So one day, my Nexus S randomly decided not to have a data connection with my carrier (Wind Mobile) anymore.
Wifi works, mobile data does not.
Steps I did to try and fix this:
1) make sure APN address is correct, which it is.
2) turn airplane mode on and off
3) toggle carrier connection on and off
4) factory wipe phone and reinstall ROM (slimkat)
5) factory wipe phone and install a different ROM (AOSP)
6) flash new radio (KB3 and KB1)
Other things I tried:
1) tried my SIM card with another phone (Blackberry Curve), data connection seems to work fine on that phone.
2) Called Wind Mobile and asked them to reset their towers to my phone... all they did was remove the Blackberry security thingy
that I had with them when I was still using a Blackberry. Rebooted my Nexus S, tried again... still no data.
So... I'm at my wit's end, and I have no clue how to fix this. Any ideas? I've found a couple similar threads for this problem... non of which had a solution to mine.
I remembered I made a backup nandroid a little while ago... and I restored it.
Voila, everything works again. But as soon as I tried reflashing to my preferred ROM (Slimkat), the problems started up again.
I also forgot to add that before I started encountering problems, my phone froze and I had reset by doing a battery pull because it wouldn't respond to any key presses. I'm guessing it corrupted something, though I'm not sure what. I've diagnosed that this is not a hardware issue, and that it's purely software... I'm not sure why the problem comes back when I reflash to another ROM. I'll keep you guys posted.
One other thing worth noting is that when I have Slimkat installed, it doesn't seem to read off my SIM card properly.
The APN doesn't get named "Wind DATA" like it usually does when I install a different ROM on there; it just gets named "Internet".
Related
hi all.
As I mentioned in my other post I have been having some serious wifi problems. Basically if I leave the wifi off the phone seems to work fine. When I turn it on however, the phone becomes laggy and it does not work. After turning the wifi on from the settings page, it says it is scanning for networks. After 20-30 seconds a little bubble pops up and says "unable to scan for networks" it will continue to try and scan on and off but never is successful. The phone is better to start up with the wifi off because if on, the phone becomes almost unresponsive and I am assuming it is because it is trying to scan in the background.
I just rebooted into the recovery menu and wiped the cache and device, but no luck. Any other ideas as to why this is happening?
Little update:
I found a few other threads where people complained about the same problem. Their recommended fix involved removing the file "/data/wifi/bcm_supp.conf"
The full thread is here: http://androidforums.com/samsung-moment/46179-unable-scan-networks.html
I tried that and also did a factory reset but unfortunately have not been able to fix the problem. Does anyone else have any other ideas?
hi Scales11
I'm also having the same problem..
did the
1. factory reset
2. new ROMs - Darky 7.01, Cognition 2.3...
3. delete the /data/wifi/bcm_supp.conf file
and still no luck... and realised bluetooth isn't working either..
anyone?? please help?
If you have flashed other ROMs and still the same issue. I would say its a hardware issue.
my fix
Geekboy9:
I meddled it for hours and while others have found various odd reset/rom fixes, I concluded that it was a hardware issue which cannot be fixed.
I flashed it back to a stock rom and went to att. They agreed that it didnt have any water damage and gave me a number to call about getting a replacement. Since the phone was less than a year old and its failure was not due to my use, the replaced it with a refurb. All in all the refurb seems fine, even after I rooted and flashed the cognition rom. I would recommend you do the same.
Hey folks, i tried searching here for my issue. I found many similar threads, but nothing that solves my issue.
Two days ago i started having issues sending picture messages, today i start losing network signal until it cut out alltogether.
I tried multiple sims from different carriers and got nothing. Ive tried the following:
Factory reset.
Rebooting and reinserting sim
Resetting apn settings, custom apn settings.
I have WiFi, and the symbol says "no service" nothing about emergency calls only.
The new information i have, which i didnt find on other threads here is this; i found a sim card app and tried it, its able to pull my sim card information off the card, (phone number etc.) yet i get no cell service. Any ideas?
