I had a rooted Evo. A few weeks ago, I began experiencing random reboots, and random unmounts of my SD storage volume. I unrooted completely (with S-ON) to a stock Froyo build. I didn't even install any apps, and the problems still persisted.
So I got myself an RMA and sent the phone into HTC for repair, as it's still under warranty. I had given the phone rep a very detailed description of the issue, and also instructed them NOT TO UPGRADE TO GINGERBREAD. I also included a very visible note in the package instructing them to do the same. I even went as far to detail the issues on another sheet of paper in the package, just for peace of mind.
HTC receives the phone on a Friday afternoon. On Monday, around noon, I receive an e-mail that the phone is on its way back to me, but with no information about the resolution. I called to inquire, only to find out that they couldn't find anything wrong with my phone, and shipped it back unchanged.
I received the phone last Thursday, powered it up, and much to my dismay, those numbskulls upgraded me to Gingerbread!!! So now I can't even root my phone, and restore my app data with Titanium Backup... which I f*ckin' paid for! To make matters worse, as the phone begins to sync my contact/calendar data from Google, the phone reboots.
Way to go HTC... buncha crackerjack a$$hats!!! Your sh!tty repair process cost me:
* a week without my Evo
* $9 to ship my Evo
* Use of Titanium Backup, which I paid for
* Use of my SSH daemon, which I paid for
* Participation in the Swype 3.0 beta program (since I can't uninstall Sprint's stock Swype 2.x app)
* Ability to resize my partitions, and use A2SD. I'll probably need to ditch a few apps now.
* Obvious ability to root and customize my phone to my liking
On top of all this, my phone is still broken, and still covered under a completely useless HTC warranty.
Or.... maybe HTC is this awesome company that would refuse to return a defective product to a customer while it's still under warranty. Therefore, I can only assume the phone was damaged by FedEx... but there's no way I'm opening that can of worms.
So I just technically received a factory-refurbished phone from HTC. It's my same phone, but it went thorugh their Q.A. processes. I guess my best option is to sign up for Sprint's rip-off protection plan at $7 a month, and then pay $100 to have them replace the phone. What a sham!
Anyone got any better ideas?
BigMatza said:
So I just technically received a factory-refurbished phone from HTC. It's my same phone, but it went thorugh their Q.A. processes. I guess my best option is to sign up for Sprint's rip-off protection plan at $7 a month, and then pay $100 to have them replace the phone. What a sham!
Anyone got any better ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm you HAD the better idea buddy, the freakin' Sprint protection plan. No it wouldn't have cost you $100 to fix that problem, they would've handed you a new phone with no problem. If the new/refurb phone was busted, they'd have gave you a 3rd phone, no problem.
Unless you lose it, accidentally call Asurion or severely damage the phone, then it'll be $100... or $35 if the screen is busted. Otherwise the $7 per month is all it costs.
Here's the thing not many people know about the insurance. You must sign up for it within two weeks of purchasing the phone. Otherwise, they won't add it. My friend learned that the hard way.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
MicrosoftBug said:
Here's the thing not many people know about the insurance. You must sign up for it within two weeks of purchasing the phone. Otherwise, they won't add it. My friend learned that the hard way.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They open it up from time to time but yes you're right.
Really, there's no good reason to NOT have the insurance.
Oh no! Almost 2 gallons of gasoline a month.
MicrosoftBug said:
Here's the thing not many people know about the insurance. You must sign up for it within two weeks of purchasing the phone. Otherwise, they won't add it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just called, and they let me add it. Woohoo! I told them the truth... that the phone just came back from HTC after repair process, and that the warranty period is almost up.
Unfortunately, none of this is going to bring my root access back any time soon
Noiro said:
Umm you HAD the better idea buddy, the freakin' Sprint protection plan. No it wouldn't have cost you $100 to fix that problem, they would've handed you a new phone with no problem. If the new/refurb phone was busted, they'd have gave you a 3rd phone, no problem.
Unless you lose it, accidentally call Asurion or severely damage the phone, then it'll be $100... or $35 if the screen is busted. Otherwise the $7 per month is all it costs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've walked in and had my screen replaced for free for that little white hot spot that some people have had issues with. Left it with them for a few hours and bam, new screen no charge. Have also walked into a Sprint store to get a replacement battery cover and they just handed me one wrapped in plastic, no questions asked.
I can't imagine why one would ever want to deal with HTC directly, honestly.
Same however, after talking with tech support sprit and htc I kinda knew from past experance they just read a script. So I did not send the phone back instaed reloaded 3.7 stock RUU with old radio rerooted and now it sits on "prof the dead walk" gingerbread rooted stock. I pacitencly await the updates.
good luck
Noiro said:
No it wouldn't have cost you $100 to fix that problem, they would've handed you a new phone with no problem. If the new/refurb phone was busted, they'd have gave you a 3rd phone, no problem.
Unless you lose it, accidentally call Asurion or severely damage the phone, then it'll be $100... or $35 if the screen is busted. Otherwise the $7 per month is all it costs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't realize that part, so I enrolled. Thanks.
BigMatza said:
I just called, and they let me add it. Woohoo! I told them the truth... that the phone just came back from HTC after repair process, and that the warranty period is almost up.
