[HOWTO] WORKAROUND for BELL i9000m Internal SD Card Failure!!!!! - Galaxy S I9000 General

Hello Everyone,
I like most people upgraded my Bell i9000m from Kies to Froyo, only to have it bricked with the "can't mount /dev/block/mmcblk0" error at the recovery screen during boot-up. I upgraded it last week, where it took the firmware from JL8 to I believe JK3 or JL8 (not sure at this point).
Unfortunately I bought my phone from some guy on Kijiji using it on Rogers, so I doubt Bell is going to handle the return or give me any love
Anyways, I spent many days long days trying to get it back working, and I found a work-around that requires using an external SD card. and going back to Android 2.1 ECLAIR
Steps (This is what I did):
1. Install JK3 stock ROM via Odin (with re-partition at the pit on samfirmware.com, didn't update boot loader)
2. Install K13c speedmod kernel via Odin
3. Insert 16GB External SD card
3. Boot phone to Froyo
4. Reboot to recovery console and wipe data/everything
5. Install JL8 stock ROM via Odin (no re-partition, didn't update boot loader)
6. Phone will boot-up into recovery mode and automatically do wipe data
7. Phone will boot into ECLAIR
8. You will see internal storage of 1.85GB free.
9. Install Market apps - I installed twitter
10. If you remove external SD card, twitter will crash.
11. If you reboot phone without external SD card, you will get rebooting logo
12. If you put external SD card back it, phone boots!
This wasn't a fluke - I was able to reproduce if I flashed other ROMS (XXJPY or similar) instead of JK3.
Background:
Even though the phone can't boot with stock ROM, if I install JK3 ROM + speedmod K13b speedmod kernel, I can get the phone to boot to Froyo, but there is no internal storage (it shows up as 0 bytes available). So you can't install Market apps, and therefore is useless. I can't even mount the external SD card under the Settings app!
So I tried to log in the Froyo device using adb shell, and what I found is that internal SD card is no longer showing up under linux, and the OS thinks that the external SD card is the internal one. This is probably why the external SD card can no longer be mounted.
I figured out that the external SD card shows up as /dev/block/mmcblk0!!! WHich is the same block device as the internal SD card...so I'm thinking if I reboot into recovery and format SD card, how come it's not working? I even tried to partition the external SD card with android partitions, but still nothing!
I think Froyo is 'smarter' in that it knows the external SD card is not internal (whether it's grepping the device-info for manufacture data, don't know).
But if I go to JL8 Eclair, the Android 2.1 is 'dumb' enough that is doesn't see the difference between internal and external, so formats the external to look like internal.
Once I boot to ECLAIR, the external SD card is greyed out under Settings app, but I get 1.85GB internal storage!! OK I can't access the whole 16GB of the card, but at least my phone is not toast.
I can go ahead an install apps, which will install to the external SD card. But if you remove the external SD card, the phone will no longer boot. If I remove the card and apps are running, apps will crash (case in point: I tried twitter).
It will be nice if others can re-produce my findings. But for now my Samsung Galaxy S has been saved!
Kashif Shaikh

this sounds promising, can some more people confirm this solution to use External SD to imitate internal SD?

It worked for me as well! I have i9000M version, with internal SD failure. I'm also using 8GB external microSD card. I tried several 2.2 Android firmwares - specifically I9000XXJPY, I9000XXJPU. With update to speedmod-kernel I'm able to load device, but it doesn't see neither internal nor external SD card. So I couldn't install any applications, upload data or even shot with camera.
Based on this thread, on top of XXJPY with speedmod kernel I uploaded I9000XWJM8 firmware (Android 2.1) with Odin 1.7, no repartitioning. It worked right away - device loaded and I can see ~2GB of program storage (assume they storage is located on my external card). Both internal and external cards are shown as "Not available" in settings. I can install applications now, which made "brick" a bit better then it was before. Unfortunately, I still can't upload any data, i.e. a book for FB2Reader. And can't make a photo with my camera. And it's now Android 2.1, which looks slower.
First of all - thanks for the advice! It would be good to have this topic "sticked" and distributed - there might be other guys with no chance to repair phone under warranty.
Secondly - if someone can do a "hack" for Android 2.2 firmware so it can use external SD card for program storage specifically for I9000M device? And it would be terrific, if the remaining part of SD card (or at least some fixed size, like 4 GB) can be mounted as storage, so the data like music or photo or books can be uploaded.

I'm able to connect to the phone using adb tool, but I can't find a folder on the device where I can upload (push) a file to. I'd like to upload a book to the device so I can finally use it as a reader. I tried all "root" folders (adb shell -> ls) and all don't work. It says "No such file or directory" or "Permission denied".
Is there a folder on the device which I can push file to using adb tool? Maybe somewhere where applications are installed to, i.e. Program Storage location. Please help!

Anyone else following this thread with I9000M with internal card dead?

This isn't much of a fix. This will only work with phones with slightly corrupted (and not fully corrupt) sdcards; eventually your phone will probably stop booting with this "fix" as well. You're going to eventually loose some of the other partitions such as stl10 to corruption, and then you're screwed.
The OP's phone is corrupt in a specific way that allows this - and there are various procedures that will get your phone to a semi-bootable state if you only have a partially dead sdcard. Like the OP said - just installing speedmod kernel with an external SD in will allow your phone to boot, for example (I got my dead sd i9000m to boot froyo with the speedmod kernel, and others had reported the same as well). Then if you're technical enough you can switch around your mount configs and get it to work without the internal mmc device.
It doesn't matter if you bought your phone off kijiji or craigslist 2nd hand; send it back to samsung (or go thru futuretel or a similar provider). No receipt is going to be required (if they ask... just say you can't find it). Products like this will always be repaired under warranty based on manufacture date code.
Send your phone back; don't try to fix it - it's a hardware problem with the mmc connection.

