yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[HTC One S] corbie:
I had BBQ yesterday in the garden, I used wifi to check something on the web. Wifi signal was very week, and that annoying problem came back but this time on low wifi.

I can't use internet on the edge at all. Two weeks after receiving phone problem didn't existed, but now every day getting worst.

Can't even open single web page or check mail.

Time to return that piece of ****. But don't have clue what to take as replacement.

Only thing i will miss is camera. :(
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
I brought the device back to stock 1.78 state. will observe it on that base a little while. locked bootloader again.

Still waiting for HTC. Support ignores my requests. 3 Times, detailed, clear, polite. No reaction. Very very bad move. Not impressed. Expecting an answer at least.
[HTC One S] MS.:
Guys, does it happen on AOSP ROM(s) too? Thanks god (hmm, or XDA) for this thread as i nearly bought this phone today.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Interesting question. As far as i know there had been no AOSP reports here. Could be, it is fixed in Google Source Code as google engineers are aware of the problem at least since the Gnex problem.

[EDIT]

Added link to the Galaxy Nexus volume slider bug for @MS. to see what i was referring to.
[HTC One S] MS.:
Umm, i had GNex for more then 5 months and nothing similar has happened to me, despite what ROM i used.
[HTC One S] ExDr:
Does not work for me ((
[HTC One S] Badmiker:
Doesnt work for me.

I think this sets how long a button has to be pressed before you get a 'context' menu. This changes the UI rather than the hardware control.

I am sure that the same fix which sorted the Nexus would work here. Hopefully either HTC or a dev will come up with some patch. Until then I'm not returning my phone and gambling that I'll get the same phone back (not an S3 powered one) and that the 'repair' will work for more than a couple of weeks.
[HTC One S] PulpzillA:
OP now updated to help users find more information about the issue. Thanks to 'sneakyghost' for doing this!
[HTC One S] ExDr:
Please find info about my 1S

S/N starts from SH243W, made in China; grey; baseband version 0.16.31501S.17_2_10.23.31501S.10L; unlocked/rooted
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Cool. Neat. Thanks for doing this. Mate, the text-file i sent you with the OP on DropBox has been updated. I discovered, that the link remains the same if i just update the file, which is very nice.

So you can check back and replace the OP with the updated text file every now and again (bookmark the link) or if i send you a PM to notify you. Just as you please.

I think it would be really interesting to update the counters at the bottom.
[HTC One S] wrickwrackwruck:
For the Statistics:

Have only been in Germany with the phone except for 2 days in Zürich.

I think it didn't happen in Zürich / Switzerland when I was there with Mobile Data turned off, but I'm not sure. Maybe in Zürich there is 3G everywhere.

Phone 1 (black) S4:

used on o2 at the beginng.the issue didn't appear at first. later it happend very few and not too bad.

later on vodafone seemed to happen more often and worse.

S/N SH23VW4044...

Android 4.0.3 Stock

1.78.161.2 (Vodafone Branding)

Phone 2 (black. replacement due to button issue for phone 1) S4:

used on vodafone only.

happend immediately when I got home from the vodafone shop (30 minutes after turning the phone on (had only 3G connection on the way home))

Before installing any apps. I then did a Factory reset because some people sayed it might help and I had nothing to lose.

But the Issue was still there. Note that the issue on this phone 2 is much worse than on phone 1. it just doesn't seem to stop going crazy.

With airplane mode on an sitting right next to my router i managed to install my most important apps.

I keep using the phone atm because downtown and at my university it mostly works because of good 3G connection everywhere.

But at the weekend at friends houses and restaurants I find myself pulling out the phone to do something, it goes crazy, i manage to keep calm and not throw it on the ground and put it back in my pocket again with disappointment. Because the phone goes crazy for 5min straight and no end in sight.

I used it on GSM/WCDMA Automatic all the time.

The Error is 95% reproducable on this phone if I set mobile data to gsm only it goes crazy right after connecting.

I have 5 Videos of phone 2 and can make more since it happens all the time.

S/N SH23YW410...

