Database Users

restore from ROM manager bricked my phone

I did a search and couldn't find much help.
I recently dropped my phone and the screen got a slight crack, so the insurance company sent me a new one.
I figured I'd use ROM manager to backup my old phone, and restore it on my new phone.
New phone restores, reboots, and gets stuck at the black Vibrant screen.
I can get back into recovery mode fine, but nothing seems to work.
I let it sit at the Vibrant screen for about an hour before I try again.
Its attempt 3 when I decided to come on this site for some help.
Specs:
Stock
Rooted
Launcher pro
Nothing too much to be confusing and brick, so wtf?
Oh and I understand I could use odin to reflash my phone, please please please don't suggest odin, because I don't own a PC, I own a mac. Please don't tell me to go out and buy a PC or to download a program that costs $50 to use PC programs on a mac. I could have told myself that kind of information.
HELP, my brand new phone is destroyed wahhhh

From the sound of it you still have your old phone. If so, rather than restore using nandroid, try downloading a copy of titanium backup to backup/restore your apps. I have found that sms restore does a good job restoring texts. For me those two apps get the job done restoring my info. Also, if you haven't, sync your contacts to google and they will auto sync upon load. Of course this all assumes you still have your old phone in working order. ..
Also, there are stock roms flashable via clockwork that basically do the same as odin. Check the ' bible' sticky for links.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

a400meter said:
From the sound of it you still have your old phone. If so, rather than restore using nandroid, try downloading a copy of titanium backup to backup/restore your apps. I have found that sms restore does a good job restoring texts. For me those two apps get the job done restoring my info. Also, if you haven't, sync your contacts to google and they will auto sync upon load. Of course this all assumes you still have your old phone in working order. ..
Also, there are stock roms flashable via clockwork that basically do the same as odin. Check the ' bible' sticky for links.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have my old phone in working order, but that doesn't help the fact that my new phone is stuck on bootup, and can only enter recovery mode...

yelowbottlecaps said:
I still have my old phone in working order, but that doesn't help the fact that my new phone is stuck on bootup, and can only enter recovery mode...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way I can think of that a nandroid restore would soft brick you, is because you have restored a version of android with a different kernel.
If the original phone had the original firmware (JFD), and the replacement had the most recent (JI6), this is what would be expected to happen.
Since you seem unable and unwilling to use Odin, your going to have to tell us more details (i.e. which versions of the firmware as related above were actually in play) before we can begin to help. If you don't know, well....
You can also simply take it back to a local T-Mobile store and do another swap, or you can find a friend with a Windows PC and Odin (or Samsung's Mini KIES with JI6). These are your only real options...

both phones had JI6
Thank you for the quick responses.
I'm not unwilling to use odin, but unless anyone knows of a free software to use PC programs on a mac, I'm SOL.

so, you got the new phone, rooted, got rom manager and then got clockwork recovery right?
You did a nandroid backup right (on the new phone), before flashing anything right?
Why not just download Fusion and flash that to get the phone up and running?

yelowbottlecaps said:
both phones had JI6
Thank you for the quick responses.
I'm not unwilling to use odin, but unless anyone knows of a free software to use PC programs on a mac, I'm SOL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well hmm....so much for guessing on my part. Crossing different build kernels is one sure fire way to brick...
Well, there is a solution for Mac and Linux for reloading firmware on a Samsung phone from Download Mode, an open project called Heimdall. It does everything Odin does, but without a GUI, so it depends on how comfortable you are with commandline/shell.
I'll pass you the relevant links so you can see for yourself what's going on.
[PROGRAM] Heimdall - Cross-Platform Open-Source Flashing Software (1.0.0 Available)
Heimdall's Website, with downloads...
XDA Dev Thread with JI6 Odin .tar file....
Best of luck!

s15274n said:
so, you got the new phone, rooted, got rom manager and then got clockwork recovery right?
You did a nandroid backup right (on the new phone), before flashing anything right?
Why not just download Fusion and flash that to get the phone up and running?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True that...Why didn't I think of that obvious ploy. If he can get into Recovery, and bounce over to clockwork...Well now's a good a time as any to try Bionix or Bionix Fusion...or a few other of the CW Recovery installable builds...Definitely easier than Heimdall or working out Odin on a mac....and definitely preferable to staring at a Vibrant logo...
{{facepalm}}

masterotaku said:
Well hmm....so much for guessing on my part. Crossing different build kernels is one sure fire way to brick...
Well, there is a solution for Mac and Linux for reloading firmware on a Samsung phone from Download Mode, an open project called Heimdall. It does everything Odin does, but without a GUI, so it depends on how comfortable you are with commandline/shell.
I'll pass you the relevant links so you can see for yourself what's going on.
Best of luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If there was a step by step walkthrough, I have no problem trying this out.
But I downloaded it and have no idea what I'm doing. Therefore, still SOL

^ are you? You didn't answer my questions.

I'm gonna guess and say you also dl'd the oclf from the market to root too... so now you can't get back into CwR... right?
If you can get adb to recognize your phone then your not SOL. Im not sure what the exact command lines would be but you could delete the update.zip and replace it with another ROM. GL

I just tried using Odin on my roommates PC. An error happened and now the phone is showing a picture of a phone, a couple dots, an exclamation mark, a couple dots, and a computer.
Nothing I can do is taking it out of this screen. Unplugged from computer, took out battery, took out sd card, put it back in... nothing
Am I bricked for good now?
This is a terrible day.

edit: i managed to be able to get the phone into download mode.

