[Help] Can't find the combination for recovery mode - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello, everyone.
A family member recently managed to break their phone, and while they can't get a new one, they decided to settle for an old Samsung copy phone (China phone).
The problem here is that they forgot what password they had set for the lock screen. And after trying anything they could have thought of, they decided to ask me to completely factory reset the phone.
I've managed to get to field test mode using Vol Up + Power, but no other combination seem to work to get to recovery mode.
The phone model on the battery reads "A9500", and it looks like an HTM a9500, but I'm not certain.
The android system probably hasn't seen any updates in a year.
Does anyone have any ideas on how I could go about resetting the phone?

Does the phone have a home button?
Try Volume Up + Home + Power. That might get you into recovery.

TheMeddlingMonk said:
Does the phone have a home button?
Try Volume Up + Home + Power. That might get you into recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried the combination.
Interestingly enough, it has a holdup before booting when using that combination, as in it takes longer for the android logo to appear when pressing it, which also happens when it is going into field test mode.
Still, it sadly doesn't let me into recovery mode, just booting normally.
Is there such a thing as having to press something else, or letting go of one of the buttons? I've only tried holding them.
If this helps at all, when going into test mode, it doesn't vibrate when powering up. It only vibrates when it is going to start up normally.

Hmm. Do you know if this phone actually has a recovery?
Also, can you tell us if there is anything else on the phone that would indicate its model? It sounds like a Samsung S4 clone (based on the fact that you said it's a Samsung copy and the 9500 number) , but not sure.

TheMeddlingMonk said:
Hmm. Do you know if this phone actually has a recovery?
Also, can you tell us if there is anything else on the phone that would indicate its model? It sounds like a Samsung S4 clone (based on the fact that you said it's a Samsung copy and the 9500 number) , but not sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I believe it is an S4 clone, although I'm not sure which information would be relevant for me to post.
There's EB424255VU and AA1B122KS/4-B written on the battery as well.
I'm really not sure if there is a recovery at all. I assumed so because of the existence of Test mode.
Is there anything to do if there is no recovery?

It should have some details under the battery. For example, my S3 has:
MODEL: GT-I9305T
FCC ID: A3LGTI9305
SSN: -I9305TGSMH
RATED: 3.8V
MADE IN KOREA BY SAMSUNG
Also, did you see this post - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48795854&postcount=2 - maybe that will help get you into recovery?

Standards: GB/T18287-2000
Type:3.7V Li-ion
Besides this and the other post, there's not much else on the battery, besides where it was made.
Funny thing: in english, it says: "Made in China/Finished in Korea", then in french "Made in Japan/Finished in Japan", and then in spanish "Made in Korea/Finished in Korea"
EDIT: Forgot to mention, I looked in the thread you linked, but it didn't help.

Okay.
There's nothing written in the battery socket like the example I gave? It won't be on the battery itself - rather, it is under/behind the battery, on the actual phone.
Given the difficulty getting into recovery, my next thought would be to see if you can find a "hard reset"/"factory reset" command to enter into the emergency dialer (since you can't unlock the phone).

I did try to use one such code I found on the internet, but it just said that it "was not an emergency number". It could just be that the code did not work for the phone, tho.
Under the battery there is:
"Model: A9500"
"IMEI:358051044043066"
"GSM:850/900/1800/1900MHz four band/GPRS Mobile Phone"
And that's it. I'm afraid I might never be able to reset this damn thing...

Thanks for the additional info.
From what I've been able to find, it's not guaranteed that this phone has a recovery (there was another thread on XDA that seemed to describe similar issues accessing it).
However, I did find this: http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-lock-screen-bypassed-entirely-clever-meticulous-trickery
Does this bug exist on it? You might be able to (with time and patience) factory reset it that way.

Related

[Q] Is my Vibrant dead?

