Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I got mine back from repair after few weeks, no questions! The motherboard was replaced and screen too (it was scratchy!) Now I use display protector.

But for charging battery there are cheap external chargers on ebay. Charging is no problem.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I wonder if you could do a conference call with Nokia Care and Nokia Service in order to speed up the bouncing customer around process.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I hope that the issues I am experiencing with my N900 (where using the wall charger in particular doesn't make contact properly) don't require my phone to go into Nokia care for another week or more like last time :(

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Well, mine's in, you can guess for what.
Been checking the online process status with almost religious fervor for a week now, and it seems to finally have gotten off the shelf and all the way to the technician.

*fingers crossed*

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Hello, i'm facing same problem here

My n900 won't charge or transfer data, after taking it in NCC,
The engineer said there's one loose pin or something...
and they said it would take 9-23 days to fix it because they had to solder it in the factory
I asked him what if i fix it myself,
he said that would void the warranty, besides it's too dangerous and it may damage the motherboard because it requires delicate equipments, not just regular soldering method..

What do you guys think?
Should i look for another alternative?
There's few good repair shop in my town here, but what he said kinda scared me :(

Please advise me what should i do because i need the phone for my job and 2-3 weeks is just too long :(

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

If you're ever planning on using the warranty in future then you'll need to go via Nokia. If you need a phone in the meantime, you could try asking them for a loan.

If you're prepared to throw away the warranty, then by all means go elsewhere - make sure wherever you go will cover the cost if they completely ruin your phone though. The soldering's probably a bit tricky because it's not mounted through the PCB, but I'd expect any reputable repair shop to be able to handle it (or at least they'd tell you that they couldn't).

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

My USB port came off the motherboard too. Nokia replaced the motherboard. Took about ten days from when I sent it in, to getting it back.

The thing is, I had a look at the new motherboard, and it doesnt look like the USB connector is any better connected to it compared to before.

So I'm thinking the design fault hasnt been fixed, and the USB port will come off again eventually.

Does anyone know if they actually changed the design to fix this issue properly?

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Just a question about warranty. When you take it to a Nokia Care Point do you need the receipt, or do they just look up the IMEI?

Is it a two-year warranty?

Thanks. Don't want this to happen to me and get caught short.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

The warranty length depends on where you are. Within the EU it's a 2 year warranty, but a lot of other places will be just 1 year.

I don't think they ask for any receipt (I've not had to take mine in yet). Normally your warranty is through the place you bought it, but if Nokia is accepting warranty claims directly then it shouldn't matter where you bought it (or whether you have any proof of purchase). I'm not sure whether the IMEI would allow them to pinpoint the date of sale though, so they want a receipt to determine that.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Thanks. I've had to take my Nokia N82 into a care point when the ear-piece speaker stopped working, they just replaced it for free (I guessed at the time that Nokia pays them for completed repairs, as I just had to write my name and address and things).

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I just bought a used n900 that seems to have the usb problem:
-charging is fine with the 220v adapter
-no way to connect it through usb on a computer, "not enough power", it's not mounting on the computer. Tried Ubuntu, Mac, XP, laptop and desktop.
-sometimes freezes the xp, comes back to normal when unplugged.
-no way to fash the phone

I bought a new usb cable to check, it's my last hope. Anyway, I use ssh for file transfer, but is there hope I can flash the phone without usb to restore it to factory ?

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I don't think there's any way to do a full flash without USB, no. Have you tried plugging it in when the N900 is switched off? A software problem could be causing the "not enough power" and not mounting issue. When the N900 is switched off, plugging it in via USB should cause it to boot up into a special charging mode. If this works okay, then so should reflashing.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Why is it impossible to flash without a usb? I've never understood this. I'm pretty sure you can flash just the kernel without a usb, because I think I've done it. :)

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I tried to plug it when it's off. I see the very dark nokia logo, and the small usb logo, it's vibrating once, but nothing appears on the computer side. Ubuntu doesn't see it, and XP says the usb device is not fonctionning correctly and ask me if I want to solve the problems.
With my new cable, it's the same, except that it's charging on the usb while still not mounting on the computer side.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

You can flash the kernel, yes. The area you're flashing there is only used at boot time, so there's no problems. The rest of the system is being used when running though, so I don't see how you could flash it.

That's the expected behaviour. With earlier firmware versions, connecting when powered off exported the drives, but newer ones don't (it was considered a security issue as it bypasses any PINs set). That would suggest that flashing the firmware should work as well. I'd give it a shot anyway - if the device isn't picked up then nothing'll happen, so there's no damage you can do.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I tried to remove the battery for some time, and with the new cable it is now working. Seems the problem is solved, I feel much better, and thanks for the help.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Hi there!

Recently my microUSB port just came out when I unplugged the USB cable from my device... prior to that I had charging issues and data transfer issues as well - I had to pull the cable slightly downwards so there was actually a connection to allow charging and data transfer. Since that I knew there is something wrong with my microUSB port.

