Database Info

Some Captivates Unable to Use Three Button Recovery

It appears that some newer Captivates being sold suffer from not being able to reboot into download or recovery mode using the three button (VOL UP + VOL DOWN and PWR) combination. These phones will not respond to these key combinations. If you have one of these phones, you have a significantly higher risk of bricking your phone irreversibly since you cannot three button reboot into download mode from a failed flash.
The first two Captivates I used did not have this problem. The two Captivates I got this week both DO have this problem. Others who have purchased their Captivate recently (in the past week) have discovered this problem as well. This indicates it may be more common in newer Captivates.
A number of Galaxy S I9000 have experienced this problem and they have put pressure on Samsung Canada via Facebook to fix the problem. For those affected, I suggest we do the same for our Captivates:
http://www.facebook.com/SamsungMobile?v=wall
Examples of Captivates that can't use three button recovery:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=8066648
and from I9000 users:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=765703

Asked and answered my own question. Relevant information condensed into the post above.

Pretty sure you can still do it... try this
shut down your phone, plug in the usb cable and wait for the battery to come up, then do the key combo.

I call user error. How and why stop key combos? I wouldnt think it would happen.

smokestack76 said:
I call user error. How and why stop key combos? I wouldnt think it would happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've went through 2 cap's also, both cannot do it. I have to use ADB to kick into recovery. Also, in the SRE thread another user had the same issue. All bought within the last week..

Thanks for the heads up. I was planning on swapping mine out because it isn't consistently detecting my SIM card; looks like I should wait for a bit and see if this is a temporary issue.

I swapped mine so its the so called newer one. And i can still use the buttons just fine. Even tried with another one today and still worked fine. So i dunno.

To clearify some issues. Power off. Hold power and BOTH volume buttons down. Thats the key here. Once the att screen comes on wait. Dont do anything. The screen turns off. THEN the screen comes back on. Thats right twice. THEN release the power button. ONLY the power button and continue holding the volume up AND down. You will see recovery menu.

thats exactly how we are doing it. its the download that is having issues though, not recovery. thats holding both vols, pluggin in USB. it should go to Download mode, but it doesnt.

Ok just tested. Same thing with usb plugged in takes you to download.

Make sure odin is up and running. And usb is plugged in when u power off. Not sure if its needed but thats how i tested it.

Worked fine here plugging in a usb after powed off.

If this does not work for you please post a system dump. Or pm me for more help. Kinda wonder why so many users have these issues :-(

I was having these problems as well.. When I first got that phone I tried to boot it into recovery mode, and it wouldn't work.. THe only way I was able to get it into recovery mode was through quick boot.
So while I was flashing the SRE v 1.2.2a somehow it got stuck in a loop of installing the files over and over..
I tried putting the phone into download mode via every button combination people suggested.. I literally am not exaggerating that I spent 4 hours trying over and over..
Today i sent it back rma.

Take your phone back if 3 button recovery mode does not work
malfuncion said:
I've went through 2 cap's also, both cannot do it. I have to use ADB to kick into recovery. Also, in the SRE thread another user had the same issue. All bought within the last week..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is my suggestion. Take your phone back if it does not do the 3 button recovery mode. Otherwise you will sooner or later brick it and not be able to recover:cool. Take it from someone who has bricked one that could not do the 3 button recovery mode. I lucked out and got a new phone that does do the 3 button rec now LOL. Test the phone in the store to ensure it can go into recovery mode.

smokestack76 said:
To clearify some issues. Power off. Hold power and BOTH volume buttons down. Thats the key here. Once the att screen comes on wait. Dont do anything. The screen turns off. THEN the screen comes back on. Thats right twice. THEN release the power button. ONLY the power button and continue holding the volume up AND down. You will see recovery menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did this for about 2 hours on both devices. No joy. If you follow the links I posted in the first post, you'll see that a number of I9000 devices have this problem and now a couple of ours do as well. It has to do with the way they are flashed from the factory.
I can certify (unless I have gone completely mental) than I am doing it the right way. I had two Captivates before this that I could put into download and recovery easily using the vol up + vol down + pwr combo. The last two, no way. Also cannot do the vol up + vol down then plug in USB with ODIN running and ready to get out of brick mode (i.e. computer -!- phone). Which means once bricked, always bricked.
I've attached build info for the device. JF6, built 8.11.2010, hardware is REV0.4.

ok so I am basically screwed then. I just called AT&T and they wont warranty the device. Do I have to call samsung? I got that number: 18889874357.
AT&T didnt even know what a recovery mode was, they wanted to walk me through the factory reset on the phone itself.
Has this issue been confirmed with Samsung?