So I plugged my Vibrant into Odin to revert to stock. Apparently everything went wrong, and now my phone is stuck at the Phone---!---computer screen. It seems that my phone won't respond to hardware methods of entering download mode, so am I screwed?
Keep reading on here. This has happened to many people. Keep trying things and hopefully you will get it.
1. Remove SD and SIM card
2. Remove battery
3. plugged the phone into USB (connected to PC)
4. held down vol-up and vol-down
5. popped the battery back in while holding vol buttons
I've tried that, and many other methods, multiple times already. It seems that none of the volume/power methods do anything for my phone. I'm certain that if hardware-locks do exist for certain vibrants, mine just so happens to be one of them (Date on box is August 13). I just want to know if anyone with a similarly dated phone has ever been able to access download mode without adb.
If anyone knows of more methods, please post them. If all else fails, I'll go complain in my local T-Mobile store that my phone died. I have no idea if that'll get me anywhere, but it's worth a shot.
Does anyone who has had a problem similar to mine know of any fix? By that I mean, has someone who has had a presumably hardware-locked phone ever been able to boot it into download mode without adb? I'd really like to know if I can salvage this thing, or if I have to try my luck with T-Mobile.
Try holding volume down and holding power button and plug in USB while this is happening.
Sadly, I've tried that method as well, thank you though for responding. I will continue trying since it seems not to be a 100% thing for some people. Anyway, for the Volume keys + Power method, can anyone provide a more precise time of releasing power than "When it goes black". I'm hoping my inability to enter download mode is human-error, so I'd like as much input on this as possible. Thanks in advance.
Generic112 said:
Sadly, I've tried that method as well, thank you though for responding. I will continue trying since it seems not to be a 100% thing for some people. Anyway, for the Volume keys + Power method, can anyone provide a more precise time of releasing power than "When it goes black". I'm hoping my inability to enter download mode is human-error, so I'd like as much input on this as possible. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you see the " !---> (pc)" symbol, plug your USB in. Hold down volume +, volume -, and power. As soon as the screen turns black release the power button only. Continue holding Vol + and Vol -. You'll enter Download mode.
I've tried that multiple times, but I will continue to try it. It seems as though my phone won't register that buttons are being pressed. All that happens is the phone reboots to the Phone--!--Computer screen every time the power is held and released (As it should). No combination of buttons seems to have any affect on this. Oh well, I'll continue trying and hopefully someone will post a working method.
I have the same problem and the hardware button method isn't working and I am stuck at the Phone ! Computer screen, and I read around the forums and they say that some Vibrant's have the hardware method locked, so you can't boot into Download mode from using the buttons. Since adb cannot find the phone when its stuck at this screen it seems we are both screwed. I have found no other solution other than returning it Tmo, not sure if they will exchange since it might be a violation of warranty.
I'm just going to play dumb when I go to T-Mobile. I'll say it just booted into that screen, and I can't get out of it. The hardware lock appears to be a defect, since it's not present on most Vibrants, so that should be able to warrant the replacement phone. I've been with T-Mobile awhile, and they're usually pretty good with replacements. Besides, the phone would be easily fixed if it wasn't broken in the first place.
But before I go to T-Mobile, I'm going to try and talk to Customer Service. If it's a common problem, then I'm sure it can be covered under warranty (Even though MOST ways of getting it require voiding warranty). Again, on the basis that this wouldn't be a big deal if my phone worked like a normal Vibrant. Besides, I'm sure T-Mobile can flash it without requiring the hardware method, so even if they only charge me some sort of service fee, I won't really mind.
As final moral reassurance for myself, I only tried to flash it because apps started FC on me and the phone constantly acted weird. The only thing I've done is root it, so it's not like I really set it up to fail.
Let me know how it goes with Customer Service. I would to get this problem resolved as well with the least amount of trouble. I don't want to have a brick and have to pay like $500 for a new phone. And I think the hardware buttons thing might actually be a defect. I tried doing the hardware buttons thing to get to recovery mode once before and it worked. I did this to install an update.zip to root the phone. It only worked that one time and now the buttons don't boot into recovery mode or download mode. It if works once then not again, there has to be something wrong.
I'll be trying them tomorrow (It's 10PM where I am). If all goes well, I'll try and contact you. I'm pretty sure I'll be safe so long as I don't mention rooting it. The firmware flash they'll have to do should help me on that front, so unless they catch on, I should be safe. Anyway, hopefully tomorrow I'll be good news, otherwise expect some post from me on Monday or Tuesday, depending on whether I have the time to deal with them or not.
Hey Generic112, I got with T-Mobile customer service. I told them about the screen I was seeing but did not mention rooting or attempting to flash the phone. They said they will replace my phone by shipping me a new Vibrant, but I have to return the one I have. I am not sure if they will do a check to verify if the Vibrant was rooted or not after they receive it, but I will have my new Vibrant before they receive the one I have. I won't know what will happen for awhile because its going to take a week for the new phone to arrive and when it does then I will be returning the one with the phone ! computer problem, unless someone thinks it is a better idea to tell them what happened and have them repair it?
I am also struck with the same problem
Hi,
I am also struck with the same problem. Please let me know if you guys got any method to resolve the problem or T-Mobile was able to help.
the3dman said:
Keep reading on here. This has happened to many people. Keep trying things and hopefully you will get it.
1. Remove SD and SIM card
2. Remove battery
3. plugged the phone into USB (connected to PC)
4. held down vol-up and vol-down
5. popped the battery back in while holding vol buttons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This method actually worked for me. I was beginning to think I'd have to build the USB jig, but tried this as a last ditch. Thanks!
The above method has worked for me numerous times with the same problem, my old bricked one, and my new one. Try holding down power button as well once or twice, never know. You have to keep the volume buttons pressed the whole time for it to work.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
ViralCipher said:
Hey Generic112, I got with T-Mobile customer service. I told them about the screen I was seeing but did not mention rooting or attempting to flash the phone. They said they will replace my phone by shipping me a new Vibrant, but I have to return the one I have. I am not sure if they will do a check to verify if the Vibrant was rooted or not after they receive it, but I will have my new Vibrant before they receive the one I have. I won't know what will happen for awhile because its going to take a week for the new phone to arrive and when it does then I will be returning the one with the phone ! computer problem, unless someone thinks it is a better idea to tell them what happened and have them repair it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In some cases that I've read they say, TMo charged them 600$ for the Replacement after finding out that it was bricked due to hacking. Before replacing try to get it repaired by them.
I would also like people whose phones were replaced to confirm what I've said above.
ech419 said:
In some cases that I've read they say, TMo charged them 600$ for the Replacement after finding out that it was bricked due to hacking. Before replacing try to get it repaired by them.
I would also like people whose phones were replaced to confirm what I've said above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He should be able to get the phone woking again, what happened is not a big deal. If he sends it in the way it's sitting right now, t'Mo's techs won't have a problem getting it working again. (IMO) Especially if they find out the phone's rooted, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets charged.
I bricked my phone so bad, it was beyond recovery. I erased the bootloader, therefore it was completelly dead. No life. I got a replacement under warranty for free, never got charged for it.
My advice would be to try and get to work again before sending it in.

