Any ideas to diagnose my mobile phone?

[Gordon Levi]

My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.
I first tried a reset by removing the battery and when that failed I
did a factory reset. I know the reset worked because the missed calls
and message count vanished.

The phone is under guarantee and I have returned it for repair at my
provider (Telstra) twice. Each time they say the "Handset passed full
script test and has been reflashed to the current software version".
On the first occasion it lasted a couple of days before the fault
recurred. Today it recurred in a couple of hours.

I can't see how the fault could be related to software I have
installed because a factory reset would remove it. I can't imagine
what hardware fault might cause the problem. I desperately need a
theory, any theory, because otherwise I will spend the rest of my life
in a Telstra shop.

 

[Bob Milutinovic]

"Gordon Levi" <gordon@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:sph3fap1e06p830saoe117vddd39mcjt6h@4ax.com...

My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.
I first tried a reset by removing the battery and when that failed I
did a factory reset. I know the reset worked because the missed calls
and message count vanished.

The phone is under guarantee and I have returned it for repair at my
provider (Telstra) twice. Each time they say the "Handset passed full
script test and has been reflashed to the current software version".
On the first occasion it lasted a couple of days before the fault
recurred. Today it recurred in a couple of hours.

I can't see how the fault could be related to software I have
installed because a factory reset would remove it. I can't imagine
what hardware fault might cause the problem. I desperately need a
theory, any theory, because otherwise I will spend the rest of my life
in a Telstra shop.

Quite likely that the dodgy software's being re-installed after you (or
Telstra) perform a factory reset. Don't forget, as soon as you enter your
Google account details, all previously-installed software on that 'phone
will automatically be downloaded.

1. Perform a factory reset from recovery
(http://support.vodafone.com.au/articles/FAQ/Restoring-factory-settings-on-the-Samsung-Galaxy-S4)

2. Power-cycle the 'phone

3. When prompted to enter your Google account details, there should be a
tickbox to select whether to automatically restore data & applications -
untick this.

4. Once the 'phone stabilises, open Google Play and swipe over to "My Apps."

5. Under "all," go through each app individually and if confident that it
isn't the culprit, manually install it.


Alternatively, log into Google Play (https://play.google.com/) using your
Android account details, view "My Apps," and post your list of apps here -
it's quite likely a group regular will be able to spot an app (or apps) of
dubious repute.


--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

 

[Theo Markettos]

In comp.mobile.android Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> wrote:

My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.

That sounds like 'Ultra power saving mode'. Try
Settings -> Power saving -> Ultra power saving mode = off

Theo

 

[Chris Blunt]

On Sun, 1 Mar 2015 01:48:13 +1100, "Bob Milutinovic"
<cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

Quite likely that the dodgy software's being re-installed after you (or
Telstra) perform a factory reset. Don't forget, as soon as you enter your
Google account details, all previously-installed software on that 'phone
will automatically be downloaded.

Are you sure that's always the case?

When I did a factory reset on my Galaxy S3 I had to go into Google
Play and manually request each individual app to be downloaded again
to the phone. I wish the process had been as you described because
that would have made restoring the phone a lot easier.

Is there a setting somewhere that affects this behaviour after a
reset?

Chris

 

[Bob Milutinovic]

"Chris Blunt" <mail@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:nb58fahud9pfgvgc867p47jdrdekc3ncmt@4ax.com...

On Sun, 1 Mar 2015 01:48:13 +1100, "Bob Milutinovic"
cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

Quite likely that the dodgy software's being re-installed after you (or
Telstra) perform a factory reset. Don't forget, as soon as you enter your
Google account details, all previously-installed software on that 'phone
will automatically be downloaded.

Are you sure that's always the case?

Every 'phone I've simply reset has gone through this routine - but when I've
replaced firmware, most of the time I've had to go in and manually
re-download as you've said.

From what I can gather, Google notes the 'phone's ID (manufacturer and
model), operating system version, carrier and Google account details - if
even one doesn't match, it doesn't bother downloading the apps.

One thing that's never guaranteed is stored WiFi credentials - they may or
may not be downloaded, and if not, you'll never gain access to them again.

When I did a factory reset on my Galaxy S3 I had to go into Google
Play and manually request each individual app to be downloaded again
to the phone. I wish the process had been as you described because
that would have made restoring the phone a lot easier.

Is there a setting somewhere that affects this behaviour after a
reset?

