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My phone appears to be dead.
When I tried to flash the radio (for US carriers using the top sticky in this forum), it seemed to erase the ROM, or it wouldn't boot in any case despite hitting the reset button and trying a hard reset. But I was able to flash a new ROM (Energy ROM) onto it.
BUT, then I tried to run Olipro's unlocker. But, I got the Raphael unlocker by mistake (I just now realized this). During the process, my phone went dead and it won't come back. I tried to restart, hard reset, and to put it in bootloader mode. Nothing is happening. The light won't even come on when I plug the charger in. When I connect it to the PC windows recognizes it as Qualcomm CDMA Technologies MSM.
Have I killed it? Is it a brick? Is there anything I can do to bring it back? Or should I just start shopping for a new phone? Please help.
Prognosis does not look good. If you can't even get into the bootloader it could be trouble. That is unless your power button is shot and preventing you from getting into bootloader. Don't think it will help but you can try flashing a stock ROM. Worth a shot.
ShiFuBill said:
My phone appears to be dead.
When I tried to flash the radio (for US carriers using the top sticky in this forum), it seemed to erase the ROM, or it wouldn't boot in any case despite hitting the reset button and trying a hard reset. But I was able to flash a new ROM (Energy ROM) onto it.
BUT, then I tried to run Olipro's unlocker. But, I got the Raphael unlocker by mistake (I just now realized this). During the process, my phone went dead and it won't come back. I tried to restart, hard reset, and to put it in bootloader mode. Nothing is happening. The light won't even come on when I plug the charger in. When I connect it to the PC windows recognizes it as Qualcomm CDMA Technologies MSM.
Have I killed it? Is it a brick? Is there anything I can do to bring it back? Or should I just start shopping for a new phone? Please help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you still have the phone?
So here's a doozy. First, some background. During a routine update to a new version of my favorite rom, IMEI data got borked. My backup was apparently incomplete, so couldn't restore it that way. My phone has been unable to connect a computer via usb in more than a charging capacity for a few months, so any pc-based tools like ODIN or QPST were out of the question. Only hope was to go back to a rooted stock rom and try the dialer solution. So I try flashing root66 via Mobile ODIN. Note that this overwrites CWM to the stock recovery, in addition to overwriting pretty much everything else. For whatever reason, the OS is now borked. Can't get past the Samsung GSIII screen. I can still reach Download Mode and Recovery, though. However, as mentioned before, ODIN is not an option because no computer can see my device over USB. The recovery is now the stock recovery, so the only thing it will recognize is a signed update.zip from Verizon herself. Anything else I try to flash from external SD gets the whole signature verification error.
To sum:
The Problem
Need to get to a working OS. This likely needs to be stock.
Complications and Constraints
ODIN is not an option, nor is any other pc-based or usb-based tool.
I'm stuck with the stock recovery, which requires signature verification.
Theorized Solutions
I could either somehow flash CWM via signed zip file from stock recovery (don't know if this exists, if it does I haven't been able to find it), or,
I could flash a signed OTA zip, like what would arrive on the phone from Verizon. I've been having a lot of trouble finding one of these, since everyone and their grandmother seems to want to use ODIN to flash leaked OTAs. I'm thinking that of the OTAs, the initial upgrade to JB is probably my best bet, since it likely replaced more of the system than the other OTAs. I'm more than open to suggestions, though.
Thoughts?
Boot into recovery and do a factory reset. That typically is recommended if you're stuck on the boot logo after an Odin flash.
How did you lose usb to pc access? When you install the Samsung drivers from their website, what does your computer do? Which usb cable have you been using?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
SlimSnoopOS said:
Boot into recovery and do a factory reset. That typically is recommended if you're stuck on the boot logo after an Odin flash.
How did you lose usb to pc access? When you install the Samsung drivers from their website, what does your computer do? Which usb cable have you been using?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset was the first thing I tried. No go. I've tried every option available in the stock recovery, with no success. Gotta say, not really fond of this whole stock recovery thing. Fairly useless.
