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[Q] Last hope: Desire S stuck in bootloader S-on

Hello,
My Desire S froze when updating Skype 2 weeks ago.
Removed battery. Phone stuck on HTC logo.
Went to bootloader for hard reset. When hard rest chosen phone freezes.
Went to recovery, phone starts recovery. Black screen, green icon. Then goes dark. Starts to vibrate 6-7 times. Then remains off. Battery out, battery in. Back to HTC logo again.
Laptop recognized phone when plugged in with fastboot mode. Under device manager (win 7) "HTC phone".
I bought the phone in Thailand, but am now in Philippines where there is no HTC repair center.
I managed to find RUU_Saga_HTC_Thailand_1.35.1113.2_Radio_20.28d.30.0805U_3805.04.02.01_M_release_183327_signed
Which matches my phone. However when trying to install the rom, the above app freezes on "restarting bootloader". I've left it there for over an hour.
I've tried ADB, but it's not picking up the phone.
I'm guessing either of the above can't load, as the phone is S-on.
But I cannot go S-off as I can't get the phone to boot, or any of the above software to find the phone. Again, windows is picking up that there's a HTC phone plugged in.
I've tried everything I know, and am at my wits end into thinking the phone is finished.
Can anyone help with something I may have overlooked, or have a suggestion to bring this back to life?
Thanks

It's most probably a hardware problem. There's a high chance that your phone's emmc chip is fried when u remove the battery. it's common in htc due to the phone design. My phone encountered same thing 2 weeks ago. sent for repair and they change the mainboard. I was lucky they ignored that my phone was S-on(warranty voided)

I was thinking hardware last week after everything was failing. But as it was still booting to fastloader, and being picked up via usb was holding out hope it might just be the s-on preventing me from putting on a new rom. And not a mainboard gone.
Flying back to Thailand for the warranty would cost the same as buying a new phone ...
If taking a battery out when a phone is frozen fries a mainboard on HTC ... I doubt I will buy one again.
Looking at Galaxy 2. But also having doubts due to wifi reports and overheating screen. Can't afford another dud smartphone.
If anyone's got anything else to get this thing up to see if the mainboard is indeed dead, or it's something else, do make a suggestion please!

I have same problem like this before and it's really pain in the a#$. Also, there is one HTC service center here in the Philippines, check it out on HTC site.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App

Thanks MarlX
Yes, I've been in touch with HTC repair center in Manila via phone and email. I've been waiting for reply for over one week now!
I'm not in Manila, which would mean using fedex to send it up to them. Then bank transfer to pay for repair and shipping back.
If it is the Motherboard that's gone, all the above will probably cost more than a new phone
But I won't know until HTC Manila actually bother to reply!?!

so what was the Problem is it becoz of Skype?

no,this problem happens if you pull the battery out when installing apps
the emmc chip is probably dead,if so you need to send it for warranty or replace the emmc chip yourself

Well unfortunately, when updating the skype app, the phone froze. As in no buttons working, phone getting hot etc.
What else is there to do but take the battery out?
Either way, to have a "premium" phone like the HTC Desire S, burn out a chip, or indeed have a popular app causing it to brick etc is simply not good enough.
More over the support center refusing to reply back.
It simply means they've lost another customer.
The phone, when working, was wonderful. Looking at the Galaxy S 2 today, by all accounts a "better" phone, and it was sad. As, for me, the HTC Desire S was much more preferable.
Except of course for it's 6 week lifespan ... bad customer care etc

Just to bad that you did not bought it here. My phone died two months ago (used it only for a month), sent it to the store and they've sent it to service center (in Manila). Had to wait for a month for them to fix it. Motherboard issues I think. Good thing I still have warranty.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App

DDesires said:
Well unfortunately, when updating the skype app, the phone froze. As in no buttons working, phone getting hot etc.
What else is there to do but take the battery out?
Either way, to have a "premium" phone like the HTC Desire S, burn out a chip, or indeed have a popular app causing it to brick etc is simply not good enough.
More over the support center refusing to reply back.
It simply means they've lost another customer.
The phone, when working, was wonderful. Looking at the Galaxy S 2 today, by all accounts a "better" phone, and it was sad. As, for me, the HTC Desire S was much more preferable.
Except of course for it's 6 week lifespan ... bad customer care etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah,this is really bad
but mine has been working for 3months without any problem,& the customer support here is good
if you dont mind voiding the warranty you can buy a eMMC & replace it yourself
if you do so you wont get this problem again
refer this thread for more info

There is software "hard" reset option. Instead of pulling the battery out, press all hardware buttons together (vol up, vol down, power button) and phone will reboot. I said this many times before in many topics: never pull out your battery when the phone is on. I learned it the hard way.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

kartkk said:
if you dont mind voiding the warranty you can buy a eMMC & replace it yourself
if you do so you wont get this problem again
refer this thread for more info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks kartkk. I wouldn't know where to begin with the physical replacement of the eMMC chip. Not even sure I can buy one around here.
I might call HTC Thailand and ask if I can send it to them via DHL or the like.

