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WSOD - Sony Ericsson W550i

I bought a Sony Ericsson W550i 2 months back. Its a great phone and gives excellent value for its cost. So all was well and i thought i will live happily ever after.

But no, since yesterday the phone is stuck in WSOD - White Screen of Death. The phone shows a white screen when i try to start and doesn't get anywhere from that. I tried all the common 'engineer' tricks like restart( no use) take out battery and restart( still no effect) remove battery & SIM wait for a couple of hours, put them again and restart( still the same). I got a feeling this is a much serious issue at this point.

Web searches pointed out that this is quite a known problem and quite a number of people have had this. Apparently a 'firmware flash' could bring this back to life. One of the forums suggested to use the update service from Sony ericsson's website to upgrade the firmware. I tried that and it got stuck at 90% updation. So the firmware is really really screwed.

I mailed the product support and they asked me to send it to their UK service center. I am not gonna do this - international shipment & a delay of 3 weeks being the main reasons. Now, i have to take it back to the seller and hope he can do something for me. The seller is in a different town and i cannot go there until Saturday :-( .

If you have had this problem drop in a line to suggest what worked for you. If you havent found out still watch this space for more updates.

Update 1 : Aug 07 : The service center duly accepted the phone after checking the warranty card. I didnt have 'proof of purchase' but that wasn't a big issue. The phone should be ready by Tuesday Aug 08 - however all user data wil be *lost*. Not that i had a lot of files/settings. The loss of address book is the one that i am very upset about.

Update 2 : Aug 13 : I got my phone back. Not all's well. All my files are gone and so is the addressbook :-( But my phone is back with very little fuss.

Lessons Learnt :

1) Don't install themes unless sure about the source( Mohamed's advice was second-ed by servic rep)

2) Dont pull the USB connectivity from the PC without 'stopping' the device.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2006
    Good Day , I faced same problems after 2 days  " I have it since 3 months "  anyway  I go to SonyEricsson Agency and they install new system "Firmware " and when I ask them why ? They answer me “Don’t full memory give phone around 50 MB Free" also don't install Themes  ... It destroys Firmware if it’s containing any error.

    Thanks
    Mohamed
    mmaregy@gmail.com

  • Anonymous
    August 25, 2006
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 26, 2006
    i have a problem with my w550i that its stuck, showing the sony ericsson logo.
    Tell Solution.

  • Anonymous
    August 27, 2006
    Adil,

    what was the last thing you did before this happened? AFAI can see the three issues reported here have all been during connectivity to the PC.

    BTW, the sureshot solution to fix these kinds of problems is to take it to the nearest service center abd get your phone flashed for free( and loose all data). May be you could try updating the firmware. The sonyericsson page has 'howto' for this.

  • Anonymous
    September 09, 2006
    my sony ericson w550i is just showing me a white screen could some help me out because i dont know what to do

  • Anonymous
    September 13, 2006
    I have sony w550i mobile phone.i have face many problem ,like bluetooth,camera etc. are not working and when i save any file in the memory it is show  memory is full.but memory is free up to 65mb.pls give me solution of this problem.

    Thank & Reg
    AJit

  • Anonymous
    September 20, 2006
    I bought a Sony Ericsson W550i 1 months back. Its a great phone and gives excellent value for its cost. but problem is not send record sound not save, bluetooth not sent data camera not save picher video recording not write

  • Anonymous
    September 25, 2006
    THe sony w550i has two ribbons conecting the screen, these are plug in units that can come lose from time to time due to the spinning movement of the phone. If they come lose your screen will go white or not display at all. Take the phone to bits and make sure they feel secure,? if they dont then refitt them and hopefully this will sort the problem?

  • Anonymous
    September 25, 2006
    I bought w550i sony Ericson phone April 22, 2006 by exaactly may 27 same year the phone developed a fult as follows
    1. If I open the walkman fo play any music it  always get stuck till the phone refuse to go off unless i pull offthe battery
    2. When i put the baterry, in order to put on the phone a white screen came up and did not boot up to the icon.
    Till now, the phone refused to get connected like that of Mohammed's case. help me out the phone is so precious to me because of its distint features. please helpme out
    will sony ericsson be responbible for this deffect?
    Ajewole Kehinde Nigeria

  • Anonymous
    September 25, 2006
    I bought w550i sony Ericson phone April 22, 2006 by exaactly may 27 same year the phone developed a fault as follows
    1. If I open the walkman fo play any music it  always get stuck till the phone refuse to go off unless i pull offthe battery
    2. When i put the baterry, in order to put on the phone a white screen came up and did not boot up to the icon.
    Till now, the phone refused to get connected like that of Mohammed's case. help me out the phone is so precious to me because of its distint features. please helpme out
    will sony ericsson be responbible for this deffect?
    Ajewole Kehinde Nigeria

  • Anonymous
    September 25, 2006
    help get my phone back to life from its temporary loss of memory, it does not boot to the application window since it walk man got stuck like a cracked compound disc system.

