[Q] Truly Bricked? Getting a Replacement... - Epic 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Well... today has been a terrible day. Between slacking off this crapload of work I have and bricking my Epic, my life sucks.
I was trying to go from my old syndicate ROM to k0nane's new gingerbread ROM. I have flashed ROMs many times and have been using them on the Epic since I was able to get one for the phone, so no issues with procedure.
I follow the basic instructions as usual, download the files I need, and then go to town.
Anyways, the procedure was supposed to be basic, I was in Odin, phone in download mode and connected to my PC, options selected for only reboot in Odin, pit set, EC05 set in the PDA slot.
I clicked start and it got to factoryfs.rfs and got stuck there. I waited over 20 mins the first time. Then after checking out the forums and googling, I disconnected/closed Odin and did a battery pull on my phone.
I repeated the above process (waiting only at 5-10 minutes each time after it got stuck) atleast 10 times.
At one point it got stuck at boot.bin and I waited over 30 mins for it to pass. I was a dumbass but I followed the same procedure, later realizing it was the bootloader and I was going to be screwed.
I tried booting the phone with no success, but luckily download mode worked. I followed a guide in the forums on how to revive a partially bricked phone (one that didn't boot in to android, but did to download mode) and so I checked the re-partition, etc as asked to do. The phone again got stuck and boot.bin, but eventually passed... then got stuck at factoryfs.rfs, I thought all was and the boot was fixed and did a battery pull after waiting another 20 mins for the factoryfs.rfs to flash.
Tried turning it on, and failed. Tried getting into download mode, and failed. Same with recovery, etc. I tried the supposed hardware reset on the back with no success. Tried a plethora of keypresses to get it to work, battery in/out, etc. When I go to sleep, I will try leaving the phone in the charger, with the battery out.
For now, I have deemed the phone as bricked. I've been working at this for 5 hours now. Called up Sprint a while ago and managed to get myself an e-ticket, claiming the phone just turned off and doesn't turn on anymore. The person tried doing a refresh on their end and then approved the e-ticket.
Tomorrow I'm going to a sprint store and they're going to try to repair it in-store (which will fail) and then as long as I have no screen cracks/water damage (I don't, I have been careful) the tech will put in the order, and I should have the phone by Tuesday.
This is well, if everything goes as planned. I am hoping I don't end up getting billed for the phone after receiving the replacement if they somehow manage to revive the phone and find out I had a custom ROM/rooted the phone.
Any tips on confirming on the brick are welcome, any insight on replacements, bills, etc...
Thanks,
Fr3shY

There is a tiny reset button near the camera button which you need a needle like object to press.
Try that and check the size of the tar you used for odiN. sometimes you get unlucky and get a bad tar. That happened to me on my first odin
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App

gtuansdiamm said:
There is a tiny reset button near the camera button which you need a needle like object to press.
Try that and check the size of the tar you used for odiN. sometimes you get unlucky and get a bad tar. That happened to me on my first odin
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
remove the battery for a minute
place battery back in
press the reset button by the camera for 60 seconds
walk away from the phone and listen to some isac hayes with your wife for two hours.
then after about two hours do download mode.
try this pit file.... just unzip it in the same directory as your odin...

gtuansdiamm said:
There is a tiny reset button near the camera button which you need a needle like object to press.
Try that and check the size of the tar you used for odiN. sometimes you get unlucky and get a bad tar. That happened to me on my first odin
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The cake is a lie........i mean button
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

gtuansdiamm said:
There is a tiny reset button near the camera button which you need a needle like object to press.
Try that and check the size of the tar you used for odiN. sometimes you get unlucky and get a bad tar. That happened to me on my first odin
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep I tried that, and I redownloaded the TAR in case of that issue. Anyways, that button hasn't been proved to be legit.
ecartmen said:
remove the battery for a minute
place battery back in
press the reset button by the camera for 60 seconds
walk away from the phone and listen to some isac hayes with your wife for two hours.
then after about two hours do download mode.
try this pit file.... just unzip it in the same directory as your odin...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tried it... we'll see what happens, although I am doubtful.
BWFBezerk said:
The cake is a lie........i mean button
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I've heard... how unfortunate.
Thanks everyone for posting, I appreciate the help!

Did you try connecting it to the computer with the battery out and attempt to get to download mode? How about a different cable and same procedure?

kennyglass123 said:
Did you try connecting it to the computer with the battery out and attempt to get to download mode? How about a different cable and same procedure?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had tried that last night, but I just gave it another go with 2 cables. No go

Fr3shY24 said:
I had tried that last night, but I just gave it another go with 2 cables. No go
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No response at all? No charge light? Then in the words of a famous Doctor "it's dead Jim". I am sorry for your loss. I wouldn't worry about getting a bill later for the phone, it is pretty much FUBAR'd at this point. No one who has bricked has reported an consequences and there were quite a few in the last month or two.

kennyglass123 said:
No response at all? No charge light? Then in the words of a famous Doctor "it's dead Jim". I am sorry for your loss. I wouldn't worry about getting a bill later for the phone, it is pretty much FUBAR'd at this point. No one who has bricked has reported an consequences and there were quite a few in the last month or two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, no response, no charge light, and well this sucks. Do you think I'll be successful in getting a replacement? And is my story of having it working one moment, and then off and not turning on another alright?
Another concern is receiving a bad refurb model, because I have kept my phone is pretty pristine condition, just a small quarter inch scratch on the screen... are they usually good? (as far as you know)
Thanks for your help and quick responses!

