Discussion Forums > Technology

Question for you cell phone experts

(1/4) > >>

Freedom Kira:
Alright, here's the deal this time.

I have my girlfriend's Nokia 5310. She's looking to get it fixed, and I thought, hey, doesn't hurt to try.

So this is what's happening. The phone powers on fine, the display looks great, the battery is working great. It's a GSM phone (SIMlocked to Rogers Wireless in Canada), so first it asks if you want to start it up without a SIM card. I hit yes, and it shows the handshake Nokia animation, and then it goes to a screen where you are to enter the date and time. About a second into this screen, the phone starts acting funny. It shuts off, then automatically comes back on to the same screen, only to shut off again. This happens 3-4 times, and then the phone stays shut off, frozen on the date/time screen, eventually fading to black. I believe this has happened with the SIM card in it as well, otherwise the phone probably would never have ended up in my hands.

The condition of the phone is... pretty battered. Several keys are cracked, and half of the 0 key broke off. There are scratches all over. There's a deep scratch or crack on the covering of the LCD (the display itself is fine). I had taken it apart and removed a few dust chunks. I've tried replacing the LCD screen because I had a somewhat similar problem with my own Nokia 5300 (it would start up and then shut back down after a moment, but the screen was actually screwy on that one). Right now it is in its original condition.

So here's my question. Any ideas on how to fix this? Seems like no one on Google has experienced this problem before.

It looks like the problem is on the mobo. So, I've been considering getting a used 5310 off eBay and change the mobo over. It should be an easy task that should take no more than an hour. Problem is, does a SIMlock on the mobo carry over? In other words, if the phone I am buying is SIMlocked to, for example, T-Mobile, would moving the mobo over cause my 5310 to become SIMlocked to T-Mobile?

Thanks in advance to anyone with answers.

boxer4:
Yes the motherboard is the item that tends to be subscriber locked.

The symptoms seems like the phone has seen its better days.  I can't tell if it's normal or not but doesn't seem to work like how my phone behaves but it's a different phone (Nokia 5230).  My phone is subsidy unlocked though (T-Mobile branded, but I've used a AT&T card in it.)

Freedom Kira:
It has definitely seen better days, but even then the symptoms are the strangest I've ever experienced.

I was hoping it was the SIM reader that was locked, not the mobo. I guess the reader is attached to the mobo though.

relic2279:
I was a cell phone technician. Repaired handsets for a few years.

The phone is shot. Can it be fixed? Sure. But it would cost more in time and money than to buy a new phone.


--- Quote ---Seems like no one on Google has experienced this problem before.
--- End quote ---
We have, but it's like trying to replace a $1100 transmission in a car that's worth $700. It just isn't done.

Freedom Kira:
Ah, I figured as much. Thanks for that.

I figure it's more worth it to get a used phone and move the mobo over. A new one can cost upwards of $70, and a used one around half that. I just have to check if the SIMlock is either not there or on the right network, yes? Can you confirm if the SIMlock is on the mobo or not?

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page