[Q] Semi Bricked? - Captivate Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I've got an 896 Rogers Captivate that has been draining my sanity for hours now.
I managed to get it to download mode exactly ONCE out of ... literally eight hours of hold buttons, remove battery, replace battery, hold buttons, remove battery, etc etc.
I reached download mode by using the three button technique Volume Up + Volume Down + Power.
Once there I idiotically said "I can get here again.." and removed the battery.
I got this phone from a family member and managed to get it to download mode, but every other time I hold buttons (any buttons) it does exactly this:
If plugged into the computer it shows the loading daisy (which doesn't animate). I can hold any combination of the volume buttons and power button and it will flash black and return to the daisy.
If not plugged in, it shows the model number and 'Samsung'. Behavior is the same. Holding volume up, or down and the power button will flash black after eight seconds and then show the model and 'Samsung'.
I haven't tried Odin (although I've downloaded it and a rom thusly), a Jig, or any of the other brute force approaches to reaching download mode simply because I know that if I reached there once, I should be able to reach there again. Computers aren't sentient (although I swear this phone enjoys tormenting me).
Does any body have any insight to why I would be going through this?
Why won't it reach download mode again?
Just fyi: I have literally tried every button combination I can suss from the countless threads I've scoured and scanned.
Thanks in advance for any insight anyone can provide.

Just to make sure, as I didn't see it in the post, you did do v+/v- and insert the usb cord from a powered off state, right?
Also, check the captivate connection issues thread in my signature if you haven't already.

Different reaction
Hey thank you! Your list is handy!
I'm shocked I hadn't stumbled upon it already, or your signature for that matter..
Seriously can't understand how this is the first time I've seen it.
I've tried the [FROM A POWERED-DOWN STATE - BATTERY REMOVED] procedures but none of them got me into download mode.
Thanks all the same.
I'll try the battery charging list next.
Quick (and possibly stupid) question : Does it matter if it's an official Samsung USB cable?
As I noted in my initial post, I managed to get into download mode earlier today (little Android digging my grave with the same cable I've been struggling with for the past six hours.

Luck!
omigodomigodomigodomigodomigodomigod
okay, so I managed to get into d/l mode by plugging to power (outlet usb) and then applying three buttons.
So:
Battery Out
Plugged into USB
Battery In
Hold VolUp+VolDown+Power
Android man digging my grave showed up.
It should be noted that this same process was conducted several times against my PC upon which the technique worked several hours (and several hundred attempts, and half a season of StarTrek TNG) ago.
...now what (lol!)
I guess I'll fire up Kies and conduct a few more hours of scouring!

well you COULD go about flashing roms and kernels and modems to your hearts delight. But I would advise against that. I'd recommend first backing up EVERYTHING. Especially your /efs (you'll need to be rooted) folder if your considering flashing a rom. Once you do that you're free to flash. Just be sure to read the OP of the rom to make sure you meet the requirements for the rom or kernel, such as if you have the right boot loaders. As long as you read, you really can't go wrong with the captivate.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App

I'm not entirely sure how the phone reached this state but according to all the stuff I've read, if the phone is in this state it's recoverable using Kies.
However Kies doesn't seem to care that I've got this phone plugged in.
Frankly, there's nothing to back up, and if flashing out with Odin is the only way to establish a working Captivate then I suppose i've got some files to download.
Does anybody have any insight regarding Kies and getting it to play nice nice?

Do you have Samsung drivers installed?
Personally, I have only got Kies to work when the phone was actually on.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App

If your in download mode, I suggest just flashing back to stock using heimdal.
(I don't use odin 1-click stocks because my first attempt at using it corrupted my bootloaders. My phone would power on, go through the AT&T screen for hours. I also could not enter recovery or download using 6 different methods including a jig. I lost hope and accidentally left my phone on when I went to bed. I wake up next morning and it booted up. I used terminal emulator from the market and used the command Reboot Download. I worked, then I flashed back to stock using hiemdal. I am not completely sure why I shared this story but w.e )

Related

[Q] Seems to be bricked..

