[Q] Samsung Galaxy S2 Straight Talk, Bricked? - General Questions and Answers

Hi everybody, I've been reading for years but had little reason to post as all my questions were already answered. But I find myself in a rather frightening situation.
Where I'm at: My Samsung Galaxy S2 from Straight Talk Wireless boots to the part where it says "Samsung Galaxy SII" and goes no further.
Without the USB connected, I tried getting into recovery mode by holding volume up and volume down and power, but it gets no further than the "Samsung Galaxy SII" screen. I tried to get into download mode for Odin by holding volume down and power, but it still comes to this screen. I also tried holding volume down and power and the home softkey, to no avail.
With the USB connected it does nothing other than show the empty battery logo with the usually animated logo to show it is loading battery info, but it doesn't animate and never fills up the battery, even though the batter is >80% charged.
How I got here:
I flashed CyanogenMod with success, it was working fine, but my call recording app would not accept the voice uplink as a source saying my hardware didn't support it, even though it supported it just fine under the stock ROM. I flashed back to my stock ROM, all was well. I decided to try to flash another ROM, and Biftor said in the description that it had call record, so I tried it, but my back button didn't work, so I went back to my stock ROM. Only now, I couldn't hear the people I was calling, and they couldn't hear me! Makes a phone rather useless, obviously. I factory reset, cleared the cache, cleared the Davik cache, same result (right now sorta wishing I tried fix permissions, but I didn't).
I panicked, removed my SD Card, and wiped every partition I could see in CWM, figuring I could put my SD Card back in and restore a backup or flash a fresh ROM with no residual problems from previous installs, and at the very least get it into download mode with Odin. I can do none of these things.
This brings us back to the first part of the post "Where I'm At".
This phone is my primary means of communication, I rely on it for business that will begin early in the morning, and I'm not looking forward to buying a new one, so as a guy who has at the very least, tried, to do his homework, and is in desperate need of your help, I beg you to assist me. I have paypal and a little bit of money if that's what it takes to save my skin before morning.
Thank you all in advance for whatever I assistance I might receive on this thread, but more importantly for all the times I never even had to ask the question.

I left the sim card and battery out for about 15 minutes and was able to get back into recovery mode, by holding power + vol up + vol down while inserting battery.

Related

"Converting data partition..." Problem

Alright, allow me to summerize to you guys the series of screw ups that happened in the day that I've had my captivate.
Basically, it's like this. I got this phone from my brother (it used to be his). Now when I got it, I began basically erasing his contents and setting up mine. The Phone is on the Cognition OS and everything seemed fine.
Now, when I tried to set up my google account, it said I had to do a factory reset, I did that. Then I realized the market place app was no longer there :/
I did another factory reset, still didn't help, and started looking around for info.
I told my buddy this and he said he could fix it. So he get's the update.zip for rooting the phone, sets it up on the SD card, and goes to root the phone normally. Except when he restarts the phone after, it doesn't go to the set up screen, so he just starts it normally and enters the setup screen by holding home+volume up+power.
Then he presses the reinstall packages, and the phone seems to get to work on the update pack...
Now, every time I turn on the phone the voice says "converting data partition to optimize extension four", turns off, then repeats.
I've looked up this problem and it seems to have something to do with voodoo, but the causes in the other cases the causes were different.
Can someone please help me out here? I've also tried doing a hard reset by holding the volume down button and pressing power, but nothing seems to take me to the recovery mode.
HELP.
Did you pull the battery during this our did you let it run? Should let it run.
Does your phone boot up at all?
At&t or rogers?
Do you have a windows pc with usb drivers installed?
What its your build number, located under battery, something like 1008?
Answer these questions and we can get you back up and running
-Well after he did the reinstall thing we let it run for like 15 minutes, then he pulled the battery out.
-The phone only shows the AT&T screen, say's the "converting data partition..." thing, then goes blank and does it again. I've let it run for like 10-15 minutes before having to turn it off because I couldn't have the speech going off.
-I have a windows PC, and but I'm not sure if I have the drivers installed. I have Kies installed and when I plugged the phone in before Kies could recognize the phone (though it wouldn't fully connect, it would just say "connecting" on the kies screen).
-The Model is SGH-I897, that's the only relevant thing I see under the battery, that good enough?
Thanks a lot.
No, your phone has a build, on phone under battery, the word build is not listed. Something between 1006-1012
If we are going to do this you need to be active, I can not wait 20 minutes in between responses
Sorry the internet kinda crapped out actually.
And I see a 1007 between the bar codes, that it?
Yes
Before we get started try this
Take battery, sim, ext sd our of phone
Plug usb into pc but not phone
Put battery back in
Hold volume up and down, while holding plug in usb
Screen should come on with android with shovel
You can pull the battery again
Confirm this happened
Yep, it happened.
It may be easier if we use gtalk, log in on your pc using google id, send me an invite [email protected]. This way we know when each other respond
Just sent u the inv
I am having the same issue.. Chairchair did your problem get resolved?
Can anyone help?
James
liquorsh0tz said:
I am having the same issue.. Chairchair did your problem get resolved?
Can anyone help?
James
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you gone back to stock and then reflashed? Seems like some files are getting corrupted. Because you have a voodoo kernel I would follow these steps. Make sure to back up.
1. Use Odin to flash a non vodoo kernel.
2. Flash stock rom and master clear
3. Reflash rom of choice if it is 2.2
3a. If you want 2.3 follow the tut on it.
4. Breath a sigh of releive lol

[Q] Galaxy Nexus Boot Loop (stock)

I have an unlocked HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus imported from the UK to the US. Ordered from Negri Electronics.
It's not rooted or modded in any way.. Mainly because I don't know how to. As far as I know, it's running stock ICS.
I was using it normally, (using the fb messenger app if it makes any difference) when it suddenly rebooted by itself. The Google logo comes up, then the start up animation, and sometimes the home screen will appear but is not touch sensitive (i cannot slide it to unlock), and then it 'hangs' and the screen goes black. Repeat.
I've tried to fix this by myself and there's a video on youtube (sorry, noob here. can't post links. video is by robbidwv and title is "my galaxy nexus won't boot..") of the same problem that I have, but the posted solution doesn't work for me.
So far, I have entered Coin Mode and pressed Start. Entered Fastboot mode and gone into Recovery Mode (no options appear after that. it just starts booting up and the loop begins), and I've also tried Restart Bootloader.
I've almost given up. Now all I want is to extract my SMS, if they're still on my phone. I can't access the folders on my computer because it won't boot up and connect. Is there a way that I can extract my SMS by using DOS in either Coin Mode or Fastboot mode?
Or even better, does anyone have a solution to this boot loop problem? I'll contact Negri Electronics tomorrow and hopefully they can send me a replacement.
Please help!! Thanks
that problem just started happening with me an hour ago!!
i hate this!!
we need a solution please!
Hey guys, sorry about the issue.the major problem I see here is you wanting to retrieve your txt messages, which might be possible with a little Modding, but if yourwilling to lose them to get a working phone back, then this is what your going to have to do. Make sure your phone is completely off. Hold the 2 volume buttons and the power button together. You will get into a mode with an android Guy. Press the volume button up or down until it says reboot recovery at the top. Press the power button. It will rebootand come to a screen with an android. Hold volume up,down and power at the same time. A menu will come up. Go down to wipe data. Click it, and after it is done reboot. Your phone should work now.
If this helped you, or you simply appreciate me taking the time to write this out then please press the thanks button
Hey!
Thanks. Yeah I 'fixed' it already. I was just about to post something similar. After a while I just gave up on trying to recover my data. Good thing that Google syncs everything so the only issue would be recovering my messages, which I decided weren't worth sending it in for a repair which would probably not be able to recover anything anyway.
The thing I didn't know about was to press power + volume up WHILE on the recovery screen. I thought navigating to the recovery screen was it!
Still, this kind of sucks. I love my GNex, but I can't help but be slightly pissed seeing that my crappy iPhone 3GS never did this in the 2 years I had it. Oh well, hope it doesn't happen again!
hey guys! i also did a complete wipe on my phone and got it working again!
but i wonder why this happened in the first place?
last application i installed before the crash was double twist, i dunno why but i feel that it was the reason behind the boot loop!
Sorry for reviving this thread, but I just had this happen to me TWICE!
It happened to me first last Monday, the 23rd - the phone crashed when trying to send an email with an attachment - and went into a boot loop - Google logo would appear, no make it to the animation, and reboot....
I performed a full reset and things worked again. I didn't install all the apps I had before - figuring it must have been due to some app messing with the OS.
Well, it happened again to me yesterday! I was connecting to my bluetooth headset when the phone crashed and went into the boot loop. Full reset worked again, and I've installed even fewer apps - essentially only those that I use on a daily basis.
My phone is still on 4.0.1 and I'm hoping once 4.0.4 is pushed this may get resolved? I have a canadian GNex from Negri. I will call them again (I called the first time, but when the full reset worked I never contacted them again).
I would like to this this is a software issues, and not hardware.
I have the same problem. If you figure it out let me know.
Today my phone also entered a boot loop: [Google logo]->[black screen]->[vibration]->[Repeat]
I tried Recovery Mode, but this is what happens: (sorry for the link but I am not trusted with powerful tools such as outside links apparently, as I have not yet reached the maturity of a person with eight posts... )
dl(dot)dropbox(dot)com/u/53568097/Android.jpg
This is what I see when I navigate to Recovery Mode
For a split second I can see an image of an Android with spinning cogs in his innards, but then this little sad fellow appears. WTF is this?
EDIT:
Oh, and I'm running Android stock 4.0.2, never rooted or unlocked, Swedish. At the time when the phone started doing this, I was using Endomondo, and was about to set off on my bike when it died on me.
Stock ROM galaxy nexus bootlooping after wiping data also.
Hi,
My GNex went into a bootloop so i searched xda and found that factory reseting would be helping my prob. But after wiping the data also its still in going through the loop . Please help .:crying:

