Database Develop

[Q] Problem booting into Recovery

So.... Been playing with this for the last two days trying to root this phone.
I've rooted a few other phones, so I do have experience with the overall process, but I am unable to even boot this phone into Recovery. I have tried booting into recovery by holding down both volume buttons + power and from adb terminal "adb reboot recovery."
Neither method works. The phone will boot (or reboot from adb) and brings up the "at&t World Phone" screen and then nothing else appears. The first time I tried this it actually wouldn't boot up even after pulling the battery and trying to start normally, it still sat at the same screen. I let it sit all day today at the screen until the battery died. I was finally able to get it to boot up earlier.
If anyone can help, that'd be greatly appreciated. Let me know what info I need to add.

I usually just press and hold both volume buttons and power then release just the power button and keeping the volume buttons still pushed on the 2nd time the white at&t screen pops up... Works for me every time.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

hold volume up+down and power key btw this is wrong section to post supposed to be in general

Oh sorry, didn't realize it was supposed to be posted in general.
I've tried the Volume Up/Down + Power and this does not work, as I stated originally.
I've also tried to do it from the adb shell, which also does not work.
Does anyone have any idea why I can't access recovery?

I"m having a similar issue. Holding volume up+down and power and releasing in any combination just boots the phone up. If I just hold volume up+down and power the phone alternates between the AT&T World Phone screen endless.

Yes u have to let go of the pwr button when the phone screen turns on
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I've tried just about every combination of the Volume Up/Down + Power and no luck.
I've also tried the following ADB commands, with no luck, it just reboots the phone:
adb reboot recovery
adb reboot-boatloader
When I hold Volume Down + Power I get the a Yellow Triangle with a Android guy with a shove with the text "Downloading... Do not turn off Target!!!"
When I hold Volume Up + Power I get an Android guy with the following text: "POWER RESET or UNKNOWN UPLOAD MODE"
For kicks, I tried to to flash a rooted update.zip via the Volume Down + Power way with the Samsung update software, the same way I have done with the Samsung Moment. Wasn't sure if it'd work, but worth a try.
Any one else have any ideas or suggestions?
Phishie, do you have a final release version? Or anything special about the phone you have?

I just press the two volume buttons first (to make sure theyre pressed before you hit power), then press the power button, as soon as the screen turns on, I let go of everything and it works just fine, no need to have ridiculously complicated instructions.
The trick is to make sure both volume buttons are pressed BEFORE you hit power. Then release. Easy as pie

Also, if you guys are having too much trouble, just download the one click root/unroot. It will run, boot your phone into recovery, then all you have to do is scroll to install packages with volume key and hit power. Done.

Trust me, I am making sure I'm pretty the keys completely. I've literally tried it fifty times by now.
And I've also tried the One Click Root. This does not boot the phone into recovery either. It just sits at the AT&T World Phone screen forever and will actually get stuck here and will not boot up normal even by pulling the battery and powering it back up. It'll just get stuck at the for-mentioned screen. I have to connect it to adb and reboot it there to get it out of the loop it's stuck in.

that doesnt sound good. Maybe you need to try a factory reset? are you running stock rom and everything?

When I first got the phone I did a factory reset.
Yea, it's completely stock to my knowledge. But I have a different ROM than the final release version that everyone else has. This is a pre-production device.

same problem
I try all the combos as well, no luck, would the combos be different for 2e vs 3e recovery?
I try combo, it powers on, the same thing happens, the at-t comes up, goes for a second, then screen brightens, wait a bit and then the home row buttons light up, hangs there... doesnt matter which kernel or which rom I flash, same thing, adb and other stuff wont work as they need usb debugging enabled, which mine isn't.
Is there a way to mod the phone files and flash to enable usb debugging? Anyway to remap the buttons to 2 button vs 3 button?
Everyone post your methods for entering recovery please?

