screen freezes when charger not plugged in

Albert Anton · 11-23-2011, 09:38 AM

The vox was over 90% charged when I took it out of the box yesterday. I plugged in the charger before doing anything to get it going, as instructed in the written instructions in the box. It took a few tries to initialize and download updates but this was all completed ok.

My problem is that when I unplug the charger the green status light at the top of the reader goes out and the screen is unresponsive. With the charger unplugged it will start or wake up. The status bar at the top with show a full battery and and wifi comes on but the only button that works is the power button. I can't swipe the ribbon at the bottom to unlock the reader. I do the 10 second hard boot to no effect.

I can get beyond the unlock screen if I plug in the charger. The interesting thing is that when I get to the frozen unlocking screen on battery alone, I can quickly plug in the charger, unplug it, and then it will let me make the unlocking swipe getting me to the main screen. But I can't do anything else unless I plug the charger back in again.

I am tempted to take the quilted back off and press the battery reset button that I have read about in relation to other battery problems but I am checking at this forum first. Everything works well as long as the charger is plugged in and I am really liking the device.

Thanks for any help provided.

dmacmart · 11-23-2011, 10:21 AM

If you are able to easily get back to the store to exchange, you might want to do that now (after doing a factory reset and wiping your personal data). This doesn't sound like normal behaviour and I can't recall anyone else on these forums having exactly this situation.

Albert Anton · 11-23-2011, 11:28 AM

I will be no where near a Future Shop for some time.

Why would the battery show over 90% charged right out of the box? The unit came on as soon as I opened the box. Then I plugged in the charger before running the setup. What if I re-run the first time setup (option available under "Kobo ereader settings" perhaps from a startup while plugged into the charger?

Any harm in trying the battery reset button?

pokee · 11-23-2011, 01:18 PM

A lot of people (including me) had to power the Vox down after we did the initial update and set-up process fresh out of the box, and then let it sit and charge (with power off) for at least 5 hours. If you did not do this, try this - it should solve your problem.

The reason is two fold:

1. The battery indicator is not working properly. It really does not come with much of a charge - even though it looks like it does.
2. There seems to be an issue with the Vox charging with power on/while sleeping. I am not sure if this is consistent with other Voxes out there, but it is an issue with my own, and I don't plan to try anything else until Kobo comes out with their firmware update to address battery issues.

If you've already tried this, then I'd exchange it - since there've been some unresolvable battery issues out there. GOOD LUCK!

pokee · 11-23-2011, 01:20 PM

OH, and the reset button on the back is fine to try, too (I tried this for a software problem - didn't help). But, I'd still try to charge it while powered off, first...

pokee · 11-23-2011, 01:21 PM

You also have 30 days to exchange at Future Shop - so take your time... (since this is an eReader and not a tablet - it's 30 days! One advantage of the Vox being considered an eReader and not a tablet!!!).

Albert Anton · 11-23-2011, 02:33 PM

Thanks for the input. I went ahead and tried all of the reset options with no luck. However, I did have some luck at my local Coles Book store - they agreed to exchange the unit even though I purchased it at Future Shop! Bless them.

Pokee - I will do as you say and give the unit a good charge once I have it set up. At least this new one is working without having to be plugged in to the charger. I am watching it download the update now.

After I download all my books I am off to a remote location with no wifi and just sporadic satellite internet for secured computers. So at least I will have my books.

mr_nobody · 11-23-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Anton

At least this new one is working without having to be plugged in to the charger. I am watching it download the update now.

Don't the instructions say to leave it plugged in while you do this? A surefire way to brick the thing is to run out of juice while it's updating the firmware.

pokee · 11-23-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Anton

Thanks for the input. I went ahead and tried all of the reset options with no luck. However, I did have some luck at my local Coles Book store - they agreed to exchange the unit even though I purchased it at Future Shop! Bless them.
.

WHOA!!!

