Suppose a Samsung phone is stuck in a boot loop, getting only as far as the Samsung logo. Recovery mode doesn't work - it only shows a sick robot with 'No Command' and some text about 'applying CSC' (whatever that is) before going back into the boot loop. Download mode works. You can inspect the hardware, and do whatever is necessary in download mode. Aside from that which can be worked out somehow, the history of the phone (original network, firmware installed, what's been flashed to the phone, unlock status etc) is unknown.
What are the possible causes of this boot loop problem? Does anybody actually know, or is everyone just hiding behind comments like 'there are many possible causes', pretending to be knowledgeable when they don't actually know anything? I ask because I really want to know and genuinely have not seen a complete answer to this question after hours of searching and seriously wonder whether anyone actually knows. If there are 'many possible causes', list them and explain how they result in a boot loop.
How do you work out what software needs flashing to repair the phone? If it can't be worked out, is there a sure-fire way of flashing all of the necessary software so that it will definitely work?
For any phone model, there are many firmwares available, according to country, carrier, and firmware date. What actually governs whether a given firmware is going to work on the phone? Surely the hardware is pretty much always the same? So why does the firmware version matter as long as you get the right phone model?
If the model of the phone is significant (i.e., it isn't possible to give a general answer to these questions that can be followed for any model of Samsung phone), please explain why it is significant for your answer (rather than hiding behind that as an excuse for not answering), and then assume an S4 mini.
Thanks.
Thread moved to Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting.
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Wood Man
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A relative of mine has a cheap tablet and it's pretty beaten up. However, he wants to give it to his niece and isn't of a mind to buy a better one. He got it second hand, and the thing turns on, and goes to an "android" screen. There, it does nothing. It freezes and stays that way until it dies. I was wondering what the best way to go about trying to fix this thing. Would identifying it be the first thing and if so, could anyone offer some guidance? I'm no stranger to rooting and flashing custom roms and the like, just not sure where I'd start. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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ninjames, have you checked if this device has a recovery installed. If you are lucky and find the correct buttons to boot to recovery maybe resetting to factory defauls will bring it back to life.
Can post a link to a picture of your device (front and back). Maybe someone will recognize it and will point you to a stock rom which you can reflash.
- Identify the device (OEM, model etc.)
- If it's a "known" OEM, it probably has its own forum section here, so check that out for more help if that's the case.
- Try to google "device name + model + bootloader buttons", and if you're lucky, the bootloader will have its own stock recovery (like Samsungs, LGs etc.)
I apologize up front if this is has been previously asked. I found lots of helpful info on here searching through old threads but being a bit of a luddite I was a bit confused exactly which situation applied to me. I live in China and recently bought a s3 I9300I and attempted to root it using the chainfire method from the video on this site. Odin declared success but when the phone rebooted it just went back to download mode with a message at top saying, "Could not do normal boot, ODIN MODE." Turning it off and on, removing battery and retrying Odin flash produce no results. The most important thing of course is just to get the phone back to functioning but I'd also like it rooted if at all possible. I read that using Odin to install a custom kernel would root it and I would not be at all opposed to a good custom kernel. I read something about a binary counter that may need to be reset but that seemed to require doing something with the actual phone functions which don't seem to work. Odin still recognizes it when I plug it in and attempts to let me redo the rooting but it just shows a progress bar then reboots right back into download mode. Sorry if this is basic stuff but I'm kind of terrified of bricking this thing and am just not sure what the best course of action is here. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Chinese stock firmware is different to the international, there is a special thread in general forum on rooting etc.
Do you have a link to that thread? I have looked and cannot find anything that seems specific to this problem.
Please. Searching for "China" or "Chinese" gets me absolutely no relevant results. If this has already been covered can someone please direct me to the thread. I really need to get this phone working and am at a loss. Thanks.
I was recently attempting to root my father's new Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3, when I encountered an extremely heart-dropping fail...
I have ran into an issue of being unable to enter ANY OS or ROM on the phone. I had a stock Android 4.4.4 ROM on the phone, which I rooted with no problem. I then attempted to install TWRP (I used TWRP Manager (Root)) in order to install SlimKat. However, at this point I encountered an error. I attempted to reboot the phone into recovery mode using the app, and encountered a screen saying "System software not authorized by Verizon Wireless has been found on your phone. Please turn off your phone and go to the nearest Verison Wireless store for help.". I get the same screen when trying to boot the phone without pressing any extra buttons. I also notice red words in the top-left corner of the screen saying "SECURE FAIL: KERNEL". The only other screen I can get to is the Odin Download Menu.
However, when I try to use Odin, I cannot get anything to flash to the phone except the PINs for the phone (it is an i535 Verison Galaxy S3). Anything else gives me an error, as shown in this image: www(dot)dropbox(dot)com/s/mc6srpy5vhpb9of/nand%20fail.bmp?dl=0
Basically, I am asking if anyone knows of a way to try to restore even just the stock ROM to the phone. As of right now, it is in an unusable condition and I would much prefer if I could fix my father's phone. I will try to give any new info as requested and I am willing to try almost anything to fix it.
