Soft brick, but can't access recovery mode - AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III

Hey there, so my phone randomly decided to stop working today.
Whenever I put the battery in the phone or plug in the charger, the Samsung screen loads then nothing. This all happens without me pushing the power button btw. Then the power button doesn't work, nor can I access recovery.
Like I mentioned, this all happened very suddenly and unexpectedly. I haven't flashed a rom in awhile so I'm not sure what caused the problem. One tidbit worth mentioning is that my phone would randomly reboot on the rom I've been using, but it wouldn't happen too often.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Not exactly sure what I should do in this situation. Thanks for reading.

nfsplayer99 said:
Hey there, so my phone randomly decided to stop working today.
Whenever I put the battery in the phone or plug in the charger, the Samsung screen loads then nothing. This all happens without me pushing the power button btw. Then the power button doesn't work, nor can I access recovery.
Like I mentioned, this all happened very suddenly and unexpectedly. I haven't flashed a rom in awhile so I'm not sure what caused the problem. One tidbit worth mentioning is that my phone would randomly reboot on the rom I've been using, but it wouldn't happen too often.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Not exactly sure what I should do in this situation. Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try to be quicker to access recovery, power off the phone. then press the power, vol up, and home then AS SOON as you see the blue text on the left top side of the samsung logo screen let go of the buttons, it should boot into recovery then wipe data factory reset and reboot.

Andy_nu said:
try to be quicker to access recovery, power off the phone. then press the power, vol up, and home then AS SOON as you see the blue text on the left top side of the samsung logo screen let go of the buttons, it should boot into recovery then wipe data factory reset and reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I was able to do that once, but then the phone just goes to a black screen and doesn't load anything

nfsplayer99 said:
Yeah, I was able to do that once, but then the phone just goes to a black screen and doesn't load anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flash this recovery attached with odin by booting into download mode via power vol down and home, wipe data factory reset and reboot
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=9390212717148635222 (recovery)
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=9390275921635705049 (odin)
place in pda with only f. reset time and auto reboot checked. it SHOULD only take about 10 seconds to flash. as soon as your phone reboots hold the recovery combo and it should go to it

I can't really access download mode either.
I'll get to the screen that asks if I want to go into download mode, then push the up on the volume rocker, get to the next screen, but then it goes black about a second later.
Thanks for all the help so far though.

nfsplayer99 said:
I can't really access download mode either.
I'll get to the screen that asks if I want to go into download mode, then push the up on the volume rocker, get to the next screen, but then it goes black about a second later.
Thanks for all the help so far though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kinda odd. never had that happen before. ,maybe you could try to reflash the download mode into your phone using this method
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2369125(make sure you use a debrick.img http://d-h.st/iEy for att not sprint BTW)
or use a jig. since your phone can still access the boot interface.

nfsplayer99 said:
I can't really access download mode either.
I'll get to the screen that asks if I want to go into download mode, then push the up on the volume rocker, get to the next screen, but then it goes black about a second later.
Thanks for all the help so far though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you done this and then connected the USB to see if ODIN will recognize the phone? it's entirely possible that you are getting into download mode, but just can't see it..
It's certainly worth a try.