Called Samsung this morning- actually just got off the line. I spoke to about 3 people, then finally got to level 3 support. They stepped me through the same steps I have read everywhere- the 3 button reset. He actually had me try it a few different ways too. After a second, he put me on hold to see if there is some other way to put the phone into recovery or download mode, but after 5 minutes he came back and had no good news. He had a couple things he googled but they didnt work- of course. He basically resolved the call with "I don't know what to do..." So I then asked if this is an RMA'able problem and he said he didnt think so since the phone functions fine but put me on hold again for another 5 minutes. Finally he came back and said he can setup an RMA to do a factory reflash. It is a 2day air to send it to them, then a flashing, and a 2day back. Should take about a week or so. He suggested I maybe go to AT&T and possibly get it replaced that way first so I will head over to corporate this evening. If that doesnt work then I'm sending it off to Samsung...

I had much difficulty getting into recovery. But it turned out to be a matter of timing. Using the usb cable plugged in seems to change the criteria and made it easier to get into recovery.
What I do now. Phone is off. Wait at least 10 sec after shutdown to ensure it is fully off. In low light you may see a small amount of light coming from the screen then it goes black.
Press both volumes then the power button and hold till the att screen pops up. After att screen is on (the initial screen not the animation) for one or two second. Release power then volume quickly. If that doesn't work try it as design gears describes with the usb cable.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

Dani897 said:
What I do now. Phone is off. Wait at least 10 sec after shutdown to ensure it is fully off. In low light you may see a small amount of light coming from the screen then it goes black.
Press both volumes then the power button and hold till the att screen pops up. After att screen is on (the initial screen not the animation) for one or two second. Release power then volume quickly. If that doesn't work try it as design gears describes with the usb cable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried umpteenth different timings. Now that I have one of my original Captivates back, the difference is clear. I can get it into recovery/download 100% of the time. On both the new ones, 0% -- as in never. It's gonna be a fun conversation at the AT&T store trying to tell them that:
1. The phone is broken because I can't get it to switch into a mode mainly reserved for engineers.
2. I will test the replacement they give me for the same problem and return it if doesn't work.
3. Repeat step 2 until I find one that works.

[Q] Bricked Nexus S. Faulty power button?

Hi guys.
I noticed a few weeks ago my power button started to work when it felt like it. Sometimes it would be fine, other times it would take about 30 presses before it registered I was attempting to use it..
Now it has completely failed.
The phone is currently off, whenever I try to press the power button it never turns on. But as soon as I attach a charger to it (AC and USB), without even pressing the power button, the phone vibrates and the google screen flashes up, but never gets past that screen.
If I hold the volume up button as I attach a charger it attempts to enter recovery/bootloader mode(?), but freezes as soon as it comes on. No buttons work and it requires a battery pull to turn it off.
The phone is also not recognised by my computer, or by odin, or anything.
Not really sure what to do. Would try and flash things back to stock, but can't find a way to do that. Not really sure it would help either?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance
Oh and I looked through current threads and searched on google but I couldn't find anyone with a similar problem :/

It seems, your power button is constantly pressed. Maybe you dropped it? You should try to carefully move the button in every direction instead of pressing it, hopefully it clicks back to its right place. Other option is taking it back to the shop, and get it repaired. It's a hadware problem, so you won't be able to use neither recovery nor the ROM. The bright side is, that probably it's an easily repairable problem, and won't take too long

mkoch820 said:
It seems, your power button is constantly pressed. Maybe you dropped it? You should try to carefully move the button in every direction instead of pressing it, hopefully it clicks back to its right place. Other option is taking it back to the shop, and get it repaired. It's a hadware problem, so you won't be able to use neither recovery nor the ROM. The bright side is, that probably it's an easily repairable problem, and won't take too long
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it was a hardware thing, they guy at the shop told me it wasn't..
And yeah that's fair enough..
But yeah I will get it repaired, thank you very much

i kind of had the same problem....
are u runing ICS 4.0.3 update by google????
if yes then that is the problem,
even my power buton stoped working and then wheni went into recovery mode it freezed..
it was my luck taht suddenly the power button started working on its own and i formated the phone with clockworkmod and reinstalled 2.3.6..... and been working fine now...

