[Q] Should I format internal SD before ODIN? - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket SGH-I727

I've basically had it with my Skyrocket, or rather, the Skyrocket that I have. It has always had atrocious battery life, exhibited weird behavior (like today when it lost nearly 20% of its battery in about 2 hours, and claiming the PHONE component was the prime culprit when I hadn't made a phone call) and also even after I unlocked the damn thing I still can't get it to force to 2G (yes I'm using an Unlocked RAT as well.) I'm still under warranty so I want a different one even if it is refurbished.
Anyways, I know the whole deal of using ODIN to return to Stock and making sure the Flash Counter isn't tripped, but in this day and age I'm paranoid about tech stuff having personal stuff getting stolen, so I'm tempted to wipe out the internal SD card, but I don't know if this is necessary and/or potentially harmful. Can I boot into Recovery and have it format my internal card, then ODIN back to Stock, or will this just cause more problems than it's worth?

dvandam said:
I've basically had it with my Skyrocket, or rather, the Skyrocket that I have. It has always had atrocious battery life, exhibited weird behavior (like today when it lost nearly 20% of its battery in about 2 hours, and claiming the PHONE component was the prime culprit when I hadn't made a phone call) and also even after I unlocked the damn thing I still can't get it to force to 2G (yes I'm using an Unlocked RAT as well.) I'm still under warranty so I want a different one even if it is refurbished.
Anyways, I know the whole deal of using ODIN to return to Stock and making sure the Flash Counter isn't tripped, but in this day and age I'm paranoid about tech stuff having personal stuff getting stolen, so I'm tempted to wipe out the internal SD card, but I don't know if this is necessary and/or potentially harmful. Can I boot into Recovery and have it format my internal card, then ODIN back to Stock, or will this just cause more problems than it's worth?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can I have reformatted my internal several times before using Odin personally I just mount our to the pc and format that way. Spector7 has done they CWM using format emmc and said out worked fine but emmc is at your own risk I just format they pc
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

Okay next stupid question...
Would it not be easier to just install a Stock Rom then install Stock Recovery to get my phone back to regular state as mentioned here after I do a formatting, as opposed to going through all the ODIN stuff, which, if done wrong, can trip the flash counter more easily and thus leaving me with some explaining to do at the AT&T store?

dvandam said:
Okay next stupid question...
Would it not be easier to just install a Stock Rom then install Stock Recovery to get my phone back to regular state as mentioned here after I do a formatting, as opposed to going through all the ODIN stuff, which, if done wrong, can trip the flash counter more easily and thus leaving me with some explaining to do at the AT&T store?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would Wipe after stock rom modem and recovery that way if it bricks att will need to fix it
Use the CWM method.

Well I returned to stock and am planning on going to AT&T after work to demand a replacement. Maybe I can use my charm and wit to negotiate into getting an upgrade to a S3 if they don't have any Skyrockets in stock, but then again I'm a guy who plays the lottery, so I'll keep my expectations in check. Worst case scenario and they just turn me down I'll brick the damn thing intentionally and then say "Oh it stopped working after the most recent update." Wish me luck.

TBQH, I'd just brick it in Kies by restoring to 2.3.5 and unpluggig during the ICS update. Tell them that you were updating to 4.0, and the thing wouldn't turn back on afterwards. If nothing else, AT&T will help get things with Sammy in order.
I wouldn't even bring up the other problems
Sent from my SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

T.J. Bender said:
TBQH, I'd just brick it in Kies by restoring to 2.3.5 and unpluggig during the ICS update. Tell them that you were updating to 4.0, and the thing wouldn't turn back on afterwards. If nothing else, AT&T will help get things with Sammy in order.
I wouldn't even bring up the other problems
Sent from my SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I have no idea how Kies works (never had a need to use it as I just flash everything) That's a program you install on your CPU right and then do the update by downloading in Kies and then plugging the phone into the CPU to download to it?

dvandam said:
Sorry I have no idea how Kies works (never had a need to use it as I just flash everything) That's a program you install on your CPU right and then do the update by downloading in Kies and then plugging the phone into the CPU to download to it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct go too the android development thread and check out Vimcom stick alright so just check it or its not bad
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

Looks like I may have given myself a reason to return it before I could intentionally brick it via Kies..
I just ODINed back to stock and now the device is stuck in a boot loop. I double checked the download mode and it didn't trip the counter, so at least they can't accuse me of messing with it in that regard. I do hope that a new phone helps my problems, because quite frankly it's hard to stick with the Skyrocket in general after seeing the smoothness of the Galaxy Nexus (which my wife has) or the robust beast that is the SIII. I swear though if the Nexus 4 had LTE I'd have already ordered it, paid for same day shipping, and taken the entire day off to be able to play with it. Oh if ONLY they had included LTE... I would have paid $100 extra for that even..

