Call me paranoid, but after reading the thread on Unbricking that got bumped a couple days ago, I'm a little afraid I might one day brick my device. Even though I take all the precautions, it looks like bad luck has set upon a handful of guys, and I feel like it might happen to us all one day. I'd feel at ease, after reading that thread, however I don't have a PC and I have virtually no way of getting my hands on one!! Is there no way to do this on a Mac? Is any dev working on this or able to point me to instructions in case this happens to me? I just want to be ready..
Kinda surprised I couldn't find any threads on this.
The only way you can brick this phone is if you stupidly flash a ROM not meant for this phone. Please know the difference between soft brick and hard brick. Also there isn't any proven method to un-brick a soft bricked S 3 for the MAC. The last time I checked the MAC is a PC made by Apple running its own OS just like an iPhone is a smartphone, an iPad is a tablet and an iPod is an MP3 player but that is an whole other story.
Best response you'll get is to try using Heimdall, if it's working for our phone, if you absolutely must use Mac. Not many people have been trying that from what I see and I doubt there will be any change either. Besides that, find someone with a Windows PC and fix any issue you have.
And I completely agree with jmxc23.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
npro1464 said:
Call me paranoid, but after reading the thread on Unbricking that got bumped a couple days ago, I'm a little afraid I might one day brick my device. Even though I take all the precautions, it looks like bad luck has set upon a handful of guys, and I feel like it might happen to us all one day. I'd feel at ease, after reading that thread, however I don't have a PC and I have virtually no way of getting my hands on one!! Is there no way to do this on a Mac? Is any dev working on this or able to point me to instructions in case this happens to me? I just want to be ready..
Kinda surprised I couldn't find any threads on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could use a virtual machine that runs windows. But yes, your options are very limited when trying to work with this phone on a mac.
You need a JTAG to unbrick!
mandiw777 said:
You need a JTAG to unbrick!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is for hard bricking. The OP is talking about soft bricking the device there IS a difference between the two.
jmxc23 said:
The only way you can brick this phone is if you stupidly flash a ROM not meant for this phone. Please know the difference between soft brick and hard brick. Also there isn't any proven method to un-brick a soft bricked S 3 for the MAC. The last time I checked the MAC is a PC made by Apple running its own OS just like an iPhone is a smartphone, an iPad is a tablet and an iPod is an MP3 player but that is an whole other story.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So as long as I don't flash a non VZ rom I should be good and shouldn't get a soft brick? I don't mind having to boot into recovery to fix something, but having to find a PC might cost me a day or two without a phone, and a big fight with my wife. It might be worth my money to invest in Parallels..
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
npro1464 said:
So as long as I don't flash a non VZ rom I should be good and shouldn't get a soft brick? I don't mind having to boot into recovery to fix something, but having to find a PC might cost me a day or two without a phone, and a big fight with my wife. It might be worth my money to invest in Parallels..
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're a consistent flasher, at some point you will need to use Odin. Maybe not enough times to justify spending money to solve your problem, but you're going to have to borrow someone's PC or use windows eventually unless someone comes up with some Mac development
That sucks. If I reset the flash counter does that help prevent this at all?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
npro1464 said:
That sucks. If I reset the flash counter does that help prevent this at all?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Resetting the flash counter is utterly pointless until you need to exchange the phone via warranty. So, no it does not.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
So there is no way to fix a soft brick with heimdall? Ive been looking everywhere for a guide or any help. Im stuck at a softbrick and have no access to a windows computer. Any advice?
j.minds said:
So there is no way to fix a soft brick with heimdall? Ive been looking everywhere for a guide or any help. Im stuck at a softbrick and have no access to a windows computer. Any advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download a Windows 8 or 7 trial and install bootcamp.
Surge1223
Related
I think I posted this in the wrong forum, I suppose I was a little confused on my phone
I have a US AT&T version of the i727 Skyrocket. I think i accidentally flashed an improper kernel:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1369977
I didn't realize I was browsing the wrong forum *sigh*.
Anyway, when I went to reboot after installing the kernel in CWM, I get a black screen. If I hold down both volume buttons and plug in USB, I get nothing. It doesn't seem to put it in download mode. There, it doesn't get recognized in ODIN.
