Related
So just to state the lead up to the unbootable phone.
Condensed version:
Flashed to Bio360 (ONLY working rom that was running for me thus far)
After a week of use, phone would boot for 5 seconds until screen turned pixelated
reflashed but did nothing
flashed to ICS using download mode again and worked but with limited function as when I first flashed ICS before Bio360
flashed using CWM6 back to Bio360 but still same problem
now will not boot into CWM6 and gets the pixelated screen either way
WILL go into download mode so I tried a few more ROMs to hopefully write over whatever issue there is with the software but nothing
reflashed using ODIN the CWM to 5 and 6 but same problem (will not load to CWM at all now
tried a few more times in the precise order as the first time I ever got the phone working with Bio360 (STILL a messaged up screen)
More detailed account of things:
I originally tried updating to the ICS upgrade a few weeks ago but got stuck on the boot screen and other issues. I finally flashed the CWM6 and updated the rom via that to the Bio360 rom. I finally had a working phone again after countless hours of trying to get it working. I locked my screen after timeout to a pin number but actually found it was a pain in the behind so tried to switch back. However I used the 'settings' feature which was present on the home screen after boot that comes with the Bio360. Then I deleted the icon an could no longer find the one that I was originally using, but found the other newer icon in the applications. So I took the lock feature off. Though it did nothing and the phone still required the pin. I tried changing it etc etc etc and nothing worked.
So, I flashed the Bio360 rom again and tried to start fresh, only to find that most of the settings that I originally were using before the re-flash were still present. This lead me to believe the settings are not completely wiped and flashing through CWM6 does not do a pristine clean update. Then I read that I should have to clear any and all settings by factory reset, clear cache, partition or whatever other clear functions I found within CWM6. So I did that and everything was back in good order again.
That is until I woke up 3 days ago and found my phone 'bricked'. Not literally as I am told it is almost impossible to brick one of these. Upon rebooting the phone I found that it was booting to the Samsung logo and after about 5 seconds, the screen becomes pixelated with red and green colours, sometimes lines all over. The longer I leave it, the more the screen becomes a wash out.
So I tried flashing the rom again using CWM6 hoping this would fix, but the same thing occured. So I tried to use CWM5 hoping that would fix it but still the same. I tried flashing back to gingerbread, then ICS, then Bio360 as I originally did to get the phone working with Bio360 but the only thing that I can do now is boot into download mode. Anything else causes the screen to become pixelated and wil not boot past the messed up screen no matter how long I leave it.
I searched for other threads but only found threads based on a single large pixel or a physically damaged screen. However, the screen is still functional as when I boot to download mode or just before the screen becomes pixelated, everything looks great. Plus there was one time when I flashed to ICS I got into the blank screen with limited functional capacity as when I first flashed ICS and the pixelated screen disappeared. So this leads me to believe this is a software issue.
I believe that there is an issue with files being left behind that are corrupted or something similar but I cannot even boot to CWM in order to clear everything possible.
ANY IDEAS? I have explored every option that my limited understanding of software could.
picture of what it looks like
This is a crappy picture from my old phone of something like what it looks like.
https://plus.google.com/photos/111944628817208100010/albums/5793637254528885841
This is a capture after it was turned off even and I plugged it into my computer, displaying the battery charging animation, though turned pixelated after a few seconds.
My gut says hardware damage, like something inside the Tegra itself is fried, ESPECIALLY since it's happening sometimes while still in the bootloader (charging animation).
Try Kies emergency recovery. If it flashes successfully but still won't boot, or glitches out like this during the flash, you'll have to start the RMA process.
I am unsure if it would be a hardware issue though since the screen is fine during the 'download mode' and did boot into the stock recovery after a flash a while back, then flipped back to not getting past the Samsung logo and pixelating again.
Would I be able to load the download mode portion of the phone if it was a hardware issue?
I ask because my gut says the opposite.
flashing CWM 6 causes my phone to be unbootable and pixelated screen
So, I have tried to update the phone into whatever other ROM that I can possibly get working only to find out that after flashing a ROM that flashes the original recovery program included with Android, voilĂ ! The phone works again and boots into the black screen with pull down menu. Back to square one for me.
