Database Users

HELP !! Can't Hard Reset K-Jam

I have searched the forum for several hours, but I could not find a solution to the issue I am having. When I do a hard reset, hit send to begin the format, I get an error saying FORMAT Failed, so it boots back up as if it was just a soft reset. I really need a hard reset, but I am not sure how to make this happen. I have reloaded the ROM several times, but it still does not take and comes up just like a soft reset. I went into bootloader and flashed it that way, but still no go. If anyone could help me find a way to rectify this issue, I would GREATLY appreciate it.
Here are the steps I take
Hold the comm mgr button and the record button at the same time, while hitting reset button, then I get the screen that says
Press Send to restore
factory default,
Other keys to quit
I then hit the Send button, then it says
FORMAT FAT partition
then really fats, it flashes "Format is failed"
I have no idea what to do next, as I can not get my factory default settings back.
Please help. I would appreciate it GREATLY.

try using a different ROM or a more recent rom. if you can sucessfully upgrade the ROM then it should be able to hard reset.

I have downgraded and updated to different roms, but I still have the same problem. Appreciate the advice. thanks

Interesting post.
I got my mini s on Thursday and after initionaly starting the device, i done a soft reset before the o2 crap was installed (to avoid the o2 extended rom loading), but was then curious as to how my xda mini s would perform with the o2 crap installed, but i cannot hard reset my device. I have followed all the hard reset instructions but it doesnt even give me the option of pressing the send button, all that happens is a soft reset.
It would be handy to know how to overcome this problem for future reference, in case i need to hard reset.
BTW i am happy with device without the o2 crap installed.

did you try going into settings and clearing storage?
i never heard of hard resetting not working before myself

Good point, so I just cleared storage, and BAM, it came up as a hard reset, so I am factory installed. Thanks for the idea, I can not believe I did not think of that. Appreciate your help. Just weird how the hard reset would not do it, thats pretty strange.

glad it worked
if anything, i thought the settings method would have less likely worked compared to the hardware method

ArgyleMoss said:
Interesting post.
I got my mini s on Thursday and after initionaly starting the device, i done a soft reset before the o2 crap was installed (to avoid the o2 extended rom loading), but was then curious as to how my xda mini s would perform with the o2 crap installed, but i cannot hard reset my device. I have followed all the hard reset instructions but it doesnt even give me the option of pressing the send button, all that happens is a soft reset.
It would be handy to know how to overcome this problem for future reference, in case i need to hard reset.
BTW i am happy with device without the o2 crap installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here - I got mine last week, and the damned shop had obviously demo'd it to someone before they gave it to me (gave being the operative word as I got it on a free upgrade).
Was a bit narked to find loads of contacts in (obviously a SIM copy) and tried to hard-reset using the 2 buttons & reset and it only ever worked once after much pfaffing - is there a knack in the presses/time etc?

Factory Data Reset versus Factory Format

I would like someone to explain in detail the difference between "factory data reset" and "factory format"
You can do a factory data reset via the phone itself, or by using this code
*#*#7780#*#*
I've done this before, but it seems like a soft reset, I want something more hard. Something to totally swipe the phone clean, and reinstall everything fresh.
So I found this "factory format" code *2767*3855#
This totally wipes the phone, and reinstalls the firmware.
My question is, will using this second option reinstall stuff like avatar, and stock programs, or does it totally wipe everything off.
can someone explain the benefits and downfalls of the two.

yea you can go to settings/privacy/Factory data reset dirrecty from the phone if you want to hard reset/Wipe your Vibrant.

DaveNavy said:
yea you can go to settings/privacy/Factory data reset dirrecty from the phone if you want to hard reset/Wipe your Vibrant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that didn't answer the question, I already said the first code is the same as doing the instructions you gave.
I was inquiring on a factory format, which is different.

Have you tried it(through the # command)? Or is that just what it says it does? Unless it downloads the firmware, theres no place that its stored on the phone, so I doubt it reflashes the firmware over again. I initially though maybe it would reformat and setup the /system partition, but it would need an img stored somewhere to flash it, and I doubt it does.
What it probably is, is just Androids naming vs Samsungs naming, and wouldn't reinstall any bloatware that was removed.

