Hi Everyone,
I am a new owner of a soft-bricked SM-T700. I am feeling very down and need some advice. I will be as thorough as I possibly can and I would truly, truly appreciate some help and advice from you kind folks. This is the first time I have had a bricked device out of my many Android devices.
My PLAN:
-Root
-Custom Recovery
-Nandroid Backup
-Backup EFS
-Flash stock western country firmware
What HAPPENED
Today I bought a wifi T700. I bought it in my hometown, which is China. Whenever I buy a new Android device in China my first action is to ensure it doesn't have any hardware/warranty issues. I then go about reflashing a western firmware so I can use Google services.
1) First I rooted using CF-Auto Root. That worked fine. I confirmed that I had root using an app called root checker.
2) I then attempted to flash TWRP recovery by following the instructions here: http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/238
- First I tried flashing the .tar file using Odin. As soon as I hit 'Start' Odin froze and I got the Windows error saying "Odin Downloader Has Stopped Working", asking to close the program. I close the program. I tried this several times then rebooted. It seemed as though the phone booted fine.
- I then tried using their own software, TWRP manager, here: http://jmzsoftware.com/twrp-manager-4. This app just crashed every time I booted it. I submitted an error log.
- I then tried using 'Flashify' as suggested by someone here on XDA. Once I did that it said flashed successfully and would I like to reboot. I said yes. This is when my troubles started.
3) Upon reboot it immediately booted into a sparse looking 'Download Mode' screen, all in English (the normal one on mine has some Chinese too) without the volume button options to reboot or continue. It just went straight into this screen.
After trying to reboot the phone using several power button holds and key combinations, it appears I am stuck in this screen, so I thought I had no chance of doing a NADROID backup as originally planned, so I decided to try my luck and flash the western firmware.
I tried to flash the version of the firmware provided here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2798835
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23501681358556680
It got all the way through the install until it hit the hidden.img and then failed. I've attached a screen capture.
A few notes;
I have tried using two different USB cables (the one that came with it, and the one that came with my HTC One). I have tried several USB plugs, including the one in the back of my PC. I allowed Odin to do it's MD5 check and it said the file checks out.
I have tried using the Kies emergency Firmware recovery. Pffft! As it that was going to work. Damn Kies.
I sound like I've still got my sense of humor, but actually I am really cut up about this. It is so much money for a tablet and now it is useless unless I can get s firmware that will flash.
I don't have my stock Chinese firmware. That is T700ZCU1ANF4/T700CHN1ANF4/T700ZCU1ANF4/T700ZCU1ANF4 (CHN).
Questions:
Does anyone know where I could find the stock Chinese firmware to try flashing back to that?
Does anyone have the .PIT file and instructions on how to flash that, because I have read in other threads that it solves the hidden.img problem.
Does anyone know why this may have happened and have any alternative suggestions?
Could it have been the TWRP that actually caused this? The thread here indicates others aren't having trouble. Why would it have frozen for me?
I will try anything at this point. I am desperate.
Thanks so much in advance. Please come through XDA! Please come through Galaxy Tab S owners!!!!!!
-------------------------------------------
CLOSURE EDIT: I managed to flash Australian firmware, after reinstalling Kies, uninstalling and reinstalled the device drivers. I also made sure all Kies processes were killed before flashing with Odin.
For people in a similar situation I would urge them to have patience and keep trying to flash stock firmware.
Private Message UpInTheAir and see what he thinks.
Well let me start out by saying i have done some truely horrible things to my tablet in the proceas of porting CM 11. Bad kernels, messing up the partitions, you name it ive probably done it at this point.
I would try using heimdall. Flash one of the recoveries.. and try formatting your partitions.
The program crashing is when you should back off from trying to flash. Reassess what you did and what happened and if it's failing at a point flash the stock back before rebooting.
Continuing blindly was the problem. On something as expensive as a tablet never continue past a point where something goes wrong without reflashing back to stock and starting again.
As eousphoros said Use heimdall and flash a recovery.
Good luck.
eousphoros said:
Well let me start out by saying i have done some truely horrible things to my tablet in the proceas of porting CM 11. Bad kernels, messing up the partitions, you name it ive probably done it at this point.
I would try using heimdall. Flash one of the recoveries.. and try formatting your partitions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi All,
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
You are certainly right that it is my fault and I should have stopped at some point and reassessed what was happening.
Can you please give me some more information about the steps you have offered? I am researching heimdall now, but if you could give some steps or advice that would be much appreciated.
