Database Users

[Q] recovering from soft brick

i THINK i know what i did wrong:
i flashed firmware that i found from another site (not filefactory) with mobile odin. i had done a few backups, but did a fresh one anyway from cwm, and moved it to the "external" sd card. i unchecked everroot--i dunno why, i was going to root with the zip file... this may have been my mistake. but i also checked, "factory reset/wipe data/wipe cache etc" from within odin. THIS may have been my mistake... well, when it rebooted, mobile odin went to it, said everything went fine, then rebooted. now i'm stuck on the gTab start-up screen. it doesn't load the boot animation even. i can get into download mode, and i can get into recovery. tried flashing a rom and a kernel on top of whatever is on the device. that didn't work. mobile odin DID take away root. so i rerooted it thinking that cwm may require root to work.
the problem from within cwm is that it isn't seeing the "internal" sd card, or it thinks the external is the internal... that's how i was able to root again, by applying zip from sd card. it worked. so it IS still seeing internal storage.
this may have already been fixed had i not LOST the USB cable.... another one is on order and en route. i can see no solutions with it as is, i'm going to need mobile odin to reflash...
i'm getting an error saying "can't mount emmc"
thanks for any help!!!

moderator, you can delete this post, sorry for the trouble, didn't mean to resubmit "new" thread.
thanks
-C

[Q] Bad ROM install, alternative methods to fix? [SOLVED]

Hello all,
My brother has been having problems with his Google Play store (force closing, etc) as well as some other Google services. He wasn't even able to actually load Play Store and browse, so to fix his problem I decided the best route would be to start clean and do a factory reset. This worked well, for about 2-3 hours until he told me he wanted me to put the Google Edition 4.3 JB ROM on his phone. (He's a hipster, trololol)
So I looked up the thread of the AOSP Google Edition 4.3 JB for his GT-I9505. Having flashed my Galaxy S3 many times with UltimaROM and various other ROMs, I figured his S4 wouldn't be much different to any of the other Galaxy devices we've had in the past. So I download TWRP, and also rooted his phone via Motochopper. Once I installed TWRP I hit wipe and wiped the data and dalvik cache. Then I installed the ROM. Few moments later and we reboot the phone.
Phone decides to go into a boot loop, so I go back into TWRP and wipe again like I would with my Galaxy S3, but still getting a boot loop.
I really should have made a back-up of his original stock ROM (I made a boo-boo, I know ) but I figured he had nothing to lose. The problem now is that I can't flash any other ROMs because normally I would just transfer the .zip's onto the phone and then install from there. He doesn't have an SD card either, and mines doesn't work anymore (water damage...).
So my question is, what other ways can I transfer .zip's onto his phone so we can flash another ROM and not let his phone be a huge expensive paper weight.
I know about ADB and I downloaded the ADT Bundle from Google's site, but I have no idea how to execute adb or fastboot. They open cmd but then immediately shutdown again after a flash of a wall of text.
I'm able to access recovery & download modes fine. I've tried "mount" but when it mounts the S4, Windows doesn't pick up on it like it would if I were to do MTP otherwise I'd be able to transfer files no problem.

Can anyone help please?

man...use PhilzRecovery and use adb to flash the rom!
Put the flashable zip in the same folder wich contains adb.
Select from PhilzRecovery "install zip from sideload"
Connect the phone to pc and in the adb window type "adb sideload ..........." (wehere "............." is the name of the flashable zip.
I restored my phone once in this way
otherwise...buy a cheam 2gb micro sd card and put the flashable zip on it.
Select install zip from sdcard and that`s it.
Or you can use adb file explorer to copy the flashable zip on internal memory
there are many solutions for your problem.
The easyest would be the one using "adb sideload"
I hope i helped you!
Have a nice day!!!
PS: to open adb window do this way "press and hold shift while click-ing right click on the folder that contains adb files"
you will get a menu containg "open command window here" and click on it!
In the windows that appears type "adb devices" just to see if the phone is correctly recognised by windows.
Remember that using Philz Recovery is the most secure way.
Twrp has some weird problems formatting data(i don`t know why)
to put the phone just boot into recovery mode and adb should recognize your phone!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2265477 Just follow this. I guess it's a soft brick and you'll just need to flash the stock firmware.

EDIT: Seems I was wrong, but the ADB tip will come in handy though. Thanks!

Ok I think I may have bricked / soft-bricked the phone. I've tried flashing the stock ROM (different firmwares) with and without a PIT file and they all keep failing. Yet if I flash a ROM like Cyanogen Mod it'll get to the Cyanogen Mod boot screen, but then crash there?
The phone is definitely a i9505, so I can't see what the hell I'm doing wrong. :/ It was an Orange UK model, but it was factory unlocked when bought new and he's been using o2 sim's ever since.
All I do is flash .tar.md5's with Odin 3 v1.85, and then install .zip's in the recovery (Philz Recovery)
For the stock ROM I'm just flashing with Odin.
I've never had so much drama with a phone before. -__-

EDIT: Solved this on my own. Had to flash MH8 since I'm on a secured bootloader.
Thanks anyway.

