[Q] Semi bricked S3 repair - yes, ANOTHER ONE! - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi all,
I've been given an S3 by a friend so I could have a look at it.
The problem is that it can only get into download mode. If you try and boot it normally, it hangs on the black screen with white "Samsung Galaxy SIII" text indefinitely.
I'm using Arch Linux. Whenever I try to flash anything with Heimdall, I get an error that the PIT download fails, and some libusb errors.
I've tried uploading a new PIT, and this fails as well.
I got as far as downloading the PIT ONCE, but then the recovery upload failed. Now I can't download the PIT again.
Ideally I'd like to COMPLETELY start from scratch. I don't know if this will require a repartition or not? (1)
I also am unaware of what files I need. If I do have to repartition, do I need ALL of recovery, kernel, boot, system, modem etc? (2) I presume I do. If this is the case, could anyone please point me in the direction of these files? (3) I've looked all over and can't piece together the correct ones.
If I were to use a full firmware file, would this repartion or not? Or could I do both separately if the answer is no? (4)
Sorry for all the questions, I've numbered them all.
Sam

Search for rescue firmware in general forum, follow the instructions.
If pit fails then you have a hard brick, new motherboard required.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Related

[Q] Trying to go stock after installing KP8 Android 4 for I9100-stuck on screen

Hi,
Yes, stupid me went to think that I could get Andriod 4 on my phone that is an ATT i777 galaxy s ii.. and after that happened I found out I couldn't make calls. WOOT
So I followed Enthropy512's directions on how to unroot your phone and make it 100% stock. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1286432
Using ODIN, I collected the PDA -> PDA.tar, the MODEM -> MODEM.tar, and even the PIT file I777UCKH7.pit. Odin ran fine, passed, but no matter what combo I ran odin with the files above, it would always be stuck on the original i777 samsung galaxy s ii start up screen and NOT progress to the ATT screen.
I followed the instructions linked below to make my phone run andriod 4. It had a CSC file, which I have not yet been able to find for the stock. http://www.sammobile.com/2011/12/31/exclusive-2-new-android-4-0-1-and-4-0-3-roms/
I have tried to "enter recovery (this kernel has stock 3e recovery) and wipe data/factory reset"... but the button instructions do not lead to the recovery...it just leads to the samsung startup screen again.
Question:
1. How to get my phone to NOT be stuck on the samsung startup screen and return to stock?
2. Perhaps, not having a stock CSC file is causing this to happen?
3. Any other way to enter recovery and just make this back to stock?
Since the android 4 rom was leaked by samsung and didn't mess with the counter, I could just call warranty. Just wanted your guys input before I do so! Thanks in advance!
KP8 package may have included a bootloader, in which case you'll need to reflash it. Someone had a stock I777 bootloader somewhere.
BE CAREFUL. MESSING WITH BOOTLOADERS IS DANGEROUS.
Other possibility (try this first) - enter stock recovery and wipe data/factory reset.
KP8 didn't include a bootloader... Yea I read the risk of bootloaders... definitely dont want to mess with that...
Tried the hard reset 3x already.. it wouldnt get to the screen that allows you to do the hard reset...
would csc file do this?
waterrei said:
KP8 didn't include a bootloader... Yea I read the risk of bootloaders... definitely dont want to mess with that...
Tried the hard reset 3x already.. it wouldnt get to the screen that allows you to do the hard reset...
would csc file do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, that's just some files in /system that have no effect on the operation of recovery.
So you are unable to access recovery? That's odd...
How are you trying to enter recovery? 3 button combo should get you to stock recovery.
I'm not trying to pile on but no audio in calls is a pretty well known issue with ics on the I777 at the moment.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using XDA App
edit: my bad i thought he could get into recovery; can you get into downloader mode?
is your usb cable plugged in? I just cycle charging battery and loading circle when trying to go into recovery w/ usb cable plugged in, Sometimes it will go into download mode this way though... if I unplug the USB cable then it usually is a lot happier about going into recovery...
below this line is when i thought you could get into recovery and that the buttons didn't work from within recovery...
does adb work while in recovery? even though the buttons don't work, arn't there methods to reflash recovery via adb?
maybe using a diff recovery kernel would have working buttons??
gl i'll try to think of anything else,
I had messed up PIT one time doing something on the infuse and I had to try flashing the PIT several times, I can't remember what actually made it work... but I had a red error message in the 3e stating that the partitions were unaccesable so it was clear whether or not it had worked and i retried 2-3 times before it went away (that was the infuse though)
i don't know i'd try that pit again i'd try a kernel just to make sure you're not still on a 3.0 ICS 9100 kernel ..
waterrei said:
KP8 didn't include a bootloader... Yea I read the risk of bootloaders... definitely dont want to mess with that...
Tried the hard reset 3x already.. it wouldnt get to the screen that allows you to do the hard reset...
would csc file do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didn't do your homework. I downloaded the XXKP8 package from the link you gave, opened the PDA tar, and here is what is in it:
boot.bin
cache.img
data.img
factoryfs.img
hidden.img
param.lfs
sbl.bin
zImage
If you flashed that tar, you flashed the primative bootloader, the secondary bootloader and the param.lfs from the I9100. No wonder you are bootlooping.
We have access to sbl.bin and param.lfs for the I777. I am not aware of a boot.bin for the I777, however. At least I havn't seen it posted anywhere.
You can find the files that are available for our phones in the Download Repository.
Assuming that the file you flashed in the PDA slot was "I9100_CODE_I9100XXKP8_CL42141_REV02_user_low_ship.tar.md5", which is the tar I looked at, then for a start at trying to recover, I would flash the sbl.bin and the param.lfs back onto your phone and see what it does.
I found that there is a complete I777UCKH7 package available at www.sammobile.com. Log in. Click on the Firmware tab, then Smartphone, Android, SGH-I777, North America. Download contains "I777UCKH7-REV02-home-low-CL503881.tar.md5" and "SS_DL.dll". The tar contains:
boot.bin
cache.img
factoryfs.img
hidden.img
modem.bin
param.lfs
sbl.bin
zImage
I would suggest that you may be able to recover your phone if you flash this tar with Odin3 v1.85. Please be advised that there is always risk involved in flashing bootloaders and param files. This tar contains the primative bootloader, the secondary bootloader, and the param.lfs file, as well as the complete stock UCKH7 firmware for the I777.
Instructions:
Open Odin3 v1.85 on your Windows pc.
With the usb cable pluged into the pc usb port, but not the phone, and with the phone powered off, hold down vol+ and vol- buttons while plugging in the micro-usb plug into the phone.
In Odin3 v1.85 put the I777UCKH7-REV02-home-low-CL503881.tar.md5 file in the PDA slot.
So I am able to get into the download mode.. that's about it...
For the KP8, I was able to run it fine but no sound and mic for phone calls. The instructions on the link I attached didn't tell me to stick the boot file in the bootloader... so I didn't attempt to do that due to my fear of bootloader messing my phone up...
I tried those files you pointed me to for the I777 in sammobile. No luck. I'm just going to send my phone to warranty now.
Thanks everyone for their help!

