Related
Offer:
I've got a $30.00 PayPal for someone with decent rep here to walk me through the update.
History: This is a new virgin phone, exchanged today. (Sun) The OTA killed my previous phone and I was unable, for whatever reason, to restore nandroid, backup, nada. Until this morning, that was the best phone I've ever had because of this forum and esp the Tips & Tricks thread.
It had: Root, Rom Manager, Titanium Backup, Ryan's OCLF, Autostarts, and MOBILE AP wireless tethering app. (This one is a must for me.)
What I want:
I want the JI6 update installed and the above programs re-installed per the Tips thread... In whatever order you think is best. We verify these things work and I send money immediately. My word is good. (I can re-install my 40 odd apps afterward on my own time.
Background:
I have followed the Tips thread instructions for ODIN. (Open ODIN, press vol up & dn, plug in wire, see COM msg in box, (debug on) mount phone, Pit>...512, PDA>...JI6, START. ..... Nothing! 2 seconds later the message box says something like {All threads complete. 0 succeeded, 0 failed>}
Bottom line:
I've read posts for hours but since I don't really know what I'm doing well, I am also unable to sift through all the advice figuring out which poster's setup is like mine. At this point, I just want it done right.
I will edit this post when it's done. Thanks for reading.
Respond: [email protected]
I'm in the same boat, as far as trying to use Odin. Broken phone, nothing working for me.
So, you took your phone to the store, told them you applied the update and now you're stuck on the vibrant screen, and they just gave you a new one right then and there?
you can drop me a pm and i can try and get you through it. Wont take your money though. Make sure you have odin 1.3 downloaded and the odin flash file for JI6 downloaded. If you can get adb working you get bonus points.
Are you hardware locked? if so you need to download the patch for it also found on here. If not should be easy to get ya up and running with the above mentioned things in place.
If I went to fast or confused you just say so in the pm and we can go as slow or as fast as you need.
adm1jtg said:
you can drop me a pm and i can try and get you through it. Wont take your money though. Make sure you have odin 1.3 downloaded and the odin flash file for JI6 downloaded. If you can get adb working you get bonus points.
Are you hardware locked? if so you need to download the patch for it also found on here. If not should be easy to get ya up and running with the above mentioned things in place.
If I went to fast or confused you just say so in the pm and we can go as slow or as fast as you need.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is alot of us who had bricked our own phones who can help you on this issue i helped someone just the other day unbrick his phone
pm either of us we dont mind helping
hellcatrydr said:
Offer:
I've got a $30.00 PayPal for someone with decent rep here to walk me through the update.
History: This is a new virgin phone, exchanged today. (Sun) The OTA killed my previous phone and I was unable, for whatever reason, to restore nandroid, backup, nada. Until this morning, that was the best phone I've ever had because of this forum and esp the Tips & Tricks thread.
It had: Root, Rom Manager, Titanium Backup, Ryan's OCLF, Autostarts, and MOBILE AP wireless tethering app. (This one is a must for me.)
What I want:
I want the JI6 update installed and the above programs re-installed per the Tips thread... In whatever order you think is best. We verify these things work and I send money immediately. My word is good. (I can re-install my 40 odd apps afterward on my own time.
Background:
I have followed the Tips thread instructions for ODIN. (Open ODIN, press vol up & dn, plug in wire, see COM msg in box, (debug on) mount phone, Pit>...512, PDA>...JI6, START. ..... Nothing! 2 seconds later the message box says something like {All threads complete. 0 succeeded, 0 failed>}
Bottom line:
I've read posts for hours but since I don't really know what I'm doing well, I am also unable to sift through all the advice figuring out which poster's setup is like mine. At this point, I just want it done right.
I will edit this post when it's done. Thanks for reading.
Respond: [email protected]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im pretty sure i know what u are doing wrong man. pm me and i can help u out if u havent already
I gave up on unbricking.
No Trunk, It was more of an escalation from a gentle request (at which point they told me "2 weeks & we'll mail it to ya' ".) through several layers of increasing... uhhh... 'amplitude', ("Okay, We'll do priority mail; 3 or 4 days.") culminating in chaining the duct taped Tmo rep's feet to the back of my hog for a quick ride up the street. ("I think we have one in the back, let me check...")
Cyber, your posted phone 'resume' sig is the scariest thing I've ever seen. (Except for my ex.) Does that thing have photon torpedoes too? Krap!
