Database Info

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!

stuck in android system recovery <2e>

i just flash the I9000JH1 to the phone ,i still havent install the kernel to the phone yet and it had boot the home page. and i follow the instruction to reflash again. with Odin3 after i will flashing the CSC and PDA file i unplug and restart the phone and i goes to android system recovery <2e> and i try to reboot but the power button not working....it said
sasung recovery utils
-for BML-
reboot system now
apply sdcard: update.zip
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache partition
but i can use vol up and down to scroll up and down, but can select the item, the power button is not working.
down there had some yellow words
update media, please wait ...
update media, finished
#menu mode#
- Appling Multi-CSC...
installing Multi-CSC
that the only word it wrote, so wht can i do, is there had any method to reflash the thing??cuz the computer also cant recognize the phone, Thanks

hi ron
im just a noob but i have the same problem yesterday =)
u must flash an kaptivate kernel for a workung power button in the recovery menu!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=782413

but i cant even boot up the phone, it stuck in the recovery mode

ron671 said:
but i cant even boot up the phone, it stuck in the recovery mode
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to pull the battery, put it back, and try one of the button combinations to get it into download mode on next boot. Your easiest route is either both volume buttons, and plug in USB without pressing power (which works on the Captivate), or hold just volume down and plug in USB (which is the right combination for an i9000). With one of these the phone should automatically power into the download mode. Get Odin one click ready to flash stock before you put the phone into download mode and hit start when it recognizes the device. If that won't work. try the other key combinations keeping in mind that they change when you flash an i9000 image, so you should try all Captivate combinations, and all i9000 combinations. Since the Captivate lacks a physical home button, anything that involves that will not work, which is the reason why you are stuck in recovery. The i9000 recovery is expecting you to press the home button to select (unlike the power on the stock Captivate).

also, ADB commands should work while the phone is in recovery mode

Same Problem
The Key combination Vol +, Vol - and the power button power cycles the phone whether or not the phone is in recovery mode or off. I am having the same problem, and there are no key combinations that worked for me. For now, I am permanently stuck in recovery mode. I could use some help here, as I have tried everything.
Oh, for the I9000 ROM installed on the captivate, adb commands do not work. While the phone is in recovery mode, you cannot connect to the PC.
I have found though, that by booting into the recovery menu, plugging in your USB cord and then taking out/putting in the battery will put into an unknown upload mode which does connect it to the computer, but not in a way that allows Odin or adb to run. There might be a way to flash/work with the phone, but I don't know how. Any help would be appreciate, as it is not in disk mode.
rajendra82 said:
You need to pull the battery, put it back, and try one of the button combinations to get it into download mode on next boot. Your easiest route is either both volume buttons, and plug in USB without pressing power (which works on the Captivate), or hold just volume down and plug in USB (which is the right combination for an i9000). With one of these the phone should automatically power into the download mode. Get Odin one click ready to flash stock before you put the phone into download mode and hit start when it recognizes the device. If that won't work. try the other key combinations keeping in mind that they change when you flash an i9000 image, so you should try all Captivate combinations, and all i9000 combinations. Since the Captivate lacks a physical home button, anything that involves that will not work, which is the reason why you are stuck in recovery. The i9000 recovery is expecting you to press the home button to select (unlike the power on the stock Captivate).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

madetoservehim said:
The Key combination Vol +, Vol - and the power button power cycles the phone whether or not the phone is in recovery mode or off. I am having the same problem, and there are no key combinations that worked for me. For now, I am permanently stuck in recovery mode. I could use some help here, as I have tried everything.
Oh, for the I9000 ROM installed on the captivate, adb commands do not work. While the phone is in recovery mode, you cannot connect to the PC.
I have found though, that by booting into the recovery menu, plugging in your USB cord and then taking out/putting in the battery will put into an unknown upload mode which does connect it to the computer, but not in a way that allows Odin or adb to run. There might be a way to flash/work with the phone, but I don't know how. Any help would be appreciate, as it is not in disk mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Take out battery and put it back in
2a Hold Vol Up+Vol Down (Do not press power)
or
2b Hold Vol Down (Do not press power)
3. Plug in USB cable connected to computer (Still do not press power)
If the phone behaves like a Captivate, after using 2a and 3, you should be in download mode. If the phone behaves like an i9000, after 2b and 3, you should be in Download mode.

