[Q] Totally bricked, right? - Vibrant Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I know, I know, I know.
"Oh this noob is dumb! blahblahblah" yeah, I get it.
BUT... I just want to know that I'm fully bricked and I want to try and understand why it is the way it is.
Here it goes:
BEFORE it was bricked, I reverted the phone back to Stock (Eclair via Odin, because I wanted the Bionix ROM) and I was trying to figure out how to upgrade it to 2.2 and to get CWM. I looked throughout the bible and stuff but I totally just got lost.
I, instead, being the dumb person I am, I download Stock+Voodoo for 2.2 and I flash it via Odin. I now realize that I have totally screwed stuff up.
I boot up the phone and you know what pops up? Red CWM.
It can't mount the system or even look at the recovery logs and I now know I totally effed up the phone, bad.
I try to get into download mode.. it goes to CWM.
I try to reboot into download mode via CWM and since I was able to have access to ADB via CWM, I tried ADB... that didn't work, it booted into CWM.
I even plug in the charger when the phone's off and it boots into CWM.
It shows the battery for a little (loading bar has no animation and the battery is just there... it stays still for say... 5 secs then boots into CWM).
What did I corrupt/mess up, etc?
Is it the bootloader? ... or what? and is it non-recoverable?
I didn't even know what was included in the Stock+Voodoo file. (I got the link/forum topic via Bible).
Your help and input would be much appreciated, and I'd understand if you call me stupid/dumb etc. for over 100 times.
Thanks!

If you're able to reach recovery, there's hope!
Just wrote up a post about getting into DL mode and ODINing to Stock here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1319802
Copy/Paste from that thread about getting into DL mode.
1) If not already powered down, power down your phone.
2) Remove the back cover.
3) Remove the battery.
4) Plug your micro USB cable into your computer (Your computer should be on at this time.)
5) (This will take a little dexterity. Enlist help if it proves too difficult on your own.) Hold down both volume keys at the same time.
6) While still holding down the two volume keys, insert your micro usb cable into your phone.
7) While still holding down the two volume keys, insert the battery into your phone.
8) Your screen should now light up with a yellow digging Android that reads "Download Mode"
9) If you did not reach download mode, repeat steps 1 - 7 several times to rule out any user error.
10) If you still cannot enter download mode, remove your SD card and SIM card as well as your battery. Do not re-insert the SD or SIM card when you re-insert your battery in step 7.
11) If you still cannot enter download mode, remove your battery, SD, and SIM card. Wait 24hrs and try again.
12) If you still cannot enter download mode, your phone may require special care, such as a JIG or JTAG. Information on this can be found elsewhere on the XDA forums.
Let us know if you're still unable to reach DL mode!

no your not totally bricked, your process of getting into download may be different depending on the bootloaders you have. Keep trying to get download, odin back to stock, you might pull the battery for 10 minutes to settle.
---------- Post added at 03:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:12 AM ----------
wow you did just post one, verrrry nice reference material.

Related

[Q] So... I bricked my phone =/

I'm stuck at the Vibrant boot screen, and when I try and plug it in the USB and user adb devices, it doesn't recognize it. I've tried Droid Explorer, and I believe my Vibrant is hardware locked.
Any ideas? Sorry to make another thread but I couldn't find a solution to anyone with this problem.
What did you do to it?
Search around the forum, there is a post talking about getting into download mode with hardware lock phones.
If you are able to get into download mode you can use ODIN to install stock ROM again.
Something incredibly stupid, I tried flashing a custom kernel on the stock ROM.
Yeah that's all I've been doing. I've read all the threads I can find about how to get into download mode with a locked Vibrant, but no luck =[.
Launch Odin
Plug in USB to PC not the Phone
Insure Phone is off
Hold down Vol +/-
Plug in cable
Hold down +/- about a second
Walla you are in Download and should see a yellow triangle
Have you tried turning off your phone and turning it on holding down the Vol +/- and power and entering Recovery mode?
From there you could flash a nandroid backup if you made one that is. Sometimes I get lucky if its in the regular recovery and use the Re-do package option and sometimes I get it up and running.
Of course it just depends on where you are in your flash and what your phone will allow you to do.
Tried that oh so many times, and it just wouldn't budge.
At first I was actually able to run ADB commands... and before I had read more about it, I booted it into recovery (instead of dl mode fml) and wiped cache/user. I already tried reflashing zips to see if CW would start up so I could restore my nandroid backup I had made.
Anyways, now ADB doesn't even recognize the phone. And I tried to install the drivers on my laptop to see if that would do the trick, but I'm still stuck.
Edit: I just tried to use the method you gave in your first post again and I just get the battery charging screen. Thanks for trying to help though, I appreciate it.

