Hey fellow Hackers/Modders/people-trying-to-help-each-other-out-of-their-problems!
I have a serious problem!
I was using the NoPCneeded way to root my phone (GT-I9100) and wanted to install de SU-zip when my Volume button went rogue and I accidentally flashed the latest Rootbox!
It went on and installed the Rom, when all of the sudden the screen went blank, and wouldn't turn on again.
Battery has been taken out and reinserted, and I tried recovery-mode...to no success! Download-mode won't work too!
So, now is my Question: How will i know if the darn thing is hard bricked of "normally" bricked?
I have someone who will bring me the resistors to make a Jig, but i would love to know if that will have success!
Anyway, thanks guys in advance!
What ROM were you on?
Have you tried removing your battery for a couple of min and then power on? Do you get the Samsung S II gti9100 screen upon boot?
A jig might work I guess.
gastonw said:
What ROM were you on?
Have you tried removing your battery for a couple of min and then power on? Do you get the Samsung S II gti9100 screen upon boot?
A jig might work I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on Stock 4.0.4 Latest official.
I tried to remove the battery and reinsert it, but it had no success!
It won't start, show anything or do anything..
I have the resistors now. one 300 kOhm and three 100 kOhm, so i can try them out.
which one would you suggest; 1x300 or 3x100 kOhm? And is soldering a requirement, or can folding suffice?
fejth said:
Hey fellow Hackers/Modders/people-trying-to-help-each-other-out-of-their-problems!
I have a serious problem!
I was using the NoPCneeded way to root my phone (GT-I9100) and wanted to install de SU-zip when my Volume button went rogue and I accidentally flashed the latest Rootbox!
It went on and installed the Rom, when all of the sudden the screen went blank, and wouldn't turn on again.
Battery has been taken out and reinserted, and I tried recovery-mode...to no success! Download-mode won't work too!
So, now is my Question: How will i know if the darn thing is hard bricked of "normally" bricked?
I have someone who will bring me the resistors to make a Jig, but i would love to know if that will have success!
Anyway, thanks guys in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a costly mistake man. That is why you should be careful when you are flashing your phone. Anyway you have to try a jig and see. If it does not work you will have to take it to a repair center
fejth said:
I was on Stock 4.0.4 Latest official.
I tried to remove the battery and reinsert it, but it had no success!
It won't start, show anything or do anything..
I have the resistors now. one 300 kOhm and three 100 kOhm, so i can try them out.
which one would you suggest; 1x300 or 3x100 kOhm? And is soldering a requirement, or can folding suffice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got no idea, but these guys here might.
So you where on 4.0.4....you didn't make any wipes while you where there on recovery...right?
If so, you might wanna check the brick bug thread.
fejth said:
So, now is my Question: How will i know if the darn thing is hard bricked of "normally" bricked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your device is bricked when it wont power on or system wont boot and no way to use recovery/download mode to re-flash resulting in you having to JTAG fix or replace motherboard.
If you can use JIG to boot into download or simply power on phone into recovery/download your device is not "bricked".
There is no such thing as "soft" or "hard" bricked, just "bricked".
TheATHEiST said:
Your device is bricked when it wont power on or system wont boot and no way to use recovery/download mode to re-flash resulting in you having to JTAG fix or replace motherboard.
If you can use JIG to boot into download or simply power on phone into recovery/download your device is not "bricked".
There is no such thing as "soft" or "hard" bricked, just "bricked".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot!
I knew there was no real soft brick, but i was wondering if there was a difference between usb-jig or jtag.
Im trying right now to get a usb jig for my own by getting three resistors together, but i cant find pin 4. % i can manage, because there is a 5 written next to it. 4 is a problem.
fejth said:
Thanks a lot!
I knew there was no real soft brick, but i was wondering if there was a difference between usb-jig or jtag.
Im trying right now to get a usb jig for my own by getting three resistors together, but i cant find pin 4. % i can manage, because there is a 5 written next to it. 4 is a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JTAG is when you have to connect device to Riff box via JTAG connections on board to flash bootloader. This is needed when you brick device via corrupting bootloader like a bad flash, losing power or flashing incorrect rom.
You can also brick your device by wiping data/factory reset in a buggy stock rom which basically screws up your emmc chip (internal memory card).
To be honest I'm not quite sure what causes the issue where a USB jig is needed to wake up device. Probably a bad flash which fortunately hasnt fully bricked device so in a sense you could call it "semi-bricked" since extra hardware is still needed to recover device.
"bricked" is basically when device is completely flucked or you need extra hardware to resolve issue, whether that be riff box, new motherboard or USB jig in case of semi-brick. I have never personally needed needed to use JIG so not sure on if its actually needed or if there is a way to enter download without it.
TheATHEiST said:
JTAG is when you have to connect device to Riff box via JTAG connections on board to flash bootloader. This is needed when you brick device via corrupting bootloader like a bad flash, losing power or flashing incorrect rom.
You can also brick your device by wiping data/factory reset in a buggy stock rom which basically screws up your emmc chip (internal memory card).