Unfortunately, none of this is going to bring my root access back any time soon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sorry for your loss. It's kinda like a turd wrapped inside a lollipop. You have a working phone, but you can't customize it to your liking. I hope they root GB soon. I am currently rooted running MikG 2.15. I called Sprint yesterday to ***** about the crappy 3G in my area (don't even hit 1Mbit) and they told me to take it to a corporate repair store to have it looked at. I told the lady on the phone it's not an issue with my handset, it's Sprint's crappy network. She then preceded to speak to another tech who informed her that I wasn't running the latest firmware. I assured her I was, it's just I'm rooted but was running the updated 4.24 software. She then told me I still needed to take it to a store before they would send someone to look at the towers. [email protected]&$*... I said FINE. What about me being rooted I asked. She then told me that Sprint doesn't care about rooting anymore. So I take it to a store, where the tech and the manager tell me they can't look at it because it's rooted and my warranty is voided. [email protected]&$?.. So long story short, the tech felt bad for me and wrote some notes asking them to look at the towers. I haven't called today yet to ask them to send someone to the towers, though I am dreading it.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
MicrosoftBug said:
I am sorry for your loss. It's kinda like a turd wrapped inside a lollipop. You have a working phone, but you can't customize it to your liking. I hope they root GB soon. I am currently rooted running MikG 2.15. I called Sprint yesterday to ***** about the crappy 3G in my area (don't even hit 1Mbit) and they told me to take it to a corporate repair store to have it looked at. I told the lady on the phone it's not an issue with my handset, it's Sprint's crappy network. She then preceded to speak to another tech who informed her that I wasn't running the latest firmware. I assured her I was, it's just I'm rooted but was running the updated 4.24 software. She then told me I still needed to take it to a store before they would send someone to look at the towers. [email protected]&$*... I said FINE. What about me being rooted I asked. She then told me that Sprint doesn't care about rooting anymore. So I take it to a store, where the tech and the manager tell me they can't look at it because it's rooted and my warranty is voided. [email protected]&$?.. So long story short, the tech felt bad for me and wrote some notes asking them to look at the towers. I haven't called today yet to ask them to send someone to the towers, though I am dreading it.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd be shocked if Sprint actually calls you to report their findings for something like that. Please stop back and let us know if they do!
MicrosoftBug said:
She then told me I still needed to take it to a store before they would send someone to look at the towers. [email protected]&$*... I said FINE. What about me being rooted I asked. She then told me that Sprint doesn't care about rooting anymore. So I take it to a store, where the tech and the manager tell me they can't look at it because it's rooted and my warranty is voided. [email protected]&$
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, sorry man. This was a trap, never... I repeat NEVER trust what a rep says without a 3rd opinion.
Anytime you return a phone, just flash the stock "rooted" ROM onto the phone, freshly wiped with the SD card out of the phone.
Noiro said:
Wow, sorry man. This was a trap, never... I repeat NEVER trust what a rep says without a 3rd opinion.
Anytime you return a phone, just flash the stock "rooted" ROM onto the phone, freshly wiped with the SD card out of the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already had to do that with an insurance replacement.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Related
Thought I would share my experiences with you guys to hopefully settle some stomachs.
I got my first incredible the day they were released. About a month after i got it, it started randomly rebooting and shutting off. It would run great for days, then have a fit of reboots. I used it like that for quite a while until root was released. I rooted it, then shortly after installed some of the leaked roms. I hoped that updating everything would help with the reboots.. nope.
Anyway, long story short. I called VZW and they sent me a replacement device. I sent back the first phone with S-off, rooted, radio updated, and running a cryogen mod.
As soon as I got the replacement phone, I re-flashed it with all the goodies. Last week I ended up bricking it because my kid ran by and pulled it off the USB cable during a flash of sky raider. It would boot into Hboot, but i nothing i did made it work right again. Anyway, I called that day and said "my phone doesnt turn on anymore" they sent me another replacement. I sent that phone back with s-off and radio 2.15 and not booting past the silver HTC screen.
I was wondering wtf, i thought for sure i would get a call or a letter or SOMETHING. i have a buddy that works at the VZW warehouse so I asked him. He said all they do is open the box, verify that the numbers on the phone match the numbers on the return order and move on. They get 1,000s of phones a day from warranty exchange. Nobody "checks them". Hes just a lowly worker but I think hes right.
I have had VZW for just over 10 years now, and have utilized their "exchange 3 times per year" service on almost every phone I have had. I have sent in phones that I broke the screens on, by saying "my phone doesn't work anymore". I have sent in phones i dropped in the water by saying "my phone doesn't work anymore".
The people in the warehouse who check the phones numbers have NO IDEA why you sent it in, or what the tech told you, or why they told you to take it back.
bottom line.. don't stress about it. and take advantage of VZW's service of letting you exchange your phone 3 times per year.
EDIT
Just wanted to add... They give you 10 days to send the phone back, that first incredible i sent back, i kept for over a month. They even posted an equipment charge to my account for not sending it back, but that took them a month. I just called 611 and said "oh gee wow.. i forgot to send that back" lady told me no problem and sent me out a new box and i mailed it back. 3 days later they credited my account the $500+ equipment charge. That was the phone with s-off, radio update, and running cryogen. Hardly stock lol. and honestly.. it was a intermittent reboot problem. what would they do anyway? turn it on and use it for a week to see when it shutdown? lol
That 3x a year deal, is that with one of their insurance plans? I elected to for-go that when I bought my Incredible so I don't know what the deal will be if any one of my phones boink... just glad I don't have a kid to fudge things up anyway... although I do have a girlfriend that likes to seemingly randomly unplug my electronics because "our power bill is sooo high!". Yes, I know honey, it's called summer + A/C usage x.x
DeeBG said:
That 3x a year deal, is that with one of their insurance plans? I elected to for-go that when I bought my Incredible so I don't know what the deal will be if any one of my phones boink... just glad I don't have a kid to fudge things up anyway... although I do have a girlfriend that likes to seemingly randomly unplug my electronics because "our power bill is sooo high!". Yes, I know honey, it's called summer + A/C usage x.x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, that is just the manufacture warranty. they will exchange it 3 times during the 1 year manufacturer warranty. on the 4th time, they will either send you a brand new phone in the box, or upgrade you to another phone. your choice
msticlaru said:
no, that is just the manufacture warranty. they will exchange it 3 times during the 1 year manufacturer warranty. on the 4th time, they will either send you a brand new phone in the box, or upgrade you to another phone. your choice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's how I got my Incredible. Upgraded for free from D Eris. I got a big scratch on my screen somehow. Need a refurb soon. Haha.
