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Samsung Galaxy S3 acting possessed

Lack of a better subject description the only thing I can describe it as is possessed. I've never had this problem before. Searched various different keywords and couldn't find anything. So if this is a repost then I apologize.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 from Verizon white 32gb. Never been rooted. Around the time Verizon pushed out the last update for the phone it's been acting strange since the update and it's progressively gotten worse. It's almost made purchases for me while I'm browsing google play it'll randomly press areas and randomly click buy at times. Or I'm trying to text someone and it'll either type something on it's own or start trying to delete/lock/resend, etc messages. It starts up s voice randomly too.
So basically it's like having a set of ghost fingers/hand trying to control my phone while I'm trying to control it and the ghost is winning and I'd rapidly hit the home button to exit out of whatever I was trying to do. If the screen is on and unlocked it'll do the same thing even if I'm not touching it but this is maybe 1 out of 5 times compared to the while I'm trying to actively use my phone it'll be 1 out of 2.
Temporary fixes have been to just restart the phone and at first it would only occur every couple days and then once a day and now every few hours to every few minutes. Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

All you have available right now is factory data reset or refurb. If don't fix reflash the latest available stock software via Odin or root and unlock it and flash anything. Can even root stock and have access to better apps.

Try a factory reset if you haven't.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

I have now tried a factory reset and while it took longer than just a few minutes to go all psychotic on me it still happened. Thanks for the tips! Any other suggestions? refurb is the last option I want to take I've received too many defective refurb phones and I don't think I can deal with anymore. I can try root I suppose but if there's any other suggestions I should try prior I'm open!
Thank you thank you!

If i were in your position I would try to Odin back to the stock rom you had before the update. There is a sticky in the development section that tell you how to do that and much more
Sent by one of my many Anthromorphic Personifications

elayn said:
I have now tried a factory reset and while it took longer than just a few minutes to go all psychotic on me it still happened. Thanks for the tips! Any other suggestions? refurb is the last option I want to take I've received too many defective refurb phones and I don't think I can deal with anymore. I can try root I suppose but if there's any other suggestions I should try prior I'm open!
Thank you thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds defective. I'd take it back.

What you are describing happened to my Droid Incredible a few times: it appeared that someone else was creating random tap events on my phone. Turned out to be a slightly dirty and/or stuck optical trackball - once that was cleaned (easy), everything was back to normal.
Now, the Galaxy S III does not have a trackball. I don't see a direct correlation with my Incredible, but the symptoms you describe are oddly similar: perhaps try cleaning your various pushable keys, just in case?
Might install and run Symantec Antivirus just for a final check, then call Verizon Support if it's still happening and perhaps see what they can offer.
- ooofest

Replace your device. The touchscreen encoder is bad. If your screen is clean, never got wet, and is pressing random areas - and a factory reset or Odin doesn't work - this is most likely the case. You could try to convince them to give you a new one at the store by telling them you don't want to wait or something.
Also download the app multitouch visualizer and run it when it's flaking out. You will be able to see the "screen press" activity.

adoublearonn said:
Replace your device. The touchscreen encoder is bad. If your screen is clean, never got wet, and is pressing random areas - and a factory reset or Odin doesn't work - this is most likely the case. You could try to convince them to give you a new one at the store by telling them you don't want to wait or something.
Also download the app multitouch visualizer and run it when it's flaking out. You will be able to see the "screen press" activity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because the device is so new you have a very good chance of getting a new replacement. I had something happen to my GNEX and they replaced it with a new phone no refurb.