Hey everyone, First time poster here and it seems my captivate is bricked. I'm fairly new to android but I caught on with ROM/kernel/etc.. flashing and all seemed to be going well. I saw the new 3.5 update for precision and wanted to update from 3.0. I did my usual thing and restored to stock with ODIN instead of flashing over. Rooted all over again, downloaded ROM manager and flashed clockwork recovery. I selected the ROM when I was in CWrecovery and rebooted.. but for some reason the phone never gets past the boot screen. The ATT logo shows up, then the suckerpunch logo (as suckerpunch is included in the precision ROM) and then the precision logo.. but it just keeps starting over from there. I thought I did a clean flash but something went wrong obviously.
Ive tried the three button combo and anything that has been stated before on here about the three button combo timing and whatever. So it seems that I cant get in recovery or download by using the traditional methods.
I'm guessing my phone is soft-bricked, which should be relatively easy to fix, but I can't get into any mode at all. Ive seen plenty of threads with people having boot loop issues but they seem to have been solved my some combination of buttons used or the ODIN usb download mode technique. Ive seen mention of using adb commands to get into download mode, but I think I have to have usb debugging enabled which I can't enable, clearly.
Any help would be appreciated, especially since in the meantime I'll have to use my old 903sh.
CCDillon said:
Hey everyone, First time poster here and it seems my captivate is bricked. I'm fairly new to android but I caught on with ROM/kernel/etc.. flashing and all seemed to be going well. I saw the new 3.5 update for precision and wanted to update from 3.0. I did my usual thing and restored to stock with ODIN instead of flashing over. Rooted all over again, downloaded ROM manager and flashed clockwork recovery. I selected the ROM when I was in CWrecovery and rebooted.. but for some reason the phone never gets past the boot screen. The ATT logo shows up, then the suckerpunch logo (as suckerpunch is included in the precision ROM) and then the precision logo.. but it just keeps starting over from there. I thought I did a clean flash but something went wrong obviously.
Ive tried the three button combo and anything that has been stated before on here about the three button combo timing and whatever. So it seems that I cant get in recovery or download by using the traditional methods.
I'm guessing my phone is soft-bricked, which should be relatively easy to fix, but I can't get into any mode at all. Ive seen plenty of threads with people having boot loop issues but they seem to have been solved my some combination of buttons used or the ODIN usb download mode technique. Ive seen mention of using adb commands to get into download mode, but I think I have to have usb debugging enabled which I can't enable, clearly.
Any help would be appreciated, especially since in the meantime I'll have to use my old 903sh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you describe exactly which three button methods have you performed? The one that always seems to work to get to download mode is hold both volume up and down and plug in USB cable to the computer and you should be able to get into download mode (of course after taking out the battery, shutting off your phone first). You should have ODIN open before this, then after that just press start on ODIN.
I believe people with captivates who have problems with 3 button combos have batch 1008. Please tell if you can't use the method above then we can check your batch.
koreancanuck said:
Can you describe exactly which three button methods have you performed? The one that always seems to work to get to download mode is hold both volume up and down and plug in USB cable to the computer and you should be able to get into download mode (of course after taking out the battery, shutting off your phone first). You should have ODIN open before this, then after that just press start on ODIN.
I believe people with captivates who have problems with 3 button combos have batch 1008. Please tell if you can't use the method above then we can check your batch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate the fast response.
Ive tried the above method and it didn't work. Ive also tried plenty of others like holding the power button with the two volume buttons (to try recovery) Ive also held the buttons down for certain amounts of time to see if my timing is just off, and pretty much a few other generic three button combos that are performed when this sort of thing happens. Instead of getting into download mode, it of course just shows the battery charging.
If the phone is plugged in while it is doing its rebooting cycle then ODIN actually detects it, but I still wouldn't be able to do anything I'm sure.
Ive read through many posts about this but I just cant find anything to work at all, maybe buying a jig would be the final solution. :/
EDIT: If it helps, before flashing my captivate for the very first time a month back, i was told to check to see if I could enter into download mode and recovery safely, which I could and this was on stock rom. Ive been able to get into download/recovery with other ROMs as well, idk what's up now though
CCDillon said:
I appreciate the fast response.
Ive tried the above method and it didn't work. Ive also tried plenty of others like holding the power button with the two volume buttons (to try recovery) Ive also held the buttons down for certain amounts of time to see if my timing is just off, and pretty much a few other generic three button combos that are performed when this sort of thing happens. Instead of getting into download mode, it of course just shows the battery charging.
If the phone is plugged in while it is doing its rebooting cycle then ODIN actually detects it, but I still wouldn't be able to do anything I'm sure.
Ive read through many posts about this but I just cant find anything to work at all, maybe buying a jig would be the final solution. :/
EDIT: If it helps, before flashing my captivate for the very first time a month back, i was told to check to see if I could enter into download mode and recovery safely, which I could and this was on stock rom. Ive been able to get into download/recovery with other ROMs as well, idk what's up now though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you could get into download before, I don't know why you wouldn't be able to do it now. The fact that you can see the battery charging icon indicates that you should easily be able to get into download mode. Can you double check your methods and if neither work, you could always go for JIG.
you may need to buy this to get into download mode:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...69977&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_623wt_1139