No you are not completely bricked! Honestly that is almost impossible on this phone. The only way you'll lose this phone is if YOU give up.
Just keep trying and take a few deep breathes. Take a break actually. Just redo the process from step one.
Edit: you're half way there. Just flash Eugene's froyo that doesn't brixk, reboot, flash JFD or JI6, reboot... then you'll be right back to out of the box status.

All~G1 said:
I'm gonna guess and say you also dl'd the oclf from the market to root too... so now you can't get back into CwR... right?
If you can get adb to recognize your phone then your not SOL. Im not sure what the exact command lines would be but you could delete the update.zip and replace it with another ROM. GL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If someone can back this up with some instructions that would be amazing.

All~G1 said:
No you are not completely bricked! Honestly that is almost impossible on this phone. The only way you'll lose this phone is if YOU give up.
Just keep trying and take a few deep breathes. Take a break actually. Just redo the process from step one.
Edit: you're half way there. Just flash Eugene's froyo that doesn't brixk, reboot, flash JFD or JI6, reboot... then you'll be right back to out of the box status.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the motivation!

yelowbottlecaps said:
Thank you for the motivation!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries, we've all been there. It took me 6 hours lol. Best part is after you go through this once it will only take you 5-10 mins the next time. The hard part is just getting everything setup in the mist of anger, frustration, fear & panic.

All~G1 said:
No worries, we've all been there. It took me 6 hours lol. Best part is after you go through this once it will only take you 5-10 mins the next time. The hard part is just getting everything setup in the mist of anger, frustration, fear & panic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and in the midst of a roommate that needs his pc back.
I still need a fix that would work for macs... if not, I'd have to wait for my roommate to let me bum his pc again

Do my posts not show up or something? wtf.

s15274n said:
Do my posts not show up or something? wtf.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/me pats s15274n on the back....don't get mad...get even! =P
Honestly, sounds like yelow's focusing on getting all the help s/he needs from All~G1. I wouldn't worry about it.
~SB

I'm Screwed!

I have to return my Vibrant to T-Mo and need to unroot. But I don't think I'm really rooted in the first place. I downloaded the RyanZas lagfix app. I clicked on root phone. I went into recovery and reinstalled packages. My phone says it's rooted, but there is no update.zip file anywhere. I can't even find a "download" file in Astro. I have the Superuser icon in my apps, but can't delete that either. I just want to get this phone to where I can send it back to T-Mo without voiding my warranty. Also in the lagfix app, it says I am rooted. I don't even have the option to root, only to unroot. When I try that, it just reboots my phone, but never "unroots".
Another thing...when I look at my free space, I have 1754 mb out of 1917 mb available. If I was rooted, would I have less space available?
I'm sure it's VERY obvious that I'm a newbie to all this, so if you have any ideas for me, please talk to me like I'm a 1st grader ;-)

Well if you unroot.. the superuser icon will disappear

hospo said:
I have to return my Vibrant to T-Mo and need to unroot. But I don't think I'm really rooted in the first place. I downloaded the RyanZas lagfix app. I clicked on root phone. I went into recovery and reinstalled packages. My phone says it's rooted, but there is no update.zip file anywhere. I can't even find a "download" file in Astro. I have the Superuser icon in my apps, but can't delete that either. I just want to get this phone to where I can send it back to T-Mo without voiding my warranty. Also in the lagfix app, it says I am rooted. I don't even have the option to root, only to unroot. When I try that, it just reboots my phone, but never "unroots".
Another thing...when I look at my free space, I have 1754 mb out of 1917 mb available. If I was rooted, would I have less space available?
I'm sure it's VERY obvious that I'm a newbie to all this, so if you have any ideas for me, please talk to me like I'm a 1st grader ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if it bothers you that much why dont you use odin and go back to stock jfd?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=734475
Seems a bit extreme but that will do it for you, its easy also

Well, like I said, I'm totally new to this and that thread is like trying to read Chinese for me. It doesn't bother me to be rooted. I just need to unroot because I have to send it in to T-Mo for my warranty replacement.
I never flashed any ROMs. I only rooted and applied the lag fix. But now the update.zip file is gone and my phone still says it's rooted.
When I go into the terminal on the phone and try to remove Superuser.apk it tells me it can't because it's a read-only file.
Again, I don't mind that these things are there, I just don't want to have to pay for my phone...again.