Fr3shY24 said:
Nope, no response, no charge light, and well this sucks. Do you think I'll be successful in getting a replacement? And is my story of having it working one moment, and then off and not turning on another alright?
Another concern is receiving a bad refurb model, because I have kept my phone is pretty pristine condition, just a small quarter inch scratch on the screen... are they usually good? (as far as you know)
Thanks for your help and quick responses!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one has had a problem yet. There was a rash of bricks a month back, and all got warranty replacements. Yes, you pulled it off of the charger and noticed it was off and would not turn on.
As far as refurbs, that is Sprint's SOP unfortunately. Since the phone has only been out for 9 months, it can't be too bad but you can always make a stink to a supervisor if it looks beat up. Most were happy with their replacements, only 1 or 2 had some glitch in software on the replacements.

kennyglass123 said:
No one has had a problem yet. There was a rash of bricks a month back, and all got warranty replacements. Yes, you pulled it off of the charger and noticed it was off and would not turn on.
As far as refurbs, that is Sprint's SOP unfortunately. Since the phone has only been out for 9 months, it can't be too bad but you can always make a stink to a supervisor if it looks beat up. Most were happy with their replacements, only 1 or 2 had some glitch in software on the replacements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, well then I guess that is what I will do. Unfortunately, the sprint store near me doesn't have the service tech working Sundays so I have to wait unless there is another store near me that does.
Thanks again for everything!

Fr3shY24 said:
Great, well then I guess that is what I will do. Unfortunately, the sprint store near me doesn't have the service tech working Sundays so I have to wait unless there is another store near me that does.
Thanks again for everything!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck. Maybe you will be lucky and your store carries replacements. Mine never does and it takes 2 days.

I got my replacement from sprint when I bricked mine and my replacement was so much better than my original one. Refurbish ones are ok. You don't have to worry about a beat you phone or anything. Most if the time the outside of the phone is brand new. Its just a used processor and internal things. They just flash the software to it.
Sent From My Evo Killer!

You probably have a problem with ODIN, try download a different version. OR you can follow this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1027904 And you can just flash in CWM back to EC05 and RFS so you can flash the EE03 Rom, this is the method I used, it worked perfectly. Just flash this, then reboot and flash EE03.
This should fix it If you can't access CWM then download an earlier version of ODIN (I had the same problem). But it should work just fine If it helps please hit the thanks button This will save you the time it takes for a replacement!

Censura_Umbra said:
You probably have a problem with ODIN, try download a different version. OR you can follow this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1027904 And you can just flash in CWM back to EC05 and RFS so you can flash the EE03 Rom, this is the method I used, it worked perfectly. Just flash this, then reboot and flash EE03.
This should fix it If you can't access CWM then download an earlier version of ODIN (I had the same problem). But it should work just fine If it helps please hit the thanks button This will save you the time it takes for a replacement!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ummmm...I think you missed like the entire thread...his phone is DEAD. No lights, no download mode, no nothing.

I thought it said he had download mode, my bad

Censura_Umbra said:
I thought it said he had download mode, my bad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's cool...at the completion of his Odin trip it bricked completely.

kennyglass123 said:
Good luck. Maybe you will be lucky and your store carries replacements. Mine never does and it takes 2 days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully I'll get a chance to go over tomorrow, and as far as I know they don't have any.... they said they would order one if needed.
musclehead84 said:
I got my replacement from sprint when I bricked mine and my replacement was so much better than my original one. Refurbish ones are ok. You don't have to worry about a beat you phone or anything. Most if the time the outside of the phone is brand new. Its just a used processor and internal things. They just flash the software to it.
Sent From My Evo Killer!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is great to hear!
Censura_Umbra said:
You probably have a problem with ODIN, try download a different version. OR you can follow this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1027904 And you can just flash in CWM back to EC05 and RFS so you can flash the EE03 Rom, this is the method I used, it worked perfectly. Just flash this, then reboot and flash EE03.
This should fix it If you can't access CWM then download an earlier version of ODIN (I had the same problem). But it should work just fine If it helps please hit the thanks button This will save you the time it takes for a replacement!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is possible, and yeah... I'm kinda pissed I found ReRFS AFTER my device bricked. And later I found out, I could flash my ROM directly over my existing one. I didn't need to flash back to EC05. I'll keep this in mind for the future though!
Thanks for the replies everyone!

