Captivate Self Shut Down + Fix

**icebike** · 08-27-2010, 11:53 PM

Anyone else seeing the Captivate just shut down (all the way to off) when locked (screen off).

I'm seeing quite a few hits on google about this but nobody has any clear idea of what causes it.
The thing is factory stock. Its the wife's phone, and she won't let me root it. (yet).

**johnnyshinta** · 08-28-2010, 12:16 AM

Mine has done it a few times and it wasn't like I was doing a lot on it. I had it sitting next to me with the music player running but not playing. And it just shut off. Not shut down with the graphics. Just went to the charging screen

**writerman** · 08-28-2010, 04:39 AM

My first Captivate (rooted) developed the habit of shutting down 2-3 times a day, but I was still within my 30 day return window so I just exchanged it. I've had the new one since Monday (also rooted) with no issues so far.

**jacob81286** · 08-28-2010, 01:06 PM

My Captivate keeps shutting down as well it didn't start happening until I installed the handcent sms client. specifically after i send a text message and it goes to sleep it shuts off. do any of you have this installed?

**icebike** · 08-28-2010, 01:39 PM

Haven't installed handcent.

Did install noled but it made the phone so troublesome to wake up that I just uninstalled it.

Nothing unusual installed at this point. Just a few market apps.

**johnnyshinta** · 08-28-2010, 08:40 PM

No don't have handcent

**writerman** · 08-29-2010, 12:21 AM

I had handcent on my first Captivate, but the shutdowns were unrelated. I'm also running handcent on my new Captivate and have had zero shutdowns.

**prim8** · 08-29-2010, 02:39 PM

I've been running Handcent for 3 weeks or so and haven't ever had my phone shut down.

**MisterDBarton** · 09-16-2010, 10:55 AM

My phone keeps randomly shutting down as well. Happened before and after I rooted. Wondering if it may be LauncherPro?

**icebike** · 09-16-2010, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by MisterDBarton

Wondering if it may be LauncherPro?

Nope. We don't use Launcher Pro.
There are on this subject at XDA. They've tried everything.

**reptilematt** · 09-22-2010, 09:52 PM

My phone has shut down when idle too. If it does it after some of these updates that AT&T/Samsung are rolling out; I'm switching to something more reliable. I hope this problem is officially addressed soon by Samsung. Seems more problematic than GPS in my opinion. Much worse than any bugs the iPhone has. Who buys a phone that shuts off on it's own? Apparently me

I've tried the following:

Default ROM
No Apps

Default ROM
Only Google Inc. Apps

Default ROM
A bunch of Apps

Every case has shutdown once the phone goes idle in pattern lock screen.

**bobaka** · 09-22-2010, 10:56 PM

clean the battery terminals on the phone and the battery and reseat it
happened to me twice.. after i did this hasnt happened again... been six weeks at least...

**mysmartphonenews** · 12-26-2010, 01:40 PM

Here is a semi-fix. This trick will prevent your phone from shutting down but will decrease battery life somewhat.

1. Download "Load Monitor" from the Android Market.

2. Once installed, open the Load Monitor app.

3. Click on the Menu Button and Select Preferences.

4. Check the following Items:

* Add Notification
* Auto Start
* Wake Lock
* Only screen on

5. Go to "Update interval" and select 5 Minutes.

6. Although the Auto-start assures the app runs everytime you reboot your phone, if it ever shuts off, start the app manually; though you should haven't to do this step too many times.

Load Monitor keeps your phone from shutting down by preventing suspend via wake lock setting and by actively monitoring your load, the phone is always doing something. The main reason these phones shut-off is due to the processor going into suspended mode whenever it is not being used much and then it shuts off once it hasn't been used long enough. This trick worked for me, can't guarantee for everyone but a very good chance it will work.

**mty msi** · 12-28-2010, 02:28 PM

http://forum.androidcentral.com/t-ca...shutdowns.html

This is a 3 page thread on random shutdowns. I haven't had my replacement Captivate shut down once, my original phone shut down multiple times daily.

I believe the problem is with the phone itself and requires repair or replacement to correctly alleviate the problem.

**Verdes8891** · 12-28-2010, 04:18 PM

My captivate, (non rooted) started doing this as well and would shut down a few times a day. I downloaded from the Market "Captivate Keep Alive" and put that on. It has not shut down on me since. If you are using a Task Killer, you might need to go into to put the keep alive app on the ignore list so it wont kill it.

