Database Users

restore from ROM manager bricked my phone

I did a search and couldn't find much help.
I recently dropped my phone and the screen got a slight crack, so the insurance company sent me a new one.
I figured I'd use ROM manager to backup my old phone, and restore it on my new phone.
New phone restores, reboots, and gets stuck at the black Vibrant screen.
I can get back into recovery mode fine, but nothing seems to work.
I let it sit at the Vibrant screen for about an hour before I try again.
Its attempt 3 when I decided to come on this site for some help.
Specs:
Stock
Rooted
Launcher pro
Nothing too much to be confusing and brick, so wtf?
Oh and I understand I could use odin to reflash my phone, please please please don't suggest odin, because I don't own a PC, I own a mac. Please don't tell me to go out and buy a PC or to download a program that costs $50 to use PC programs on a mac. I could have told myself that kind of information.
HELP, my brand new phone is destroyed wahhhh

From the sound of it you still have your old phone. If so, rather than restore using nandroid, try downloading a copy of titanium backup to backup/restore your apps. I have found that sms restore does a good job restoring texts. For me those two apps get the job done restoring my info. Also, if you haven't, sync your contacts to google and they will auto sync upon load. Of course this all assumes you still have your old phone in working order. ..
Also, there are stock roms flashable via clockwork that basically do the same as odin. Check the ' bible' sticky for links.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

a400meter said:
From the sound of it you still have your old phone. If so, rather than restore using nandroid, try downloading a copy of titanium backup to backup/restore your apps. I have found that sms restore does a good job restoring texts. For me those two apps get the job done restoring my info. Also, if you haven't, sync your contacts to google and they will auto sync upon load. Of course this all assumes you still have your old phone in working order. ..
Also, there are stock roms flashable via clockwork that basically do the same as odin. Check the ' bible' sticky for links.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have my old phone in working order, but that doesn't help the fact that my new phone is stuck on bootup, and can only enter recovery mode...

yelowbottlecaps said:
I still have my old phone in working order, but that doesn't help the fact that my new phone is stuck on bootup, and can only enter recovery mode...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way I can think of that a nandroid restore would soft brick you, is because you have restored a version of android with a different kernel.
If the original phone had the original firmware (JFD), and the replacement had the most recent (JI6), this is what would be expected to happen.
Since you seem unable and unwilling to use Odin, your going to have to tell us more details (i.e. which versions of the firmware as related above were actually in play) before we can begin to help. If you don't know, well....
You can also simply take it back to a local T-Mobile store and do another swap, or you can find a friend with a Windows PC and Odin (or Samsung's Mini KIES with JI6). These are your only real options...

both phones had JI6
Thank you for the quick responses.
I'm not unwilling to use odin, but unless anyone knows of a free software to use PC programs on a mac, I'm SOL.

so, you got the new phone, rooted, got rom manager and then got clockwork recovery right?
You did a nandroid backup right (on the new phone), before flashing anything right?
Why not just download Fusion and flash that to get the phone up and running?

yelowbottlecaps said:
both phones had JI6
Thank you for the quick responses.
I'm not unwilling to use odin, but unless anyone knows of a free software to use PC programs on a mac, I'm SOL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well hmm....so much for guessing on my part. Crossing different build kernels is one sure fire way to brick...
Well, there is a solution for Mac and Linux for reloading firmware on a Samsung phone from Download Mode, an open project called Heimdall. It does everything Odin does, but without a GUI, so it depends on how comfortable you are with commandline/shell.
I'll pass you the relevant links so you can see for yourself what's going on.
[PROGRAM] Heimdall - Cross-Platform Open-Source Flashing Software (1.0.0 Available)
Heimdall's Website, with downloads...
XDA Dev Thread with JI6 Odin .tar file....
Best of luck!

s15274n said:
so, you got the new phone, rooted, got rom manager and then got clockwork recovery right?
You did a nandroid backup right (on the new phone), before flashing anything right?
Why not just download Fusion and flash that to get the phone up and running?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True that...Why didn't I think of that obvious ploy. If he can get into Recovery, and bounce over to clockwork...Well now's a good a time as any to try Bionix or Bionix Fusion...or a few other of the CW Recovery installable builds...Definitely easier than Heimdall or working out Odin on a mac....and definitely preferable to staring at a Vibrant logo...
{{facepalm}}

masterotaku said:
Well hmm....so much for guessing on my part. Crossing different build kernels is one sure fire way to brick...
Well, there is a solution for Mac and Linux for reloading firmware on a Samsung phone from Download Mode, an open project called Heimdall. It does everything Odin does, but without a GUI, so it depends on how comfortable you are with commandline/shell.
I'll pass you the relevant links so you can see for yourself what's going on.
Best of luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If there was a step by step walkthrough, I have no problem trying this out.
But I downloaded it and have no idea what I'm doing. Therefore, still SOL

^ are you? You didn't answer my questions.

I'm gonna guess and say you also dl'd the oclf from the market to root too... so now you can't get back into CwR... right?
If you can get adb to recognize your phone then your not SOL. Im not sure what the exact command lines would be but you could delete the update.zip and replace it with another ROM. GL

I just tried using Odin on my roommates PC. An error happened and now the phone is showing a picture of a phone, a couple dots, an exclamation mark, a couple dots, and a computer.
Nothing I can do is taking it out of this screen. Unplugged from computer, took out battery, took out sd card, put it back in... nothing
Am I bricked for good now?
This is a terrible day.

edit: i managed to be able to get the phone into download mode.