Why would CWM6 be causing such a thing?
EaglesIII said:
So, I have tried to update the phone into whatever other ROM that I can possibly get working only to find out that after flashing a ROM that flashes the original recovery program included with Android, voilĂ ! The phone works again and boots into the black screen with pull down menu. Back to square one for me.
Why would CWM6 be causing such a thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on CWMR6 since the begining without any issue. Did you flash the touch or the non touch version ? Also whcih odin version are you using, maybe that makes a difference. The 1.82 and 1.85 are tested to be working fine with both cwmr 5 and 6. Also by reading your thread is seems you've never been able to flash through ICS one click, if possible try doing that.
ninthsense said:
I'm on CWMR6 since the begining without any issue. Did you flash the touch or the non touch version ? Also whcih odin version are you using, maybe that makes a difference. The 1.82 and 1.85 are tested to be working fine with both cwmr 5 and 6. Also by reading your thread is seems you've never been able to flash through ICS one click, if possible try doing that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been using the cwm5/6 touch and non touch. I have tried flashing them both. I have been using the most suggested version of ODIN 1.85 to flash. I do not think that it would make a difference as to which ODIN version I use, but then again I am quite ignorant on software.
The first thing that I did was tried the flashing using the one click method. I could only get to a black screen with the pull down menu containing the turn wifi on/off etc. I read that the problem may be permissions but I have tried that using the CWM when it worked and I was still stuck at the black screen with pull down menu. Without CWM I have no way of doing anything really since everything is in zip form and without CWM you cant use the zips.
EaglesIII said:
I have been using the cwm5/6 touch and non touch. I have tried flashing them both. I have been using the most suggested version of ODIN 1.85 to flash. I do not think that it would make a difference as to which ODIN version I use, but then again I am quite ignorant on software.
The first thing that I did was tried the flashing using the one click method. I could only get to a black screen with the pull down menu containing the turn wifi on/off etc. I read that the problem may be permissions but I have tried that using the CWM when it worked and I was still stuck at the black screen with pull down menu. Without CWM I have no way of doing anything really since everything is in zip form and without CWM you cant use the zips.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well then probably a logcat output to a developer would help understand the problem you're facing. Find some knowledgeable developer who can help you read the logcat and find the issue. Or post it here and maybe somebody would give you a clue.
EaglesIII said:
So just to state the lead up to the unbootable phone.
Condensed version:
Flashed to Bio360 (ONLY working rom that was running for me thus far)
After a week of use, phone would boot for 5 seconds until screen turned pixelated
reflashed but did nothing
flashed to ICS using download mode again and worked but with limited function as when I first flashed ICS before Bio360
flashed using CWM6 back to Bio360 but still same problem
now will not boot into CWM6 and gets the pixelated screen either way
WILL go into download mode so I tried a few more ROMs to hopefully write over whatever issue there is with the software but nothing
reflashed using ODIN the CWM to 5 and 6 but same problem (will not load to CWM at all now
tried a few more times in the precise order as the first time I ever got the phone working with Bio360 (STILL a messaged up screen)
More detailed account of things:
I originally tried updating to the ICS upgrade a few weeks ago but got stuck on the boot screen and other issues. I finally flashed the CWM6 and updated the rom via that to the Bio360 rom. I finally had a working phone again after countless hours of trying to get it working. I locked my screen after timeout to a pin number but actually found it was a pain in the behind so tried to switch back. However I used the 'settings' feature which was present on the home screen after boot that comes with the Bio360. Then I deleted the icon an could no longer find the one that I was originally using, but found the other newer icon in the applications. So I took the lock feature off. Though it did nothing and the phone still required the pin. I tried changing it etc etc etc and nothing worked.
So, I flashed the Bio360 rom again and tried to start fresh, only to find that most of the settings that I originally were using before the re-flash were still present. This lead me to believe the settings are not completely wiped and flashing through CWM6 does not do a pristine clean update. Then I read that I should have to clear any and all settings by factory reset, clear cache, partition or whatever other clear functions I found within CWM6. So I did that and everything was back in good order again.