[Q] Have I really bricked my S3 (EU) using HEIMDALL?

Hello all,
I'm hoping someone can advise me with the following problem. I bought a unlocked S3 in Belgium (no branding, network locks etc), and the other day I noticed the latest firmware I9300XXBLFB on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1646610
As I use OSX I found out that I needed to use Heimdall to flash it.
I download the ROM, unzipped it, then I renamed the tar.md5 to .tar extracted that which gave me the following files:
boot.img
cache.img
hidden.img
modem.bin
recovery.img
system.img
Now the problem began with the PIT... I required one, and stupidly went off to google in search of an S3 .pit file.... which I found
So I selected the .pit, added the files to their relevant partition, and flashed....
Upon rebooting the phone had updated, however there was no factory reset, everything I had previously was there (to my surprise), but the system info showed the correct rom, baseband, blah blah.
Yesterday I noticed I could not access any internet services. Say I open GMail app, and tried to open a mail, it closed the app after a number of seconds (without displaying the mail contents btw).... no error, just back to the main screen.
I also had problems using 3G or WiFi... nether was stable.
So I reflashed yesterday evening.. at which point I found out how to read in my own .pit file off the phone... but of course I've flashed someone else's previously. I did an MD5 sum on the one I extracted off my phone, and also on the one I downloaded off the net and they still matched.
Still I had the same problems, so I thought perhaps I should drop down a ROM version.
I grabbed a zip file with I9300XXALF2_I9300OXAALF2_I9300XXLF2_HOME.tar.md5 and proceeded to flash it.
Now the phone won't fully boot, it just sits in the Samsung animation and the blue LED pulsing.
I'm guessing I've stuffed up the PIT... the big question is now, what the hell should I do.
FYI I can still get to recovery mode and Odin mode.
Any help / advice would be really appreciated guys.
All the best and thanks in a advance
PS: I just this minute reflashed using Heimdall the I9300XXBLFB. Now it boots up, on first boot it said Updating Android optimsing applications 1/65 and proceeded thru to the point it asks me which language I want... this normal??
kuntstubble said:
Hello all,
I'm hoping someone can advise me with the following problem. I bought a unlocked S3 in Belgium (no branding, network locks etc), and the other day I noticed the latest firmware I9300XXBLFB on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1646610
As I use OSX I found out that I needed to use Heimdall to flash it.
I download the ROM, unzipped it, then I renamed the tar.md5 to .tar extracted that which gave me the following files:
boot.img
cache.img
hidden.img
modem.bin
recovery.img
system.img
Now the problem began with the PIT... I required one, and stupidly went off to google in search of an S3 .pit file.... which I found
So I selected the .pit, added the files to their relevant partition, and flashed....
Upon rebooting the phone had updated, however there was no factory reset, everything I had previously was there (to my surprise), but the system info showed the correct rom, baseband, blah blah.
Yesterday I noticed I could not access any internet services. Say I open GMail app, and tried to open a mail, it closed the app after a number of seconds (without displaying the mail contents btw).... no error, just back to the main screen.
I also had problems using 3G or WiFi... nether was stable.
So I reflashed yesterday evening.. at which point I found out how to read in my own .pit file off the phone... but of course I've flashed someone else's previously. I did an MD5 sum on the one I extracted off my phone, and also on the one I downloaded off the net and they still matched.
Still I had the same problems, so I thought perhaps I should drop down a ROM version.
I grabbed a zip file with I9300XXALF2_I9300OXAALF2_I9300XXLF2_HOME.tar.md5 and proceeded to flash it.
Now the phone won't fully boot, it just sits in the Samsung animation and the blue LED pulsing.
I'm guessing I've stuffed up the PIT... the big question is now, what the hell should I do.
FYI I can still get to recovery mode and Odin mode.
Any help / advice would be really appreciated guys.
All the best and thanks in a advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UNZIP THE DOWNLOADED ROM ONCE FROM .RAR TO .TAR/MD5 FILE. AND PUT THE SINGLE .TAR FILE IN PDA SECTION IN ODIN AND FLASH IT. Really, start to read before you do anything
the instructions don;t mention requiring a pit, also, why remane .tar.md5 to .tar when the instructions say "Click PDA and select *.tar.md5". seeing as you can still connect with odin, you onlt have a soft brick and you can still use odin and flash something properly.
gee2012 said:
UNZIP THE DOWNLOADED ROM ONCE FROM .RAR TO .TAR/MD5 FILE. AND PUT THE SINGLE .TAR FILE IN PDA SECTION IN ODIN AND FLASH IT. Really, start to read before you do anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Erm, think you need to read first... I said I use Heimdall because I'm on OSX.
OrbNRG said:
the instructions don;t mention requiring a pit, also, why remane .tar.md5 to .tar when the instructions say "Click PDA and select *.tar.md5". seeing as you can still connect with odin, you onlt have a soft brick and you can still use odin and flash something properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once again, I'm using Heimdall not Odin. I'm on OSX not Windows.
Secondly the tar.md5 file is a tar file containing all the components that make the ROM.
kuntstubble said:
Erm, think you need to read first... I said I use Heimdall because I'm on OSX.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oke, my bad. I don`t use heimdal so can`t help you.
Go to recovery (power on with pressing VOL-UP + HOME + POWER when the phone is off) and do a factory reset / wipe data.
This wasn't caused by using a .PIT, though: never use a .PIT ever again, never ever.
HellcatDroid said:
Go to recovery (power on with pressing VOL-UP + HOME + POWER when the phone is off) and do a factory reset / wipe data.
This wasn't caused by using a .PIT, though: never use a .PIT ever again, never ever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done that also, made no difference :-(
I don't care which ROM I recover correctly but I do want to get the phone working LOL
Use a windows pc and stop using mac?
Its really easy to fix your problem via Odin....
U can use usb jig to unbrick ur phone,and in the future,use odin for all the flashing on ur s3..
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
pedja381 said:
U can use usb jig to unbrick ur phone,and in the future,use odin for all the flashing on ur s3..
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stupid reply USB Jig does not unbrick a phone .
ODIN how can the OP use Odin and why would you think its better than Heimdall ??? .
jje
OK the phone is running, but it's bizarre ...
Basically I'm connected to my WiFi signal, and Chrome works 100%... but the normal browser does'nt... just hangs, then closes.
GMail if I open it I can see all the mails, if I click on one, it just sits there with the circle going round, then closes, although if I scrolll thru all mails it does load more... very strange.
Seems any default apps that where installed have connection issues... It's really pi**ing me off....
Anyone?
BTW: *#1234# reports:
AP: I9300XXBLFB
CP: I93000XXLFB
CSC: I9300OXABLFB
It doesn't matter if you change .tar.md5 to .tar i always do it to.
What was the name of the pit you flashed?
Hi,
I downloaded GalaxyS3RootMac which contained a file called
s3pit.pit
MD5 (s3pit.pit) = c67ccbe3628793a9f0dba761c15e0896
Thats the one I used ... stupidly ... so I guess I overwrote mine own one...
I had this exact same thing with browser. That was caused eather from wrong csc or that I mistakenly flashed the firmware using phone field in odin and not pda. Try to change your csc to something else using *#272*IMEI#. That wipes the phone.
Tried what you recommend but still same problem
I choose BTC btw
It previously was on KOR
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
People read the damn topic before posting.
Usb jig is for accessing download mode, which he can do just fine without.
The phone is softbricked, not soft-hardbricked.
I've never used Heimdall but afaik it has caused issues in the past.
Is anyone you know using Windows or can you install Windows as Bootcamp on your Mac?
If so, please try again with Odin, but factoryreset your phone before and after.
Please also confirm you're actually on hardware i9300 or i9300T, not e.g. i9308
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
d4fseeker said:
People read the damn topic before posting.
Usb jig is for accessing download mode, which he can do just fine without.
The phone is softbricked, not soft-hardbricked.
I've never used Heimdall but afaik it has caused issues in the past.
Is anyone you know using Windows or can you install Windows as Bootcamp on your Mac?
If so, please try again with Odin, but factoryreset your phone before and after.
Please also confirm you're actually on hardware i9300 or i9300T, not e.g. i9308
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, well you're completely correct I could go bootcamp although I prefer not to. If all else fails I'll do it that way. Sadly today I can't get my hands on a Windows system to use.
The phone is a Benelux model I believe (bought from Mobistar), under that battery it says i9300 from what I remember.
Cheers for the logical response
I got exactly the same problem as the OP with the S3, a Macbook Air on Lion, and Heimdall yesterday. I was frustrated but ended up trying Odin on a Windows 7 virtual machine to re-flash a stock firmware. It went through perfectly and I was saved.

