Database Users

AT&T Galaxy S4 Wont Boot into Recovery

I have a client's Atnt galaxy s4 that will not boot up normally and will not boot into recovery also.
when i try to boot into recovery i get the blue lettering in the top left and it just sits there i have let it sit for sometime like that with no change.
this is not my first go around with flashing android devices so please even give me Dev only options if that is what you think will fix it. i feel bad because he just bought this phone 2 weeks ago and cant use it. not sure what the other guy that tried to root it did and neither does he so i am shooting in the dark so any help would be great.
I have tried flashing the stock Odin package with no luck.
Also tried Kies Firmware upgrade with no luck
Most of the custom recovery for this phone from what i read are not flashed threw odin anymore, but if i am wrong please link me and i will give it a shot.
Dose anyone have any ideas someone told me to use the .PIT file and re-partition the device and reflash the stock odin package. but i have had no luck locating the .pit file for the I337 galaxy S4 could anyone grab it from there phone and upload it for me or any ideas on how i could possibly fix this issue.
Thanks in advance

Since you already tried ODIN, why don't you try KIES.

I tried that allrdy just forgot to add it to the list updated first post

Copied this from another thread, guy was having same issue.
EDIT: Problem solved by scott14719. Here it is: As soon as you feel the phone vibrate, immediately let go of the power button but continue to hold the other buttons until the recovery boots, then let go of them.
Phone goes into download mode ok?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

C13v3r0n3 said:
Copied this from another thread, guy was having same issue.
EDIT: Problem solved by scott14719. Here it is: As soon as you feel the phone vibrate, immediately let go of the power button but continue to hold the other buttons until the recovery boots, then let go of them.
Phone goes into download mode ok?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok i will have him give it a try
and yes it goes into downloading mode with no issues at all.

if the os isnt hosed just download goomanager and install the recovery then download a touchwiz rom that has an extended reboot menu, you can then just boot into recovery from the OS.

C13v3r0n3 said:
if the os isnt hosed just download goomanager and install the recovery then download a touchwiz rom that has an extended reboot menu, you can then just boot into recovery from the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OS wont boot that is why we are having such a issue cause we have to get into the recovery to fix the phone
thanks thou

If you can get into download mode and odin it should wipe everything, it should work. Maybr its hardware?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

In addition to letting go of the power button after the vibrate, here are a couple of other things that appear to have worked for other forum members. I didn't discover any of these fixes, I just did a lot of reading and saw where others have had similar problems and found ways to solve them. That is what makes the XDA community great:
Uppercuticus said:
I've had this happen to me several times while playing around with flashing. Basically (without fail in my experience), hold power+volume up+home as you'd normally do until you see the booting recovery message and let go. It will do one of two things - boot into recovery- or - restart and vibrate-. If it restarts and vibrates, immediately hold power+volume up+home until the booting recovery message pops up again and let go. It should then boot into recovery and you shouldn't have trouble in subsequent attempts.
It took me a while to figure this out and I actually thought I had permanently bricked my phone as the phone wouldn't boot and I couldn't get into recovery. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RiNo808 said:
Those trying to boot into recovery mode, dl quick reboot from the play store. That's what I use and it works great.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Just flash a different custom recovery tar in odin. If ur using CWM, then flash TWRP, or vice versa.

C13v3r0n3 said:
If you can get into download mode and odin it should wipe everything, it should work. Maybr its hardware?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After using ODIN, make sure to do a software (factory reset) to get rid of any data and settings that stayed behind. The firmware packages that we have for Odin, do not wipe everything on their own.

C13v3r0n3 said:
Copied this from another thread, guy was having same issue.
EDIT: Problem solved by scott14719. Here it is: As soon as you feel the phone vibrate, immediately let go of the power button but continue to hold the other buttons until the recovery boots, then let go of them.
Phone goes into download mode ok?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - was having the same problem. At last somebody explains it properly. It worked.
(Why on earth is the script on the stock recovery screen so small. You need a microscope to read it. I am going to install CWM right away....)
Cheers LJ

S4 on veriozon only boots into download mood
Im having the same problem. I can ONLY get into download mood! Everytime I go and try to reboot all it does is vibrates. I was installing a rom before and it was installed fine then it says I lost my root and turned off. Now i can't turn my phone back on. I try to the NAND erase all but that does not work. Is my phone bricked? I have Verizon BTW. Could some body please help me ASAP!