hospo said:
Well, like I said, I'm totally new to this and that thread is like trying to read Chinese for me. It doesn't bother me to be rooted. I just need to unroot because I have to send it in to T-Mo for my warranty replacement.
I never flashed any ROMs. I only rooted and applied the lag fix. But now the update.zip file is gone and my phone still says it's rooted.
When I go into the terminal on the phone and try to remove Superuser.apk it tells me it can't because it's a read-only file.
Again, I don't mind that these things are there, I just don't want to have to pay for my phone...again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sent in a phone with bionix final on it rooted and they didn't charge me for it I was having problems with other people not being able to hear me but once I sent it in and got my new one I was not charged any additional fees I'm not even sure they really check the phone they probably just reprogram everything back to stock hell they might not even be looking at the screen you never know, but this is my third vibrant and ive had something on all of the ones I've sent back never heard anything about it you could always try to claim it was refurbished and there was something wrong with it already best of luck anyway
Times never wasted when your getting waisted

seriously, using odin is really very simple, i used odin 1.7 ( no it dont have a virus before anyone says it) only a couple of nights ago after flashing one of eugenes kernels, long story short i was stuck at the boot animation, hadnt backed up like a noob and was stuck, i followed that thread and the hardest part for me was download mode on the phone and thats really simple, seriously if you need it back to total stock have a go at odin

I'd love to have a go at odin, except seriously, when I say I have no idea what I'm doing...I REALLY mean it! Someone has given me all the steps to use odin, but quite frankly, I still don't know where to start. Do I download part on my computer, then move it onto the phone? Where do I put it on the phone? How do I get in download mode? See...NO CLUE. I really shouldn't have ever rooted for the mere fact that I have no idea what I'm doing, lol.
I think I may just go back to factory reset (again) and roll the dice hoping they don't charge me.

hospo said:
Well, like I said, I'm totally new to this and that thread is like trying to read Chinese for me. It doesn't bother me to be rooted. I just need to unroot because I have to send it in to T-Mo for my warranty replacement.
I never flashed any ROMs. I only rooted and applied the lag fix. But now the update.zip file is gone and my phone still says it's rooted.
When I go into the terminal on the phone and try to remove Superuser.apk it tells me it can't because it's a read-only file.
Again, I don't mind that these things are there, I just don't want to have to pay for my phone...again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't you root it again and then unroot it...
The thread that has the Odin instructions is only 6 steps...well 5 steps since the last says "wait for it to complete". It's not as daunting as it seems...
I'd love to have a go at odin, except seriously, when I say I have no idea what I'm doing...I REALLY mean it! Someone has given me all the steps to use odin, but quite frankly, I still don't know where to start. Do I download part on my computer, then move it onto the phone? Where do I put it on the phone? How do I get in download mode? See...NO CLUE. I really shouldn't have ever rooted for the mere fact that I have no idea what I'm doing, lol.
I think I may just go back to factory reset (again) and roll the dice hoping they don't charge me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You download Odin to your computer with the .pit & the .tar file then run it from there. There's a video tutorial in the Vibrant Bible sticky in the Dev forum.
~SB

You don't understand because you aren't TRYING to understand. Odin is as simple as a few mouse clicks. Seriously.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

video how to odin...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=810130
video how to download mode
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqxearzXrVY

okay, I sucked it up, got over my fear, got everything downloaded. Phone was in download mode, then went black. Now all I can get on it is a picture of a cell phone, then an exclamation point, then a pic of a computer.
I really am trying to understand. I did get the files needed and the phone in download mode. Opened odin, put the files in while my phone was in download mode and plugged in. Then the above happened.

OMG!!!!!! I think it is finally working!!!! Thank you for your help!!!
Even after all this, I'm sure I won't stop tinkering, lol.
Who knows, maybe I won't have to trade in my phone after doing this? I was really worried about getting the refurb. I'm supposed to get it today, but I'm going to mess around with mine to see if it truly is back to its old beautiful self!
Thanks again everyone!!

That is SUPPOSED to happen. Now click "Start."
Edit: I see you got it now. Congrats.

hospo said:
OMG!!!!!! I think it is finally working!!!! Thank you for your help!!!
Even after all this, I'm sure I won't stop tinkering, lol.
Who knows, maybe I won't have to trade in my phone after doing this? I was really worried about getting the refurb. I'm supposed to get it today, but I'm going to mess around with mine to see if it truly is back to its old beautiful self!
Thanks again everyone!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it worried me using odin at first, but when you actually use it, its really very simple, now im hooked on flashing roms lol and using odin to go back when i stuff something up lol

kangxi said:
You don't understand because you aren't TRYING to understand. Odin is as simple as a few mouse clicks. Seriously.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah exactly, i was a totally new to odin and thought it was some hard thing to use, it was so simple, i couldnt believe it, get your pantys out of a wad and actually look it up

VZW update fix

if your have issues with the update not finishing 100% this will work
http://www.4shared.com/file/3skyGV3V/Verizon-GTab-Stock.html
download the zip using heimdall flash like normal
factoryfs-factoryfs.rfs
zimage-zimage
param.lfs-param.lfs
cache-cache.rfs
recovery-zimage
ignore the rest of the files
then before first boot wipe data and cache reboot
manually use update.zip or just let it download itself
install update and your done
you can verify by going to "about device" build number will be SCH-I800.EC02
use superoneclick for root z4mod not working keep getting f/c's
it seems like anybody who used z4mod to root or flashed recovery "back to stock" is having problems a 100% fix is just download the files from my post and flash like normal then use superoneclick for root
***for it to work you must download the recovery files from my post***
the files in my post are created using a temp. root so the files are a pure clone of unrooted rom 100% stock that is why you have to use superoneclick to root I tried everything and have done this to 6 tabs with no errors
EC02 stock ota update.zip download
http://www.4shared.com/file/qIHEta11/update.html

Thanks, I noticed you posted this on the other thread too. I have never used Heimdall so I was REALLY trying to avoid this but I guess I will have to take the plunge and figure it out.......

this works
I have tried every which way and this way has worked every time for me

Finally worked
works 100% just followed the steps and no problems finally updated!!!!!

It works, 100% Thank you so much for this

This does work, 100%, but please note that it DOES NOT WIPE THE DEVICE. It will boot up with all your stuff. This is not neccessarily practical, but it will probably be fine. If you have any root dependent mods, such as set cpu or lcd density, they wont work and it may operate funny/slow until you reroot and set them back up.

stock restore files download
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21215221/Verizon-GTab-Stock.zip
or
http://www.4shared.com/file/3skyGV3V/Verizon-GTab-Stock.html
Download Mode (Volume down and power)
Download Heimdall from Here:
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/products/heimdall/
Also just below version 1.1.0 is Microsoft C++ This also needs installed on your machine because it has .dll files Heimdall uses.
Launch download mode on your tab that is already connected to your PC.
unzip heimdall and go into the drivers folder where you will see zadig.exe. Run this.
At the top you see options. Click "list all devices"
Then in the dropdown select Android USB composite device or might say it other ways
Click start and let heimdall download the drivers. Once its finished, close zadig and launch heimdall front end leaving Tab plugged in and in download mode
Unzip the stock files.
the zImage goes in both the Kernel AND Recovery slot.
The factoryfs.rfs goes in Factoryfs
The Param.lfs goes in Param.lfs make sure you use param.ifs not param.rfs
and the cache.rfs goes in the cache slot.
ignore the rest of the files in the zip and just use these
After you have the files in place click start to flash. ALWAYS make sure your battery is sufficiently charged or you will have MAJOR problems.
After this runs you will more then likely have to Power down, wait a few seconds and hold power and up volume to boot into recovery. (NOTE, do not hold power too long, just long enough to turn it on, then continue holding up volume till you see recovery. WIPE DATA AND CACHE. Tab should boot.
then let update download install it and you can use superoneclick if you want root back

This worked!
Thank you lexriley! That seemed to work. I forgot to wipe data/cache before i applied the update.zip, it still worked anyway. I should probably have wiped the data/cache.
Thank you !!!!!! Great Work!

Thanks so much. I rooted using Z4 and the update failed. I used your instructions and got up and running again! You saved my Tab!

I'm happy its working for everyone like it worked for me

100% fully working!!!!!!!
thank you lexriley your guide is easy to follow and do your the man!!!!!!

This should be a sticky!!!!
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

Anyway to turn off the nagging update notification?. I have my tab where I want it, while your walk through is detailed and obviously a good solution, seems like an awful alot of time just for a minimal upgrade in software?.

oldmacnut said:
Anyway to turn off the nagging update notification?. I have my tab where I want it, while your walk through is detailed and obviously a good solution, seems like an awful alot of time just for a minimal upgrade in software?.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well let me tell you what I have noitced with the upgrade
1) Stock browser speed is faster, but I dont use the stock so that wasnt much help
2)There is now a item in the top of settings for you to activate your device through verizon (like you would using *228 or whatever it is from your phone)
3)The wifi searching thing. I often forget to turn wifi off so when I drive it drains battery searching, the drain is significantly less now.
4) BLUETOOTH HID SUPPORT! Sorry for the caps but I have been wanting this one for quite some time now. First thing I did was try my MX5500 at home and it paired up and worked perfectly.
5)Hyperlinks in emails issue. Constantly many hyperlinks were cut off and I wasnt able to click them, this has now been resolved.
If none of these things are appealing to you then by all means you have no need to upgrade. But I found that most of this was a welcomed change. The tab seems faster, but I believe that is just due to the fact that I do not have LCD density changing the density, which I find slows down many things on the tab.

lexriley said:
I'm happy its working for everyone like it worked for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At first it didn't work for me. I got "failed to access device. Error: -12". But that was my fault. I had forgotten to load the zagdig drivers for Heimdall. So I did that following the instructions in this thread and tried again. First try, I simply got a "fail", second try worked like a charm. When finished the Tab rebooted on its own.
As soon as it rebooted, I got the message that an update was waiting to be installed (EC02). Since I had already wiped the cashe (twice) on earlier attempts, I just went ahead and let the update install. Worked like a charm and now I've got EC02 update.
As a help to other noobs, I will add this.... The reason the update would not install in the first place is that I had deleted the VZW Vcast bloatware. Lexriley's fix here reinstalled all that VZW junk, which is what ultimately solved the problem. LESSON LEARNED: If you want future updates NEVER delete pre-installed apps. Either rename them and back them up to the SD, or better yet, "freeze" them with Titanium Backup.
Now to begin the task of re-rooting, installing ADW, and putting my Tab back into shape the way I had it.
BIG THANKS goes out to lexriley!! (And by all means, make this thread a sticky.)
Robin

Excellent work! This worked perfectly.

