My Samsung Rant M540 is no longer functioning correctly. It begin "blacking out" while charging one evening. I first thought it was a cord/outlet issue, but when I would cut the phone back on, the following would (and continues to) happen:


  • main screen shows normally with time, date, options/contacts links and icons >> NO keys work, soft or hard, but they light up. (There may be a missing mini icon or two -- I see no battery indicator at the top).
  • main screen flashes to black over and over.
  • main screen is temporarily replaced by a black screen (for like a minute or two) with the following warning/message: "Entering Boost Mobile service area" >> there is a "Done" soft key that will not work.
  • phone WAS restarting itself over and over, seems to not be doing that as I type this.
  • phone will not cut off manually. I must remove the battery to shut it down.


The phone has not been dropped or exposed to moisture. At this point, I have moved on, but could really use access to my contacts. I have no USB cord, by the way. If the phone can be saved, it will at least make for a nice donation/reuse as opposed to a paperweight.