrier shop and replaced my SIM card. No lucky.
Maybe the device is not compatbile with my carrier ?
The problem was on my carrier network, nevermind.

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