Okay, just kidding 'bout all that. Thank you guys for responding. Will send PMs tomorrow. (1 more brick & I'm gonna need mortar...) About 3-4 pm pacific time. Again, thanks.
I had root but no roms, no adb, no hardware unlock. I'm not a sophisticated power user. I loved it the way it was, except for the GPS/compass thing. It was fast (with the lagfix) and tethered wirelessly & easy w/ the Mobile AP, & I had some control over the running programs.
phone power off. (remove battery if you think it will help)
ok had my phone brick today took about an hour of googling, reading, downloading etc to get it to work again
Load odin
plug phone into USB (power off mind you) press and hold both volume keys at once, plug into PC, this "should boot you into download mode ( android guy with shovel screens says DOWNLOADING! once it loads into download mode you should see some Com info at the top left of odin, thats your cue to load the PDA and PIt file. check PDA box press start, and wait, installation should take about 5 mins
I was in motion with ODIN finally, when I accidentally pulled the USB cord out of my laptop. Now, all I get when trying to get in download mode is a graphic of a phone, a yellow triangle with exclamation mark, and a computer.
Holy crap this is a learning experience. Anyone know what do do?
adm1jtg said:
... Are you hardware locked? if so you need to download the patch for it also found on here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a patch to correct the hardware lock? Please provide a link.
Thanks
Edit Just found the link, hxxp://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=802763 (replace the xx's with tt), and can't wait to fix my phone.
trunkstar1 said:
I was in motion with ODIN finally, when I accidentally pulled the USB cord out of my laptop. Now, all I get when trying to get in download mode is a graphic of a phone, a yellow triangle with exclamation mark, and a computer.
Holy crap this is a learning experience. Anyone know what do do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok here is your next step by step. First take a deep breath you CAN definitely recover this....
you need to hold down the up/down volume and the power button. The yellow triangle image will go dark and come back. You need to wait till after it goes dark twice then when the image shows up for the third time release the volume side. wait about 5 seconds and release the power. Should jump you back into download so make sure your odin is up and ready
adm1jtg said:
Ok here is your next step by step. First take a deep breath you CAN definitely recover this....
you need to hold down the up/down volume and the power button. The yellow triangle image will go dark and come back. You need to wait till after it goes dark twice then when the image shows up for the third time release the volume side. wait about 5 seconds and release the power. Should jump you back into download so make sure your odin is up and ready
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Thank you so much. What a debacle. I'm stock again. Or at least, it looks like stock again. Now, to get the OTA update and hopefully this time it won't break my phone. I have no idea why it broke the last time I tried it.
My phone was so personalized before, I feel lost, like this is someone else's phone.
Stupid question... Why not just odin the official JI6 file that's posted and be done with it. Even better forget the JI6 and look at one of the awesome roms by eugene or bionix as they both use JI6 as their base?
Dude....where in OC are ya ?
I'm in Seal Beach,if you don't get it fixed before your stated 4pm pst time...gimme a holler and I'll even bring my laptop and cable.
Save the 30$, but you're buying the beers
adm1jtg said:
Stupid question... Why not just odin the official JI6 file that's posted and be done with it. Even better forget the JI6 and look at one of the awesome roms by eugene or bionix as they both use JI6 as their base?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if that was for me or not, but I don't even know what JI6 is... flashing stock was the first time I ever Odin'd anything before.
I don't have much of a rep here, but here's how I did things. I installed OCLF from the market, and rooted (and only rooted). Then I installed ROM manager and did a nandroid (and I did one after each change I made to my phone as well). Then I updated to JI6 through odin. After that, I gave myself MobileAP. Then (because I was hardware locked), I used odin to fix that. As far as I know, you can install everything else you got from the market from there (all root apps not already installed included). I can't really tell you how that lag fix from OCLF works with JI6, as I never actually used that part of the app (I only used it to root).
As a side note, you may get an error with odin if you aren't in download mode (but you may still get a com message). For a sure fire way to get into download mode, open odin, and then plug in your phone (completely booted). Use the adb command "adb reboot download" and you'll be in download mode and ready to use odin. Also, if you mess up, as long as you can get into download mode, you can use odin to flash back to how your phone originally shipped.
Update
Hey guys,
I HAVE JI6!!!
