Hi all,
Long time lurker of XDA and Android user/modder since before Gingerbread. I want to apologize in advance if this post is either in the wrong section, and/or if something similar has already been answered/solved in another thread. I did multiple searches with nothing coming up as a direct hit, or even close for that matter.
I recently purchased an S4 from VZW (Mid-Late July). I rooted and installed TWRP 5.2.0.2 (Forgive me if that's not the exact version...) and flashed AOSP ROMs here and there. After a month or so, I started coming across an issue within all ROMs where I couldn't receive or make calls without my phone either freezing or rebooting. Anything I flashed, or modded, failed to remedy this. I tried different GApps packages, 4.2.2 and 4.3 ROMs, different kernels, and both radios, and absolutely NOTHING solved this. I searched everywhere (Even rootzwiki, forgive me fellow XDA members!), and could not find anyone with the same issue.
I attempted upgrading to TWRP 2.6.0.0 and even tried CWM, and that didn't help either. Eventually, things got so bad that I couldn't boot into ANY ROM, 4.2.2 or 4.3. After nearly 10 hours of trying to unbrick my phone, I finally managed to install Beanstalk 4.3, and while it was working incredibly buggy (Not Beanstalk's fault, the developer is a great developer!) nor could I make calls, I could still send texts and emails. I was able to FINALLY get the Odin3 application to work when I got home from work, and was able to flash the stock MDK image. From there I followed the steps to properly root and install TWRP 2.6.0.0. I installed Slim's Beta 5 4.3 ROM and GApps and everything was working properly! Calling, everything! However, when I made a reboot, it froze. Stuck in the "Samsung Unlocked" screen for over an hour. I pulled the battery, booted into recovery and did a factory reset/cache and dalvik wipe. It still didn't boot. From there I did a full wipe, and data format, installed Beanstalks newest 4.3 ROM and GApps, and everything loaded properly. Then I couldn't make or receive calls without the same issue. I then did the superwipe/format and installed PAC's newest nightly and GApps package, and was able to make calls, but then got stuck when rebooting, even after factory resets and cache/dalvik wipes. After multiple attempts, I gave up and reflashed the stock MDK Samsung image in Odin3 and am leaving it as is until someone here can help me.
I know this post was incredibly wordy, and I apologize for that, but I wanted to give you guys as much information as possible and explain where this all started, as it may lead to why I'm having these problems. I appreciate any and all responses and I will answer any question any of you have to the best of my ability. Please someone save me from the horror that is TouchWiz!
-Travis
First, make a NANDROID if it is working perfect on the stock ROM. This is my first step after root and recovery so that I can always fall back on something to check if there is a hardware problem, or just some sort of (system) file problem. Plus, it'll save you time if you have to go back.
Not sure that it matters, but is the stock ROM odexed, or deodexed?
The calling thing reminds me of when you use the phone overseas but it has yet to be unlocked. When you root, do you check with Root Checker? Do you have SuperSU installed? How about BusyBox? I know some items require BusyBox in order to work, but SuperSU should be installed.
As far as SuperSU, do you update it before switching back to the original kernel? One thing I noted is to be absolutely sure you do so in order to not lose your root when completing the rooting steps. I imagine this could cause other problems too.
I also suggest not using TWRP 2.6, which many people will tell you is quite buggy. Best to use the previous version.
The only other things I can suggest is ALWAYS doing a full wipe of everything before adding a new ROM. I used to do this to be sure I incurred no problems on my SGS3, because if I didn't there would always be something buggy happening.
Hope this helps.
Heatshiver said:
First, make a NANDROID if it is working perfect on the stock ROM. This is my first step after root and recovery so that I can always fall back on something to check if there is a hardware problem, or just some sort of (system) file problem. Plus, it'll save you time if you have to go back.
Not sure that it matters, but is the stock ROM odexed, or deodexed?
The calling thing reminds me of when you use the phone overseas but it has yet to be unlocked. When you root, do you check with Root Checker? Do you have SuperSU installed? How about BusyBox? I know some items require BusyBox in order to work, but SuperSU should be installed.
As far as SuperSU, do you update it before switching back to the original kernel? One thing I noted is to be absolutely sure you do so in order to not lose your root when completing the rooting steps. I imagine this could cause other problems too.
I also suggest not using TWRP 2.6, which many people will tell you is quite buggy. Best to use the previous version.