Related

well i guess i just did another something stupid

hello all,
let me first say how much i have really appreciated all that i have learned by reading the forums here. I have enjoyed learning about how to customize my epic experience, but i fear i have made a ghastly mistake.
i was reading the thread about how to make an odin tar file as a means of backing up my current setup (which is srf 1.1.0, genocide kerenel 1.0, and erebos port theme) and thought i might try odin to see if it would work to write that tar back to the phone. well now i believe i am staring at a brick. it will not boot even to dl mode. no lights appear when attempting to charge. i have pulled the battery and even swapped in a fresh battery. any advice or help is appreciated.
Maybe using a different usb cord while having your phone (without battery) plugged into a computer/laptop might help.
Yes, try another cable with the battery out, plug into the computer and try to attain download mode. If that works you can pop the fully charged battery in.
You can also try the magic button that may or may not exist inside the back next to the camera lens.
tried a different usb cable with battery out. no luck. saw a thread a few days ago about the "magic button" so i tried that. no sure i did it right. still no life of any kind in my phone. looks like i bricked it good.
sorry, for your brick : (
But I'm sure you can get a replacement phone if you say you were trying update your firmware via update.zip and your phone dropped by accident leaving it as an result of what it is now
jarcher1971 said:
tried a different usb cable with battery out. no luck. saw a thread a few days ago about the "magic button" so i tried that. no sure i did it right. still no life of any kind in my phone. looks like i bricked it good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw the hole (pinsize) next to the camera lens. I was wondering if this was more of a circuit breaker type reset that only works if it pops. Or that some phones have nothing there depending on board revisions.
The good news is Sprint will probably replace it for free. It should still be under warranty.
kennyglass123 said:
The good news is Sprint will probably replace it for free. It should still be under warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what is the best way to get that done. since i messed the phone up with a non-compatible tar?
jarcher1971 said:
what is the best way to get that done. since i messed the phone up with a non-compatible tar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to the store and tell them it was off this morning when you pulled it off charge and it won't turn on. They will play with for an hour to try to get it to turn on then depending on the store give you a refurb or get one sent to you in a day or two.
thanks for the help kennyglass i will be trying that soon.
jarcher1971 said:
thanks for the help kennyglass i will be trying that soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are welcome, and I am sorry for your loss. Hopefully you have a recent backup on your sd card.
since i seem to be a "flash-a-holic" always trying some new tweak i do the nandroid backup thing like every other day. so with a new phone i should be up and running again soon.
well, looks like i will be getting a new epic, under warranty thankfully -- store tech says that the usb port and a battery connector look bad. but they are out of stock on the phone and the replacement will not be in for 3-5 days. so for now i have to go back to my old webOS phone. man i already miss my epic. guess i'm jonesin' for a flash. maybe i'll head over to the webOS forums and see what they've got.
jarcher1971 said:
well, looks like i will be getting a new epic, under warranty thankfully -- store tech says that the usb port and a battery connector look bad. but they are out of stock on the phone and the replacement will not be in for 3-5 days. so for now i have to go back to my old webOS phone. man i already miss my epic. guess i'm jonesin' for a flash. maybe i'll head over to the webOS forums and see what they've got.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HAHA. I still have my Palm Pre for a backup and saw somewhere that somebody was able to put Android on it.
cool!! might have to look that up!
@jarcher1971, I have unfortunately bricked my device as well (story here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1090822) and I was wondering, what exactly did you tell the repair tech?
I'm planning to go with the story that it was working fine and then at one point it just wouldn't turn on. Maybe I should include it was after taking the phone off the charger?
Thanks, any help is appreciated!
Yeah, I listed all that a few posts back in this thread.
Here:
kennyglass123 said:
Go to the store and tell them it was off this morning when you pulled it off charge and it won't turn on. They will play with for an hour to try to get it to turn on then depending on the store give you a refurb or get one sent to you in a day or two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was like 6 posts back
kennyglass123 said:
Here:
Originally Posted by kennyglass123
Go to the store and tell them it was off this morning when you pulled it off charge and it won't turn on. They will play with for an hour to try to get it to turn on then depending on the store give you a refurb or get one sent to you in a day or two.
Was like 6 posts back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep that was about how it went at the store too

Tried unbricking with Heimdall; Now even USB JIG cannot boot phone? What?

