HTC One M9 no longer vibrates

[Shallowthing]

As per the subject headline, my HTC One M9 has spontaneously stopped vibrating. A brief Google indicates that this is another issue that isn't unheard of with these phones... does that mean that Vodafone are going to pass the buck to HTC on this one as well?

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi,

What have you tried to remedy the issue. 

i.e.

Soft reboot by turning the phone off and on. 

Check Its settings.

Check for firmware updates. 

Factory Reset after creating a back up. 

Im not sure what you mean about pass the buck to Htc. 

Its Htc that applies the manufacturing warranty of 24 months. A person can either approach Vodafone if the phone was supplied by them and they'd send it off or a person can approach Htc under the same 24 month warranty. 

[Shallowthing]

Yes, I've tried the soft reboot, and it makes no difference. Yes, I've checked all the settings, and they're all set to vibrate. Yes, I've checked the firmware updates, and there's nothing more recent available for my phone. I've even used the HTC self-diagnostic function test to conduct a vibrator test of the handset, all that happens is that the phone makes a very, very quiet rhythmic clicking - so soft that I have to put my ear next to the handset to hear it - at about half-second intervals instead of vibrating. This is a hardware failure, and is seems like it might be another known issue with these phones. Now, the last time I had a known-issue hardware failure - a spontaneous crack in the glass camera lens cover - I posted on here about it, and was told that Vodafone aren't interested and to take it up with the manufacturer, who have roundly ignored my attempts to contact them. Right now I'm wondering what precisely what I'm paying the Vodafone handset insurance charges for. Heh.

[BandOfBrothers]

Thank you for confirming what you've tried. 

You didn't mention if you've tried the Factory Reset. 

Link > Vodafone Insurance  as well as other benefits coveres the phone for loss and theft which is part of what I assume your continuing to pay the premium for. 

The manufacturer has a duty of care too under its manufacturing warranty to assist you. 

[Shallowthing]

I haven't tried the factory reset, because it's an awful nuisance to go through restoring the large amounts of data and carefully customised layout and settings I've spent a long time on perfecting when we've already established to all reasonable satisfaction through the manufacturer's in-built hardware test that we're looking at a mechanical issue. Also, it states on the very page that you've linked to that the Vodafone insurance covers against "loss, theft, damage and breakdown", which is surely what this is.

EDIT: I have now performed the factory reset, just because I know what people will say if I don't. Vibration function still dead. Hardware problem, like I said.

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @Shallowthing

I do appreciate how much of an upheaval a factory reset can mean ,but thank you for trying this known troubleshooting avenue. 

I agree then it does point towards to Hardware related. 

So your options as I see this are now are to pass the phone to Vodafone for them to send away. 

Or contact Htc Uk Support and ask them to assist you. 

Link > Htc Uk Support.

If you do need to have the phone sent away by either avenue above then my tips are :

Take Time / Date stamped pictures of the device to show the condition you sent it back in and one of it turned on.

If sending off via a Vodafone Shop ask them to note its condition on their computer systems. 

Also if sending off via Vodafone and if on an eligible contract and if the shop has one in stock they can offer a Loan Phone while yours is away. 

From Vodafone "Also make sure when sending your device for repair that you keep hold of your SIM. You also shouldn't send your memory cards, battery and/or back cover (if they're removable) - if these are included with your phone when it goes for repair we can't guarantee their return."

Best of luck and I hope your phones repaired ASAP. 

[Shallowthing]

Firstly, thank you to everyone who took the time to post a response to this thread. You've all been very helpful, and I very much appreciate it.

Long overdue update:
- I returned my One M9 to the nearest Vodafone store on Saturday 13th August. They were very good about everything, and I was told that my replacement handset would arrive by Monday 23rd, and I'd be contacted by text.

- Monday 23rd came and went, and I heard nothing. On Wednesday 25th I was finally able to pop back into the store and ask what was going on. They weren't able to tell me any more than that my phone is at the repair centre. Still. And that I should keep waiting longer.

- Today, Tuesday 30th, I returned to the store and asked again. Their system showed that my phone is still at the repair centre, and the staff suggested that I call Vodafone myself to find out what's going on. - After waiting over half an hour to speak to a human being, I was finally told that Vodafone no longer has any One M9s, and that the only alternative they're willing to offer me is a Samsung Galaxy S6. I'm gutted, as I briefly had an S3 and it was such a terrible, flimsy, cheap-feeling little phone that I returned in favour of waiting for another HTC.

- I asked if I could be upgraded to the HTC 10, offering to increase my monthly payments to facilitate this, only to be told that I'd have to pay off the remaining ten months on my current contract first... although from what I can see on the company's website, they don't even carry the HTC 10.

- I now don't know what to do. Get lumbered with a probably awful Samsung toy phone for ten months, or just keep using my three-year-old HTC One X+, which I'd put money on outlasting the Samsung. I'm not happy, to say the least.

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi,

No Vodafone do not offer the Htc10. 

I'd be asking for the Samsung Galaxy s7 at the least. 

[hrym]

I have heard of this happening.  From other things I've heard, the HTC repair service is very good and I'd be inclined to contact them.   FWIW, you won't have lost anything by doing a factory reset as it would be part of the repair process anyway.

[Shallowthing]

BandofBrothers:
Yes, I gather Vodafone don't offer the HTC 10 - just another good reason to leave them in my book.

Sadly I can't stand Samsung phones, to the point where I think I'd rather use my three-year-old HTC One X+ than be lumbered with one.


Hrym:
I tried to contact the HTC repair service, but never received any response whatsoever.

Also, I lost quite a bit of stuff by performing a factory rest. The backup programme didn't work properly, and I've lost every text message I have sent or received since I got this phone. A whole bunch of other stuff is just gone too. Most can be replaced - such as the three hundred missing pictures, and all of the ebooks, music and videos - but the custom clock I designed and the custom icon template I developed are just gone.


I have to say that I feel so poorly treated that I think I'll be leaving Vodafone when I finally escaped this contract.