Okay, so I installed the hardware unlock update.zip but flashed eugene's unofficial jk2 which removed it. Unfortunately, it is now bricked as well, no voodoo or anything, have no idea what went wrong. Can I send this to tmobile on account that I had a hardware locked phone for replacement in this state?
Have you tried Odin yet? That has saved my ass when I bricked my phone. Vibrants are pretty tough. I'm sure you can fix it without getting a replacement.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Yeah, I had a ROM break recovery, but you're good as long as download mode still works. Give it a shot. My method is to remove the batt, plug in the cable, hold down both volume buttons and pop in the battery.
How can you check to see if your particular Vibrant is hardware locked?
I just bought one (after migrating from the HD2) and I'm trying to wrap my head around all the new flash tools, etc. Android seems much more complicated than Windows Mobile via HSPL.
donalgodon said:
How can you check to see if your particular Vibrant is hardware locked?
I just bought one (after migrating from the HD2) and I'm trying to wrap my head around all the new flash tools, etc. Android seems much more complicated than Windows Mobile via HSPL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hardware locked means the hardware doesn't respond at all. I've never heard of any genuine case of someone getting their Vibrant hardware locked except developers. Even then it is EXTREMELY rare.
Most people end up with their phone going into a bootloop which can be fixed by reflashing a rom in recovery or restoring through Odin.
The rest are "soft bricked" meaning they have no recovery or boot. General this is caused by people flashing non-voodoo roms/kernels on top of a voodoo-enabled kernel or flashing a 2.1 nandroid on a 2.2 rom/kernel. In this case you can still get into download mode (hold both volume buttons then plug in usb cable) and restore through odin.
donalgodon said:
How can you check to see if your particular Vibrant is hardware locked?
I just bought one (after migrating from the HD2) and I'm trying to wrap my head around all the new flash tools, etc. Android seems much more complicated than Windows Mobile via HSPL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hardware locked is referring to vibrants that cannot go into Recovery Mode, or Download using the volume, and power buttons.
To test this, Turn off your phone completely.
Then PRESS AND HOLD BOTH VOLUME KEYS ALONG WITH THE POWER BUTTON
it will boot up, it will give you the normal VIBRANT samsung screen, wait a while, the screen turns black, thats when you SHOULD let go of all buttons, but if you don't no worries, keep holding it, and it'll go back to vibrant and samsung screen and let go this time.
If this doesn't work the first time, then try it a few more times, you may just be doing it wrong and not having the hardware locked.
I had a Vibrant with USB connectivity issues, and when I called t-mobile, I lied and said my phone was unresponsive and would not turn on. They said they would send me a replacement right away, and I got it within 3 days. This was without insurance btw.
Just tell them it won't boot.
Related
So I plugged my Vibrant into Odin to revert to stock. Apparently everything went wrong, and now my phone is stuck at the Phone---!---computer screen. It seems that my phone won't respond to hardware methods of entering download mode, so am I screwed?
Keep reading on here. This has happened to many people. Keep trying things and hopefully you will get it.
1. Remove SD and SIM card
2. Remove battery
3. plugged the phone into USB (connected to PC)
4. held down vol-up and vol-down
5. popped the battery back in while holding vol buttons
I've tried that, and many other methods, multiple times already. It seems that none of the volume/power methods do anything for my phone. I'm certain that if hardware-locks do exist for certain vibrants, mine just so happens to be one of them (Date on box is August 13). I just want to know if anyone with a similarly dated phone has ever been able to access download mode without adb.
If anyone knows of more methods, please post them. If all else fails, I'll go complain in my local T-Mobile store that my phone died. I have no idea if that'll get me anywhere, but it's worth a shot.
Does anyone who has had a problem similar to mine know of any fix? By that I mean, has someone who has had a presumably hardware-locked phone ever been able to boot it into download mode without adb? I'd really like to know if I can salvage this thing, or if I have to try my luck with T-Mobile.
Try holding volume down and holding power button and plug in USB while this is happening.
