Database Users

Enter U.S. T-Mobile Vibrant Recovery Mode Guaranteed

THIS GUIDE WORKED ON USA T-MOBILE SAMSUNG VIBRANT BUT MAY VERY WELL WORK ON ALL SAMSUNG GALAXYS PHONES
After reading many XDA-Developers Forum Posts to try and figure out how to get into the Recovery Mode / Download Mode without any success, I gave T-Mobile Support a call.
After the usual noop run-down, "did you take the battery out" questions, I simply asked them how to get the Samsung Vibrant into recovery mode.
Unline the many tutorials that claim to require the Up or Down button pressed, along with the Home button then the Power, the true process is as follows:
1. Press the Up and the Down button at the same time (yes both). I too thought that button was a Toggle which only did either Up or Down, but found that in fact it does do both.
2. At the same time, press the power button.
3. As soon as the Samsung / Vibrant logo comes up on the screen, release the power button.
4. Release the Up and Down buttons.
5. PRESTO

Download Mode from Recovery Mode: Allows File Push through ADB
UPDATE
Once in Recovery Mode, to swith to what I believe is Download Mode, due to the fact that it now allows me to push files to the phone:
Click on the MENU Button from Recovery Mode.

You do relies the people with this download mode problem have hardware locked phones, rite?
Therefore they cant access recovery because the volume buttons dont work

I had a hardware locked vibrant and got to recovery the exaxt same way he described. Ill attest its true. Don't know about download mode though. Sounds interesting.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

galonet said:
1. Press the Up and the Down button at the same time (yes both). I too thought that button was a Toggle which only did either Up or Down, but found that in fact it does do both.
2. At the same time, press the power button.
3. As soon as the Samsung / Vibrant logo comes up on the screen, release the power button.
4. Release the Up and Down buttons.
5. PRESTO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't get it to work. How long do you wait before releasing both volume buttons (step 4)?

You do realize that "hardware locked" means the volume buttons don't work ... right? Otherwise what do you think it means?

tgrantjr said:
I had a hardware locked vibrant and got to recovery the exaxt same way he described. Ill attest its true. Don't know about download mode though. Sounds interesting.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then it wasn't a hardware locked Vibrant...

How do you know if your phone is hardware locked? Is the only impact that you can't get into recovery mode?

This technique has been around for a while and it simply does not work for hardware locked phones. There is no known way to get the HL phones into recovery from a power off.

ive tried this method many times on the 2 vibrants ive had over the past 2 weeks. hasnt worked. although i can get into download mode just fine.

Never mind wrong mode I was trying to describe

He used to think people don't know they should press both volume keys...

I dont think there is such a thing as "hardware locked" vibrants. I know people think they do have one but why would some be locked and others unlocked? It doesnt make any sense, the vibrant has only been out since July.

quest4fire said:
I dont think there is such a thing as "hardware locked" vibrants. I know people think they do have one but why would some be locked and others unlocked? It doesnt make any sense, the vibrant has only been out since July.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I can get into download and recovery on my phone easy. Now a fried just bought on and the same methods I use to get into those modes do not work period... so yes, some are locked... :d

