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How hard is it to brick this device?

I can buy one at a good price that the seller claims will not power on after trying to flash a rom. I know a lot of times one can work there way out of a apparent brick but I do not want to shell out cash for a real brick.

gbmitchell said:
I can buy one at a good price that the seller claims will not power on after trying to flash a rom. I know a lot of times one can work there way out of a apparent brick but I do not want to shell out cash for a real brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the phone goes into download mode (volume down when plugging into computer w/ battery out) it can "probably" be recovered. Without knowing what said person flashed its hard to tell for certain. If they flashed firmware for another device, it might be done.
http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...harge-full-factory-tar-flashing-software.html
That is what you would use to recover it.

Its common to soft brick (recoverable with some work) but one would have to make a serious mistake to hard brick the Charge.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

What hoppermi said. Lol
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

Mine has an "unknown" baseband and will not accept the full ED1 restore method mentioned in the above post. I've tried every suggestion by multiple people.
I'm waiting for someone to post the modem image before I just throw mine away.
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

Yeah I thought it would more likely be recoverable than not. I know the fascinate was pretty good about that. Maybe I should get it.

If you can get it into Download mode, it can be recovered

Well find out soon enough. I either got a good deal or an expensive brick.

Samsung flashing pst is somewhat confusing to use. I managed to brick my friends phone last night to the point where odin could not connect to the phone but samsung flashing pst did the trick. Make sure you install all the drivers that come with pst and double click on the droid charge after opening samsung flashing pst then click on the sw download button on the left side of the new window. Then follow the directions in the link you posted. If you can access download mode you should easily be able to unbrick good luck I hope you get this fixed
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Welp. I got it and it does not even look like it is pretending to power on under any circumstances.

You know how to go into download mode right? Open Odin, remove the battery in the Charge, plus the USB into your computer & while holding the Down volume rocker plug the Micro-USB into the phone and if done correctly you should see the triangle on your phones screen

Yeah I did that and there were no signs of life and I have done this part before on the fascinate. I guess maybe I will see if Samsung will fix it.

Any chance to reanimate completely dead device?

Hi guys,
No able to turn the device on,
to switch to a download mode, (tried all methods),
when connect to computer via ODIN comp doesn’t recognize device.
(battery charged, used other device for charging)
Help please!!!
thank you!

Eugg_ said:
Hi guys,
No able to turn the device on,
to switch to a download mode, (tried all methods),
when connect to computer via ODIN comp doesn’t recognize device.
(battery charged, used other device for charging)
Help please!!!
thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You either have a severe hardware failure or a corrupt bootloader.
Since it's nearly impossible to corrupt bootloaders on our device I'm guessing hardware failure. Take it in for warranty service.
What were you doing with it before it died? Provide details.

Entropy512 said:
You either have a severe hardware failure or a corrupt bootloader.
Since it's nearly impossible to corrupt bootloaders on our device I'm guessing hardware failure. Take it in for warranty service.
What were you doing with it before it died? Provide details.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll see your corrupt bootloaders and raise you a 10 kiloton explosion.

Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology.

I have had two people now that have had completely dead batteries and did not know. Try to charge your battery. See if the emblem comes on while charging. If it does leave it alone for at least 4 hrs then try to enter download.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium

If you are using a Windows PC to run Odin, make sure that you have installed the correct drivers to connect with your phone. I believe these are proper:
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/c...ATT_SGH-i997_Infuse4G_USB_Drivers_5_2_0_2.zip

You can also spend $1.99 on eBay for a resistor jig:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=jig+download

I once had something crazy happen after a bad crash with an experimental overclock kernel for the vibrant on my captivate. the screen went black even in download mode. but the phone was infact in download mode just no screen image. it flashed in odin and restored me back to stock.
I know its an off chance but if you happen to have had a similar error and your drivers in windows aren't installed right then it may look like a hardware failure.
if you have insurance get another one. if you haven't voided the warenty send it to Samsung. if you want to help out development donate it to Adam outler. he wants something not restorable by normal means.

