13 replies to this topic

[celica1.8st]

My Vario II seems to be dieing straight after it is 12 months old so out of warranty and it's on an 18 month contract so I could do with sorting it!


It started a couple of weeks back, I picked up my phone and noticed the time was wrong, when resetting the time I also noticed the date was wrong - the time/date had gone back to factory settings.

I didn't think anything of it, and continued to use the phone, a day or so later people were complaining that they couldn't get hold of me on my mobile, I tried phoning out which worked fine, I also tried ringing my phone which worked fine - so put it down to bad signal. I then noticed over the next few days that at random times my phone would not dial out, even though it had good signal, it started to try then just beeped a few times and ended the call, I also got more people say they couldn't ring.

A couple of days later the touch screen stopped working - I could see everything on the screen but touching it did nothing, so I carried on using just the buttons, since this happened I've had no more call issues, it would always ring out and everyone could ring me.

So I've used it like that for a week or so, but then a new problem appeared the phone won't charge whilst switched on, it just goes straight to 100% charged on just seems to run on the mains, but as soon as I unplugged it, it would die, I found out by switching it off it would charge properly, so I could still use it by switching it off at night to charge it. I've used it like that for a few days.

Getting fed up of it I decided to do a hard reset to see if that would fix it, stupidly though once reset the phone says tap the screen to continue, and the touch screen still doesn't work!

It does seem to be charging though!!


So first of all is there any way round the tap the screen to continue bit, and I guess the align the screen program will start afterwards!?

And secondly what can I do to fix it?

[jimbouk]

Sounds pretty dire.

If the touchscreen really wont respond then you are stuffed. Option 1 would be to try another hard reset, option 2 flash a different rom to it, option 3 try and get it repaired and option 4 throw it away.

[celica1.8st]

Forgot to mention it already had WM6 on it - which I put on a few months ago.

Any ideas for getting past the tap the screen bit? I Can't see how any ROM or hard reset will get past that!

[celica1.8st]

I just got a little bit further by blowing inbetween the screen and the keyboard with the keyboard slid out. I can now touch the top cm of the screen and get a reaction - so I have got past the tap the screen to continue but I can't get past the align screen as it needs the first tap to be near the middle, it does however keep lighting up the screen when I tap the top cm after it's switched the screen off - so it's a bit better!

[jimbouk]

Is the screen casing bent? Sounds like maybe a physical trauma has meant that the frame is pushing on the screen?

[celica1.8st]

No nothing looks bent, the phone looks in mint condition bar a couple of little paint bits that have worn away on the sides.

[jimbouk]

So is it maybe the contacts between the screen and the rest of the device?

[pd.ryder]

Celia - have a word with T-Mob directly. My VII is about the same age as yours (my 18 months is up in July) and I've just had a complete replacement from them. I was expecting the documents to come back with "Insurance" on them, showing it had been serviced via an insurance claim. But no. It came back with "Warranty" on the repair notes! They had 'replaced the main board' apparently, but that seems to have included a new screen and case too (I always mark my case so I know its mine in the event of dispute or theft and the screen had lost its only blemish too). They also gave it a 'software upgrade' - whatever that means as it was already running WM6.
Anyhow, it came back shiny and sparkling, just like new. Give it a go. If the device appears to have been looked after rather than used as a door-stop or table mat, you might well find they will take it for repair and give it a bit of a polish for you.

[celica1.8st]

I think so, I'll try and get hold of a T6 Torx Driver to take it apart and see if I can get anywhere, could just do with it back on to receive calls!

Oh well!

[celica1.8st]

pd.ryder, on Mar 20 2008, 12:41, said:

Celia - have a word with T-Mob directly. My VII is about the same age as yours (my 18 months is up in July) and I've just had a complete replacement from them. I was expecting the documents to come back with "Insurance" on them, showing it had been serviced via an insurance claim. But no. It came back with "Warranty" on the repair notes! They had 'replaced the main board' apparently, but that seems to have included a new screen and case too (I always mark my case so I know its mine in the event of dispute or theft and the screen had lost its only blemish too). They also gave it a 'software upgrade' - whatever that means as it was already running WM6.
Anyhow, it came back shiny and sparkling, just like new. Give it a go. If the device appears to have been looked after rather than used as a door-stop or table mat, you might well find they will take it for repair and give it a bit of a polish for you.

That's interesting - will they mind it having WM6 on it - it's not the official T-mob WM6 it was one of the xda devlopers ones - Ultimate or something like that

[jimbouk]

Dont mention the rom at all.

[pd.ryder]

celica1.8st, on Mar 20 2008, 12:44, said:

That's interesting - will they mind it having WM6 on it - it's not the official T-mob WM6 it was one of the xda devlopers ones - Ultimate or something like that

From what the engineer report said, they really don't have the time / patience to 'fix' them. They just whip out the innards, chuck in another board, bolt it back together and test the battery. The software gets loaded and it gets sent back to the shop for the customer. Initial startup in the shop even gave me opportunity to avoid the T-Mob 'customisation' rubbish which was pleasing.
I was just surprised by the 'Warranty' bit, so I thought I'd let you know. I'd had it 12 months in January and the repairs were done mid-Feb so its gotta be worth a go.
You could always make a proviso that if its going to cost money to repair, they must inform you before doing the work. I've had a few go back, and if the shop guys put 'Warranty' on the documents, it usually gets done that way.



[EDIT] - As jimbo says, don't mention the ROM. They shop guys will press a few buttons and so on in their vain attempt to 'fix' it, but again, in my experience if you've flashed the ROM and fiddled with it in any way your knowlwdge will be vastly superior to theirs! They are also quite accustomed to seeing these WM devices look 'different' so its highly unlikey they will have any clue about the OS onboard.
Paul

Edited by pd.ryder, 20 March 2008 - 01:11 PM.

[SheepWorrier]

The same thing has happened to me twice with my Vario II in my 18 month contract!  Each time they have replaced the phone with a "new mainboard", but it's actually a new phone.  The most recent time was a few weeks ago, when 17 months into my contract!  They were even thoughtful enough to send it back the last time with WM6 installed  

One of my main reasons for upgrading at the end of my contract was for an OS upgrade - now I *might* be able to wait for the Xperia X1 after all!

[celica1.8st]

Thanks for all the tips - just phoned T-Mobile and they're sending a new body out to me next day delivery (which is actually tuesday with the bank holidays)

Fantastic Service on Month 15 of an 18 month contract.

Having had really poor service from o2 recently it's a really refreshing change to get such good service from t-mobile