What are my options here? Would a "jig" actually do anything in this case? I can't tell the scenarios it can actually recover from and not.
Hard brick, its done
Jtag or send to samsung
hedpe said:
I think I posted this in the wrong forum, I suppose I was a little confused on my phone
I have a US AT&T version of the i727 Skyrocket. I think i accidentally flashed an improper kernel:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1369977
I didn't realize I was browsing the wrong forum *sigh*.
Anyway, when I went to reboot after installing the kernel in CWM, I get a black screen. If I hold down both volume buttons and plug in USB, I get nothing. It doesn't seem to put it in download mode. There, it doesn't get recognized in ODIN.
What are my options here? Would a "jig" actually do anything in this case? I can't tell the scenarios it can actually recover from and not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it does absolutely nothing, i'd say you bricked it which is quite possible if you flashed something for another phone. I don't think a jig will do you any good, based on things i've read before. Not 100%. Maybe someone else will give you some better input.
thanks for the replies. I can't get it in to download mode at all, so I'm afraid it's hard bricked.
Are there any guides to doing the jtag repair yourself? I'm pretty tech-savvy and comfortable opening up the phone, etc. I could get my hands on a jtag unit.
I just don't want to keep bricking it and sending it out for another $50. I'd rather have a solution where I can fix it myself.
hedpe said:
thanks for the replies. I can't get it in to download mode at all, so I'm afraid it's hard bricked.
Are there any guides to doing the jtag repair yourself? I'm pretty tech-savvy and comfortable opening up the phone, etc. I could get my hands on a jtag unit.
I just don't want to keep bricking it and sending it out for another $50. I'd rather have a solution where I can fix it myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know any off hand, but why would you keep bricking it?
xcrazydx said:
I don't know any off hand, but why would you keep bricking it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd hope not to, but on my first try I bricked it. I've never bricked my Nexus S after a ton of crappy kernels. Sigh...
Doesn't look like anyone has figured out a homebrew JTAG solution.
hedpe said:
I'd hope not to, but on my first try I bricked it. I've never bricked my Nexus S after a ton of crappy kernels. Sigh...
Doesn't look like anyone has figured out a homebrew JTAG solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, jtag for this phone was just made possible only a month or two ago. There may be a guide somewhere, but I dunno. You flashed something from a completely different phone, any time you do that you are pretty much guaranteed a brick. Just pay attention to what you're doing, man. Read more and flash less.
xcrazydx said:
Well, jtag for this phone was just made possible only a month or two ago. There may be a guide somewhere, but I dunno. You flashed something from a completely different phone, any time you do that you are pretty much guaranteed a brick. Just pay attention to what you're doing, man. Read more and flash less.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, understandable. Lesson learned there.
I can't tell if this is legitimate or not:
http://www.jtagbox.com/2012/03/page/2/
$50 isn't too bad. Obviously doing it yourself, if you could, would be better. I'd be on the safe side though and have mobiletech (i'm assuming you know about them), do it.
Alright... heres the situation, I have an Samsung galaxy s2 LTE i7R2 from Rogers... rooted.. worked fine. tried to flash a rom after erasing all data... and now my phone wont turn on, cant boot whatsoever.. tried pulling battery and holding the volume buttons and plugging in usb to download boot and no dice...
ive had this thing for 3 months its for sure not the hardware... anyone know how the hell i can fix this situation without returning my phone... im not a dumby.. but i feel sort of dumb for trying to put a i777 rom on my phone and not realizing it until my phone doesnt boot anymore... uhg... someone please help me
Flashing a 777 rom is a hard brick so no you can't save it you f'd up jtag is your only hope
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
are you sure ... theres nothing i can do!
She's dead, Jim.
thejbomb87 said:
are you sure ... theres nothing i can do!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I'm sure give up hope
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
one of you guys have to be smart enough to find a way around this
uhg... i guess ill just take it back to rogers and say it crashed..
Uh oh, here it comes....
Its just common since to not flash anything for any other phone. You learned the hard way instead of reading.
oh believe me.. i was reading up all day.. i am not a tech noob either, i deploy computers for a living... i just had so many windows open i downloaded the wrong zip because i was checking other roms and features out... blah i guess ill just make a USB jig..