[Q] Hardware locked and confused

Hey everyone - my first post here.
Anyway, I read and read and read about my new Vibrant to see just what I could do with it without screwing it up and bricking it and I find out my device is hardware locked.
After reading [GUIDE] / [THINK TANK] - Accessing downloader & recovery w/ locked hardware access (I cannot post a link just now, apparently) from start to finish, I am more confused than not. I cannot do anything but stay in a boot loop (by holding buttons down) or boot up the phone like normal. No recovery or download mode has so far been possible.
So, can I root my phone? Should I just attempt to exchange it? Should I wait for a work-around? Or is there information I'm missing somewhere?
Thanks, all. This community is insanely helpful and cordial, without you guys I'd never have gotten my dream working properly.
Edit: I was told that my lack of drivers were the problem - I thought I didn't need them on a 32 bit system. I did. Recovery reboot solved for me!
If you cannot enter Recovery Mode with Vol Up+Vol Down+Power, your phone is defective and T-Mo will exchange it.
You're serious? It really is that simple?
So, I call them up, tell them I have a hardware locked phone and I cannot boot into recovery mode, and they'll set me up?
I'm thinking I had to go learn odin and start getting less a'scared of command lines.
FenixGryph said:
Hey everyone - my first post here.
Anyway, I read and read and read about my new Vibrant to see just what I could do with it without screwing it up and bricking it and I find out my device is hardware locked.
After reading [GUIDE] / [THINK TANK] - Accessing downloader & recovery w/ locked hardware access (I cannot post a link just now, apparently) from start to finish, I am more confused than not. I cannot do anything but stay in a boot loop (by holding buttons down) or boot up the phone like normal. No recovery or download mode has so far been possible.
So, can I root my phone? Should I just attempt to exchange it? Should I wait for a work-around? Or is there information I'm missing somewhere?
Thanks, all. This community is insanely helpful and cordial, without you guys I'd never have gotten my dream working properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's my advice in a step-by-step:
-Install the AndroidSDK (And make sure it is named that) Found here - http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
-Move the folder to Computer> Local Disk ( C: )
-Run the .exe
-Go to Settings, click on Miscellaneous, and check Force https
-Click on Available Packages and install (And then minimize)
-Click Start and search cmd (Also known as Command Prompt)
-Type cd\ (And then press enter)
-Type AndroidSDK\Tools\adb reboot download (And then press enter)
**Make sure your phone is plugged into the computer with USB Debugging turned on.
Your phone will reboot and be in Download Mode. Hope this helps.
Hardware Locked, huh? really? on the vibrant?
Can someone explain what hardware locked vibrant is. Is this some term you guys made up. I can not for the life of me, figure out, why in the world Samsung would ship some phones hardware locked and others not.
Makes no sense, someone explain, seems like this is a made up term which does not apply to Vibrant.
Either Samsung is being completely ignorant to this issue or they have the worst quality control. I am beginning to think it's both. Simply google searching brings up lots of results on this issue.
My first Vibrant (USB port eventually broke) 3 button recovery worked fine; dated July 15. The replacement after that did not work, nor did the one after that. Those were both made on Aug 16. I finally got a refund under buyer's remorse and waited another week. Got my fourth Vibrant today, made 09/01 and yes it does work with 3 button recovery.
Keep in mind none of my Vibrants were refurbished units. They were all brand new. I think Samsung has a serious flaw on their hands. I'm concerned about keeping this phone even but I added the insurance on it just in case.
By "hardware locked" they mean that you cannot access the phone's recovery or dl mode using the 3 button method.
this has apparently started with the 08/**/2010 batches. beforehand this phone was deemed "unbrickable" but it's now actually possible with the newer shipments so ppl have got to be a lot careful trying to mod their phones now.
on a side note: i've read that Samsung Mobile Canada has admitted that the hardware locked phones are in actuality a defect. hopefully Samsung Mobile USA will come to the same conclusion.
sabooher said:
Either Samsung is being completely ignorant to this issue or they have the worst quality control. I am beginning to think it's both. Simply google searching brings up lots of results on this issue.
My first Vibrant (USB port eventually broke) 3 button recovery worked fine; dated July 15. The replacement after that did not work, nor did the one after that. Those were both made on Aug 16. I finally got a refund under buyer's remorse and waited another week. Got my fourth Vibrant today, made 09/01 and yes it does work with 3 button recovery.
