Hard brick fixer - Galaxy 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi!
A few days ago i just buyed this tool: http://www.ebay.it/itm/MODULO-USB-J...t=Accessori_per_Cellulari&hash=item2ebde00927 and i'm wondering if this can fix an hard brick (like removed or corrupted bootloader). I don't currently want to test but if this really can fix that maybe developers can try to make another bootloader to boot a different OS maybe some Linux Mobile distribution like Kubuntu mobile.

Ummmm I don't know and i rather wouldn't expect too much!
And I don't get your second sentence?

try find a bricked phone on Ebay or see if anyone on here has one to test it.
Sent from my GT-I5800 using XDA

Interesting...but the question is, what if it doesn't work?

This works for SGS, SGSII, SGA... It may work on g3. You can try it. Power off the phone and connect the JIG until the download mode screen shows up. But basically the use of this item is for going into download mode if the 3 button combo is locked or broken. If the phone is completely dead (The screen doesnt even power on), i dont think that it will work. The price of USB JIG is about ~3 pounds so i will buy one just in case. It may work on the new SGA2 (which i will buy in Summer)

I have the same problem. The phone is completely dead. So there is no way to fix it?

It works on SG3 i've already tried it. I'm wondering if it works on a dead phone (broken bootloader).

i watch the video for the usb jig
and it say good for SEMI BRICKED PHONE

Related

bricked?

i tried to repartition using heimdall, and i think i bricked my phone. it doesn't respond to anything -- 100% black screen.
should i even bother making a jig or is the wicked witch finally dead?
Why not try a jig?
Sent from my Captivate using XDA Premium App
a.vandelay said:
i tried to repartition using heimdall, and i think i bricked my phone. it doesn't respond to anything -- 100% black screen.
should i even bother making a jig or is the wicked witch finally dead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worth a shot, a pack of 100k resistors is 99c at radioshack, but I'd put my money on perma-bricked. In almost all cases (I actually have yet to hear of a single case where someone managed to recover from a black screen brick), a completely unresponsive phone, where pressing the power button does nothing, means that the phone has been paper-weighted.
You most likely destroyed your bootloader. If that's the case, your only options are to either buy a riff box and reflash the bootloader and firmware directly onto the chip via jtag, or mail it back to Samsung and let them do it.
Sorry to hear about your rotten luck, dude. Happens to everyone sooner or later :\
Provided that the phone is in good physical condition and none of the water strips have changed colors, Samsung should fix it up under warranty. They will even pick up the shipping. Give them a call.
yep, this thing is a solid brick. i've recovered from pretty horrific things (e.g. the battery falling out during a flash) but never had it completely unresponsive.
i'll try to get a replacement. maybe if i say "i flashed a bad bootloader" the service rep will go along with it .
edit: i had to dig out my iphone 2g to use in the meantime. 1) at&t reactivated my unlimited data plan. 2) i installed gingerbread on it. lolz.

Fully bricked Captivate? Please, help! Tried many things..

