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HELP!!! Cant Flash My captivate

I ran a lag fix on my phone and it booted and gave me a million force close boxes. i'd like to flash the stock firmware and start from scratch but everytime i run the one click odin .exe i get all threads completed fail. i wanted to make sure as well, the way i get to download mode is holding all 3 buttons, volume up/down and power till the att comes up a second time. when it does i let go of everything except volume down and it gets me to the android system recovery screen. I've now done the master clear which first tells me it fails but then says completed i then just pressed start and it tells me it fails. what am i doing wrong here. i am phoneless!!! help!!!!
Edit: to get into download mode turn the phone off, hold both volume buttons and plug the phone in while odin application is already running on your pc

You need to get into download mode. The button combination you're talking about gets you into recovery mode. These two are different things.
To get into download mode, do this:
1. Make sure your phone is not connected to your computer and the power is off. Pull the battery if you have to.
2. Start the odin one click program.
3. Press and hold the volume down button while connecting the phone to your computer. You should see the download mode screen on your phone (android with the shovel).
4. Make sure odin detected your phone. If so, press start.
Good luck!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Hey thanks for the reply, i've tried so many different combinations of holding buttons to get into a different mode and the phone just wont do it. i assumed the recovery mode was the one everyone was talking about. when i try what you suggested, taking out the battery putting it back in, leaving the phone powered off and holding the volume down and plugging the phone in all it does is bring up the green battery symbol and nothing else
EDIT:
Ok, it was that i had to hold both the volume buttons and then plug the phone in. that got me into download mode. awesome. plan to try the froyo rom then. thanks

Oops, thanks for the correction.
Good luck with the Froyo ROM. I think I'll wait until the Captivate kernel is ready for 2.2.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

How to unbrick the soft bricked Captivate

NOTE:
So far this has been the only sure fire method I've found to 100% get around any brick situation regardless of firmware, etc. This only works for the captivate, not any other galaxy s variant.
Situations: phone-!-Computer / no download mode
Black Screen / RST_STATUS 0x0
Procedure:
1. Remove the battery, external SD card and SIM card.
2. Wait 10 seconds.
3. Open odin3
4. Connect usb cable.
5. Hold volume up + volume down + Power.
6. Insert battery.
7. Release POWER BUTTON ONLY.
You should now be in immediate download mode.
Please forgive me if this is duplicate some where, but I tried every procedure I could find on google to no avail, then accidentally found this method just before I was going to box it back up and see if my buddy at AT&T would make me eat it or not.
My situation was: Launched Odin3 to flash H3 firmware, died twice in the middle, and on the third time locked up half ways just at the beginning of factoryfs.rfs -- Then the phone did nothing. Blackscreen is all. Interestingly enough, while in the state if you hold volume up + power, it will give a hw diagnostic screen. Beyond that I could get no where. Just a black screen, no acknowledgement when connected to PC, no charging indicator, nothing.
If this is a dupe Im sorry but this method I could not find and hope to make it readily available to people who may think their phones bricked.
Update 12/22/2010:
How to BRICK the phone / WARNING!!!
If for whatever reason you decide to use Odin to flash a stock GTI9000 ROM and manually add the kernels and modems using a "pure" 2.2.1 sammy rom. BEWARE.
Researching a lot, it seems the consensus is that the sbl in the 2.2.1 versions of the GTI9000 has *hard* download mode crippled.. Meaning if there is a software screw up YOU CANNOT USE A USB JIG OR ANY OTHER METHOD OF GETTING THE PHONE IN DOWNLOAD MODE!!! To fix it you'll need a new one or JTAG to replace the bootloader.
As far as I can tell, beyond getting completely rid of the AT&T logo, there is no need to flash boot/sbl to get the "purity" of the 2.2.1 sammy roms.
Extract all files from the tar EXCEPT boot/sbl and re-tar and flash just those to avoid overwriting the stock captivate boot loader.
Also, it does not appear the boot/sbl from the captivate 2.2 leak suffers this same problem.
For any one iffy on bricking their phones, stay away from roms that remove COMPLETELY the AT&T logo on boot. This generally means the boot loader has been messed with any you may be screwed if you soft brick the phone. Most CWM roms dont overwrite the boot/sbl, but some can and do. Watch yourself.. if it the AT&T logo goes away COMPLETELY, I recommend flashing JF6 with One click while the roms alive using adb reboot download and try another rom.

thanks!
worked...took a few tries but some trick with this captivate to get it into download mode.. i was totally bricked too, diag screen with PC/Phone icons and exclamation mark. for me 1.) plug usb, 2.) hold power and vol up/down and connect battery (it fell out) and i was in download mode