Sadly, I've tried that method as well, thank you though for responding. I will continue trying since it seems not to be a 100% thing for some people. Anyway, for the Volume keys + Power method, can anyone provide a more precise time of releasing power than "When it goes black". I'm hoping my inability to enter download mode is human-error, so I'd like as much input on this as possible. Thanks in advance.
Generic112 said:
Sadly, I've tried that method as well, thank you though for responding. I will continue trying since it seems not to be a 100% thing for some people. Anyway, for the Volume keys + Power method, can anyone provide a more precise time of releasing power than "When it goes black". I'm hoping my inability to enter download mode is human-error, so I'd like as much input on this as possible. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you see the " !---> (pc)" symbol, plug your USB in. Hold down volume +, volume -, and power. As soon as the screen turns black release the power button only. Continue holding Vol + and Vol -. You'll enter Download mode.
I've tried that multiple times, but I will continue to try it. It seems as though my phone won't register that buttons are being pressed. All that happens is the phone reboots to the Phone--!--Computer screen every time the power is held and released (As it should). No combination of buttons seems to have any affect on this. Oh well, I'll continue trying and hopefully someone will post a working method.
I have the same problem and the hardware button method isn't working and I am stuck at the Phone ! Computer screen, and I read around the forums and they say that some Vibrant's have the hardware method locked, so you can't boot into Download mode from using the buttons. Since adb cannot find the phone when its stuck at this screen it seems we are both screwed. I have found no other solution other than returning it Tmo, not sure if they will exchange since it might be a violation of warranty.
I'm just going to play dumb when I go to T-Mobile. I'll say it just booted into that screen, and I can't get out of it. The hardware lock appears to be a defect, since it's not present on most Vibrants, so that should be able to warrant the replacement phone. I've been with T-Mobile awhile, and they're usually pretty good with replacements. Besides, the phone would be easily fixed if it wasn't broken in the first place.
But before I go to T-Mobile, I'm going to try and talk to Customer Service. If it's a common problem, then I'm sure it can be covered under warranty (Even though MOST ways of getting it require voiding warranty). Again, on the basis that this wouldn't be a big deal if my phone worked like a normal Vibrant. Besides, I'm sure T-Mobile can flash it without requiring the hardware method, so even if they only charge me some sort of service fee, I won't really mind.
As final moral reassurance for myself, I only tried to flash it because apps started FC on me and the phone constantly acted weird. The only thing I've done is root it, so it's not like I really set it up to fail.
Let me know how it goes with Customer Service. I would to get this problem resolved as well with the least amount of trouble. I don't want to have a brick and have to pay like $500 for a new phone. And I think the hardware buttons thing might actually be a defect. I tried doing the hardware buttons thing to get to recovery mode once before and it worked. I did this to install an update.zip to root the phone. It only worked that one time and now the buttons don't boot into recovery mode or download mode. It if works once then not again, there has to be something wrong.
I'll be trying them tomorrow (It's 10PM where I am). If all goes well, I'll try and contact you. I'm pretty sure I'll be safe so long as I don't mention rooting it. The firmware flash they'll have to do should help me on that front, so unless they catch on, I should be safe. Anyway, hopefully tomorrow I'll be good news, otherwise expect some post from me on Monday or Tuesday, depending on whether I have the time to deal with them or not.
Hey Generic112, I got with T-Mobile customer service. I told them about the screen I was seeing but did not mention rooting or attempting to flash the phone. They said they will replace my phone by shipping me a new Vibrant, but I have to return the one I have. I am not sure if they will do a check to verify if the Vibrant was rooted or not after they receive it, but I will have my new Vibrant before they receive the one I have. I won't know what will happen for awhile because its going to take a week for the new phone to arrive and when it does then I will be returning the one with the phone ! computer problem, unless someone thinks it is a better idea to tell them what happened and have them repair it?
I am also struck with the same problem
Hi,
I am also struck with the same problem. Please let me know if you guys got any method to resolve the problem or T-Mobile was able to help.
the3dman said:
Keep reading on here. This has happened to many people. Keep trying things and hopefully you will get it.
