Database Develop

galaxy note stuck at samsung logo

hello,
i am from India
i have a galaxy note and was updating it to the new version as i was still on 2.3.6
after updating to ics i got another 7mb update which i downloaded and the phone restarted and got stuck at Samsung logo .
can anyone please help me recovering back my phone.
my phone has the official Samsung software i have not updated any unofficial ROM.

rosh08 said:
hello,
i am from India
i have a galaxy note and was updating it to the new version as i was still on 2.3.6
after updating to ics i got another 7mb update which i downloaded and the phone restarted and got stuck at Samsung logo .
can anyone please help me recovering back my phone.
my phone has the official Samsung software i have not updated any unofficial ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remove battery, insert it after 5-6 minutes and then try to boot. Can you enter download mode (vol down+home+power button combo)? so that further solutions can be provided just in case if you can't boot after removing battery.

jeetu1981 said:
Remove battery, insert it after 5-6 minutes and then try to boot. Can you enter download mode (vol down+home+power button combo)? so that further solutions can be provided just in case if you can't boot after removing battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes i can enter the download mode..it says volume up for continue and volume down for cancel n restart

rosh08 said:
yes i can enter the download mode..it says volume up for continue and volume down for cancel n restart
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok good, did you try removing battery?
If removing battery isn't helping and if you are okay with root and custom kernel then flash some safe kernel using pc odin and then wipe to see if that helps. If you don't want to root or flash custom kernel then download stock Indian GB firmware from dr.ketan's thread and flash it using pc odin and then wipe in stock recovery.
Flashing stock GB will allow you to update to ICS using kies or even OTA.

Ok.great!now download any gb or ics rom dr ketans thread or from jeetu signature.
After downloading the rom,you need to download kies on your pc and odin as well.after downloading all this put your phone in download mode and now open odin and select pda tab and select your rom which would be in tar format.
Now connect your phone thru usb cable and after connecting you will see yellow light which means your phone is detected.
Now click on start and sit back till it pass.
Hit thanks button
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

jeetu1981 said:
Ok good, did you try removing battery?
If removing battery isn't helping and if you are okay with root and custom kernel then flash some safe kernel using pc odin and then wipe to see if that helps. If you don't want to root or flash custom kernel then download stock Indian GB firmware from dr.ketan's thread and flash it using pc odin and then wipe in stock recovery.
Flashing stock GB will allow you to update to ICS using kies or even OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey thanks for the info.. a small favour .i want my phone to be unrooted and like original so can u tell me from where can i download dr.ketan's firmware and how do i install it as i dont hav any knowledge abut this..

rosh08 said:
hey thanks for the info.. a small favour .i want my phone to be unrooted and like original so can u tell me from where can i download dr.ketan's firmware and how do i install it as i dont hav any knowledge abut this..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
here is the thread, download Indian GB firmware (post #2) and follow tutorial in the thread itself.

Step 1: Download appropriate stock ROM on your PC/Laptop and Unzip it.
Step 2: Download PC Odin3-v3.04
Step 3: Stop all firewall/antivirus programs runninig in your PC, and then run ODIN.
Step4: Start your gNote in DOWNLOADER mode (by pressing Vol. Down+Home+Powerkey)
Step 5: Connect your gNote (in downloader mode) to your PC/Laptop
Step 6: Select appropriate (PDA) file in the unzipped stock ROM and click START in Odin
After few minutes.... when your gNote restarts, you are done. Enjoy...
(u may get the detailed guide and download links from http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1424997 (thanks dr.ketan!!)

jeetu1981 said:
here is the thread, download Indian GB firmware (post #2) and follow tutorial in the thread itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey does GB mean gingerbread if so does it mean i have to downgrade my firmware ..wont that be a problem ???
it says If you have flash GB ROM over ICS/custom ROM, you mat get FC/crashing , in that case just restart in recovery and wipe cache and wipe data.
how do i restart in recovery and wipe cache and data???