I haven't had usb to pc access ever since I played Ingress in a snowstorm a few months ago and some moisture got into the charging port, and I didn't properly dry it out. There's a little bit of corrosion in there now. It still charges fine most of the time (I'm sure not as well or as consistently as when it was new), but it can't connect to the computer in more than a charging capacity. I've tested a large variety of usb cables, most of which worked before the snowstorm, and none give me pc access. Some give me pc access for a few seconds, but none give a connection that's stable enough to run ODIN or QPST or the like.
I should note that I have a microSD to SD adapter, so I can still move files to and from my external SD card. Anything available on the internet can make its way onto my SD card so long as it's 7.96 Gb or smaller.
EDIT: I should clarify that I *did* have usb to pc access before the snowstorm. Samsung drivers worked fine, etc, the typical file transfers over usb worked fine, adb worked fine, etc.
I had the same problem a few months ago when I used mobile odin. I was lucky enough to be able to use the regular ODIN to start from the beginning flash stock everything. You need to get regular ODIN to work. Take the phone to a repair place have them clean the rust and re-soter the connections. That is what I would try. Sorry I wasn't of any more help.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Lehocki said:
I had the same problem a few months ago when I used mobile odin. I was lucky enough to be able to use the regular ODIN to start from the beginning flash stock everything. You need to get regular ODIN to work. Take the phone to a repair place have them clean the rust and re-soter the connections. That is what I would try. Sorry I wasn't of any more help.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took a closer look at the microUSB port on the phone. On closer inspection, with a bright light, I really don't see any corrosion, and I checked the water damage indicators, and none have been tripped. Which makes me question whether or not the port starting to fail really was related to the snowstorm, or if that was a coincidence. I've decided to just go ahead and get it replaced under warranty--even if I could rescue the system, that faulty port is actually a really huge problem, more so than I had realized. Not being able to use ODIN to un-brick is bad, I've decided. Now the big question is going to be, will they be able to tell the phone's been messed with, and if so, how can I cover my tracks with a bootlooped phone, stock recovery, and no possibility of Odin or Heimdall? I'm thinking it should mostly be okay--in Download mode, everything checks out as normal, except for system status, which says custom. I'm betting that if it came down to it, I could probably argue that it could fail to recognize a borked but otherwise stock system, and therefore call a normal system custom.
If not, though, then I better get started on cracking Samsung's update.zip encryption so I can sign my own injection package with their signature...
adiv.paradise said:
I took a closer look at the microUSB port on the phone. On closer inspection, with a bright light, I really don't see any corrosion, and I checked the water damage indicators, and none have been tripped. Which makes me question whether or not the port starting to fail really was related to the snowstorm, or if that was a coincidence. I've decided to just go ahead and get it replaced under warranty--even if I could rescue the system, that faulty port is actually a really huge problem, more so than I had realized. Not being able to use ODIN to un-brick is bad, I've decided. Now the big question is going to be, will they be able to tell the phone's been messed with, and if so, how can I cover my tracks with a bootlooped phone, stock recovery, and no possibility of Odin or Heimdall? I'm thinking it should mostly be okay--in Download mode, everything checks out as normal, except for system status, which says custom. I'm betting that if it came down to it, I could probably argue that it could fail to recognize a borked but otherwise stock system, and therefore call a normal system custom.
If not, though, then I better get started on cracking Samsung's update.zip encryption so I can sign my own injection package with their signature...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If using Windows the USB will act like there are no drivers at times. The fix I found was to connect to PC in charge mode. Then go to download mode while connected to PC. It will reactivate drivers from phone side. Have done this many times on Win8. Worth a shot.
prdog1 said:
If using Windows the USB will act like there are no drivers at times. The fix I found was to connect to PC in charge mode. Then go to download mode while connected to PC. It will reactivate drivers from phone side. Have done this many times on Win8. Worth a shot.
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Click to collapse
Some phone is bricked that not recognize the phone on device manager and won't charge too.
tomy1986.nt said:
Some phone is bricked that not recognize the phone on device manager and won't charge too.
