BlackBerry 8900 White Screen

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brattex

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Recently my BB 8900 has been randomly getting "white screens" of death, and when I reboot, it refuses to unless I attach it to a power source (i.e. won't reboot unless it's also charging). Has anyone else experienced this problem before? I want to know if it's a battery problem or software / memory leak problem before I take it through to VODACARE for a 3 month waiting period :(
 
Might just need a reload of the OS...if you in JHB, Vodaworld will sort it out in a day or two.
My Bold 9700 also had the white screen and refused to boot up. Dropped it off at 3pm at Vodaworld and got an sms at 10am the next morning saying my phone was ready for collection. Been working perfectly since.

You can try and reload the OS yourself from a PC if you up to it...something about connecting the phone to the PC via the USB cable without the battery inserted...think there was a detailed guide on crackberry.com.
 
It sounds like the battery. My 8900 was doing this. I found that always plugging it in to a car charger when driving prevented white screen, and if on the phone for a conversation longer than 3 minutes in hte office, plugging it in to usb cable.

Seemed that battery cant supply peak current even when showing nearly fully charged. I did this for 3 weeks waiting for an upgrade to 9780.
 
Goto www.blackberry.com
Download the latest version for your 8900 (should be version 5.xxx).
Backup Ur data on bb via bb desktop manager app.
Then leave Ur fone connect via bb desktop manager.
Run the .exe file that u downloaded from
Bb website and following on screen Instructions.

Hope this helps.
 
Same happened to me on my 8520....the only problem you are facing is your battery that is the source of your problem...get yourself a new battery i still have my old one...and since i have updated my O.S it still was the problem....and try getting yourself the original ones....no aftermarket.... i managed to get an original one for R120....
 
My 8900 works _most_ of the time but after some extensive app usage or anything that uses a bit of battery the phone white screens and I can't reboot it. A reboot after removing the battery and reinserting it will see the phone slowly boot up again but then blank out. If I plug in the power then it will boot up fine.

Checking the BLACKBERRY website for the VODACOM firmware available, it offers:

BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0.0.661 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 5.0.0.661
Consisting of:
Applications: 5.0.0.411
Software Platform: 5.2.0.31
File name: 8900M_PBr5.0.0_rel661_PL5.2.0.31_A5.0.0.411_Vodacom.exe
File size: 129.46MB

But when I run the Help Me! screen on my phone, my Platform is already 5.2.0.58 and App Version is 5.0.0.592 (1004) so I would be downgrading if I did this file, so not sure what to do now ... can't seem to find the 5.2.0.58 version, but I'll try dig under other service providers and see what comes up!

I'm hoping to upgrade my phone on Thursday and take in my phone to CUSTOMER CARE (Durban) the day before while it's still under the 24 month warranty.

Thanks for the help guys, and if there are any further words of wisdom, fire them my way please :)
 
Brattex....your only problem is your battery just replace it.....i too thought it was the operating system....and thought of upgrading....still had the same problem after i did update mine....my only reason why i did upgrade was because i downloaded a corrupt file, which made my operating system corrupt.....well the only reason i decided to buy me a new battery was because i needed a new one, and needed one asap....battery died...and had no charger with me....(needed my phone to be ON always) and so since i bought me a new battery....i have never had that white screen problem ever....until i re-inserted it....back again...i just stopped using it afterward.....and you can update the O.S yourself i too never knew how....but there are plentiful of assistance here and help online....and glad to share my 2cents ;)
 
CLOUDE9.STRIFE said:
Same happened to me on my 8520....the only problem you are facing is your battery that is the source of your problem...get yourself a new battery i still have my old one...and since i have updated my O.S it still was the problem....and try getting yourself the original ones....no aftermarket.... i managed to get an original one for R120....
Click to expand...

So where did you get a battery so cheap? Please let us know......
 
Lol!!! well it was really by luck actually....there is a cell phone shop near my work place...well the owner had a Blackberry which he WAS repairing....and i was the one who needed a new one....and he sold it to me...well i bargained abit...like always do..... ;-))
 
It turns out the OS upgrade did nothing for my phone but the battery was the problem.

I got a replacement 'generic' battery with higher mAh (but seemingly shorter life) for R200 from a cellphone store - most offered it at the same price of R200 for a generic.

Incidentally I've blogged about my experience with a bit more anecdotal information: the key to identifying the problematic battery is spinning it and if it doesn't spin it's probably fine but if it does spin then it's probably wrecked / damaged.
 
Great find there...yeah i noticed mine was as well...its quite fat lol!!!....couldn't close at the back properly because of it...Thumbs up for you brattex....
 
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