  • Anonymous
    October 06, 2006
    hi  i have a similar problem as kehinde Ajewole. pls what can be done. i dont want to give it to quacks.

  • Anonymous
    November 10, 2006
    UM I DONT KNOW HOW TO DOWNLOAD GAMES OF THE INTERNET AND PUT IT ON MY FONE PLZZZZZZZZZ HEEEELP

  • Anonymous
    November 23, 2006
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    November 23, 2006
    HEEELLLPPPP!!! i bought my phone 2 months ago.. and i have that same problem.. except i didnt didnt use my usb cable at alll since i had the phone [mainly because i ost it] but i did use bloothooth and i dont no if that why bu it wont turn on it stays on the Sony Ericsson logo screen.. and im really aggrivated .. can someone tell me where the nearest sony erricsson store is to Everett, MA??

  • Anonymous
    December 04, 2006
    can anybody tell me what size 't' (star) size screwdriver needed to open the w550i. as i am experiencing WSOD 2 monthes after buying the phone or can any 1 diagnose a different cause of the problem?

  • Anonymous
    December 06, 2006
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    December 10, 2006
    w550i I have problem wen i try to recevice any file fr another mobile via bluetoot ... its say connection fail due to memorry full ..wen i have 230mb free memorry still....

  • Anonymous
    December 10, 2006
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    December 15, 2006
    my w550i had wsod and i had it flashed. this fixed the phone but all my files were lost. now it has come up wit another problem just because i switched it off to change sim card. when i try to put it on, the screen comes up with white color and it goes blank again. can someone tell me how to fix this problem. i tried updating and it does work

  • Anonymous
    December 16, 2006
    i am also experiencing the WSOD before flashing it is there any way with which i can recover my contacts. And is flashing the only option to get it back to normal?!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Anonymous
    December 26, 2006
    WSOD - i have just experienced it after one year - on it i have hundreds of photos and videos thayt I am desparate to keep - but i am carpping it in case the WSOD takes it from me - does anyone know if there is a way of getting the data off in wsod mode ??

  • Anonymous
    January 05, 2007
    I've found a way to fix the WSOD. This is how I fixed it: 1st, go to the Sony Ericsson Update Service thing and update you phone. Then take out the battery(turn it off first), then take out the simcard, then place the battery back. Don't turn it on. Connect your phone to the PC with the usb cable. It should go to the "file transfer" mode. Open "My Computer" then go to the phone's drive (in my case its F:). There you'll have the chance to save the files you want. Then right click on the drive, then choose to format it. Don't do a quick format, do a full one. ALL YOUR FILES WILL BE ERASED! BUT as tested, YOU GET TO KEEP YOUR PHONEBOOK! Now unplug your phone from the PC but not before you "safely remove hardware" it. Take out your battery, put in your sim, and put back your battery in, and turn on your phone, and the WSOD IS GONE!! Important Stuff: 1.) Its BEST not to install themes. 2.) Allow atleast 20mb of space in your phone. 3.) Everytime you put files in your phone(from the PC) and then disconnect it, always take out the battery and then put it back in before turning it on. (Dont forget to "safely remove hardware" it) If ever the WSOD returns, just FORMAT your phone again, its much faster and more convenient than having to go to CellShops to fix it.

  • Anonymous
    January 16, 2007
    hey umm i bought a sony ericcson w550i and it is the most wikkedest phone i have ever had! and i got it for a realy good price...but for some really weird reason i turned it on one day and the screen just went blank. like it just goes white and the only way to turn it off is to take the battery out of the phone! does anyone out there know how to fix this problem cuz I WANT MY PHONE BAACCKK! haha! but yeah i really want it back. so if anyone knows the secret to my problem please get back to me! cheers. Jos.

  • Anonymous
    January 16, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 17, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    February 08, 2007
    Can the W550i open video files like mp4 or mpeg transfered from the PC? Or how to do so?

  • Anonymous
    February 13, 2007
    plz help i want my w550i fixed its got wsod plz help ={

  • Anonymous
    February 19, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    February 20, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    February 20, 2007
    i m getting white screen on my cell plz give m solutin &i m going to die for it & no mobile servers are helping me plz give solution pppppppppppppllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  • Anonymous
    March 06, 2007
    im getting the wsod too. i tried the seus but have no luck. tried to browse the web, still, they all suggested to do 2 things: try davinci or just send it to the service centre. does anyone has idea to help? (i mean repair it for free instead?) is it possible?

  • Anonymous
    March 09, 2007
    I have problem with my w550i phone. since last time when i use USB cable for data transfer from pc ,my phone had got a critical problem. It does'nt display anything on the screen.Entire display is bend to the  upward direction. The screen remains black.whenever we start the phone it  shows two items i.e calls & menu at the bottom.But i got it on the top of the screen. plz give any solution.  

