VZW Pixel - Locked Bootloader / Total Software Brick - Google Pixel Questions & Answers

Hi guys,
So last night I went into the bootloader menu to read by current phone software stats. I noticed that it didn't seem easy to get back to the reboot. The function buttons that normally would work didn't seem to be in this case. Pressing the power button to advance the command was null. Finally, the phone seemed to reboot and I thought "problem over." From that point on, the phone basically died on me. There are intermittent flashes of a horizontal line across the black screen that displays itself at different parts of the screen. NO power button/volume button combo works at ALL. I cant tell if the phone is even on or not. Went through it with Google and they confirmed seems to be dead. VZW was super cool and fast in getting me a replacement sent. FYI: Stores will not do any warranty exchange. It has to be shipped to you. In any case, I wondered if anybody here had an idea on what the issue is or how I can possibly get my phone back. If only I could factory data rest.
Anyways, I'm locked Verizon stock and this still happened! So odd. Worst is, they are sending me a refurbished model. Already!!! The phone is less than a month old.
Thanks!

Related

[Q] Nexus S goes into some sort of fault state

My two months old Nexus S started to behave in a way that renders it pretty much useless - Freezing / Locked U
Freeze/Delay Between Menu and basically the phone is dead.
Very often when the screen is off, pressing power button powers up the screen with the screen lock, but the phone is not responsive so the screen just goes off again as it is impossible to slide to unlock it.
On top of that, leaving the phone with the screen off for a half an hour or so brings up some sort of warning sign and a small android (can see the screen shot here: http://yfrog.com/h3apmgqj) and the phone is effectively dead. The only thing to do in any of the two cases is remove and reinsert the battery, but that is no solution to anything. All this is while the battery is fully charged.
Did anyone experienced this before? resetting phone does not help.
Here is more info on this topic: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/label?lid=4e31a500f89fe575&hl=en
Are you using a custom recovery/ROM? That icon you posted isn't the stock image
Hi, no I do not - the image is actually from different phone but it looks exactly as it did on my Nexus S (little green guy with an exclamation mark). I never rooted my phone or done any custom mods to its system.
I actually sent it to Samsung and they are claiming that they found no problem, so they re-flushed the phone and are sending it back. I am seriously angry at samsung. It is arriving on the 11th so I'll let you know if that helped but I doubt it.
I believe this might be a faulty memory because I often received notification that the internal storage was unavailable or something of that nature as well, right before the problem would occur. Are the any tests I could perform for memory / storage?
just try to flash it back to stock
then do wipe data and wipe cache
see if that gets it back on its feet
Hey,
thank you, I thank that means I would have to root it first ehhh
Samsung told me they've done just that (flashed phone) so I am seriously hoping that my phone will work when it arrives on the 11th.
thanks!
Samsung supposedly is looking into this problem, please see link below:
http://www.google.com/support/forum...ad?fid=44db6d8e31129d4c00049e3b2a6db4d1&hl=en
Update:
I just received my phone from Samsung repair and of course, the phone is NOT fixed. On the side note, they also sent back my note that explains the problem meaning it was ignored completely.
I will be contacting @SamsungServic and calling but at this point I am not sure that they can fix the phone other then replace it.
Also,
I've spoken to Samsung and chat online and - yes they nice and throw back lots of promises and niceness back but they are NOT doing anything about it, for now at least.
I copy and paste the best answer on the google support topic to here:
I've been keeping a notebook to document my debugging of this problem. No app in particular is responsible, in my opinion. I have observed the phone lock up after a Factory Data Reset + USB wipe, and with no accounts configured. In fact, I have had it freeze after following this procedure:
1. Factory Data Reset + USB erase from Settings menu
2. Phone reboots.
3. Go through initial setup screens, skip account setup.
4. Power down phone.
5. Remove battery.
6. Remove SIM card.
7. Replace battery.
8. Power up phone.
9. Let phone sit for 15 minutes or more.
10. Phone freezes.
This is about as close to bare bones as I can get with this device.
I have also documented at least four freeze modes:
1. Phone is completely dark (both display and buttons). No combination of power button or other buttons can bring phone back. Battery removal required.
2. Phone display is dark, but the four "hard key" buttons are illuminated. No combination of power button or other buttons can bring phone back. Battery removal required.
3. Phone displays only a green android by a warning exclamation sign. Holding power button down, then volume up, then release volume up, will bring up the Android system recovery screen, from which phone can be rebooted.
4. Phone is frozen at the unlock screen. Sometimes this freeze occurs while swiping the unlock icon. No combination of power button or other buttons can bring phone back. Battery removal required.
I have observed the phone going from normal standby state (display and buttons dark) to state 2, and at other times to state 3, while it was sitting on my desk by the keyboard.
I'm just about ready to send it to Samsung. I just wanted to verify that the problem would be reproducible after a factory reset and without the SIM card.
I think it may be a hardware problem. It's also possible that part of the Android kernel or some device driver on my device has become corrupt. Unfortunately I can't reset the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a factory reset from the stock recovery, too. Doesn't help either.
My phone arrived on Friday Samsung mobile repair in Texas. And like they did to ohter Nexus S devices from other users they will do the following to mine:
Reflashing the phone -> doing some functional tests ...
... and this is the crazy thing about it. The error we have is just appearing when the phone is in standby and because of this the phone passes the functional tests Samsung is doing at the end of the service. Phone goes back to user. A defective phone.