The only other things I can suggest is ALWAYS doing a full wipe of everything before adding a new ROM. I used to do this to be sure I incurred no problems on my SGS3, because if I didn't there would always be something buggy happening.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, Heatshiver!
I always do a full wipe unless I'm doing a dirty flash for a ROM update. I will try reverting back to TWRP 2.5.0.2 (Whichever version that happens to be, I think it's .0.2) tonight and report my results. Also, just to clarify, I always make sure I have the most updated SuperSU/Superuser (Usually the former) and BusyBox.
I appreciate the suggestion.
-Travis
teemunknee said:
Hi all,
Long time lurker of XDA and Android user/modder since before Gingerbread. I want to apologize in advance if this post is either in the wrong section, and/or if something similar has already been answered/solved in another thread. I did multiple searches with nothing coming up as a direct hit, or even close for that matter.
I recently purchased an S4 from VZW (Mid-Late July). I rooted and installed TWRP 5.2.0.2 (Forgive me if that's not the exact version...) and flashed AOSP ROMs here and there. After a month or so, I started coming across an issue within all ROMs where I couldn't receive or make calls without my phone either freezing or rebooting. Anything I flashed, or modded, failed to remedy this. I tried different GApps packages, 4.2.2 and 4.3 ROMs, different kernels, and both radios, and absolutely NOTHING solved this. I searched everywhere (Even rootzwiki, forgive me fellow XDA members!), and could not find anyone with the same issue.
I attempted upgrading to TWRP 2.6.0.0 and even tried CWM, and that didn't help either. Eventually, things got so bad that I couldn't boot into ANY ROM, 4.2.2 or 4.3. After nearly 10 hours of trying to unbrick my phone, I finally managed to install Beanstalk 4.3, and while it was working incredibly buggy (Not Beanstalk's fault, the developer is a great developer!) nor could I make calls, I could still send texts and emails. I was able to FINALLY get the Odin3 application to work when I got home from work, and was able to flash the stock MDK image. From there I followed the steps to properly root and install TWRP 2.6.0.0. I installed Slim's Beta 5 4.3 ROM and GApps and everything was working properly! Calling, everything! However, when I made a reboot, it froze. Stuck in the "Samsung Unlocked" screen for over an hour. I pulled the battery, booted into recovery and did a factory reset/cache and dalvik wipe. It still didn't boot. From there I did a full wipe, and data format, installed Beanstalks newest 4.3 ROM and GApps, and everything loaded properly. Then I couldn't make or receive calls without the same issue. I then did the superwipe/format and installed PAC's newest nightly and GApps package, and was able to make calls, but then got stuck when rebooting, even after factory resets and cache/dalvik wipes. After multiple attempts, I gave up and reflashed the stock MDK Samsung image in Odin3 and am leaving it as is until someone here can help me.
I know this post was incredibly wordy, and I apologize for that, but I wanted to give you guys as much information as possible and explain where this all started, as it may lead to why I'm having these problems. I appreciate any and all responses and I will answer any question any of you have to the best of my ability. Please someone save me from the horror that is TouchWiz!
-Travis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry for your troubles, but I am always baffled the way people just toss that word "brick" round
Your phone was no anywhere NEAR being a brick...
You simply are playing with fire flashing AOSP ROMs and not knowing how to fix the issues.
AOSP ROMs aren't technically "made" for our phones, the developers do a great job at making it seem like they are, though.
On the SG3 we had an EFS backup that Synergy discovered incase you flash an AOSP and get stuck in roaming which was quite often at first with AOSP, that was easy to fix, but with this phone I would be careful with AOSP ROMs, even myself, with a locked bootloader wouldn't flash anything besides TW, although I am biased as AOSP is my flavor.
I am sorry if this post comes off harsh or any other bad word. It's not meant for that..
Just to kindly ask you to do some research on what a "bricked phone" truly is.
it's a brick.. meaning won't power on, won't get a light when charging, nothing, your phone is just that, a $600 brick. and the only way to bring back to life IIRC is Jtagging the phone.. which requires taking the phone apart and jtagging the motherboard.
I hope you the best my friend.
