Can someone help me play detective? - Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Ive recently gotten an s5 mini off of ebay. it says its like new... its been tested, it does work...
but is it real? i did a factory reset on it today, and it reset to 5.1.1. suspicion #1
the vibration mechanism feels kind of different/cheap, compared to the s2 and s5 neo i have. suspicion #2
the touch button lights seem kind of dim/lousy. suspicion #3
its not rooted/stock recovery. it supposed to be carrier unlocked i hope i didnt bugger that up when i reset it. i didnt think of that.
theres no option for haptive feedback either for the touch buttons.
my other question is, if it *is* a fake... does that necessarily mean its bad? Id still take it up with the seller since i paid for the samsung name.
im just in the process of figuring out root and making things the way id want them/debloated before i try using it as my phone. the s5 mini bloated, seems to run about as fast as my s2 unbloated. lol.
any tips and help would be greatly appreciated

Related

[Q] Which Galaxy S phone would you choose?

Well being that my Captivate is bricked im looking into getting another Galaxy S phone.
Between the Captivate, Vibrant, and I9000....which would you choose?
In my opinion the captivate because of the high class look and feel of the device. The rest of the galaxy s line looks cheap. This is the only one that stands out.
If not the captivate, then the i9000 or epic because of the front facing camera. The included software is moot because of rom flashing.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
i have a captivate my self, but the vibrant is easier to hold. but really it doesn't matter. but since your getting a new phone, might be a good idea to go with something else, the galaxy s is already dated, the 4g mytouch is nice, the g2, theres the droid x, droid 2, epic, evo. all amazing phones, the droid x is personally my faverate of the lot, well the evo is the galaxy s lol but flash + full keyboard = win.
Why don't you just send it to Samsung and have them flash it back to working order? Seems a bit extreme to buy a new phone, yours can't be that old. Also, have you tried everything? How do you know it's bricked? Did you even try a JIG? You have options. Hell if your gonna dump it that easily send it to me, I can always use a spare to flash, I'll cover the shipping costs, these phones can't be bricked.
i9000 based on the abundance of ROMs, kernels, etc. , FM Radio, FFC, and freedom from AT&T.
MikeyMike01 said:
i9000 based on the abundance of ROMs, kernels, etc. , FM Radio, FFC, and freedom from AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
chrisz5z said:
Well being that my Captivate is bricked im looking into getting another Galaxy S phone.
Between the Captivate, Vibrant, and I9000....which would you choose?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I9000 > Captivate > Vibrant
If AT&T didn't touch it, Captivate hands down.
Not to much into the 3gs look of the vibrant or I9000 though, front facing camera...ehhh, I don't need it.
But final decision should be up to you, and what you want.
And ditto what Rhiannon224 said... Are you sure your phone is completely bricked? Not to say you haven't tried everything...
Rhiannon224 said:
Why don't you just send it to Samsung and have them flash it back to working order? Seems a bit extreme to buy a new phone, yours can't be that old. Also, have you tried everything? How do you know it's bricked? Did you even try a JIG? You have options. Hell if your gonna dump it that easily send it to me, I can always use a spare to flash, I'll cover the shipping costs, these phones can't be bricked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xstop said:
I9000 > Captivate > Vibrant
If AT&T didn't touch it, Captivate hands down.
Not to much into the 3gs look of the vibrant or I9000 though, front facing camera...ehhh, I don't need it.
But final decision should be up to you, and what you want.
And ditto what Rhiannon224 said... Are you sure your phone is completely bricked? Not to say you haven't tried everything...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When i first messed up my phone and tried everything i could find then i started this thread -->http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=818347, and came to the conclusion that my only option is to try Samsung warranty.
What would you recommend i tell them when i call for warranty?....i doubt "Loading custom ROM" is covered in the warranty
chrisz5z said:
When i first messed up my phone and tried everything i could find then i started this thread -->http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=818347, and came to the conclusion that my only option is to try Samsung warranty.
What would you recommend i tell them when i call for warranty?....i doubt "Loading custom ROM" is covered in the warranty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Blame the AT&T OTA update, it bricked a lot of phones and Samsung is aware, that is why we got Mini Kies. Samsung will probably just reflash it and you should be good. Also, I have read that this will fix the button combos that some didn't have. Perhaps you got a corrupt bootloader, a Samsung flash will fix it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=775911
I'm not sure if this will work.. just trying to give you another method to un-brick the device if possible.
If you really want to buy a device, I agree with one poster above. There are other phones just beside the Galaxy S line. MT4G looks very promising as do other phones. If I had to choose.. I'd say i9000 just because I like flashing too much.
I know this thread is over a month old but i figured i'd give an update.
The call with Samsung when smoothly and the rep didn't even question it when i told her it was because of an OTA update. Had to wait about 3 weeks to get my phone back and it was actually packaged more nicely than when i got it new. So overall i was impressed with Samsung.
Just to note, If any of you guys have to send your phone to Samsung....when you get the phone back let it charge for about 45 mins before turning it on. When i got it today and it didn't turn on while plugged into the charger (or from charging for bout 15 mins) i got pissed lol
Glad to have my phone back and thanks for all you guys input
Wouldn't trade my cap for other versions. I have held the vibrant....fascinate....epic and thought they felt cheap and flimsy compared to that cqptivate
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

