Related
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
[EDIT 3] Worked fine, finally, thanks for all the help.
[EDIT 2] Yeah, I don't know how it happened or what happened, but I got a lot further. I started to get Odin failing at recovery and then remembered this thread which I found earlier: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=907261&page=2
Basically did it exactly like how the OP fixed it, and the phone is currently being flashed.
But now I have a different problem, seems I can't get a break.
http://img651.imageshack.us/i/stuck.jpg/
It's stuck there, should I just wait? Is it supposed to take a while? Or is there a problem? Been there for about an hour now.
[EDIT] So the phone works now, but Odin won't flash for me. What could the problem be if it's stuck on Initializing (or rather, Initialzing as the program puts it)? I've tried 1.61, 1.7, used the DI18 file and removed the md5 bit so that the file ends in .tar, etc
Hey, so I've been desperately trying to return my Epic to stock DI18, and I tried clockwork mod which didn't work, and then I tried doing it through Odin, and it kept hanging on Initializing.
Anyway, I keep trying with Odin, and ended up taking out my battery and putting it back in, but now the phone won't turn on. It doesn't turn on normally, not through download mode, not recovery, nothing.
Any help? What can I do? I tried searching but every result ends up being about turning on bluetooth or wifi, etc., and the few that are related to bricking talk about going into download mode to flash with Odin.
I hope you didn't take the battery out while flashing odin...
you can't turn it on in any way right?
can you charge it via usb? maybe you just ran out of power while flashing?
Uh, yeah, that's exactly what I did. Every time Odin would hang at Initializing, I'd have to remove the battery and restart the phone to try again.
God, I am so stupid, it is ridiculous.
The battery did have a decent amount of charge last time I checked though.
Hold down 1 and power and insert battery while holding them. That should get you into d/l mode. Taking out the battery while odin is stuck on initializing does not harm the phone.
Sent from my Bonzai'd Epic 4g.
I just did something like what you said leather, and I got it into download mode.
Now I'm afraid to do anything. Any reason why my flashing through Odin wouldn't work?
Odin is picky about the computer its running on. I used a laptop when i first started flashing..no issues ever.
Fixed my desktop and instantly ran into odin problems. Try changing USB ports and make sure youve got no firewalls running.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Yeah, what I don't know how it happened or what happened, but I got a lot further. I started to get Odin failing at recovery and then remembered this thread which I found earlier: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=907261&page=2
Basically did it exactly like how the OP fixed it, and the phone is currently being flashed.
But now I have a different problem, seems I can't get a break.
http://img651.imageshack.us/i/stuck.jpg/
It's stuck there, should I just wait? Is it supposed to take a while? Or is there a problem? Been there for maybe 5-6 minutes now.
The factory always takes the longest; so give it time. And do NOT pull the battery at that point. Youll have to say good bye epic :<
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
How did this end up? Did it move past FACTORY FS?
Nope, still stuck in that same exact place. Is it supposed to take this long or has something gone wrong?
Could I unplug it and try again at this point, or would that brick it? It's just stuck there, what do I do? I'd love to try different usb ports and such, but I can't if I don't stop this process, just don't know how to do it without bricking it.
And thanks for the help so far.
Did you remove the. Md5 at the end of the tar file?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
No, I put the md5 back to start from the beginning with everything as it comes from downloads and such.
What do I do about it right now though? Can I safely unplug it and restart it or...?
Seems like you have no choice but to unplug it. Removing the md5 shouldn't make a difference. Try a different USB port.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Yeah, thankfully it didn't brick. I feel like I'm walking through a minefield with this thing.
Anyway, switched ports, had the file renamed to end in .tar, made sure Odin was opened as administrator in Windows 7, and thankfully it flashed fine.
Now I'm back at vanilla 2.1, can start fresh in terms of upgrading, was having some problems earlier. Is that GPS locking problem present in 2.3? Assuming I put ClockworkMod 3 on it and have the file system reset to EXT4, can I just flash to 2.3 ROMs right away?
Such problems
Hi everyone,
Skip this first paragraph if you just want to read my steps from problems to solution:
I hope this post helps people who were in the same situation I was in.
A few days ago I just happened to read the news about the new gingerbread for the AT&T i997 Samsung Infuse. I read that it wasn't over the air. Because of what has been seeming as a bluetooth leak after trying everything to stop the leak up to hard resetting it, I figured I'd pray that gingerbread fixes it. So on went my quest in the last few days trying to get this gingerbread update as fast as I could.
1) I downloaded keys mini for the Samsung device which was needed for the upgrade. I installed it on my main pc which is windows 7 64 bit. After installation, it's first run, it automatically updated the application.
2) I plugged in my phone via usb and it said device not registered so I got in contact with a Samsung rep in chat who told me to register it and it would take 24 hours.
