[valmoz]

Hi everyone,
I have already owned a BB Playbook before and remember beign happy with it. Since they are going quite cheap now, i have bought one brand new 32gb for me again. ("new" as per seller description. good rating seller).

device arrived, during boot asked for update, got updated va wifi to OS 2.1, but never completed the boot.
sumarry of the problem:
1. kept on freezing during the boot showing only BlackberryPB sign on dark/black background
2. no amounts of restarting or charging with all different chargers, even used rapid magnetic-stand charger from BB pb and it did not help;
3. ocasionally an empty battery sign showed up during boot (not any more). this was before the BB PB sign. ( and again got stuck at BB PB sign)
4. reset (power button + volumes), update or repair with DM pluged to PC made no real changes;
5. NOW, it started blinking only red led light- 5 blinks: 1 blink - short pause- 3 blinks- short pause 1 blink. ONLY red led flashes, nothing but else. Non-stop blinks with sequence mentioned above;
6. it starts flashing as soon as power cord if connected to PB.

question :any ideas what can be done ? (before returning it to seller or killing it ?!)

all advices are greatly appreciated.
Val

[FF22]

Hi everyone,
I have already owned a BB Playbook before and remember beign happy with it. Since they are going quite cheap now, i have bought one brand new 32gb for me again. ("new" as per seller description. good rating seller).

device arrived, during boot asked for update, got updated va wifi to OS 2.1, but never completed the boot.
sumarry of the problem:
1. kept on freezing during the boot showing only BlackberryPB sign on dark/black background
2. no amounts of restarting or charging with all different chargers, even used rapid magnetic-stand charger from BB pb and it did not help;
3. ocasionally an empty battery sign showed up during boot (not any more). this was before the BB PB sign. ( and again got stuck at BB PB sign)
4. reset (power button + volumes), update or repair with DM pluged to PC made no real changes;
5. NOW, it started blinking only red led light- 5 blinks: 1 blink - short pause- 3 blinks- short pause 1 blink. ONLY red led flashes, nothing but else. Non-stop blinks with sequence mentioned above;
6. it starts flashing as soon as power cord if connected to PB.

question :any ideas what can be done ? (before returning it to seller or killing it ?!)

all advices are greatly appreciated.
Val

From my dusty archives (have not posted on Stack charging in eons!!!)

Here are a few different potential remedies

Locked, bricked Stack Charge Charging

Another method to try:

Try this....

HOLD the power key for 20 seconds, after 20 Seconds do not let go of the power button and plug in the wall charger, and then let go... should get a steady red light for about 10 seconds, then the battery icon with lightning bolt should appear, after that the blinking green will appear and screen will go off.. now its charginggg..... lol wasted 4 hrs tyrign every other method, stack charging everything.... and this one worked for me...hope this works for everyone else

...............


More Mapsonburt (a pb user) who posted this info:

Don't keep trying if you get the Red light/5 Yellows... you'll soon drag the battery down past where you can start it again. Leave it off, plug it in and let it charge (with at least a 1.8A charger). Once you get the flashing (once every few seconds) green light, you can power it up - on the charger. If you do drag it down below the red flash/5 yellows, plug it in for 1 minute, unplug (at the wall) for a second or so, plug it back in and repeat for 20-30 minutes. You'll eventually get the red/yellows and then leave it plugged in (and off) until you get the flashing green. It's a PITA but the PlayBook has a very conservative charging algorithm when the battery is below 2.67 Volts to prevent explosions (I'm guessing). I've never been unable to start one with that method.

Mapsonburt:


The PlayBook OS currently shuts down at 3.5 volts. When the battery gets below 2.67V it won't show power lights or even try to start because there isn't enough juice to even power the processor to run the code on the BIOS. The BIOS is software hard coded on a chip within the PlayBook that tells it how to load the PlayBook OS and is coded such that it only recognizes signed PlayBook boot images (which is why it is so hard to root and that nobody has been able to get one to boot Android or WebOS. The BIOS software also contains some charging algorithms for when the OS is not running - ie device is powered off but plugged into a charging source. This code ONLY runs when the battery is above 2.67 volts because the processor can't run below that.