[Q] i9000M VS Captivate Purchase, Urgent :(

Basically here's the situation, been checking sites for a few weeks on good deals on 2nd hand Android phones. I recently started making contact with sellers and here's the bit.
Seller A - meeting tonight supposedly
Rogers "Unlocked" Captivate
Usb + Charger
$380
Haven't seen pics and the guy says to trust him that the phone is unlocked
Seller B - meeting tomorrow if I back down on Seller A offer
Bell Locked Vibrant (i9000M)
LNIB, bags, all accessories, etc
$370
Seen pics of the phone and accessories. Looks good (even seen it turned on)
I'm on Rogers and was wondering which would be best? I'm fine with either phone. At this point after seeing both for so long/often (researched) they're both on even playing ground...except for some speculations that i9000M (Vibrant)'s battery life is better.
So my question is...Seller A or Seller B? If I go with Seller B I'd have to root/unlock and I've read through threads and forums and seems like loads of people have problems :S More often than the person replying and saying thanks to the creator of the thread/helper and saying that they got it. So I'm having doubts about that. Don't want to mess up the phone!
Also, since this is my first dealings with buying something second hand from a stranger, any tips on things to check for? I heard it's always important to check that the phone can enter download/recovery mode but wouldn't that also reset the phone :S
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
3py0n said:
Basically here's the situation, been checking sites for a few weeks on good deals on 2nd hand Android phones. I recently started making contact with sellers and here's the bit.
Seller A - meeting tonight supposedly
Rogers "Unlocked" Captivate
Usb + Charger
$380
Haven't seen pics and the guy says to trust him that the phone is unlocked
Seller B - meeting tomorrow if I back down on Seller A offer
Bell Locked Vibrant (i9000M)
LNIB, bags, all accessories, etc
$370
Seen pics of the phone and accessories. Looks good (even seen it turned on)
I'm on Rogers and was wondering which would be best? I'm fine with either phone. At this point after seeing both for so long/often (researched) they're both on even playing ground...except for some speculations that i9000M (Vibrant)'s battery life is better.
So my question is...Seller A or Seller B? If I go with Seller B I'd have to root/unlock and I've read through threads and forums and seems like loads of people have problems :S More often than the person replying and saying thanks to the creator of the thread/helper and saying that they got it. So I'm having doubts about that. Don't want to mess up the phone!
Also, since this is my first dealings with buying something second hand from a stranger, any tips on things to check for? I heard it's always important to check that the phone can enter download/recovery mode but wouldn't that also reset the phone :S
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally like i9000M better (looks-wise) and of course, in terms of features, i9000M has a front facing camera which the Rogers Captivate doesn't. I am not sure if Captivate has problems flashing other roms.
As for things to check, you can bring a sim card from another carrier to test if the phone is unlocked. Test the camera, test phone call, check the phone condition and also firmware version (might give you an idea whether the last owner did a lot of flashing).
oooo true true...only thing is I have only 1 sim card from Rogers :S
I'm at the fork in the road right now...I won't be able to test phone call on the Bell one because the Seller B's bell sim is deactivated so he can only turn it on and what not.
Which is the safer bet? Best issue for me is the root/unlocking process. Though there are guides everywhere online and an awesome on here, I still read about many conflicts people have. And the interal SD card corruption (2 weeks after unlocking) I read about scares me
Is this the right code to check firmware?: *#1234# Firmware Version
Also I was told this should work...unless Rogers locked it: *#7465625# = Check the phone lock status
So you are willing to take the risk with possible hardware failure? right?
If so, choose Rogers Captivate.
If not go find a Desire Z or something like that~
xxgg said:
So you are willing to take the risk with possible hardware failure? right?
If so, choose Rogers Captivate.
If not go find a Desire Z or something like that~
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DesireZ is nice, but the hinge for "sliding" the screen can break easily.
wait what? Captivate has hardware failure?!?! :S
But THAT'S the one that's unlocked lol
3py0n said:
wait what? Captivate has hardware failure?!?! :S
But THAT'S the one that's unlocked lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can unlock and root the i9000M easily though.
yea but heard lots of horror stories :S so I'm not so sure...and someone reassured me things are okay with the Captivate.
3py0n said:
yea but heard lots of horror stories :S so I'm not so sure...and someone reassured me things are okay with the Captivate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tell you that rooting and unlocking won't kill the phone. But you will have a high chance if you start flashing different firmwares on it.
The answer of which to choose is simple:
if you want front camera and hard key button go with Bell
if you don't need the front camera, and don't mind having 4 fake buttons go with Rogers
LOLOLOL 4 fake buttons haha jokes
Thanks! I'll go with Captivate and if n e thing goes wrong...or I dont like it...just sell it and grab a Vibrant (i9000M)
Thanks for everyone's contributions.
Got a little sketchy when he wanted to change locations lol wish me luck!! And going with the Captivate.
BOUGHT THE PHONE!
In working order. Thanks for everyone's input!
Just a little bummed about the responsiveness of the "fake" 4 buttons...gotta find the sweet spot when touching them. Or maybe it's just Eclair's fault lol