Thank you all very much for your tips and advice! I stopped by the Verizon store today. Twice actually. It was a no go. First off they won't replace my phone with anything but a refurb (which is standard policy anyway) but the second part which is really irritating is that the phone was driving me insane till I went into the verizon store while waiting for a tech it kept acting odd then when the tech got my phone it functioned correctly. So since they couldn't replicate the problem they said they can't offer me a replacement. As soon as I got into the car it started happening again I ran into the verizon store and they said I had to wait for a tech again so I put my name in and waited had a different tech and of course as soon as he tested the phone it wasn't acting odd anymore so once again couldn't replicate.
Maybe my phone really is possessed.. but then again it's been my luck with past phones as well if they have issues they refuse to happen in store so I got my replacements via 611 tech support. So I called 611 and they said they never heard of the issue and that I should wait for update.

elayn said:
Thank you all very much for your tips and advice! I stopped by the Verizon store today. Twice actually. It was a no go. First off they won't replace my phone with anything but a refurb (which is standard policy anyway) but the second part which is really irritating is that the phone was driving me insane till I went into the verizon store while waiting for a tech it kept acting odd then when the tech got my phone it functioned correctly. So since they couldn't replicate the problem they said they can't offer me a replacement. As soon as I got into the car it started happening again I ran into the verizon store and they said I had to wait for a tech again so I put my name in and waited had a different tech and of course as soon as he tested the phone it wasn't acting odd anymore so once again couldn't replicate.
Maybe my phone really is possessed.. but then again it's been my luck with past phones as well if they have issues they refuse to happen in store so I got my replacements via 611 tech support. So I called 611 and they said they never heard of the issue and that I should wait for update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or Odin stock firmware instead of waiting. Can Odin without root.

prdog1 said:
Or Odin stock firmware instead of waiting. Can Odin without root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll give that a try tomorrow morning and hope it works. I'll check in either way. Thanks!

Take a look at this, and look into this virus some more:
blog.lookout.com/blog/2010/12/29/geinimi_trojan/
I did some research and someone said those are the symptoms of the virus...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

It's Verizon, some tech there is having fun with the remote capabilities of the new OTA.

Alrighty, took longer than expected but I did manage to do Odin stock firmware. It fixed the problem or so I thought for 48 hours but then it returned. Now a new problem has come up and the battery is draining at alarming speeds.. I will have phone at 80% when I go to sleep and when I wake up 3 hours later the battery is completely dead. No new apps, nothing draining in the background. I'm at a loss. Anyone have any other advice? Or are my only options now to throw the phone out the window or try to root it.

elayn said:
Alrighty, took longer than expected but I did manage to do Odin stock firmware. It fixed the problem or so I thought for 48 hours but then it returned. Now a new problem has come up and the battery is draining at alarming speeds.. I will have phone at 80% when I go to sleep and when I wake up 3 hours later the battery is completely dead. No new apps, nothing draining in the background. I'm at a loss. Anyone have any other advice? Or are my only options now to throw the phone out the window or try to root it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You wrote in a previous post that you went into the Verizon store... don't do that, ever... just call them.. tell them what it's doing and that you have tried a factory reset. They will overnight you a new/refurbished phone.
I had problems with mine as well and after fighting with the tool they call a manager I called 611 from the parking lot and after the hold time I had tech support on the phone and had a new replacement on the way 5 minutes later..
Just my 2 cents.

BiasedThunder said:
You wrote in a previous post that you went into the Verizon store... don't do that, ever... just call them.. tell them what it's doing and that you have tried a factory reset. They will overnight you a new/refurbished phone.
I had problems with mine as well and after fighting with the tool they call a manager I called 611 from the parking lot and after the hold time I had tech support on the phone and had a new replacement on the way 5 minutes later..
Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip but if you read through the whole post. I did default to calling 611 like I usually do and they wouldn't do anything about it. Yes, I did tell em I did the factory reset. It's not the first time I had a phone replaced through 611 I've gone through maybe 10+ replacements on one of my past phones because they kept sending me a defective one over and over again. I did call 611 again since you suggested it but I was told the same exact thing as last time.

I had this happen a few times with my phone before the update verizon pushed (stock, rooted). I would end up pulling the battery to get it to stop. Hasn't happened to me in a while though. Now i'm running JellyWiz RLS12

Bootstrap Failed....