karan_chopra said:
i kind of had the same problem....
are u runing ICS 4.0.3 update by google????
if yes then that is the problem,
even my power buton stoped working and then wheni went into recovery mode it freezed..
it was my luck taht suddenly the power button started working on its own and i formated the phone with clockworkmod and reinstalled 2.3.6..... and been working fine now...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on an ICS ROM, can't remember which one, but the button started playing up when I was on a GB ROM..
Here's hoping the button just suddenly starts working though.. :L
Cheers for the reply

Just in case anyone else has this problem. My situation looked horrible.. but I brought a USB Jig from eBay and after months of problems. I got into recovery mode and flashed back to stock. Everything is perfect now
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA

Though I am officially out of the Nexus S great community (mine was sold) but a great lesson I learned here is to BABY the power button...I also disabled the screen lock so I can get screen to wake with vol rocker.... take care of the power button folks on Nexus S lol

AnthonyG92 said:
Just in case anyone else has this problem. My situation looked horrible.. but I brought a USB Jig from eBay and after months of problems. I got into recovery mode and flashed back to stock. Everything is perfect now
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats fix your power button?seriously?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

Well no lol. It started working on its own after I reflashed. It works on and off.. but I only flash roms now that have volume rocker wake and 'sleep' in the notification bar.. i.e CM based etc. Just in case the power button decides to fail completely
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA

AnthonyG92 said:
Well no lol. It started working on its own after I reflashed. It works on and off.. but I only flash roms now that have volume rocker wake and 'sleep' in the notification bar.. i.e CM based etc. Just in case the power button decides to fail completely
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha...okay...my power button already dead..
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

AnthonyG92 said:
Well no lol. It started working on its own after I reflashed. It works on and off.. but I only flash roms now that have volume rocker wake and 'sleep' in the notification bar.. i.e CM based etc. Just in case the power button decides to fail completely
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock ICS has a feature to wake the screen using the vol rocker.
And you can search the market for "Lock screen widget" to shut the screen.
In this case you minimize the need for the power button..That what I was doing..

[Q] Phone won't boot into recovery or otherwise

Hi there,
Sorry but I think I finally found the right forum for this and I wanted to take one more stab before kissing this phone goodbye.
I have a Rogers Galaxy SGH-i727R. About three weeks ago, the phone started re-starting on it's own. I though maybe it was a sticky power key and had that replaced. The problem persisted. I then noticed that it was primarily upon receiving text messages that the phone would reboot. So it seemed it was a software issue. I am running the stable build of CM9.
Yesterday the phone rebooted and never got off the angry alien screen. I pulled the battery, charged it etc and still could not get it to fully boot up. I left it for over an hour. I finally decided to call it quits and re-flash the phone. Problem is, it will not boot into recovery at all. When I hold down Vol + - and Power, it jsut goes into a loop of vibrating every three seconds until I let go and then it tries a normal boot again. Once, I briefly got a screen saying I was trying to install custom software and to press volume up to do so, but before I could hit volume up, the phone cycled off.
I should also mention that the four buttons on the bottom of the screen do not work. I accidentally sliced the wires on the side of the phone when opening it up. I use a software button saver widget to access their functions. I wonder if that issue is related....
Thanks for any advice. I would like to get into recovery so I can load a new ROM or a stock ROM.

If you haven't ventured there yet in this forum I'd recommend Vincom's roundup on just about everything http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1652398. I don't know if it will help much in your situation but it's worth a look. Also, you may want to research usb jigs, not sure if they will work with our devices though ... research is the key word.

tonyrage.stc said:
Hi there,
Sorry but I think I finally found the right forum for this and I wanted to take one more stab before kissing this phone goodbye.
I have a Rogers Galaxy SGH-i727R. About three weeks ago, the phone started re-starting on it's own. I though maybe it was a sticky power key and had that replaced. The problem persisted. I then noticed that it was primarily upon receiving text messages that the phone would reboot. So it seemed it was a software issue. I am running the stable build of CM9.
Yesterday the phone rebooted and never got off the angry alien screen. I pulled the battery, charged it etc and still could not get it to fully boot up. I left it for over an hour. I finally decided to call it quits and re-flash the phone. Problem is, it will not boot into recovery at all. When I hold down Vol + - and Power, it jsut goes into a loop of vibrating every three seconds until I let go and then it tries a normal boot again. Once, I briefly got a screen saying I was trying to install custom software and to press volume up to do so, but before I could hit volume up, the phone cycled off.
I should also mention that the four buttons on the bottom of the screen do not work. I accidentally sliced the wires on the side of the phone when opening it up. I use a software button saver widget to access their functions. I wonder if that issue is related....
Thanks for any advice. I would like to get into recovery so I can load a new ROM or a stock ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All I can tell you is that your problem sounds exactly like a stuck power button. I know you replaced it but all the symptoms you point out suggest stuck power button. Maybe try cleaning it again?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