  • Anonymous
    March 13, 2007
    I have just sent a text to my mate and as it was sending the phone screen went white...im guessing this is what you refer to as the WSOD! well its really annoyed me as ive taken the battery out, sim card n all that but still nothing! i am going to take it back to the carphone warehouse tomorrow where i got it from as its still under warrenty so hopefully they can sort it out or even better get me a new phone!

  • Anonymous
    March 15, 2007
    my 550i is has a menu error. there is no menu show,even walkman is ok what i do?

  • Anonymous
    March 15, 2007
    please give me format code of w550i

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    April 05, 2007
    I also have a 550i that I just got back from repair for the 3rd time TODAY ~~ it was replaced this time and I put in my old simcard (they sent a new one incase it was tht??) and I turn it on and I get the WSOD!!! Im soo cheesed off since its a brand new phone!!!! Please help me!!!

  • Anonymous
    April 11, 2007
    plz.. send me format code of w550i becoz.. I forgot my unlock password... reply me as soon as possible....

  • Anonymous
    April 12, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    April 15, 2007
    can i format my Sony Erricsson W550i phone? If, Yes, Plese Tell me. If it is possible, so please give me all details abut this phone. I ill be very thankfull to u. Please mail me at rahulsharma29@rediffmail.com

  • Anonymous
    April 15, 2007
    please mail me fast. i m waiting 4 u.

  • Anonymous
    April 17, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    April 20, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    April 21, 2007
    i can get it fixed but it is gonna cost me big time dnt no if it is worth it some1 wb to tell me how i can get away wiv out payin

  • Anonymous
    April 21, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    April 28, 2007
    I have a new one for ya. i bought my w550i a week ago - great phone, but the screen loses black / red colours from time to time, leaving me with pale green and grey screen, and the words are unreadable. switch it off, battery out and 4/5 times it will respond and return to normal. I thought it could be heat induced as my phone is alway in my pocket or on the dash of my car. . .but have yet to prove this. any ideas?

  • Anonymous
    May 20, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    June 08, 2007
    i had a SE W550i too. I had this problem of the so called WSOD(white screen of death), when i tried to turn it on,it stays as plain white & the power button blinks in red color, what does this mean? i tried to follow every instruction from the site itself but still it has no effect. don't they have programs for Mac? PC easily gets viruses & stuff,it can easily affect the phone just by simply connecting to it. if you have the same problem as i did, please share your solution. thanks! gelomellow

  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2007
    i had a sony problem too, when i try to turn it on, it stays as plain white.. this is the 2nd time problem.. btw what should i do?? tq..

  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2007
    i had a sony problem too, when i try to turn it on, it stays as plain white.. this is the 2nd time problem.. btw what should i do?? tq.. reply plzzz shin_ley@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    July 11, 2007
    iv had a w550i for 2 years without any problems however 2 days ago the screen went white the dreaded WSOD, i went on to the SE website and downloaded the software needed to update it, just connected the phone to the pc pressed the start button and wheeeeeeeee it was done, i then dissconnected the phone from the pc removed the battery and sim replaced the sim and battery turned on the phone and it came on as normal without any applications being lost.  

  • Anonymous
    July 15, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 04, 2007
    YAR MERA PASS W550 MOBILE PHONE HAI YA SIRF WHITE SCREEN SHOW KAR RAHA HAI ON HONNA KA BAAD AGEEE NAHI DISPLAY DAI RAHA ANY ONE PLZ HELP ME MAI BHII AP K KISSI KAAM AA SACTA HOO  MY ID OR CELL NUMBER XTREME_ARSALAN@YAHOO.COM 0345-2295045

  • Anonymous
    August 08, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 11, 2007
    hi, i have a really strange problem with my phone i went up to a place in yorkshire for a couple of days and my phone completly lost signal, along with everyone elses. but when i returned home (where i usually have fine signal) my phone has still not adapted to normal signal after being back for several months. I have tried resetting it etc. It is definately the phone because my sim works fine in other peoples phones regarding signal strength. it's getting really irritating as no one can get through to me If anyone has any suggestions, i'd really appreciate it. thanks.

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    sony ericsson w5501  like many other people my phone as white screen. it as done this about 5 time befor. but as alway come back on when i take the battery out and put it back in. this time it is staying white. my dad will be able to do it if someone out there can tell us what to do. please help as it as got lots op phptos of my grangma. who is 86. and i dont want to loose them. thanks again shareen

  • Anonymous
    August 13, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 27, 2007
    I have downloaded the games. It is as zip file. Now can any body say how to install in my sony ericsson 550i.

  • Anonymous
    September 09, 2007
    TelepoN JELEK, ane udah 2x error.... Dont Buy This HP again man.... Tell all your friends.... thx...

