Help with Bricked G-Tablet - G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello,
I was wandering if my tablet is hosed or not because of the following information after I tried to install early preview
of ICS and I have opened it. I have taken to a repair shop but they would touch because 'they think it is a software issue.' Software would not cause the followine:
A:My Tablet will not turn on.
B:My Tablet is not seen by my pc(I have tried every plug)
C:Master reset button does not do anything
D:When I try to run APX, it says that there are no usb connected.
E:When I either try to charge with/without dock, it will charge for about 30mins max then the charge light will shut off.
F:Windows does not recognize my tablet when connected to my PC.

barakisbrown said:
Hello,
I was wandering if my tablet is hosed or not because of the following information after I tried to install early preview
of ICS and I have opened it. I have taken to a repair shop but they would touch because 'they think it is a software issue.' Software would not cause the followine:
A:My Tablet will not turn on.
B:My Tablet is not seen by my pc(I have tried every plug)
C:Master reset button does not do anything
D:When I try to run APX, it says that there are no usb connected.
E:When I either try to charge with/without dock, it will charge for about 30mins max then the charge light will shut off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps you have been here but this site helped me out many times.
http://viewsonic-gtablet-for-dummies.webs.com/

See this post.

I would use this thread if my tablet could actually turn on. I have tried to see if it will show up in APX mode.

Have you checked to see if you are actually just in APX mode?
There won't be a thing on the tablet screen, will look like it's off (no color change of the black "off" getting lighter from being "on", etc..).
If you were able to nvflash before, have you tried nvflashing again?
Just as a test, plug the tablet up to your PC (that you have used nvflash on before....so we know your USB config is valid for the Gtablet), go ahead and hold the volume - down and then press power for just a second. Now try to nvflash the device.
My tablet was stuck in an APX boot only process for a LONG time (about 9 months). I could nvflash it with different ROMS to test, just couldn't power it off because once I did....it appeared to never come on again. Reset button did nothing, Power button did nothing, screen was just "off" black period. I could still nvflash....

barakisbrown said:
I would use this thread if my tablet could actually turn on. I have tried to see if it will show up in APX mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should go through those links a bit more carefully. Watch that youtube video for a start.

I got home after school and tried all suggestions and I still could not get it into apx mode. I watched the youtube video but I could not get my computer to recognize it like it does in the video.

If you've checked your USB cable
and done the HW reset procedures in the posts correctly
and also tried the nvflash on Linux
and if the tablet still doesn't go into APX mode,
then you might have truly bricked your gtab.
They say it is unbrickable--but, really, it is not.

You got an SOD. Fosser warned people that tried the ICS alpha about this. The only thing you can do is unscrew the back and press the reset button on the mainboard. If that don't work... sorry you killed your Gtab.

Thanks for the help
Well,
It does look like I really did brick my tablet because I have TRIED everything. I knew what I was getting myself into when I flashed it.

barakisbrown said:
Well,
It does look like I really did brick my tablet because I have TRIED everything. I knew what I was getting myself into when I flashed it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try installing Ubuntu on a spare computer, and see if Ubuntu detects your gtab. Ubuntu does not need apx drivers. All you have to do is plug in USB open a terminal and type lsusb and hit enter. You will need to attempt to put your tablet into apx mode with power and volume down first. Doing it through Ubuntu will eliminate the possibility of a driver error.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

I already had similar situation. Used power consuming USB HDD to train my battery.
After 24h - my G-tab is back

Related

[Q] NVFlash Restore Problem

I tried installing CWM and somehow must have done it wrong. Gtab bricked, would not turn on at all. Let the battery run down, connected to DC, still nothing.
Plugged in the USB and my Windows 7 computer recognized the device, so I assumed it was in APX mode
Followed instructions for NVFlash, got it up and running. Shut it down, but it would not come back up with the power button.
Repeated the NVFlash, got it up and running again - shut it down and same thing - it would not come back up.
I then used the FORMAT routine to wipe the Gtab, then the NVFlash routine, same thing. It recovered but would not power back up after powering down.
I used two different NVFlash routines, one from this forum, one from another. One included the CWM, one did not.
I also ran update on the Gtab, downloaded 1.1-3588 successfully, however when installing, at the reboot stage, the Gtab again would not power up.
Present configuration shows Tap UI version 1.0-2638.
Common problem is inability to restart/power up after these steps.
Any ideas? Is this a hardware thing?
PS - I have spent quite a few hours looking for similar problem in the forums without luck - however if there is a thread that covers this please point me.
Im having the same problem, iv tried both nvflash techniques and nothing, also cant find anything helpful in forums
Hoping someone else on this forum has an answer... Are planning to return it? Got mine on woot and I think I have 30 days??
Sounds like some crickets are chirping on this one. I have continued to review other threads and can't find anything quite like what I am experiencing as described above. I continue to re-NVFlash the gtablet whenever I need to use it. It will go into "sleep" mode and recover with a short power button push but will not come back after fully powering down.
I've loaded three different NVFlash routines, one from this site and two from another. One has the clockwork mod built in. In all cases I can't get the power up cycle to work. When I plug in the USB cable it pings indicating it is in APX mode (boot looping??).
The only thing I can think of is cracking the case and hitting the reset button.
Since I can re-flash it I guess I could always return it??
Any ideas

[Q] Brand New Streak - No Response (?)