As much as I love AOSP, I would have to agree with the poster above. I know TW is a pain but there are some pretty good ROMs in that flavor that you shouldn't have any problems with. I've had the no call issue on AOSP, and even though they are nice and free up quite a bit of room it's not worth missing calls over or constantly flashing. Maybe once our bootloader is unlocked things will become different but I'd stick with TW until that happens. I can confirm that TWRP 2.6 is very buggy...you'll have to download the 2.5 version and flash it instead of goomanager they install they latest version everytime I believe.
andybones said:
sorry for your troubles, but I am always baffled the way people just toss that word "brick" round
Your phone was no anywhere NEAR being a brick...
You simply are playing with fire flashing AOSP ROMs and not knowing how to fix the issues.
AOSP ROMs aren't technically "made" for our phones, the developers do a great job at making it seem like they are, though.
On the SG3 we had an EFS backup that Synergy discovered incase you flash an AOSP and get stuck in roaming which was quite often at first with AOSP, that was easy to fix, but with this phone I would be careful with AOSP ROMs, even myself, with a locked bootloader wouldn't flash anything besides TW, although I am biased as AOSP is my flavor.
I am sorry if this post comes off harsh or any other bad word. It's not meant for that..
Just to kindly ask you to do some research on what a "bricked phone" truly is.
it's a brick.. meaning won't power on, won't get a light when charging, nothing, your phone is just that, a $600 brick. and the only way to bring back to life IIRC is Jtagging the phone.. which requires taking the phone apart and jtagging the motherboard.
I hope you the best my friend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Next time, I'll just say "Soft-bricked". Thank you for your reply.
-Travis
You also may want to try CWM recovery if everything else fails. I like TWRP but I kept having the exact problem you have. I switched and haven't had a problem since.
Sent from my SCH-I545
slim6596 said:
You also may want to try CWM recovery if everything else fails. I like TWRP but I kept having the exact problem you have. I switched and haven't had a problem since.
Sent from my SCH-I545
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you mind telling me which version of CWM you're using? I haven't gone back to CWM since I went back to stock two nights ago.
Thank you for the idea!
-Travis
I also forgot to mention that I haven't been able to connect to 4G radios since before I started having issues with AOSP ROMs. Currently I'm on Eclipse's TW (With AOSP Styling) ROM. Everything appears to be working fine, other than 4G.
I've tried the SIM pull and reset, and nothing. I've tried manually setting it to LTE only, at least when I was able to do so when AOSP ROMs would boot for me, and nothing. I have a Galaxy Nexus that I booted up with this SIM in and I get 4G signal. Any Ideas?
Also, when I was on the stock image (MDK) I didn't have 4G either.
Has anyone else run across this issue? (MODS: Let a me know if I should create another thread, or search more intensively. I haven't seen a thread with this exact same situation. Plenty of 4G issue threads, but none with the same issues I've previously had, and I think it may have something to do with my past modding.)
-Travis
teemunknee said:
Would you mind telling me which version of CWM you're using? I haven't gone back to CWM since I went back to stock two nights ago.
Thank you for the idea!
-Travis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Philz touch modded CWM. Don't have a link though. Sorry.
Sent from my SCH-I545
slim6596 said:
Philz touch modded CWM. Don't have a link though. Sorry.
Sent from my SCH-I545
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I installed CWM 6.0.3.6 Touch and flashed Eclipse's TW/AOSP ROM and everything works well, but it's still no AOSP ROM.
-Travis
Hi all,
I'd like to thank everyone for the suggestions.
An update: Currently I'm on Eclipse's TW v2.0 ROM (TW, with AOSP Styling) and everything works properly. My current recovery is CWM 6.0.3.6 Touch, and I'm not experiencing any booting or calling issues. 4G is the only thing I don't have working.
I'm hoping that someone with my same problem can give me another idea so I can get an AOSP ROM working, preferably with 4G. I'm sure some, if not most, understand my dislike of TouchWiz and strong preference towards stock Android/stock Android based ROMs. Slim6596 said that he uses Philz Modded CWM Recovery and has no issues anymore. Could that really be my solution?
Again, thank you all for your help and ideas. I love XDA for this reason.
-Travis
slim6596 said:
Philz touch modded CWM. Don't have a link though. Sorry.
Sent from my SCH-I545
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Slim,
Sorry to bother, but I was curious if you were specifically using the LOKI patched version, or just the regular version?
-Travis
teemunknee said:
Hi Slim,
Sorry to bother, but I was curious if you were specifically using the LOKI patched version, or just the regular version?