rosh08 said:
hey does GB mean gingerbread if so does it mean i have to downgrade my firmware ..wont that be a problem ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes Gingerbread and there is no problem in downgrading, i won't suggest you to flash ICS rom as you cannot wipe in ICS, it can brick your phone, so best is to downgrade to GB , wipe and if everything goes well then update to ICS officially.

jeetu1981 said:
yes Gingerbread and there is no problem in downgrading, i won't suggest you to flash ICS rom as you cannot wipe in ICS, it can brick your phone, so best is to downgrade to GB , wipe and if everything goes well then update to ICS officially.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it says If you have flash GB ROM over ICS/custom ROM, you mat get FC/crashing , in that case just restart in recovery and wipe cache and wipe data.
how do i restart in recovery and wipe cache and data???

rosh08 said:
it says If you have flash GB ROM over ICS/custom ROM, you mat get FC/crashing , in that case just restart in recovery and wipe cache and wipe data.
how do i restart in recovery and wipe cache and data???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FCs and boot loop is normal after flashing GB over ICS, use vol up + home+ power combo and then release power button once you see galaxy note logo, you will be in stock recovery. Navigate using vol up and down and home to confirm.

jeetu1981 said:
FCs and boot loop is normal after flashing GB over ICS, use vol up + home+ power combo and then release power button once you see galaxy note logo, you will be in stock recovery. Navigate using vol up and down and home to confirm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i downloaded the gb version from ur signature and did the steps as followed ..my cell has started up and gone back to 2.3.5 version ..but there is a small problem i think it is a rooted version as it has two extra versions in the menu option thr is cwm n superuser...

stuck on startup logo
i was flash CyanogenMod 10 from CWM after flashing while wiping data it stops, i remove the battery and starts but it stucks on logo screen,After this problem i try to flash from download mode with odin many time i flashes but it stops between flashing, many rom i hav tried but the logo screen still stuck.
please send me the solution

rosh08 said:
i downloaded the gb version from ur signature and did the steps as followed ..my cell has started up and gone back to 2.3.5 version ..but there is a small problem i think it is a rooted version as it has two extra versions in the menu option thr is cwm n superuser...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is pre rooted. If you need to lose root and cwm just flash stock gb from dr ketans thread in development section, it will overwrite and erase root.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

rosh08 said:
i downloaded the gb version from ur signature and did the steps as followed ..my cell has started up and gone back to 2.3.5 version ..but there is a small problem i think it is a rooted version as it has two extra versions in the menu option thr is cwm n superuser...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The link in my sig is for pre-rooted GB rom, If you do not want rooted one then you should download the stock firmware from the link I have provided earlier.
But it's good that your phone is up now
---------- Post added at 01:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:28 AM ----------
grpc7fvktr said:
i was flash CyanogenMod 10 from CWM after flashing while wiping data it stops, i remove the battery and starts but it stucks on logo screen,After this problem i try to flash from download mode with odin many time i flashes but it stops between flashing, many rom i hav tried but the logo screen still stuck.
please send me the solution
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you boot in cwm recovery, if so then did you try full wipe in cwmr or flashing some other custom rom? I have seen lot of users with this issue and then wipe or fresh flash solves the issue.
And have you ever used odin earlier, just want to make sure you have proper drivers installed.

fixing pertrified samsung logo screen
rosh08 said:
hello,
i am from India
i have a galaxy note and was updating it to the new version as i was still on 2.3.6
after updating to ics i got another 7mb update which i downloaded and the phone restarted and got stuck at Samsung logo .
can anyone please help me recovering back my phone.
my phone has the official Samsung software i have not updated any unofficial ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I was having the same issue as you for about six hours through the night til daybreak. Pittied myself when my experiental process came to a hault ending with the ever-so bright lightbulb beaming from my cranium. Not without the "where the hell where you five hours ago" expression S-beamed across my face. But anyway, all you would have had done is:
1) Hold the Volume Up + Home Button + Power Button (hold this last)
2) When in Recovery Mode, selcet and execute "Wipe cache partition" (FIRST), then select and execute "Wipe data/factory reset"
3) Select and execute "Reboot System Now"
4) Wait a few minutes (not the dreaded and feared time fearing that the damn thing still functions properly). And you should be greeted with the regular, expected setup process.