Andorid 4.0.3 Stock

1.78.161.2 (Vodafone Branding)

I had to keep the back cover since thats the vodafone replacement rule.

now i have nearly no wifi at all. cant use it in my house except when i sit within 5m of my router :(

Getting my 3rd One S within the next 40hours. But will have to keep the cover again

I will use phone 2 on wcdma only tomorrow and report back.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
That is One Serious report!

Thank you, Sir! :D

I just realized i have to do an Excel-Sheet to keep track of the user data. Yuck! Well... Off we rush to do some much loved office work...

Besides: my One S was with the Missus all day and didn't spaz out in town and at home. Two things have changed: it got hit hard (i wrote about it) and it got reset to 1.78 stock base, locked and unrooted. so any or all of these changes *might* have fixed it? Or does this just resemble the "fixing" attempts from HTC and Vodafone? Basically reflashing it?

[EDIT]

Affected users of all forums i am currently following are listed in this sheet and can be added to, changed, deleted or whatever you guys deem fit at any time. I set the document to public editing. Please feel free to complete this list. Thank you. @Pulpzilla: please update OP from textfile on DropBox - it also now contains a link to this sheet.

Users of the other Forums may want to link the sheet over to those...

Interesting facts: so far only 50-something users have reported this issue on three forums...
[HTC One S] pierre.grand:
Excellent initiative, thanks a lot guys for all this structure!

Pierre
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
FFS i really missed Senior Badmiker in my list! I don't believe it! :laugh:

That wasn't on purpose mate. I appreciate all your input, has been very reasonable. Sorry.

I see the list is quickly growing already. So after all there are some people just not posting about it.

Spread the list people. Spread the word. Make everyone be aware of the problem. Don't let HTC get away with it! ;-)
[HTC One S] opiswahn:
Good to have guys like you who have the time to organize and handle this!

Damn good work so far. Keep on, we're behind you!
[HTC One S] ruudvanleeuwen:
No such problems for me.
[HTC One S] Badmiker:
Sneaky.

Damn sneaky.

And less of the senior mate.

:p

I'm pleased to say that a couple of bits have fallen out of my phone. 2 U shaped golden electrical things about 1mm square. Fell out when I took the top cover off. They arent from any of the connectors visible in the top cover so must be from somewhere else in the phone. MAYBE these connectors have been messing with the antennae. Either way, Phones4U, after much arm twisting, have agreed liability and will replace the phone.

I'll let you know what happens; whether then new phone is an S4 chip (if not, it's going straight back!) and whether the button issue remains.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Issue still present. Less in the C2 (s3 1,7GHz) variant. Occurence is not too high, so you can buy it.

Issue represents itself different with the JellyBean firmware: more button Deadlocks than the actual helicoptering.

In case you get an affected device, return it asap, do not wait until your return period is over. If it only becomes apparent after your return period, contact support straight away and ask for helicoptering repair.
[HTC One S] yuan_1202:
Hi

I am thinking of sending my phone to carrier for repair.

However i have got a unlocked bootloader and custom rom installed.

So do i have to revert everything back to stock before i send it in?

Sorry about this silly question.
[HTC One S] Pleohtc:
Hello. I am in the same situation and believe that it is not possible to send to the technical service. :crying:

Creating a brick they will gather it?:confused:
[HTC One S] brordavid:
A little update. I went to elgiganten today to get my phone after the second "repair". They changed the display and battery (again) and some other stuff. And this time they also updated the software. It took about 10 seconds after changing to gsm only to get the gnow problem. I sent the phone back again. I believe that I'm going to get a new phone if they don't fix the problem after the third time. I just want a working phone. Is that too much to ask for? Back to wildfire s. :p
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Just grab a RUU and bring it back to stock ("fastboot oem lock" needs to be done first or else the RUU won't run) and you will be fine. Repair-Centers usually don't care about the unlock if sent in for Helicoptering, as that Issue has been recognized as HTC's fault and not users fault.

If you send it in for any not recognized issue, they will tell you its because you unlocked and then charge you. But not for the Helicoptering.