Ok, so now, holding my broken N900 in my right hand and the loose microUSB port in the left hand the only thing I could think of was to hand my broken phone and the loose microUSB port to my local Nokia Care Centre.

3 days after handing it over there I was informed that I can come and get my device back. "Hooray, me mighty device is usable again!" - well, the reality was a bit different.... Unfortunately all I received was my still not repaired N900 (even without the loose microUSB port which I also gave them) along with the note:

"BROKEN CONTACT PADS - REPAIR UNPROFITABLE "

so now I am left alone with my broken, unusable N900 (even without the loose microUSB port, which Nokia Care have stolen) ... it wont even boot up as the battery is dead as well.

The question is:
Is it really true that it is not worth even trying to repair my device?
Should I simply buy a new 'phone'? If yes, which one would be a decent, fresher replacement of my N900?

Thanks in advance!
Ralph

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

If it's out of warranty, then yes, repair probably would cost about as much as a new phone. If it's still in warranty then the profitability of the repair isn't at issue - they're obliged to either repair or replace it, whatever that costs them (well, I guess they could refund you the value of the phone as another alternative).

As for replacements - I'd suggest browsing some of the "competitor" sections of the forum to get some answers on that.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

N900 has 2 year warranty in the EU, you must have it repaired.

After warranty you can use desktop charger: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Desktop-Charge...91572071495824

Data transfer is possible via wlan with OpenSSH server.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Ah, got a new, shiny one. And first thing that happens is that the phone crashes while I'm copying the backup files back from my computer. :D

Sometimes I get these urges to buy a shotgun and have a nice little discussion with the engineers responsible. Oh well, everything seems to be fine for now.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Ok, got my warranty documents ready. Will it be a problem that I do not have the broken microUSB port to hand?

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I very much doubt it - they wouldn't be soldering it back on anyway, so it'd just be binned.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

The problem still exists :(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I have been having this problem with erratic charging. I have been having it all day today. I just now did an experiment. I connected the device to my PC and clicked on the Connect to PC button. I then turned off the screen and the blinking yellow light started pulsing. On the PC I opened a file manager to the device SD card. I thought that if the USB connection was dropped, the file manager would show it.

After a few minuets I checked the device and the yellow light had stopped pulsing. However, the file manager was still connected and I could navigate the folders. Can someone explain this to me? This makes me thing the problem may also be software related.

I have now turned off the device and am charging it with the power off. So far it seems to be working because the yellow light is still pulsing.

PS: Maybe we should start another poll thread since many that originally voted "No problems" may by now be experiencing the problem. That would be me, for example. :(

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

I had 'almost' the same problem and anticipated it to be a software related issue. I was just under a week before the warranty expired, sent it in. Few weeks later got it back with a note saying the usb port was fixed.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Well, I finally called Nokia to see about repairing my USB problem. My device is no longer under warranty so it will cost about $70 to fix it. The guy from the repair center asked me if the port was still attached to the device. Fortunately, it is. He said, "good, otherwise we wouldn't be able to do anything about it". I thought you'd like to know that. Fortunately for me, I do have a Square Trade warranty for my device and they are going to reimburse me for the repair.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

just to butt in here since i also have had my USB broken but not the normal loose way, it was the fuse.
And this was one of the reasons i included the 2mm charge port in the mugen cover of my battery mod.

This could be a solution if you cannot get it repaired

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

noooooooooooooooooooooo I've just had that dreaded moment where I unplugged my n900 and the USB port came out, still connected to the charger. I had absolutely no warning, everything was working fine, then tonight, I plugged it in to the wall charger, noticed it was acting funny, kept going from charging to not charging, and when I took it out -- blam! Busted phone.

This is awful. I run my whole life from this phone. I cannot live for two plus weeks waiting for a repair or replacement that according to many of the folks posting in this thread might never come (I live in the US, as far as I can tell there is no physical Nokia Care Center here in Seattle to take it to). I guess it's time to order a desktop charger for the battery, but that won't arrive till the 9th. I've got half a charge left and a fully charged spare. Let's hope I can make it till then.

This is nasty stuff. I have struggled a lot with this phone but enjoyed most of it, and have finally gotten it to where it was working perfectly for what I needed. I feel betrayed. The worst is that even if I had the money I wouldnt go out and buy another phone now. I just want mine, fully customized just how I like it, back, and working, right now. Where's my @#$#@ time machine???

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Hey Peeps ... well, after over a year of very carefully inserting and removing the charger to my n900 it's finally having serious problems ... the main charger and the laptop charger both stopped working proerly on the same day ... strangely though it's charging just fine from the adapter that originally came with my n900 and my old nokia charger that fits the adapter ...

... the laptop cable will only charge if I balance my phone on it's side upright on the desk ... but as with a couple of other people it does still appear to be connected in mass storage mode even when it won't charge ... (I assume it's different pins doing different things or something technical like that ... *grins*) ... and the main charger is practically impossible to use ...