Hi everyone,
Here's my problem :
Since some few days, my Captivate won't start up, and won't connect anymore.
The screen stays black!
I tried usually things : removing battery,sim,microsd, then pressing vol up, down and power, connecting with ODIN3.. Nothing happends.
It was bricked after a custom ROM update. I did format data, cache and .. system ! As usually, because I tought formatting system was necessary. Maybe it was the wrong thing that made it crashes..
So, I thank you a lot for bringing me any help !!
zebra363 said:
Hi everyone,
Here's my problem :
Since some few days, my Captivate won't start up, and won't connect anymore.
The screen stays black!
I tried usually things : removing battery,sim,microsd, then pressing vol up, down and power, connecting with ODIN3.. Nothing happends.
It was bricked after a custom ROM update. I did format data, cache and .. system ! As usually, because I tought formatting system was necessary. Maybe it was the wrong thing that made it crashes..
So, I thank you a lot for bringing me any help !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
could you give pls a little detail. as to what custom rom did you flashed, is it the froyo rom or ginger rom? and elaborate further on what did you do when this happens it might give other people here some more understanding on how to help you. If your your phone won't power at all and the soft bottons won't light up and won't respond with key combos or even a jig you likely had a perma brick as in hard brick.!!......If you are still on warranty no worries just tell them that your phone suddenly dies and that you have no clue what happens to it.
You can also try this if you like read the thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1020976&page=3
Thanks for your answer!
I flash many of my phones, so, unfortunately, I can't remember what kind of ROM it was! I also try many of those I can find on XDA.
Here's what happens :
Had formatted data,cache, and system. Then, flashed the ROM, and selected "reboot". Just after that, I was making coffee.. So, I came back 5 min after, and the phone was .. dead!
After many, many, many Captivate's ROM flashes (maybe 70 !?), first time it happends!
The phone is no more under warranty, so I can't do anything..
Btw, what is a "jig" ? Heard alot that word but..
And thanks for the thread, but I don't think there's a solution in it!?
I will browse it tomorrow, thanks
Thanks again for help!
JIG youtube video
^ "Btw, what is a "jig" ? Heard alot that word but.."
Here ya go....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdn5GoRjhn0
The jig is usually the last resort for some. That is if holding volume up and volume down then plugging in the usb cable into your phone ( the other end being already plugged into your computer) does not put it into download mode.
zebra363 said:
Thanks for your answer!
I flash many of my phones, so, unfortunately, I can't remember what kind of ROM it was! I also try many of those I can find on XDA.
Here's what happens :
Had formatted data,cache, and system. Then, flashed the ROM, and selected "reboot". Just after that, I was making coffee.. So, I came back 5 min after, and the phone was .. dead!
After many, many, many Captivate's ROM flashes (maybe 70 !?), first time it happends!
The phone is no more under warranty, so I can't do anything..
Btw, what is a "jig" ? Heard alot that word but..
And thanks for the thread, but I don't think there's a solution in it!?
I will browse it tomorrow, thanks
Thanks again for help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U can either buy a jig from someone like mobiletechvideos on YouTube or make one urself using resistors (tutorials are scattered around the forum). U plug it into ur micro USB slot and it will put ur phone onto download mode. This works if ur phone is soft bricked and it may not work for u but definitely worth a try
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
Sounds like you flashed a single bootloader and hard bricked your phone. Either jtag it or buy a new one...
JIG2WIN4LIFE if you can still turn on your phone without a perma black screen anyways
Hi,
I took a look over "JIG" on eBay, and found it for approx. 8 $.
But it says it can be used for ALL cases, at the exception if the screen stays black ! And that's my case..
So, do I have to buy it anyway, or is it really dead?
I don't want to buy another one!
Thank you.
sometimes the jig works, if you take out battery, DO NOT TOUCH ANY BUTTONS, put in jig. worked for me.
BUT your phone is under 1 year old. it has a warranty. if it happens to get broken in a way that they cant tell, and can never read the phone again... you get a [email protected]!!!
think speaker magnet or
2 seconds in the microwave 1 or 2 times MAX.. dont want phisical dammage! and there is plenty of electronic parts to get messed up very easy this way
TRusselo said:
sometimes the jig works, if you take out battery, DO NOT TOUCH ANY BUTTONS, put in jig. worked for me.
BUT your phone is under 1 year old. it has a warranty. if it happens to get broken in a way that they cant tell, and can never read the phone again... you get a [email protected]!!!
think speaker magnet or
2 seconds in the microwave 1 or 2 times MAX.. dont want phisical dammage! and there is plenty of electronic parts to get messed up very easy this way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, nuking it will cover your tracks if they try to access anything on it?
if it is electrically damaged and wont work, they cant access it, and they cant see your tracks...
and my buddy nuked a phone before, to destroy it for fun, there were sparks immediatly. if that happens the phone aint going to work anymore. so do it in very short bursts. you do not want any physical damage.
or wave it in-front of a LARGE magnet to degause it until it doesnt boot anymore.
Hi,
Thanks for your reply, but my phone is no more under warranty..
There was no warranty when I bought it from USA (on eBay), and I'm living in Belgium! So, no way
I will have to try the JIG then.. I suppose it's my last chance
yup jig is your last chance..
now the other day i bricked and the jig wouldnt work either unitl I found a trick that helped my jig work. this worked FOR ME in my situation. not all.
remove battery count to 5 and replace battery
DO NOT TOUCH ANY BUTTONS
put in jig. download mode!!!!
if i touched ANY button the jig would not work. worth a shot.
jigs are about 8$ on ebay or can be made with a few resistors for a couple dollars. (or whatever currency you have in Belgium). there are many threads on how to make them in the captivate forums on xda here. just make sure not to touch the resistors with your fingers if you make one. use tape to hold it.!! good luck buddy!
Thanks a lot!
I will buy a JIG on eBay then.. It would be safer!
We are using Euro currency in Belgium . So, a JIG is approximately 6 €.
It's a cheap price for this kind of tool! But by the way, HTC has much more solutions to unbrick their devices..

a new type of bricking your phone perhapse?!