The RUU's are in my DropBox (signature!) or if its out of traffic there you can go to footballs Thread (search for football ruu collection in the One S forum) and download it from his or any other mirror in the thread.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
You are entitled to a new phone after three unsuccessful repairs but you will get one which is made out of spare parts at the repair center. HTC doesn't hand out new factory produced replacements.
[HTC One S] thanito:
A few days ago I switched carrier and the new one uses 1800mhz band. So far not a single gnow/helicoptering issue , but it's too early to be sure. The good thing is that the new carrier has great 3g coverage so I hope that I won't be so frustrated with my phone from now on.
[HTC One S] brordavid:
That's fine by me, I just want a phone without problems.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Yea man just another confirmation that it is only the 900MHz band and not the others.

Thank god my replacement phone seems to be perfectly fine. Its an old March/April unit and got this amazing housing where the upper edge is so sharp one could hurt himself there. So i guess i will soon send it in for MAO lol.

Until now, i see perfect reception, much better than my old device, approximately 10dBm and 2-5 ASU better, which is a LOT. Everything in this phone just works without a hitch. Nothing failing.

Amazing experience. I have it in my guts that this phone will not develop the helicoptering by everything i have seen so far. It seems like this one has been assembled properly. Good signal, good overall behaviour (Proper mounting of partitions, no app fc's ever... just everything smooth).

Just makes it even more clear that people should press for repairs and/or replacements when having the Helicoptering, MAO or both. That is some really f***ed up units that just don't work as expected.

The phone is totally cool when assembled properly with good components.
[HTC One S] simnik123:
Do we know a way to disable the hardware buttons, so you could only use the softbuttons in AOKP?
[HTC One S] captaineasychord:
Just another update on mine - I've had my replacement phone since early December 2012 (following two unsuccessful repairs) and no helicoptering at all in two months. Signal is great, phone works fine, jellybean is lovely. So, if you do have this problem just keep on sending the phone back until they sort it. I'd avoid custom ROMs and rooting in case you invalidate your warranty.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

Neither will harm your warranty if you send it in for helicoptering as that is a recognized warranty case.

sent from viper 2.1 One S
[HTC One S] Pkla:
Sneakyghost, I had counted on that as well, but the Dutch customer support didn't have the same opinion in my case. They claimed my screen was manufactured in April 2012 and that the problem was fixed for all screens manufactured in or after April 2012. So my case didn't qualify as a recognized warranty case and I had to pay the full 220 euro to get my helicoptering issue fixed, because I had a crack in the protective top layer of the screen. They've even claimed that the damage in the top layer had to be the root cause of my helicoptering problem, because it couldn't be the hardware.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

THAT, my friend, was a cheap and mean trick to make you pay. Nothing more. They tried that with me too but I discussed that with HTC support before I sent it in.

According to many people's story I've heard, HTC service centers have a bad habit of using ANY physical damage as a cheap excuse for anything they would normally have to fix.

That was also the point where I decided to turn my back on them in the future because that is just mean and not fair.

You won't get around such a thing unless you have the money to drag them to court and prove them wrong, which is really not that easy.

sent from viper 2.1 One S
[HTC One S] RichJo86:
That's how Dynafix works in The Netherlands. Buying a different brand of smartphone won't make a difference as they are the 'service' center for most smartphones here, we're stuck with them anyway.

Verstuurd van mijn HTC One S met Tapatalk
[HTC One S] flex420:
even though the german custom center repaired my phone well ( no helicoptering in a month an everything works great ) i wont buy a HTC phone again. Will buy Samsung again next time. That HTC support is just crap. Took forever to get on my problem till i could send my phone off. but at least im lucky with a good repair.

yes i know, its plastic fantastic, but well ... the phones just work! and... no S-ON / S-OFF crap... thx HTC for that...
[HTC One S] brordavid:
So.. I hope that this will be my last post in this thread. Just got a brand new phone after two repairs of the old one. The whole box and everything. It's a new serial number that's not been reported here. My reception is better than the old and for the first time I really like this phone. No gnow problem at all! :D

A big thank you to Sneakyghost for all the help and information you collected. It's been a huge help for me.
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

Mind sharing your serial? Just out of curiosity? You can spare the last digits if you're concerned. Just want the first 6 digits...

sent from viper 2.1
[HTC One S] brordavid:
Of course!