[Q][HELP]Kies Fail, Odin Fail, Softbrick?

Hey guys, thanks for taking the time to read this thread!
So my friend came to me last night explaining that her i9100 failed during a stock firmware upgrade through kies. Her device was completely stock. Powering up the device showed the 'Kies encountered a firmware error, please plug into Kies and select recovery' message or something similar. The device was purchased directly from 3 UK.
So I downloaded firmware package I9100XWLPY for UK H3G from samfirmware.com, which came as a single .tar.md5. Put this into the PDA section of odin, left the tickboxes default (No repartition etc.), put the phone in download mode, waited for drivers to install and hit start. Odin started, flashed the kernel but failed on a *.bin file (I can't remember the exact file). It then showed a NAND write fail.
I repeated the process with different cables & usb ports, always with the same outcome. I also noticed the flash counter was increasing, I thought this shouldn't happen with official firmwares??
Anyway can anyone shed some light on the issue, is it fixable (given I do not want to flash any pit files onto a device that isn't mine) and why was the flash counter going up using official firmware? The device boots (showing the 'firmware encountered an error' message' and I can get into Download Mode but I haven't tried recovery. I can also confirm its a i9100 and not i9100/p/g/whatever.
Edit: To whoever voted this thread 1 star, would you mind explaining why? Have I not included all relevant information and done as much as possible before asking for help? This i9100 forum seems a lot harsher than other ones on xda, with a lot less help....
Seriously guys? Over 75 views but not a single reply? Is there anyone who has experience with Odin that can explain whats happened / what I did wrong / how to rectify?
Hi have you tried an emergency firmware update via kies?
Also can you get into recovery mode and so what errors are you getting from odin?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Hi, thanks for replying.
I don't have Kies installed on my machine, I installed the Samsung USB Drivers as a separate package. I haven't tried recovery mode and can't as the device isn't to hand. I could however get into Download mode and connect to Odin. Odin would fail after flashing the kernel, it gave the error message "Complete(Write) operation failed". I can't remember what file it failed on, but its was a .bin file.
In addition to looking for a solution I'd also like confirmation that the firmware package I9100XWLPY is correct for a UK i9100 on 3UK network, and an explanation as to why flashing this package caused the custom binary counter to go up.
Try this guide.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1457458
I really hope it helps.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Try flashing the firmware with the .pit file, may be that would help....
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
fr3nlysmil3 said:
Try flashing the firmware with the .pit file, may be that would help....
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm flashing the pit should only be done as a last resort from whst I have read...
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

