[Q] Galaxy S2 won't boot into Android after trying ROMs - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 GT-i9100 phone, issued in Japan, that is rooted. I am not an Android expert by any means, but I have succeeded in the past in upgrading my phone.
I upgraded to Jellybean (initially with Cyanogenmod nightly build) the other day, hoping it would solve a few minor annoyances, like spontaneous volume changes. However, what ended up happening was that my GPS stopped working entirely.
So I tried different ROMs. Cyanogenmod, AOKP, and Resurrection Remix. In none of them did the GPS work. I also tried various patches.
However, one time while trying to flash a ROM (I don't recall which one), the process stopped in the middle and never proceeded. I let it sit for an hour with no progress. Realizing something was wrong, I rebooted the phone and it won't launch Android.
I can boot into recovery mode, and I have tried reflashing all three ROMs, but, even though they worked before, they don't work now. They either never finish installing, exit with an error, or they reboot and never start Android.
I tried reflashing the kernel, Siyah 5.0.1, but now that exits with an error each time, even though it worked before. Also, it seems that my kernel might be "Philz" now? I'm not sure. The recovery interface says "Philz" on it, and my understanding is that's a different kind of kernel.
What do I do to clean this mess up, get Android working again, and ideally get Jelly Bean with working GPS on my phone?

Boot into download mode, flash a stock rom in Odin - clean slate. Guides here, stock roms from AndroidFirmwares.net, Samfirmware or Checkfus. Rest - up to you.

MistahBungle said:
Boot into download mode, flash a stock rom in Odin - clean slate. Guides here, stock roms from AndroidFirmwares.net, Samfirmware or Checkfus. Rest - up to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed a stock rom using Odin, and it displayed green and said success... but now my phone won't turn on. Black screen. When I press on, or try to boot into recovery or download mode, I get no response at all.
So... does this mean my phone is totally bricked?