SamsungGalaxySVibrant said:
I would like someone to explain in detail the difference between "factory data reset" and "factory format"
You can do a factory data reset via the phone itself, or by using this code
*#*#7780#*#*
I've done this before, but it seems like a soft reset, I want something more hard. Something to totally swipe the phone clean, and reinstall everything fresh.
So I found this "factory format" code *2767*3855#
This totally wipes the phone, and reinstalls the firmware.
My question is, will using this second option reinstall stuff like avatar, and stock programs, or does it totally wipe everything off.
can someone explain the benefits and downfalls of the two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did that last week, but booting the phone to recovery mode:
1. Turn off your phone.
2. Hold down the volume up and down buttons while turning the Vibrant on, which will bring you to the recovery mode.
3. Choose "delete all user data"
Once the phone boot up, you should have factory stock phone.

drhonk said:
I did that last week, but booting the phone to recovery mode:
1. Turn off your phone.
2. Hold down the volume up and down buttons while turning the Vibrant on, which will bring you to the recovery mode.
3. Choose "delete all user data"
Once the phone boot up, you should have factory stock phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I don't think people understand my question though.
What you are describing is the same as doing a data reset via through the phones settings, or using the first code I provided.
However, a "Factory format" is different. I'm trying to figure out what a factory format using the second code does.
again i'm asking about data factory reset vs factory format.

I believe what your after would involve one of 2 methods and no neither is a factory format or reset.
To completely reset the phone to stock all parts including radio and os files you need to use odin a pit file and a rom image.
If your ONLY needing to restore apps to factory/stock you can use the posted nandroid backups to restore.
Both methods are well documented but if you need help drop me a line or a pm.

SamsungGalaxySVibrant said:
Thank you. I don't think people understand my question though.
What you are describing is the same as doing a data reset via through the phones settings, or using the first code I provided.
However, a "Factory format" is different. I'm trying to figure out what a factory format using the second code does.
again i'm asking about data factory reset vs factory format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you tell people that they are wrong, without knowing yourself. Chances are that the factory format does exactly the same thing as they described. Why don't you try it and if it does something different let us know.

I think there is a difference between the two, can factory format reinstall firmware?

Well i tried the factory format, and it did start out differently than the facory data reset did, and it seemed to be faster, but in the end my phone looks exactly as it did with a factory data reset, so i dont know what its doing differently

fred8785 said:
Well i tried the factory format, and it did start out differently than the facory data reset did, and it seemed to be faster, but in the end my phone looks exactly as it did with a factory data reset, so i dont know what its doing differently
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh really? you did the factory format? interesting, your phone is fine?

Yeah my phone is fine, everything works... i mean as well as you can expect, still having same issues as before but it wipes everything including the sd card so you might want to backup any nandroid or titanium backups to your computer because it will erase everything from the phone and the sd card, and put it back to how you got the phone.

fred8785 said:
Yeah my phone is fine, everything works... i mean as well as you can expect, still having same issues as before but it wipes everything including the sd card so you might want to backup any nandroid or titanium backups to your computer because it will erase everything from the phone and the sd card, and put it back to how you got the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it appears this Factory Format is a TRUE hard reset, compared to the soft data reset. I have a question, does it erase avatar? Does it put avatar back on? What about all the other "stock" programs... does it put them back on?
thank you

Wanna try factory format, I'm scared.

Avatar is stored on the 2GB SD card. Simply remove the card before doing a factory format and you're safe.

Anyone tried the factory format?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Just did a factory format and it deletes everything on the internal phone memory except the stock bloatware programs. It didn't touch my SD card as Avatar is still there. Seems to be a true hard reset.

