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[BUG] Home and Back button problems (phantom long press)

I've been experiencing an issue with the Home button since the day I got the device.
A few times the Recent Applications screen has popped up seemingly on its own, while I was in the middle of doing something else. At first I thought it was just a software glitch and carried on. The haptic feedback pulses twice quickly. The backlight of the Home button turns off, the backlights for the Back, Menu and Search buttons stay on, the Back, Menu, Search and Home buttons no longer respond to touch or generate haptic feedback, essentially paralyzed. It remains this way for approximately nine seconds before the Home button lights up again and the all of the shortcut buttons become responsive again, otherwise the only way to get out of the Recent Applications screen is to either cycle the power button and unlock the screen, or select one of the recent applications.
I have figured out how to reproduce this problem by pressing around with the very tip of my thumb along the seam where the glass and plastic lip meet with a little more pressure than normally necessary to register a touch. I am careful to avoid touching the normal hot zone for any button. I start from the far left corner under the search button, and make my way towards the home button little by little. Somewhere between the Menu and Search buttons when I release my thumb after pressing firmly, the haptic feedback pulses twice and the issue occurs. I can reproduce this issue anywhere along the edge on the bottom right half of the phone and about 1" up the right side of the phone, far from the Home button.
I suspect there is something wrong with the capacitive layer of my screen.
Please see if you can reproduce this or something similar on your phone, just bear in mind that you will need to press firmly (not too hard but not soft).
The unfortunate thing about this problem is that it can be activated inadvertently while gripping the phone during normal operation, interrupting whatever you are doing for the time it takes to resolve itself.
This is literally the only issue I've had with the phone in the week I've owned it and I am considering whether or not I want to play russian roulette with exchange units (and other issues like bad screens and bad weak back buttons) because everything else seems to be perfect.
Video of the issue in action here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gqqeVbePYA

Same thing happens with me on the swap unit I got today. Bummed like no other.

Tried replicating this with my device with (thankfully) no results.

one and one... I wonder how many other phones are affected then, and how many people have it but haven't noticed yet, e.g.; "you're holding it wrong".

Hm. Just tried to replicate this on my Nexus S, no issues.

Mine did the same thing at least twice a day. However, it has not happened again since the GRH78 update. (Knock on wood).
Have your received the update?

This just happened to me for the first time about an hour ago. I have the new update too, sadly.

Yes I have the update.

I can't replicate this problem, but nonetheless, it still happens.

I have this same problem with my back button. I can't replicate it but it just randomly happens to me. I have the update and I also tried using Paul's Tom and it still happens.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

This happens with my back button.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

happens to mine too, also the home button. doesn't bother me too much, though. and I also have the update.

I had something even weirder tonight.
I did a factory reset, then proceeded to install everything back on when I noticed that my home key wasn't doing its job at all. Still had the haptic feedback so the input was received, but it did absolutely nothing. So I did another factory reset and that seemed to have cured the problem. My home button is working again (but i still have the other problem from time to time)

Had it happen again inadvertently today, if you notice from my video the spot where it can be activated next to the Maps icon also happens to be conveniently where your finger ends up when swiping to unlock. I was holding the phone one handed and unlocking with my thumb and it triggered the problem. Might try for an exchange this week. It shouldn't behave this way.
For those of you who are experiencing it with your Back button, does the backlight turn off for 9 seconds on your Back button?
I don't know everything about how the hardware works but I'm guessing that there is some kind of short, the controller for the capacitive layer gets confused and resets. Could explain why it takes the same amount of time to come back to normal every time. It also seems like it might be related to case/screen flex, where pressing on a part of the case bends the capacitive layer just enough to short the circuit.

This issue came on my two days old Nexus S too, but with the back button. It has happened two times now. I think that's a software issue that come along with Gingerbread. It's something like it registering a touch and sometimes the OS think it was the buttons that were pressed...

ViLANDER said:
This issue came on my two days old Nexus S too, but with the back button. It has happened two times now. I think that's a software issue that come along with Gingerbread. It's something like it registering a touch and sometimes the OS think it was the buttons that were pressed...
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Does your back button black out for ~9 seconds?

I haven't had any button issues whatsoever since I got mine on the 24th.

No, more like two seconds.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk

selectormoldy said:
Does your back button black out for ~9 seconds?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, more like two seconds.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk

Here's a new video shot today showing the issue occurring with only normal light touching:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6YFcOZwX2o
Also last night it happened while I was inserting a cable into the headphone jack.