My Infuse recently did the very same thing. DEAD ON ARRIVAL! I tried all forms of CPR but she died an untimely death while attempting to flash back to stock. I had done that many times before so it wasn't anything I did wrong. I took it back to the ATT Store and they sent me to the device support center to get a new one. The new one is far more stable ans performs better than my original out of the box model. So just take it back and get another one or call warranty and they will ship you one overnight.

Product F(RED) said:
Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice one. Lmao
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium

Blackberrynomore said:
My Infuse recently did the very same thing. DEAD ON ARRIVAL! I tried all forms of CPR but she died an untimely death while attempting to flash back to stock. I had done that many times before so it wasn't anything I did wrong. I took it back to the ATT Store and they sent me to the device support center to get a new one. The new one is far more stable ans performs better than my original out of the box model. So just take it back and get another one or call warranty and they will ship you one overnight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, you just got a bad model, it happens.
At OP, if you have warranty with AT&T, take it back to the store, and ask for another one. If not, call Samsung, you can ship them your phone and then they'll either fix it, or send you another one.
Sent from my phone. :3

Eugg_ said:
Hi guys,
No able to turn the device on,
to switch to a download mode, (tried all methods),
when connect to computer via ODIN comp doesn’t recognize device.
(battery charged, used other device for charging)
Help please!!!
thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depending on what you were doing, you may have hard bricked your phone. A usb jig may work for a soft brick but since your phone has no response whatsoever, chances are its hard bricked. Go to "mobiletechvideos.com" they provide a JTAG service that unbricks hard bricked phones. give it a shot

Why pay for JTAG service when his device is still under warranty? Contact AT&T or Samsung. One of the two will hook you up.

hi guys,
thank you for your help

i like what he said better

[Q] Brick All the phones!!

Yes, yes to all I have done it again, my second very expensive paperweight.
It's my captivate this time.
used my epic JIG skills and put my phone into download mode...after that I then attempted ODIN. great....not! It's just stuck at file analysis... yes I googled, it, I ran as admin, made sure it was the right order. used heimdall. EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF....it's expensive and I'd like it to work...please help

Heimdall drivers conflict ODINs
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda premium

If its completely hard bricked josh at mobiletechvideos offers an unbricking service and they are really fast and its way cheaper than buying a new phone.

I've had the File analysis problem a couple of times...keep trying it always ends up working for me...if your usb cable is plugged into the front of your computer use the back and try throwing it into download mode twice before attempting the flash.

Alright, gonna try switching more stuff around when I get home. using this home made jig is a pain...also read last night if you try to repatrition the phone it might work as well...thank you for your help guys. The only problem with the Mobiletechvideo option is that, if I do get it fixed for like 60 bucks...I won't want to play with it any more....

You can also have mobiletechvideos or Adam outler do the unbrickable mod and never worry about bricking again.

[q] need opinion!!

Hey guys
I gave my cousin my infuse 4g, which was running gtg's Infused latest ROM.
According to her, she was at the mall and she pulled out the phone from her pocket and all she saw was infinite logo bootloop.
At first to me it seemed like a soft brick but it's not recoverable.
When I put the battery in, it goes into infinite samsung logo bootloop.
Three button combo to CWM doesn't work, the download mode jig also does not work.
when i put the download jig in, the yellow downloading mode logo shows up for 2 seconds and then the phone turns off. and the process repeats.
When i put the charging cable in, it infinitely loops the "battery picture", turning off 1 second later everytime and turning back on...
I plan on taking it back to the AT&T Service Shop for a chance at claiming a replacement device.
So here's my question.
I've tried everything I can to get this thing back to a working state, but to no avail.
Does this mean that the engineers at the service center will also not be able to get it back up (meaning that they won't be able to tell that i've voided the warranty)?
I mean, something is seriously wrong with this infuse. it won't even go to download mode.
I bought this device back in July 2011, so I'm still under that 1 year manufacturer's warranty.
Do you guys think I will be able to get a replacement device?
Thanks guys!
EDIT: here are the visual descriptions of what i'm talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYiZbgI3rnk&feature=channel&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxvIj76MkjA&feature=channel&list=UL