Unfortunately, I'm 10 thousand miles away from Canada with no chance getting there. If I had option to send it back for repair I would do it right away. So I'm searhing an option to use this semi-brick as much as possible.
My i9000M phone has totally corrupted internal SD card - it failed two months ago and I tried all options for it reformatting / remounting / whatever. With speedmod kernel it loads even without external sd card. It just allows loading without internal storage - not use external card to mimic internal. Unfortunately, it doesn't see any storage then - no internal, no program, no external card. So it just loads.
With Android 2.1 and external card it loads _and_ see 2GB of program storage (on external card). It doesn't see any other storage - so I can't upload any file. But at least I can install applications.

I'll try this solution after buy a Microsd card. My i9000M internal sdcard dead in two days ago after fixlag use ext2 partitions.

hi all. i didn't find JL8 stock ROM for sumfireware.com.where can find it ?
i flash my phone step by step as top post.
but after flash 2.1 rom with insert SD card , my Phone still cannot boot into ECLAIR .
who can help me? thanks. my phone can boot to 2.2 system without internal card.

SHINE.YANG said:
hi all. i didn't find JL8 stock ROM for sumfireware.com.where can find it ?
i flash my phone step by step as top post.
but after flash 2.1 rom with insert SD card , my Phone still cannot boot into ECLAIR .
who can help me? thanks. my phone can boot to 2.2 system without internal card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung or bell can help you. Send your phone in for repair....

for same reason .i cannot send my phone to bell. so i very want to know find JL8 rom to let me phone canbe use . please help.

HI guys . thanks for your help.
actually ,every I9000 2.1 rom CAN use this solution. just need your external SD same as your phone internal SD size. if you are 8G internal SD , you must use 8G external SD card with 2.1 ROM . you can get 1.85G system space.

I've just tried XWJVB firmware - stock Android 2.3.3 - and it also works! Phone loads without flashing custom kernel.
I wonder, if there is a way to upload any file to the phone - so I can put there a book and read it.

does this mean this workaround still can't recover the files that were originally in my internal sd?

Nope. the internal sd is gone, probably forever.
workaround allows running the phone and having 2GB out of microsd card available for programs storage. it allows downloading and installing application from app market. still, you don't have other storage - can't upload a file or even make a photo with camera.
very wierd. if anyone would suggest a workaround to upload file to the device - even using any hacked way, like from abd or whatever

I flashed custom Kernel (CF-Root-XW_XEE_JVB-v3.1-CWM3RFS) over latest JVB. The device is now rooted.
Using adb tool I was able to push fb2 file to device - specifically to dev folder. (adb push file.fb2 /dev). Using Moon Reader I can open and read it! That's terrific after long time of finding a way of doing this.
Unfortunately, Moon reader is the only app that works. FBReader tries to open the book but fails with writing cache to sd card (which is broken).

This is a most useful post, thank you. I get the phone working on 2.2 which is great but I am unable to find the JL8 stock ROM, I locked for it everywhere but could not find it, would someone please indicate where to find it...

raullugo said:
This is a most useful post, thank you. I get the phone working on 2.2 which is great but I am unable to find the JL8 stock ROM, I locked for it everywhere but could not find it, would someone please indicate where to find it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you need old stock ROM?
Just flashed XXJVP stock ROM to my I9000M. This is Android 2.3.4. Taken from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1011901
Flashed CF-Root-XX_OXA_JVP-v3.7-CWM3RFS on top of it for rooting
Phone works
It needed some tricks this time to upload a file to deivce. For some reason all folders appear to be read only, including dev. So I used abd shell command to change folder permissons
adb shell
$ su
# chmod 777 /data
then exit and
adb push file.fb2 /data
File is stored and is not lost on reboot, like it was for dev folder

stuck on step 6..
first of all, this is a great post for those who still stuck with a dead i9000m and no help from Sammy!
Steps (this is how i followed)
1. fine
2. fine
3. fine (i inserted a 16gb Sandisk class 2 in FAT32 format)
3a. i couldn't 'boot to froyo' i'm not sure if you mean fully boot into the OS or not, but it was in a bootloop
4. i was able to get to step 4 somehow to the recovery (3e) and wipe data (there was still the cant mount error when wiping data but no error when wiping cache partition - is that normal?)
5. i cant find JL8 but others here suggested any other 2.1 ROM works so i tried JM8 (no repart/no update bootloader)
6. the phone did do something other than boot loop! (first time wow!) it was trying to copy something but it didn't go all the way through.. there was an error saying 'efs format failed /dev/block/mmcblk0p2' after/during 'coping media files'.
- could it be the wrong format going in (should it be something other than FAT32?)
- could it be that class 2 was not the right class (no fast enough??)
- the copying process stopped after it finished copying media files.. (the micro sd card did have some media files
- there was 2 folders Samsung folder (with media files) and svox (i think that was the name of the folder)
can anyone shed some light on where i did wrong, thanks everyone, love this forum btw.

pavbul said:
Why would you need old stock ROM?
Just flashed XXJVP stock ROM to my I9000M. This is Android 2.3.4. Taken from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1011901
Flashed CF-Root-XX_OXA_JVP-v3.7-CWM3RFS on top of it for rooting
Phone works
It needed some tricks this time to upload a file to deivce. For some reason all folders appear to be read only, including dev. So I used abd shell command to change folder permissons
adb shell
$ su
# chmod 777 /data
then exit and
adb push file.fb2 /data
File is stored and is not lost on reboot, like it was for dev folder
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the instructions, tha only reason to look for the jl8 rom is to follow the instructions to the letter. I trying your method right now, thank you for taking the time to give me another shot at my SGS, I will let you know how it goes

