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Root [Sprint/Cricket] I can't get G3 into Download mode...help please!

R

Roymus

Well-Known Member
I have not seen this problem anywhere on the forums. I'm trying to root my g3 that I've had about a week...phone is seemingly flawless with everything else, but for some reason when I try to get into download mode, it will just boot up normally. I press Vol Down, Home, and Power simultaneously and get the Warning screen...it stays there for a second when i release the buttons, then proceeds to boot. At the end of the boot cycle, I see a message that says "Unable to download", otherwise looks normal. I've tried pressing the Vol Up key quickly while the Warning message is displayed, no dice. What gives here? Thanks for any help...

By the way, I've also tried a battery pull, and trying to releas the buttons in different combinations...no dice. It just boots.
 
UPDATE: I got past this problem, apparently the GS3 is very sensitive to the ORDER in which you press the buttons: first Home, then Vol Down, then Power. I was able to successfully download the recovery image via Odin.

NOW I have a new problem: when I try to flash CWM v3.07, I keep getting the dreaded E:Signature Verification Failed error message and Installation Aborted. Yeesh! On my old EVO and EVO 3d, this message meant the file you were installing needed to be signed, and there was an option to toggle this on and off...not so on my Samsung. So I'm stuck again unless someone here has a tip...thanks!
 
Re download CWM. Also make sure to not boot fully into Android before booting into CWM, as the stock recovery gets reflashed on a successful boot of Android.
 
Thanks...I tried another download of CWM with the same results. Note also that when you flash the clockwork tar file using Odin, it will boot itself after passing so there's no good way to stop it from rebooting...unless you anticipate it and pull the battery in the middle of the reboot, which doesn't seem like a good idea.

I can't help thinking there must be another way to get CWM onto the phone outside of trying to flash it...maybe using Odin? I'm not too familiar with this program, but I did see a reference to using it to flash CWM on another thread...is that possible? Or, if there was a version that didn't require signature verification, I suppose that would work. I have a feeling there will be numerous posts about this problem as people start to root their new Sprint phones...sometimes it's hell being an early adopter!
 
Roymus said:
Thanks...I tried another download of CWM with the same results. Note also that when you flash the clockwork tar file using Odin, it will boot itself after passing so there's no good way to stop it from rebooting...unless you anticipate it and pull the battery in the middle of the reboot, which doesn't seem like a good idea.
Click to expand...

It doesn't if you uncheck auto-reset. I'm not sure why everyone insists that this must be checked. This is how I did it. I unchecked auto reset and then pulled the battery after flashing.

I can't help thinking there must be another way to get CWM onto the phone outside of trying to flash it...maybe using Odin? I'm not too familiar with this program, but I did see a reference to using it to flash CWM on another thread...is that possible? Or, if there was a version that didn't require signature verification, I suppose that would work. I have a feeling there will be numerous posts about this problem as people start to root their new Sprint phones...sometimes it's hell being an early adopter!
Click to expand...

What version of Odin are you running now? CWM flashed flawlessly for me on Odin 3.04 and again on 3.07 after I flashed the new firmware. I used this thread's files and instructions: xda-developers - View Single Post - [HOWTO] Easy Root Instructions (Sprint or T-Mobile) [Updated 24 June 2012]
 
Thanks, Jer...those are the exact instructions I was using. I think the issue is that they use Odin to flash a basic recovery image (using clockwork.tar), then you use that to flash the full CWM, which is where mine fails. I think you're right in that the Odin app resets the phone, which may bork up the basic recovery image. I've seen some posts about flashing something called root.zip to prevent that, but rather than flash some more unknown zips I will try your method of deselecting the reset in Odin, powering down (with battery pull), and rebooting into the base recovery image to flash CWM full. I'll let you know how that works.

BTW, about the battery pull...I've never had a phone whose back cover is so freaking hard to remove!!! I actually had to pry it off with a plastic knife, and I'm trying like hell to avoid scarring the blue finish. If it's not one thing it's another...
 
Jer...I was able to successfully complete the root process (including flashing CWM and installing BusyBox) using your tip ab.ove of deselecting the Auto Reset in Odin (I'm not sure why this isn't specified in the instructions...apparently it MUST be deselected for Sprint phones, otherwise the recovery image is overwritten on reboot!).

Now, the good news is I have root...BUT CWM was again overwritten on the first restart by the crappy stock recovery (from Samsung I guess). I saw on a post somewhere that there's a file called "root.zip" that will apparently prevent the CWM recovery from being overwritten...but I can't find it! So, two questions:

1. Where is the root.zip file (or if it doesn't exist, what is the magical method of preventing the restart from overwriting CWM), and...

2. Do I have to go thru the CWM flash from Odin again?

Thanks so much...I'm so close! BTW, I really think the root guide on XDA should be updated...I'm assuming everyone with a Sprint phone will have these same issues if they follow it.
 
BTW...there is a Sprint update out today, will I lose root if I apply it? On my HTC EVO I never applied the updates after rooting, not sure what the standard is for Samsung. Thanks...
 
Ya I got it to but didn't apply until someone makes a zip file so I can use CWM to install it. Losing root is likely if you update
 
Root successfully accomplished and flashed Blazer ROM 1.4. Everything working normally...thanks Jer and gt for the help! Looking forward to the dev's improving on the stock ROM (like maybe removing those freaking dots that take up a whole row of real estate), and maybe overclocking...would love to see what this phone can do.
 
Roymus said:
Root successfully accomplished and flashed Blazer ROM 1.4. Everything working normally...thanks Jer and gt for the help! Looking forward to the dev's improving on the stock ROM (like maybe removing those freaking dots that take up a whole row of real estate), and maybe overclocking...would love to see what this phone can do.
Click to expand...
You can download voodoo from Google play to keep root on updates
 
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