Database Users

[Q] Help Unbricking Vibrant...if possible?

So basically I rooted my vibrant, and realized it was hardware locked, as in recovery/download key combinations don't work.
I installed clockwork Mod recovery and backed up my system using the backup function. I then proceeded to flash the "Obsidian V2 - JK2 Official Froyo Based 2.2 - Team Whiskey" rom.
When that was done, I think I made a mistake by restoring the backup before restarting the phone before the first boot. Therefore, I am now stuck on the Vibrant/Samsung first boot screen.
I've researched a bit on how to get the phone into download/recovery mode on hardware locked models and none of the methods I found worked. A friend told me that apparently there was a method by using heat and a soldering iron....but if possible I want to avoid that unless its the last thing I can do to restore it.
Extra Info:
I had ADB turned off on phone before flashing ROM
It is samsung Vibrant Tmobile version, not Bell, and its hardware locked.
What I think the cause of the problem was that I restored a backup from 2.1 immediately flashing the v2.2 rom. Maybe I should have booted first into the new rom before trying to restore any backups...
When I plug my phone into the computer it starts charging (Battery icon with amount and animation of dots works)
I've tried using Droidexplorer as well but it doesn't detect my device.
My device makes the connection sound when connected to windows.
So hopefully, if you have any ideas for how this can be fixed with ODIN or how to get the phone back to the stock ROM, or even how I can force my phone into recovery or download mode without using a soldering iron then that would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance

just happened to me too. Please help!

I figured it out.
Its because I flashed a backup which was a 2.1 image when I had a 2.2 kernel installed. And that = death.
The soldering method isn't that bad, so i fixed the problem.

That`s what happened to me too. But i just recovered my wife`s phone. While holding volume keys i pluged usb and voila, got into download mode. That means it`s not fully bricked. Then just did the odin recovery and the phone is back to life.
Thanks to all the devs in this forum.

Unfortunately, that method wont work for hardware locked phones, so the soldering jig is the only possible way to force the vibrant into download mode if its hardware locked.

You can still get to download mode using adb even if the phone won't fully boot.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Possible, but if ADB on the phone itself was turned off before the soft brick would it still be possible?

Zeltex said:
So basically I rooted my vibrant, and realized it was hardware locked, as in recovery/download key combinations don't work.
I installed clockwork Mod recovery and backed up my system using the backup function. I then proceeded to flash the "Obsidian V2 - JK2 Official Froyo Based 2.2 - Team Whiskey" rom.
When that was done, I think I made a mistake by restoring the backup before restarting the phone before the first boot. Therefore, I am now stuck on the Vibrant/Samsung first boot screen.
I've researched a bit on how to get the phone into download/recovery mode on hardware locked models and none of the methods I found worked. A friend told me that apparently there was a method by using heat and a soldering iron....but if possible I want to avoid that unless its the last thing I can do to restore it.
Extra Info:
I had ADB turned off on phone before flashing ROM
It is samsung Vibrant Tmobile version, not Bell, and its hardware locked.
What I think the cause of the problem was that I restored a backup from 2.1 immediately flashing the v2.2 rom. Maybe I should have booted first into the new rom before trying to restore any backups...
When I plug my phone into the computer it starts charging (Battery icon with amount and animation of dots works)
I've tried using Droidexplorer as well but it doesn't detect my device.
My device makes the connection sound when connected to windows.
So hopefully, if you have any ideas for how this can be fixed with ODIN or how to get the phone back to the stock ROM, or even how I can force my phone into recovery or download mode without using a soldering iron then that would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a suggestion:
1:Open ODIN
2:Connect USB cable to computer (not phone)
3:NOW, connect USB to phone
4ress POWER, VOL. UP, & VOL. DOWN at same time and HOLD (yes i read that ur hardware locked but just try )
5:Wait for first Vibrant logo to appear, and as SOON as it dissapears...release ONLY the POWER button. Keep hold on both volume buttons.
Uh sorry if this didnt work but atleast it was worth a try.
*words in caps are keypoints, im not angry

roguly said:
Just a suggestion:
1:Open ODIN
2:Connect USB cable to computer (not phone)
3:NOW, connect USB to phone
4ress POWER, VOL. UP, & VOL. DOWN at same time and HOLD (yes i read that ur hardware locked but just try )
5:Wait for first Vibrant logo to appear, and as SOON as it dissapears...release ONLY the POWER button. Keep hold on both volume buttons.
Uh sorry if this didnt work but atleast it was worth a try.
*words in caps are keypoints, im not angry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't work....it only keeps bringing up the battery charging screen and won't even boot to vibrant screen.