Numline1 said:
There is software "hard" reset option. Instead of pulling the battery out, press all hardware buttons together (vol up, vol down, power button) and phone will reboot. I said this many times before in many topics: never pull out your battery when the phone is on. I learned it the hard way.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe you should ask HTC to write that in big red writing on the back of their batteries as they start to reach burn your finger stage when the phone freezes.
Or maybe copy Nokia's hardware which is near on indestructible.
Quite simply, I am not a phone tech person. I'm a simple end user.
I've not had a problem taking a battery out of other phones.
Again, if taking a battery out of a phone kills it when it freezes, then quite simply the phone is not good enough. Or, if it is likely to. Then, again, in big writing for simple folk like me, big red writing on the battery saying
"don't take this out, even if it starts to feel like it's going to melt"

BTW if anyone can point me to a step-by-step on how to determine if the eMMC chip is fried or not, I would appreciate it.
I read the above link. But don't know how to get to that stage!

Apologies I see he was connecting via adb-shell. I've tried connecting via adb and it's not seeing the phone....
Which I think is half the problem.

DDesires said:
maybe you should ask HTC to write that in big red writing on the back of their batteries as they start to reach burn your finger stage when the phone freezes.
Or maybe copy Nokia's hardware which is near on indestructible.
Quite simply, I am not a phone tech person. I'm a simple end user.
I've not had a problem taking a battery out of other phones.
Again, if taking a battery out of a phone kills it when it freezes, then quite simply the phone is not good enough. Or, if it is likely to. Then, again, in big writing for simple folk like me, big red writing on the battery saying
"don't take this out, even if it starts to feel like it's going to melt"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try searching on ebay for sandisk mmc (or any other brand just dont get the same one used on the DS)
its always dangerous to pull the power from any device which works like a pc even in a pc pulling the power out while the device is on can harm the hardware &/or software i know many people who damaged their pc from pulling the plug while its on

Best to my knowledge it was an emmc chip that was recommended to be replaced. Not an MMC.
While removing "power" abruptly from any electronic device is not recommend, one is sometimes left with no choice. Complete device freeze, no buttons working etc.
There is also a destine difference between a PC and a mobile phone. Though, it must be said from my point of view: today's Android phones, are very reminiscent of old windows 95/98 OS's in terms of stability and hardware issues.

Need Major Help!!!

My Phone is dead!!! I came into work and all was well. I turned on the Mobile Internet and turned off the Wifi and then it froze. I waited and waited. No change. I took the batter cover off and removed the battery. Put it back in and put the cover back on. Now my phone wont charge or turn on. The battery was at 50% when it was on. I just flashed to a new rom (see sig) on the 30th but haven't touched the radio.
I need help because I do not get a replacement phone until July!!
EDIT: I got my phone up and running. I removed battery and SD card and put them back in. The phone is booted and charging.

1. Take out the battery plug in the power only and then power it on. Hold down the power button for a long time. Remember this phone will not power up without the cover on.
2. Don't worry you can exchange it for a new one.
3. Don't freak out its only a phone.

just curiosity...the micro sd have something to do with the phone is not booting? i think no, but ask just is case...

lloydkant said:
just curiosity...the micro sd have something to do with the phone is not booting? i think no, but ask just is case...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That SD card should not have been the cause for his problem...without some sort of a log for when the problem intially happened it'll be tough to really diagnose the exact issue that happened...either way I'm glad you're up and running! now that I'm curious though, did you mess around with any UV or OC settings? or flash a new kernel or script?

I wish I could find a log. I have no idea why what I did caused the phone to work. But to my knowledge since flashing to this Rom, I have not under volted or oced the phone.
Yes... I realize it is a phone but it's an expensive thing to replace when you have no extra money to buy a new phone at cost.
Ty for the help!
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G with XDA Premium.

Aaron78 said:
I wish I could find a log. I have no idea why what I did caused the phone to work. But to my knowledge since flashing to this Rom, I have not under volted or oced the phone.
Yes... I realize it is a phone but it's an expensive thing to replace when you have no extra money to buy a new phone at cost.
Ty for the help!
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G with XDA Premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no worries man, logs are difficult because unless you're running one when the problem happens, the log itself is useless so unless you had prior knowledge that this was gonna happen, really can't expect you to have one lol, hence the big issue with logs haha! When you do battery pulls, it's best to wait like a minute before putting it back in and restarting, I don't know if there is a scientific reason behind it but I figure it's best to give it time to fully settle before you try restarting.

