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[Q] Can't Access HBoot, Random Startup

Hello,
I am posting in this forum for a few reasons.
First of all, I rooted my phone the day I bought it and took it home. I originally rooted it with a simple one-click method from a webpage I randomly found online.
Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of the hack, and I'm beginning to think that it has permanently affected the boot for my phone. After installing the hack, I found the CynoagenMod (or however it is spelled) custom ROM. I took some time into researching more about custom ROMs and installing with advanced settings, etc.
After I did my research, I found it best to flash with the new ROM and have had trouble with my boot since.
I did everything step by step from the website, and ran everything to the best of my abilities. The problem I am having now is that I can not access the HBoot menu.
In fact, every time I restart or shut off my phone, the screen goes black and will not respond to me holding down the recovery mode buttons. It stays pitch black and even battery resetting does nothing.
It will randomly turn on, vibrating for about a minute or two straight with the HTC splash screen, and then boot into my phone with the current ROM.
It seems strange that this is going on, and I have been searching all over the internet for weeks now trying to figure out what's wrong. I have reinstalled the stock RUU for my Inspire multiple times to no avail. It still sits at a black screen and will randomly boot into the splash whenever it deems to do so.
Is there anyone with any suggestions or advanced technical knowledge that could lead me to a solution? It is most unfortunate because I can't access for viewing s-on, s-off. I'm really debating whether to take the phone back to the rep and replace it. I'm just afraid they will discover the security off and tell me to suck a ****.
Thanks.

Run this nice little tool to factory reset, s-on your device
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1208507
Then reroot with the Hack Kit here. Read the "effen manual"
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=952352

Thanks for the reply.
But here's my problem:
I can't access the HBoot menu in order to flash or install any type of file.
I've been using the terminal on my Mac to do most of my editing, and now I've ran in to a new problem: whenever I try to move files to my sd root, it says that the card is read only and therefore no files can be transferred to it.
I use the command ./adb push PD98IMG.zip /sdcard/
This is where I get the error.
Also, it takes my phone literally 5 or 6 minutes to boot into the splash screen after I use the command ./adb reboot bootloader/recovery (both of which I have tried).
I'm beginning to get quite frustrated, as I'm sure you can understand. I've also attempted to rewrite all of the necessary root programs onto the device in hope that the bootloader and recovery options will be accessible.
Do you have a solution for the write problem I am getting from my device?
Thanks.

Also, is there a way to go about doing this procedure straight from the Terminal since I can't run HBoot and recovery directly from my phone?

I have sucessfully restored s-on on my previous inspire so I can rma it for a signal issue I was having.
So I consider myself savy enough on this task. I rooted that inspire using a method available on here and not some random site. Doing that, u accept the possiblility that you may not get support on xda for using a root method that was not posted here. However, I do remember reading somewhere on here that certain inspires will go to a black screen at somewhere during the rooting process. My advice is to search the inspire threads for this topic, using keywords black screen, and see if this can provide a solution for you.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using XDA App

Thanks soldier, but I've already searched through every black screen forum topic on this site for the inspire, all of which require reboot to HBoot, which I can not access from my phone without terminal access.
It seems like my phone is permanently soft bricked or something, or maybe the key commands don't do as they are supposed to. I can never get into the HBoot menu or recovery by holding down vol. - and the power button.
All it does is boots into the splash screen after about five minutes or son, and once the splash screen comes up, the phone vibrates for about 2 minutes straight.
During this time, my phone is not recognized by adp until after the phone stops vibrating.
I can't seem to find any forums ANYWHERE that propose a solution to this problem, let alone anyone that has the same issue as me.

Yeah that sux man. Well I would say, if you are within your warranty exchange, I would go that route first. Worst thing they can say is no. Although I still have yet to find a story about how someone was denied a warranty exchange for a phone that does not have physical damage. The next route is to suck it up and pay the deductible if you have insurance on it. (I always recommend insurance on any modern touchscreen smartphone) If that is not an option, then start saving up for a new phone, and lesson learned.

Ya, that seems like the only available option at the moment since my phone can't access HBoot even though I rewrote the root files to the device.
I just bought the phone this weekend, so I'm thinking of hard bricking the phone in case they decide to do an on-the-spot check. Hopefully they'll believe some bull**** story I can come up with and just give me a replacement.
Would any of you still recommend rooting again with a new phone? And what would be the best way to do so without the consequence of a soft or hard brick?
I'm just thinking of rooting and keeping the original stock OS on the device instead of running a custom ROM. That's what seems to have effed my phone.
All I really wanted to do was cut all the crappy useless programs and services out of the original Google Apps package with a fresh install to get the most out of my hardware.