3) I registered on Samsung and waited about 48 hours and still no change.
4) Got impatient and read about GTG Ultimate unbrick which is supposed to return my stock phone back to it's out of box condition which eliminated what I thought as an error with my phone of it not being registered.
5) Now after plugging it in after the unbrick. I got a message stating "device already up to date". I kept getting this for the last couple days. Sigh
6) Read that I could download the new gingerbread stock ROM without being rooted. Just had to use the ODIN3 I got with the GTG Ultimate unbrick zip file and supply the ROM I997UCKL2-Homebinary.tar.md5 as the input file.
7) Follow basically same instructions as unbricking but not reformatting and just supplying the md5 file as the input for hte PDA button then clicking start.
8) Odin 3 message status window was stuck at setupconnection and I knew this wasnt right. It was stuck for over 15 minutes and it should only do that for a minute or less.
9) Unplugged usb and big error in red on Odin 3 (but didn't have a choice)
10) Tried removing battery and retrying the flash but now a bigger issue the screen was all colored specs or in other words multi colored spots. Rut roh!
11) After scratching my head and googling like crazy some others had the same issue and they mentioned removing the battery and trying again but didn't mention that the spots would remain on the screen while the items could be flashed fine.
12) Tried again this time it got past setupconnection but was stuck at initializing.
13) Thought to myself let me try it on my Windows Vista 32 laptop.
14) Voila. It worked. So don't give up if you see the colored spots on your screen. There still is a chance. I now have gingerbread. THANKS EVERYONE!
Next Morning Update:
I was too quick to be happy. It seems I am one of the small few who is having touch sensitivity issues and lag typing on the lower right side of the screen especially with the back key (backspace). I typed my first reply to an email and the third word in the backspace was completely disabled.
Glad you got it working.
Am i the only one when i saw "what now" immediately thought about that lead paint commercial ?
iSaint said:
Am i the only one when i saw "what now" immediately thought about that lead paint commercial ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GTG Ultimate unbrick zip is missing can u re-up it plz?
I've been ROM-hopping, trying Synergy, Alliance, Myn, and several others. On the last one, MikG 2.3, I had it loaded up and working fine. I started installing apps from the Android Market. That, too, was going fine, until it suddenly rebooted in the middle of an app download/install.
It went to the white screen with HTC EVO 4G on it, and then went black, then back to the white screen, over and over.
Six hours later, I'm still stuck in the loop. To make matters worse, I accidentally lost root (I see "S-ON" at the top). So now I'm stuck without root until GB is rooted successfully, which hopefully isn't tooooo far off in the future.
But that's the least of my concerns. I would be extremely happy with a stock install of any sort at this point, but I can't get anything to load. No recovery, no ROMs, but I can get into HBOOT so I'm able to try to load any PC36IMG.zip files. The last one I tried was the "PC36IMG_SuperSonic_GB_Sprint_WWE_4.24.651.1_Radio_2.15.00.05.02_NV_2.15_release_199233_signed.zip" (renamed to just PC36IMG.zip, of course). It appears to load just fine and in the end says "Update Complete... Do you want to reboot device?"
I choose yes, it reboots... and we're back in the loop. I have no idea what to do or try at this point. Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated! My next step is to take it to the Sprint store, but that's over an hour away and will have to wait till the weekend.
Thanks everyone!! If you need any more information, let me know. Believe me, I'll be monitoring this thread closely!
/Kevin
I'm sure uve heard this before and prob won't work but worth a try....try reformatting ur SD card and then flashing the file in bootliader again. Could be a corrupt SD card
Papa Smurf151 said:
I'm sure uve heard this before and prob won't work but worth a try....try reformatting ur SD card and then flashing the file in bootliader again. Could be a corrupt SD card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I tried. I have several SD cards of varying sizes (4GB, 8GB, and my primary 16GB). Formatted the 4- and 8GB ones and tried from each, but no go. Thanks for the try though!
/Kevin
Reset phone to recovery (stock), choose fastboot. Plug in USB to computer.
Look for the correct ruu exe file and ruu it via exe method
trim81 said:
Reset phone to recovery (stock), choose fastboot. Plug in USB to computer.
Look for the correct ruu exe file and ruu it via exe method
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just did it and the process went well, said it was successful... but it's still stuck in the same loop. I'm thinking the phone is beyond repair. Thanks for trying, though. It really looked like it might work for a second.
/Kevin
what was the app?
That's what I want to know and how do you get accidentally to S-On?
Put the phone in a refrigerator ... as crazy as it sounds, it might be the infamous overheating issue.
Put in refrigerator, for about 5min
The app was "Kid Zone" (Zoodles), but I'm not blaming the app by any means. I've used it for a long time, it's highly-rated in the market, etc. I'm sure it's just a coincidence.