To be honest I'm not quite sure what causes the issue where a USB jig is needed to wake up device. Probably a bad flash which fortunately hasnt fully bricked device so in a sense you could call it "semi-bricked" since extra hardware is still needed to recover device.
"bricked" is basically when device is completely flucked or you need extra hardware to resolve issue, whether that be riff box, new motherboard or USB jig in case of semi-brick. I have never personally needed needed to use JIG so not sure on if its actually needed or if there is a way to enter download without it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, thanks for your information.
I guess it's pretty safe to say in cannot get into download mode in any normal manner...so i am flucked (as you so elegantly say)
I think im gonna drop it into loverly smellin lemonade, and give my home insurance a call... (i got kids, so it shouldn't be far off)
fejth said:
Great, thanks for your information.
I guess it's pretty safe to say in cannot get into download mode in any normal manner...so i am flucked (as you so elegantly say)
I think im gonna drop it into loverly smellin lemonade, and give my home insurance a call... (i got kids, so it shouldn't be far off)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get a USB Jig from ebay for around £1-2 so you may aswell get and try one first if you cant manage to make own.
Related
I see some people have mentioned jigs which force the phone into download mode; does this mean the phone is effectively unbrickable?
I never bricked my SGS but its always nice to have something cheap to fall back on if something messes up.
Also I've seen some links to Jigs which cost near £100 - http://www.samsungparts.com/Products/Parts_and_Accessories/PID-GH99-36900A.aspx?model=SCH-R560TSAMTR
But there are ones on ebay for like £5. - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Samsung-Galax...ile_Phones&hash=item19c5741bea#ht_2489wt_1298
Is there a difference between them?
cheers
This is definitely hard to brick it. When you can force it into download mode.
Hard to brick yes unbrickable a very very big NO .
Idiots are everywhere .
Cheap jig will be OK especially if you buy from an XDA guy .
jje
Cheers, gonna order one from dh2311
I bought one of the JIGS and it will not force it... Any suggestions?
Pull battery then use the jig.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
savingeye said:
I bought one of the JIGS and it will not force it... Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Force what its supposed to open download mode from a switched off phone .
jje
The SGS2 is recoverable as long as the bootloader isn't corrupted, broken wiped or otherwise "on vacation" - which CAN happen depending on what you do.
But as long as the bootloader stays OK, it's kind of "unbrickable", even totally wiped system, kernel and modem partions aren't really a problem.
The Jig forces the phone to boot into bootloader mode (from a backup bootloader even, if neccessary), but usually the "three button combo" does the same.
Some guys were trying to find out how to boot a bootloader from the external SD card - if THAT would've been found out, it would REALLY make it totally unbrickable, so lets hope someone figures it out
HellcatDroid said:
The SGS2 is recoverable as long as the bootloader isn't corrupted, broken wiped or otherwise "on vacation" - which CAN happen depending on what you do.
But as long as the bootloader stays OK, it's kind of "unbrickable", even totally wiped system, kernel and modem partions aren't really a problem.
The Jig forces the phone to boot into bootloader mode (from a backup bootloader even, if neccessary), but usually the "three button combo" does the same.
Some guys were trying to find out how to boot a bootloader from the external SD card - if THAT would've been found out, it would REALLY make it totally unbrickable, so lets hope someone figures it out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that would make it the best phone ever
I guess it did manage to corrupt the bootloader, which I cannot figure out how as it was connected to kies when I lost power.
I checked and the battery is charged. Windows recognizes it as SEC s5PC100 Test B/D but that's it!
blickmanic said:
that would make it the best phone ever
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it *has* to be possible somehow, or how else would Samy reflash such phones.
Haveing to open it up for some SPI magic or even completely replacing it would be way too cost intensive.
My guess is they drop in a specially prepped SD card, insert Jig, run Odin, send back - or maybe even without the Odin part, the bootloader on the SD card might already be able to completely reflash the thing.
savingeye said:
I guess it did manage to corrupt the bootloader, which I cannot figure out how as it was connected to kies when I lost power.
I checked and the battery is charged. Windows recognizes it as SEC s5PC100 Test B/D but that's it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds like the Jig could actually help you.
Try to get into downloadmode using the Jig and then flash a full stock FW via Odin.
I think I've bricked my Galaxy S II.. I got it yesterday and tried to flash 2.3.5. When I was flashing with Odin, the program went unresponsive and crashed. There was nothing else to do but take out the battery.. I shouldn't have done it, but I did. And now it won't turn on at all. I've tried the 3 button method, for download mode, and a jig from my old i9000. Nothing has worked. The screen wont even turn on. I don't know what to do... Help Please??
you need a jtag.If it wont go into download or recovery its gone.
What do you, Jtag? I've got a usb jig, does that work? Or are they the same thing?
*What do you mean
aren't jigs phone-specific?
Any new info on this? Did jtag worked or whatever. I keep eye on this thread but looks like OP disappeared. Genuinely curious what happened with the phone.
Hmm .. very wierd that phone wont turn on ... i have broken Odin flashes purposedly many times myself but always I can get back into it ...
You could try power drain ... remove battery ... press power on button for 10 seconds (WITHOUT BATTERY IN) ... now put battery back in and try to go into Download mode.
Sorry but i got busy with other stuff but wanted to explain to him about the JTag.Its a special box called a RiffBox JTag and what it does is basically wipes the motherboard/bootloader and in most phones repears the bootloader aswell of a fully bricked phone so it can be put into download mode again letting you re-flash via Odin and thus saving your phone.A little miracle that means no more bricked phones.There doesnt seem to be that many around and to buy they aint cheap at all but if you can find a dealer or a phone shop who has one they can do it for you.For example.I bicked my phone and was going to buy the box on ebay.es imported (in spain there isnt any for sale) for 160euros complete or 140 without cables.Searched this site:
http://www.jtagbox.com/riff-jtag-bo...s-unbrick-bricked-phone-riff-box-owners-list/
and found a shop in Barcelona who did it for me for 35euros plus postage "BARGIN!!!!".If you search youtube and google for RiffboxJtag in your country you should find someone with a unit willing to help out or check the link ive given as it has a list of users worldwide.
EDIT:A jig is not a JTag.A jig will boot your SEMI-BRICKED(phone showing some kind of life ex.classic icon of phone/arrow/computor,menu and back arrow lights work e.t.c.) phone into download mode.A FULLY-BRICKED(dead,no signs of life.wont start.no download,recovery,lights nothing.DEAD!!!) phone needs a JTag
@cooza , Thanks for that explanation and site I even found one near me, that some day might come handy.
I must ask now to further clear my doubts, this riffjtag box, like you said is able to "revive" or "unbrick" _any_ bricked SGS2? No matter how bad is it? Im kinda new around these things and trying to suck up as much info/knowledge possible, before I decide to flash/root/?brick? xD haha ( hope not for last one) my phone.
Devourz said:
@cooza , Thanks for that explanation and site I even found one near me, that some day might come handy.
I must ask now to further clear my doubts, this riffjtag box, like you said is able to "revive" or "unbrick" _any_ bricked SGS2? No matter how bad is it? Im kinda new around these things and trying to suck up as much info/knowledge possible, before I decide to flash/root/?brick? xD haha ( hope not for last one) my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi.As i said before there are semi and hard bricked phones.A semi bricked phone can normally be booted into download mode with the 3 button combo or a jig and your away again.It has the usuall symbol of a phone and a PC with a warning sign in the middle of them.Hard bricked is when the bootloader is damaged and there is basically no return.You got yourself a very expensive paper-weight for the office desk.Its like trying to turn on your phone with no battery in it.Dead,gone and not coming back.Before the Riffbox the only solution was the rubbish bin or maybe change the motherboard(but a few years ago that was an extremely pricey task if possible).Now we have the box.You can screw you phone to the point of no return and still the box will bring it back to life as it wipes the motherboard and in the case of the SGS2 also repears the damaged bootloader which is what boots your phone to start with.One thing to know,and i dont know if it happens to everyone but mine came back with 2.3.3 installed but there was no recovery mode.If this happens all you have to do is re-flash via Odin a more reciente firmware WITHOUT PIT FILE and yourll get recovery mode back at reboot.Obviously youll need to plug in your phone before hand to re-install the drivers.Same with Odin.boot to download,plug in,installs,unplug,then open Odin and flash.
EDIT:yourve got my name there so if something ever happens and you need a hand to re-flash after a jtag just send me a private message.Here to help.
SamBroomby said:
I think I've bricked my Galaxy S II.. I got it yesterday and tried to flash 2.3.5. When I was flashing with Odin, the program went unresponsive and crashed. There was nothing else to do but take out the battery.. I shouldn't have done it, but I did. And now it won't turn on at all. I've tried the 3 button method, for download mode, and a jig from my old i9000. Nothing has worked. The screen wont even turn on. I don't know what to do... Help Please??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im not juding you...but next time is better to flash with CWM.
Odin only for root kernel...
cooza said:
Hi.As i said before there are semi and hard bricked phones.A semi bricked phone can normally be booted into download mode with the 3 button combo or a jig and your away again.It has the usuall symbol of a phone and a PC with a warning sign in the middle of them.Hard bricked is when the bootloader is damaged and there is basically no return.You got yourself a very expensive paper-weight for the office desk.Its like trying to turn on your phone with no battery in it.Dead,gone and not coming back.Before the Riffbox the only solution was the rubbish bin or maybe change the motherboard(but a few years ago that was an extremely pricey task if possible).Now we have the box.You can screw you phone to the point of no return and still the box will bring it back to life as it wipes the motherboard and in the case of the SGS2 also repears the damaged bootloader which is what boots your phone to start with.One thing to know,and i dont know if it happens to everyone but mine came back with 2.3.3 installed but there was no recovery mode.If this happens all you have to do is re-flash via Odin a more reciente firmware WITHOUT PIT FILE and yourll get recovery mode back at reboot.Obviously youll need to plug in your phone before hand to re-install the drivers.Same with Odin.boot to download,plug in,installs,unplug,then open Odin and flash.
EDIT:yourve got my name there so if something ever happens and you need a hand to re-flash after a jtag just send me a private message.Here to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you mate! I am getting my SGS2 this week so ive been doing alot of reading and research about everything. Thanks for your contribution and kind offer to help if ever comes to that. Very appreciated.