Last night I bought a brand new Streak 5 from a local guy. Box was sealed, no mention of refurb, inner contents were sealed.
I didn't have time to test it and the guy I bought it from said he had gotten it a while back from a work raffle and that it had been sitting in a drawer in his house - I have no reason not to trust that he was lying to me.
When I actually got time to unbox it, I popped the battery in and tried to turn it on. The menu buttons lit up briefly and then when out. The screen never came on. Since then, it has been completely unresponsive.
I've tried to charge it with the wall charger, as well as my PC. Neither seem to be doing anything and my PC doesn't recognize it - even with Dell's software installed.
I've tried to take out the battery and hook it up to the wall charger and my PC to get it to turn on.
I've removed the Micro SD.
There is no SIM card in it currently.
I ordered another battery and an external battery charger. They should be here in a few days. I have the current battery rigged up and charging with a spliced USB cord.
What else can I do? I feel like I've done everything "simple" thus far and I'm a little nervous when it comes to utilities like Streakflash.
I'm coming over from the iPhone world and my Android use has been limited at best. Any help is appreciated.
What happens on the device itself after having had a chance to charge?
Does it light up when you press the power button, or nothing at all?
Thanks for the response.
There is no indication that it's charging. The screen doesn't come on, or even flash. The buttons do not light up. However, I don't believe it's the cable or the connector since my PC responds with an unrecognized device -- "Qualcomm CDMA Technologies MSM" prompt. I also managed to get my PC to tell me that the device "wasn't plugged in."
I've tried to get some response out of it in every possible combination regarding the buttons, battery, back cover, microSD, and where it's plugged in. It just sits there. No lit screen, no lit menu buttons, nothing.
If it helps, I'm running Windows 7 64 bit. I've installed every possible thing I could find regarding the Dell drivers and my OS.
It sounds like your device somehow got shipped without having all the software installed onto it.
Can you provide more information about the device itself, such as it's manufacture date or any other info on the box/device labels? Devices getting shipped half baked like that isnt exactly common.
This sounds like a legitamate time to use QDL tool to reflash it, but I cant provide any help with that as I've never used it.
Can you use QDLTool if your computer doesn't even recognize it?
The date on the label is 10/12/2010.
If it's displaying as "Qualcomm CDMA Technologies MSM" that's a sign that it should be able to get into upload mode as that's what the driver qdl tool uses I believe.
It's likely out of warrentee already, so you prob have to fix it on your own if at all.
I can't get it to respond to anything I do. It's very disheartening. I really, really wanted this phone, too.
I'm downloading the latest version of Ubuntu. I'm going to see if I can make any headway through Linux.
I can't get QDLTool to pick-up the device, either. I get an error message when I try to use it and scanning for it does nothing.
Did you install the driver bundled with it properly?
If it still doesnt detect it after that it's likely a dud
use qdltool, you can download it from here
http://www.box.com/s/rj9xd5tl7v5amimbm3youll need to make sure you have all drivers installed though, info is on this forum somewhere,
once installed run the software on pc you should see a big box with "run" on it, click run then connect phone by holding volume up and connecting usb then qdltool will do rest from there
when i got my both my dell streak it was the same deal. first one came exactly as how you described it. I put in the battery, made SURE THAT THE CONNECTORS ARE lined up on the back case, and then tried to power it on. NOTHING.
It seems even if the battery was fully charged, the only real way to turn it on was to connect the streak to the power adapter and then press hold down the on button. WHen the device finally gave me the dell logo, it would just sit there stuck. So i took out the battery, and redid it. Then went into fastboot mode (hold camera and power) and it wouldnt detect the touch screen. It seems that the touch scree was faulty and hence it would remain stuck on the dell logo. I tried to calibrate the touch screen a few times, all failed. Then finally for one time it worked, and the touch screen came back to life. Shortly after though upon booting into the old stage 1.6, it restarted and the touch screen failed again.
So i sent it back to rogers and they gave me a replacement phone. Same deal, when you first put in the battery and the case it wouldnt start no matter what. Only upon plugging it into the power adapter then it starts up. However this new one had a functional touch screen.
1) check out the touch screen by using the fastboot, or stock recovery. If you get error messages, it means your screen is toast most likely and then you might have to open her up and see if all the connections are lined up
2) if it doesnt boot at all, try connecting it to the power adapter first and then after about 30 seconds power it on. You should be able to see the dell logo unless as the guys stated before the software is hosed.
3) if the software is totally hosed, tried to get it into fastboot mode or recovery and see if you can reflash the device.
something like that...
Thanks for the comments, guys.
As of now, it's still in the same position it was in. It doesn't respond to any combinations of buttons, battery in/or, or plugged into the wall/pc.
I'm assuming that the situation it's in currently is what's preventing any sort of legitimate connection between the phone and my PC.
My last shot is a battery and external charger that should be here next week.