Related

HELP! can't mount SD card (i've already tried all the fixes)

I've been using android on my phone for awhile, and tried a bunch of different builds and never got this error. Yesterday when i was switching back to shubcraft all of the sudden the boot loader gives me
mounting /dev/block/mmcblk0p1 on /sdcard failed: invalid argument
failed
failed to mount sd card. cannot continue.
/bin/sh: cant't access tty; job control turned off
i tried loading just about ever build and get the same thing.
I've changed the startup.txt and i always reformat before i switch builds. i was thinking it might be the sd card itself, but it works fine in winmo.
if anyone can help me it would be much appreciated, im having android withdrawls...
oh and its the stock 16gb class 2
EDIT: It randomly started working again...strange...
This Is What I Do
I was getting either the same thing or something very close to it on about 2 rom to the best of my understanding is when your trying to flash (for lack of better words) a new rom you still have some left over traces either on your storage card or the phone so what you need to do is format your SD card and reflash your phones rom.
I took the origin file put it on my sd card unzipped it there went into the android rom folder cut the plain android folder paste it withe the other folders then reased every folder EXCEPT the PLAIN ANDROID FOLDER now put the sd card in the phone enable the the sound then install android.
To be able to watch the process after you flash your rom go to settings, system, power (battery) and uncheck everything so it doesn't sleep. when you install now you will see the progress and will be able to read the progress if you see 2 things have failed
This is my process and it hasn't failed yet when I didn't do it this way I had fails.
Striving said:
I was getting either the same thing or something very close to it on about 2 rom to the best of my understanding is when your trying to flash (for lack of better words) a new rom you still have some left over traces either on your storage card or the phone so what you need to do is format your SD card and reflash your phones rom.
I took the origin file put it on my sd card unzipped it there went into the android rom folder cut the plain android folder paste it withe the other folders then reased every folder EXCEPT the PLAIN ANDROID FOLDER now put the sd card in the phone enable the the sound then install android.
To be able to watch the process after you flash your rom go to settings, system, power (battery) and uncheck everything so it doesn't sleep. when you install now you will see the progress and will be able to read the progress if you see 2 things have failed
This is my process and it hasn't failed yet when I didn't do it this way I had fails.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can search a tool named SDFORMATER V2.0, it will be worked.
okay this is now happening to me as well!
had been using Android and various different builds without hitch.
but today after trying the Hyperdroid build the sd card fails to mount on startup.
Editing the startup.txt does nothing, have also flash to the latest chuckyrom and formatted the sd card time and time again and tried different builds.
anyone have any other suggestions?
Ta
working again now.
the fix for me was to reupload my backup to the sd, format then upload the required new build.
very odd...
snigs said:
working again now.
the fix for me was to reupload my backup to the sd, format then upload the required new build.
very odd...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
odd indeed...for me i had to reformat my sd card using my phone, didnt really make any sense to me but it worked

MIUI 2.3.4 for Galaxy S - v1.6.3 sd card problem

Hello ! Yesterday I installed this ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=13782793&highlight=microsd#post13782793 on my SGS, and I have a big problem ! I can not acces my external microsd card. What I should do ?
I am using same rom and I am able to access it.
Just take out sd card, switchoff, take out battery insert sd card again,and battery
Reboot.
That should work, if not
Install newer version 1.6.10
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Is not working at all(reboot=not, update=nothing changed)... When i connect the cellphone to pc I see only the phone storage and the sdcard storage not.. I do not know what to do
Same problem. Card is readable on PC. Won't read in MIUI anymore. Even formatting the card won't help. External_SD-map is already there but none of the files on the ExtSD are there.
I'm guessing you came from a gingerbread rom and didn't flash the froyo bootloaders. Alternatively, look under sdcard/external_sd
Jumba said:
I'm guessing you came from a gingerbread rom and didn't flash the froyo bootloaders. Alternatively, look under sdcard/external_sd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 you need froyo bootloader. I had the same issue. Resolved by flashing froyo and reinstalling MIUI.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
I installed this ROM but there are a lot of bugs, camera stop working after you take picture, the music player need to be refreshed every time, ringtone changer problem etc etc... It's a beautiful ROM but with those bugs isn't worth..
I've had this problem too. I've resolved it installing a Froyo Stock rom with odin and after making exactly this like is in the Miui thread:
0: Be sure that you're based on a Froyo FW! CRUCIAL.
1: Load these files:
a) galaxy-efsbackup.zip / Mirror
b) cm7-galaxys-initial-kernel.tar / Mirror
c) MIUI MCGv5.3 / Mirror
d) speedmod-kernel-k13c-500hz.tar / Mirror
(thanks to creative59 for mirrors!)
2: Copy all files except:
speedmod-kernel-k13c-500hz.tar & cm7-galaxys-initial-kernel.tar
3: Flash speedmod-kernel-k13c-500hz.tar via Odin, wait for reboot and after that shutdown
4: Start via 3-button-combo in recovery mode and install galaxys-efsbackup.zip
5: Pull out battery and in again, start via 3-button-combo via download mode and flash cm7-galaxys-initial-kernel.tar via Odin BUT DON'T check repartition and auto reboot
6: Pull out the USB cable and start (in download mode) with 3-button-combo in recovery mode (waiting until samsung logo appears)
7: Choose "mounts & storage" and format system, data, cache
8: Flash MIUI MCGv5.3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Note thar I don't have the SD card inserted on the phone during this procedure. I've put the SD card after the first boot (with Miui rom) on the phone and reboot the SGS to work. And to work you will need a folder called "external_sd" (without "") on the SGS internal SD. Make shure that you have this folder when you insert the external SD card.
I encountered this problem too, I had froyo before miui. Used miui a while, suddenly external sd didn't work. I tried everything. Managed to fix it this way:
1. Make sure external_sd folder is on sdcard, if not, make one and name it that.
2. Take out sd card
3. Shut it off
4. Battery out (I tried without taking the battery out, doesn't work, take it out)
5. While battery is out, put ext sd in
6. Turn it on
Probably it will work, if not, do it again, and instead of step 6, boot into recovery.
Format system and cache. Reflash whichever rom you were on. If this didn't work, and you really were on froyo before flashing, well, the sd might be broken, your card reader in the phone might be broken, or you might need to double check the froyo base you used.
when I connect the phone with pc,the pc dosen't recognise the sd card, do you have any solution for this, guys ?
sdcard is there but does not work
Oops, double post... sorry
sdcard is there but does not work
I can access my ext sdcard via file explorer but it says that it's not supported by a2sd+ I got the same problem with Cyanogen mod. I came from froyo 2.2.1 flashed clockworkmod 2 then installed 2.2 version of miui after that I flashed 3.0. So I guess I did nothing wrong. I followed the instructions on the miui website.
Can't find a single solution that fixes my problem. Every attempt ( also those here ) did not work so far. Also if I install an app it forecloses on opening. Maybe this has something to do with a2sd not working properly. for instance I can't install whatsapp it forecloses after I put in my phone number and screenname.
Hi......with a file explorer create a folder in: mnt/sdcard/external_sd
create another folder in: /sdcard/external_sd
reboot and miui see the Ext SD in file explorer but A2SD don't work for it
for any issues contact [email protected]