The root of the problem is that this design issue prevents the device from accepting any charge longer than 60 seconds when the battery is too low to run the charging algorithms on the BIOS or on the OS (one runs before the device is powered on and one runs afterwards). RIM did this because Lithium Ion batteries have a nasty habit of catching fire if not charged properly so they wanted to ensure that the processor could be in control of the charging. Makes perfect sense and they probably thought they were avoiding situations like where early Li Ion batteries on laptops were catching on fire. The problem is they were a bit too aggressive in dealing with the problem at design stage. If the battery is below 2.67Volts their protective algorithms can't run but you also can't put enough charge into the battery to charge it! Hence all the reports of people having success with stack charging.

Unfortunately there are a lot of wrong ways to do this floating around out there and getting repeated everyone someone posts a new thread on the issue. It really should be made a sticky. What is the right way?

1) ONLY use a source that provides 1.7Amps or more of charge. The original charger provides this. The rapid chargers provide a lot more. Your phone charger only provides a fraction of this. Anything less is going to take forever to charge the battery above 2.67 volts and may not have enough juice to charge the battery AT ALL once the processor starts to run above 2.67Volts or even worse once the OS starts to run above 3.5Volts. Forget about using your computer to charge it when the OS isn't running as the computer looks for the hardware to identify itself and won't put out a full charge current unless the device indicates it can accept. Once the OS is running, you'd often CAN get enough power from the USB on the computer but that is because the OS has signaled it is OK for the computer to send it. When the OS/BIOS isn't running, the PlayBook won't take much/any charge from a computer. The rapid chargers are best as they quickly charge but more importantly do not use the (too) flimsy USB port. A lot of problems are caused by this port getting wobbly over time and the device not getting a charge at all. Everyone should have a rapid charger.

2) Until you get your device WELL above the 3.5Volts that let's the PlayBook boot, do NOT try to start it. Every attempt drags the battery down some more and that attempt sucks much more charge from the battery than you can put in in those 60 seconds before the hardware shuts down the charging. How can you tell where your battery is? Well if you are getting no lights on the playbook on your first charging attempt you are below 2.67volts. If lights go on and then it doesn't start the OS it is below 3.5Volts. If it loads the OS and then dies it is just above 3.5Volts. If the device loads the OS it is somewhere below 5.0Volts. Depending upon where you start (how low the battery is) various techniques work best. They are: REAL stack charging (plug in for 60 seconds, unplug, plug in for 60 seconds, repeat until the processor starts accepting charging (the big battery symbol on the screen). Again, DO NOT try to turn the device on until then. You are just working against yourself and it will take much longer. You should get the charging symbol within 20-45 minutes of repeated REAL stack charging. Forget you ever heard of plugging in for 2 mins and then off for 2 mins and similar as those 2 mins of off time are COMPLETELY worthless. I have put a multimeter on the PlayBook in this state and it NEVER takes more than a minute of charge when under 2.67volts but will accept another minute of charge after a short (1-2 second) disconnection. Just do it right.

3) Once you see that charging screen leave it plugged in to the charger (stop stack charging) for at least an hour before you try to start the PlayBook. If you don't you may end up in a situation where the attempt to start drags that battery back down below 2.67V and you have start stack charging again. Be patient, you are almost there!

4) Fully charge your Playbook after this to ensure your PlayBook gets back to 100%.

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot RIM can do about this now. It's a hardware design issue. I'd be interested in knowing if the fixed it with the 4G versions. I don't think I've ever seen that complaint with one of those but I've "fixed" both of mine a few times (the kids keep trying to power them on after letting them shut down on low battery despite me saying time RUN not walk and put it on a rapid charger when ever it hits the flashing red battery signal (9%). I've also helped many friends and people on the web and NOBODY who has followed the instructions has failed to get their PlayBook to charge.