It's probably going to be difficult because I assume we are in different timezones. I will persevere and try to get this worked out.
I have downloaded Heimdall and understand that it is an alternative to using Odin.
I currently have three questions about Heimdall.
1. Do I need to do the install drivers step if I have already installed the drivers for my device? Is this some step that actually replaces the current drivers with ones that are required for Heimdall to operate? I ask them because when I list USB devices, my tab is not shown up as Samsung Composite Device. It is actually shown as two separate entries, looking like generic USB entries.
2. Do I need to have a valid PIT file in order to run a custom Heimdall flash?
3. Which partition should I select if/when I run the Heimdall flash?
I'm dying a little inside every time I look at my tablet
Install heimdall
Download a recovery, I am going to pimp mine. http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/general/cwm-recovery-6-0-5-0-galaxy-tab-s-8-4-t2824099.
Run sudo ~/git/Heimdall/heimdall/heimdall flash --RECOVERY cwm6.0.5.0-2.img. Wait for it to complete, your tablet will reboot and will probably fail like it has been.
Hold down Power + Vol Down + Home button... wait for the "Press vol up to continue, press vol down to cancel"
Press vol down to cancel, then immediately hold down Power + Vol Up + Home button till you see the recovery screen pop up.
If you get the recovery screen your tablet can probably still be saved. Woo!
So then download http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2798835 (Which i think you already have)
Unzip it, there will be a tar file. tar xvf T700....something.tar.md5 -C some_directory
You will get a bunch of img files. From those you should be able to finish the recovery and hopefully return full function to your device. (Which unless something is physically broken you will most likely be able to do.) Good Luck! And again this is all done at your own risk, please dont sue me.
eousphoros said:
Install heimdall
Download a recovery, I am going to pimp mine. http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/general/cwm-recovery-6-0-5-0-galaxy-tab-s-8-4-t2824099.
Run sudo ~/git/Heimdall/heimdall/heimdall flash --RECOVERY cwm6.0.5.0-2.img. Wait for it to complete, your tablet will reboot and will probably fail like it has been.
Hold down Power + Vol Down + Home button... wait for the "Press vol up to continue, press vol down to cancel"
Press vol down to cancel, then immediately hold down Power + Vol Up + Home button till you see the recovery screen pop up.
If you get the recovery screen your tablet can probably still be saved. Woo!
So then download http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2798835 (Which i think you already have)
Unzip it, there will be a tar file. tar xvf T700....something.tar.md5 -C some_directory
You will get a bunch of img files. From those you should be able to finish the recovery and hopefully return full function to your device. (Which unless something is physically broken you will most likely be able to do.) Good Luck! And again this is all done at your own risk, please dont sue me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, let me just say that OH MY F#@$ING GOD I THINK THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER!!!! I managed to flash the Australian Firmware successfully. It has now booted fine, I have factory reset and I am in the process of setting up the device afresh.
Having said that, when I do come to reroot and install a custom recovery, I will definitely take a look at yours. Was this here 12 hours ago? I looked and couldn't find anything about CWM except for a short thread and an unofficial port. I have never tried TWRP before and I will avoid it like the plague in the future. I have NEVER had trouble with CWM.
When (if ever) I get the nerve up to give this another go, I will try your CWM.
Thanks again.
I am so relieved right now.....
And make a Nandroid first this time
Hey,
I had the exact same issue with my Galaxy Note 8, every time I tried to install European or custom Rom.
The only way to get the tab back was to flash with the Chinese firmware. You may find it easily on Baidu.
Since it happened also with a note 2 and note 3, I stopped buying Android device in China... Unless you can make sure that you buy a model coming from HK.
Hi everybody.
In order not to create another Thread I would like to leave a request for help in here while searching the answer myself.
I've messed up with SM-T700 and it is suffering a "near brick expirience" now. D:
I wanted to install the TWRP in order to backup the stock ROM before proceeding to anything else. So I put it in download mode. In Odin. 3.09 I put the TWRP under the AP section, the auto-reboot and f-reset were checked. (later I understood that I look at a different chrome tab and followed the instuction for auto-root flashing in via Odin instead of TWRP's. Stupid me) THen I proceeded with flashing and it was succesfull. After that I rebooted to recovery but it was not TWRP but stock. So I went to Download mode again and decided to repeat the procedure. Hower this time, and each time after that Odin stuck with the SetupConnection... The tab itself is stuck in Downloading Do not tur off target!! and does not react to any combinations of buttons.