I'm the OP & I just logged on to send the PMs to be rescued. I saw the mini-kies method of installing JI6, tried it, and it worked. I'm re-rooted, oclf'ed, clockworked, & have re-installed many apps.
The MOBILE AP seems to be my last major hurdle. I forgot how I did it last time but it worked great! Now the instructions I think are different??? I don't remember any "flashing" with CW though. I've never flashed anything. I've read every post HERE but I'm gunshy now. Is there a "for dummies" way to do this?
Also, I have lost my Haptic feedback. It seems to be set correctly, but it's just not there. Even when I adjust the intensity up to full, nada. It may have happened after the OCLF install, or playing with Swype, not 100% sure. It definatelt was working an hour ago... Any ideas on this? Thanks.
Thanks for the "PM me" responses. You guys are slowly curing my ignorance. (very slowly...)
Member character...
Yep. The Brickmaster is back. After a 3 day long recovery process from a new phone, I had somehow done it again...
This is to say thanks to the multiple members who offered personal help but in particular, to the one who gave it. After a PM, this man called me back and for 2 straight hours on a Friday night, with no request for, or guarantee of payment, patiently led me through the technicalities of an Odin recovery. Somehow, he fixed my phone. And I got a little more education.
During the course of this call, it turned out he is an Iraq war veteran with a new baby who is re-enlisting in the military to serve his country even more! Thank you so much for your help, and my gratitude for your service to our country.
.................................................................................................
As for me, being a natural born electronics genius is rough. Last night I elevated the art of brickification to a new high. (2 clicks gentlemen. Beat that!!!) The poison pill was OCLF, then Voodoo, BTW.
Oh yeah, PS... If anyone needs their phone converted into a shiny black paperweight, get in touch. I'm among the best out there.
Hello XDA Community!
I made a post about this issue before, but have more details so hopefully someone can help me figure out this issue.
My phone even when unplugged from my PC continuously says USB Connected/ USB Debugging in the notification menu.
Also, when I try and reboot the phone, instead of booting even to the Vibrant logo screen, the loading circle continuously blinks on and off, without actually booting.
As I type this, I am not holding down the power button, and the loading circle is blinking on and off by itself....
I used to be able to turn the phone on into recovery mode in the past, but now when I try to reboot into recovery I get a big yellow picture that says "Downloading"
The only way the phone will turn on is if it is plugged in.
I am fairly certain that this reboot issue and the USB issue are correlated in some way.
Did anyone else have this issue with their phones? And if so, how did you solve it?
Another thing I have just discovered...
When the phone is on and idle, the USB Connection notification will constantly blink on and off, which is why I think the phone would do the same when trying to power on!
Is this a hardware issue or a software issue?
I have not flashed anything in a very long time before this issue started happening so I believe a restore is unnecessary .
Someone please help me! This is very annoying, not only do I have NO notification bar because of the constant USB Connection notification turning on and off, I cannot turn on my phone at all unless it is plugged in!
ACK!
Take it back
I carry the insurance, so personally if this was happening to me I would not even mess with it. It sounds like you have a genuine problem with the phone and it needs to be replaced.
If it is possible to do try a nandroid backup of your phone to make getting back to where you are on your new device easier. Then take your phone back to stock with the recovery image here -->
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=734475 (Thank you justanothercrowd)
One you have a stock device see if you are still having the issue. If you are take it back as defective. Even if you don't have the insurance, that sounds like a factory defect and should be covered by the factory warranty. The insurance just makes the process easier and makes sure they just give you a swap out at the store rather than having to wait for repairs. It also covers things the warranty does not, such as screen breakage - which is the specific reason I carry the insurance.
Ah crap wish I had insurance.... Do I have to do that whole odin procedure or is there a one click un root procedure as well?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Nevermind i just read through that link you posted. So when i go to a t mobile store do i have to unroot or can i just hide my root applications until i get a new phone?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I actually have not had reason to go back to stock, or even use odin yet at this point. My only roms were .zip files that I flashed via clockwork recovery.
I would say that your best best it to just follow the instructions on justanothercrowd's thread very carefully and deliberately. You are already having issues with reboots and your USB port, so this is not the time to deviate into experiments.
So to cut you off and just answer you next three questions:
Q) Can I just . . .
A) No! Just follow the directions exactly.
Q) But can I . . .
A) No! Just follow the directions exactly.
Q) Do I have to . . .