Hello! I'm encountering a very serious problem and any help would be extremely appreciated. I had Bonsai4All on my phone (Samsung Galaxy S / Epic from Sprint) for months with no problems, til one day it randomly stopped booting and would just loop the Samsung logo or get stuck at the battery with the circle icon. Using the Clockwork Recovery menu I tried to re-flash the firmware but with the same results.. and now the 3 button download mode feature didn't work.
SO.. I got a USB JIG. That got me into Download Mode. Using Heimdall, I followed this guide (Simple Step By Step for ODIN/HEIMDALL recovery "HOW TO UNBRICK YOUR FASCINATE" ) to reflash my firmware with "CI500_VZW_EB01_FROYO_REL.tar.md5" which I now think may not have been the right file for this phone. After it uploaded all the data and said it was successful, the phone turned off. I expected it to restart, but it didn't. Just a black screen. I had it plugged into my PC via USB still. No LED to indicate it's charging, but that had happened before and it still was. Tried the power button, nothing.. unplugged it, took out the battery, put it back in, tried the JIG. Nothing--- stays at a black screen. Power button and various button combos have yielded nothing.
Does anyone know what the heck happened to my phone, and if there is anything I can do about it? I'm at the end of my rope here. I've heard of JTAG recovery, but I imagine that involves buying new tools, tearing the phone apart, voiding the warranty entirely, doing dangerous precision SMD soldering, and even then it probably isn't going to work..
Is there something else to try or should I just look into selling this to someone who can fix it, or for parts, and get a cheaper phone?
Thanks.
Ok, so you can't hold down 1 and the power button together and get to download mode right?valso, I have heard of the jig but where did you get it?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
I was advised to take out the battery for 20min and then try 1+Power, I will do that in 5 minutes. That is a combination I'd not heard yet. I got the JIG from a shop that sells through Amazon.
OK, tried 1+Power.. nothing
Epicenter714 said:
OK, tried 1+Power.. nothing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, try what you just did: Take out battery for a few minutes. Also, take out SD card. After a few minutes, plug cable that's connected to PC into phone with battery and SD out and try holding 1 and power down together again to get into download mode
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Leave it connect for a while and check for heat from charging
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
ac16313 said:
Leave it connect for a while and check for heat from charging
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do feel heat from charging. But how does that help?
Epicenter714 said:
I do feel heat from charging. But how does that help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, possibly the battery somehow died during the process. Also, I believe he was pointing out that if the battery is getting warm then the phone may not be permabricked. Usually you can find a way to rescue it. Its too soon to give up on it
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
He used the wrong file!! He used the one for Verizon fascinate not for Samsung epic I hope all goes well for you it sucks keep trying to get into download mode & if you succeed download the right file make sure its for the Samsung epic not another Samsung phone
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Killasmoke said:
He used the wrong file!! He used the one for Verizon fascinate not for Samsung epic I hope all goes well for you it sucks keep trying to get into download mode & if you succeed download the right file make sure its for the Samsung epic not another Samsung phone
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, if you need the right file, let us know. Hopefully you get your phone to wake up
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Not to sound negative but I used Odin and flashed the wrong file once and my phone never recovered. I tried everything for countless days and eventually gave up. When i took it to my local sprint repair center they said they couldnt get it to turn on either. It sucks but it might be your best bet. just come up with a good story (of course leaving out that it was rooted) lol
Anyone want to buy this phone cheap? Physically, it's fine. I can't deal with this anymore.
Epicenter714 said:
Anyone want to buy this phone cheap? Physically, it's fine. I can't deal with this anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take it to sprint.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
Epicenter714 said:
Anyone want to buy this phone cheap? Physically, it's fine. I can't deal with this anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its trashed if you used the wrong file, because the pit that is auto detected in the Facsinate file will destroy info needed and it can't be recovered (the info) anyway that I know of.
Help support ERA and Android4Autism...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/donatetome.php?u=331067
If you do get it into download mode, I would try hooking into a computer with the battery out, then hold the 1 key on the keyboard then add pressing the power button together. You will want to grab the files from this thread and add the pit file and check repartition. Uncheck F.reset if in Odin. But Heimdall is better.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1052813
MOD EDIT:: Portions of this post discussing insurance fraud have been removed.
Several posts from this thread have been deleted and one has been edited.
We do not condone insurance fraud here at XDA and discussions on how to carry out insurance fraud are forbidden. Consider this your first and last warning about this subject.
I once thought my epic failed and i tried holding the "1" and the power button on and putting the battery in and it worked.. i never tried it while plugged in though. Another thing i heard about was some reset button below the camera.. haha never tried it though.. and heres a random article i found.. hope it helps
If you flashed an epic with fascinate firmware you're pretty well hard bricked. The dude from mobile tech videos can jtag it.
http://www.mobiletechvideos.com/blog/tag/jtag/
He recovered my captivate when I got drunk and flashed the wrong bootloader. Or if you're just going to move on to a new phone, I'll give you $25 and bag of cheese for the bricked epic. If I get a bricked epic, I'm going to rip the cpu off and trace the pins so we can get the unbrickable mod working for us too.
Id buy it. What accesories do you have and how much would you want shipped? I'm thinking 50 bucks.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
dharvey4651 said:
Several posts from this thread have been deleted and one has been edited.
We do not condone insurance fraud here at XDA and discussions on how to carry out insurance fraud are forbidden. Consider this your first and last warning about this subject.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed this thread and thought posts explained why it is NOT insurance fraud. And if that person wanted to pay the $100 to put in a claim that is what the insurance is for. Is it any different than the genius that uses their phone as a hammer or the angry girlfriend that throws her phone? Fraud would be if you said you lost your phone just to have 2 phones. I would like a better explanation please.