I guess a similar procedure was on the odin3 one click thread, but there is something different in your procedure, it's not my case but it would be nice if some people confirms this as this may be useful and if it really works it should be included in odin thread

What worked for me was: Pull the battery, sim and micro sd card. Open odin on the PC. Insert the battery. Hold vol up and down then with the buttons held connect the usb cable. Just remember to plug in the usb cable with the vol up and down held in and odin must be open on the computer.
I also ran into the vol up plus power red text screen. Interesting to note that one of the fields will change depending if the usb cable is connected or not.

mine is dead
mi samsung captivate was working great but, suddenly it go black and only the touch bottom have light, when i plug it in the a/c it show is charging. i'm mac user and a read that i ned to use odin3 but it not work on mac. how i can unbrick the phone???
is rooted with one click lag
the dbdata was modif to
thats all
HEEEEELLLLLPPPPPP

Odin will not open on the mac?
Cant you use a virtual machine and use Odin on a Mac that way?
Or else take the odin 3 single click for JF6 and use on a friends Windows Computer.

Please help - unable to flash back with Odin3
I have pretty much tried it all at this point and am trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong.
I followed the directions just in case get to the big yellow triangle with the droid shoveling and the screen stays at "downloading, do not turn off target..."
Of course I had Odin3 open already but its not seeing my phone, USB drives are installed am using Odin3 ver. 1.30.
Any help would be appreciated, TIA!

TechNut* said:
I have pretty much tried it all at this point and am trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong.
I followed the directions just in case get to the big yellow triangle with the droid shoveling and the screen stays at "downloading, do not turn off target..."
Of course I had Odin3 open already but its not seeing my phone, USB drives are installed am using Odin3 ver. 1.30.
Any help would be appreciated, TIA!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best way to get download mode is use adb and type adb reboot download.
Or follow the volume up/down held with odin open on the computer, then you plug in the usb cable to the computer.

askpcguy said:
What worked for me was: Pull the battery, sim and micro sd card. Open odin on the PC. Insert the battery. Hold vol up and down then with the buttons held connect the usb cable. Just remember to plug in the usb cable with the vol up and down held in and odin must be open on the computer.
I also ran into the vol up plus power red text screen. Interesting to note that one of the fields will change depending if the usb cable is connected or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you thank you thank you. i had a totally dead no boot or anything and this worked, i was going through the whole returning the phone senerio in my head

mattbeau said:
Thank you thank you thank you. i had a totally dead no boot or anything and this worked, i was going through the whole returning the phone senerio in my head
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just sharing the info! Makes you think twice about trying something else don't it?

does not seem to work because as soon as my battery touches the contacts it goes to the diag screen. do I have to release the power button in super human speed times there?
looked at all threads here, looked elsewhere -- there are some that are not fixable. Wanted to add that in case others come here and think that they might be the only ones that can't get it to work.
Ended up sending mine off to Samsung to reset today. :/

I love you! I called AT&T to send me documentation to sign and it was going to cost me 125 dollars to get it replaced even with warranty. And you fixed it !

i have tried just about every single method detailed in these forums, and nothing works.
Trying what OP suggested just sends me to the battery charging animation screen.
Anybody have any ideas ?

file analysis
I keep can get to the download screen and I hit start and it does the same thing everytime it just does File analysis i cant figure what i am doing wrong here somebody please help me

I think the issue was it had something to do with 64 bit windows 7 i just re did the stock rom one click solution and it worked fine

thekurrgan said:
NOTE:
5. Hold volume up + volume down + Power.
6. Insert battery.
7. Release POWER BUTTON ONLY.
You should now be in immediate download mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for sharing your experience.
I don't have a Captivate yet but am doing research on it and hopeful of getting one. I am confused about one thing.
Every where that I have read about how to enter Recovery mode or Download mode on the Captivate using the 3 button method, it says holding down both Volume UP + Volume Down (plus Power button) will enter Recovery mode. But you say it enters Download mode which is confusing to me. As I recall, to enter Download mode you must press the Vol Down only (plus Power button). Could it be because the phone won't go into Recovery mode, it goes into Download mode instead? Am I missing something?
Thank you!