No worries mate.truth is its very hard to fully hard-brick an i9100.The main thing to watch out for,and its a mistake that first-time users/flashers have done,is to flash there i9100 phones with i9000 firmware by mistake.An SGS is not an SGS2 and if they are mixed you WILL hard-brick your device.Here on XDA everything is clearly marked and on their right pages so you cant go wrong if you take your time dont rush-in.But just in case you havnt seen it heres the thread:
Firmwares:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278
CF-Root Kernels: (if you feel the need)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
Hi, dont bother faffing with it mate, if you have only had it a day take it back and tell them it wouldnt boot after an automatic Kies update. If they cant turn it on they wont know you bricked it until it gets back to the factory and to be honest after selling 10 million of these babies they wont even bother checking it out, they'll just put it into spares or straight recondition it.
I did the same thing to my xoom, PC world couldnt turn it on so they just gave me another.
Hey guys.
I made a stupid error last night when I tried going from ICS CM9 back to ICS STOCK LPQ.
I forgot to wipe data and just wiped cache and dalvik cache.
The connection broke whilst flashing through ODIN and now I have a blank black screen and the phone won't turn on...((( (It does technically as when I try pressing the on button later on the phone would get hot - meaning its on but BLACK SCREEN)
I have tried taking the battery out for hours and putting it back in...nothing is working.
I don't know what to do...I'm in uni where I have fast wifi. Please help. Any advice would be grateful
EDIT:
Ok.
So usb jig arrived this morning. Ripped it open. Popped my sgsII from charger (fully charged I think!) took battery out - 15 secs
placed battery back in.
Inserted USBJIG. . .
. . .
. . . . BLACK SCREEN OF DEATH
Nothing....Still the same. No screen activity...sad...
only way is either JTAG or Samsung service center right?
I used to have yellow exclamation mark + 4 counts....but they can't see anything so they won't know right?
or did the usbJig work but just the fact that I can't see anything on the screen??
...sad I hated seeing noobs flashing phones improperly and crying when it got softbricked....well even though mine is a straight hardbrick i still feel sad....noob
update.
I've taken it to SSCentre on tuesday. I called them yesterday and they said they couldn't fix it over there and had it shipped somewhere else...is that bad?
it could take upto 2 weeks!!!!!!
I rememeber the engineers working on my friends Galaxy S last year and they didn't have to send it to somewhere else. (he had the soft brick 3 yellow logo icons) and didn't have the version where the download/recovery mode didn't work) The engineer just flashed it with latest stock sgs firmware (ignoring that csc was orange lol)
Maybe my flash was so impeccable I fried the motherboard? I'm one kick ass bricker....
dk206 said:
Hey guys.
I made a stupid error last night when I tried going from ICS CM9 back to Gingerbread Stock JVU.
I forgot to wipe data and just wiped cache and dalvik cache.
The connection broke whilst flashing through ODIN and now I have a blank black screen and the phone won't turn on...((( (It does technically as when I try pressing the on button later on the phone would get hot - meaning its on but BLACK SCREEN)
I have tried taking the battery out for hours and putting it back in...nothing is working.
I don't know what to do...I'm in uni where I have fast wifi. Please help. Any advice would be grateful
dk206
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm assuming download mode and recovery also don't work when the device is powered off?
dk206 said:
Hey guys.
I made a stupid error last night when I tried going from ICS CM9 back to Gingerbread Stock JVU.
I forgot to wipe data and just wiped cache and dalvik cache.
The connection broke whilst flashing through ODIN and now I have a blank black screen and the phone won't turn on...((( (It does technically as when I try pressing the on button later on the phone would get hot - meaning its on but BLACK SCREEN)
I have tried taking the battery out for hours and putting it back in...nothing is working.
I don't know what to do...I'm in uni where I have fast wifi. Please help. Any advice would be grateful
dk206
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm have you tried getting into download mode to see if the device shows up in odin?
dk206 said:
Hey guys.
I made a stupid error last night when I tried going from ICS CM9 back to Gingerbread Stock JVU.
I forgot to wipe data and just wiped cache and dalvik cache.
The connection broke whilst flashing through ODIN and now I have a blank black screen and the phone won't turn on...((( (It does technically as when I try pressing the on button later on the phone would get hot - meaning its on but BLACK SCREEN)
I have tried taking the battery out for hours and putting it back in...nothing is working.
I don't know what to do...I'm in uni where I have fast wifi. Please help. Any advice would be grateful
dk206
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can get into download mode then there is still hope. If you can't then your only option is either warranty repair of Jtag service. If download mode then works then just reflash using Odin.
You flash i9000XXJVU to your i9100 phone? So you need JTAG or do service. Your bootloader is totally dead
hiepgia said:
You flash i9000XXJVU to your i9100 phone? So you need JTAG or do service. Your bootloader is totally dead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't even notice that XXJVU was an i9000 firmware.
To OP: Yup nothing to do, but send it in for repairs.
yeah sorry not JVU LPQ (I was getting mixed up with firmwares)
Yeah phone not going into download or recovery mode.
