Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
onetufferz
Enthusiast - Level 2

My girlfriend recently got an update for her Samsung Droid Charge and ever since, 3 days now, the phone drains the battery within 4 hours.  Prior to the new update she only had to charge her phonw once a day.  She doesn't use it constantly so we are trying to find out what is going on.  Verizon store told us that "it's normal for the phone to drain that fast", but it didn't do this until the recent update.  Anyone have any answers or similar problems?  She loved the phone up until now.  We tried fixing by taking the battery out and reinstalling to no luck.  Any info would be appreciated.

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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
onetufferz
Enthusiast - Level 2

Thanks to all who sent info in on this frustrating topic.  My girlfriend was able to get her phone back to normal after complaining to Verizon customer service and Samsung.  They did it by walking her thru a "factory reset" or hard reset.  Samsung told her to send the phone to them and they would re-flash it but couldn't promise anything!  They were rude and absolutely NO HELP! Verizon customer service walked her thru the process and she was able to reset the phone, keeping the new update intact, and restoring her battery life completely!  She did have to write down the free apps she had to restore them afterwards though.  But the apps she purchased were retrieved thru her gmail account!  Also, Verizon rep told her to only download 2 apps at most a day.  This way you can check afterwards to see if any new downloaded apps are causing a problem and not wondering which one may have done it.  I suggest anyone with this problem, or similar one, contact Verizon Wireless and have them walk you through the same thing. It works and you don't need to give up your phone for 2 to 3 weeks to Samsung!  Also, interestingly enough, Samsung told her they have yet to hear of any problems with the new update!  She told them to go online and read all the complaints!  Kudos to her for speaking her mind.

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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
DC5_K20Z1
Contributor - Level 3
Turn the screen brightness off completely, same with the browser, turn off all animations, close out all unused apps, force the phone into 3g only, change the screen timeout to 30 seconds or 1 minute and try to change any synching of accounts to intervals of every 3-6 hours. That should help.
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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
JerryF
Specialist - Level 1

This is for onetufferz's girlfriend,

 

Here is another idea because "sometimes" when you update to a new OS the battery guage goes a little wacky.  I have good news for you but first the bad news is that you can only recalibrate the battery guage (batterystats.bin) by rooting and you definitely do NOT want to do that. 

 

Here's the good news, a couple of BUMP charges sometimes fixes the problem. 

 

One technique that has gained popularity in the user community is "bump charging." To bump charge the battery in your Charge phone, turn it off completely, and plug it into a charger.  I suggest using the 110 Volt 1 Amp charger that came with your phone.  In a couple of minutes you will see a big green battery on your screen that looks like a flashlight battery.  Just let it charge.  BTW, that battery will disappear but later when the phone's battery in at 100% it will again reappear as if by magic.

 

When it says 100% DO NOT turn on your phone and DO NOT start using your phone.  Got that...there will be a test later.

 

Instead, disconnect the charger and immediately reconnect the charger to the phone.  The battery will now accept more charge before again saying it is full. Do it 3-4 times.  After an OS update you might do it 6 times.  This disconnect and reconnect process can be repeated multiple times, each time squeezing just a little bit more into the battery.

 

For those of you who want more technical info on this go to the URL below OR search for my previous post on this forum using the word  BUMP.

 

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=871051

 

Hope this helps,

JerryF

 

PS,  When I BUMP charge I start it before I go to bed. The next morning, while getting dressed and eating B'fast, I do 2-4 unplug and replug cycles becaus it's only several minutes or so between each unplug and replug in.  Saves time overall!!!

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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
GreenRobot
Contributor - Level 3

Press Settings, About Phone, then Battery use and see if there is something obliviously draining your battery. I found this one this morning. Good bye Vtok not that it even worked anyways. 

 

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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
WTTTT
Enthusiast - Level 2

I noticed this too!  After the update, my battery goes down in a hurry!  I checked the screen shown in the previous post and it showed that Handcent was using up the battery.  Strange since I have only received 3 texts today.  Handcent did not do this prior to the update.  I wonder what is going on!

 

Another big one that I don't remember from before the update and that is now showing as a big drain is "Cell Standby".

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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
louise3000
Newbie

I have Android System  6%   and another line for  Android OS which is 15%.  When I see the picture of your screen, I'm wondering if something is wrong and this is why my battery life has gone way down. 

 

I used to be able to get approximately 24 hours on a day when I didn't use the phone much at all, and now, after the upgrade, I'm getting about 6 hours.  But I also see that 21% is being used by Android itself. 

 

What is the difference between the OS and the System?  And should I have both of them?

 

Thanks.

 

Louise

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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
louise3000
Newbie

My phone has gone from holding enough of a charge to take me through the day, to lasting about 6 hours.  I've always kept brightness low, turn off short, etc.

 

A phone call to tech support resulted in the "explanation" that the upgrade brings so much more in terms of speed and some app improvements, that it simply uses more juice and so I should expect to have to carry a charger around!  The tech was friendly and serious in what to me sounds like a preposterous explanation!

 

Louise

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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
WTTTT
Enthusiast - Level 2

Yeah something is up with this.  Third day with the update and even though I installed Juice Defender last night the phone's battery lasts probably 50% of what it did before.  Others say their battery life has increased though.  I wonder what is wrong?

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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
moni7831
Newbie

I HATE this update!!!!      it hasn't done anything good for me... drains the battery faster AND it's deleted all the contact photos from sync'd accounts!!!   I've deleted those accounts, re-downloaded, redid all the settings, etc... I've tried it all... and NOTHING!!!   the phone's still slow.. only gets service when it wants... etc...

 

I am NEVER going to get a {word filter avoidance} droid again!!!   I will be switching to an iPhone next!!!!!

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Re: Samsung Droid Charge recent update problems!
bluestar
Contributor - Level 1

I'm also experiencing the battery drain issue with a decrease in battery life of almost 50%. And this is after doing all the battery saving tricks including bump charging. I wonder why some have increased battery life while others have the opposite.

 

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