1. Remove SD and SIM card
2. Remove battery
3. plugged the phone into USB (connected to PC)
4. held down vol-up and vol-down
5. popped the battery back in while holding vol buttons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This method actually worked for me. I was beginning to think I'd have to build the USB jig, but tried this as a last ditch. Thanks!
The above method has worked for me numerous times with the same problem, my old bricked one, and my new one. Try holding down power button as well once or twice, never know. You have to keep the volume buttons pressed the whole time for it to work.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
ViralCipher said:
Hey Generic112, I got with T-Mobile customer service. I told them about the screen I was seeing but did not mention rooting or attempting to flash the phone. They said they will replace my phone by shipping me a new Vibrant, but I have to return the one I have. I am not sure if they will do a check to verify if the Vibrant was rooted or not after they receive it, but I will have my new Vibrant before they receive the one I have. I won't know what will happen for awhile because its going to take a week for the new phone to arrive and when it does then I will be returning the one with the phone ! computer problem, unless someone thinks it is a better idea to tell them what happened and have them repair it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In some cases that I've read they say, TMo charged them 600$ for the Replacement after finding out that it was bricked due to hacking. Before replacing try to get it repaired by them.
I would also like people whose phones were replaced to confirm what I've said above.
ech419 said:
In some cases that I've read they say, TMo charged them 600$ for the Replacement after finding out that it was bricked due to hacking. Before replacing try to get it repaired by them.
I would also like people whose phones were replaced to confirm what I've said above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He should be able to get the phone woking again, what happened is not a big deal. If he sends it in the way it's sitting right now, t'Mo's techs won't have a problem getting it working again. (IMO) Especially if they find out the phone's rooted, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets charged.
I bricked my phone so bad, it was beyond recovery. I erased the bootloader, therefore it was completelly dead. No life. I got a replacement under warranty for free, never got charged for it.
My advice would be to try and get to work again before sending it in.
Hi,
I tried flashing the phone with Clockwork. Part of the way through the flash it started writing in large letters going off the screen (weird text) then screen turned off, and back on to the installation progress, and then it shut off. No response from anything.
I did a battery pull after 10 mins to try to get the phone into recovery, but the phone does not respond to any combination of keys, battery pulls, and connecting the phone to the PC does nothing. The computer does not see the phone, the USB controller in hardware management does not refresh and show anything when connecting while holding both volume keys, and I have tried everything I could google.
There are no lights on the phone when pressing power, or any combination of recovery keys. Screen is permanently off.
Is there a way to force the phone to boot into any mode to get any recovery?
Thanks for the info.
The T-Mobile Vibrant and the Bell Vibrant are not the same and are quite incompatible actually. Did you flash something for the T-Mobile Vibrant instead? That could be your problem. If so, you'll need to be more careful in making sure it works on the "Bell Vibrant" since most of the stuff here is only tested on the US TMO Vibrant. The big letters are pretty common / normal when flashing a ROM kernel, modem, etc. It would help to know what OS version, ROM name / version you were running before and what filesystem (RFS, EXT2, EXT4). You might also mention what you tried flashing and the version of the Clockwork you were using if you can remember.
Even though you say it doesn't respond to charging, does that mean when you plug it into the "Wall Outlet" as well as the "Computer"? They have been known to produce different results. If you can get it to show the Green battery charge screen, there's a good chance you'll be fine.
Have you seen / read this thread before? - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=848737
Failing that, you might wish to try the USB JIG method to try to see if that will get you into "Download Mode".
I was trying to flash from Stock 2.1 to Axura2259VE. Not sure what File System.
Only tried charging on computer with no response. will try a dedicated usb charger.
I was using the latest version of Clockwork as of today (Updated from app store, Jan 5).
I will put the jig together tonight if possible.
The phone is a GT-I9000M if that helps.
"If your phone screen is always black, that is it does not display the white Galaxy S/Samsung/AT&T logo when you switch it on, then sorry, this jig will not help you."
