Hello,
It's been a while since my last token of presence on this board. However, I'll have to ask for some support this time. As of Friday night, I discovered that the left hand softkey [LEFT] of my N73 has stopped working in the normal way. What I mean to say is the following.
I have always found it some kind of an issue that the N73 didn't ship with a key lock feature by default, except for the 'Lock Phone' feature, which would require you to key your security code every time you'd need the phone again. As I got fed up with this, I decided to have a keylocker installed, a simple application which would lock the keys after a user definable period of time came to an end. The user would have to unlock the keypad by using the normal sequence of [LEFT], then [*]. Unfortunately, this Friday, my phone wouldn't 'listen' to this. After having pressed [LEFT],[*] repeatedly by heart, I noticed that the lights didn't come on after pressing [LEFT], as was usual. So, I pressed the Power button to force the lights to come on. Then, I noticed that after pressing [LEFT], the phone would state 'Press Unlock, Then *'. After pressing [LEFT], the message would shortly disappear and then reappear quite sanppilshly.
I decided I had to remove the battery to unlock it, however this didn't work either. The phone would lock itself right after the start-up sequence. So, I carried out the Three-Finger reset procedure, wich indeed reset my phone. I was nicely presented with the 'choose City' screen. After my phone was ready for use again, I locked the keypad manually ([LEFT],[*]). I tried to unlock it again, but the same issue arose.
I was so lucky as to remember a slight bug in the software, which alows you to unlock the phone by sliding the camera door open and then exiting the camera module. So, I gained access again to the phone.
I tried, then, to add some names to the phone book (after the reset, all data was gone, so I figured I'd add some names and numbers so I could use them quickly. But here's the no-go:
I entered the phone book via the active standby (shortcut No. 1). But then, when I tried to add a name by going to Options (involving a single tap on [LEFT], I noticed something strange:
The menu would appear as usual, and then disappear right away, nice and fluently, as if one pressed the right key to go back one step.
I tried invoking some more left hand key menus, all with the same result. Then I opened an application which for some inexplicable reason uses the RIHT key to access menus, so as to test any strange shortcuts in the circuitry. Howevwer, I could se this application quite conveniently. I would have to use the left key only to give it the OK at times. This worked like a charm.
I tested all other keys on the keypad and the phone's right side, and all seem to work normally (except [LEFT], that is).
I can successfully access Messaging via the [LEFT] key, because the phone has this nifty little delay in opening the messaging software. Notice what I said just now: It seems as though the software is actually runnig at too fast a pace. This means that it's just a tack TOO zippy... I tried all sorts of resets to clear it out, but haven't yet succeeded: Phone reset (*#7370#), Phone format (*#7780#), 3-finger reset (hold 3 + * + 'green' till the startup signal), removing installed apps, etc... Nothing whatsoever helped.
As far as I know, nothing externally happened that could have provoked this behaviour (I stayed well clear of any type of fluid, etc), so I don't assume a real hardware failure. However, my phone did have a repair once, where they had to replace the keypad because of a missing joystick. This is 9 months ago now, and until Friday, my phone has worked like a charm.
So, the bottom line is actually quite simple: does anybody know what could have caused this (software hookup, virus, filth below the keys, etc.), and what is there to do about it? Can one try, for example, to restore a phone backup or to reinstall the phone's software (i.e. doing a reflash using NSU)? I happened to notice today that a new software version for my phone was released some time ago. Could this sort it out? I actually don't fancy to just toss out another €45 to have the keypad replaced once again, and I feel this is quite unnecessary, as one press on the LEFT key SOUNDS like one press (only one bleep can be heard). This is not the case, however, when there's a status message on the phones display, for example when displaying the phone's sostware version or IMEI. One can dismiss these message by pressing [LEFT}, but in these cases, one would hear TWO distinct beeps. This is, however, the only time that is the case. I know the phone has worked flawlessly until thursday evening/night, and this might even have been the case untill friday afternoon, which strengthens my presumption of a software-based problem...
Help would of course be GREATLY appreciated, and will be rewarded with KUDO's if my issue be resolved! Pity, because I always adored the phone... I am planning to buy an iPhone, but I've always thought to continue using my N73 as my secundary... Please HELP.
regards,
csteelooper
V3.0704.1.0.1
19-01-2007
RM-133 Nokia N73(57.01) Product Code:0539338
Support
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