Help Losing faith in the Galaxy S2..

[Urbanite84]

Hi, I purchased my first S2 about two months ago.

I now am on my third one.

After about 3 weeks of use my first one started to freeze, then almost immediatly started trying to connect to samsung kies, even though the lead wasnt connected. This happened quite a few times, then the battery started to die so I put it on charge and a picture of a battery and a triangular (if I rememba correctly) sign with an exclamation mark (!) appeared, this stopped any of the buttons working and when I removed the battery (last resort) I found that it hadnt charged at all either. I took S2 no.1 back to shop, and without any real hassle was given a shiny new 1. I lost all my pics/vids.

S2 no.2 was going fine! I waz happy with the speed the graphics the style etc until about 3 weeks later (notice a pattern?) When it started to freeze again. The only way to get phone working again was to take battery out n back in. sometimes it would freeze during a call so I couldnt hang up. I ignored it at first but ig started freezing every ten minutes or so, and I found that if I left it frozen (in my pocket for example, or on the side) it would heat up loads, making me worried about fire potential. Also colours flickered on homescreens and reverted to what looked like a negative colour scheme! Again my phone was un useable so I took it back.. This time the person on the phone that the phones4u guy was talking to seemed to be protesting my replacement, and claiming that these sort of things were 'normal'?!?!?! Anyway after sitting there repeating the problems to the guy for about 30 minutes, I got my replacment, another shiny new S2. Again I lost all my media. (on both phones I had major problems with kies)

So now I have had the S2 im using to type this message, for 3 days. I am extremely worried about what might become of this 1. And I would be eternally greatful for your comments views and or tips on how to maybe safeguard me from this happening again in the future as I have a 24 month contract!

Also if you have experinced anything similar and have any theories, proven methods, reasons or anything else that may help please do let me know.

Just so u know I am based in the UK, on vodafone network, I think im on gingerbread, and have updated this S2 no.3's firmware to K4 az recommended by Kies upon succesfully linking to kies through phone, on my laptop. Anythin else just ask

I really like this phone, it is so useful in so many ways, and I would like to keep it! But if it has a maximum life span of about 3 weeks...

Please help!

Thanks for your time

Peace

 

[lankunit]

It sounds like you had a firmware bug as 2 months ago was the earlier machines with the early firmwares. I would say your one right now would last a while as KF4 (I think thats your firmware) has taken most of the bugs out. Samsung are starting to release the official gingerbread 2.3.4 update through kies soon so you should update to that when it is possible. Also is your phone branded at all? Could have bloatware on there that is causing system crashes.

 

[Urbanite84]

Thanks for getting back to me, yes KF4 sounds right. And I think its on 2.3.3 gingerbread at the moment.
Is this normal then?! I have always stuck with ericssons and this is my first delve into samsung, is it messing up due to it being so new and not tested extensivly before release?
And im on vodafone, but there is no physical voda branding anywhere on the phone, and I can put any sim in it so its unbranded I think?
Should I root my phone to KF7 (god knows how!) Like I have read about through here? I dont want to void my warranty, but I do want my phone to last the 24 months at least! Thanks again

 

[Urbanite84]

P.S. How long would u class as a 'while'?

Gulp ;-)

 

[ironass]

And im on vodafone, but there is no physical voda branding anywhere on the phone, and I can put any sim in it so its unbranded I think?
Should I root my phone to KF7 (god knows how!) Like I have read about through here? I dont want to void my warranty, but I do want my phone to last the 24 months at least! Thanks again

Hi Urbanite84!

Although the SGSII from Vodafone has no physical branding it does have the Vodafone version of firmware containing their add-ons.

I have to confess that as soon as I received my phone I rooted it and replaced it with the stock, or as near as damn it, firmware as in my experience over many years with various smartphones, the operator firmware tends to be a hindrance rather than a help. Plus there is always a delay in operators issuing their firmware, up to 6 months, after the vanilla firmware release. Not too mention that rooting also allows you to install certain app's such as Titanium Backup, which are extremely useful.

I should reiterate that rooting your phone "could" void your warranty.