Nexus 5
Stock lollipop
Hey @kimsgrim
Hmm so u already did a factory reset? And didn't restore anything before test?
Really stock or u changed anything (Rom or Kernel)?
But ur phone doesn't say "No Simcard found, please insert and reboot" or kind of that?
If no the simcard is fine and the phone also seeing it. The sims u tested where card which definitly work on other phones?
So two things possible in my opinion:
1) System problem: Anything is reset or not working, which should be done with a factory reset or maybe flashing another stock firmware over
2) Hardware defect of antenna. Would be sad, but no other point for be atm.
Much success
CHEERS
Sounds like the sim card reader is messed
I received an OTA Update in early to mid May. I am now forgetting which version I received at that time. ( I forget as I have done so many downgrades/upgrades/factory resets in my troubleshooting the last month!) Up until these issues, I've never rooted or flashed a ROM, or unlocked boot loader or anything. My N5 had always been completely stock.
First Issue
It all started with just the sim card. I get "no sim card" message, even though it was in there. This was my original SIM card and I had never ejected it since I bought it new. I found I could turn it off, pop it out and back in, and boot it again. Sometimes it will see the sim card again. It may take 20 times, but finally work.
I naturally got a new sim card, as well as confirmed said sim cards worked in other phones. My wifi and bluetooth were working fine at first. Working with google support, they recommended a factory reset to fix the sim card issue. Immediately after the factory reset, my bluetooth would no longer turn on nor show a MAC address. At this point, my wifi was fine.
Second Issue
In addition to the sim card slot issue, now my Bluetooth no longer works! Around this time, I received another OTA update, this time it was 5.1.1 LMY48B. I had hoped it would fix the issues, but no dice! I start reading up on the XDA forums as I am determined to start rolling back to see if this will fix anything. I unlocked the boot loaded, rooted, etc following the threads on XDA
Third Issue
I do all sorts of flashing to hammerhead-krt16m_4.4 to hammerhead-ktu84p_4.4.4 to hammerhead-lrx21o_5.0 to hammerhead-lmy48b_5.1.1 . On the final flash back to 5.1.1 my wifi now no longer works!!!!!!!!!!! It is stuck at wifi turning on and no MAC address shows. It also seems my cell data is very very slow now!
After many calls to google, I think I finally succeeded in getting a “ticket routed up”. My phone is from the play store around 10/31/2013. They keep pushing I am out of warranty. I attempt to ask for a refurb N5 without luck so far. I am not very confident anything will come from google. This being my only handset now, it is just not an option to send this to LG. My current state is my voice/txt and cell data are working. Data seems a little slow but usable. Wifi and bluetooth won't turn on. I also still have the sim car slot issue upon rebooting. After a bunch of reboots it will eventually see sim card.
What else can I try? Is there a better way to attempt to repair/reload my radio drivers? Perhaps there is corruption of sorts? I have not tried a custom ROM or radio or kernel…… I did take to a local tech. They looked at everything literally under a microscope and did not see any issues that way. I am in the USA and have a lgd820. Although we are quick to assume a hardware issue, I am wondering if there is some sort of incompatibility with the first run of N5 and lollipop….. who knows!
I’ve read all sorts of threads on the internet. It seems I am not the only one. We are very quick to assume it must be a bad motherboard, it just seems too coincidental to me!
Here is a collection of threads……
Within the N5 Sub
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2g0i3m/no_wifi_or_bluetooth/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/253y8d/my_nexus_wont_activate_wifi_and_bluetooth/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2pur0v/wifi_stuck_on_turning_on_mac_and_ip_addresses/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/361ecw/help_wifi_and_bluetooth_stopped_working/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2h4co7/wifi_wont_turn_on/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2hpj2w/can_no_longer_connect_to_wifi_stuck_at_wifi/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2wjk38/wifibluetooth_issues/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2zboet/no_wifi_no_bluetooth_and_reboots_whenever_i_press/
Other Links
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/wifi-stuck-t2721643
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/bluetooth-t2733672
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/IJSOuc7gw0w;context-place=forum/nexus
https://productforums.google.com/fo...otification#!category-topic/nexus/1H6ZiIMYrtw
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/ke-OEPLbRSQ
https://productforums.google.com/fo...xus/lollipop|sort:relevance/nexus/NbO-AGvRCLk
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=80028
I found this, but not really sure it’s the same thing….. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52441901&postcount=47
Prodeje79 said:
I found this, but not really sure it’s the same thing….. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52441901&postcount=47
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
This link was actually what i was going to suggest. It seems you've tried pretty much everything in the book except that.