quest4fire said:
I dont think there is such a thing as "hardware locked" vibrants. I know people think they do have one but why would some be locked and others unlocked? It doesnt make any sense, the vibrant has only been out since July.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whether they are defective or locked the fact of the matter is yea there is such thing, people are not imagining it.
Take me for example My first vibrant was fine...my jackass friend knocked it out of my hand and chipped very tiny piece of the fake chrome bezel. I only had for week so I returned and said it had issues.
I made sure I could access recovery with new phone before exchanging. They only had 2 left both with Sept date. Powered it up and no go, tried couple more time and still nothing...it was locked, we didn't even try 2nd one.
He ended up calling a friend at T-Mobile store in mall and had him look and see if he had any with the same date as the one i was returning "August ".
He had one and he had him test before i drove down....he did and he was able to access recovery, went down to mall and sure enough it was fine, able to get into recover first shot....so yes there is such think as "hardware locked" vibrants
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I have flashed a vibrant with a i9000S software but the radio did not work quite well. Since the two have different keys, now i cant get it to boot mode. i was able to get into recovery mode via ADB but all i can do is use vol to go up or down and not select an option. the device wont even get out of recovery mode.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Yes, some phones are locked. I had to get my Vibrant replaced, and was bitten by a different bug.
I went to my mom's and my niece locked my phone out by entering the wrong pattern incorrectly while it was charging (brand new phone, had to charge it... I typically don't use a pattern lock but since my first one was stolen....).
Now, the phone does not allow you to get into it using your Google Credentials.
Called T-Mobile and the woman said I'd have to send it in for a replacement because it's a "software glitch."
I asked her to try to factory reset it. She said her "researchers told her not to try it because it can brick the phone." We tried anyways.
Hold down both volume keys and power until the Vibrant logo comes up, then release.
Doesn't work. Hung up on her and went to a T-Mobile store. They tried for over 2 hours to factory reset this phone, and spend half the time on the phone with Tech Support to do it. You cannot access recovery mode on this phone. The other Vibrant here, that we checked, also cannot go into recovery mode. It boots straight up into the phone.
So:
1. Lots of Vibrants are unable to get into Recovery Mode/Download Mode
2. There is a bug in Android that will soft brick your phone if you or anyone enters the wrong pattern lock too many times - you will NOT be able to get back into your phone with your Google Credentials - at all. The phone will be useless.
Even though your phone can download emails from Google, and your sending them to yourself using the same login/password, you will not be able to authenticate your phone and unlock it.
Two pretty catastrophic faults, IMO.
When this next phone comes in (it will be brand new, like my first/second one - they're on backorder) - I'm immediately selling it, ETFing my account, and going to go phoneless (can use Google VOIP from a laptop/desktop over WiFi/Internet) and wait for a decent Win7 phone.
I doubt they will have such issues.
BTW, the Android bug I mentioned (not being able to unlock) has existed for 2+ years (since version 1.5 or before) and despite many people bricking their devices (and some devices being unable to hardware reset - like many Vibrants), Google has turned a blind eye to it, and keeps either closing the tickets or setting the priority to "medium" (Bluetooth functionality is critical, however - if you get my point).

For a long time i was under the impression that my phone was HW locked. i was on my last legs before sending out my phone for repair (im past the exchange date) so i called my carrier (Bell Mobility in Canada). They informed me i could do a restore through recovery mode -> to which i informed them that i could not enter after i had tried for 3 days previously. So the rep that i was speaking with advised me to do the following;
Turn phone off
Hold Vol+ & Menu & Power
Once screen displays Samsung release Power while still holding Menu & Vol+
Viola -> RECOVERY MODE
So, this got me thinking because if this got me into recovery mode -> download mode should be similar
Turn phone off
Hold Vol+ & Vol- & Menu & Power
Once screen displays Samsung release Power while still holding Menu & Vol+ & Vol-
Viola -> DOWNLOAD MODE
So, i thought my vibrant was hardware locked when infact it was simply just the wrong key combination to get into each respective mode. Not sure if i just wasnt reading some of the posts correctly or what but thats what worked for me.

That doesn't work on T-Mobile Vibrants.
The phone simply shows the Vibrant screen, then goes black and goes back to the Vibrant screen...
Over and over again. It can do it until the battery runs out. It will never get to the Galaxy S Screen as long as you have that Power Button down.
The only reason yours worked is cause your phone is not defective like many of ours.
I think I'm going to make a YouTube video of me using my Google Credentials (from a computer) to send myself emails while the phone syncs them in the background, yet refuses to allow me to use these credentials to unlock my phone - as well as rebooting to the Vibrant screen over and over again when I try to get into Recovery to reset it.
Because some people on this forum really like to act like problems don't exist, and tend to think their ignorance or operator error invalidates other posters' posts.
Congratulations on not having a defective device, though!