No you are not completely bricked! Honestly that is almost impossible on this phone. The only way you'll lose this phone is if YOU give up.
Just keep trying and take a few deep breathes. Take a break actually. Just redo the process from step one.
Edit: you're half way there. Just flash Eugene's froyo that doesn't brixk, reboot, flash JFD or JI6, reboot... then you'll be right back to out of the box status.

All~G1 said:
I'm gonna guess and say you also dl'd the oclf from the market to root too... so now you can't get back into CwR... right?
If you can get adb to recognize your phone then your not SOL. Im not sure what the exact command lines would be but you could delete the update.zip and replace it with another ROM. GL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If someone can back this up with some instructions that would be amazing.

All~G1 said:
No you are not completely bricked! Honestly that is almost impossible on this phone. The only way you'll lose this phone is if YOU give up.
Just keep trying and take a few deep breathes. Take a break actually. Just redo the process from step one.
Edit: you're half way there. Just flash Eugene's froyo that doesn't brixk, reboot, flash JFD or JI6, reboot... then you'll be right back to out of the box status.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the motivation!

yelowbottlecaps said:
Thank you for the motivation!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries, we've all been there. It took me 6 hours lol. Best part is after you go through this once it will only take you 5-10 mins the next time. The hard part is just getting everything setup in the mist of anger, frustration, fear & panic.

All~G1 said:
No worries, we've all been there. It took me 6 hours lol. Best part is after you go through this once it will only take you 5-10 mins the next time. The hard part is just getting everything setup in the mist of anger, frustration, fear & panic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and in the midst of a roommate that needs his pc back.
I still need a fix that would work for macs... if not, I'd have to wait for my roommate to let me bum his pc again

Do my posts not show up or something? wtf.

s15274n said:
Do my posts not show up or something? wtf.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/me pats s15274n on the back....don't get mad...get even! =P
Honestly, sounds like yelow's focusing on getting all the help s/he needs from All~G1. I wouldn't worry about it.
~SB

I'm Screwed!

I have to return my Vibrant to T-Mo and need to unroot. But I don't think I'm really rooted in the first place. I downloaded the RyanZas lagfix app. I clicked on root phone. I went into recovery and reinstalled packages. My phone says it's rooted, but there is no update.zip file anywhere. I can't even find a "download" file in Astro. I have the Superuser icon in my apps, but can't delete that either. I just want to get this phone to where I can send it back to T-Mo without voiding my warranty. Also in the lagfix app, it says I am rooted. I don't even have the option to root, only to unroot. When I try that, it just reboots my phone, but never "unroots".
Another thing...when I look at my free space, I have 1754 mb out of 1917 mb available. If I was rooted, would I have less space available?
I'm sure it's VERY obvious that I'm a newbie to all this, so if you have any ideas for me, please talk to me like I'm a 1st grader ;-)

Well if you unroot.. the superuser icon will disappear

hospo said:
I have to return my Vibrant to T-Mo and need to unroot. But I don't think I'm really rooted in the first place. I downloaded the RyanZas lagfix app. I clicked on root phone. I went into recovery and reinstalled packages. My phone says it's rooted, but there is no update.zip file anywhere. I can't even find a "download" file in Astro. I have the Superuser icon in my apps, but can't delete that either. I just want to get this phone to where I can send it back to T-Mo without voiding my warranty. Also in the lagfix app, it says I am rooted. I don't even have the option to root, only to unroot. When I try that, it just reboots my phone, but never "unroots".
Another thing...when I look at my free space, I have 1754 mb out of 1917 mb available. If I was rooted, would I have less space available?
I'm sure it's VERY obvious that I'm a newbie to all this, so if you have any ideas for me, please talk to me like I'm a 1st grader ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if it bothers you that much why dont you use odin and go back to stock jfd?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=734475
Seems a bit extreme but that will do it for you, its easy also

Well, like I said, I'm totally new to this and that thread is like trying to read Chinese for me. It doesn't bother me to be rooted. I just need to unroot because I have to send it in to T-Mo for my warranty replacement.
I never flashed any ROMs. I only rooted and applied the lag fix. But now the update.zip file is gone and my phone still says it's rooted.
When I go into the terminal on the phone and try to remove Superuser.apk it tells me it can't because it's a read-only file.
Again, I don't mind that these things are there, I just don't want to have to pay for my phone...again.

hospo said:
Well, like I said, I'm totally new to this and that thread is like trying to read Chinese for me. It doesn't bother me to be rooted. I just need to unroot because I have to send it in to T-Mo for my warranty replacement.
I never flashed any ROMs. I only rooted and applied the lag fix. But now the update.zip file is gone and my phone still says it's rooted.
When I go into the terminal on the phone and try to remove Superuser.apk it tells me it can't because it's a read-only file.
Again, I don't mind that these things are there, I just don't want to have to pay for my phone...again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sent in a phone with bionix final on it rooted and they didn't charge me for it I was having problems with other people not being able to hear me but once I sent it in and got my new one I was not charged any additional fees I'm not even sure they really check the phone they probably just reprogram everything back to stock hell they might not even be looking at the screen you never know, but this is my third vibrant and ive had something on all of the ones I've sent back never heard anything about it you could always try to claim it was refurbished and there was something wrong with it already best of luck anyway
Times never wasted when your getting waisted

seriously, using odin is really very simple, i used odin 1.7 ( no it dont have a virus before anyone says it) only a couple of nights ago after flashing one of eugenes kernels, long story short i was stuck at the boot animation, hadnt backed up like a noob and was stuck, i followed that thread and the hardest part for me was download mode on the phone and thats really simple, seriously if you need it back to total stock have a go at odin

