TracFone LG 420G serious firmware bug: doesn't power up properly

[rclocher3]

I've had an LG 420G for about two weeks now, and I was pretty happy with it. Two days ago it failed when I needed it most. I was on a five hour drive to pick up my stepdaughter, who only had my cell phone number to call me. Two hours into the drive, I realized that my LG420G wasn't working! It was stuck on the screen that says "Service thru 06/12/2012", and both backlights were on.

I remembered that that morning, I had woken up to the alarm clock on the phone, and I had immediately powered the phone down and powered it back up again to get around the firmware bug that keeps the backlight on after the alarm clock rings. I slipped the phone into my pocket after pressing the power button; I don't believe that the phone ever powered up properly.

'No problem' I thought; I'll just pull out the battery, reinstall, and power up again. Unfortunately that didn't work: the phone powered up showing the LG420G logo first, and then the TracFone logo, and then "Service thru 06/12/2012", but then the phone froze, with both backlights on. The phone never went to the main menu.

The phone didn't work all the rest of that day. (Luckily I managed to reach my stepdaughter by email.) Then when I was home and demonstrating the bug to my wife, the phone powered up properly! It has worked fine ever since.

I mention this bug in case others have the same problem. I'm wondering if this bug is avoidable. The phone is only lightly used in town, but it's vital whenever I'm out of town of course. I won't be leaving town for a while, so I might try and duplicate the bug. Right now I don't feel like I can trust the phone.

- Rob

[K-L-M]

Hello rclocher3,

Yep there are a number of 420's that just stop working like that. Some folks get replacements all to have the same thing happen.

Sine the LG420 has been out and we discovered 'issues', I have not heard of a cure for this. Only thing I can think of is remove the battery for a much longer period. Even if that worked, I'd not feel comfortable about the unit.

Some 420's stay working like mine, and some do not.

With the history on this model, perhaps the best thing would be to consider transferring your airtime and minutes to another model?

Good luck rclocher3...

[rclocher3]

Thanks for the advice K-L-M! What's the buzz on the LG 500G? Is it any more reliable?

[K-L-M]

So far, so good on the LG500G model. You really don't hear much about them. And typically you hear about phones if they're bad No ones really reported glitches in numbers like what happened with the 420.

Most likely when the LG800G came out, it captured sales compared to the LG500G, so we hear far more about the LG800G.

I have a LG500G as well and like it

[rclocher3]

Thanks again for your advice.

[MyToyDrawer.com]

Hello rclocher3,

Yep there are a number of 420's that just stop working like that. Some folks get replacements all to have the same thing happen.

Sine the LG420 has been out and we discovered 'issues', I have not heard of a cure for this. Only thing I can think of is remove the battery for a much longer period. Even if that worked, I'd not feel comfortable about the unit.

Some 420's stay working like mine, and some do not.

With the history on this model, perhaps the best thing would be to consider transferring your airtime and minutes to another model?

Good luck rclocher3...

I just got this phone from eBay... New... with the accessory kit and DMFL... $14.07. I'm not having any problems with it... but this is good to know info... just in case I do. There's no manual available for it but there's enough info on this forum to live without it. Thanks for your contributions.