Nokia 6600 Major Problems

[quapmocka]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum, but I just thought I'd post a thread here as well. I have just had my second problem with this Nokia 6600. Just to mention up front, that I had bought this phone in Hong Kong (I'm in South Africa) in the middle of November 2003, it was working perfectly from the time I got it until I hit my first problem on 21 March 2004.

Here's my first problem:-

[While out and about today, my alarm went off reminding me of something. So I stop the alarm, and I get this message on the phone "Memory Full". So I think nothing of it and carry on, cause I know that I hardly use any phone memory at all, and store everyone on the MMC.

Then my alarm pops up again, reminding me of something I set in my calander, and I get the same error message. So I said to myself this is weird, and I checked my memory space on the phone. It said showed it was full, using up the full 6MB or whatever. But I check what was being used, and it was nothing, a 100KB in messages, a 100KB in contacts, just 100KB here and there. There was not even 1MB used up in any section.

So I said this is too weird and I decided to switch off my phone and restart it. Try and switch it back on and it stays at the Nokia logo and doesn't bring me to the "enter SIM code" screen. So I try switch it off, and nothing. Doesn't want to switch off. So I remove the battery and then try again. Same thing.

So I've been without a phone the whole day and as soon as I got home started searching on the internet for answers.

I have tried the hard reset/format method of switching off the phone and then holding down, (answer key, * and 3) and then turning on the phone. But that didnt' do anything. Is there another way to harad reset/format my phone to get it back to factory defaults?]


Now two and half weeks later (7 April), they fix it at the Nokia service centre and I go pick it up, and I test the phone and everything's working fine. Then this:-

[PROBLEMS AGAIN!!!

I had just finished loading everyone’s cell numbers, telephone number, e-mail address and everything else. Then I went to recharge the phone. When it was finished recharging I took the phone out and then checking the memory status and other little things, everything was fine. Then a little bit later I wanted to change the background and F*CK!!!! It switches itself off. And now I can’t switch it on again. Nothing will come on. At least the with previous problem the light would come on and display Nokia, this time, nothing at all.

I don’t know anymore….

Will have to take it back to Nokia for them to fix it again. I am not paying Nokia again!!! ]


Has anyone else experienced major problems like this with their Nokia 6600?

I did notice on the Nokia Invoice they charged me on this:-

FLASH 4MX16 1.8/1.8V VFBGA44 6310i

Does the 6600 use the same flash RAM as the 6310i?? The technician did say that they had to replace the flash RAM as it was not flashing normally.

I'll phone Nokia tomorrow and tell them the phone that they fixed is now not working. Then I'll have to take it back to the service centre for them to fix it.

Any suggestions at all or replies would be great.

Thanks,
Lee

[mindhacker]

Looks like your Nokia 6600 is the victim of the first 6600s that were made. They had a big problem in hardware. My first 6600 was like that, I payed over 200 USD for RAMs, Flash ships and so on. And it never worked. Sorry, but my solution was to sell it and buy another...

[quapmocka]

Thanks for the info mindhacker.

So you're saying this is a normal problem with the first batch of Nokia 6600's. Is this just your explaination, or was there a report about a bad batch of 6600's?

Cause I never heard of anything about it. You are the first person to tell me about this.

Well I've sent it back to Nokia, will wait and see what they say.

Regards,
Lee

[ekarat]

I bought Nokia 6600 just a little over 2 weeks ago, and experienced the same problem. The phone became slugglish when entering or leaving program so like you, I switched off the phone and restart. The logo Nokia came up for a long while then the screen went blank...!!! So I took the phone in and told them what happened they said there might be some problem with the system and will check the phone for me but it will takes at least 5-7 days that's when I blow my top. I told them that I only bought this phone 2 days ago if there's something wrong with the phone then give me a new one. My voice was getting louder and louder until the manager step in and said he will get to work on it right away and have it ready by the afternoon.....

Then a week later the phone crashed..... again..... So I went back to Nokia and calmly this time and have the phone fix in - one day then sold it that evening and bought SE P900 and been happy with it since...

I've been switching between Nokai and SE for a long while and both are very good phone but after this episode I guess Nokia has just lost one long dedicate customer....

[quapmocka]

I was just thinking about something.

Could the MMC Card have anything to do with the problem on a Nokia 6600??

Do all MMC Cards use the same voltage and signal? Or does each MMC use a different signal?

Cause I thought maybe the MMC might have had something to do with the phone crashing within a day? Maybe a bad MMC wiped out the flash RAM and made the phone switch off?

Has anyone heard of such a case?

Thanks,
Lee

[DEViANT]

Can I just ask why everyone is paying loads of money for RAM and flash chips when surely the phone is covered under warranty? Unless it's a grey import, in which case it won't be covered but if it's under warranty I've never had to worry about being charged for anything. Is there something I'm missing?

If the phones are that bad then normally Nokia will replace it with a new/refurb model.

[ekarat]

Here in Thailand once you buy a phone even from an authorised dealer you're stuck with it.... When something wrong with the phone they won't replace it with a new one, instead they'll try to fix it and fix it until you get pissed off with them and end up buying a new phone in the end.