[SOLVED] Bricked U8800

Hi,
I did some wrong wipe using CWM, then I think my phone is clean now.
Now, if I press Power+ VolumeUp + VolumeDown buttons, I'll get to the pink screen.
Trying to connect to the PC thru USB cable, I'll get a Removable disk named "Qualcomm CDMA Technologies MSM", with size of 239MB.
I tried to copy all 5 files downloaded from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1370960 to /image/, or /cust/image/, or /cust_backup/image/ and the UPDATE.APP (from step 2, official 2.3.5 package) in /dload/ folder of a blank SDcard, but it still goes to the pink screen.
Any hint for me? I cannot download the official 2.2.1 package
Thanks a lot!
-- Edited --
I re-partitioned my phone before following this guide: http://android.modaco.com/topic/341374-custom-you-data-partitions-size/
My phone is the GSM version, not the CDMA (C8800) one.
I think my /system/ dir is also empty. Does it have anything to do with the upgrade?
Following this post I'm able to have CWM4 and Oxygen back.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18944228&postcount=4
Thanks.
But, still not able to install stock 2.3.5. Any hint on this? Thanks!
Averell said:
Hi,
I did some wrong wipe using CWM, then I think my phone is clean now.
Now, if I press Power+ VolumeUp + VolumeDown buttons, I'll get to the pink screen.
Trying to connect to the PC thru USB cable, I'll get a Removable disk named "Qualcomm CDMA Technologies MSM", with size of 239MB.
I tried to copy all 5 files downloaded from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1370960 to /image/, or /cust/image/, or /cust_backup/image/ and the UPDATE.APP (from step 2, official 2.3.5 package) in /dload/ folder of a blank SDcard, but it still goes to the pink screen.
Any hint for me? I cannot download the official 2.2.1 package
Thanks a lot!
-- Edited --
I re-partitioned my phone before following this guide: http://android.modaco.com/topic/341374-custom-you-data-partitions-size/
My phone is the GSM version, not the CDMA (C8800) one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So did you managed to get back "old" ROM back?
mesnati said:
So did you managed to get back "old" ROM back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I have been able to get back CWM4 and Oxygen now.
I'm also trying again with stock 2.3.5 but still failed. Always lead to the pink screen when pressing Power+VolumeUp+VolumeDown.
Any hint for me?
Averell said:
Hi, I have been able to get back CWM4 and Oxygen now.
I'm also trying again with stock 2.3.5 but still failed. Always lead to the pink screen when pressing Power+VolumeUp+VolumeDown.
Any hint for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you copy the dload folder and its content to an internal or external sdcard? Sounds a bit like your phone doesn't find the update files.
sbasil said:
Did you copy the dload folder and its content to an internal or external sdcard? Sounds a bit like your phone doesn't find the update files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
internal sdcard? what's that?
I have external SDcard and putting it in SDCARD slot.
So i made dload dir on external SD card and try to install
sbasil said:
Did you copy the dload folder and its content to an internal or external sdcard? Sounds a bit like your phone doesn't find the update files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried with the external sdcard. My card is 4GB, FAT32. Should that be the cause of this issue?
I also tried with the internal sdcard (/HWuserdata/dload/UPDATE.APP) but the result was same.
Is there anycase that my UPDATE.APP is corrupted? Could you please help check it's checksum?
Thanks!
============= UPDATE ===============
I tried with the internal sdcard ONLY (remove the external card), and it's working. Firmware update Step 2/2 - ~35% now.
THANK YOU A LOT!
Friend Averell I had the same problem. I solved it this way:
When the phone was off (black screen) after the "Step 2" update,
I pushed the Vol-Down key (not the Vol-up) and then the power button.
After this I left the power button, but I kept pressing the Vol-down for at least 10-20'', until a screen was shown which told me "Formating User Data, Formating Cache" etc.
After all these the phone booted ok and the stock ROM was activated.
I didn't even needed to apply the "Step 3" of the upgrade.
Try it and I am sure your problem will be solved.
mesnati said:
internal sdcard? what's that?
I have external SDcard and putting it in SDCARD slot.
So i made dload dir on external SD card and try to install
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant the internal 2Gb memory of the phone. Sounds still weird tho. Unless your sdcard has some exotic file system that the phone can't deal with (mine has fat32 and everything went well), I don't know what it could be. Maybe some wiser person could step up here. And check that you didn't use capital letters for your dload folder...Don't know if that really matters, but it could...
Thank all.
The problem seems to be at my 4GB SD card. I flashed 2.3.5 successfully with the internal card.
I tried another 2GB card, and it also work.
Thanks!
yesterday, i managed to update oxygen 2.3.2 r1 to huawei's official 2.3.5 with my 8GB Kingston card, and everything went well, but today when i tried to shoot video, camera stopped after 6 seconds, and phone said that sd card is removed, and i tried to restart phone, took sd card off from phone and formatted card in PC, but nothing worked, then i put another 2GB card in phone and everything is working again??!? weird.. maybe my kingston's warranty just voided last night. It's so typical to me.
Micco85 said:
yesterday, i managed to update oxygen 2.3.2 r1 to huawei's official 2.3.5 with my 8GB Kingston card, and everything went well, but today when i tried to shoot video, camera stopped after 6 seconds, and phone said that sd card is removed, and i tried to restart phone, took sd card off from phone and formatted card in PC, but nothing worked, then i put another 2GB card in phone and everything is working again??!? weird.. maybe my kingston's warranty just voided last night. It's so typical to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could just try re-formatting the 8Gb card and see if it works. I've ended up cleaning up the whole sdcard for a few times (I've usually had a small ext2 partion and wanted to start from the clean table) after which everything has been back to normal again (in windows cmd: diskpart --> list disk --> choose Disk "your sdcard" --> clean all --> create new partion and format the card) ..or you probably could do that in CWM recovery too...I'm just too used to do it this way...just beware if you try this, be SURE you choose the right disk or you'll end up deleting a whole partion from your computer's hard drive.
sbasil said:
You could just try re-formatting the 8Gb card and see if it works. I've ended up cleaning up the whole sdcard for a few times (I've usually had a small ext2 partion and wanted to start from the clean table) after which everything has been back to normal again (in windows cmd: diskpart --> list disk --> choose Disk "your sdcard" --> clean all --> create new partion and format the card) ..or you probably could do that in CWM recovery too...I'm just too used to do it this way...just beware if you try this, be SURE you choose the right disk or you'll end up deleting a whole partion from your computer's hard drive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, i will try that method.
ok, cleaned whole sd card and re-partitioned it and formatted, but no luck. Still when i try to take picture or video it wont let me to do that. It does still make android and DCIM folders etc. to card... and i can copy files to card with computer. but only with external card reader, not in phone.
Micco85 said:
ok, cleaned whole sd card and re-partitioned it and formatted, but no luck. Still when i try to take picture or video it wont let me to do that. It does still make android and DCIM folders etc. to card... and i can copy files to card with computer. but only with external card reader, not in phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too bad. But it's hard to believe that your SD card has something wrong in it since it works in your computer. Probably another unexplained weird software glitch again. Some people reported that they can access the sdcard but not being able to write on it, maybe this "bug" is in the same category.
Btw, have you tried any other ROM and if the problem still exist there?
sbasil said:
Too bad. But it's hard to believe that your SD card has something wrong in it since it works in your computer. Probably another unexplained weird software glitch again. Some people reported that they can access the sdcard but not being able to write on it, maybe this "bug" is in the same category.
Btw, have you tried any other ROM and if the problem still exist there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, i tried card to nokia phone, and it works in there.. also it has been in huawei since beginning, so it has worked with official 2.2, B160 custom rom and with oxygen latest. But now when i changed to new beta 2.3 rom, it worked about a day. Maybe i have to wait one more month until final rom is released. Thanks sbasil for good advices.