Got it, installed the newest Keis for drivers.

i hate to be that guy but is it possible to get odin files too? i can never get heimdall to work but odin works just fine

Robin M said:
As a help to other noobs, I will add this.... The reason the update would not install in the first place is that I had deleted the VZW Vcast bloatware. Lexriley's fix here reinstalled all that VZW junk, which is what ultimately solved the problem. LESSON LEARNED: If you want future updates NEVER delete pre-installed apps. Either rename them and back them up to the SD, or better yet, "freeze" them with Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I just restore the vcast stuff then I should be able to update without doing all the recovery stuff? I just renamed them all with a .bak at the end instead of deleting just incase I needed them again so I still have them all.
Edit: apparently yes, removed the .bak I added to the files names, un-rooted, clicked update and it worked fine

shiltz said:
Edit: apparently yes, removed the .bak I added to the files names, un-rooted, clicked update and it worked fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome. ...Isn't it great when you answer your own questions? I find myself doing that more frequently now, as I learn more about Android and my Tab - mostly from this forum.
PS... Now that you've successfully updated, take a look at the recovery.log file in your /cashe/log folder. I was amazed at the number and the variety of files this upgrade patched.

[Q] Need help recovering i337 S4

Hi All,
I just got an SPH-i337 yesterday and attempted to Root + Install Mod.
I ended up rooting and installing Safestrap (TWRP 2.6.x.x). Upon first use I backed up my current OS to a removable SD card using the utility in TWRP. I then, because I was not clear on how to download install CM which was what I was going to, installed ROM Manager and selected CM without setting up a ROM slot. I think this is where I went wrong.
Upon reboot, I was unable to access the Stock ROM and had no options to go to CM. When I attempted to perform a restore from my backup on SD it failed as well and keeps going to the Android recovery screen (not TWRP).
I'm now just trying to go back to stock and have tried using both Heimdall and Odin to no avail. Odin at least provides an error message:
SW REV. CHECK FAIL: Fused:4, Binary:1. What does this mean? That I'm attempting to use an image (.tar.md5 file) which is not current? Is there a way that I can still recover my phone?

..also, please let me know if there are pieces of information that I'm missing. I don't have much to go off of since the firmware and other information (I believe) is not able to be accessed.
Again I just got the phone yesterday. I also have about 40 tabs open that are full of searches that I've been doing regarding this. As yet, no luck.

revolut10n said:
..also, please let me know if there are pieces of information that I'm missing. I don't have much to go off of since the firmware and other information (I believe) is not able to be accessed.
Again I just got the phone yesterday. I also have about 40 tabs open that are full of searches that I've been doing regarding this. As yet, no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look for the mk2 tar files. And do a lot of reading. You went wrong in a number of different areas

revolut10n said:
Hi All,
I just got an SPH-i337 yesterday and attempted to Root + Install Mod.
I ended up rooting and installing Safestrap (TWRP 2.6.x.x). Upon first use I backed up my current OS to a removable SD card using the utility in TWRP. I then, because I was not clear on how to download install CM which was what I was going to, installed ROM Manager and selected CM without setting up a ROM slot. I think this is where I went wrong.
Upon reboot, I was unable to access the Stock ROM and had no options to go to CM. When I attempted to perform a restore from my backup on SD it failed as well and keeps going to the Android recovery screen (not TWRP).
I'm now just trying to go back to stock and have tried using both Heimdall and Odin to no avail. Odin at least provides an error message:
SW REV. CHECK FAIL: Fused:4, Binary:1. What does this mean? That I'm attempting to use an image (.tar.md5 file) which is not current? Is there a way that I can still recover my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
revolut10n said:
..also, please let me know if there are pieces of information that I'm missing. I don't have much to go off of since the firmware and other information (I believe) is not able to be accessed.
Again I just got the phone yesterday. I also have about 40 tabs open that are full of searches that I've been doing regarding this. As yet, no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Safestrap only works with other TW ROMS, so your first issue was trying to use CM. Second, it's not official TWRP and is not even installed to the recovery partition so using ROM Manager was your second issue. Trying to boot into recovery normally will take you to stock recovery since it isn't installed in the recovery partition, there should be a splash screen that comes up after the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen asking to either press for recovery or continue. If that works, you can use the backup from there. If it's gone, you have to use ODIN. The reason you get that SW REV. CHECK FAIL is because you're trying to flash an older firmware than you have. Depending on if you were on 4.2.2 or 4.3 you will either need the MF3 or MK2 .tar.md5 respectively.

jd1639 said:
Look for the mk2 tar files. And do a lot of reading. You went wrong in a number of different areas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for pointing me to those files. I'm sure I did go wrong in a few places as I felt that I was largely just winging it.. There's a TON of information out there. Is there anything specific that I was more wrong than the rest?

revolut10n said:
Thanks for pointing me to those files. I'm sure I did go wrong in a few places as I felt that I was largely just winging it.. There's a TON of information out there. Is there anything specific that I was more wrong than the rest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Deadly sin said it all. Cm and rom manager. Here are the files you need http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49687770

Thanks everyone. Hell of an introduction to Android, I have to say considering I just got off the WinPhone bandwagon yesterday (been using it for ~7 years).

revolut10n said:
Thanks everyone. Hell of an introduction to Android, I have to say considering I just got off the WinPhone bandwagon yesterday (been using it for ~7 years).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The s4 is a very difficult phone to use custom roms on. Once you're back up and running start here and read a lot before doing anything with it http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=42320391

jd1639 said:
The s4 is a very difficult phone to use custom roms on. Once you're back up and running start here and read a lot before doing anything with it http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=42320391
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now you tell me - after I've been trying to do this for 12+ hours. Many thanks though - it looks like the MK2 AiO files are working.

jd1639 said:
The s4 is a very difficult phone to use custom roms on. Once you're back up and running start here and read a lot before doing anything with it http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=42320391
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, it seems that I can't use the method listed directly on that page on account of running the MK2 baseband. If I'm going to go forward it looks like I'll have to use SafeStrap and unofficial TWRM + TW mods for the time being.
Of course, if something about what I'm saying is wrong, I'd be glad to hear it.

revolut10n said:
Unfortunately, it seems that I can't use the method listed directly on that page on account of running the MK2 baseband. If I'm going to go forward it looks like I'll have to use SafeStrap and unofficial TWRM + TW mods for the time being.
Of course, if something about what I'm saying is wrong, I'd be glad to hear it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check my last Post #50 it should get u an idea and where to find related link. Also check that MK2 INDEX & ROM LIST ....:good:

Failed to flash GApps, soft brick, nightmare.. A novel with a solution.

This started as a beg for help thread, but since the GS4 is coming up on 3 generations old, help is quite slow, yet does still exist as of this edit (3-20-15).
None the less, I will try to explain what happened so that people searching for similar problems might find this thread and resolve their issues.
I soft bricked the phone flashing PacMan. ... The instructions CLEARLY stated that you need to flash the rom, then flash GApps. Well, I forgot to Flash Gapps because I was so excited that I had a successful root and new rom to test that I finger ganged the phone.... The phone booted just fine and worked just fine, but I did not have ANY google apps, and went into a panic... LESSON #1 DO NOT PANIC......
What I failed to realize is that Android Lolipop (at least PacMan's version) requires the user to select options in the developer section of the settings menu to enable you to boot into your custom recovery after you have flashed your custom rom.... I DID NOT KNOW THIS and the information was NOT readily available. So what happened was I panicked and tried to flash another recovery which was apparently NOT the correct recovery for my phone.. (the cascade of errors began here). My phone was soft bricked and NOTHING I did would get me out of it.
So, after at least 50 attempts using Odin to try and flash a good recovery, re-root the phone, whatever I could think of, I finally got out of soft brick, and back to a working phone, yet still no google apps, and no recovery (or so I thought).
By this time, I had asked ....no. begged for help on 2 or 3 different threads to no avail when what I thought was a brain storm came to me.... I googled and located the google play store apk, and google play services apk and thought that if I could just get these 2 things installed, I would be able to log onto the google play store and download the apps I need and all would be right with the world....... Yeah.... Remember the cascade of errors thing I mentioned a few lines up ^^^ ?
Once I installed those 2 apk's and rebooted the phone, I was in nag screen hell with no way out, no custom recovery (remember...or so I thought) and no way to access ANYTHING on the phone because literally the second I hit "ok" on the nag screen, it would immediately pop back up...This "nag screen" was the one that pops up and tells you that "google play services has stopped working".. I came inches away from launching the phone against the wall and buying another one... something... anything but a Samsung GS4.
So here we are, 14 hours (of actual face in the phone, Odin, XDA, Google, YouTube) frantically searching for ANY solution.....and NOTHING presented itself, when I decided to take a step back and walk away from it for a couple of hours.......
The next thing I tried was pounding my way through the nag screen... Literally hitting the "ok" toggle to clear the screen, while instantly trying to hit any other button on the screen to get me into the settings menu, because during my little self imposed time out, I had an epiphany.... of sorts..... What really happened is that I remembered seeing a "factory reset" toggle in the settings menus somewhere.....and I was determined to find it........ SO....... 13,386,329 clicks of the "ok" button later, I managed to engage the factory reset switch at the exact right moment, followed by another 4,388 presses of the "ok" button to get to the "confirm" button.......... and like a beacon from heaven...... My phone rebooted, and factory reset, and the #%g^7**&^|@# nag screen was GONE !!!!! Oh my GOD it was GONE !!!!!!! After recovering from my full blown conniption, catching my breath and feeling like a raver must feel after a good night of Molly and glow stick euphoria, I had a working phone again..... almost.
What I did next was go immediately to Odin, re-root the phone, install a DIFFERENT rom, and the latest version of TWRP and like another beacon from the gods I had a wonderfully functional phone with all of the google apps I needed.... and all was good with the world........Pretty much....
I am nearly certain that I cost myself 5 years of healthy living with the stress I imposed upon myself throughout this ordeal ---- The following are lessons learned. Hopefully they save you from madness...
(1) Do NOT use a USB hub to connect your phone to the computer. The phone MUST be connected directly to a USB port on your machine.
(2) Understand the workings of the rom you are going to flash BEFORE you flash it.
(3) DO NOT PANIC
(4) DO NOT randomly install apk's just because you think you are smarter than a 5th grader, and you are so mad your phone doesn't work, you are going to try anything regardless of how retarded it might be.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST and actually probably the MOST IMPORTANT thing to do is locate, download and CONFIRM GOOD a stock firmware for YOUR phone BEFORE YOU ROOT or flash a new rom..... If you get to brick he11 like I did, you will spend more time searching for the tools to get back to zero than you can imagine. You will be revved up, angry with the world, and your google fu will fail you......miserably I might add......
Get all of your ducks in a row BEFORE you root, and before you flash a new rom. That means finding the stock firmware and opening it up in Odin with your phone connected to CONFIRM you have a good firmware to go back to should you fail miserably.... Your very sanity could depend on it...