Some guy managed to keep the phone alive by setting the display turning off after 30mins. He is charging it twice a day
I got a reply from @SamsungSupport on twitter:
Thank you Fabian for again reaching out to us. We are aware of this issue as some of us have your same phone.
An evaluation is already being conducted to determine the fix. We don't have a timeframe of the resolution.
But understand it will be pushed to phones. We will advise once we have a timeframe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The support team is friendly and to me it feels like they try to do anything they could.
Funny: One guy got a replacement device. But then no one other. Just reflash...
I think they will do something but on the other hand I'm worried that they will do nothing. But time will tell....
Maybe it would help us if Google will be aware of the problem, too. Ok maybe they allready know it, but I don't know that.
So if some of you here do have some connections... please do us a favor and forward this topic or the link to the google support topic. Feel free to forward this topic to any website you think it would write a news about it. Maybe Google will throw a eye on it. My phone is 8 weeks old and yeah this so anoying. And of course all my friends who are iHippster are trolling me like hell.
It don't want to flame or blame Samsung\Google for this.But our phones are in warranty. The error hits only a few devices and so they should replace it. My 50cent about it... this is not a Google expierence they talked about...
I also had the same problem and sent my phone into Samsung. They only re flashed it, which didn't fix the problem. I immediately called Samsung to inform them that the issue was not fixed and they just told me to send it back for "double checking." Do you think it is better to send it back in or just wait for fix to emerge?
I will be sending it back and demand replacing the phone, also making sure they just don't re-flash again. I guess anything but re-flashing could work.
Remember that I've mailed my phone with one page letter explaining the problem. Their response was flashing the phone and sending it back - with my letter.
Here is note from the support team:
----------------------------------------
Original Problem:
Technical Inquiry
Phone Freezing / Locked U
Freeze/Delay Between Menu
Problem found:
NO TROUBLE FOUND
SW,PRL,OTSL RESET
Solution:
Passed All Functional Testing
--------------------------------------
@Samsungservice did not even acknowledge it officially that this is a problem.
Yeah i wrote a letter too explaining the issue and how to recreate it (the first time). They told me that it passed their quality assurance inspection after re-flashing it, which must be very poor because my phone shut off again 15 minutes after receiving it. Just dropped it back off at UPS today. Can they replace the phone because of this issue? I know one person had success, but it doesn't seem anyone else has.
Nexus S faulty
Samsung may not be able to reproduce it after reflashing; as this issue does not seem to occur when connected to a PC/computer via USB. Their automated testing could be over USB.
Looks like more and more people are facing this issue as the day goes by.
Search for "Nexus S fault state" on google and you'll find the google support forum thread discussing it
Guys,
Did anyone have tried to flash a custom rom to see if this will solve the problem ?
cheers !
No, but this problem is not ROM related.
discr said:
Samsung may not be able to reproduce it after reflashing; as this issue does not seem to occur when connected to a PC/computer via USB. Their automated testing could be over USB.
Looks like more and more people are facing this issue as the day goes by.
Search for "Nexus S fault state" on google and you'll find the google support forum thread discussing it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I figured that was why they couldn't recreate the shutdown. Made sure they knew that it has to be unplugged. Mine always shuts off within 10-15 minutes if untouched.
I have same problem.Only remove battery helps. I have been having nexus s for 2 and half months and this problem just came last week. I don't know how to solve it. I tried reflash firmware but didn't help.
welcome to the club. you have to send it to USA to get it serviced (make a extreme detailed problem description and make sure the support worker writes it down 1:1 into their ticket system). they provide a 2day ups shippment label, BUT only to locations in USA.
I can recommend FedEx. They helped me a lot with this duty stuff for shipping to USA. That's not so easy . I paid €50 to get it shipped to a friend of mine in USA.
You have to send only the foreparts of the device. No battery and back panel, no charger and so on. But they will give you all informations at the end of the service request.
or: wait for a hotfix. which maybe never will come.
Update:
I just mailed my phone again... they told me they do not replace phones (not sure what that means yet). The Rep was arguing that if I want the phone replaced then I need to talk to T-Mobile - it does not make any sense.
Anyway, I explained the problem as much as I could and did not mail any notes this time as they obviously do not care for it. But I made sure he included every detail in his notes.
I am very skeptical but still hoping....
Also,
About the part when the phone does not freeze when plugged in or charging. I had my Nexus S charging overnight and it was frozen in the morning.
Update:
Also, I've contacted @SamsungServic via Twitter and asked if their team recognized it as a problem, but I've got no response.
On the other hand if you report the problem to them, they will respond that they will look into it - which means nothing, but if enough people asks the same question them they will have to.
-thanks
I've got some sort of responce via Twitter from @SamsungService, here is what they wrote back:
@SamsungService
Thank you for reaching out to us. We are aware of this issue as some of us have your same phone. An evaluation is already being conducted to determine the fix. We don't have a time frame of the resolution, but understand it will be pushed to phones. We will advise once we have a time frame. Thank you. ^Mary
@Keinam
Does this mean we should stop sending our phones back for repair and just wait for your OTA update? If it happens?
@SamsungService
Many issues can be resolved with warranty service. Regarding the issue you've referred to,It is my understanding that a fix if being worked on which would be sent out OTA. ^Mary