Thanks for the reply and the tip.

The main reason you want to leave the battery out for a bit is to give everything a chance to discharge and go completely to sleep. I have found with smart phones that usually 60 to 120 seconds is enough. Cars on the other hand can sometimes take hours!

If you need an activity log to diagnose what happened, maybe Carrier IQ can help.

pseudoware said:
If you need an activity log to diagnose what happened, maybe Carrier IQ can help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I lol'ed. hard.

Glad its working!
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using Tapatalk

Sensation 4G Won't Charge Or Turn On.

About an hour ago I tried charging my phone because I was going to flash a new Rom and it wouldn't charge. The LED Light doesn't even come on. It was at 15% when I first noticed it doesn't charge. I tried multiple chargers and USB cords but still no luck and me turning the phone on and off constantly trying to diagnose the problem caused the battery to die. I haven't dropped my phone and it doesn't have water damage. Please help

Still on contract may warranty it its sounds dead if you tried diffent plugs and battery
Sent from my Sensation 4G using xda premium

Thanks for the response I appreciate it... The battery works it just won't charge. What do you mean when you say it sounds dead? I don't know if I can get insurance from it because I traded my old phone for it with a friend. I have insurance though. Do you still think I should warranty exchange or use my insurance?

i had the SAME exact issue 2 weeks ago and made a post about this with a weird story to it. But there is nothing that I could of done and luckily I had insurance so I got a replacement and I suggest you do the same.

Warranty may still be good though. Is it rooted?
Sent from my Sensation 4G using xda premium

Yes it's still rooted but I'll find a way to brick it and take it to the T-Mobile tomorrow. If they won't replace it I'll just use my insurance. Luckily I still have a Samsung highlight from like 2009 I can use for the time being. Thanks guys I really appreciate your feedback.

Flash radio, remove battery halfway through should kill it.

try adb reboot with battery in before you brick it, you never know

phone wont turn on

My phone wont turn on after installing titanmim backup it was working ok and had about 50% battery left but thenit suddenly went off and now wont turn on.

Can it boot into recovery? What happens when you plug it into a charger and try turn it on?

It wont boot in to recovery mode. Am on my way home now so soon as am in am going to try and plug it in to the charger and see but before I installed titanmim backup it had about 50% battery still in it
Just tuck it out of my pocket and the screen feels warm to the touch

Try it when you get home and see how it goes.

Just got in and plugged it in to the charger and it's not coming on the charger light isn't even coming on

How the PC recognize it in the device manager?

At the moment my pc isn't picking it up

Pull the battery, put it back in, then try to power on.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

Tried that tried 2 different battery's and 2 different chargers and 2 different laptops

Did you try and turn the phone on without a battery in? I read somewhere that that may help discharge the final bit of power in the phone, but it's probably bull crap.
So no computer sees it at all? Have you ever run ADB or FASTBOOT commands with your computer? I ask because I want to make sure you have proper drivers installed and everything.
The next thing I would do is start downloading a RUU of your liking. I say that becasue it may come down to trying that out, and the download takes a while. Here's a link to the thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1074559
Any other info you can provide like is it stock, rooted, what ROM, etc. would be helpful.

It rooted and running OrDroid rom from here, It as been running great till tonight when I tried to install titanium back and it just went off with no life in it at all

Sorry to say but it sounds like a lot like what happened to me. My first Sensation just died on me one day. Have a read about it in this thread.

Am starting think that my self as I left it on charge all-night and its still dead. Don't even think it as any warranty left oh well best start saving just a pitty you can't make calls from a galaxy 10.1

freddy0000 said:
Am starting think that my self as I left it on charge all-night and its still dead. Don't even think it as any warranty left oh well best start saving just a pitty you can't make calls from a galaxy 10.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that is a real shame about the Galaxy 10.1. I have actually been thinking about getting one of those myself. I don't know about the Galaxy 10.1, but my Accer Iconia A500 tablet has a slot for a SD card that has a peice of molded plastic covering the slot. And it is work going on to be able to use it like a phone. Terrible how OEMs lock out a feature like that
Anyway back on topic, if you are interested I can give you contact info to someone that can replace the mainboard for you at a reasonable price. That would be cheaper than buying another device I think. Just PM me if you are interested.