I'm not sure if the masses should know any of this.
This is exactly how I got the Incredible from the Moto Droid. 3 times returned (the 3rd time not even for an unfixable problem *oopsie* ) and then they said they would send me an Incredible. I love VZW tech support
Hmmm, that Droid incredible hd sounds pretty cool lol when's it coming out again? Jk jk lol
Edit: this is good to know if something really does go bad with my phone. But I would never take advantage of it.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
MODS- please delete this thread to prevent little kids from being stupid and causing VZW to crack down on this. Thanks!
anothen said:
MODS- please delete this thread to prevent little kids from being stupid and causing VZW to crack down on this. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agree...
/10char
Yeah, I'm sure this all-important xda thread would be the first inkling VZW has ever had that some people game their replacement policy (sshhh!)
better shut it down RIGHT AWAY before the sky falls on us.
I guess there always has to be someone to make a wise guy remark. You are correct about 'not being the first'. However, XDA may be the first that hundreds of thousands of people look at.
If it's so easy to return a phone 3x a year why bother with insurance? I'm paying $8 a month to Asurion.
Why would this thread need to be deleted. If Verizon does crack down good. People with legit problems with then hopefully be helped even better.
marcmarshall said:
If it's so easy to return a phone 3x a year why bother with insurance? I'm paying $8 a month to Asurion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 in 4 people with 2 year contracts could make a full replacement purchase price claim and they'd still have a nice profit, assuming they had to pay full price MSRP for replacements. Wonder how much they'd make by using refurbs as replacements, rejecting claims, etc.
I may be in the wrong business.
Also, delete the thread. That is the best way to restrict information flow.
marcmarshall said:
If it's so easy to return a phone 3x a year why bother with insurance? I'm paying $8 a month to Asurion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because warranty doesn't cover getting it wet, replacement of lost/stolen, cracked screen, break due to drop or abuse, etc.
Hey, my comment from yesterday got deleted! No fair, it doesn't count for my replies posted either...
Zerotwistknife7 said:
agree...
/10char
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed Its not about VZW finding out its about people abusing it.
actually its not 3x a year its 3x in a period of thirty or sixty days.
that's how i got my dare from a Venus. The Venus always had something wrong and the tech himself told me well if they replace 3 in a month then you can get another phone.
anothen said:
I guess there always has to be someone to make a wise guy remark. You are correct about 'not being the first'. However, XDA may be the first that hundreds of thousands of people look at.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just like there always has to be a Chicken Little or three, I guess. Would you rather I put a broomstick up my ass and found some piously earnest way to express my sincere contempt for those who run around asking for this thread deleted, that information suppressed, mods help us! etc, just to save us from ourselves? OK, then:
Attempting to mold community behavior by restricting the flow of information is a really dumb idea, especially on a hacker forum. And preserving a loophole that lets a knowledgeable few commit warranty fraud by concealing the means & opportunity from the other "hundreds of thousands of people" who read XDA is elitist, self-serving, and morally reprehensible all at once.
Fortunately for the scruple-challenged, my sense is that VZW is well aware of the potential, but just doesn't care--or at least is unwilling to invest in the kind of training and verification overhead that would allow them to examine each claim for legitimacy. So by all means: keep returning those bricked phones for an upgrade, but do stop hiding the Machiavellian ingenuity of your methods under a bushel--let it shine forth unto the ends of the earth! Free replacement phones for all!
marcmarshall said:
If it's so easy to return a phone 3x a year why bother with insurance? I'm paying $8 a month to Asurion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I suppose it's terribly old-fashioned to suggest that your conscience might trouble you if you went that route... But ethics aside, if you lost the phone outright, or smashed it to tiny bits, you could still need that insurance. The VZW workers might be inattentive and uncaring, but I'm guessing even they might notice an empty box, or a phone that arrives in a sandwich bag with no one fragment larger than 30 mesh!
so I took my epic to a sprint store to get a new screen. got it back and turned it on. found out they deleted a few games and my task killer. and for some reason, my phone could not get an service whatsoever. it says I am in roaming with no bars and I know that's wrong because I get full bars in my house. also, I cannot send or receive calls or texts. after n hour on the phone with sprint, they couldn't fix it and they finally just switched my service to an older phone. I will go to a sprint store at a current date but I'm on vacation and don't have a chance to go to the store.
so, any ideas what mightve happened? and ideas how I should go about talking to sprint to get this issue fixed?
thanks in advance.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
We will need to know more about the phone. Are you running stock ROM or not? Are you rooted? I am guessing that since you took it into the store that you were running it stock and unrooted. Give us some more details and we might be able to be more help.
It looks like you might need to factory reset, but you can d/l a backup program to save all the .apks for the apps you have gotten from the market, or you can root the phone and get a better backup program. I would not recommend using clockwork recovery as, I believe, it will back up everything and might just restore the phone to its unusable state. That being said it couldn't hurt to try Clockwork recovery and if you just have to wipe the phone again you can.
It's really annoying when you take a phone into Sprint and they just make matters worse. One time I took a phone it for an issue with the screen and they actually broke the screen further and then refused to figure out a way to fix it.