I think when I press the power button the phone does turn on but I get nothing but black screen....(the phone warms up)
So shall I order a JTAG to flash? or take it to repair centre?
Will they know I've been flashing this thing to death? Counter is on 4 at the moment..... so worried!
dk206 said:
yeah sorry not JVU LPQ (I was getting mixed up with firmwares)
Yeah phone not going into download or recovery mode.
I think when I press the power button the phone does turn on but I get nothing but black screen....(the phone warms up)
So shall I order a JTAG to flash? or take it to repair centre?
Will they know I've been flashing this thing to death? Counter is on 4 at the moment..... so worried!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are u sure?
vol down+power+home button is download mode
Check it once again if it doesn't work...
maybe u can try some usb-jigg ?!
so you can come in to download-mode and then flash with odin =(
dk206 said:
ye
So shall I order a JTAG to flash?
JTag is not Samsung warranty its a paid for service .
or take it to repair centre?
Will they know I've been flashing this thing to death? Counter is on 4 at the moment....
.
Warranty is void with custom rom root or rom counter above zero .
Will they know yes counter is on 4 .
Will they ignore it and put it through as warranty they may but dont count on it .
USB jig would be the starting point .
That fails you could go to warranty repair if thats rejected then pay for JTag repair .
jjue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any place or website where I could buy a USB JIG?
Not really keen with solders....
Thanks guys
dk206 said:
Any place or website where I could buy a USB JIG?
Not really keen with solders....
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eBay. Or Google.
first charge it. Then try to enter download mode again. I have exp. 1 time battery low and phone just warm up and black screen. After Charge, it's ok till now!
dk206 said:
Any place or website where I could buy a USB JIG?
Not really keen with solders....
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the post USB jigs to loan out
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1495867
jje
if you have adb maybe you could try:
1. Connecting your device to PC while turned off,
2. CMD > adb devices
* If you see your device connected, proceed with:
adb reboot recovery or adb reboot bootloader
* If you don't see any device connected, try googling for qhsusb_dload driver for your device, and after you install them (and maybe a couple of PC restarts) repeat step 2
3. if you manage to get to recovery, i hope you have your nandroid backup so you could restore them.
my HTC sensation 4G had this situation few days ago, couldn't go to recovery/bootloader, blanked out when turned on and had fever
i fixed it using those steps, i wish i could remember where i got the qhsusb driver thingy from.. i'll let you know when i remember.
edit: it might work on S2, or might not.. i don't know this will help or not, but you could read adb/fastboot/bootloader/android 101, maybe you could get something from there
hiepgia said:
You flash i9000XXJVU to your i9100 phone? So you need JTAG or do service. Your bootloader is totally dead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bootloader death thing is not 100% true. When I first got my phone, (when there wasn't any rom for it) I tried flashing a I9000 rom. I was so stupid and luckily it didn't break my phone. After the flashing it turned on and stayed on bootlogo.
It was a miracle for me!
Ok.
So usb jig arrived this morning. Ripped it open. Popped my sgsII from charger (fully charged I think!) took battery out - 15 secs
placed battery back in.
Inserted USBJIG. . .
. . .
. . . . BLACK SCREEN OF DEATH
Nothing....Still the same. No screen activity...sad...
only way is either JTAG or Samsung service center right?
I used to have yellow exclamation mark + 4 counts....but they can't see anything so they won't know right?
or did the usbJig work but just the fact that I can't see anything on the screen??
...sad I hated seeing noobs flashing phones improperly and crying when it got softbricked....well even though mine is a straight hardbrick i still feel sad....noob
You just got to hope for the guy that repairs it not to see or not to care about custom roms etc .
jje
JJEgan said:
You just got to hope for the guy that repairs it not to see or not to care about custom roms etc .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok update.
I've taken it to SSCentre on tuesday. I called them yesterday and they said they couldn't fix it over there and had it shipped somewhere else...is that bad?
it could take upto 2 weeks!!!!!!
I rememeber the engineers working on my friends Galaxy S last year and they didn't have to send it to somewhere else. (he had the soft brick 3 yellow logo icons) and didn't have the version where the download/recovery mode didn't work) The engineer just flashed it with latest stock sgs firmware (ignoring that csc was orange lol)
Maybe my flash was so impeccable I fried the motherboard? I'm one kick ass bricker....
you should have tried download mode blindly first. as i have flashed once blindly and it fixed my all dead screen.
I recently hard bricked my phone after flashing CyanogenMod 10. I know that CyanogenMod doesn't even touch the bootloader but somehow I ended up with a very expensive paperweight. But luckily Samsung Care replaced the motherboard in my phone and now my phone is good as new. But that doesn't mean that I'm gonna refrain from flashing or rooting. I've been rooting since 2 years now & this is the first time I've ever hard bricked the phone. But this experience really did scare me. So, to avoid it, in future, I wanna know all about hard brick. So please answer my following questions:
1) What exactly is hard brick?
2) Possible ways in which one could end up with a hard bricked phone? (Mainly SGS3)
3) Possible ways of recovery from hard brick?