Team Scream said:
Does anyone have and is willing to share a stock Galaxy S4 rom so I can go back to stock on my phone? I am currently soft bricked and completely dead in the water...
I need to be able to flash the rom using Odin since that is the ONLY way I can communicate with this phone right now....I can flash whatever recovery I want using Odin, but I cannot boot into that recovery once successfully flashed with Odin. It boot loops and goes back to the completely useless PacMan 5.02 rom I flashed previously that repeatedly shows the "google play services has stopped working" screen.... and no number of attempts to clear it by hitting ok will get me to a working desktop
I bricked my phone by flashing PacMan and forgetting to flash GAPPS before rebooting, then trying to install google play services apk and google play store apk manually because I could not get back into recovery for whatever reason....
I have spent the ENTIRE day searching for a stock rom that I can flash with Odin so I can at least get back to zero with this S4 which is actually a brand new phone for me....
PLEASE do not link me to mediafire or rapidgator downloads because I have tried every one of those that google will reveal.. I need one that YOU know is good, and will work. NONE.... NOT ONE of the files I have been able to find online are legitimate .tar files... They ALL unzip with errors and I have tried them on multiple computers.....Multiple download attempts and NOTHING... I have literally been at this for 10 hours now and really need some love.
On a side note, if I can pull the stock rom from my wifes brand new S4 without screwing up her phone, PLEASE tell me how to do that. She literally picked up her brand new replacement S4 today...
Any help is genuinely appreciated... PLEASE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung Galaxy S4 (SPH-L720)/Stock ROMs

KennyG123 said:
http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung Galaxy S4 (SPH-L720)/Stock ROMs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man thank you! THANK YOU! I really appreciate it... I woke this morning to find this reply after leaving my computer running all night for another corrupted downloaded image file.... I have my fingers crossed !!! THANK YOU
P.S. how do I know which one of those files I actually need? I have no idea what the difference is in each of those folders.... Forgive me for noob but I really am pretty noob at this.....

I just looked at the link to help you and noticed that Wilco stops at the NAE baseband. A lot of phones are on the NG2 baseband and if you have a 720T, it could be even a different baseband. Go to settings, "About Phone". Look for" "Baseband" and "Model Number". Write that information down. Once you have that, the last three characters are what is in the list in the link KennyG123 sent you. (For example, I have the original S4 so I have a SPH-L720 and my baseband is L720VPUFNG2 (or NG2 for short. Which was not on that list.) If it is not on the list, go to www.sammobile.com and search for your model number (For example, I am on the SPH-L720. If you just bought your phone from Sprint, you probably have the SPH-L720 or SPH-L720T). You can download the tar file from there. It is a little slow but it will get it done for you. The tar file for both phones are here in this forum if you want to search but going to Sammobile would probably be a little easier from the sounds of it.

dyandell said:
I just looked at the link to help you and noticed that Wilco stops at the NAE baseband. <snip>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey brother, thank you so much for the help and reply. I might have forgot to mention that I cannot get into the phone to read the model # or get any information from it at all. The nag screen telling me that google play services has stopped working is so persistent that I can't do anything with the phone once it boots.
Is there a way to brute force wipe the phone so that the only thing left when that process is done is a custom recovery like TWRP or Philz or anything other than stock?
If so, would you be so kind as to point me in the direction of a tutorial that would help me get through that process.... I am either not using the right search terms or I am just too old to be good at this and should have stayed home when the rooting lessons were being handed out...
Anyway, I genuinely appreciate your help... Thank you so much !!

Ok I was able to pound my way through the nag screen to the settings menu and eventually got to the baseband and model #
baseband: L720TVPUBOA3
model #: SPH-L720
I have tried 3 times to download the only version I can find on the sammobile.com website using the baseband to search and the file fails to download after getting about 2/3 complete.... I have tried it on 2 separate computers from 2 different locations now...... This is horrifying ...... Every single force that can be working against me, is working against me.
Ugh...... If you have a link to a method I can use to force wipe the phone without a stock rom, but with a recovery I can boot into to flash a rom I have on my external SD card, I would love to see it...... im losing my mind here...
<<<<<<<< EDIT>>>>>>>>>
I was also able to pound my way into the settings menu and do a factory reset which removed the google play nag. From there I was able to root around in the developer options folder where I discovered that in order to be able to boot into recovery, you need to select the "boot options" tab and allow the device to boot into recovery....
I know this device is old now and most people have moved on, and I am pleased that there are some people who stick around here to keep this device alive. I only wish that someone would have advised me to check the boot options selection when I indicated I could not boot into recovery... That would have saved me 2 days of manic obsessive he11....... This was complete he11...... But I am on the other side of it now, and have reflashed another rom... I am back among the living.