Related

Booting to recovery with button combination not working

So, after trying out a few firmwares (JM2, JG8, JM5) and kernels (Samset&OC) I can't no longer boot to recovery with Vol UP + Home + power. I can't really say when this problem first occurred, but maybe with JG8 flash. The strange thing is that I can get to recovery with adb reboot recovery and through android console with reboot recovery (when rooted ofc). Also download mode works great.
Things I have tried:
-flash again to JM2 and JM5 with re-partition checked (512 PIT)
-cleared cache+data through recovery
-factory reset through phone code (this also cleared the internal SD)
-took out the battery multiple times
-booted phone without sim
-flashed phone without sim
-changed CSC with phone code
-restore a nandroid backup of JM2. Recovery worked with this one when I took the backup
-there's no external flash card inserted
Soooo..does anyone have any idea about this kind of problem?
i had a similar problem after trying few ROMs. In my case, when i pres the key combi i get the boot logo and then few seconds later the screen goes black and then i see the boot logo again, and this goes forever. and then i tried pressing the same key combination simultaneously and once i see the boot logo i let go the power button and keep the vol up and home pressed, and then only it went into the recovery mode.
hope it works the same for you
Cheers
Agreed, 99.9% chance you are doing it wrong.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
mmthabet: I had the exact same experience. Letting go of the power button when the logo appears lets me enter recovery.
or you may need to take out the battery first for a few seconds... after that, you can reinsert it back and try recovery mode...
at least this work for me...
Thanks for replies but none of the solutions work. The recovery mode button combination DID work for a few weeks, but then just stopped working.
I know that I'm doing it right. I have always pressed vol up and home down until the phone loaded recovery and only briefly pressed power button just at the start. I have also tried to remove battery multiple times and once waited 30 mins before re-inserting it.
Trust me, I'm not doing it wrong :s And recovery is working great through adb reboot recovery and shell.
Darkstriker said:
Agreed, 99.9% chance you are doing it wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More so a timing issue. Buttons not pressed at the same time.
I get it all the time for all combo's.
Just keep trying.
You might already have this however just in case you dont, check out Quick Boot.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/com.siriusapplications.quickboot
With this app you can boot into recovery mode. Have to be rooted though.
odyssey61 said:
You might already have this however just in case you dont, check out Quick Boot.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/com.siriusapplications.quickboot
With this app you can boot into recovery mode. Have to be rooted though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this wont work, if you bricked the phone in a bad flash situation.
in times when this app works, you can easily do adb reboot recover
so this app still doesn't address the real issue of how to get the 3 buttons press hardware recovery mode
Laum said:
I know that I'm doing it right. I have always pressed vol up and home down until the phone loaded recovery and only briefly pressed power button just at the start.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I release the buttons right when the first Samsung texts comes on the screen. It will take it to Recovery mode. I also had a "boot loop" few times, if I keep pressing the buttons all the time.
Have you tried release your fingers right in the first texts? I really don`t know what is exactly the right way to press the buttons, but this always have took it to Recovery.
Looks like my latest full wipe with *2767*3855# cured it. Flashed JM5-->full wipe-->samset1.9b-->samset kernel and now it works. It must've got stuck somehow in my previous JM5 installation.
I cant get into the download- or recovery-mode by using these keys... so i am not able to flash a new firmware! can anybody help me please? is there a chance to get into the download mode by using an adb-command?
please help i just cant get into the download mode!
Igor02 said:
I cant get into the download- or recovery-mode by using these keys... so i am not able to flash a new firmware! can anybody help me please? is there a chance to get into the download mode by using an adb-command?
please help i just cant get into the download mode!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes
adb reboot download
but it is dangerous, as you can not recover from a bricked state, if your flash is not compatible or if something went wrong with odin, etc.
I you're bricked and can't get into Download or recovery mode, leave the device to boot, it will just show a black screen for a while then will turn its self off, once this happens you should be able to use the key combo.
arch3rm said:
I you're bricked and can't get into Download or recovery mode, leave the device to boot, it will just show a black screen for a while then will turn its self off, once this happens you should be able to use the key combo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AHHHHHHHHH OMG, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THIS SOONER, like 5 hours ago...
i could have tried that, and not had to send my phone back for "repair"
well i'm sure i'll see that screen again in the future, i'll try that next time
AllGamer said:
AHHHHHHHHH OMG, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THIS SOONER, like 5 hours ago...
i could have tried that, and not had to send my phone back for "repair"
well i'm sure i'll see that screen again in the future, i'll try that next time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I did just get the phone 2 days ago,
Had that problem the same day, discovered the fix two hrs of horror later
Same Problem here i contact samsung here in mexico and a technical aggent tell me if we make a repair our phones we need a jtag and this is so bad alllready contact many people jtag manufacturers in china and honkong trow alibaba.com and no luck don't have other source i try is contact to nspro and z3x and no support for this repairand only hope still have is a reply from the people in the forum SMTi Jtag Repair Tool
Its hard to me go to UK Samsung Service Center i'm in mexico like i said
and i'm waith for a solve this i;m so very sad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8AIvalzBvY
Darkstriker said:
Agreed, 99.9% chance you are doing it wrong.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I usually release the power button on the boot screen first and then the other two buttons
arch3rm said:
I you're bricked and can't get into Download or recovery mode, leave the device to boot, it will just show a black screen for a while then will turn its self off, once this happens you should be able to use the key combo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any idea how long you waited? Been waiting 5 minutes, hasn't shut off. Mine's a Bell though so I'm guessing I won't have any luck.
The way i do it (no chance of doing it wrong and timing):
hold down+home and then also press the power button for a little more then 10 seconds (so all 3 buttons for 10 seconds). The phone will reset into download mode, never fails in whatever mode the phone originaly was..

