Database Users

How do you get into download mode?

I'm holding volume down and power. I hear the jingle but it just stays on the "Vibrant" screen... Ugh. My phone is brokedy broke.

Are you rooted?

I rooted with RyanZa's OCLF but unrooted right before doing the recent OTA update. After doing that, my phone wouldn't boot past the Vibrant screen. So now, I'm trying to get in download mode so I can use Odin to get back to stock. Nothing is working for me right now though.

Ok, I was going to tell you the easiest way to get into download mode, but your phone has to be on. It is still possible if you know how to use ADB and your phone was in debug mode.
Also, how long did you wait on the Vibrant screen before restarting it? It can take awhile. Did you have any lag fixes installed?

trunkstar1 said:
I'm holding volume down and power. I hear the jingle but it just stays on the "Vibrant" screen... Ugh. My phone is brokedy broke.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the best and easiest way i have found to get in to download mode is this.
1. remove batt.
2.plug usb into computer
3.put batt. in
4.hold volume down+up
5. plug usb into phone.
if you need more help with getting your phone up and running, feel free to PM me cuz i just went through this my self, i know how confusing it can get.

I had done RyanZa's lag fix but I also undid that before doing the OTA update. My phone was in debug mode, but unfortunately I don't know how to use ADB. I waited a while on the Vibrant screen but I'll try it again in case I really didn't wait long enough.
Btw, thanks for the continued assistance.

Yea.
Try this also:
Plug in your phone til you see the big battery charging icon
hold down both volume keys and power.
As soon as the battery goes away, release the power key but continue to hold volumes.. Try that..

You are essentially holding down the wrong buttons...
There after two "modes" your phone can be put into...
1. Download mode:
Done by having your phone off and then quickly turning it on and holding down JUST the up and down volume controls while having the usb already plugged in (easist I've found is stated above regarding taking the battery out, plug in usb, hold both volume buttons, then while holding them put battery back in)
2. Recovery mode:
Done by holding both up and down volume buttons AND the power button. (note: after the vibrant screen comes up, release only the power button while still holding volume buttons or else the vibrant screen will just reboot over and over)
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Thanks all, I realized that I didn't have the right drivers installed. (duh). Thanks goes out to those who pointed me in the right direction.
The new problem I have came after accidentally pulling the USB cord out of my laptop while running ODIN. 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.
Anyone know what do do?

Possible brick?

So I've encountered the soft brick many times and been fine. Well now, after messing with Odin, the phone is off and won't come back on.
I've attempted turning it on with the power, power + vol up/down, plugged in, pulled the battery for a few mins and tried again, etc...
Is this a possible full on brick?

try doing it without pressing the power button

To expand a little on what chikin said
1. remove battery, sim and sd cards
2. plug in usb from phone to pc
3. holding only the volume buttons (up and down), pop the battery back in
This should launch you into dl mode. I remember last week someone was having the same issue, phone would not respong to anything and would not power on, and this method brought him to dl mode where he could use odin to flash to stock. If it doesn't work at first, keep trying, patience and persistence is the key.

Br1cK'd said:
To expand a little on what chikin said
1. remove battery, sim and sd cards
2. plug in usb from phone to pc
3. holding only the volume buttons (up and down), pop the battery back in
This should launch you into dl mode. I remember last week someone was having the same issue, phone would not respong to anything and would not power on, and this method brought him to dl mode where he could use odin to flash to stock. If it doesn't work at first, keep trying, patience and persistence is the key.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh wow, thank you so much! I was ready to drop this thing in the toilet and go make an insurance claim today.

Did you get 'er to boot?
Sent from my Br1cK'd_KA6 Vibrant via the XDA App

Damn, think I am on the same boat and it's slowing sinking. Just got my phone last night too and followed the video on how to flash the AXURA Vibrant edition rom and everything appeared to go smoothly and then after it was done I rebooted my phone and now I can't turn it on and even tried the pulled battery method mentioned here too.
How long does it take after you pop in the battery? A few seconds or a minute before something comes up on screen? Thanks.

Can't format my bricked fascinate.

I'm trying with Atlas_v2.2.pit file but it just hangs on Set Partition. I left it overnight just in case, next morning it was still set partition. Using Odin 1.3 and latest SCH i500 drivers from Samsung website.
I also think there is something fundamentally wrong with my phone. I can't get the computer to see the download mode. IE if I connect without battery and press volume down, the phone goes into the download mode but computer and Odin don't see it. I have to:
1) put battery in
2) connect to the computer
3) wait until battery charge status shows up
4) do 3-finger salute
5) when screne goes off just hold volume down, the phone then goes into download mode (but computer still doesn't see it)
6) disconnect the usb cable (that's why battery must be in or otherwise phone would shut off)
7) reconnect usb cable
Then my computer sees it and I can then remove the battery, though I tried with battery in and with battery out, both with the same poor result. Looks like I'm screwed.
Ps. I tried this on four different computers with two different original samsung usb cables. In all cases the computers do not see the downloading mode unless I jump through hoops outlined above.