I'm rooted and I'm running the latest epic experience based off of dk28. was not able to odin completely back to stock before taking it to the store. they never said anything about it being the wrong firmware.
when I returned home, it was too late to actually do anything about the issue, so I called tech support. the woman worked me through some tests and nothing indicated what was wrong and therefore there's no solution to it. she finally just said that its a hardware malfunction, which it could be. only way to get that fixed is to go to the sprint store whenever I'm able to, which might not be for a while.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Yeah I don't think it's a hardware issuer personally. If you haven't tried wiping the phone and starting fresh that would be my first step. The fact is that if it's hardware you will end up with a fresh phone anyhow, so why not factory reset the phone and see if it fixes the problem...also maybe uninstall the last few apps you downloaded. They might be messing with your radios.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Did they choc the screen? If stop I guess it's possible that they messed up your radios at thst point.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
I actually think this is a hardware issue. Better flash back to stock before you bring it in for any issues or they can deny your replacement. Sprint corporate repair centers have advanced testers specifically for signal related issues and without an antenna it will fail for sure. You may want to explain the issue started when your screen was replaced.
When they replaced the screen they may have screwed up the antenna internal. Generally, a tech will not do anything with the firmware/software when they are fixing hardware so I am not sure what happened with your apps.
Also, the part was likely harvested from another phone... If they brought the antenna from the other phone it could be defective (which is possibly why it was there to harvest from). It's also possible that your antenna is not actually in your phone.
wait I thought if you were within your first year they had to give you a new phone anyway?
I would definatly be raising a stink! Look you paid good money for the phone and hopefully you paid for insurance. dont let them give you second rate service. Go ask for a new phone and just transfer all your stuffto that one.
boominz28 said:
wait I thought if you were within your first year they had to give you a new phone anyway?
I would definatly be raising a stink! Look you paid good money for the phone and hopefully you paid for insurance. dont let them give you second rate service. Go ask for a new phone and just transfer all your stuffto that one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not if he rooted and flashed a non apporved update and they see it
GituSum Epic
As stated above, odin to stock, and ***** till its resolved. IDK if another sprint store is an option, but that can help, also calling into tech support and getting an appt with the repair center seems to help. Was just in today and should be getting a 'replacement' Monday, I have a purple line of what appears to be stuck pixels along the bottom or left side of screen. First sprint store, the brilliant techs tried to tell me it was a 'cosmetic flaw' and that they could fix it for 35 bux, knowing I have TEP... got home, called in, tech support guy was really cool, and also noticed that 35 bux applies to people w/o TEP, the only way money would be involved would be water, loss, etc... got an appt for today, and yeah... hoping the replacement is new... but whatever. Anyways, you have a 500 dollar phone, don't take any BS... the first guys even said to call sammy for a warranty.... idiots.
thanks for all the replies.
part of the tests included doing a factory reset. and that didn't work. I can't believe that doing a repair could completely mess up my phone even more. of course I'll ***** and complain until I get my way. I'm used to it with sprint.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
They probably didnt reconnect the antenna. I had to get my 3.5mm headphone jack replaced on my epic and when the sprint rep handed the phone back, I went outside and couldnt get any signal whatsoever. I immediately took the phone back and the rep reconnected the antenna in a matter of minutes.
dee32181 said:
They probably didnt reconnect the antenna. I had to get my 3.5mm headphone jack replaced on my epic and when the sprint rep handed the phone back, I went outside and couldnt get any signal whatsoever. I immediately took the phone back and the rep reconnected the antenna in a matter of minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this sounds almost exactly like what I'm experiencing. as soon as I return home or find spare time, ill go back to sprint and see if they can reconnect the antenna.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Definitely could be a simple issue with the antenna being plugged in. If it was reset already then its likely not software BUT... they will not replace it if it needs to be replaced if they notice that its rooted.
I had same issue after camera button failed. Antenna wasnt put back on properly. I had crazy signals.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
So you haven't tried odin yet...? Just a fw? What if your modem is just buggy...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
boominz28 said:
wait I thought if you were within your first year they had to give you a new phone anyway?
I would definatly be raising a stink! Look you paid good money for the phone and hopefully you paid for insurance. dont let them give you second rate service. Go ask for a new phone and just transfer all your stuffto that one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong. Sprint doesn't HAVE to give you a new phone. Its a fix/replace policy and if you don't have insurance it will cost you $35. That's a recent policy change. You can go through Samsung if your looking to excersise your one year warranty...but good luck on a rooted phone.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
unfortunantly, my laptop is down right now. so I cannot odin back to stock. no, I've never had this problem before and judging by a few others, it seems that this is a common problem.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Quis89 said:
Wrong. Sprint doesn't HAVE to give you a new phone. Its a fix/replace policy and if you don't have insurance it will cost you $35. That's a recent policy change. You can go through Samsung if your looking to excersise your one year warranty...but good luck on a rooted phone.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will disagree with you, I do beleive that within the first year of you buying that phone they have to give you a replacement, But I will research this further and post my results.
I'll help with the policy, If you don't have a service and repair plan, or TEP, then they will charge you 35 for a repair, regardless of if the phone is in warranty or not. 35 bucks includes everything except board damage, phone coming in the store in two pieces, or liquid damage. I.E. something that can't be repaired anyway by anyone, I.E damaged beyond repair.
If you have the service plan, then you don't get charged the 35 bucks.
If the store can't fix the issue, they order a refurb phone that usually shows up in one/two business days at the store or to your house, your choice.
The only time you get a NEW phone is when you've had the device for less than 30 days, you can return it any time in that period or get it swapped out for a new one if there is a issue and the store can't fix it. You can return it for any reason as well during this time.
Anyway, like everyone stated, the issue with the phone is that the antenna is probably not hooked up. It's at the bottom of the phone, and is connected with a cable that has two connects on it, one at each end, at the antenna and at the main board. One or both of them is off the phone, and that could be fixed by anyone with a screw driver and a butter knife in about 5 minutes.
hdnet1 said:
I'll help with the policy, If you don't have a service and repair plan, or TEP, then they will charge you 35 for a repair, regardless of if the phone is in warranty or not. 35 bucks includes everything except board damage, phone coming in the store in two pieces, or liquid damage. I.E. something that can't be repaired anyway by anyone, I.E damaged beyond repair.