Fighting a lost cause?

I've got a rooted (Super SU, but the original root manager was Superuser) LG C800 that I was having problems with. To be specific, I installed some apps on to the system. Some of these apps would be Titanium Backup for root, Avast Mobile Security, ROM Tool Box Lite, Super SU, and a quite a few others. From day one they seem to be kicked right back to my S.D. card, but not all at the same time, and some would stay on the system. I read where I should move the apps back to my S.D. card and try to re-install them on the system minus the data. When I did, the phone went nuts. Now it stays in a restart mode but never fully boots up. Can I salvage it, and if so, please tell me how?! I have tried the hard reset/recovery boot where you hold down the power button, volume, and a few other keys, but it did not work. I'm a broke college student and can't really afford to buy a new phone. I used this one for everything including tethering it to get my assignments done at home and turned in on time. Please help! I'm open to suggestions....... My phone will be completely off. When I plug it into my computer, via U.S.B., it automatically turns it on whether I want it to be on or not. Then it starts off in "reboot recovery" mode, will boot all the way to the point to where the home screen would normally turn on, but then it starts in that "boot loop" all over again but never fully boots up before going back to the beginning of that "boot loop" yet again. I can't even get it to register on my laptop as being plugged in. The reason I took the apps I placed on the system off was because sometimes when I'd re-boot the system the apps would be on the system and sometimes back on my S.D. card without my involvement of any kind other than rebooting my phone. Is completing a Nandroid recovery or re-installation of my ROM even possible with my computer no longer recognizing it as even being plugged in? From what I can tell it won't be. Am I fighting a lost cause or is it salvageable?
Rooted myTouch Q 4G, a.k.a. LG C800
I believe it has a 2.3.4 GRJ22-perf, and then something like 2.6.35.7? I can't remember off the top of my head, and I can't pull it up on my phone anymore or else I'd double check.
Have you tried booting into recovery?
(More about my phone from the original post) Honestly.........I'm not what you may consider technologically inclined. I have however done about as much research online concerning this matter as any one person can do. I've looked it up on all major sites, and many smaller ones too, that post remedies for phone, or "human" if you'd rather, malfunctions. They all talk about still being able to reach a home screen or doing the whole holding the power and volume decrease buttons until I "reboot recovery" screen appears (if that's what you're referring to as doing a recovery reboot as). Don't forget the one where you hold hold the power and volume decrease buttons along with the "A" and "F" keys as well. I even tried one from here where you're supposed to push the genius button after the Android figure leaves the screen. My phone won't allow me to do either. Basically if it's online, I myself, or this girl that's been staying with me, have tried it without any results. On the initial boot the Android figure and the box with the arrow coming out of it show up and it boots until just about the point that it use to switch over to the home screen and it will start the whole "boot loop" over again. The thing is though that the Android figure and box aren't there any other time after the first boot, and with every boot loop it makes after that, the time is reduced from the beginning of the loop to the end when it starts all over again. The phone won't shut off unless I remove the battery and even though my laptop no longer recognizes the device, when I plug my phone into it or another power source and it's off, it automatically turns itself on and begins that boot loop all over again. there is one thing I have yet to try. I read on one site where I could download a custom ROM on my S.D. and then try reboot it, but it never makes it to the point in which the files on my S.D. card are ran, much less scanned. I am still 100% open to any and all suggestions in the diagnosis of this issue. I may record and place a video on one of the more popular "tube" sites to better show or further explain what's happening and then come back on here to post the link?! Feel free to reply back if it's possible you can help before I'm able to complete that later this evening. And thanks for any and all help in advance to everyone.