warr77 said:
Actually, I was having the same issue as you for about six hours through the night til daybreak. Pittied myself when my experiental process came to a hault ending with the ever-so bright lightbulb beaming from my cranium. Not without the "where the hell where you five hours ago" expression S-beamed across my face. But anyway, all you would have had done is:
1) Hold the Volume Up + Home Button + Power Button (hold this last)
2) When in Recovery Mode, selcet and execute "Wipe cache partition" (FIRST), then select and execute "Wipe data/factory reset"
3) Select and execute "Reboot System Now"
4) Wait a few minutes (not the dreaded and feared time fearing that the damn thing still functions properly). And you should be greeted with the regular, expected setup process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will doing this erase the data on my phone?

akshay19gupta said:
will doing this erase the data on my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wipe data/factory reset" will erase the apps and data you installed and get it back to rom defaults. but will not erase the data on internal storage like pics videos and other stuff.. It may delete the smemo snote data so be sure to make a backup

i9001 stuck on CWM Recovery & reboots

Hi,
My buddy messed up with his i9001 and the current condition when turn on the device,it show "SAMSUNG" and going directly into CWM recovery wihout me holding the power & vol up.
I've tried format system,wipe etc / partition internal SD and success installing fresh ROM zip from external SD but again it does the same again and again by going into CWM recovery.Also when in CWM recovery if reboot automatically like every 5minutes.
Your help will be appreciated!:cyclops:

Can the phone start into the download mode?

Eddicts said:
Can the phone start into the download mode?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup!and odin multidownloader recognize the device.I've got into ODIN and selected the ops but i do not know where to get the tar,md rom files. or should i just use odin3?what's the difference anyway?
p/s: i do not know which rom etc it was with before.Read somewhere about PIT but i do not quite get it.I'm in Malaysia.

it's rebooting in cwm recovery.... so you will need to flash bootloader: you cand find in i9001 wiki page at cwm recovery section a link to a single post where you will have all you need to flash bootloader and instructions . Good luck !! :good:

bluehawk20 said:
Also when in CWM recovery if reboot automatically like every 5minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need to follow this http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S_Plus/GT-I9001 To solve your problem use Odin 4.43 with AriesVe.ops and flash a bootloader for other solutions visit My Android solutions, link below

Yup just flash stock rom with ODIN if you cant boot/recover

help
bluehawk20 said:
Hi,
My buddy messed up with his i9001 and the current condition when turn on the device,it show "SAMSUNG" and going directly into CWM recovery wihout me holding the power & vol up.
I've tried format system,wipe etc / partition internal SD and success installing fresh ROM zip from external SD but again it does the same again and again by going into CWM recovery.Also when in CWM recovery if reboot automatically like every 5minutes.
Your help will be appreciated!:cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am having the same problem... i tried flashing gapps nd aosp after installin cwm... will flashing with odin help??? please tell solution

adisawant said:
i am having the same problem... i tried flashing gapps nd aosp after installin cwm... will flashing with odin help??? please tell solution
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure bumping old topics is a good idea, but if you're having the same issue the same solution would work. Just follow the steps described here.

please help me

i can't go to recovery mode stock or any other cwm

Just Go into Download mode, Flash a STOCK ROM, if you use TWRP previously, install CWM, and vice versa. WIPE DATA.
just a rule ALWAYS WIPE DATA WHEN FLASHING CM ROM FROM STOCK

i do that but no way when pressing voul+voul- home and power phone do no thing

try to remove everything then boot recovery then insert battery..