[Q] HELP! Bricked!

I just bricked my rooted T989. Nothing happens when I hit power (no display) and my PC does not show the drives when I connect via USB. I have tried vol buttons + power (with battery and [no battery + cable]). Does anyone have any ideas as to what I should try next? Is TMO likely to replace/repair my phone even though it had been rooted?
Have you tried getting into download mode? And what caused the brick?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
I was flashing a new ROM and it bricked when it finished flashing. It just never rebooted. I can't get into download mode.
TomSilverSpring said:
I was flashing a new ROM and it bricked when it finished flashing. It just never rebooted. I can't get into download mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What rom did you flash?
Sent from my Hercules using XDA App
This is really embarassing but I somehow stumbled up WickedRom, which is for the I9100, somehow thought it was for T989, and tried to flash it. Obviously a major league screw up. I have requested a replacement from TMO. I just hope they don't hit me with a major financial penalty if Samsung notices that it has been rooted (it was rooted when I tried flashing WickedRom).
TomSilverSpring said:
This is really embarassing but I somehow stumbled up WickedRom, which is for the I9100, somehow thought it was for T989, and tried to flash it. Obviously a major league screw up. I have requested a replacement from TMO. I just hope they don't hit me with a major financial penalty if Samsung notices that it has been rooted (it was rooted when I tried flashing WickedRom).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing happened here... I was odining back to stock and the power in my office at work went out... total fail. All Black, no power button, battery pull or Jig will make the phone do anything... anyone find a work around for this... I did this to my VIB before and was able to get it to work again but this just feels bad. Any help is appreciated. Los Angeles area dev's feel free to come play with it.
hey i know im new here but i got the answer... u need 2 odin back 2 stock 4 download mode pull battery plug usb into computer then 2 phone hold vol up and trackpad then insert battery and u will be in download mode also if using CWM dont fix permissions and also dont forget 2 place unzipped recovery file in /system/bin folder and overwrite it over existing file also make sure that cache, data, sdcard ,and system are all unmounted in mounts option of recovery took me 3 days of flashin back 2 stock with odin and soft bricking my phone 2 figure this out hope it helps
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1358401
perhaps people should have shown a bit more support?
Your fault !
Damn that sounds bad, big mistake on your part though, differentiating between i9100 and T-989 is key, among the other models too.
Mine did the same thing after doing a backup. I'm in the 30 day grace period and I'm gonna try to take it back in.. Hopefully I get away with it unless I find a way to fix it
blakemoo said:
Same thing happened here... I was odining back to stock and the power in my office at work went out... total fail. All Black, no power button, battery pull or Jig will make the phone do anything... anyone find a work around for this... I did this to my VIB before and was able to get it to work again but this just feels bad. Any help is appreciated. Los Angeles area dev's feel free to come play with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The power going out Iz the biggest fail ever....definitely my biggest fear and always in back of my head while using odin
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
TomSilverSpring said:
This is really embarassing but I somehow stumbled up WickedRom, which is for the I9100, somehow thought it was for T989, and tried to flash it. Obviously a major league screw up. I have requested a replacement from TMO. I just hope they don't hit me with a major financial penalty if Samsung notices that it has been rooted (it was rooted when I tried flashing WickedRom).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my brother did this exact same thing to our neighbors phone, flashed a I9100 rom into a T989 phone and now it wont turn on at all. unfortunately dont have warranty or insurance. whats the fix to this? will the jig work? or is the phone an expensive paper weight? thanks for any help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN7le4GmxZs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
h0use gr00ves said:
my brother did this exact same thing to our neighbors phone, flashed a I9100 rom into a T989 phone and now it wont turn on at all. unfortunately dont have warranty or insurance. whats the fix to this? will the jig work? or is the phone an expensive paper weight? thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only way is to send it to Samsung or get it JTAG. JTAG will probably be cheaper.