Keep in mind none of my Vibrants were refurbished units. They were all brand new. I think Samsung has a serious flaw on their hands. I'm concerned about keeping this phone even but I added the insurance on it just in case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that's the first phone dated after 08/** that i've heard of actually having the 3 btn modes work. My bf has a vibrant and I've been holding off purchasing one myself since hearing about the hardware locked ones. i've been literally scouring ebay for a phone that was a part of the July batch.
well, this gives me a little hope.
Oniyuri said:
By "hardware locked" they mean that you cannot access the phone's recovery or dl mode using the 3 button method.
this has apparently started with the 08/**/2010 batches. beforehand this phone was deemed "unbrickable" but it's now actually possible with the newer shipments so ppl have got to be a lot careful trying to mod their phones now.
on a side note: i've read that Samsung Mobile Canada has admitted that the hardware locked phones are in actuality a defect. hopefully Samsung Mobile USA will come to the same conclusion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well just my 2 cents on the topic, entering recovery mode required following strict steps, miss 1 single step, and you won't get into recovery.
now as far as download mode goes, I have been able to get into it once. This was by accident, I was randomly doing various sequences of volume rocker and power, it went into download mode. Now since then, I have no clue what sequence I used, but I have never been able to get into download mode ever again.
Additionally, my phone is dated 7/2010, so the 8/2010 batch theory doesn't hold since I can not get into download mode either now.
To get into Recovery Mode, follow these steps.
Okay, I'm reading lots of people having trouble getting into recovery mode, thinking their phone is broken or busted. Chances are you are not holding down the power button log enough, or you are letting go of something too quick.
FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS STEP BY STEP.
1) START with your phone off
2) Press volume up AND volume down at same time, keep them pressed in the entire time, do NOT let go. I prefer to hold my phone in landscape, this gives me better control with my fingers.
3) WHILE holding down volume up and volume down, press and hold power button, DO NOT LET GO OF ANYTHING. You should be holding down volume up, volume down, and power, DON'T LET GO! HOLD ON... and proceed to next steps, dont let go!
4) PHONE will start, you will see the white Vibrant logo. STILL DON'T LET GO, volume down, volume up, and power all pressed.
5) White Vibrant logo disappears, still dont let go!
6) White Vibrant logo re-appears again for the second time. Right when you see the white vibrant logo pop up a second time, let go of ONLY the power button, keep holding down volume down and volume up.
7) Phone enters recovery mode, you can let go the volume rocker.
hope this helps, it worked for me, hopefully it works for you also.
now can someone post sure fire method into getting into download without needing to connect the phone to your computer and using odin?
Oniyuri said:
I think that's the first phone dated after 08/** that i've heard of actually having the 3 btn modes work. My bf has a vibrant and I've been holding off purchasing one myself since hearing about the hardware locked ones. i've been literally scouring ebay for a phone that was a part of the July batch.
well, this gives me a little hope.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hate to break it to you, my phone is made in July, and it WILL NOT go into download mode, I do however get into recovery mode.
That phone date batch theory doesn't hold true, so you can stop searching for july phones.
Oniyuri said:
on a side note: i've read that Samsung Mobile Canada has admitted that the hardware locked phones are in actuality a defect. hopefully Samsung Mobile USA will come to the same conclusion.[/QUOTE]
where did you read this, please provide the link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung Mobile USA support is worthless. I called three times and finally got someone in "premier support" who didn't know anything. He actually went as far as to tell me a simple data wipe would resolve this problem, ha! I then got a hold of someone at Samsung Telecom corporate office who said he'd look into it and never called me back. No surprise there either. I think it's kind of sad that people are having to resort to Facebook wall comments to get a company to start backing it's products.
Thanks to sabooher, I was able to get into download mode with no problems, I hope this works for you, and thank you again sabooher.
okay, start off with your phone turned off
hold down both volume down and volume up at the same time, do not touch the power button
