[Q] Is my phone hard-bricked?

I was trying to install a new os on my phone today (previously running aokp with no issues), and i clearly did something wrong.

i'm using twrp, and i had tried to install cyanfox, and a slimrom, both failed in the installation, saying 'could not read zip file' or something along those lines. so a few times i recovered using a backup i had made of my aokp rom.

the installation directions i was following indicated that i should be formatting a lot of things, including the system partition, so the next time i rebooted into twrp, i pressed 'wipe', and then pressed the format button on the right (can't remember the label) rather than just swiping, which i believe formats the main partition. i thought this was what i was supposed to do...

now i can't reboot into recovery or download mode. all i get is the galaxy s iii and aokp logo screen.

which unbrick method do i need to use?

is it that easy to mess up my phone beyond repair?

It's a 747m, from Fido, in canada. i used the d2att version of aokp without a problem.

what is a usb jig?

Nevermind... got it booted into recovery, and reinstalled aokp and gapps without issue.

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