I did the format and my 3G was gone. Everything else worked and it seemed the same as the factory reset. No problems with Avatar,etc. Any files I had previously altered did not revert back to factory. I could not figure out the 3G issue, though. All of my settings seemed correct but I had no data connection (no 3G, Edge, ...) Wifi worked luckily and I was able to do a nandroid restore.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Thanks for this thread, good information to have.
I'm new to android, coming from BB. I've had my phone for a month now and have rooted, gps fixed, flashed vibrant 4, tried the lag fix, flashed gps fix, flashed back to stock, un-rooted, rooted again, flashed stock.... un-rooted....
In the end I wondered if I was getting in over my head here (I was) and maybe I needed to just enjoy my phone for what it is and stop worrying about all of this experimental stuff. I'm no developer.
So I just flashed back to stock using the nandroid backup linked on this forum, un-rooted and did a soft reset.
I noticed it doesn;t truly wipe the phone though, so now, any time I get any type of glitch I constantly worry that maybe there's some sort of residual settings hanging around... my GPS flakes out and hangs, or shows my location as "accurate within 2 meters" yet map location shows me over 3 blocks away? I start worrying, is this residual effects from flashing the gps fix?
I really don't know, and I was wondering if there was a way to truly hard reset, wipe everything and go back to exactly the way the phone was when I took it out of the box so I can stop worrying that I've jacked my phone up.
It looks like this is the way and I may give it a go once I hear more success stories (worried about the poster above missing data connections).
I'm content to wait for an OTA update, or something really solid like CM6, till then stock with launcher pro is more than enough customization for me.
OK, thanks again to the OP and all subsequent posters, sorry for the long response, taking a break from some work here.
peace,
smutek

andryga said:
I did the format and my 3G was gone. Everything else worked and it seemed the same as the factory reset. No problems with Avatar,etc. Any files I had previously altered did not revert back to factory. I could not figure out the 3G issue, though. All of my settings seemed correct but I had no data connection (no 3G, Edge, ...) Wifi worked luckily and I was able to do a nandroid restore.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm my 3G came back and the phone looks EXACTLY like it did when I took it out of the box. Surprisingly, it's still rooted, at least it still has the app. Will update as I progress.
EDIT: No problems at all. Got Voodoo running just fine after my fiasco with OCLF. Market stored all the apps I downloaded so it's just a matter of time now. XD

ROM problem after powering off?

I have flashed Super Clean to my Fascinate and set everything up how I want it. Then used Titanium Backup to save it. However when I power the phone off and back on it goes back to the way things were set up before... is that normal/ I assumed it would stay the way I set it until I flashed another rom?

I have seen that on my phone and have seen lots of people in the forums having the same issues. I have done so much work on my phone the passed couple of days I couldn't tell you exactly what fixed mine, but here is what I believe did it.
Settings > Privacy > Factory Reset
After restart go into clockwork recovery mode. Wipe cache partition and wipe data/factory reset.
Start up phone. Setup one thing. Wireless, email, whatever as a test. Power down. Start up. Did it save? If so then add a few more things and power down again. If its still saving you are golden.
Nothing pisses me off more then setting everything up and finding out that it still is not saving settings.

When WiFi is turned off I get 'Unfortunately System UI has stopped'

This is on two standard Galaxy S5's, with standard ROM, etc - not rooted, or anything else.
Every time I turn off WiFi, or enable Mobile Hotspot, I get 'Unfortunately System UI has stopped'.
To fix I have to Power off/on the phone.
(Turning on WiFi is no problem, just turning it off.)
I have gone into 'Safe Mode', and same issue, so it looks to not be a bad App.
I have also uninstalled 'Google' updates, and again no change...
Any thoughts?

All of a sudden my S5 showed the exact same error message for no aparent reason... I didn't do anything, and now I can't use my phone at all because of that bug. It happens on every boot so I can't even unlock my phone. Tried reinstalling everything, ROM, recovery, kernel, with/without root = still same, what just happened here??
EDIT: Same thing if I'm in Safe Mode -_-

Seeing noone knows a solution here's what I did yesterday.
1. Backed up all my stuff from internal storage to the sd card
2. Did factory reset in TWRP recovery
3. Flashed completely stock official firmware from Samsung
4. Waited for it to boot up and try to restore some of my settings (it restored all folders on their places, made same amount of home screens as I had before the reinstall and downloaded all of my previously installed apps from the Play Store, ofcourse without the cracked ones, and it also restored most apps' data as well so it's not as bad as you may think to factory reset and reinstall everything)
5. Started rooting, flashing TWRP again, installing Dolby Audio, Xposed and everything I had before, took me one full day to set it up as it was before.
Now when I set it up I always make a nandroid backup from when things are working fine, in case it goes crazy for no reason again... Good luck!

when the wifi radio is acting weird, a dirty flash of your current ROM susually fixes is as its probably a radio issue. Id do that before doing anything drastic like the boot-n-nuke Odin flash and starting from scratch (which will fix that issue)

I don't think I have a ROM issue, as I have two S5's, and both have the same issue... and both are standard ROMs.
I will do a factory re-set on one at some point, but this looks to be a 'simpler' issue.
I have tried a full Cache delete, as well as other 'clean' processes.
Nothing works.