Question Z flip 3 bootloop

The problem I have is with the galaxy z flip 3, it worked just fine inthe morning but after it ran outta juice and I charged it to a certain percentage, it stopped working properly, and got into an infinite boot loop, I tried forcing it to restart by long pressing volume down+power , but it didn't work, then I tried opening the recovery by long pressing on volume up+power and yet it also didn't work (I think that maybe it's because it was trying to boot at the time), so have you guys any solutions , please do help me cuz this phone really is important and with all honestly, isn't even mine XD, I'll be waiting for an answer
Your failsafe options are contact Samsung or do a factory reset (and then potentially contact Samsung).
If you can't boot it to anything, the only real option you have is to flash firmware, which likely won't help without wiping.
Unfortunately, not booting doesn't have a whole lot of options that don't wipe data without being rooted. Even then, you'd need recovery.
I see, then I may consider giving it to samsung, as long as they won't reset it, cuz the only reason why the phone is so important is because of the data, altough, isn't there any other way to acess recovery? Cuz I had this problem with the s10 before and I fixed it somehow (a certain Bixby key combination), but this time it seems there isn't any hidden combination.
Samsung is going to reset it. It's a required first step for them to do any work on it, even if the work has nothing to do with the software. What may help find a way to recover the data is starting with how it got to this point. Did you install anything new, change any important settings, or anything else that could have been a part of the issue? If not and it is an unexplained hardware failure, the data is likely gone already.
If it's something you might have installed or changed, it's possible that putting the phone in safe mode and undoing it may solve the issue and let you boot normally.
Booting into Safe Mode:
Make sure the device is powered off (charging is ok, as long as it is not currently trying to boot)
Hold the side key to power on and continue holding until "SAMSUNG" appears and the device vibrates
Immediately release the side key and begin holding volume down until boot completes
If the device has booted into safe mode, you will see a translucent "Safe Mode" in the bottom left
twistedumbrella said:
Samsung is going to reset it. It's a required first step for them to do any work on it, even if the work has nothing to do with the software. What may help find a way to recover the data is starting with how it got to this point. Did you install anything new, change any important settings, or anything else that could have been a part of the issue? If not and it is an unexplained hardware failure, the data is likely gone already.
If it's something you might have installed or changed, it's possible that putting the phone in safe mode and undoing it may solve the issue and let you boot normally.
Booting into Safe Mode:
Make sure the device is powered off (charging is ok, as long as it is not currently trying to boot)
Hold the side key to power on and continue holding until "SAMSUNG" appears and the device vibrates
Immediately release the side key and begin holding volume down until boot completes
If the device has booted into safe mode, you will see a translucent "Safe Mode" in the bottom left
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I just asked the original owner (my mother), and apparently she doesn't remember downloading anything new into it, and it just went crazy by itself, also something else I wanna note, I tried charging it and it booted into recovery all by itself, I taught it was weird but Still went and wiped the cache and then when I tried restarting it it suddenly ran out of juice once again, also, it's second display shows some weird curruption/bug or glitch-like lines. So based off of this, can you really find the origin of this problem and if there is really any hope of saving it's data XD. Thank you btw, and once again, I'll be waiting for an answer
There are hundreds of reasons it could do that, including a faulty board. Thanks to the removal of physical sdcard support, you'd need to get it to boot into something with at least adb support to pull anything off it. Stock recovery doesn't provide any ways to perform a decent backup, but it sounds like the only option that wouldn't wipe the device didn't work.