jhong91 said:
Hey guys
I gave my cousin my infuse 4g, which was running gtg's Infused latest ROM.
According to her, she was at the mall and she pulled out the phone from her pocket and all she saw was infinite logo bootloop.
At first to me it seemed like a soft brick but it's not recoverable.
When I put the battery in, it goes into infinite samsung logo bootloop.
Three button combo to CWM doesn't work, the download mode jig also does not work.
when i put the download jig in, the yellow downloading mode logo shows up for 2 seconds and then the phone turns off. and the process repeats.
When i put the charging cable in, it infinitely loops the "battery picture", turning off 1 second later everytime and turning back on...
I plan on taking it back to the AT&T Service Shop for a chance at claiming a replacement device.
So here's my question.
I've tried everything I can to get this thing back to a working state, but to no avail.
Does this mean that the engineers at the service center will also not be able to get it back up (meaning that they won't be able to tell that i've voided the warranty)?
I mean, something is seriously wrong with this infuse. it won't even go to download mode.
I bought this device back in July 2011, so I'm still under that 1 year manufacturer's warranty.
Do you guys think I will be able to get a replacement device?
Thanks guys!
EDIT: here are the visual descriptions of what i'm talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYiZbgI3rnk&feature=channel&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxvIj76MkjA&feature=channel&list=UL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jhong91,
It is not often but several other users have reported similar hard power loops that you're describing.
If you go back through the Q/A thread, there are a few with this.
Some users have succeeded in restoring their device via jtag method - by mobiletech or something like that.
Others opted for the replacement and was successful too.
Look through the last 20-40 pages...(garen21, brazcub may have similar situation ) Others have been told that it was due to corrosion of the battery terminal or bad circuit board.

qkster said:
jhong91,
It is not often but several other users have reported similar hard power loops that you're describing.
If you go back through the Q/A thread, there are a few with this.
Some users have succeeded in restoring their device via jtag method - by mobiletech or something like that.
Others opted for the replacement and was successful too.
Look through the last 20-40 pages...(garen21, brazcub may have similar situation ) Others have been told that it was due to corrosion of the battery terminal or bad circuit board.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
thanks for the reply!
if the problem really is, as you may have kindly pointed out, with the circuit board or bad battery terminal, do you think it's unrecoverable even by the AT&T technicians (or mobiletechvideo's jtag service)?
Also, this is my first time dealing with warranties on smartphone.
If they happen to find out that I have voided the warranty by rooting the phone, the worst thing that could happen is not getting a replacement device right? they can't charge me or penalize me right?
Thanks in advance!

You will be OK.
I bricked mine and sent it in, they didn't even realize it was rooted and sent me a new one. Just don't mention it man. Also its better if you take it to a smaller att store, they seem to be a bit cooler then the big corporate stores
Sent from dr0id using Tapatalk 2 beta 5

eZdubzitmk4 said:
You will be OK.
I bricked mine and sent it in, they didn't even realize it was rooted and sent me a new one. Just don't mention it man. Also its better if you take it to a smaller att store, they seem to be a bit cooler then the big corporate stores
Sent from dr0id using Tapatalk 2 beta 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you go to a retail store? or an official device support center?
thanks!

A retail store
Sent from dr0id using Tapatalk 2 beta 5

eZdubzitmk4 said:
A retail store
Sent from dr0id using Tapatalk 2 beta 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, i thought I was supposed to go to device support center..
i guess i'll go to retail first and then device support center if they should redirect me there..
anyways,
thanks man!

Yeah it all depends on the person, most are pretty cool and try to help.
But others just send you away to support
Sent from dr0id using Tapatalk 2 beta 5

[Q] Will USB Jig work?