  • Anonymous
    September 16, 2007
    i have problem with my bluetooth it is not recieving data what can i do so plz help me sony ericsson plz plz plz plz plz it is sending data but not recieving data

  • Anonymous
    September 22, 2007
    for sanker while downloading games & saving on ur pc change the zip words to jar. then transfer it through bluetoth or transfer it with obex file transfer. it will work .

  • Anonymous
    September 23, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    September 24, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    September 28, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 04, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 05, 2007
    when i m starting my mobile phone ,it directly starting phone mode, since my walkman option disapear so please give me solution.

  • Anonymous
    October 11, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 11, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    November 16, 2007
    white sreen give me format code no of w550i

  • Anonymous
    November 22, 2007
    There is no format code. TO FORMAT IT:

  1. Plug it into computer.
  2. It should be like 'removable disk'
  3. Right click and go down the list to 'format'
  4. Choose it. Uh, it formats? x
  • Anonymous
    December 13, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 03, 2008
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 12, 2008
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2008
    reflash your phone guys.i went to a cell phone repair shop and they reflash it, WSOD is gone and my phone is working again

  • Anonymous
    January 29, 2008
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    February 20, 2008
    WOW! The SE update service fixed my WSOD, which i was GUTTED ABOUT! And also, it fixed the Java problem it had had for a year! Now I can play games!   Trust me, if you stick with it your phone will eventually work.

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2008
    I have sony w550i mobile phone.i have face many problem ,like bluetooth,camera etc. are not working and when i save any file in the memory it is show  memory is full.but memory is free up to 65mb.pls give me solution of this problem.

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2008
    I have sony w550i mobile phone.i have face many problem ,like bluetooth,camera etc. are not working and when i save any file in the memory it is show  memory is full.but memory is free up to 65mb.pls give me solution of this problem.

  • Anonymous
    April 02, 2008
    My w550i is showing fully charge, but when I am trying to switch on, dosent work at all. also if I remove batory and keep it on charger, its restating again and again. it only stable at "fully charge" screen... pl help me and reply back on madhupat@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous
    April 17, 2008
    configuration error is my big problem on my w550i

  • Anonymous
    May 08, 2008
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    May 10, 2008
    press and hold the C button on the phone while putting in the USB cable..

  • Anonymous
    May 10, 2008
    oh forgot u have to take the battery out and back in first then hold C and putin cable.....

  • Anonymous
    May 12, 2008
    PingBack from http://sullivan.freemedianewsservice.info/w550imain.html

  • Anonymous
    May 24, 2008
    when i turn my w550i its always on WSOD but before that i am downloading a 3gp video and after that, we had a brownout(lost of electricity) and when i turn my phone it stucks at WOSD even if im charging,... pls help me,..

  • Anonymous
    May 24, 2008
    when i update my phone it stucks at 94% and it says error pls try again, is it a mechanical failure?,.. or it is just a program error?,.. it remains in WSOD,..

  • Anonymous
    May 26, 2008
    I also get stuck on 94%, this is so frustrating

  • Anonymous
    August 15, 2008
    i bought  a sony errickson w550i 3 months ago and now its stuck on a white screen.right now i have given it to a friend who i feel knows electronics beter to fix it.its a very good phone but being stuck on a white screen is the only annoying thing.email mphatsomagwira@yahoo.com  

  • Anonymous
    August 27, 2008
    i expierenced the WSOD problem and then left my phone for a day now i try to turn my phone and and there is no response please help

  • Anonymous
    September 09, 2008
    dont buy this product agin yaar....... it is cheap but can be costly after getting this white screen problem

  • Anonymous
    September 19, 2008
    my cell Sony Ericsson W550i what to do if cell is if all data gone delete then how to recover that data

  • Anonymous
    September 19, 2008
    Sony Ericsson W550iwhat to do if cell is if all data gone delete then how to recover that data 9820838675

  • Anonymous
    November 07, 2008
    me toooooo..help naman..where can i get an installer for sony Ericssons W550i????

  • Anonymous
    November 25, 2008
    i have sony ericsson w800i turns on white screen flashes onces white screen just stays like that i've tried everything SEUS and everything any help plz help because i have been trying to fix it for over 5 months

  • Anonymous
    November 25, 2008
    Seems like it required new/latest firmware. If it doesn't work take it to ur nearest SE service centre..... Hope this helps....!

  • Anonymous
    February 04, 2009
    Seems like it required new/latest firmware. If it doesn't work take it to ur nearest SE service centre..... Hope this helps....!

  • Anonymous
    May 29, 2009
    PingBack from http://paidsurveyshub.info/story.php?title=dlr-hosting-and-related-stuff-wsod-sony-ericsson-w550i

  • Anonymous
    December 06, 2009
    The comment has been removed