If you have the service plan, then you don't get charged the 35 bucks.
If the store can't fix the issue, they order a refurb phone that usually shows up in one/two business days at the store or to your house, your choice.
The only time you get a NEW phone is when you've had the device for less than 30 days, you can return it any time in that period or get it swapped out for a new one if there is a issue and the store can't fix it. You can return it for any reason as well during this time.
Anyway, like everyone stated, the issue with the phone is that the antenna is probably not hooked up. It's at the bottom of the phone, and is connected with a cable that has two connects on it, one at each end, at the antenna and at the main board. One or both of them is off the phone, and that could be fixed by anyone with a screw driver and a butter knife in about 5 minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that stinks if i buy a almost 600 dollar phone and say 2 months goes , if they send me a refurbished , im gonna raise a stink.
At least my conclusion is that it is broken. If at any point one of you thinks I did something wrong or there is something I can do to fix the issue, feel free to let me know.
I bought my evo sometime last year, I believe around September. I did not purchase sprint's TEP, I was content with the standard warranty and $35 repair fee if the time came. It only took me about two weeks to decide I wanted to root my phone, which I did successfully with unrevoked3. I removed bloatware with titanium backup, used setcpu, etc. and the phone worked great for a long time. I discovered rom manager soon after and tried some roms, including fresh, caulkins, cm6. I stuck with cm612 for a while and I loved it. I always cleared data before a new rom, and once I got used to the clockworkmod interface I used the cache/dalvik clear tools, as well as return the phone to factory specs feature.
Now, for as long as I remember, the phone rebooted itself unexpectedly, although it was very infrequent at first. Until about the beginning of Jan., it rebooted itself only a handful of times. It has progressed to the point where now I can't use it for more than 5 minutes without it rebooting. It will power cycle loop on the evo 4g POST screen, before android even loads. Sometimes, it will do this and stop power cycling, and simply vibrate 5 times and be unresponsive. The only way to stop this loop or the unresponsive state is the take the battery out and re-insert.
I troubleshooted as much as I could, before deciding that the issue was probably hardware related. Using the how to unroot your phone guide <http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=780141> I unrooted the phone successfully (s-on), and loaded the original stock rom just fine. The phone still exhibited the same behavior with the stock software, so I took it to a store in Chicago a few days ago (I live in so. CA but was on vacation in Il). Anyway, I was foolish as I did not run the OTA updates to 3.7 and the tech lady told me it was happening because the phone wasn't updated. OK, my fault, even though that was a bs response.
I messed with it some more, it's still broken. So today I brought the phone to a sprint store here in CA, fully UNrooted, stock rom, updated all system updates. OTA 3.7xx, newest radios, pri, prl, profile. It is acting worse than it ever has before. I dropped the phone off and came back an hour later and the guy tells me that they reset the device and it should work now, and that I shouldn't root it as it voids my warranty. I said, how do you know it's been rooted? He replied with "our guys are really good."
So I took the phone to lunch right next door, fully stock again, and as I am logging into my google account to access the market it reboots itself again. And loops. I take it back to the sprint store and tell them look, its doing the same thing, you have completely reset it, it's not rooted, this is a problem.
Next they tell me they can't get me a replacement phone (for the $35 repair fee) because it has been rooted. I ask them to show me how they know it has been rooted, and he goes OK. He boots up my phone and one of their evos into recovery, and mine scans for the PC36IMG file and finds it. So ok, my bad again, but I say hold on a second. I took my SD card out and give the phone back. I ask them to prove to me that the phone is rooted, they try the same thing again and of course there is no difference between the phones in how they boot to recovery. Basically I press the issue further, the tech gives me some bull**** about how they can tell, if you root the phone EVER it leaves files on the phone forever. I can feel that they are lying to me, and they only know because I [foolishly] left my SD card in it as I dropped it off.
After spending about 30 minutes talking to their representatives and then about ten with the tech behind their repair center glass, he told me my only option is to talk to HTC to try and get a new phone. Mine has been red-flagged at sprint stores now for having been rooted, even though I NEVER GAVE THEM A ROOTED PHONE TO LOOK AT.
If you can't tell, i'm extremely frustrated, as my very expensive phone, on stock software and unrooted is completely useless.
Any opinions/ideas as to if 1) how I can get a replacement phone, or 2) what I have done wrong or what I can do to potentially remedy the phone?
Colin
Wow that sucks man. I know a lot of Sprint reps and almost all of them are rooted and running custom roms. I would delete the img file off of the sdcard and take it to a different Sprint store. It really depends on who you are dealing with, so try taking it to a different Sprint store if you can. If not, try to find a day where that guy isn't working lol. I'm sorry about your luck, but some people are just ridiculous.
Take to a different sprint store with a clean SD card and hope there aren't notes on the account?
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
I was told that my phone has been red flagged, and it will show up as having been rooted at other sprint stores.
cjh6386 said:
I was told that my phone has been red flagged, and it will show up as having been rooted at other sprint stores.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but you don't know that to actually be the case or just a scare tactic. I still say go to another store and try.
If they start talking about it being flagged on your account for being rooted, your best bet is to play dumb.
cjh6386 said:
I was told that my phone has been red flagged, and it will show up as having been rooted at other sprint stores.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really doubt that, I bet that is more of a scare tactic. Try what the others have said then take it to another store, you'll be fine.
So because your phone had a PC36IMG on your storage card that automatically means its been rooted? That's BS. I would call Sprint and talk to them. I would tell Sprint that you only had the file on your SD card because the phone wouldn't boot and you were trying to fix it since the store wouldn't help (the first store). When calling sprint its all in who you talk to and I always start off as nice as possible.