As far as I can remember, there's a simple tickbox around the time it asks
you for your Google account details when powering up after a factory reset.
There should be two tickboxes, one asking if you want to keep this 'phone
backed up, and the other asking if you want to restore data to it.

I have to admit, of the Samsungs I've used, I've immediately flashed custom
ROMs onto - I can't stand Samsung's ultra-kludgy (in an attempt to make
their 'phones as stupid as iPhones?) "TouchWiz" overlay. It may be that
they've managed to screw the data restoration procedure up in the process?

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

 

[Brian Gregory]

On 02/03/2015 09:43, Bob Milutinovic wrote:

"Chris Blunt" <mail@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:nb58fahud9pfgvgc867p47jdrdekc3ncmt@4ax.com...
On Sun, 1 Mar 2015 01:48:13 +1100, "Bob Milutinovic"
cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

Quite likely that the dodgy software's being re-installed after you (or
Telstra) perform a factory reset. Don't forget, as soon as you enter
your
Google account details, all previously-installed software on that 'phone
will automatically be downloaded.

Are you sure that's always the case?

Every 'phone I've simply reset has gone through this routine - but when
I've replaced firmware, most of the time I've had to go in and manually
re-download as you've said.

From what I can gather, Google notes the 'phone's ID (manufacturer and
model), operating system version, carrier and Google account details -
if even one doesn't match, it doesn't bother downloading the apps.

One thing that's never guaranteed is stored WiFi credentials - they may
or may not be downloaded, and if not, you'll never gain access to them
again.

When I did a factory reset on my Galaxy S3 I had to go into Google
Play and manually request each individual app to be downloaded again
to the phone. I wish the process had been as you described because
that would have made restoring the phone a lot easier.

Is there a setting somewhere that affects this behaviour after a
reset?

As far as I can remember, there's a simple tickbox around the time it
asks you for your Google account details when powering up after a
factory reset. There should be two tickboxes, one asking if you want to
keep this 'phone backed up, and the other asking if you want to restore
data to it.

I have to admit, of the Samsungs I've used, I've immediately flashed
custom ROMs onto - I can't stand Samsung's ultra-kludgy (in an attempt
to make their 'phones as stupid as iPhones?) "TouchWiz" overlay. It may
be that they've managed to screw the data restoration procedure up in
the process?

AFAIK the restoration of your apps was only introduced in Kitkat. Or
maybe it was Jellybean.

In my experience it works (as well as it ever does) on Samsung phones.
Last time I used it it restored an app I hadn't had installed for over a
year and failed to restore several I was using right up until my phone
went for repair.

--

Brian Gregory (in the UK).
To email me please remove all the letter vee from my email address.

 

[Gordon Levi]

Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

In comp.mobile.android Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> wrote:
My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.

That sounds like 'Ultra power saving mode'. Try
Settings -> Power saving -> Ultra power saving mode = off

Thanks but I can't! There is nothing I can do that will allow me to
access the phone including a factory reset. Surely the phone would not
reboot after a factory reset in "Ultra power saving mode".

You may have provided a theory though. Is "ultra power saving mode" a
hardware function? Is it possible that a pin on an IC or a bit in the
processor is permanently set to "ultra power saving mode"?

 

[Gordon Levi]

"Bob Milutinovic" <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

"Gordon Levi" <gordon@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:sph3fap1e06p830saoe117vddd39mcjt6h@4ax.com...
My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.
I first tried a reset by removing the battery and when that failed I
did a factory reset. I know the reset worked because the missed calls
and message count vanished.

The phone is under guarantee and I have returned it for repair at my
provider (Telstra) twice. Each time they say the "Handset passed full
script test and has been reflashed to the current software version".
On the first occasion it lasted a couple of days before the fault
recurred. Today it recurred in a couple of hours.

I can't see how the fault could be related to software I have
installed because a factory reset would remove it. I can't imagine
what hardware fault might cause the problem. I desperately need a
theory, any theory, because otherwise I will spend the rest of my life
in a Telstra shop.

Quite likely that the dodgy software's being re-installed after you (or
Telstra) perform a factory reset. Don't forget, as soon as you enter your
Google account details, all previously-installed software on that 'phone
will automatically be downloaded.

Thank you Bob for the thorough help you provided but the inaccessible
screen appears _immediately_ after I do the factory reset. The phone
cannot know then the account details that it would need to restore any
of the Apps I have installed from Google or Samsung.

