Help ICS: Transformer Shutting Off Mysteriously

BeastMD · Mar 20, 2012

AutobahnSHO said:
That won't help. It's like saying
"my car isn't running right"
"ok, empty the gas tank and refill it"

There are very few problems that would fix...

Didn't help me.

lunatic59 · Mar 20, 2012

Some people don't seem to be experiencing the problems, so I wonder if in mid production they made some chipset substitutions. In any case, I can be without my tablet for a few days so I decided to put in for an RMA to see if a replacement would do the same thing.

I sent the request with this in the detail:

I have been having daily random rebooting, boot loops and failed boots since applying the system firmware update to 4.0.3. Currently running V9.2.1.17 and have already performed factory reset (twice).

Their response:

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.

please refer to the following steps to Wipe Data. Please back up all of your
personal information before proceeding.

1. Press and hold down

Zingmaster · Mar 20, 2012

Wow I didnt even know they had released a new broken firmware to "fix" their old broken firmware. I had another hard lock that I had to wait for the battery to drain to get access to my tab. When I updated late last night I didnt notice anything good bad or ugly about it right away. I guess we will see tonight when I go home. So that was my second deep lock that has occurred and I don't get the random reboots because I was already getting them with the last update to honeycomb. So I shut my wifi on sleep. Would really be nice to not get deep freezes since I have no power button to do a hard reset. Every time I get a deep freeze I am usually waiting about 3 or 4 days for the damn thing to drain out so I can restart it. The nice thing that makes me feel a little better is it seems this may be a ICS issue rather than a ASUS issue.

AutobahnSHO · Mar 20, 2012

fldude99 said:
I'm not an expert on what a full data wipe can or cannot do, but that analogy is not entirely correct..years ago I had water in my gas tank and had to empty and refill the gas tank as part of the fix.

"There are very few problems that would fix."

No reboot this morning or afternoon for me. I unchecked that sleep option on the developer settings, cuz I got a RR with it checked.

mihaelb · Mar 20, 2012

Data wipe did not help in my case (with the original ICS build, pre-"fix" release).

froze on me today again. Trying the developer thing now.

Stuntman · Mar 21, 2012

lunatic59 said:
Some people don't seem to be experiencing the problems, so I wonder if in mid production they made some chipset substitutions. In any case, I can be without my tablet for a few days so I decided to put in for an RMA to see if a replacement would do the same thing.

I sent the request with this in the detail:

Their response:

This is the problem when you have non-English speaking reps (or automated responders) handling customer service requests in the U.S.

I got the exact same response. It sounds like a stock response. I decided to follow through on the instructions and if it fails again, then at least I can get to the next step of their troubleshooting process.

I did the data wipe yesterday, but did not install one app at a time as they advised. I restored all of the apps that were backed up to my Google account. This morning, my tablet was in the reboot cycle again. Tonight, I did the wipe and decided to install one app at a time. I'm going to see if I get any better results. If not, I'll reply to them that I tried what they said and it did not work. I'll let you guys know how things go this week.

One side effect I found was the wipe felt rather liberating. I had a bunch of apps I haven't used in such a long time and that I probably don't plan to use much if at all again. My home screens are so clean now.

Zingmaster · Mar 21, 2012

Well I had 2 deep freezes in a month and now after the new ota "update" I have had 2 in 2 days. this just keeps getting better. Is there an easy way to roll back to the last honeycomb update without having to do a full data wipe and factory reset? Since the last update my tab has now become utterly useless.

lunatic59 · Mar 21, 2012

Zingmaster said:
Well I had 2 deep freezes in a month and now after the new ota "update" I have had 2 in 2 days. this just keeps getting better. Is there an easy way to roll back to the last honeycomb update without having to do a full data wipe and factory reset? Since the last update my tab has now become utterly useless.

You can't roll back even with a wipe and reset. You will have to root the pad and flash a Honeycomb rom.

Podivin · Mar 21, 2012

Interesting conversation over on XDA. I don't recall seeing that anyone has tried this here.

mach2005 said:
As long as i install pure ics-ready apps. I have no reboots anymore

jtrosky said:
How do you know if an app is "pure ics-ready" or not?

mach2005 said:
Look at the discription with the app. Sometimes it can be found in the updates discriptions.