Download mode is for updating the phone's firmware.
Remove battery, plug in the usb cable to the phone, open ODIN on the computer (need usb drivers installed before hand) on the phone hold volume up and down then plug the phone into the computer. Your phone will say DOWNLOADING. This method works even if you run into problems and the phone refuses to boot properly.
Recovery mode is for installing Update.zip. The method is tricky but involves holding volume up/down and power, the phone will show ATT then go black. It will repeat that but after the second time it goes black let go of power.
If that doesnt work, android debug tools ADB reboot recovery will work even better.
Or root the phone and use Clockwork Rom manager to boot into recovery, just press the menu item.

askpcguy said:
Download mode is for updating the phone's firmware.
Remove battery, plug in the usb cable to the phone, open ODIN on the computer (need usb drivers installed before hand) on the phone hold volume up and down then plug the phone into the computer. Your phone will say DOWNLOADING. This method works even if you run into problems and the phone refuses to boot properly.
Recovery mode is for installing Update.zip. The method is tricky but involves holding volume up/down and power, the phone will show ATT then go black. It will repeat that but after the second time it goes black let go of power.
If that doesn't work, android debug tools ADB reboot recovery will work even better.
Or root the phone and use Clockwork Rom manager to boot into recovery, just press the menu item.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you askpcguy! I understand the difference between Download and Recovery modes.
So the procedural difference here is having the battery in + Power button, versus battery not in (use USB cable instead) and no Power button. Can the phone get power from the PC via the USB cable? This seems to differ from what the original poster said about download mode. Perhaps OP could edit his original post for clarification? Or am I still missing something? Thanks to all

The phone does get power from the USB cable.
The difference is one procedure uses the USB cable (download mode) and the other does not (Recovery mode).
The volume up+down method does not use the power button, the phone is powered on into download mode once you plug in the USB cable.
We say pull the battery to get the phone powered off. If a firmware flash stalled or doesn't complete, pull the battery and try again!

I now understand the precedural difference.
Thank you askpcguy!

[Q] Froyo update problem

Hi:
I was performing the update to Froyo from version 2.1 (Eclair) and looks like the process was stock... I try to reboot the phone and now I have on the screen two symbols one is a phone icon and the other is a PC... Does anyone know what this mean?? It doesnt boot...
Thanks

You need to flash your phone with odin
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

use odin 1 click to flash back to stock

looks like the PC doesnt see the device. I dont see that the usb is recognizing the device. Any idea on how to accomplish this.???
Thanks

i'm stuck. i have a computer and phone icon with a yellow sign in between. nothing happens. did i just brick my phone??

yeah its bricked. send it to me.
seriously....a little bit of searching the forums would save you the hassle of waiting for someone to answer something you can figure out yourself:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=731989

Thanks for the link. I did a lot of search and I found the link you posted here. I follow the instructions on how to enter in download mode but neither work...Any more ideas?
THanks

Your phone is bricked. There is one way to get out that screen and enter download mode. But somehow the instructions of doing it was removed from the linked thread above. I've been there once and recovered. IIRC, you need to:
1. Take out SIM card and SD card.
2. Hold Vol Up and Vol Down. Press and hold Power button.
3. Hold all three buttons while waiting for phone to power up then go blank. It will power back on again.
Hopefully, the second time it power back on, it will enter download mode and you can let go the buttons.
If your phone is one of those with 3-button download mode disabled, you are SOL.

Its this something that can be fix? Or I just put the phone on the trash... If this can be fix where?
Thanks

You can try your luck with warranty service.
Or try the procedure described here for 'semi-bricked' phone: http://samsungcaptivate.wikia.com/wiki/Putting_the_Phone_into_Download_Mode
If the phone is "semi-bricked"; i.e., the "phone-exclamation mark-computer" picture appears on power up (perhaps from a bad ROM flash):
* Be sure the Samsung USB drivers for the phone are installed on your computer.
* Remove and replace the battery.
* Connect the phone to the computer with the USB cable. The "phone-exclamation mark-computer" picture should display on the phone's screen.
* Hold the Volume Up+Volume Down+Power buttons down simultaneously.The screen should go blank, then the picture should appear again. When the screen goes blank a second time, release the Power button while continuing to hold the Volume Up+Volume Down buttons down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] HELP! Captivate won't go into download mode with volume +/- and USB!!!

I was trying to flash my captivate with adb reboot download and the battery fell out in download mode. I tried volume +/- to fix but no luck! Please help me! Stuck at Phone warning sign computer screen!

odin1click? volumeupdown + insert usb, open odin1click click go.
should fix it.

cerjam said:
odin1click? volumeupdown + insert usb, open odin1click click go.
should fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't go into download mode at all! Just shows the corrupted firmware every time I try it.

can you get a adb connection?

cerjam said:
can you get a adb connection?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, computer doesn't recognize it. If I had an ADB connection, I'd adb reboot download but when I try adb, it says no device found.

try plugging in usb with the battery out and then holding vol+- and inserting the battery while holding the volume buttons if not you need to make a jig.