I tried to re-flash my stock ROM as @youdoofus said but still had that annoying popup. Try everything you can think of, if all else fails, reset.

koragg97 said:
I tried to re-flash my stock ROM as @youdoofus said but still had that annoying popup. Try everything you can think of, if all else fails, reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, you can wipe cache, and dalvik 3x each (not kidding about the 3x each), then dirty flash the rom, pray to the gods of android, reboot. If failure occurs, its Odin Nuke time unless you want to try to flash an individual radio file by itself (not recommended)

Freezing and rebooting

Classic "my phone keeps freezing and rebooting". I am quite in the know about flashing roms and such.
It started on the stock firmware 6.1.1 (i think it was). I dd factory resets, cache wipes the lot. It would still randomly reboot.
So i flashed Telstra version of 7.0. Still froze every now and then. Did the same things as above.
Flashed TWRP and wiped everything, flashed Renovate Rom and the bootloader for it, Still did it. Numerus factory resets and wipes of everything. It would freeze at any point from startup, to having setup the phone and making phone calls or on facebook or whatever. It would even freeze in twrp, or loading twrp.
I found that the data partition was corrupt so i re partitioned to ext4. Still nothing. I reformatted every partition so the phone was a complete brick with nothing on it and after flashing clean again it would still do it.
Whats the issue that I'm missing, or is there a way to log so i can find where it keeps getting stuck? It gets hot and blue light flashes and i have to hard reset it or sometimes i have to let the battery drain so i can turn it back on again.
pls help?

Hmm i will give you an advice so you dont have to wait for your battery to drain...just press volume down and power button for like 5 secs and phone will force boot. Anyway back to your problem...did you tried flashing latest stock samsung firmware?

raz_il_dio said:
Hmm i will give you an advice so you dont have to wait for your battery to drain...just press volume down and power button for like 5 secs and phone will force boot. Anyway back to your problem...did you tried flashing latest stock samsung firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This advice doesn't work with my phone even with holding the buttons for 30 secs and more. For rebooting I can only wait until the battery is completely drained. With little hope for another way shortening time to the next reboot any help is appreciated.

Same here...experiencing the same prob...

Same problem.
Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk

smallcapsicum said:
Classic "my phone keeps freezing and rebooting". I am quite in the know about flashing roms and such.
It started on the stock firmware 6.1.1 (i think it was). I dd factory resets, cache wipes the lot. It would still randomly reboot.
So i flashed Telstra version of 7.0. Still froze every now and then. Did the same things as above.
Flashed TWRP and wiped everything, flashed Renovate Rom and the bootloader for it, Still did it. Numerus factory resets and wipes of everything. It would freeze at any point from startup, to having setup the phone and making phone calls or on facebook or whatever. It would even freeze in twrp, or loading twrp.
I found that the data partition was corrupt so i re partitioned to ext4. Still nothing. I reformatted every partition so the phone was a complete brick with nothing on it and after flashing clean again it would still do it.
Whats the issue that I'm missing, or is there a way to log so i can find where it keeps getting stuck? It gets hot and blue light flashes and i have to hard reset it or sometimes i have to let the battery drain so i can turn it back on again.
pls help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you need your motherboard replaced i had the same issues on marshmallow thought the nougat update would fix it but realized it was a hardware fault not software..left it in store to get fixed and on repair sheet it said faulty motherboard..
Sent from my SM-G935F using XDA-Developers Legacy app

As i know some S7 have motherboard hardware problem, mine has too, what help? warranty and they replaced motherboard. But if you root, you can say good bye to warranty, they look at knox first with this problem.