Running totally stock on 5.1.1 (N920PVPU2A0I6). Starting about an hour ago I'm getting a pop-up saying "Bootstrap Failed...".
Phone is unresponsive and reboots by itself.
Thoughts?
late,
Coz
*EDIT: Factory reset didn't solve it.....correction, 3rd attempt at factory reset seems to have solved it. But I would love to know what initially caused the situation.

Same
Sent from my SM-N920P using XDA Premium HD app

pbedard said:
Same
Sent from my SM-N920P using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing that updated/changed this morning was an update (I believe) for Sprint Zone.
late,
Coz

Well that didn't work....after about an hour of it running without issue, I'm getting the Bootstrap Failed... message again and it's restarting.
late,
Coz

Update....phone has been stable (no re-boots, lock-ups, etc.) for the past few days. I occasionally get the pop-up message stating, "bootstrap failed..." but it doesn't seem to impact the performance of the phone from what I can tell.
late,
Coz

Mine keeps doing it oh well
Sent from my SM-N920P using XDA Premium HD app

My phone just started doing this today. Also a Sprint Note 5. No software updates installed recently... most recent was the Sprint and Samsung updates for Samsung Pay, which I did set up-- but I did that day 1. Right before the problem started happening, the phone rebooted itself, and it hasn't been well since. I checked aLogcat, but nothing gets logged there. After a few of the "Bootstrap failed..." toasts, the phone just becomes unresponsive and I have to hard shutdown. The only thing that I can think of that I've done differently today was plug my phone into my laptop to charge it earlier. I don't think I'd ever plugged it into my laptop before.
Hopefully somebody can pin down the cause of the problem here. I'm surprised that aLogcat doesn't show anything, which makes me wonder if it's some Knox issue...

U have to use root explorer and go to carier/itson delete that folder it will make your phone faster but u need to power it off for like 20 mins afrer u delete it
Sent from my SM-N920P using XDA Premium HD app

pbedard said:
U have to use root explorer and go to carier/itson delete that folder it will make your phone faster but u need to power it off for like 20 mins afrer u delete it
Sent from my SM-N920P using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm curious as to why you suggest deleting that folder? What exactly will that fix? Details please before you suggest to a member to just delete something.
late,
Coz

The reboots i saw it mentioned.
Sent from my SM-N920P using XDA Premium HD app

Same problem, I have stock Sprint Note 5 with Samsung Pay updated and activated. Worked fine for a few days then all of the sudden I started getting "Bootstrap Failed" and my phone is unresponsive and/or data connection stops functioning forcing me to restart.
Is Sprint/Samsung aware of this issue and working on a fix? Very annoying. I've uninstalled all updates to Sprint Zone, force stopped and cleared data for Sprint Zone which appeared to help for a couple days, but now it's back again.
Has anyone had any luck with hard / factory reset? I don't want to go through the hassle of backing everything up, wiping it clean and reinstalling everything if at the end of the day it doesn't make a difference.

After a few more lock ups and reboots yesterday, my phone started behaving normally again, but just now I saw another "Bootstrap failed..." toast, so clearly the problem has not gone away. It hasn't locked up again on me yet, so maybe I'll be okay for a while. The only references I've seen to this error have all pointed to the Sprint Note 5, and most have mentioned Samsung Pay, so I suspect it's an issue there. Whether or not Samsung/Sprint are aware of it, I don't know.

I've also read it may or may not have something to do with Sprint Zone. I would agree it's purely due to the recent Samsung Pay update as I've had the Note since launch day and only noticed this after activating and updating Samsung Pay late last week. Before that I used the phone for nearly a month with no issues whatsoever.

While my phone hasn't locked up or rebooted by itself, I still get the "bootstrap failed..." occasionally.
I too think it was associated with the Sprint Zone and/or Samsung Pay update.
late,
Coz

I have only seen it once. Im fully stock to latest update. It happened to me after i noticed i had no data connection showed full lte but i had nothing opened up sprint zone and tried to refresh showed error. Then bootsrtap failed, have not seen it since
Sent from my SM-N920P

Bootstrap failed
It started happening to me after my fingerprint recognition failed, and I could not remember my backup password.