I've had success with this method to get into Download Mode:
1. Remove battery, SIM and microSD from phone (if you have one)
2. Wait at least 10 seconds with the phone in this state
3. Plug your phone into your computer (this step has always been optional for me)
4. Hold Volume Up/Down, don't let go!
5. While holding both volume keys, insert the battery
If it worked, you should almost instantly be in Download Mode. I've omitted step 3 and still had success using those steps on my batch 1007 phone. In general, I get my phone into Download Mode first, and then plug it into the computer.

I'm probably just going to go to AT&T tomorrow and get them to exchange it if I can't get it to get into download mode tonight.

norcal einstein said:
I've had success with this method to get into Download Mode:
1. Remove battery, SIM and microSD from phone (if you have one)
2. Wait at least 10 seconds with the phone in this state
3. Plug your phone into your computer (this step has always been optional for me)
4. Hold Volume Up/Down, don't let go!
5. While holding both volume keys, insert the battery
If it worked, you should almost instantly be in Download Mode. I've omitted step 3 and still had success using those steps on my batch 1007 phone. In general, I get my phone into Download Mode first, and then plug it into the computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't work, this used to work for me but now no luck. I don't know why it just stopped going into download mode.

Could you usb connect to PC on debug mode? Is this connecton visible from your PC?

aggielover said:
I was trying to flash my captivate with adb reboot download and the battery fell out in download mode. I tried volume +/- to fix but no luck! Please help me! Stuck at Phone warning sign computer screen!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a semi-bricked screen. No, normal method to go into download mode won't work in this state.
There are instructions to recover from this state into download mode. I have posted a few links in the past but don't have it right now. IIRC, you need to hold both vol buttons and Power button and wait until screen goes blank twice before release the power button so that your phone could go into download mode.
The other way is to rig a microUSB plug with a 301k resistor connected between pin5 and one of the data pin. This will put your phone instantly into download mode. There is a thread dedicated for this. Search.

norcal einstein said:
I've had success with this method to get into Download Mode:
1. Remove battery, SIM and microSD from phone (if you have one)
2. Wait at least 10 seconds with the phone in this state
3. Plug your phone into your computer (this step has always been optional for me)
4. Hold Volume Up/Down, don't let go!
5. While holding both volume keys, insert the battery
If it worked, you should almost instantly be in Download Mode. I've omitted step 3 and still had success using those steps on my batch 1007 phone. In general, I get my phone into Download Mode first, and then plug it into the computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, this worked for me!

aggielover said:
norcal einstein said:
I've had success with this method to get into Download Mode:
1. Remove battery, SIM and microSD from phone (if you have one)
2. Wait at least 10 seconds with the phone in this state
3. Plug your phone into your computer (this step has always been optional for me)
4. Hold Volume Up/Down, don't let go!
5. While holding both volume keys, insert the battery
If it worked, you should almost instantly be in Download Mode. I've omitted step 3 and still had success using those steps on my batch 1007 phone. In general, I get my phone into Download Mode first, and then plug it into the computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't work, this used to work for me but now no luck. I don't know why it just stopped going into download mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been having the same issue and none of the methods mentioned on the forums have worked. I recently updated to a custom 2.2.1 rom (Paragon) and when I tried to flash back to stock with odin (afterwards), it gave me the finger (got stuck in the process). I tried to unplug and plug back in the usb, restart odin, pc, reinstall drivers (none of which helped). So my dumbarse decided to take the battery out to reboot the phone. Usually after doing so in the past, I've been able to manually get into download mode using the 3 button combo, but haven't been able to so far. I haven't tried making a jig yet, knowing me, I might seriously break something that way.
I was reading somewhere that 2.2.1 breaks the 3 button combo (along with 1 click root for that matter). Just wondering if there is anything else I can try or should I just make a jig? Should I take it in to AT&T and see if they can do something or should I call them? Just wanting some advice from the Gurus here.
edit: and "no, I can't do it through ADB or I would've already".

jig it up

xrCore said:
Thank you, this worked for me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
was going to suggest the same....thats only happened once (after install of gingerbread alpha) but that was the only thing that worked....the download screen literally jolted on the instant the battery connectors touched.

darthdave said:
I was reading somewhere that 2.2.1 breaks the 3 button combo (along with 1 click root for that matter). Just wondering if there is anything else I can try or should I just make a jig? Should I take it in to AT&T and see if they can do something or should I call them? Just wanting some advice from the Gurus here.
edit: and "no, I can't do it through ADB or I would've already".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2.2.1 puts the 3-button setup to whatever the i9000 uses, which is different from the Captivate. Nobody's made a fix yet AFAIK.

for me i managed to get it into download mode, BUT, when i try running Odin it's stuck at "DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET!!"
any thoughts?