Problems with TWRP v2.6.3.2

I wanted to flash PSX Pure Speed Experiment 4.4 rom but I got the " Failed. E:Error executing updated binary in zip '/sdcard/psx_mako_kk_v1..." message mentioned in the OP. I tried the solution posted there, which was to download a patched multirom version of TWRP recovery using the flashify app from the play store. This all seemed to work out fine, and I booted into recovery to flash the rom. Now, this could just be due to my ignorance because the version of TWRP I flashed is 2.6.3.2 (I originally had 2.3.0.1 I believe), but when I wiped my phone, then went to install, there wasnt anything listed in the root of my sd card folder. I tried rebooting TWRP and when I tried again it listed a folder named TWRP there but nothing else. Subsequent reboots yielded nothing. At this point I dont even want to flash the 4.4 rom, I just want to reflash my old CM10.1 rom and be done with it. Any help is greatly appreciated

sropedia said:
I wanted to flash PSX Pure Speed Experiment 4.4 rom but I got the " Failed. E:Error executing updated binary in zip '/sdcard/psx_mako_kk_v1..." message mentioned in the OP. I tried the solution posted there, which was to download a patched multirom version of TWRP recovery using the flashify app from the play store. This all seemed to work out fine, and I booted into recovery to flash the rom. Now, this could just be due to my ignorance because the version of TWRP I flashed is 2.6.3.2 (I originally had 2.3.0.1 I believe), but when I wiped my phone, then went to install, there wasnt anything listed in the root of my sd card folder. I tried rebooting TWRP and when I tried again it listed a folder named TWRP there but nothing else. Subsequent reboots yielded nothing. At this point I dont even want to flash the 4.4 rom, I just want to reflash my old CM10.1 rom and be done with it. Any help is greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reboot the phone and then connect it to your PC and check to see if the PSX ROM file is there. If not, redownload the file and save it in the root of the SDcard. As for the TWRP folder that has nothing in it, delete it. Then try to boot into recovery and flash the PSX ROM, also just making sure that the checkbox for "System" in mount section is unchecked. BTW, is your a multiROM patch for TWRP?

taodan said:
Reboot the phone and then connect it to your PC and check to see if the PSX ROM file is there. If not, redownload the file and save it in the root of the SDcard. As for the TWRP folder that has nothing in it, delete it. Then try to boot into recovery and flash the PSX ROM, also just making sure that the checkbox for "System" in mount section is unchecked. BTW, is your a multiROM patch for TWRP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, but when I try to mount my phone, my computer acknowledges that I've connected a device with a sound, but it doesnt show up as a storage device. when I go into devices and printers I can find my phone but it only shows up as an ADB device

And yes to answer your question it is a multiROM patch for TWRP

sropedia said:
Thanks for the reply, but when I try to mount my phone, my computer acknowledges that I've connected a device with a sound, but it doesnt show up as a storage device. when I go into devices and printers I can find my phone but it only shows up as an ADB device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have "USB debugging" checkbox, in Developer Options, checked? Also, try reboot your PC and reconect your phone to see whether it shows up as a storage device.

sropedia said:
I wanted to flash PSX Pure Speed Experiment 4.4 rom but I got the " Failed. E:Error executing updated binary in zip '/sdcard/psx_mako_kk_v1..." message mentioned in the OP. I tried the solution posted there, which was to download a patched multirom version of TWRP recovery using the flashify app from the play store. This all seemed to work out fine, and I booted into recovery to flash the rom. Now, this could just be due to my ignorance because the version of TWRP I flashed is 2.6.3.2 (I originally had 2.3.0.1 I believe), but when I wiped my phone, then went to install, there wasnt anything listed in the root of my sd card folder. I tried rebooting TWRP and when I tried again it listed a folder named TWRP there but nothing else. Subsequent reboots yielded nothing. At this point I dont even want to flash the 4.4 rom, I just want to reflash my old CM10.1 rom and be done with it. Any help is greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok when you wiped your rom did you just do a factory reset or a internal sd wipe as well. Also you should try and use 2.6.3.3. Also you have to remember where it is you save your stuff or place everything in 1 specific folder. May I suggest you start over with downloading rom and putting it in a folder created by you like !Flash... using "!" will ensure its the first folder you see.
Also your error also can be fixed by simply rebooting your recovery as its been what I used to fix that error