Life is tough here in Thailand...!!!

[Cyberdog]

OMG so there's no warranty?!!! That's bad, I really feel sorry for you, they are really ripping you off! Perhaps you should buy a phone from another country if you know someone there and if there are problems return it to your friend in that country to get it fixed, i know that's a hassle, but i'm sure it would have to be better then having to sell a phone and buy another one when a problem arrises!

[sush]

where in hk did u purchase ur phone?? i believe if u bought it from tst or maybe any other grey market dealer, because these people they change many imp ic's in the phone and the battery too

well i dunno some people just to save few hundred hk$ go in for this ****ty kinda piece


well anyways i would suggest dun go for sony erricson mobile phones, the reason is lack of reception

they got very stupid radios for their mobile phones which r of no use

nothin in compare of nokia

nokia is the best!!!

[quapmocka]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

DEViANT: I don't know if you read the whole post, but my phone is "grey". I got the phone from a friend in Hong Kong, and he bought it back for me to South Africa. So I have to pay since it is "grey" which I think is dumb, Nokia should be recognised throughout the world.

ekarat: Well it is still with Nokia, I will phone them on Thursday to find out the progress of the phone, what can or can't be done about it. Hopefully it is good news, and they have fixed it.

Cyberdog: If Nokia South Africa cannot fix it and will not fix it, I will have to send it back to my friend and he will have to sort it out. He regularly visits Hong Kong, and maybe he can get it fixed, or even better - replaced. But as people here are saying, no one will just swop out a phone for a new one.

sush: I still have the receipt with me. The phone is from a place called Mobile Phone (very original) Shop B3, Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. What are imp ic's?? And what else do they change?? That could be causing the problems? I paid HK$3450 at the time, which was last year November.

Lee

[6600]

Ok...

1) What Firmware are you running? [do you have any idea]
How old is the phone?

I've heard a LOT of complaints about the 6600, but mine is rock-solid [even plays the n-gage games perfectly], and I have 2 or 3 friends, whose phones are all functioning properly. Wierd. In that area, its actually a LOT better than the older Symbian phones [3650, 7650].

2) You should call a manager at your local nokia offices and tell him about this BS. And the fact that you don't have a warranty really sucks. Its my belief that every phone should be sold with a warranty direct from the manufacturer rather than the service center which usually likes to do a lot of BSing.

Good Luck man.

[DEViANT]

Originally posted by quapmocka
Thanks for all the replies guys.

sush: I still have the receipt with me. The phone is from a place called Mobile Phone (very original) Shop B3, Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. What are imp ic's?? And what else do they change?? That could be causing the problems? I paid HK$3450 at the time, which was last year November.

Lee

I don't think sush knows what they are talking about to be honest. Imp ICs, I can only assume he means improper or incorrect ICs and somehow I really doubt anyone is going to be changing surface-mount components (do you realise what kind of equipment is needed to do that?) nor stealing the original batteries from the phones and replacing them with aftermarket copies.

I think if you go in there and stamp and shout loud enough they may well get it fixed for you or replaced. If you do it in their shop and make a loud enough noise, bored with losing customers and looking bad, they may just replace your phone for you there and then.

[sush]

its so stupid of u to tell me that i dun anything and lemme tell u that these people in hk they remove some ics from the motherboard and replace it with cheap china parts

and lemme tell u one thing, u better be with ur european **** of losing customers and bull**** blah blah!!!

well anyways u try sendin ur phone to hk but dun expect that chinese guy to do somethin for u for free

[DEViANT]

Originally posted by sush
its so stupid of u to tell me that i dun anything and lemme tell u that these people in hk they remove some ics from the motherboard and replace it with cheap china parts

and lemme tell u one thing, u better be with ur european **** of losing customers and bull**** blah blah!!!

well anyways u try sendin ur phone to hk but dun expect that chinese guy to do somethin for u for free

Stop being an idiot - and here's why:

1. I have Chinese connections and spend time over there, so I (unlike yourself) probably do know what I am on about - I have never encountered problems with them
2. You are writing so that not only are you very difficult to understand but I find it hard to take people seriously who use 'txt spk' in normal conversations
3. Most of the ICs are manufactured in China/Taiwan anyway - that's where the fabs are, so I can't see how replacing Chinese ICs with Chinese ICs will do anything and how (if it is possible and done) it is in the slightest bit cost effective for them to do so (actually remove the IC in the first place, and who would ever buy these desoldered 'original' parts anyway to be reused?). A phone is a very complex piece of equipment, you can't just chop and change bits, the fact that most of quapmocka's phone is working shows this
4. I never said you 'dun anything'
5. Why bother swearing when you can get your point across by writing normally (like the many other people on this board)

[quapmocka]

6600: When I got the phone back, I saw it had firmware version 3.42.1. That's the standard factory default. But I believe there is a new version out: 4.09.1. The phone is not that old. It was released in October 2003, and I got it in the middle of November 2003. It was working perfectly from November 2003 till March 2004, then it just conked out.

