Samsung Focus S screen malfunctions unless plugged in

[mammina]

Strange syndrome here, been evolving over the last few days.  Done several resterts, battery removals, and even reset the device.  Help???

Day before yesterday, my phone started indicating that it was plugged in when it was not.  The icon at the top was flashing with the plug on the battery.  Tried restarting, both without and then with removing the battery.

Then, it took to periodically making the "plugged in" sound when not plugged in. 

Then, the screen started to become sporadically unresponsive, to both selcting things and scrolling.  And now, the power button no longer turns the screen off (just reverts it to the lock screen, but it keeps it burning all day).

Oddly, though, when it is plugged in, the screen behaves fine, as does the lock button--so I know it's not the hardware.

So I synced it and reset it.  Even without resyncing it, it still has all the same misbehaviors when unplugged, but works fine when it's on the power cord.

Any suggestions????

[harpert12]

my daughters phone is having the same problem!! Now she is telling me that the battery is not staying charged. she has only had the phone for 7 mo and this is the second time we've had problems with it. the first time i had to reset the phone. of course she doesn't want me to do that because she will lose all her pictures. so we tried to hook up to zune but it says the "device has malfunctioned". i have had the same phone for almost 2yrs and never had a problem like this beofore. hopefully someone can answer soon.

[JM64]

my focus s did thus in march, it will continue to get worse.

Took it in to att who went through there entire service book, including reflashing the software. No luck.

Concluded it's a hardware issue and replaced it.

Now a month and a half later my replacement is doing the same thing. Another replacement is en route.

[nateberrett]

I think I know the issue- gunk.  I had the same exact issue as described and realized that there was some dust and other gunk in the area around the connector.  I got a toothpick and carefully cleaned around the USB connector thoroughly.  There wasn't a TON but I got some good chunks out.  I then plugged it in and then unplugged it immediately.  

Voila!  That was 2 weeks ago and I haven't had a problem since!  I imagine that the common problem is that the dirt/dust/gunk causes a short in the USB connection and thus all the problems that all of us have been having.  

Give it a try, and an air duster might also be a help.  

Side note:  the usb connector looked as though it MAY have been slightly bent but BARELY.  I used the toothpick to also make it look as straight as possible, but I really don't believe the incredibly slight bend caused any problems.  Just wanted you to also check that out as a secondary.  GOOD LUCK!

[npiasecki]

My phone started doing the exact same thing around June 1st after owning it about 5 months. It would either (A) think it was charging when it was not but otherwise work fine, (B) think it was not charging and the touch screen would be non-responsive/under-responsive until plugged back in, (C) refuse to sleep as the lock screen would keep popping back on, or (D) refuse to stay powered off, turning itself back on shortly thereafter. If it was plugged in, it would work perfectly.

After 40 minutes of hassle with AT&T Warranty Support I got a replacement Focus S sent to me. The replacement device worked fine for about a month, and then suddenly started exhibiting the exact same symptoms. I remember exactly when it happened this time around: I was typing on my computer with my phone plugged in, and all of a sudden Windows made the "you just disconnected and reconnected a USB device" noise and Zune started syncing again. Once I unplugged it again, it was in this weird state, and no amount of removing the battery or hard resetting seems to fix it. AT&T is sending me another replacement (and dealing with Warranty Support was much, much easier the second time around; guess it depends on who you get).

Since this device has only been in my hands a month, there really hasn't been time for the micro USB port to get gunked up. My guess is that the USB port is simply weak, and that leaving it plugged in on my desk (with the cable hanging down toward the tower) is enough to torque the connection over time. That might explain why jiggling the cable can sometimes fix it or at least alter the error condition.

[bsriedman]

npiasecki

Yes, your post describes the exact issues I'm having with my Focus that started today.  Except jiggling cable doesn't help me any.

I've had it over a year, so no warrenty for me.

[Meengla]

I have the exact problem on my Samsung Focus S for about two days, as described by npieasecki and bsriedman. I bought a used one and so warranty probably doesn't apply to me, but I am in a two year contract.

In my case the phone starts functioning fine once I connect to a power source (car charger, tower and laptop computers, power outlet) and then disconnect (although the charging indicator keeps saying it is charging the phone!).

Not sure if this is a hardware or software problem.

And, oh, if I plugin to any compter then I get a message like 'USB Device not recognized'; this never used to happen but has been happening for past two days.

Someone has got to fix it. I love the phone and the OS but problems like these can't go on for so many users.

AT&T or Samsung: Can you respond to this?