[GUIDE] / [ FIX ] - Accessing downloader & recovery w/ locked hardware access

LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR - MOST OF YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO ACCESS DOWNLOAD MODE OR RECOVERY VIA HARDWARE BUTTONS....
BUT NEWER PHONES SEEM TO HAVE HARDWARE ACCESS DISABLED.. THIS IS A WORKAROUND FOR THESE LOCKED OUT PHONES...
THERE IS NOW A ODIN FLASHABLE FIX FOR H/W LOCKED PHONES
SEE THIS THREAD - THANK YOU untermensch
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=804305
METHOD 1: ACCESSING DOWNLOADER/RECOVERY:
(if the following directions do not work... then your phone may be locked out from using hardware buttons to access downloader/recovery)
Download Mode:
With the phone powered off
Plug in the USB cable.
Turn the phone on it's side and use both thumbs to hold (left thumb) Vol Up and (right thumb) Vol Down
Press and hold the power button with your right index finger til you see "Virbant" release the power button and it should say Downloading.
Recovery Mode:
With the phone powered off
UnPlug the USB cable.
Turn the phone on it's side and use both thumbs to hold (left thumb) Vol Up and (right thumb) Vol Down
Press and hold the power button with your right index finger til you see "Virbant" release the power button and it should be on the recovery screen.
METHOD 2: STUCK AT VIBRANT SCREEN:
(and are not able to use vol+ vol- methods to access downloader/recovery)
You will need the samsung ADB drivers installed for your phone as well as ADB...
ACCESS DOWNLOAD MODE
1) remove back cover and take our sim card and sd-card.
2) take out the battery
3) hold ALL 3 buttons down at the same time. (Vol +, Vol -, Power)
4) while holding down those 3 buttons put the battery back in
5) continue holding all 3 buttons until the vibrant disappears and reappears... once it reappears, release all 3 buttons
6) Setup ODIN and get it all setup and ready... (if you are flashing your phone via odin)
6) now connect your phone to your pc via USB cable
7) open a cmd prompt and navigate to the folder with ADB and type ADB REBOOT DOWNLOAD
8) Your phone will reboot into the download screen... go back to ODIN - A com port should now appear for your phone...
9) Click start and wait for your phone to do its thing
ACCESS STOCK RECOVERY
1) remove back cover and take our sim card and sd-card.
2) take out the battery
3) hold ALL 3 buttons down at the same time. (Vol +, Vol -, Power)
4) while holding down those 3 buttons put the battery back in
5) continue holding all 3 buttons until the vibrant disappears and reappears... once it reappears, release all 3 buttons
6) now connect your phone to your pc via USB cable
7) open a cmd prompt and navigate to the folder with ADB and type ADB REBOOT RECOVERY
8) Your phone will reboot into the stock recovery and flash whatever update.zip you need
METHOD 3: STUCK AT PHONE ! COMPUTER:
Plug in the USB cable.
Turn the phone on it's side and use both thumbs to hold Vol Up and Vol Down
Press and hold the power button with your right index finger.
The screen will go black, continue holding.
The screen will come back on, you'll see the same Phone to Computer icon
Continue holding, the screen will go black
The screen will come back on, you should see "Vibrant" release the power button and you it should go into Downloading
METHOD 4: STUCK AT PHONE ! COMPUTER:
(and are not able to use vol+ vol- methods to access downloader/recovery)
CALL TMOBILE AND BEG FOR THEM TO REPLACE UR PHONE..
METHOD 5: ODIN ERROR - ODIN HANGTHANKS EUGENE363)
When you can't get into Download MOde....
assuming you just got a Hang in ODIN Flasher...
1. Un-plug usb from Phone ( But still plugged into the Computer )
2. Pull Battery
3. Let the Phone sit for 15 to 30 seconds
4. Plug in USB to Both Phone & PC if not already
5. Hold Both Volume Buttons
6. Put Battery in while still holding Volume Buttons.
My Phone is HW Locked as well, with a v1 board.
every-time I get odin hang, doing the above always results in letting me re-flash.