I'd love to have a go at odin, except seriously, when I say I have no idea what I'm doing...I REALLY mean it! Someone has given me all the steps to use odin, but quite frankly, I still don't know where to start. Do I download part on my computer, then move it onto the phone? Where do I put it on the phone? How do I get in download mode? See...NO CLUE. I really shouldn't have ever rooted for the mere fact that I have no idea what I'm doing, lol.
I think I may just go back to factory reset (again) and roll the dice hoping they don't charge me.

hospo said:
Well, like I said, I'm totally new to this and that thread is like trying to read Chinese for me. It doesn't bother me to be rooted. I just need to unroot because I have to send it in to T-Mo for my warranty replacement.
I never flashed any ROMs. I only rooted and applied the lag fix. But now the update.zip file is gone and my phone still says it's rooted.
When I go into the terminal on the phone and try to remove Superuser.apk it tells me it can't because it's a read-only file.
Again, I don't mind that these things are there, I just don't want to have to pay for my phone...again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't you root it again and then unroot it...
The thread that has the Odin instructions is only 6 steps...well 5 steps since the last says "wait for it to complete". It's not as daunting as it seems...
I'd love to have a go at odin, except seriously, when I say I have no idea what I'm doing...I REALLY mean it! Someone has given me all the steps to use odin, but quite frankly, I still don't know where to start. Do I download part on my computer, then move it onto the phone? Where do I put it on the phone? How do I get in download mode? See...NO CLUE. I really shouldn't have ever rooted for the mere fact that I have no idea what I'm doing, lol.
I think I may just go back to factory reset (again) and roll the dice hoping they don't charge me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You download Odin to your computer with the .pit & the .tar file then run it from there. There's a video tutorial in the Vibrant Bible sticky in the Dev forum.
~SB

You don't understand because you aren't TRYING to understand. Odin is as simple as a few mouse clicks. Seriously.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

video how to odin...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=810130
video how to download mode
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqxearzXrVY

okay, I sucked it up, got over my fear, got everything downloaded. Phone was in download mode, then went black. Now all I can get on it is a picture of a cell phone, then an exclamation point, then a pic of a computer.
I really am trying to understand. I did get the files needed and the phone in download mode. Opened odin, put the files in while my phone was in download mode and plugged in. Then the above happened.

OMG!!!!!! I think it is finally working!!!! Thank you for your help!!!
Even after all this, I'm sure I won't stop tinkering, lol.
Who knows, maybe I won't have to trade in my phone after doing this? I was really worried about getting the refurb. I'm supposed to get it today, but I'm going to mess around with mine to see if it truly is back to its old beautiful self!
Thanks again everyone!!

That is SUPPOSED to happen. Now click "Start."
Edit: I see you got it now. Congrats.

hospo said:
OMG!!!!!! I think it is finally working!!!! Thank you for your help!!!
Even after all this, I'm sure I won't stop tinkering, lol.
Who knows, maybe I won't have to trade in my phone after doing this? I was really worried about getting the refurb. I'm supposed to get it today, but I'm going to mess around with mine to see if it truly is back to its old beautiful self!
Thanks again everyone!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it worried me using odin at first, but when you actually use it, its really very simple, now im hooked on flashing roms lol and using odin to go back when i stuff something up lol

kangxi said:
You don't understand because you aren't TRYING to understand. Odin is as simple as a few mouse clicks. Seriously.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah exactly, i was a totally new to odin and thought it was some hard thing to use, it was so simple, i couldnt believe it, get your pantys out of a wad and actually look it up

[Q] Installed rom now phone is broke

Today I installed my first rom, it was called dl09_supah_clean_04. That worked ok but I could not receive text messages. I thought maybe I'd try another rom. So I downloaded one called hamsters rom. Once I booted the phone up with that rom I got a bunch of errors. So I restarted and now get nothing but the samsung logo flashing. I go into recovery mode, click on update.zip to load clockwork recovery and get a message saying:
e:can't mount /dev/block/vold/179:9
(no such file or directory)
e:can't mount sdcard:update.zip
Installation aborted
I'm just wondering if I am screwed here. I'm about to plug the sdcard into my computer and copy update.zip again in hopes of getting clockwork recovery to work.... just wondering if anyone has any ideas in case this doesn't work.

You need to put it on the phones internal sd card plus sometimes you need to put text message setting yourself like message centres number .
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Is this a troll?
mdisaac said:
Today I installed my first rom, it was called dl09_supah_clean_04. That worked ok but I could not receive text messages.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's because you have to install a DL09 kernel and modem as well.
I thought maybe I'd try another rom. So I downloaded one called hamsters rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How clueless are you?
That's a i9000 ROM. Or Captivate port.
Every single flashing thread warns
DO NOT FLASH ANYTHING NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE VERIZON FASCINATE
You flashed a GSM ROM onto a CDMA phone. That's just asking for a brick.
Now download this (and since you can't figure obvious things out, flash it into *PDA* of Odin, NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT "phone"), and pray it works.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
My phone is back and working on the stock rom. I am definitely clueless when it comes to this but I am not giving up. I am going to get the dl09_supah_clean_04 rom working. I'll be more careful this time though.
Thanks again!
s44 said:
Is this a troll?
That's because you have to install a DL09 kernel and modem as well.
How clueless are you?
That's a i9000 ROM. Or Captivate port.
Every single flashing thread warns
DO NOT FLASH ANYTHING NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE VERIZON FASCINATE
You flashed a GSM ROM onto a CDMA phone. That's just asking for a brick.
Now download this (and since you can't figure obvious things out, flash it into *PDA* of Odin, NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT "phone"), and pray it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

not trying to be a d!ck but, you really need to stop before you do brick your phone. read, read, and read some more. its clear you dont understand what your doing and are going to end up screwing up even worse. read EVERYTHING dealing with ONLY the VZN fascinate. if it says anything other that VZN fascinate DO NOT READ IT. your in to big of a hurry and will brick your phone. hell, i have been hacking phones for years and am still not comfortable with android yet. i have rooted but not installed a rom because i dont want to mess it up. hell, i havent even done the new update from VZN. im waiting for more reports to come in. just take your time and read, then worry about flashing to another rom.