Response & Update
Have tried both of these options. Either way you do it, the phone still goes back into recovery mode. There was talk about using a custom kernel that would allow you to use the power button as the select button. Is there any way to use adb in recovery mode, so you can install the modified kernel, or reboot to download mode? If not, I started a thread on this question that can be found here as well:
rajendra82 said:
1. Take out battery and put it back in
2a Hold Vol Up+Vol Down (Do not press power)
or
2b Hold Vol Down (Do not press power)
3. Plug in USB cable connected to computer (Still do not press power)
If the phone behaves like a Captivate, after using 2a and 3, you should be in download mode. If the phone behaves like an i9000, after 2b and 3, you should be in Download mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Did you ever fix this? I'm stuck in recovery mode now and none of the button combinations work

I have the exact same problem. Have you had any luck figuring out how to get the phone to reboot?

really people??
can you not follow step by step instructions?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=734871

Pirateghost said:
really people??
can you not follow step by step instructions?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=734871
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure they can.
The 2e and 3e Download and Recovery modes were disabled by Samsung in later models of the SGS. It is not possible to get there using a combination of buttons etc.,
How to install the Download/Recovery Mode fix (3 Button Disabled SPL fix) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=785201
There may be another method using an AnyWay JIG cable: which is a MicroB USB to Standard USB connector where I think one crosses pin 3 and 4 with a 301kOhm resister 1% tolerance, 1/4Watt. It would be best to search this forum for precise instructions.

Win for a dumb f%^k
well this isnt a good answer but i have a phone that went as discribed, no respose to three button, and unable to flash or get off the system reset screen on start up work on it for about 6 hour then left it when i came back i turned it on plug in the usb and CMD'ed adb reboot download and what did you know this time it worked? reset from that screen and it return to normal sooo.... um good luck and there is a way out just not shore what exactly it is

good for some
okey after fidling around i found my phone responded to adb ie download adb open a cmd line and typing adb reboot download. from there i just cycled the power hold down the power button a while and it rebooted to normal working order. though i still cant get 3 button even with flashing the fix so no hacking for me hope this helps

I'm using the Samsung Fascinate, i500 and i got stuck on the same screen too!!! i just double tapped the home button and rebooted the phone

I was able to get out of a 2e loop by running adb reboot download with odin open, then reflashed from there. Went through the same process twice since cognition 2.3b8 does not want to install on my phone. had no problem with b7 install.

Instructions were not that great. But Thanks -I figured it out and am back up.

Same problem here, cant make my phone go to download mode, ok or select key "power button" not working.
already tried the 2 methods before and they not working, (combination of keys)

Vibrant stuck in android system recovery 2e
I know this is not exact help but i just accidentally found myself into download mode after more key combo fiddling. I believe the last combo that got me in was either holding UP + POWER or just UP at the precise moment the screen goes black to reboot. This is after quite a few boot cycles so trial and error seemed to pull it off.
I'd test it again to be more sure but i don't want to risk being stuck again at this point. But I figured i'd speak up now, because i don't plan to have 2e there ever again.

[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] soft brick everytime i try and enter cwm

So ive rooted the phone and checked it with root checker says im properly rooted and bootloader is installed properly also. Ive followed instructions on the forum and even watched some step by steps on youtube. My problem that keeps occurring is when i try to enter cwm any which way it softbricks my phone. Ive found a way around having to odin, you just have too put the phone in download mode for 5-6 mins and then hold the power till it brings the battery up, if the battery actually shows its charging you did it long enough and go head and hold power to restart. Ive had to do this like 5 times already and dont know what could be wrong. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks vguaderrama

This belongs in General, not Development.
Entering CWM would not in any way soft brick your phone, flashing roms can, but not entering CWM. the hard key combo to enter cwm is VolUp+VolDown+Power+Camera, which should work, even if you're soft bricked.
If you were really softbricked, letting it sit in Download Mode wouldn't help without using Odin.

sorry new to posting usually can get most things on my own just from reading thanks for the help tho really appreciate it.

sduvick said:
This belongs in General, not Development.
Entering CWM would not in any way soft brick your phone, flashing roms can, but not entering CWM. the hard key combo to enter cwm is VolUp+VolDown+Power+Camera, which should work, even if you're soft bricked.
If you were really softbricked, letting it sit in Download Mode wouldn't help without using Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To enter recovery its just Vol Up + Vol Down and power

Touche, I've been holding an extra button all this time...