Update on this..
Brought it to my local store, only to be referred to the one and only repair center in the state. They said they were going to try and restore the stock firmware onto the device. I started to get worried as I thought they may be able to undo what I had done. About 15 minutes later they gave up. I think they were trying to use Kies as opposed to ODIN. I didn't want to give on that I really knew my way around the phone and may have done the work myself. Anyways they gave me a new phone and sent me on my way.
I flashed CM10 M2 on my device again. As far as battery life goes.. it seems pretty comparable to what I had before. At this point I don't feel like going back to get yet ANOTHER Skyrocket. I suppose I'm just stuck with this battery life forever.
On a side note, even though for many of us this may be common knowledge, for everyone else, if your device is bricked, whether intentional or not, MAKE SURE YOU WIPE YOUR FLASH COUNT BEFORE BRINGING IN FOR SERVICE! The first thing the tech people are going to do is put your device into Download mode and hook it up to a CPU to flash original firmware. Unless they're COMPLETELY ignorant or don't care, if they see that custom Rom counter tripped then they're not going to touch your device.

dvandam said:
Update on this..
Brought it to my local store, only to be referred to the one and only repair center in the state. They said they were going to try and restore the stock firmware onto the device. I started to get worried as I thought they may be able to undo what I had done. About 15 minutes later they gave up. I think they were trying to use Kies as opposed to ODIN. I didn't want to give on that I really knew my way around the phone and may have done the work myself. Anyways they gave me a new phone and sent me on my way.
I flashed CM10 M2 on my device again. As far as battery life goes.. it seems pretty comparable to what I had before. At this point I don't feel like going back to get yet ANOTHER Skyrocket. I suppose I'm just stuck with this battery life forever.
On a side note, even though for many of us this may be common knowledge, for everyone else, if your device is bricked, whether intentional or not, MAKE SURE YOU WIPE YOUR FLASH COUNT BEFORE BRINGING IN FOR SERVICE! The first thing the tech people are going to do is put your device into Download mode and hook it up to a CPU to flash original firmware. Unless they're COMPLETELY ignorant or don't care, if they see that custom Rom counter tripped then they're not going to touch your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you get a brand new phone or a refurbished?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Not sure. I'd guess refurbished as they basically had buckets in on their wall that had a wide assortment of various phones for replacement. Overall though I'm not going to fight over refurbished vs getting a brand new one. I could just as easily get a bad refurb as I could get a lemon new.
Honestly at this point I'm more annoyed with the lack of "snappiness" of this phone. As I said it doesn't help that my wife has a Galaxy Nexus (which quite frankly even ran ICS better than my Skyrocket ever did) so to see how my system is "supposed" to run and not have it just bugs me. Seeing the Galaxy S3 in action makes me so envious with that gorgeous screen and snappy response just makes me regret more and more that day nearly a year ago when my 21 month old for grabbed my Nexus One and I didn't tackle her before she threw it down the stairs. Being forced to buy a phone well before I wanted to buy a new one as I wanted to wait for LTE deployment in my area, (which I STILL don't have BTW) and now regretting a year later just... ugh.. For all the crap Apple gets with their phones, at least it's easy to pick out which phone of theirs is the best available at any given time, and (assuming they don't change to the iPad release schedule) you can feel confident it'll stay top of the line for a year.
Sorry for the /rant there

dvandam said:
Not sure. I'd guess refurbished as they basically had buckets in on their wall that had a wide assortment of various phones for replacement. Overall though I'm not going to fight over refurbished vs getting a brand new one. I could just as easily get a bad refurb as I could get a lemon new.
Honestly at this point I'm more annoyed with the lack of "snappiness" of this phone. As I said it doesn't help that my wife has a Galaxy Nexus (which quite frankly even ran ICS better than my Skyrocket ever did) so to see how my system is "supposed" to run and not have it just bugs me. Seeing the Galaxy S3 in action makes me so envious with that gorgeous screen and snappy response just makes me regret more and more that day nearly a year ago when my 21 month old for grabbed my Nexus One and I didn't tackle her before she threw it down the stairs. Being forced to buy a phone well before I wanted to buy a new one as I wanted to wait for LTE deployment in my area, (which I STILL don't have BTW) and now regretting a year later just... ugh.. For all the crap Apple gets with their phones, at least it's easy to pick out which phone of theirs is the best available at any given time, and (assuming they don't change to the iPad release schedule) you can feel confident it'll stay top of the line for a year.
Sorry for the /rant there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're confused.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Related

Infuse DIED!