I've read.. really I have..
Oden's
3 button fix
using linux..
using android sdk and the adb commands..
I haven't tried the JIG yet.
But I wanted to show you guys first before I leave work for the day and stop and Radio Shack on my way home.
I can't get into the Download Mode. When i power on the phone normally I get the AT&T "World Phone" screen. white with blue AT&T logo
If I hold down the Vol down or both down and up and plug in the usb cable from my pc to the captivate i get THIS!!??
So It's not hardware bricked (I don't think)... but what do I do?!
I can't get any of the one click loaders to see the phone, it doesn't ever get into a recognizable mode.
What happened:
I had CyanogenMod 7.1.. I wanted to see what MIUI was all about. Then I wanted to go back.. I went into recovery and formatted EVERYTHING i could find, factory reset, and now I have this non-animated waiting animation.
I figured I could flash back to factory and clean the phone then flash with CWM to CM7.1... I WAS WRONG!!!!!
Jig should get you where you need to be. Looks like you lost your button combos. What is your build number and which bootloaders are you using?
the only info i have left is the inside label.
Samsung
Model: SGH-i897
FCC ID: A3LSGHI897
IMEI: not telling
S/N: R1XZA58158D
1010 REV 0.4
SKU: 65187
1010 is your build number. 2010 October.
But.... I still need to use a JIG? No way of fixing this with software?
I hate to say it, but probably not. In formatting "everything", it seems like you've formatted out the software parts that would allow you to get back to where you could use software to fix this. A jig will get you to download mode, as it's a hardware-based solution.
Would a quick stop at the local AT&T store help any? Can they do a factory reset with their equipment? The only advantage i see is that they might do it for FREE and I wouldn't need to fudge around with the stupid resistors?
DO NOT USE 3button fix! DONT EVER. you will hard-brick for real if you have gingerbread bootloaders before flashing 3 button fix. 3 button fix is obsolete. to fix (if needed) use the i897 ginegerbread bootloaders to get 3 button fix and get gingerbread ready at the same time without bricking. if you cant find the thread [MOD] i897 Gingerbread Bootloaders, you shouldnt be flashing ANYTHING from this site,
that being said.\
take out battery,
put in battery,
HOLD both volume buttons,
PLUG IN USB TO PHONE/PC
KEEP BUTTONS HELD UNTIL YOU SEE YELLOW TRIANGLE
it works, trust me.
---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:41 PM ----------
Att store does not and will not re-flash the software on your phone, if you even let them see it they will know you VOIDED YOUR WARRANTY. dont ask questions like that. we will KNOW you havent read a damn thing on this site.
Looks like the PARAMS partition was damaged on your device. Your PARAMS can be configured to boot the phone to any mode. it's the BOOT_MODE parameter I think. Using this simple string value you can tell your device to boot into charging, normal, download, recovery and several others which I have no clue about.
Looks like your device has valid bootloaders, but the kernel has been instructed to boot into charging mode. It won't finish charging mode because the qualifications are not met.
I'm betting that since you obviously have a valid PBL, and SBL, you can plug that into the stock charger outlet and have the kernel boot into battery charging mode, then turn it on normally. But definately reflash your params.
TRusselo said:
DO NOT USE 3button fix! DONT EVER. you will hard-brick for real if you have gingerbread bootloaders before flashing 3 button fix. 3 button fix is obsolete. to fix (if needed) use the i897 ginegerbread bootloaders to get 3 button fix and get gingerbread ready at the same time without bricking. if you cant find the thread [MOD] i897 Gingerbread Bootloaders, you shouldnt be flashing ANYTHING from this site,
that being said.\
take out battery,
put in battery,
HOLD both volume buttons,
PLUG IN USB TO PHONE/PC
KEEP BUTTONS HELD UNTIL YOU SEE YELLOW TRIANGLE
it works, trust me.
---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:41 PM ----------
Att store does not and will not re-flash the software on your phone, if you even let them see it they will know you VOIDED YOUR WARRANTY. dont ask questions like that. we will KNOW you havent read a damn thing on this site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also a link to i897gb bootloaders in my sig
TRusselo said:
dont ask questions like that. we will KNOW you havent read a damn thing on this site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off.. Mind your manners and respect the forum for what it is. A place for all of us to learn and expand our knowledge on these awesome devices
Second off, you joined this forum a few months ago.. I've been here since 2005.. so please don't assume that I haven't read a "damn thing on this site" or that I haven't contributed to the site either! This is not the first time I've rooted or flashed or recovered from a bricked phone before. It's not even the first time on a Captivate. also, I've been reading since 9am.
I'm in real good with my AT&T guys so no need to worry about voiding anything. They already know and they have asked me to root their phones as well. They also offered me a job but they can't afford me.
