[Q] soft brick - wont enter recovery - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I've flashed Archidroid 3.0.1 with Boeffla kernel 2.1
The phone worked well for a day (except i had huge battery drain by google services, and it wasn't because of location settings, but that's another story) and suddenly all by it self it entered in bootloop showing only "Samsung Galaxy SIII GT-I9300" message, and the main problem is that I can't enter the recovery.
I do the three button combination, and it shows CWM recovery 6.0.4.4 for a part of a second and the phone boots again before I can even read anything. Also I've tried to pull out the battery and leave it like that for an hour, and when I put it back in phone the phone powers on by itself and enters the bootloop.
Any suggestions?

Flash stock firmware with Odin, factory reset.

boomboomer said:
Flash stock firmware with Odin, factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I presume that should be XELLA or newer stock ROM?

EMG4 or higher, to avoid efs problems.

boomboomer said:
EMG4 or higher, to avoid efs problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It didn't help since I can be in download mode for only about second or so, so I wasn't able to do anything with Odin.
I gave it to the service because it could only be the stucked power button or emmc chip gone bad, I would try to replace the power button myself but I don't have solder. However I will keep you posted what exactly went wrong with it.

Related

[Q] Stubborn soft brick (Download mode, no recovery mode)

Hello,
I've been having a nightmare with my Galaxy S2 GT-I9100. The phone had been giving me grief for a few months, the occasional freeze which would be fixed by a battery pull, ever since upgrading to an official ICS rom. Unfortunately I can't remember the exact ROM.
A week ago the phone froze, I pulled the battery and hit a bootloop when I tried to restart. I booted into recovery mode and attempted to wipe data. The phone attempted to wipe the data but froze. I left it for a couple of hours with no progress so I pulled the battery. The phone is now still in the same bootloop but cannot enter recovery mode. It can however enter download mode through both the 3 button technique and using a USB jig. My PC only recognises the phone in download mode and fortunately ODIN also recognises the phone. I have tried flashing various stock firmware and kernels and each time ODIN claims the flash was successful, reboots the phone and hits the same bootloop as before. I have also tried flashing CWM recovery to try and boot into that recovery mode but again this is successful but seems to make no difference.
Any help would be much appreciated,
Thanks for your time.
UPDATE:
This is the guide I used to first fix the problem http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1457458&highlight=recovery+mode
Adding the most recent flashed ROM and kernel
ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1608071 - Firmware: I9100XWLPY (4.0.4) (Unbranded UK)
Kernel: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399 - CF-Root-SGS2_XW_NEE_LPY-v5.6-CWM5.zip
Shilleto said:
Hello,
I've been having a nightmare with my Galaxy S2 GT-I9100. The phone had been giving me grief for a few months, the occasional freeze which would be fixed by a battery pull, ever since upgrading to an official ICS rom. Unfortunately I can't remember the exact ROM.
A week ago the phone froze, I pulled the battery and hit a bootloop when I tried to restart. I booted into recovery mode and attempted to wipe data. The phone attempted to wipe the data but froze. I left it for a couple of hours with no progress so I pulled the battery. The phone is now still in the same bootloop but cannot enter recovery mode. It can however enter download mode through both the 3 button technique and using a USB jig. My PC only recognises the phone in download mode and fortunately ODIN also recognises the phone. I have tried flashing various stock firmware and kernels and each time ODIN claims the flash was successful, reboots the phone and hits the same bootloop as before. I have also tried flashing CWM recovery to try and boot into that recovery mode but again this is successful but seems to make no difference.
Any help would be much appreciated,
Thanks for your time.
UPDATE:
This is the guide I used to first fix the problem http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1457458&highlight=recovery+mode
Adding the most recent flashed ROM and kernel
ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1608071 - Firmware: I9100XWLPY (4.0.4) (Unbranded UK)
Kernel: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399 - CF-Root-SGS2_XW_NEE_LPY-v5.6-CWM5.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm ... for bootloop issues, this is the correct guide => http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1108499
But this requires recovery mode to work.
And you really pressed Volume UP + Home + Power keys, and hold them for about 15 seconds/until recovery menu appears - regardless of any other boot logo or animation which might be displayed inbetween?!
It_ler said:
Hmm ... for bootloop issues, this is the correct guide => http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1108499
But this requires recovery mode to work.
And you really pressed Volume UP + Home + Power keys, and hold them for about 15 seconds/until recovery menu appears - regardless of any other boot logo or animation which might be displayed inbetween?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely. Booting with Volume UP + Home + Power keys, I am greeted with my usual bootloop Samsung Galaxy SII GT-I9100 boot screen, after around 10 seconds the screen goes black and then the bootloop screen comes back on.
Any other suggestions?
Same problem
Hi,
I have the same problem. I would be interested in a solution for this as well. I've already tried reflashing the ROM, kernel and bootloader, together with repartitioning. Still can't get into recovery mode.
Cheers,
Tudor
need Help
help, I have the exactly same problem, please solve this, I already flash everything, but it no use..
yyanzzz said:
help, I have the exactly same problem, please solve this, I already flash everything, but it no use..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
What I finally managed to do is connect to ADB and do a wipe from there. Connecting to ADB in download mode sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, depends on how lucky you are. Try it a couple of times. Afterwards I was able to re-flash and it started. For me, the problem was also a bit deeper; my USB port was shortcircuiting or something. I just took a toothpick and pushed the USB pin a bit (found the idea online) and haven't had any problems since then.
Cheers,
Tudor