Zeltex said:
Possible, but if ADB on the phone itself was turned off before the soft brick would it still be possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That I'm not sure on, but worth a shot.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Can you please link me to an article on the soldering method? I couldn't find anything on google.

Well as I said earlier, I just did the soldering method and forced my hw locked vibrant into download mode and restored with Odin. Unless you modify your hardware or flash something special to get rid of the hardware lock, the volume/power key combinations don't work.
Edit:
gonintendo said:
Can you please link me to an article on the soldering method? I couldn't find anything on google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's the guide. Its pretty hard to mess up so don't worry.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=819551

I have a question about using this method:
once boot the phone by odin, is the phone going back to a
fresh state or with all the saved contacts/apps backed up
with Titanium Backup?
I am having trouble to boot the phone when I tired to restore to 2.1 update1.
Rooted, backed up with TB, then flashed to Obsidian V4, Froyo 2.2.
Now I want to restore to 2.1 so that I can get all my contacts back.
Thanks for help.
roguly said:
Just a suggestion:
1:Open ODIN
2:Connect USB cable to computer (not phone)
3:NOW, connect USB to phone
4ress POWER, VOL. UP, & VOL. DOWN at same time and HOLD (yes i read that ur hardware locked but just try )
5:Wait for first Vibrant logo to appear, and as SOON as it dissapears...release ONLY the POWER button. Keep hold on both volume buttons.
Uh sorry if this didnt work but atleast it was worth a try.
*words in caps are keypoints, im not angry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Haven't seen this mentioned yet, but something that has worked for me many times is this:
-Take battery out
-connect phone to the power chord (best to do it while connected to the computer)
-hold both the volume up and down buttons at the same time
- insert the battery into the phone while still holding buttons
You should see download mode pop up and you're ok to release the buttons after that. Now you're free to odin it up.

villaparv said:
I have a question about using this method:
once boot the phone by odin, is the phone going back to a
fresh state or with all the saved contacts/apps backed up
with Titanium Backup?
I am having trouble to boot the phone when I tired to restore to 2.1 update1.
Rooted, backed up with TB, then flashed to Obsidian V4, Froyo 2.2.
Now I want to restore to 2.1 so that I can get all my contacts back.
Thanks for help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By restoring with Odin, all your stuff will be wiped out, but think on the positive side, at least you don't have to carry a broken phone around with you all the time now. Unless you put your backups on the external SD card, not internal 16gb memory, then maybe take out the SD card before restoring.....
And as a precaution to those who don't want to end up in the same situation as me, don't use nandroid to backup and restore a 2.1 backup when you flashed a 2.2 rom.
2.2 roms will flash a 2.2 froyo kernel to your device and then the 2.1 backup will flash a 2.1 image to it, therefore causing your phone to brick.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
And again, no method by pressing the physical hardware keys will work on Hardware locked model vibrants. Even taking the battery out or plugging in the USB won't work as these functions have been "disabled" by the lock. I'm pretty sure the soldering method is the only effective way to force your phone back to download mode and to restore to factory conditions. I've spent at least 39882884385820384872 different combinations with the battery pulling, USB plugging, holding key combinations and they don't work.

