Database Users

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.

[Q] Possible Hard Brick? (URGENT)

A little background info:
ATT GS4, rooted and on stock firmware
Had TWRP 2.6.0.0 on my phone
Tried to flash Illusion 7|15 or 7|16?
---------------------------------------------------
In the past, I've tried to flash illusion, with some success. I was able to get to the homescreen, but when I flashed my data backup. The phone wouldn't boot, so I reverted to stock. A few weeks later, I decide to take another spin at the rom and get it working. I wiped the data/cache/dalvik, and flashed the rom with gapps, rebooted the phone, and nothing happens. The phone keeps vibrating, but there is nothing happening past that.
After a significant amount of research, I've found a few tools/advice. I've downloaded ODIN and the (disgustingly large) tar file, but it doesn't have any use if the phone cannot be recognized by the computer since I am unable to enter download mode or recovery mode.
I found another tool that is supposed to "resurrect" the phone provided by legija. The only unfortunate part is there are no instructions provided, and once again, my computer isn't recognizing the phone as a device, as if it wasn't plugged in to the usb port at all. The application asks for a port number, but I have no clue what relevance a port number has, or at least that a usb port has a numerical value.
Anyway, is there anything left for me to do or is this a fancy new paperweight?
Excuse me for any poor grammar, I'm a little antsy about this

Gfrt94yn said:
A little background info:
ATT GS4, rooted and on stock firmware
Had TWRP 2.6.0.0 on my phone
Tried to flash Illusion 7|15 or 7|16?
---------------------------------------------------
In the past, I've tried to flash illusion, with some success. I was able to get to the homescreen, but when I flashed my data backup. The phone wouldn't boot, so I reverted to stock. A few weeks later, I decide to take another spin at the rom and get it working. I wiped the data/cache/dalvik, and flashed the rom with gapps, rebooted the phone, and nothing happens. The phone keeps vibrating, but there is nothing happening past that.
After a significant amount of research, I've found a few tools/advice. I've downloaded ODIN and the (disgustingly large) tar file, but it doesn't have any use if the phone cannot be recognized by the computer since I am unable to enter download mode or recovery mode.
I found another tool that is supposed to "resurrect" the phone provided by legija. The only unfortunate part is there are no instructions provided, and once again, my computer isn't recognizing the phone as a device, as if it wasn't plugged in to the usb port at all. The application asks for a port number, but I have no clue what relevance a port number has, or at least that a usb port has a numerical value.
Anyway, is there anything left for me to do or is this a fancy new paperweight?
Excuse me for any poor grammar, I'm a little antsy about this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have AT&T insurance? Maybe the phone can have an accident? I would know of no other way to fix it if Odin isn't recognizing it. ):

Gfrt94yn said:
A little background info:
ATT GS4, rooted and on stock firmware
Had TWRP 2.6.0.0 on my phone
Tried to flash Illusion 7|15 or 7|16?
---------------------------------------------------
In the past, I've tried to flash illusion, with some success. I was able to get to the homescreen, but when I flashed my data backup. The phone wouldn't boot, so I reverted to stock. A few weeks later, I decide to take another spin at the rom and get it working. I wiped the data/cache/dalvik, and flashed the rom with gapps, rebooted the phone, and nothing happens. The phone keeps vibrating, but there is nothing happening past that.
After a significant amount of research, I've found a few tools/advice. I've downloaded ODIN and the (disgustingly large) tar file, but it doesn't have any use if the phone cannot be recognized by the computer since I am unable to enter download mode or recovery mode.
I found another tool that is supposed to "resurrect" the phone provided by legija. The only unfortunate part is there are no instructions provided, and once again, my computer isn't recognizing the phone as a device, as if it wasn't plugged in to the usb port at all. The application asks for a port number, but I have no clue what relevance a port number has, or at least that a usb port has a numerical value.
Anyway, is there anything left for me to do or is this a fancy new paperweight?
Excuse me for any poor grammar, I'm a little antsy about this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen the repeated vibrating issue before from flashing the wrong file. Download mode was still accessible. Try again by hooking up the phone to the USB slot without the battery in it. Hold Vol Down + Home while inserting the battery. See if download mode will come up. If it does, Odin may not fix it, and you may end up using KIES, and that's if it does go into Download mode.