[FIXED!] Bricked Hardware locked Vibrant. Advice needed.

I have a hardware locked vibrant, but with I've been getting by with adb to get into recovery to root and install CWM and ROMS.
Recently my phone got interrupted while doing an Odin restore and now i've bricked my phone. I get the "Phone ! PC" screen everytime I power up.
I can't use adb orCWM to boot into download mode, and my phone has never responded to any combination of buttons on start-up to get it there. What else could I do?
I heard this is considered a defect, if it is hopeless to fix should I try to return it to t-mobile even though it's bricked? or just report it lost?
EDIT: FIXED!
Thanks Beniuec for pointing me to the JIG
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=819551
I went to radio shack, picked up some resistors, and it worked like a charm!
I have a very similar problem. My phone got stuck on the Vibrant boot screen after trying to flash a rom. I can't get my phone into download mode so that I can use ODIN. All it does it stay stuck on the Vibrant Boot screen. Can't start the phone, can't get into recovery. If anybody can help us, that would be great. I do hear that most phones should be able to get into recovery mode if not then we should return it. My problem is that I bought my phone on eBay. I can't return it to T-Mobile.
If you can get into the vibrant boot screen you may be able to use ADB to reboot into download mode.
connect to your PC and go to the command prompt where you have adb installed
Code:
abd devices
Code:
adb reboot download
It doesn't recognize my device. Under list of devices, it is blank.
You might have to make this or post if anyone in your area has made one since nothing else works for you good luck
homemade test jig
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=819551
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Oooh =/ That happened to me.
But I got it fixed
IDK if this will work w/ hardware locked (nor do i even know what hardware locked is):
What I did was power off the phone, charged it, you should see a battery appear. When that happens, then press power, vol up, vol down, hold those button.
AS SOON AS THE SCREEN TURNS BLACK, release power, and it should get you into DL mode, then you may unplug, then odin, then restore it
GL
Here is a couple of methods to get into download mode. Once you get to download mode, follow the directions later in my post...
First Method
1) Pull the battery, sim card, and sd card.
2) Reinsert battery but do not press any buttons.
3) Plug into usb that is connected to your computer. If something shows up on the screen (charging logo) then you should be golden.
4) Hold the vol up, vol down, and power until the screen comes on, immediately release the power button but not the other two. You should be in dl mode.
Second Method
1) Another method that seems to work for some people is to pull the battery, sim, sd card.
2) Reinsert battery and hold both volume buttons but do not press power button.
3) Then plug in usb. The phone should boot into download.
Third Method
1) You will need the samsung ADB drivers installed for your phone and ADB.
Samsung Drivers for 32 bit Windows: http://files.androidspin.com/downlo...=SAMSUNG_USB_Driver_for_Mobile_Phones_x86.exe
Samsung Drivers for 64 bit Windows: http://files.androidspin.com/downlo...ung/vibrant/&file=usb_drivers_GalaxyS_x64.zip
2) Remove sim card and sd-card. Remove the battery.
3) Hold buttons vol up, vol down, and power.
4) While holding down those 3 buttons put the battery back in and keep holding all 3 buttons until the vibrant disappears and reappears. Once it reappears, release all 3 buttons.
5) Now connect your phone to your pc via USB cable.
6) Open a cmd prompt and navigate to the folder with ADB and type "ADB REBOOT DOWNLOAD" caps are not necessary.
7) Your phone will reboot into the download mode.
Once in download mode
Download the files in the linked thread and follow the directions there or the ones below.
Odin and Files Needed Available Here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=734475
1) Open Odin and verify that one of the Com ports shows a device connected. If it doesn't try using a different usb port.
2) Load the .pit and pda files. It should be pretty obvious how to do that once you are in Odin.
3) Make sure that the option to partition is unchecked. The other two options should be checked.
4) Hit start and wait.
5) Your phone will restart when Odin is done and you will be good to go.
Also, you might have to build the usb jig. It is guaranteed to get you into download mode. Here is a link to that thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=819551
Since you're hardware-locked, your only choice is the usb jig or returning the phone (If you got it from T-Mobile, they may replace on grounds of faulty hardware, like they did for my first Vibrant). Seems like the jig is the easiest option, so long as you or someone you know can solder the thing, and it is pretty much guaranteed to work.
Beniuec said:
You might have to make this or post if anyone in your area has made one since nothing else works for you good luck
homemade test jig
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=819551
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. This is exactly what I was looking for, I could easily make this jig as I have plenty of experience soldering. I'll try this out and report back the results!
Good luck let me know how it works send me a pm incase I lose the thread
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