Well after reading the latest GTG V2.2.2 thread changes today I decided to give it a go as I have really been having a ton of problems with my phone since new. Mostly battery issues but also weird stuff since loading Infused 2.1.0. I had loaded 2.1.0 twice after going back to completely stock but the weirdness persisted. So I backed up all my stuff tonight and then fired up Odin and loaded all the necessary stock files from GTG's Ultimate Unbrick which i have done many times. It started right up and then it stalled trying to establish a connection and this has never happened before. I waited a while to see if it would just go anyway but after 30 min. it was still sitting there and had not done anything in regards to loading up any new data to the phone. So I closed Odin and hit the power button on the phone and it came back up with an icon for phone to computer connection so i tried Odin again and once again it started up and tried to load files to the phone but again stalled and sat there. So i waited again for a while and then stopped everything and pulled the battery hoping that the phone could be brought back into download mode but unfortunately it is completely dead now. No lights no power up nothing??? So I guess I got my answer to my constant problems and strangeness it was the phone itself that wasn't any good. So now i have to go to the store tomorrow and negotiate a replacement phone I sure hope the fact that I spend a ton of money there with my clients corporate phone account will get me some good will and they will just swap it out for a new one. We will see as i really liked this phone it just needs some fixing.
I am a bit bewildered that AT&T/Samsung would release a phone with so many bugs in it. The completely stock phone was buggier than all hell and was only marginally better once I updated to a custom rom. The bluetooth has never been right from day one stock or custom it would constantly disconnect my headset and the GPS was the crappiest phone GPS I have ever had and I have had a bunch of them in the last few years. Here's hoping that the GB update fixes and resolves all of the bugs in this very nice phone.
Sometimes duds slip through the quality control process...
Entropy512 said:
Sometimes duds slip through the quality control process...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess so E but man this has been the worst phone from a performance standpoint I have owned in a lot of years I sure hope it is just a matter of a lemon. By the way I see you live in Owego NY is that the same as Oswego? If so do you do any fishing up there???
You probably just got a phone from a bad batch, my phone works just fine.
Like Entropy said, duds slip through quality control, can't catch em all.
Yeah you have a crap phone. But since you modified the software (god forbid on something you OWN!!!!) Samsung or AT&T(/Rogers) won't touch it. They probably have something to scan for modified software at the door that will shoot you in the foot if you try to walk in.
I've used unbrick at least 5 times because the 2.0 Infused ROM kept messing up my phone. Worked perfectly every time.
strychninetwitch said:
Yeah you have a crap phone. But since you modified the software (god forbid on something you OWN!!!!) Samsung or AT&T(/Rogers) won't touch it. They probably have something to scan for modified software at the door that will shoot you in the foot if you try to walk in.
I've used unbrick at least 5 times because the 2.0 Infused ROM kept messing up my phone. Worked perfectly every time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, from my understanding, they don't really question you if you bring in a phone to be replaced. If nothing else, do like what everyone did when the Galaxy S line came out and tell them that it crashed during an OTA update or when you connected it to Kies. Or tell them that you were having issues with it freezing up a lot recently and when it frozen the last time, you pulled the battery and it wouldn't come back on.
There is no reason for them to everyone know that you had custom software on the phone.
Good luck.
Sent using Tapatalk
Have to agree with Entropy would say u just got a dud.
Had no issues getting my phone replaced after installing custom rom on it. Went the extra step and soft bricked it and made sure it wouldnt boot past samsung screen before taking it to store. (My micro USB was borked) Had to wait on replacement phone but they sent me home with my phone and unbricked it and used it till new one arrived and bricked old sent it in and never heard anything about it afterwards.
I've used this method many times and never had an issue. (May not work if you get zero lights, etc, but worth a shot)
Just make sure you're not on Windows XP
Read the OP completely
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1216790
May sound silly, but try a new data cable.
sent from my stock Infuse at Tranquility Base.
