Phone will not wipe, format, flash with Odin, etc. - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I know my way around Android phones, Odin, etc. I've had a few of the original GS variations and never encountered anything like this.
It is an i9100, early batch GSII (Made in Korea) and is not rooted. This thing will not save any changes, whether it's deleting an app, flashing in Odin, using the Factory Format, etc. I am just perplexed.
I purchased this phone used from an online retailer at a great price, with a refund only policy. I figured no matter what there's always a solution as long as the bootloader, recovery mode and download mode are accessible. It seems I was mistaken.
Basically, all of the previous owner's information is on the phone. I can't do a factory reset through Android's menu since it prompts for the password of the original owner. Okay, fine, so I went into recovery mode and did a factory data reset then a wipe of the cache. Phone boots back up like nothing happened.
I've also tried the "Factory Format" dialer code with the same result. Any attempt at Odin flashing, whether it's a regular TAR or the 3 piece deal also do nothing. Odin will say it passed on every attempt, but nothing changes. All of the apps, personal info, etc are still there untouched.
After hours of trying to find a solution and getting nothing helpful, I even ticked the Re-Partition option, as well as the Phone EFS Clear in Odin. This also did nothing. The IMEI did not change or become corrupted as I expected.
Download mode shows that the Custom Binary Download is no. From what I understand, stock ROMs should still flash regardless of the counter's status. All I've tried to flash are stock ROMs, to no avail.
I'd love to get this thing working instead of sending it back for a refund. They won't offer an exchange as they are not receiving any more GS II.
Any ideas? I appreciate any and all responses, thanks.

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I would remove ext sd card .
Go to recovery mounts and storage
Format cache data system and sd card .
Phone should now be empty remove battery and replace then boot to download mode and flash stock rom via Odin .
jje

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JJEgan said:
I would remove ext sd card .
Go to recovery mounts and storage
Format cache data system and sd card .
Phone should now be empty remove battery and replace then boot to download mode and flash stock rom via Odin .
jje
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Click to collapse
I haven't had an SD card in this phone at all. I've already tried those steps as well, and it did not help. This is just so strange.

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I think your biggest problem is to do with the old password. I know from the S1 days that factory reset and other measures will not work if you don't know the password/pattern lock etc. Only Odin 3 part file + pit + repartition cleaned it up.
When you say you ticked repartition, did you have the pit file also? If not ticking repartition will not do anything I think. Very possible that all the files you flashed were no-wipe versions as well.
So maybe try this. Not sure if you've seen one of those firmwares which has a whole load of files in the zip like code (PDA), a couple of csc's, efs and more. They also have a pit file. Maybe try one of those firmwares. I use kh3 which I got of samfirmware.com a few months back when I want to clean **** up. I think I read somewhere that the new kk5 also.has them.
I know alot of people will say 'don't use pit or repartition' but I think you've got nothing to lose.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

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sxi200 said:
I think your biggest problem is to do with the old password. I know from the S1 days that factory reset and other measures will not work if you don't know the password/pattern lock etc. Only Odin 3 part file + pit + repartition cleaned it up.
When you say you ticked repartition, did you have the pit file also? If not ticking repartition will not do anything I think. Very possible that all the files you flashed were no-wipe versions as well.
So maybe try this. Not sure if you've seen one of those firmwares which has a whole load of files in the zip like code (PDA), a couple of csc's, efs and more. They also have a pit file. Maybe try one of those firmwares. I use kh3 which I got of samfirmware.com a few months back when I want to clean **** up. I think I read somewhere that the new kk5 also.has them.
I know alot of people will say 'don't use pit or repartition' but I think you've got nothing to lose.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
I appreciate the detailed reply, but that was the second to last thing I tried. I did use the pit, however I'm not sure if the package I used was a no wipe version. I used KF1, it was 3 files and I selected the pit, didn't work. I'll give KH3 a shot and report back in a bit, thanks

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No go on KH3 either, this is one phone that does not want to be wiped

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Is it just me or does your phone sound like a zombie?
Aim for the head!

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zipxavier said:
No go on KH3 either, this is one phone that does not want to be wiped
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Click to collapse
Man your phone does sound weird. Maybe the s2 has some other sort of security measure related to that password. I think I did read a thread once about someone who had a similar problem. Not sure but it might have been a hardware issue.
Maybe rooting it will help but doubt it. Anyway, try an Odin flashable kernal like cf root or speedmod or even a custom firmware like litepro. Litepro flashes in Odin. If you can get cwm recovery maybe a wipe custom rom might do something.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium