Q: Mysterious random total shut downs following 3.1 update

I guess I'm gonna have to make an appointment to get a new 3G because by reading these post, it sounds like that is was Apple is doing. Mine is only 4 months old and it's keeps doing this even after several restores..

Wow - wish I had checked here as well.

Two iPhone 3G's in our house and today both of them black screened and become non responsive (about an hour apart from each other). I tried holding the power button on mine and nothing happened (and then I tried a reset - but didn't hold both buttons long enough I later learned) - and then about 5 mins later it suddenly came back, but when I launched an app and then tried pressing the home button to exit, it took a screen shot, similarly pressing the power button took a screen shot (it was like my failed reset which is also the same key for a screen shot was in permanent action 5 mins later - so I was stuck in my app). Eventually I remembered that holding both buttons for a long time would reboot, and that solved the problem.

So far no further black screens - although I swear my battery life is not as good as before 3.1 (oh I see there's another post on that problem as well - sigh)

Hey guys,

I know that I am going to be banished for this, but this is a major problem and a cellphone that is not reliable is useless.

LET'S START A MOVEMENT HERE AND INSTEAD BUYING THE REPLACEMENT 3G FOR 199 DOLLARS, *LET'S GO TO THE NOKIA STORE AND BUY A RELIABLE PHONE*.
I AM TIRED ABOUT THIS UPDATES THAT DOES NOT WORK FROM APPLE.
FIRST WAS THE MAC 10.5.7, NOW THE OS 3.1

THEN WE SEND THE RECEIPTS FOR APPLE, SO THEY WILL START WORRYING.

WAKE UP STEVE, THE TECH GUYS ARE RUINING YOUR COMPANY!!!

Try settings/ auto-lock "never".

It has worked for me so far.

And if you think Jobs isn't personally waterboarding his tech team on the hour until they get things right - then maybe you would be better off getting a Nokia.

Turning off autolock has not helped at all.

I just updated my iPhone 3G to 3.1 a few days ago, ever since then I've been getting the random total shut downs as well. None of the "fixes" in this thread worked for me. I'm out of warranty so I guess that I'm SOL.

Thought I would add myself to this list as well.
As I am now having random shut downs also ever since 3.1. Never had this issue prior to this update and everything I have tried from these forums have not fixed this problem. I usually have to hold power and home button to turn the phone back on after it shuts off. I hope apple acknowledges this issue and fixes it so, it is quite a nuisance.

I've had the same issues except one addition, hard rebooting brings up the main screen but when I try and get home from Mail or Ipod (and I'm guessing other apps) the home button and button on the top of the phone don't do anything another than the camera sound. The only way I can get it back to home menu is plugging it in to sync.

This happens to my wife too.

Check you photo roll - the camera sound was you taking screen grabs probably (usually power and home button)

Just wanted to add my

Just wanted to add my observations:

After upgrading to 3.1 my iPhone 3G seems to go into the "coma" mode described here when receiving a call (although not always). In addition to being locked and only responding to a reset, the phone gets quite warm and the battery is run down, seeming to suggest that the cellular radio is active while it's in its coma. I have no log of the incoming calls on the phone afterwards.

Here, too. iPhone 3G white 16gig, not that it seems to matter judging from the number of complaints on this post.
I can only reboot it by holding down the Home & Power off button simultaneously or by plugging it into the computer with iTunes. Maddening, I thought my phone was dying a slow death.

I am also experiencing this on my 3G daily. At least three times daily. My wife wisely opted out of the 3.1 'upgrade' when prompted, her 3G is working fine on 3.0.1.

Don't give up on Apple just yet. They're still better than that alternatives out there.