So... the question wasn't "will they know I voided my warranty" or "do they flash".. the question was, "Can they do a factory reset with their equipment" which I admit should have been worded, Can they get me into download mode with their equipment?
Thank you for the information regarding the 3 button fix being obsolete. I wasn't planning on flashing it but good info anyway.
"take out battery, put in battery, HOLD both volume buttons, PLUG IN USB TO PHONE/PC, KEEP BUTTONS HELD UNTIL YOU SEE YELLOW TRIANGLE, it works, trust me." = doesn't work.. that's why I'm posting.
I held the buttons for over 60 seconds (thumb goes numb after that) and I also tried Just the Vol Down button.. Same results as picture attached in the first post of this thread.
so yeaaaaaaa... i stopped off at radio shack on the way home and got the resistors to make the jig.. aaaaaaaaaaaand it didn't work.
I was successfully able to get the jig to touch just the first 2 pins next to the head phones jack and i got the exact same non-animated animation circle.
SOOOooooo i'm starting to look into the fact that I still have insurance on my line
Buy a jig instead if making one. They are less than $10
Edit
Did you try plugging in to Odin after using your home made jig? Also, make sure to wrap the jig in tape so your fingers aren't in contact with any of the jig. Contact with the jig can change the resistance, rendering it useless.
SlyDogJeff77 said:
First off.. Mind your manners and respect the forum for what it is. A place for all of us to learn and expand our knowledge on these awesome devices
Second off, you joined this forum a few months ago.. I've been here since 2005.. so please don't assume that I haven't read a "damn thing on this site" or that I haven't contributed to the site either! This is not the first time I've rooted or flashed or recovered from a bricked phone before. It's not even the first time on a Captivate. also, I've been reading since 9am.
I'm in real good with my AT&T guys so no need to worry about voiding anything. They already know and they have asked me to root their phones as well. They also offered me a job but they can't afford me.
So... the question wasn't "will they know I voided my warranty" or "do they flash".. the question was, "Can they do a factory reset with their equipment" which I admit should have been worded, Can they get me into download mode with their equipment?
Thank you for the information regarding the 3 button fix being obsolete. I wasn't planning on flashing it but good info anyway.
"take out battery, put in battery, HOLD both volume buttons, PLUG IN USB TO PHONE/PC, KEEP BUTTONS HELD UNTIL YOU SEE YELLOW TRIANGLE, it works, trust me." = doesn't work.. that's why I'm posting.
I held the buttons for over 60 seconds (thumb goes numb after that) and I also tried Just the Vol Down button.. Same results as picture attached in the first post of this thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the steps he told you again, but flip flop putting in the battery, and plugging in usb... i.e. plug phone into usb, hold both volume buttons, THEN insert battery. instant download mode. worked every time for every build number captivate i've ever tried.
that didn't work either..
I just bought: 'SainSmart Micro USB Dongle Jig for Samsung Galaxy S Captivate / Vibrant' by Sain Store on amazon.com for $1.95 plus shipping. I'll let you know how THAT goes.
Also, Just a heads up. I have insurance on the phone. So I called up to find out what I could find out. First off, they don't care if you void the warrenty with software. Just so long as there is no physical damage and no water damage. Second, they HAVE to replace the Captivate with another Captivate if they have some left on the shelf. If they are out, they could have replaced it with a new Samsung Galaxy S II for the same deductible of $125. I'm holding off on replacing like for like right now until I try the JIG.
I may wait a month and see if they run out of Captivates too! lol.
I can do UnBrickable Mod for you if you'd like. I ask for $30 plus shipping (usually $6 unless you want overnight or something). Just send me a PM. I gaurantee that it will work unless you have hardware damage.
AdamOutler said:
I can do UnBrickable Mod for you if you'd like. I ask for $30 plus shipping (usually $6 unless you want overnight or something). Just send me a PM. I gaurantee that it will work unless you have hardware damage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me, that is the shiz....
Sent from my cell phone. DUH
@OP
AdamOutler said:
plug that into the stock charger outlet and have the kernel boot into battery charging mode, then turn it on normally from the charging mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(slightly edited)
I did not see if you say if you tried this, cuz I was gonna suggest the same.
leaked from my FUSED SGS I897 contaminating you via XDA app.
THE JIG WORKED!!!!! thanks guys!!!
OK so Thanks to the JIG, I was able to use the AIO root thingy and flashed back to stock, then rooted, then i was able to reboot to recovery, update.zip to clockwork mod, then installed cyanogenmod 7.1 zip from sd card.
then.. my 5 month old puppy promptly ate the JIG. lol...
Thanks everyone. Let people know that if they get the un animated wait animation screen like me, that the JIG will work

