SE W810i (CID49 RED) - Main/FS corruption or mainboard problem?

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02-23-2008
apapapa

SE W810i (CID49 RED) - Main/FS corruption or mainboard problem?

Hello everyone,

I have a Sonyericsson W810i (CID49 RED, R3D001, CDA 102555/4). In the last 7 months I have it, I had WSoD (White Screen of Death) once a while, usually when I was trying to resize images during MMS sending. But that was really rare (once a week or month) and I didn't give much attention to it.

Yesterday, I charged my phone and went out. Everything was OK, I was able to send/receive sms, then I took a photo using the camera and once I tried to take another photo, I got WSoD. I turned it off, turned it, entered my PIN and again the same. I removed my battery, my 2 GB memory card, my SIMM then re-inserted simm and battery (but no memory card), turned it on but again and again WSoD in random steps. It was giving WSoD before I even enter my PIN sometimes or once I was going to menu.

After several hours trying while the problem was persisting with 2 different SIMMs (making sure it's not the SIMM), I succeeded to temporary make it work it for a few seconds and performed a master reset, hoping this is a filesystem corruption that could get fixed that way. It indeed reverted all settings but it didn't really help, WSoD are still there.

After doing a lot of reading in this awesome forum (topsony.com), I thought it's filesystem related and flashing may fix it. I have some short experience with flashing as I had completely flashed it before 7 months in order to change its CDA (as I have purchased it from abroad). So I decided to give it a shot.

Process
a) SIMM / M2 card are not inserted
b) I remove battery (and wait 5-10 secs)
c) I insert battery
d) I press "connect" in XS++ (or "FLASH" in Setool2lite)
e) I press "C" into the phone and keeping it pressed
f) I plug the cable

Software
I did A LOT of reading in several threads and especially this one: XS++ 3.1 Guide-Flashing,Customizing,Recovering (special thanks mohdumer!) and downloaded the following:
- XS++ 3.1
- W810_R4EA031_MAIN_GENERIC_HN_RED49.mbn
- W810_R4ED001_FS_MEDITERR_RED49.fbn

Flashing MAIN+FS+Customization Problems

1)CONNECTING THE PHONE

a) Most of the time it stucks on recognition:

Code:

Sending db2010_cid00_prodid_p3l.bin...

b) If it passes the above step, it stucks on this:

Code:

Sending db2010_cid49red_flash_r2a003.bin... Header: Error 0x10 Error: Cannot send flash loader Error: Flashing failed

2) FLASHING MAIN+FS (after passing successfully the above steps)

a) After several retries, passing successfully the recogniztion.. while flashing, it stucks in the 2nd flashblock of MAIN:

Code:

08:15:44| Now flashing firmware main... 08:15:44| Flashing d:\downloads\w810\w810_r4ea031_main_generic_hn_red49.mbn 08:15:44| Header type: BABE 08:15:44| 344 flashblocks 08:15:46| Binary acknowledge failed with: 89 08:15:46| Command: Error 0x89 08:15:46| Failed sending flashblock 2. Returnvalue 0x0 08:15:46| Finishing flash 08:15:46| Binary acknowledge failed with: 09 08:15:46| Failed 08:15:46| Failed 08:16:27| Error: Flashing failed 08:16:27| Disconnected... Unplug the phone

b) After SEVERAL retries, it successfully (isn't it?) flasshes MAIN+FS:

Code:

22:59:26| Attempting to open the interface... 22:59:26| 22:59:26| TURN OFF PHONE! 22:59:26| Hold 'C' button on phone and connect phone NOW. 22:59:26| You have 30 seconds... 22:59:26| 22:59:30| Baseband ID: 8040 22:59:30| Protocol Version: 3.1 22:59:30| 22:59:30| Sending db2010_cid00_prodid_p3l.bin... 22:59:31| Applet ID: 061113 1250 ALUCXC125872_COMPACTPRODUCTION_ID_LOADER P3L 22:59:31| This is a PRODUCTION_ID loader 22:59:31| Activating GDFS... 22:59:32| Phone name detected! 22:59:32| 22:59:32| Profiling SEMC phone... 22:59:32| Platform: DB2010 22:59:32| OTP CID: 49 22:59:32| EROM CID: 49 22:59:32| EROM Color: Red 22:59:32| IMEI: 35462301xxxxxx 22:59:32| Phone ID: W810 22:59:32| Region: MEDITERR 22:59:32| CDA: CDA102555/4 R6A 22:59:32| Firmware Version: R4ED001 22:59:32| EROM: n/a 22:59:32| Ready for operation! 22:59:34| 22:59:34| Sending db2010_cid49red_flash_r2a003.bin... 22:59:35| Applet ID: 060718 0842 LIE_DB2010_FLASHLOADER_R2A003_CXC1326738 22:59:35| This is a FLASH loader 22:59:35| Now flashing firmware main... 22:59:35| Flashing d:\downloads\w810\1\w810_r4ea031_main_generic_hn_red49.mbn 22:59:35| Header type: BABE 22:59:35| 344 flashblocks 23:02:16| Finishing flash 23:02:17| Done flashing 23:02:17| Now flashing filesystem... 23:02:17| Flashing d:\downloads\w810\1\w810_r4ed001_fs_mediterr_red49.fbn 23:02:17| Header type: BABE 23:02:17| 161 flashblocks 23:03:32| Finishing flash 23:03:33| Done flashing 23:03:33| Flashing was successful 23:03:35| Disconnected... Unplug the phone