[Q] touch capacitive buttons

A friend of mine bought one of these and he has an issue with the capacitive buttons.
They may be working fine but after some minutes of moderate usage they won't work anymore. Sometimes, this can be fixed by turning off/on the screen.
The phone is supposedly new, it came with 4.0.4 (ATT) and I'm wondering if a ROM upgrade would solve this (I doubt it). Seems like a hardware issue.
There's also this *#2663# code that takes you to a service screen to update soft buttons firmware (or at least that's what I think it does). I was unsure that this would help, but I had to give it a try. It said something like "updating software, do not power off device". However, after several minutes (30min or some like that) the screen was still at this point, so I had to cancel it (pwr menu > reboot) risking a possible brick. No bricks though, phone booted normally and soft buttons were still working fine for sometime then nothing.
Warranty is not an option here because it was bought on amazon. Shipped to another country, so I'm not sure if the phone qualifies for warranty or if my friend would be willing to return it to the US.
I guess I could try updating ROM, or find a way to properly update soft buttons firmware.
Please help!

Just got my M8, screen not powering on sometimes

So I just left sprint for Verizon and got the M8. It was the last one in the area too, but the rep drove 20 miles to pick up the second one for my fiance. 5 times since I got it this afternoon the screen failed to power on when I used the power button or double screen tap. I had to do the pwr/vol button reboot to get my display working. One time was after a phone call. Has anyone else had this problem? I got the phone charging now, I don't know if a reset the phone it will fix it or if this is a hardware issue. If it's hardware I can't exchange it until they get more in. Any input if it's worth it trying a factory reset?
Try a factory reset. Don't think it will fix it but why not try it. When you double tap the screen, does it vibrate even though the screen doesn't come on?
Sent from my S-Off HTC One M8
Well I did a factory reset from the fastboot screen and it did it again after getting off a phone call. Guess I'll be getting it swapped out. I have horrible luck with these things.