**mty msi** · 12-28-2010, 07:33 PM

I downloaded Captivate Keep Alive on my first phone and it did not stop the daily random shutdowns. I was not using a Task Killer.

**Verdes8891** · 12-28-2010, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by mty msi

I downloaded Captivate Keep Alive on my first phone and it did not stop the daily random shutdowns. I was not using a Task Killer.

I am not sure what to tell you on this one. It worked for me and I am using a task killer.

**the3dgm** · 12-28-2010, 09:27 PM

Upon buying my Captivate, that night I did my initial charge of the battery, after which my phone turned off every time the screen turned off. This, by the way, seems to be the point that this problem usually shows up after the first battery charge. I tried all the suggestions here and else where over the first weekend. Called Radio Shack on Monday and the woman who sold me the phone said 'Captivates just do that.' Called AT&T, they had never heard of the problem, of course. Though they strongly suggested not returning it to the store for a replacement but sending it to Samsung for repair.

Samsung also had never heard of this problem before my call. (even though it is the second most often asked question on their site) They did issue me an RMA, e-mailed me a shipping label and instructions for shipping and I was told turn around time would be 6 days and that the phone would be fixed.

Exactly 6 days later the phone was back in my hands and has worked perfectly ever since. (so much for the software band aids)

**mty msi** · 12-29-2010, 08:27 PM

That was my point, from everything I have read about the random shutdown problem it can only be fixed by replacing or repairing the phone.

My first phone worked perfectly except for the random shutdowns on a daily basis. I returned it to Radio Shack for a new one and have not had the problem again. The second phone was definitely a later model because it already had the AT&T update, the first phone did not.

My previous approx six phones were HTC and I always called HTC tech support instead of AT&T. HTC has excellent tech support and although I have not called them from various posts I have read it doesn't sound like Samsung even comes close.

IMO unless your problem is network related AT&T (and probably all the other carriers) are pretty useless to diagnose anything more than a phone problem which obviously requires repair/replacement because they all have too many different phones (manufacturers and models) in the field. The odds of getting a carrier tech support individual that is very familiar with a particular phone aren't good.

It seems from reading posts that Samsung tech support never wants to acknowledge a problem even those that are well known. Puts me off on Samsung products to have that kind of manufacturer support.

Of course at present if you want a top of the line AT&T Android phone you have only the Captivate to choose from. Had there been an HTC option I would have taken it just because of their tech support.

As I think about it the original IPhone I had used Apple tech support which was a distinct advantage over AT&T.

**leo5111** · 12-30-2010, 01:41 AM

if random shutdown issues persist and it is the software NOT the hardware i will look for the close-est rom to the stock one but without all the bloatware i want music&video player to play my music&videos and i like the floating bubbles wallpaper and wifi, in essence take att rom remove family maps and all the other att crap is what i want

**DroidXcon** · 12-30-2010, 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by leo5111

if random shutdown issues persist and it is the software NOT the hardware i will look for the close-est rom to the stock one but without all the bloatware i want music&video player to play my music&videos and i like the floating bubbles wallpaper and wifi, in essence take att rom remove family maps and all the other att crap is what i want

Its def a software issue... just like the motorola phones, really well built but software always have the rebooting.

**leo5111** · 12-30-2010, 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by DroidXcon

Its def a software issue... just like the motorola phones, really well built but software always have the rebooting.

so flashing a differnt rom will fix it?? and whats best rom thats basicly stock rom with bloatware off it? also im on a att captivate with 2.1 1 rom

**Bmoe320** · 01-02-2011, 12:35 PM

Older devices have this as a known issue from AT&T. Just talked to them as this is an issue with my 2 week old captivate. They are replacing it with a new phone from the proper stock. Call the support line and they can check the imie number to verify stock. If the IMIE last 4 digits are 5394 or lower the unit bad & will need to be replaced.

**Jalarm** · 01-02-2011, 01:41 PM

Get the app Captivate keep alive. No shutdowns after I downloaded that.

**bdpyo** · 01-04-2011, 04:59 AM

Hi folks, the last 2 nights I have used, well tried to use my Captivate as a alarm clock.

I had the phone powered on with no sim card in it. Last night was the second night in a row where the phone shut down and turned off on its own.

Is this common? Phone is completely stock.

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