Root [International] SG S3 not going into download mode

[SG3_user1]

Hi guys i just bought a Samsung Galaxy S3 from Thailand

It has lot of apps in chinese. One of them specially called "QQ Security" is a nuisance
I need to remove it cannot
So searched the net
tried various ways to root the device but was unsuccessful

Finally got a step by step process on how to root the device which needs the phone to get into the download mode

The method i follow is "From off hold vol down and home then press power"
No matter what I do i cannot get into the download mode
It gets into recovery mode every single time i try it

I read some where that I can flash the rom but even for that the download mode is needed.

I am pretty stuck will appreciate any kind of links or guides

The model is GT-I9300?
Android Version 4.0.4

I am m sorry if this particular issue has already been talked about before, but i could appreciate any kind of help.

 

[gwoshmi]

I have exactly this problem. The phone was bought for my partner by her sister in China, any permutation of the button pressing during power on brings it to recovery mode. I've downloaded the Android SDK and attempted to access from the console (adb reboot download), just reboots normally.

The device I get from "adb devices" is "0123456789ABCDEF" which obviously isn't correct.

I've checked the IMIE number and the phone seems appears to be legit.

I *can't* get to download mode - Samsung Kies doesn't recognise the device - I'm going to send it back to the sister-in-law before long, this is driving me crazy.

QQ guard I suspect is the problem. I've had issues when visiting relatives have installed the chat software of tencent QQ on my home computer - if its not malware I don't know what is - *very* difficult to uninstall.

Any help?

 

[ducky1979]

I know this may sound silly but have you tried pulling the battery before attempting to get into download mode? I have had it in the past when I had to do this before I could completely kill all processes and get into recovery or download.
Also is the device rooted?
What about if you go through settings/backup and reset/factory data reset?

 

[gwoshmi]

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I've tried the battery pull and two volume buttons down trick.

No the phone isn't rooted, pretty sure the original poster (sorry if if I'm hijacking the thread, I do have the same issue ) is in the same boat - I want to get into download mode to root the phone so I can get rid of all the crappy Chinese apps with Titanium.

The problem is twofold, no download mode, and (for me at least), the device isn't recognised in Kies, Odin etc.

A factory reset just brings the phone back to how it was received; QQ Security and all the apps are still there (along with the language settings, have to give the phone back to the missus to change it back to English). When I attempt to go into download mode through the SDK commands (adb reboot download) the phone just boots normally.

 

[s327374]

I don't know if it will help you, but I remember having trouble with my HTC and Samsung P3100 device - both bought in China. To put it into download, I had to press volume the other way as to what was advised on net. Although, my i9300 seems to go into download as it should. Good luck.

 

[SUroot]

Yeah other threads on this, people said vol down went into recovery when it should be vol up

 

[s327374]

Also, maybe for for kies, you need to go to 'tools' (might be another drop down) and select install driver. reboot it and you should be able to open it through kies or android transfer using mac.

 

[gwoshmi]

An update on what's happened.

It appears the phone from China was a fake. I suspect this is the case for the OP. Thanks for the suggestions people but I'd tried pretty much all button vol up/down combinations, toolkit reboots, battery removal etc etc but what smelled like a rat was that I couldn't get Kies to recognise the device.

I compared it a friend's genuine article and although it was an excellent copy, I'm afraid that's what it actually was.

Purchased a genuine one here in Australia and the differences are now even more apparent - AMOLED screen sharpness, the genuine phone was lighter and thinner and so on.

Anyway the phone was returned to the sister-in-law in China and everyone now happy. Will *never* buy anything like that in China again.