Interesting! I'll give it a try.

UPDATE: I have successfully reflashed my vibrant... now I will reinsert the SD card and SIM card... and back in business!!!
I am 100% positive my phone was a newer "locked" model... I was unable to access the downloader OR the stock recovery and out of frustration.. I figured out how to access ADB and reboot my phone into downloader or stock recovery!
Hope this works for everyone!
For those of you that just want to test this method out... it does not seem to work for me now that my phone boots past the vibrant screen.... this method only seems to work if you are STUCK at the vibrant screen...

renocivik said:
UPDATE: I have successfully reflashed my vibrant... now I will reinsert the SD card and SIM card... and back in business!!!
I am 100% positive my phone was a newer "locked" model... I was unable to access the downloader OR the stock recovery and out of frustration.. I figured out how to access ADB and reboot my phone into downloader or stock recovery!
Hope this works for everyone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if this will work for people that are stuck at the computer ! screen... I am unable to get to download mode or recovery with the vol. buttons. tried all the methods that i can find in the forum.

That sucks... give my method a try play around with it... follow the guide.... see if the computer ! screen flashes... if it flashes.. release all three buttons when the computer ! screen reappears and see if it shows up when you connect the USB cable and type adb devices

reserved ....
(removed what I previously typed)

renocivik said:
That sucks... give my method a try play around with it... follow the guide.... see if the computer ! screen flashes... if it flashes.. release all three buttons when the computer ! screen reappears and see if it shows up when you connect the USB cable and type adb devices
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I don't have the problem. I'm just thinking if this will work for it. This is the main reason why i'm not messing with different roms/firmware until i can figure out a sure way to get into download if anything would to go wrong. As of right now, i'm just rooted and running Vibrant6. Will not go any further until i figure out the download mode on these newer batch.

renocivik said:
ACCESS DOWNLOAD MODE
1) remove back cover and take our sim card and sd-card.
2) take out the battery
3) hold ALL 3 buttons down at the same time. (Vol +, Vol -, Power)
4) while holding down those 3 buttons put the battery back in
5) continue holding all 3 buttons until the vibrant disappears and reappears... once it reappears, release all 3 buttons
6) Setup ODIN and get it all setup and ready... (if you are flashing your phone via odin)
6) now connect your phone to your pc via USB cable
7) open a cmd prompt and navigate to the folder with ADB and type ADB REBOOT DOWNLOAD
8) Your phone will reboot into the download screen... go back to ODIN - A com port should now appear for your phone...
9) Click start and wait for your phone to do its thing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This actually does not work for me. I have to 1) Pull the battery to make sure the phone is off, 2) Put it back in, 3) plug into USB, and immediately press and hold vol up/down.
Or ADB Reboot Download, but only sometimes.

monnietron said:
This actually does not work for me. I have to 1) Pull the battery to make sure the phone is off, 2) Put it back in, 3) plug into USB, and immediately press and hold vol up/down.
Or ADB Reboot Download, but only sometimes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are about to immediately press and hold up/down you are clearly not using a locked phone... and believe me.. this method works.... i tested it out about 10 different times trying to make the how to as easy as possible... if you are STUCK at the vibrant screen... how were you accessing ADB?
LIKE I SAID... This seems to only work for phones that wont boot past the VIBRANT screen.. My phone is locked out of hardware access to downloading mode and recovery... If you arent locked out of hardware access... then this would be a pretty irrelevant GUIDE..
Here is what makes me believe I am locked out of hardware access... when I follow any of the tutorials on how to access download mode... my phone just flashes and goes back to the vibrant screen... or back to the battery.... it NEVER does anything else...
can anyone confirm that that is what happens with "locked" phones?
I have seen a few posts... in this thread as well as the general Q & A thread .. regarding people having this exact same problem... and having to take their phone back to t-mo to swap it out..