If nothing is mentioned about ics, then the app surely isnt adapted.

Zingmaster · Mar 22, 2012

lunatic59 said:
You can't roll back even with a wipe and reset. You will have to root the pad and flash a Honeycomb rom.

Unfortunately I have no experience with rooting.

I am a web developer so I have computer knowledge I just never wanted to chance bricking my system. But I guess what do I have to lose at this point.

How difficult is it and whats the risk?

lunatic59 · Mar 22, 2012

Zingmaster said:
Unfortunately I have no experience with rooting.

I am a web developer so I have computer knowledge I just never wanted to chance bricking my system. But I guess what do I have to loose at this point.

How difficult is it and whats the risk?

The risk is bricking your tablet, although it's rather uncommon to fully brick one. As for the rest, since I've never done it myself, I am going to let more experienced members comment, but you can find a good bit of information in http://androidforums.com/transformer-all-things-root/448637-transformer-rooting-roms.html.

xsylus · Mar 23, 2012

Well, for me it seems the mysterious shut-off is more hardware related. It was a good bet that if I put my device screen to sleep and then left it on my desk or bed or anywhere for long enough when I came back it would be completely off. While restoring a few apps after performing a complete factory reset I genently placed it on my desk and saw the screen shut-off abrubtly. I turned the device back on and while it was on the ASUS boot logo I moved to put the tablet back on the desk and again screen off. After some more tests it seems there's a bad connection somewhere inside my unit.

So I'm sending it back for a replacement. With any luck the replacement will function properly but from what I've read in several forums I've got about one in one-hundred-billion chance of getting a device that doesn't have some problem. If it's a software/OS problem I know it can be fixed but if the problem is once again hardware I'm going to be really annoyed. I knew there was a reason I was putting off buying one of these overpriced devices.

chimphappyhour · Mar 23, 2012

I'm not convinced that this is a hardware problem as many of us have been fairly problem free until ICS got here. I haven't had these random reboots, shut-offs and massive battery drains on my current hardware until ICS showed up. Now I get them all too often.

Something I have noticed is that my wi-fi doesn't seem to be disconnecting during sleep. There's been two occasions that I've gotten home and taken my TF out of my bag but not opened the case (So I also haven't been able to open the TF itself and wake it.) yet somehow a text to my Google Voice account will make my TF ping. That would be impossible if the wi-fi disconnect policy was actually working.

Another thing I've noticed is that I'm getting Soundify notifications after I've closed my tablet. I need to change my sounds around so I can figure out what the notification is. I know I have the particular sound assigned to plugging in to the power cord (only works when I plug into the tablet itself though and not the dock) and plugging in headphones.

lunatic59 · Mar 23, 2012

I tend to agree that it is software related based on the general consensus that tablets that functioned well using Honeycomb, have a similar set of issues with the ICS release But, again, there seems to be owners who have updated to ICS and experience no problems which tells me that it is both ... an interaction of the update with specific hardware, making me surmise that chipsets were either changed or updated mid-production.

I have sent mine back more or less as an experiment. I see several possible outcomes. First, they will reset it, see that it boots, and return the same tablet to me without ever giving it the time to boot loop. They will send me a new unit (okay, most likely a refurb) which won't exhibit any problems, or they will send me a new one that does have the same issues. In the first situation, if that fixes the problems, then it's definitely conflicting on the software side and may have something do to with apps not being quite ICS ready. If a refurb fixes the problem, then I'm definitely leaning toward differences in chipsets, either in the radios or the GPU. If the problem continues, then I guess we're back to square one.

Zingmaster · Mar 23, 2012

chimphappyhour said:
Something I have noticed is that my wi-fi doesn't seem to be disconnecting during sleep.

While I am not saying this will work for me long term or anyone else but I am agreeing with ChimpHappyHour about the WiFi not shutting off.

I had my tab set up from the last honeycomb update to shut off WiFi in sleep mode(I was getting boot loops then). I put my tab into sleep mode the other day and about 5 minutes later I heard a notification ping. Turned it back on to find that my WiFi had never broke from when I put it to sleep. So as a test I turned off all my sync accounts and now when I am done with it I just go into the quick settings and disable wifi. I now have had a full day with no Freezes. I will keep my fingers crossed I guess.