I'm convinced this fault is the reason so many PlayBooks are returned to the stores and through RMA. RIM has been very good about this but it should never have happened. Happy Charging!


........................
The battery is likely below 2.65 volts. That happens if the PlayBook has sat for a while. Plug your charger into the playbook (make sure it's the stock charger and not a computer or other charger as you need to pump in lots of amps - more than 1.7amps - the more the better). The rapid charger is even better as it can go to 5 amps.

LEAVE the charger plugged into your PlayBook. Unplug it from the wall (to save the fragile micro-USB port) every minute for a few seconds and plug back in. You'll see lots of references on the web to plug in for 2 minutes and unplug for 2 minutes. Ignore those. I took the PlayBook apart and put a multimeter on mine when it was doing this. If the battery is below 2.65 volts, the PlayBook charging circuit charges for about 1 minute and then shuts down. NO AMOUNT of continued charging makes any difference. As soon as you unplug it (at the wall) and power it back up, it will take charge again for another 45-60 seconds. Repeat.

Keep doing that for as long as it takes to get the screen to show the charging display. If it is just below 2.65volts, it will take somewhere between 20-45 minutes as the battery only takes a little bit of charge each cycle and you need to get that voltage up over 2.65 volts (at which point it will show the charging display and take a full charge). It may take more... but keep at it. Every time you plug it in for 60 seconds, you are adding a bit more power to the battery.

DO NOT try to power the device on until the device has a full charge. You will just risk getting it into a situation where it can't fully boot before it drags the charge down below 2.65 volts again and you'll have to start all over.

This works... and saves you from having to jump start it like I did the first time I got mine into this situation.

----------------------


And MORE:

I was told about "stack" charging, 6 cycles of charge no charge, for 2 minutes each, charging for never more than 2 minutes.


Plug the PB in with the factory charging cable (red light comes on for a several seconds, then goes off). Wait about 10 more seconds. Unplug PB for about 30 seconds.

Repeat n times.

n == 6 for me. Finally my PB light switched to green, then began to oscillate, signalling charging. After a few more minutes my PB came back to life.

You might want to UNplug/Replug at the wall/socket end to avoid using or damaging the weaker usb port on the pb itself.


Just talked to tech support, because i'm impatient sometimes. Here is the initial process they gave me to try.

Plug in the charger for 2 mins, unplug for 10 sec -> Repeat 6 to 8 times

Then while unplugged perform the Hard reset (POWER, VOL + and - at the same time) . **When the red light comes on PLUG IN THE CHARGER**

The playbook is supposed to then start charging/boot.
...........................
Along the same lines as just above, someone posted:

FOUND A QUICK FIX HOPE IT HELPS

WOW, i tried EVERY SINGLE Step out there and the one step that worked ... was HOLDING down the power key for 20 seconds, after 20 Seconds do not let go of the power button and plug in the wall charger, and then let go... should get a steady red light for about 10 seconds, then the battery icon with lightning bolt should appear.. the it will charge with just a flashing green..... lol wasted 4 hrs for nothing hope this works for everyone else

.................
Some have now found a shorter sequence works:

Oh man I fixed it. I stack charged it! But not for 2 minutes.

Every time my PB red signal goes off I removed the connection from the wall charger and placed it back within a second. I repeated it for almost 25-30 times and all in the sudden a big charger button showed up on the screen and a green light on the charging LED. I left th e power connection for 2 more hrs and started using it.
................
And another posting that might help....

There are a few solutions and some are mentioned above. SO try the things I am mentioning below.... Let me know if it works .

Problem Scenario: 1. Blackberry wont boot or turn on, on pressing the power button, the red light stays for a few seconds and does not turn on 2. Sometimes you will see the red light followed by a green/ yellow light that blinks 5 times and does not turn on.