P.S. I apologize for the URL issue :/ . I cannot post links yet xD
Wrong forum, read the sticky on American models.
boomboomer said:
Wrong forum, read the sticky on American models.
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My apologies. I did not notice a secondary thread for my model, due the time at which I was posting. Is there a way to move this thread to the correct place or delete it from this forum? Also, is this the correct forum for me to be posting in: forum.xda-developers. com/galaxy-s3-verizon/help
Again, sorry about the URL inconvenience.
can you please help me with a soft unbricking of my lg g vista (vs880 [11b]) from verizon usa? i found the 880-11b firmware file, at least i think its the right one. if you know of/ come across this and are sure of its validity i would trust that more. i found and downloaded via a google search. i initially think i may have accidentally deleted the splash pic for the carrier when it boots. this caused it to just black screen after the lg logo n the backlight would flash like it was stuck in a boot loop just the image file was missing. after a little more research i figured out how to put it in the download mode so that i can use a pc to try repair or reinstall whatever it needs. i am unsure if i need the sdk or adk toolkits for a repair in the download mode to work. while on that screen it says its plugged in and waiting to download firmware via usb under the progress bar it tells me not to unplug until download is completed. its not showing up in "my computer" however. and i've never had to do s software/firmware download or setup when the phone wasn't in full normal working order. i simply want to put back the out of the box software back in place. firmware 88011b and 4.4.2 os. just want to be sure i get the proper files/and or programs/ directions to use those resources properly the last thing i want is to guess at something that i could ask someone more experienced for help with and end up bricking it beyond repair. any and all help is very appreciated and i must ask you to please explain each step as clearly and "dumbed down" as possible as you can. if i need to use a program i've never used before {i.e. i hear things like odin mentioned in the forums but i don't understand or have any experience with any pc to phone applications so the more detailed any instructions can be made the better. anything that most ppl who have started tinkering with their devices usually know as common sense or steps that seem implied if not specifically mentioned i'll miss. i have been reading n lurking for months n managed to root the device. but had another issue i accidentally caused soon after which resulted in a factory wipe and some time to remember what i did that rooted it after spending a day on it the first time n trying many things it took me a while to refind what i had done that worked. then this happened. i'm sure with the proper files/tools it'll be fine but i need help to know what those are and to be sure i do it right the first time. i know if i don't there may not be a second chance. thank you again in advance for your patience and help.
Information available:
Boost site: https://www.boostmobile.com/phones/coolpad-legacy.html
Manufacturer details: https://coolpad.us/legacy-boost/
Youtube video I made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wylMivqymUM
This phone was purchased from Walmart and obviously they are no help. Went to a Boost Mobile and a Verizon store and neither one could do anything either (BTW huge props to Verizon on their customer service). I need to know how to clear this phone of all prior information (which is seems that a factory reset from within the OS does not do) and also how to get into the bootloader. Normal physical button methods like power+volume down or up or all 3 just make it say "official" on the screen and then it boots anyway. How do I hack this thing? I've gotten into literally hundreds of Android phones that were bricked and this is the first time I have had this new problem and I don't know where the blame lies. Even if there is a halfway legit custom ROM I could put on the thing, I don't know, I've tried everything I can think of. Can anyone help?
Thank you in advance!
adrenatek said:
Information available:
Boost site: https://www.boostmobile.com/phones/coolpad-legacy.html
Manufacturer details: https://coolpad.us/legacy-boost/
Youtube video I made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wylMivqymUM
This phone was purchased from Walmart and obviously they are no help. Went to a Boost Mobile and a Verizon store and neither one could do anything either (BTW huge props to Verizon on their customer service). I need to know how to clear this phone of all prior information (which is seems that a factory reset from within the OS does not do) and also how to get into the bootloader. Normal physical button methods like power+volume down or up or all 3 just make it say "official" on the screen and then it boots anyway. How do I hack this thing? I've gotten into literally hundreds of Android phones that were bricked and this is the first time I have had this new problem and I don't know where the blame lies. Even if there is a halfway legit custom ROM I could put on the thing, I don't know, I've tried everything I can think of. Can anyone help?
Thank you in advance!
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Click to collapse
You can get to fastboot via adb. I can't get the bootloader to unlock tho.
@adrenatek, I know this is a belated reply, but I just got one of these devices myself and wanted to chime in. Let me see if I understand correctly: are you stating that, after performing a factory data reset, your userdata remains intact on your device? Or, did you get it figured out by now? Also, as to fastboot mode, adb reboot bootloader will get you there, but this device is not supported for OEM unlocking.
can anyone tell me if i can unlock the BL of C3505L..