You might have killed your battery. I assume you need battery power to enter Download mode. If someone more experienced then I can confirm this then take your phone and battery to your local ATT and ask them to test your battery.
Blackberrynomore said:
I guess so E but man this has been the worst phone from a performance standpoint I have owned in a lot of years I sure hope it is just a matter of a lemon. By the way I see you live in Owego NY is that the same as Oswego? If so do you do any fishing up there???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An s makes a huge difference... Northern border vs. southern border.
I don't fish, I get flooded by the Susquehanna.
Hey, if you are trying to get rid of this, I could use it for the UnBrickable Infuse 4G project. I am looking for a dead board so I can remove the processor and map out the xOM pins. This will let us flash crazy stuff without any sort of reprecussions.
Please consider donating the board to the good of the forums.
AdamOutler said:
Hey, if you are trying to get rid of this, I could use it for the UnBrickable Infuse 4G project. I am looking for a dead board so I can remove the processor and map out the xOM pins. This will let us flash crazy stuff without any sort of reprecussions.
Please consider donating the board to the good of the forums.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whoa? Are you serious about that? Because if that's true, it would be really nice of this guy did that..
Sent from my phone. :3
AdamOutler said:
Hey, if you are trying to get rid of this, I could use it for the UnBrickable Infuse 4G project. I am looking for a dead board so I can remove the processor and map out the xOM pins. This will let us flash crazy stuff without any sort of reprecussions.
Please consider donating the board to the good of the forums.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would have sent it to you no problem except that i need to return it to AT&T to get a replacement phone. Sorry I couldn't help.
I went to the AT&T company store that I do all of my bsiness with both personal and corporate. I showed my AT&T girl the phone and that it was dead and would not power up. She tried another battery as I also had done and still nothing. So she tells me becase the phone is over 30 days old i have to go to the device support center to get a new one or call in and they will ship me another phone. Well I couldn't wait for them to ship one as i need my phone for work so I had to drive 35 mi. to the device support center to get another phone. Just strikes me as stupid that they cannot just give me a new phone right then and there. When I got mine I was short of my upgrade period but they gave me a conditional upgrade or something and the phone cost $400.00 so I was pretty pissed off that they were just going to give me a refurbed phone considering what i paid for the damn thing. Actually I didn't pay for it myself one of my clients picked up the tab but I still felt like they really stuck it to me not giving me a new phone. I spend thousands of dollars at their store every year with all of my client purchases you would think they would cut me some slack and give me a new phone???
Anyway I got a "new" replacement phone and it seems to be working fine. The GPS worked far better than my original Infuse right out of the box with the Froyo ROM and UCKD5 modem. I also did a speed test with three bars and got 2735 Kbps Down and 319 Kbps up and it said I was on EDGE?
So I just rooted it and i am going to load up the Infused 2.2.0 and manually install the newer modem and the camera fixes. I am going to hold off restoring most of my apps until I use this one for a few days to see how it performs first.
Oh and the girl at the AT&T support center told me she had to replace my battery because it would not power up the new phone. So it looks like I had both a bad phone and the battery also quit the farm at the same time.
I had issues with my first infuse (I'm in FL) and completely blasted it to the point where it would literally not even respond to any button presses soft/hard or otherwise. It was DEAD! COMPLETELY DEAD...I was very sad. Anyway I was within 30 day startup period and they did full replacement no question asked. I told my local att store it froze and I pulled battery and it wouldn't come back on. They acted like morons and gave me a replacement but i feel like they knew what I did. Didn't say anything though.
Needless to say. I take my time now with these custom roms. Rockin Infused 2.2.3 and loving life with my GB and 30fps.
Good luck!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
I loaded 2.2.3 last night and everything about the phone seems better so I am a happy camper for sure.
Infused with Android DNA
Blackberrynomore said:
I loaded 2.2.3 last night and everything about the phone seems better so I am a happy camper for sure.
Infused with Android DNA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For that price did they not allow you to keep the old phone?
It would help the cause here if they did......