If you mess your phone up just use odin and the official stock DL09.md5 to return the phone to normal. Easy.

mdisaac said:
Today I installed my first rom, it was called dl09_supah_clean_04. That worked ok but I could not receive text messages. I thought maybe I'd try another rom. So I downloaded one called hamsters rom. Once I booted the phone up with that rom I got a bunch of errors. So I restarted and now get nothing but the samsung logo flashing. I go into recovery mode, click on update.zip to load clockwork recovery and get a message saying:
e:can't mount /dev/block/vold/179:9
(no such file or directory)
e:can't mount sdcard:update.zip
Installation aborted
I'm just wondering if I am screwed here. I'm about to plug the sdcard into my computer and copy update.zip again in hopes of getting clockwork recovery to work.... just wondering if anyone has any ideas in case this doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You also need to odin the DL09 modem. or SMS and other things WILL be broken.

1.4hitachi said:
If you mess your phone up just use odin and the official stock DL09.md5 to return the phone to normal. Easy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When people take Odin for granted, they end up with bricks.

Odin can be your friend...as long as you use PDA and not Phone...which is counter intuitive

adrynalyne said:
When people take Odin for granted, they end up with bricks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shouldn't you say, 'when people use Odin incorrectly"? I mean, as long as he follows the instructions and un-does and kernel changes beforehand the device will be returned back to stock. Also with the official DL09.md5 package it has inside all necessary operating parts. It sounds to me like all he did was attempt a rom flash twice. Odin with the "offical" DL09.md5 will return his Fascinate to stock.

Thanks everybody! I got back to stock and let phone receive the ota update of DL09. Figured that would take care of the kernel and modem and I could install dl09_supah_clean_04. Worked like a champ. I think I learned a lot in this process as well... time will tell.

Most ridiculous issue ever - please advise.

Okay so - recently my I9000m went into a boot loop (during normal use - though I did have voodoo installed) and I can not access recovery mode. I could however access download mode.
I attempted to install stock firmware from samfirmware - no luck.
I attempted to install stock firmware from the forums - no luck.
I attempted to install EZBase - no luck.
I even attempted to use Virniks 'stock everything' tutorial - no luck.
After all these attempt and various other attempts involving 3 button fixes I was still having boot-loops.
So I got desperate - and I installed the Odin One Click for captivate - I know...bad idea but like I said.. I was desperate.
Now my i9000m (bell canada) starts up with the AT&T Logo and then boot loops!
The worst part is I can't even access download mode anymore! I understand that this is probably due to the fact that the buttons are remapped - keeping that in mind I tried as many key combos as I could but still get nothing but the AT&T Logo looping over and over.
So to the point.. does anyone have a surefire way to get to captivate download mode on a I9000M?
I've read about the JIG solution but I'll use that as a last resort as I would have to order the pieces (I'm not much of a solderer).
So are there any non-JIG solutions to get back to download mode/restore my phone?
All input is appreciated and I'd like to thank everyone that has tried to help me these last couple of days!

Sounds like your internal SD card is dead.
I was having similar issues where the phone would just bootloop. I re-flashed 4-5 different stock roms which all did the same thing. One of the stock roms allowed me into recovery mode, which yielded no success only a no sd card message.
I have gone ahead and sent my phone out to Bell for repair.

Viper717 said:
Sounds like your internal SD card is dead.
I was having similar issues where the phone would just bootloop. I re-flashed 4-5 different stock roms which all did the same thing. One of the stock roms allowed me into recovery mode, which yielded no success only a no sd card message.
I have gone ahead and sent my phone out to Bell for repair.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking of doing the same (bringing it to bell) though I'm not sure they'll honor the warranty with it booting up with the AT&T logo, hah :<

Yeah i dont think they would service that, i was fortunate enough to get back a stock i9000m rom so it still boot up with that.
You can try contacting samsung directly to see if they will be able to repair for you, or try the jig and re-flash to stock bell rom

Viper717 said:
Yeah i dont think they would service that, i was fortunate enough to get back a stock i9000m rom so it still boot up with that.
You can try contacting samsung directly to see if they will be able to repair for you, or try the jig and re-flash to stock bell rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Called samsung last night - they said I have to bring it to bell first.
Worst case scenario I'll pay sammy to fix it =/
Update: Just got off the phone with Bell, described my problem, said that I messed with the software real hard and they said that as long as I didn't remove any warranty stickers I'll still be able to get it fixed by samsung foh freeee.

Viper717 said:
Sounds like your internal SD card is dead.
I was having similar issues where the phone would just bootloop. I re-flashed 4-5 different stock roms which all did the same thing. One of the stock roms allowed me into recovery mode, which yielded no success only a no sd card message.
I have gone ahead and sent my phone out to Bell for repair.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have urgued him to flash any SGS firmware with recovery image, but he didn't listen.
And yes, I think that his internal storage bus is dead.
If so, he should write down IMEI of his phone, and send email to the Samsung Korea with the info, that his internal SD card is dead. They will send him brand new phone.
But in the case he would rather use warranty service of his provider, he will need to:
a) try reboot with adb, and fastest as he can, try to issue "reboot download" command with it
OR
b) make JIG, and reboot to download mode, and reflash stock ROM
Asking Samsung Korea for new phone with IMEI sent to them do not require any of above...
EDIT: I have missed your last reply. Good to know, that Bell will fix it for you. But I do not think that they will be able to fix it. They will more likely give you new phone.