[Q] Stuck Buttons

Has anyone else had problems with stuck back/menu buttons on the 4G?

enculturation said:
Has anyone else had problems with stuck back/menu buttons on the 4G?
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Click to collapse
Are they physically stuck (pressed in, won't come back up) or did they just stop working? I had the latter happen on my first MT4G. First the back button was flaky, then it stopped working, then the menu button stopped working. Took it back to t-mo and they replaced the phone. I've also seen a couple other posts about one or more buttons ceasing to function.

texastoast said:
Are they physically stuck (pressed in, won't come back up) or did they just stop working? I had the latter happen on my first MT4G. First the back button was flaky, then it stopped working, then the menu button stopped working. Took it back to t-mo and they replaced the phone. I've also seen a couple other posts about one or more buttons ceasing to function.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They still function 100%, but they feel as if the membrane's about to give. They don't have that "spring" like feeling.
I can "fix" them by sliding my exacto inbetween the buttons and the phone and lifting them up a bit, but that "fix" doesn't last for too long. I bought the phone outright so I've got a 30 day remorse period. I'm just a little worried that they're going to give me crap for it in the store. For that much money, the phone should be perfect (for at least 30 days right?) I don't want to wait, and then have it crap out after the 30 days have passed.

I've swapped 2 MT4G's in-store and I haven't had them give me any kind of trouble about it. Can't hurt to try.

Broken Power Button?

Anyone know any at home fixes for a broken power button? I don't want to mail it off to some one i have another phone I just would like to get this one working.

well i got it to work i took it apart and sprayed like a half can of air duster on the switch and contacts its working.... for now

My Infuse power button stuck about six months ago. I fixed it with some positive reinforcement (smacking it against the windowsill) but that only lasted for about a month. I ended up having to use my old iPhone 3G until a voltage problem killed it this past Sunday. My solution for fixing the Infuse? Ripping the power button right out. I pried off the plastic button, revealing a tiny metal bracket holding the white button itself. I promptly removed both parts and the phone booted after being plugged in for a while. Obviously, it didn't get stuck in the bootloop. I installed an app called No Lock which allows me to wake the phone with the volume rocker and it's been smooth sailing from here. Probably not the fix you guys wanted to hear, but it worked for me.

The day people actually take the time to search will be the day the world ends lol
About 10 threads below this one is a nice guide for fixing it with different methods http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1996709
Glad you figured it out though
Sent from my HTC Holiday using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Desire S broken? Buttons sometimes don't work

Hello!
A few days ago my desire s started acting very weird. Sometimes the four buttons don't work (home, back, etc.) and sometimes my finger gestures aren't recognised. For example if I want to call somebody and then click on the home button my device thinks I pressed on the call button instead. Or if I am in some menu and I click on some of the four buttons, my desire s thinks I pressed the display somewhere else on the screen. Sometimes it helps if I turn the display off and then immediately on. But after a few clicks the same behaviour again.
I wanted to install a custom rom anyway, so I did a full wipe and installed Fallout. But nothing changed. Do you think my device is broken?

Ive had this top my screen was replaced under warranty mine was stick at the time
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium

ratzer said:
Hello!
A few days ago my desire s started acting very weird. Sometimes the four buttons don't work (home, back, etc.) and sometimes my finger gestures aren't recognised. For example if I want to call somebody and then click on the home button my device thinks I pressed on the call button instead. Or if I am in some menu and I click on some of the four buttons, my desire s thinks I pressed the display somewhere else on the screen. Sometimes it helps if I turn the display off and then immediately on. But after a few clicks the same behaviour again.
I wanted to install a custom rom anyway, so I did a full wipe and installed Fallout. But nothing changed. Do you think my device is broken?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your phone has somehow been exposed to high temperatures?

Not that I am aware of. Though these things happened when I was out in the garden playing with my phone while the weather was pretty hot (about 30 degrees). But I don't think that you mean that with high temperatures, do you?

ratzer said:
Not that I am aware of. Though these things happened when I was out in the garden playing with my phone while the weather was pretty hot (about 30 degrees). But I don't think that you mean that with high temperatures, do you?
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Excessive heat can lead to detachment of the adhesive that is bonded touchscreen, it's not making edge contact. It happened to my ex HTC Hero on a sunny day (the phone was black)

Have you tried factory reset maybe this fixes it
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium

kamei said:
Have you tried factory reset maybe this fixes it
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium
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Click to collapse
It happened here sometimes with gingerbread stock while on *charging*! Only when charging. It's not happening on ICS RUU update.