just to clearify and add one more thing to try...
you are experiencing a boot-loop not brick..
ive heard of boot loop problems sometimes getting into download mode by:
remove battery
plug in usb
hold volume buttons
put in battery
(slight change on usual method)
EDIT: you may also want to try the AIO captivate toolbox in the Dev section, it can try to put your phone into download mode
I had this happen before. I did what Tresselo said and it worked.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
plug in your usb cable. let the phone reboot and see if the comp recognizes the phone at any point during your boot loop. if it does - your in luck, sort of... I had this problem as well with the same ROM. idk if its the ROM or just me screwing up (probably me screwing up) anyhow, type this command into a command prompt (must have the android sdk and adb installed) get into the tools folder where ever that may be at for me its C:\android\tools
from this dir type this: adb reboot download - do this as soon as the comp recognizes your phone - should work.... IF the comp is seeing the phone. If its not you WILL need a JIG which can be made fairly easy.
Try adb if you haven't already. Instructions are in the stickies in the Dev section.
Sent from my Captivate using XDA App
Thanks for all the replies guys, got a good community here. Sadly no suggestions have worked at all.
jgc121 said:
plug in your usb cable. let the phone reboot and see if the comp recognizes the phone at any point during your boot loop. if it does - your in luck, sort of... I had this problem as well with the same ROM. idk if its the ROM or just me screwing up (probably me screwing up) anyhow, type this command into a command prompt (must have the android sdk and adb installed) get into the tools folder where ever that may be at for me its C:\android\tools
from this dir type this: adb reboot download - do this as soon as the comp recognizes your phone - should work.... IF the comp is seeing the phone. If its not you WILL need a JIG which can be made fairly easy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I downloaded the android SDK and installed all the necessary components, as soon as I hit the right directory (for me C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools>adb reboot download) and I get "error: device not found". So adb seems to be running right and I may just have to get my timing right, but as of trying a good ten times I'm not having any luck.
When booting up my cap while plugged into the computer, the noise that signals a usb connection sounds and when going into device manager and looking at usb connections, its says samsung android device. Seems like I could get into download, but I guess I'll just keep trying to time it exactly right even though Ive hit the command near the connection noise every time.
I'm not losing hope, but I went ahead and ordered the jig off of ebay that mengbo posted, I'm really hoping that the jig could solve my problem for good. From your perspective guys, would the jig DEFINITELY work? Or is it just a kinda one shot, hope for the best thing?
The JIG is a pretty sure thing seeing as how you are just in a boot loop.
CCDillon, Im in the same boat as you. Same thing happened to me. I have tried a jig and it did not work for me. Hopefully it works for you. I have tried ADB also and it could not find the device. I really hope there is something out there that can help us.
aw man, that's not good at all.. hope you can find a way. Did you make a jig and were you using the same ROM?
Hopefully its just mine and the jig works for you. I didnt mean to scare you. I made a jig at first, and it kept booting the phone. Thought I didnt make it correctly so I got one off of ebay, thinking it had to work. That one did the same thing. Thought maybe it was a faulty jig and the guy I got it from ('mengbo' on this forum) sent me another one to see if that was it. The new jig he sent (that worked on his phone) did the same thing. So, something else is going on.
I was going from Phoenix 4.5 to Supernova ROM and it gave me the same error you got. Now it Boots the ATT screen then loops the Phoenix ROM logo over and over. 1 vibrate followed by 2 more
I'm hoping the JIG works for mine, otherwise I'm not sure what to do. I admit it does scare me a bit to see that you've tried all these different things with no result. I was scanning the precision thread and it seems one of the avid users/posters got caught in a boot loop and it looks like they have gotten out of it, I sent a PM so maybe I can see what that user did, though part of me is thinking that the three button method worked for him but for some reason not for me. This is very frustrating and I'll keep an update on everything, the JIG should be here in about 3 days or so.
Also, you think it may have something to do with how many times our phones have been flashed? Ive looked up to see if flashing is bad for the phones "health" but it seems flashing won't really hurt anything, nor have I really flashed too much. Btw, my phone acts the same you described as well, with the random vibrating and everything.
My mind just seems to be jumping to any random possibility, it just sucks not having a working phone.
Hope SOMETHING works for you
Seriously - you guys are all worked up over a boot loop. the JIG will put you into dl mode just fine... only time it has high chance of NOT working is if you only see black screen - no power up at all.... you can make a JIG by getting 3 - 100k ohm resistors and a 1k ohm resistor from radio shack for about $1.25... its simple.
I removed my 3 button combo accidentally by flashing att 1 click, theres an att 1 click with 3 button fix, flash that when you can get into download mode.
If you can connect with adb use it to go to download, if not, you need a jig... it works, I have been down your path!
jgc121 said:
Seriously - you guys are all worked up over a boot loop. the JIG will put you into dl mode just fine... only time it has high chance of NOT working is if you only see black screen - no power up at all.... you can make a JIG by getting 3 - 100k ohm resistors and a 1k ohm resistor from radio shack for about $1.25... its simple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. Learn how to make the JIG you need HERE...
Or buy one from me HERE... < Shameless plug.
I was in the same situation as you guys after i had a bad flash and the loop on the bootanimation. I bought a jig online and it worked. The trick is to take out your microsd, and simcard and leave out the battery for 15 seconds. Then put back ONLY the battery in, and plug in the jig. It should turn back on and be put into download mode then flash with one click odin.
odin one click WITH 3 button fix....... saftey first.