Hard? Soft? brick galaxy s3 t999

Hey, I flashed I9300 rom on my T999 and after it turned off, it never turned back on again. It won't turn on/ download mod/ recovery mode or vibrate. If I take the battery out and plug it in the PC, it LED turns red for a short period of time only. I did a little research and it was no help. Will a usb jig work? Mine is Tmobile version 2 years contract and I got it in Dec 2012, is it still covered?
UPDATE: I saw one on ebay for half price, which is $30, is it reliable? Have anyone here used the service on ebay?
vietthanh1206 said:
Hey, I flashed I9300 rom on my T999 and after it turned off, it never turned back on again. It won't turn on/ download mod/ recovery mode or vibrate. If I take the battery out and plug it in the PC, it LED turns red for a short period of time only. I did a little research and it was no help. Will a usb jig work? Mine is Tmobile version 2 years contract and I got it in Dec 2012, is it still covered?
Click to expand...
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A couple options.
1.) File insurance claim with asurion if you have that
2.) Send to samsu ng but more costly
3.) Send to mobiletechvideos.com $60 and you'll have it fast and fixed.
Yes if you flashed an Intl ROM your phone is bricked. Good luck
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
monkeypaws said:
A couple options.
1.) File insurance claim with asurion if you have that
2.) Send to samsu ng but more costly
3.) Send to mobiletechvideos.com $60 and you'll have it fast and fixed.
Yes if you flashed an Intl ROM your phone is bricked. Good luck
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Is mobiletechvideo reliable? I don't mind spending $60 but will they come and pick up at my door or I have to go send it?
vietthanh1206 said:
Is mobiletechvideo reliable? I don't mind spending $60 but will they come and pick up at my door or I have to go send it?
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Click to collapse
a USB jig will not work in this case.
Yes they are reliable. You will have to send them your phone, on their website they have instructions on how to send them the phone.
|When Emotion Goes Up, Logic Goes Down|
|Even If You Fall Face First You're Still Moving Forward|
send it in for jtag repair but next time you flash read around more so you dont run into trouble. good luck :good:
vietthanh1206 said:
Is mobiletechvideo reliable? I don't mind spending $60 but will they come and pick up at my door or I have to go send it?
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Click to collapse
do chickens lay eggs? dont worry, we wouldnt let you use a shady phone service man
yeah man, just send it to mobiletech videos. They have a few youtube videos too to show you how they'll do it. I did the same to my s3 a while back sent it to them and got back a week for date I shipped it to them. I did get the express overnight return shipping for extra $20.00. I recommend you get it too if you can or get the $15.00 rush processing where they fix on first or second day, otherwise can take as many as 4 days to fix if they have a lot if business. Mines was done in 3 days. Anyway hope that helped, I guarantee you have nothing to fear sending it to them if you decide to.
Sent from a galaxy far away using xda premium
KingKostas said:
send it in for jtag repair but next time you flash read around more so you dont run into trouble. good luck :good:
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Click to collapse
ziggy46 said:
do chickens lay eggs? dont worry, we wouldnt let you use a shady phone service man
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Click to collapse
Cyphers23 said:
yeah man, just send it to mobiletech videos. They have a few youtube videos too to show you how they'll do it. I did the same to my s3 a while back sent it to them and got back a week for date I shipped it to them. I did get the express overnight return shipping for extra $20.00. I recommend you get it too if you can or get the $15.00 rush processing where they fix on first or second day, otherwise can take as many as 4 days to fix if they have a lot if business. Mines was done in 3 days. Anyway hope that helped, I guarantee you have nothing to fear sending it to them if you decide to.
Sent from a galaxy far away using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll reach for help from my older sister because I got no credit card and no car to go to the post office lol.
Hello,
last night i ran into this same problem with my sgh-t999. The phone will power up to the Samsung Galaxy s3 screen. I can also get into download mode and cwm. I am hoping this means that phone has been soft bricked.
As far as why my phone did this...I booted into cwm and i did a restore through the menu options. I'm not sure if i hit the wrong one, or what exactly happened at this point. Whatever it was loaded and i was unable to get past the gs3 screen.
I tried loading that .Tar file from the link provided by "Theexcel". However, in the tutorial, it says to make sure that the flash counter is set back at zero. How can i do this when my phone won't power on. I am not aware of how to reset the counter without getting an app from Playstore.
As you can see, i am new to the forum. I posted here because this seems to be a similar topic. Please let me know if you have any ideas. I tried to address what i think my be wrong with the phone and some of the steps i have done to try and repair it already. I will gladly provide answers to more specific questions.
nickcross88 said:
Hello,
last night i ran into this same problem with my sgh-t999. The phone will power up to the Samsung Galaxy s3 screen. I can also get into download mode and cwm. I am hoping this means that phone has been soft bricked.
As far as why my phone did this...I booted into cwm and i did a restore through the menu options. I'm not sure if i hit the wrong one, or what exactly happened at this point. Whatever it was loaded and i was unable to get past the gs3 screen.
I tried loading that .Tar file from the link provided by "Theexcel". However, in the tutorial, it says to make sure that the flash counter is set back at zero. How can i do this when my phone won't power on. I am not aware of how to reset the counter without getting an app from Playstore.
As you can see, i am new to the forum. I posted here because this seems to be a similar topic. Please let me know if you have any ideas. I tried to address what i think my be wrong with the phone and some of the steps i have done to try and repair it already. I will gladly provide answers to more specific questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got hard brick which means it cannot get into download mode or anything, the screen won't even turn on. Lucky you just got soft brick. I need to spend $80 bucks for jtag fix and fast shipping.
Cyphers23 said:
yeah man, just send it to mobiletech videos. They have a few youtube videos too to show you how they'll do it. I did the same to my s3 a while back sent it to them and got back a week for date I shipped it to them. I did get the express overnight return shipping for extra $20.00. I recommend you get it too if you can or get the $15.00 rush processing where they fix on first or second day, otherwise can take as many as 4 days to fix if they have a lot if business. Mines was done in 3 days. Anyway hope that helped, I guarantee you have nothing to fear sending it to them if you decide to.
Sent from a galaxy far away using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I send my phone in, will it cause any problems if I remove my sim card to use in another phone? I need my phone for work. Does anybody see this cause potential problems?
nickcross88 said:
Hello,
last night i ran into this same problem with my sgh-t999. The phone will power up to the Samsung Galaxy s3 screen. I can also get into download mode and cwm. I am hoping this means that phone has been soft bricked.
As far as why my phone did this...I booted into cwm and i did a restore through the menu options. I'm not sure if i hit the wrong one, or what exactly happened at this point. Whatever it was loaded and i was unable to get past the gs3 screen.
I tried loading that .Tar file from the link provided by "Theexcel". However, in the tutorial, it says to make sure that the flash counter is set back at zero. How can i do this when my phone won't power on. I am not aware of how to reset the counter without getting an app from Playstore.
As you can see, i am new to the forum. I posted here because this seems to be a similar topic. Please let me know if you have any ideas. I tried to address what i think my be wrong with the phone and some of the steps i have done to try and repair it already. I will gladly provide answers to more specific questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Following these instructions below will get you back to a stock rooted phone which works perfectly.
The very best advise is to do the following, doing anything else will most likely prolong
the problems you are having or making them even more difficult to resolve.
First thing you need to do is to install the stock Tmobile T999 rooted firmware.
Here are the exact step by step instructions with the download link for the firmware.
After you have followed these instructions your phone will be working properly and if
you like you will be able to flash any custom roms made for the Tmobile T999 phone
or restore any backups unless the the backup is corrupted in some way or another.
Here is the link to the Tmobile Stock & Rooted firmware you need:
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=9390169635556426451
After downloading it make a folder on your desktop and unzip the file
using Winzip or 7zip so the .TAR file is in the new folder you just made.
Here is a link for ODIN which is required for flashing the stock rooted firmware
(a windows app) http://d-h.st/Q14
Download and extract Odin into the same folder you made containing the TAR file.
Here is a step by step guide for you.
Download the firmware of your choosing (use the root66 version if you want root)
Run Odin by double clicking the Odin.exe within the folder you extracted
Turn off your phone and boot into DOWNLOAD MODE (Volume Down + Home + Power Hold until phone powers up, then release and press Volume Up to enter Download Mode)
Once in Download Mode, connect the USB/Charger cable to the phone and plug into the USB port on your computer.
You should now see a COM** port listed toward the top-left of Odin (under ID:COM)
Click on the PDA button in the middle-right area of Odin.
Browse to and select the FW you downloaded (TAR file)
Make sure Auto-Reboot and F. Reset Time are the only options checked and that PDA is the only other thing checked.
TRIPLE CHECK your settings and that you have selected the correct firmware for your model phone and are using the correct options.
If you are using a laptop, make absolutely sure you are plugged in, or if on battery, that it is charged enough and will not go into sleep mode during flash.
Click Start to begin the flash. This will take a while, so be patient!
Once complete, in the top-left box in Odin, it will say PASS and the phone should have automatically rebooted.
You may unplug the phone and close Odin if you wish.
Wait at least 5-10 minutes for the system to boot the first time and then build its cache! (It may seem to hang during boot, this is normal and you must be patient!!!)
Good Luck!
nickcross88 said:
If I send my phone in, will it cause any problems if I remove my sim card to use in another phone? I need my phone for work. Does anybody see this cause potential problems?
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Click to collapse
No actually, when you send it in they ask you to only send in your bare phone, no battery, sim/sd card just the phone itself. So yeah you can switch out to another phone while waiting.
Try searching craigslist for JTAG repair.
My buddy found a local repair shop for $60. He picked it up the next day.
A USB jig will get your phone into download mode if soft bricked and costs $3.
transmitted from my SGH-T999.
phantomthuggie said:
Try searching craigslist for JTAG repair.
My buddy found a local repair shop for $60. He picked it up the next day.
A USB jig will get your phone into download mode if soft bricked and costs $3.
transmitted from my SGH-T999.
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Click to collapse
I don't know any local so I asked my older sister to sent it to the mobilevideo guy. Not sure when they'll send it back. Hopefully next friday or the following Monday :good:
Hey guys, I just want to let you guys know that I got my phone fully working in the mail box today. Thanks Mobiletechvideo :laugh:
Definitely recommend to anyone who got hard bricked.
vietthanh1206 said:
Hey guys, I just want to let you guys know that I got my phone fully working in the mail box today. Thanks Mobiletechvideo :laugh:
Definitely recommend to anyone who got hard bricked.
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Click to collapse
I'm a witness lol
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
After a week of using, seems to work perfectly.
vietthanh1206 said:
After a week of using, seems to work perfectly.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, their work is professionally done. That's why they are so highly recommended by everyone. Myself included.
Sent from a Galaxy far away using xda premium
hey guys quick info thing. my phone had sudden death. nothing would work. had a disc with axeman who informed me of MT for jtag. long story short i found this dude named Joe on ebay. from seattle to Mich, repaired at half the price.. this dude rocks and is pleasent to deal with. like i said you ship it to him 1 or 2 day, i went with 2 small sups box, just the phone and back, wuld have gotten it in four had it not been sunday
search Unbrick Samsung Galaxy S .. mipick22..29.00$ .. just a heads up . ink