I think its worth a try. Same as any other learning process, take your time and read the whole thing once or twice until you feel comfortable with the process. Then go for it.
Darn it, I should have downloaded those programs BEFORE rooting my phone again. Now I a struggloing to get my SIM card detected again to get data to DL them! whooops!
How would I go about attempting to read my files first to see if they are accessible and potentially write down my old MACs first?
EDIT: I found this but not sure how to get that working? I have Windows 7 and CMD prompt at this point. what program is that using?
https://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2j6vao/how_to_changefix_your_wifi_mac_address/
beekay201 said:
Hi,
This link was actually what i was going to suggest. It seems you've tried pretty much everything in the book except that.
I think its worth a try. Same as any other learning process, take your time and read the whole thing once or twice until you feel comfortable with the process. Then go for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I went through those steps. everything appeared to go through correctly. Still no wifi nor bluetooth
EDIT: I rebooted a second time. WHen it first boot up, wifi was on and connected to my works AP. I quickly went in and snagged a screen shot of MAC address. Oddly enough, it did not match what I had input via hex editor. Within a few moments the wifi stopped working. It is back to the turning wifi on issue..... bluetooth still not working as well.
Very interesting.....
EDIT2: I get access denied when attempting to read either files within their corresponding folders under persist.
I was able to copy my stock files into my sdcard download folder and read them there without issue. Thus seeing my default addresses for both!
Perhaps it is normal, but I am never able to edit the old or new files under persist. I basically renamed original folders to bluetoothold and wifiold. I could delete them perhaps.
Note that I put my phone into airplane mode before doing anything noted in the steps.
Any other ideas? Given that it is showing my original MAC address the one time it worked, this makes me think that it is not reading the files .macaddr at all
I have the same problem. Funny thing is, the phone is just over 2 years old and the motherboard was replaced just 9 months ago (so, brand new one).
In my case, I received and Android update 2 days before I found the phone burning hot and restarting on it's own. Then the same chain of events you describe started to unleash. Now I can't be sure if this is software related, hardware related or both.
Can't seem to find a solution to the issue either.
Prodeje79 said:
I received an OTA Update in early to mid May. I am now forgetting which version I received at that time. ( I forget as I have done so many downgrades/upgrades/factory resets in my troubleshooting the last month!) Up until these issues, I've never rooted or flashed a ROM, or unlocked boot loader or anything. My N5 had always been completely stock.
First Issue
It all started with just the sim card. I get "no sim card" message, even though it was in there. This was my original SIM card and I had never ejected it since I bought it new. I found I could turn it off, pop it out and back in, and boot it again. Sometimes it will see the sim card again. It may take 20 times, but finally work.
I naturally got a new sim card, as well as confirmed said sim cards worked in other phones. My wifi and bluetooth were working fine at first. Working with google support, they recommended a factory reset to fix the sim card issue. Immediately after the factory reset, my bluetooth would no longer turn on nor show a MAC address. At this point, my wifi was fine.
Second Issue
In addition to the sim card slot issue, now my Bluetooth no longer works! Around this time, I received another OTA update, this time it was 5.1.1 LMY48B. I had hoped it would fix the issues, but no dice! I start reading up on the XDA forums as I am determined to start rolling back to see if this will fix anything. I unlocked the boot loaded, rooted, etc following the threads on XDA
Third Issue
I do all sorts of flashing to hammerhead-krt16m_4.4 to hammerhead-ktu84p_4.4.4 to hammerhead-lrx21o_5.0 to hammerhead-lmy48b_5.1.1 . On the final flash back to 5.1.1 my wifi now no longer works!!!!!!!!!!! It is stuck at wifi turning on and no MAC address shows. It also seems my cell data is very very slow now!