BTW, the only problem I have been having since ICS is random OS Freezes. I had boot loop with one of the last honeycomb OTA updates so I already had a handle on that.

My birthday is in June and I am thinking about retiring the Transformer and getting a 7 inch for my birthday once the specs come out for the few new ones that are coming over the next few months. My hope is that between now and then they can figure out these conflicts that are causing issue with the transformer.

Thomas S · Mar 23, 2012

fldude99 said:
I'm trying what is a workaround until Asus releases a patch, that someone posted in another forum: install auto airplane, by Don(free in the market). Straightforward app that puts it in airplane mode when the screen is off. That's all.. So I'll report back. Side benefit appears to be longer battery life as well. So far 12 hrs up time & counting, without a hiccup.

Thank you for this!!! Every since the ICS upgrade, I have been having multiple problems including the Transformer shutting off while in sleep mode, decreased battery life while in sleep mode and wifi shutting off and not wanting to restart when I wake the Transformer up. Auto Airplane fixed all of those things! It has been several days now and I'm not having any of those problems now.

AutobahnSHO · Mar 23, 2012

Definitely NOT a hardware issue- I've had mine since may2011 and no bigtime problems like this until ICS was installed.

mbob63 · Mar 23, 2012

AutobahnSHO said:
Definitely NOT a hardware issue- I've had mine since may2011 and no bigtime problems like this until ICS was installed.

I completely agree. This is not a hardware issue. My TF worked perfectly until the ICS downgrade.

Podivin · Mar 24, 2012

I agree that most of the problems we're seeing are not a hardware problem. Which is not to say that Xsylus's device does not have a hardware problem.

Since ICS I've only had a couple of random reboots on mine, and one instance where it drained from 85% to 'zero' overnight while 'asleep'. The discrepancies we all have between number and frequency of reboots/lockups/power drains, and the lack of being able to reproduce the problem at will has got to be giving Asus fits as far as finding and fixing the problem is concerned.

insekticide · Mar 24, 2012

So how do we get back to Honeycomb ?

vulcangrey · Mar 24, 2012

I've noticed that mine has rebooted several times just as I set it down on the couch. Not even in sleep mode. Kinda reminds me of the grounding issue that the Droid Incredible had where if you set it down on something like a couch, the touch screen wouldn't work...

Stuntman · Mar 25, 2012

I did the data wipe on Tuesday and had the reboot issue on Saturday. I've reported this to Asus.

gncd506 · Mar 25, 2012

Try the following to solve the mysterious shut down and difficulty in rebooting:

1. Turn off the Asus Transfer tablet.
2. Press and hold the bottom of the sound switch while pressing the the on/off switch to turn on.
3. Let the tablet complete the boot up or start up process.
4. Repeat Step 1.
5. Repeat Step 2.

I learned this from a friend and it has solved my problem.

caravaggio · Mar 25, 2012

Asus works in mysterious ways.

This sounds like alchemy (but is a useful tip to remember, thanks gncd506).

:eek:

MAKU19 · Mar 26, 2012

Before yesterday I put my ASUS to sleep and yesterday I can

Help ICS: Transformer Shutting Off Mysteriously

Well-Known Member

Moderati ergo sum

Newbie

Android Enthusiast

Well-Known Member

Android Expert

Newbie

Moderati ergo sum

Android Expert

Newbie

Moderati ergo sum

Newbie

Android Enthusiast

Moderati ergo sum

Newbie

Member

Android Enthusiast

Member

Android Expert

Well-Known Member

Member

Android Expert

Lurker

Newbie

Newbie

BEST TECH IN 2023

Smartphones

Best Android Phones

Upcoming

Best iPhones

Upcoming

Tablets

Best Tablets

Upcoming

Laptops

Best Laptops

Upcoming

Televisions

Best TVs

Upcoming

Game Consoles

Best Game Consoles

Upcoming

Wearables

Best Wearables

Upcoming

Smart Home

Smart Home Tech

Upcoming

Similar threads