Yankeetim92 said:
Im having the same problem. I can ONLY get into download mood! Everytime I go and try to reboot all it does is vibrates. I was installing a rom before and it was installed fine then it says I lost my root and turned off. Now i can't turn my phone back on. I try to the NAND erase all but that does not work. Is my phone bricked? I have Verizon BTW. Could some body please help me ASAP!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2316

any luck? im having the same problem after enabling the t-mobile aws bands on my i337. i could only get into odin mode, recovery boot sits there on end and i have no access to the phone settings. ive tried the odin with stock firmware but nothing.

xBeerdroiDx said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2316
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are not playing fair sir...but a good one.

TheAxman said:
you are not playing fair sir...but a good one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My unrooted s4 phone gets stuck with the blue colour legend Recovery booting with any mentioned method. I am unable to enter safe mode, any ideas? been surfing google for 6hrs with no proper answer. Thanks!!

C13v3r0n3 said:
Copied this from another thread, guy was having same issue.
EDIT: Problem solved by scott14719. Here it is: As soon as you feel the phone vibrate, immediately let go of the power button but continue to hold the other buttons until the recovery boots, then let go of them.
Phone goes into download mode ok?
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx bro, This is solve my problem.

Having allmost the same problem with my S4...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2498285

continuation of SGH_1337 will not boot into recovery
norml said:
Just flash a different custom recovery tar in odin. If ur using CWM, then flash TWRP, or vice versa.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
here are all the details;
Rooted ATT Galaxy S4 MK2 with Busybox. all went well until I tried to flash and boot into recovery. Installed ClockworkMod Recovery, tried to reboot into recovery...permission error. Installed Team Win Recovery, same problem.
investigated... Superuser.apk for some reason is NOT present in app directory. hmm. checked for root, have root.
installed ClockworkMod Superuser from play store... asks to update superuser... fails with signature error.
There seems to be no way to flash this phone. I have the original backup I made with ClockworkMod but restore fails with signature error.
The phone works fine, has root but I am concerned I will not be able to update to 4.4 when it's available. I am also NOT able to flash any alternative ROM. frustrating.
I see there are relatives to this issue all over xda but as far as I can tell after a weekend of trying is there's NO WAY to boot into recovery with write permissions being allowed.

will not boot up

I have an AT&T galaxy s4 that will not boot up. I tried to flash the ROM and install SlimBean 4.2.2 build 6. after it was installed and everything, the screen went black and will not show anything. It wont go into recovery mode and vibrates every 5 seconds whenever i power it on. i tried to flash the stock rom using odin, but that didnt work either. somebody please help!

Can you provide a link to exactly what it was you flashed?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

i cant post outside links yet, but i used the one off of phone rebel's website. i found the link under "How To Unroot & Unbrick Samsung Galaxy S4 – Return To Stock AT&T, Sprint, T-mobile, Verizon & More!"

Firstly, why would you flash anything off an iOS website? Secondly, I meant a link to what you flashed before it bricked, not after.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

i didnt think that it was an iOS site. and im sorry, i thought you meant the other one.
this is the one i tried at first: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292474[url]

You have the US att or Canadian?

i have US AT&T

Update: i found the link for the stock rom under http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2261573
attempted to flash it using odin, but nothing has changed.
I'm unable to get into recovery mode or boot up the device. I can only go in to download mode. Any attempt to boot up the device or go in to recovery mode results in a blank screen and small vibrations every 5 seconds.
this all started after i attempted to flash SlimBean on to my US AT&T Galaxy S4.
can somebody please help me? im desperate and need assistance!