Phone is toast, fortunately the phone is still under warranty and they couldn't even get it to turn on so they replaced it
Still lost data, but it's not the end of the world. Thanks for the help though!

Gfrt94yn said:
Phone is toast, fortunately the phone is still under warranty and they couldn't even get it to turn on so they replaced it
Still lost data, but it's not the end of the world. Thanks for the help though!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good deal man, glad you got a new one.

I have another question for somebody knowledgeable in rooting/rom flashing:
I think this was because the s4 bootloader is locked (through an update), would this cause the phone to hard brick? I've had nasty experiences in the past with locked bootloaders!
If it is locked, is there a way to unlock it? Or does it even need to be unlocked to flash a rom?
Thanks!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

Gfrt94yn said:
I have another question for somebody knowledgeable in rooting/rom flashing:
I think this was because the s4 bootloader is locked (through an update), would this cause the phone to hard brick? I've had nasty experiences in the past with locked bootloaders!
If it is locked, is there a way to unlock it? Or does it even need to be unlocked to flash a rom?
Thanks!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bootloader is locked yes, but Loki is there to workaround that. What is the build version on your replacement?

JDQ39.I337UCUAMDL
Is Loki on xda? I haven't found anything like that yet, although I've heard many references to that
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

Update:
Maybe I should open my eyes lol, found it in about 30 seconds
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

One more update:
I ran the casual root and now have my root and recovery. A couple of questions:
Does this also unlock the bootloader?
Somebody said that twrp flashes roms as if the bootloader is unlocked, so it wouldn't matter if it was or not. Is this true?
I guess really my question is, once I run casual root, is my phone ready to flash?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

Gfrt94yn said:
One more update:
I ran the casual root and now have my root and recovery. A couple of questions:
Does this also unlock the bootloader?
Somebody said that twrp flashes roms as if the bootloader is unlocked, so it wouldn't matter if it was or not. Is this true?
I guess really my question is, once I run casual root, is my phone ready to flash?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your phone is ready to flash, just make sure the ROM you flash has been Lokied or you'd have to flash a Loki kernel/LokiDoki after flashing the ROM (but before rebooting).

Gfrt94yn said:
One more update:
I ran the casual root and now have my root and recovery. A couple of questions:
Does this also unlock the bootloader?
Somebody said that twrp flashes roms as if the bootloader is unlocked, so it wouldn't matter if it was or not. Is this true?
I guess really my question is, once I run casual root, is my phone ready to flash?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are going to use TWRP, make sure the ROM has LOKI applied, and if it doesn't, flash the Loki_Doki patch last before rebooting.
If you use OUDHS recovery, it will Auto-Loki whatever you flash.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce that I've successfully flashed a rom without bricking my phone! *applause*
I thank(ed) you all for the help!
GS4 running slimbean and kanged key lime pie theme.

GiantBallSack said:
If you are going to use TWRP, make sure the ROM has LOKI applied, and if it doesn't, flash the Loki_Doki patch last before rebooting.
If you use OUDHS recovery, it will Auto-Loki whatever you flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What happens if one accidentally reboots before flashing Loki? Just need to reboot back into recovery and flash it?

godefroi said:
What happens if one accidentally reboots before flashing Loki? Just need to reboot back into recovery and flash it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Help - GS4 - Even Best Buy could not Flash

Hello All,
I am quite new to the world of Android, but have searched and read up for multiple days on this site before finally posting my issue.
I have a GS4 that had been running stock with the MF3 OTA update. I finally decided to root and install safestrap to mess with a few custom roms. Everything went well. I was able to create a Rom Slot and load a custom rom for testing whilst keeping my stock in original form. NO issues what so ever. I used the Wicked Rom.... Eventually I decided that I would delete Rom Slot 1 and go back to stock. I followed directions to the T, deleted the slot and selected to boot from Stock. NO GO. This is where the horror begins:
Now, the phone boots up but I see the Samsung Galaxy S4 logo and it stays there...does not go back. I no longer see the SafeStrap recovery screen when booting up. --- I cannot even get into recovery on the phone any longer: it says recovery booting in blue and stays there.
I am able to get into Download mode to re-flash - but naturally none of the stock firmware files are loadable via Odin due to an error I keep getting NAND Flash! (Fail).
I finally decided to drive to Best Buy and asked the guy to flash my phone to stock there. He put the phone in download mode and used their multiflash tool which did not detect the phone and thus he could not move forward. The laptop did detect the phone at best buy, but their software did not and thus flashing did not occur.
I am looking for any and all advice to get this phone running without having to return it to Samsung....please and thanks in advance.
My apologies if my search did not yield a positive result and there is something out there....