I see, alright, thanks a lot, I'll consider resetting it
It may be worth trying to flash firmware first. Go into it knowing it may reset the device or leave you needing to reset it, but it doesn't hurt to try if you run out of safer options.
Same here, same symptoms, happened in front of my wife's and eyes face. We are fairly techy and understand our way around our devices. We also noticed the device crashed then would make it all the way to the home screen launcher and before catching signal the crash would cause a restart at that point I went in and did a cash swipe rebooted right back into recovery by itself then I unplugged the cable and it was acting as if it has a dead battery but when the cable was last plugged in during a couple of crash and then restarts all the way to the home screen I know the battery was at 70 something percent. My next step is going to probably be flashed the current firmware that just released on top of it as a dirty flash and see if I can get it to boot. If not then I'm going to do a hard reset and see if that works. When plugged in it automatically starts exhibiting symptoms as if the buttons are stuck. The devices in the OtterBox and it's fairly brand new I would say mint. Not dirty or any smudges either. all I'm saying is I'm one of those type of technicians that say yeah right when people say it just happened I don't know where but this actually happened I don't know when I was able to witness it. I'll come back and let you guys know what works and what doesn't. (By the way excuse my grammar I was voice typing while driving )
ariveraiv said:
Same here, same symptoms, happened in front of my wife's and eyes face. We are fairly techy and understand our way around our devices. We also noticed the device crashed then would make it all the way to the home screen launcher and before catching signal the crash would cause a restart at that point I went in and did a cash swipe rebooted right back into recovery by itself then I unplugged the cable and it was acting as if it has a dead battery but when the cable was last plugged in during a couple of crash and then restarts all the way to the home screen I know the battery was at 70 something percent. My next step is going to probably be flashed the current firmware that just released on top of it as a dirty flash and see if I can get it to boot. If not then I'm going to do a hard reset and see if that works. When plugged in it automatically starts exhibiting symptoms as if the buttons are stuck. The devices in the OtterBox and it's fairly brand new I would say mint. Not dirty or any smudges either. all I'm saying is I'm one of those type of technicians that say yeah right when people say it just happened I don't know where but this actually happened I don't know when I was able to witness it. I'll come back and let you guys know what works and what doesn't. (By the way excuse my grammar I was voice typing while driving )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello everyone just a quick update. Once I got home I plugged the device into a Samsung fast charger and Samsung OEM USB type-c cable and realize the device booted all the way to the home screen but register the same battery level as I mentioned above. Device was working as if nothing happened to it. So I updated all the apps on the Galaxy store then updated all the apps left over from the Google Play store, I then proceeded to check for a firmware update because I know the April update just released and installed the update with no issues. Updated the apps that needed to be updated again somehow there's always something and unplug the device from the power cable. Everything was working if no issues about half hour later the device cuts off and does not want to power on. FYI I already had my wife contact T-Mobile and get a warranty replacement we only paid $5.00 so my thoughts and conclusion on what's going on something happened to the battery or it's defective. Btw we only use Samsung OEM cables and equipment at home and in the car while connected through Android auto. it's only working while being plugged in it's not charging all the way even though it's registering it's charge level while the device is on.