A) Hey look, Just follow the damn directions exactly!
Sorry, I can't help much beyond that. You chose to modify your phone and risk that you would not have issues, just like the rest of us here. In your case you did have issues. Now you have to get it back to stock so they don't have any reason to claim you caused this or that your warranty is void. I hope all goes well and it works out for you. Let as know and keep us posted. Good luck.
Lo N Slo said:
Nevermind i just read through that link you posted. So when i go to a t mobile store do i have to unroot or can i just hide my root applications until i get a new phone?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We must have been typing at the same time LOL.
There is a thread on unrooting, and basically it is just deleting a few things. After doing this you should not have any non-stock applications on the phone and there would be no reason to think it was rooted unless they went digging on the file system. Personally, I would delete those telltale files just in case, it looks a little suspicious to bring in a phone that looks like it has not been used since you bought it, but they have no proof you did anything and you can claim that you first did a factory reset to see if it would fix the problem.
Just want to keep this thread going, as I am having the exact same issue as the OP as of today. It happened out of the blue, and I haven't flashed anything new to my phone since JI6 was released, other than that, it's just a stock, rooted phone.
Hoping someone has an idea, but I will likely get it replaced under warranty, since the GPS has never worked either.
damnit damnit damnit I really wish I had warranty.
Random question about clockword mod recoveries.
If I were to do a backup right now, and save that file to my computer, could I restore that file later on a different phone after I root my replacement?
I don't have that many mods flashed, and I know all of the apps can be synced, but still it would be sooo convenient .
I believe that is how it works, so yes. It should be no different then when you clone a hard drive to put the image on multiple computers for easy distribution.
It is (just like the cloning metaphor) hardware specific. Just like I could not purchase a upgrade computer and expect a cloned image to work, don't expect to create a Vibrant backup and restore it on a Captivate.
That said, you should be able to restore your backup to new (identical) hardware.
By the way, what is the warranty on these? I thought it was a year for defects. I didn't think the Vibrant had been around long enough yet for anyone to be off warranty.
it should be a year, but there was also the option for a purchased warranty. I did not purchase a warranty, so I should be good on just my manufacturer's defect warranty
Being discussed here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=817643
So, as I cant leave things alone.....come on, who can right?.
Verizon Tab....
Im a Droid X kinda guy, we dont have Kernals (thanks Motorola ) so sometimes this stuff gets confusing, so many options right....
Flashed the VZW Kernal after a few attempts, worked, started messing with Roms, ok cool. Started backing up using CWM, ok cool.
Here is where **** goes wrong....
Started tweaking rom, went to reboot, typical boot loop, no biggie, Odin and Heimdall are my best friends, infact at this point I think my 4 year old has seen me use them enough that she can do it, lol.
decided to nuke and repave, but the usual factory files failed halfway through, wtf?, so I got the Phone---!---PC icon, whoops.....
Did some heavy ready/searching, seems there is not to much out there for detailed info on this.
Found a few posts scattered, one was a system dump, and the person said he flashed everything to repair, so I decided to follow instructions, big giant huge EFF-UP !!
What I know now, after all is said and done......
I flashed the bootloader.
Well, now I know.
So, it happens that VZ tech was nice enough to still send me a replacement, I tell them the truth, they know my DX has the GB leak, wifes Dpro is rooted/rom, etc.
Lesson....
um, dont flash boot loader? ha ha ha.
Oh, I did crack the Tab open, took battery out, looked inside, real ***** getting back cover off, looked real good at cover, possible to airbrush/change colors though...
The tab is not really bricked if you can power it on. There is still a way to "unbrick" it.
oldmacnut said:
I got the Phone---!---PC icon,
Oh, I did crack the Tab open, took battery out, looked inside, real ***** getting back cover off, looked real good at cover, possible to airbrush/change colors though...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phone-!-pc icon is download mode, so you were not bricked. Usually, just reconnect to the pc and flash again.
Where did you get the three blade screw driver to open your tab?
rangercaptain said:
Phone-!-pc icon is download mode, so you were not bricked. Usually, just reconnect to the pc and flash again.
Where did you get the three blade screw driver to open your tab?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tab doesn't turn on anymore after accidentally flashing bootloader, no response. not even if I plug it into wall. button commands dont work either.