Zeltex said:
So basically I rooted my vibrant, and realized it was hardware locked, as in recovery/download key combinations don't work.
I installed clockwork Mod recovery and backed up my system using the backup function. I then proceeded to flash the "Obsidian V2 - JK2 Official Froyo Based 2.2 - Team Whiskey" rom.
When that was done, I think I made a mistake by restoring the backup before restarting the phone before the first boot. Therefore, I am now stuck on the Vibrant/Samsung first boot screen.
I've researched a bit on how to get the phone into download/recovery mode on hardware locked models and none of the methods I found worked. A friend told me that apparently there was a method by using heat and a soldering iron....but if possible I want to avoid that unless its the last thing I can do to restore it.
Extra Info:
I had ADB turned off on phone before flashing ROM
It is samsung Vibrant Tmobile version, not Bell, and its hardware locked.
What I think the cause of the problem was that I restored a backup from 2.1 immediately flashing the v2.2 rom. Maybe I should have booted first into the new rom before trying to restore any backups...
When I plug my phone into the computer it starts charging (Battery icon with amount and animation of dots works)
I've tried using Droidexplorer as well but it doesn't detect my device.
My device makes the connection sound when connected to windows.
So hopefully, if you have any ideas for how this can be fixed with ODIN or how to get the phone back to the stock ROM, or even how I can force my phone into recovery or download mode without using a soldering iron then that would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
had the exact same problem only diff is that i was kinda doing while snoozing off
nd when i was in recovery mode i deleted ALL USER DATE nd stuff.
right now i followed most of the comments nd now i'm on DOWNLOAD mode connected to the computer i'm still trying to find out how to use ODIN to fix my phone think u can help me a lil.

[Q] Preparing the x8 for cooked roms

Hi everyone
First post here. I've been reading a lot in xda forums about rooting, installing cooked roms and stuff.
I've managed to root my x8, installed xrecovery (this saved my *** a few times).
As you guys know, to install the newest roms you gotta have the 015 baseband, and i got the old one (006).
I got all the tools i need, superoneclick, flashtool, correct baseband file and the original one just in case.
But somehow i can't get into flash mode. I unplug the cable, turn off the phone, hold the back button, plug the cable again while holding the back butto. The green light turns on for a minute, then.....nothing. The phone wont turn on unless i release this button, and if i release it i get out of flash mode :/
Has this happened to any of you guys?
ps: i noticed this baseband thing since i installed a cooked rom and got an infinite reboot loop. But i had the xrecovery installed, i just restored to my original firmware (it's 2.1 btw) and works great.
EDIT: I forgot to say that i can't use pcc recovery or seus because of this flash mode problem (they both work, but i get stuck at the flashing step)

Why dont u get update baseband from pcc first?so u can freely installing any custom rom,
Sent from my X8 using xda pertamax

Thanks for the reply.
I can't do any upgrade/update through pcc because when i get to those 4 steps (unplug, turn off, press and hold back and plug in) i get stuck in a black screen. I can never get to the flash mode screen, so neither pcc nor seus or flashtool can do the trick since they ask me to follow the same steps.
So far the only things i've succesfully done were
*root
*installed io file manager
*installed root explorer
*installed xrecovery
*installed a ROM without knowing about the "baseband thing" and messed the phone (but ran a restore with xrecovery and it worked great)
Any other ideas?

Could it be that when i overwrote chargemon in system/bin during the xrecovery install the flash menu got disabled? In that case i would need an original chargemon mmm....

That was it, the xrecovery version i was using was very old. I installed a newer version with flashtool. Problem SOLVED

Post to delete.

Is my U8800+ Dead ??

Hello. I'm new here.
I have an U8800+ phone, I tried to flash it with the ROM U8800 V100R001C00B136 (Overseas General version) 2011-05-17 because I didnt have Android Market on my phone and it has lot of Chinese applications installed, so I thought the Overseas general version had the Market installed in it.
I used the standard method (copying the files to dload in and SD card) then pushing Up/Down volume buttons and power on. The update started and everything went normally (two steps), I even got a success message. Then ......
My phone shut down and never starts again, when I try to restart it (removing and putting the battery) it vibes one time and screen still black.
Is there any thing I can do to restore original rom ?

nadjibus said:
Hello. I'm new here.
I have an U8800+ phone, I tried to flash it with the ROM U8800 V100R001C00B136 (Overseas General version) 2011-05-17 because I didnt have Android Market on my phone and it has lot of Chinese applications installed, so I thought the Overseas general version had the Market installed in it.
I used the standard method (copying the files to dload in and SD card) then pushing Up/Down volume buttons and power on. The update started and everything went normally (two steps), I even got a success message. Then ......
My phone shut down and never starts again, when I try to restart it (removing and putting the battery) it vibes one time and screen still black.
Is there any thing I can do to restore original rom ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think that rom is for the non plus version. Can you still boot up with vol up+ down and power?