That is until I woke up 3 days ago and found my phone 'bricked'. Not literally as I am told it is almost impossible to brick one of these. Upon rebooting the phone I found that it was booting to the Samsung logo and after about 5 seconds, the screen becomes pixelated with red and green colours, sometimes lines all over. The longer I leave it, the more the screen becomes a wash out.
So I tried flashing the rom again using CWM6 hoping this would fix, but the same thing occured. So I tried to use CWM5 hoping that would fix it but still the same. I tried flashing back to gingerbread, then ICS, then Bio360 as I originally did to get the phone working with Bio360 but the only thing that I can do now is boot into download mode. Anything else causes the screen to become pixelated and wil not boot past the messed up screen no matter how long I leave it.
I searched for other threads but only found threads based on a single large pixel or a physically damaged screen. However, the screen is still functional as when I boot to download mode or just before the screen becomes pixelated, everything looks great. Plus there was one time when I flashed to ICS I got into the blank screen with limited functional capacity as when I first flashed ICS and the pixelated screen disappeared. So this leads me to believe this is a software issue.
I believe that there is an issue with files being left behind that are corrupted or something similar but I cannot even boot to CWM in order to clear everything possible.
ANY IDEAS? I have explored every option that my limited understanding of software could.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem, i bought mine in ebay, (i live outside USA so i cant get money back) my problem start when i try to install a apk, then, i try to restore with wipe in cwm (sometimes works, sometimes no) and eventually, only download mode work. I dont know what i do, but in one of my trys, ICS 4.04 works everything, but i was network lock,i try to downgrade to Gingerbread and the problem come back, i dont know what to do, i feel like i waste te money.
PD: I have the roger version
EDIT: I just flashed ICS from ATT And works, but i w ould like to root and i cant, every time that i flash CWM, the problem come back
EDIT 2: I use the one click to install ICS from att and works, its seem the problem is when i use a custom rom or the CWM, dont know why, its seems that is not hardware because ICS works perfect, but Every custom rom or CWM, cause the problem
Maybe is there a way torecreate all the internal partition, i dont know, or something like that, to make a clean install, I am starting to regret for buying this phone, maybe the problem is because is from rogers (a security rule maybe?)
Sorry for my english
EaglesIII : your phone has hardware malfunction.
It is basically trash.
*sorry*
Sent from my SGH-I927 using xda app-developers app
ericpeacock79 said:
EaglesIII : your phone has hardware malfunction.
It is basically trash.
*sorry*
Sent from my SGH-I927 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont Know, its happen similar to me, but if i use ICS from ATT, everything works right
---------- Post added at 03:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 AM ----------
Ok, i learned something, when a flash the Gingerbread version, there is a error while booting (the first time that boot lik recovery) , the error is can't access to /system/csc/ATT/system/
When i use the ICS from ATT, that doesnt happen, maybe that is the problem? i dont know, maybe someone can tell us what are these files
There is a working solution, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1953672 thanks to Rawr0w0,its works when you flash in that order, my phone is rooted and full working in ICS, i hope that helps you
I have been using the i747z ROMs for quite some time and after trying a bunch of other ROMs I always reverted back to theirs. So when their 3.0 version came out with Android 4.3 I installed it, using ClockWorkMod recovery. Right after it installed, CWM displayed a message about the boot loader and to fix it. So I went ahead and did that (Don't really remember what the message was) What I know is that I lost root. Also the phone could not connect to the mobile network, only on Wifi. So this morning, I factory reset the phone again, and attempted to root the phone with Odin with CF-Auto-Root-d2att-d2uc-samsungsghi747 (which I had used when I first rooted the phone). Now the phone doesn't boot past the 2nd samsung logo, it starts out with the Samsung logo with the blue circle around it, then the AT&T Rethink Possible and then the plain white Samsung logo. Also, the LED has a slow blue flicker.
I can get the phone into download mode and I have used Odin to attempt to load the stock firmware and the stock bootloader. But after restarting the phone I can't get past the same screen described above.