[Q] SIII will not boot

Hi
So I've had my Samsung SIII for just over 18 months, and it's all worked fine etc. I've never rooted it or anything.
But this morning it will not boot up. When I try to switch it on the start up sequence happens, but it gets stuck on the flashing Samsung splash screen. If I turn it off it just restarts and ends up back on that screen. The only way to stop it is to take the battery out.
I've tried starting it in recovery mode (power+home button+vol up), but the standing, open android just flashes and I end up with the android lay down with the red exclamation mark from there. It then loops between the two androids and the Samsung SIII start up logo screen. I have tried to press the volume buttons whilst on the red exclamation mark screen but cannot get to anywhere from it.
However, it will load the download mode (power+home button+ vol down) just fine.
I have looked all over but most people encountering anything similar have rooted their devices, which I have not.
Also, last week I lost all of my contacts which were stored on the device (I don't know why) but that might have something to do with it.
I don't particularly want to hard reset the phone and lose everything, but if it's the only solution I will do.
Thanks.
In download mode is the product number shown or a blank?
If it shows i9300 then you have a good chance of flashing either a full stock rom or a rescue firmware (see general forum) using odin. You will need to factory reset in recovery afterward, but your data is almost certainly unrecoverable.
If the product number is blank then you have partial SDS and require a new motherboard.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
rachypoo said:
Hi
So I've had my Samsung SIII for just over 18 months, and it's all worked fine etc. I've never rooted it or anything.
But this morning it will not boot up. When I try to switch it on the start up sequence happens, but it gets stuck on the flashing Samsung splash screen. If I turn it off it just restarts and ends up back on that screen. The only way to stop it is to take the battery out.
I've tried starting it in recovery mode (power+home button+vol up), but the standing, open android just flashes and I end up with the android lay down with the red exclamation mark from there. It then loops between the two androids and the Samsung SIII start up logo screen. I have tried to press the volume buttons whilst on the red exclamation mark screen but cannot get to anywhere from it.
However, it will load the download mode (power+home button+ vol down) just fine.
I have looked all over but most people encountering anything similar have rooted their devices, which I have not.
Also, last week I lost all of my contacts which were stored on the device (I don't know why) but that might have something to do with it.
I don't particularly want to hard reset the phone and lose everything, but if it's the only solution I will do.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do has boomboomer said above but as a last resort before flashing back to stock or a rescue firmware if you flash PhilZ recovery in download mode with odin.You then have a Aroma option in PhilZ recovery to browse and copy phone files so you may be able to recover some data pictures etc.
Please read PhilZ thread >> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2201860 << and the special features thread about Aroma file manager in post #3
Please note use as a last resort to get your data back! and read everything! Also all this is presuming you can get into PhilZ recovery after flashing..
I'm having the same problem , been looking through lots of topics. When I switch on the phone it's not booting android guy lays on his back. Download mode and Android Recovery are in my range.
I've been trying to flash stock-firmware from sammobile.com with ODIN but no effect , I mean It all went OK in Odin Operation list than fially phone reset and PASS. But this android guy is still laying on his back and making fun of me xD
Before trying to get back to stock ROM, I've had rooted phone and installed RR with 4.4.2 for S3, now I don't have a clue what shall I do next ...
Any ideas ? (the noob[me] have asked )
Stuck on samsung logo
Hi my s3 got stuck in the boot samsung logo.
It happend after I went to CWM app and created partition from there.
After I reboot it , then it froze down there.
S3-rooted running cyanogen mod 10.2
Teamdaiwa said:
Hi my s3 got stuck in the boot samsung logo.
It happend after I went to CWM app and created partition from there.
After I reboot it , then it froze down there.
S3-rooted running cyanogen mod 10.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You buggered the partitions .
Remove partition .
SOLVED >>
I have solved my problem with this lying android guy on his back , after trying to get back stock. So the thing was on my phone there have been left the kernel from Resurection Remix , I have updated it to Custom Kernel from this topic
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2563562
And my newest version of stock firmware is swimming very nice I hope This will help someone