playya said:
ok when you wiped your rom did you just do a factory reset or a internal sd wipe as well. Also you should try and use 2.6.3.3. Also you have to remember where it is you save your stuff or place everything in 1 specific folder. May I suggest you start over with downloading rom and putting it in a folder created by you like !Flash... using "!" will ensure its the first folder you see.
Also your error also can be fixed by simply rebooting your recovery as its been what I used to fix that error
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a full wipe like I usually do. I would use a different version of TWRP if I knew how to change it from within TWRP. I have a follder titled ROOT that I keep all my ROMs and whatnot in, but the problem is that literally none of the folders in my internal storage are showing up from within TWRP. I can't check to see if USB debugging is enabled because theres no operating system on my phone; like I said, I did a full wipe. The fact that no folders show up also means that it doesnt recognize the backup I had. My computer still won't recognize my phone as a storage device after mounting in TWRP. Maybe I'm doing something in the wrong order? Restarting my computer didn't help.I really need to get my phone working on ANY ROM, and I appreciate all the help so far

[Q] How to transfer files while stuck in recovery mode

So I flashed a custom recovery today and accidentally wiped everything, including the ROM file I had copied over while I still had my previous ROM. Problem is, I have no idea how to get the ROM file onto the phone now. Usually I use my microSD card but for some reason no recovery will recognize my card (tried mulitple recoveries, and cards, probably a problem with the slot) and now I have no way to get a file onto my phone. I tried using the USB mount but when I click it nothing happens on my computer. So how do I get my GAPPS and ROM onto my phone so I can flash them? Thanks!

Ryan_407 said:
So I flashed a custom recovery today and accidentally wiped everything, including the ROM file I had copied over while I still had my previous ROM. Problem is, I have no idea how to get the ROM file onto the phone now. Usually I use my microSD card but for some reason no recovery will recognize my card (tried mulitple recoveries, and cards, probably a problem with the slot) and now I have no way to get a file onto my phone. I tried using the USB mount but when I click it nothing happens on my computer. So how do I get my GAPPS and ROM onto my phone so I can flash them? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which recovery did you flash? With TWRP I get a popup on my computer when I connect via USB and can copy files over. You will need to DL the samsung USB drivers and install them on your PC.

You can also use ADB sideload to transfer a your necessary files to your phone

Corrupt filesystem - only able to boot from external SD card

So I have a Samsung Galaxy J5 SM-J500F which suddenly refused to boot in any way (normal, recovery, download). I booted TWRP from external SD card but it shows Internal Storage (0 MB). Can't mount or do anything. Is there something to do or is it a hardware issue?

In Odin try to flash different versions of the stock firmware its the only way to restore it.

garylawwd said:
In Odin try to flash different versions of the stock firmware its the only way to restore it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't. Everything that I am flashing through Odin goes into the external SD card. For the example, tried to flash TWRP and it flashed onto the external SD card. And I cannot go into download mode without the external SD card. Trying to remove it before pressing volume up to confirm makes Odin say no PIT file found and when I flash the PIT it gives error.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tomadimitrie3 said:
I can't. Everything that I am flashing through Odin goes into the external SD card. For the example, tried to flash TWRP and it flashed onto the external SD card. And I cannot go into download mode without the external SD card. Trying to remove it before pressing volume up to confirm makes Odin say no PIT file found and when I flash the PIT it gives error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way to restore the phone is by flashing stock firmware in odin.
Twrp and everything else will go to the SD card only the stock firmware will flash to the phone.
Enter download mode WITH the SD card in and go through the steps on Odin to flash stock firmware and absolutely nothing else, no twrp, no custom firmware it has to be 100% pure stock rom or it will flash to the SD card and not internal storage.
Stock firmware contains the necessary PIT files and everything so don't try flashing different PIT files.
This is the only method to restore the device

garylawwd said:
The only way to restore the phone is by flashing stock firmware in odin.
Twrp and everything else will go to the SD card only the stock firmware will flash to the phone.
Enter download mode WITH the SD card in and go through the steps on Odin to flash stock firmware and absolutely nothing else, no twrp, no custom firmware it has to be 100% pure stock rom or it will flash to the SD card and not internal storage.
Stock firmware contains the necessary PIT files and everything so don't try flashing different PIT files.
This is the only method to restore the device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand, but for example if I have TWRP on SD card then I flash via Odin, it hangs at system.img.ext4 (left it over 15 hours). Before system it flashes recovery so I disconnected after 15 hours just to find out the SD card had the stock recovery.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tomadimitrie3 said:
I understand, but for example if I have TWRP on SD card then I flash via Odin, it hangs at system.img.ext4 (left it over 15 hours). Before system it flashes recovery so I disconnected after 15 hours just to find out the SD card had the stock recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont put twrp on the SD card.
Boot into download and just flash stock.
Once the device is restored do what you want and install twrp and whatever you want but don't do it at the start.
You wont be able to restore unless everything is stock