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=819551
So, the Jig will not work for my situation. Anything else I can do? The phone was bought on classifieds and only bricked when updating.
Yes, that's the proper model # for the Canadian Vibrant. The US Vibrant is T959. I'm not sure Axura2259VE for T959 is compatible with the Bell Vibrant as the developer (Master) only owns a US model AFAIK. Try the dedicated charger that came with the phone plugged into a wall outlet with no extensions in between. Mind you, I've not troubleshooted a Bell Vibrant before so I don't know how it differs.
The Filesystem is RFS when stock, EXT2 if you applied the OCLF lagfix from RyanZA (not recommended) and EXT4 if you're running VooDoo. By asking about the filesystem, I was just wondering whether you had a lag fix installed / in-use before flashing. Does any of this apply to you?
I have installed lag fix following the tutorial from the app store, but it was for the intent of rooting the phone, which was already rooted. nothing else was run in the application unless it runs the lag fix by default. doubtful. I do not think it was applied.
Phone not under warranty because i bought it from classifieds. Hoping to get it fixed myself so will try to assemble the 301k resistance between pins 4 and 5 and try it tonight.
Any other ideas?
I really don't know what else to suggest to you. However, installation of the lagfix was unnecessary to have obtained root access on the phone. Rooting and Lagfixing are separate processes. If it was both rooted and lag fixed then which app from the Market did you use to apply the lagfix? Did you disable the lagfix before flashing?
RyanZA's OCLF 2.0.
I had it installed, never ran the lag fix, so I do not think this is the case here.
Thanks alot for the replies. I will post results tonight.
eugenek5 said:
I was trying to flash from Stock 2.1 to Axura2259VE. Not sure what File System.
Only tried charging on computer with no response. will try a dedicated usb charger.
I was using the latest version of Clockwork as of today (Updated from app store, Jan 5).
I will put the jig together tonight if possible.
The phone is a GT-I9000M if that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The latest Axura flashes the bootloader to your phone. I suspect this is what the problem is and why you are unable to recover from it. I know absolutely nothing about the Bell Vibrant, but flashing a bootloader will affect how you get into recovery/download mode [I THINK]. You could try entering download mode the way U.S. Vibrant owners do, but I'm not sure if it will help. Sorry I don't have any helpful information, just thought I'd note the possible cause for your grief.
Interesting. I hadn't realized that or looked to see if that was the case. That definitely makes sense. Bootloader bricks are the hardest to recover from IMO (if you can at all). At least, in the future the OP should be able to tell if any rom if going to update the bootloader if it contains an "SBL.bin" in the package.
What?!? I'm suprised a ROM was packaged with the bootloader. To me flashing the bootloader is risky business. I'm not sure there's a way a consumer can recover from a failed bootloader
silow said:
What?!? I'm suprised a ROM was packaged with the bootloader. To me flashing the bootloader is risky business. I'm not sure there's a way a consumer can recover from a failed bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't flashed the new Axura because of the inclusion of the bootloader [SBL.bin] and truth be told I was shocked when I saw it in there.
So you guys are saying that the Jtag way does not work? I am sitting here trying to connect 2x150K resistors to pin 4-5 and it is not doing anything.
eugenek5 said:
So you guys are saying that the Jtag way does not work? I am sitting here trying to connect 2x150K resistors to pin 4-5 and it is not doing anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This method is to help you get into download mode if you are "hardware locked". In your case you have the wrong bootloader on your phone. At this point there is not much you can do yourself. The bootloader will need to be reflashed and as far as I know that's only possible with external equipment rigged into your phone.
I think other people were able to recover from the same incident. they just went to a phone technician(i don't know what do call that) and they just flashed a bootloader to your phone and it wil be flashed back to stock.
hey i'm not sure about this because i have only read about it and i really can't remember where because a lot of bricks already happened here.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Hard brick and fix not working
SO...
My vibrant is bricked, and I have my brother's vibrant to reference. (GT-I9000M)
This is a hard brick, with nothing showing up on the screen.