Screen is not working

My phone screen is not working, sometimes it displays pink color, sometimes black, nothing works.
I am sending it back to ATT for warranty replacement. How can I reset it to stock? how i will know, whether there is a water damage?
TIA
After search, I found that water damage, can be found on the battery or white strip under the battery.
How to get back to stock? I am unable to go into download mode, as I cannot see anything on screen.
atrix4nag said:
After search, I found that water damage, can be found on the battery or white strip under the battery.
How to get back to stock? I am unable to go into download mode, as I cannot see anything on screen.
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Click to collapse
Try using Kies to install the stock ROM, i believe it will reboot the phone to download mode automatically from the normal power on state. This will not change your flash counter however, if it has been tripped.
I recently had to get a note 2 with a broken screen into download mode. It takes a bit of patience, but try holding power, volume down and home for around 5 seconds and then press volume up and plug it in. It took me a few tries to get right, but it's possible.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Try this
It's up to you...
I had a water damage issue once with a phone, about 5-6 months ago. A friend told me to go to best buy and get their insurance for $12 per month, NO DEDUCTIBLE. I waited almost two weeks and went into a different Best Buy and said my son accidentally tipped my drink and spilled water on my phone and now it doesn't work. I got a new one, no questions asked without paying ANYTHING, except the first months payment when I signed up. Hell its worth a shot of you have nothing else to fall back on.
-Semper Fi
dntesinfrno said:
Try using Kies to install the stock ROM, i believe it will reboot the phone to download mode automatically from the normal power on state. This will not change your flash counter however, if it has been tripped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you guide me how can I go back to stock ROM using kies, Thanks in advance.
after that is there a way to reset the counter/?
Greycloak42 said:
I recently had to get a note 2 with a broken screen into download mode. It takes a bit of patience, but try holding power, volume down and home for around 5 seconds and then press volume up and plug it in. It took me a few tries to get right, but it's possible.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
2 days back, when I used it, nothing displaying on screen, so I dont know, whether I am in download mode or normal mode. Now its in side the rice. I will check your method, once my phone starts showing something on screen.
DirtTrash said:
It's up to you...
I had a water damage issue once with a phone, about 5-6 months ago. A friend told me to go to best buy and get their insurance for $12 per month, NO DEDUCTIBLE. I waited almost two weeks and went into a different Best Buy and said my son accidentally tipped my drink and spilled water on my phone and now it doesn't work. I got a new one, no questions asked without paying ANYTHING, except the first months payment when I signed up. Hell its worth a shot of you have nothing else to fall back on.
-Semper Fi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am already getting warranty replacement. So I just want to get phone back to stock, before returning it.
atrix4nag said:
can you guide me how can I go back to stock ROM using kies, Thanks in advance.
after that is there a way to reset the counter/?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never used it so someone can correct me if im wrong, but from what i understand all you need is to download kies, plug the phone in and it will recognize the device, then just tell it to update the firmware. I (think) it will download the latest full package, reboot the phone into download mode and install it. As far as reseting the flash counter the only way i know of is the triangleaway app which would be pretty hard to do with no display. Not really sure if something could possibly be done from an ADB shell.
dntesinfrno said:
I've never used it so someone can correct me if im wrong, but from what i understand all you need is to download kies, plug the phone in and it will recognize the device, then just tell it to update the firmware. I (think) it will download the latest full package, reboot the phone into download mode and install it. As far as reseting the flash counter the only way i know of is the triangleaway app which would be pretty hard to do with no display. Not really sure if something could possibly be done from an ADB shell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for late response.
After 2 days of keeping it inside rice, screen started working with some random colors and menu and back button not working. So i used tirangleaway app to reset the counter, and then installed stock rom, using ODIN.
Already sent it for warranty exchange, Lets wait for couple of weeks, if I didnt hear anything, then its all good.
No news is always a good news
If the flash counter is 0 and the rom is unmodified and unrooted then you are fine on that end, water damage is another story .

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