Just started happening to me a few days ago. completely stock sprint phone with the latest update (samsung pay). I noticed that right after the message PRL update began. After that and updating the profile, i havent seen the message.

Any updates on this? I went into Best Buy this weekend and had Samsung Experience store re-flash the OS to the phone, uninstalled Sprint Zone, uninstalled Samsung Pay updates, and force stopped Samsung Pay Framework. It worked fine for a few days but it started showing "Bootstrap failed" again. While it doesn't freeze up like it did the first time I received that message, in general the connectivity seems spotty (I'll show I'm connected to Wifi but nothing shows up on web browser or apps).
The problem is when Samsung Pay installed, it also installed an update to Android, and the Samsung Experience store in Best Buy can only flash the latest version of the OS. They can't revert back to the stock version of Android that came with the phone.
That's the biggest problem. Samsung and Google should make it so that they can revert back to a prior version of Android if the latest version has major bugs in it (which has been increasingly the case since Lollipop began rolling out). I had ZERO problems with the stock software/firmware that came with the device out of the box. Lesson learned I guess, don't accept an update if the version you have works well, until at least a couple months of the new update being out in the wild first....

Haven't seen this notice in a few days. It stopped after manual prl and profile update.
On a side note, I disabled the Samsung pay via package disable pro

Anyone figure this out?

Steps history missing from Gear S2

Hello,
My step history for previous days does not show on the watch. I can only see the bars in the graph, but the numbers are 0. Current day is shown ok.
S Health on the phone is fine.
Tried resetting the watch and reinstalling S Health - doesn't help. Is this a known issue?

Hai,
I have the same problem. Resetting does not help.
How can solve this problem?

Same problem too since 2 days. I saw other people having the same problem on some other forums but no clue on how to fix this issue.

I spoke to Samsung support. They told me that this is how it's supposed to be, and steps history will only be visible in S Health. I call this bullsh*t...

dadonev said:
I spoke to Samsung support. They told me that this is how it's supposed to be, and steps history will only be visible in S Health. I call this bullsh*t...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is BS. I'm currently looking at history on my S2 going back to 3/12. Nearly 3 weeks of history.
Why does it only go back to 3/12? Because that's the day all previous history was erased somehow. No idea how, but on 3/12 I was going through the same motions as the OP and other posters here: What happened to my step history? It's all still there on the S6. I tried resetting too, no dice.
It's a bug, folks. And Samsung is simply unwilling to invest ANY money in fixing bugs on the S2. They're working on the S3.

Guess I'm lucky as mine shows everything back to the day I bought it. Wonder what is different? I have the 3g version on Verizon.
Sent from my SM-G930V using XDA Premium HD app

Firmware probably. I'm still on XXU2BOKK which was issued in December (no airplane mode etc.). Wonder when the update will hit me as well...

I have the problem with R720 model on XXU2CPB7, so it must not be related to the firmware version. My feeling is that it's related to recent S-Health update I got last week-end.

i had the same problem a few days ago, tried everything even factory resets. today with the new firmware update it is fixed. (R720xxu2cpc5)

DQA keeps Stopping

Anybody keep getting this error after the update from verizon. I keep getting it. I've rebooted, I've gone to recovery and wiped cache and still have it. I saw a post on the s8 post somewhere googling around.

I have at&t and got it after the update. It finally did stop at least.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Yea mine finally stopped as well
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Mine is back again this morning in full force
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Yea it's back for me in full force. WTF Samsung

Back for me to this morning. Anyone know what DQA even is?

I think it has something to do with wifi quality. I installed package disabler pro and disabled the service (along with a bunch of other stuff). Problem solved.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

I should have done that prior to the update. I'm going to make it till the next stable update, then disable all update processes like I did with the Note 7. My phone was nice for a day before the idiots go mucking with it. I also have a red tinted screen after the update, which I don't think I did prior.
The update brought nothing I want. I'm a complete idiot for letting the phone update. I knew better. It was late at night...
I also think the update changed my LTE signal and the logo on the connection bar. It was better before. I'm typically full strength when lying in bed, now it is 1-2 bars.