I have ordered the JIG thinking this would solve the boot issue, but with no luck.
I have tried the following:
- Up/Down - USB - Battery - Release keys
- Up/Down/Power - USB - Battery - Release keys
- JIG - Battery
- Battery - JIG
- USB - Up/Power/Menu - Battery
- USB - Down/Power/Menu - Battery
I have confirmed that the second vibrant that is working fine boots from the JIG successfully. I have also confirmed that the battery is working fine and tested on the other phone.
Cause: Battery pull on unsuccessful flash.
Please help! This phone has been bricked for 2 weeks and I want it back to working. I am out of ideas!
I had my phone hard bricked literally 4 days ago. I called T-Mobile and now I'm typing to you from the new phone. Call and see if the phone is still under warranty. If not then you'll have to pay Samsung themselves to fix the issue for you. I don't know what they'll charge, but I'll assume no more than $60 since its a software issue.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
OuncE718 said:
I had my phone hard bricked literally 4 days ago. I called T-Mobile and now I'm typing to you from the new phone. Call and see if the phone is still under warranty. If not then you'll have to pay Samsung themselves to fix the issue for you. I don't know what they'll charge, but I'll assume no more than $60 since its a software issue.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bought from Classifieds so not sure if it is covered. I have contacted repair places around Toronto.
Any advice would be awesome.
Not sure if there are differences for Download mode but the I9000 forum might be better than the US Vibrant forum.
eugenek5 said:
Bought from Classifieds so not sure if it is covered. I have contacted repair places around Toronto.
Any advice would be awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought mine off craigslist from a private seller. Its worth a try. The most they'll say is no. Just don't say you rooted your phone.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
So I think I flashed the wrong rom with odin and after it passed, I expected the phone to reboot itself but it just stayed black. After this point, I was unable to turn it on at all. I've tried the steps to bring it back into download mode (remove everything>plug in usb cable>hold both volume buttons>plug in battery). Nothing pops up at all. Did I actually brick it or is there another method into bringing back into download mode?
Pull the battery and let it sit for about 30min then try again. If it still doesn't work, you probably need to invest in a jig
Thanks will report back in a half an hour or so hopefully with good news
In the meantime, does anyone have any other suggestions?
Don't forget that you don't necessarily need to see Download on your phone. If you see the yellow COM box lit up on Odin it is recognized.
While you are waiting check out NOOB_IN_N33D's miui guide for some helpful tips to get into dl mode.
Thanks will try and see if anything pops up in a few minutes
I just plugged the battery back in and still nothing boots up while holding both the volume buttons with the usb cable in. I also opened up odin and it does not detect the phone at all. What else can be done at this rate besides the jig?
Pull the battery out plug in usb hold down the download mode buttons then put battery back in
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Tried that already
anyone got any other suggestions?
Jig
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Will a jig even work if it doesn't power on?
What rom did you flash and what kind of phone is it?
T-Mobile Vibrant.
As to what rom, i cna't remember where I got it from but I suspect that I odin'ed a i9000 rom stock rom from canada instead of using a gt-i9000 rom (if that makes any sense)
edit: I am pretty sure I used this:
http://www.darkyrom.com/community/i...-darkyrom-gingerbread-jvh-noob-friendly.3080/
Can someone confirm if this is bricked or not so I can get this off my mind?
When i flashed the rom that I posted above, it passed and after that point, never turned on again. Tried every weird combination of trying to get it into download mod (volume buttons after plugging in the usb, battery off>hold volume buttons>connect usb>put back battery, volume down+home+power) and nothing has worked thus far. Any knowledge on the matter would be great.
Looking like a Possible Hardbrick
I looked at what you flashed, and I'm not completely sure, unless I read more on the code, But you may have hard bricked your phone because you wrote the wrong Boot loaders onto the Chip of your phone! Because the international models use different HW than the US models, and the SW that is written for them is a different set of power on instructions. each phone uses its own code to initiate a power on sequence. thats why there isnt just one code for hundreds of different phones!