garylawwd said:
Dont put twrp on the SD card.
Boot into download and just flash stock.
Once the device is restored do what you want and install twrp and whatever you want but don't do it at the start.
You wont be able to restore unless everything is stock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I already have TWRP on the SD card should I reflash the unbrick.img?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

garylawwd said:
Dont put twrp on the SD card.
Boot into download and just flash stock.
Once the device is restored do what you want and install twrp and whatever you want but don't do it at the start.
You wont be able to restore unless everything is stock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still doesn't work... It hangs at system.img.ext4
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tomadimitrie3 said:
Still doesn't work... It hangs at system.img.ext4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version you trying to flash?
Marshmallow or lollipop.
Try flashing the other one if it fails on one

garylawwd said:
What version you trying to flash?
Marshmallow or lollipop.
Try flashing the other one if it fails on one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried with both versions
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tomadimitrie3 said:
Tried with both versions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats strange.
You're sure its not hardware related?
The only thing I can think of now is to try with different versions of the stock rom (different country firmware)
Like you came this far we must be able to fix it.
Im going to do a bit of reading about the issue now and see if there is anything you can try

garylawwd said:
Thats strange.
You're sure its not hardware related?
The only thing I can think of now is to try with different versions of the stock rom (different country firmware)
Like you came this far we must be able to fix it.
Im going to do a bit of reading about the issue now and see if there is anything you can try
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know. This is the story of how it got bricked:
Powered it on some days ago and it showed the Samsung logo with the "odin mode" text in the top-left corner. I thought I accidentally entered download mode so I held down volume down+power until the screen turned black. And after that it didn't boot at all until I managed to make this bootable SD card.
What I find strange is that Odin keeps flashing on my SD card instead of the internal storage. If I enter download mode then remove the SD card and try to flash via Odin it complains that no PIT partition was found. If I have TWRP installed on the SD card, download mode says "CURRENT BINARY: Custom" but as soon as I try to flash via Odin the official recovery.img (it flashes before it hangs at system.img.ext4) and restart the phone it says "CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official". Also if I power it on from the SD card normally or in recovery it shows the blue screen that wants me to connect to Smart Switch but the app does not recognize the phone.
Another thing is that if I reboot into download mode with the SD card but only press power up to confirm after I remove the SD card the first thing to show in the top-left corner is "ddi: mmc_read_failed" and if I try to flash with Odin, Odin says no PIT partition found and the phone shows in the top-left corner the last line as "ODIN : flash read failure".
If I power it on without the SD card it doesn't do anything, not even vibrate.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

From TWRP recovery wipe everything until it shows no OS installed... Then flash any stock rom... Marshmallow will be nice as it is latest update

Rjt KD said:
From TWRP recovery wipe everything until it shows no OS installed... Then flash any stock rom... Marshmallow will be nice as it is latest update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't wipe because I can't mount the internal storage.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rjt KD said:
From TWRP recovery wipe everything until it shows no OS installed... Then flash any stock rom... Marshmallow will be nice as it is latest update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wipe a bricked device? What? He already said his internal storage is showing 0MB so how is he supposed to wipe nothing?

garylawwd said:
Wipe a bricked device? What? He already said his internal storage is showing 0MB so how is he supposed to wipe nothing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If he wipes boot img it will show no os installed... Then he can install another rom
Oh sorry first I didn't notice... I'm checking if i get something...can you please send us screenshots?!

Rjt KD said:
If he wipes boot img it will show no os installed... Then he can install another rom
Oh sorry first I didn't notice... I'm checking if i get something...can you please send us screenshots?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only screenshot I can send is TWRP (booted from SD card) showing Internal Storage (0 MB)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tomadimitrie3 said:
The only screenshot I can send is TWRP (booted from SD card) showing Internal Storage (0 MB)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you wipe or reset again using Samsung Smart Switch or Kies? Or maybe you can try to install new os from there... Meanwhile We will check something else to solve this

Rjt KD said:
Can you wipe or reset again using Samsung Smart Switch or Kies? Or maybe you can try to install new os from there... Meanwhile We will check something else to solve this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried that but it won't recognize the phone and the drivers are good
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tomadimitrie3 said:
Tried that but it won't recognize the phone and the drivers are good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Navigate to Wipe > Advance Wipe > Data, and choose Repair or Change File System.Press Repair File System to see if this fixes the issue. If not, continue.Press Change File System, choose Ext2, and swipe to confirm.Now switch back to Ext4 and swipe to confirm.Go back to TWRP main menu, then the Mount menu, and check if your partitions can be mounted now.
These actions r possible?