[Q] Is my Note saveable?

Update; Rangercaptain and 440bro suggested the power switch or the usb port may be the problem.
I dismantled the phone and got my ohm-meter, the power button's circuit is opening and closing as it should between pressed and depressed.
Furthermore I tested the usb port for conductivity at each pin, from the side of the usb cable that would normally connect to the pc all the way through the 'charging flex ribbon' to the phones PCB. all connections are good.
Editing this post as I try new things i find or the things i try that people suggest.
Currently my Note will not boot into recovery or it's ROM, I was running a version of Slimbean.
I can get it to go into download mode via the volume down + power key but I can not for life of me get any pc to recognize it via usb.
I have tried Odin, Adb, and Heimdall with five or six different versions of Samsung USB drivers, Version #'s 1.5.14.0, 1.4.6.0, as well as the drivers listed in the Note 'Super thread' ATT I717 v1_3_2200_0 and two other sets of drivers that did not have version numbers listed, but came from other XDA USB problem posts. I have also tried the Google drivers from the Android SDK.
I have done all this on two different pc's and different usb cables. I've read other problem threads about this and tried most of those suggestions I.E. Uninstall old drivers, reboot, install new ones, reboot, turn off internet, plug in phone. Nada, no sign of the device being recognized at all.
I've tried the 'adb devices' command while the device was in download mode, the command returns nothing.
the USB port still works so far as i can tell, if you plug it in to a charger or the pc the phone will try to boot like it usually does if it's powered off and you plug it in and the phone had been charging fine before this issue, so i've no reason to suspect a bad port.
I have however encountered this USB problem before even while the note was stock and functioning with it not being recognizable over USB, I eventually gave up and it's what caused me to install a ROM on it in the first place because i couldn't get the official android updates with Kies (they require a usb connection).
Would a USB jig be of any benefit in this situation? After searching through XDA forums and the like that's the only thing that seems like it may work but i haven't tried. I'm unclear if it will be of any benefit because the device can already access the ODIN downloading screen.
All in all I've been working on this for about 12 hours so far, so it's possible i may have forgotten something I've tried but i'll update if i remember anything significant.
Finally I'm aware there are two similar threads currently running on the XDA note troubleshooting forums,"Is my note bricked?" and "can't enter download mode" I am also watching them and trying anything that looks relevant but elected to make a new post as my problem is slightly different in that I can access the download screen. If you posted anything there that you think may have applied here, you don't have to re-post. I'll have tried it.
Your power button is stuck.
rangercaptain said:
Your power button is stuck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I should clarify that the reboot cycle is not indefinite though. it'll give the boot vibration 6-8 times with a few seconds in between each vibration and then stop trying to boot. It also doesn't cycle every time, just occasionally. The other times it will give the vibration only once and then do nothing till you hold the power button down again as if you were trying to turn it on.
It will also stay in the downloading mode until i manually hold the power button down, so the power button is functioning correctly.
morthicius said:
. . . so the power button is functioning correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you say so.
Take out the sim and sd card.
I have tried removing the SD card and SIM card as well. Makes no noticeable difference.
I can also add that the USB port still works so far as i can tell, if you plug it in to a charger or the pc the phone will try to boot like it usually does if it's powered off and you plug it in.
I can dismantle the phone and check the power button if you're fairly convinced that's what it is but it really responds exactly like you would expect. The press and return feels fine and the way the device responds to it also feels fine.
Yeah I'm pretty sure it's a stuck power button. If the phone is off and you plug in usb, or charger it should NOT startup by itself. If it does it's most definitely a stuck power button. So I'm guessing your phone is no longer covered by warranty?
Before you go tearing apart the phone try this first. Take off the battery cover and where the power button is you'll see a lil outline. Flick this area with your finger a few times. Flick it hard enough to mildly hurt your finger but not the phone. I had to do this for a while till I got a new note. If that doesn't help take it apart at your own risk.
440bro said:
Yeah I'm pretty sure it's a stuck power button. If the phone is off and you plug in usb, or charger it should NOT startup by itself. If it does it's most definitely a stuck power button. So I'm guessing your phone is no longer covered by warranty?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has always started up on its own when you plug it in, at least if it's out of charge. Of that I'm certain. I've had the phone a year and a half or so now. It may not boot up on it's own if you just manually shut it off and plug in a charger though. I don't recall ever trying that scenario directly. It could also be a functionality Slimbean added if stock phones don't do it.
I did just try your flick trick though, thanks. No change.
Just as another example on the power button, I can take the battery out and put it back in and the phone will do nothing until i hold the power button down a few seconds, only then does it do the the "i'm trying to boot" vibration.
Damn I was really hoping the flick trick worked for you like it did me. If you decide to take the back of the phone off, try flicking again anyways before you completely disassemble it. Once you disassemble it, there really isn't much you can do power button wise other than replace it. I'll attach a pic of the power button area for ya. I have one already torn down.
If it's not your power button, I wonder if it's your usb charger port on the phone.... That's an easier part to replace if it is.
I do feel like the USB port is a possibility, even despite my saying it appears to work. is it possible for the port to be damaged in such a way that it still allows the phone to be charged but not establish a data connection? When the phone went brick yesterday It had pretty much just finished fully charging. I had disconnected it from the charger used it a little bit, set it down when it still at about 98% battery life. Around 10 minutes later I got a text message, it made the god awful slimbean text tone (i hate that tone) I went to check it, turned on the display it then repeated the incoming text message tone about five more times in quick succession, locked up, and then died never to return.