Well There is no way to flash with Odin while on MF3, so that effort is completely fruitless at this time. Did the guy try a different USB port, cord or even restarting the computer he was using?
Can you get into your recovery to do a factory reset?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Best buy should be able to do it. I remember reading somewhere that someone had to go to 3 different stores before they found someone smart enough to do it.. Lol
Sent from my SGH-I337 using XDA Premium HD app

I cannot get into recovery at all, it just says recovery booting and sits there....recovery booting is displayed at the top left of the screen in blue.
The guy did not try a different port or reboot. When he plugged the phone in, in download mode, the computer did recognize the phone but his Samsung software did not.
graydiggy said:
Well There is no way to flash with Odin while on MF3, so that effort is completely fruitless at this time. Did the guy try a different USB port, cord or even restarting the computer he was using?
Can you get into your recovery to do a factory reset?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Well he is an idiot for not troubleshooting his system. I have had the same exact thing happen with multiple different computers and phones. The computer detects the device correctly, but the program I needed to use would not. More often than anything a quick changing of ports or a reboot of the computer fixed it. I have had to completely wipe out the drivers a few times and reinstall them to get it to work. 9 times out of ten, it is not the phone that is the culprit, it is something else before the phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

FIXED
Well it seems the guy at my best buy was a TOOL! I took the phone in again today, had the battery pulled before I arrived - put it in download mode for him. Told him that Samsung tech support said he should reboot his pc. He did. Voila, reflashed to stock. Thank goodness....thank you guys for the advice.

Apply cold water directly to burned area.
Who's awesome?
ME!
Anyways, glad you are back up.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] LG G2 Bricked! PLEASE HELP!!!

i have the VZW G2 (VS-980) and its stuck in fastboot mode. ive tried all the different methods listed in these forums and nothing has worked. i cant get into download mode as everytime i try, download mode shows for a second then goes into fastboot mode again. PLEASE HELP!!

simon_lefisch said:
i have the VZW G2 (VS-980) and its stuck in fastboot mode. ive tried all the different methods listed in these forums and nothing has worked. i cant get into download mode as everytime i try, download mode shows for a second then goes into fastboot mode again. PLEASE HELP!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How the hell did you brick it? Give us some more background on what tweaks, root methods, flashing recovery methods did you use or else its hard to diagnose the issue.

ericdabbs said:
How the hell did you brick it? Give us some more background on what tweaks, root methods, flashing recovery methods did you use or else its hard to diagnose the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok. i was on stock. rooted with the IO method. wanted to flash a ROM (clean rom). downloaded ROM, wipe dalvik/cache/data. after reboot, phone booted into recovery mode. tried going into download mode to revert back to stock and LG FlashTool failed. said phone was the wrong model number (D802). the ROM i Downloaded said it was for VZW G2. obviously it wasnt. so i finally ended up using fastboot to push boot image and it booted, but in about phone, it says it D802 model (i just got it to boot, where as before i was stuck in fastboot mode). now i need to return to stock, but dont know how. any ideas?

Check out this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2517649&highlight=bricked

Gnarfsan said:
Check out this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2517649&highlight=bricked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, i actually was able to restore a backup i had of my stock rom and that fixed the model number prob, however now i cant get into download mode so i can do a reflash :/

simon_lefisch said:
well, i actually was able to restore a backup i had of my stock rom and that fixed the model number prob, however now i cant get into download mode so i can do a reflash :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even following the steps posted in that thread?

Gnarfsan said:
Even following the steps posted in that thread?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes. not sure why its doing that. is there any way that download mode can be deleted from the phone? also, how do you get into fastboot mode?
EDIT: nevermind. i finally got it into download mode!! (thank god!!) flashing right now. damn that was a pain in the ass. i was starting to freak out that i messed up my phone. this is my first LG phone so this process is a little new to me (been on moto for the last few years) thanks for trying to help me out. this was def a learning experience.