HackAttackXx said:
Update: i found the link for the stock rom under http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2261573
attempted to flash it using odin, but nothing has changed.
I'm unable to get into recovery mode or boot up the device. I can only go in to download mode. Any attempt to boot up the device or go in to recovery mode results in a blank screen and small vibrations every 5 seconds.
this all started after i attempted to flash SlimBean on to my US AT&T Galaxy S4.
can somebody please help me? im desperate and need assistance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can go to download mode you can Odin back to stock. There's tons of Odin guides. I can't link because I'm on mobile but I'm sure you can search. As long as you have download mode youre not bricked and all is fine. Just be sure to have latest Samsung drivers installed for your PC.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

It sounds like you tried to flash a ROM or Kernel that is not intended for the AT&T S4 and bricked your phone (screwed up your partitions). If so, you might want to look into JTag repair services. There is a PIT file available for the 16GB version of the phone but I wouldn't touch it if you don't know what you are doing.

Odin is working fine, and whenever i try to flash it back to stock, odin says that it passed, everythings good, etc. But then when phone reboots, it just stays at that blank screen and keeps vibrating.
And could you refer me to a guide or something on PIT files or JTAG services, please?

Exactly what he did, looks as if he flashed the incorrect kernel.
Odin is the answer.

www.mobiletechvideos.com
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

HackAttackXx said:
Odin is working fine, and whenever i try to flash it back to stock, odin says that it passed, everythings good, etc. But then when phone reboots, it just stays at that blank screen and keeps vibrating.
And could you refer me to a guide or something on PIT files or JTAG services, please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pull your battery and wait a few seconds. place the battery back in and immediately press the recovery button combo (vol up + home + power. release just the power button when the device vibrates and you see the blue script in the top left corner).
if this gets you into recovery, wipe data and cache. reboot.

In Odin are you using the phone option or the pda option?
Please make sure you follow the Odin instructions exactly to the T.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

in Odin im using the PDA option, just like all of the threads and guides said to do.
and i tried the recovery combo a few times, nothing showed up. it just kept vibrating like before

gneave secretary
I'm having the exact same problem, seems like I did something similar (i.e. install the wrong kernel). Any help/assistance would greatly be appreciated

xFierce said:
I'm having the exact same problem, seems like I did something similar (i.e. install the wrong kernel). Any help/assistance would greatly be appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You guys need to start providing links to exactly what you flashed. How is anyone supposed to know if it really was a "wrong kernel" or if it was a seemingly correct kernel that people should stay away from?
Edit: sorry, not you HeartAttack; I know you did.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

i did earlier. i tried to flash slimbean on to mine (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292474) which is under the AT&T GS4 section, so i thought it wouldve been compatible. i was obviously wrong.

So this is what happened to me:
I flashed the foxhound rom (link) using CWM, (Wipe data, clear cache, & clear delvik cache. It installed perfectly, but because this is not an AT&T rom, I was having wifi issues.
Rather rewiping the data, clearing all caches and reinstalling the rom and then the ktweaker kernel, I just installed the ktweaker kernel (link) that I got off from galaxys4root.com.
This was my first time using this kernel with this rom. Since it was an AOSP rom I uses this kernel because it was also AOSP.
So now I'm stuck in this cycle where my phone vibrates every 3 seconds on a blank screen. I can enter download mode and I have used odin to flash original stock firmware, but I come back to this same issue every time. As OP mentioned, I am also not able to access CWM recovery after holding down keys to enter recovery.
NOTE: I believe every time the phone vibrates (every 3 seconds), the phone itself is rebooting. Therefore I don't have enough time enter recovery.