After many calls to google, I think I finally succeeded in getting a “ticket routed up”. My phone is from the play store around 10/31/2013. They keep pushing I am out of warranty. I attempt to ask for a refurb N5 without luck so far. I am not very confident anything will come from google. This being my only handset now, it is just not an option to send this to LG. My current state is my voice/txt and cell data are working. Data seems a little slow but usable. Wifi and bluetooth won't turn on. I also still have the sim car slot issue upon rebooting. After a bunch of reboots it will eventually see sim card.
What else can I try? Is there a better way to attempt to repair/reload my radio drivers? Perhaps there is corruption of sorts? I have not tried a custom ROM or radio or kernel…… I did take to a local tech. They looked at everything literally under a microscope and did not see any issues that way. I am in the USA and have a lgd820. Although we are quick to assume a hardware issue, I am wondering if there is some sort of incompatibility with the first run of N5 and lollipop….. who knows!
I’ve read all sorts of threads on the internet. It seems I am not the only one. We are very quick to assume it must be a bad motherboard, it just seems too coincidental to me!
Here is a collection of threads……
Within the N5 Sub
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2g0i3m/no_wifi_or_bluetooth/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/253y8d/my_nexus_wont_activate_wifi_and_bluetooth/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2pur0v/wifi_stuck_on_turning_on_mac_and_ip_addresses/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/361ecw/help_wifi_and_bluetooth_stopped_working/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2h4co7/wifi_wont_turn_on/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2hpj2w/can_no_longer_connect_to_wifi_stuck_at_wifi/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2wjk38/wifibluetooth_issues/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus5/comments/2zboet/no_wifi_no_bluetooth_and_reboots_whenever_i_press/
Other Links
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/wifi-stuck-t2721643
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/bluetooth-t2733672
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/IJSOuc7gw0w;context-place=forum/nexus
https://productforums.google.com/fo...otification#!category-topic/nexus/1H6ZiIMYrtw
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/ke-OEPLbRSQ
https://productforums.google.com/fo...xus/lollipop|sort:relevance/nexus/NbO-AGvRCLk
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=80028
I found this, but not really sure it’s the same thing….. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52441901&postcount=47
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I'm facing the same issues and I tried all the possible steps I could find on internet trying to repair the problem.
Actually, since the latest updates I was encountering some issues with the WiFi only: not turning on either off and not showing properly the MAC addres. So I decided to factory reset, even SDcard and since yesterday I have tried all the possibile guide I found to internet to fix the MAC address not showing and the WiFi not turning on/off but nothing worked. I tried even to flash again the old factory images, such as KitKat, Lollipop, etc., to lock the bootloader again and to dismantle the phone in order to clean the motherboard, but nothing worked. Phone still gives me MAC address 02:00:00:00:00:00 alternatively with the correct one, I can't figure out on what it depends because sometime it seems to work: it shows the correct MAC, it connects to wifi network; suddenly it doesn't!
I'm really going crazy to understand what's wrong.
You'll have to dig up my final posts on this , but in a nutshell, send into LG for repair, select cheapest option they offer. Receive mint phone. My cost was $45 and about one month... I picked up a cheap $20 phone to get me by.
In other news.... I now have a 6p!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Renton91 said:
+1
I'm facing the same issues and I tried all the possible steps I could find on internet trying to repair the problem.
Actually, since the latest updates I was encountering some issues with the WiFi only: not turning on either off and not showing properly the MAC addres. So I decided to factory reset, even SDcard and since yesterday I have tried all the possibile guide I found to internet to fix the MAC address not showing and the WiFi not turning on/off but nothing worked. I tried even to flash again the old factory images, such as KitKat, Lollipop, etc., to lock the bootloader again and to dismantle the phone in order to clean the motherboard, but nothing worked. Phone still gives me MAC address 02:00:00:00:00:00 alternatively with the correct one, I can't figure out on what it depends because sometime it seems to work: it shows the correct MAC, it connects to wifi network; suddenly it doesn't!