As far as getting back to S-ON, I think it must have been when I flashed the stock recovery. I was flashing so many things out of desperation that I can't swear to that, but I'm pretty sure that's what did it. Now that it looks like I'm heading to the Sprint store tomorrow, I guess it's a GOOD thing it's back to S-ON. Heh.
Pretty sure it's not heat-related. My phone was off all night (since it's not usable) in an air conditioned room, so it's cool to the touch. I tried the RUU process again with the same results. (I'm not sticking it in the refrigerator, because I'm afraid of activating the water-damage sensor -- I don't want any excuses from Sprint when I bring it in tomorrow!)
Appreciate the help!!
/Kevin
That sucks, but tbh, I have yet to see one case of anyone at Sprint checking a bootloader to see if a phone is S-On. MOF, I bet if it doesn't boot at all, or is a stock ROM , they wouldn't even know the difference.
HipKat said:
That sucks, but tbh, I have yet to see one case of anyone at Sprint checking a bootloader to see if a phone is S-On. MOF, I bet if it doesn't boot at all, or is a stock ROM , they wouldn't even know the difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear ya. I haven't run into any techs at my local stores that are knowledgeable about this kind of stuff. (I know others have, so you never know, but I have yet to see one.)
/Kevin
To conclude this: I went to the Sprint store today where they assured me they would reload the software but it would take 1.5 hours. I came back 1.5 hours later... and they handed me a new (refurb) EVO. They said they weren't able to load anything on the phone.
So, no surprise with the outcome there. I was fairly certain they were going to have to replace the EVO, and they did.
Thanks to everyone who tried to help, but it was just beyond help!
/Kevin
I had that same problem with my phone back in November. Continues boot loop. Finally, having boot loop for 8hrs, I took it to Sprint and they replaced my phone. They called it a power cycle issue. $35 new refurbished phone works well. Never had a problem since.
I don't think I've bricked my phone, I hope you can help me. Done some reading here, but still a big time noob! Trying to flash back to stock for the Verizon upgrade, my phone is stuck on the screen with a gold triangle and a exclamation point in the center of a cell Phone and a computer. I found a thread with a similar problem. I can't seem to have a successful flash in odin. I keep getting a fail when i flash the test file. I would be content if I could just get the phone to boot and have my Miunia Rom working again. Someone please help.
Al bergie man1 said:
I don't think I've bricked my phone, I hope you can help me. Done some reading here, but still a big time noob! Trying to flash back to stock for the Verizon upgrade, my phone is stuck on the screen with a gold triangle and a exclamation point in the center of a cell Phone and a computer. I found a thread with a similar problem. I can't seem to have a successful flash in odin. I keep getting a fail when i flash the test file. I would be content if I could just get the phone to boot and have my Miunia Rom working again. Someone please help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means you have no kernel our rom in the phone. Not sure what this "test file" you are trying to flash is, but I'm not surprised its failing. Flashing dl 17 should work. If not, flash the ec07 leak, with the proper pit file, repartition unchecked. Then flash dl17.
Dished out by my dumb digits
now it's worse, I hit the dark abyss
So, I flashed(with odin) the clean Eco7 stock with with the correct pit file. It seemed to be doing fine, it got all the way to recov.bin but then I froze there for about an hour. At this point i didn't think it was going to pass anyway so i unplugged the phone and stopped the program(oops?). Now my phone is even worse, it seems lifeless. The phone won't even go to down load mode. I found on another post where someone else was also getting nothing, no power just blackness, and I followed those directions. Still a black screen. It seems more grim than ever! One thing I have noticed that while attempting to flash, a few times my computer completely rebooted. Out of know where! This has happened about 5 or 6 times. I'm just about ready to turn on my old flip phone but I just don't want to give up yet! Any more suggestions?!
Oops, is right. You may have hard bricked yourself. I've tried helping people out of this one before, with no sucess. That is the reason I told you to make sure repartition was unchecked. You can try to power on, and issue an adb command, if you have it installed. But, I doubt it will work. The reason you don't have download, at this point, is because you don't have a secondary bootloader on your phone, anymore. It turns into a catch 22. Download mode is supposedly hard written on the chip. So, you could use a jig to force it into download mode. I'd say that that is your best bet, at this point.
did uncheck repartition
I did uncheck repartition but obviously with no avail. I Will try the"jig" but I don't know anything about it. Is this a file I can download or what?
No matter what happens, thanks soooo much for the efforts to help me!!! Especially wolf??
No. A jig is a piece of hardware. Do a youtube search for 'download mode jig' and you''' get some good hits. You'd have to construct it, or get ahold of some of the devs that have. I don't recall the name, but one dev made one for the Fascinate. I'd imagine it would work for our phone too.
If anyone can remember who it is (I want to say Adam Outler, but I might be wrong) pipe up.
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.
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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
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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>
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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.
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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.