Heh seems like a lot of work. Here's what I normally do and always get into the desired mode.
Download Mode:
With the phone powered off
Plug in the USB cable.
Turn the phone on it's side and use both thumbs to hold (left thumb) Vol Up and (right thumb) Vol Down
Press and hold the power button with your right index finger til you see "Virbant" release the power button and it should say Downloading.
Recovery Mode:
With the phone powered off
UnPlug the USB cable.
Turn the phone on it's side and use both thumbs to hold (left thumb) Vol Up and (right thumb) Vol Down
Press and hold the power button with your right index finger til you see "Virbant" release the power button and it should be on the recovery screen.
Get to Download mode while displaying the Phone to Computer Icon"
Plug in the USB cable.
Turn the phone on it's side and use both thumbs to hold Vol Up and Vol Down
Press and hold the power button with your right index finger.
The screen will go black, continue holding.
The screen will come back on, you'll see the same Phone to Computer icon
Continue holding, the screen will go black
The screen will come back on, you should see "Vibrant" release the power button and you it should go into Downloading

Yes... my method seems difficult... BUT IT IS ALSO FOR NEWER VIBRANT PHONES THAT CANNOT ACCESS DOWNLOAD OR RECOVERY VIA YOUR METHOD OR ANYONE ELSES METHOD... because t-moble disabled hardware access...

That is exactly what happens with my phone. Either reboots or goes to the battery screen.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Well hopefully between your method and mine.... nobody should have a problem accessing the downloader.... I have tried your method about 15 times with zero success accessing downloader or recovery... and I am pretty savvy... not sure what the differences are between our phones...

renocivik said:
Yes... my method seems difficult... BUT IT IS ALSO FOR NEWER VIBRANT PHONES THAT CANNOT ACCESS DOWNLOAD OR RECOVERY VIA YOUR METHOD OR ANYONE ELSES METHOD... because t-moble disabled hardware access...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got new Vibrant and everything works fine. No need for any of that.....just have to hold volume buttons and release power button at the exact specific time with usb pluged in, phone goes straght to download mode.

RIP vibrant
just tried this method, and it didn't work for me. My Vibrant has the phone-!-computer error and it's the newer phone that doesn't load to recovery/dl mode via hard keys. I so happened to be loading a rom using odin and unplugged it because the process didn't show a status bar, it basically sat there doing nothing. Once i unplugged the phone it showed nothing but that error message on power up, hardreboot, charging ect. Thanks, tmo for locking hardkey recovery mode =(

xavyi said:
just tried this method, and it didn't work for me. My Vibrant has the phone-!-computer error and it's the newer phone that doesn't load to recovery/dl mode via hard keys. I so happened to be loading a rom using odin and unplugged it because the process didn't show a status bar, it basically sat there doing nothing. Once i unplugged the phone it showed nothing but that error message on power up, hardreboot, charging ect. Thanks, tmo for locking hardkey recovery mode =(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
had this happen twice and those steps worked for me both times:
"have your usb in, press down both the volume up/down toggle and the power button.... hold them until the screen goes black and as soon as it does, let go only the power button and it should appear there again
however, i found out that you need to take out the battery and get into download mode freshly again...."