HT31CW
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

So it's January 2013. Cool. It's an S3 then or still an S4?

sent from viper 2.1
[HTC One S] brordavid:
It's a s4.

My old one was made in China. This one in Taiwan. If you want to know. ;)
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

Lol yes I want to know and I can read the serial too you know that's why I asked for it in the first place :D

I am totally flattered though to see an S4 that had been produced past August 2012.

I wonder if the spare-parts replacements HTC is handing out are getting newer, current-dated serials?

I am still thinking the S4 is not being manufactured anymore.

sent from viper 2.1
[HTC One S] :
It is being produced for USA
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
So this time we been left behind here in europe then lol. Mostly C2 / S3 variant sold here now. Only some amazon offers and a few limited other shops have a dedicated S4 section...

I seem to have lost track of whats going on with production. I was still at the point where everyone thought the S4 had been entirely dumped. Seems its not the case.

Now, that would also explain why there's no reports of Home Button issue coming in anymore if its only sold to the US now. That issue was never present there.

Maybe that is HTC's fix: sell the affected phones to a region where the problem doesn't become visible and sell the less affected but technically bad units to the rest of the world haha. What a dark picture.
[HTC One S] :
I have tmobile USA s4 ! Never had any kind of issue here in India
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Yeah but that's not such a big deal, is it. I don't think very many US phones are still being sold to the rest of the world. Or else it would really mean the latest phones are good now? Lol. Somehow i don't trust that would be the case.
[HTC One S] LibertyMonger:
I really don't see how so many people got stuck with the home button issue. If it would have been my phone my carrier would offer a new one
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Much depends on carriers and there policies. Those with HTC Phones ("free" ones) are stuck with HTC policies. Which aren't the best as we know.
[HTC One S] RichJo86:
I am a bit puzzled about this: after the latest update I went from helicoptering to the Google Now bug. So I set the one s to WCDMA only. When I went to the store to explain the problems, I switched back to automatic (gsm/wcdma). In weeks I have not seen the Google Now bug. :confused:

One time my S vibrated when nothing was going on, but that was it. No troubles on the auto setting.

Weird isn't it?

Verstuurd van mijn HTC One S met Tapatalk
[HTC One S] wheeliemonster:
Hey guys. Quick question. Does it matter how old your phone is if you want to take it back to try to get this issue fixed?

I've had mine for almost a year and always had the problem (serial SH23ZW)

Should I relock, S-on and stock ROM before I do? And in which order should I do those things if so?

Thanks...
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

Doesn't matter as long as you're not doing it after the warranty period of 24 month.

To bring it back to stock:

- make sure you run an unmodified boatloader! Very important because if your boatloader is modified when setting security flag to ON your device will brick immediately!

- optional: edit partition 23 (I think it was) to get rid of the HTCU. Then your boatloader will show locked instead of relocked. Look for a guide in the dev forum.

- Then set security to ON

- Then relock

- Then run a RUU.

sent from viper 2.1
[HTC One S] wheeliemonster:
Sorry - slightly confused by your post...

My bootloader (I presume you mean HBOOT?) is 1.13

After I s-off'ed I flashed the 1.14.0004 which cleared the "TAMPERED" message from the HBOOT, then re-flashed 1.13 as that was what I had been on previously.

I think they are all modified HBOOTs though as I no longer have the red warning text (This build is for dev purposes, etc.)

Do I therefore need to find an unmodified HBOOT to flash?

What do you mean by set security to ON? (Edit - I'm guessing you mean S-ON!!! :) )

Thanks and sorry for all the questions! :)
[HTC One S] yuan_1202:
got repaired. took less than a week. looks like screen and main board are replaced.

problem gone. happy:D

only thing is they left a small scratch
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

S-ON= Security ON

Hboot= boatloader

Red warning gone mods = these are modified and dangerous when going back to security ON. Extract one from RUU to be safe!