[Q] Did I Brick My Phone? Please Help

I booted my phone into recovery mode with ClockworkMod Recovery, and when I got to the screen with all of the options, every option resulted in a blank black screen. Now I can't even reboot my phone. I have tried taking out the battery and retrying multiple times, but it just keeps coming back... Is there any way to fix this?
Do a search for odin. You'll be able to revert to a stock (unrooted) state. From there, you can start anew.
Good luck!
Sent from my fully armed and operational battle station
I thought this might be an option, will try it... However, if i'm not mistaken, odin requires you to boot the phone into the download mode (holding 1 and power button), but i am unable to do this. As soon as I put the battery in, it goes to the Clockwork screen.
Martinpibb22 said:
I thought this might be an option, will try it... However, if i'm not mistaken, odin requires you to boot the phone into the download mode (holding 1 and power button), but i am unable to do this. As soon as I put the battery in, it goes to the Clockwork screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you use the camera button to select an option in clockworkmod. If you press the home button I believe the screen turns black.
Hummm. is the battery the sole power source? (i.e., not charging or usb'd up)
Sent from my fully armed and operational battle station
jprocha101 said:
Make sure you use the camera button to select an option in clockworkmod. If you press the home button I believe the screen turns black.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, this worked!
Martinpibb22 said:
Thank you, this worked!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. Make sure to click the Thanks button on my post

[Q] Brick? (Phone won't stay in download mode)

Hey guys, I'm not sure if my phone is dead. It was running fine this morning, Task & Ktoonsez' AOKP with Ktoonsez kernel. However, I tried to unlock it a little while ago and it wouldn't go on. It boots to the splash screen, both normally and going into recovery, but it doesn't last long enough to go into recovery or boot normally. I try to boot into download mode and it boots, but the phone turns off after a few seconds.
I tried to flash back to stock in Odin, but the phone doesn't stay in download mode long enough for the flash to finish.
I'm not sure what to do. Any help would be appreciated.
Pretty sure if it was bricked it wouldn't boot into download mode at all. It sounds like it is losing power or something. The only thing I can think of is maybe your battery is bad. Download mode can run off of USB power if you remove the battery after booting into it. Maybe plug your phone in and boot into download mode, then take your battery out before it shuts off and see if it stays on.
Lumixz said:
Pretty sure if it was bricked it wouldn't boot into download mode at all. It sounds like it is losing power or something. The only thing I can think of is maybe your battery is bad. Download mode can run off of USB power if you remove the battery after booting into it. Maybe plug your phone in and boot into download mode, then take your battery out before it shuts off and see if it stays on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No dice. It just did the same thing it's been doing. I went into download, popped the battery, it stayed in download for a few seconds, and then powered off.
Could it be a faulty power button? The phone is constantly vibrating by itself and if the power button was messed up it could be causing the phone to leave download mode.
Sun0fNothing said:
No dice. It just did the same thing it's been doing. I went into download, popped the battery, it stayed in download for a few seconds, and then powered off.
Could it be a faulty power button? The phone is constantly vibrating by itself and if the power button was messed up it could be causing the phone to leave download mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I can tell pressing or holding the power button in download mode will only restart it, but won't shut it off. Also it takes about 10 seconds. I don't think it's your power button.
Lumixz said:
As far as I can tell pressing or holding the power button in download mode will only restart it, but won't shut it off. Also it takes about 10 seconds. I don't think it's your power button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, okay.
In that case, though, I have no clue what's causing the problem here. At this point the only thing I can do is enter download mode for a few seconds, but I can't get it to be enough time to flash a ROM in Odin.
Sun0fNothing said:
Hey guys, I'm not sure if my phone is dead. It was running fine this morning, Task & Ktoonsez' AOKP with Ktoonsez kernel. However, I tried to unlock it a little while ago and it wouldn't go on. It boots to the splash screen, both normally and going into recovery, but it doesn't last long enough to go into recovery or boot normally. I try to boot into download mode and it boots, but the phone turns off after a few seconds.
I tried to flash back to stock in Odin, but the phone doesn't stay in download mode long enough for the flash to finish.
I'm not sure what to do. Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might be a dumb question... Is your battery charged? I'd plug it in for a while off and see if the battery logo comes up and than try putting it in recovery or download.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
KorGuy123 said:
Might be a dumb question... Is your battery charged? I'd plug it in for a while off and see if the battery logo comes up and than try putting it in recovery or download.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that too. It's been plugged in for a while and the same thing happens. It just stays in download mode for a few seconds and then turns off. Also, I tried flashing back to stock in Odin but it failed because the phone turned off before the flash could finish. Now the phone says "Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select Recovery mode in Kies and try again."
So it's basically stuck in download mode cause of a corrupted flash. If I could get the phone to stay in download mode, I could flash it back to stock with Odin, but it's not giving me enough time at this point.
I'm running into the same problem currently, I was wondering if you were able to find a solution. Same ROM same Kernel. I've been using my current version of the ROM since October and haven't flashed anything recently, It just died on me last nigth and now I'm experiencing what you are as well. I was able to turn on the phone somehow last night but it stayed on for couple of mins and turned off again. At the time I had 60% charge.
Thanks
Unfortunately not. Sent my phone back to AT&T and they honored the warranty (despite it being very clear that I was rooted and on custom software).
@fly3rr
Sent from the Dank Device
Sun0fNothing said:
Unfortunately not. Sent my phone back to AT&T and they honored the warranty (despite it being very clear that I was rooted and on custom software).
@fly3rr
Sent from the Dank Device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I got the phone when it launched so it's been over a year hence I'm well over the one year manufacturer warranty. Doubt they'll honor it for me =/.
Bad news, It's not about software, it's a hardware issue.
I had that issue with a Sprint S3,
The power button switch is stuck pressed all the time, you can try to hit it a little and maybe it pops out but the issue is gonna still there.
If you remove and insert the battery does it vibrates and tries to turn on without pressing the power button?
Damian8a said:
Bad news, It's not about software, it's a hardware issue.
I had that issue with a Sprint S3,
The power button switch is stuck pressed all the time, you can try to hit it a little and maybe it pops out but the issue is gonna still there.
If you remove and insert the battery does it vibrates and tries to turn on without pressing the power button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup I just realized it was the power button issue. I managed to fix the problem[kind of], i kept trying to get into download mode while connected to AC Adapter with official charging cables. And it stayed in download mode long enough for me to go back to stock ROM. I'm just trying to avoid hitting the power button as much as possible because every time I do something goes crazy and phone turns off.
I'm gonna try and go to AT&T store tomorrow to see if they can do anything about this.
Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate it.
You're welcome. Good luck dude :thumbup:
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
I have the same problem. I've tried to install quickly the twrp. But is not time enough
My problem was the battery. After charge a lot, all thing works fine.