I have had the phone apart before because i'm a curious cat, and didn't really mind voiding a warranty.
The only things that would make me skeptical of it being a usb port problem is. 1: It was charging fine and 2: the symptoms at least of the reboot problem itself are leaning towards a software issue the Slimbean install has never really worked great, and would crash and reboot probably twice a day.
Just because the button works doesn't mean it isn't stuck. I've only saved about ten phones by helping the owner to understand the cause of the reboots.
The fact that you already opened the phone increases the chance its the button. Because you said it rebooted on stock or custom ROMs eliminated software. Because your phone charges normally and is recognized by a pc shows its not the usb port.
But hey, what do I know. . .
morthicius said:
Editing this post as I try new things i find or the things i try that people suggest.
Currently my Note is in a reboot cycle, it will not load the ROM or go into recovery mode. I was running a version of Slimbean.
I can get it to go into download mode via the volume down + power key but I can not for life of me get any pc to recognize it via usb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rangercaptain said:
Just because the button works doesn't mean it isn't stuck. I've only saved about ten phones by helping the owner to understand the cause of the reboots.
The fact that you already opened the phone increases the chance its the button. Because you said it rebooted on stock or custom ROMs eliminated software. Because your phone charges normally and is recognized by a pc shows its not the usb port.
But hey, what do I know. . .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He has more than one problem. He can NOT get a pc to recognize it. I missed it first too and had to re-read it a few times. So it could be the port, or the power button.
I think your options are....
-Find a repair center nearby
-Send it in for repair
-Find out which part is cheaper and replace that yourself first.
Sounds good. The usb port is cheap and easy and while the bezel is off you can verify the power button isn't stuck in its hole in the bezel.
Because he flashed a custom ROM from a stock ROM I took that to mean he had to connect to a pc through the usb port, either to Odin flash a recovery or Odin flash Slimbean. And he can still charge it. And data cables go bad, removing drivers doesn't take them out of memory, etc. So usb port isn't 100% bad for sure, but you're right, its a cheap, easy repair.
rangercaptain said:
Just because the button works doesn't mean it isn't stuck. I've only saved about ten phones by helping the owner to understand the cause of the reboots.
The fact that you already opened the phone increases the chance its the button. Because you said it rebooted on stock or custom ROMs eliminated software. Because your phone charges normally and is recognized by a pc shows its not the usb port.
But hey, what do I know. . .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the button is 'stuck' it implies that the it's either stuck engaged or disengaged correct?
If that were true and lets say it were stuck engaged, the power button should be acting as if it is pressed. Which at first would make sense when i say it reboot cycles. It however does not make sense that i can get into download mode and the phone never shuts off until I hit the power button.
It also does not make sense that if i pull the battery out and put it back in the phone does nothing. until i hit the power button. If it were stuck engaged the phone would immediately try to boot when i put the battery back in.
The rom has also been on it for awhile now, 6 months? So i don't exactly remember the processes i went through but i know i never got kies or odin to recognize it. And Yeah, pc wont recognize it now even tryin two different pcs, one of which has never had a samsung device connected to it.
That said I wont rule the power button out either, Is there a good way to check the power button with a multimeter?
I should also say I have the phone apart now so i could at least do external checks of the power button since you both thought it was a possibility, externally it looks fine the actual button inside the case (the little white button the big silver one hits) acts fine but the circuit inside could still be screwed i suppose, which is why i ask about a meter test.
Ultimately I think you're both right though, I'm just going to have order a replacement button and port. Start with the port since it's easier, and if that doesn't enable me to connect it to the pc to flash it try the button too.
Since you mention the ROM, it is possible to have a bad download, flash the ROM, and get into a bootloop. The usual cure for that is a re-download of the ROM, wipe caches, wipe system, and flash fresh ROM.
The sticking power button is a common fault of Samsung phones. Its not broken, but it just gets a little out of alignment in its hole in the bezel. If you already wiggled and snapped, you would have noticed a difference in the phone's behavior, unless there's lint under it.
I think you have your plan -- replace the usb port, and check the button while the phone is without the bezel.
The usb port is on ebay and there is a Youtube video for the process. Everything is here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=28247335
Good luck.
Thanks for the Help Ranger and 440.
Update; Rangercaptain and 440bro suggested the power switch or the usb port may be the problem.
I dismantled the phone and got my ohm-meter, the power button's circuit is opening and closing as it should between pressed and depressed.
Furthermore I tested the usb port for conductivity at each pin, from the side of the usb cable that would normally connect to the pc all the way through the 'charging flex ribbon' to the phones PCB. all connections are good.
I'm going to try the phone tonight on a friends PC. Who doesn't have another note but at least has a Samsung Gs2 and 3 that connect to Kies and see if i can get it to establish a connection.
If anybody else has any ideas on troubleshooting the connection between the device and a PC i'm all ears.
Good luck!
440bro said:
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well interestingly, when i hooked it up to the friends pc (using one of the same usb cables i already had) not only did his pc recognize it, the phone also booted up immediately. with 15% battery life remaining.
Strange strange.