another sd card problem... wait - different, really!

hi all,
I cannot see or mount my sd card. It can be read and written in PC, but my u8800 can't see it.
I loaded 2.3.5 official. After some search I rooted it somehow and installed "x5 settings" application (I dont remember why I installed it, damn). After using "selecting internal/external memory" area and rebootings, my sd card cannot be seen by the device anymore. When I plugged, there is an option "turn on usb storage" but it doesnt work, just turning and waiting when clicked. In the storage settings "mount sd card" doesnt do anything.
I formatted the sd as fat32, tried using it when backups restored and not restored. But doesnt matter.
Btw, my internal sd is completely free (as i see in the storage settings) but i cannot see it when plugged in the computer neither.
any help will be appreciated,
ismail
edit: when dload of 136 is in the memory card and opened in pink screen, it gives an "update failed".
edit2: 138 and 162 does the same, update failed. Again, i cannot reach my internal sd.
edit3: the problem may be not the sd card (update fails because I try to downgrade from 526 to 1xx). however i cannot reach internal sd. making downgrade from internal sd may solve the problem, anyone knows a way to reach it somehow?
Have you tried the trick to remove the battery and put the phone to charger and then installing? And after install you put battery back. Also make sure that there is free space in sd. Also make sure there is free space in sdcard. 500MB should be enought.
I put the b136 rom inside sd card. When battery out, if i plug the device, it starts normally. But if <power+-> combination is used when plugging, it goes to the pink screen and waits.
there are 14 gb free space in external and 2 gb in internal sd card.
btw, thank you for your reply.
I think you can mount internal sd in ubuntu while in pinkscreen. This requires you to have ubuntu and unlocked Bootloader. To install ubuntu, use WUBI, which is easy way to have it with windows. Blefish has posted a way to unlock to bootloader. There is a link for it in my signature. After these are ready, plug your phone while it's in pinkscreen to ubuntu, and search for 2gb partition. Then pud dload there and continue like you normally do.
I'm using Ubuntu right now I ll give it a try, thanks again.
edit: tried, but as far as there is no sd card mounted, it seems there is no way to unlock the bootloader. (error: /sdcard/bootloader.bin: cannot open for read: No such file or directory)
On project menu, which is accessible by *#*#2846579#*#*, there is an options menu for sdcard. I think that needed Google option to be enabled. Try to play with the options there(reboot after a change).
Also from X5settings, choose external memory.
acilipatos said:
I'm using Ubuntu right now I ll give it a try, thanks again.
edit: tried, but as far as there is no sd card mounted, it seems there is no way to unlock the bootloader. (error: /sdcard/bootloader.bin: cannot open for read: No such file or directory)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't you do it the automatic way? Do you have CWM installed?
dancer_69 said:
On project menu, which is accessible by *#*#2846579#*#*, there is an options menu for sdcard. I think that needed Google option to be enabled. Try to play with the options there(reboot after a change).
Also from X5settings, choose external memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was google mode selected, i tried the others also. No change. imo, source of all the problems is the "x5 settings". I had installed and remove it many times, but before the last uninstall, i changed the option to "external". Now i dont have x5 settings enabled, and dont know how to reinstall since there is no sd.
julle131 said:
Can't you do it the automatic way? Do you have CWM installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, i dont have CWM right now, before the sd card issue, I was trying to install it but the bootloader problem was preventing me.
can you try to install b518 or b517? they are official 2.3.5 betas, but with unlock bootloader.
I am downloading them and will try both.
edit: didn't work. "update failed" problem.
i cannot install CWM because there is no sd card mounted.
also cannot make bootloader work because there is no CWM and sd card.
So not able to install any custom rom from bootloader.
And since my version is b526, i cannot downgrade. (i dont know if the reason impossibility of the downgrade or the sd card problem or not mounting internal sd.)
I will wait the next (final) version. For now, i gave up. Thanks for all