FYI...if you haven't figured it by now, xda is the BEST site there is for android hacking/modding. This website IS the centralized location for all android developers/modders. Sure there are plenty of other android community sites out there, but this is the direct centralized source for all android hacking/modding.
My suggestion is to go ahead and root the next inspire you get using the hack kit in the development section. That is a long time proven and supported rooting method for the inspire. As far as roms go, from what you are saying, i would recommend you install a custom rom that is based on stock. (ex. Android Revolution) It was not the custom rom that effed up your phone, it was the questionable rooting method that did. Custom roms, by default, are superior to true stock roms, because they are modded, tweaked, and optimized far beyond the stock rom.

Awesome, I appreciate the information.
I'll keep that in mind. So which exact ROM would you suggest for my Inspire that's completely like Gingerbread?
I wasn't too fond of the CyanogenMod ROM because the GUI was a little sketchy. I like having a professional looking GUI, and I love the Gingerbread screens and menus.
Oh, one more thing. I had some success a little while ago getting into the HBoot menu from the terminal. Now I'm having a new issue:
I get into the menu at which the phone freezes and I can not use the arrow keys or power button to make a selection. Any tips?
I also believe that it is in fastboot, since it says fastboot at the top and has the Androids on the bottom skateboarding. Is this an issue? And am I screwed because I can't access the OS to turn the option off?

When you see the fastboot at the top of the screen and the androids skating at the bottom, that is perfectly normal. That is the pre screen before actually going into the bootloader. If your keys work, u press the volume down button to select which option you want, which will highlight in blue. The first option is the bootloader, so if you press the power button, it will load into the bootloader. The bootloader looks exactly the same as this screen, but with different options. This screen will show hboot at the top and have the options of fastboot, recovery, factory reset, simlock, and image crc. I have never heard of the keys not working at this point, so i couldn't help you there. Search around the forums if you haven't already.
If you want to compare this to something more familiar, think of these two screens as your motherboard bios to your PC. (What you see when your pc boots up, before it loads the OS, windows, mac, etc) On a pc, you can install any OS you want, like on the inspire, you can install any custom rom you want. But the motherboard bios is the highest level of permanent software that is directly written to the motherboard itself, like the bootloader/hboot is on the inspire. When rooting, you are essentially altering the motherboard bios on the inspire. When you install a custom rom, you are just installing an OS on the inspire.
There are plenty of custom ROMS that are based off of stock in the development section. I use and like Android Revolution. But when choosing custom roms, its always a matter of preference, and what works best for you.

digitalism said:
Thanks for the reply.
But here's my problem:
I can't access the HBoot menu in order to flash or install any type of file.
I've been using the terminal on my Mac to do most of my editing, and now I've ran in to a new problem: whenever I try to move files to my sd root, it says that the card is read only and therefore no files can be transferred to it.
I use the command ./adb push PD98IMG.zip /sdcard/
This is where I get the error.
Also, it takes my phone literally 5 or 6 minutes to boot into the splash screen after I use the command ./adb reboot bootloader/recovery (both of which I have tried).
I'm beginning to get quite frustrated, as I'm sure you can understand. I've also attempted to rewrite all of the necessary root programs onto the device in hope that the bootloader and recovery options will be accessible.
Do you have a solution for the write problem I am getting from my device?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like you may have the bad combination of a newer Inspire and the older ENG hboot. This is a problem dealt with commonly on the Aria/Inspire IRC channel. If you want to jump in, we can probably get you straightened out.
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#liberatedAria

Awesome.
I am a little upset that I can't choose an action from the boot menu with the keys on the phone.
It also seems that the only way I can completely get into the boot menu is through the terminal after which I run ./fastboot-mac
After I put in this action, the menu will begin looking for the PD98IMG.zip file, and only goes on to say that there is no file, when there actually is one.
I just wish I could do all of this straight from the phone since I'm not well versed on terminal and commands for running programs to their full ability.
I wish I could figure out a way to the write permission on my sdcard so I could reinstall the .zip file for the bootloader to find.

digitalism said:
Awesome.
I am a little upset that I can't choose an action from the boot menu with the keys on the phone.
It also seems that the only way I can completely get into the boot menu is through the terminal after which I run ./fastboot-mac
After I put in this action, the menu will begin looking for the PD98IMG.zip file, and only goes on to say that there is no file, when there actually is one.
I just wish I could do all of this straight from the phone since I'm not well versed on terminal and commands for running programs to their full ability.
I wish I could figure out a way to the write permission on my sdcard so I could reinstall the .zip file for the bootloader to find.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will not be able to use the volume rocker to select options if you have a PD98IMG.zip on your SD card.
Try booting into hboot with the SD card removed. That should let you move around the menu.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using the power of the dark side

Thanks for the heads up!
I can move the menus now.
Seems like all is going well now...
Just a matter of time.

digitalism said:
Thanks for the heads up!
I can move the menus now.
Seems like all is going well now...
Just a matter of time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's good to hear you're moving forward. Let us know how it comes out.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using the power of the dark side

Willing to pay

Howdy Folks.
Here is where i am with my Gtab experience. Reviewed the dummies site a few times...guess i am dumber than dumb when it comes to this stuff.
I have been on stock 1.1 3588 since day one. All i have ever been able to do was load CWM - which ended up not helping becuase now over a year later Viewsonic finally releases an OTA update - which does not work for me since i have CWM.
So i wanted to either get to 1.2 or at least back to stock w/out CWM so i can use the OTA update.
In the process of trying to load/flash something i got stuck on teh birds screen. Unable to boot up or go into CWM. Read the code reads on the dummies site and waited for battery drain. Today i try again and press power while holding + to get into CWM - Still get message: Detect a recovery key pressed Booting recovery image - NOTHING at all so battery drain did not work.
Look obviously a year later and i've got zero use out of this tablet, so it's never gonna happen for me.
If anyone lives in teh south Florida, WPB area and is willing to help - let me know. If someone is willing to help and i can ship this to them - almost as good.
I would like to get ICS loaded on this so i can use it, or stock loaded back so it can be sold. I paid over $300 so hate the idea of the waste but whatver im not techy at all and i guess this is just over me abilities - sucks to admit but i have spent hours.
Let me know. Thanks

Hendge said:
Howdy Folks.
Here is where i am with my Gtab experience. Reviewed the dummies site a few times...guess i am dumber than dumb when it comes to this stuff.
I have been on stock 1.1 3588 since day one. All i have ever been able to do was load CWM - which ended up not helping becuase now over a year later Viewsonic finally releases an OTA update - which does not work for me since i have CWM.
So i wanted to either get to 1.2 or at least back to stock w/out CWM so i can use the OTA update.
In the process of trying to load/flash something i got stuck on teh birds screen. Unable to boot up or go into CWM. Read the code reads on the dummies site and waited for battery drain. Today i try again and press power while holding + to get into CWM - Still get message: Detect a recovery key pressed Booting recovery image - NOTHING at all so battery drain did not work.
Look obviously a year later and i've got zero use out of this tablet, so it's never gonna happen for me.
If anyone lives in teh south Florida, WPB area and is willing to help - let me know. If someone is willing to help and i can ship this to them - almost as good.
I would like to get ICS loaded on this so i can use it, or stock loaded back so it can be sold. I paid over $300 so hate the idea of the waste but whatver im not techy at all and i guess this is just over me abilities - sucks to admit but i have spent hours.
Let me know. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly this should not be too bad of an issue for you. Download this file http://www.mediafire.com/?0rgkcd0k4v30z4u
and connect your tablet in APX mode making sure the APX drivers are installed. Then just run the .bat file and watch the magic happen. It should let you boot back to 1.2 stock without much issue. If this does not work or you need more help just reply back. Someone should be able to help out.

I have found that you can pretty much self tutor through youtube. Search for the earliest gtab links. You can learn everything you need to know with step by step instructions. I knew nothing at first but have updated my gtab with every rom from gingerbread to the current ICS over the months. Give it a try, you be surprise how easy it is to do. All credit goes to the fine devs and experts on this site for making it so.

@Hendge..... I live in Vero Beach..... If all else you try fails and you have nothing else to try and you are out of options then PM me in this forum. I should be able to copy some of my "fixit tools" programs over to my laptop and meet you to work on the problem.
I must emphasize that I agree with the previous posts and irrespective of your level of computer knowledge in the end it will be far better for you to be able to work it out for yourself and thereby help you in the future should a similar occurrence re-occur.