3) BEFORE CUSTOMIZATION
Although I usually don't turn on the phone on this step, since I know that customization is required. I tried to do it once and this is what it did:
a) WSoD,
b) short Vibration,
c) "Please wait" (as it should due to customization lack),
d) WSoD again and again and nothing else (no infrared red leds that I've read from some people).

The only good part is that on THIS step, charging the phone seems to work (even though it gives some WSoD during charging too) which helps me to keep trying.

4) CUSTOMIZATION
I succeeded to customize the phone yesterday once, but since then I haven't been able to do it. I am only trying to customize the phone (since FLASH is successful) by choosing customization, my phone model (W810) and "MEDITERR (CDA102555/4)" but it stucks into two different steps every time:

a) Either it stucks on this (similar to flash issues, so I keep retrying):

Code:

23:26:05| Sorry, your phone is NOT SUPPORTED 23:26:05| Error: Customizing failed. 23:26:05| Error: Flashing failed

b) Either it stucks on this:

Code:

23:40:41| Uploading /tpa/preset/custom/CONTENT_DOWNLOAD_HOOK.itm... 23:40:41| Activating filesystem

5) OTHER ATTEMPTS
1) I tried to flash using settoo2lite several times but it randomly stucks on some steps too and I haven't even succeeded a good flash with it yet, so this is why I stick with XS++.
2) I tried to only perform customization using settoo2lite several times using W810_CDA102555_4_R2A_Generic_MEDITERR.zip but it also stucks (don't remember the error)
3) I tried to flash using XS++ and different MAIN/FS: W810_R4EA031_MAIN_GENERIC_HN_RED49.mbn & W810_R4EA031_FS_EUROPE_2_RED49.fbn, no results either

I am seriously thinking this is a mainboard problem and flashing will do NOTHING. Does anyone think that I might be missing something else? Anything else I should try before taking it to Sony Ericsson's service? (I'm concerned with all this flashing and since it's purchased abroad, they may not accept its warranty)

Finally, I would like to thank everyone for their awesome work on this forum and for reading this post.

Thank you,
apapapa.
02-23-2008
kursaros

filaraki,eisai apo ellada?ego eixa to idio provlima...kai to steila service to kalokairi...allaksan plaketa...

i had this problem and service changed my mainboard...
02-23-2008
apapapa

kursaros, Thank you for the quick response. Do you remember how much did they charge you for mainboard replacement (in euros) and how long the whole process had taken? (yes I'm from Greece). :)
02-23-2008
apapapa

kursaros, I didn't purchase it from Vodafone (through a contract) but airport's duty free during a travel abroad. How long did it take until SE replaced your phone in Greece? (The reason I prefer to use English language is for the rest members to understand, in case someone else suffers from the same problem or has any alternative solution)

Anyone else believe there might be software related that I haven't tried or taking it to service (possibly for mainboard replacement) is the only conclusion after reading my post?

Thanks again.
02-25-2008
apapapa

Official Sonyericsson service center refused to even check my phone because it has been purchased abroad, even though I have all the necessary documents and receipts. They claimed they only provide technical support (with or without warranty), due to software limitations, to Sonyericsson mobile phones purchased within E.U. - That REALLY sucked :mad:

I will try to contact Sony Ericsson and the shop from the country I purchased it and attempt to settle it directly with them, since it's just 7 months old and W810i was a really nice phone.