Lawliet L Ryuzaki said:
for me i managed to get it into download mode, BUT, when i try running Odin it's stuck at "DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET!!"
any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What build is your phone, located under battery. Something like 1010

Search for Sparkfun in the dev forum for Captivate. Easy to make jig (that's been mentioned before) that will get you out of the woods.

I am having issues getting into download mode myself. Samsung Captivate SGH-I897. I just got it less than two weeks ago. Played with some of the features. Did the root. Did the ROM manager. Everything I needed to do to have Serendipity 5.12 installed. Did it. worked great. Was missing some of the apps I enjoyed from the gate(Samsung EMail). So i read up that u could make a custom Serendipity in the kitchen.
Put the phone to JH6 from Odin. Also did the master clear. So now I am at 2.1 update 1 from Odin.
However, Now I cant get Clockwork Recovery at all ( when option is selected it goes to default recovery every single time ). I did try to re-install the correct flash for Clockwork, same results.
So, i thought maybe something didnt copy or flash or clear correctly and was going to do an Odin procedure again, cant get into download mode now. NOT AT ALL.
The phone will just re-boot into JH6. It operates normally, however I can shake JH6. No download mode. No Clockwork recovery.
I am noob, I am a quick hands on learner though. Not even sure if this will get the response desired.

[Q] Download Mode Help Soft-Brick

OK, so i went and flashed an old backup. Now i can't enter recovery or download mode at all. Can someone help me out? My phone doesn't go passed the SGS4G boot screen. It just stays there. Left it on for three hours and nothing. The only PC i have access to does not have internet. I am typing this on my backup Nokia X2.

Your going to need to download Odin 1.85 and then download any 2.3 and above up to 2.3.6 firmware. I highly recommend also downloading Dr honks kj 1 kernel for it comes with voodoo lag fix and clock work mod recovery.but u must read alot to find what you need because u could possibly ruin your phone permanently!!! Good luck and like I said you must read... it will be your best bet towards reviving your phone and keeping it operational.

I know that and all but no matter what i do. I cannot enter download mode at all. I can't even enter recovery. The only buttons i can press are the only 3 hardware keys. My soft-keys don't work.

When u can use your computer again.set up Odin then plug your USB cable in then before you connect your phone make sure you take the battery out leave the backing off your phone.then plug your USB to your phone be sure to hold vol. Up and down simultaneously then keep volume up down held down and put your battery in, that should put your phone in download option it should also warn you that placing a custom rom or firmware could pose a problem to your phone then I believe the option to put your phone in download mode is volume up once u push up with the volume key you should immediately be put in Andy's download mode.that's really the other alternative that has worked for me always. I certainly hope u get your phone running again bro otherwise you may have to send your phone to warranty replacement that's if its still valid 4 u or if u pay for insurance on your phone, I saw your posts and know your familiar with several how to's and such so like u said good luck to you homez.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A

pwner5889 said:
I know that and all but no matter what i do. I cannot enter download mode at all. I can't even enter recovery. The only buttons i can press are the only 3 hardware keys. My soft-keys don't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ever have any luck?

this should have the info you need http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1001759

pwner5889 said:
I know that and all but no matter what i do. I cannot enter download mode at all. I can't even enter recovery. The only buttons i can press are the only 3 hardware keys. My soft-keys don't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download mode is holding the 2 volume key and plug in the USB port is that what u tried?

iCrazyNoob said:
Download mode is holding the 2 volume key and plug in the USB port is that what u tried?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I tried that. Nothing happened at all. Made sure the battery was pulled before i plugged the usb cable in. I held down the volume keys while putting the battery back in. Nothing happened. Drivers were installed and everything.

pwner5889 said:
Yes. I tried that. Nothing happened at all. Made sure the battery was pulled before i plugged the usb cable in. I held down the volume keys while putting the battery back in. Nothing happened. Drivers were installed and everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your other option is to download the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) & install it. It contains 'adb' which will allow you to reboot the phone into download or recovery mode.
Go to http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html, download and install the SDK. You only need to install the Tools part, not all of the other parts.
Once done, open a command prompt, cd to the platform-tools directory where the SDK installed, and issue the command:
adb reboot download
That should get you there.

stephen_w said:
Your other option is to download the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) & install it. It contains 'adb' which will allow you to reboot the phone into download or recovery mode.
Go to http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html, download and install the SDK. You only need to install the Tools part, not all of the other parts.
Once done, open a command prompt, cd to the platform-tools directory where the SDK installed, and issue the command:
adb reboot download
That should get you there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, ill try it when i can get access to a PC with internet access.