I am pretty sure this is not related to the i747z v3.0 ROM but rather something a miss with the order in which things need to start in Android. I have done some reading on that but I am not sure what I need to do to correct this soft brick situation. ( I have googled "soft brick" as well)
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
mozphoto said:
I have been using the i747z ROMs for quite some time and after trying a bunch of other ROMs I always reverted back to theirs. So when their 3.0 version came out with Android 4.3 I installed it, using ClockWorkMod recovery. Right after it installed, CWM displayed a message about the boot loader and to fix it. So I went ahead and did that (Don't really remember what the message was) What I know is that I lost root. Also the phone could not connect to the mobile network, only on Wifi. So this morning, I factory reset the phone again, and attempted to root the phone with Odin with CF-Auto-Root-d2att-d2uc-samsungsghi747 (which I had used when I first rooted the phone). Now the phone doesn't boot past the 2nd samsung logo, it starts out with the Samsung logo with the blue circle around it, then the AT&T Rethink Possible and then the plain white Samsung logo. Also, the LED has a slow blue flicker.
I can get the phone into download mode and I have used Odin to attempt to load the stock firmware and the stock bootloader. But after restarting the phone I can't get past the same screen described above.
I am pretty sure this is not related to the i747z v3.0 ROM but rather something a miss with the order in which things need to start in Android. I have done some reading on that but I am not sure what I need to do to correct this soft brick situation. ( I have googled "soft brick" as well)
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After flashing through odin did you format data?If not try it.
Go into recovery and wipe data.
**SOLVED**
Thanks xXFl4sh, I had tried that.
Solved!
Alright where do I start? How about RTFM Some how I had missed the part about flashing a bootloader and a modem after the ROM. Not recalling having to do that before, I skipped right over it. Once the recovery CWM 6.0.3.1 was finally loaded, getting the flashing the ROM, the bootloader and the modem was easy as usual.
The key was having to use Odin to install a recovery in .tar or .tar.md5 format since I could not access a Recovery Mode on the GS3, as well as a rooted stock image (I used root66_ATT_I747UCDLK3.tar.md5 which is a rooted Android 4.1.1 for AT&T) For the recovery, I couldnt' find a .tar or .tar.md5 for ClockWorkMod (did find a utility to convert it, but didn't want to introduce another variable into the mix) so I used one from Team Win Recovery (v2.6.3.0) and with that I loaded the CWM recovery. Once all of that was in place, I proceed to factory reset, clear data, cache, system and then flash the new ROM, bootloader and modem.
In all of this I learned quite a bit about the whole process and how to narrow down possible resolutions. I still see the "Rom may flash stock recovery on boot" message after flashing either a ROM, bootloader or modem, but just backing out without answering Yes or No seems to work. Also (and this may be related, I don't see the option to restart in recovery from shutdown menu). Don't really know what that's all about for now, and honestly don't want to mess around (at least for a while)
I know the steps are general, but I hope this can help some else if they get their devices in a soft brick situation. As for the i747z v3 ROM with 4.3, I really like it, everything works (Wifi,Blutooth,tethering) and the battery seems good as well.
Thanks!
Okay so heres the dealio. I am not a noob been rooting, flashing etc. since Cyanogen was actually Cyanogen back in the G1 and Mytouch days. I have read every tutorial available. I have tried Kies, Odin, different USB cords, various drivers, nandroid backups etc. I was on the 5.0 unoffical cyanogen rom I think it was 12-08 or 06. NB4 "MODEM" had the coveted MDL Baseband. I was running CWM recovery. was setting alarms whole screen turned bright pink and froze so I pulled battery waited several minutes, rebooted and it would make it to cm splash screen then go pink and reboot.
First thing I did was try all of my nandroid backups none did any good. Of course I wiped everything before restoring
Second tried several Roms I know worked I always keep a couple on SD just in case ones I have tested and are working
Third I tried to Odin to MDL passed boot loop did this several times with sd and without I even uninstalled kies to make sure no interference
After that I just started climbing firmware mk2, NB4, NH7 all same results. I did each one multiple times evry which way you can imagine
I tried multiple Roms 4.4.2 4.4.4 etc to no avail
Finally I tried Kies. Kies Upgraded me to NK2 still boot loop. Odin NK2 still boot loop.
I have tried super wiping then installing boot loop
I can get into DOWNLOAD MODE AND RECOVERY MODE NO PROBLEM. I can flash custom recovery through odin no problem I have tried Cwm I have tried Twrp. Twrp gives me more options.
Now I have had some success.... If I do it perfectly I usually have to format everything with aromas mega wipe takes a few attempts I can get Danvdh GE 4.4.4 Rom to boot but it constantly vibrates if i do anything like reboot it or anything back to boot loop.
I have checked my pit file and compared to a stock pit everything matches perfectly so I dont think any partitions are screwed..
Knox is tripped who cares its past warranty I am on NK2 firmware. I dont care if I am stuck on stock or some custom rom. I need my phone to work just dont have money to buy a new one.
Please help me. I am not a noob if I have to rebuild the whole system using ADB I will just need some guidance.
****UPDATE***** Currently Have SOPK 4.4.4 from Unified Dev up and running.... No audio at all, much more stability, occasionally freezes will bootloop unless plugged into usb on computer.
***********LOGCATS************* https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B479jD3Q_BOvZWYtRDZ2bjBZN2M&usp=sharing
Try this. Flash MDL baseband, flash NK2 with Odin, reboot to recovery and factory reset. After that perform a reboot and see if it works. This has seemed to work for a few people that had updated just the baseband and then later tried to flash full firmware and got stuck in bootloops
do you happen to have link to MDL baseband I have the NK2 firmware
I did find this I want to make sure I have the right one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2282342
Also am I flashing these back to back then reboot or flash MDL reboot to download then flash NK2? Just dont want to screw myself any further. Thank you very much for your help Thanks button hit 100x
Yeah that's the one, and just flash the modem, once it's done, do a battery pull, boot straight back into download mode and flash it again. After that, flash full NK2 firmware
Tried it twice with Odin 3.07 and 3.09 still looping.
I do remember having to push the NB4 Modem with ADB while maintaining the MDL baseband if that has anything to do with it.
I saw a pink screen scenario once after water damage on my nephews s4 (not saying you have water damage ) but phone never recovered, not even after disassembly and clean, had limited function, had to be replaced.
Pp
There was never water damage. Its hard to believe that its hardware since I can get dl mode and recovery no problem. But anything is possible. I only get the pink screen now when I try to reflash the 5.0 Cyanogen
ok right now ive got Danvidh GE 4.4.4 pure nexus up and running. its doing a little vibration loop every 30-60 seconds. i have a bug report for whoever wants it. i also have a recovery log from twrp. i'll leave it up and running until i get some advice. i do know if i reboot itll kick into boot loop.......
Update: Ive got about 15 minutes of logcat. and it did reboot on its on back into rom still doing the vibration loop. it freezes randomly no audio. Ill keep running logcat and keep this puppy up till I hear from someone.....
Ok so I'm posting from my SGH-M919. The one with problems. Here's what I think happened, I think while on The 5.0 CM ROM I received the lollipop OTA. This is just a guess as I'm seeing people have been getting OTA notifications for this Device. I'm not sure what I should do. I've done extensive debugging. All hardware looks good from what I can tell. I have tons of logcats and debug files for anyone willing to help. As of now still running DanvidH. 4.4.4 GPE pure nexus version baseband NK2. The vibrations continue. Apparently its due to Google play service update in the last 24 hours and this ROM. Since its literally the only thing that will run on here I'll keep it for now. It freezes constantly, cannot use it as a phone either as it just freezes on the way to dialer. Anyway hopefully someone can help...... Thanks
Sent from my GT-I9505G using XDA Free mobile app
Can you share a link to this 5.0 cm rom?
Just curious.
### Edit ###
Never mind just found it in development.
Pp.
---------- Post added at 09:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:35 AM ----------
Just looking over this 5.0 Cm rom I get the impression that this is chuck full of bugs, since the beginning back on 11/13 and just 2 hrs ago op posted an update with potential bugs still present. If I had to have a reliable operating phone this is one rom I wouldn't touch.