I need help

Hello!
I had my S4 rooted and nandroid back up. I was trying to install this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2316308
I installed it and gapp installed too and rebooted. I got this message appears
"System software not authorized by AT&T has been found on your phone"
upper corner in orange says "kernel Failed"
That means I did something wrong?
I read about odin. Does Stock rom get you back to fully stock?
Thanks

Did you run loki doki? see.your on at&t..locked bootloader and i dont think that rom is autolokied. Boot back into recovery flash ld.and see if it boots.
Yes odin will put your phone back to.stock,been there done that lol.
sent from my CleanRom 1.5 i337m

force70 said:
Did you run loki doki? see.your on at&t..locked bootloader and i dont think that rom is autolokied. Boot back into recovery flash ld.and see if it boots.
Yes odin will put your phone back to.stock,been there done that lol.
sent from my CleanRom 1.5 i337m
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I been reading some threads about recovery, I didn't relieze, i was away from s3 so long. I just restored from backup data and it boots into this stuck Samsung screen with custom unlocked logo. Bootloop?

Havent seen that particular screen but yeah sounds like your bootlooped. If.you can three finger back into recovery and have a nandroid i would full wipe then Restore your back up (even though people.say restoring wipes anyway..id wipe.if u.are using twrp do not format data!).if.your still looped you may have to try and odin back to stock.firmware can be found on sammobile.com had to do this the other night due to a bad nandroid..lots of fun lol.
sent from my CleanRom 1.5 i337m

force70 said:
Havent seen that particular screen but yeah sounds like your bootlooped. If.you can three finger back into recovery and have a nandroid i would full wipe then Restore your back up (even though people.say restoring wipes anyway..id wipe.if u.are using twrp do not format data!).if.your still looped you may have to try and odin back to stock.firmware can be found on sammobile.com had to do this the other night due to a bad nandroid..lots of fun lol.
sent from my CleanRom 1.5 i337m
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!:victory:
My heart dropped like fainting ghost after I see the at&t software showed up. I wiped factory reset and goes past the samsung with unlocked logo into at&t boot up like new phone. It took 5 mins to get into welcome screen. All is working.
Now, I begun to wondering why my logo says it bootloader unlocked and I download correct at&t rom is in? I use this causal download from this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2297900
I am trying to understand and pick my first rom. Was thinking downloading pure google rom. Had to read again

That mod.will loki your kernel,prolly why it says unlocked. I.have the.canadian. version..unlocked already thank.god lol.
A.simple wipe can work wonders..if you can get into.recovery and have something.to.flash most times your gona be okay.
Glad your back in.business!
sent from my CleanRom 1.5 i337m

Flash another kernel made for your device, or go thru the ODIN thing, your choice. this is for anyone who have that triangle.

Yes, I read some thread and the roms need kernel, without kernel installed which was has leaded me into that warning att screen. I tried again with roms above link with ktoon kernel and made it through. I was probably be dumb. Pardon me, lots to relearn here.
I own iPhone 4s but I went back to android.
Sent from my SM-T310 using xda app-developers app

You should be able to get rid of that boot screen with the lock on it by using triangle away. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1494114

Does anyone know what that com2s and the one below it is? And anyway to delete them?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

[email protected] said:
Does anyone know what that com2s and the one below it is? And anyway to delete them?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
delete em (un-install), junk, are you getting spam and such? Did you install those? Do you have any protection on your device? Just curious.
Thank you

TheAxman said:
delete em (un-install), junk, are you getting spam and such? Did you install those? Do you have any protection on your device? Just curious.
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't find them to uninstall them just to force stop and unable them. Not getting any spam but I have used 4shared and and downloaded some stuff that didn't work and just download to my storage. No protection for my device. Any suggestions? I haven't had an android since the mytouch on T-Mobile years ago and I'm still new to this.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

[Q] unbrick Sprint Galaxy S4 SPH-L720

I installed cyanogenmod & clockworkmod yesterday and it appeared to work fine. But this morning, it was bricked and when I try to boot it up, it quickly flashes the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen and then shuts off again. It does not boot into recovery mode at all, but it does boot into download/odin mode. When i tried to install the stock rom through download/odin mode it kept coming up with fail messages in the odin pc application. I tried multiple versions of odin yet it continued to fail, when I took it to the Sprint store they said there was nothing they could do but have me send it back to Samsung, and since it is rooted with a custom rom Samsung may not honor the warranty. What, if any, are my options for installing a working rom and getting it to at least boot into recovery mode? Thank you.

