My phone just died

I say 'just', happened a few days ago.

I've had it about 3 years, everything working fine, then - nothing.

Black screen, no power. Put it on charge, no joy. I didn't drop it or spilt something on it.

I've taken it to 2 different places. Not only could they not fix it, they both said it couldn't be fixed.

It's unfixable!


With the old phones, I always found that there was a problem with the charging ports. It would get harder to charge up over time, but at least you got some notice. Apart from that, they worked fine. And they could always be fixed.

With increasing technology, there's more scope for things going wrong. And when they do, it's big time.

It was an Alcatel 3 if you're interested. Might wanna give that model a wide berth if you're thinking of buying a smart phone.

I'm really pissed off cos it was a great phone actually. And there's loads of information on the phone itself rather than the SIM that's now lost forever.

Bought a new one, a Samsung Galaxy A5. Don't you hate getting used to new phones?

Can't stand this one.

a reply to: CJCrawley
Sounds like the battery developed a short circuit?
Replacing the battery might have corrected the problem, in theory.

Rechargeable batteries lose capacitance over time.

Just like a car battery if it has a dead cell, jump starting will not even light up the dashboard.
🙏❤

Try cleaning the charging port and check to make sure that the little contacts are all straight both on the charger and in the port on the phone. They can have just a little film on them and a tiny piece of dust stuck to the prong and they will not make contact. Contact cleaner is a staple around here for lots of computer stuff, especially contacts. The one I use has a special lubricant in it that also makes things slide a little better while still making contact well.

That is the first thing to try, a small flattened q tip works good, I have some really tiny ones for that, half the thickness of a regular Q tip, but you have to watch those, the stick in them is wood, so make sure only to go straight in and out so you do not bend the tabs or wires. I have fixed a lot of phones over the years cleaning those things. Sometimes the other ports may have a crossed wire in them too, that can drive the battery dead or shorted charge sensor in some things can make it so the charger thinks the phone is fully charged even when dead. This is independent of a bad battery. Cleaning the battery terminals can also make a battery last longer on a charge if they have oxydation on them but that does not usually occur unless the phone is three or four years old, it again is the feedback of resistance that triggers the charger to think the battery is full, just like the corroded terminals on a car battery make the electronics think the battery is full and it does not charge much...The circuitry on a phone is way more sensitive, you may not even see the oxydation but it is there.

That is the first thing I would try before buying a new phone, like I said, I have fixed quite a few problems like that over the years. Try unplugging the battery then plugging in back in or turning off the phone by the manual switch too, although the techs at the phone places know to do that, rebooting a computer or unplugging it and then plugging it in can fix some problems too, but actually, pulling out the battery usually just scrapes the oxydation off the leads most times.

Some phones do have a reset button but I do not know if they still put that thing in them anymore, it used to be you needed to have a pin to push the reset, which also can be a point of corrosion.

But it still could have just kicked the bucket too, which will mean you need a new phone.

a reply to: CJCrawley

Try living life without one. It may seem unimaginable, but people used to live their entire lives without ever having a phone in their pocket.

It can still be done today.

a reply to: BrokenCircles
Risky in a age with no payphones and no one who would stop and help you

a reply to: BrokenCircles

I think if you drive you need one. Can't imagine being stuck on a motorway looking for a public phone.

I don't use it for social media but I still feel very vulnerable without one.

I take it you don't own one then?

a reply to: CJCrawley

Payphones on a motorway? You must be living in a parallel universe. Those "payphones" are linked to repair companies, not something you can call your Mother with. These days they are starting to phase them out because everyone has a mobile. Or do they..?

ETA 3G will be deactivated here in Holland next month. My telephone which I never use will then be useless. Yay! I ain't buying a new one.

a reply to: LightSpeedDriver

Not you as well...

a reply to: CJCrawley

In the modern parlance of the day... me too.

a reply to: CJCrawley

Who cares, for under $200 you can get a pretty good new android phone these days. I love my Motorolas, MOTO G is a great affordable and durable phone.

a reply to: CJCrawley
This might be related to how you are charging the phone. I have an iPad that started dying about a week ago. When we ran the diagnostic program at the Apple store, battery capacity was down to about 75% and it had developed high internal resistance. I had been leaving it on the charger all night, every night since the day I bought it. The Apple technician said that is probably why the battery is dying. Apple doesn’t recommend charging any of their products that way. It’s better charge it up to near 100% and then take it off the charger and use it until the charge is down to maybe 20% or less. I’m guessing the Alcatel phone uses the same battery chemistry as Apple, but in any case, you can probably figure that out with a little research.

a reply to: panoz77

Yes I know but there was stuff on it I lost.

a reply to: 1947boomer

Thanks for that.

originally posted by: BrokenCircles
a reply to: CJCrawley

Try living life without one. It may seem unimaginable, but people used to live their entire lives without ever having a phone in their pocket.

It can still be done today.

Yeaeaeaehhhhhh. About that. NO. Job requirements and the fact that everyone else uses their phones to stay in constant communication. Most don't have land lines. No pay phones around any more. Try managing a business with no cell phone. Change in plans for your kids soccer game? Oh, party at Suzy's? Changed time and location? But you're at work and planned on going straight to the party.....nope. Your daughter's vehicle broke down on the side of the freeway on her way to college? No cell phone????? Oh, she was raped and murdered and you didn't even know she had some car trouble. No bank in your town so you do mobile deposit.....nope. Computer broke but you need to look something up on the internet and no local library, oh goody. Cell phone here I come....nope. Friends cell phone cant make or receive calls but has internet access, you can still contact them through various apps on your mobile. Making a trip to an unknown area? Try even finding a map at a gas station now a days. Cell phone maps and directions are instant and info is at your finger tips. Cell phones save lives, time and money. But, are they over used and users made dependent? YOU BET THEY ARE. It's a tool.

About the only way you can live without a cell phone is if you have very few friends, don't work and don't go out into society much. If you live in remote areas and rarely see your neighbors, hey, it's all good. But if you are an active member of society and have children that are as well, you need a cell phone.

originally posted by: BrokenCircles
a reply to: CJCrawley

Try living life without one. It may seem unimaginable, but people used to live their entire lives without ever having a phone in their pocket.

It can still be done today.

Preposterous! I can't even sit on the toilet without my phone.

a reply to: CJCrawley

You didn't back up once in awhile? Like years? Never?

Well...

a reply to: CJCrawley

Might have the same problem mine has; I was notified of it ahead of time though and asked to get a new one by my carrier before December 1st... There's some cell phone protocol required it didn't have, any phones not having it would be put out of commission; I can't remember what it is that they said it was however; likely some security protocol or GPS tracking nonsense , mine would keep coming on even if fully powered down scroll through stuff and "butt dial" all on it's own unless I took the battery out.

I have yet to get a new one, and don't even know where my phone currently is.. or I'd look to see if it's bricked as bad as yours, not really into phones; When I decide to get another one, it'll be a style that has easy battery removal as I despise using the things, unless needed in an emergency, like broken down on side the road or pizza.

a reply to: mysterioustranger
To what?

originally posted by: jerich0
To what?

A computer. The cloud. A thumb drive.

programmed obsolescencee via defective hardware and software.

then you will complain via buying a new tracking-you device.