I don't see how an App could so drastically affect the hardware that
it would require reflashing the OS to fix it.

1. Perform a factory reset from recovery
(http://support.vodafone.com.au/articles/FAQ/Restoring-factory-settings-on-the-Samsung-Galaxy-S4)

2. Power-cycle the 'phone

3. When prompted to enter your Google account details, there should be a
tickbox to select whether to automatically restore data & applications -
untick this.

4. Once the 'phone stabilises, open Google Play and swipe over to "My Apps."

5. Under "all," go through each app individually and if confident that it
isn't the culprit, manually install it.


Alternatively, log into Google Play (https://play.google.com/) using your
Android account details, view "My Apps," and post your list of apps here -
it's quite likely a group regular will be able to spot an app (or apps) of
dubious repute.

I tried to provide a summary list suitable for a post but Google's
HTML defeated me. I have put Google's list here
<http://gordonlevi.host22.com/My Android Apps.htm>. I would be
grateful if anybody could spot a suspect.

Oh no! I just checked this page and my (free) web site provider thinks
it is suspect. I hope you can see it in a few hours. The forces of
technology are conspiring against me.

 

[john james]

"Gordon Levi" <gordon@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:iap8fatcldafah3lpcv2nahuvdvgm0vaeu@4ax.com...

Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

In comp.mobile.android Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> wrote:
My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.

That sounds like 'Ultra power saving mode'. Try
Settings -> Power saving -> Ultra power saving mode = off

Thanks but I can't! There is nothing I can do that will allow me to
access the phone including a factory reset. Surely the phone would not
reboot after a factory reset in "Ultra power saving mode".

You do that just after the Telstra Shop has given you back the phone,
claiming that there is nothing wrong with it, before it goes into that
useless mode again.

You may have provided a theory though. Is "ultra power saving mode" a
hardware function?

No.

Is it possible that a pin on an IC or a bit in the
> processor is permanently set to "ultra power saving mode"?

No, if it was, it would be in that state when they hand you
back the phone in the Telstra Shop and they would be able
to see that the phone is unusable.

 

[Gordon Levi]

"john james" <jj9801@nospam.com> wrote:

"Gordon Levi" <gordon@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:iap8fatcldafah3lpcv2nahuvdvgm0vaeu@4ax.com...
Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

In comp.mobile.android Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> wrote:
My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.

That sounds like 'Ultra power saving mode'. Try
Settings -> Power saving -> Ultra power saving mode = off

Thanks but I can't! There is nothing I can do that will allow me to
access the phone including a factory reset. Surely the phone would not
reboot after a factory reset in "Ultra power saving mode".

You do that just after the Telstra Shop has given you back the phone,
claiming that there is nothing wrong with it, before it goes into that
useless mode again.

I'll check after Telstra's next attempt which they said will be a
replacement phone.

You may have provided a theory though. Is "ultra power saving mode" a
hardware function?

No.

Is it possible that a pin on an IC or a bit in the
processor is permanently set to "ultra power saving mode"?

No, if it was, it would be in that state when they hand you
back the phone in the Telstra Shop and they would be able
to see that the phone is unusable.

How do you think it got into "Ultra power saving mode"?

 

[Gordon Levi]

Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> wrote:

"Bob Milutinovic" <cognicom@gmail.com> wrote:

"Gordon Levi" <gordon@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:sph3fap1e06p830saoe117vddd39mcjt6h@4ax.com...
My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.
I first tried a reset by removing the battery and when that failed I
did a factory reset. I know the reset worked because the missed calls
and message count vanished.

The phone is under guarantee and I have returned it for repair at my
provider (Telstra) twice. Each time they say the "Handset passed full
script test and has been reflashed to the current software version".
On the first occasion it lasted a couple of days before the fault
recurred. Today it recurred in a couple of hours.

I can't see how the fault could be related to software I have
installed because a factory reset would remove it. I can't imagine
what hardware fault might cause the problem. I desperately need a
theory, any theory, because otherwise I will spend the rest of my life
in a Telstra shop.

Quite likely that the dodgy software's being re-installed after you (or
Telstra) perform a factory reset. Don't forget, as soon as you enter your
Google account details, all previously-installed software on that 'phone
will automatically be downloaded.