[ROM/REF] Stock JFD, PIT file, Odin, and more.

Link to a guide on how to root, use recovery, flash, and many other tips and tricks.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=732458
3 links to instructions on how to enter download mode and return to stock:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=734475
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=13132341#post13132341
http://rootzwiki.com/topic/605-guid...pps-everything/page__view__findpost__p__11106
Link to the latest Samsung drivers for Mobile Phones:
http://www.mediafire.com/?1c3ca4117bm43n6
2 links to the JFD tar image for the Samsung Vibrant. Only one is needed:
http://files.androidspin.com/downloads.php?dir=androidspin/samsung/vibrant/&file=T959UVJFD.tar
http://sourceforge.net/projects/stockodinjfd/files/T959UVJFD.tar/download
2 links to the PIT file to be used when flashing Stock JFD for the Samsung Vibrant. Only one is needed:
http://files.androidspin.com/downlo...in/samsung/vibrant/&file=s1_odin_20100512.rar
http://sourceforge.net/projects/stockodinjfd/files/s1_odin_20100512.pit/download
Latest Odin version available below in 7zip and zip formats. Also linked here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/stockodinjfd/files/Odin3 v1.7.exe/download
How To Enter Download Mode.
There are a number of ways to enter download mode, such as clicking "Enter Download Mode" in a compatible recovery, or clicking "Download Mode" in a long-press power button menu in your custom ROM. If you do not have access to those methods, the most surefire way I know of entering download mode is this:
1) If not already powered down, power down your phone.
2) Remove the back cover.
3) Remove the battery.
4) Plug your micro USB cable into your computer (Your computer should be on at this time.)
5) (This will take a little dexterity. Enlist help if it proves too difficult on your own.) Hold down both volume keys at the same time.
6) While still holding down the two volume keys, insert your micro usb cable into your phone.
7) While still holding down the two volume keys, insert the battery into your phone.
8) Your screen should now light up with a yellow digging Android that reads "Download Mode"
9) If you did not reach download mode, repeat steps 1 - 7 several times to rule out any user error.
10) If you still cannot enter download mode, remove your SD card and SIM card as well as your battery. Do not re-insert the SD or SIM card when you re-insert your battery in step 7.
11) If you still cannot enter download mode, remove your battery, SD, and SIM card. Wait 24hrs and try again.
12) If you still cannot enter download mode, your phone may require special care, such as a JIG or JTAG. Information on this can be found elsewhere on the XDA forums.
Alternate, similar method for entering Download Mode (thanks to Br1cK'd)
1) Power down your phone and remove the battery.
2) Re-insert the battery. (but do not turn on your phone)
3) Plug the micro USB cable into your computer.
4) Press and hold down both volume keys.
5) While still holding down both volume keys, plug the other end of the micro USB cable into your phone.
6) Your screen should now light up with a yellow digging Android that reads "Download Mode".
7) If you are still unable to get into download mode, follow steps 9 - 12 of the previous method.
If any of my information is incorrect, please let me know and I'll amend the OP to reflect the correct information.
I did not come up with any of this information on my own apart from searching for it in the first place. If you are one of the pioneers of these methods or files, you have my thanks. If your post or file is one of the ones I've linked to, you also have my thanks and gratitude.
*Reserved*
I wrote this up after giving people a hard time in the Q&A forum when they asked for "Revert to stock" instructions. After a week or so of jabs and snide comments, I did a search myself, and it took a lot longer than I expected to find the relevant information. Sure, it only took 15 minutes, but I was expecting 15 seconds. Finding a downloadable JFD image was far more difficult than I expected, and a lot of the links to information were buried under a sea of similar links. So anyway, I waded through and collected the important ones relating to ODINing back to stock and placed them here.
The only thing I would say differently about entering download mode, that I personally find easier, is from a powered off state or after battery pull, reinsert the battery, hold the entire volume rocker down with your left thumb while holding the phone upright and facing you, its a natural way to hold it, and then plug in the usb cable.