I've always loved Darkys ROM's but they always gave me problems or wouldn't work right after 9.3 for me, and his ROM's are really primarily for Overseas/ European models of the Vibrant. and as such is why alot of peeps here in the US, stopped using his ROM's after certain evolutions were developed.
There are two boot loaders that work one after the other, for the T-959.
The primary BL simply powers on the device and then the secondary boot loader initiates the loading of the OS/ROM.
If the wrong primary Boot loader is installed or the proper one is corrupted, you will be in a condition known as " A True hard bricked situation" meaning nothing powers on, no lights, LED's no glimmer of any electrical activity at all!!
If you see any LED's or anything even for a moment of electrical activity, then your phone is soft bricked and can be recovered! But again if the first scenario I described is taking place then you are Hard Bricked!
After you determine for sure your HBricked for sure you have 3 options.
Try to get a warranty swap, but if they do a forensic search on your phone and see a benign ROM loaded, your gonna take a 299$ or 399$ bath cuz they'll know you bonked it using non OE SW.
Option number 2, Josh at Mobile tech: does JTAGing. Link below.
http://mobiletechvideos.mybigcommerce.com/samsung-vibrant-jtag-brick-repair/
JTAGing involves writing the proper boot loaders onto your phones chip, and you are resurrected again.
Third option: try Adams solder-less JTAG method here is the link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1397393
Just first try any and all combos to see if you can power the phone on at all, if its trully dead= no powering of any kind, then you can proceed to make a decision as to how to proceed, based on the options I outlined for you!
Good luck, and remember, to always check and read first what your flashing before doing so to avoid scenarios like this in the future, an extra moments time and reading can save many $$ and loss of time with the phone, and any hair you may still have above!
My Vibrant phone is one of the versions where pressing any combination of buttons won't let me get to download/recovery mode, and the only way to get there is using odin or the vibrant toolbox. Knowing that plus the fact that right now my Vibrant is black screen locked right now, I'm guessing there's nothing I can do to save my phone at this point. Confirm/deny?
Also, what would T-Mobile say if I took my phone to their store and told them my phone won't turn on. They wouldn't be able to unbrick it would they?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22063047&postcount=6
The trick above got me into download when nothing else would, but the phone wasn't as dead ad yours sounds. Good luck.
Yeah that didn't work because of the step involving pressing the power buttons. I'm taking it back to t mobile
Actually, this doesn't involve the power button. Putting the battery in, combined with having Odin waiting on a USB connection, does something that is more effective than vol-key(s)+power. Not positive that the USB and/or Odin part is required, didn't deconstruct the method. The OP where I got it said remove sim, but I didn't do that. Good luck
Yeah I meant to say volume buttons. My Vibrant doesn't respond to any of those key combinations so I'm pretty much ****ed
Sorry about that. Good luck with T-Mobile. I don't think you mentioned how it got bricked, but it's probably academic at this point.
Did you read this thread? Sounds like the Black Screen of Death is not uncommon.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=930543
One other option: the Unbrickable Mod, a hardware hack.
If T-Mobile didn't help, try this. Also, try just leaving the phone alone for a little while.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1278683
It helped me when I was in the same position.
Hey man, feel sorry for your troubles.
Try a jig, maybe would manage to put it in download mode, if successful flash gb bootloader so you can unlock your buttons combination.
I dropped my phone a few days ago and the power button stopped working. Reboot ed into recovery from Rom Manager and realized that I couldn't select anything because I need the power button (tried every other button as well; nothing works). Took the battery out and put it back in (the only way to turn it off now) and it instantly booted into recovery. I can't send it to AT&T because I have at least 10 counts and they'll instantly see that CWM is on there.
Please help me!
kancheek1995 said:
I dropped my phone a few days ago and the power button stopped working. Reboot ed into recovery from Rom Manager and realized that I couldn't select anything because I need the power button (tried every other button as well; nothing works). Took the battery out and put it back in (the only way to turn it off now) and it instantly booted into recovery. I can't send it to AT&T because I have at least 10 counts and they'll instantly see that CWM is on there.
