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In Turkey now and my cell phone has died! Any technology geniuses out there tonight?

I have a Tmobile Samsung Exhibit 4. It's been working fine for two weeks. Today a text came in, the phone lit up funny and it went black. All attempts to turn it back on fail. I have tried to reboot holding the power and the volume up buttons. I have tried just holding power and just holding volume up. I have even tried just volume down. Sometimes the phone will turn on for a second, show the TMobile Android screen, and then shut off. Sometimes I get a weird screen with the little green Android guy standing next to a picture of a file and there's an arrow coming out of the file.

Anyone have any ideas on what else I can try? I've taken out the battery and tried to start it...etc...all the basics I was able to research on Google, but nothing works.

Thanks!

Posted by
32173 posts

Valerie,

It sounds like a somewhat serious problem in the OS, and probably not something you're going to be able to correct until you get home. In the same situation, I'd stop at the nearest cell shop and buy a local phone, using it with your T-Mobile SIM (be sure to specify a phone that takes the same size SIM).

Posted by
2613 posts

Thanks, Ken!

It never ceases to amaze me that, no matter how much organizing and preparing I do, something always comes up as I travel! I've got Skype up and running on my Ipad now and at least that keeps me in contact. I'll check the phone prices - there's a Turkcell place next door!

Posted by
32173 posts

Valerie,

Did you find a solution to your phone problem?

I was going to mention that I was concerned about having problems with my iPhone on my recent trip, so packed along a "backup phone", just in case (my old Motorola flip). Thankfully I didn't have to use it.

Posted by
6 posts

All sorts of possibilities, but the symptoms are consistent with a defective battery that will only deliver power for a few seconds or less. If you turn the phone off for a while the phone battery can recover slightly, long enough to start the boot-up before quitting again. No way to know if that is what is going on but if you could buy a replacement battery it might be worth a try.

Posted by
2613 posts

Well, I popped into a Turkcell store and then a Samsung store I walked by. Both had clerks who looked at the phone, but the language barrier prevented me from asking for specific help. I think I was able to convey that the phone was dead, but no concrete advice was offered. At any rate, I just got home!!!!! So tomorrow I will take it to TMobile and see what's going on. And @Ken- it's funny I didn't travel with two phones...I carry two with me at home and the stakes are way lower over here. Next time I bring two!

Thanks for the input

Posted by
2613 posts

Well, the Tmobile clerks thought the phone was pretty old at three years. But I still like it:( At any rate, it was unsalvageable and I will have to replace it. Funny how things conk out at the worst times. My house toilets also failed here in Tacoma while I was gone in Turkey!!!