I have a wood shop, and alot of tools.
oldmacnut said:
Tab doesn't turn on anymore after accidentally flashing bootloader, no response. not even if I plug it into wall. button commands dont work either.
I have a wood shop, and alot of tools.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not the first to do that. Use three wall charger for at least four hours, and try again.
In the stickie section (you can see that part of the forum if you view with a pc) there are some instructions involving some button sequences and the usb cord. But you may have to send tab away to samsung for a clean flash with a JTAG Box.
What is the name of the 3-blade screw driver, and where can I get one? It seems gorilla glass is a farce.
rangercaptain said:
You're not the first to do that. Use three wall charger for at least four hours, and try again.
In the stickie section (you can see that part of the forum if you view with a pc) there are some instructions involving some button sequences and the usb cord. But you may have to send tab away to samsung for a clean flash with a JTAG Box.
What is the name of the 3-blade screw driver, and where can I get one? It seems gorilla glass is a farce.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New one arrives tomorrow, Im not going to worry about the bricked one, Ill send it back.
Dont remember the name of the screwdriver, I have alot of strange small tools, large collection of bits, you can get away with a regular small bit.
Taking the back off was a huge *****, you wont break anything, just a pain. Battery is huge, and a good majority of the weight.
I'm sending my a500 into acer to get the power button fixed and i have to revert it back to stock before I do. Is there any way of doing this automatically without using the recovery method and needing to select options with a power button. I tried using this EUUs_SBK_Acer_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1 from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1113878 and it detected my custom rom but nothing showed up under new image version and wont let me continue.
any help??
btw I'm on honeycomb lightspeed 2.1 with honeyvillain 3.7 kernal right now.
My power button broke a few months back. I just popped it open and soldered it back onto the board and I used a glue gun to fill the gap behind the power button casing so it won't get pushed back anymore (I guess one too many hard pushes screwed mine up.) Haven't had problems with it since.
Hope this helps.
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/...16&tag=thumbnail-view-selector;get-photo-roto
starkiller86 said:
My power button broke a few months back. I just popped it open and soldered it back onto the board and I used a glue gun to fill the gap behind the power button casing so it won't get pushed back anymore (I guess one too many hard pushes screwed mine up.) Haven't had problems with it since.
Hope this helps.
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/...16&tag=thumbnail-view-selector;get-photo-roto
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
too scared to open my iconia , did a ps3 the other day to fix the YLOD that was piss but yeah feel if i open the iconia a little gremlin with 9 arms will fall out lmao
Just send it in to Acer. They probably won't even say anything about it. Especially it being a PWR button.
The thing about "if you root you lose warranty", is hogwash more or less. In your case, you can stand your ground as it's a physical defect.
I haven't heard a whole lot of stories from anybody who returned their device, even if it was rooted and such, and got a hard time from the service center. In fact, I have read cases where people got a replacement tab, and not only was it rooted, but already had a custom rom installed!!!!
Just send it in and don't worry about it. The thing is, with your older version of CWM, and not the touch version, you're pretty well up the creek. Unless you want to go the NVFlash way. Now that we can definately help you with. You should be able to NVFlash a stock recovery image. In fact, I believe the Acer Recovery Installer on the market, may be able to flash a stock recovery. Might want to check it and see if it will boot your tab to APX mode automatically. I haven';t used it before, as I prefer the old fashioned way (involves the PWR button)
MD
starkiller86 said:
My power button broke a few months back. I just popped it open and soldered it back onto the board and I used a glue gun to fill the gap behind the power button casing so it won't get pushed back anymore (I guess one too many hard pushes screwed mine up.) Haven't had problems with it since.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when the button broke my first instinct was to tear it apart and fix it myself. but then i found out I'm still under warranty so i didn't see any point when acer will fix it for me for free. if it happens again i will definitely do this. Thanks.
Moscow Desire said:
Just send it in to Acer. They probably won't even say anything about it. Especially it being a PWR button.
The thing about "if you root you lose warranty", is hogwash more or less. In your case, you can stand your ground as it's a physical defect.
I haven't heard a whole lot of stories from anybody who returned their device, even if it was rooted and such, and got a hard time from the service center. In fact, I have read cases where people got a replacement tab, and not only was it rooted, but already had a custom rom installed!!!!