I don't think the managers would care whether I have a warrenty or not. They know I got the phone "grey". I guess if I had bought the phone from them, they might actually give a sh*t. But I agree with you, I should get a warrenty direct from Nokia and it should be international. Do you think I should e-mail Nokia's main head-quarters or something? Or do you think I'll just be wasting my time.

DEViANT: Thanks for the re-assurance. But I don't think making a fuss and screaming my lungs out would make a single difference. My phone is "grey", I'm in the wrong, they have their way of doing things, and they won't budge.

sush: As I said, if Nokia cannot help me fixing the phone, then I guess my only option would be to send the phone back with my friend the next time he goes to Hong Kong.

Anyone have any comments on regards to the MMC issue? Could the MMC be a problem?

Thanks,
Lee

[xyvern]

I'm so happy that Nokia will release this phone in US under model# 6620 and from what I've read on-line that FCC has approved this phone and just up to the major carriers in US to carry this phone. I'm just wondering if Cingular will have a chance to get this phone ?

[6600]

Originally posted by quapmocka
6600: When I got the phone back, I saw it had firmware version 3.42.1. That's the standard factory default. But I believe there is a new version out: 4.09.1. The phone is not that old. It was released in October 2003, and I got it in the middle of November 2003. It was working perfectly from November 2003 till March 2004, then it just conked out.

I don't think the managers would care whether I have a warrenty or not. They know I got the phone "grey". I guess if I had bought the phone from them, they might actually give a sh*t. But I agree with you, I should get a warrenty direct from Nokia and it should be international. Do you think I should e-mail Nokia's main head-quarters or something? Or do you think I'll just be wasting my time.


I'm running 3.42.1/16-10-03, so I guess the firmware probably isn't the problem. What's happening really is a shame and very strange... Mine has been rock-solid, if not also much more solid than my previous phone, the 7650. I also got mine in the same time period as you.

Maybe you should try contacting the nokia regional offices...

[quapmocka]

Just to let everyone know the outcome of my Nokia 6600 phone.

Nokia South Africa could not fix it and were actually just stuffing me around. I would really like to complain to someone about Nokia South Africa. If I had to e-mail them in Europe or America, would they actually give a damn that their South African branch is full of it? Anyone got e-mail addresses?

They also totally stuffed up my cover trying to pry it open with a screwdriver or something. The sides are all scratched up and it looks horrible.

Anyway, after Nokia, I took it to a local private cellphone repair shop. They were at least able to get the phone to switch on again, something Nokia themselves could not even do. But when I inserted my SIM card, it told me there was something wrong with the software and needed to be reloaded. Something the cellphone repair shop could not do as they did not have the equipment to flash the memory to the latest firmware.

So now it's going back to Hong Kong with the person I got it from, and he will see what he can do from his side. Either get it fixed...or even better swopped out for a brand new phone.

That's the last time I tell people to take their broken Nokia phones to Nokia South Africa. They bloody treat you like dirt. They don't even look at you while they speak to you.

Regards,
:L:

[dee]

Mate I had exactly the same nonsense. ( In all the emails I sent you) I also can NOT stand Nokia SA. They are complete and utter idiots. My phone suffered form Similar problems but I sent it to Vodacare( the local cell phone agents for one of our networks) and they got it sorted it albeit in three weeks. However they are not plain sailing.. They lost my moms Ericsson T28s and then denied that they ever took it for three months, till my dad took them to court and all was merry...
Anyway they sorted my phone out so I recommened that you take it to them. They will sort it out for you. You will pay un-fortunatly but they will fix it in their OWN service center AND NOT IN THE NOKIA center... and you live in Pretoria the center is in JHB so that should sort out your problem.

With regards to emailing Nokia in Europe, give it a shot. If you want a petition to say how appauling the Nokia service is here in SA--- PUT MY NAME DOWN!!!

I truly hope you sort this out.. I know exactly how you feel
Dee

EDIT: I see you have already sent your phone off, hope it gets sorted!;)

[quapmocka]

Hey Dee,

The private cellular repair shop was actually a VodaCare shop. As I said they atleast were able to make the phone switch on, but were not able to upgrade the software.

The guy is going back to Hong Kong tonight with the phone and he will be back in a month.

Will wait and see what happens.

:L:

[quapmocka]

Just to update everyone on my experience.

I have finally recieved my phone back from my friend who went to Hong Kong. It looks like it's all working and I've been using it for 3 days without any problems.

He said that problem was that the software to load the firmware is different for each country, and they all the programming was in Chinese for this phone, so if someone here had to fix it, they wouldn't be able to.

One thing I am irritated about, is that they didn't upgrade the firmware to the latest firmware. I'm still sitting on V3.42.1, the factory default.

Anyway, I'm happy with it. I'll have to see how long it lasts this time. I'll be watching the phone very very carefully.

Thanks for everyone's input on this thread.

:L:

[dee]

Really?

Is 3.42.1 not the latest? I thought that it was.

Oh well, will get mine flashed soon then!