i will try to do that after 1 hour but no file can installed by odin to fix this i can't go to Samsung service with this problem
or any way to wip data with odin thanks

elkhshap said:
i will try to do that after 1 hour but no file can installed by odin to fix this i can't go to Samsung service with this problem
or any way to wip data with odin thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
theres a stock ROM that includes a full wipe. just search for it

tekkenl0rd13 said:
theres a stock ROM that includes a full wipe. just search for it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good news by this steps
Originally Posted by Callintz96 View Post #72
It work! I'll repeat what i've done:
- Go to download mode
- Flashed recovery 6.2.0.8 and while pressing volup+voldown+home
- Got Ramdump mode, power off removing the battery
- Go to download mode again, and flashed recovery again without volup+voldown+home
- Pressed recovery buttons until it power off and after that it power on in recovery!
I don't why xD
Thanks to all have tried to help me, thanks for spending your time to help me.
and now i'm in stock rom
thanks for all

elkhshap said:
i will try to do that after 1 hour but no file can installed by odin to fix this i can't go to Samsung service with this problem
or any way to wip data with odin thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash the official stock rom again and flash the TWRP Recovery!!
You deleted the system in your phone! I had this problem when i use factory reset in recovery (TWRP) my system go trash and i haven't recovery!

djfnz said:
Flash the official stock rom again and flash the TWRP Recovery!!
You deleted the system in your phone! I had this problem when i use factory reset in recovery (TWRP) my system go trash and i haven't recovery!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for you and my problem is gone yesterday at 5 am and i have to sleep more time :laugh:

HELP!! Phone bricked!

EDIT: problem solved

teodor79 said:
hi everyone, i installed thewhisp cyanogenmod 10.1 , then I decided to revert to stock. after i flashed the stock firmware, I tried to boot into recovery to wipe data (if i don't do this i get into bootloop) but when i pressed all buttons, it won't boot in recovery
now i am stuck in bootloop and can't recover it, please help me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the phone boot to the galaxy mini 2 screen? If it boots then its not hard bricked
Put the phone in ODIN mode and reflash again the stock firmware. If it still does not boot and you cant get into recovery, flash again the firmware but this time check re partition. You will need the jena or jenad pit. NOTE: THIS WILL WIPE ALL YOUR DATA!!!!!

only wipe data/factory reset & install stock again

No no always when you want to back to the stock ROM you must flash cwm and wipe data/factory and wipe cache and wipe dalvik cache and go to the mounts and storage and wipe everything then go downlaod mode and flash stock then trust me it will be ok
Sent from my GT-S6500 using xda app-developers app

this is probably Samsung bootloader bug, I don't know what's causing that, but you must wipe data before you flash back to stock via Odin

Porobu said:
Does the phone boot to the galaxy mini 2 screen? If it boots then its not hard bricked
Put the phone in ODIN mode and reflash again the stock firmware. If it still does not boot and you cant get into recovery, flash again the firmware but this time check re partition. You will need the jena or jenad pit. NOTE: THIS WILL WIPE ALL YOUR DATA!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried to repartition (i also have jena NON-nfc pit), the same result, it boots only in download mode, or android (i got bootloop and vibrate something like beep.........beep beep beep)
TheWhisp said:
this is probably Samsung bootloader bug, I don't know what's causing that, but you must wipe data before you flash back to stock via Odin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, it may be
btw, is there anyway to recover? (without samsung center)

I've had the same problem, sometimes it just boots into recovery

TheWhisp said:
I've had the same problem, sometimes it just boots into recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my last idea is: after flashing stock firmware, it boots into recovery, then into system. It is possible to replace the original "recovery.img" with cwm "recovery.img" in the original system package?

teodor79 said:
i tried to repartition (i also have jena NON-nfc pit), the same result, it boots only in download mode, or android (i got bootloop and vibrate something like beep.........beep beep beep)
yeah, it may be
btw, is there anyway to recover? (without samsung center)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try:
Install stock rom with odin
After installing install CWM or TWRP with odin
When the rom boots connect ur phone to pc and in adb do: adb reboot recovery
Sent from my GT-S6500D using xda app-developers app

Try this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2227982

TheWhisp said:
Try this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2227982
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks alot! it worked! you're a life saver!

Had the same problem, connected the phone to the charger and then I was able to enter CWM Recovery, I wiped data and it worked.