now, get your usb cable, have one end into your computer, the other end put into your vibrant, while you are still holding down the volume up and volume down at same time. dont touch power button
your phone hopefully will now go into download mode!
SamsungVibrant said:
FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS STEP BY STEP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, no good.
jonathan3579 said:
Here's my advice in a step-by-step:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had the sdk already, so that was no problem. With usb debugging on, I had the same problem I've always had with adb - error: device not found.
SamsungVibrant said:
Oniyuri said:
on a side note: i've read that Samsung Mobile Canada has admitted that the hardware locked phones are in actuality a defect. hopefully Samsung Mobile USA will come to the same conclusion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
where did you read this, please provide the link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, it's all over their facebook page. I've read tons of android sites so I can't quote the site that led me to this page but I've been following the Samsung Mobile Canada FB page over the last few days about it. Suffice it to say: the Bell customers are really not pleased with the 3 btn issue: Samsung Mobile Canada
FenixGryph said:
Nope, no good.
Had the sdk already, so that was no problem. With usb debugging on, I had the same problem I've always had with adb - error: device not found.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe you don't have the correct drivers installed, try the ones from this thread --> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=728929
Well here's my take on things. I got my phone (July 11th build date) directly from T-Mobile corporate. Came via FEDEX on launch day. Long story, suffice to say I had Behold II and complained to the right people at the right time and got swapped a Vibrant to basically shut me up.
Entering download mode seems to be very timing specific even for this original batch phone. There is only one way I can reliably get download mode 100% of the time...
- Pull battery
- plug in to USB cable connected to PC
- hold down VOL DOWN + VOL UP (DO NOT HOLD DOWN POWER)
- Insert battery
Alternately I can get into download mode using VOL DOWN+ VOL UP + POWER, but I have to be very careful to catch the right moment after the Vibrant logo appears the 2nd time to release power to get download mode.
When I ODIN, I use the first method always now.
masterotaku said:
Entering download mode seems to be very timing specific even for this original batch phone. There is only one way I can reliably get download mode 100% of the time...
- Pull battery
- plug in to USB cable connected to PC
- hold down VOL DOWN + VOL UP (DO NOT HOLD DOWN POWER)
- Insert battery
Alternately I can get into download mode using VOL DOWN+ VOL UP + POWER, but I have to be very careful to catch the right moment after the Vibrant logo appears the 2nd time to release power to get download mode.
When I ODIN, I use the first method always now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd. I've never had a problem getting into download mode; in fact, I was confused the first time it happened cuz I didn't mean to! All I have to do is make sure the USB cable is plugged in and then hold all 3 buttons when I turn it on and into download mode it goes.
crazycaveman said:
That's odd. I've never had a problem getting into download mode; in fact, I was confused the first time it happened cuz I didn't mean to! All I have to do is make sure the USB cable is plugged in and then hold all 3 buttons when I turn it on and into download mode it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tend to have bad luck with Odin too. I've seen the "ohsh*t" icon many times...
(note: the "ohsh*t" icon is what I call the phone/caution symbol/pc icon I tend to see quite often)
When that happens the ONLY way I can get back to download mode is the battery-insert method.
FenixGryph said:
Nope, no good.
Had the sdk already, so that was no problem. With usb debugging on, I had the same problem I've always had with adb - error: device not found.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It definitely sounds like you don't have the correct drivers installed. My drivers were downloaded through the installation of Kies, however, is your computer online while you are attempting this? I can only speak for my computer which is running Windows 7, but it automatically downloads any updated/new drivers necessary when connected online.
woot!
Ha ha!! The drivers were the problem. I was under the impression I only had to install the samsung drivers if I was on a 64 bit system.
I'm looking at my recovery menu now and am very happy! Wish I had time to do the stuff I wanted to do the vibrant before work, but I gotta make a couple of bucks before I get this guy set up just how I want.
See? I knew XDA was the place to be. Many thanks Oniyuri and jonathan3579!