Nobody can hear me!!

I have a Samsung At&T Captivate, rooted and running 2.2 (updated via kies) and during calls people can barely hear me, and sometimes I cut out altogether. I can hear them alright... any suggestions??
mmm try a different modem?
I would first recommend flashing roms to see if it is solved.
If it still doesn't work properly then then it into at&t for a new one
Sent from my Galaxy S captivate
Maybe your microphone didn't work test out by calling *#0*#
Sent from my captivate running firefly!
I can't return it to At&t as I bought it off ebay and am using it on the Canadian Rogers Network. I don't have the original receipt for it so returning it is out of the question.
I tried the *#0*# and it didn't give me an option to test the mic...?
I'm a little unsure about flashing roms as I don't entirely understand the mechanics of it and from what I here if you don't know exactly what you're doing you shouldn't try it. Plus I've got the phone working the way I want it (all the At&t crap is deleted, all the apps I like are installed).
This is not the only problem I've been having with this phone. I've owned it since August 2010 and experienced random shutdowns two months in, as well as crappy battery life. Since Froyo there has also been a lot of lag... I don't know why. I hard reset the phone before I updated and hard reset it after I updated as to make sure I was starting with a clean slate. The sound problem has only been since Froyo, I think.
I started a thread over at Android Forums in the Samsung Captivate Forum... it's about murdering my Captivate =P
estefana said:
I can't return it to At&t as I bought it off ebay and am using it on the Canadian Rogers Network. I don't have the original receipt for it so returning it is out of the question.
I tried the *#0*# and it didn't give me an option to test the mic...?
I'm a little unsure about flashing roms as I don't entirely understand the mechanics of it and from what I here if you don't know exactly what you're doing you shouldn't try it. Plus I've got the phone working the way I want it (all the At&t crap is deleted, all the apps I like are installed).
This is not the only problem I've been having with this phone. I've owned it since August 2010 and experienced random shutdowns two months in, as well as crappy battery life. Since Froyo there has also been a lot of lag... I don't know why. I hard reset the phone before I updated and hard reset it after I updated as to make sure I was starting with a clean slate. The sound problem has only been since Froyo, I think.
I started a thread over at Android Forums in the Samsung Captivate Forum... it's about murdering my Captivate =P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you get a good price on ebay? If you did I know why, it has the shutdown issue that a lot of early Captivates had. Buying electronics off ebay is dicey at best.
Added: It probably has a modem that doesn't work good on the Rogers network. Suck it up and try flashing a new one to see if it fixes your problem. Modem Sticky
Anyone else have any other ideas about a quick fix for this problem?