Nexus 5 Bootloop - can't even pass bootloader screen

Hi All!
Today is a very unfortunate day for me.
I was viewing whatsapp and all of a sudden my phone turned off, turned back on and it has been rebooting ever since.
I have tried all possible troubleshooting steps to see why it is happening but I can't even get into other screens like recovery, bootloader because it restarts right away.
Had a chat with Google and they wanted me to send my old phone and place a hold in my credit card -blablabla.
Obviously when they receive my defective Nexus, they will see the bootloader screen with an UNLOCKED icon.
That will be bad for me - because they could charge me money for a new device (the one they are sending ahead).
I would rather wait for the Nexus 6 instead of repaying for my defective 5.
Is there a way to maybe force it to be locked again before I send it in?
I have one of those JTAG connectors and I was just wondering if it will make any sense if I try that.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
It sounds like your power button is stuck. Mash it a number of times and see if that frees it up.
Also, if you have a case take it off
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Yup, seems to be an hardware problem with the power button.
By the way, if you can't fix it : Seems that Google doesn't care about unlocked bootloader if it's an hardware fault
I actually initially though it was the power button so I removed the case check and mashed it a lot but how it turns of turns ON doesn't make sense because if the power button is stuck usually you have to wait 3-4 seconds before it turns off.
The behavior is like this - Google Splash screen, 1 second pause, vibrate, turn off - Google Slash Screen, 1 second pause - NON stop.
Still it could be possible but I'm hoping they wont charge me anything if they send me a new phone. I would rather wait for the Nexus 6.
They actually asked me if I was rooted and I said NO. There was a chat log on it. Oh well.
I had a similar problem and I think it was the power button as well. I RMA'd it but I kept smacking the crap out of the back of the phone and around the area of the power button. I noticed it'd start getting further through the boot process and eventually I was able to get it to boot all the way through and actually stay. I guess I smacked it hard enough to knock out the button, but I still went with the RMA anyways.
Maybe try smacking it around and see if it stays on longer?
fldude2k1 said:
I had a similar problem and I think it was the power button as well. I RMA'd it but I kept smacking the crap out of the back of the phone and around the area of the power button. I noticed it'd start getting further through the boot process and eventually I was able to get it to boot all the way through and actually stay. I guess I smacked it hard enough to knock out the button, but I still went with the RMA anyways.
Maybe try smacking it around and see if it stays on longer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you are all right. Now that I got home and observed it more. It is a stuck power button! I'll try to smack around it and have the bootloader locked in again and RMA it.
Do you think once they see it is being rooted, they will void the warranty even though it is obviously a power button issue?
keplenk said:
I think you are all right. Now that I got home and observed it more. It is a stuck power button! I'll try to smack around it and have the bootloader locked in again and RMA it.
Do you think once they see it is being rooted, they will void the warranty even though it is obviously a power button issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy $hit I cant believe it! I smacked it like a crazy person and it worked!!!
I'm going to wipe out everything and put it to stock!!! and still RMA it yohooooo

S6 Pressing Back Button By It's self (Capacitive key)