Broken power button/stuck in recovery

I dropped my phone a few days ago and the power button stopped working. Reboot ed into recovery from Rom Manager and realized that I couldn't select anything because I need the power button (tried every other button as well; nothing works). Took the battery out and put it back in (the only way to turn it off now) and it instantly booted into recovery. I can't send it to AT&T because I have at least 10 counts and they'll instantly see that CWM is on there.
Please help me!
kancheek1995 said:
I dropped my phone a few days ago and the power button stopped working. Reboot ed into recovery from Rom Manager and realized that I couldn't select anything because I need the power button (tried every other button as well; nothing works). Took the battery out and put it back in (the only way to turn it off now) and it instantly booted into recovery. I can't send it to AT&T because I have at least 10 counts and they'll instantly see that CWM is on there.
Please help me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You dropped your phone. Samsung/AT&T warranty doesn't cover accidents, so there's no sense in worrying about your flash count. You're SOL. But you are free to try of course. Reverting to stock is very easy. What would you even do in recovery mode to revert to stock? Did you bother to look around the forum? There is a guide in the general forum on how to do that.
Out of curiosity, I did a google search to see what the repair options were for a broken power button. Saw that Mobile Tech Videos does it for $35 + shipping. Might be one of the better options at this point. As for the counter, just buy or make a jig to reset it.
mzaur said:
You dropped your phone. Samsung/AT&T warranty doesn't cover accidents, so there's no sense in worrying about your flash count. You're SOL. But you are free to try of course. Reverting to stock is very easy. What would you even do in recovery mode to revert to stock? Did you bother to look around the forum? There is a guide in the general forum on how to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They wouldn't know that I dropped it unless I told them that, so as of right now the button stopped working by itself. I reverted to stock a while ago when I thought I bricked it, but I need to get it into download mode which can't be done without the power button.
kancheek1995 said:
They wouldn't know that I dropped it unless I told them that, so as of right now the button stopped working by itself. I reverted to stock a while ago when I thought I bricked it, but I need to get it into download mode which can't be done without the power button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recovery mode requires the power button. Download mode only requires the two volume buttons. With the phone off, while holding down vol- & vol+ plug in USB cable.
Lawrence of a Labia said:
Out of curiosity, I did a google search to see what the repair options were for a broken power button. Saw that Mobile Tech Videos does it for $35 + shipping. Might be one of the better options at this point. As for the counter, just buy or make a jig to reset it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good info if I ever need this
Has anybody used mobile tech videos to get their power button fixed? Mine stopped working out of the blue today, my phone is long out of warranty, and it refuses to connect to my computer at all so I can't revert to stock (I'm running AOKP 6.27.12 Build right now). I don't want to just send my phone off to some place that isn't reputable.
elementlaxer said:
Has anybody used mobile tech videos to get their power button fixed? Mine stopped working out of the blue today, my phone is long out of warranty, and it refuses to connect to my computer at all so I can't revert to stock (I'm running AOKP 6.27.12 Build right now). I don't want to just send my phone off to some place that isn't reputable.
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Click to collapse
It's still got to be in warranty with Samsung. The first units were shipped just under 9 months ago.
Mobile tech videos is considered to be quite reputable. I have only seen good reports about them, and the owner posts actively on the XDA-Developers boards.
You should be able to enter download mode. You don't need the power button for that.
Darn I didn't realize how long Samsung's warranties were. I made the switch back in October from Apple products so I'm used to crappy warranties.
I've already shipped to mobile tech videos because I searched around the forums a bit and found out that he is in fact reputable.
And I know how to get into download mode, I can do that no problem. My computer always pops up saying there is some problem with the device and I'm not sure how to fix it. I have the drivers installed correctly and it has worked in the past, but not recently. I would try to replicate it now but I don't have the phone in my possession, and at the moment it isn't really causing me an issue.
If you can't get Odin to recognize the phone once connected to the computer in download mode, then it is most likely a driver problem, or less likely a problem with the USB cable or ports. Once you get the phone back, if you still have the problem, that is where to look first.
I just wanted to point out that the broken power button would not prevent you from returning the phone to stock, although it can be a bit of a problem that you can't use recovery.
Yeah I was a bit worried that if I tried to go through Odin and something got messed up I wouldn't be able to get back into recovery to restore from a backup.
Thanks for all the help! I feel like a total noob and I appreciate your patience haha
In case you haven't already tried, in some versions of CWM (even non-touch) the search button (softkey) works like enter. Try all of the softkeys, one of them might work for you.
Yes, but if you Odin back to stock with a broken power button, that leaves you with stock 3e recovery. Even if you use adb reboot recovery to get into 3e recovery, you can't select anything without the power button.