I'm really going crazy to understand what's wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didnt root or unlock it myself.... im pretty sure i wiped all data before flashing the rom i have on there now, but i cant remember for sure....
seems to be the only way to truly fix my extremely messed up WIFI situation... (wifi kills my phone completely... regardless of whose internet as i tried my neighbours and got the same error). i did a restore to last year but it only fixed it for a day... if im gonna restore to a year ago again, i figure i may as well do a full fresh install, since its crapping out still anyway
i have something called superuser (i know is root access), and something called stk which ive read is sim toolkit, in "system/app" they are both apk's. "superuser.apk" and "stk.apk"
also, will my custom recovery be gone? as far as i remember that is how i flashed my ROM last time... but its been so long i cant remember...
Let me try helping since myself new on forums:-
There are two types of phone resets available- 1.Factory wipe from settings of phone/from custom recovery (cwm/twrp) or 2.Complete wipe performed such as in upgrading os version of android (like i did lollipop from jellybean). The complete wipe is done in custom recovery only under mounts and advance option in cwm and then wiping cache,system,data and everything else. If you do so,you will be losing everything installed in your phone EXCEPT Root and Custom recovery.
Back to your question, if you perform factory reset,NO,you don't lose root. If you do complete wipe from recovery,still you don't lose root of your phone UNLESS you fix the root on reboot.
Choose the reset carefully before installing any rom,read their steps,if they ask full wipe or just factory reset and dalvik cache.
Hope it helps.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Free mobile app
you cannot unroot yourself thru factory reset
Pawprints1986 said:
I didnt root or unlock it myself.... im pretty sure i wiped all data before flashing the rom i have on there now, but i cant remember for sure....
seems to be the only way to truly fix my extremely messed up WIFI situation... (wifi kills my phone completely... regardless of whose internet as i tried my neighbours and got the same error). i did a restore to last year but it only fixed it for a day... if im gonna restore to a year ago again, i figure i may as well do a full fresh install, since its crapping out still anyway
i have something called superuser (i know is root access), and something called stk which ive read is sim toolkit, in "system/app" they are both apk's. "superuser.apk" and "stk.apk"
also, will my custom recovery be gone? as far as i remember that is how i flashed my ROM last time... but its been so long i cant remember...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset WILL:
Remove all apps and their data
Contacts that are not on the SIM card
(In some rare cases) Pictures, music...
Factory reset WILL NOT:
Remove carrier unlock
Remove root (but may remove superuser app)
Remove the recovery
In case that superuser app is gone, just install that same superuser app from Google Play and update it if it asks to do so.
Ok, let me ask this, to ask if its even worth me doing....
last night i did the same restore to a year ago... except this time while i still had wifi i had downloaded both avast and AVG
I can with both now, and my phone says its clean...
but yet the problem is recurring now, and wifi, 4g, tethering..... basically any function that connects me to the world outside completely craps out my phone...
i thought the restore, and especially he restore and downloading antivirus would fix it, or at least be able to tell me WHAT the problem is... avast will scan the wifi network, but of course this test now freezes up just the same cuz it has to turn on wifi to do so.... while it was still working this test did execute just fine with no errors....
its as soon as internet is connected... for 3g or even my router, it will read it without the internet feed plugged in. but plug that in and it all goes to crap again. Id just hate to do a full fresh install just for it to all go to crap *again*....
ive scanned all computers on the router and those come back clean/no viruses... i tried i different router with internet, same error. i tried the neighbours connection.... same thing again.
this is really baffling.
so i feel more comfortable doing a factory reset....... but i guess im wondering is will it help me??? at all????
whatever this is is clearly not an infected device as some on another forum had thought.... something *else* is going wrong....