Any input from op?
Pp.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2539361&page=458 just got uploaded last night follow instructions explicitly look at last or so post
Can you check what bootloader and modem you have now? Upload the logcat right before the reboot happened
OK so I am able to run the 5.0 much more stable. Dialer crashes no audio at all system or other wise. It froze then rebooted and back to bootloop which logcats do you want i couldnt get catlog to run on 5.0 but I have about 3 hours worth of logcats from the 4.4.4 pure nexus. what logcats would you like. I also have adb setup and http://www.xda-developers.com/android/advanced-logcat-published-as-a-standalone-tool/ it was running great on 4.4.4 but couldnt get it to retrieve on 5.0
I did get about 2 hours of smoothness from 5.0 just no sound and dialer crashes no one else reporting issue. Texts work fine
NK2 boot loader with Twrp recovery
whats really really weird is I have to connect the phone to computer after flashing to get it to actual start the rom
So my issue is pretty similar, see what you guys think. i been trying everything i can think of.
i updated from xtrestolite 2.1 to 2.2 with out wiping. everything worked fine except when i would make calls, the other people could not hear me. so i updated the bootloader and modem again (i had done it before) and the problem persisted. i flashed back to stock and was getting stuck at the s6 edge screen. the only way to get around this was and get my phone to boot was to flash aou kernel. i was still having a similar issue with calling so I download a modem from a diffrent server and all of a sudden, it was working again on stock firmware... AWESOME!
now that i had all that done and my phone working as it should, i reset my phone for the first time and i got the FRP lock, wont boot phone because custom kernel. GREAT
I then flashed stock of6 again, the tar ball, and the 4 piece version. no dice
i then found of8, tried to flash that still no dice.
id love to flash twrp and load a rom on, but FRP is a alsjdflajs.
the phone will flash successfully, but upon reboot, it will go into recovery, run its course, reboot, and get stuck that the galaxy s6 edge screen.
i use the vol and power click during recovery to see what its doing and everything seems to go fine. it will then say failed to mount /data. im hoping flashing this with the pit file will work, but i cannot download the pit file from my work computer (hahah its blocks on 4shard and mega).
anyone have any other advice? i will update if i figure it out.
Regards team,
-Mad
p.s. none of this is xtrestolite's fault, that rom has been nothing but good to me.. my phone has been picky though. after 5.1.1 i had to flash a custom kernel in order for the digitizer to function properly.... any help is appriciated guys.
SO UPDATE!
nothing good, i tried the pit with of6 and of8, no dice. still stuck.
anyone got a s6 edge w a broken screen? you can claim it lost for all i care.
no one?
i guess if anything past flash stock firmware people dont know? was hoping for alittle more insight.
im sure if i could flash a kernel i could get it to turn on, but FRP has be at bay...
no help for you bro...Samsung just needs to release there software fixing for this comunity...I'm looking a for a dev to answer my question in this section about just flashing zip files in twrp instead of using odin or whatever other methods that can avoid all these problems that are all similar...hopefully in next few months it will be addressed
Hey mate, try this...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=61531848
Sent from my SM-G925T using Tapatalk 2
holy... fu34%# /S45it.... IT BOOT?!
after flashing every firmware 100000 times...
THANK YOU!
I initially used odin to flash OI1 update, after a rom I was using caused problems and I got bootloop. It changed bootloader value to b:3 and I'm unable to downgrade now so I used smart switch which didn't recognize device so used emergency recovery and still bootloop. I have factory reset and wipe cache multiple times along with adb side load and individual flashes of bootloader, modem, kernel, flashed custom kernel and twrp to access fix permissions and to mount partitions with advanced wipe etc and still wont boot past logo. Also during one fix attempt phone said can't mount system.. Idk I'm not understanding where the problem is .everything says successful but I'm still in bootloop. Please help. I've spent hours everyday for the past week searching & trying different things that seem might help so open to any suggestions.
I have what's probably a unique situation, though I hope not. For background info, I bought two I747s, one white and one blue, each with issues, but I intended to put parts together to end up with one good one.