[Q] Fixing a Vibrant that won't boot fully

After flashing Macnut R12 and Eugene's a13 kernel, my Vibrant will only boot to the "Galaxy S I9000" screen, but nothing further. The screen doesn't go black and no buttons flash, the phone just doesn't boot past that screen. I can enter recovery and download mode, and can use clockwork mod recovery, but I'm not sure what my next steps should be. Should I attempt to use Odin (Bricked my first Vibrant with that, though that one was HW-Locked), or is there some other way to fix this?
Scratch that, now my Vibrant boot-loops (Boots to galaxy S I9000 screen then restarts), and I can't enter recovery. Starting to freak out a bit, hoping download mode works... Any help would be appreciated.
Generic112 said:
Scratch that, now my Vibrant boot-loops (Boots to galaxy S I9000 screen then restarts), and I can't enter recovery. Starting to freak out a bit, hoping download mode works... Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gmail me [email protected]
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Here is a couple of methods to get into download mode. Once you get to download mode, follow the directions later in my post...
First Method
1) Pull the battery, sim card, and sd card.
2) Reinsert battery but do not press any buttons.
3) Plug into usb that is connected to your computer. If something shows up on the screen (charging logo) then you should be golden.
4) Hold the vol up, vol down, and power until the screen comes on, immediately release the power button but not the other two. You should be in dl mode.
Second Method
1) Another method that seems to work for some people is to pull the battery, sim, sd card.
2) Reinsert battery and hold both volume buttons but do not press power button.
3) Then plug in usb. The phone should boot into download.
Third Method
1) You will need the samsung ADB drivers installed for your phone and ADB.
Samsung Drivers for 32 bit Windows: http://files.androidspin.com/downlo...=SAMSUNG_USB_Driver_for_Mobile_Phones_x86.exe
Samsung Drivers for 64 bit Windows: http://files.androidspin.com/downlo...ung/vibrant/&file=usb_drivers_GalaxyS_x64.zip
2) Remove sim card and sd-card. Remove the battery.
3) Hold buttons vol up, vol down, and power.
4) While holding down those 3 buttons put the battery back in and keep holding all 3 buttons until the vibrant disappears and reappears. Once it reappears, release all 3 buttons.
5) Now connect your phone to your pc via USB cable.
6) Open a cmd prompt and navigate to the folder with ADB and type "ADB REBOOT DOWNLOAD" caps are not necessary.
7) Your phone will reboot into the download mode.
Once in download mode
Download the files in the linked thread and follow the directions there or the ones below.
Odin and Files Needed Available Here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=734475
1) Open Odin and verify that one of the Com ports shows a device connected. If it doesn't try using a different usb port.
2) Load the .pit and pda files. It should be pretty obvious how to do that once you are in Odin.
3) Make sure that the option to partition is unchecked. The other two options should be checked.
4) Hit start and wait.
5) Your phone will restart when Odin is done and you will be good to go.
Also, you might have to build the usb jig. It is guaranteed to get you into download mode. Here is a link to that thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=819551
Also, if you would like I can use remote log in to your computer and do it for you. Send me a pm or email: [email protected]
Ok, Download mode (Via Volume + and - and plugging in usb) works flawlessly, but I'm still unsure of how to go about using Odin to fix this problem. Should I go the "Froyo that doesn't brick" downgrading route, or should I just flash JFD? And to the above poster, I won't have access to the internet for a couple hours after this post, so I can't email you right away. If I can't fix the problem later today, I will certainly contact you for some assistance.
Thanks for the guide, I'm just worried about what to flash. I've seen people praise Eugene's downgrading method for fixing most any problem (Froyo that doesn't brick to JFD), but I'm very much an Odin novice, and I'd hate to let it tear the life out of yet another phone (Though thankfully this one isn't HW-Locked). Also, does flashing JFD through Odin touch the SBL or anything that could affect my phone's ability to access recovery/download mode through hardware methods? I've heard that the JI6 OTA update fixes the 3-Button mode, but I'm unsure of whether or not JFD breaks that (Though I assume it doesn't). Anyway, thanks for the help, sorry if I don't post back soon, have to leave the house for a few hours, and I'm stuck with my old phone until I can fix my Vibrant.
One last question, should I use the Odin in the link, or an updated version (If one exists, I believe Odin3 1.70 is the latest and I don't know used in that thread)? Last time I used Odin it froze and killed my HW-Locked Vibrant.
Generic112 said:
Thanks for the guide, I'm just worried about what to flash. I've seen people praise Eugene's downgrading method for fixing most any problem (Froyo that doesn't brick to JFD), but I'm very much an Odin novice, and I'd hate to let it tear the life out of yet another phone (Though thankfully this one isn't HW-Locked). Also, does flashing JFD through Odin touch the SBL or anything that could affect my phone's ability to access recovery/download mode through hardware methods? I've heard that the JI6 OTA update fixes the 3-Button mode, but I'm unsure of whether or not JFD breaks that (Though I assume it doesn't). Anyway, thanks for the help, sorry if I don't post back soon, have to leave the house for a few hours, and I'm stuck with my old phone until I can fix my Vibrant.
One last question, should I use the Odin in the link, or an updated version (If one exists, I believe Odin3 1.70 is the latest and I don't know used in that thread)? Last time I used Odin it froze and killed my HW-Locked Vibrant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for pointing out that the linked thread has the old Odin. I attached the new Odin 1.7 in this post. The other files (pit and pda) in that thread will work fine. Once you get booted into that ROM (Stock JFD) just re-root, install CWM recovery and reflash with a ROM of your choice.
Just wanted to say that Odin ran successfully for me, and I now have my Vibrant back in working order. Thanks for the help (and that nifty little guide).
Generic112 said:
Just wanted to say that Odin ran successfully for me, and I now have my Vibrant back in working order. Thanks for the help (and that nifty little guide).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are welcome. Glad you got it working again...

[Q] I need som serious help please

I tryed flashing a rom without disabling voodoo and know my phone wont even turn on. Any help please!!!!
ireiricky said:
I tryed flashing a rom without disabling voodoo and know my phone wont even turn on. Any help please!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you look couple threads down, you'll see my thread, and I am having the same problem. Slightly different cause, but of the same nature, and the exact same problem. I have not had any real help yet, but I have been scouring the forums here. And I think the only option, if none of the button combinations work, as they don't seem to for me, and you're getting a complete brick, is perhaps the usb jig resistor method... but even that I don't think is 100% because some of the people who created the guides on how to make the jig resistor said it only worked for softbrick, not total brick like our cases. Unless someone can verify otherwise...
Thanks for the reply man i don't know what to do man i spent $400 0n this phone there must be a way but no luck on google either
ireiricky said:
I tryed flashing a rom without disabling voodoo and know my phone wont even turn on. Any help please!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this. Take your sim card, microsd and battery out. Leave battery out for a few minutes.
Open odin and load with the 512 pit and Jfd tar.
Plug one end of usb cable into computer only
take your vibrant with everything still out of it
hold down both vol buttons (vol up and down) and never let go
do not touch power
while holding down both volume buttons plug in your usb cable into the phone with the other end previously in the computer...do all this while holding down volume buttons and dont let go
now grab your battery with your free hand and while still holding down the vol buttons now plug in your battery
if all goes well your.phone should go into download mode at which pt you can let go of volume buttons.
If this doesnt work you can maybe try the jig if your bootloader is intact
also since you were messing with voodoo you might need to first flash eugenes froyo tbat doesnt brick...im not too sure on this so ask around and look it up.
You need this first of all (Froyo that does not brick)
http://eb-productions.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=samsungsgs&action=display&thread=8
jordanjf86 said:
1. Download Eugenes 'Froyo that does not brick' file.
2. Extract the files.
3. Open Odin, plug in your phone, then put it into download mode.
4. load the PIT file in appropriate area.
5. load the .tar file in the PDA area.
6. DO NOT check 're-partition'.
7. Click start, let it finish. Your phone will load and reboot into stock recovery. It will error out again. DONT panic! This is what's supposed to happen.
8. Now, pull your battery.
9. Download the 'True stock 2.1 firmware for the vibrant'.
10. Extract the files.
11. Once again, open Odin, plug in your phone, put into download mode.
12. Load the PIT file into the appropriate area and the .tar in the PDA area.
13. THIS TIME you want to check the 're-partition' box.
14. Now click start, let it finish, and this time your phone will load up just fine! BAM!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't forget to thank :]
iv'e tryied that i read somewhere that it's a hard brick
Then try accessing download mode by first, removing the sd card, sim, and battery, second, plugging in the usb cable, third, holding down the two buttons on the side of the phone, and finally, while holding down those two buttons, inserting the battery.
I havee tried that mothod many times no luck just a blank screen
Then commit a fraud and send it back to T-Mobile saying it suddenly stopped working.
Or if you prefer a wild card you can use a JIG
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=819551
Edit: Never mind it will not work for you. Sorry :/
Edit 2: The phone does not even turn the buttons on??
no nothing turns on at all no power but when i put it to charge it heats up but no battery screen
Yea, take it to T-Mobile and get it replaced. I got mine switched at T-Mobile once, and it would only boot to the custom Nexus animation....the lady still swapped it out. It all depends on the rep, if they won't switch it, go to a different location. Eventually you'll find someone.
i don't think thats possible seeing as im in Canada bought it off ebay
take it to a phone expert. he will flash a bootloader to your phone.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