S2 sch-i500...well, boot loop, but not THAT boot loop

Hello!
Long time lurker, first time poster and new registrant TO post. Howdy!
Before we even get there.....yes, I searched first. I have been looking via searches here and via google for almost two hours, and have had exactly zero luck. Thus, I register and ask. Here's the specs.
First, I have a Galaxy S2 (model SCH-I500). It belongs to my old boss, and I need to give it back to him. I'll share the cliffs notes version of the background.
He rooted it about 1.5 years ago. And it was a pain in the ....posterior...from the day I got it. Last fall, I got tired of its issues and came here. I spent about 4 hours reading the forums, then downloaded Odin 3 c 1.8 and some ROMS.
I spent most of one slow workday futzing with it, and eventually got it re-ROM'd back to the factory image. Then, I cleaned up and uninstalled the crap I didn't want, and have been using it happily ever since. Stock ROM, only deleted stuff I ddin't want. I don't do much with the damn thing, its a work phone. I take calls, check email, and really that's about it besides texting.
So, I got a new job, and I need to return this to my old boss. I copied the whole thing to my PC to get all the pics and saved ringtones and such off it via USB. Then I powered it off and popped out my 2GB SD card.
My intention was, at this point, to re-flash it to stock and give it back to him that way, with none of my data on it.
SINCE that time, the phone will NOT boot.
It will ONLY go into 'android system recoovery <3e>', and only the home button does anything, and what it does is hide the text and leave you looking at the background image of the green robot guy and the exclamation mark. Not one single other button works to to ANYthing. Including the power button. Even holding it down at this point does nothing. You have to pull the battery to turn it off here.
But wait, it gets better!
Even after putting the SD card back in, this does not change. I cannot get into download mode to reflash it. I cannot boot the phone 'normally'...it simply goes to the same recovery screen and hangs. But I haven't actually DONE anything yet that should cause a boot loop or hang. I'd understand if I had applied a ROM or a patch or somesuch to it, but I haven't yet. Granted, I was ABOUT to, but I didn't do so yet.
I'm stumped. Regardless of the SD card being in, regardless of what buttons I push, hold, or don't touch, it only boots to the blue texted 'system recovery' menu and no buttons work at all... a complete hang. I can't boot into download mode, I can't just boot the thing, and I haven't yet applied any ROMs to it to fail or change anything.
At this point I'd settle for just booting it into the OS it has, and deleting my info...he'll probably either nuke it himself when I give it back to him anyhow, like he had it before. But I can't even do that!
Apparently, my google-fu is weak, and I cannot find an answer that isn't "Well, boot into download mode...". Because I currently cannot do this. Yes, I know, you're already going "Well, you must be using the other volume key". I am not. In the last 90 seconds, while typing this, I tried BOTH vol keys again to be certain....no matter what keys I hold down, it only boots to recovery and hangs.
...
I'm stumped and hella frustrated, so I'm gonna go drown in Sam Adams and come back in the morning with fresh eyes. Any indeas?
Thanks gang, I appreciate your reading this far for the n00b
Are you able to do anything in the recovery? Like wipe cache / factory reset?
Odoslané z GT-I9100 cez Tapatalk 2
Nope. From the recovery screen, all buttons are non-responsive except home, which hides the colored text. The volume, power, other face buttons, do exactly nothing. I have the blue recovery menu and a bunch of "CANNOT READ E;\" text, and that does not change regardless of the mem card status.
SCH-I500 is NOT a Galaxy S2. It's the Samsung Fascinate, a Verizon phone, and part of the Galaxy S line. NOT S2.
This post is currently in the forum for the I9100 variant of the Galaxy S2, a GSM phone that doesn't even work on Verizon.
ctomgee said:
SCH-I500 is NOT a Galaxy S2. It's the Samsung Fascinate, a Verizon phone, and part of the Galaxy S line. NOT S2.
This post is currently in the forum for the I9100 variant of the Galaxy S2, a GSM phone that doesn't even work on Verizon.
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Click to collapse
Sorry mate. It says S II on the back cover, so I made the leap to assume that meant S2.
If some kind mod would go ahead and move this to the right place, that'd be swell.
xaks said:
Sorry mate. It says S II on the back cover, so I made the leap to assume that meant S2.
If some kind mod would go ahead and move this to the right place, that'd be swell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I reported this thread to mods to be moved.
BTW, no need to apologize... I was just informing you of the model difference for your benefit, before you tried to flash an i9100 firmware. That would have ended badly for you.
Moved to Fascinate Q&A
Have you read over Droidstyle's Guide yet? It's the noob bible for for Fascinate users. He'll describe how to get into download mode with the battery out. If that fails, you could try a jig.
From there, just follow the guide until you're where you want to be.