I'm not sure how this is possible, but about once or twice a day, the back button on my S6 is pressed on it's own. It has happened when the device has been on the desk, I see the soft keys light up, the device vibrates like they've been touched and the app I was on went back, all while I was not even touching the device.
It's happened mostly when I'm holding the phone but not even close to touching the buttons, and once it happened and pressed the back button about 10 times in a row while I watched it.
The phone is completely undamaged, perfect condition, never touched water, not dirty at all, buttons are 100% clean. Happens while it's charging or on battery.
Has anyone else experienced this?
(My device was repaired by Samsung for a different issue, motherboard replaced, this only started happening after the repair)
i have, started like yours random. then it started happening more and more so when i was at the store waiting for someone i decided to factory reset ( factory reset twice while at the store) but it got worse. couldn't even get passed initial setup the phone just kept spamming back button so i just kept going back. luckily i already ordered a replacement s6 from tmobile since i was having some other issue with the phone. sadly the replacement s6 took over 7 days to get here. shipped through UPS and got to hawaii then for some reason UPS gave it to USPS for delivery. kinda sad that i ordered screen protectors 2 days after i ordered replacement phone and the screen protectors got here 4 days later through USPS. but other than that my NEW ( we all know its refurbished) galaxy s6 so far has no issues. even the no audio on calls is fixed.
also if you are going to order a replacement, be sure to let them know you have a GALAXY S6 and the date it was released. i say this because the 2 tmobile reps i talked to kept asking questions they say it was for them to determine if my galaxy s6 that was what 2 almost 3 months old at the time was still under warranty
My s6 was showing the same issue with the stuck back button.
It started randomly but than it went crazy and stuck. I wasn't even able to use it.
But 1 factory reset fixed it.
But yesterday the random stuck back button started again when the phone was on my desk and it was really hot (weather was hot as well as the phone). I turned it off for a while and apparently the issue stopped.
I'm not sure it's temperature, firmware, whatever related but I really don't want to factory reset it again.
No solution here, but it is happening to me as well
Solved
Hi i had the same problem aswell , i bought samsung s6 in Pakistan, after the update the back button kept pressing ghostly, i went to local samsung repair shop and the assistant reset something from the setting and then it was fine, i even asked him what you did and how you did? but he said it is secret lol very stupid. i could have post the solution if i know it, but i think it is very easy and something to do with setting. i am sure it is not hard/soft reset. i will post this on other forums to help other people.
thanks
having this problem with my phone too, i cant even get it to stay on the settings screen long enough to back up my stuff
edit: well i think i solved it. i tried clearing the cache, didnt work. then i did a hard reset, didnt work. then i went back and cleared the cache and did a hard reset at the same time and it seems to have worked.
+1 same problem. It happens mainly when the phone is on the move. Funny thing it happened 3-4 times while taking the metro (go figure) with the data on. Usually when I turn off the data, it reduces the amount of back press.
Normal reset doesn't solve the problem. It stops after a while, probably when the phone cools down. I can't seem to reproduce it, but I believe it has something to do with the data on.
I don't really want to factory reset so I'm going to write to samsung directly as the phone is brand new.
i am having same issue too.
---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 PM ----------
Did anyone try loading a custom rom and got it fixed ?
I've had that issue with my first one. Took it back ASAP as it was DOA. Got a brand new one 3 days later as they didn't have any in stock. This one doesn't have any problems. Don't worry to mutch about it. Get it exchanged.
It is a hardware defect: When the phone turns up power to the radio to strengthen the connection, it can cause Electronic Noise to leak over the connection into the capacitive buttons (due to poorly insulated shielding tape), causing the phone to think the buttons were pressed. That's why you notice the problem more when roaming -- the device needs to be repaired/replaced.
I have the exact same problem...did anyone contact the manufacturer and got a response on the matter?
I believe it may be an app setting messing with the system settings. My device did it once and wouldnt allow me to use my device. After factory reset it made it worse so i used twrp and wiped everything but my modem and flashed my stock firmware and it stopped and hasnt done it since
Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk
faiding said:
It is a hardware defect: When the phone turns up power to the radio to strengthen the connection, it can cause Electronic Noise to leak over the connection into the capacitive buttons (due to poorly insulated shielding tape), causing the phone to think the buttons were pressed. That's why you notice the problem more when roaming -- the device needs to be repaired/replaced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hum that's interesting, thanks for your precious input on this.