Looked it up and its real
http://www.youtube.com/user/stevec5375

New method for Vibrant Recovery mode

Hey!
First I have to say Thank You for all the contributions you have made to the forums. My girlfriend and I both just bought Vibrants 2 weeks ago, and being the techy I am, have been reading all sorts of stuff in the forums. I actually have been visiting the XDA forums since last year when I got my MyTouch 3G. I haven't posted anything, because usually by the time I have a question, I come to the forums and find an answers then in the moments of happiness, fail to say thank you to the community.
So it's time to start contributing.
I've been reading about the numerous processes on how to get into the Recovery mode for the Vibrant, and the possibility of the Hardware Locked phones.
After exhausting all options, I decided to call Tmo and see if they could help. Well long story short I went back to the store, and they gave me a new procedure (at least one that I have not seen on the forums so far) to test out. And it works!!
I've been doing it over and over for the last hour and each time I've been able to get into recovery mode.
Here it is...
Start with the phone ON and NOT plugged into the computer OR wall for charging.
1. Power down the phone as usual. Wait until the "Goodbye" disappears and then wait a few more seconds. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING DURING THIS TIME.
2. Press and hold Vol+,Vol-, & Power.
3. Wait for the Vibrant logo to appear.
4. Wait for the Vibrant logo to disappear.
5. Wait for the Vibrant logo to appear again.
6. Release ONLY Vol+, & Power, and continue to hold Vol -.
RECOVERY MODE!!!
Most of the process I have seen tell you to hold down and keep holding both Vol+ and Vol-, but I could never get it to work.
Please let me know if this works for you.
And I also want to say that I"m sorry if I have posted this in the wrong spot, or this procedure is some where that I haven't read yet. But I finally found something that worked and wanted to share.
Good Luck!
Reg.

Didn't work for me. Lemme try again.
EDIT: Works! Awesome. I never heard of this way to enter recovery, but it's good. +1.
But I don't have a hardware locked Vibrant so maybe it's different for me.

I get in every time with every VIbrant i have used.
Power off phone
Power on holding power, vol up and vol down
When the Samsung logo appears let go of power and continue to hold vol up and vol down.
Works everytime for me..... *Shrugs*

acjames said:
I get in every time with every VIbrant i have used.
Power off phone
Power on holding power, vol up and vol down
When the Samsung logo appears let go of power and continue to hold vol up and vol down.
Works everytime for me..... *Shrugs*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Granted. But this procedure does not work for all vibrants.

I think OP is saying this method would work with hardware locked phones, where the normal recovery mode method doesn't work.
I'm trying this on my hardware locked phone right now. Third time's a charm?
*Edit* Nothing, 10 times unlucky.

Tested on Hardware Locked Vibrant, doesn't work.
The Vibrant screen disappearing and coming back is nothing but the phone powering on and off, because you are holding down the power key.
I had already tried this in the T-Mo store (the CSR walked usthrough it on the phone - we tried it about 50 times, mind you), and I just tried it again about 30 seconds ago.
I wish these threads would stop.
If you get locked out of your phone, brick it, whatever, and it's hardware locked.
Just get a damn replacement.
You're not going to get into recovery or download mode on it.
Seriously.
You won't.
I've been waiting for a replacement for like 5 days now, and I've been basically living on this forum. I've tried everything there is to try. Making new threads is not going to do anything but frustrate more people, because none of these magic methods will allow them to get into recovery/download via the hardware keys on a boot-up.
Edit: Exception is if you root and can disable the lockout via adb, of course. Most consumers who find this site via Google will already have this issue, and will likely not be rooted with USB debugging enabled. The phone makes it way too easy to disabled USB debugging that even if it came enabled by default, most people who charge with a laptop will see the notification and click it ignorantly (ignorant of the benefits it can provide in the event of a catastrophe like mine).