Seems it was triggered this morning but receiving an MMS message of someone sending me a pic of the error. so maybe it's the MMS on wifi triggering the error.

There was a procedure where you enable Bixby and swipe left. I tried it and it worked.
At least until this morning. Its back again.
Hurry Samsung and either get out a fix or let us go back.

This way resolve my DQA error
http://www.androidauthority.com/fix-galaxy-s8-dqa-keeps-stopping-error-message-766402/

DQA Error solved!
coldconfession13 said:
Anybody keep getting this error after the update from verizon. I keep getting it. I've rebooted, I've gone to recovery and wiped cache and still have it. I saw a post on the s8 post somewhere googling around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I purchased 2 S8+'s. I updated one and began getting the DQA message immediately, about 2 every minute only on that one updated phone. After spending a day trying ALL of the solutions you see posted, I thought I had it solved until it re-appeared 4 hours later! I decided to go down to the Verizon store to have them resolve this. They spent 45 min on the phone with THEIR technical support and basically went through the same list of solutions we've seen posted. None of them would work. Additionally, I had a Samsung GearS watch that would not install (Error Code 5).
The other phone WITHOUT the update has worked fine, no errors and the same watch installed fine. I asked Verizon to just to wipe the phone so I could start over without the update. Several technicians in the store told me that would NOT work. They stated the update is not removed by restoring the phone to the factory image. I found this difficult to believe, so I said, "Fine, give me another phone!" For whatever reason, and I don't care what the reason is at this point, this phone is not performing as it should, you obviously can't fix it, so as far as I'm concerned it's defective and I demand a replacement. They provided me with a new replacement and transferred all of the apps I spent 6 hours previously installing, to the new replacement, the watch installed properly and I left the store with a properly working phone with no error pop ups. Verizon solved my problem! I am now, once again happy and WILL NOT allow the software update to install until Samsung corrects this.
If you installed this update, you WILL begin receiving the DQA message ONLY when you are on WIFI. That's unsat for a new expensive phone. Simply bring it back to your Verizon store. Demand a refund or another phone. That is the most effective way to send a direct message to both Verizon and Samsung management that you are not happy. No doubt they pushed programmers to release this update before properly testing it. These managers should be held directly responsible for their actions that led to destroying an otherwise fantastic device. And WHY haven't they stopped this bad update???? My phones are still asking me to install it. Nope! NO WAY!

RPAQ said:
I purchased 2 S8+'s. I updated one and began getting the DQA message immediately, about 2 every minute only on that one updated phone. After spending a day trying ALL of the solutions you see posted, I thought I had it solved until it re-appeared 4 hours later! I decided to go down to the Verizon store to have them resolve this. They spent 45 min on the phone with THEIR technical support and basically went through the same list of solutions we've seen posted. None of them would work. Additionally, I had a Samsung GearS watch that would not install (Error Code 5).
The other phone WITHOUT the update has worked fine, no errors and the same watch installed fine. I asked Verizon to just to wipe the phone so I could start over without the update. Several technicians in the store told me that would NOT work. They stated the update is not removed by restoring the phone to the factory image. I found this difficult to believe, so I said, "Fine, give me another phone!" For whatever reason, and I don't care what the reason is at this point, this phone is not performing as it should, you obviously can't fix it, so as far as I'm concerned it's defective and I demand a replacement. They provided me with a new replacement and transferred all of the apps I spent 6 hours previously installing, to the new replacement, the watch installed properly and I left the store with a properly working phone with no error pop ups. Verizon solved my problem! I am now, once again happy and WILL NOT allow the software update to install until Samsung corrects this.
If you installed this update, you WILL begin receiving the DQA message ONLY when you are on WIFI. That's unsat for a new expensive phone. Simply bring it back to your Verizon store. Demand a refund or another phone. That is the most effective way to send a direct message to both Verizon and Samsung management that you are not happy. No doubt they pushed programmers to release this update before properly testing it. These managers should be held directly responsible for their actions that led to destroying an otherwise fantastic device. And WHY haven't they stopped this bad update???? My phones are still asking me to install it. Nope! NO WAY!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All this and you could've just cleared dalvik cache, no?
Sent from my SM-G955U using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Clearing cache doesn't work, but apparently Samsung is pushing an dqa update through the Galaxy app store

