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Root Bootloop of Death? Is it bricked?

K

kennedystephen

Lurker
Any help would be appreciated ...

I got this EVO 4G phone 2nd hand recently. The device keeps rebooting at the initial white "HTC Evo 4G" splash screen. And I cannot access RECOVERY.

I CAN access the BOOTLOADER screen that allows me to switch between HBOOT, HBOOT USB, and FASTBOOT modes.
I CAN access the device using FASTBOOT
I CAN reapply the original RUU exe. The RUU process finishes just fine, but it still doesn't fix the phone. The phone still continually reboots.
I CAN reapply the same RUU version using the PC36IMG.ZIP method. Same experience - process finishes just fine, but it still doesn't fix the phone.
I CAN switch the device's BOOTLOADER from "UNLOCKED" to "RELOCKED" (and back again) easily using HTC Unlocker method via FASTBOOT.
I CAN flash a custom recovery image, but it never seems to "take". Meaning afterward, it still wont boot the recovery after successfully flashing the recovery image/partition. Just simply reboots over again.
I CAN download and setup the CORRECT Windows Drivers. All that seems fine.

I cannot get access to the stock recovery, even after the RUU flash seemingly completes successfully.
I cannot access any custom recovery, even seemly after I flash one successfully (tried RA, CRM, and others).
I cannot access "Recovery" at all. Either by using VOLDWN+PWR, or from the BOOTLOADER selection choice. When I try, it just simply reboots continually still.
Obviously, I cannot access the Android OS - so I cannot "enable USB debugging"
I cannot get access ADB. It has always said "No Devices Found" - the Windows Drivers are installed.
I cannot get unReVoked or Revolutionary to work. They always "waiting for device" even if the phone is in connected via FASTBOOT.
I cannot switch to S-OFF, since I really only have access to BOOTLOADER and FASTBOOT.
I've reviewed a ton of threads over the past 5 days. Tried everything I can think of, and everything I found on the internet.

I would like to ROOT this device, or downgrade it's HBOOT, or go to S-OFF. But the problems listed above have limited me from doing those things, in one way or another.

It's hard to believe that I can access FASTBOOT, and UNLOCK/RELOCK the BOOTLOADER, and "seemingly" flash images - and still not fix this issue.

The phone is not under warrenty. Sprint wont take it back or fix it.

This is a VERY SIMILIAR ISSUE to XDA thread #187926. Sorry, I cannot post a link to it, 'cause I'm new to this forum (forum restrictions).

I'm looking for new ideas.

Is this the definition of "bricked"?
Is this considered the Bootloop of Death, and has no cure?
Is there a way to downgrade the HBOOT using just FASTBOOT? Seems like everything hates 2.18.00001.
Is there a way to flash a new KERNEL using just FASTBOOT? Would that help?

Any kind of help would be appreciated.

Here's my GETVAR ALL (using FASTBOOT):
(bootloader) version: 0.5
(bootloader) version-bootloader: 2.18.0001
(bootloader) version-baseband: 2.15.00.12.19
(bootloader) version-cpld: None
(bootloader) version-microp: 041f
(bootloader) version-main: 4.67.651.3
(bootloader) serialno: (hidden)
(bootloader) imei: (hidden)
(bootloader) product: supersonic
(bootloader) platform: HBOOT-8x50
(bootloader) modelid: PC3610000
(bootloader) cidnum: SPCS_001
(bootloader) battery-status: good
(bootloader) battery-voltage: 3809mV
(bootloader) partition-layout: Generic
(bootloader) security: on
(bootloader) build-mode: SHIP
(bootloader) boot-mode: FASTBOOT
(bootloader) commitno-bootloader: 4b46e889
(bootloader) hbootpreupdate: 11
(bootloader) gencheckpt: 1
 
Hello friend ,

i've been stuck in the Bootloop for about what 5 times now in 2 days hahaha :P each time for a different reason . and each time i've been able to get out of it when i thought hope is lost .

one thing i guess you didn't try is to flash an official FTF copy of your OS VIA PC no need for going into recovery just flashmode .
Flashing an FTF , flashes the kernel also , so whatever problem is going on you should be good to go after this . saved me every time as a last resort it ALWAYS saved me :D

now before i write a tutorial with links and stuff , have you tried this friend ?
 
jaykesrwani said:
Hello friend ,

i've been stuck in the Bootloop for about what 5 times now in 2 days hahaha :P each time for a different reason . and each time i've been able to get out of it when i thought hope is lost .

one thing i guess you didn't try is to flash an official FTF copy of your OS VIA PC no need for going into recovery just flashmode .
Flashing an FTF , flashes the kernel also , so whatever problem is going on you should be good to go after this . saved me every time as a last resort it ALWAYS saved me :D

now before i write a tutorial with links and stuff , have you tried this friend ?
Click to expand...

not sure what an ftf is. this is for an htc evo 4g. we have ruu's that we can flash that are the official OTA's that will return back to stock and give the phone the stock recovery.