Related

[Q] Can't fix - phone won't start & not recognized by windows

ANSWERED - Firmware Install - factory reset in recovery
I made a mess of a rom install rushing through rom Manager and now my phone can't get past the Samsung screen when booting, and I can't find out the version of my kernel to install the correct one without getting my phone on. I can get the phone into download mode and I have tried a number of different kernels but have had no luck. It's a UK phone so I know it's a XW or XX to start, I was wondering is their a kernel that works on any SGS2.
I have been having trouble with getting windows to recognize the phone and have found a number of fixes on this site which have worked and not worked (atm not connecting)
it's a sgs2 GT-i9100
Any advice greatly appreciated
Did you make a Nandroid backup? If so boot into recovery (vol up, power, home buttons) and restore the backup.
Can you get into recovery mode. Vol up plus home plus power. Then do a factory reset. this should get past the Samsung boot screen. Then flash another rom.
Sent from my ThinkPad Tablet using XDA App
Thanks for getting back, no unfortunately not, couldn't see recovery mode since the original failed rom install. That combination gets me to download mode now.
So as far as I can tell I need to get a firmware working properly or do a reset but I don't know which is the right firmware to use
Main thing is you can get to download mode. If you can do that, you can fix your phone 95% of the time.
You can find carrier/country specific firmware here or country-only/non-specific firmware here
owen5y said:
Thanks for getting back, no unfortunately not, couldn't see recovery mode since the original failed rom install. That combination gets me to download mode now.
So as far as I can tell I need to get a firmware working properly or do a reset but I don't know which is the right firmware to use
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just flash any CF-root kernel and then you have recovery back. Start flashing from there on.
Lennyz1988 said:
Just flash any CF-root kernel and then you have recovery back. Start flashing from there on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried a number of CF-root kernels and no joy. I tried a few more kernels this morning before work, including cf-root and siyahv2.6.4 and had no luck.
MistahBungle said:
Main thing is you can get to download mode. If you can do that, you can fix your phone 95% of the time.
You can find carrier/country specific firmware here or country-only/non-specific firmware here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually flashed some of those kernels XWKE1 for example and a few others with no joy.
The problem started when I tried to update the Galent Miui ICS which I see you are running. I (stupidly) didn't read through the statement as I had my NYE hungover and just put the update on my sd and used recovery to update which froze the phone at the boot screen. (I didn't do re-flash and I didn't wipe the data and everything else.) I know it sometimes takes time to boot but I had left it for a half hour to see if it would and no joy. I was no longer able to get to recovery mode so I tried a half dozen kernels with the same problems before putting up a post. I'm not sure would people find it inappropriate to talk about an this problem here, I thought as it's a kernel problem now it would be a better place to find the solution although my own lazy Miui install was the cause.
Flashing just the kernels obviously didn't fix the problem. Have you flashed any of the entire stock firmwares ? Choose the most recent firmware for your carrier/country from the first link I gave you (if there's more than two listed).
owen5y said:
I actually flashed some of those kernels XWKE1 for and a few others with no joy.
The problem started when I tried to update the Galent Miui ICS which I see you are running. I (studidly) didn't read through the statement as I was hungover and just pu the update on my sd and used recovery to update which froze the phone at the boot screen. I know it sometimes takes time to boot but I had left it for a half hour to see if it would and no joy. I was no longer able to get to recovery so I tried a half dozen kernels with the same problems before putting up a post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MistahBungle said:
Flashing just the kernels obviously didn't fix the problem. Have you flashed any of the entire stock firmwares ? Choose the most recent firmware for your carrier/country from the first link I gave you (if there's more than two listed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I will try that. At work currently and so can't play with the phone. I will post the result this evening.
Thanks
NP. Let us know how you get on.
MistahBungle said:
NP. Let us know how you get on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All good, I installed the firmware and was able to get into recovery mode from there. Did a factory reset because I was stuck in a boot loop. Going to give it a go again to upgrade to the new ics build. Any advice on the best process of getting there?
I installed the following firmware prior to the reset
UK
XWKE1:http://www.multiupload.com/15RY5CHHW9
Firmware info: PDA: XWKE1 Phone: NEKD5 CSC:H3GKD4
Yep. Given the problems you've been having, stay away from the currently alpha ICS builds that are floating around.
Frankly, that's a disaster waiting to happen.
Wait until CM (or someone else) releases something that's stable and has most things working in 4-6 weeks or so.
There's a ton of roms/kernels out there, do your research/reading & ask questions if necessary in the respective threads for those & then pick something out & try it.
And no, I don't do recommendations. Because nobody's phone come's out of the factory the same, nobody has the same phone setup & nobody uses the phone the same way.
owen5y said:
All good, I installed the firmware and was able to get into recovery mode from there. Did a factory reset because I was stuck in a boot loop. Going to give it a go again to upgrade to the new ics build. Any advice on the best process of getting there?
I installed the following firmware prior to the reset
UK
XWKE1:http://www.multiupload.com/15RY5CHHW9
Firmware info: PDA: XWKE1 Phone: NEKD5 CSC:H3GKD4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I did like the Galnet Miui ICS rom I was running although there was a few bugs with it when it died it was difficult to charge again. That's fair if you don't want to give out recommendations it's shooting in the dark over the interenet I suppose. I will have a good look through the forum and se if I find something that I would think is suiting.
Thanks for your help, and the advice is appreciated