Looking for a piece of advice here.
At least Odin is detecting the tab is a good sign right?
Attaching the photo and screenshot just in case.
ky3bmu4 said:
Hi everybody.
In order not to create another Thread I would like to leave a request for help in here while searching the answer myself.
I've messed up with SM-T700 and it is suffering a "near brick expirience" now. D:
I wanted to install the TWRP in order to backup the stock ROM before proceeding to anything else. So I put it in download mode. In Odin. 3.09 I put the TWRP under the AP section, the auto-reboot and f-reset were checked. (later I understood that I look at a different chrome tab and followed the instuction for auto-root flashing in via Odin instead of TWRP's. Stupid me) THen I proceeded with flashing and it was succesfull. After that I rebooted to recovery but it was not TWRP but stock. So I went to Download mode again and decided to repeat the procedure. Hower this time, and each time after that Odin stuck with the SetupConnection... The tab itself is stuck in Downloading Do not tur off target!! and does not react to any combinations of buttons.
Looking for a piece of advice here.
At least Odin is detecting the tab is a good sign right?
Attaching the photo and screenshot just in case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Replying to myself: The tab began to respond to buttons so now I succesfully rebooted it and will continue with Rooting then recovery
Added: Rooted successful but the same problem as described above occured when I tryied to flash TWRP in Odin under PDA tab unchecked the auto-reboot
ky3bmu4 said:
Replying to myself: The tab began to respond to buttons so now I succesfully rebooted it and will continue with Rooting then recovery
Added: Rooted successful but the same problem as described above occured when I tryied to flash TWRP in Odin under PDA tab unchecked the auto-reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I've had a really bad experience with TWRP on this device. Try flashing a firmware from sammobile.com or elsewhere to at least get it up and running again. Try to do that as quickly as possible too, so you don't have to leave the device in download mode all night. I think that is what caused the battery swelling in my first device that I had to return.
I'm going to stick with CWM when I work up the courage to try again....
pierrotee said:
Yeah I've had a really bad experience with TWRP on this device. Try flashing a firmware from sammobile.com or elsewhere to at least get it up and running again. Try to do that as quickly as possible too, so you don't have to leave the device in download mode all night. I think that is what caused the battery swelling in my first device that I had to return.
I'm going to stick with CWM when I work up the courage to try again....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi thx for reply. Actually it managed to unstuck from Download mode in 10-15 minutes. It happened twice to me.
ky3bmu4 said:
Hi thx for reply. Actually it managed to unstuck from Download mode in 10-15 minutes. It happened twice to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool! So do you now have root and custom recovery?
pierrotee said:
Cool! So do you now have root and custom recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah))
TWRP installs OK via TWRP Manager
I installed TWRP Manager, selected 'klimtwifi' as the device, and it successfully installed TWRP 2.7.1.1 without a hitch.
From TWRP I then immediately performed a nandroid backup of everything but the caches to my microSD card and encountered no problems.
The last step was to enable writing to my microSD card by installing NextApp SDFix.
My SM-T700 is bricked as well and I tried to flash a custom recovery with Heimdall on Mac but it gave me the Error "Claiming Interface failed". Seems like you really need the pit.
I got the Tab Pro 12.2 a couple of weeks ago (refurb). It worked flawlessly, so I decided to root it, etc. It no longer works.
Two points.
(BOOT 1) - On a 'normal' boot it will get past the blue swirl with about 1 second of audio, then stops with "SAMSUNG" on the screen.
(BOOT 2) - On a Pwr on/Vol- (hard) boot, it will come up with "press vol +)" at which time it boots to ODIN. No way can I get it to boot to TWRP (see following)
Conditions: Windows 10 Tech Preview, Dell XPS 18 (USB 2 and 3), latest USB driver from Samsung, ODIN 3.10, Kies 3. The tablet connects with ODIN.
I loaded CF-Auto-Root (CF-Auto-Root-v2wifi-v2wifixx-smt900.tar.md5). Success, BUT tablet reboots to BOOT 1, above.
I loaded "openrecovery-twrp-2.8.5.0-v2wifixx.img.tar". Success, BUT reboots to BOOT1 above.
If I do a "hard" boot, I'm back with ODIN. TWRP won't boot. Tried the same with CWM (getting stupid here). Boots to ODIN. Basically, I can't boot into any recovery program.
Tried loading "SM-T900_XAR_1_20140508111550_703bt27ewy.tar". Again, loads but no joy.