[Q] Has anyone returned/exchanged a Skyrocket at ATT with custom flash counter?

I'm just wondering has anybody returned/exchanged a Skyrocket to AT&T with a custom flash counter YES?
I'm having issues with my GPS locking in place and I think my phone might be defective. Unfortunately I didn't realize this until i flashed a few custom ROMs. And since the USB jig doesn't clear the flash counter anymore... i'm not sure what to do.
I'm thinking of just calling AT&T and telling them my GPS is having issues, but i'm just curious if they are going to check the flash counter and void my warranty claim.
Anyone have any experience with this?
Well I did technically speaking but it was hard brick so it didn't matter at all. haha
shortskoolbus said:
I'm just wondering has anybody returned/exchanged a Skyrocket to AT&T with a custom flash counter YES?
I'm having issues with my GPS locking in place and I think my phone might be defective. Unfortunately I didn't realize this until i flashed a few custom ROMs. And since the USB jig doesn't clear the flash counter anymore... i'm not sure what to do.
I'm thinking of just calling AT&T and telling them my GPS is having issues, but i'm just curious if they are going to check the flash counter and void my warranty claim.
Anyone have any experience with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
appdroid said:
Well I did technically speaking but it was hard brick so it didn't matter at all. haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And they replaced the unit without any issues?
Do you know what hard brick means? And yes they never asked me a signal question.
shortskoolbus said:
And they replaced the unit without any issues?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
appdroid said:
Do you know what hard brick means? And yes they never asked me a signal question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, means that it was totally hosed.
I guess the AT&T reps don't really look into the phone too much, they just send it back to Sammy? Well that's promising, i'll be sending mine back then.
Did you go into the store or just have them mail a new one?
Corporate location aka in store.
shortskoolbus said:
Yup, means that it was totally hosed.
I guess the AT&T reps don't really look into the phone too much, they just send it back to Sammy? Well that's promising, i'll be sending mine back then.
Did you go into the store or just have them mail a new one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As a former AT&T employee, they honestly don't give a ****, and aren't knowledgeable enough to know what to look for really. If it looks stock, witht he stock boot animation and no SuperUser icon, you're competely fine.
98% of the employees (+/- 5% for pulling that number our of my ass) have no knownledge af the devices outside of what AT&T trains them, and even then it's not much. Last year when the Inspire and Atrix came out, I had to stop my coworkers from telling people they were LTE phones, and even after that they were telling them it was "LTE upgradable as soon as LTE comes to the area" due to sheer ignorance. They just don't give a ****.
I have returned 2 phones with CWM installed. I have also returned 1 skyrocket with stock but the flash counter showed multiple flashes. No issues.
shortskoolbus said:
I'm just wondering has anybody returned/exchanged a Skyrocket to AT&T with a custom flash counter YES?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I walked into the store where I purchased mine just this afternoon and swapped it because it has been having all kinds of issues that I was tired of dealing with.
1) Battery life was poor
2) wifi reception was poor
3) battery indicator stuck at 100% until it would drop drastically later, once it even stayed at 100% until it dropped to "your battery is severely drained, shutting down"
After the young lady did the factory wipe/reset she noticed it was running ICS and lectured me that she could get in trouble, but then let me leave with the new phone.
kketell said:
I walked into the store where I purchased mine just this afternoon and swapped it because it has been having all kinds of issues that I was tired of dealing with.
1) Battery life was poor
2) wifi reception was poor
3) battery indicator stuck at 100% until it would drop drastically later, once it even stayed at 100% until it dropped to "your battery is severely drained, shutting down"
After the young lady did the factory wipe/reset she noticed it was running ICS and lectured me that she could get in trouble, but then let me leave with the new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is it running ICS?
We don't have any ICS roms...
And the best way to return a device with a counter...
Smash it first.
He meant a rom called Ice cream Sandwich. And smashing phone before return is not the best way. You guys need to get older and just use usb jig. If you don't have than Odin it back to stock. this way it will be fine.
iandr0idos said:
How is it running ICS?
We don't have any ICS roms...
And the best way to return a device with a counter...
Smash it first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The USB jig doesn't reset the counter on this phone, it only helps get the device into download mode.. I flashed Odin with stock TAR and it still says custom
I spoke with the AT&T returns folks yesterday because I'm within the 30 day window and my battery life was sucking. I asked the guy if there would be any issues with the return since I rooted the phone (I "rooted to test ways to improve the battery life" )
He said no, no problem with it being rooted. For the record, I flashed this Rom and my battery life has improved drastically so far