Thank you Bob for the thorough help you provided but the inaccessible
screen appears _immediately_ after I do the factory reset. The phone
cannot know then the account details that it would need to restore any
of the Apps I have installed from Google or Samsung.

I don't see how an App could so drastically affect the hardware that
it would require reflashing the OS to fix it.

1. Perform a factory reset from recovery
(http://support.vodafone.com.au/articles/FAQ/Restoring-factory-settings-on-the-Samsung-Galaxy-S4)

2. Power-cycle the 'phone

3. When prompted to enter your Google account details, there should be a
tickbox to select whether to automatically restore data & applications -
untick this.

4. Once the 'phone stabilises, open Google Play and swipe over to "My Apps."

5. Under "all," go through each app individually and if confident that it
isn't the culprit, manually install it.


Alternatively, log into Google Play (https://play.google.com/) using your
Android account details, view "My Apps," and post your list of apps here -
it's quite likely a group regular will be able to spot an app (or apps) of
dubious repute.

I tried to provide a summary list suitable for a post but Google's
HTML defeated me. I have put Google's list here
http://gordonlevi.host22.com/My Android Apps.htm>. I would be
grateful if anybody could spot a suspect.

Oh no! I just checked this page and my (free) web site provider thinks
it is suspect. I hope you can see it in a few hours. The forces of
technology are conspiring against me.

000WebHost have approved the site and the page is now there
<http://gordonlevi.host22.com/My Android Apps.htm>. If anybody can
spot an App the might cause this problem please let me know. Forgive
the slow loading. It is a free site.

 

[Clocky]

On 3/03/2015 10:00 PM, Gordon Levi wrote:

"john james" <jj9801@nospam.com> wrote:



"Gordon Levi" <gordon@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:iap8fatcldafah3lpcv2nahuvdvgm0vaeu@4ax.com...
Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

In comp.mobile.android Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> wrote:
My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.

That sounds like 'Ultra power saving mode'. Try
Settings -> Power saving -> Ultra power saving mode = off

Thanks but I can't! There is nothing I can do that will allow me to
access the phone including a factory reset. Surely the phone would not
reboot after a factory reset in "Ultra power saving mode".

You do that just after the Telstra Shop has given you back the phone,
claiming that there is nothing wrong with it, before it goes into that
useless mode again.

I'll check after Telstra's next attempt which they said will be a
replacement phone.

You may have provided a theory though. Is "ultra power saving mode" a
hardware function?

No.

Is it possible that a pin on an IC or a bit in the
processor is permanently set to "ultra power saving mode"?

No, if it was, it would be in that state when they hand you
back the phone in the Telstra Shop and they would be able
to see that the phone is unusable.

How do you think it got into "Ultra power saving mode"?

Because it has a hardware fault. It could be anything really.

 

[john james]

"Gordon Levi" <gordon@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:74fbfapbb8mbde6j4ttq6lih62sf2dbjko@4ax.com...

"john james" <jj9801@nospam.com> wrote:



"Gordon Levi" <gordon@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:iap8fatcldafah3lpcv2nahuvdvgm0vaeu@4ax.com...
Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

In comp.mobile.android Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> wrote:
My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.

That sounds like 'Ultra power saving mode'. Try
Settings -> Power saving -> Ultra power saving mode = off

Thanks but I can't! There is nothing I can do that will allow me to
access the phone including a factory reset. Surely the phone would not
reboot after a factory reset in "Ultra power saving mode".

You do that just after the Telstra Shop has given you back the phone,
claiming that there is nothing wrong with it, before it goes into that
useless mode again.

I'll check after Telstra's next attempt which they said will be a
replacement phone.

You may have provided a theory though. Is "ultra power saving mode" a
hardware function?

No.

Is it possible that a pin on an IC or a bit in the
processor is permanently set to "ultra power saving mode"?

No, if it was, it would be in that state when they hand you
back the phone in the Telstra Shop and they would be able
to see that the phone is unusable.

How do you think it got into "Ultra power saving mode"?

If it does that without you loading any apps on the phone
after a factory reset by the Telstra Shop it has to be a fault.

If it only happens after you have loaded the apps you
want on it, it could be one of the apps that is doing that.

 

[Guy Warren]

I also have an S4 and had this problem. It turned out to be the wallet
case I had the phone in.

