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.
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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.
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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.

Constant boot loop - can't even get download mode

I have a rooted stock phone that stopped working for no apparent reason (no new ROM flashed, no configuration change). It starts, shows the Samsung logo, and immediately reboots. I tried to put it in download mode, when i hold the 3 keys I see the download logo showing up, but it reboots after a few seconds anyway. after a while it will start looping through the battery charge screen (which shows the battery as empty). I tried 2 different batteries with no change. Any idea how to get something working again?

That almost sounds like some sort of power issue. Have you left it sit turned off until the battery was full?

Yes, I left it overnight and it just keeps flashing the battery screen and then resets. I also have an external charger and used it to charge the battery, so it's not an issue with the battery actually being empty.

Have you been able to get the phone into download mode previously?
Have you have dealt with a boot loop and performed an Odin recovery previously? If not, remember it can take a few tries to get download mode to pop up.
If you can't get Odin to go, you might try flashing with Kies.
I am wondering if your phone met with some kind of disaster when you weren't around (trauma or liquid).

anyone747 said:
I have a rooted stock phone that stopped working for no apparent reason (no new ROM flashed, no configuration change). It starts, shows the Samsung logo, and immediately reboots. I tried to put it in download mode, when i hold the 3 keys I see the download logo showing up, but it reboots after a few seconds anyway. after a while it will start looping through the battery charge screen (which shows the battery as empty). I tried 2 different batteries with no change. Any idea how to get something working again?
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Click to collapse
This sounds almost exactly like the problem I had with my Sidekick. In my case, it turned out to be a bad battery and a loose ribbon cable on the motherboard. I'd check those two things.

This happened to me as well, and the three-button method to get into download mode wasn't working. For some odd reason, for me to get into download mode all I have to do is hold down the power button + track pad, and it goes right into download mode... Maybe slightly different model?
Try that - power button + trackpad

Bootloops.
Not a guaranteed fix by any means but for troubleshooting purposes you may want to consider making a USB JIG. It will most definitely help you figure out just how serious the problem is and if it IS software related with a way to get it working again you will need the JIG anyway so its worth a shot. If nothing else you learn a new skill and you're the proud owner of an incredibly useful tool that you can say you made yourself. good luck!

I know this post is kind of old, but it just happened to me last week (same circumstance, a rooted phone, but stock). I ended up just pulling the battery out and pressing the power button a couple times to hopefully drian it and letting it sit for 15 minutes, and then I put the battery back in and it worked again. I now have another rom flashed on it, I hate stock.

I know this forum is ancient, but I'm working on an E-Bay phone with this exact issue. I found the following thread the most useful and informative on the problem:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1996709
Hopefully this helps other.

what i did was hold the power volume and button between the menu n back with the left hand YES HOLD IT UNTILL THE PIT IS UPLOADED. then u can let go then slide in the vattery with the right.while checking off the flash bootloarders on the heimdall with it fixing my phone XD

I had this happen, I dissassembled the phone, and used an alcohol pad to clean the power button area, and manipulated the button a lot, let it dry, reassembled...it still bootlooped.
BELOW IS RISKY BUT WORKED FOR ME
So while the back cover was off (exposing the cicuit board but everything still connected) I inserted the battery and watched it boot loop...during this, I used a flathead screw driver to "short" the power button pins...this let it boot fully, and it has been fine since.

i smacked the phones power button a few times and it worked

[Q] RIP to my Sidekick

So today, as i was on my way to work I accidentally held down the lockscreen button and the power menu popped up (I was on Glorious Overdoes V2) in the middle of a text and i pressed reboot accidentally... My phone never rebooted... It was stuck on the black Sidekick 4G/T-Mobile screen and then it would go black, then once again that screen would pop up... I removed the battery and put it back in, and without me pressing any buttons the same screen came back up... I let it sit for a while and after 20minutes nothing changed except the phone got really hot. Luckily I had my OLD Nokia in my car and popped my SIM card in it so that i could continue having a phone. I let The Sidekick sit for 4hours and it was extremely hot and then eventually it just turned off completely (Im assuming the battery drained, it was at 90% 4 hours before.) I got home, plugged it in and it wouldn't even turn on the charging screen. Somebody told me that my Motherboard is fried but I don't know. I called T-mobile and they're going to send me a new phone since it's still in the 1-year warranty period.
Anyone know if they're going to be able to inspect my old device and find out if i rooted/flashed it? because i can't get into it or anything to ODIN

I feel like they will try putting a new battery in it, and if it still wont turn on you should be fine.