Thanks a lot in advance. I want this thread to be a complete source of information to anyone who is new to flashing & needs DO's & DONT's of flashing properly.
saurabh_goyal93 said:
I recently hard bricked my phone after flashing CyanogenMod 10. I know that CyanogenMod doesn't even touch the bootloader but somehow I ended up with a very expensive paperweight. But luckily Samsung Care replaced the motherboard in my phone and now my phone is good as new. But that doesn't mean that I'm gonna refrain from flashing or rooting. I've been rooting since 2 years now & this is the first time I've ever hard bricked the phone. But this experience really did scare me. So, to avoid it, in future, I wanna know all about hard brick. So please answer my following questions:
1) What exactly is hard brick?
2) Possible ways in which one could end up with a hard bricked phone? (Mainly SGS3)
3) Possible ways of recovery from hard brick?
Thanks a lot in advance. I want this thread to be a complete source of information to anyone who is new to flashing & needs DO's & DONT's of flashing properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1: You hardbricked your phone if you can't power it on at all. That means no Recovery and no Download mode. No lifesign at all.
A softbrick on the other hand is the situation that your phone powers up but stucks at a certain point and you can`t boot it up to the OS. However Recovery and/or Download Mode is still accessible, so you can flash a ROM, which usually solves the problem.
2: If you screw up the Bootloader. How can you screw up the bootloader? If you flash the bootloader through Odin there is always the chance that during the flash process your OS crashes or you by accident disconnect the USB cable. Although I heard cases where people hardbricked their phones during flashing a ROM through CWM (like in your case). This however doesn't make sense because like you already said most ROMs don't touch the Bootloader, so even if something happens during the flashing process, you should still be able to get at least to Download Mode. So with cases like that I assume that it is a hardware failure of some sort.
3: If you screwed up the bootloader then you can bring your phone back to life by using JTag. There are people who do this for a little money, so if you don't have warranty anymore, this is the way to go because it's a lot cheaper than replacing the mainboard.
Thanks a lot
Thanks for such an informative reply. Really appreciate it.
Scarface1991 said:
1: You hardbricked your phone if you can't power it on at all. That means no Recovery and no Download mode. No lifesign at all.
A softbrick on the other hand is the situation that your phone powers up but stucks at a certain point and you can`t boot it up to the OS. However Recovery and/or Download Mode is still accessible, so you can flash a ROM, which usually solves the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know the symptoms. But what exactly is a hard brick? Hardware is burned out? Software isn't able to communicate with hardware? Like, what happens exactly inside the phone?
Scarface1991 said:
2: If you screw up the Bootloader. How can you screw up the bootloader? If you flash the bootloader through Odin there is always the chance that during the flash process your OS crashes or you by accident disconnect the USB cable. Although I heard cases where people hardbricked their phones during flashing a ROM through CWM (like in your case). This however doesn't make sense because like you already said most ROMs don't touch the Bootloader, so even if something happens during the flashing process, you should still be able to get at least to Download Mode. So with cases like that I assume that it is a hardware failure of some sort.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can one screw up during bootloader update/flash? The process takes like 5 seconds!!
Plus Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 doesn't allow flashing of any other device's bootloader.(Yeah yeah, I was about to flash GT-I9305's bootloader on mine by mistake!) Odin stops automatically during flashing. I don't know whether it is a security feature by phone or odin but whatever it is, it ROCKS!
saurabh_goyal93 said:
Thanks for such an informative reply. Really appreciate it.
I know the symptoms. But what exactly is a hard brick? Hardware is burned out? Software isn't able to communicate with hardware? Like, what happens exactly inside the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Bootloader is the first thing that is loaded when you power up your phone. If you screw up the bootloader your phone won`t boot up at all. This is caused by the user of the phone, that`s why people say: "Your hardbricked your device".
If your hardware fails to function properly because of whatever reason then it`s not a hardbrick but simply a hardware failure. It is in most cases not caused by the user (except if someone would be dumb enough to overclock CPU/GPU to a ridiculous high level)
How can one screw up during bootloader update/flash? The process takes like 5 seconds!!
Plus Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 doesn't allow flashing of any other device's bootloader.(Yeah yeah, I was about to flash GT-I9305's bootloader on mine by mistake!) Odin stops automatically during flashing. I don't know whether it is a security feature by phone or odin but whatever it is, it ROCKS!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look at the XDA Q&A Threads. There are several cases a day where people have problems flashing something on their phones because Odin fails for some reason. That`s why I would use Odin only when it`s really necessary. When I had my first Smartphone (Samsung Wave) I flashed a lot of stuff on it and one time the flash tool just reported an error and that`s it (bootloader was screwed). I don't know why it failed until this day. So flash a bootloader only if it`s absolutely necessary because this is the most dangerous thing that you can do to your device.
I hard bricked my phone by rushing to install a new ROM before i had to leave for work. Later when I retraced my steps I realized that I made a stupid and critical mistake. I installed a ROM for a Galaxy S2 onto my Galaxy S3.
The installation appeared to be going smoothly. When it was complete I pressed the "reboot now" button. My phone turned off and never turned back on.