[Q] Phone became unbootable after installing latest Cyanogenmod update

Hello,
my Galaxy Note GT-N7000 became unbootable after installing latest Cyanogenmod 10.1 update.
I use it to organize myself and I need it back as fast as possible.
I need your help and googeling was unsuccessful.
I hope it is possible to rescue my phone because I dont have much money to buy another phone.
Thanks a lot!
XXY

TheXXY said:
Hello,
my Galaxy Note GT-N7000 became unbootable after installing latest Cyanogenmod 10.1 update.
I use it to organize myself and I need it back as fast as possible.
I need your help and googeling was unsuccessful.
I hope it is possible to rescue my phone because I dont have much money to buy another phone.
Thanks a lot!
XXY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you access recovery mode (volume up+home+power), or download mode (volume down+power+home button)?

I had the exactly same problem like him. But..
treacherous_hawk said:
can you access recovery mode (volume up+home+power), or download mode (volume down+power+home button)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...But , i could access to Download Mode *(Volume Down+Power+Home) , I couldn't get access to Recovery Mode only *(it turns Black Screen & keep me waiting so long) .
I thought problem solves if I couldn't change another Custom Rom , but i can't even BOOT into recovery mode.
THANKS Brothers for solving here, THanks THanks. (I'm urgent for it too..)
Current Rom I hooking is:
Carbon0825

treacherous_hawk said:
can you access recovery mode (volume up+home+power), or download mode (volume down+power+home button)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download mode: yes
Recovery mode: no
If i had had access to the Recovery mode i wouldnt have startet this thread...
Im absolutly helpless and i cant find a guide which tells me how to reset my phone only with the download mode...
Thanks for replying!
XXY

TheXXY said:
Download mode: yes
Recovery mode: no
If i had had access to the Recovery mode i wouldnt have startet this thread...
Im absolutly helpless and i cant find a guide which tells me how to reset my phone only with the download mode...
Thanks for replying!
XXY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash philz kernel (.tar) from pc odin while in download mode (latest version). See if you can get into recovery, if you can, download and put the CM rom+gapps on external sd card, flash without any wipes from recovery or if you did take any nandroid backup you can restore that from philz kernel.

treacherous_hawk said:
Flash philz kernel (.tar) from pc odin while in download mode (latest version). See if you can get into recovery, if you can, download and put the CM rom+gapps on external sd card, flash without any wipes from recovery or if you did take any nandroid backup you can restore that from philz kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok... i read though these threads but i dont know how to install philz kernel...
i tried flashing it with odin but the only thing i noticed was that the binary counter increased...
can you tell me step by step what i have to do?
i know that is awful to do...
if you dont whant to write and tell it me than add me in skype: xxyababx12345
Thanks!
XXY

after you have flashed Philz kernel... power off the device... and try to boot into recovery.

TheXXY said:
ok... i read though these threads but i dont know how to install philz kernel...
i tried flashing it with odin but the only thing i noticed was that the binary counter increased...
can you tell me step by step what i have to do?
i know that is awful to do...
if you dont whant to write and tell it me than add me in skype: xxyababx12345
Thanks!
XXY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why should he write it in private? I bet there are several people (including me) sitting in threads like this waiting for a clear answer from people who know what to do.

TheXXY said:
ok... i read though these threads but i dont know how to install philz kernel...
i tried flashing it with odin but the only thing i noticed was that the binary counter increased...
can you tell me step by step what i have to do?
i know that is awful to do...
if you dont whant to write and tell it me than add me in skype: xxyababx12345
Thanks!
XXY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
download philz kernel from:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1901191
download the one that says .tar instead of .zip. put the phone into download mode. Open PC odin, connect phone to pc, COM ID should light up in yellow with some number. click on PDA and choose the .tar file and click on start. once it is finished, reboot into recovery and see if it works. You can fix the counter and yellow triangle later with Triangle away application.