Loaded the original ROM from SamMoblie. Again, no dice.
Am I screwed or what? Please help if you can. Thanks.
-- CatHerder12
Try a different ODIN version.
I've come up with something similar in the past.
ODIN reports OK but nothing is really written to the Tab.
guanellaluigi said:
Try a different ODIN version.
I've come up with something similar in the past.
ODIN reports OK but nothing is really written to the Tab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I have tried a few versions of ODIN. One or two of the older ones didn't work at all.. Currently using 3.10.6. Maybe I'll go back and retry a couple.
With tablet in download mode: I tried Kies and it reported the tablet as an unrecognized device. Tried ADB. It didn't see the tablet at all.
Any great insights (or guesses) would be appreciated!
Thanks
CatHerder12 said:
Tried ADB. It didn't see the tablet at all.
Any great insights (or guesses) would be appreciated!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plug in the Tab and check in your computer device manager list that the device shows connected to the USB port and the drive installed is Samsung Android ADB Interface, if it isn't change it to this driver.
Make sure you are using the original USB cable and its plugged directly into the PC and not via any Hubs.
CatHerder12 said:
Thanks for the reply. I have tried a few versions of ODIN. One or two of the older ones didn't work at all.. Currently using 3.10.6. Maybe I'll go back and retry a couple.
With tablet in download mode: I tried Kies and it reported the tablet as an unrecognized device. Tried ADB. It didn't see the tablet at all.
Any great insights (or guesses) would be appreciated!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50492301#post50492301
Try loading this in odin(P900XXUANB3-RecoveryImg.tar) then see if you can get into stock recovery and wipe cache and data to return to default settings. See if your stock rom loads.... If so then
flash CF-Auto-Root-v1awifi-v1awifixx-smp900.tar.md5 in odin then reboot
If all is working then flash
openrecovery-twrp-2.8.0.0-v2wifixx.img.tar
instead of the openrecovery-twrp-2.8.5.0-v2wifixx.img.tar( this seemed to not load on my tablet pro 12.2)
See if it boots up for you.
Then you can install custom rom if you want from twrp.
jvilla785 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50492301#post50492301
Try loading this in odin(P900XXUANB3-RecoveryImg.tar) then see if you can get into stock recovery and wipe cache and data to return to default settings. See if your stock rom loads.... If so then
flash CF-Auto-Root-v1awifi-v1awifixx-smp900.tar.md5 in odin then reboot
If all is working then flash
openrecovery-twrp-2.8.0.0-v2wifixx.img.tar
instead of the openrecovery-twrp-2.8.5.0-v2wifixx.img.tar( this seemed to not load on my tablet pro 12.2)
See if it boots up for you.
Then you can install custom rom if you want from twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi guys
, i had the same problem, but i follow ur steps and it worked. the only diference i installed the twrp-2.8.5.0-v1awifi.img.tar and it stuck, i have the SM-T900, v2wifi and it is working.
All the other didint stuck
thanks
jvilla785 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50492301#post50492301
Try loading this in odin(P900XXUANB3-RecoveryImg.tar) then see if you can get into stock recovery and wipe cache and data to return to default settings. See if your stock rom loads.... If so then
flash CF-Auto-Root-v1awifi-v1awifixx-smp900.tar.md5 in odin then reboot
If all is working then flash
openrecovery-twrp-2.8.0.0-v2wifixx.img.tar
instead of the openrecovery-twrp-2.8.5.0-v2wifixx.img.tar( this seemed to not load on my tablet pro 12.2)
See if it boots up for you.
Then you can install custom rom if you want from twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice. I couldn't find a download link for the 2.8.0.0 but found openrecovery-twrp-v1a3gxx.img.tar. I'm guessing it's for a 3G version but it works. I used ODIN3 v3.10.6.exe on the PC. So far, I have twrp and the stock ROM running and everything works nicely. I still haven't managed to root it. Keeps getting stuck on cache. Can it be rooted after twrp has been loaded?
I actually may try to use the tablet for a while instead of continually poking and reloading it.
Hi,
Need some help please
Its my dad's tablet, don't know what hes done with it (probably took it to a shady shop to install some apps)
Now the device switches on, Samsung logo, reboots.
Can't get into recovery. I CAN get to download mode - and thats about it.
Device - Galaxy tab s (T700)
Tried:
1) downloaded stock firmware, tried to flash it through Odin, stuck at initialization (30mins, 1 hour, 5 hours, 8hours just in case) I have tried 3 different computers (including a mac!) and different cables too.