rushi.1986 said:
All I can tell you is that your problem sounds exactly like a stuck power button. I know you replaced it but all the symptoms you point out suggest stuck power button. Maybe try cleaning it again?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes but i wouldn't rule out
I should also mention that the four buttons on the bottom of the screen do not work. I accidentally sliced the wires on the side of the phone when opening it up. I use a software button saver widget to access their functions. I wonder if that issue is related....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

rushi.1986 said:
All I can tell you is that your problem sounds exactly like a stuck power button. I know you replaced it but all the symptoms you point out suggest stuck power button. Maybe try cleaning it again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But if it were a stuck power button it would not stay on the loading screen indefinitely, no? If I hold down the power button while booting, it will turn the phone off.

Hold vol +- and pwr until it vibrates let go of pwr continue to hold vol +-. You were letting go of all of them at once going by your described method.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

mtdew said:
Hold vol +- and pwr until it vibrates let go of pwr continue to hold vol +-. You were letting go of all of them at once going by your described method.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
****. I am a total moron. The phone still reboots after receiving a text but I was able to boot into recovery. Thanks.

[Q] Screen flickers, power button doesn't work right - help.

I'm ready to throw my phone out the second story window.
When I press the power button to turn off the phone's screen, it goes dim then comes back on again. I can't get the screen to go completely dim until the 15sec of inactivity are up. I was so fed up I was ready to return my phone to stock but it kept turning off when I started the phone in download mode. I have a hard time restarting the phone and it's not rebooting into recovery mode unless I manually hold down all three buttons.
I've tried flashing different ROMs, different GAPPS, wiping, and formatting. I've even formatted the SD card twice.
I'm in a real clusterfrick. Any help is welcome! Thank you!!!

Keekers said:
I'm ready to throw my phone out the second story window.
When I press the power button to turn off the phone's screen, it goes dim then comes back on again. I can't get the screen to go completely dim until the 15sec of inactivity are up. I was so fed up I was ready to return my phone to stock but it kept turning off when I started the phone in download mode. I have a hard time restarting the phone and it's not rebooting into recovery mode unless I manually hold down all three buttons.
I've tried flashing different ROMs, different GAPPS, wiping, and formatting. I've even formatted the SD card twice.
I'm in a real clusterfrick. Any help is welcome! Thank you!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like you have done everything possible to remedy the situation and if going back to original factory stock doesn't help, maybe the phone is the issue, not the software. Did you just go back to stock 4.3 or did you try to go back to 4.1.2?

I have the same thing man. Your power button is loose. You need to (and I'm not joking) slam your phone down on the power button. Like find a corner on a table and slam the power button down on it a few times. Worked for me.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

ProtheusIRC said:
I have the same thing man. Your power button is loose. You need to (and I'm not joking) slam your phone down on the power button. Like find a corner on a table and slam the power button down on it a few times. Worked for me.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1...sound crazy but proven fact!!!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49442455
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Thank you for your help. I'm about to slam the phone down on the power button. I don't think it can get any worse!
I didn't respond sooner because I've been using my work phone and forgot to subscribe to my own thread. I'm a mess.

It works. No lie. Just find a sharp corner and (like don't beat the phone lol) just, I'd call it a forceful tap, it down. May take a few tries but you'll get it. Good luck.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

ProtheusIRC said:
It works. No lie. Just find a sharp corner and (like don't beat the phone lol) just, I'd call it a forceful tap, it down. May take a few tries but you'll get it. Good luck.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AMAZING!!! Thank you!!!!

[Q] Can't boot into recovery or download mode (but phone works)

Phone can boot normally, however it won’t boot into recovery or download mode.
My phone was working fine I was running a CM milestone rom I went to update the rom and all of the sudden I cannot boot into recovery.
When I try to boot into recovery using the appropriate button combination I get the recovery splash screen then the phone powers down.
If I try to boot into download mode I get to the screen that asks if I want to continue, I hit yes then the phone powers down.
Initially I assumed that maybe I had somehow corrupted the recovery so I tried to reinstall the recovery using GooManager, then TWRP Manager and finally manually using Terminal emulator. None of that worked.
Since I can’t boot into download mode I’m not sure what I should try next.
Any ideas?