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Click to collapse
His charges.That is not a brick. A brick is black screen with no access to recovery, download mode. A bricked phone will be seen by USB but just as a device and not as an S3. If you have the screens that is a soft brick and need to find what the problem is. Could just be a bad USB port on phone or PC or an operator problem. If have any screen the device is not bricked. Ok I see now. You are looking for JTag work and are in Texas. I would still say send to Josh at Mobile Tech in College Station, Tx cause we know he knows what he is doing. You don't have video of unbricking S3? S2 is old and obsolete and no where near the same device. Also must have RIFF for the device. I can make it pass warranty for free over PM.
prdog1 said:
His charges.That is not a brick. A brick is black screen with no access to recovery, download mode. A bricked phone will be seen by USB but just as a device and not as an S3. If you have the screens that is a soft brick and need to find what the problem is. Could just be a bad USB port on phone or PC or an operator problem. If have any screen the device is not bricked. Ok I see now. You are looking for JTag work and are in Texas. I would still say send to Josh at Mobile Tech in College Station, Tx cause we know he knows what he is doing. You don't have video of unbricking S3? S2 is old and obsolete and no where near the same device. Also must have RIFF for the device. I can make it pass warranty for free over PM.
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Click to collapse
You do not know how the bricked phone look like, some bricked like no power, some like download mode but can not flash firmware, some phone is bricked like wont recognize on device manager.
Please check my video for knowing what kind of device I have already done, and see my feed back on ebay.
tomy1986.nt said:
You do not know how the bricked phone look like, some bricked like no power, some like download mode but can not flash firmware, some phone is bricked like wont recognize on device manager.
Please check my video for knowing what kind of device I have already done, and see my feed back on ebay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If a device can boot to recovery or download or if it charges or is detected when connected to PC then it isn't truly bricked, it's only softbricked. A truly bricked device will not charge, has no LED when connected to PC, can't be detected by PC in any kind of way, will not boot to recovery or download mode and will not power on in any way. This is actually called a "hardbrick".
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk
Basically I was using TWRP to wipe my TF700T and I wiped the OS. Luckily I made a recovery on my SD, but the problem is that I can't get it to boot back into TWRP in order to run it. All the Power + Volume Down does is just cause the device to rumble. Powering on the device just lets it sit in the bootscreen. If I can get into the bootloader I can basically fix the machine. Problem I have remaining is that I can't seem to get into the bootloader.
The device calls itself APX when plugged into my computer now, if that means anything. I'm gonna try to drain the battery by leaving it on over night without the flash card. Maybe that'll do something.
Any suggestions on how to unbrick this thing? Or did I just succeed in turning a very expensive tablet into a very expensive paperweight?
JunoZXV said:
Basically I was using TWRP to wipe my TF700T and I wiped the OS. Luckily I made a recovery on my SD, but the problem is that I can't get it to boot back into TWRP in order to run it. All the Power + Volume Down does is just cause the device to rumble. Powering on the device just lets it sit in the bootscreen. If I can get into the bootloader I can basically fix the machine. Problem I have remaining is that I can't seem to get into the bootloader.
The device calls itself APX when plugged into my computer now, if that means anything. I'm gonna try to drain the battery by leaving it on over night without the flash card. Maybe that'll do something.
Any suggestions on how to unbrick this thing? Or did I just succeed in turning a very expensive tablet into a very expensive paperweight?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im having exactly the same problem, did you find a solution to this?
So far no results yet. I tried hitting the reset button on the side but all that did was lead me back to the boot screen. I read something about undoing the the hard boot using a series of override programs. But the problem is the documentation is so cluttered that I can't fathom the instructions (I'll try it again just in case.)
Bump update: So I called Asus and it turns out it's gonna cost 288$ to get the thing fixed by them. So I'm not doing that. I'm looking into other ways of recovery. I've got other multiple options I'm exploring at the moment. Like looking for a recycling program or a way to use the technology in a new way.