N8ter said:
Edit: Exception is if you root and can disable the lockout via adb, of course.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually saw someone in a reply mention something like this, but nothing ever came of it. They were looking for boot.bin and another file, which I can't remember at the moment.
Do you have any other info regarding a method to do this?
Reg

I think this is the latest fad for trolls. Post some crazy key combination that is supposed to work for hardware locked phones, claim it "WORKS 100%"! Bottom line, don't get your hopes up, it didn't work for me either.

nermie said:
I think this is the latest fad for trolls. Post some crazy key combination that is supposed to work for hardware locked phones, claim it "WORKS 100%"! Bottom line, don't get your hopes up, it didn't work for me either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I"m not trolling, just trying to help. If it only helps one person, I'll be satisfied.

rkwarner2 said:
I"m not trolling, just trying to help. If it only helps one person, I'll be satisfied.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it will only help you look like a troll, because the hardware locked phones domt evem attempt to read those key states on boot. The only way to fix it is with a firmware update.
there is no magic method to gettimg these phones in dlm/recovery.
so stop making threads about it.
to the person above: if u have usb debugging on u can use adb to disengage the lock, but in that case why even have a lock. the main issue is the android bug not allowimg legit owners to unlock their owm phones using their own google cred en tials.
if tjat didn't exist we wouldnt have to worry about these patt er n lockout threads.
a legit owner who gets the phone replaced would never sell the locked phone, unless they wanma pay t-mo or asurion an extra $300+ USD

rkwarner2 said:
1. Power down the phone as usual. Wait until the "Goodbye" disappears and then wait a few more seconds. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING DURING THIS TIME.
2. Press and hold Vol+,Vol-, & Power.
3. Wait for the Vibrant logo to appear.
4. Wait for the Vibrant logo to disappear.
5. Wait for the Vibrant logo to appear again.
6. Release ONLY Vol+, & Power, and continue to hold Vol -.
RECOVERY MODE!!!
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't work for me. I've tried everything.

I'm new you the Vibrant and not very techy at all, so what is the purpose of the recovery mode, other than the obvious term?
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

I wish these threads would stop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously you don't, or else you would not have clicked the clearly marked title hoping for something. I mean...really?
Making new threads is not going to do anything but frustrate more people, because none of these magic methods will allow them to get into recovery/download via the hardware keys on a boot-up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well why did you click on the post, read it, then try the stated method? Did you have any hope? Or, were you looking forward to being frustrated? Really man? Really?
Bottom line: I don't think the OP promised any "magic" fix or claimed it would certainly help all Vibrant users. I took it as he/she was hopeful to be able to contribute something to the community believing it might help. I wish the posts where people are complaining about other people's posts (hardware locks, Froyo, etc.) would stop. Stop clicking.

Did work for me
Did work for me Oddity in the system I guess
Thanks for the find

HELP! Trying to help a friend out.

So a friend called me today and said he is having problems with his Vibrant and wanted me to come take a look at it. He explained that he flashed a rom and now everytime he boots it up, it gets stuck in a force close loop hell. I got there and verified that's happening and said that I could just flash him back to stock. Well, come to find out he's also hardware locked! I tried to figure out a way to enter safe-mode (have used this on my Mytouch but it had actual buttons to make this work) but it was no-go since it's capacitive. On top of all this, he doesn't have debug mode enabled and I can't get to the settings due to the force close loop and no working launcher/home. I couldn't get any adb commands sent to the phone due to no debug mode, so that means I can't even adb reboot into recovery. I spent almost 2 hours on it before I had to give up. Does anyone have any suggestions that I may have overlooked or not thought of?
Greatly appreciated! XDA has some of the smartest damn people around!

Have you checked this out?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=804305

Duce HD2 said:
Have you checked this out?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=804305
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, in fact I had that very thread open on my netbook as I was working on his phone. There's one (of many) problem with this:
"turn on USB debugging in Settings-->Applications-->Development"
As I stated in my OP, he doesn't have debugging turned on already, and I'm unable to get to it in settings because at startup it's in a FC loop and I can't get to settings either by holding MENU or using the launcher.
Is there another way to get to phone settings besides those two methods? How about going into safe mode? I've done that before with my MT3G, but it has hard buttons that facilitate this with ease. With capacitive, not so much. Is it possible to enter safe mode on the SGS phones with capactivie screen?

I seriously doubt this has stumped the brains of XDA!