[Q]S3 bootloop, no recovery nor download mode

I'm using v40 of temasek unofficial cm11, Boefflea version 11 kernel.
while I was using my phone, the phone suddenly went into a reboot and started the boot-loop, even when I pull the battery out and put it back in it starts booting immediately and goes into the boot-loop , whenever I try to go into download mode or recovery mode, once or twice I will be able to reach it, but 3 seconds in, it restarts and goes into the boot loop again (I can't choose between restarting or going into download mode)
would a USB jig help me getting into the download mode or will it be 3 seconds in and restarts?
would a service center help me retain my data as I need them?
Thank you.
momentarily I've managed to be able to access download mode and the laptop started making a sound trying to identify the device, too bad the battery fell off (or the phone restarted) lol
anyways I still need help because I couldn't get into any of them
If the phone starts the moment a battery is inserted then usually the power button is stuck -try giving it a wiggle, or get it replaced.
boomboomer said:
If the phone starts the moment a battery is inserted then usually the power button is stuck -try giving it a wiggle, or get it replaced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah will do that once this gets fixed lol ..
for some awkward reason, I found out that once I pull out the battery I can use download mode
what should I download?
I tried flashing CWM but I get back to the bootloop ... should I install a newer bootloader?
No, bootloader is irrelevant to firmware. You would be best to flash a full stock rom with odin then factory reset and see if it will boot. I would suspect the power cycling may have caused partition problems if recovery got wiped.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
boomboomer said:
No, bootloader is irrelevant to firmware. You would be best to flash a full stock rom with odin then factory reset and see if it will boot. I would suspect the power cycling may have caused partition problems if recovery got wiped.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
which would mean I would lose all the data in the previous cm11 right?
I'm trying my best to flash a recovery but I think it got wiped for good.. I'm trying to flash it over and over again .. (I unplug the battery once I'm in download mode to prevent the sudden restart) .. before I flashed the CWM through odin I was able to go into a glimpse of a recovery mode, now I can't seem to see it at all...
is there a way to just copy the data (mostly pictures) through odin or adb with my phone current state?
Google says it might be possible
http://codebin.co.uk/blog/samsung-galaxy-s3-boot-loop-backup-without-root/
boomboomer said:
Google says it might be possible
http://codebin.co.uk/blog/samsung-galaxy-s3-boot-loop-backup-without-root/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
only through recovery mode or hoping your phone would suddenly connect after many boots lol
I don't think that will be my case .. oh well
as long as I can get my phone working again
going back to stock rom didn't fix the issue. can't access anything yet.
any help?
if anyone is reading this, I've been looking everywhere for a stock rom with pit file, I think that's the problem I'm facing since I have different bootloaders and different modes, somewhere around that I jacked my partitions and I think this would help putting it all back
I've found ones for android 4.1 but nothing of 4.3 .. since I came from 4.3 stock rom and then 4.4 kitkat temasek I think 4.1 won't help me at all
time to go to a service center I guess.
OK this is weird...
after I gave up I put my phone on a recover firmware that for some bizarre reason brought it back to life!!! I just put the phone back and left .. 5 hours later it was on and working.. I was able to access the phone for a brief moment.. but for some reason again I wasn't able to get the touch screen to work... I was able to raise the volume.. restart the phone.. but nothing on touch screen..
then it went back to the dead state...
any ideas?
@boomboomer
Motherboard component or connect lose or failing .
Hello same problema with mY S3 , the power button was damaged. and now I need to enter download mode to flash the firmware.... is there a way to enter download mode on S3 without using power key?
danieldp1990 said:
Hello same problema with mY S3 , the power button was damaged. and now I need to enter download mode to flash the firmware.... is there a way to enter download mode on S3 without using power key?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
USB JIG