Am in the UK mate

Think ill take my chances and try and sending if off to HTC for repair

Just booked it in now so hopefully they will fix it

Same thing happen to me the other day. It shut off and wouldn't come on. Thankfully I am paying extra for extended warranty which is basically lifetime warranty and got it replaced.
Sent from my Sensation 4G using XDA App

How much did you pay for extended warranty*

Got a email from Htc saying even though my phone is in warranty they want a £145 to fix it put not because of the fault but because at the top of the screen there a little crack and even though I said that's not why its broke they still want me to pay it. So I don't now if its worth paying that much to fix it or count my loss's. Isn't there any other way to fix a bricked phone

Nexus S won't power up?

I recently flashed CMRex with Kejar's 4.1.1 gapps and was going about setting up my device. I got everything set up how I like with all the apps I wanted downloaded and running how I wanted them. I then ran the v6 supercharger mod that I had used on my past two roms with no problem whatsoever. After finishing the set up of the script, I rebooted my device and all was well. I went to browse on craigslist's mobile app, then I saw something I wanted to google, so I opened my browser. My browser took an ungodly amount of time to load my homepage(google), and wouldn't respond hardly. I couldn't get the touchscreen to respond. My hardware buttons did respond and I got haptic feedback from them, but no response on the screen. Eventually, after numerously pressing the home button, I got a message saying the browser wasn't responding, selected ok to close it, then back to the non-responsiveness of the touch screen and hardware buttons. And then another eventually later, after another multitude of home button presses, I got to my homescreen but everything was laggy. The most lag I have ever encountered with my device since I obtained it, not to mention that my device was beginning to heat up. So, I decided I would power off the device, remove the battery, let it cool down, and then replace the battery before powering it back up. Well, lo and behold, I did just that, went to power back up my device, and there was no sign of life at all. Tried to get into the bootloader, no response. Tried a normal boot, no response. Tried to plug it into the charger to see if it would charge, no response. Well, my girlfriend told me to leave the battery out for a while and leave it alone for a while before trying it again. So, I played some MW3 for about 45 minutes to an hour, repeated all the above, and still no sign of life. Can anyone help me out? (I don't know if this is supposed to go into the Q&A or here, so I just post here.) I'm so distraught at the possibility of losing my phone, that I'm finding it hard to cope at the moment. Should be thinking of ways to gain some money in order to purchase a new device or is there still hope?

what a long message.do you have any point form here?
i hope you solve the problem .

Do you have access to a separate charger? You can try charging your battery there and see if that works. Did you try connecting it to the computer? Maybe that will show some sign of life. Also, how old is your phone and did you over clock?
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app

kwibis said:
Do you have access to a separate charger? You can try charging your battery there and see if that works. Did you try connecting it to the computer? Maybe that will show some sign of life. Also, how old is your phone and did you over clock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did not overclock, I do believe that my clock speeds were at the kernel default, either 100/1k, or 200/1k. Not sure which, but definitely one of those. The only other charger I would have access to would be my mother's HTC charger, but I will try that and connecting it to the computer as well. Well, I'm not exactly sure on the age of the phone because I purchased it off of craigslist, but it's in great condition. Only had a small scuff on the top left corner, but I know that has nothing to do with the age of the hardware. ): Could it possibly be that my battery decided to die for some reason? I've been having horribly battery life lately. Granted, I had horribly battery life when I got the phone, but it's gotten worse and worse since then.

My Nexus S wouldn't start but gave a flash on the screen when the battery was first inserted. Just got it back from repair and it was a motherboard problem. Was looking at a Huawei G300 as a cheap replacement if the repair wasn't covered by warranty (which it was). Good luck!

Thing about it is, I bought the phone off craigslist so I have no idea if its covered by the warranty still. Should I try calling samsung and find out?
Sent from my SGH-i997 using xda app-developers app

Sorry for my late reply! You could try, but u guess you can get a battery from Ebay and check if that solved the problem. Or if you have a friend who has one...
Sent from my Nexus S

I'm the only person I know that has this phone. And I guess the battery will have to wait till I get a job, but if im waiting that long, I'm just going to get a new phone all together.
Sent from my SGH-i997 using xda app-developers app

Testing the battery can be done differently, do you have a multimeter? Maybe your neighbours have one, it's a common thing. You can measure whether it has any power left. If you measure low voltage (below let's say 3400 mV), then it could be battery related.
Sent from my Nexus S

DefinitiveX said:
I recently flashed CMRex with Kejar's 4.1.1 gapps ... or is there still hope?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many reports on dead Nexus S with 4.1.1. Mine included after flashing CM10. Sent for repair 10 days ago and still waiting...
If you've got no warranty, perhaps time to buy a new phone? Bought myself a new Galaxy Nexus.

I would like to get a new galaxy nexus, but I have no money to do so. I'm currently trying to get a job and i m going to save up for a new phone. Im either going to get an s3, a galaxy nexus. Either one of those two or the new nexus if it comes out.
Sent from my SGH-i997 using xda app-developers app