treacherous_hawk said:
download philz kernel from:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1901191
download the one that says .tar instead of .zip. put the phone into download mode. Open PC odin, connect phone to pc, COM ID should light up in yellow with some number. click on PDA and choose the .tar file and click on start. once it is finished, reboot into recovery and see if it works. You can fix the counter and yellow triangle later with Triangle away application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the Kernel version essential? Since Philz v5.11.2 has several Kernels you can choose from, where as you cannot check which one you have running since the phone does not boot anymore.

correct , you're right!
diwako said:
Why should he write it in private? I bet there are several people (including me) sitting in threads like this waiting for a clear answer from people who know what to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
still waiting for a clear answer to proceed the steps.
Philz Kernel may need a LINK here. maybe URL ?
THanks ALL ! feel that solutions are near now.

as you cannot check, you can download the one for your region, check on sammobile.com/firmwares for which one is for your region and i already gave the link to the philz kernel, i wont post the direct url for the file.

Basically got my phone to boot, CWM is still broken, anyway to work with this?
http://i.imgur.com/LahUi87.png

diwako said:
Basically got my phone to boot, CWM is still broken, anyway to work with this?
http://i.imgur.com/LahUi87.png
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
read from last post here and continue:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2386292&page=27

One problem: i dont know which kernel i have...
and i dont understand this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=31911656&postcount=2
where can i find my kernel id?
Thanks!
XXY

TheXXY said:
One problem: i dont know which kernel i have...
and i dont understand this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=31911656&postcount=2
where can i find my kernel id?
Thanks!
XXY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't matter which kernel you flash, you're just flashing to give you recovery and then you can flash cm and gapps. It won't boot, it's not supposed to.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

SpyderTracks said:
It doesn't matter which kernel you flash, you're just flashing to give you recovery and then you can flash cm and gapps. It won't boot, it's not supposed to.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok... i flashed the kernel: PhilZ-cwm6-DDLSC-ODD-5.11.2.tar.md5
and tried to boot into recovery mode.
the samsung logo with triangle flashed up for a half a second and i released my fingers from the keys
and then the logo show up again and nothing else happened...
is it possible to reset my phone completely? i only need a bootable phone for now...
Thanks!
XXY

Not sure I'm in the same boat...
is anyone seeing the same as I am - I also can't boot into Recovery since nightly 20130824. I can boot into Download mode... and... I can still boot into my current CM10.2 nightly (20130824)!!!
I've tried reflashing CWM using ROM Manager, even a few times... but nothing changes. Trying to get into recovery using VolUp+Home+Pwr doesn't work (after Samsung GT-N7000 white text... blackscreen (which I can see is still 'on'). If I try to boot into recovery using Rom Toolbox or similar, it behaves the same and I can only get it to reboot into the ROM once I've pulled the battery out and then put it back in and connected to a charger so the battery charging icon shows... which somehow clears the 'boot into recovery' flag somewhere.
Very concerned... saw something in the changelogs back at 20130824 about recovery fixes and wondered if this might happen. The first time I got it to boot back into the ROM something wasn't quite right with the internal/external SD mounts... all my ringtones and alerts etc. were reset to just numbers (e.g. 40125) which actually happens more often than I expect... but this time I couldn't find the ones I usually use in the selection list.
I rebooted with SD card out... then re-inserted it... and then things went back to how they should be and I could see and select my preferred tones again.
Have tried booting into Recovery via app, via hw keys... with SD card in, SD out... SIM card in... SIM out... both SD and SIM out... there's just no way into recovery.
Using ROM Manager I also tried to setup the alternative Recovery (TWRP) but that also gets stuck with the message 'ROM Manager has been set up to use your existing recovery installation'. but same behaviour when trying to boto into recovery.
I've also used Android Root Toolkit to try save/protect Root... Restore Root.. etc. but to no avail.
Any ideas... please?
EDIT: Thanks for the Odin3 / PhilZ Kernel advice - that seemed to work.
Question: Now that I've got back to recovery and updated to nightly of 20130826, did I overwrite PhilZ kernel?

yes

Yes,
ideas:
Read the rom thread, fixes there