I'm thinking something may be up with your power button. Does it act sensitive while using the phone? Tapping it lightly cause the power menu to popup? Things like that? What happens if you use Terminal Emulator and type either:
su
reboot recovery
or for download mode:
su
reboot download
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

SlimSnoopOS said:
I'm thinking something may be up with your power button. Does it act sensitive while using the phone? Tapping it lightly cause the power menu to popup? Things like that? What happens if you use Terminal Emulator and type either:
su
reboot recovery
or for download mode:
su
reboot download
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The power button has become extremely sensitive.
When I try to use Terminal emulator as you instructed the phone boots into recovery for about a second then it shuts off.

If the s4 has this same power button issue by the time I go to buy the s5 I might look into a different phone. We shouldn't have to worry about the power button failing at any point in the phones life. I miss my power button so much it makes me wish I bought extra insurance.

What about using an app that offers power button options (power off, reboot, boot into recovery, etc) ?
Sent from my SM-T210 using Tapatalk

Chris Kurisu said:
What about using an app that offers power button options (power off, reboot, boot into recovery, etc) ?
Sent from my SM-T210 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It isn't the same, power button is needed for many things that you don't think about. I'd hate my phone without a functioning power button, I use it more than my volume and home button combined. You could always map the button function to the home button, but then you lose your home button function.
Might be worth it to get it fixed. I'd get mine fixed because this phone is running amazingly for me and development is continuing to be poured into it. I think it's worth it if you're planning to keep it for a while.
A lot of my friends iphones are also having major issues with their power buttons not working. It's just wear and tear, it's going to eventually happen to a lot of people.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

SlimSnoopOS said:
I'm thinking something may be up with your power button. Does it act sensitive while using the phone? Tapping it lightly cause the power menu to popup? Things like that? What happens if you use Terminal Emulator and type either:
su
reboot recovery
or for download mode:
su
reboot download
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the insight SlimSnoopOS
I am now fairly certain that my power button has been causing all my issues. It would have never occurred to me that this was a hardware issue. If i had a way to return my phone to stock I would send it in for a warranty repair.
I am very disappointed with Samsung. This is my 3rd GS3(previous 2 returned under warranty). I''ve had 3 different android phones and this one is by far the most expensive and yet it is also the most shoddy.
I am seriously considering looking for a new manufacturer for my next phone. Iphone 6 maybe?

sololhj said:
Thanks for the insight SlimSnoopOS
I am now fairly certain that my power button has been causing all my issues. It would have never occurred to me that this was a hardware issue. If i had a way to return my phone to stock I would send it in for a warranty repair.
I am very disappointed with Samsung. This is my 3rd GS3(previous 2 returned under warranty). I''ve had 3 different android phones and this one is by far the most expensive and yet it is also the most shoddy.
I am seriously considering looking for a new manufacturer for my next phone. Iphone 6 maybe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would definitely get the power button replaced by a third party company such as MobileTechVideos. You could also try doing this. It's only a suggestion but it did work for me when my power button started acting funny one weekend. Been fine two months later.
Uhh, I suggest a new OEM but its way too early to tell what will be the phone to get. MWC is coming up but I'm a summer buyer so I'd be waiting much later from now.

Recovery issues
I cannot get into recovery either but I can get into downloads which does absolutely nothing. While my phone is connected to my computer, it is being read by the computer. In order for me to get out of downloads I must hold down the power button and the volume down key. In attempting to get into recovery, I have tried holding down the volume up, home button, and power button. The 1st time I did this, when my phone vibrated I released the power button while holding down volume up and home button which successfully took me to recovery. Since then everything goes to download. No matter what configuration that I hold the 3 buttons the phone goes straight to download. I installed quick boot but even that takes me straight to download after pressing recovery.
My S4 is running 4.4.4. I am on Verizon.

I couldn't get mine in recovery, but I ran Kies, and it did it for me. Worth a try.

I seem to remember that my SIII was finicky. You mentioned releasing the power button while keeping the home and volume up pressed. I recall having to do the exact same thing. From a powered off state, press all the buttons you mentioned, but release the power button after a second or two. Once I got the hang of it I was able to do it easily.
And like cozzbp is saying, there are apps that offer boot options without using any hardware keys.
Good luck.