2) used Hemidall to flash boot, sboot and recovery - all went well, Hemidall couldn't re boot it.
3) tried all the above with 3 different stock roms (versions found on sammobile and elsewhere)
Still can't get into recovery - tried home+pwr+vol up after a battery drain and recharge, after download mode, after download mode and home+pwr+vol down.. every possible timing and combination.
Any ideas please?
Hi,
If Odin is stuck at the initialization phase, then are you sure you have the T700 drivers installed on your Windows OS? Make sure the drivers for T700 are installed first before you connect the device via Odin.
I'm not sure if this is your model:
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/SM-T700NZWAXAR
But you should scroll down to the "Manuals & Downloads" section and on the right hand side download the drivers and install them, after doing so wait for a minute, then restart your computer and connect your device to Odin, and proceed with the necessary steps to install the STOCK ROM obtained from Sammobile.
Note: Make sure you are downloading the ROM for the correct MODEL variation of your device.
Hello, I have this SM-T520 galaxy tab pro 10.1 that I bought new some years ago. I had rooted it and ran with it for a while until I wanted to flash a custom rom. I can't remember how that went but I assume it went badly, since it hasn't been able to boot into anything for years. It tries to boot up as long as it has power (even without pressing the power button) but it doesn't do anything after you get to the Samsung screen. It just stays on a back lit black screen. I can get into the Android system recovery by pressing power and volume up, then releasing power. It says it has "K0T49H.T520XXUANAE" at the top but I'm not sure if I had changed that at some point. Anyway, even after wiping data/factory reset and wiping cache partition it still cannot boot. I tried updating from external storage a few times before but it kept failing. Maybe I had the wrong file? What can I do to fix this thing? Any help is appreciated.
Go to pc, download odin. Go to https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/ enter device and look and download lastest offered firmware for your region. Flash downloaded firmware with odin. You should be on a booting stock rom now.
You can do this as often as you like (eg. when device is bad after playing with custom roms).
hamudistan said:
Go to pc, download odin. Go to [website] enter device and look and download lastest offered firmware for your region. Flash downloaded firmware with odin. You should be on a booting stock rom now.
You can do this as often as you like (eg. when device is bad after playing with custom roms).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That worked perfectly... I feel like that was too simple and I should have been able to find this online somewhere. Maybe I just couldn't find the right word combo in google.... Thanks!!
Now to try flashing a custom rom on this, since touchwiz makes me cringe.
I have a Galaxy Tab3 7.0 SM-T210 that we've owned for a long time, but I now want to use it for more things and find it a little clunky and slow compared to our more up to date smart phones. So i wanted to flash with a newer version of Android, but the tablet now appears to be bricked showing the "Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies & try again" screen and it won't do anything else. It won't enter download mode or recovery mode.
I came across these instructions to take me from a stock tab, and upgrade to Android 9.0 theupgradeguide.com/2019/09/17/install-android-9-0-pie-on-samsung-galaxy-tab-3-7-0-lineageos-16-how-to-guide
I loaded TWRP successfully using Odin and was able to set up a Nandroid backup. I then moved on to part 5 to perform a factory reset of the device, which was successful. This is where it started to go wrong though! I chose the reboot option after the wipe, rather than as per the instructions going back to the TWRP main menu. The tab rebooted and would't get past the Samsung logo. It went back in to download mode when I tried, and then tried to flash with a stock version of KitKat Android. Odin recognised the tab connected, it accepted the .tar flash file, and the tab showed the progress bar showing the download happening. Then Odin failed after a few minutes, and then the firmware upgrade failure error message appeared.
After lots of internet searching I've tried the following:
1. Putting it in download mode, doesn't work!
2. Putting it in recovery mode, doesn't work!
3. Connecting it to Kies, device not recognised and latest version of Kies doesn't have the option to manually select your device to reload the firmware!
4. Tried using ADB, device isn't recognised!
So i'm at a loss what to do to fix it, can anyone help?!
I was just trying to do the same yesterday. It all went fine with backing up and wiping, but TWRP didnt accept the image I downloaded.
It is so sad to have a capable hardware limited due lack of manufacturer care (not even saying updates, because they updated the android version at the time, but lack of optimization and how my tablet became sluggish, gave me disgust of any samsung branded device).
Can't you get to TWRP screen anymore?
If you can get to Odin download mode, trying reflashing Odin (perhaps a different version).