Link to guide on how to switch to status "locked" instead of "relocked": http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=38198550

When done with all I said (mind the hboot thing!) You go back to security ON by using this command in fastboot: " fastboot oem write secureflag 3"

sent from viper 2.1
[HTC One S] wheeliemonster:
Cheers dude. Just need to contact HTC now to see where to send it to get this thing repaired... (and please let me be a lucky one like the person above - I'm hoping I don't have to send it back time and again!)
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

Where you from mate? Could tell you the German service center address :D

sent from viper 2.2 Beta
[HTC One S] wheeliemonster:
Thanks man but I'm in the UK... No worries, I'll get it sorted.
[HTC One S] wheeliemonster:
Well I got everything back to stock and have booked it in with HTC for repair. Being collected tomorrow.

I must admit that it was more stable with regard to the helicoptering once it was back to stock with 2.15 HBOOT and 3.16 software but it did still do it once or twice.

Wish me luck! :):):)
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

Fingers crossed. Good luck!

Sent from Viper 2.2
[HTC One S] jenkins-84:
Same with me they left a small mark on my screen when got mine back from repair. I sent mine away still unlocked and tampered because it was totally bricked haha I got it back though a week later and my h.boot was from 1.09 to 1.14 but this was afew month ago though
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
Yeah thats what they do. Forget screws, put glue where it doesnt belong, scratch, mark, assemble wrong.

Arvato, Regenersis and others. All do a sh!t job for repairs. Best is to avoid need one lol. Bit hard with current HTC Phones.

Am now closely watching the web for experiences with the new ONE.

Will most likely be getting ONE sooner or later.

Got 4 HOS on sale then. One is already sold, one is broken (the old home button issue device is now only good for spares, mainboard effed up), one is good (my current daily), one is an SE with European firmware, like new, no marks. Anyone wants it, contact me.
[HTC One S] wheeliemonster:
Got mine back. My screen was untouched, perfect when I took off my screen protector before sending it back and to be fair to Regenersis it was when I got it back...

Anyway, no helicoptering yet in two days. So far so good.

Have switched to Viper though from AOSP-based ROMs since I've had it back so that might be making a difference.

I might flash a bit of LS or BB8 in a while but for now I'm actually quite happy with Sense. I never tried 4+ before because I'd jumped to AOSP before the JB update and I have to say it's quite good.

Anyway let's see how it goes. Thanks to those who assisted me in returning to stock and I will report back whether I have helicoptering or not.
[HTC One S] sausje85:
I have the same issue on a brand new one that i got from Elevate.

I'm going to contact them and point them to this topic. :)
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

Trust me, they know. I was in contact with Jason for roughly 6 month and he got all the data from this thread and forwarded it to Taiwan. Jason finally transferred me to Richard Willis who is taking up the bigger bug hunting stuff on the social sites (he tracked and forwarded this and I found him doing similar support for some other HTC devices too).

HTC seems to be over and done with this though. Jason/Elevate won't do anything about it but would've forwarded info to Taiwan but not anymore I believe.

The One S is not in their bug hunting system anymore I think. I got the feeling that they solely focus on the ONE now and all you get at best is a repair and after three failed attempts maybe a replacement made from spare parts.

You MAY be lucky though as an elevate member and just get a new one as a new gift if you nag the team there.

Sent from Viper 2.2
[HTC One S] sausje85:
Well the thing is that this is a new one that i got to replace my old Sensation.

Even tho it's a gift, it's not a valid reason to give me something that ain't working properly.

I will do everything within my power to get them to continue looking for a fix for this. :)
[HTC One S] Sneakyghost:
AW: [07.01.2013] Touch (Home) Button Issue HTC One S (Helicoptering)

Yeah as I said just nag them. As elevate member it could be a bit easier. Just let them know that you are not willing to put up with the normal support system in case they point you there.

Sent from Viper 2.2