dandar said:
I'm trying with Atlas_v2.2.pit file but it just hangs on Set Partition. I left it overnight just in case, next morning it was still set partition. Using Odin 1.3 and latest SCH i500 drivers from Samsung website.
I also think there is something fundamentally wrong with my phone. I can't get the computer to see the download mode. IE if I connect without battery and press volume down, the phone goes into the download mode but computer and Odin don't see it. I have to:
1) put battery in
2) connect to the computer
3) wait until battery charge status shows up
4) do 3-finger salute
5) when screne goes off just hold volume down, the phone then goes into download mode (but computer still doesn't see it)
6) disconnect the usb cable (that's why battery must be in or otherwise phone would shut off)
7) reconnect usb cable
Then my computer sees it and I can then remove the battery, though I tried with battery in and with battery out, both with the same poor result. Looks like I'm screwed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this. Pull the battery so its off. Put the battery back in. Hold volume down and then hold power for about 2 seconds and then release power. Download Mode screen should show up. connect to computer and see if Odin sees it.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA App

Great news...bad news.
It worked! It actually formatted the phone and loaded a rom (loaded geewiz 1.1 by accident, wanted powerwashed 2.0).
The bad news is after I disconnected the phone it won't restart. It's actually worse than that. Before I'd get the phone icon, triangle, computer icon. Now nothing. Black screen and absolutely nothing. 3-finger salute doesn't work and I can no longer put battery in, hold volume, press power for 2 seconds and let it go while holding volume and getting phone into downloading mode. It's absolutely dead and even when I put it into charger, the green battery icon doesn't come up (battery was full by the way).
One other thing. With battery in, it won't go into download mode when hooked up to pc. Without battery it will go into download mode, but computer won't see it.

edit- nvm
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk

dandar said:
Great news...bad news.
It worked! It actually formatted the phone and loaded a rom (loaded geewiz 1.1 by accident, wanted powerwashed 2.0).
The bad news is after I disconnected the phone it won't restart. It's actually worse than that. Before I'd get the phone icon, triangle, computer icon. Now nothing. Black screen and absolutely nothing. 3-finger salute doesn't work and I can no longer put battery in, hold volume, press power for 2 seconds and let it go while holding volume and getting phone into downloading mode. It's absolutely dead and even when I put it into charger, the green battery icon doesn't come up (battery was full by the way).
One other thing. With battery in, it won't go into download mode when hooked up to pc. Without battery it will go into download mode, but computer won't see it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds to me that the battery shot craps.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

scarfman4 said:
Sounds to me that the battery shot craps.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. Sounds like the battery if it would go into download mode with the battery out.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA App

But when it's in download mode and I put the battery in, I can unplug it from computer and it will stay in download mode on battery alone. Should I run it down and try to recharge it?
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

I know you said you tried this on four different computers with two different Samsung cables, but on all of said computers were you using XP, vista, win7? And were all of these PC's using Odin 1.3?
I use vista home basic and Odin v 1.7 and Odin always sees it without the battery...just throwing some stuff out there maybe try different Odin version or PC that has a different os?? mighty be worth trying??
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Just xp and vista. I'll try Odin 1.7 on vista.
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

I thought my battery was bad but I got a new one and still can't start the phone or see a battery icon. Could it be damaged power button? Or maybe I screwed up boot loader with Heimdal?
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

Is it a Samsung battery or a generic one?...I know some generic batteries have issues with these phones??
Have you tried using Odin to repartition with a pit file since getting your new battery...I don't know much about heimdall but from what I understand you should be able to use Odin if you can get to download mode
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Ok I feel stupid writing this, but turns out I was simply impatient and the new battery was simply discharged. Put it in, let it stay in the phone, battery icon showed up, charged it for a while, then went into download mode, re-partitioned and reloaded a rom and everything is back to normal.
I'd like to thank everyone, for your help.
Special thanks go out to times_infinity whose tip allowed me to connect the phone to the PC and have a reliable download mode operation.

[Q] Phone will not turn on or Charge!!

During an ODIN flash, i tried to put the back cover back on the phone and the ODIN Status turned RED (Fail) and the screen turned to a greenish color and now it does not turn on or charge. The battery works fine on my wife's phone.
Is there anything i can do? I am past my warranty so I walked into a Tmobile Store and they said it looks like water damage on the usb plug which is total BS.
PLEASE HELP!!!!

Take out the battery, SIM, and SD card. Wait 5-10 seconds. Put only the battery back in. Open Odin. While holding Volume up+down, plug in your USB cable. Should go to Download Mode. Reflash in Odin.

jneal9 said:
Take out the battery, SIM, and SD card. Wait 5-10 seconds. Put only the battery back in. Open Odin. While holding Volume up+down, plug in your USB cable. Should go to Download Mode. Reflash in Odin.
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Click to collapse
Not working. Still black and no connection made in ODIN.