[Q] Failed FTF flash, any way to unbrick my Z2 tablet?

Hey XDA,
tried to flash the 17.1.1.A.0.402 FTF on my unlocked SGP511 Z2 tablet and something must've gone terribly wrong. Flashing seemed successful, but it won't switch on anymore, I can't enter Fastboot mode, I can't enter Flashmode and the recharge LED isn't on anymore when I connect it to the charger.
This is the first time something like that happened to me, I had several Nexus devices (and two G1s) before, flashed custom ROMs countless times, but I never managed to get one of them into a state of complete unresponsiveness.
Is there any way to unbrick my tablet?
EDIT: just to clear that up, holding Volume up and power doesn't do anything, so does holding Volume down while connecting it to the PC.
Almost Same problem with me..
Cant get in to the OS no more after installing CWM
qrn said:
Hey XDA,
tried to flash the 17.1.1.A.0.402 FTF on my unlocked SGP511 Z2 tablet and something must've gone terribly wrong. Flashing seemed successful, but it won't switch on anymore, I can't enter Fastboot mode, I can't enter Flashmode and the recharge LED isn't on anymore when I connect it to the charger.
This is the first time something like that happened to me, I had several Nexus devices (and two G1s) before, flashed custom ROMs countless times, but I never managed to get one of them into a state of complete unresponsiveness.
Is there any way to unbrick my tablet?
EDIT: just to clear that up, holding Volume up and power doesn't do anything, so does holding Volume down while connecting it to the PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had a similar issues with bad flashes before.
Is it possible you flashed an LTE fw to a wifi only tablet?
I got round it by setting flashtool to be waiting for the device in flashmode (with the picture saying hold the back button and plug in) and then with the tablet repeatedly pressing the power and volume up, waiting for the reboot and quickly plugging in with the volume down until the device was recognised.
It appeared to me to be a timing issue ie. catching the plug before the OS started loading but after the device had started the reset mode.
I know you said the power + vol up doesn't respond for you, this may be due to the battery draining so much that it simply cannot power up anymore. I would suggest plugging it into the wall (not a usb port of a PC) for a few hours first (even if the LED doesn't light up it doesn't hurt to try to trickle some power in and eliminate that from the possible causes).
Basically, keep trying flashtool and trying to reflash your ftf. It might help to redownload it too or double check the md5.
Also, I haven't tried it, but I read somewhere that the red switch under the SIM/SD flap is a hard reset button that does the same as the power + vol up.
15103
Ricky D said:
I've had a similar issues with bad flashes before.
Is it possible you flashed an LTE fw to a wifi only tablet?
I got round it by setting flashtool to be waiting for the device in flashmode (with the picture saying hold the back button and plug in) and then with the tablet repeatedly pressing the power and volume up, waiting for the reboot and quickly plugging in with the volume down until the device was recognised.
It appeared to me to be a timing issue ie. catching the plug before the OS started loading but after the device had started the reset mode.
I know you said the power + vol up doesn't respond for you, this may be due to the battery draining so much that it simply cannot power up anymore. I would suggest plugging it into the wall (not a usb port of a PC) for a few hours first (even if the LED doesn't light up it doesn't hurt to try to trickle some power in and eliminate that from the possible causes).
Basically, keep trying flashtool and trying to reflash your ftf. It might help to redownload it too or double check the md5.
Also, I haven't tried it, but I read somewhere that the red switch under the SIM/SD flap is a hard reset button that does the same as the power + vol up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a ton for the help, I definitely flashed the correct FTF, that was actually my second flash and it worked with the same files half an hour before. I also tried all combinations of Flashtool in flashmode, power/volume/power off button/USB cable I could think of repeatedly already, to non-avail.
I'm currently settling with the fact that I somehow managed to hard-brick my tablet and that I have to face the cost to send it in to Sony for repairs.
Most probably you didn't hard brick your tablet.
That is very difficult and unlikely.
Most probably you just didn't do the steps for reanimating the device right.
Hard reset (Vol Up + Power). Then, while holding Vol Down, plug in the USB cable which is connected to your PC. (Do you have the drivers for the tablet installed on the PC?) This should make the LED go blue. (=Flashmode.) Then you can flash a FTF (take the right one for your model!) with Flashtool (not the Sony one, but the xda one with the same name).
hasenbein1966 said:
Most probably you didn't hard brick your tablet.
That is very difficult and unlikely.
Most probably you just didn't do the steps for reanimating the device right.
Hard reset (Vol Up + Power). Then, while holding Vol Down, plug in the USB cable which is connected to your PC. (Do you have the drivers for the tablet installed on the PC?) This should make the LED go blue. (=Flashmode.) Then you can flash a FTF (take the right one for your model!) with Flashtool (not the Sony one, but the xda one with the same name).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for your help, but unfortunately the tablet doesn't react to anything anymore. Before e.g. the LED lit up when the tablet was charging, that doesn't happen anymore. Hard Reset usually made the tablet vibrate, doesn't happen anymore, either. Same for Fastboot mode. Flashmode doesn't do anything to the LED and FlashTool doesn't recognize it anymore, too, when I boot it with Vol down pressed. I've done all that countless times over the past week and nothing works. I know that manufacturers make it pretty hard for their devices to hard-brick, but this time I'm completely at a loss, there's nothing I've not tried so far.
qrn said:
Thanks a ton for the help, I definitely flashed the correct FTF, that was actually my second flash and it worked with the same files half an hour before. I also tried all combinations of Flashtool in flashmode, power/volume/power off button/USB cable I could think of repeatedly already, to non-avail.
I'm currently settling with the fact that I somehow managed to hard-brick my tablet and that I have to face the cost to send it in to Sony for repairs.
Click to expand...
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After you feel you bicked it, was the device still vibrting when hard resetting? If it was and now ot isn't then you've probably just deadened the battery by asking. Iitt to repeatedly reboot.
Try leavingg. Itt plugged in to a wall forr a few hours and every oncee in a while try the hard reset again to see if it starts to respond.
Ricky D said:
After you feel you bicked it, was the device still vibrting when hard resetting? If it was and now ot isn't then you've probably just deadened the battery by asking. Iitt to repeatedly reboot.
Try leavingg. Itt plugged in to a wall forr a few hours and every oncee in a while try the hard reset again to see if it starts to respond.
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Unfortunately I have tried that already, too. It doesn't seem to charge anymore (LED doesn't go on), no matter how long it's connected to the charger. I also tried charging it with a couple different chargers besides the original one already, that's also not the issue. It was completely unresponsive as soon as the FTF flash was finished.
Unless there's an "undocumented" alternative flash mode (JTAG pins? NAND chips exposed somewhere on the board? But how would you open the tablet, anyways?) there's nothing I can do. I've sent an Email to Sony mobile support already, I hope they'll answer with an andress where I can send it to, soon.
I yesterday overcame an issue where I couldn't enter flashmode by using PC Companion and using the repair software feature, but PC Companion needs to recognise your device first so I guess it is out of the question. Nonetheless, I think anything is worth a try.
Ricky D said:
I yesterday overcame an issue where I couldn't enter flashmode by using PC Companion and using the repair software feature, but PC Companion needs to recognise your device first so I guess it is out of the question. Nonetheless, I think anything is worth a try.
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No dice, unfortunately. :/
To add insult to injury Sony Mobile refuses to repair my device, at least the hotline guy told me so - even though I explicitly told him I'm willing to pay for it, since there's no warranty due to the unlocked bootloader. Anyone has any experience with that or knows whom to mail in such a case?
qrn said:
No dice, unfortunately. :/
To add insult to injury Sony Mobile refuses to repair my device, at least the hotline guy told me so - even though I explicitly told him I'm willing to pay for it, since there's no warranty due to the unlocked bootloader. Anyone has any experience with that or knows whom to mail in such a case?
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Unfortunately not.
You could try and PM some of the respected devs around here for advice on last resort recovery from bricking. DoomLoRD and maybe Jerpelea (aka FXP who now works for Sony) come to mind.
Ricky D said:
Unfortunately not.
You could try and PM some of the respected devs around here for advice on last resort recovery from bricking. DoomLoRD and maybe Jerpelea (aka FXP who now works for Sony) come to mind.
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Thanks for all the help, I finally decided to sell the defective tablet at Ebay (correctly marking it, of course - I hope some repair shop buys it for parts) and bought me a new one. Owning two Z2 tablets right now, feels a bit strange.
Same happened to me today, nothing helped. Going to send it to Sony for repair
qrn said:
Thanks for all the help, I finally decided to sell the defective tablet at Ebay (correctly marking it, of course - I hope some repair shop buys it for parts) and bought me a new one. Owning two Z2 tablets right now, feels a bit strange.
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After reading over your posts, I think that was a good choice to sell on ebay. However, Patience in keeping it on a charger for many many days (i put an hp touchpad 3g with the same issue on for a week before it finally gave response) could have fixed it... A tablet with no response like yours usually will still get a trickle charge over time and in turn revokes a response. Hard bricking a tablet is always misconstrued when in reality it was a soft brick, even in your case.
Anyways good luck with the new one!
The same thing just happened to me last night. It's pretty ridiculous how it happened to. I originally got the tablet a few months ago and rooted it with CWM via Doomlords method. Was working fine for a while. No issues, not using it for anything in particular but regular media. I do believe I restarted the device a few times before this as well. So I was maybe going to start getting more into modding especially since CM11 finally has builds for the Z2. I powered the tablet down, tried to go into CWM recovery (just to make sure it was still there) by pressing volume and power buttons, the thing then just vibrated and flashed a couple different LED colors before dying. That was it, the thing was utterly dead. I've tried all kinds of combinations of the buttons, going into fastboot with a USB connected to the same PC I used to flash/recover it before, charged it for well over 8 hours. Nothing....
I'm a bit of a fighter though. I specifically remember a friends xperia z (phone) dying and showing no life and then just reviving with no noted fix. I'm going to try the constant charge method for a while. I'll likely update with any luck.
Edit: No progress, I called Sony and just played a little dumb. Will be sending it to them soon. I think I may have an actual hardware problem. This happened without any recent flashing/major changes and I can't even get any kind of signs of life in recovery.
Hello guys, same problem here.
Flashed my tablet with a .402 ftf file everything went well. I played with the tablet for 4 hours. After that I tried to flash it again, the flash was successful, I booted at least three times on the tablet. Then it just went off and now I have nothing. No LED when pluging to a wall, it's no recognized by my computer.
I was thinking about dismanteling it, unplug the battery and try to boot it on again. Has anyone tried to do this before?
Also if you have any clue to dismantle feel free to give it to me.
I'll keep you in touch
Syol said:
Hello guys, same problem here.
Flashed my tablet with a .402 ftf file everything went well. I played with the tablet for 4 hours. After that I tried to flash it again, the flash was successful, I booted at least three times on the tablet. Then it just went off and now I have nothing. No LED when pluging to a wall, it's no recognized by my computer.
I was thinking about dismanteling it, unplug the battery and try to boot it on again. Has anyone tried to do this before?
Also if you have any clue to dismantle feel free to give it to me.
I'll keep you in touch
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Click to collapse
Sounds a bit like my symptoms. I also flashed a .402, first flash worked and booted perfectly fine, till I decided to flash it again, then everything went off and the whole unit was dead. Problem is, I don't remember flash tool displaying an error, but I also didn't look for one, that's why the only explanation I have is a faulty USB cable. Maybe it's a faulty image? Do you remember where you downloaded that .402 image?
qrn said:
Sounds a bit like my symptoms. I also flashed a .402, first flash worked and booted perfectly fine, till I decided to flash it again, then everything went off and the whole unit was dead. Problem is, I don't remember flash tool displaying an error, but I also didn't look for one, that's why the only explanation I have is a faulty USB cable. Maybe it's a faulty image? Do you remember where you downloaded that .402 image?
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Yes, I downloaded it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2765250
I'm 100% sure that the flash worked the first time with this image. I haven't modified the ftf file and when I tried to flash it again as I said it went off but not instantly. I was also working on the kernel when it crashed but I don't think I bricked it because it should do something: boot loop or at least the led turning red when plug-in it to a charger.
I bricked tablets before and I know the symptoms, but just having a dead device like this is totally new. And really anoying...
Sony just told me to return it to them.
Syol said:
Yes, I downloaded it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2765250
I'm 100% sure that the flash worked the first time with this image. I haven't modified the ftf file and when I tried to flash it again as I said it went off but not instantly. I was also working on the kernel when it crashed but I don't think I bricked it because it should do something: boot loop or at least the led turning red when plug-in it to a charger.
I bricked tablets before and I know the symptoms, but just having a dead device like this is totally new. And really anoying...
Sony just told me to return it to them.
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Good for you, I hope they'll repair it. I wrote off my ~260 EUR loss already (broken tablet fetched 220 EUR on Ebay).
I'll have a look if that's the same image I flashed in my lunch break.
qrn said:
Good for you, I hope they'll repair it. I wrote off my ~260 EUR loss already (broken tablet fetched 220 EUR on Ebay).
I'll have a look if that's the same image I flashed in my lunch break.
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Click to collapse
I don't think they'll repair it since I've unlocked the bootloader and rooted it :/ but anyway it's broken so it worth a try. If they return it to me I'll just try to dismantle it and see what's going on.
Good luck with your tablet :/

Viewsonic VSD220 - hardbricked

I unfortunately hard bricked my VSD220 the other day while trying to upgrade the android system. Bit of a noobie at this and learnt the hardway. The problem I have now is that the unit powers on but i get a totally black screen and a small panel saying "waiting" this disappears and then after a minute or so the unit powers off.
I have tried a number of flash tools using ADB and the device is not located. I cannot get into boot mode on this device as it has only a power button.
Apart from using this as a fishing sinker is there any other flash tools I might be able to use to do a lazarus on this thing and bring it back from the dead?
When plugged into the PC and turned on it is not recognized.
I have tried the Nexus root tool kit and Odin but Odin cannot located the adb for the device. cheers.
Exactly same thing happened to me but I wasn't trying anything weird on it, It happened while doing a factory reset (from android settings) and it just went off in the middle of factory resetting so now the only thing that works is plugging in a HDMI input so it works as a TV but still shows the "waiting..." box for a while and then nothing.. I also connected it to the router lan port using a pc-to-router lan cable and I can see the send/receive lights blink for some seconds and then go off (both in tv and in router), lights blink again after about 30/40 secs.. so I'm guessing this is a bootloop restarting the android part and keeping the HDMI working?.
****ing vsd220 I hate it, if you are reading this, don't buy one. It will be VERY troublesome to me having to send it to retailer for warranty coverage because of my geographic location.. I will appreciate feedback on the subject
Also Matt57 did your screen come with a CD/DVD? I have read other samsung screen models being able to recover with a external usb-dvd-r device and the DVD included with the screen (a kind of boot recovery helper). If this one came with the cd I don't have it, so if you got one, please make an iso and upload.
Matt57 said:
I unfortunately hard bricked my VSD220 the other day while trying to upgrade the android system. Bit of a noobie at this and learnt the hardway. The problem I have now is that the unit powers on but i get a totally black screen and a small panel saying "waiting" this disappears and then after a minute or so the unit powers off.
I have tried a number of flash tools using ADB and the device is not located. I cannot get into boot mode on this device as it has only a power button.
Apart from using this as a fishing sinker is there any other flash tools I might be able to use to do a lazarus on this thing and bring it back from the dead?
When plugged into the PC and turned on it is not recognized.
I have tried the Nexus root tool kit and Odin but Odin cannot located the adb for the device. cheers.
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Click to collapse
vsd220 bricked
gattytto said:
Exactly same thing happened to me but I wasn't trying anything weird on it, It happened while doing a factory reset (from android settings) and it just went off in the middle of factory resetting so now the only thing that works is plugging in a HDMI input so it works as a TV but still shows the "waiting..." box for a while and then nothing.. I also connected it to the router lan port using a pc-to-router lan cable and I can see the send/receive lights blink for some seconds and then go off (both in tv and in router), lights blink again after about 30/40 secs.. so I'm guessing this is a bootloop restarting the android part and keeping the HDMI working?.
****ing vsd220 I hate it, if you are reading this, don't buy one. It will be VERY troublesome to me having to send it to retailer for warranty coverage because of my geographic location.. I will appreciate feedback on the subject
Also Matt57 did your screen come with a CD/DVD? I have read other samsung screen models being able to recover with a external usb-dvd-r device and the DVD included with the screen (a kind of boot recovery helper). If this one came with the cd I don't have it, so if you got one, please make an iso and upload.
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Click to collapse
Sorry mate, no I did not get a CD/DVD with it.

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