Samsung Galaxy S Boot Loop / Dead Internal SD - Solution

Fully working Samsung Galaxy S - Using 16GB External Micro SD to run OS and function as External SD!!
Ok so to set the scene I will quickly explain the issue I had with my Samasung Galaxy S.
One day it worked....
Next day it didn't...from then on it would only boot to first screen then continually repeat this step.....
After day two of having no luck at fixing the issue I got an S3...great phone!
BUT DONT GIVE UP JUST YET! It can be fixed!!!
Overall I think I would have spent somewhere in the ballpark of about 40 hours trying to fix the Galaxy S...stubborn? Yes....and my Galaxy S was such a good phone I hated the idea of binning it.
I wont waste your time listing the hundreds of methods I tried or posts I read, but in the end all things pointed to a dead internal SD.
I should be able to run the OS off an external SD... shouldn't I? The answer is Yes!
Many hours were spent on this stage and for about a week I had a working pone with OS running on External SD, but no access to the camera or anything which required an external SD.
I now have a perfectly working phone, using a 16gb External SD to run the OS and remaining space on it recognised as the external SD.
I can't promise this will work for everyone but here is the last of WAY TO MANY methods I used which completely solved this problem for me.
Let me know if this works for you & GOOD LUCK!
Step 1:
Your phone must be rooted!
The best, easiest and only way I was able to do it is with the following guide, big thank you to the person who put it up. As my Internal SD was dead! my external SD was to be my new internal SD...so the standard add to zip method for rooting on external SD... would obviously not work for me! yes I worded that perfectly!
BIG IMPORTANT NOTE IN CAPITAL LETTERS! - Make sure you have your external SD inserted during the below process!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1852546
NOW! You should have your phone booting as it used to back in the good old days! However.....some of you wont...if this is the case please follow Step 1B.
Step 1B:
If the above did not work for you then you need a way to connect your Micro SD to your PC (I did this using a USB adaptor).
1. Download and install EaseUS partition master
2. Insert Micro SD in PC
3. EaseUS partition master
4. Wipe all partitions/data.
5. Create EXT4 partition approx 2gb
6. Create FAT32 partition with remaining space.
7. Remove battery from phone
8. Insert SD, Battery back in.
9. Turn on, you should have your phone booting as it used to back in the good old days!
IF NOT THEN.....Start with Step 1B then do Step1 then if all looking as it should move to step 2. If not...sorry...I have failed you!
Step 2:
You phone should now have booted like the good old days....but if you go into SD/Storage on android OS, you will notice it does not recognise the remaining space on the External SD as an external SD...it must be very confusing for the green robot!
So next steps as follows!
1. Install script manager app and mount r/w app from Google Play (market)
2. Use mount r/w to Mount the system partition in r/w mode.
3. Browse using script manager app as root (change setting in config).
4. Go to /system/etc folder and change file permission for vold.fstab to rwxrwxrwx (This means tick all the 9 boxes on the left not the 3 on the right.....such a technical explanation)
5. Then edit the vold.fstab file as text and change the following
Change:
dev_mount sdcard /mnt/sdcard auto /devices/platform/s3c-sdhci.0/mmc_host/mmc0
to
dev_mount sdcard /mnt/sdcard auto /devices/platform/s3c-sdhci.2/mmc_host/mmc2
Change:
s3c-sdhci.0
to
s3c-sdhci.2
Change:
mmc0
to
mmc2
Save the file and reboot the phone!
If all has gone well then your sdcard partition will be mounted and old faithful is ready to ride once again!
I hope this worked for you, if it didn't...gutted and I guess you have moved onto the next post...good hunting!
Please note this solution was created from a pile of posts I trawled through to get a solution. The above vold.fstab solution was taken from the following post. Unfortunately this posts overall solution didn't work for me, but I would not have been able to mount remaining External SD Space as well...you know THE EXTERNAL SD! without his post, which is the best part!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1193010
Nice work... Lesson to be learned...
Never give up!! lol
Above post should be stickied or kept somewhere, seen quite a few people with the same problem. I'll be bookmarking it in case it ever happens to me... Thanks...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2
Cheers
knuckles1978 said:
Nice work... Lesson to be learned...
Never give up!! lol
Above post should be stickied or kept somewhere, seen quite a few people with the same problem. I'll be bookmarking it in case it ever happens to me... Thanks...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Wasn't sure If should really have posted it as......how to run your Samsung Galaxy S from your external SD lol.
Hi There
Thank you for the comprehensive post.
What should I do if scriptmanager app and mount r/w app can't install? In fact, no apps can install.
Also, should the second line in vold.fstab that used to point to external sd stay the same or be modded as well?
My SGS just will not accept any apps installed or anything copied to it. I have repartitioned the external sd but everything still only picks up the internal SD and nothing from external.
Does the external SD need to be partition as a primary or logical partition for the EXT4 part?
The link to the guide is dead, why have xda removed it? does anybody have a link to the guide that works? thanks
Link works fine here.....
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2
boot loop
reganstott said:
Fully working Samsung Galaxy S - Using 16GB External Micro SD to run OS and function as External SD!!
Ok so to set the scene I will quickly explain the issue I had with my Samasung Galaxy S.
One day it worked....
Next day it didn't...from then on it would only boot to first screen then continually repeat this step.....
[/url]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried the above but no joy, my problem below could be slightly different