Please help me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You dropped your phone. Samsung/AT&T warranty doesn't cover accidents, so there's no sense in worrying about your flash count. You're SOL. But you are free to try of course. Reverting to stock is very easy. What would you even do in recovery mode to revert to stock? Did you bother to look around the forum? There is a guide in the general forum on how to do that.
Out of curiosity, I did a google search to see what the repair options were for a broken power button. Saw that Mobile Tech Videos does it for $35 + shipping. Might be one of the better options at this point. As for the counter, just buy or make a jig to reset it.
mzaur said:
You dropped your phone. Samsung/AT&T warranty doesn't cover accidents, so there's no sense in worrying about your flash count. You're SOL. But you are free to try of course. Reverting to stock is very easy. What would you even do in recovery mode to revert to stock? Did you bother to look around the forum? There is a guide in the general forum on how to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They wouldn't know that I dropped it unless I told them that, so as of right now the button stopped working by itself. I reverted to stock a while ago when I thought I bricked it, but I need to get it into download mode which can't be done without the power button.
kancheek1995 said:
They wouldn't know that I dropped it unless I told them that, so as of right now the button stopped working by itself. I reverted to stock a while ago when I thought I bricked it, but I need to get it into download mode which can't be done without the power button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recovery mode requires the power button. Download mode only requires the two volume buttons. With the phone off, while holding down vol- & vol+ plug in USB cable.
Lawrence of a Labia said:
Out of curiosity, I did a google search to see what the repair options were for a broken power button. Saw that Mobile Tech Videos does it for $35 + shipping. Might be one of the better options at this point. As for the counter, just buy or make a jig to reset it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good info if I ever need this
Has anybody used mobile tech videos to get their power button fixed? Mine stopped working out of the blue today, my phone is long out of warranty, and it refuses to connect to my computer at all so I can't revert to stock (I'm running AOKP 6.27.12 Build right now). I don't want to just send my phone off to some place that isn't reputable.
elementlaxer said:
Has anybody used mobile tech videos to get their power button fixed? Mine stopped working out of the blue today, my phone is long out of warranty, and it refuses to connect to my computer at all so I can't revert to stock (I'm running AOKP 6.27.12 Build right now). I don't want to just send my phone off to some place that isn't reputable.
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It's still got to be in warranty with Samsung. The first units were shipped just under 9 months ago.
Mobile tech videos is considered to be quite reputable. I have only seen good reports about them, and the owner posts actively on the XDA-Developers boards.
You should be able to enter download mode. You don't need the power button for that.
Darn I didn't realize how long Samsung's warranties were. I made the switch back in October from Apple products so I'm used to crappy warranties.
I've already shipped to mobile tech videos because I searched around the forums a bit and found out that he is in fact reputable.
And I know how to get into download mode, I can do that no problem. My computer always pops up saying there is some problem with the device and I'm not sure how to fix it. I have the drivers installed correctly and it has worked in the past, but not recently. I would try to replicate it now but I don't have the phone in my possession, and at the moment it isn't really causing me an issue.
If you can't get Odin to recognize the phone once connected to the computer in download mode, then it is most likely a driver problem, or less likely a problem with the USB cable or ports. Once you get the phone back, if you still have the problem, that is where to look first.
I just wanted to point out that the broken power button would not prevent you from returning the phone to stock, although it can be a bit of a problem that you can't use recovery.
Yeah I was a bit worried that if I tried to go through Odin and something got messed up I wouldn't be able to get back into recovery to restore from a backup.
Thanks for all the help! I feel like a total noob and I appreciate your patience haha
In case you haven't already tried, in some versions of CWM (even non-touch) the search button (softkey) works like enter. Try all of the softkeys, one of them might work for you.
Yes, but if you Odin back to stock with a broken power button, that leaves you with stock 3e recovery. Even if you use adb reboot recovery to get into 3e recovery, you can't select anything without the power button.