I just got this S3 and it wont stop rebooting...

Ok So I just bought this att s3 from Craigslist. As soon as I got home it started restarting , it will reboot like after 10 seconds.
It boots as far as the Samsung logo then restarts. Sometimes it goes all they way to att splash screen then reboots.
What I have tried to fix.
1) boot to recovery whipe data and dalvik, but it won't give me enough time to copleate the command before it restarts.
2) boot to download mode but won't stay on enough time to hook it up to my pc the use odin on it.
3)Booted safe mode and the phone booted up all the way then the power menu came up then restarted.
Im out of ideas Do you think the mother board is messed up?
Plzz help thank you for looking and for your help/...
kipster3001 said:
Ok So I just bought this att s3 from Craigslist. As soon as I got home it started restarting , it will reboot like after 10 seconds.
It boots as far as the Samsung logo then restarts. Sometimes it goes all they way to att splash screen then reboots.
What I have tried to fix.
1) boot to recovery whipe data and dalvik, but it won't give me enough time to copleate the command before it restarts.
2) boot to download mode but won't stay on enough time to hook it up to my pc the use odin on it.
3)Booted safe mode and the phone booted up all the way then the power menu came up then restarted.
Im out of ideas Do you think the mother board is messed up?
Plzz help thank you for looking and for your help/...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ask if this was rooted before you got it ? So you got the phone home and had done nothing to it before it started rebooting or did you do something and it start ?
I've heard this happen when someone had a wipe for bad and the recovery gets borked but it could be the power button as well. The hard reboot happens after the power button has been pushed for 10 seconds. This could explain the constant reboots/ Mess around with it and see if that helps. I had this happen on a skyrocket and cappy and the button got "unstuck"
hednik said:
Did you ask if this was rooted before you got it ? So you got the phone home and had done nothing to it before it started rebooting or did you do something and it start ?
I've heard this happen when someone had a wipe for bad and the recovery gets borked but it could be the power button as well. The hard reboot happens after the power button has been pushed for 10 seconds. This could explain the constant reboots/ Mess around with it and see if that helps. I had this happen on a skyrocket and cappy and the button got "unstuck"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not rooted when i manage to get in into download mode its official and the counter is 0 .
the recovery is stock. I did think that It could be the power button stuck but the button clicks . Im gonna have it checked anyway to see if it could be the power button
kipster3001 said:
its not rooted when i manage to get in into download mode its official and the counter is 0 .
the recovery is stock. I did think that It could be the power button stuck but the button clicks . Im gonna have it checked anyway to see if it could be the power button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it reboots even when plugged/charging?
Did you try another battery?
kipster3001 said:
its not rooted when i manage to get in into download mode its official and the counter is 0 .
the recovery is stock. I did think that It could be the power button stuck but the button clicks . I'm gonna have it checked anyway to see if it could be the power button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not really a matter of it not clicking physically on the outside but something sticking under that button.
From your initial post to you stated it not always restarting at the exact same point during the boot up. Tend to make me think physical.
If its not rooted and has stock recovery someone might have rooted it before and then tried to put it back stock and borked it somehow.
Have you tried downloading Odin 3.07 and see if it's recognized ?
Did it boot when you bought it ? Please don't tell me you bought it without seeing it boot up first...
hednik said:
Did it boot when you bought it ? Please don't tell me you bought it without seeing it boot up first...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1