[Q] Help request, S2 stuck on boot logo

Hello all,
I have tried many things before asking for help, but nothing worked so far.
Here is the story:
I was on ICS 4.0.4, with default ROM coming from carrier.
I wanted to install CM9.1,
spent countless hours doing all backup and reading tutorial.
Tried finally yesterday and it was stuck doing "wiping data". Left it for 20min+ and nothing.
After restarting it, it is now stuck on the boot logo.
I couldn't enter anymore CWM or stock recovery (up+home+power), but could enter Download mode.
So I tried a couple of things I have read on the forum, like installing Siyah-s2-v5.0.1.tar through Odin 3.04 but I still cannot enter recovery mode.
I've read (too late) about the mmc brick bug (couldn't find anyone speaking about it in any tutorial until I reached this point... nothing on CM wiki or in other tuto... classic!).
I hope I'm not in this case though as I can still go to DL mode, and the phones having the brick bug are completely dead (blank screen or no DL mode), as per http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1756242
I managed to finally get CWM working only by using GT-I9100_ICS_ClockworkMod-Recovery_5.5.0.4.tar from Odin, then tried to install CM9.1 from SD card but after reboot it is stuck on the blue cyanogenmod animation boot screen and nothing happens.
Tried also to restore from CWM my nandroid backup, but during the restore it seems to hang then restart by itself, and then I'm back to Galaxy S boot logo (the animated one with the big S).
And after this I have lost again access to recovery mode.
I can't go back to stock and I can't install CM... I was not expecting such issues, it all seemed pretty basic on paper.
I'm really stressed and don't know what to do
Flash a stock rom in Odin (download mode), re-root your phone/flash a kernel with CWM, restore your backup ?
Hi,
thanks for answering,
I have tried to locate such a rom, but I'm not sure which one... is there a specific one to try ? could you point me to it please ?
so far I have tried I9100XXLPQ_I9100OXALPQ_I9100XXLPQ_HOME.tar.md5
but no luck
you also say "re-root", at the time I used this method:
[GUIDE] ROOT/UNROOT Stock ICS Firmware without flashing unsecure kernel - xda-developers
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1501719
Do I need root to install Siyah kernel from Odin ?
I'm trying one from sammobile... let's hope :/
The bad thing is I had no Yellow triangle at the beginning since I'm stuck in this boot loop or no boot to be precise.
Now that I have tried different things to fix it, it is still not working and I have my flash counter = 10.
I cannot even go back to the shop, is there a way to reset it knowing I cannot even reach the OS, I have only DL mode or CWM...
Use a stock rom for your region/carrier (or any stock rom from any region really), it doesn't really matter as I presume you'll be restoring a backup and/or going back to a custom rom anyway won't you ?
Samfirmware & AndroidFirmwares.net have lots of stock roms.
No, you don't need root to flash an Odin version of Siyah. So yes, you can flash that after you've got stock up & running to root your phone rather than re-rooting your phone by flashing a CFRoot kernel or using another root method. Just make sure the version of Siyah you're going to flash matches up with the stock rom you've got on (I.E if you flash a GB stock rom use GB Siyah, ICS stock = use ICS Siyah, etc, etc).
thank you again, I'm downloading the rom from sammobile matching my carrier,
Would you be so kind to send me a PM with your skype username or anything to "chat" with you ? I'm really worried and I spent all night already trying to fix it with no progress at all
Don't worry about the flash counter. That's the least of your problems while your phone is borked Worry about it when it's fixed. There's nothing you can do about the triangle while your phone is cactus.
When you've got it up & running again, use Triangle Away.
But first things first.
---------- Post added at 04:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:59 AM ----------
You're welcome.
Um, no. Absolutely not. Nothing personal, but if I did that for every person who's asked me for 'hands on' help since I've been here, I'd have spent my time doing nothing else. I don't do 'personal' with people from XDA (which is why I have PM's blocked except for mods).
Besides, you're going to learn much more fixing this yourself. I've given you a stack of information thus far, ball is in your court. Every answer to every question you could possibly ask is on this site. It just sometimes takes a bit of work/reading on your part to find it.
megosu said:
thank you again, I'm downloading the rom from sammobile matching my carrier,
Would you be so kind to send me a PM with your skype username or anything to "chat" with you ? I'm really worried and I spent all night already trying to fix it with no progress at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok I understand.. it is just I have literally spent more than 8 hours on it and had not make any progress at all (even worse I cannot return it to the shop because of the yellow triangle).
I appreciate your help, it gives me a bit of hope but I'm in a very bad situation and I feel I have read and do so much already with no success at all.
I will try your option of restoring the one from Sammobile, I have tried other before without any luck, maybe this one will do... (5min left to DL it).
thanks again for your support
I know where you're coming from. The first flash I tried when I got my phone in 2011 borked because I was careless, and it took me a bit over a day to get the right info/files/etc to get it fixed. I know it's frustrating/tiring/annoying & you're wondering at the start whether you can even fix it. But as long as you've got download mode 99 times out of 100 you can save it.
And as I said, it's good experience; once you've fixed it, you'll be able to handle anything that comes up in future
Let us know how you go. I'm going to bed shortly, but I'm sure someone else will step up & help if you have any further problems.
You're welcome Happy to point you in the right direction.
I have flashed the rom, the exact same one as I had before everything happened...
if it helps, I flashed it from Odin 3.04 as PDA.
I9100BVLPH_I9100TMULPH_I9100BVLPE_HOME.tar.md5
I'm now back to the Samsung GALAXY S2 GT-I9100 logo and nothing happens.
I cannot use recovery mode,
I can use DL mode (it shows 11 counts and current binary as Samsung official.)
update:
I left the phone on the first logo for about 5min and it moved to the next Samsung Galaxy S2 logo, with the big animated S.
I'm waiting but nothing else is happening.
I'm still desperate to fix it.
One thing which can be relevant, whenever I try to wipe or format /data from CWM, my phone is restarting after a few minutes or is saying it cannot be done.
I can format /cache and /system.
Could it be the root cause ? Any way of fixing it ?
Thank you
update: I cannot mount /data from CWM, it says Error mounting /data!
is it the brick bug ? :|
Easy now....your device is still good.
Those animations should take like 1-2 mins when you flash a rom.
Now, you are completly sure that you are actually flashing the right ROM for your device model?
If so, just keep flashing stock roms until you're up and running again, so you can start from scrap.
I tried, the issue is as soon as I flash a stock rom (through Odin), then I can't get into stock recovery mode anymore, I have to flash GT-I9100_ICS_ClockworkMod-Recovery_5.5.0.4.tar to get back the recovery mode.
I tried to flash several times, I think it is down to the fact I cannot mount or format /data.
Which is why I'm wondering if it is the famous brick bug.
My device is GT-I9100 and I took the stock rom from sammobile:
I9100BVLPH_I9100TMULPH_I9100BVLPE_HOME.tar.md5 which is ICS 4.0.4 (that I had before trying to move to CM9.1 and having all this mess in my hands.)
flash this:
http://www.sammobile.com/2012/11/15/i9100xxlsj-%E2%80%93-galaxy-s-ii-android-4-1-2-jelly-bean-test-firmware/.
you are on siyah kernel right?
what you wanna do know is to get to whatever rom your flashing, forget about cmw for now.
this also might help:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1457458
So it is not lost yet ? Not the brick bug ?
just to be sure:
you want me to install through Odin: Siyah-s2-v5.0.1-CWM.zip
then going back to DL mode
I flash through Odin: I9100XXLSJ_I9100OXXLS1_OXX.zip (coming from your link).
anything I'm missing (even if it seems obvious, please let me know as I'm maybe missing something important)
?
I still cannot do Factory reset... is it a problem ?
I dunno what kernel you are using, If stock 4.0.4 kernel you should flash siyah first (safe kernel, no brick bug), and then countinue flashing the ROM. Check out the brick bug thread in general SII forum for directions if you want.
BTW, Odin recognizes your phone right? Check it out, you'll get a huge long breath.
BTW 2: you don't have any kies applications running in your pc.....am I right? if so, CLOSE THEM ALL!
I did had stock 4.0.4 kernel when I first tried to follow CM9.1 wiki, and I did a factory reset through CWM... which is why I think I might have bricked it...
I have checked the brick bug thread (too late it seems...) but so far I can't be sure if I'm in this case or not as they say they can't even reach DL mode, and I can.
Odin recognizes my phone, yes, but anything I flash is stuck on the animated logo.
I do not have Kies installed, just installed the drivers.

