Help Can a "bad" app break the phones GPS?

[DaNaRkI]

I had installed an app via the market, but something in it was not programmed correctly because it would not release the GPS when the app was closed, even if forced closed (aka killed) my notification bar would still show that the phone is trying to get my location. The only way I could get the phone to stop was to reboot. I uninstalled the app since it was clearly not functioning properly.

The problem I'm having now is that if any app uses the GPS for more then a lil over 2 min. the GPS locks up/crashes and again the only way to get it working is to reboot the phone.

GPS is clearly off, yet is also still in the notification bar

So, my question is can a "bad" app corrupt the software/firmware that makes the GPS function? Even if the phone is still stock, non-rooted. I also ask due to the well known history of this phone and GPS, but prior to this app my GPS was one of the very few that ran perfectly.

P.S. I'm not all to worried about how to "fix" it since I know the typical methods, and if all else fails I'll just flash a custom ROM.

 

[snapper.fishes]

Possibly. Have you tried just deleting the app though?

 

[DaNaRkI]

The app has been long since removed... as well as any other app I had recently installed around the same time...

 

[Buddha64]

Here's a couple of options to try (sorry, no specific solution):

1) Samsung GPS Restore app. It might correct the settings which are messed up.
2) Captivate SGS tools app (requires root). There is a function to "fix" the GPS, but I don't know what the fix is.
3) GPS Aids (also requires root). There's a free version or a donate version.

If any of these help, send me a Beef on Weck. Haven't had one since I left home...

 

[speedfreak32]

Here's a couple of options to try (sorry, no specific solution):

1) Samsung GPS Restore app. It might correct the settings which are messed up.
2) Captivate SGS tools app (requires root). There is a function to "fix" the GPS, but I don't know what the fix is.
3) GPS Aids (also requires root). There's a free version or a donate version.

If any of these help, send me a Beef on Weck. Haven't had one since I left home...

Beef on weck... How I miss western new york.

 

[DaNaRkI]

The Samsung GPS Restore app has gotten it back to a usable state. Tho it's not back to 100%... At some random point after having run for at least 6 min the GPS will restart, since my phone can lock very quickly it's tolerable. I've been using all the same GPS apps I've had all along, none would restart the GPS in the middle of running in the past. LBSTestMode still freeze up the GPS in 2 min, of which it stays/repeats till I reboot and run the restore app before anything else.

The others I've not tried yet, as stated above: not rooted. The GPS has been fixed past the 2 min crash, and there's no change in fast it locks (on average) and how well it tracks. So I guess the software/firmware for the GPS itself is still fine, but that somehow that bad app has corrupted LBSTestMode or one of it's components (if it has any). I thought having the phone still un-rooted was supposed to protect from such? Or is it that if my phone was rooted the bad app would have been able to damage to the phone?

@Buddah64: you'll have to PM me a place to send it to and the name of a preferred store/restaurant to get one from (if you still remember any).