Nexus S 4G Bootloop; Won't mount SD; Won't mount USB

As the title says. My Nexus S 4G won't mount the SD or USB. It won't allow flashing or wiping any of the data. It won't even let me clear cache. I'm seeing that it might be a lose flash memory module but I'd like to make sure first. If anyone knows how to fix the phone or can tell me how I can flash back to stock w/ boot loaders locked as I will need to do a manufacturer warranty replacement.
bye bye to your NS4G.. you can send it to samsung for a repair orrrr get this beauty: www.google.com/nexus
I think your Nexus S 4G is trying to tell you that it needs to be retired and you should buy a Galaxy Nexus.
https://play.google.com/store/devic...wyLDcwMCwiZGV2aWNlLWdhbGF4eV9uZXh1c19oc3BhIl0.
Hehe, I like you two. I'm actually going to get the GXN [Sprint] when I go back to maryland. Right now I'm in Georgia so I'm getting a GSII Skyrocket [T-mobile] in the meantime.
I will miss it though. That little bugger that I put through so much. Bugger on.
sounds like your internal sd card card died. if so, it should be a cheap repair(if youre out of the warranty time period). but yea, Nexus Prime(gnex) all the way
I really dont see how having your hardware fail on high end device that is only one year old encourages you to somehow buy another phone from the same vendor.
Frankly I see it the oppisite way. I can understand buttons giving out but the nand? Screw that. That is just not acceptable.
Because the problem was most likely my fault anyway. I flash the hell out of my phones. It probably suffered from being erased to many times. After all, these phones were made to only be fully flashed once or twice. I also manhandle my devices. I don't treat them like babies.
Not to mention I trust Samsung. [Blackjack, Omnia i900, Omnia 2, Samsung Galaxy S, Nexus S 4G]. I don't mean that I won't use another phone manufacturer. I have used plenty of non-samsung phones, and as I have my plan on standby, who knows what phone I will get when I go back to sprint. It probably won't be for a good six or seven months till I go back to maryland and reactive my account.
Just out of interest, what version of CWM are do you have flashed?
It is not your fault. Unless you put the phone in water or something it ain't your fault
Nand should not be failing. Its faulty/****ty hardware.
Samsung also needs to take a page out of HTC's book with its nexus device. Locked or unlocked you fix hardware problems. Even more so on a device that has a relockable bootloader.
adaimespechip said:
Just out of interest, what version of CWM are do you have flashed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5.0.2.0
albundy2010 said:
It is not your fault. Unless you put the phone in water or something it ain't your fault
Nand should not be failing. Its faulty/****ty hardware.
Samsung also needs to take a page out of HTC's book with its nexus device. Locked or unlocked you fix hardware problems. Even more so on a device that has a relockable bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd never knowingly put my device in water. I will agree that they should follow HTC's lead and offer repair for locked and unlocked devices. Even more so on a development device.
Have you tried to put it in DL mode and restore it with odin?
Sadly that wont work. This issue comes up quite often on the forums. It happens to stock users/rooted stock users/crack flashers basically all types of users. Its hardware failer with the nand and there aint a thing you can do about except replace it.
villainhalf said:
Because the problem was most likely my fault anyway. I flash the hell out of my phones. It probably suffered from being erased to many times. After all, these phones were made to only be fully flashed once or twice. I also manhandle my devices. I don't treat them like babies.
Not to mention I trust Samsung. [Blackjack, Omnia i900, Omnia 2, Samsung Galaxy S, Nexus S 4G]. I don't mean that I won't use another phone manufacturer. I have used plenty of non-samsung phones, and as I have my plan on standby, who knows what phone I will get when I go back to sprint. It probably won't be for a good six or seven months till I go back to maryland and reactive my account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its a common problem for the nexus s, its in no way your fault. i doubt that there is anyone out there with a nexus s that has flashed their phone as much as i have, and mine is still going strong(just a broken power button)
Bad!
Have you tried reflashing recovery and boot?
OP casts Necro
I couldn't find the Odin files to do it. I'm on tmobile now with a One S but I'd love to get my Nexus S running to play with Jelly Bean.
Same problem here
I think the internal flash microSD card must be corrupt. My stock, unrooted NS4G is stuck at the Google logo upon reboot. Stock recovery won't load, and only shows a green android with red triangle. Target mode USB mode won't activate, so I can't use Odin to flash it. Attempts to unlock the bootloader while tethered fail because it won't let me select YES to confirm the unlock.
Does anyone know how to fix this and how much it might cost (out of warranty)?
Thanks in advance!

Verizon SG3 worth keeping?