[q] help!! Note down

So ,im sorry but its a long story. Hopefully someone can help. My note is Rooted Ive been using TWRP. Everything had been fine until 2 days ago. I tried flashing a ROM i found on Goomanger.( I had been running liquid smooth) just wanted to try something different. Anyways it got stuck on a boot loop. Cant remember the name of the Rom. Anyways i was able to get back to recovery, thankfully. But when i wiped and flashed back to liquid smooth it would say optimizing apps, then it would reach a certain number then reboot and star all over again. So then i tried another Rom and the same thing happened. tried flashing back to stock rooted but it would turn on then completely crash and star booting up again. So finally i was able to flash paraandroid 4.1.2 and Gapps, but here is the kicker i have no service (AT&T) says cannot locate network, my IMEI is gone basically the cellular isn't working. Everything else works fine WiFi,apps, camera. Just cant make calls. I really need your guys help please.:crying:
If you have a suggestion please let me know, i hate using an old Iphone
dar101978 said:
So ,im sorry but its a long story. Hopefully someone can help. My note is Rooted Ive been using TWRP. Everything had been fine until 2 days ago. I tried flashing a ROM i found on Goomanger.( I had been running liquid smooth) just wanted to try something different. Anyways it got stuck on a boot loop. Cant remember the name of the Rom. Anyways i was able to get back to recovery, thankfully. But when i wiped and flashed back to liquid smooth it would say optimizing apps, then it would reach a certain number then reboot and star all over again. So then i tried another Rom and the same thing happened. tried flashing back to stock rooted but it would turn on then completely crash and star booting up again. So finally i was able to flash paraandroid 4.1.2 and Gapps, but here is the kicker i have no service (AT&T) says cannot locate network, my IMEI is gone basically the cellular isn't working. Everything else works fine WiFi,apps, camera. Just cant make calls. I really need your guys help please.:crying:
If you have a suggestion please let me know, i hate using an old Iphone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just odin back to stock. Get a complete factory stock image from the main sticky thread and flash it with Odin and Download Mode. There's a bug on one of the TWRP versions with 4.3-based ROMs that will put it into a bootloop by breaking device reboots. I was unable to flash my way out of the problem and was forced to do a complete reimage which solved all the problems and put me right back to clean-out-of-the-box state, then I reinstalled TWRP (though an older version before the boot loop bug) and re-flashed my custom ROM. The package I used was the stock image and Odin tool all in one .exe, just plug in to download mode and run it and it flashed bootloader, recovery, system, kernel, etc. all back to stock.
CalcProgrammer1 said:
Just odin back to stock. Get a complete factory stock image from the main sticky thread and flash it with Odin and Download Mode. There's a bug on one of the TWRP versions with 4.3-based ROMs that will put it into a bootloop by breaking device reboots. I was unable to flash my way out of the problem and was forced to do a complete reimage which solved all the problems and put me right back to clean-out-of-the-box state, then I reinstalled TWRP (though an older version before the boot loop bug) and re-flashed my custom ROM. The package I used was the stock image and Odin tool all in one .exe, just plug in to download mode and run it and it flashed bootloader, recovery, system, kernel, etc. all back to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks thats what i did, I just basically had to use KIES to use the emergency recovery, then root my phone again. My question is what version of TWRP causes this? cause i used the newest version i could find off GOO. My other concerne is, will it accept or be safe to use a custom ROM? Well i gues ill find out :laugh: THANKS AGAIN!
Everyone with the sgh-i717 is having problems with the latest TWRP and the most stable version is 2.5.0.0. Go with that one or you'll be starting all over again I imagine. And don't just stop at the download link in the OP's, read the thread and find out what's going on. The problems with TWRP have been going on for a while and the development threads have a lot of comments about the latest build causing problems. Good luck! :good:

[Q] So Many Problems, trying to get to KitKat

I have flashed numerous phones and tablets before, but I have been away from android for a while and now I am having problems.
I have been searching for a while, but I guess I just dont understand what is happening with my phone.
I am currently on 2.1, after restoring with Odin. I want to get to KitKat, specifically 4.4.2 "Speedy CarbonRom".
I have tried flashing KK Kernel v1.0, which just got me to bootloop. I have tried flashing CarbonRom, resulting in a status 0.
Now, my phone will not even boot into recovery when holding both volume buttons and power.
Please help, I am really lost here.
Thanks.
Well I guess I solved it.
I had to go to ICS first, then flash KK Kernel, then flash CarbonRom.

Need help please, rooted, soft bricked, and now.. no idea what this state is called.

So the first thing was I rooted a Samsung S4 SGH-M919.
I used Chainfire's files and Odin. it worked just fine.
Gave the phone to my wife but the firmware 4.4.2 was clearly outdated that none of the apps she played worked, everything just froze on her or crashed.
So I decided to install a custom rom, this led me to Imperium Lollipop 5.0.1
Well that in turn made the phone unbootable. It would continuously go into these 4 circular swirling balls and get stuck there. I cant even get into Recovery Mode. Only Download Mode.
So this made me do some searching and I dl'ed SGH-M919 stock firmware 4.2.2
I used Odin to flash that and it failed.
So now the phone boots into a screen that telling me to uses Kies to fix the issue.
I'm at a loss what to do next.
Can someone give me the necessary steps to fix the phone and where I intended to go with this?
Much appreciated. thanks.
catheapp said:
So the first thing was I rooted a Samsung S4 SGH-M919.
I used Chainfire's files and Odin. it worked just fine.
Gave the phone to my wife but the firmware 4.4.2 was clearly outdated that none of the apps she played worked, everything just froze on her or crashed.
So I decided to install a custom rom, this led me to Imperium Lollipop 5.0.1
Well that in turn made the phone unbootable. It would continuously go into these 4 circular swirling balls and get stuck there. I cant even get into Recovery Mode. Only Download Mode.
So this made me do some searching and I dl'ed SGH-M919 stock firmware 4.2.2
I used Odin to flash that and it failed.
So now the phone boots into a screen that telling me to uses Kies to fix the issue.
I'm at a loss what to do next.
Can someone give me the necessary steps to fix the phone and where I intended to go with this?
Much appreciated. thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure that you have the right bootloader installed for the lollipop rom? Did you factory reset before installing custom rom? Try to wipe davlik after installation completes before restarting device. Also follow the instructions given by the rom thread op.

Categories

Resources