Thanks a bundle for the replies everyone!
It must be a learning block is all i can think of...Same thing happened to me with Algebra!
Anyway, i would like to figure it out:
So in APX mode i should see teh Gtab as a drive/device right? I think i did did before i messed everything up last week - so drivers were installed etc..
Now i do not.
Shoudl i take it apart and hit the reset button like the other thread shows?
Is there another way?
BTW i was on stock 1.1 3588 previously, so if i do get into APX mode and download the mediafire link posted, is that the correct download for someone still on 1.1?

@Hendge..... I don't want to pre-empt any reply or advice by fosser2 who is far more knowledgeable than I am. But as I read your reply it seems to me that you are uncertain as to what exactly "APX" mode is. You get into APX mode from a "powered off" tab by holding down the "Power Button" at the same time holding down the "Volume Down" rocker (as you look at the tab from the front in landscape mode then the "Volume Down" is the LEFT hand side of the rocker).
(1) With tab "off" connect with mini usb to your PC
(2) Perform the above operation i.e. power and volume down depressed, keep both pressed until you see the blank screen mentioned in (4)
(3) You should now get the "splash" screen which if you haven't altered anything will be the 3 birds
(4) After about 2 seconds the screen will go blank and you are now in APX mode
(5) I am taking you at your word that you have already installed the usb drivers on your PC
(6) Now we will accept that you have already downloaded fosser2's zip file and on your PC have unzipped it to a folder (let's call it FOSSER2 or whatever you want)
(7) If you look in that folder at the files you will see a file named something like ... nvflash_gtablet.bat... It might or might not be that exact name but it will be the only file in that folder with a ... .bat extension.
(8) Now with your tab connected and in APX mode, on your PC run the .bat file.
(9) A DOS Type command prompt box will open on your PC and you will see a lot of lines of text telling you what is happening.
(10) When all is finished it will say "Press Enter to continue....."
(11) Press "Enter" and the box will disappear and on your tab screen you should see a line of white text at the top left hand corner.
(12) Turn off your tab by pressing the power button, disconnect from PC and re-boot tab. If all has gone ok it should re-boot.
I have to tell you that not everything I've said above may work out because I've had to guess as to fosser2's intentions.
If you follow what I have said you may well brick your tab ..... I can't accept blame if you do as my only intention is to attempt to help you BUT there is that risk.
Good Luck

metpolds said:
@Hendge..... I don't want to pre-empt any reply or advice by fosser2 who is far more knowledgeable than I am. But as I read your reply it seems to me that you are uncertain as to what exactly "APX" mode is. You get into APX mode from a "powered off" tab by holding down the "Power Button" at the same time holding down the "Volume Down" rocker (as you look at the tab from the front in landscape mode then the "Volume Down" is the LEFT hand side of the rocker).
(1) With tab "off" connect with mini usb to your PC
(2) Perform the above operation i.e. power and volume down depressed
(3) You should now get the "splash" screen which if you haven't altered anything will be the 3 birds
(4) After about 2 seconds the screen will go blank and you are now in APX mode
(5) I am taking you at your word that you have already installed the usb drivers on your PC
(6) Now we will accept that you have already downloaded fosser2's zip file and on your PC have unzipped it to a folder (let's call it FOSSER2 or whatever you want)
(7) If you look in that folder at the files you will see a file named something like ... nvflash_gtablet.bat... It might or might not be that exact name but it will be the only file in that folder with a ... .bat extension.
(8) Now with your tab connected and in APX mode, on your PC run the .bat file.
(9) A DOS Type command prompt box will open on your PC and you will see a lot of lines of text telling you what is happening.
(10) When all is finished it will say "Press Enter to continue....."
(11) Press "Enter" and the box will disappear and on your tab screen you should see a line of white text at the top left hand corner.
(12) Turn off your tab by pressing the power button, disconnect from PC and re-boot tab. If all has gone ok it should re-boot.
I have to tell you that not everything I've said above may work out because I've had to guess as to fosser2's intentions.
If you follow what I have said you may well brick your tab ..... I can't accept blame if you do as my only intention is to attempt to help you BUT there is that risk.
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do this and you will be fine

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.