Reason: The main reason why both of the above things happen is because the battery is completely drained out, you could call it " Flat out". The problem with playbook is that the playbook wont charge if the playbook is Flat out drained. whereas other tablets or cellphones does....Playbook has to fix that issue. Meanwhile we do have a solution to go around that problem and that requires some patience. Some of the solutions mentioned in the previous comments indicate to charge it via computer.... "It doesn`t work" not if the battery is drained out flat.... so dont even bother trying it if u see the above mentioned problem.

Solution: try this step by step and this are 3 different solutions so one of this would definitely work. 1. Press the Power button and you will see the Playbook Logo ( chances for this are low ) 2. Press the power button and the volume together, if there is 1 % charge left there is a chance that it would boot on, when you see the logo, immediately charge the playbook ( chances are medium ) 3. This solution requires patience. plug the charger into the socket and plug the USB into the playbook, the red light stays for 8-10 secs. Remove the USb from the playbook wait for 2 to 5 sec and replug the usb back to the charger and wait till that red light comes and goes again. repeat this step atleast 20-30 times. you might be asking why? the only power that the playbook gets is when that red light is on when plugging the usb into the playbook, once that light goes the playbook is not charging.. so what you are doing here is forcing the playbook to get charged for 8 sec every time u plug it to the playbook....this way the playbook gets that power needed to boot. Once the Playbook has that power to boot. The red light stays and changes to green but this time it blinks slowly and keeps blinking. you would also see the playbook logo return.... this green light keeps blinking until there is enough charge for the playbook to stand on its own and then changes to a solid red until it gets fully charged.

Knowledge Base Article: Article ID: KB27705

http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB27705

http://btsc.webapps.blackberry.com/b...ListHelperImpl

...................


Yet another method from:
arvveeeeee

My Playbook:

*Dead for 7 days
*No LED indications
*No flashing Red/Greenish Orange LEDs
*Dead that PC cannot connect with playbook

Solution:

*Press Start Button
*As you press the start button, quickly insert then pull-out USB stock Playbook Charger off the USB port (less then a second with each start button press + insert/pull-out)
*Playbooks USB port can be damaged over-time, so wiggle the USB stock Charger while performing the Start Button + Insert/Pull-out method.
***I did this at least 5-7 times***
*Perform steps continuously until Red LED light turns on for 8-10 seconds and then the green/orange flashing LED indicator 5x.
*Once this happens, leave playbook alone for at least 2-3 hrs.
***While waiting, make sure you try and press the start button once again to see if the playbook is finally receiving the good 'ol electro-juices-s-s-s by observing the same Red LED light turning on for 8-10 seconds then green/orange flashing LED indicator 5x. This means you've finally done-did-it.***
*After 2-3 hrs of waiting, un-plug the USB stock Charger then perform Hard Reset (Start+ Vol Up/Down) and wait for about 10-15 seconds.
***Warning, if you dont wait 2-3 hrs before pulling the USB stock Charger, you will be stuck back to a dead Playbook once again and going to have to start all over.***
*Wait for the Red LED to turn back on and the RED DEAD BATTERY ICON with the BOLT should pop up on the screen.
*The oscillating green lights should initiate showing signs of your playbook finally drankin' sum juices LOL!
*Make sure you now wait for another 2-3 hrs until the playbook starts up by its own along with the low battery sound indicator.
*From here, you have the option to leave the playbook on while it charges or turn it off and having a higher rate of charge.

[FF22]

Hi everyone,
I have already owned a BB Playbook before and remember beign happy with it. Since they are going quite cheap now, i have bought one brand new 32gb for me again. ("new" as per seller description. good rating seller).

device arrived, during boot asked for update, got updated va wifi to OS 2.1, but never completed the boot.
sumarry of the problem:
1. kept on freezing during the boot showing only BlackberryPB sign on dark/black background
2. no amounts of restarting or charging with all different chargers, even used rapid magnetic-stand charger from BB pb and it did not help;
3. ocasionally an empty battery sign showed up during boot (not any more). this was before the BB PB sign. ( and again got stuck at BB PB sign)
4. reset (power button + volumes), update or repair with DM pluged to PC made no real changes;
5. NOW, it started blinking only red led light- 5 blinks: 1 blink - short pause- 3 blinks- short pause 1 blink. ONLY red led flashes, nothing but else. Non-stop blinks with sequence mentioned above;
6. it starts flashing as soon as power cord if connected to PB.

question :any ideas what can be done ? (before returning it to seller or killing it ?!)

all advices are greatly appreciated.
Val

I replied with a very long answer that needs to be approved by a moderator. So hang on while that happens.