Essien said:
Heh seems like a lot of work. Here's what I normally do and always get into the desired mode.
Download Mode:
With the phone powered off
Plug in the USB cable.
Turn the phone on it's side and use both thumbs to hold (left thumb) Vol Up and (right thumb) Vol Down
Press and hold the power button with your right index finger til you see "Virbant" release the power button and it should say Downloading.
Recovery Mode:
With the phone powered off
UnPlug the USB cable.
Turn the phone on it's side and use both thumbs to hold (left thumb) Vol Up and (right thumb) Vol Down
Press and hold the power button with your right index finger til you see "Virbant" release the power button and it should be on the recovery screen.
Get to Download mode while displaying the Phone to Computer Icon"
Plug in the USB cable.
Turn the phone on it's side and use both thumbs to hold Vol Up and Vol Down
Press and hold the power button with your right index finger.
The screen will go black, continue holding.
The screen will come back on, you'll see the same Phone to Computer icon
Continue holding, the screen will go black
The screen will come back on, you should see "Vibrant" release the power button and you it should go into Downloading
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what I do on my phone. Actually had to do all three of this last weekend when I made a bonehead move and damn near bricked my phone. ODIN and Titanium backup saved my bacon.
I still do not fully understand this whole disabled recovery access thing. Has Samsung acknowledged it as a bug or a new permanent change? I heard they were going to fix it in the Froyo release?

I am unsure of what phones are locked and which ones arent... its kind of weird that some phones are locked out... my question for Eugene or JAC...
Is it possible to take an unlocked phone... and flash everything over to a locked phone... "unlocking it" so that the hardware buttons work?
and by unlocked I mean... able to access downloader/recovery via hardware buttons...
Those of you that ended up on the Phone ! Computer screen... if your phone is hardware locked... you are screwed... the method I originally posted only works if your phone will at least boot to the Vibrant screen (and have a hardware locked phone)
If your phone is not hardware locked... you can follow the millions of posts telling you how they access download mode... no need to follow my guide

Recently, I bricked my phone due to the hardware recovery/download feature being disabled.
Sitting here waiting (for 3 days) for the prepaid UPS return sticker from TMo I had a thought...
What if TMo/Samsung did not actually lock some of these phones down.
Follow along...
In the past, every single phone that I have ever owned would power up via USB connection (from the wall) even if the battery was not installed.
Tonight I noticed that my Vibrant will not power up unless the battery is installed.
USB (from PC) - Battery = No Power
USB (from wall) - Battery = No Power
Battery +/- USB (any) = Phone--!--PC icon
If someone who has a fully functional Vibrant (hardware recovery/download feature works) could try this out?
I'm curious to see if this is a possible pattern...

People keep saying to hold power in some way or another to get to download mode... You dont need to ever touch the power button!
Turn phone off, plug usb into computer, hold both volume buttons in and plug usb into phone. It will instantly go into download mode.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Recovery Mode with three buttons

I have read over and over again that you hold down both volume buttons, and the power button, and it'll boot into recovery - but it's never worked for me. Last night, by accident, I let go of the 'up' volume button, only the 'down' was down along with the power button and low and behold - recovery mode. Is this proper procedure maybe only for certain phones? I was so frustrated, all that would happen with three buttons held down is the AT&T logo screen would flash on and off. I guess I'm just looking for affirmation here.

reinbeau said:
I have read over and over again that you hold down both volume buttons, and the power button, and it'll boot into recovery - but it's never worked for me. Last night, by accident, I let go of the 'up' volume button, only the 'down' was down along with the power button and low and behold - recovery mode. Is this proper procedure maybe only for certain phones? I was so frustrated, all that would happen with three buttons held down is the AT&T logo screen would flash on and off. I guess I'm just looking for affirmation here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's always been a fickle thing for me. I just use ADB for recovery.
Turn on USB Debugging, open cmd prompt in Windows, navigate to where you have android\tools, then adb reboot recovery
I prefer it because it is reliable. I know I can do hardware keys to recovery but I always seem to require 3 or 4 tries before I can pull it off right.

Thank you - I'm definitely going to have to get more familiar with ADB. I have it set up, but I've never used it. Reliability is what I want, I really don't like the panic attacks in the middle of a ROM install!

Let GO
I think you missed an important step of the process of getting into recovery.
After you see the AT&T screen the 2nd time, LET GO of the power button.
Some phones are quirky about which button to let go of, and according to some posts, european builds do it with just one volume button and the power button. (I think)
Anyway, glad you got there, but be sure to let go of the power button next time.
Out of curiosity, does download mode work?