Pops right into dl mode. I used to follow those same steps you posted, with the battery as the last step, but found keeping the battery in and plugging in the usb cable last was a ton easier.
Thanks though for making it concise, for the panicked users who continually fail at searching.
Edit - And I'm not throwing stones at the noobs, we've all had that "Aw ****" moment, yours truly included, and have panicked and lost the ability to rationally seek out the scattered bits that can solve our issues.
Sent from my ZenDroid, meditating on the XDA App
Br1cK'd said:
The only thing I would say differently about entering download mode, that I personally find easier, is from a powered off state or after battery pull, reinsert the battery, hold the entire volume rocker down with your left thumb while holding the phone upright and facing you, its a natural way to hold it, and then plug in the usb cable.
Pops right into dl mode. I used to follow those same steps you posted, with the battery as the last step, but found keeping the battery in and plugging in the usb cable last was a ton easier.
Thanks though for making it concise, for the panicked users who continually fail at searching.
Sent from my ZenDroid, meditating on the XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 ... it's very easy that way
Do these files work the T-mobile USA t959 Vibrant (Sims 3 and Avatar)? We have a different movinand chip (416mb bigger) and 3 extra partitions. If we flash we the stock JFD/PIT we tend to get the Multi CSC error.
Br1cK'd: Thanks for the info! I added it to the OP. Can't hurt to be extra thorough, right?
protohamster: No offense, but you're gonna have to take another stab at articulating your problem. I can't make heads or tails of what you're asking.
Yessir!
Sent from my ZenDroid, meditating on the XDA App
kaintfm said:
*Reserved*
I wrote this up after giving people a hard time in the Q&A forum when they asked for "Revert to stock" instructions. After a week or so of jabs and snide comments, I did a search myself, and it took a lot longer than I expected to find the relevant information. Sure, it only took 15 minutes, but I was expecting 15 seconds. Finding a downloadable JFD image was far more difficult than I expected, and a lot of the links to information were buried under a sea of similar links. So anyway, I waded through and collected the important ones relating to ODINing back to stock and placed them here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
took me 15 seconds....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=13132341#post13132341
Also may want to add in the gingerbread bootloader way of download mode
Very Nice Job on this... +++
None taken. I am asking if the PIT files and JFD odin files you posted can be used on the first T-mobile USA Vibrants sold in the USA, those phones came with pre-installed Sims 3 game and the full Avatar movie on the SDcard. But they are different in the following respects. They have a slightly larger movinand chip, 16.43GB instead of 16GB and their partition tables are also different (they have 4 partitions instead of 2). If you Odin the most common JFD and pit files found on this forum onto those phones they will work, but you end up getting a multi csc error when you boot into the 2e recovery.
Not sure how you can link to my files/guide and not say there is not a guide for returning to stock.
^ i got my vibrant on day 1. The sourceforge links are mine. Never had any issues using them.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App
Never said there isn't a guide.
Great post.
I used to be able to get into download mode using the method described, but I can't anymore. This worked for me:
Power off.
Hold down Volume Up, MENU, and Power
Found here (I know it says they got to recovery that way, but it went into Download for me):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8358620&postcount=18
kaintfm said:
Never said there isn't a guide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just saying, you said it took a long time to find, yet it's in the sticky with 120k+ views AND you are linking to my files. Would have been nice to ask, like the other person who wrote a guide and used my files.
No harm, just surprised. I could have deleted/renamed those files.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App
oh lifesaver. had a missed step on ICS Passion and fell into boot loop with no button combo...
Needed to remove SD and SIM before it let me into Download mode.
phew.