I'd be really surprised if you couldn't get this unbricked. Did you drop it in water through? Or was that just something completely unrelated?

try to odin back to stock
1. Start Odin
2. Plug USB cable into pc
3. Power off the Phone.
3. Pull the Battery.
5. Plug USB cable into Phone.
6. Press and Hold: Volume UP + Volume DOWN + Power, all at the same time.
7. Re-insert the battery.
8. The phone will power now, when the screen starts a cycle of going to a BLACK screen, release ONLY the POWER button.
9. When you see the download icon release the volume buttons,
10. Odin back to stock by putting the PIT file into the appropriate area and the .tar in the PDA area.
Or try that same method without holding the power button, just the volume rocker (up and down) when plugging into usb that works for some ppl

MadNosf said:
Not working. Still black and no connection made in ODIN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you happen to have Gingerbread bootloaders?

make a jig....301k resistor across pins 4 and 5....search in youtube how to make one. It worked for me this week. Buddys phone was bricked for past 5 months, even cell fix company couldnt fix it. Puts phone in download mode and able to flash with odin. good luck

MadNosf said:
Not working. Still black and no connection made in ODIN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nevermind. It did work after i tried it 3 more times and used different USB ports.
THANKS A LOT!!! The guy at the store was trying to sell me a $500 phone at cost..

MadNosf said:
Nevermind. It did work after i tried it 3 more times and used different USB ports.
THANKS A LOT!!! The guy at the store was trying to sell me a $500 phone at cost..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent! Yeah it's actually really tough to brick this phone permanently.

jneal9 said:
Excellent! Yeah it's actually really tough to brick this phone permanently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've bricked it before but always had it able to power up in some fashion so this one was tough on me.
Thank god for XDA
Thanks again.

Your phone is hardbricked I think. Happend to me once.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium

HaloMediaz said:
Your phone is hardbricked I think. Happend to me once.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. He got it working.

has my transformer died?

I was trying to downgrade from ICS back to honeycomb because I was getting tons of random reboots. It was booting then it went black. I havent been able to power it up since. Have tried holding power for a long time, holding down vol + power, and holding up vol + power. Have also tried hdmi cable in case it was just the screen. My transformer simply wont turn on.

How did you downgrade (method you use). You rooted, recovery ect?

I'm rooted. I use CWM recovery to install the ROM as a zip. I installed an old gnufabio revolver rom. I think 3.6. It didn't quite boot right. I installed the rom a second time and as it was booting it quit on me and hasnt come back since.
I've contacted asus support but they are as slow as hell. Also I'm worried that because I was rooted and using a custom rom they may void my warranty. The tablet isn't even a year old yet...

I think ICS installed a new kernel. You may have to go back to the old kernel

I would try but I cant even turn on my transformer. It just stays at a blank screen, never powering on.

Did u try plugging in your usb cable and plug it in to your pc to see if your pc recognizes it being on? ive also read somewhere that it actually is on but the screen wont turn on and u have to wait for the battery to die before it resurrects itself.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using XDA

Plugged it into my PC don't really get any sounds. Plugged in HDMI cable and can't see anything. It actually seems to be off.

I would give it a week or two before declaring it dead...im pretty sure ive read a similiar situation to this before. Keep trying.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using XDA

thanks, i figure ill keep trying but that's a really odd problem if that's the case. I don't get why it would just up and die on me and not turn back on...

I've seen posts about this too.... i think what they did was leave it plugged directly in tab for a few hours then try to boot up with the cable still plugged in (AC). Also i think they held the power down for like 30 seconds.
You could also try power +vol down for 30 seconds too.
Hope this helps

when i played around a bit with my transformer plugged into usb i found the following
holding vol up plus power button results in a weird sound.
after hearing this weird sound if i hold power button down it makes a disconnecting usb sound
At no point can i see the memory card. i cant see the ttansformer under adb devices

how much charge was in the tf before you tried to flash back to hc?

keroppilee said:
when i played around a bit with my transformer plugged into usb i found the following
holding vol up plus power button results in a weird sound.
after hearing this weird sound if i hold power button down it makes a disconnecting usb sound
At no point can i see the memory card. i cant see the ttansformer under adb devices
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds like you are entering Apx mode.
Try plugging it in to the wall and hold the power down for like 30 seconds.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

I think the best way to test different solutions is, the first set to charge at least 30 or 40 minutes.
try booting into recovery, power + volume down, then volume up .
even if you see the black screen, check if the pc recognizes the tablet as adb device.
I understand that you have already tried without getting it to boot in recovery mode , but you can start apx mode: power + volume up.
Take a look at your TF box, you may get lucky and have a B60xxxx, and you can use NVFLASH to restore system.

Fixed it. Used the razorclaw to nvflash a good 3.2 stock rom. Not sure how but i apparently borderline bricked my transformer. Thanks for all the advice.
Im having a hard time re-rooting this thing though. It's been a while. I have a B4O

keroppilee said:
Fixed it. Used the razorclaw to nvflash a good 3.2 stock rom. Not sure how but i apparently borderline bricked my transformer. Thanks for all the advice.
Im having a hard time re-rooting this thing though. It's been a while. I have a B4O
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the easiest way today to re-root your tf , is vipermod 4.5.
only for root , install cwm with installrecovery.app