Newer captivates can't unbrick?

After 3 months with Samsung repair they finally agreed their Chinese knockoff 1010 Captivate was faulty and gave me a brand new 1108.
The Samsung repair guy even told me that they had different runs of 1007-1010, half of the batches were Korean parts and built solid, and other runs where it had many Chinese made parts and built hastily.
My 1010 had to be from China town. It had a bad speaker, flimsy power button, flimsy latch on bottom of phone that holds back cover on, it wouldn't stay in place. And the GPS didn't work for squat, which if it wasn't for the fact it sometimes locked onto one sat, I would think there wasn't a GPS chip in that phone at all.
I never dropped my old phone, and it even had a Bodyglove case on it since I got it. And now that I think about it, the old 1010 Captivate battery definitely said Made in China, this 1108 has a battery that says Made in Korea. I'm really happy with this new 1108 Captivate, GPS works great and everything is a lot better.
Anyway, long story short I used Odin3 1-click to flash KH1 and it failed midway through the flash for no reason apparent to me, except that newer phones are specific about how they like to be flashed? I used Odin3 1-click for some other bootloaders and it worked. I read about it before trying anything with this new Captivate and heard that Odin3 was supposed to be OK...
I'm stuck at the brick screen that has the icon Phone--Exclamation Point--PC. Nothing works to get into download mode, USB battery pull, all different button combos and timing with unplugging usb and putting battery in, releasing power button.
I've tried everything but a jig. Is this a known problem with newer captivates that a jig is the only way to unbrick it from the Exclamation Point screen? What if a jig doesn't work? OMG I don't know if Samsung will even talk to me if I try to replace it again.
The screen you see is download mode, just slightly different. Odin should detect it, and you should be able to try flashing again.
No luck, bootloader is gone and for some reason Samsung disabled 3-button. I'd say I'm really lucky the flash didn't stop at another point. I'm gonna need to try a jig.
Flustered said:
No luck, bootloader is gone and for some reason Samsung disabled 3-button. I'd say I'm really lucky the flash didn't stop at another point. I'm gonna need to try a jig.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If Odin doesn't read it then it's back to AT&T. Tell them you accidentally pulled the usb from the computer while you were transferring files. I had the captivate from sept 10 til oct 11. The jig won't work. Its either go to AT&T or send it off for jtag.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
[Mod edit to delete fighting]
Anyway, yesterday I ordered a jig off Amazon Prime overnight and the Lasership guy was delivering it as I was leaving for work 8AM EST. CBA with the 300k resistor cause lining up the pins is a pain, and my hands sweat too much, hyperhydrosis... But dang that was a fast delivery.
And the jig worked too, as I knew it would because 3-button was still rebooting the phone, just not going to DL mode. And the bootloader flash randomly stopping and saying flash failed wasn't completely user error. I should have flashed the individual pda, not used 1-click, but Samsung changed something in the newer captivate batches.
Samsung probably felt like screwing everyone who doesn't use their s**tty touchwiz, that or ATT had a hand in it. Then on top of that the 3-button is disabled.
Of course the jig is still going to work because Samsung isn't going to JTAG everything, they would just rather use a bluebox jig on any phones that came in bricked.
Flustered said:
No luck, bootloader is gone and for some reason Samsung disabled 3-button. I'd say I'm really lucky the flash didn't stop at another point. I'm gonna need to try a jig.
[steveo314]
If Odin doesn't read it then it's back to AT&T. Tell them you accidentally pulled the usb from the computer while you were transferring files. I had the captivate from sept 10 til oct 11. The jig won't work. Its either go to AT&T or send it off for jtag.
[Flustered]
Of course the jig is still going to work because Samsung isn't going to JTAG everything, they would just rather use a bluebox jig on any phones that came in bricked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOW some people can't listen.
And no one said send it to Samsung for a JTAG. There's a guy here on xda that'll do it for $40. Samsung will charge you over $100.
Samsung does not do jtag.. at least not in their service manuals.
I do UnBrickable Mod for $30 + shipping. UBM is far superior to JTAG. You can delete all the bootloaders on your device or replace them with your favorite Justin Beiber MP3 and UnBrickable Mod will still allow you to access download mode.
We put the device into a debug mode where it will accept a memory input from USB rather than booting from a flash.
steveo314 said:
WOW some people can't listen.
And no one said send it to Samsung for a JTAG. There's a guy here on xda that'll do it for $40. Samsung will charge you over $100.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry if it sounded like I was replying to you, I wasn't. My friends were also telling me "o no! black screen of death, jig won't work, it's bricked for good."
It was just a general statement, it wasn't directed at you. I didn't mean I was going to send it to Samsung to have it unbricked/JTAGed whatever. I meant that Samsung has purposefully made newer of Captivates easier to brick, but they didn't go so far as to make them permanently brick, they didn't disable the jig method.
Samsung knows they will see a lot of those bricked phones come back to them from Asurion/ATT Warranty Repair to turn into refurbs and they don't want to have to crack open every single one to unbrick them, that's why they left the jig method in place.
AdamOutler said:
Samsung does not do jtag.. at least not in their service manuals.
I do UnBrickable Mod for $30 + shipping. UBM is far superior to JTAG. You can delete all the bootloaders on your device or replace them with your favorite Justin Beiber MP3 and UnBrickable Mod will still allow you to access download mode.
We put the device into a debug mode where it will accept a memory input from USB rather than booting from a flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dang, that's awesome. I want to get that mod because I have a feeling a bootloader flash will brick the phone again, and I won't be so lucky with a jig next time.
How long after you receive the phone before the mod is done and it's shipped back?
Flustered said:
Dang, that's awesome. I want to get that mod because I have a feeling a bootloader flash will brick the phone again, and I won't be so lucky with a jig next time.
How long after you receive the phone before the mod is done and it's shipped back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It takes me about 1-2 hours total and I send it back as soon as I can. Shipping is the major delay.
This thread has been closed due to unnecessary flaming and fighting. Finish your business with Adam via PM.