[crunch27]

OK, I might not have all the terms right, but I had the same problem too. 5 Red blinks and nothing. I tried "stacking" too and no luck. I was cleaning out some electrical stuff and cables and came across a PlayBook charger that I had bought and never used. The end of the cable had a 3 prong contact that connected to the PlayBook beside the micro USB port. I tried it and wham, the PlayBook charged up and came to life on it's own. Apparently the PlayBook wasn't charging by the micro USB port. It must be loose and not working. Hope that helps. Try finding that cable or maybe a PlayBook charging stand.

Posted via CB10

[valmoz]

OK, I might not have all the terms right, but I had the same problem too. 5 Red blinks and nothing. I tried "stacking" too and no luck. I was cleaning out some electrical stuff and cables and came across a PlayBook charger that I had bought and never used. The end of the cable had a 3 prong contact that connected to the PlayBook beside the micro USB port. I tried it and wham, the PlayBook charged up and came to life on it's own. Apparently the PlayBook wasn't charging by the micro USB port. It must be loose and not working. Hope that helps. Try finding that cable or maybe a PlayBook charging stand.

Posted via CB10

thanks for answering guys.
i have also found my charging stand (wih 3 magnetic pins) and tryed it out, ...but i guess it was too late. the BB PB is standing on that charging stand for 48h now and still keeps on giving me the "5 red blinks" and no boot.
by thw way, it stops blinking when intake it of the stand, but starts again once i putnit back or if i connect usb charger.

Any other ideas ?
really would like to revive this gadget

[valmoz]

Looks like no other ideas
Well, i have tried everything i could, but nothing solves the "5-blink" problem. So i have returned the PB to the store. Waiting for the cash to be credited back on my card.
Wondering if I should try another PB costing around 30-35USD ?!
(i am still using the Z30, got charging stand for PB etc ... so it might be worth giving it a last try )

[valmoz]

HI everyone. Just a quick update (for what its worth).
After returning 32gb PB and loosing 10usd on it, I have decided to give it the last try (being stubborn, yes i know ) and got 64gb PB (for the same price as 32gb = 45usd).

Interesting enough - it powered up, updated charges every time on different chargers. etc. i.e. 100% fine. LCD is as it was - stunning quality and colors.

Of course apps are lacking. BUT again the price is so cheap, and if it's main purpose going to be - a) read news on the web, b) listen to music and watch some movies while traveling (which you have downloaded before) its just perfect.
Nothing more, really .

Btw, does anyone else find PB still useful ? (or i'm the only dinosaur in the zoo?!)

[anon(5597702)]

HI everyone. Just a quick update (for what its worth).
After returning 32gb PB and loosing 10usd on it, I have decided to give it the last try (being stubborn, yes i know ) and got 64gb PB (for the same price as 32gb = 45usd).

Interesting enough - it powered up, updated charges every time on different chargers. etc. i.e. 100% fine. LCD is as it was - stunning quality and colors.

Of course apps are lacking. BUT again the price is so cheap, and if it's main purpose going to be - a) read news on the web, b) listen to music and watch some movies while traveling (which you have downloaded before) its just perfect.
Nothing more, really .

Btw, does anyone else find PB still useful ? (or i'm the only dinosaur in the zoo?!)

If it works for you, that's what matters most! Enjoy the PB for what it is. I find it's still solid for media consumption and basic browsing. The speakers are stellar.

Posted via CB10