[solved]I might have messed up somewhere Stock Recovery

So I downloaded the Stock Recovery from Mr Hofs Collection of Stock Recovery thread in General Section.
I flashed stock recovery, all went well. I attach picture of command prompt to show.
After I flashed it though and went to recovery it just gave me a black screen with a little phone in the middle, in the middle of the little phone was a red triangle with an upside exclamation mark. It was stuck like that for the better part of half an hour(pressed volume down with power, held power alone for minutes on end) nothing. No writing on it nothing.
Luckly as I was busy starting this thread now it just rebooted on its own and went back into the system. Is it totally fixed now or will it give me problems when I go into recovery? Should I go into recovery again?
How do I check if stock recovery is fine now or if there are any problems? I don't want it to hang and/or brick now.
Please if I made a mistake somewhere, tell me what I did wrong for future reference, I don't think I did anything wrong with commands
You can see at bottom of command prompt to, I even tried fastboot devices / adb devices to see if it picks anything up because I get the sound the computer makes when it's connected to USB so the computer at least picked up something.
Should I sell the phone now? lol
Boot again into recovery using the method you described. Once you see the android with red triangle image press and hold the volume up key and then press the power button while keeping the up button pressed. You'll enter the stock recovery.
This is the normal way of booting into stock recovery. You are fine!
umsheikh said:
Boot again into recovery using the method you described. Once you see the android with red triangle image press and hold the volume up key and then press the power button while keeping the up button pressed. You'll enter the stock recovery.
This is the normal way of booting into stock recovery. You are fine!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried going back into recovery, got to the screen with the triangle and and pressed volume up and power button like you said. Instead of then taking me into stock recovery, it just vibrates and then reboots the phone.
BerndM14 said:
I tried going back into recovery, got to the screen with the triangle and and pressed volume up and power button like you said. Instead of then taking me into stock recovery, it just vibrates and then reboots the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm...i am running TWRP on GPE so i am not able to test this directly. Let's try one more time, but this time follow these steps:
- go back to recovery and wait for the red triangle screen
- wait for 5 - 10 seconds (don't think this is necessary, but try it anyways)
- this time press both volume up and down keys, and while holding them down press the power button
hopefully this will work. Otherwise i can try on a friends phone in the morning and give you the right combo.
umsheikh said:
hmm...i am running TWRP on GPE so i am not able to test this directly. Let's try one more time, but this time follow these steps:
- go back to recovery and wait for the red triangle screen
- wait for 5 - 10 seconds (don't think this is necessary, but try it anyways)
- this time press both volume up and down keys, and while holding them down press the power button
hopefully this will work. Otherwise i can try on a friends phone in the morning and give you the right combo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing, just vibrates and then reboots
What are you hoping for? You have stock recovery installed now. You seem to have discovered why there are custom ones.
BenPope said:
What are you hoping for? You have stock recovery installed now. You seem to have discovered why there are custom ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With no recovery options, is that right though? It doesn't show me anything written on the screen and when I press "up volume and power" this should take you to some options, it gives nothing, it just reboots.
Not right then? Or will it still work fine just as it is now for OTAs?
P.S I have tried all methods given by umsheikh, I downloaded quickboot to try it, I did an adb reboot recovery to see if I can go through there, did it manually, shut off, wait a bit, turn back on go to recovery press power, wait 10secs press up and power, nothing, all of them just reboots the phone. It's bugging me lol
If you say it's right though and there is no need for me to actually see the options that it gives and I'll still receive my OTAs etc then fine, I'll leave it then, but I don't think it's right, is it?
Getting into the options is fiddly, but it sounds right. Try fastboot erase cache
BenPope said:
Getting into the options is fiddly, but it sounds right. Try fastboot erase cache
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, clearing cache worked, I see options now in recovery :good:

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