Samsung J7 Prime (2017) SM-G610Y Boot Looping Problem

Good day, this would be a pretty lengthy post. I'd like to describe my experience clearly since I don't know what I possibly skipped over as I am very positive that my efforts have been correct basing on prior XDA forums. I even made this account solely for posting this to ask for help formally along with archiving this problem I'm having for those having a similar experience.
I've been working on my mom's phone this whole day and there are fruits of my current hard work. I am immensely stressed and despairing with my situation.
The Problems
Infinite boot looping
Can't access the recovery menu (power, volume+, even with home button)
Can access the ODIN / Download menu
Can't turn off either (holding down power button has no effect)
What I've done so far
I read XDA forums about similar experiences. Can't really access the recovery menu so I've factory reset.
We live in the Philippines and this phone is open line, so I went with those requirements while searching stock ROMs.
I downloaded the stock ROMs of the phone model via galaxyfirmware.com which was positively shared in the forums.
Did trial and error with it and eventually got the right one. I have formed a level of understanding with the filenames and eventually knew which is compatible.
Used Odin3 to Flash the BL, AP, CP, CSC, and even go Nand Erase and got the PIT file inside the CSC (Opened it using winrar)
The flashing is actually successful and quite fast to be honest.
The phone reboots itself and shows that it is still sadly boot looping.
Also, despite the several files used for the Flash, still can't access the Recovery Menu.
With that said, I have also tried using Frija which automatically downloaded the stock ROMs based on the model name and CSC type. Placed it in ODIN again and no changes, still boot looping.
I also can't put the TWRP I got here because of the FRP Lock, which can be undone via the settings of the phone. But since it's boot looping, I can't really do much about installing a custom ROM.
Currently, my dad is letting the phone drain its battery, since we can't really turn it off. The phone model doesn't have easily detachable battery as well, unlike the old days.
For some additional notes of what happened prior to this incident
My mom was just playing with her phone as her usual days went on. That day, she installed a new hotel-themed game she saw on Google Play. As I assume that it's from the app itself and not on some shady apk website, I saw no problem with it and didn't think it was the cause of all this. I went with the theory anyway and with the flashing, using CSC instead of HOME_CSC (which apparently saves the existing data on the phone from wiping), and even used the Nand Erase in the end. It's still stuck at boot looping.
I would appreciate anyone's reply to this discussion. I am truly desperate to fix this for my mom. If worse comes to it, I'll save money to buy her a brand-new phone.
You don't have a working android, so you won't remove the RFP. TWRP will not help you with this.
The symptoms you describe indicate a defective power button.
You manage to enter download mode because the power button is constantly on.
Because of the constantly on power button, you have no way to turn off the phone. Bootloop can also be the result of a constantly on power button.
To sum up, you should fix the power button.
1. The easiest way is to blow with compressed air and press the edge of the button with your fingernail, rapidly releasing the pressure. Perhaps the fuzz has blocked the button. Unfortunately, this rarely works.
2. Take the phone to a local service center.
Hi ze7zez! Me and my dad greatly appreciates your insight and we were definitely enlightened on this angle.
We didn't really think that the power button was stucked pressed on because you can clicking sounds when you press on it. The phone never had problems with the buttons along the 6 years it accompanied us, perhaps its age does start to show.
We're going to look into it tomorrow. Thank you very much! You gave us the idea that it may be shorted inside or some sort. Thank you again!
A bit of update.
I pried open only the back case of the phone so I can see and clean up the power button. I used tools specifically for it and made no damage on the phone during the process.
We couldn't really see anything busted from there. The buttons on the circuit still do the neat clicking sounds on it. Battery still looks the same.
Testing out the theory that the power button was stuck on:
We tried to only press and hold the volume down and power button. It didn't go to the download menu. We needed to press down all three together to access it. It is confusing since we believe it would be a power button issue too, as the phone instantly turns on by itself when plugged to a power source (it's completely drained by now and we still can't turn it off manually)
Perhaps it's an internal circuit problem with the power button? It's confusing with the fact we still have to press on it to access the ODIN menu if it was like "on" the entire time it's looping.
Thank you in advance for further insights.
Try restarting by pressing home, power and volume up all at once.
Hi Pranav2406,
I have tried that as well in order to access the Recovery menu to factory reset, but no luck.
We have given up on repairing the phone and went out yesterday to buy a new one in a rush.
We will still send this broken phone to a repairman.
If he fixes it, I'd ask what he did on it so I can post an update on this problem as well.
It's better to let the expert troubleshoot it.
I do suspect the problem in the phone's hardware. I'm pretty confident with all the stock ROM flashing I've done so it's not a software problem.
Thank again for everyone's insights.
Perhaps this case is too much for an amateur to fix.

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