What Android version Were you on before, I have a feeling you were odining the wrong file.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

daniel4653 said:
What Android version Were you on before, I have a feeling you were odining the wrong file.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on 4.4.2 before root and I was running cyanogenmod 11 before it, well...

So you will have to Odin the NAE tar.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

daniel4653 said:
So you will have to Odin the NAE tar.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um, this is awkward but after many attempts to re-install clockworkmod, so I could boot into recovery mode, it finally, magically, worked! I had to use some mac software and push the file onto my phone through download mode but it somehow worked, thank you for your help but I already have cyanogenmod running again. Thanks again! :victory:

same thing happened to me, ODIN wasn't letting me flash anything, then I realized I accidentally screwed up my bootloader and I found the most updated version that no one had posted on the forums. I still couldn't get my phone to boot (boot loop), so I just took the SIM card out and it booted just fine.... I put the card back in and everything was okay. I don't know wtf happened, but I thought I screwed up my phone the first hour I had it.

[Q] at&t S5 frozen at start screen

I have a galaxy s5 from AT&t its running 4.4.2. It is rooted with towel root. yesterday I did a reboot to have some settings stick in android Tuner. The phone would not go past saftstrap. since then its stoped at the boot screen. it still says custom but is frozen there . I can get to the stock recovery and it will let me load an update "zip file" .. How do I get it back to stock so I can start again. Can I use odin to load a stock rom or will the bootload stop that. .. Im kind of new to android so I could use a little help if you have time.. I tried to load a rom through a zip file in the stock recovery.. It started to load just fine then I got this error E: Footer is wrong
E: signature verification faild
I could use some help if you have time thanks

jeffhib said:
I have a galaxy s5 from AT&t its running 4.4.2. It is rooted with towel root. yesterday I did a reboot to have some settings stick in android Tuner. The phone would not go past saftstrap. since then its stoped at the boot screen. it still says custom but is frozen there . I can get to the stock recovery and it will let me load an update "zip file" .. How do I get it back to stock so I can start again. Can I use odin to load a stock rom or will the bootload stop that. .. Im kind of new to android so I could use a little help if you have time.. I tried to load a rom through a zip file in the stock recovery.. It started to load just fine then I got this error E: Footer is wrong
E: signature verification faild
I could use some help if you have time thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a G900A_Downgrade_to_NCE.tar in the troubleshooting section of this post. you can use that to go back to stock: http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s5/general/g900and3tong3keeprootota-zip-t2862299

good fix
muniz_ri said:
There is a G900A_Downgrade_to_NCE.tar in the troubleshooting section of this post. you can use that to go back to stock: http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s5/general/g900and3tong3keeprootota-zip-t2862299
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
phone is running and everything is working well. You guys are Gods. You explain things very well. It is slightly slower but I have not put the newer kernel back in it yet... doing that now... Im just glad this $600 Phone can still breath. thank you very much

jeffhib said:
phone is running and everything is working well. You guys are Gods. You explain things very well. It is slightly slower but I have not put the newer kernel back in it yet... doing that now... Im just glad this $600 Phone can still breath. thank you very much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will need to take the ota update back to NG3 then your phone will be back to normal. You currently have the NG3 bootloader on the NC5 build and kernel.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app

right again
muniz_ri said:
You will need to take the ota update back to NG3 then your phone will be back to normal. You currently have the NG3 bootloader on the NC5 build and kernel.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
muniz_ri you rock dude. I figured that out after I read a little more. currently back to normal I lost root but followed your lead and flashed NC3 kernal then the NG3. running fine.going to check out the safestrap forum. I installed it but it keeps saying it stoped. Anyway thanks for help and thanks XDA. I just need Practice I think

haha this happened to me too, but i took it back to at&t and they reflashed the rom for me. Any idea why this happened? I rooted with towelroot it was working for a few hours until i decided to restart the phone and it was just stock at the boot loader