I had the same problem a fortnight to a week back... exactly as OP describes (phone 6 months old from new). I've factory reset and changed ROMs, the problem remains.
But since 4 days now, my phone has become completely unusable.
The back and menu touch buttons don't work at all now. And some area's of the screen are dead, and brown coloured.
It's a PITA every time I have to type anything as my keyboard keys don't work at all (and other area's). Then, randomly, after 2-10 seconds, none of the keys or phone touchscreen will work until I off->on the screen.
Anyone please any idea of a fix (to me, it looks like hardware)?
If not, anyone ANY idea how to add a back button somehow? Or even assign the search button the back button function?
I desperately need the back button working. TIA!

I have exactly the same problem with my Desire S (stock ICS). Anybody of you solved this?
Thanks.

i727 skyrocket stuck in continous reboot loop and doesnt get past start screen

I I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket i727 (with stock firmware and ROM), i dont have a SD card and not too many apps installed either, maybe 10-15 apps at most. Today while the phone was in my pocket it just went into this continous reboot cycle, it reboots, gets to the AT&T splash screen and then reboots again and then this goes on forever.
I googled the hell out of this issue but cant seem to find a solid solution and hence hoping u guys can help.
I cannot get into recovery mode cause it never gets past the splash screen
I cannot seems to perform a hard reset (power button + volume key) , it just reboots again.
I tried plugging the phone and connecting via USB but it doesnt help either, it reboots before the computer can detect the phone.
Hope u guys can help ? life without android is no fun...

Stuck power button
Sent from my SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

The_Blue_Waffle said:
Stuck power button
Sent from my SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
anyway to fix it or m i close to a paperweight by now. I do not have warranty on this phone
I explored the stuck power buton option and lightly banged the phoen around in hopes that it would let loose but no luck.

The_Blue_Waffle said:
Stuck power button
Sent from my SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
This. Google "stuck power button Skyrocket" for info on a fix.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

needle arounf the edges of the button works majority of the time if not then have fun with the google search
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

T.J. Bender said:
This. Google "stuck power button Skyrocket" for info on a fix.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
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Hulk Smash

Try a different battery

alienn4hire said:
Try a different battery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...
A new battery will do nothing to fix a stuck power button.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

crashpsycho said:
needle arounf the edges of the button works majority of the time if not then have fun with the google search
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
I had this same issue with my LG Phoenix, I tried the needle around the power button, and that popped it back to normal. Apparently I held the button down to a side and it got stuck even though the actual button part was in it's "normal," position.
However it did reboot several more times after I got it unstuck. I did remove the back & battery, & unplugged it. Let it sit for a few minutes, after that I put the USB cable back in, then pressed the power button, put the battery back in and pressed the button again, and it went through the normal reboot process.

Just wanted to give you guys an update that i started cleaning the part around the edges as some folks suggested and that failed. then tried smacking around and blowing air into and that failed. Then took the entire phone apart and cleaned it several times using different techniques and sad to say that it all failed and i m SOL.
Bummer but it is what it is and i was quiet happy with that phone.

asfi99 said:
Just wanted to give you guys an update that i started cleaning the part around the edges as some folks suggested and that failed. then tried smacking around and blowing air into and that failed. Then took the entire phone apart and cleaned it several times using different techniques and sad to say that it all failed and i m SOL.
Bummer but it is what it is and i was quiet happy with that phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you offer up Bacon to the phone as a snackrifice?
I'm sorry that none of these options worked out for you.

Its very easy to open I changed a motherboard for a hard bricked i727 very easy to change power button or unstuck it
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

intelxtreme said:
Its very easy to open I changed a motherboard for a hard bricked i727 very easy to change power button or unstuck it
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Where does one find a power button for the skyrocket (the one attached to the motherboard)? The closest thing I could find was this:
http://mobiletechvideos.mybigcommerce.com/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-power-button-repair/
It is a repair service though and I live in Canada, I would prefer if I could just order that part. I have been to few repair shops that cant do anything because this power button is hard to find. I opened up the motherboard and the power button clicks fine, so I think it probably has to be replaced.

Freezing the phone
I had the same issue, came here and read all the things about the stuck power button and needing to replace whatever is beneath it. My friend works in aerospace and had told me about one of the things they need to worry about is temperature causing wire shrinkage due to temperature. For whatever reason, I decided to use that logic and throw my phone in the freezer wrapped in a dry rag. 30min later and the phone finally worked after 8 hours of the boot loop/no boot. That was around November and I haven't had an issue with it since (until today, but it is a different issue).

nobel662 said:
I had the same issue, came here and read all the things about the stuck power button and needing to replace whatever is beneath it. My friend works in aerospace and had told me about one of the things they need to worry about is temperature causing wire shrinkage due to temperature. For whatever reason, I decided to use that logic and throw my phone in the freezer wrapped in a dry rag. 30min later and the phone finally worked after 8 hours of the boot loop/no boot. That was around November and I haven't had an issue with it since (until today, but it is a different issue).
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Click to collapse
can any one else confirm this? my phone keeps shutting off. when the screen is black, itll vibrate every second. im assuming its another stuck power button.