Virnik0 said:
I have urgued him to flash any SGS firmware with recovery image, but he didn't listen.
And yes, I think that his internal storage bus is dead.
If so, he should write down IMEI of his phone, and send email to the Samsung Korea with the info, that his internal SD card is dead. They will send him brand new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did listen - no matter how many times I tried to flash the sgs firmware w/ recovery image it would just keep booting and wouldn't enable the functionality.
As i detailed above I tried several recommended methods to re-enable the recovery mode and none of them worked.
Thanks for your help - hopefully Bell honors what they said on the phone.

Sozage said:
I did listen - no matter how many times I tried to flash the sgs firmware w/ recovery image it would just keep booting and wouldn't enable the functionality.
As i detailed above I tried several recommended methods to re-enable the recovery mode and none of them worked.
Thanks for your help - hopefully Bell honors what they said on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. Just do not panic :-D
You will get your phone back, more likely new one.
And on other hand, this result is not your fault. Some "first-line" SGS phone models has been faulty. You are not the first one with such problem.

Virnik0 said:
OK. Just do not panic :-D
You will get your phone back, more likely new one.
And on other hand, this result is not your fault. Some "first-line" SGS phone models has been faulty. You are not the first one with such problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They said they would send it to Samsung and give me a loaner until mine is back.
Not sure if they'll still honor it when I show up in person...but I'm hoping for the best.

So to give a final update:
After a couple commutes back and forth to the Bell store and a couple phone calls to Samsung it looks like I voided the warranty and I'm SOL on getting this phone repaired.
The (semi)bright side of the story is that I have an insurance policy with Bell and I'm getting a brand new SGS for $150.

Sozage said:
So to give a final update:
After a couple commutes back and forth to the Bell store and a couple phone calls to Samsung it looks like I voided the warranty and I'm SOL on getting this phone repaired.
The (semi)bright side of the story is that I have an insurance policy with Bell and I'm getting a brand new SGS for $150.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Little too much for a few hours of your time. If you'd reflashed stock ROM and ignored vibrant fw, as I've suggested, they would have no chance to find out what happened, and you've been given new phone for free. But you were in a hurry. Besides, your second, but in the circumstances of your haste not important misstake was, that you've told them what you have done.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App

Virnik0 said:
Little too much for a few hours of your time. If you'd reflashed stock ROM and ignored vibrant fw, as I've suggested, they would have no chance to find out what happened, and you've been given new phone for free. But you were in a hurry. Besides, your second, but in the circumstances of your haste not important misstake was, that you've told them what you have done.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what I thought...you gave them extremely obvious reasons to put you at fault when you could have easily gotten a free replacement out of this. Don't answer questions that aren't asked
My father's I9000M had a failed SD and I got it replaced for free. Ironically his had a single ROM flashed on it and mine has had over 100 and been 100% fine.

chambo622 said:
Exactly what I thought...you gave them extremely obvious reasons to put you at fault when you could have easily gotten a free replacement out of this. Don't answer questions that aren't asked
My father's I9000M had a failed SD and I got it replaced for free. Ironically his had a single ROM flashed on it and mine has had over 100 and been 100% fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Btw, it does not matter how many times you'll reflash, this sd bus failure is pretty common in some first series of GT-9000 and GT-9000M
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App

chambo622 said:
Exactly what I thought...you gave them extremely obvious reasons to put you at fault when you could have easily gotten a free replacement out of this. Don't answer questions that aren't asked
My father's I9000M had a failed SD and I got it replaced for free. Ironically his had a single ROM flashed on it and mine has had over 100 and been 100% fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My BELL phone started up with an AT&T logo... even if I didn't volunteer the information they would have figured it out and sent me the bill.
As soon as they determine it is off warranty Samsung charges $35 dollars just to evaluate the problem and then charges you to fix it.
Yes I should have just brought it back when it first messed up but I figured my warranty was already voided due to the voodoo installation that I could not reverse (due to the boot loops).
Lesson learned.. probably won't tweak my phone too much in the future...especially if (like my last phone) I can't get into recovery mode - though I'm hoping this is fixed in the new phone I get.

Sozage said:
My BELL phone started up with an AT&T logo... even if I didn't volunteer the information they would have figured it out and sent me the bill.
As soon as they determine it is off warranty Samsung charges $35 dollars just to evaluate the problem and then charges you to fix it.
Yes I should have just brought it back when it first messed up but I figured my warranty was already voided due to the voodoo installation that I could not reverse (due to the boot loops).
Lesson learned.. probably won't tweak my phone too much in the future...especially if (like my last phone) I can't get into recovery mode - though I'm hoping this is fixed in the new phone I get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$5 jig could have saved you $150
But at least you're having your phone repaired...

Kops said:
$5 jig could have saved you $150
But at least you're having your phone repaired...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not repaired! New phone! Maybe even one without a faulty SD card!

