Latest OS update killed my phone!!

scottbouch · 5 Apr 2023, 07:30

Hi all,

I allowed my Oneplus One to install the latest update a couple of days ago (all had been fine until this update).

After the update, I found the phone to be off; turning it on with the power key didn't work, so I held the power key and combinations of volume buttons until I go the recovery menu, this I used to perform a reboot, and it powered up fine. I put this down to a glitch of the update and didn't think any more of it.

I enjoyed a couple of days of normal service with the updated OS... then....

Yesterday my battery ran out (normal, just needed a charge). However, when plugging in to charge I noticed the power/charge LED did not illuminate to indicate charging (issue 1). I have measured the USB current, and can confirm the phone is drawing power over USB when plugged in.

Pressing the power button does not wake the phone up, on battery power OR plugged in (issue 2). And I also cannot bring up the recovery menu no matter what combination of volume buttons I try (issue 3).

My screen remains black, power/charge led remains off, and no vibration. It's like it's dead.

One could argue the micro USB socket may have failed, but the fact that I have measured current being drawn disproves this. I have repeated this experiment on various USB cables and power supplies to remove a dodgy USB cable from the equation too.

Help me please - I now am back to an old Android spyware phone, and miss my privacy!

Cheers, Scott.

scottbouch · 6 Apr 2023, 12:51

Update:

I managed to get the recovery menu back by persisting with button combinations, told it to reboot, and now have my phone back.

I checked, and, yes its OTA-25 that caused this issue.

When powered off, no LED or vibration regarding charging, and no ability to simply turn it on without accessing the recovery menu.

Cheers, Scott.

stanwood · 4 Jun 2023, 22:41

@scottbouch Several users report boot issues on some devices with Stable Xenial OTA-25.

Some people report simple slow start-up, and others a complete inability to start the device.

The core team is aware of this and is investigating what causes those bootloops.

https://github.com/ubports/ubuntu-touch/issues/2124

It's not that easy to find clues because no change has been brought to the boot sequences.
Currently - one of the actions underway - is to compare the difference of dpkg -l between the 2 latest images. But you can imagine that these are long lines of code to process, so this might take some time.

When a fix will come it will be possible to reinstall the whole system using UBports Installer (don't check "Wipe data" nor "bootstrap partition).

So don't despair

scottbouch · 7 Apr 2023, 11:57

Thank you @stanwood!

Yes since writing, I had noticed some other devices also suffering similar issues.

I have returned my sim card to my UT Oneplus One, but aiming to keep it charged up to save getting locked out again.

Thanks for the support, Scott.

scottbouch · 25 Apr 2023, 16:57

Update: After the phone powering off yesterday, I've had no luck in bringing up the boot menu (its been connected to the charger all day, but with no LED I can't tell you the charge status).

Been poking at random button combinations, one such combination has brought up on the screen a little alien face and the words "Fastboot Mode".... it's been stuck like this for hours now...

I can't reset it by the power/volume button combinations, still the little fastboot alien sits there looking at me, not booting very fast, if at all.

I think I now my only option is to let the battery run down in order to try and bring back the boot menu to turn my phone on again.

Any other ideas are appreciated. Thanks....

Moem · 25 Apr 2023, 17:48

@scottbouch said in Latest OS update killed my phone!!:

one such combination has brought up on the screen a little alien face and the words "Fastboot Mode".

That is the state it needs to be in so you can run it through the installer. That means all is not lost!

Lakotaubp · 25 Apr 2023, 17:55

@scottbouch Volume up and power buttons =Fastboot
Volume down and power buttons=Recovery

If you go for the installer option DO NOT tick the wipe option if there is anything on the phone you want to keep. Bootstrap should be OK.

scottbouch · 29 Apr 2023, 23:10

@Lakotaubp said in Latest OS update killed my phone!!:

@scottbouch Volume up and power buttons =Fastboot
Volume down and power buttons=Recovery

If you go for the installer option DO NOT tick the wipe option if there is anything on the phone you want to keep. Bootstrap should be OK.

Thank you for the guidance! Vol down and power helped!