Given Verizon's encrypted bootloader and highly unlikely chance that the developer version will help in unlocking this phone, is it still worth keeping? I haven't even taken the SG3 out of the FedEx box because I don't want to be stuck with an unmoddable phone. I currently have a Thunderbolt running ThunderShed's ROM with IMO's kernel, and do not want to give up that experience just for a shinier phone. What are your thoughts and opinions?
I'd say it's worth keeping till the end of the 14-day return period, hopefully the bootloader will either be cracked by then (of course, this date varies depending on when you got your phone), or it will become apparent that it's never going to be cracked.
Jacquestrapp said:
I'd say it's worth keeping till the end of the 14-day return period, hopefully the bootloader will either be cracked by then (of course, this date varies depending on when you got your phone), or it will become apparent that it's never going to be cracked.
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I just received the phone yesterday, so I have until 7/25 - a good chunk of dev time. I just really hope this doesn't turn out to be a Moto-esque debacle where it's a massive kludge.
One thing that I've noticed with this phone vs others: it works extremely well out of the box. Not only that but we're going to get JB. If modding is that super important to you, either wait for the next Nexus (not guaranteed to be on VZW), or get the current one. You're not going to get a totally moddable phone anymore unless you get the Nexus. Or you can just switch carriers for an unlocked GS3.
For myself: I'm tired of crackflashing. I'm tired of running the latest ROM release and working through bugs. I'm sick of things not working and constantly wiping over and over again. I wanted a phone that just worked well out of the box, and the GS3 is perfect for that. Of course this is entirely subjective, and your needs are obviously more inline with Nexus devices. I'd say if you don't want to put the bootloader status to chance, wait for the next Nexus.
mustbepbs said:
One thing that I've noticed with this phone vs others: it works extremely well out of the box. Not only that but we're going to get JB. If modding is that super important to you, either wait for the next Nexus (not guaranteed to be on VZW), or get the current one. You're not going to get a totally moddable phone anymore unless you get the Nexus. Or you can just switch carriers for an unlocked GS3.
For myself: I'm tired of crackflashing. I'm tired of running the latest ROM release and working through bugs. I'm sick of things not working and constantly wiping over and over again. I wanted a phone that just worked well out of the box, and the GS3 is perfect for that. Of course this is entirely subjective, and your needs are obviously more inline with Nexus devices. I'd say if you don't want to put the bootloader status to chance, wait for the next Nexus.
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WOW!!! right on the head with that one, I feel the exact same way.
Usually I jump on any mod available but this time i like it just working.
I'm really just waiting on Jelly Bean now.
Depends if you can roll stock. I got at&t gs3. On task and ktoon AOPK and phone is far better than touch wiz. Even with a few minor bugs that will be worked out. On release #2 and its awsome
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Got my phone today and I gotta admit I love the phone Rooted with stock. I would say keep it. Remember the bootloader is locked but only for now.
Aquila76 said:
Given Verizon's encrypted bootloader and highly unlikely chance that the developer version will help in unlocking this phone, is it still worth keeping? I haven't even taken the SG3 out of the FedEx box because I don't want to be stuck with an unmoddable phone. I currently have a Thunderbolt running ThunderShed's ROM with IMO's kernel, and do not want to give up that experience just for a shinier phone. What are your thoughts and opinions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its extremely early to write off our chances of getting past the bootloader. Even with the encrypted bootloader there has been massives amount of progress, and the phone just hit the stores TODAY. Calling it an unmoddable phone isn't accurate, as we already have the ability to run custom kernels and roms, just not an unsigned boot image. Patience is key, but if you dont have any, return it and get a GNEX with its one gig of ram and 5mp camera
In the news
Samsung will offer open bootloader for Verizon SGS3 phones - on their site.
bravomail said:
Samsung will offer open bootloader for Verizon SGS3 phones - on their site.
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Where is the source or proof of your claim
I was in the same boat op but after using mine I'm loving it. I came from a droid x running cm7gb and I miss things like hard button music control and other customization but the hardware makes up for it. I rooted using the new method and I love it even more. I'm confident that the devs will make progress. IMO the gap between stock and custom is a lot smaller on this phone. Once jb comes to it it will be insane even if it's a samsung version.
bravomail said:
Samsung will offer open bootloader for Verizon SGS3 phones - on their site.
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Click to collapse
Yes, you can purchase a totally new phone for $600 if you're up for the expense. It's not a simple software download.
Thanks guys. I think I'm gonna go ahead and fire it up for the time being. Worst case, I can return it in a couple weeks if the stock ROM is too annoying. Best case, the bootloader gets cracked like my Thunderbolt. Most likely, I'll just stop worrying and love the bomb. It sounds like the OEMs have realized we don't want messy, bloated, slothy interfaces gumming up our phones.
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda premium
Well, just wanted to add a final note to this. I'm trying to return it and go back to my Thunderbolt. The radio is terrible compared to that phone, constantly dropping wifi and 3G/4G. The phone keeps locking to a black screen requiring a battery pull to restart it. Just not worth the aggravation.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
I plan on keeping the SG3 until the nexus comes out hopefully on Verizon.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Aquila76 said:
Well, just wanted to add a final note to this. I'm trying to return it and go back to my Thunderbolt. The radio is terrible compared to that phone, constantly dropping wifi and 3G/4G. The phone keeps locking to a black screen requiring a battery pull to restart it. Just not worth the aggravation.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
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Maybe you got a dud. I know (myself included) 8 people who already have these phones, plus many many on here and none have your issues. Yeah, your signal is reported differently than htc phones, but what gives there.
It's definitely worth keeping. I have came from iphones and various android devices such as the htc evo, motorola droid razr and the samsung galaxy nexus for verizon and I love the samsung s3. Out of all these devices even with the extended battery on them this battery/phone out performs the other phones.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
TechSavvy2 said:
Maybe you got a dud. I know (myself included) 8 people who already have these phones, plus many many on here and none have your issues. Yeah, your signal is reported differently than htc phones, but what gives there.
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Guess there's lots of duds out there then...
TechSavvy2 said:
Maybe you got a dud. I know (myself included) 8 people who already have these phones, plus many many on here and none have your issues. Yeah, your signal is reported differently than htc phones, but what gives there.
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Click to collapse
Exactly, this phone is awesome
Hmmm, a couple of people mentioned that they are tired of modding and crackflashing? Why are you still here on xda? I buy android so I can feed my addiction of owning new phones without actually changing devices. I look forward to new mods and roms.
Oh ya, with all the new development, almost everything can be done with the so called locked bootloader. I'm running the new cm10 /jelly Bean as my daily driver. #screwyouverizon
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

Bricked, need help!!!