It got hot because the CPU was churning over something and couldn't enter a low power state. I bet you could coax the phone into download mode and reflash it.

what do you mean coax the phone into download mode? by using the button combo to get it into download mode when turning on? I've tried that and it doesn't work. I tried rebooting into recovery and that wont work either. Also, it wont charge the battery anymore...

I've always had a hard time getting into download mode, and my phone works fine. I just spent 5 minutes trying different combinations until I got it.
I've heard people say trackpad-power button, volume down-home-power button, volume up/down-put battery in-plug in USB, etc etc etc. But the only method that works for me is to put in the battery, plug in the USB, wait for the charging screen, then hold volume down-trackpad-power, releasing power as soon as the screen goes black
You say your phone is turning on as soon as the battery is inserted? What if you have it plugged into USB first?

I had the exact same problem, I sent it into samsung and they just replaced a part(never told me which one) and it was fixed. I did noticed that when the sccreen was poped open to show the keyboard, it would stop. But it's probably a loose cable like I've read before.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using Tapatalk

Worst case scenario if you can't figure it out here on XDA, you could always sell it on eBay for parts as defective.

[Q] Power button is causing phone to reboot nonstop

So, tonight I just turned my screen on and then off real quick to check if I have any messages and set my phone down. Then I look down and see the Samsung logo. I'm a bit confused and notice that the Samsung logo keeps showing for 1-2 seconds going black for 1-2 seconds and then back to the Samsung logo for 1-2 seconds, over and over. I pull the battery and then when I put it back in, the phone starts doing it again before I touch any buttons. Clearly something is causing my power button to be "on" continuously. This seems to be a relatively common problem from doing some searching, but most of the posts I find seem to be full of people responding who fail to understand the problem. People seem to think that this is a boot loop and that it can be fixed by going into download mode. This is clearly not the case, the problem is obviously with the power button since the phone automatically starts up and keeps doing this as soon as the battery is reinserted regardless if no buttons are pushed or all buttons are pushed. Has anyone managed to fix this problem? I'm thinking I'm going to have to take the infuse apart and see if the button is stuck or if there contact occuring somewhere it shouldn't be. Any help would be appreciated.

Yeah, i have this problem. First what i did, i'd hit gently the power button a few times and it seemed to work. But after a few days it got worse, till the point it wouldn't work. I decided to open up the phone myself, and trying to manipulate the small power button. Apparently it worked, but i decided not to use the power button anymore, i wake the phone by touching the volume +/- buttons and i turn it off with a widget i downloaded from the playstore. This problem seems to be on every infuse i'm saving up some money to buy another phone, since i won't be able to sell this one with this problem.
Sent from my Infuse4G using Tapatalk

Here is a video of a screen replcement- not what you are doing but it shows you how to take the phone apart. Hope this helps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WS5I0SpL6c

Thanks for the link. I took it apart using that and cleaned everything and just clicked the power button a whole bunch and its working again for now.