In the meantime, I just purchased W960i and I am slowly falling in love with it. :D
02-25-2008
Khaba

Quote:

Originally Posted by apapapa

...
In the meantime, I just purchased W960i and I am slowly falling in love with it. :D

Sorry to hear about your W810i. If you don't mind could you tell me the price of your W960i and in witch country did you buy or in what conditions? Thank you! I plan on buying one too but in my country it is very expensive. It's about 850$
02-25-2008
ts013

Holy cr*p, 850$?!
I thought phones in germnay were expensive but even here it's much cheaper.
You can get it for about 680$ here. Unfortunately most shops don't deliver orders to your country...
02-26-2008
apapapa

Thank you everyone for your interest

W960i costed me 539 EUR (= $808 USD) with no contract from a Greek shop named "Plaisio"(Plaisio.gr), while their online special price is 509 EUR (= $763 USD). It would take a few days to deliver via online order, so I decided to visit the shop and purchase it directly.

I personally consider ANYTHING above 250 EUR (= $374 USD) too much for a single mobile device, but honestly I got so pissed off hearing that Sonyericsson's warranty is only available per region and they can't do anything and I wanted a new phone so badly. You may say: "So you got pissed off at SE and went to buy one of their most expensive phones to take revenge of them? good job, ha ha ha" - well it wasn't exactly revenge, but something to calm down myself before I start screaming on them because I couldn't believe that a so huge company doesn't provide world-wide warranty.

I was between K850i and W960i but the following features made me choose W960i:
a) WLAN (even if it's 802.11b, 11 Mbps) that K850i didn't have, I really wanted that
b) 8GB internal disk while K850i required memory card purchase
c) Touch screen

While the only reason that K850i kept me in dilemma was:
a) 5Mpixels camera, while W960i has 3.2Mpixels
b) Xenon Flash

Either way, I got W960i.. it's currently charging and I will have a look at it soon. Regarding my W810i, I will try to contact the shop I purchased it via e-mail and/or Sonyericsson in Dubai and see what they can do as I really want to make that phone function again.

Thank you everyone for your interest, I am really impressed of this forum, I will keep checking it for my W960i although I really hope I will never ever ever ever ever make a similar thread for it :eek:

Regards,
apapapa.

PS: I just tried to visit the Download Section but it shows nothing, I suppose my 2-days premium service has expired. Should I still be getting a listing of files but not download them or it doesn't even list if you don't have access to download area?
02-26-2008
ts013

You should still get a listing of our available stuff. Please contact the admin if you've got problems with your account (click on "Forum Leaders" on the forums mainsite to see them).

About your warranty issue: This is not service, this is ripping off! It doesn't matter where you bought that phone, it's exactly the same brand and the same hardware so where's the problem?! I always disliked Sony for their policies but this is just awful!

I wish you best luck with your attempts to have your phone fixed by them. Have fun with your W960 :)

BTW: It's not possible to flash smartphones completely with free tools so you'd better don't mess it up ;)
02-26-2008
apapapa

Hello justme,

The authorized service center of Sony Ericsson in Greece, that I visited, claimed there are major hardware differences between the mobile phones sold inside and outside E.U and even if it is the same model (W810i), it's totally incompatible with their firmware, which is why they don't accept to even take a look at it with or without warranty (they even refused to check it under some charge).

I believe that's completely false, as I had flashed MAIN+FS 7 months ago in order to change CDA from ASIA to MEDITERR in order to add Greek language and it was functioning fine. When I get a chance, I will e-mail Sony Ericsson in both countries to find if that's an official policy or something that the specific service center made up (although I don't see why they would do that, as I even kindly offered to pay for a hardware check).

Regarding the download area, I am really sorry for disturbing you about it. Obviously I was sleeping on my chair last night if I couldn't see the [+] in the right side that I had to click, which I had clicked before.

Special thanks about your recommendation to not attempt to flash my new phone, but after seeing SE's dumb policies with W810i and since W960 already has my native language, I was not planning to do anything that may give them the chance to claim that warranty no longer applies.

W960i works smoothly and I'm really impressed of it, currently in research of applications and customizations to make my life easier. Although I have to get used to it since I am still so addicted to my W810's menus and keys, hehehe.

Thanks again.
02-26-2008
ts013

The phone's hardware does not differ as far as i know. There are some little differences between "i" and "c" models for example. "i" are for Europe, America and Africa (not 100% sure) "c" stands for china. They've got different basebands.

XS++ supports flashing some parts of smartphone firmwares but it's not complete yet. Maybe it'll be supported in the upcoming release but it has not been confirmed yet. There haven't been any news about a new release in the last time, the developers seem to be quite busy.

Don't worry about the download area thingie, you didn't disturb me at all ;)