[Q] Help My phone is in a Boot loop and I cannot access Download mode!

I totally messed up while trying to install the Simple Honey ROM. I was trying out an ICS rom for a lil while then decided to go back to GB....I ODIN'd back to Eclair, then flashed this rom without flashing GB Bootloader. Now, i am stuck in a bootloop and i cannot get into download mode!!! There are times where I almost get into download mode but a rainbow appears and then it goes into Kernel panic upload mode. The only thing I have not tried yet is using a USB Jig because I have just bought one and it is shipping in the mail. Is there any other way to get it into to download mode? I cannot post in the dev forum because I don't have enough post. Please someone assist me in fixing this issue.
I have tried the following.
1. Install Samsung USB Drivers.
2. Power off the Phone.
3. Pull the Battery.
4. Plug USB cable into Phone.
5. Plug USB cable into PC.
6. Press and Hold: Volume UP + Volume DOWN + Power, all at the same time.
7. Re-insert the battery.
8. The phone will power now, when the screen starts a cycle of going to a BLACK screen, release ONLY the POWER button.
Tried the following with odin:
As for download mode;
1. pull the battery,
2. put it back in;
3. then, with the phone still off, plug your usb into the computer,
4. turn on odin3,
5. hold the center of the volume buttons,
6. plug the usb to the phone while holding the volume botton
tried holding both volumes without a battery then put the battery in and while still holding plug into usb to see if odin showed a yellow com button. Rainbow occurred and kernel panic upload mode appears.
If odin does detect my phone, the longest it will detect my phone for is around 30 seconds then it will either reboot or go into kernel panic upload mode.
cannot try this posted by Raymond PJR post #9492 p950 on the simple honey thread because I cannot get it into download mode
The bootlooping probably has nothing to do with the GB Bootloaders, but is a known issue that is resolved by immediately flahsing Bullet then back to Talon if you want. So, get the Bullet .tar, start Odin on your PC, get into download mode, connect to your pc and flash Bullet. Then if you want to be able to see what is going on in recovery, consider flahsing the GB Bootloaders. Some say they can still make out the menus under the rainbows, but I don't know. I just went ahead and flashed them. READ, READ, READ, every OP before flahsing, (GB Bootloaders OP, Bullet OP, and if you've never used Odin, the OP of any thread you read on instructions. And watch any related videos on YouTube!
Bootloaders: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1117990
Bullet Kernels: http://rootzwiki.com/topic/639-kerne...es-edt6242011/
also tried this because I could not get download mode or recovery mode. So I tried this trick through odin but it still did not get it into recovery mode after this.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=9663212&postcount=53
Rom used:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1021383&page=950
USB Jig for people who may have a similar problem:
http://usbjig.com/
Version of Odin used:
1.85
Please any suggestions would be helpful thank you!
Wait for the jig it will save your life
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium
is there any other way that it can be saved without a jig though?

Categories

Resources