Phew, I'm glad to hear that. Some day I will be in the same situation
Sent from my LG-D802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Just a quick question. Why would you even need to go into download mode to flash a Rom? Never once have I done that. Really, just curious.
Thanks Devs. From my VZW G2.

trickster2369 said:
Just a quick question. Why would you even need to go into download mode to flash a Rom? Never once have I done that. Really, just curious.
Thanks Devs. From my VZW G2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking the same thing. It's best to stay out of those modes. Get a recovery installed ASAP and do everything that you need to do from there. I recommend TWRP Recovery.
Sent from my LG-D802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Maybe because when flashing stock rom download mode is needed (atleast in my old sammy phone, maybe same in moto phones)

What's wrong with restoring the backup of the stock rom that should have been made before wiping and flashing a different rom? Not sure what I'm missing here.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Premium HD app

Download mode is useful to flash the entire phone back to stock using the OEM tools. It's not just for the stock ROM. It's everything. It's useful if you get a bit carried away in TWRP and wipe partitions you really shouldn't be touching. Or if you somehow manage to bork your recovery, or at least can't get into it. It's also good if you want your phone to be completely stock to sell it or to send it in on warranty. I'm sure someone could come up with other scenarios where it's useful.
But yes, it is a good idea to keep a backup of your stock ROM. And as always, know what you're flashing, make sure it's for your phone and check md5s. And be mindful of what you're doing in recovery. You should be able to avoid most issues. Download mode is indeed something you shouldn't be using often but as I said above there are situations where it is useful or necessary. It's actually something I suggest you know how to use. I say it's always a good idea to know how to get back to complete stock for warranty stuff, selling, or if something just goes majorly wrong.

The Rom I was trying to flash was apparently for a different model number, yet it was under the Verizon thread. There was no md5 to cross reference. In the end I ended up finding the proper boot image/twrp files and pushed them via fastboot (since I was unable to use adb) which then allowed more to restore a backup of the original Rom. Just took me all night to finally get back to stock. Then I decided to restore to out-of-the-box stock just to make sure all files weren't corrupted our anything.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Not for nothing, but I ran the LG flash tool without putting the phone in download mode and it worked fine.

Semantics said:
Not for nothing, but I ran the LG flash tool without putting the phone in download mode and it worked fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.....interesting. I may try that next time I have to flash to stock.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Same Problem
simon_lefisch said:
The Rom I was trying to flash was apparently for a different model number, yet it was under the Verizon thread. There was no md5 to cross reference. In the end I ended up finding the proper boot image/twrp files and pushed them via fastboot (since I was unable to use adb) which then allowed more to restore a backup of the original Rom. Just took me all night to finally get back to stock. Then I decided to restore to out-of-the-box stock just to make sure all files weren't corrupted our anything.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you fill me in on how you used fastboot to install twrp? I am in the same boat right now...

i'm stuck as well in Fastboot and can't figure it out

emmur0 said:
i'm stuck as well in Fastboot and can't figure it out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sent you a pm

You can you adb side load which is the same for flashing rom, pushing, or pulling file from the phone which is the first thing to learn before flashing anything to the new device that you got and know nothing about.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using xda premium

Sprint LS980 up ****s creek without a rom

Hey guys rookie mistake went to flash a new seemingly successful rom and forgot to make a back up first. Now my phone is on but black screen. I can get into recovery but I have no backup. Also when I connect my phone to the computer it no longer recognizes it. I have all up to date drivers. They worked yesterday. Ive been reading about bricked g2 on boot loop and other variances and trying different things all day with no success. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

bump
This may have been discussed before. Ive searched here and google. Plenty of horror stories and the only one ive seen with the same problem never got a fix or least didnt reply on the boards about being fixed. My phone will not turn off no matter what I do. The screen is slightly lite up and will only boot to recovery(where I have no backups) and download mode where it basically does nothing and will not connect to my computer reguardless of it having the right drivers. So I have no way to my knowledge to flash a new/stock rom. I even got desperate and did a hard reset. Changed nothing but deleted the original rom I was attempting to flash.

Install pda net driver or koush drivers.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk

Ok I'll try that. Ty
Sent from my SM-T217S using xda app-developers app