Plus and non plus version gets killed with that rom, your phone is bricked there's no way to recover it from that state.
Send it to the repair shop if it has warranty, Huawei is the guilty one here for posting a non working rom in their official site.
You didn't have to flash that rom, you just needed to flash gapps.
My brother did the same thing with a U8800 and the phone died.
Sent from my U8800Pro using xda premium

[Q] [BRICK] - Bricked by dual bootstrap

I am a milestone 2 owner and I messed it up.
I came from 2.3.6 GB Retail ROM, and run a bootstrap first time to go to CM7.2, and it is ok.
After a time, I decided to go to CM9.
And I run the bootstrap for second time.... so I got it bricked.
What I tryed before to ask?
1. Power up + Up arrow - doesnt work
2. Power up + x - Goes to blank screen
3. Power up + Volume Down + Camera = Bootloader OK
And a lot of another combinations that doesnt work.
The problem is the Phone isnt recognized by PC, I tryed using USB_Drivers_Bit.... 3 or 4 different versions...
I tryed Motorola motocast drivers...
Moto Helper (from first to last version)
And everytime is the same thing "your device can't be recognized".
I am thinking about to try ADB drivers, and at least Flash a SBF from linux, with SBF_FLASH scrypt.
And for worse, my battery is down.
Can someone give me a little help?

mmkah said:
I am a milestone 2 owner and I messed it up.
I came from 2.3.6 GB Retail ROM, and run a bootstrap first time to go to CM7.2, and it is ok.
After a time, I decided to go to CM9.
And I run the bootstrap for second time.... so I got it bricked.
What I tryed before to ask?
1. Power up + Up arrow - doesnt work
2. Power up + x - Goes to blank screen
3. Power up + Volume Down + Camera = Bootloader OK
And a lot of another combinations that doesnt work.
The problem is the Phone isnt recognized by PC, I tryed using USB_Drivers_Bit.... 3 or 4 different versions...
I tryed Motorola motocast drivers...
Moto Helper (from first to last version)
And everytime is the same thing "your device can't be recognized".
I am thinking about to try ADB drivers, and at least Flash a SBF from linux, with SBF_FLASH scrypt.
And for worse, my battery is down.
Can someone give me a little help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you can't bootstrap on a custom ROM, you brick your phone, I guess that's a lesson learned the hard way
The good news is that your problem can be easily solved, use a universal charger to fully charge your battery, then you can get to the bootloader mode with up arrow + power button and flash the stock sbf again

[SOLVED]
Yes man, you're right. Let me talk about something
I sent my ML2 to tecnical assistance.... here at my city....
I think that they had try to pass a new rom or something like this.... without sucess.
They said me that it is a motherboard problem.
I took my phone back, I came to home and try to charge up,.... and it is working...(strange).
at 100% I tryed my rsdlite, and passed a full rom.... 2x
after I went to recovery mode (it was blocked at the first brick) and I did a wipes and wipes.....
IT IS BACK AGAIN, WITHOUT COST. FOR FREE!!
I am a very lucky man, very lucky man.
thank you CAESARIVS you are right, the only thing that we need is a fully battery, I have learned a lesson (at hard way).

mmkah said:
I sent my ML2 to tecnical assistance.... here at my city....
I think that they had try to pass a new rom or something like this.... without sucess.
They said me that it is a motherboard problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think they changed a new motherboard so you can do anything when you get it back.

mmkah said:
Yes man, you're right. Let me talk about something
I sent my ML2 to tecnical assistance.... here at my city....
I think that they had try to pass a new rom or something like this.... without sucess.
They said me that it is a motherboard problem.
I took my phone back, I came to home and try to charge up,.... and it is working...(strange).
at 100% I tryed my rsdlite, and passed a full rom.... 2x
after I went to recovery mode (it was blocked at the first brick) and I did a wipes and wipes.....
IT IS BACK AGAIN, WITHOUT COST. FOR FREE!!
I am a very lucky man, very lucky man.
thank you CAESARIVS you are right, the only thing that we need is a fully battery, I have learned a lesson (at hard way).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really glad you have your phone back
Sent from my MotoA953 using Tapatalk 2

DolphinWing said:
I think they changed a new motherboard so you can do anything when you get it back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No,
they said me the mother cost almost a new phone, and they gave up.

mmkah said:
No,
they said me the mother cost almost a new phone, and they gave up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i always flash the sbf if i brick the ms2

I have big problem with my MS2. I flashed it via the RSD with some 2.3.4 rom (yes, I know, it's not the best rom to choose, but I did it...) and...
I have bootlop and no way to go into recovery. I tried everything, but my keyboard was dead (just few keys, but including X). Then I tried to swap keyboards with one from working MS. Still nothing. How to wipe that phone?! I have no idea. Please help.