No Love For SM-T818A (AT&T)?

So I have an AT&T Galaxy S2 currently running Baseband Version: T818AUCS1AQD1 (6.01). I like another member in this form have been unable to find anything useful as far as rooting my device. I cant even get my tablet to update though the regular software update process. I no longer have a SIM card in this device as i purchased it on Craigslist (not sure if that makes a bit of diffrence. Everytime i try to update my software it tells me im up to date. I took it to AT&T and they told me to take it over to the samsung rep at best buy...what a joke. Anyways As of today it is missing two update,
1. Baseband: T818AUCU1BQE2
Build: NRD90M.T818AUCU1BQE2
And
2. T818AUCS1BQH1
All i really want to do is root this thing and get it updated. the only thing i have been able to find as far as firmwares are concerned are ones from Turkey. Im not the brightest bulb in the box but i'm thinking this is definitely not going to work. Everything else i have found does not include the "A" after the "SM-T818" so im very hesitant to try anything when i have minimal knowledge about this device because it is AT&T branded. At this point i know its a long shot as i know many people have moved on and this device isn't getting much attention it once did. I don't want to screw anything up so any information anyone can provide would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance.

**Reward to fix my phone**

Hi all,
Pretty cut and dry.
Anyone want to get paid to fix my phone for me?
I was running the AllianceROM for years with ZERO problems.
I upgraded to the Note8 a few months ago and gave my phone to a buddy to use because he broke his phone and was desperate.
Well I guess he considered himself a tech person.
He wasn't.
I think he tried to install a different Rom on it because he mentioned updating it to Nougat. The only ones I've seen are for the International 900, and he basically bricked my phone.
Details :
Screen stays on Samsung Note 3 splash screen. I can access recovery. Connects to KIES. Connects to Odin.
Honestly I could probably mess with it, but I just don't have the time.
I just want it fixed and the Alliance ROM put back on.
I will send it to you, pay you to fix it, and give you extra to ship it back to me.
Anyone game?
Thanks guys,
Jack
Boot the phone into download mode to find the model number.
If the model is not sm-n900a:
Download the latest stock ROM from sammobile.com, update.com, or Samsung-firmware.org.
Flash the stock ROM using Odin.
Perform a factory reset right after flashing with Odin.
If the phone is an sm-n900a: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703006
Thanks for the suggestion.
I already know it's an A model.
Original offer still stands.
Anyone want to make some decent coin?
Look, I know I can pick up a new one on Ebay for like $100, but then I'd have to root it and put a ROM on myself. Not tough, I know. I did it to this one and every phone I've owned.
This particular phone has sentimental value to me. It was the first Note I actually hotrodded and loved. Had the 1 then the 2, but I just really loved the 3. Obviously, considering I've kept it around for the last 5 years and kept going back to it.
I not talking giving you $20 to fix it. You'll be aptly compensated for your time. I'm just to busy to deal with it and would prefer to just pay someone.
No BS. No games.
Admins?
ROM writers?
There's a Franklin with your name on it if you want.
Jack

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