Sozage said:
My BELL phone started up with an AT&T logo... even if I didn't volunteer the information they would have figured it out and sent me the bill.
As soon as they determine it is off warranty Samsung charges $35 dollars just to evaluate the problem and then charges you to fix it.
Yes I should have just brought it back when it first messed up but I figured my warranty was already voided due to the voodoo installation that I could not reverse (due to the boot loops).
Lesson learned.. probably won't tweak my phone too much in the future...especially if (like my last phone) I can't get into recovery mode - though I'm hoping this is fixed in the new phone I get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The lesson you should've learn is to READ before you attempt anything.
I've flashed about anything to this phone and it's pretty hard to really brick the thing... Flashing the rom from a captivate is realy not in the line of "tweaking" rather than no-sens what so ever...

t1mman said:
The lesson you should've learn is to READ before you attempt anything.
I've flashed about anything to this phone and it's pretty hard to really brick the thing... Flashing the rom from a captivate is realy not in the line of "tweaking" rather than no-sens what so ever...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, it should be enought to use common sense, and think a little before any further action. I have tried almost anything, starting with dualboot to xubuntu linux, or editing apk's, modding and themming apps (not always successful), erasing all data partitions, created new ones, installed (or at least tried) to install gentoo linux with simple routing capability, and so on. And I'm still here.
Truth is, that some first lines of SGS were affected with faulty sd bus. But there is no need for paying warranty service, and no need to be few days without my phone. If common sense is used, then User would not:
1) install captivate firmware
2) flash anything before cwm is working
if both above fails, he'll reboot to the download mode, flashed canadian or any other fw containing Sbl.bin, alias recovery.
After that, he would flash standard stock firmware which is used by his operator. As a last thing, he would wipe sdcard from recovery.
Phone will look, behave and WILL BE same as he'd bought it.
So they will look on it, and will see standard, untouched phone, which is unknowingly rebooting itself.
Voila! They'll have no other chance then give you brand new phone right on the spot.
So for the next time, keep your mouth shut at least, when you deal with operator ;-)
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App

t1mman said:
The lesson you should've learn is to READ before you attempt anything.
I've flashed about anything to this phone and it's pretty hard to really brick the thing... Flashing the rom from a captivate is realy not in the line of "tweaking" rather than no-sens what so ever...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish people would read the entire thread before posting more bs like this.
Trying to put the captivate software on my phone via Odin One Click was the 10th or so thing I tried to do to restore my phone. Nothing would work - recovery mode did not work on my phone nor was I able to restore it.
Flashing the captivate software was an attempt to get recovery working (a desperate attempt) and had nothing to do with my comment about tweaking.
diaf.

I know there is nothing you can do but out is bs that you' voided' warranty. they make you pay $150 for THEIR hardware failure.

Failed to flash GApps, soft brick, nightmare.. A novel with a solution.

This started as a beg for help thread, but since the GS4 is coming up on 3 generations old, help is quite slow, yet does still exist as of this edit (3-20-15).
None the less, I will try to explain what happened so that people searching for similar problems might find this thread and resolve their issues.
I soft bricked the phone flashing PacMan. ... The instructions CLEARLY stated that you need to flash the rom, then flash GApps. Well, I forgot to Flash Gapps because I was so excited that I had a successful root and new rom to test that I finger ganged the phone.... The phone booted just fine and worked just fine, but I did not have ANY google apps, and went into a panic... LESSON #1 DO NOT PANIC......
What I failed to realize is that Android Lolipop (at least PacMan's version) requires the user to select options in the developer section of the settings menu to enable you to boot into your custom recovery after you have flashed your custom rom.... I DID NOT KNOW THIS and the information was NOT readily available. So what happened was I panicked and tried to flash another recovery which was apparently NOT the correct recovery for my phone.. (the cascade of errors began here). My phone was soft bricked and NOTHING I did would get me out of it.
So, after at least 50 attempts using Odin to try and flash a good recovery, re-root the phone, whatever I could think of, I finally got out of soft brick, and back to a working phone, yet still no google apps, and no recovery (or so I thought).
By this time, I had asked ....no. begged for help on 2 or 3 different threads to no avail when what I thought was a brain storm came to me.... I googled and located the google play store apk, and google play services apk and thought that if I could just get these 2 things installed, I would be able to log onto the google play store and download the apps I need and all would be right with the world....... Yeah.... Remember the cascade of errors thing I mentioned a few lines up ^^^ ?
Once I installed those 2 apk's and rebooted the phone, I was in nag screen hell with no way out, no custom recovery (remember...or so I thought) and no way to access ANYTHING on the phone because literally the second I hit "ok" on the nag screen, it would immediately pop back up...This "nag screen" was the one that pops up and tells you that "google play services has stopped working".. I came inches away from launching the phone against the wall and buying another one... something... anything but a Samsung GS4.
So here we are, 14 hours (of actual face in the phone, Odin, XDA, Google, YouTube) frantically searching for ANY solution.....and NOTHING presented itself, when I decided to take a step back and walk away from it for a couple of hours.......
The next thing I tried was pounding my way through the nag screen... Literally hitting the "ok" toggle to clear the screen, while instantly trying to hit any other button on the screen to get me into the settings menu, because during my little self imposed time out, I had an epiphany.... of sorts..... What really happened is that I remembered seeing a "factory reset" toggle in the settings menus somewhere.....and I was determined to find it........ SO....... 13,386,329 clicks of the "ok" button later, I managed to engage the factory reset switch at the exact right moment, followed by another 4,388 presses of the "ok" button to get to the "confirm" button.......... and like a beacon from heaven...... My phone rebooted, and factory reset, and the #%g^7**&^|@# nag screen was GONE !!!!! Oh my GOD it was GONE !!!!!!! After recovering from my full blown conniption, catching my breath and feeling like a raver must feel after a good night of Molly and glow stick euphoria, I had a working phone again..... almost.
What I did next was go immediately to Odin, re-root the phone, install a DIFFERENT rom, and the latest version of TWRP and like another beacon from the gods I had a wonderfully functional phone with all of the google apps I needed.... and all was good with the world........Pretty much....
I am nearly certain that I cost myself 5 years of healthy living with the stress I imposed upon myself throughout this ordeal ---- The following are lessons learned. Hopefully they save you from madness...
(1) Do NOT use a USB hub to connect your phone to the computer. The phone MUST be connected directly to a USB port on your machine.
(2) Understand the workings of the rom you are going to flash BEFORE you flash it.
(3) DO NOT PANIC
(4) DO NOT randomly install apk's just because you think you are smarter than a 5th grader, and you are so mad your phone doesn't work, you are going to try anything regardless of how retarded it might be.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST and actually probably the MOST IMPORTANT thing to do is locate, download and CONFIRM GOOD a stock firmware for YOUR phone BEFORE YOU ROOT or flash a new rom..... If you get to brick he11 like I did, you will spend more time searching for the tools to get back to zero than you can imagine. You will be revved up, angry with the world, and your google fu will fail you......miserably I might add......
Get all of your ducks in a row BEFORE you root, and before you flash a new rom. That means finding the stock firmware and opening it up in Odin with your phone connected to CONFIRM you have a good firmware to go back to should you fail miserably.... Your very sanity could depend on it...