I can get into download mode with Odin no problem, but not with just the buttons, unless I'm doing that wrong, too.
I did try letting go of the power button, but all that did was boot the phone.
These things are so tricky, and the panic swells when it doesn't work and you're trying to flash a ROM for only the second time in your life!

I know the feeling... when your heart starts racing in your chest..
Been there.

reinbeau said:
I have read over and over again that you hold down both volume buttons, and the power button, and it'll boot into recovery - but it's never worked for me. Last night, by accident, I let go of the 'up' volume button, only the 'down' was down along with the power button and low and behold - recovery mode. Is this proper procedure maybe only for certain phones? I was so frustrated, all that would happen with three buttons held down is the AT&T logo screen would flash on and off. I guess I'm just looking for affirmation here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Affirmative!!!

Hello everyone,
I cant use the 3 button combo at all to get to recovery mode. I've done the "Down Vol., Home, and Power" before and it worked. However, i am not able to get to it after i flashed Bionix-v 1.2, and 1.3. I pretty sure its not because of the ROM, but i just can't figure it out WHAT! I've tried the "Vol. UP, Down, Power" as well, but still not luck. Please help!
Thanks,
Yahase

yahase said:
Hello everyone,
I cant use the 3 button combo at all to get to recovery mode. I've done the "Down Vol., Home, and Power" before and it worked. However, i am not able to get to it after i flashed Bionix-v 1.2, and 1.3. I pretty sure its not because of the ROM, but i just can't figure it out WHAT! I've tried the "Vol. UP, Down, Power" as well, but still not luck. Please help!
Thanks,
Yahase
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Turn your phone off, and plug in the USB cable. That worked for me.

While your phone is switcher off, press and hold both the Up and Down buttons in the volume. And then plug in the USB.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I tried up down vol. With usb still didnt work. Btw im using vibrant.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

The worst kind of brick.

Hello.
I have managed to brick my I8190N, by installing TWRP through this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jmz.soft.twrpmanager&hl=en
I can't access recovery, download mode, and I cant even get the phone to boot. When I hold down the power button, it displays the S3 Mini logo for a few seconds and then blacks out. After that, it wont show anything on the display even when I hold down the power button. But when I pull the battery and reinsert it, I can turn it on again for a few seconds.
The problem started with me installing Virginity V14 over CM 5.1.1 Then i couldn't get it to recovery mode anymore so I thought i'd reinstall recovery through TWRP MANAGER app from google play store. After that the phone went bricked. Also, my Home button and back button are not working, because the flex cable is broken. I used virtual buttons to emulate these. Now I've hears that you could get to download mode when holding vol dn + home+ power although i've gotten there with vol dn + power buttons before. So I would like to know shall I order new buttons from ebay, or what else are my possibilities of getting the phone working again.
ty in advance.

Fix the buttons!!
Fix the buttons dude!!

Question Won't acces recovery mode with keys/buttons

I am trying to get into recovery mode but my phone just doesn't seem to care at all. I tried all possible combinations and timings, it's just booting normal. Is this some security thing? How can I get into recovery mode?

Fully power off the phone
Once the phone is full shut off, wait 15 seconds
Hold down the volume up button first
Continue holding the volume button down and power the phone on, continue holding the key combination until the Samsung logo appears.
You should now be in recovery mode and can navigate using the volume keys up and down, power button to confirm.

You have got it plugged in to a PC via USB right? You can't do it now unless it is plugged in to a PC with USB

skrippi said:
I am trying to get into recovery mode but my phone just doesn't seem to care at all. I tried all possible combinations and timings, it's just booting normal. Is this some security thing? How can I get into recovery mode?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
turn it of
press volume up and power button
insert usb cable from your laptop
keep holding those buttons
and you go to recovery

Thanks guys, the USB cable did the trick. But why is that? What an unusual way...

Just to be annoying!