When I did a factory reset on the blue one via the recovery menu, it returned a bunch of errors along the lines of "failed to mount /data." Then when it rebooted it would hang on the Samsung logo. Back in recovery mode it returns more of the same errors just booting into recovery mode, and factory reset still returns more of the same errors and doesn't fix anything. I flashed 4.3 with Odin in an attempt to fix it, but I got the boards mixed up, and that one had 4.4 on it, not 4.1 like I thought. I'm pretty sure it's hard bricked now (that whole can't downgrade thing) because it's unresponsive to everything. Though my computer does recognize that it's plugged in, more on that later.
So I figured, fine, I screwed up, I'll just use the other board with 4.1 on it from the white phone. Except when I did a factory reset on that one, it did the exact same thing! Same errors, same problem stuck at the Samsung logo. Except this time I'm not flashing sh*t until I know exactly what I need to do to fix it. In another post where the guy had the same issue with 4.1.1, it was solved by flashing 4.3 with Odin. And another post where the guy had no idea what version he had, he just knew it was lower than 4.3, his problem was also solved by flashing 4.3, But since my last efforts failed miserably, I'm very reluctant to try it until I get some knowledgeable input. I don't remember exactly which version is on there, it's 4.1.something. I'd also prefer not to upgrade beyond 4.1 because I'd like to unlock it and from what I'm reading you can only do it for free if you're on 4.1. So I guess I need a link to an Odin flashable 4.1 package?
As for the poor blue phone that used to have 4.4.something, and was mistakenly flashed with 4.3, I've heard about JTAG but I don't quite understand it, and I'm not sure it would work in my case since a lot of what I'm reading says that bricking which occurs from downgrading is often unfixable. However, Windows recognizes that a device is plugged in when I attach it via USB. It shows up in the Device Manager as QHSUSB_DLOAD. I am currently researching more on this and the method of booting from an SD card, except I don't have an SD card reader at the moment.
Any assistance, advice, links, information, and plain ole encouragement are always welcome and appreciated.
For the phone running 4.1, flash any stock rom in Odin. After flashing, boot into recovery and perform a factory reset, then boot the phone and use the free method to sim unlock. The important thing is to have the stock 4.1.1 dialler in order to access the hidden menu options?
For home hard bricked phone, you will have to try the debrick image method. If it doesn't work, a jtag service should be able to force flash a rom to the phone.
Wow, that was like a crazy fast reply!
What if the phone is 4.1.2? Can I still flash 4.1.1? I'm on the hunt for a 4.1.1 stock rom now.
Yes, you can flash 4.1.1 from 4.1.2.
audit13 said:
Yes, you can flash 4.1.1 from 4.1.2.
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Click to collapse
Apparently not always. I downloaded and flashed 4.1.1 with Oden 3.07, it rebooted, showed the android image like it was updating, progress bar finished, and then it just went blank. Now both phones are in the same condition of being hard bricked and showing QHSUSB_DLOAD in the device manager.
This is strange. I have downgraded approximately 10 i747m phones from 4.1.2 to 4.1.1, unlocked using the free method, and re-flashed back to 4.1.2 after unlocking.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2371897
What options did you check in Odin? Where did you get the 4.1.1 ROM? I ask because the stock ATT 4.1.1 rom was apparently removed from sammobile.com.
How did you confirm that the phone was running 4.1.2?
I checked only auto reboot in Odin.
I found this link sammobile.com/firmwares/database/SGH-I747/ in this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3-att/help/downgrade-att-running-stock-4-4-2-rom-t3170938 , 7th post
The download was going absurdly slow, so I googled the exact file name being downloaded which was, I747UCDLK3_I747ATTDLK3_ATT, and found a google drive link at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_UTWXKFnZoNVFdSVjJEZlMwZjA/edit which was the first result after searching for the file name if that link doesn't work. I'm downloading the slow one now to compare it to the one I got from google drive.
I'm unsure if the phone was 4.1.1 or 4.1.2, that's why I asked if it's possible to flash 4.1.1 on top of 4.1.2. I was only trying to do a factory reset originally and had no intentions of flashing anything. I just wanted to wipe out all the crap on it from the previous user so I had only glanced at the version out of curiosity to see if it was unlockable via the free method. I remember it was 4.1.something.
