Bring my cellphone back from the dead
January 5, 2010 8:22 PM Subscribe
Samsung SGH-d807 showing no signs of life. Recharging appears to do nothing. What could be wrong and what can I try to fix it?
This evening I was out and after making a call on my cellphone, I put it into my coat pocket. The next time I took it out was several hours later, at home, and the phone would not turn on at all. Normally, if the battery needs recharging I can at least turn on the phone for a few seconds before it turns itself off again. Now there's nothing. I think I remember the phone being at mid-battery last time I used it, and when I plug it in to recharge, the screen still does not light up (as it normally does). From this, it doesn't seem to be a battery-needs-recharging situation.
The phone was purchased in August 2007, and it's way out of warranty now so I'd like to try to revive it before taking it to repair. Please keep in mind that I'm clueless with electronics.
This evening I was out and after making a call on my cellphone, I put it into my coat pocket. The next time I took it out was several hours later, at home, and the phone would not turn on at all. Normally, if the battery needs recharging I can at least turn on the phone for a few seconds before it turns itself off again. Now there's nothing. I think I remember the phone being at mid-battery last time I used it, and when I plug it in to recharge, the screen still does not light up (as it normally does). From this, it doesn't seem to be a battery-needs-recharging situation.
The phone was purchased in August 2007, and it's way out of warranty now so I'd like to try to revive it before taking it to repair. Please keep in mind that I'm clueless with electronics.
Try a new battery. Cell phone batteries wear out over time, and their lifespan is shortened by mechanical shock (dropping your phone). They tend to fail very quickly, as in: "it worked fine yesterday, now it won't charge at all".
posted by Anoplura at 9:59 PM on January 5, 2010
posted by Anoplura at 9:59 PM on January 5, 2010
If the battery did run entirely flat, it could take a while before the phone shows that it is charging. Try leave it on charge for at least a few hours to make sure this isn't the problem.
posted by Gomez_in_the_South at 10:31 PM on January 5, 2010
posted by Gomez_in_the_South at 10:31 PM on January 5, 2010
Best answer: Try just taking out the battery for a minute and then reinserting and try turning it on?
posted by bunny hugger at 5:58 AM on January 6, 2010
posted by bunny hugger at 5:58 AM on January 6, 2010
Best answer: I've had this happen with my Blackjack 2. Won't charge over USB, won't power on. To fix I need to remove the battery for 10 seconds, replace battery, then charge using a dedicated charger. Once it starts working I can go back to the USB charger again.
posted by L. Ron McKenzie at 7:00 AM on January 6, 2010
posted by L. Ron McKenzie at 7:00 AM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks so much for the responses, everyone! First I tried Gomez's suggestion of leaving the phone on charge for several hours, but no luck there. Then I removed the battery, checked the contacts for corrosion (there was none), blew away imaginary dust and put the old battery back in after a few minutes. And now everything is fine again!
Yet another victory for the hive mind!
posted by mossicle at 11:30 AM on January 6, 2010
Yet another victory for the hive mind!
posted by mossicle at 11:30 AM on January 6, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
I had the exact same phone until I upgraded this summer (smartphone free with contract).
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 9:11 PM on January 5, 2010