I had CM9 On my rooted Samsung Galaxy S3, and my phone would crash randomly in the middle of changing songs on playerpro or in the middle of phone calls, so I tried to download SiyahKernel hoping it would add some stability to my ROM. Well I had 2 different versions of the kernel somehow. One was SiyahKernel 3.something, and the other was 2.5. I assumed the 3.something would be for the S3 and the 2 something was a false download that I got on accident and was made for the S2 or something, but when I tried to flash the 3.something it didn't work, versus when I tried flashing the 2.5 it installed perfectly fine. So, here's the fun part...when I went to reboot my phone it died COMPLETELY. I can't start the phone in download mode to odin it, can't get into recovery to flash an old nandroid. Phone won't turn on, won't charge, will do absolutely nothing, and I know for sure the battery was charged to 90% when it crapped out. I've done battery pulls, I actually did a 3 hour battery pull at one point...I don't have insurance, and I don't have the $$$ to go buy another phone, so if anyone has some ideas on how I could either get my phone back operational, or a cheaper solution (like a jigg) it would be MUCH appreciated. I wasn't just a noob jumping into it on my S3, I've been rooting, romming, and flashing **** since 2009, and it's my 10th smartphone, but my first brick ever. Please help!
search jtag.
If you can't get into odin mode or recovery then your phone is deffo hard bricked n will be costly to repair mate. Be careful flashing kernels n use odin to do it not recovery mode
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
I had the gs2 and I was trying to unroot it and I couldn't even get Odin to work because it didn't recognize the phone. So I called samsung and told them that got an update, but after it finish updating it cut off and never came on, and the battery was fully charged. So, if I was you I'll go that route. And good luck
droidstyle said:
search jtag.
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Could I do the JTAG process MYSELF, or is paying them 60 dollars the only way to solve my problem?
That seems like the only way to fix this, because as of right now I seem pretty much screwed.
Atreux said:
Could I do the JTAG process MYSELF, or is paying them 60 dollars the only way to solve my problem?
That seems like the only way to fix this, because as of right now I seem pretty much screwed.
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I think you need equipment to do it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Note for the future: always a good idea to carry the cheaper (just asurion) insurance if your gonna root and flash. It's $5.18/month. A quick "oops I drove over my phone, or its on the bottom of the Atlantic", and boom.. New phone for a C note.
Sorry for no solution, it's more for others reading post.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
mustbepbs said:
I think you need equipment to do it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
annoyingduck said:
Note for the future: always a good idea to carry the cheaper (just asurion) insurance if your gonna root and flash. It's $5.18/month. A quick "oops I drove over my phone, or its on the bottom of the Atlantic", and boom.. New phone for a C note.
Sorry for no solution, it's more for others reading post.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
This post is ridiculous. Asurion blows, never have had a good experience with them over using 5 phones insured by them. Only ever had 2 crap out on me (hardware-wise. If it was ever software related I did it, and knew exactly how to handle it, but the 2 that were done were spidered screens). They gave me a broken refurbished evo back for the very first phone I ever had that I rooted, rommed, and hacked on for DAYS trying to learn the entire process...all those manhours and they send me a refurbished phone with nothing on it, and a screwed up LCD digitzer...do NOT recommend asurion whatsoever, and will never use them again no matter what carrier I go with.
mikey banner said:
If you can't get into odin mode or recovery then your phone is deffo hard bricked n will be costly to repair mate. Be careful flashing kernels n use odin to do it not recovery mode
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Why would you use odin to flash a kernel? I use cwm all the time for roms and kernels alike. Odin for radios or to return to stock. Cwm does everything else I need it to do. Same mistake could have been made on a computer guy downloaded two kernels and flashed the wrong one.
OP I am sorry for your loss.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
annoyingduck said:
Note for the future: always a good idea to carry the cheaper (just asurion) insurance if your gonna root and flash. It's $5.18/month. A quick "oops I drove over my phone, or its on the bottom of the Atlantic", and boom.. New phone for a C note.
Sorry for no solution, it's more for others reading post.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
imo insurance fraud is not the right answer. the right thing to do is research then flash, dont flash then research. ofcourse its now standard in america to be bailed out for every mistake we make, so perhaps your right.... I have yet to cave in and accept this kind of mentality.
The profit margins these companies make is ridiculous to begin with. It's not fraud, the only thing that may be considered even close to it is claiming that the phone is missing or damaged beyond repair due to something that was out of your control. Non the less your insurance covers all these avenues twice a year.
In reality, a bricked phone should be covered under insurance, and I'm sure if you have the proper legal knowledge you could argue that further and make them cover it without having to tell a white lie. Insurance is simple, covering a loss. And a loss is technically a brick (that's not open for debate either, that's correct), but there is a loophole they use where they can refuse to honor a claim if they feel to do so (hence modifications).
F that. I pay for insurance, I do my part. Not to mention when I actually signed up for the insurance, I asked the vzw rep if a rooted phone is covered, and his response was exactly this: don't take a chance, smash it up and send it back, or disappear the device.
I do not abuse or condone anything of what I said, I have yet to make a claim, but be assured, if I brick my device after 5 years of carrying ins. I am getting my money's worth out of it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

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