[Solved] Slim ICS never loads past logo

I have been running Slim ICS on my Captivate for a month or two now. I have been on version 3.6 for awhile now and have had no issues.
Today however, My phone was acting a little odd, and I decided that it had been awhile since my last reboot, so I held the power button, clicked reboot, (not into recovery) put the phone back in my pocket once I was sure it was rebooting and went on my way.
30 minutes later I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at the screen. It was still on the Slim ICS screen and I thought maybe it was looping, but it never rebooted itself or went back to the AT&T screen. It just stayed on the Slim ICS screen until I pulled the battery.
It has done the same thing every time I try to turn it on.
Download mode wont work (my cappy doesn't have the 3-button combo, so I have to use a jig.) I can get it in download mode but my computers wont read it. I tried uninstalling/reinstalling drivers, I tried different chords (on each computer.) and nothing works.
I'm kind of at my witts end, as it is my alarm in the mornings and I rely heavily on my phone. any suggestions on what to do? or is it time to check if I can upgrade...?
(P.S. I apologize for the sloppy formatting, it's 2:30 am and I've been trying to make this work for 2 hours...)
EDIT: I kept trying and eventually got my phone to read as gadget serial instead of unknown, flashed back to stock and am now getting back to ICS. To anyone in a similar situation, just keep trying and hopefully it'll pay off.
Do you have recovery mode?
Swyped from my ICS Samsung Captivate
korockinout13 said:
Do you have recovery mode?
Swyped from my ICS Samsung Captivate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of the button combos work on my device (none of them ever have) and I cant get my computer to read my phone, so I can't use ADB to reboot in recovery. All I can really do right now is get into download mode with my jig, but none of the computers in my house will read it with any of my chords.
Have u tried "Mobile Odin" by Chainfire ?? Find it in the Market...uuugghh...the Play Store. :/
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
alright, it was a huge headache... but I got back to gingerbread stock.
I'll tell how I did it:
Deleted all installed samsung drivers (and rebooted computer).
Go to download mode (I used the jig, if you have button combos, it's probably easier)
Plug the device into the computer and hope to god it reads as Gadget serial
I then used this to restore to stock (it failed 3 times before it worked... everytime it got just a little bit further, until it finished.)
So ultimately, after a nightmare of a time and a lot of headache, I'm thankfully back at stock, and working on getting back to ICS.
although the process is difficult, as odin still won't find my phone (heimdall does though)