Hello, so here is the story the best I can tell it. I have done quite a bit of work on Iphones, Ipods, and roms on my own phones, because of this my friends son asked if I had ever JTag'd a phone before, which I had never heard of at the time. Apparently a friend of his was trying to load a custom ROM on his Verizon Galaxy S3 and something went wrong. Unfortunatly, I have no idea what ROM he tried loading or how he tried loading it. All I do know is, there is no response on the phone at all, the screen stays black. When you plug it into the computer, the computer recognizes a device but asks for a qhsusb_dload driver. I have read that this is a hard brick, and needs Jtag service, however I have also read that it is really hard to actually hard brick a phone, and this is actually more of a soft brick. Can anyone confirm this, and is it possible that just a USB jig will work to force it into download mode? I have ordered a Jig and it should be here next week, but I wanted to ask some questions in the mean time. Thanks for your help.

pedenspeed said:
Hello, so here is the story the best I can tell it. I have done quite a bit of work on Iphones, Ipods, and roms on my own phones, because of this my friends son asked if I had ever JTag'd a phone before, which I had never heard of at the time. Apparently a friend of his was trying to load a custom ROM on his Verizon Galaxy S3 and something went wrong. Unfortunatly, I have no idea what ROM he tried loading or how he tried loading it. All I do know is, there is no response on the phone at all, the screen stays black. When you plug it into the computer, the computer recognizes a device but asks for a qhsusb_dload driver. I have read that this is a hard brick, and needs Jtag service, however I have also read that it is really hard to actually hard brick a phone, and this is actually more of a soft brick. Can anyone confirm this, and is it possible that just a USB jig will work to force it into download mode? I have ordered a Jig and it should be here next week, but I wanted to ask some questions in the mean time. Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck. That qhsusb tag denotes a hard brick.

pedenspeed said:
Hello, so here is the story the best I can tell it. I have done quite a bit of work on Iphones, Ipods, and roms on my own phones, because of this my friends son asked if I had ever JTag'd a phone before, which I had never heard of at the time. Apparently a friend of his was trying to load a custom ROM on his Verizon Galaxy S3 and something went wrong. Unfortunatly, I have no idea what ROM he tried loading or how he tried loading it. All I do know is, there is no response on the phone at all, the screen stays black. When you plug it into the computer, the computer recognizes a device but asks for a qhsusb_dload driver. I have read that this is a hard brick, and needs Jtag service, however I have also read that it is really hard to actually hard brick a phone, and this is actually more of a soft brick. Can anyone confirm this, and is it possible that just a USB jig will work to force it into download mode? I have ordered a Jig and it should be here next week, but I wanted to ask some questions in the mean time. Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sucks, that my friend, is a hardbrick, fixable, but its a process and tedious.
Sent from my Secret Base in Outer Space

I had the same thing happen to me. See here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1770341
I pushed a corrupt ROM and it borked. Contrary to your post, it is easy to brick this S3. I've hard bricked twice.... Just be sure the files you flash are for your variation of the S3 (ie don't flash an ATT rom onto a VZW fone) and make sure you got a good download by checking the md5.
FWIW, Josh over at MobileTechVideos.com has JTAG'd me back both times. Fair price and quick service. I believe he's the only dude in the US doing it...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

hi there, unfortunately i flash the wrong rom, and the result is the same of the first poster
what i can do? what is jtag?
i have bought a j usb someone have used it? it works?

what is "jtag?"

It's a debugging port that can be used to push firmware onto memory. Mostly used for diagnostics and initial programming since it allows debugging after the first cpu instruction.

UnEZ said:
It's a debugging port that can be used to push firmware onto memory. Mostly used for diagnostics and initial programming since it allows debugging after the first cpu instruction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have bought the jig usb, i'll try, if download mode starts, then what i should do? follow this guide? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1840030

Interested to see if you are able to get the jig to work. I have not heard of a jig working on a hard brick. Yes if you get back into download mode just start the process over with Odin
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

arkas90 said:
i have bought the jig usb, i'll try, if download mode starts, then what i should do? follow this guide? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1840030
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey arkas90 did JIG work for you i am in the same boat trying to revive my s3 . Please let us all know if that works