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G!
zone23 said:
So because your phone had a PC36IMG on your storage card that automatically means its been rooted? That's BS. I would call Sprint and talk to them. I would tell Sprint that you only had the file on your SD card because the phone wouldn't boot and you were trying to fix it since the store wouldn't help (the first store). When calling sprint its all in who you talk to and I always start off as nice as possible.
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, I never had a problem with Sprint CS as long as you are calm, nice and reasonable.....
zone23 said:
So because your phone had a PC36IMG on your storage card that automatically means its been rooted? That's BS. I would call Sprint and talk to them. I would tell Sprint that you only had the file on your SD card because the phone wouldn't boot and you were trying to fix it since the store wouldn't help (the first store). When calling sprint its all in who you talk to and I always start off as nice as possible.
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Like I said, I then removed my SD card and gave the phone back and asked him to show me that it has been rooted. He didnt even try, he just told me that "they know now" and that once you root "there are always files left behind" and they can always tell. I knew it was BS but they weren't giving me an inch. I was indeed very polite the whole time, while also pressing the issue.
I am pretty livid and I am almost to the point where I'd rather cancel my account then give them any more money for service.
cjh6386 said:
Yes. Like I said, I then removed my SD card and gave the phone back and asked him to show me that it has been rooted. He didnt even try, he just told me that "they know now" and that once you root "there are always files left behind" and they can always tell. I knew it was BS but they weren't giving me an inch. I was indeed very polite the whole time, while also pressing the issue.
I am pretty livid and I am almost to the point where I'd rather cancel my account then give them any more money for service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I have told the computer when I first call and its asks why I'm calling I say cancel account. That will get you to someone who can actually do something. No TEP is a real downer in this case. Got another store around?
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G!
@zone
yes, there are several other stores around me with repair centers. They aren't uncommon in orange county.
Another thing I forgot to mention, at the very end of the debate with the repair tech, after he told me "there are always files left behind that we can check" after it has been rooted, I asked him to explain these files to me and if he could show me, he told me no and that "he's not allowed to tell customers that."
LOL. I don't like how the sprint representatives think they can screw with their customers like that.
To expand a little more and how different stores are. I called the store and asked what their policy was on rooted phones. They said as long as it wasn't software they didn't care. So after they couldn't fix the phone (bad ear piece) they ordered another one and told me they could only give me the replacement if I brought mine back in the original unrooted state. So that's what I did. Some of these stores just seem to have some real asses working.
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G!
Of course with all that said I can somewhat understand where the stores are coming from. With all these SBC kernels and overclocking they probably think you damaged the processor. I'm not taking their side I'm just saying there are all kinds of people. The problem with rooting is you could absolutely damage the phone. Again I'm not saying this is the case just looking at it from another prospective that may help you negotiate a replacement phone.
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G!
Not sure if this will work but try rerooting then flash caulkins "format all" then reload a rom then flash new kernel and new radios, without 1.90 pri and nv see if that helps the reboot issue. i'd recommend Azreals stock turbo 3.70 rom. Had a friend with the axact same problem, this fixed it. I also reformatted his sd card while i was at it.
these techs know when a phone has been rooted. and yes they will flag your account for a rooted phone. my advice is to pay the fee they are asking.
Sorry to hear about your visit to the Sprint store...
1. It isn't illegal to root your phone any more. They passed a law not to long ago:
http://www.knowyourcell.com/news/548133/new_law_makes_jailbreaking_and_unlocking_legal.html
2. There is no way to tell if a phone was rooted. They are assuming that because you left the PC36IMG on your SD card. If the technician paid attention and seen you had it set in the off position, but that doesn't prove anything either.
3. Sounds like you got a guy that gets off being a jerk. Not the customer service type of person that Sprint needs working for them. Common sense says if you have the stock firmware back on the phone and it still is acting up, that the phone is defective. Not to endorse fraud, but if you nuked your phone or ran over it with your car and brought the pieces in, you would have been better off then being honest.
4. Your phone should still be under manufacturers warranty since the phone came out June 4th, so no way that have owned an EVO for a year yet.
5. I have found E-mailing to [email protected] seems to get results. Corporate wants to make things right, and they have the power to get things done.
Wish you the best of luck!
@zone
I can see where they are coming from as well. For morality's sake though, I can truthfully say I have never experimented with voltage modifying kernels or SBC kernels, etc. Only a few popular roms.
@ifly
If tomorrow I am still unsuccessful I will try more software options, although I am 95% positive it is a hardware issue. This is coming from a network engineer who is very familiar with hardware systems.
@fixxer
I was perfectly happy to pay them the $35 repair fee in order to get my replacement. I never said that I wouldn't. In fact at one point a sprint representative offered to do that, I said good, that is exactly what I came in for. She came back and said nevermind, I can't because it is rooted.
@weidnerj
Thanks for the link, and it sounds like we are on exactly the same page. Thanks for the contact, I will see what I can do with Dan.
I plan on trying another sprint store tomorrow to see if the phone is actually flagged.
Even if it is flagged I would tell them the phone wasn't rooted and hell I don't even know what that means. I have no idea were the other store even got that idea. Little white lie.
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G!
weidnerj said:
Sorry to hear about your visit to the Sprint store...
1. It isn't illegal to root your phone any more. They passed a law not to long ago:
http://www.knowyourcell.com/news/548133/new_law_makes_jailbreaking_and_unlocking_legal.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rooting still voids your sprint warranty & contract. that law only applies to unlocking phones to work on various gsm networks. jailbreaking isn't technically legal either on iphones.
fixxxer2008 said:
rooting still voids your sprint warranty & contract. that law only applies to unlocking phones to work on various gsm networks. jailbreaking isn't technically legal either on iphones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We are adults we know rooting technically void the warranty. It's generally posted at the top of every ROM thread.