Am I Hard Bricked Or Not?

So, I rooted my wife's old Galaxy S3 (Verizon). It took a bit to figure out as this is my first Samsung device I've ever tried to root. I read as much as I could find before I did the deed. Basically I tried a few of the known methods out there. Nothing worked until the Towelroot method. Worked like a charm. I didn't do anything weird. I put Rom Manager on it to put a custom recovery on it. I did forget that I didn't unlock the bootloader. Now the phone is/was on Android 4.3 JellyBean. Anyways I did EZ-Unlock to unlock it. I removed the normal bloatware. Nothing that would harm the phone. Then because this phone is running off of WiFi only and I kept getting the no Sim card message I decided to power down and put a non active Sim card into it. That's where things went horribly wrong. I turned it off, put the Sim card in, powered it back on or tried to and the phone did nothing. I got no vibration no lights not a thing. So after trying several button combinations I pulled the battery and plugged it in and that got the red charging light. When I plug it into my lap top it makes the recognize device sound but can't find drivers for it. I tried to do the hard brick recovery where you download the hard brick onto an sd card and then the phone SHOULD boot off of it. Well that didn't even work. I just can't understand what exactly understand why this happened or what happened to get to this point. Any help would be amazing guys. It is just a play toy at this point. But it's important to have the phone working in case of needing it for a temporary phone.
It is impossible to downgrade from the 4.3 locked bootloader to the unlocked bootloader. Verizon killed the loophole, so yes you are hard bricked. You were right in trying the SD card de-brick. Did you try this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2581166?
Make sure you use a class 10 SD card and one that has the same storage size as the phone's internal storage (16/32).
If that doesn't work you need to get a JTAG repair. I know http://mobiletechvideos.mybigcommerce.com/ has a JTAG repair service. They even have a bootloader downgrade service to revert to the unlocked bootloader!
OK, so the de-brick method. The guy has 2 of those videos up. The one that I believe everyone is going off of is the one where he states you have to have a certain SD card. The other he states that it will work with anything and that it's much easier than the previous video. So having seen both, I don't honestly know what direction to go in. I don't have any income or money right now to go buy the right card if that's what I need to do. I also can't do the JTAG. However I did read up and watch a few videos on making my own jig. I also found one on ebay for 4 bucks with free shipping. That I could possibly swing. But 20 bucks or 50 bucks I can't. It sucks that this all happened, as much as I dislike Samsung phones because of their plastic feel and touchwiz I was looking forward to getting rid of touchwiz and seeing what the phone could really do. I was unaware that the loophole had not been reopened. I suppose I was reading things wrong then because while there are restrictions on what Roms you can flash I thought that we were still able to unlock the bootloader. I mean Ez-Unlock worked from what the phone said. Now if that's what hard bricked it then ok I guess, I just would have thought something would have went wrong right after and not wait until I powered the phone off. Meh, live and learn I suppose. Perhaps getting the jig or making my own for a buck is what I should do to see if I can get it to all work again so I can start from scratch. I should have known when I tried to root a Samsung phone from sprint a couple years ago that this was a bad idea. I soft bricked that one and couldn't get it to come back from it no matter what I did so a third party store had to do it for me. Then I soft bricked it again. Samsung phones hate me. LOL I appreciate the help. Any further help and or thoughts on this matter are totally welcome!!
