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Root [International] Help with a potentially bricked S3

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davidjrodger

Lurker
Hey Not sure if "bricked" is the correct term but here goes:

I had my i9300 S3 installed with CWM and CyanogenMod (first time rooting and first ever android device so don't assume too much knowledge :)

Last night I picked up my phone, it was on charge and it was showing the Samsung logo (without the little red ! mark in the top left that it normally has). I tried rebooting and it just looped back to the samsung logo and sat there.

I tried booting into recovery (power home volumeUp) but didn't get anything

I tried booting into download mode (power home volumeDown) and it gives me the press volUp to continue, then I get the Downloading do not switch off target screen. At the top left it says:

ODIN MODE
Product Name:
Custom Binary Download: No
Current Binary: Samsung Official
System Status: Custom

I tried flashing CWM in Odin but I get a failed result and the following in the Message box:

<ID:0/004> Added!!
<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..
<ID:0/004> File analysis..
<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/004> Initialzation..
<ID:0/004> Get PIT for mapping..
<ID:0/004>
<ID:0/004> There is no PIT partition.
<ID:0/004> Added!!
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)
<ID:0/004> Removed!!


At a bit of a dead end now as far as my knowledge goes, tried googling about but no luck so far. Have ordered a USB jig to give that a go and see if it gets it into a different download mode than the ODIN one.

Any ideas? All help gratefully appreciated!

Dave
 
It is bricked but it's not your fault. You have a "half SDS" (Sudden Death Syndrome). It's an issue whereby the eMMC (embedded MultiMedia Card Or internal memory if you like) firmware has a bug that when it tries to write to a sector of teh memory, it wipes teh file system.

This manifests in 2 different ways.

1 - Full SDS.... The phone dies and will not even power on. LED will not light up when charger plugged in. Completely dead.

2 - Half SDS.... The phone will not boot into android or recovery. It will boot into download mode only. Sometimes the status changes to custom as the data that says it is official is wiped.

Please note, you have the worst of the 2. Rooting apparently voids warranty, and what tells them its not rooted gets wiped with half SDS.... So even if you haven't rooted, you may struggle to get them to repair it.

Either way, you have to send it to them for repair. Samsung are only just starting to acknowledge this as a fault, but not really...

Good luck!
 
Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear about your phone.

That sounds like the sudden death bug which can effect some gs3's, if that's the case it's a professional service centre fix. You might be lucky though. Try downloading your stock firmware from samfirmware and flash with Odin
Firmwares | SamMobile

edit: ninja'd by SU again:rolleyes:
 
Thanks for the feedback guys.

You reckon it's worth trying to tell Samsung it isn't rooted or will it be immediately obvious?

Downloading the stock firmware so will give that a go first.

Sod's law it's a legit bug that I get after I've rooted :/

Cheers
 
The Red exclamation mark is an indicator of custom kernels so it will be immediately obvious, however, the half SDS sets this flag anyway, even if you're not rooted so best not to mention root unless specifically asked.
 
is there any way to completely kill it?
Its not really fair if they discover its customised n he has to pay when the whole SDS thing is sammys fault imo
 
Could someone *looks at SU* write an odin flashable programme that completely bricks the motherboard? Like, is it possible?
 
Thanks for all the replies :D

Have tried flashing the stock rom from SamMobile but no luck there, slightly different message in Odin but same result (Fail!)

Waiting for a USB Jig to arrive tomorrow but not holding out much hope, will take it to Three and see what they say, then guess I'll give Samsung a go.

Seriously regretting not taking out insurance :/
 
The jig isn't going to do anything helpful unfortunately.. Or at least I strongly doubt it. You need a Mobo swap.
 
SUroot said:
The Red exclamation mark is an indicator of custom kernels so it will be immediately obvious, however, the half SDS sets this flag anyway, even if you're not rooted so best not to mention root unless specifically asked.
Click to expand...

Just a comment re that little exclamation mark...I think David mentioned in his OP that it was not present any more?

Are we talking about the on-screen tiny red exclamation mark?

And, if it is no longer there does that increase David's chances with a return?

davidjrodger said:
Last night I picked up my phone, it was on charge and it was showing the Samsung logo (without the little red ! mark in the top left that it normally has). I tried rebooting and it just looped back to the samsung logo and sat there.

At the top left it says:

ODIN MODE
Product Name:
Custom Binary Download: No
Current Binary: Samsung Official
System Status: Custom
Click to expand...
 
funkylogik said:
Its the fact it says System Status: Customised that worries me man
Click to expand...

Howya funky!!

Yeah, I just amended my post there to include some of what Dave said, and I saw that System Status thing....

But, as SU said, can that be a feature of this half SDS thing.....just wondering and hoping for Daves sake.

I just wonder also would there be a reason for some kinda sale of goods challenge??

Like, apparently this SDS is an inherent fault in the device which can arise randomly??

Dave, it's a real bummer for you.

If there is any justice you should at least have your mobo replaced free of charge.
 
In a fair world they would replace it mate but unfortunately they cover their erses by stating that rooting voids the warranty (i suppose thats fair enough since a lot of people probably do brick their phone and its their own fault). If its right that partial SDS causes the phone to look like its customised, youd probably have a huge fight on your hands to prove it :(
 
dannymur said:
Just a comment re that little exclamation mark...I think David mentioned in his OP that it was not present any more?

Are we talking about the on-screen tiny red exclamation mark?

And, if it is no longer there does that increase David's chances with a return?
Click to expand...

No, custom is custom :(
 
Thanks again for the advice.

As you thought the Jig did nothing.

Going to give three a go over the next couple days, if they aren't any help I'll try samsung. As you say it is in ODIN mode so fairly sure that's a dead giveaway. Will try anyway, all they can say is no.

Will keep you all posted.

Dave
 
I believe that your local Samsung service centre is going to be cheapest and will provide the quickest turn-around, that is if you can take it there personally. To give you an idea, my nephew had the screen on his Note II replaced and was quoted by an independent
 
Id maybe try buying an s3 with a broken screen off ebay and put your screen on it. The display is probs at least half the value of the phone anyway
 
funkylogik said:
Id maybe try buying an s3 with a broken screen off ebay and put your screen on it. The display is probs at least half the value of the phone anyway
Click to expand...


Great idea. :) Even if the OP is not confident in doing it themselves an independent repair shop would do it while they wait. Should cost around
 
Aparently its pretty easy man. Theres probably vids on Youtube or at least a "tear down" vid to give some idea :thumbup:
 
funkylogik said:
Aparently its pretty easy man. Theres probably vids on Youtube or at least a "tear down" vid to give some idea :thumbup:
Click to expand...

It is relatively straightforward looking to do, and having repaired CCTV cameras with a soldering iron, an oscilloscope and other such gubbins I probably could do it, for the sake of
 
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