-Travis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Loki patched, I believe.
Sent from my SCH-I545
slim6596 said:
Loki patched, I believe.
Sent from my SCH-I545
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!! I installed the Loki-Patched version last night.
I tried flashing two AOSP ROMs, but have no radio signal at all. I'll experiment.
-Travis
teemunknee said:
Thanks!! I installed the Loki-Patched version last night.
I tried flashing two AOSP ROMs, but have no radio signal at all. I'll experiment.
-Travis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have stuck to TW ROMs. Pretty soon I'm probably not going to be flashing anything. Switching to Motorola and giving Vz my MDK S4 back. (Reception and dropped call issues.)
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2
teemunknee said:
Thanks!! I installed the Loki-Patched version last night.
I tried flashing two AOSP ROMs, but have no radio signal at all. I'll experiment.
-Travis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you have to do the extended phone function. Its a code on the dial pad and select cdma. I have read this but don't recall where.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4
egore93 said:
I believe you have to do the extended phone function. Its a code on the dial pad and select cdma. I have read this but don't recall where.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you referring to the *#*#4636#*#* dialer code? I didn't even try that because in my settings, everything was set to CDMA, but that's something I can try. I have everything backed up, so I can just wipe, install, and try that. If it doesn't work, I can always revert back.
Thanks for the suggestion!
-Travis
teemunknee said:
Are you referring to the *#*#4636#*#* dialer code? I didn't even try that because in my settings, everything was set to CDMA, but that's something I can try. I have everything backed up, so I can just wipe, install, and try that. If it doesn't work, I can always revert back.
Thanks for the suggestion!
-Travis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that's it give it a go.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4
So the other day my S3 gave up the ghost, and developed the hard-brick "QHSUSB_DLOAD" error. I have insurance so I was overnighted a new phone, and am sending the old one away. I believe this was related to a long-term power button issue I was having, perhaps a virus, or something. I had not changed anything to the ROM I was using since about October, and the issue just happened now in May.
At any rate, the new S3 I received is an MJB version, Android 4.3, Knox and all that other good stuff. After several failed attempts, I found a method to root this phone and disable Knox. The Warranty Bit is already tripped, so clearly I'm not sending this phone back until it hard bricks as well. I am trying to install the StockMOD ROM that is very popular, however I am being plagued by problem after problem.
I was able to flash a version of CWM Recovery onto my phone, but it was too old and couldn't mount any of the folders. Using ROM Manager, I was able to flash an update to my Recovery, and now it mounts and views all folders properly. However, when I go to install the StockMOD ROM, I continuously get a Status 7 error, something about "expects 5 args, got 3." I wiped the data, cache, and Dalvik, but kept getting this error. So, I had to recover my backup of stock, which didn't go well either. Once my backup was installed, all of my apps kept crashing. Gapps, ROM Manager, everything kept giving me constant FC errors. I had to wipe my data, cache, and Dalvik again and go back to factory default, and reinitialize the phone. Luckily I haven't installed anything of importance on here yet.
A quick search through here states that I need to use TWRP as my Recovery. I've flashed TWRP several times, first using the 2.6... version and then the most recent 2.7.0.0 version, and neither of these will mount any of my folders. It just gives me a litany of errors trying to mount the various locations. I've done Fix Permissions and everything else, TWRP will just NOT mount anything. Other folks say I need the latest PhilZ Recovery. I've downloaded the latest PhilZ Touch 6 and flashed it via Odin. It is giving me the same errors as regular CWM, Status 7, "expecting 5 args, got 3."
I don't know what else to do. My S3 that ran Android 4.0 was so much easier. I had that thing rooted and running a TW based ROM with Nova launcher in about 30 minutes. This phone has been a disaster since I turned it on. I'm just trying to get a 4.3 TW based ROM. I like the Samsung Camera, Calendar, Clock, Messaging, and Contacts apps far better than AOSP versions. But I also want much more customization to my notification drawer toggles. Stock TW doesn't have the toggles I use frequently like the data toggle as well as the torch toggle.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong, because unlike a lot of folks out there, once I find a ROM I like, I stick with it. I'm not constantly updating, changing, or searching for the newest version of Android. There's nothing wrong with that, it just isn't my cup of tea. So does anyone know what I need to do? At this point, I'm about to just give up and use Nova over top of rooted stock TW and call it a day.
Thanks!
