topic Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening in XPERIA archive

Restart Loop - keeps happening

coltrane68uk — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:19:02 GMT

I had a problem with my Xperia U, where it just crashed all by itself, and got into a permanent restart loop. I followed the instructions here http://talk.sonymobile.com/thread/45967?start=0&tstart=0 and successfully rebuilt the phone. Less than a month later the same thing has happened again. I am rebuilding the phone again, but I cannot be doing this over and over.

The symptoms seem to be the same both times, not long before the crash, the phone started to struggle to hold the network connection, dropping and connecting over and over. Then, whilst just operating normally, a series of Android services "unexpectedly stopped" (series of messages one after another around 10 and no apps will work on the phone), so I electively restart the phone. The phone restarts normally, and immediately, all services start to crash again, then the phone crashes completely, and at that point goes in to permanent restart loop. Directly before, and for weeks, I have not installed any new apps on the phone (though some apps may have been updated), and nothing specific was being done with, or used on the phone - in fact, both times the phone was not in use at all, and simply sitting on my desk.

Can someone from Sony Support please advise:

1) Why is this happening - is there a defect with the hardware?

2) If so, how would I get the hardware fixed / replaced - should I contact my mobile carrier who supplied the unit?

3) If it is not a hardware issue - then why is this happening repeatedly and how can I stop it from happening again?

Thanks

Richard

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

cinchona — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:39:42 GMT

hi, looks like some app is messing with some system file changing some values...

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

coltrane68uk — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:59:41 GMT

Have very few apps on my phone. As it is, have not installed a new app on phone either time for months before it happened. Although a few updates to existing apps will have been installed, I know for sure none had been updated in at least 48 hours before the crashes happened. Phone had been turned off and on overnight for a few nights before, and was operating normally, and had been for hours when it happened both times. Would an app randomly change a system setting while running like that?

If it is an app, how on earth does one go about determing which app is to blame? As soon as it crashes and I have to rebuild it, I lose all possible debug info.

Bigger question - why are Google allowing apps onto PlayStore that have capability to alter system files so crucially that it completely crashes the operating system? Do they not vet these at all? I would add, I do not have any odd / unusual apps installed - all my apps are installed, and generally highly rated by 100,000s of users, so it's not weird stuff I am installing here.

Thanks for your comments.

Richard

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

cinchona — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:03:25 GMT

dont know why but the website doesnt let me post long answer...

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

cinchona — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:05:56 GMT

i wrote 2 long answer and it says my reply need to be checked by a moderator...one was last night as reply of your first post, one just now as i reply to the second...i'm sorry but i cant help you if they dont let me do that

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

coltrane68uk — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:07:16 GMT

Thank you cinchona - I will wait for the answers to be released. Your assistance is appreciated.

Richard

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

cinchona — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:30:36 GMT

sorry but i'm still not able to fully reply to u.

for the moment just tell me if u're rooted and if u can post a list of your apps please

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

coltrane68uk — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:11:48 GMT

Phone is not rooted, no. It's a standard install of ICS 4 (4.0.4 build 6.1.1.B.1.54) as installed by last rebuild via Sony PC Suite Repair facility.

Installed apps (all up to date):

AA Breakdown & Traffic
AFL - Footylive Scores
Business Calendar Free
Chrome
DroidStats
ECB Cricket
Eye in the Sky Weather
Facebook
Gmail
Google Play Books
Google Play Movies & TV
Google+
Insight Timer Free
London Underground Free
Maps
Music Unlimited Mobile App
National Rail Enquiries
PlantTracker
RAC Traffic
Sky Map
Smart Connect (LiveWare Mgr)
Smart Converter
Smart Distance
Smart Measure
Smart Protractor
Smile - the internet bank
Sound Meter
Strava Cycling
Strava Run
Street View on Google Maps
The Weather Channel
Timescape Facebook Extension
Tube Map
Twitter
Video Unlimited Ver 1.0.2
Voice Search
YouTube

I recently uninstalled (after your comment about apps) the following as possibly at fault:

Airplane Toggle Widget
Battery Monitor Widget
Brightness Toggle Widget
Silent Toggle Widget
WiFi Toggle Widget

I picked on those as I thought they were the most likely to affect system files.

Thanks

Richard

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

cinchona — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:05:29 GMT

so, between your installed apps i cant really find something that could cause problems. the ones you removed seem to be to only one that could do something.

any improvment?

if u cant find a solution, maybe u should start thinking to flash the firmware with flashtool

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

coltrane68uk — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:08:34 GMT

That's kind of what I thought. It's hard to tell whether it's an improvement with the ones I removed as the problem is only visible as and when the phone totally crashes - which it hasn't done in the few days since I rebuilt and uninstalled those few possibly risky apps. So, until it doesn't crash again(!) I won't know if it has worked!

Thanks
Richard

Re: Restart Loop - keeps happening

cinchona — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:12:01 GMT

welcome