I have an SD card reader on order. Hopefully I'll be able to unbrick one of them.
Do you, or anyone else, have any idea why a simple factory reset would cause errors like I described and then hang on reboot? At that point both phones were 100% factory and I hadn't done anything to them except put a battery in them to power them on. I've done a factory reset on four other S3s and this didn't happen.
It is definitely possible to flash 4.1.1 over 4.1.2 because the bootloader could not be downgraded until the mjb version.
That's what I've been reading. So where did I go wrong? Any idea why a factory reset would screw up like that?
Did you confirm the bootloader before flashing?
audit13 said:
Did you confirm the bootloader before flashing?
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No, because I had no intentions of flashing it when I tried to do a factory reset. Then after that went bad it wouldn't boot, and I don't know how to check the boatloader when a phone will only go into recovery mode.
Where did you see reference to 4.1? It's possible that the modem or baseband was 4.1 but the bootloader was 4.3.
Under about device and then Android version. The one where if you tap it a lot you get the jellybean android that pops up. It wasn't the baseband version because that's a much longer number with the model number in it.
That screen doesn't tell you the bootloader.
As I said, I didn't check for the bootloader version before I ran into trouble because I only wanted to do a factory reset and I didn't intend to flash anything. I wouldn't imagine that it would have a different bootloader than the OS version unless that can happen without any user intervention because the previous owner was only concerned with selfies and games. She certainly didn't modify anything.
I cant explain what happened. This has never happened to me after flashing about 10 phones.
I believe it has something to do with the errors that were produced while trying to do a factory reset. What bothers me is that both phones did the exact same thing. Normally I'd say it was something I did, except that I didn't do anything but put a battery in them, boot up, find lots of junk installed, and then attempt a factory reset. On the first phone, I rebooted into recovery and tried it from there. On the second phone I tried it from inside the OS. Same results on both. The phones ran fine before that.
Any advice on how to do the boot from an SD card, or how to do the JTAG thing? I've been reading a lot but the information jumps around a lot. I'm comfortable with soldering and have an IT background if that helps.
It's possible that the recovery was corrupt or the partitions were corrupt.
Whenever I factory reset a phone, I always boot into recovery to do that, not from within the ROM.
Sounds to me like you did nothing wrong.
Did the previous owner have the phone from the time it was new?
Edit: for the phone that you flashed with 4.1.1, Odin said "pass" in the status window and the it auto rebooted?
audit13 said:
Did the previous owner have the phone from the time it was new?
Edit: for the phone that you flashed with 4.1.1, Odin said "pass" in the status window and the it auto rebooted?
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I don't know for sure if she had it from new. Yes, for both phones Odin said pass in the window and then it rebooted. I had walked away when Odin finished with the first phone. I came back and it was dead. The second one I watched and it showed the android with the wireframe in his guts and the progress bar which moved across, and then it just went blank.
There were error messages about the partitions when I did the factory reset IIRC. Perhaps the recovery or the partition was corrupted like you said. It's just odd that both had the exact same identical problem with the exact same results. That's why I think that it must have been something I did, except that I didn't DO anything other than initiate a factory reset.
I took an i747m and reflashed stock the Telus 4.4.2 ROM.
In download mode, you should see the green Android guy with the words "Downloading...Do not turn off target" and a blue progress bar moving from left to right.
I did not check reset in Odin. Once it finished flashing the ROM, I removed the USB cable, removed the battery, replaced the battery, and booted the phone. I the Android guy with the wire frame for a few seconds, the screen went blank, and the phone started up with the Samsung logo.
Since you were getting errors with mounting the different partitions, you may have needed to flash the PIT and PDA files but I can't really say for sure as I have never encountered this problem.
I normally verify everything before I use Odin because phones that I have been given to fix have had all sorts of weird configurations.
You'll have to try the debrick guide. of use a jtag service. You could also do what I did and that is to look for people with phones that have a damaged screen and buy they at a steep discount.