Help please! Frozen screen on "Downloading"

Today I tried to root my s3 i9305 with odin. After I hit Start it stayed stuck like 20 minutes, I pulled the cable out and since than I can't get the phone to start. I even entered recovery mode and wiped everything out, still the phone won't start. "Downloading.. Do not turn off target!!!" If I remove the battery (can't shut it off other ways) and plug it in to charge, the same screen appears, doesn't even show the battery percentage. Please help!
l3vy said:
Today I tried to root my s3 i9305 with odin. After I hit Start it stayed stuck like 20 minutes, I pulled the cable out and since than I can't get the phone to start. I even entered recovery mode and wiped everything out, still the phone won't start. "Downloading.. Do not turn off target!!!" If I remove the battery (can't shut it off other ways) and plug it in to charge, the same screen appears, doesn't even show the battery percentage. Please help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've mentioned that you can enter the recovery- did you flash a custom one, or still in sotck?
Second- if you can enter recovery, is it possible for you to re-enter download mode? you can flash a stock rom from there...
Did you flash the right file? You are posting in the i9300 forum, anything here can brick your phone.
56889988 33
boomboomer said:
Did you flash the right file? You are posting in the i9300 forum, anything here can brick your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please give me a stock 4.1.2? Everywhere I look the file is on hotfile..
Ok, so today I flashed my phone with 4.3 (I9305XXUEML5_I9305EVRGML3_EVR.zip), when it booted I had no signal and IMEI was null. Fixed that with Param_Bin_I9305.zip . Works fine, but I have the same battery problem like everybody else, from 100% to 15% in a few hours. Can someone please give me a download link with stock 4.1.2 ? Don't want any custom roms. Thanks
You are still in the wrong forum.
Stock are saqmsung-updates and sammobile and a few others via Google .
Older roms that where on the deceased hotfile are no longer readily available as in many cases they where never reloaded .
amirTor said:
You've mentioned that you can enter the recovery- did you flash a custom one, or still in sotck?
Second- if you can enter recovery, is it possible for you to re-enter download mode? you can flash a stock rom from there...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try rooting the phone without odin, using the toolkit provided by the dev mskip.
( this would work for your i9305)
heres the link to it : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1979290
go for it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
press thanks if i helped:good:

[Q] I-9300 bootloop and no recovery

Hello,
I have a S3 which is stuck in a bootloop at the samsung logo.
when i turn it on it shows the logo for some seconds then the screen goes black and the logo re-appears.
i can not boot into recovery mode, but download mode is working without a problem every time.
i tried flashing stock firmwares with odin and also tried kies emergency firmware recovery. the flashing always went without any problem, but it had effect. whatever i try, i am never able to boot into recovery and still stuck in the bootloop.
in some tries after flashing the screen just shows the samsung logo forever, but after rebooting it once it then is stuck in a bootloop again (shows the logo - screen goes black - shows the logo...)
i also tried flashing TWRP and CWM via odin, but again i can never boot into recovery mode.
what should i try next?
thx alot for any helpful comment
Varjo said:
Hello,
I have a S3 which is stuck in a bootloop at the samsung logo.
when i turn it on it shows the logo for some seconds then the screen goes black and the logo re-appears.
i can not boot into recovery mode, but download mode is working without a problem every time.
i tried flashing stock firmwares with odin and also tried kies emergency firmware recovery. the flashing always went without any problem, but it had effect. whatever i try, i am never able to boot into recovery and still stuck in the bootloop.
in some tries after flashing the screen just shows the samsung logo forever, but after rebooting it once it then is stuck in a bootloop again (shows the logo - screen goes black - shows the logo...)
i also tried flashing TWRP and CWM via odin, but again i can never boot into recovery mode.
what should i try next?
thx alot for any helpful comment
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can Try this:
1.) Pull out battery
2.) Put it in again
3.) Press Vol up + home + power
4.) When the Samsung Logo appears let it off
I think you press the Buttons too long.
I had the same problem!
S1ay3r666 said:
I think you press the Buttons too long.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i really tried everything, it's not working. btw with i am stuck at the very first image, where it says "samsung Galaxy sII GT-I9300".
i dont think it's just the way i press the buttons because i can reach it on my s1 and s2 without a problem, it's just not working on this device.
could some setting like "nand erase all" in odin help? in other threads there is sometimes mentioned that the internal file system might be screwed up and in those cases a simple odin reflash does not help anymore...
Nand erase will usually hard brick it. Try the rescue firmware from general forum, sticky thread. Follow the guide exactly as it includes a pit file.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
boomboomer said:
Try the rescue firmware from general forum, sticky thread. Follow the guide exactly as it includes a pit file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thx, but i already did that (multiple times) and flashing via odin always succeeds. then the phone reboots and is stuck at the first samsung galaxy s.. screen. twice i managed somehow to get into recovery (after flashing cwm6) but it then randomly rebooted.
and i dont think that the power button is stuck because when i am in download mode it is perfectly fine it never reboots itself unexpectedly.
Had a similar issue on my tab2 p3100. It all happened when I tried flashing a custom recovery from rom manager.
A bad flash of anything related to recovery or bootloader could be a probable cause.
I remember a knowledge share on one of the threads describing this issue and as mentioned on it all I had to do is this:
1) switch off the device and plug in the charger. This would light up the display showing you the charging status. The status has to show if at least your bootloader part of the phone is fine.
2) plug out the charger and immediately press the three buttons (home + vol up + power) get into recovery mode. This step has to work and help you get to recovery mode.
***Note : the interval within which this step has to be performed is too short since the display would turn off immediately as soon as you plug out the charger. A bit tricky too so you have to be fast. If this misses getting you into recovery, pull out the battery and put it back again. Repeat step1 and 2 again.
3) upon successfully getting into recovery, perform wipe data, cache and select reboot phone from option available on recovery again.
Allow the device to boot. This could take a while since you have performed a data wipe and may prompt for first time set up.
I was able to restore functionality on my tab after these steps and like ppl learn from their mistakes, I then learnt that recoveries and bootloaders are things that needs to be done with a pc only.
Worth a try if you have tried other alternatives and found no go. may help. Who knows..
all the best.
thats also not working. i tried to get into recovery since two days now...
i also tried the steps from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/solved-pit-bricked-dead-problem-gt-t2535367
but again, after i flash the cf-root (successfully) the phone does neither boot into recovery by itself nor can i do it by hand...
its crazy... in download mode i can see the model number (GT-I9300) and i thought as long as the model number is there and i can enter download mode there should be a way to recover the device.
but i cannot think of anything to try that i have not done yet
If the rescue firmware didn't help then it looks like the emmc chip is damaged.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
boomboomer said:
If the rescue firmware didn't help then it looks like the emmc chip is damaged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is there a way to make certain of this? how can i tell if it is really a hardware damage and not just a software brick?
i just dont want to let the phone go, it looks still so shiny
is there anything else that could cause the phone not booting into recovery mode after flashing custom recoveries?
Varjo said:
is there a way to make certain of this? how can i tell if it is really a hardware damage and not just a software brick?
i just dont want to let the phone go, it looks still so shiny
is there anything else that could cause the phone not booting into recovery mode after flashing custom recoveries?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gala...-help-t2737707
Same here, still didn't found how to fix it.. I guess our motherboard just died..
Howewer I have a solution that "almost" worked for me.
Get a stock firmware in odin and turn on Nand erase and T-flash
When it's done phone reboots and you'll see just "Downloading..." mode when you turn it on.
Then got to Kies and Select firmware recovery...
Enter s/n and model name and wait for the flash to complete.
With it , I got past boot logo and actually booted into android but the phone crashed because I guess I have a memory issue..
Well , gl. If you don't find anything else helpful , try going with this method..

Categories

Resources