"Bricked" Captivate???

I have a Samsung Captivate i897 for AT&T
Firmware version: 2.2 Froyo
Ok, so I had tried to foolishly upgrade my phone through Kies to 2.3 Gingerbread, knowing that I was
upgrading to the SIII in a few weeks anyway. Kies came back with a response that the upgrade
could not be finished, so I proceeded to follow the instructions and do an emergency recovery
of the phone, but after a while, that also failed.
After the recovery failure, I ended up with the "phone ! computer" screen (fromw what I've found, a
disconnect of the phone and computer). It took me several tries, but I found a forum somewhere
that showed me Odin (something I had never really played with for fear of bricking my firmware).
I followed the steps outlined in an xda forum by opening Odin and trying to flash the phone
back to stock.
But alas, my phone's screen turned red...which from some forums seems to be a problem with the
Odin installation. I had looked around a bit more on how to fix this issue, and eventually
arrived again at the Downloading... screen. This was promising at the very least,
but trying to connect to my computer started to fail. I would continually get "USB device
not recognizable" by Windows. I've tried multiple USB ports, reinstalling the phone drivers,
but could not get Kies or Odin to recognize it.
Now...the worst part. Someone somehwere suggested to restart the Download mode, which I did,
and now...the phone won't even return to the Downloading... or phone/computer screen. It's just blank.
Some have suggested that the USB cable or USB ports (more likely the computer) may be at fault
here as well. So I have ordered a cheap USB cable off of Amazon to maybe solve this issue.
The phone does not boot up to any screen, nor does it seem to charge (either in wall or
computer).
So my question is..., does anyone believe I have achieved an unsurmountable task in "bricking"
my Captivate, or is there hope yet that I can revive it from the dead. I plan on selling it online
for around $85 so that I can lower the price for the SIII, but a bricked phone won't get
too much.
Any help here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to anyone who can enlighten me a bit here.
If u have zero signs of life, even when plugged into the wall charger, then u r hard bricked...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
What did you do before losing download mode/phone-!-computer? Did you flash boot loaders?
Sent from my SGH-I897 JellyBro
If you are interested in trying to save your phone instead of scrapping it for the S3 you might look into either making a jig or ordering one. There is a thread somewhere on here that shows you step by step how to make one and it will force the phone into download mode if it's not completely bricked.
I have made one myself and it worked flawlessly and provided you have an extra micro usb sync cable that you are willing to destroy in the process it will cost you less than $5 to make.
been there..and i fixed mine
can you still do the up+down volume and plug usb to download mode?
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app
Dont know if this method works but its still an option for you to try, might as well.
Install Odin3 One-Click Downloader [I897UCJF6-final-OCD-REV0.exe] mediafire /?0w2y31maz8mdom4 (I cant seem to post link because Im a new member)
Its basically a hard format.
-Unplug your Phone from USB
-Launch the application
-Take out your battery for about 30 seconds and place it back
-Press and hold Volume Up & Down buttons
-As you're holding the 2 buttons, plugin the USB
-If the application recognizes your phone, just click [START] button and it will wipe everything on your phone (And I MEAN EVERYTHING, so its a sacrifice of losing whatever you had on to fix your phone), and have your phone in factory mode.
I fixed my phone when it was bricked this way. I reinstalled all the mods and updaters.
Hope it works for you!