Pawprints1986 said:
Ok, let me ask this, to ask if its even worth me doing....
last night i did the same restore to a year ago... except this time while i still had wifi i had downloaded both avast and AVG
I can with both now, and my phone says its clean...
but yet the problem is recurring now, and wifi, 4g, tethering..... basically any function that connects me to the world outside completely craps out my phone...
i thought the restore, and especially he restore and downloading antivirus would fix it, or at least be able to tell me WHAT the problem is... avast will scan the wifi network, but of course this test now freezes up just the same cuz it has to turn on wifi to do so.... while it was still working this test did execute just fine with no errors....
its as soon as internet is connected... for 3g or even my router, it will read it without the internet feed plugged in. but plug that in and it all goes to crap again. Id just hate to do a full fresh install just for it to all go to crap *again*....
ive scanned all computers on the router and those come back clean/no viruses... i tried i different router with internet, same error. i tried the neighbours connection.... same thing again.
this is really baffling.
so i feel more comfortable doing a factory reset....... but i guess im wondering is will it help me??? at all????
whatever this is is clearly not an infected device as some on another forum had thought.... something *else* is going wrong....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset fixes all problems that were not made with root. You will not lose root either. For a total fix just wipe everything and reflash rom.
Right now im trying a different router, which doesnt have any windows XP machine plugged into it, and i made it extremely secure. even changed the default username and password to get onto the router itself (never bothered with the other one, the one i had been routinely using)... I did a complete reset of this router before even connecting to it with my phone, after it was secured. the other regular one still has everything else connected to it. this one is literally a separate connection, which i named "phone test" lol.
if it makes no difference, total fresh install is my last resort. if it *does* make a difference however... then something in my other regular router is messed up that cause my phones connections to freeze up - but that avast or AVG wouldnt detect (thats the only weird part)...
i even did a scan of my external SD card the other day, thats clean too.
time will tell, im approaching the 24 hour mark with this new setup. if by tomorrow its freezing up again, its not the router. but if its still working, ill have extreme suspicion that it was in fact, the router, probably something dealing with my XP machine thats plugged into it (well, normally anyway).
Time will tell...
im also trying to remember which apps i had updated before any problems started in case there are any corrupted updates i installed, without knowing it. (legit from play store, but still, ive heard that doesnt always mean totally safe, cuz anyone can make them)
Dude, wipe data, cache, system, reflash rom on your phone. BUM, problem fixed.
I still may, but i wanted to play around with the routers first to see if i could fix the problem.... that way id know i wouldnt be fully wiping for no apparent reason. if in a week or so things have been fine and i try connecting to the old regular router... than ill know its something on there infecting my phone... id rather not have a fresh install crapping out on me.
You can do a nandroid backup and then reflash everything. That way if you screw something up or the problem is not fixed you can restore in minutes.
So been running c59 Android 11 for a couple of weeks. All working pretty well when today i noticed my device was not on Wifi..
I went to wifi settings the phone locked up and crashed - rebooted.
Same thing is occuring except now i have a little Sim icon and an X in where the celluar signal is.
I still can recieve calls though no network access at all!
Just tried aeroplane mode and now its stuck and i cannot turn off aeroplane mode..
tried the reset network settings.. no change..
this phone is rubbish.
looks like another factory reset coming up...
just for anyone else who has this issue. you need to Format Data through recovery.. you lose everything. this fixed it for me.
You lose nothing because people are supposed to BACKUP their stuff.
Smartphones haven't been around since only a few weeks ago, it shouldn't come as a surprise that at some point they can fail or like in this case for some reason need a formatting.
Craphead said:
You lose nothing because people are supposed to BACKUP their stuff.
Smartphones haven't been around since only a few weeks ago, it shouldn't come as a surprise that at some point they can fail or like in this case for some reason need a formatting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you think about it you should be able to format Application Data only and not lose your photos etc..
Even my old Nexus 4 from 9 years ago can do that..
actually every phone i have ever had could do that other than this one.
Why would the existence of personal photos cause a phone not too boot? So why would the manufacturer make you format them to reset the phone?
Just a poorly designed device really..
And for the record i did backup and do backup. Though i wanted to inform others who may have to perform this fix that they will lose data.