This is the method I used to root my phone within an hour or two of receiving it:-

[01.08.2011][CF-Root v4.1] KE2/7/8, KF1/2/3/4, KG1/2/3/6 - su+bb+CWM4 - xda-developers

This thread, by slug, in the Rooting section for the Galaxy SII is very useful point of reference:-

http://androidforums.com/galaxy-s2-...guide-updated-12-00-pm-bst-jul-03-2011-a.html

Here are a list of the firmware codes, being in the UK, I opted for XX:-

Samsung Letter Code - www.SamFirmware.com

There are a selection of ROM's to choose from here:-

[ROM + Guide]Official i9100 Firmwares KF1/2/3/4/, KG1/2/3/5/6/7 Download - xda-developers

My advice is not to go, initially, for some of the fancier/cutting edge ROM's but rather a near stock one for your first flash.

Hope this helps.

 

[lankunit]

P.S. How long would u class as a 'while'?

Gulp ;-)

KF4 is the 2.3.3 gingerbread version for the galaxy S2 so it sounds right, 2.3.4 starts with KG. I think your phone should last for the duration of your contract or at LEAST 1.5 years. This is also my first time with samsung (previously nokia user) and I'm quite happy with the build quality and hardware so if your phone does break down/crash it will be most likely be due to software rather than hardware as those kinds of problems show up within a few days of using the phone. Software problems are easy to fix with such an active community for the device although it does depend on the extent of damage. Since your got your phone with KF4 installed it means that its recently made and you shouldn't have anymore problems with it or you may find slight MINOR bugs (nothing is perfect ).

Your phone doesn't appear branded so there is no bloatware from providers which most of the time is a good thing. I would suggest just waiting for official updates through samsung kies. Your firmware right now is pretty decent and should be fine with everyday use but updating is always a good thing with new editions and tweaks to the phone. If you don't want to void your warranty DON'T root the phone. Rooting and flashing custom roms will void the warranty so unless your certain your not going to return it then go ahead, but make sure you know what your doing and follow guides that provide instructions and the files.

 

[tempest7]

I let the battery drain completely and my phone shut down on it's own. After I plugged it in to charge I also saw the Yellow triangle warning by the battery. I couldn't turn on my phone either until it charged enough for that warning to go away. I guess it has something to do with the battery level? This didn't exist on my Galaxy S1. There weren't any issues related to that though. My phone is fine. ZSKG2 on Android 2.3.3.

 

[lankunit]

I let the battery drain completely and my phone shut down on it's own. After I plugged it in to charge I also saw the Yellow triangle warning by the battery. I couldn't turn on my phone either until it charged enough for that warning to go away. I guess it has something to do with the battery level? This didn't exist on my Galaxy S1. There weren't any issues related to that though. My phone is fine. ZSKG2 on Android 2.3.3.

There is an issue with your battery. Does it die quickly? It could be discharging more voltage than it should normally discharge. I suggest taking it to the shop to get it looked it.

 

[BCwrangler]

I let the battery drain completely and my phone shut down on it's own. After I plugged it in to charge I also saw the Yellow triangle warning by the battery. I couldn't turn on my phone either until it charged enough for that warning to go away. I guess it has something to do with the battery level? This didn't exist on my Galaxy S1. There weren't any issues related to that though. My phone is fine. ZSKG2 on Android 2.3.3.

That was fine with NiCad batteries from years ago.......that procedure is hard on today's lithium battery technology

 

[loony]

i suggest (even if you dont continue with the SG2) is to get into a "cloud" set up too.
losing your pics and vids does suck but there are sooooooooo many ways to back it all up. as much as alot do it quickly, YOU still have to do it yourself. (some ISP's offer the service too.)

i update any pics taken daily when i get home. usually via KIES air.
i also use dropbox where you can update stuff on the spot and google+ which gives the option of uploading a photo straight after its taken. as great as it is, i dont want to publish EVERY photo i take...but the option is there.

i hope you can find peace with the phone

 

[Urbanite84]

Wow thanks for all the feedback people!

So far so good! I havent rooted it just yet, but the links up there will prove invaluable when I inevitably get 2 curious and try it so major thanks

My phone didnt come with kf4, I had to update it through kies.. I hope thats not a bad sign?

The cloud idea is somethin I have thought about, and forgot about, a few times now! So ty bcuz I will look into again for real this time. Its to much to lose somethings..

Withregards to the vodafone bloatware my fone may or may not have; is rooting the only way to remove/disable it?

And finally, when it started to display the battery icon n the yellow triangle, I had left it on charge for a few hours, thinking myself that it was bcuz I had somehow used the last flicker of charge n it needed a good long time left alone on charge! like he said above me, I would say take it back n get a replacment, jus in case.

Thanks @ All d