Now the phone has no signs of life. No Power, No Recovery, No download mode, No drivers when I plug it into a computer USB port. The computer does recognize that some kind of USB device is connected to it though. Which is what makes me believe that the phone is not dead and must be repairable.
I've done research and it appears that there are 3 options. (Please let me know if there are more)
Option #1: Pay someone to perform a JTAG repair service.
Option #2: Attempt to boot into recovery using a JIG.
Option #3: Play dumb and return my phone under warranty.
Questions
Option #1: is there a kit you can buy to perform this JTAG repair yourself? I will be more careful in the future but I don't want to be helpless if this ever happens again.
Option #2: I find conflicting advice here. Will this help my phone? eBay sellers warn that a JIG will not help a phone boot into download mode if it doesn't even power on at all. Has anyone attempted this with a phone in the same condition as mine? if so, what was the outcome?
Option #3: The easy way out . But also the defeated unhonest route I would rather avoid. It seems that most people reporting a phone in this condition never explain how they fixed their phone. What do they do?
My phone is still under warranty. Will they be able to detect that I caused the malfunction if I tell a lie that this just happened one day after charging the phone over night?
What do people do when their warranty has expired?
Please let me know how you handled this?
I hope this at least helps someone prevent what I did. Take your time!
I look forward to any advice
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
fullycompletely said:
I
This is I9300 forum if you do not have I9300 this is the wrong forum and any advice may not apply to your phone .
You say >>>>>
SGH-I747M
Option #1: Pay someone to perform a JTAG repair service.
That may work but it depends upon the actual problem .
Option #2: Attempt to boot into recovery using a JIG.
Dirt Cheapo always worth a try .
Option #3: Play dumb and return my phone under warranty.
It will be either rejected for warranty or repaired .
Questions
Option #1: is there a kit you can buy to perform this JTAG repair yourself?
YES use GOOGLE search .
I will be more careful in the future but I don't want to be helpless if this ever happens again.
But JTAG is no magic solution .
helpless is a simple fact of reading the faqs and guides after its broken .
Option #2: I find conflicting advice here. Will this help my phone? eBay sellers warn that a JIG will not help a phone boot into download mode if it doesn't even power on at all. Has anyone attempted this with a phone in the same condition as mine? if so, what was the outcome?
READ the JTag thread .
My phone is still under warranty. Will they be able to detect that I caused the malfunction if I tell a lie that this just happened one day after charging the phone over night?
What do people do when their warranty has expired?
Phone is not old enough for no warranty but warranty refused then you pay .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fullycompletely said:
I hard bricked my phone by rushing to install a new ROM before i had to leave for work. Later when I retraced my steps I realized that I made a stupid and critical mistake. I installed a ROM for a Galaxy S2 onto my Galaxy S3.
The installation appeared to be going smoothly. When it was complete I pressed the "reboot now" button. My phone turned off and never turned back on.
Now the phone has no signs of life. No Power, No Recovery, No download mode, No drivers when I plug it into a computer USB port. The computer does recognize that some kind of USB device is connected to it though. Which is what makes me believe that the phone is not dead and must be repairable.
I've done research and it appears that there are 3 options. (Please let me know if there are more)
Option #1: Pay someone to perform a JTAG repair service.
Option #2: Attempt to boot into recovery using a JIG.
Option #3: Play dumb and return my phone under warranty.
Questions
Option #1: is there a kit you can buy to perform this JTAG repair yourself? I will be more careful in the future but I don't want to be helpless if this ever happens again.
Option #2: I find conflicting advice here. Will this help my phone? eBay sellers warn that a JIG will not help a phone boot into download mode if it doesn't even power on at all. Has anyone attempted this with a phone in the same condition as mine? if so, what was the outcome?
Option #3: The easy way out . But also the defeated unhonest route I would rather avoid. It seems that most people reporting a phone in this condition never explain how they fixed their phone. What do they do?
My phone is still under warranty. Will they be able to detect that I caused the malfunction if I tell a lie that this just happened one day after charging the phone over night?
What do people do when their warranty has expired?
Please let me know how you handled this?
I hope this at least helps someone prevent what I did. Take your time!
I look forward to any advice
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try a USB Jig. only a few £ off ebay etc.
Hey guys !
Well...
Yesterday, I decided to flash a new ROM on my aunt's SII...
It wasn't the first time I did this : my own phones have all been flashed, I know how it works !
But... I got a problem ! While I was wiping the data/cache, the phone got stuck on this step. Then, shut down. And now, it doesn't boot anymore. Screen stays black. I did everything I found on the web : tried to boot on recovery and on download mode, tried to press the buttons to get into these modes and inserting the battery while pressing, tried to connect it on USB (not even detected)...
After some researches, I found out that it was a eMMC problem...
Anyway, in a nutshell, my phone is hard bricked. What can I do ?
Thanks.
rohecla said:
Hey guys !
Well...
Yesterday, I decided to flash a new ROM on my aunt's SII...
It wasn't the first time I did this : my own phones have all been flashed, I know how it works !