I did contact Samsung who asked me to do a factory reset. It didn't change anything.
They redirected me to a Samsung office in Paris, not for repair but for a deeper factory reset... (not sure what they are talking about), but I haven't been there since due to lack of time.
However, I didn't experience the problem since the last update FXXU3QOKN so I'm keeping an eye on it.
Following "faiding's" comment, I'll probably pay them a visit for a replacement.
working "workaround"
workaround:
lower the speaker volume to ~75% in all settings (Media, ringtone, system, notifications, etc...)
Whats going on? why is it working?
some posts ago someone (user called "faiding") mentioned something about EMC leak, or at least he meant to, by mentioning a faulty insulation.
with that in mind i did some testing and found out that the closes radiating component it the speaker... and once you lower its emissions even thought the faulty insulation, the EMC leak is sufficiently low and the 'capacity short' is avoided.
Note: depending on how 'faulty' is your insulation (it varies from one phone to another depending on production line assembly) lower the volume until the issue stops accruing.
not full-proof but working
What worked for me is turn power saving on
possible fix
might be a coincidence, but this worked for me:
(I am a new user so i cant post a link but here is what you should do)
1. enter YOUTUBE
2. find this video: "Samsung Galaxy S6 Touch Screen Sensitivity Fix"
worked like magic for me
Repair tech
It is true that if your in the US and your phone has no damage or any water damage to void your warranty even if you bought it from someone else, u can register the phone at samsung website and then request a repair. It will still have a warranty.
But as I am a Cellphone tech, sometimes I rebuild phones. A s6 came into my shop and i once rebuilt it and worked for a while before doing the phantom touches on task and back keys. So when i pulled the screen up a little off the touch keys, it would stop. I gave up after a while trying to figure it out as i had more things to work on. Back in December i decided to rebuild it again, new screen, new battery, new frame and new back. Turned it into a gold s6 to try and sell it again. Sold it couple days ago, and it came back the next day doing the same thing. So got bored tonight and started to take it back apart. Figured i would try one more thing, replaced the charging port (which is also the soft touch keys) to see if that would resolve it. So far its not wigging out but im letting it sit here and try using it from time to time, with wifi on and a simcard installed. So far its not going crazy, but I will let everyone know if it fixes it or not. As for the "Youtube thing" I tried that, did not resolve. Im guessing its a defective soft touch keys/charging port.
I would not recommend this repair unless your phone is out or voided of warranty.
dslayer83 said:
It is true that if your in the US and your phone has no damage or any water damage to void your warranty even if you bought it from someone else, u can register the phone at samsung website and then request a repair. It will still have a warranty.
But as I am a Cellphone tech, sometimes I rebuild phones. A s6 came into my shop and i once rebuilt it and worked for a while before doing the phantom touches on task and back keys. So when i pulled the screen up a little off the touch keys, it would stop. I gave up after a while trying to figure it out as i had more things to work on. Back in December i decided to rebuild it again, new screen, new battery, new frame and new back. Turned it into a gold s6 to try and sell it again. Sold it couple days ago, and it came back the next day doing the same thing. So got bored tonight and started to take it back apart. Figured i would try one more thing, replaced the charging port (which is also the soft touch keys) to see if that would resolve it. So far its not wigging out but im letting it sit here and try using it from time to time, with wifi on and a simcard installed. So far its not going crazy, but I will let everyone know if it fixes it or not. As for the "Youtube thing" I tried that, did not resolve. Im guessing its a defective soft touch keys/charging port.
I would not recommend this repair unless your phone is out or voided of warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi dslayer83,
I've the same problem with my S6
Could you solved the problem replacing the charging port?
It would be very important to me knowing how to repair the phone because I buyed it abroad. In my country Samsung does not cover warranty.
Up with this thread!
I had an S6 since January.. initially the problem was very random, maybe 1 or 2 times per day, sometimes would go crazy for a while
Then i had some time with no defect at all (a couple of weeks?) without doing nothing
This past week, the phone was feeling like the MENU button (what menu as in this phone there isn't any?) and that was very weird!
Today, it simply went completely crazy, and now is completely unusable... i can't actually swtich it off as the back key is pressed so quickly i don't have the chance of doing nothing!
EDIT: Managed to reboot and wipe cache... now it is useable, but still hits the button from time to time
Update... went unuseable again today.... factory resetting now...
If it works, shall we suspect is something software related?
Update: Not working... it started giving the phantom touches just after the factory reset then suddenly stopped
Worked fine for few hours, then started craza again
Now i have done a wipe and factory reset again, and still unuseable

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