Just send it in and don't worry about it. The thing is, with your older version of CWM, and not the touch version, you're pretty well up the creek. Unless you want to go the NVFlash way. Now that we can definately help you with. You should be able to NVFlash a stock recovery image. In fact, I believe the Acer Recovery Installer on the market, may be able to flash a stock recovery. Might want to check it and see if it will boot your tab to APX mode automatically. I haven';t used it before, as I prefer the old fashioned way (involves the PWR button)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great to hear. i wasn't sure how acer was about being rooted. i know with my sprint phone if the service guys wanted to be dicks they can black flag it and it will void the warranty on that phone entirely, and I've read cases of this happening to people. I'm just gonna do a factory reset and send it to acer. I'll update this thread when i get it back.
also, i did install the stock recovery and tried to flash a stock update.zip but every time I'd get the android guy with the exclamation point next to him, then it would reset (i think it's cause its from the wrong rom?). i had a real hard time finding a stock rom with a good DL link. almost everyone i tried from that link in my first post (and from google) had bad download links. i only got like 2 to actually download and neither worked. but it don't matter now cause I'm sending it in rooted anyway. thanks for the info.:highfive:
lemywinks said:
when the button broke my first instinct was to tear it apart and fix it myself. but then i found out I'm still under warranty so i didn't see any point when acer will fix it for me for free. if it happens again i will definitely do this. Thanks.
That's great to hear. i wasn't sure how acer was about being rooted. i know with my sprint phone if the service guys wanted to be dicks they can black flag it and it will void the warranty on that phone entirely, and I've read cases of this happening to people. I'm just gonna do a factory reset and send it to acer. I'll update this thread when i get it back.
also, i did install the stock recovery and tried to flash a stock update.zip but every time I'd get the android guy with the exclamation point next to him, then it would reset (i think it's cause its from the wrong rom?). i had a real hard time finding a stock rom with a good DL link. almost everyone i tried from that link in my first post (and from google) had bad download links. i only got like 2 to actually download and neither worked. but it don't matter now cause I'm sending it in rooted anyway. thanks for the info.:highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, some of the "update.zips" are a little ify-ify on whether they will work or not. One that works well is an EUU rom. But this requires you enter your UID number for it to continue (a good idea to copy yours down when you get the tab back). Of course it's for a a500, but will install on an a501 also. Usually we use this to reset partitions from a failed NVFlash.
Keep us posted. Sprint folks can be real peckerheads sometimes.
MD
*UPDATE*
So I got my tablet back from acer today. I sent it in rooted on a honeycomb lightspeed rom and I got the same a500 (I put a little mark on it) back on a stock 3.2.1 rom. So they don't really care about root as they still fixed the power button. Thanks for the heads up on that one Moscow Desire. It's funny cause my 1 year warranty would have ended on August 15, 15 days from now lol.
I think its time for some ice cream sandwich.
A friend of mine bought an S5 off eBay and, 2 days later, dropped it from the height of less than 2 feet, in its lifeproof case. The screen stopped turning on. The capactive buttons still work and you can hear audio feedback (even somehow managed to enable talkback that won't shut up) but you can't see anything. No dice getting into recovery or fastboot. Of course, the device is unrooted and untampered with, to the best of my knowledge. She took it to the Samsung Store and they hooked it up to a computer and did something which made the screen work again, so she factory reset it, but then apparently touching the corners of the screen made it go yellow. She restarted the phone and the blank screen persisted.
I have zero experience with Samsungs so I decided to play with this thing till she manages to return it. Updated to Lollipop (via Kies3), nothing. I even tried to take screenshots to view on the computer and navigate that way but it wouldn't take screenshots. My plan was to enable debugging and take it from there, but obviously I'm unable to do that. I looked into screenmirroring but the best bet seems to be Samsung's own SideSync utility, but that requires the Android app to be installed phone-side, which is obviously impossible at the moment.
Any suggestions welcome. Best case scenario I obviously hope to be able to fix the phone myself, but if not, then at least familiarize myself with this scenario if all else fails (tinkerholic. Also I refuse to be out-teched by a Samsung Store employee). I've heard of Z3X and NsPro but I obviously don't plan to invest in their hardware. However I am confident that there has to be an adb solution of sorts, so my first challenge is to enable USB debugging.
If she's registered her Google (playstore) account details on the device, then she can visit playstore through a pc and when she installs an app via pc it will get installed to the device.......
At least, that certainly used to be the case, as in the past, I've done just that...
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg