3GS becoming slow, unresponsive....

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Level 1

59 points

3GS becoming slow, unresponsive....

For the past week now my 3GS started to get very slow. When writting an email the keyboard becomes unresponsive, can't go back to previous page when using safari. Very slow at loading apps.

When this happens, I usually turn off the phone and turn it back on and it takes care of the issue but the problem comes back within a day or two.

-iPhone 3GS
-Latest update accomplished
-have not downloaded new apps in over a month
-Averages 3 hrs of calling/emailing/net browsing per day.
- I have not noticed anything unusual, like running hot etc..

Any suggestion(s)?

Thank you.

F

powermac 2xG5, MacBook 2.0, MacbookPro, MBA,3GS, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Airport Express, TV.

Posted on Oct 24, 2009 9:58 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

modular747

Level 6

19,656 points

Oct 24, 2009 10:13 AM in response to fredericlang

Restarting or resetting should be done periodically. What 3rd party apps do you use? Some apps are RAM hogs, and not all the memory is released when they are closed. There are apps (i.e. System Activity Monitor) which can show how much runtime memory is available, what processes are active and free up memory for you.

There may be some corrupted data or settings. Try restoring from a backup and if needed as a new iPhone.

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Answer 2

fredericlang Author

Level 1

59 points

Oct 24, 2009 12:16 PM in response to modular747

Thanks modular747,

I am going to check my RAM usage.

If I do a "Restore" would this take care of corrupted data? Or Should I go and do a full reset?
If Full Reset, is there a way that I can keep some of my apps? Or do I have to purchase them again?

Thanks again for your help.

F

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Answer 3

modular747

Level 6

19,656 points

Oct 24, 2009 2:55 PM in response to fredericlang

Not sure what you mean by "full reset." To reset the phone, you press both the home and sleep/wake buttons until the Apple logo appears. No data is deleted from your phone.

When you restore in iTunes, the firmware is replaced. If you use a backup, various settings and data are restored (see below) but apps, music, and purchased videos have to be synced back to the phone after restoring. Your apps should have been already backed up in iTunes, so always sync and backup before restoring.

If lost, apps can be re downloaded from the App Store (not music or videos).

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766

Message was edited by: modular747

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Answer 4

fredericlang Author

Level 1

59 points

Oct 24, 2009 6:52 PM in response to modular747

Thanks

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Answer 5

modular747

Level 6

19,656 points

Oct 24, 2009 10:14 PM in response to fredericlang

You're welcome.

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Answer 6

Dec 10, 2009 10:22 AM in response to fredericlang

I am having the same problem with my 3GS. However in my case, I do not have any apps on the phone that I did not have on my iPhone original and it worked like a champ.

I've wanted to smash this thing to pieces more than once.

Perhaps an Android phone next.

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Answer 7

paulcb

Level 6

19,239 points

Dec 10, 2009 10:27 AM in response to Elvensong

Before smashing, try restoring as new, not from your backup. See p. 204... http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/iPhone_UserGuide.pdf

If you still have problems after restoring, get the hammer! 😉

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