[Q] Stuck In System Recovery <3e> + a twist

Hi guys, I don't know if there are similar threads within this section, and have decided to post this thread. It has been long since I have touched my i9003, having migrated to the i9000 itself.
Anyway, here's the thing. This phone got submerged about a year ago in the water (due to my brother's stupidity) and the camera did not function anymore as well as the home button. To make things worse, the phone's warranty was already over when it happened. Back then I was tinkering with using ADB and Odin in order to flash custom ROMs and whatnot, then suddenly, I seemed to have pressed a wrong button of sorts during one of the flashing processes and it landed me on the Android system recovery <3e> screen. Now normally, this would be relatively easy with a working home button, because it would be just a simple press to freedom, but of course, as I have stated before, the button was broken.
I tried at first using ADB, but the PC didn't pickup the device/didn't recognize it. It's also recognized as a CDC Abstract Control Model and not the usual standard USB recognition.
Given the circumstances, would it still be possible to recover and reboot back to at least the home screen?

!n0x said:
Hi guys, I don't know if there are similar threads within this section, and have decided to post this thread. It has been long since I have touched my i9003, having migrated to the i9000 itself.
Anyway, here's the thing. This phone got submerged about a year ago in the water (due to my brother's stupidity) and the camera did not function anymore as well as the home button. To make things worse, the phone's warranty was already over when it happened. Back then I was tinkering with using ADB and Odin in order to flash custom ROMs and whatnot, then suddenly, I seemed to have pressed a wrong button of sorts during one of the flashing processes and it landed me on the Android system recovery <3e> screen. Now normally, this would be relatively easy with a working home button, because it would be just a simple press to freedom, but of course, as I have stated before, the button was broken.
I tried at first using ADB, but the PC didn't pickup the device/didn't recognize it. It's also recognized as a CDC Abstract Control Model and not the usual standard USB recognition.
Given the circumstances, would it still be possible to recover and reboot back to at least the home screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just hold the power button till the phone's screen dims out, phone should reboot into Android.

I forgot to state that every time I reboot it via long pressing the power button, it immediately goes to the 3e Recovery.

found old Samsung S2 Plus, Cyanogenmod Stuck on boot

Hello guys, im a total newbie with android/cyanogenmod/recovery etc. so sry for any dumb mistakes.
I have an old Samsung S2 Plus that a friend of mine installed cyanogenmod and some other stuff on some years ago for me.
I think it was Cyanogenmod 12.1 but im not completely sure.
My problem today is that when i boot the phone i get stuck on some bootscreen (the one with the blue cyanogenmod "alien"). Just nothing happens, had it blinking for 1 hour and more just to test it.
I tried getting into any of these recovery modes (searched online for some key combinations), tried a lot of combinations(volume up + power etc. but no recovery is showing up, just always the white samsung galaxy s2 text and the blue alien thingy afterwards. I think back then my friend installed cwrm recovery mode, but again not 100% sure.
Im thankful for every help and sry again for any dumb questions.