Team Scream said:
Ok I was able to pound my way through the nag screen to the settings menu and eventually got to the baseband and model #
baseband: L720TVPUBOA3
model #: SPH-L720
I have tried 3 times to download the only version I can find on the sammobile.com website using the baseband to search and the file fails to download after getting about 2/3 complete.... I have tried it on 2 separate computers from 2 different locations now...... This is horrifying ...... Every single force that can be working against me, is working against me.
Ugh...... If you have a link to a method I can use to force wipe the phone without a stock rom, but with a recovery I can boot into to flash a rom I have on my external SD card, I would love to see it...... im losing my mind here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint phones have always been able to downgrade and thinking that has not changed. You should be able to Odin the last one listed on the link I gave you...NAE...then your phone should boot...you can then take the Sprint OTA if you like then root and recovery as normal. Then you can get to the stuff on your SD and flash. The only issues I remember popping up these days is if you mismatch the modem and OS...which wouldn't be the case if you Odin'd NAE.

Team Scream said:
Ok I was able to pound my way through the nag screen to the settings menu and eventually got to the baseband and model #
baseband: L720TVPUBOA3
model #: SPH-L720
I have tried 3 times to download the only version I can find on the sammobile.com website using the baseband to search and the file fails to download after getting about 2/3 complete.... I have tried it on 2 separate computers from 2 different locations now...... This is horrifying ...... Every single force that can be working against me, is working against me.
Ugh...... If you have a link to a method I can use to force wipe the phone without a stock rom, but with a recovery I can boot into to flash a rom I have on my external SD card, I would love to see it...... im losing my mind here...
<<<<<<<< EDIT>>>>>>>>>
I was also able to pound my way into the settings menu and do a factory reset which removed the google play nag. From there I was able to root around in the developer options folder where I discovered that in order to be able to boot into recovery, you need to select the "boot options" tab and allow the device to boot into recovery....
I know this device is old now and most people have moved on, and I am pleased that there are some people who stick around here to keep this device alive. I only wish that someone would have advised me to check the boot options selection when I indicated I could not boot into recovery... That would have saved me 2 days of manic obsessive he11....... This was complete he11...... But I am on the other side of it now, and have reflashed another rom... I am back among the living.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you got it fixed! I have had my phone for over a year now and never heard of a boot options tab. I guess you learn something new every day.

Also glad you got it fixed. But let's keep this open in case someone else has the same or similar issue.

KennyG123 said:
Sprint phones have always been able to downgrade and thinking that has not changed. You should be able to Odin the last one listed on the link I gave you...NAE...then your phone should boot...you can then take the Sprint OTA if you like then root and recovery as normal. Then you can get to the stuff on your SD and flash. The only issues I remember popping up these days is if you mismatch the modem and OS...which wouldn't be the case if you Odin'd NAE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well not being able to leave well enough alone, I locked my phone up again.
Because I was able to get out of soft brick without needing a stock firmware, I never bothered downloading NAE from the link you provided.
Turns out after 2 separate downloads (one using Chrome and one using Firefox) I have determined that the md5.tar files on that site http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung%20Galaxy%20S4%20%28SPH-L720%29/Stock%20ROMs are worthless.... BOTH downloads failed in Odin before I could even get out of the gate....
They failed the md5 check that Odin performs and would not allow me to continue.... IS there something I am missing?

Team Scream said:
Well not being able to leave well enough alone, I locked my phone up again.
Because I was able to get out of soft brick without needing a stock firmware, I never bothered downloading NAE from the link you provided.
Turns out after 2 separate downloads (one using Chrome and one using Firefox) I have determined that the md5.tar files on that site http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung%20Galaxy%20S4%20%28SPH-L720%29/Stock%20ROMs are worthless.... BOTH downloads failed in Odin before I could even get out of the gate....
They failed the md5 check that Odin performs and would not allow me to continue.... IS there something I am missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remove the .md5 extension at the end and try again.

KennyG123 said:
Remove the .md5 extension at the end and try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet baby Jeezes please tell me that is not all I had to do.... I spent 4 hours staring at the screen downloading files last night .... I waited 4 hours and finally could not stay awake any more but I finally got the OA3 firmware from SamMobile downloaded successfully. I left the .md5 extension and it is now flashing via Odin as I type this.... I could have saved myself a few more hours of misery if I had known you can remove the .md5 extension..... This learning curve is hard on an old man like me hahaha!
Thanks Kenny
<edit> Ahhhhh.... the sweet smell of success !!! I am now booted back into a stock phone!!!
Man I hope this thread can help save someone else from the anguish I have put myself through with this thing....

Team Scream said:
Sweet baby Jeezes please tell me that is not all I had to do.... I spent 4 hours staring at the screen downloading files last night .... I waited 4 hours and finally could not stay awake any more but I finally got the OA3 firmware from SamMobile downloaded successfully. I left the .md5 extension and it is now flashing via Odin as I type this.... I could have saved myself a few more hours of misery if I had known you can remove the .md5 extension..... This learning curve is hard on an old man like me hahaha!
Thanks Kenny
<edit> Ahhhhh.... the sweet smell of success !!! I am now booted back into a stock phone!!!
Man I hope this thread can help save someone else from the anguish I have put myself through with this thing....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure it will! Glad you got it working and glad I helped! Some versions of Odin don't care about the md5 extension and others barf it up. With the way your luck went....well...don't buy a lottery ticket this week...hahaha.