Team Scream said:
Does anyone have and is willing to share a stock Galaxy S4 rom so I can go back to stock on my phone? I am currently soft bricked and completely dead in the water...
I need to be able to flash the rom using Odin since that is the ONLY way I can communicate with this phone right now....I can flash whatever recovery I want using Odin, but I cannot boot into that recovery once successfully flashed with Odin. It boot loops and goes back to the completely useless PacMan 5.02 rom I flashed previously that repeatedly shows the "google play services has stopped working" screen.... and no number of attempts to clear it by hitting ok will get me to a working desktop
I bricked my phone by flashing PacMan and forgetting to flash GAPPS before rebooting, then trying to install google play services apk and google play store apk manually because I could not get back into recovery for whatever reason....
I have spent the ENTIRE day searching for a stock rom that I can flash with Odin so I can at least get back to zero with this S4 which is actually a brand new phone for me....
PLEASE do not link me to mediafire or rapidgator downloads because I have tried every one of those that google will reveal.. I need one that YOU know is good, and will work. NONE.... NOT ONE of the files I have been able to find online are legitimate .tar files... They ALL unzip with errors and I have tried them on multiple computers.....Multiple download attempts and NOTHING... I have literally been at this for 10 hours now and really need some love.
On a side note, if I can pull the stock rom from my wifes brand new S4 without screwing up her phone, PLEASE tell me how to do that. She literally picked up her brand new replacement S4 today...
Any help is genuinely appreciated... PLEASE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung Galaxy S4 (SPH-L720)/Stock ROMs

KennyG123 said:
http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung Galaxy S4 (SPH-L720)/Stock ROMs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man thank you! THANK YOU! I really appreciate it... I woke this morning to find this reply after leaving my computer running all night for another corrupted downloaded image file.... I have my fingers crossed !!! THANK YOU
P.S. how do I know which one of those files I actually need? I have no idea what the difference is in each of those folders.... Forgive me for noob but I really am pretty noob at this.....

I just looked at the link to help you and noticed that Wilco stops at the NAE baseband. A lot of phones are on the NG2 baseband and if you have a 720T, it could be even a different baseband. Go to settings, "About Phone". Look for" "Baseband" and "Model Number". Write that information down. Once you have that, the last three characters are what is in the list in the link KennyG123 sent you. (For example, I have the original S4 so I have a SPH-L720 and my baseband is L720VPUFNG2 (or NG2 for short. Which was not on that list.) If it is not on the list, go to www.sammobile.com and search for your model number (For example, I am on the SPH-L720. If you just bought your phone from Sprint, you probably have the SPH-L720 or SPH-L720T). You can download the tar file from there. It is a little slow but it will get it done for you. The tar file for both phones are here in this forum if you want to search but going to Sammobile would probably be a little easier from the sounds of it.

dyandell said:
I just looked at the link to help you and noticed that Wilco stops at the NAE baseband. <snip>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey brother, thank you so much for the help and reply. I might have forgot to mention that I cannot get into the phone to read the model # or get any information from it at all. The nag screen telling me that google play services has stopped working is so persistent that I can't do anything with the phone once it boots.
Is there a way to brute force wipe the phone so that the only thing left when that process is done is a custom recovery like TWRP or Philz or anything other than stock?
If so, would you be so kind as to point me in the direction of a tutorial that would help me get through that process.... I am either not using the right search terms or I am just too old to be good at this and should have stayed home when the rooting lessons were being handed out...
Anyway, I genuinely appreciate your help... Thank you so much !!

Ok I was able to pound my way through the nag screen to the settings menu and eventually got to the baseband and model #
baseband: L720TVPUBOA3
model #: SPH-L720
I have tried 3 times to download the only version I can find on the sammobile.com website using the baseband to search and the file fails to download after getting about 2/3 complete.... I have tried it on 2 separate computers from 2 different locations now...... This is horrifying ...... Every single force that can be working against me, is working against me.
Ugh...... If you have a link to a method I can use to force wipe the phone without a stock rom, but with a recovery I can boot into to flash a rom I have on my external SD card, I would love to see it...... im losing my mind here...
<<<<<<<< EDIT>>>>>>>>>
I was also able to pound my way into the settings menu and do a factory reset which removed the google play nag. From there I was able to root around in the developer options folder where I discovered that in order to be able to boot into recovery, you need to select the "boot options" tab and allow the device to boot into recovery....
I know this device is old now and most people have moved on, and I am pleased that there are some people who stick around here to keep this device alive. I only wish that someone would have advised me to check the boot options selection when I indicated I could not boot into recovery... That would have saved me 2 days of manic obsessive he11....... This was complete he11...... But I am on the other side of it now, and have reflashed another rom... I am back among the living.