[q]hard-brick from entering download-mode

hello all, i just bought a new i9300, already downloaded a bunch of roms, but didn't even had the chance to install any of them.
first of all i want to say this is my third i9300 i done things with(installed recovery kernels and others), also had 2 i9100 and lots of other android phones, so i'm much familiar with ROMs, Kernels, CWM and TWRP, etc.. and also reads carefully every time i do something new (while this one was already done by me to friends devices)
this time something really really strange happened and my new device is now completely dead
i came home, turned it on, everything fine.
installed new drivers, run toolkit v.7, recognized and everything is ok
after all the steps it was in download mode, but Odin didn't show anything.
tried another PC, restarting the device, nothing. odin won't recognize it.
then i tried entering download mode with the key combination, Home button + Power Button + Volume Down.
entered download mode just fine, but still, no odin.
i tried 3 times, first with the cable disconnected, second with the cable connected, and third with the cable disconnected.
on third time something just so weird happen, it entered a different stage, something i don't know, and didn't find anything about it while googling.
all i remember is 4 rows written in red and green
when i turned off the device, it refuse to wake. nothing. no download mode no recovery no indicator for battery charging. just plain nothing
reminding you this is brand new device which was never even massed with odin. just some stage i never seen in my life.
can someone tell what was that stage i was on? why it massed my device in an instant? how in the world i managed to enter a boot-stage i can't find any information about
also to state, the i read about the sdcard mode (need the device opened and to short something) and it's defiantly not this stage.
hope someone can help
thank you very much
return for warranty claim if it has never been messed with is the sensible thing to do
slaphead20 said:
return for warranty claim if it has never been messed with is the sensible thing to do
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Click to collapse
thanks for replay, but the thing is i bought this device from regular shop not samsung distributor in my country
so i don't know if i can even call them
and the shop i bought from don't want any part with it (saying its my fault)
Looks like SDS
The vendor is responsible for warranty repairs not Samsung .
Samsung offer the user an extra limited warranty .
jje
Give it for warranty saying that the phone hanged up then died and you can't even turn it on. Not a word about download mode or anything, act like you know nothing about flashing
As much as i want, the seller refused to take it
so im in bad shape, new device just going to trash
I hope someone can provide information for how a button combination can destroy my device completly.
now im afraid to buy a new one
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
What country are you in?
You could take it to Samsung service centre if you have one nearby.
Noambugo11 said:
As much as i want, the seller refused to take it
so im in bad shape, new device just going to trash
I hope someone can provide information for how a button combination can destroy my device completly.
now im afraid to buy a new one
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
This is one of the risks we all run when we mod our devices. just going into download mode should not have done this to your device. Look in your device manager and see if it is even being seen by the pc. Could be the SDS that alot of people have seen
zelendel said:
This is one of the risks we all run when we mod our devices. just going into download mode should not have done this to your device. Look in your device manager and see if it is even being seen by the pc. Could be the SDS that alot of people have seen
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Click to collapse
Hey, if it was the SDS, then i would been triggered anyway from anywhere,
this situation is far more complex, as i said, by the same button combination it entered a different boot stage and not the normal download mode (nor recovery mod), iv'e been searching the hole web just to find a clew to what the hell is this stage, and why it massed my device so badly.
i'm from israel, and i don't think we have samsung service center, just a representer or something.
if i can i will defently send it to samsung all over the world, i just need a phone number or something to contact with them,
do any think samsung will take this device? if so where can i contact them?
Noambugo11 said:
Hey, if it was the SDS, then i would been triggered anyway from anywhere,
this situation is far more complex, as i said, by the same button combination it entered a different boot stage and not the normal download mode (nor recovery mod), iv'e been searching the hole web just to find a clew to what the hell is this stage, and why it massed my device so badly.
i'm from israel, and i don't think we have samsung service center, just a representer or something.
if i can i will defently send it so samsung all over the world, i just need a phone number or something to contact with them,
do any think samsung will take this device? if so where can i contact them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This reminds me of a case we saw just the other day here in the threads. The DL screen was not the normal download screen and it turned out to be a clone device. Think this may have been the case?
zelendel said:
This reminds me of a case we saw just the other day here in the threads. The DL screen was not the normal download screen and it turned out to be a clone device. Think this may have been the case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks a lot for your kind answers, when you say clone device you mean not a real i9300? cause if so them i 100% sure it's a real one and not a fake.
i was able to enter download mode while in the toolkit (enebling USB debugging first), but odin didn't show the device at all, then i tried the button combination; Power button + Home Button + Vol Down.
first it entered fine, still odn didn't catch it, second time also into the right download mode
third time, different stage, 3 rows written in red 1 row in green (much like sd-mode, but i'm quite sure it wasn't it, and even if is, how the world i managed to enter it by button combination only?)
i can't remember what was written, i think the word emmc been there, but can't be sure
this thing drive me crazy, i've done it 3 times with other i9300, i did it for i9100, i did 3 galaxy ace, also i9000, did some htc phone,replace many screen for phones and massed with this kinda of stuff a lot, in the PC world, iphones, everything. i can't consider myself noob or even close to it, i never rush into things before reading carefully.
and the matter that no-one know even what i'm talking about making me really think i wan't really responsible for it, but got a bad luck with a faulty device or something. and now i'm stuck with it cause nothing is connected between me and samsung (unless someone here some kind of idea)
Noambugo11 said:
thanks a lot for your kind answers, when you say clone device you mean not a real i9300? cause if so them i 100% sure it's a real one and not a fake.
i was able to enter download mode while in the toolkit (enebling USB debugging first), but odin didn't show the device at all, then i tried the button combination; Power button + Home Button + Vol Down.
first it entered fine, still odn didn't catch it, second time also into the right download mode
third time, different stage, 3 rows written in red 1 row in green (much like sd-mode, but i'm quite sure it wasn't it, and even if is, how the world i managed to enter it by button combination only?)
i can't remember what was written, i think the word emmc been there, but can't be sure
this thing drive me crazy, i've done it 3 times with other i9300, i did it for i9100, i did 3 galaxy ace, also i9000, did some htc phone,replace many screen for phones and massed with this kinda of stuff a lot, in the PC world, iphones, everything. i can't consider myself noob or even close to it, i never rush into things before reading carefully.
and the matter that no-one know even what i'm talking about making me really think i wan't really responsible for it, but got a bad luck with a faulty device or something. and now i'm stuck with it cause nothing is connected between me and samsung (unless someone here some kind of idea)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never seen this screen myself. The fact that you were able to get it to the screen the first few times is really odd. Sounds like one of the partitions got fried. I would send it back to samsung. This may end up costing you to have it repaired as well as shipping to the closest repair center, Here is the site that may help
http://www.samsung.com/il/#latest-home

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