S3 i9300 stuck on DOWNLOADING mode and cannot recover through ODIN

[whatever61]

I will give this a last chance before I am throwing this piece of junk out of the window.

Galaxy S3 i9300 doesn't turn on at all. Stuck on logo.
Recovery mode (VOLUME UP) doesn't work at all. Shows white and black screen. Before that used to be stuck at DOWNLOAD MODE forever.
Custom mod (VOLUME DOWN) works.

I am connecting it to the PC, it is recognized.

I don't manage to do anything with ODIN.

Trying ODIN 2.10, tried also older one's. Newer one has different fields for some weird reason.

It shows that the phone is connected: 0:[COM3]
I am loading the PDA file and clicking START, it says NO PIT FILE found.
What pit file? no one talks about any PIT file anywhere. Everyone just says to load the PDA file.
If I click on START again it will say <ID:0/003> SetupConnection.. endlessly.
Tried to load some PIT file I found for S3, of course that fails also.

in Kies it connects endlessly.

Any other ideas?
Thanks

 

[svim]

Here's a link that might walk you through re-doing what you're trying:
http://galaxys3root.com/galaxy-s3-root/how-to-root-galaxy-s3-on-android-4-34-4-2-new/
Note that it's a little dated but then the S3 is too. In the instructions it refers to using CWM as the custom Recovery but you might want to opt for TWRP instead. As of last year, development for both CWM and Philz has ceased, TWRP is still active. Also, regarding the PIT file (Partition Information Table) be sure NOT to check the 'Re-partition' box in Odin. As for Odin, maybe try the 1.85 version mentioned in the article. Newer versions are not always compatible with newer hardware.
TWRP
https://twrp.me/devices/samsunggalaxys3sprint.html
Odin 1.85
http://androidhost.org/GQnP9

I'm not sure if you're just trying to root your S3, or root it and re-flash the stock ROM. The stock ROM can be downloaded from Samsung's site:
https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/GT-I9300/

 

[whatever61]

I am just trying to re-flash the STOCK ROM.
Tried with 1.85 and the original stock ROM. I get the same error all the time.

<ID:0/003> Initialzation..
<ID:0/003> Get PIT for mapping..
<ID:0/003>
<ID:0/003> There is no PIT partition.
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

 

[whatever61]

Another confusion is that I have downloaded 2 firwmares from different sites (both claiming it's official) and they have completely different sizes:

1. International-GT-i9300-StockRecovery.tar - 5521KB
2. GT-I9300_Boot_Recovery.tar - 870KB

Now I am downloading a 3rd one:

PRO-I9300XXALF5-20120620165344.zip - 740.23 MB

What size should be??

 

[svim]

Try this for an i9300 PIT file:
http://wikisend.com/download/669392/i9300_PIT.zip

As for those first two items since they're only a few hundred KB those are apparently just the links to the actual files and that third one 'could' be valid if whomever created the zip used a really high compression level but I'd just avoid all of them and rely on sammoble. (... which are in the 900 MB range)

 

[whatever61]

Do I have to use it in combination with PDA or only the PIT file separately?

 

[whatever61]

Tried separately, doesn't work.

<ID:0/003> Added!!
<ID:0/003> Odin v.3 engine (ID:3)..
<ID:0/003> File analysis..
<ID:0/003> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/003> Initialzation..
<ID:0/003> Set PIT file..
<ID:0/003> DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET!!
<ID:0/003>
<ID:0/003> Re-Partition operation failed.
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

 

[svim]

OK well at least the error message is referring to the partitioning and not something more dire like a NAND error. If that other PIT file didn't work try searching for one that does. Just ran across this link that has a collection of them:
http://tradownload.co/results/gt-i9300-pit-file.html
Of course do a malware/AV scan on whatever you download and be wary.

 

[Madbat]

Another confusion is that I have downloaded 2 firwmares from different sites (both claiming it's official) and they have completely different sizes:

1. International-GT-i9300-StockRecovery.tar - 5521KB
2. GT-I9300_Boot_Recovery.tar - 870KB

Now I am downloading a 3rd one:

PRO-I9300XXALF5-20120620165344.zip - 740.23 MB

What size should be??

None of those are correct. The first one is just the stock recovery, the second is just the .boot (kernel) the third is a zip file. Zips are useless for odin. Unzip it and see if it has a .tar file in it.
You need the full .tar file for your phone. It may be over a GB in size. Try looking on sammobile for your firmware.