Hold +/- down like it was a button
vguaderrama said:
So ive rooted the phone and checked it with root checker says im properly rooted and bootloader is installed properly also. Ive followed instructions on the forum and even watched some step by steps on youtube. My problem that keeps occurring is when i try to enter cwm any which way it softbricks my phone. Ive found a way around having to odin, you just have too put the phone in download mode for 5-6 mins and then hold the power till it brings the battery up, if the battery actually shows its charging you did it long enough and go head and hold power to restart. Ive had to do this like 5 times already and dont know what could be wrong. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks vguaderrama
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to hold the volume button down completely not just up or down, plus or minus, press the whole thing down as if it wasn't a multi fuction button.

What's happening?
When you try to boot into CWM, what happens? Do you get a black screen, the sidekick 4g logo or...? How did you install CWM?
I had a problem when I first installed CWM where it would hang on the sidekick 4g logo. It turned out that when I used adb to push the recovery onto the phone it set the file permission as read-only. I used the adb shell to change the permissions ("chmod 755 /system/bin/recovery") and it booted after that.

nexus s power button not working

im stuck in the loading animation of ICS right now and my phone wont start, since my power button is broken i cant boot into recovery to wipe cache... is there some way i can boot into recovery console without the power button? can i used odin to start into recovery console?
please help!

if your phone is off the only way to connect it to your pc is booting it(bootloader or normally).. so power button is the only way. I was using android sdk and the toolkit but I hope there is a program for this situation even if I don't think so
instead if you can start your phone in bootloader mode but when you boot it loops in the starting animation means there is something wrong with your rom/kernel and you have to flash something new (you can do it in fastboot mode using one of the two programs I've mentioned before)
However I've not understand the situation fully... if your power button is broken how can you be in the loading animation??? :/

serafo said:
if your phone is off the only way to connect it to your pc is booting it(bootloader or normally).. so power button is the only way. I was using android sdk and the toolkit but I hope there is a program for this situation even if I don't think so
instead if you can start your phone in bootloader mode but when you boot it loops in the starting animation means there is something wrong with your rom/kernel and you have to flash something new (you can do it in fastboot mode using one of the two programs I've mentioned before)
However I've not understand the situation fully... if your power button is broken how can you be in the loading animation??? :/
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i can restart the phone by putting a USB or power cord into the phone, i cant turn it on with the power button.. because of that is why i cant get to recovery console, but i can get into the bootloader screen, but none of my buttons work there... also i got a jig USB, so i can get into download mode, but im missing the files to use ODIN to re-image the phone...

WolfShooterX said:
i can restart the phone by putting a USB or power cord into the phone, i cant turn it on with the power button.. because of that is why i cant get to recovery console, but i can get into the bootloader screen, but none of my buttons work there... also i got a jig USB, so i can get into download mode, but im missing the files to use ODIN to re-image the phone...
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I'm not familiar with odin but if you can boot your phone in fastboot mode I think you can flash every file or make a wipe from your pc like with sdk for example.. you have just to search for the commands.. sorry if I can't be helpful

Did you explore the idea of repairing your power button ? Seems like a good solution

petenatas said:
Did you explore the idea of repairing your power button ? Seems like a good solution
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lol, yeah... but want to boot it at least.... which i did with Odin :victory:
now, does anyone know where i can get the files to root a nexus s with odin?

WolfShooterX said:
lol, yeah... but want to boot it at least.... which i did with Odin :victory:
now, does anyone know where i can get the files to root a nexus s with odin?
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I have never used Odin with Nexus S, never needed that. As you are able to boot, you may look at the following thread to get the script for rooting your phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544940
Remember, this process will unlock the boot loader if it is locked and unlocking boot loader will delete all files, even from the internal SD card. So you may consider having a complete backup on your computer.

I make a little trick to fix this case. I disassembled my phone for get motherboard with button in my hands. After it I "played" with power button: push, sway from side to side and kick it by finder nail. After all assembled phone and now the power button works fine.