Bought this from Ebay dead, managed to get it going but it would not recognise internal or external storage, tried to update rom, then disaster, now goes into permanent bootloop Have tried to resurrect the phone with….http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1647890
and with ezbase, EZRom for Galaxy S.
No go, when use Odin3 1.82 to put rom on it says passed, then goes into recovery and tells me that
1) e: format_volume:rfs format failed on /dev/block/mmcblk0p2
2) Deleting Meta data ….data wipe failed
3) Press reboot says failed to Mount Data File
On Reboot goes to permanent boot loop on Samsung S GT-i9000 screen
Searched and found ref to using a riff box to clear this problem, nobody near me has one
Any ideas to get out of this gratefully received
knuckles1978 said:
Link works fine here.....
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so I assume you have to have a booting phone for this to work?
---------- Post added at 03:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:20 PM ----------
bryfly said:
Tried the above but no joy, my problem below could be slightly different
Bought this from Ebay dead, managed to get it going but it would not recognise internal or external storage, tried to update rom, then disaster, now goes into permanent bootloop Have tried to resurrect the phone with….http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1647890
and with ezbase, EZRom for Galaxy S.
No go, when use Odin3 1.82 to put rom on it says passed, then goes into recovery and tells me that
1) e: format_volume:rfs format failed on /dev/block/mmcblk0p2
2) Deleting Meta data ….data wipe failed
3) Press reboot says failed to Mount Data File
On Reboot goes to permanent boot loop on Samsung S GT-i9000 screen
Searched and found ref to using a riff box to clear this problem, nobody near me has one
Any ideas to get out of this gratefully received
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I think im getting the picture but the guide is not clear, i think 1 partiotion should be ext4 the other fat 32 both primary, if you cannot boot because of the loop do you need a modified kernel ? will the phone then auto mount the external sd and use that instead?
swukjay said:
so I assume you have to have a booting phone for this to work?
---------- Post added at 03:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:20 PM ----------
Ok I think im getting the picture but the guide is not clear, i think 1 partiotion should be ext4 the other fat 32 both primary, if you cannot boot because of the loop do you need a modified kernel ? will the phone then auto mount the external sd and use that instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, have advanced since my post, managed to get into CWM and deleted / formatted everything I could see, then went back to install GB through odin3 and it accepted and is now running with that..........Still left with my original problem that stops me install JB or ICS, in settings, then "SD card an phone storage" SD Card= total space and available space, unavailable and usb storage = total space and available space, unavailable, if I hit format usb storage I get sd card has been removed ........Any suggestions what to try??
bryfly said:
Thanks for the reply, have advanced since my post, managed to get into CWM and deleted / formatted everything I could see, then went back to install GB through odin3 and it accepted and is now running with that..........Still left with my original problem that stops me install JB or ICS, in settings, then "SD card an phone storage" SD Card= total space and available space, unavailable and usb storage = total space and available space, unavailable, if I hit format usb storage I get sd card has been removed ........Any suggestions what to try??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1193010 may help you , apparently you have to change some script with root explorer, my problem is exactly the same as your but still have boot loop, what procedure did you use to get your to boot? did you partition memory card?
swukjay said:
I think this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1193010 may help you , apparently you have to change some script with root explorer, my problem is exactly the sane as your but kust have boot loop, what procedure did you use to get your to boot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
managed to install cwm, then wiped everything I could, then installed a stock GB rom through odin3 and it went fine, so guessing I had something corrupted and then cwm formats deleted it, maybe I was lucky , but that is all I did, thanks for the link re sd cards.....
use external sd card with CM10
Hey there,
I have had exactly the same issue and it took my days to figure out that my internal sd card must be broken.
Thanks for the great idea of switching the sd cards, my SGS I9000 works again.
Using my gained enthusiasm I tried to flash the newest 10.1 CM firmware. The installer stops within CWM before rebooting and tells me that the package is defect. I tried it several times, even using sideload. What do I have to do to install it?
Best regards
marco
gt i9000
reganstott said:
Fully working Samsung Galaxy S - Using 16GB External Micro SD to run OS and function as External SD!!
Ok so to set the scene I will quickly explain the issue I had with my Samasung Galaxy S.
One day it worked....
Next day it didn't...from then on it would only boot to first screen then continually repeat this step.....
After day two of having no luck at fixing the issue I got an S3...great phone!
BUT DONT GIVE UP JUST YET! It can be fixed!!!
Overall I think I would have spent somewhere in the ballpark of about 40 hours trying to fix the Galaxy S...stubborn? Yes....and my Galaxy S was such a good phone I hated the idea of binning it.
I wont waste your time listing the hundreds of methods I tried or posts I read, but in the end all things pointed to a dead internal SD.
I should be able to run the OS off an external SD... shouldn't I? The answer is Yes!
Many hours were spent on this stage and for about a week I had a working pone with OS running on External SD, but no access to the camera or anything which required an external SD.