Pony Express said:
Here is a video of a screen replcement- not what you are doing but it shows you how to take the phone apart. Hope this helps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WS5I0SpL6c
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice one, bro.

z3ddicus said:
So, tonight I just turned my screen on and then off real quick to check if I have any messages and set my phone down. Then I look down and see the Samsung logo. I'm a bit confused and notice that the Samsung logo keeps showing for 1-2 seconds going black for 1-2 seconds and then back to the Samsung logo for 1-2 seconds, over and over. I pull the battery and then when I put it back in, the phone starts doing it again before I touch any buttons. Clearly something is causing my power button to be "on" continuously. This seems to be a relatively common problem from doing some searching, but most of the posts I find seem to be full of people responding who fail to understand the problem. People seem to think that this is a boot loop and that it can be fixed by going into download mode. This is clearly not the case, the problem is obviously with the power button since the phone automatically starts up and keeps doing this as soon as the battery is reinserted regardless if no buttons are pushed or all buttons are pushed. Has anyone managed to fix this problem? I'm thinking I'm going to have to take the infuse apart and see if the button is stuck or if there contact occuring somewhere it shouldn't be. Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It happens that to one of my infuse before and i send it so Josh @ http://mobiletechvideos.mybigcommerce.com/ he replaces my power buttons and services is amazing and shipping is fast.

Bootloop + Power Menu problem

So today i started having bootloops, it was showing the Powered by Android screen for 2 seconds then booting again over and over for few hours
Now after it somehow got fixed by itself, i managed to turn the phone ON and to clear Cache
So far there are not bootloops anymore
BUT
huge BUT
the phone is poping the Power Menu most of the time, and then every touch on the screen just "presses" on the Shut Down option
If i press on the Power button myself it shut him down automatically ...
EDIT:
Would like to add, that i never unlocked it, it's the regular OTA version.
I doubt a wipe wll help, but i really wont mind if thats the case
Its almost like something pressing the Power button sometimes, but even WITHOUT the back case it still pops that power menu. even if no one is touching it at all it still pops it once in a while, which cause shut downs once in a while ...

So i woke up
The phone is off, i cant turn it on
I charge it for few hours already and still nothing happens the power button doesnt do nothing, it doesnt vibrate
So i connect it to my PC, it shows it as a Marshal something in the device manager but it KEEPS disconnecting and reconnecting every 2 seconds
I have found a "fix ur bricked phone" threads but they all using a tool that needs the phone connected to the PC, well my phone cant stay connected more than 5 seconds for some reason [ different cables, different computers] it keeps on popping in and out

Did you drop your phone in the water or something? Wet or damp from the rain maybe?
And did you try connecting it while in fastboot or recovery mode?

Maybe wet from Humidity but thats all
i cant reach fastboot nor recovery
as now it all black, not turning on not even for a bootloop
This problem happen when the phone is getting wet ? its certainly didn't but maybe i should "fix" it as a wet phone should be fixed? should i open it and dry it out? maybe take the battery out? its not that easy to take it out tho

I had a phone which was wet from the rain, it made the power button faulty. It would randomly turn screen on off like in your case. I took it to the repair shop and they cleaned the insides and it was fine again. If you're sure it's not the rain or anything then maybe that's not the reason, just a guess.
How about plugging in the charger? Does it light up? If it lit up and you cant turn it on after maybe its the power button problem.

elemti said:
I had a phone which was wet from the rain, it made the power button faulty. It would randomly turn screen on off like in your case. I took it to the repair shop and they cleaned the insides and it was fine again. If you're sure it's not the rain or anything then maybe that's not the reason, just a guess.
How about plugging in the charger? Does it light up? If it lit up and you cant turn it on after maybe its the power button problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
plugging the charger doesnt do nothing
Although i got a portable charger with a led , the led turns on when i plug the One, BUT, the led bar doesnt decrease even after few hours, so its like "trying" to charge but not charging anything

Try this from OnePlus Customer Support:
2. Power cycle the One by holding the Power button for 20 seconds 5 times.
3. Attempt to start the phone by holding down the Power button along with the Volume down button to start recovery mode and performing a factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
or hold Power button with the Volumn up button to see if you can get into fastboot mode.

lol bro... seriously.. you really think i didnt try that stuff before opening a thread?
I already scanned the entire web and no one with the same issue have posted a fix thread
one plus doesnt even care about their customers

Is this the guide you said you saw? http://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-one/general/guide-unbrick-oneplus-one-t3013732
Why not give it a try? Follow the steps and see if you are able to unbrick your phone.

I mean there's not much you can do if you can't even turn on your device in the first place :/