But... I got a problem ! While I was wiping the data/cache, the phone got stuck on this step. Then, shut down. And now, it doesn't boot anymore. Screen stays black. I did everything I found on the web : tried to boot on recovery and on download mode, tried to press the buttons to get into these modes and inserting the battery while pressing, tried to connect it on USB (not even detected)...
After some researches, I found out that it was a eMMC problem...
Anyway, in a nutshell, my phone is hard bricked. What can I do ?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what stock firmware version was the Phone when u did the wipe from recovery (if it was on ICS 4.0.4 then ur phone will be bricked because of the kernel of ICS4.0.4 being plagued with the 'EMMMC' brick bug and only a JTAG or a MB replacement is the solution for it) .
JTAG won't work; motherboard replacement or bin.
I think it was 4.0.4...
Motherboard replacement is the only thing I can do ?
Mate.... Samsung KNOWS this is a problem.......I'd try for warranty repair/replacement.....if the phone is less than two years old, you have a good chance......
Just remember to 'act dumb' at the service center..... Tell them you were trying to use kies to update from ICS and the phone died...... If it is the emmc brickbug, there's NO WAY they can check what os was on ur phone or whether you'd rooted or modified it in any way.....right now it's an unrecoverable (expensive) paperweight........
This might be my S2, or it might be my W...but it's definitely CM
Yeah, I saw this is a quite common problem... But often, it's just a soft brick. In my case, it's a hard brick...
And warranty expired two months ago...
Well, it's unlikely to succeed, but you could try emailing Samsung explaining your situation regarding expired warranty and going on to explain that updating with kies is a 'normal' procedure and that it's that 'normal' Samsung provided procedure plus the 'unstable' OS version (having read on the internet about 4.0.4 brickbug) that have killed a phone that would otherwise be working today. Stress the point that the ICS firmware AND kies were both supplied by Samsung for official (end user) use on Samsung devices......see what they say.....can't hurt right?
This might be my S2, or it might be my W...but it's definitely CM
Yeah, they're going to honour an expired warranty. That happens all the time
Mb....I *did* say right at the start that it probably wouldn't work..... But what has he got to lose?
Lol.....they *might* be suffering from an excess of Xmas and new year goodwill.......
This might be my S2, or it might be my W...but it's definitely CM
I have twice super bricked my two SGS-2s.... EMMC bug is one hell of a pain in ass. You have to let go some SD card space, but u can revive you phone using the URL in my signature. I revived both my phones losing about a GB space in one and a couple GBs in other. Good Luck
alvinasnow said:
but u can revive you phone using the URL in my signature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People have said he needs a new motherboard.Do you know something they dont?.
S4 victim
The problem is that I can't flash anything ! The phone simply doesn't turn on ! No recovery mode, no download mode, nothing ! It doesn't even charge !
Yes try this link from alvinasnow
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1667886
So far as I know if you only connect your phone normally if it os charging then it already has some kind of connection with the pc I believe its adb.
But since you dont have warranty you can give it a shot to save money so just give it a try and read carefully. I was surprised when I got this phone, that samsung would make a big mistake like that its a just shame.
Edit: i dont know or you need jtag or riff and I will not test it cause I dont have a superbrick phone with mmc cap erase.
But just open device manager on the pc and connect the phone and see if there is a new device connected.
In my opinion my previous phone has one of the best options to make it unbrickable
It was nvflash but it sucked.nvidia wouldnt release sources.
Gooodluck with your phone
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Which part of this phone needs a motherboard replacement are you lot having trouble comprehending ?
OK...For all the slow kids who keep posting to this thread (including the OP); this phone needs a new motherboard. No threads promising magical fixes are going to work, there is no other way to fix this.
Is this clear now or do I have to make another post in bolded caps to make it really clear ?
There is a SLIGHT chance that if a JTAG recovery house can boot a kernel via JTAG (I do not know if RIFFBox can do this or not), they can use the solution that the Kindle Fire community used. (This was a recent discovery 2-3 months ago)
The problem is, I have attempted to provide information on this solution to these JTAG houses with no response. I don't know if they can boot a modified kernel via JTAG or not.
Currently:
All Exynos4 devices that are Superbricked are unrecoverable, as Samsung refuses to provide any way to boot these from USB, and anyone who could develop a solution hasn't responded (since most dead devices are long gone at this point...)
All Qualcomm-based Samsungs that are Superbricked are hosed too
Kindle Fires that are Superbricked are recoverable as of 2-3 months ago thanks to some discoveries by Oranav that were used by Hashcode to develop a recovery solution. This solution can't be used on Samsung Exynos4 devices as it depends on the ability to boot the device from USB.
And folks...... @Entropy512 needs to be listened to.......he is the dev who has done the most research into this issue and (somebody cmiiw) was the one who discovered the "emmc cap erase" command was the culprit. I think he also wrote the original (much copied) 'got brickbug' app which tells you if your phone is affected or not. If what he says doesn't work, then as @MistahBungle says, the ONLY OTHER OPTION is a new motherboard........
This might be my S2, or it might be my W...but it's definitely CM
Well...
I think I'm just going to call the insurance, and see what they can do ! Even if my warranty is now void, they may replace the phone !
Thank you all !