Team Scream said:
Ok I was able to pound my way through the nag screen to the settings menu and eventually got to the baseband and model #
baseband: L720TVPUBOA3
model #: SPH-L720
I have tried 3 times to download the only version I can find on the sammobile.com website using the baseband to search and the file fails to download after getting about 2/3 complete.... I have tried it on 2 separate computers from 2 different locations now...... This is horrifying ...... Every single force that can be working against me, is working against me.
Ugh...... If you have a link to a method I can use to force wipe the phone without a stock rom, but with a recovery I can boot into to flash a rom I have on my external SD card, I would love to see it...... im losing my mind here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint phones have always been able to downgrade and thinking that has not changed. You should be able to Odin the last one listed on the link I gave you...NAE...then your phone should boot...you can then take the Sprint OTA if you like then root and recovery as normal. Then you can get to the stuff on your SD and flash. The only issues I remember popping up these days is if you mismatch the modem and OS...which wouldn't be the case if you Odin'd NAE.

Team Scream said:
Ok I was able to pound my way through the nag screen to the settings menu and eventually got to the baseband and model #
baseband: L720TVPUBOA3
model #: SPH-L720
I have tried 3 times to download the only version I can find on the sammobile.com website using the baseband to search and the file fails to download after getting about 2/3 complete.... I have tried it on 2 separate computers from 2 different locations now...... This is horrifying ...... Every single force that can be working against me, is working against me.
Ugh...... If you have a link to a method I can use to force wipe the phone without a stock rom, but with a recovery I can boot into to flash a rom I have on my external SD card, I would love to see it...... im losing my mind here...
<<<<<<<< EDIT>>>>>>>>>
I was also able to pound my way into the settings menu and do a factory reset which removed the google play nag. From there I was able to root around in the developer options folder where I discovered that in order to be able to boot into recovery, you need to select the "boot options" tab and allow the device to boot into recovery....
I know this device is old now and most people have moved on, and I am pleased that there are some people who stick around here to keep this device alive. I only wish that someone would have advised me to check the boot options selection when I indicated I could not boot into recovery... That would have saved me 2 days of manic obsessive he11....... This was complete he11...... But I am on the other side of it now, and have reflashed another rom... I am back among the living.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you got it fixed! I have had my phone for over a year now and never heard of a boot options tab. I guess you learn something new every day.

Also glad you got it fixed. But let's keep this open in case someone else has the same or similar issue.

KennyG123 said:
Sprint phones have always been able to downgrade and thinking that has not changed. You should be able to Odin the last one listed on the link I gave you...NAE...then your phone should boot...you can then take the Sprint OTA if you like then root and recovery as normal. Then you can get to the stuff on your SD and flash. The only issues I remember popping up these days is if you mismatch the modem and OS...which wouldn't be the case if you Odin'd NAE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well not being able to leave well enough alone, I locked my phone up again.
Because I was able to get out of soft brick without needing a stock firmware, I never bothered downloading NAE from the link you provided.
Turns out after 2 separate downloads (one using Chrome and one using Firefox) I have determined that the md5.tar files on that site http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung%20Galaxy%20S4%20%28SPH-L720%29/Stock%20ROMs are worthless.... BOTH downloads failed in Odin before I could even get out of the gate....
They failed the md5 check that Odin performs and would not allow me to continue.... IS there something I am missing?

Team Scream said:
Well not being able to leave well enough alone, I locked my phone up again.
Because I was able to get out of soft brick without needing a stock firmware, I never bothered downloading NAE from the link you provided.
Turns out after 2 separate downloads (one using Chrome and one using Firefox) I have determined that the md5.tar files on that site http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung%20Galaxy%20S4%20%28SPH-L720%29/Stock%20ROMs are worthless.... BOTH downloads failed in Odin before I could even get out of the gate....
They failed the md5 check that Odin performs and would not allow me to continue.... IS there something I am missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remove the .md5 extension at the end and try again.

KennyG123 said:
Remove the .md5 extension at the end and try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet baby Jeezes please tell me that is not all I had to do.... I spent 4 hours staring at the screen downloading files last night .... I waited 4 hours and finally could not stay awake any more but I finally got the OA3 firmware from SamMobile downloaded successfully. I left the .md5 extension and it is now flashing via Odin as I type this.... I could have saved myself a few more hours of misery if I had known you can remove the .md5 extension..... This learning curve is hard on an old man like me hahaha!
Thanks Kenny
<edit> Ahhhhh.... the sweet smell of success !!! I am now booted back into a stock phone!!!
Man I hope this thread can help save someone else from the anguish I have put myself through with this thing....

Team Scream said:
Sweet baby Jeezes please tell me that is not all I had to do.... I spent 4 hours staring at the screen downloading files last night .... I waited 4 hours and finally could not stay awake any more but I finally got the OA3 firmware from SamMobile downloaded successfully. I left the .md5 extension and it is now flashing via Odin as I type this.... I could have saved myself a few more hours of misery if I had known you can remove the .md5 extension..... This learning curve is hard on an old man like me hahaha!
Thanks Kenny
<edit> Ahhhhh.... the sweet smell of success !!! I am now booted back into a stock phone!!!
Man I hope this thread can help save someone else from the anguish I have put myself through with this thing....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure it will! Glad you got it working and glad I helped! Some versions of Odin don't care about the md5 extension and others barf it up. With the way your luck went....well...don't buy a lottery ticket this week...hahaha.