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G!
i cant fix it for the life of me.
ive tried the viper rom, midNIGHT rom, and ive tried a few others.
ive even flashed the data service governor remover by itself to no avail.
any help?
i wouldnt mind if we had 4g in detroit but we dont
Froyo source came out
Wait a few hours everything is gonna be perfect almost
Maybe
Try the roms that are gonna be runnig on the official froyo release
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
ksmullins88 said:
i cant fix it for the life of me.
ive tried the viper rom, midNIGHT rom, and ive tried a few others.
ive even flashed the data service governor remover by itself to no avail.
any help?
i wouldnt mind if we had 4g in detroit but we dont
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look at my post #21 here, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=953425&page=3 and click the picture. That's how sucky my 3G is.
I am going to try the official release, and if that doesn't fix it, it's time for a new phone. I'm hoping it is the phone cause I hate to leave Sprint cause I have a great plan. Keeping my fingers crossed that I DONT have to go through all of this.
Could be just a bad Epic. Who knows.
I dont think any ROM will fix it unless it's an official ROM. I have Bonsai, and it is still crap. Was crap before as well.
1) Did she take out her retainer?? (now I wanna listen to dead kennedys... )
2) mustang guy, your data is seriously low, I would go to a sprint store and get them to side by side with you, I bet you just need a new phone... and tell em your business will crumble if you have to wait 3-5 days for a replacement, they may give you a new one. Couldnt hurt to try.
3)OP, you were born in 1988?? I hope thats not what I think it means... and same goes for you, flash to DI18 if youre not there yet, go make em prove its normal... if you have TEP that is... its what its there for.
ungovernable1977 said:
1) Did she take out her retainer?? (now I wanna listen to dead kennedys... )
2) mustang guy, your data is seriously low, I would go to a sprint store and get them to side by side with you, I bet you just need a new phone... and tell em your business will crumble if you have to wait 3-5 days for a replacement, they may give you a new one. Couldnt hurt to try.
3)OP, you were born in 1988?? I hope thats not what I think it means... and same goes for you, flash to DI18 if youre not there yet, go make em prove its normal... if you have TEP that is... its what its there for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was my next option. I really need a side by side comparison. I dont have any experience with Sprint giving anyone new phones, but I got mine at Best Buy in September. Actually about 5 months ago to the day. I didn't get the insurance on it and obviously 30 days is up. However (dont have the box in front of me) there should be a warranty on the phone in general.
I think though before I go in, i'll need to flash it totally stock with the new release next week. Then if the problem persists, i'll go in. I assume there is no way in hell they'll swap my phone with DK28 and Bonsai on top right this moment.
Take your phone to the store I had the same problem and they gave me a new phone
inimitableac said:
Take your phone to the store I had the same problem and they gave me a new phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you have a ROM installed? I assume Sprint will look at this before swapping a phone. And seeing how it was purchased at Best Buy would Sprint even swap it?
Definately flash to stock first, then do the factory reset in settings, tell em you thought it may fix it. Act dumb. Actually you may want to post a thread in Q&A about returns... see what the many sprint techs in this forum think. If you dont have TEP, the 7 dollar a month insurance/repair deal.... call *2 NOW and put it on, you wont be able to claim on it for a week or so, but once you have it, everything but replacing lost/stolen is free, lost stolen go thru the insurance side. But they will fix anything functionality wise. Right now, they MIGHT charge you 35 bux to fix, but fixing an epic can only go a couple ways... they dont fix em. they will pull your mobo out and put it in a new epic, like a brain transplant, or, if that is bad, replace the whole thing. Being this sounds like the latter, this would be more expensive... so yeah...get TEP if you dont have it... its really a smart investment on a 500 dollar phone. Plus, I hear they have more physical fails lately than they did at launch... but that may just be heresay. Good luck, and what was he 88 about?????
And ive read (all over XDA) the BBuy warranty is crap anyways, wait times like repairs on a 360.... let sprint do it for 7 bux a month.
Good thought on the TEP. Had no idea you could just add it at any time. With Best Buy warranty you have to add it with-in 30 days.
But i'll give the stock thing a try with the release next week, and if that doesn't work, i'll resort to the $7 TEP. There is no use in keeping a $500 phone that gets data like a old school modem back in the 90s. This is not what I paid for.
Scratch that. I found this on Sprints site... How to Enroll:
Customers are eligible for enrollment within 30 days of activation or upgrade of a device. Contact 1-800-584-3666 to have it added to your account.
Damn!
lame... sorry... Yeah I would try stock next week, then take it in, Sprint may take pity on you, just tell them you will ask SamsungJohn to help you if they cant hahaha! But seriously, if it comes down to it, ask him... never know. Sometimes I think BB does not emphasize the importance of TEP, in an effort to sell their own inferior service. They tell you they will fix ANYTHING... well so does sprint, plus its in Sprint's interest to keep you as a customer, as you could say oh well, ETF out and sign on with VZW...post something in the Q&A about it directed at sprint TECHS in the title... ive read some of em give really good advice... its like a secret password for the tech to hook you up. No, not really, but kind of... if you approach them right, they will usually try to help. Could also tell them youre a postal worker, and you really need to get back to work...?
You can add TEP anytime at a corporate store outside of your first 30-days, you just have to pay a one-time $35 inspection fee.
If you have a backup Sprint phone to use, you can always go thru Samsung warranty support for free (just have to mail your phone to them).
Its not you, its sprint's ****ty network.
BrianFX said:
You can add TEP anytime at a corporate store outside of your first 30-days, you just have to pay a one-time $35 inspection fee.
If you have a backup Sprint phone to use, you can always go thru Samsung warranty support for free (just have to mail your phone to them).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean by corporate store? Just a sprint brick and mortar store? And you are sure of this with the $35?