Email me lets see if I could help
[email protected]

What do you think caused the force close loops? Was your friend tinkering with his phone? Did he install a lagfix?Are you doubly sure he's hardware-locked?Did you try Download mode?
Lots of questions...I had this problem once. It was due to the fact that installed Ryanza's early lagfix and tried to remove it. My phone had a force close loop, BUT I had enough patience to wade through the loops and in the very short gaps at which they appeared, I managed to navigate the phone into settings (~an hour). The moral is: Try very hard to get into settings and don't lose your patience.

You can try booting into safemode, maybe that will help. Just turn it off and when it powers on the second you see the animation start press and hold the home button.

cthach11 said:
What do you think caused the force close loops? Was your friend tinkering with his phone? Did he install a lagfix?Are you doubly sure he's hardware-locked?Did you try Download mode?
Lots of questions...I had this problem once. It was due to the fact that installed Ryanza's early lagfix and tried to remove it. My phone had a force close loop, BUT I had enough patience to wade through the loops and in the very short gaps at which they appeared, I managed to navigate the phone into settings (~an hour). The moral is: Try very hard to get into settings and don't lose your patience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I gathered, he tried installing the FrankenTwiz rom and something went wrong. He couldn't fully explain exactly WHAT went wrong, and so I'm coming into this whole thing without a lot of answers to help troubleshoot it. I know he's HW locked because that was the first thing I tried (recovery mode) and it's not able to get into it. When I fist got my Vibrant it was HW locked and the behavior is the same. I exchanged mine the next day for a non-HW locked. I tried every method to get into recovery/download mode but unable to. I remembered "safe mode" from my MyTouch 3G, but it needed the hard button (menu) pressed on bootup. Being capacitive screen, it doesn't respond the same way so I couldn't even use safe mode. He doesn't have USB debugging enabled and I can't get to settings to enable it due to the FC loop. I sat there pressing CLOSE a million times to find that "break" in the process to try and get to settings with no luck. Hope that answered everything.

icandy75 said:
You can try booting into safemode, maybe that will help. Just turn it off and when it powers on the second you see the animation start press and hold the home button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That didn't work. I thought safe mode was MENU, not home? (btw- which animation? The tmo pink or the Galaxy S? Tried both an no result.)

Ok, figured out SAFE MODE!
Power up the phone and start pressing the capacitive buttons. As soon as they light up during boot up process, press and hold MENU & HOME all the way through until you see SAFE MODE appear in the bottom left of the screen. At that point you can release the buttons and you will now be in safe mode.
Now I just need to get in touch with my friend and meet up with him to try this. Hopefully it will break the FC loop from Hell and I can get into his settings to enable debugging mode.
**MODS - I didn't find how to get into safe mode anywhere in the Vibrant forums. Maybe it can be added to the Bible to help others? Thanks!**

That's new for me, mine goes holding the home key. Timing is of the essence though. I have to press and hold the second the S forms on boot.

icandy75 said:
That's new for me, mine goes holding the home key. Timing is of the essence though. I have to press and hold the second the S forms on boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried multiple times using your method and no dice. I get consistent results with my method (MENU + HOME), so not sure what to say...
Anyhow, it looks like he's screwed. Met up with him after work and even though I can get into safe mode, the TW Launcher is still going nuts, FC hell! Unable to get it to stop long enough to get to settings to enable debugging. He's going to put it on Ebay for parts. Dude had it for a week and is out $400. Feel so bad for him, but I guess it teaches him a lesson. If you don't know what you're getting into with flashing ROMs, better step back and either ask for help from someone with experience or just not attempt it at all. This was his first flash attempt and he crashed hard.

[Q] Can't start phone?