It took me a while to work out what was happening, but if I opened the
front of the wallet and folded it right around so that it was behind the
back of the phone I would get the same screen as you are describing. I
found there was a small magnet in the front cover of the case, when it
was put against the phone the screen, or back cover, it would go into
the mode you are seeing. I assume this is a feature of the phone for
when it is used in the type of case that has a clear window over the top
third of the screen, and then when you open the case the normal screen
should re-appear. .

If you put any magnet near the screen it will go into this mode. If you
have your phone in a case it would be worth trying the phone out of the
case and seeing if that helps, if it still happens then maybe the
magnetic sensor is faulty.

Cheers,

Guy Warren



"Gordon Levi" <gordon@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:sph3fap1e06p830saoe117vddd39mcjt6h@4ax.com...

My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.
I first tried a reset by removing the battery and when that failed I
did a factory reset. I know the reset worked because the missed calls
and message count vanished.

The phone is under guarantee and I have returned it for repair at my
provider (Telstra) twice. Each time they say the "Handset passed full
script test and has been reflashed to the current software version".
On the first occasion it lasted a couple of days before the fault
recurred. Today it recurred in a couple of hours.

I can't see how the fault could be related to software I have
installed because a factory reset would remove it. I can't imagine
what hardware fault might cause the problem. I desperately need a
theory, any theory, because otherwise I will spend the rest of my life
in a Telstra shop.

 

[~misfit~]

Once upon a time on usenet Gordon Levi wrote:
[snip]

000WebHost have approved the site and the page is now there
http://gordonlevi.host22.com/My Android Apps.htm>. If anybody can
spot an App the might cause this problem please let me know. Forgive
the slow loading. It is a free site.

Sorry I don't have a smartphone and can't help you but OMG! There are more
apps there than there are programmes on my quite powerful laptop and very
powerful gaming desktop combined. Are you sure there's not a limit, a point
where the hardware just wants to die?
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long, way when religious belief has a
cozy little classification in the DSM."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)

 

[~misfit~]

Once upon a time on usenet Guy Warren wrote:

I also have an S4 and had this problem. It turned out to be the wallet
case I had the phone in.

It took me a while to work out what was happening, but if I opened the
front of the wallet and folded it right around so that it was behind
the back of the phone I would get the same screen as you are
describing. I found there was a small magnet in the front cover of
the case, when it was put against the phone the screen, or back
cover, it would go into the mode you are seeing. I assume this is a
feature of the phone for when it is used in the type of case that has
a clear window over the top third of the screen, and then when you
open the case the normal screen should re-appear. .

If you put any magnet near the screen it will go into this mode. If
you have your phone in a case it would be worth trying the phone out
of the case and seeing if that helps, if it still happens then maybe
the magnetic sensor is faulty.

Now this makes sense! However as the OP was cross-posted from one of two
other groups he may not have seen it.

That'll teach him. (But probably not...)
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long, way when religious belief has a
cozy little classification in the DSM."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)

 

[Gordon Levi]

"~misfit~" <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> wrote:

Once upon a time on usenet Guy Warren wrote:
I also have an S4 and had this problem. It turned out to be the wallet
case I had the phone in.

It took me a while to work out what was happening, but if I opened the
front of the wallet and folded it right around so that it was behind
the back of the phone I would get the same screen as you are
describing. I found there was a small magnet in the front cover of
the case, when it was put against the phone the screen, or back
cover, it would go into the mode you are seeing. I assume this is a
feature of the phone for when it is used in the type of case that has
a clear window over the top third of the screen, and then when you
open the case the normal screen should re-appear. .

If you put any magnet near the screen it will go into this mode. If
you have your phone in a case it would be worth trying the phone out
of the case and seeing if that helps, if it still happens then maybe
the magnetic sensor is faulty.

Now this makes sense! However as the OP was cross-posted from one of two
other groups he may not have seen it.

That'll teach him. (But probably not...)

You are right and I have not been taught. What lesson should I have
learned? I did respond to the post by saying that my phone does not
have a case and has not been near a magnet.

My news client deals with cross posted messages by showing it to me in
only one of the news groups that I subscribe to. Doesn't yours? Of
course it retains the list of news groups it is posted to so that a
response from me appears in any of the groups that received the post.

 

[~misfit~]

Once upon a time on usenet Gordon Levi wrote:

"~misfit~" <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> wrote:

Once upon a time on usenet Guy Warren wrote:
I also have an S4 and had this problem. It turned out to be the
wallet case I had the phone in.