Boot loop!
thilly said:
can any one else confirm this? my phone keeps shutting off. when the screen is black, itll vibrate every second. im assuming its another stuck power button.
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Click to collapse
I have just fixed mine!!!!
There is a little battery on the circuit board when you take apart the phone. It looks like a small watch battery. Top side is and bottom side are opposite polarities.
I had the exact same symptom. Sometimes just pressing the power button momentarily would bring up the power down menu, then I knew to press it a bunch of times because it was stick. If I didn't eventually it would turn off and vibrate constantly. It kept getting worse.
I measured with an ohm meter and the button itself seems fine so I figured maybe the digital logic relating to the button itself is faulty. So I shorted the little battery on the board (do this only for a brief period, no more than 1s) and put it back together.
Its behaving perfectly normally. I was also getting weird artifacts during video playback before, kind of like what failing solder would do on a bga gpu. It fixed that too.
So I think its similar to that problem some laptops have, where it wont turn on until you remove the battery, hold the power button down a couple times, and then plug it in. It seems a complete circuit discharge fixed this problem at least for me.
If people are interested I can try to find a picture
removed link
In that picture its the silver shiny metal circle. To short it you connect the bottom soldered part to the metal plate on top of the battery. This comlpetely drains all circuits.
So I think a lot of these problems are caused by a phantom charge. In any sense, Im very very happy
Also this could explain why the fridge method worked. Cooling the battery can significantly drop its charge, however I would advise against the cooling method if possible.
EDIT: blah cant post links... if anyone needs the image pm me your email

coolerbean said:
Where does one find a power button for the skyrocket (the one attached to the motherboard)? The closest thing I could find was this:
http://mobiletechvideos.mybigcommerce.com/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-power-button-repair/
It is a repair service though and I live in Canada, I would prefer if I could just order that part. I have been to few repair shops that cant do anything because this power button is hard to find. I opened up the motherboard and the power button clicks fine, so I think it probably has to be replaced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'd need to find a friend or local electronics repair shop, but I ordered some here:
http://www.etradesupply.com/oem-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-sgh-i727-power-button.html.
The buttons are $0.99 USD if you buy 2 or more ($1.05 CAD), but 5-7 day business shipping is like $16.99. Still cheaper than a replacement phone, and it's an easy fix for an electronics person or electronics/tv/computer repair shop... At the rate these power buttons have had reported failures, and for the price, I'd get a couple of them in case the replacement fails in the future...
If my wife keeps squeezing the power button on her phone when some crappy app she has wigs out, I'll be needing my second button sooner rather than later...

why when one person says it something everyone band wagons on that idea. i actually had the same issue my skyrocket couldn't go pass the "samsung" screen. all i did was flash a new rom or i just restored an old backup

phillytothemax said:
why when one person says it something everyone band wagons on that idea. i actually had the same issue my skyrocket couldn't go pass the "samsung" screen. all i did was flash a new rom or i just restored an old backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then it was user error or a bad flash. And that's software, not hardware.
Skyrocket power buttons are known to fail. I believe Samsung has even acknowledged this.
When your phone randomly goes into a 1-second vibration cycle, sometimes showing the reboot menu beforehand without pressing the button, more than likely it's the power button that has either failed or is sticking.
With my wife's phone, the button was not sticking, and usually lightly tapping the phone at the right angle on your lap or the counter would break the vibration cycle and let it boot up, until the next random power button press and vib cycle would happen.
Button replaced, same exact ROM, and problem gone. :thumbup:
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

asfi99 said:
I I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket i727 (with stock firmware and ROM), i dont have a SD card and not too many apps installed either, maybe 10-15 apps at most. Today while the phone was in my pocket it just went into this continous reboot cycle, it reboots, gets to the AT&T splash screen and then reboots again and then this goes on forever.
I googled the hell out of this issue but cant seem to find a solid solution and hence hoping u guys can help.
I cannot get into recovery mode cause it never gets past the splash screen
I cannot seems to perform a hard reset (power button + volume key) , it just reboots again.
I tried plugging the phone and connecting via USB but it doesnt help either, it reboots before the computer can detect the phone.
Hope u guys can help ? life without android is no fun...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a repair shop and i fix these issues with no problem. the only issue im located in Puerto Rico. when the power button gets stuck is because of heavy use, a fall or something that makes a lot of pressure to it and the copper contacts inside the button stay making contact. this is know to happen to i727-i717-i997-i897 and some other galaxy s1 s2 models.
i attached the picture of the power button.