Hi All,
I need your quick help, I dont know why but I cannot start my Samsung focus v1.3.
I tried to flash it by pressing power button + volume down + camera button but can't do hard reset.
When I am trying to remove battery and reattach battery again, then phone just showing "SAMSUNG" screen and again goes switched off.
Even I tried to press power button + volume UP + camera button then it shows only "Download Mode" screen only nothing happens after this.
Please need your help!
Many thanks in advance,

Since you just flashed it, I assume that it started up by displaying 'SAMSUNG" and seems to be stuck there.
If that is the case, you need to be patient. It takes a few minutes to get past that point. Every time I flash, I feel like I have done something wrong and the phone is bricked. But it always moves past that point after a few minutes.

wildbilll said:
Since you just flashed it, I assume that it started up by displaying 'SAMSUNG" and seems to be stuck there.
If that is the case, you need to be patient. It takes a few minutes to get past that point. Every time I flash, I feel like I have done something wrong and the phone is bricked. But it always moves past that point after a few minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply,
But I haven't flashed my phone..
and from yesterday it is showing same 'SAMSUNG' name screen and then again goes switched off..
dont know what is going wrong.. or is it due to battery issue?
please help!

nah, it's the power button switch which somehow got stuck, it's a relatively common issue with the focus it seems
some people have reported that cleaning the button helps, others simply have replaced the whole switch at a local repair center... do what you think is best

Saiyaku said:
nah, it's the power button switch which somehow got stuck, it's a relatively common issue with the focus it seems
some people have reported that cleaning the button helps, others simply have replaced the whole switch at a local repair center... do what you think is best
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Saiyaku,
But how power button works when I press (Powerbutton + Volume UP + Camera button), screen shows me "Download Mode" nothing happens after that. Yesterday whole I tried these options..

help
To flash magldr, you need that combo , press power button + volume UP + camera button then it shows only "Download Mode". To flash a ROM, you go Vol DOWN, and then reset your phone, or format, and then go back to the same menu, and when you see the do you want to format your phone stuff, you hit the back button and you'll see the magldr screen where you'll connect your USB and go forward with the flashing process. Perhaps try flashing an actual ROM to your phone. You can't really do squat from from the download screen but add magldr really. Hope that helps you.
Please need your help!

DACHEF81 said:
To flash magldr, you need that combo , press power button + volume UP + camera button then it shows only "Download Mode". To flash a ROM, you go Vol DOWN, and then reset your phone, or format, and then go back to the same menu, and when you see the do you want to format your phone stuff, you hit the back button and you'll see the magldr screen where you'll connect your USB and go forward with the flashing process. Perhaps try flashing an actual ROM to your phone. You can't really do squat from from the download screen but add magldr really. Hope that helps you.
Please need your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your comment, but I haven't installed magldr.

[email protected] said:
But how power button works when I press (Powerbutton + Volume UP + Camera button), screen shows me "Download Mode" nothing happens after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because download mode disables the power switch (it even says "do not turn off"), that's why it seems to "work". power switch is active at the format prompt, however, so when you enter that mode the phone turns off immediately afterwards
do a little experiment: remove the battery, then put it on again while you're pressing volume down plus camera... you'll probably see a little surprise there
it's the switch. go repair that nao

i have the same problem, and many unfortunate people out there , but my phone on service center now, and i just wanna tell you about this thread this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2007946, maybe can make you calm for a while... look at his problem solution

no access to recovery mode and won't stay in download mode because its restarting

hey guys
my phone just turned off bye it self and get in bootleg. and i can't flash new rom or any thing else because it won't stay in download mode even with usb j. and i can't go in recovery mode at all. i just take the power button off but still I'm in boot loop, i can't stay in download mode even when using usb jig,after seconds it restarted again, when i pull battery in its turn on bye it self, but with combination key can go in download mode but up volume key won't work to continue to download mode and restart again, i checked the volume keys they're working fine. every thing just end with restart.
can u pls help me
i don't know what is the problem, is it hardware or software problem?!

Hardware. Likely a bad button on the motherboard.

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Hardware. Likely a bad button on the motherboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what are u meaning of bad button ?! i told that i took power button off but still its restarting. i want a way to some how can flash my phone!
i read all i can, but no solution!

It appears I actually left out a portion of my post. I apologize for restating the obvious, however, like it or not, you have a hardware failure. Whether it's a button or something else on the motherboard is irrelevant. You need to bring your phone to the service center and have it looked at.