It took me a while to work out what was happening, but if I opened
the front of the wallet and folded it right around so that it was
behind the back of the phone I would get the same screen as you are
describing. I found there was a small magnet in the front cover of
the case, when it was put against the phone the screen, or back
cover, it would go into the mode you are seeing. I assume this is a
feature of the phone for when it is used in the type of case that
has a clear window over the top third of the screen, and then when
you open the case the normal screen should re-appear. .

If you put any magnet near the screen it will go into this mode. If
you have your phone in a case it would be worth trying the phone out
of the case and seeing if that helps, if it still happens then maybe
the magnetic sensor is faulty.

Now this makes sense! However as the OP was cross-posted from one of
two other groups he may not have seen it.

That'll teach him. (But probably not...)

You are right and I have not been taught. What lesson should I have
learned? I did respond to the post by saying that my phone does not
have a case and has not been near a magnet.

My news client deals with cross posted messages by showing it to me in
only one of the news groups that I subscribe to. Doesn't yours? Of
course it retains the list of news groups it is posted to so that a
response from me appears in any of the groups that received the post.

I've got news for you. Your post replying to the one I replied to didn't
show up in aus.electronics.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long, way when religious belief has a
cozy little classification in the DSM."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)

 

[F Murtz]

Gordon Levi wrote:

"~misfit~" <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> wrote:

Once upon a time on usenet Gordon Levi wrote:
"~misfit~" <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> wrote:

Once upon a time on usenet Guy Warren wrote:
I also have an S4 and had this problem. It turned out to be the
wallet case I had the phone in.

It took me a while to work out what was happening, but if I opened
the front of the wallet and folded it right around so that it was
behind the back of the phone I would get the same screen as you are
describing. I found there was a small magnet in the front cover of
the case, when it was put against the phone the screen, or back
cover, it would go into the mode you are seeing. I assume this is a
feature of the phone for when it is used in the type of case that
has a clear window over the top third of the screen, and then when
you open the case the normal screen should re-appear. .

If you put any magnet near the screen it will go into this mode. If
you have your phone in a case it would be worth trying the phone out
of the case and seeing if that helps, if it still happens then maybeh
the magnetic sensor is faulty.

Now this makes sense! However as the OP was cross-posted from one of
two other groups he may not have seen it.

That'll teach him. (But probably not...)

You are right and I have not been taught. What lesson should I have
learned? I did respond to the post by saying that my phone does not
have a case and has not been near a magnet.

My news client deals with cross posted messages by showing it to me in
only one of the news groups that I subscribe to. Doesn't yours? Of
course it retains the list of news groups it is posted to so that a
response from me appears in any of the groups that received the post.

I've got news for you. Your post replying to the one I replied to didn't
show up in aus.electronics.

I still don't understand. The groups have been edited so this _only_
shows up in aus.electronics. Somebody has removed aus.comms and
comp.mobile.android.

What is your objection to cross posting?

For me it is the fact that astraweb (and some others) will not allow me
to answer multiple crossposts, it sometimes allows me to answer one or
two if they are ones that I subscribe to,I have to delete most of the
crosses before it will allow me to answer,for instance GOD and dr jai
Maharaj ( both multiple multiple posters)on some other groups,and as I
do not know which is their main group I do not try.

 

[Gordon Levi]

tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> wrote:

On 28 Feb 2015 20:21:06 +0000 (GMT), Theo Markettos wrote:

In comp.mobile.android Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> wrote:
My phone, a Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505), displays a black screen showing the
date and time and the number of missed calls and messages in white at
the top. Nothing I do will let me get out of this screen unless I
receive a call in which case I can answer it but not do anything else.

That sounds like 'Ultra power saving mode'. Try
Settings -> Power saving -> Ultra power saving mode = off

Theo

And how should poor Gordon even get to "Settings" if "nothing ... will let
me get out of" that "black screen showing the date and time ..."?

I'd think Telstra (or Samsung) need to take ownership of the problem, and
exchange Gordon's handset for a known good one. HTH. Cheers, -- tlvp

Eventually they did do that. It seems that Telstra policy is to not
bother diagnosing the problem so they made two attempts to fix it by
reflashing the OS. The policy is also is to give up on the third try
and replace the phone. They didn't have a replacement so, after over 5
weeks and a dozen trips to the Telstra Shop, they replaced the S4 with
an S5.