So yeah, apparently Samsung is to have pushed out an update to fix the issue yesterday. I have not received it and I still get DQA keeps stopping almost all day, even sometimes when not connected to WiFi. Is there anyone else that has yet to received it? I read it was pushed via Galaxy Apps, so I opened it, but no update. Search in the app comes up with nothing useful.

hoaivu1508 said:
This way resolve my DQA error
http://www.androidauthority.com/fix-galaxy-s8-dqa-keeps-stopping-error-message-766402/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did not resolve it, you worked around it.

Go to Play store, Download package disabler pro ($1.49) and disable DQA.
Best $1.49 I spent and I can kill so many crap processes.

For Those having issues with DQA Here's update fix: http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/samsun...0-release/dqa-1-1-13-10-android-apk-download/
DQA Update to fix "DQA has stopped" error since day one update

Thanks it has fixed it. Wasn't showing in Galaxy apps
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Venom0642 said:
For Those having issues with DQA Here's update fix: http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/samsun...0-release/dqa-1-1-13-10-android-apk-download/
DQA Update to fix "DQA has stopped" error since day one update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't install the apk.

Galaxy S6 G920A freezing and restarting continuously

Hi,
Recently I have brought the unlocked Samsung S6 G920A in new york and I currently I am using it in India.
I have found that my phone was freezing suddenly and sometimes turning off automatically with out any action even I am mid of any message or call also.
initially it was happened daily one or two times and day by day it got increased. i tried wiping partial data, master reset also but the issues did not sorted out.
I went to authorized Samsung show room they simply rejected the issue because it is brought it in abroad not in India, they said their tools will not support to update the software.
I went local to technician and he did the software update (software flash), still issue is not completely sorted out, daily one or two times auto restating and that increases day by day and now again same issue...multiple times shut down/auto turning off/switched off.
I have tried my-self to update/flash the device and current version is "Full Stock Odin Nougat 7.0 G920AUCS6EQG1" I have downloaded it from XDAdevelopers (https://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s6/general/g920a-stock-odin-nougat-7-0-t3652863), still issue is same re-booting continuously.
Can you please help me on this, appreciate your help.
Regards,
Ganesh.

gyamala said:
Hi,
Recently I have brought the unlocked Samsung S6 G920A in new york and I currently I am using it in India.
I have found that my phone was freezing suddenly and sometimes turning off automatically with out any action even I am mid of any message or call also.
initially it was happened daily one or two times and day by day it got increased. i tried wiping partial data, master reset also but the issues did not sorted out.
I went to authorized Samsung show room they simply rejected the issue because it is brought it in abroad not in India, they said their tools will not support to update the software.
I went local to technician and he did the software update (software flash), still issue is not completely sorted out, daily one or two times auto restating and that increases day by day and now again same issue...multiple times shut down/auto turning off/switched off.
I have tried my-self to update/flash the device and current version is "Full Stock Odin Nougat 7.0 G920AUCS6EQG1" I have downloaded it from XDAdevelopers (https://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s6/general/g920a-stock-odin-nougat-7-0-t3652863), still issue is same re-booting continuously.
Can you please help me on this, appreciate your help.
Regards,
Ganesh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look HERE: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s6/general/video-guide-how-to-root-install-twrp-t3673742
Post 1 and 2. Just update your phone via latest tools to latest avaiable stock firmware for your model. If that gonna happened after finished, then is hardware issue.