Jig won't help you you have damaged your partitions and can only fix with jtag why won't you listen I'm not stupid dude I been around for a while
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
thejbomb87 said:
oh believe me.. i was reading up all day.. i am not a tech noob either, i deploy computers for a living... i just had so many windows open i downloaded the wrong zip because i was checking other roms and features out... blah i guess ill just make a USB jig..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But there are no i777 roms in this forum. You would not look on the MAC forums for Lenovo support would you?
Okay so the USB jig wont work at all... damn... whats jtag.. i wonder if rogers will even take my phone back
thejbomb87 said:
Okay so the USB jig wont work at all... damn... whats jtag.. i wonder if rogers will even take my phone back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhhhmmmm... have you tried google? You are not a tech noobie, right?
Sent from my Calculator with Android.
Yea i have looked through google... its a hard brick so not much i can do at this point.. i was thinking a USB jig would get me to download mode... but im being told other wise.. blah this sucks
I suggest sending it off for jtag. You knew the risk, now pay the price. Its an expensive lesson. But a lesson learned hopefully. you can probably get your phone back instead of trying to con Rogers out of a new or refurb phone.
There's another one for noobs/ people who don't listen or read other peoples mistakes! Huh way to go to make skyrocket owners look like we like bricking our phones.... :thumbdown:
Android 4.0.4 AOKP
Ok first of all relax on the hate... im not making anyone look back but myself, i clearly made a simple mistake which cost me a working phone, not much i can do now... i may still try to USB JIG and see if i get anywhere... if not then i will send it in i guess.. anyone know the cost of a Jtag... and what are the chances of rogers just replacing it.. or reflashing it
Seriously.... http://mobiletechvideos.mybigcommerce.com/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-jtag-brick-repair/
This was recommended in the past. Next time search before you post.
Well i appreciate all the suggestions and help.. and sorry for the hostile people who clearly need to get girlfriends.. like calm down its a question first of all, second of all not everyone has time to spend 9 hours researching bricked phones, I agree i should have taken better steps towards not bricking my phone.. my bad, i guess JTag will get this one... or i will send my phone in to rogers most likely for repair..
It only takes 10 seconds to GOOGLE. Just saying. Its just thread after thread after thread of people flashing the wrong rom, asking for stuff that is right in front of them, or posting threads in the wrong forum all together.
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
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
I just want to know cuz I'm a coward and I don't want to flash my own roms
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
cpu999 said:
I just want to know cuz I'm a coward and I don't want to flash my own roms
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are my hero of the day
Seriously though, a couple things can cause bricks. Battery pull during radio flash. Flashing a kernel with the wrong mount points. Formatting internal memory is a good way. Not like normal in recovery when you wipe, but in the way when you make your updater-script and aren't paying close attention to what your doing, lol. Yes, I have done this, haha.
There is plenty more ways for sure, but just pay close attention to what your doing and watch other devs around you and learn what they are doing and you'll be fine.
And how do you recover? USB isn't an option anymore and you need a JTAG or similar?
lap777 said:
And how do you recover? USB isn't an option anymore and you need a JTAG or similar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well normally there isn't a way to recover, hence "hard bricked". But, if there is a way there will be a recovery method posted somewhere in your device forums to recover bricks. Its a hard thing to come back from though.
Here is a pretty good example of a hard brick that a fix was eventually found for quite awhile after the device was released, went through eol, and people started leaving for newer devices. All credits go to the legend, Doug Piston of course. HTC Droid Incredible and its 5 vibe hard brick: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1110865
I heard jcase (teamandirc) say the GS3 is pretty easy to recover though, so I'm not sure you'd have much issue if you did brick. I'm not familiar with Samsung, I use HTC devices, so I'm not sure what method you boys would use.
I know for HTC devices, bricks most commonly occur when we accidentally mount something wrong, format something incorrectly, or a lot here lately, libs. Libs can cause issues to. The good thing though is we have the protection of a secure bootloader, s-on, which means if something harmful is flashed it won't hurt the phone since the bootloader is unlocked through HTC but still s-on. I think Samsung is about the same in this area. But I don't know. I'm just bored and felt like typing a bunch of text, lol
Good man.