I have a Treo 700p I could use if it goes to Samsung.
Almost seems better to just send the phone off, cause I see no point in paying $35 just for them to go...Well, looks like there is no damage, yadda yadda, then send it off.
If it was replaced on the spot in a week or so after the TEP it would be fine. But if I have to SEND it off, I might as well go the other route and NOT pay the $35 and use the Treo for now.
quickstang said:
What do you mean by corporate store? Just a sprint brick and mortar store?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Corporate store meaning owned by Sprint Corp, not an affiliate Sprint store. Basically any Sprint store where they do warranty exchanges in-house.
And you are sure of this with the $35?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% sure. $35 for a non-TEP fix/replacement. The store rep recommended the Samsung mail-in route if I didn't need a quick turnaround as you're more likely to get a new phone.
I have a few small bugs with my Epic (screen/slider wobbles, touchscreen response is horrible during a call, keyboard misses key-presses when typing). I can live with all 3, but will likely do a Samsung direct warranty exchange before my 12-months is up.
has anyone taken a evo in to sprint that was rooted for repair?
With a ton of stores this is a your mile may vary. I have taken my phones into 2 different stores with no problems.
Not suggested unless you want to pay those $100 deductible. Unroot its not that hard.
No, but if its rooted, they won't service your phone, or make you pay the 100$ fee.
erik077 said:
Not suggested unless you want to pay those $100 deductible. Unroot its not that hard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes way back since my windows mobile days never once have they realized the phone was rooted
I just did today. The tech noticed that my phone was rooted. She said she wouldn't work on my phone because it was rooted. She was nice enough to let me bring my phone home to unroot it, then she swapped the blown out speaker
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk
I have, i flashed a stock looking rom before i took it in. I did leave it rooted though.
fr0st420 said:
I just did today. The tech noticed that my phone was rooted. She said she wouldn't work on my phone because it was rooted. She was nice enough to let me bring my phone home to unroot it, then she swapped the blown out speaker
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how did the tech notice ? i have talked to people and compared phones for 20 mins and never once was i asked " are you rooted "
I took mine in for a screen replacement while running CM6. It was off when I took it in and on when I picked it up, so you know they saw the boot animation.
In my expierience (I work at a Sprint store) the techs don't care unless you are a jerk then they'll just use it as a reason not to help you. Hell, I've helped people myself who were trying to root their phones.
tke0834 said:
In my expierience (I work at a Sprint store) the techs don't care unless you are a jerk then they'll just use it as a reason not to help you. Hell, I've helped people myself who were trying to root their phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that be my guess too with my hero i had all kinds of trouble and was running fresh rom with the dancing droid lol tech said Oh **** thats cool what rom is that lol
I took mine they didn't say nothing about it but it was he charger port mess up I was running myns rom and the dude didn't say anything, I got a replacement brand new tho, I put it back to stock before I sent it but I left my name on the notification banner that was 2 months ago no one call me lol
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
tke0834 said:
In my expierience (I work at a Sprint store) the techs don't care unless you are a jerk then they'll just use it as a reason not to help you. Hell, I've helped people myself who were trying to root their phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice I have mine rooted with konie's elite 2 i am new to sprint 6months into the contract and hit over the 5 gig limit on the data plan and got throttled down to insane slug speed called tech support and they wernt to helpful on me asking if they were throttling me down. My interent sucks slow as can be same with my wifes rumor phone tho my buddy next door uses the same rom and evo and has excellent 3g speed. 4g is not in my area yet sucks...
fr0st420 said:
I just did today. The tech noticed that my phone was rooted. She said she wouldn't work on my phone because it was rooted. She was nice enough to let me bring my phone home to unroot it, then she swapped the blown out speaker
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well its a pain for me to unroot cause i updated my h boot to the latest and i cant flash any thing to the orignal stock rom cause its outdated everything i have tried hangs at the hboot screen lol i have turned S back on still using amon on it. I hope my sprint store isnt gonna be a pain in the butt if i have to get it reparied.
I had my screen replaced when they were doing it. No questions asked. It is just a chance ur taking. It just depends on the tech. If its a younger guy usually he won't care these old bastards are the jerk-offs usually.
Sent from my rooted HTC EVO using the xda app!
I straight up asked them on the phone. And as long as you have purchased insurance, it doesn't matter one way or the other cause you are paying for the insurance. As long as it isnt a software issue like a borked sms then you should be fine. It only voids warranty not your insurance.
I have no insurance and have brought three of them up there with problems. The biggest issue I had was some tard rep asking about the superuser app lol. It's almost like the actual techs have a respectful understanding of those with the higher knowledge of Android. I did flash a Sprint lovers stock Rom though and this was at a big corporate store.
Just flash a stock rom, it worked for me. I wouldn't unroot. Hope that helps.
I have numerous times. I have, however, befriended the best tech in the store. Seriously, the last time I took my Evo in, I was having trouble with missed calls. He went above and beyond to help me try to figure out whether it was my Evo, or the tower near my house. He finally said, "Let's just swap out your phone and see if it gets better." He actually asked me which hardware rev I wanted. He also hung onto my Launch Day Evo, which I hated to give up, until I was sure the refurbed 003 was doing better. Good thing, as I had missed backing up my SMS. I went back in and got a back up of them off my old phone. I think I was running Fresh 3.5.0.1 when I took mine in. I rooted the refurb and put CM6 on it. The assistant manager showed me his Evo running Miui. I stop in now and then and show them what's new on my phone. All in all, they're a cool bunch of guys.
I forgot to say that I offered to unroot it, but he told me not to worry.
***** blacklisted my phone saying it was physically damaged. Was going to go in and get them to fix it, as they can see it had no physical damage, but then couple of weeks ago i dropped it for real, has a scratch on the corner. I bet if i try now, they wont do ****