That's amazing!!! See...this is why I love Chapters/Indigo/Coles sooooo much! They've always just had amazing customer service!!!

11-23-2011, 09:38 AM	#1
Albert Anton Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo vox	screen freezes when charger not plugged in The vox was over 90% charged when I took it out of the box yesterday. I plugged in the charger before doing anything to get it going, as instructed in the written instructions in the box. It took a few tries to initialize and download updates but this was all completed ok. My problem is that when I unplug the charger the green status light at the top of the reader goes out and the screen is unresponsive. With the charger unplugged it will start or wake up. The status bar at the top with show a full battery and and wifi comes on but the only button that works is the power button. I can't swipe the ribbon at the bottom to unlock the reader. I do the 10 second hard boot to no effect. I can get beyond the unlock screen if I plug in the charger. The interesting thing is that when I get to the frozen unlocking screen on battery alone, I can quickly plug in the charger, unplug it, and then it will let me make the unlocking swipe getting me to the main screen. But I can't do anything else unless I plug the charger back in again. I am tempted to take the quilted back off and press the battery reset button that I have read about in relation to other battery problems but I am checking at this forum first. Everything works well as long as the charger is plugged in and I am really liking the device. Thanks for any help provided.

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11-23-2011, 10:21 AM	#2
dmacmart Fanatic Posts: 534 Karma: 696908 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Glo, Arc, H2O, iPhone, iPad 2, (husband)Touch	If you are able to easily get back to the store to exchange, you might want to do that now (after doing a factory reset and wiping your personal data). This doesn't sound like normal behaviour and I can't recall anyone else on these forums having exactly this situation.

11-23-2011, 11:28 AM	#3
Albert Anton Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo vox	I will be no where near a Future Shop for some time. Why would the battery show over 90% charged right out of the box? The unit came on as soon as I opened the box. Then I plugged in the charger before running the setup. What if I re-run the first time setup (option available under "Kobo ereader settings" perhaps from a startup while plugged into the charger? Any harm in trying the battery reset button?

11-23-2011, 01:18 PM	#4
pokee Fanatic Posts: 569 Karma: 199759 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo Glo, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Tab2	A lot of people (including me) had to power the Vox down after we did the initial update and set-up process fresh out of the box, and then let it sit and charge (with power off) for at least 5 hours. If you did not do this, try this - it should solve your problem. The reason is two fold: 1. The battery indicator is not working properly. It really does not come with much of a charge - even though it looks like it does. 2. There seems to be an issue with the Vox charging with power on/while sleeping. I am not sure if this is consistent with other Voxes out there, but it is an issue with my own, and I don't plan to try anything else until Kobo comes out with their firmware update to address battery issues. If you've already tried this, then I'd exchange it - since there've been some unresolvable battery issues out there. GOOD LUCK!

11-23-2011, 01:20 PM	#5
pokee Fanatic Posts: 569 Karma: 199759 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo Glo, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Tab2	OH, and the reset button on the back is fine to try, too (I tried this for a software problem - didn't help). But, I'd still try to charge it while powered off, first...

11-23-2011, 01:21 PM	#6
pokee Fanatic Posts: 569 Karma: 199759 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo Glo, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Tab2	You also have 30 days to exchange at Future Shop - so take your time... (since this is an eReader and not a tablet - it's 30 days! One advantage of the Vox being considered an eReader and not a tablet!!!).

11-23-2011, 02:33 PM	#7
Albert Anton Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo vox	Thanks for the input. I went ahead and tried all of the reset options with no luck. However, I did have some luck at my local Coles Book store - they agreed to exchange the unit even though I purchased it at Future Shop! Bless them. Pokee - I will do as you say and give the unit a good charge once I have it set up. At least this new one is working without having to be plugged in to the charger. I am watching it download the update now. After I download all my books I am off to a remote location with no wifi and just sporadic satellite internet for secured computers. So at least I will have my books.

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