@op welcome to the forums!!!!!!!!!!!!!

have you tried a ruu.exe? this one is done from the pc. not sure if it will work as it usually works when the phone is booted up.

edit:never mind this as i can't read:(

and thanx for the very detailed explanation. it sounds like you tried most of the tricks out there. do you know what got you into this state?
 
i'll make research and post back with info about FTFs for HTCs , if they exist for HTC .. but they should


EDIT : you have ICS or ginerbread ? what version and stuff like that
 
I'm not sure what an FTF is either. But if it works for the original EVO 4G, I'd be willing to try anything.

The RUU i tried was: RUU_SuperSonic_GB_Sprint_WWE_4.67.651.3_Radio_2.15.00.12.19_NV_2.33_release_234563_signed.exe

I've seen references to "RUU.exe". Is there a real RUU.exe that I'm missing? Or is that just shorthand for the full file name?

I got the phone in this fashion, off of internet. I knew something was wrong with it, but I thought I could fix it.

Thanks again for helping me ...
 
kennedystephen said:
I'm not sure what an FTF is either. But if it works for the original EVO 4G, I'd be willing to try anything.

The RUU i tried was: RUU_SuperSonic_GB_Sprint_WWE_4.67.651.3_Radio_2.15.00.12.19_NV_2.33_release_234563_signed.exe

I've seen references to "RUU.exe". Is there a real RUU.exe that I'm missing? Or is that just shorthand for the full file name?

I got the phone in this fashion, off of internet. I knew something was wrong with it, but I thought I could fix it.

Thanks again for helping me ...
Click to expand...

the ruu.exe is just shorthand for the ruu you tried. that was the one i was going to suggest if you have not tried it already. but you have so never mind that.

to be honest not being able to get a recovery installed on the phone is alarming. there are many things that can get the phone in this state. one of the easiest and most common ways to do this is to pull the battery out while updating the phone's radios. if this is the case, then your phone is bricked:(

hopefully jaykesrwani, can bring some light in on ftf's as i never heard of this.
 
Since I haven't been able to access the actual Android OS, I have no idea what could be on it. My best guess is Gingerbread. The exact version, I don't know. I'm trying to restore to Gingerbread for sure.
 
ocnbrze said:
the ruu.exe is just shorthand for the ruu you tried. that was the one i was going to suggest if you have not tried it already. but you have so never mind that.

to be honest not being able to get a recovery installed on the phone is alarming. there are many things that can get the phone in this state. one of the easiest and most common ways to do this is to pull the battery out while updating the phone's radios. if this is the case, then your phone is bricked:(

hopefully jaykesrwani, can bring some light in on ftf's as i never heard of this.
Click to expand...

Yeah. Thank you. Me too. I thought since the RUU applied everything successfully, that it would be fixed. I do notice that one of the RUU phases during installation says "Updating Radios.....". I really wish, at that point, it would have fixed whatever migh have been wrong with the Radios.
 
kennedystephen said:
Yeah. Thank you. Me too. I thought since the RUU applied everything successfully, that it would be fixed. I do notice that one of the RUU phases during installation says "Updating Radios.....". I really wish, at that point, it would have fixed whatever migh have been wrong with the Radios.
Click to expand...

well like i said updating radios and interrupting it while it is installing is a sure way to brick the phone. it is the most common way to do it. i see it all the time here in this forum.
 
jaykesrwani said:
guys seems like FTFs are just for Sony phones .. sorry i mixed it with HTC ..
i have some ideas but i'll post back after 1 hour or so cuz im leaving .

Hope you solve this :D
have payed a lot for it ?
Click to expand...

ok well thanx for checking in. very much appreciated. i thought that there was something new that i have missed. LOL phones will vary on how they are made up especially from manufacturer to manufacturer.
 
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