brick? no PIT partition

Was trying to use ODIN and update the s3. After reboot, it just got a white screen with nothing. Waited for an hour then decided to remove the battery. Afterwards I've tried to reflash the rom using ODIN, then it tells me I don't have a PIT partition.
I've searched the forum, most people will stuck at the boot screen, however in my case it is more like a complete wipe out.
Hopefully there is help, because the phone doesn't have original warranty.
Thank you very much. I'm so desperate
not sure if this works with GT-I9300 but here you go http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1916936 this app might help. good luck
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=30087735&postcount=6 or you may want to try this first. emergency firmware with pit
Do you have an i9300? Did you flash something written for a different phone by mistake?
The symptoms you describe sound more like a wrong file/phone error.
Funny - same thing happened to my i9300 yesterday
here is my post from yesterday - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2379256
I own 2 Galaxies:
1 Galaxy was in the same state as yours - pit file missing error on Odin
1 Perfect state
both 16GB Version GT-I9300 (international version)
BAD PHONE: When I tried to use heimdall to upload the pit file, it failed to upload/download the file from the phone therefore it is corrupted (NAND on the MotherBoard)
GOOD PHONE: So i wanted to see how a pit file looks like so i plugged in my good phone and accidentally uploaded some experimental pit file to my good phone, again wiped out ! (BUMMER).
But then i connected it to ODIN with mx.pit file and it managed to upload the new file (To the good phone)
So my conclusion was this, if the malfunction happened all of a sudden then your phone is 99% dead.
"The 1% chance" - is that the nand on the motherboard is intact and communicating properly, then and only then if you can upload a new pit file and recover your phone.
So:
1. Download the attachment pit_i9300.rar i attached
2.Try to recover the pit file using ODIN - make sure the re-partition checkbox is checked(use mx.pit it should work for the 16gb as it worked for me)
IF FAILED --> then your motherboard is damaged
IF SUCCEED --> then flash PDA one of the stock roms of samsung.

Stuck on getting Pit mapping

Hey guys i'm trying to fix a friend's i9300. He bought it from someone already in the current state.
It boots to the samsung logo but does nothing after that
Model: GT-I9300
FCC ID: A3LGTI9300A
SSN: I9300GSMH
I have tried to ODIN I9300ZNUBML1_I9300CHUBML1_CHU.zip onto it, but it says its missing pit partition, so i tried to load a pit onto it, I've tried GT-I9300_mx_20120329.pit but it gets stuck of getting pit mapping.
What am I doing wrong? I have no clue which country this phone is from either.
I have attached the *.PIT file I used to restore my phone. It is for the 16GB i9300. Remember in ODIN to include the ROM in the /PDA section, and the *.pit file in the section where it asks for it. Have the following boxes checked:
Re-Partition
Auto-Reboot
F. Reset Time.
Phone Bootloader Update
Flash the ROM, and let ODIN do it's thing. DO NOT UNPLUG YOUR DEVICE UNTIL IT IS DONE!! Doing this will completely wipe the phone, and return it to a factory state.
Flash the firmware and pit at the same time, or try the rescue firmware in general thread.
If it still fails then emmc chip is blown, new motherboard required.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
thanks guys i'll give that a shot and report back.
eric303 said:
thanks guys i'll give that a shot and report back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you enter on recovery mode and you get this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/emmc-problem-t2722684
its the same of my phone, report back if you solved, mine dont flash pit files
k-semler said:
I have attached the *.PIT file I used to restore my phone. It is for the 16GB i9300. Remember in ODIN to include the ROM in the /PDA section, and the *.pit file in the section where it asks for it. Have the following boxes checked:
Re-Partition
Auto-Reboot
F. Reset Time.
Phone Bootloader Update
Flash the ROM, and let ODIN do it's thing. DO NOT UNPLUG YOUR DEVICE UNTIL IT IS DONE!! Doing this will completely wipe the phone, and return it to a factory state.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a lot of PIT files, but with yours i can flash in heidmall, but return an error on 7%... i dont understand
sergio_f said:
I have a lot of PIT files, but with yours i can flash in heidmall, but return an error on 7%... i dont understand
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried a different USB cable, and/or using a different USB port on your computer?
k-semler said:
Have you tried a different USB cable, and/or using a different USB port on your computer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, tried different computers also, i think it's the memory, it's corrupted, but it's funny because only with PIT file from this post i get something when try flash the stock Rom even with errors..

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