UPDATE X2
So I talked to a friend and the very fact that it sits at APX was a tipoff. Basically it means the recovery is shot but the Bootloader is OK. Meaning that the device isn't as bricked as I thought. What needs to be done is to download the android ADT bundle (google it) and from there get into the platform tools under command prompt, type "adb" then "adb devices" and finally "adb reboot recovery"
if it works the recovery should reflash and then using the backup restore the OS.
Granted I'm having trouble getting my comptuer to say "APX has been connected" due to a faulty data cable but I should be home free after this
JunoZXV said:
UPDATE X2
So I talked to a friend and the very fact that it sits at APX was a tipoff. Basically it means the recovery is shot but the Bootloader is OK. Meaning that the device isn't as bricked as I thought. What needs to be done is to download the android ADT bundle (google it) and from there get into the platform tools under command prompt, type "adb" then "adb devices" and finally "adb reboot recovery"
if it works the recovery should reflash and then using the backup restore the OS.
Granted I'm having trouble getting my comptuer to say "APX has been connected" due to a faulty data cable but I should be home free after this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately if you can only get to APX mode and you don't have nvflash specific blobs for your device you are hard bricked...
Luckily I make a recovery file in my SD card wayy back when I did my first Cromi mod. It should still work if the forced recovery restores TWRP. Otherwise, yes, I might be hard bricked.
My friend, however, thinks there might be another way to force a OS past this block though. I'll have to see how this plays out.
JunoZXV said:
Luckily I make a recovery file in my SD card wayy back when I did my first Cromi mod. It should still work if the forced recovery restores TWRP. Otherwise, yes, I might be hard bricked.
My friend, however, thinks there might be another way to force a OS past this block though. I'll have to see how this plays out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry it really doesn't look good, Maybe i can corrected but the device will fallback to APX mode if the bootloader is corrupted, without a bootloader you cant install/fix a recovery and without NvFlash blobs you cant fix the bootloader. Your two options are buy a new motherboard and replace it yourself or send it in for repair with Asus
JunoZXV said:
Luckily I make a recovery file in my SD card wayy back when I did my first Cromi mod. It should still work if the forced recovery restores TWRP. Otherwise, yes, I might be hard bricked.
My friend, however, thinks there might be another way to force a OS past this block though. I'll have to see how this plays out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As JTR says I'm pretty sure you can't fix this without replacing the hardware now. I don't think your friend really understands what APX mode is. YOu can't access the bootloader nor recovery. Without NVflash backup blobs you can't recover anything, there is no way to get your TWRP backups back on to the device and even if you could you have no working bootloader......
I have an old phone that got soft bricked and I recently maganed to reflash the stock ROM. There was a small text file on that phone before it broke that I'd really like back, the only way I can think of is taking a memory dump of the storage and scanning it with some recovery tools on my PC. What is the best way to do this (preferably using just the computer, installing stuff on the phone lowers the chance of retrieving the file)? The phone has TWRP installed. And I know, there's a good chance that the file is overwritten by the stock rom, but it's worth a try.
I doubt if it would still work, it's overwritten already. Usage of the phone lowers the chances, so turn it off, if you want to try.
However, if you really want to try, you can use Readback tab in SP Flash Tool, if it's a MediaTek-based device.
Here's a guide: https://steemit.com/tool/@qurba/the...back-tutorial-uses-sp-flashtool-a8f32a58a6791
Thanks, I doubt it too, but I won't sleep until I am sure it is gone or recover it. The phone has a Qualcomm, have you got a guide for that?
I’ve been asked to restore data and repair bootlooping A51. I’ve tried basic steps and resorted to updating firmware with odin. Recovery mode failed and I couldn’t enter it or fastboot. I’ve used home_csc to hopefully keep user data. Odin shows it passed, left my phone for 10 mins but it still was stuck. Maybe I’ve given it too little time to setup the new firmware.
Anyways now it’s unresponsive, nothing shows up anymore, no button combination works, nothing detected by my PC. Tried disconnecting the battery.
Everything was stock, pretty sure I’ve used the correct system version.