DJPreZes669 said:
I have big problem with my MS2. I flashed it via the RSD with some 2.3.4 rom (yes, I know, it's not the best rom to choose, but I did it...) and...
I have bootlop and no way to go into recovery. I tried everything, but my keyboard was dead (just few keys, but including X). Then I tried to swap keyboards with one from working MS. Still nothing. How to wipe that phone?! I have no idea. Please help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure is a keyboard problem? Try taking the battery out, then, press and hold the X key, and put on the battery while holding it... you should get the android logo with an exclamation sign, then press both volume buttons...
If you try to get into bootloader (with the up arrow), can you get into it?

Yes. That was a keyboard problem. I swaped another keyboard and it's working now (x at startup, then vol up and down + wipe everything)
Edit after few hours (and downgrading back to froyo)... Keyboard don't work :/ QWEADX and few more. On both old and new Milestone2 keyboard and on a Milestone1 keyboard. Maybe the flex cable is dead?

[Q] corrupted boot loader, help!

Sorry for my first post here being one of cry for help but here goes.
I've had my phone with MIUI 1.8.19 franco kernel 2.6.32.9 perf (this kernel undervolts) for the past year, without messing with roms, the only change was updating recoverry to 5.0.0.26 if im not mistaken about 6 months ago, a great phone without problems, great wifi range.
4 days ago, im not sure if it crashed during the night or the battery ran out (was clocked at 900mhz), I plugged the cable and got the charging screen but if I tryed to boot it kept trying to boot but reseting (looping) immediately after it tries to load the OS.
Now heres what it can still do, if I try to get in to recovery it crashes after 3/4 secs, if I start it in PINK mode windows says I need to format the drive.
I'm afraid I could lose any chance of fixing beacuse now If I plug it I don't get the charging screen anymore and am afraid the corruption will get worse
Please point me out to a fix, theres still hope right?
U8800 (non pro)
thanks in advance!

yabadji said:
Sorry for my first post here being one of cry for help but here goes.
I've had my phone with MIUI 1.8.19 franco kernel 2.6.32.9 perf (this kernel undervolts) for the past year, without messing with roms, the only change was updating recoverry to 5.0.0.26 if im not mistaken about 6 months ago, a great phone without problems, great wifi range.
4 days ago, im not sure if it crashed during the night or the battery ran out (was clocked at 900mhz), I plugged the cable and got the charging screen but if I tryed to boot it kept trying to boot but reseting (looping) immediately after it tries to load the OS.
Now heres what it can still do, if I try to get in to recovery it crashes after 3/4 secs, if I start it in PINK mode windows says I need to format the drive.
I'm afraid I could lose any chance of fixing beacuse now If I plug it I don't get the charging screen anymore and am afraid the corruption will get worse
Please point me out to a fix, theres still hope right?
U8800 (non pro)
thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
format micro sd card and put official 2.3.5 or 2.2 file is dload folder. Press vol+, and power button while booting. It should work.

Thanks for the reply
I tryed that with 2.2, 5 times and at the very end I allways got an update failed, now I cant seem to get it to boot in any mode, seems dead

yabadji said:
Thanks for the reply
I tryed that with 2.2, 5 times and at the very end I allways got an update failed, now I cant seem to get it to boot in any mode, seems dead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to use this guide - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1541765
Also try this - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1431730

yabadji said:
Thanks for the reply
I tryed that with 2.2, 5 times and at the very end I allways got an update failed, now I cant seem to get it to boot in any mode, seems dead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you tried to downgrad from 2.3 (.35) to 2.2 (.32), you have to put the dload folder in the internal memory and not in the external SD.
Don't stress this is easy, either upgrade or downgrade with official release and you will be fine.
I have a backup of all the official releases. If you need any just say and will upload for you