Can't enter download or recovery, tried USB jig.

Hi there!
I'm wondering if you guys can help me brainstorm, or at least get to the root of the problem. Alright, so to preface... I'm using an ATT Galaxy S Captivate [i897]
I was updating my version of MIUI from the miui.us version 2.3 to version 4.0 [ICS.] This worked fine, and I had backed up my data with TitaniumBackup. However, I made a mistake: I chose one of the backup all options, where it backed up all my system data and app data. Little did I know, restoring the system data would completely own my phone. So I did a restore, rebooted, and my Captivate sits at the boot animation indefinitely. It won't get past it.
Somewhere along the line, my download mode and recovery mode 3-button combo got borked. They no longer work [trust me, I've tried every one.] When I try to enter recovery by pressing and holding a number of volume and power button combinations, it goes straight to the boot animation after the AT&T screen. When I try to enter download mode by pressing and holding volume/power, battery in, cable in, and every other possible combination [including switching the cable to different ports on my computer,] I simply get a "stuck" circular loading icon which flickers every few seconds. When I let go, it shows me a grey battery icon with that stuck loading circle overlaid.
So, moving on, I decided to disassemble my phone and try to reset it by shorting the TP contact in the back against the SD card slot. I wish I could find the thread; it's supposed to reset the device. It definitely causes my captivate to reboot [while it was stuck in the boot animation] but it didn't fix the problem. So I decided to make my own jig.
I built it out of three 100k ohm resistors, was super careful not to contact the metal parts of them while I plugged it into my phone. I tried plugging the micro B cable in first, then touching the resistor leads to pins 4 and 5 on the back end of the USB jig, but to no avail. I tried slightly different resistances, but no go. I tried connecting every pin to every other pin just for the hell of it, and no luck there either.
I don't have a soldering gun, so J-tagging is not an option [before I just buy a new phone, anyway,] and I'd rather not buy a USB jig because I'm not convinced it'll work. I know there are a lot of factors, and everyone says to try it 400 times, but I tried it more than I have patience for already. There's got to be something else wrong.
I'm wondering if TitaniumBackup has the capability to mess up the boot loader? If I accidentally overwrote system files with older ones, why would that cause it to get stuck in a bootloop? And where did my download mode go?
If anyone has any ideas, please let me know! I've done a massive amount of research on this. And I found some pretty brilliant ideas along the way, but none of them seemed to work for me. I'm to the point where I literally can't find any more references to problems similar to mine, so I figured I'd ask you guys!
TL;DR: I think by [accidentally] restoring system files with TitaniumBackup from MIUI 2.3 to 4.0, I may have completely owned the boot loader. Can this happen? And is there any fix? I can't get into download or recovery with button combination, jigs, or short-circuiting my phone in fun new ways.
Thanks
The phone by itself is not capable of writing to the bootloader. I am at a loss for why it doesn't work. All I can say is keep trying.
Sent from a jelly bean
korockinout13 said:
The phone by itself is not capable of writing to the bootloader. I am at a loss for why it doesn't work. All I can say is keep trying.
Sent from a jelly bean
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well. It might just be the way you wrote it, but you said "I try to enter download mode by pressing and holding volume/power, battery in, cable in...".
The correct method is exactly this.
1. Pull your battery.
2. Hold down volume button.
3. Insert battery.
4. Plug in USB.
5. You should be in DL mode.
Give it a try even if you think you have done it before....

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