Sent from my ZTE N881E using xda premium
I hard bricked my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3.
I got the thing rooted just fine and I went to install a new ROM. I downloaded EZ unlock to unlock the bootloader and it all went fine. Then I went to restart it and nothing. It won't turn on at all. It doesn't enter recovery mode or download mode. It doesn't light up when it's plugged into the wall charger or laptop. My computer does make the sound when I connect the phone, but nothing shows up. When I open Odin I can get it to recognize the phone if I press the buttons to go into download mode but then it looses the connection as soon as it says added.
I followed this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2581166 but it didn't work.
I can't believe I did this. I feel like a total fool. You know that sick feeling that sinks into your gut? Yeah, I have it. I need this thing fixed like now but I don't know what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
lgfuad said:
I hard bricked my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3.
I got the thing rooted just fine and I went to install a new ROM. I downloaded EZ unlock to unlock the bootloader and it all went fine. Then I went to restart it and nothing. It won't turn on at all. It doesn't enter recovery mode or download mode. It doesn't light up when it's plugged into the wall charger or laptop. My computer does make the sound when I connect the phone, but nothing shows up. When I open Odin I can get it to recognize the phone if I press the buttons to go into download mode but then it looses the connection as soon as it says added.
I followed this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2581166 but it didn't work.
I can't believe I did this. I feel like a total fool. You know that sick feeling that sinks into your gut? Yeah, I have it. I need this thing fixed like now but I don't know what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can either use the method you posted or get it jtag'd. Those are your only 2 options in this scenario.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
BadUsername said:
You can either use the method you posted or get it jtag'd. Those are your only 2 options in this scenario.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply.
I really got myself stuck in the creek.
I was looking up the jtag stuff last night but I'm still confused about it. Is it a program I can download or a usb stick that I have to buy? Can I get it from a store or do I have to purchase one off Ebay?
Thanks again.
lgfuad said:
Thank you for your reply.
I really got myself stuck in the creek.
I was looking up the jtag stuff last night but I'm still confused about it. Is it a program I can download or a usb stick that I have to buy? Can I get it from a store or do I have to purchase one off Ebay?
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's complex, it rewrites your bootloader to your mother board using a riff box. It isn't something easy that you could buy and operate yourself.
You'd send it out to someone. They'd break apart your phone and rewrite the boot image, put it back together, then send it back. Costs anywhere between $20-60.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
BadUsername said:
It's complex, it rewrites your bootloader to your mother board using a riff box. It isn't something easy that you could buy and operate yourself.
You'd send it out to someone. They'd break apart your phone and rewrite the boot image, put it back together, then send it back. Costs anywhere between $20-60.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just want to thank you again for your replies and your patience with my... noobishness.
I swear, I'm never messing around with my phone again. I had my old phone for 4 years and never fooled around with it. I had this one for 2 weeks and destroyed it.
Is there a company you could recommend that I could send it to? I'm in the U.S., Midwest region.
lgfuad said:
I just want to thank you again for your replies and your patience with my... noobishness.
I swear, I'm never messing around with my phone again. I had my old phone for 4 years and never fooled around with it. I had this one for 2 weeks and destroyed it.
Is there a company you could recommend that I could send it to? I'm in the U.S., Midwest region.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem, glad I could point you in the right direction.
It's not an issue about you messing with your phone. You just have to read more and understand what you're doing before attempting anything. All the information about 4.3 having a locked bootloader and not using ez unlock was readily available. Just next time you decide to root your phone, just read up as much as you can about it before attempting the process.
I really have no recommendations for jtag because I've never had to use it, but I know some eBay sellers can get pretty cheap.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
BadUsername said:
No problem, glad I could point you in the right direction.
It's not an issue about you messing with your phone. You just have to read more and understand what you're doing before attempting anything. All the information about 4.3 having a locked bootloader and not using ez unlock was readily available. Just next time you decide to root your phone, just read up as much as you can about it before attempting the process.
I really have no recommendations for jtag because I've never had to use it, but I know some eBay sellers can get pretty cheap.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG I got it working. I just had to buy a different card.
Yeah, you're completely right. I'm certainly going to read everything before I attempt something like this again.
Thank you again!