What can I do at this point?
piotrekkrzewi said:
I’ve been asked to restore data and repair bootlooping A51. I’ve tried basic steps and resorted to updating firmware with odin. Recovery mode failed and I couldn’t enter it or fastboot. I’ve used home_csc to hopefully keep user data. Odin shows it passed, left my phone for 10 mins but it still was stuck. Maybe I’ve given it too little time to setup the new firmware.
Anyways now it’s unresponsive, nothing shows up anymore, no button combination works, nothing detected by my PC. Tried disconnecting the battery.
Everything was stock, pretty sure I’ve used the correct system version.
What can I do at this point?
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Click to collapse
Have it repaired. It sounds like something got corrupted and the bootloader won't start. The only way to fix this is with a board level flash, and Samsung/Qualcomm do not make the tools or the files available to do this. Most repair centers don't even have the ability to do this; they'll just replace the mainboard and program it with the original IMEI. Of course, this means that all user data will be lost.
V0latyle said:
Have it repaired. It sounds like something got corrupted and the bootloader won't start. The only way to fix this is with a board level flash, and Samsung/Qualcomm do not make the tools or the files available to do this. Most repair centers don't even have the ability to do this; they'll just replace the mainboard and program it with the original IMEI. Of course, this means that all user data will be lost.
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Click to collapse
Does it make a difference that after a while the phone responded and I can access download mode? I’m trying third firmware from a different source and still using home_csc to hopefully save the damn data.
Is there anything else I could try at this point? Still no access to recovery though.
What I am going to try now is to get twrp on the device and get the data off the phone this way. I don’t know if I can since I didn’t enable OEM Unlocking or whatever it’s called in the settings. Hoping for some tips, thanks!
piotrekkrzewi said:
Does it make a difference that after a while the phone responded and I can access download mode? I’m trying third firmware from a different source and still using home_csc to hopefully save the damn data.
Is there anything else I could try at this point? Still no access to recovery though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're able to get into download mode, reflash the OEM firmware. You can try using HOME_CSC. Data wipe might be necessary if it bootloops.
piotrekkrzewi said:
What I am going to try now is to get twrp on the device and get the data off the phone this way. I don’t know if I can since I didn’t enable OEM Unlocking or whatever it’s called in the settings. Hoping for some tips, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you didn't unlock the bootloader, this won't do you any good.
Are you seeing any error message on the download mode screen?
I forget if the A51 is a Mediatek device
Right now the device is dead again. I will be leaving it to charge and I hope it comes back alive, like it did before.
I’ve had bootloader errors on the download mode screen when I tried to install the firmware. At this point I am lost in what happened when, but I believe I got the bootloader errors when I tried to install the same firmware I’ve tried prior, so that doesn’t make sense.
I think the battery might be the problem here. It would turn off randomly before it bootlooped and it doesn’t hold charge now. The battery might’ve failed when an update was installing, but that’s just my detective work.
I will be replying with further tests when it turns on.
So, there is some weird behavior. After the phone charges for a few hours it tries to boot. If I hard reset it twice it dies. I need to hard reset it after it comes back and immadietly hold vol buttons to get it into download mode.
I can now experiment more. The original firmware version the phone came to me with is unable to install. Probably because I’ve already installed a newer version of android and it doesn’t allow me to go back. I’ve tried installing a newer bootloader and leave AP, CSC, CP. It fails harder, but I’m still able to try new firmware.
What do I try now? Data recovery is expensive, I’d love to try some stuff, but I don’t have enough time to do proper research and conduct experiments unfortunately.
Sounds like hardware problem if you can control temperature very precisely, you can try to remelt the solder if you know the temperature from the Service Manual. If not - leave to specialized service center who does this kind of thing all the time (ask them if they do).
In terms of flashing, to boot, maybe try Samsung Switch as it should be designed to preserve data however I am not vouching for it.
With Odin just skip the USERDATA and PIT
Doublecheck the exact model SM-Axxx ? Firmware files should be different per exact model.
Share pictures when you hit a problem.