Have you tried to go back stock rom using Odin ? I think it might resolve your recovery problem
nosphor said:
Have you tried to go back stock rom using Odin ? I think it might resolve your recovery problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything is stock except the recovery. I'm using CWM 6.0.4.7 with PhilZ Touch 6. I'm still using the stock TW 4.3 ROM that shipped with the phone. The only exception is that I'm rooted now.
I suggest you to go back to a 4.1 official stock rom with odin to be sure to have no more issue.
This can help you : http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/restore-to-stock-rom-galaxy-s3-i9300-t2187081
Also, don't forget to backup your apps with titanium backup and all your sms :good:
nosphor said:
I suggest you to go back to a 4.1 official stock rom with odin to be sure to have no more issue.
This can help you : http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/restore-to-stock-rom-galaxy-s3-i9300-t2187081
Also, don't forget to backup your apps with titanium backup and all your sms :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, I've heard that it is not possible to revert to anything prior to 4.3 once a phone comes factory installed with 4.3, due to all of the security enhancements and etc. My kernel, modem, and baseband are all factory stock 4.3 MJB. Everyone else on the boards, under various other topics, warn of immediate and sudden death to the phone if you attempt to install a baseband prior to 4.3 MJB.
I'm very surprised to hear that, because recently i've flash stock 4.3 rom and then go back to 4.1.2 to flash a 4.4 rom without any issue and i've got nothing for issues.
Maybe it depends on which country you are ( i'm from France ) ? For what i know , there is a VERY little chance that this downgrade cause dammage to your phone
nosphor said:
I'm very surprised to hear that, because recently i've flash stock 4.3 rom and then go back to 4.1.2 to flash a 4.4 rom without any issue and i've got nothing for issues.
Maybe it depends on which country you are ( i'm from France ) ? For what i know , there is a VERY little chance that this downgrade cause dammage to your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the USA. The security features on the I747 US version are far different. I don't know how everyone else is succeeding. I am completely lost.
You are in the wrong forum, anything you try from here will hard brick your phone.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Sorry to tell you that, but what you say is not completely true.
Yes, there is a lot of people that rush to give an answer to the question, but there is also people that really like to help people that are in trouble :good:
Please, don't take most of the case for a generality
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1756338
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Yes, i've read this, i know that, that's why i talk about the difference between country, different phone model
My apologies. Thought this was the 747 board. Go ahead and lock this, I'll repost in the correct forum.
Tried TWRP?
I was using slimkat 4.4.2 and restored the official samsung rom 4.3 to try a mhl cable. The result as you may know is that I couldn't install any custom rom that wasn't based on samsung's after that.
Searching here in the forums I found some people saying that it was because of a layout change on partitions, others because of knox, or the update in bootloader...
I installed the twrp-2.7.1.0 recovery and tried to install omni rom with pa_gapps, cm11 etc and I always get an error for gapps (couldn't find build.prop or something...). Tried Omega v58 (based on sam) and it worked, then I tried slimkat 4.4.3 weekly and slim_AIO_gapps (advanced wipe, everything but extsd, format data) and it installed everything fine.
It's almost perfect but now I have only a small problem... when I plug the headset the audio is really bad and sometimes I can't hear anything ... I tried another kernel with the same result. Tried slimkat 4.4.2 stable, same.
Does it make any sense to anyone here? any sugestions on how to fix? flash something somewhere maybe :x
and what is the real problem after the 4.3 official update? if slimkat is working maybe we can make other roms work too.
Thank you in advance
Do a full wipe, all your previous issues were due to files left over from other firmware.
On the headset, go back to stock firmware after a full wipe. If still the same then it is hardware.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
boomboomer said:
Do a full wipe, all your previous issues were due to files left over from other firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still can't install most roms even with full wipe (gapps error) after the 4.3 official update but I'm happy with slimkat. I think maybe it works because it just copies the gapps files to android without doing other checks, maybe editing the scripts we can "force" the install of other roms too. If anyone have any info, please tell me.
boomboomer said:
On the headset, go back to stock firmware after a full wipe. If still the same then it is hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I think it was just a series of bad coincidences. Tried the stock firmware and the headset did not work. Seems like my headset broke the same day all that stuff happened, and I tried the one I use on PC but it didn't connect firmly on s3 so the sound was bad too... just tried a new phone headset and it's working fine.. thank you