No mistake is a dumb mistake, unless youve already made that mistake several times and you repeat it, expecting the outcome to change. The more you mess something up and you fear youve messed up big time, the more you will figure out a way to fix it and gain knowledge.. embrace it..
On most Samsung phones, you have key combinations that are all the same.. very specific how you do it though..
Im going to use keys below, to simplify things a bit
[H] = home button, bottom center of screen
[P] = power button, usually top right edge
= volume up button
[D] = volume down button
If your phone is in boot loop* or not responding to power button, you will first have to completely restart all the system fresh.
* boot loop: an error that cause a device to start to load and at a certain point restarts, and repeats without ever getting past the point of restart
Two ways I know of to manually do it:
- You can take the battery out, and then press and hold power for 30 seconds. Then release power and insert battery.. leaving it in a dead state.. not powering it on, not charging, or even plugged into laptop..
OR
- Press and hold [D] + [P] *ONLY* for 45 secs or until the phone cuts off, careful to not accidentally restart
Once device is in that dead state, use key combos listed below:
..........☆ RECOVERY MODE ☆..........
press and hold
+ [H] + [P]
when the splash logo* appears,
release all of them
*splash logo: the first thing you see when powering on your device. Usually will say like samsung s2 and powered by android. You usually only see it for a few seconds
..........☆ DOWNLOAD OR ODIN MODE ☆..........
press and hold
[D] + [H] + [P]
when you see a blue screen,
quickly release them all.
then it will have instructions
typically to confirm into download mode,
or [D] to cancel and reboot
Straight Talk phones are known to have these taken out, so you cant free the phone from the grasps they have on it..
If those dont work, and your phone isnt straight talk or verizon, you can download these programs to windows OS pc, and they have buttons that will send a call to your device, and put them into download, fastboot, sideload, adb, or even recovery mode.. not all those modes are available on all samsung devices..
ME PERSONALLY, I HAD MOST LUCK WITH "D P TOOLS" AND "WINDROID"
ODIN IS A MUST HAVE IF YOUR GOING TO BE INSTALLING ROMS. ODIN WILL GET YOU BACK TO BONE STOCK FIRMWARE
Stock firmware can be found on multiple sites and here on XDA. Firmware is device specific and android version specific.
Heres a couple of the latest android versions
6.x.x = marshmallow
7.x.x = nougat
8.x.x = oreo
X/// STOCK FIRMWARE LINKS ///X
you would use the model number which can be found under the battery, and android version. since you may not know which one your running. I suggest google search for " your phone model + release date + release specs" that will get you in the ballpark
SAM MOBILE FIRMWARE
https://www.sammobile.com/
UPDATO
http://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model
X/// ODIN INFO ///X
-- HERE IS A IN DEPTH ODIN TUTORIAL --
https://forum.xda-developers.com/note5/general/guide-odin-flashing-stock-firmwares-t3634256
Thanks to Gr3atGeek for this tutorial
X/// MOBILE TOOLS I MENTIONED ///X
run antivirus!!
-All in one flasher
CANNOT FIND
-D P tools
http://dp-tools.en.lo4d.com/
-Minimal ADB and fastboot
http://minimal-adb-and-fastboot.en.lo4d.com/
-Windroid
1 ) http://windroid-universal-android-toolkit.en.lo4d.com/
2 ) http://windroid-toolkit.en.lo4d.com/
-Android Ultimate
http://android-ultimate-toolbox-pro.en.lo4d.com/
**GENERAL TIPS AND TRICKS**
THESE IVE HAD THE MOST LUCK WITH. IM PRETTY SURE THIS IS THE ACTUAL URLS WHERE I DOWNLOADED ALSO.. NOW SOME WORK WITH THIS PHONE BUT NOT THAT PHONE. SOME WILL WORK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT INTO RECOVERY MODE BUT WONT PUT INTO DOWNLOAD MODE.
**USE OF SOFTWARE HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS*
I HIGHLY SUGGEST NOT TO RUN MORE THAN ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS AT ONCE. SOME USE ADB.EXE AND IVE FOUND MULTIPLE ADB.EXE WILL CAUSE SILENT PROBLEMS.. IF YOUR UNSURE HOW MANY INSTANCES OF ADB.EXE ARE RUNNING, CLICK (CTRL) + (ALT) + (DEL) ALL AT ONCE. THEN CLICK TASK MANAGER. ONCE TASK MANAGER IS LOADED, CLICK THE PROCESSES TAB AND FIND ADB.EXE
** USB TRICKS AND SUGGESTIONS **
USE IF POSSIBLE YOUR ORIGINAL USB CABLE AND DONT USE ONE THAT HAS ANY HINT OF A PROBLEM, USUALLY THE THICKER THE WIRE THE FASTER AND SAFER IT IS.. OEM WORK THE BEST.. AND IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF USB PORTS BEING USED TO PREFERABLY JUST THE CHARGER WIRE. SOMETIMES USB 2.0 AND USB 3.0 WILL EFFECT THINGS. DO NOT HAVE MORE THAN ONE PHONE CONNECTED AT A TIME.
GO INTO DEVICE MANAGER AND UPDATE USB DEVICE DRIVERS AND MAKE SURE SAMSUNG DRIVERS ARE UP TO DATE
Hope this has helped.. Sometimes the buttons on a phone will quit working but when you press it, it feels like it worked, made the sound and all.. thats when these programs come in handy.. im guessing you charged your phone until it came on, and when you were trying button combos, the phone was still on. It has to be off first. ADB and fastboot are powerful tools if you know some terminal knowledge, you can also start a shell and usually terminal will tell you if deamon* started successfully or not.. sorry about the mass confusion.. go run around XDA forums just searching and reading and now that youve heard me mention some of the lingo and terms used.. Google search everything.. the resources are there, and i just gave you a good bit of direction.. good luck
*daemon: to be brief, a word that symbolizes a connection between your device and another system
$$ IF IVE HELPED, OR YOU FEEL I MADE AN HONEST ATTEMPT TO HELP, HIT THE THUMBS UP, THATS THE BUTTON FOR "THANKS" HERE IN XDA
IM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY BROKEN, DAMAGED, OR MYSTERIES THAT HAPPEN TO YOUR DEVICE OR COMPUTER USING ANY INFORMATION OR TOOLS IN THE ABOVE TUTORIAL. BE SAFE