I now have a perfectly working phone, using a 16gb External SD to run the OS and remaining space on it recognised as the external SD.
I can't promise this will work for everyone but here is the last of WAY TO MANY methods I used which completely solved this problem for me.
Let me know if this works for you & GOOD LUCK!
Step 1:
Your phone must be rooted!
The best, easiest and only way I was able to do it is with the following guide, big thank you to the person who put it up. As my Internal SD was dead! my external SD was to be my new internal SD...so the standard add to zip method for rooting on external SD... would obviously not work for me! yes I worded that perfectly!
BIG IMPORTANT NOTE IN CAPITAL LETTERS! - Make sure you have your external SD inserted during the below process!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1852546
NOW! You should have your phone booting as it used to back in the good old days! However.....some of you wont...if this is the case please follow Step 1B.
Step 1B:
If the above did not work for you then you need a way to connect your Micro SD to your PC (I did this using a USB adaptor).
1. Download and install EaseUS partition master
2. Insert Micro SD in PC
3. EaseUS partition master
4. Wipe all partitions/data.
5. Create EXT4 partition approx 2gb
6. Create FAT32 partition with remaining space.
7. Remove battery from phone
8. Insert SD, Battery back in.
9. Turn on, you should have your phone booting as it used to back in the good old days!
IF NOT THEN.....Start with Step 1B then do Step1 then if all looking as it should move to step 2. If not...sorry...I have failed you!
Step 2:
You phone should now have booted like the good old days....but if you go into SD/Storage on android OS, you will notice it does not recognise the remaining space on the External SD as an external SD...it must be very confusing for the green robot!
So next steps as follows!
1. Install script manager app and mount r/w app from Google Play (market)
2. Use mount r/w to Mount the system partition in r/w mode.
3. Browse using script manager app as root (change setting in config).
4. Go to /system/etc folder and change file permission for vold.fstab to rwxrwxrwx (This means tick all the 9 boxes on the left not the 3 on the right.....such a technical explanation)
5. Then edit the vold.fstab file as text and change the following
Change:
dev_mount sdcard /mnt/sdcard auto /devices/platform/s3c-sdhci.0/mmc_host/mmc0
to
dev_mount sdcard /mnt/sdcard auto /devices/platform/s3c-sdhci.2/mmc_host/mmc2
Change:
s3c-sdhci.0
to
s3c-sdhci.2
Change:
mmc0
to
mmc2
Save the file and reboot the phone!
If all has gone well then your sdcard partition will be mounted and old faithful is ready to ride once again!
I hope this worked for you, if it didn't...gutted and I guess you have moved onto the next post...good hunting!
Please note this solution was created from a pile of posts I trawled through to get a solution. The above vold.fstab solution was taken from the following post. Unfortunately this posts overall solution didn't work for me, but I would not have been able to mount remaining External SD Space as well...you know THE EXTERNAL SD! without his post, which is the best part!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1193010
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im having a little trouble with step 2,
1. Install script manager app and mount r/w app from Google Play (market)------------- done
2. Use mount r/w to Mount the system partition in r/w mode. --------done, then clicked back arrow to do next step
3. Browse using script manager app as root (change setting in config). --------done
4. Go to /system/etc folder and change file permission for vold.fstab to rwxrwxrwx (This means tick all the 9 boxes on the left not the 3 on the right.....such a technical explanation)--------not sure about this step, i think I have done it, but then I cant find the next step
5. Then edit the vold.fstab file as text and change the following
any help would be much appreciated
Regards Mick
E:failed to mount ?sdcard (file exists)
I have figured out the vold.fstab file, but it wont save the changes, what have I done wrong
Please help me
reganstott said:
Fully working Samsung Galaxy S - Using 16GB External Micro SD to run OS and function as External SD!!
Ok so to set the scene I will quickly explain the issue I had with my Samasung Galaxy S.
One day it worked....
Next day it didn't...from then on it would only boot to first screen then continually repeat this step.....
After day two of having no luck at fixing the issue I got an S3...great phone!
BUT DONT GIVE UP JUST YET! It can be fixed!!!
Overall I think I would have spent somewhere in the ballpark of about 40 hours trying to fix the Galaxy S...stubborn? Yes....and my Galaxy S was such a good phone I hated the idea of binning it.
I wont waste your time listing the hundreds of methods I tried or posts I read, but in the end all things pointed to a dead internal SD.
....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi reganstott i have similar problem but a little different. my galaxy i9000 stuck in boot loop too but the difference is that my phone do not enter into recovery mode and has boot loop even in download mod. therefore i can install no rom's. Do you know what is the exact problem of my phone? i try your solution but step 1A can't be done because my phone continue boot loop even in download mode. please help me
bewildered
I have flashed the phone back to stock, but it wont do anything, still cant get to the internal sd/card, please help, i desperately need to extract the photos off the internal sd/card
more thzs
Bump on
I tested the procedure 3 times, worked all the time, but when I checked on the 'SD card and phone storage' on the 'Settings', still SD card is not recognized, but I got now USB Storage, so I could use the camera now.
Although the real problem of corrupt internal SD card is not yet solved, it is a solution.
Thank you very much, your persisteness.
:good::good::good:
thanks a lot !!
thanks a lot only thing is I am able to mount SD card so camera and no extra memory
wow
very god

Categories

Resources