So ... questions ...

... this is a problem with the phone right? ... and not just bad luck that both chargers died on the same day?
... is there anythng I need to know to persuade Nokia to fix this problem for me? ... (I'm in the UK)
... are Nokia going to wipe all my data ... and do I need to do anything special other than back up to my computer to put everything back?
... any ideas where I put my mobile phone insurance info?

Don't know what I would do without this forum ... I love my n900 but nokia don't appear to be too keen on helping us owners out! x

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Could be either, but it would be quite a coincidence for both to fail at once. From your descriptions, it definitely sounds like a problem with the phone though.

Just don't take "no" for an answer. They know it's a problem and they've accepted that it's a warranty issue, but some of the support staff still try to insist that it's caused by user error.

If the port hasn't actually come out yet then they may just do a repair, in which case the data would probably be okay. Otherwise they'll be doing a swap of the main board or a swap for a new/reconditioned phone, either of which will mean all your data is gone.

'fraid not, but as you're in the UK then the N900 is definitely still within warranty (2 years in the EU), so there should be no need to involve any insurance.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Thanks for some fabulously useful answers! ... it's still connected so far as I know, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for keeping all my data! ... so far it's just majorly annoying charging issues that need to be sorted before I can no longer charge it at all! x

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Just a quick suggestion on this point. Enable extras-devel and install BackupMenu. It backs up the whole system. It works very well. I just used it to transfer all my applications and settings to my second N900. ;)

See here for the steps I took.

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...385#post958385

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Thanks! ... that sounds like it's worth a look! ... have bookmarked so I can have a proper go through when I have time! x

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Arse!!! ... I am sooo pissed off with myself ... I was leaving sorting out my USB problems till next week, and hadn't yet got around to backing up the entire phone ... and without any warning (well, he port becoming lose, it's had charging problems for a couple of weeks!) it's just come competely away ... and of course at a point when my battery was practically dead so no chance of bluetoothing any important files to my PC or changing anything ...oh well, guess Nokia can't complain about fixing it now as it's defnitely broke and definitely a problem with the build quality ... and definitely something they have to fix ... will just have to start over making my phone all lovely when they return it with a new motherboard and usb port ... *sulks*

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

Interesting. I personally don't think $70 is that bad. If I ever get this problem (I worry about it) I'll contact Nokia.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

They will definitely wipe your data even if they can fix it, it is standard policy and what happened when I sent mine in (my port was only loose so they just repaired it). If you really want to save your data get yourself an external charger off ebay to charge the battery so you can do a backup, I would also suggest using a microsd card to backup to, bluetooth is really slow and wifi is still a lot slower than a copy to a microsd card is.

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

My first N900 had a camera issue, it suddenly stopped working. So I have sent my phone to Nokia, and they replaced my phone with a new one. After few months, the replaced NOKIA N900 fails again! The mini usb-port is fallen apart. Hoping for a replacement, atleast for a repair, I called Nokia, asked is my phone still warranty, can I get it repaired or sth...? They answered me Yes, it is still under warranty just send us your phone, we will have a look... So I have sent them my phone last week's monday and I still didn't get a respond from them, no emails, mails or calls, nothing. Today, actually just now, I called them and I'm really surprised how Nokia really CARES! The answer was "Your phone is no more under warranty, we still waiting for proof of purchase ...." I never got a email or call telling me to send the invoice. I got it as a present I never had the invoice, so I ask " what if I can't send the proof of purchase?" they say they will send me back my unrepaired piece of s.... and somebody will call me today...
Enough with Nokia! I'm switching to Iphone, Samsung or some HTC

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

.. actually, that does definitely sound like something I should look into before sending it off to them ... guess given it's Thursday night it won't actually take that much longer to get a charger+microSD to save my data, so it won't be returned to me all that much later ... *hopefully* ... thanks! ... will have a look through ebay! x

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

... looks like it's only available shipped from hong kong ... guess I should prbably get one (and a spare battery!) anyway ... as I love this phone and if it happens again when it's out of warrenty then I'm going to need to work around the USB port ...

Re: Problems with N900 USB port becoming broken / loose and resulting warranty & repair issues
 

i have just had the same problem with my second N900. Bugger stopped charging. After a lot of scratching my head I finally decided to open up the phone. Really well made and well put together I have to say. I got to the USB port and could see it had come loose on one side from the board. Pushing it down made the connection again. So I decided to fold up some of my business card and stuff it between the microSD card bit and the USB port. This pushed the USB port down on to the motherboard and kept it there

I put the phone back together and of course with the card the port doesnt line up exactly with the hole but enough so that a cable can be plugged in. The keyboard on that side is ever so slightly raised, only a few mm.

I fired up the charger and was amazed to find it worked. The phone charges and connects to the PC like new. I backed it up and living happy ever since. Typed this whole reply on it.