Yeah once you use EZ Unlock the phone will still be fine until you try to reboot and it goes through the boot process. Once it doesn't recognize that part of the bootchain it bricks.
But yeah if you can make a jig to get yourself into download mode you can ODIN a stock 4.3 tar and be back up and running.
So it was EZ-Unlock huh? Alright well now I know. I'll run to radio shack and get the resistors I need and give it a shot. Doesn't seem like it's all that hard to do really, just a matter of hitting the right points in the charging port.
CoyotesFan4Evr said:
So it was EZ-Unlock huh? Alright well now I know. I'll run to radio shack and get the resistors I need and give it a shot. Doesn't seem like it's all that hard to do really, just a matter of hitting the right points in the charging port.
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Hope I am wrong but the jig won't help you. If it does make sure you tell us because using a jig would be preferred over the SD card trick.
ThePagel said:
Hope I am wrong but the jig won't help you. If it does make sure you tell us because using a jig would be preferred over the SD card trick.
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Jig won't work, not even worth trying.
Well, I tried making the jig and that didn't work. Not sure if I'm just not hitting the right parts on it or what? Now the battery is totally dead but I swapped it with my father in law's fully charged S3. Now I went ahead and bought the little jig thing that they sell on E-bay. Yeah that hasn't worked yet. I'm going to research into it more and see if I'm just doing something wrong or not. But it should be plug in and boom it goes into download mode. If not then next month I'll get the SD card I need and try that method. Right now I'm just stuck. And not only stuck with this problem but also stuck waiting for my upgrade phone replacement to come in tomorrow as I upgraded from my DNA to the One M7 but that one is on a boot loop so now I'm waiting on the LG G2. Ugh, my luck with phones is just not going in the way of Good. LOL
CoyotesFan4Evr said:
Well, I tried making the jig and that didn't work. Not sure if I'm just not hitting the right parts on it or what? Now the battery is totally dead but I swapped it with my father in law's fully charged S3. Now I went ahead and bought the little jig thing that they sell on E-bay. Yeah that hasn't worked yet. I'm going to research into it more and see if I'm just doing something wrong or not. But it should be plug in and boom it goes into download mode. If not then next month I'll get the SD card I need and try that method. Right now I'm just stuck. And not only stuck with this problem but also stuck waiting for my upgrade phone replacement to come in tomorrow as I upgraded from my DNA to the One M7 but that one is on a boot loop so now I'm waiting on the LG G2. Ugh, my luck with phones is just not going in the way of Good. LOL
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You're hard bricked, you need to do the SD card method or send it out for a jtag repair.
A USB jig will never work in this situation.
Well I guess that's what I'll have to do next month when I get paid again. Go get the SD card and give that a try.
CoyotesFan4Evr said:
Well I guess that's what I'll have to do next month when I get paid again. Go get the SD card and give that a try.
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They're pretty cheap on Amazon, less than $20.
Or you can jtag for $30.

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