Weird problem. Cannot factory Reset. Phone keeps restoring previously installed apps.

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Hi There,

I have been having the Samsung Galaxy Sl for 2 months now and the software kept crashing. I went to privacy and opted for a factory reset. Funny thing is no matter how many times I do a factory reset the phone restarts, and installs all the apps which i personally installed again. This is not a google recovery problem where all data is backed up in google. But the apps just magically reappear even after formatting the internal sd in recovery mode and reflashing it to the latest firmware. I am at a loss. I got a shock that even after reflashing my firmware to the latest 2.3.4 JKPJ5 it still reinstalls apps such as AVG, the BBC News, Cool reader.. And even my old wallpaper again.
Steps I have taken:
1) Formatted internal sd
2) Used recovery mode and wiped partition and cleared cache
3) Did factory reset and even installed a new firmware.

I have done everything. Pls help. My home button is also not working and the all the corrupted data from my old installation also comes back
Even when I restart my phone, any new apps i install vanish and are again replaced by the old apps.

Originally Posted by Kishel Raj

Hi There,

I have been having the Samsung Galaxy Sl for 2 months now and the software kept crashing. I went to privacy and opted for a factory reset. Funny thing is no matter how many times I do a factory reset the phone restarts, and installs all the apps which i personally installed again. This is not a google recovery problem where all data is backed up in google. But the apps just magically reappear even after formatting the internal sd in recovery mode and reflashing it to the latest firmware. I am at a loss. I got a shock that even after reflashing my firmware to the latest 2.3.4 JKPJ5 it still reinstalls apps such as AVG, the BBC News, Cool reader.. And even my old wallpaper again.
Steps I have taken:
1) Formatted internal sd
2) Used recovery mode and wiped partition and cleared cache
3) Did factory reset and even installed a new firmware.

I have done everything. Pls help. My home button is also not working and the all the corrupted data from my old installation also comes back
Even when I restart my phone, any new apps i install vanish and are again replaced by the old apps.

Did you try factory resetting with the code? That should help you! And please post this in the Q&A section henceforth!

Sorry. Moving to Q&A

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Thread Moved to Q&A

pls try this *2627*3855#

warning it will erase all user data.. ^^

Sent from my GT-I9003 using xda premium

Thanks.

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Funny thing is i tried the reset codes. And only some work. I tried the reset code *2627*3855# . But I get an error saying its a connection probelm or invalid MMI code.

Sorry bangalorerohan. But I am not getting any replies in the Q&A section. I will just continue here for now..

Tell me the method you used to flash the new FW! I will tell you your error!

The probelm began before I even considered flashing my firmware. The sd card will be unexpectedly removed causing forced closes. Did a factory reset using the privacy menu quite a number of times for a few weeks. It helped for a while but the problem will always reocurred though. Then suddenly, factory resets stopped working alltogether. The phone will delete new apps i install every time i reinstall them and reinstall apps which i uninstall every time i restart the phone.

I thought flashing the firmware will fix the problem. But even after flashing the old apps and settings keep coming back.

Here are the steps I used to flash.

1) Removed sim card and micro sd card.
2) Restarted phone in download mode.
3) Run odin and plugged phone in Usb port
4) Checked Repartition, Auto Reboot, and Reset Time boxes.
5) Downloaded pit files.
6) Waited for it to pass
7) Pressed reset
8) Took phone out from usb port, took out battery and turned on download mode.
9) Flashed PDA, PHONE, AND CSC files. By ticking Auto reboot and reset time checkboxes.
10)Clicked Start
11) Waited for pass and started again.

I even tried using the recovery mode to wipe everything but still had the same problem. Apps and settings still keep reocurring from the corrupted android 2.2

I have done everything and am hoping for a solution for this frustrating problem. THinking of reflashing to android 2.2 and sending my phone to samsung for warranty.

Originally Posted by Kishel Raj

The probelm began before I even considered flashing my firmware. The sd card will be unexpectedly removed causing forced closes. Did a factory reset using the privacy menu quite a number of times for a few weeks. It helped for a while but the problem will always reocurred though. Then suddenly, factory resets stopped working alltogether. The phone will delete new apps i install every time i reinstall them and reinstall apps which i uninstall every time i restart the phone.

I thought flashing the firmware will fix the problem. But even after flashing the old apps and settings keep coming back.

Here are the steps I used to flash.

1) Removed sim card and micro sd card.
2) Restarted phone in download mode.
3) Run odin and plugged phone in Usb port
4) Checked Repartition, Auto Reboot, and Reset Time boxes.
5) Downloaded pit files.
6) Waited for it to pass
7) Pressed reset
8) Took phone out from usb port, took out battery and turned on download mode.
9) Flashed PDA, PHONE, AND CSC files. By ticking Auto reboot and reset time checkboxes.
10)Clicked Start
11) Waited for pass and started again.

I even tried using the recovery mode to wipe everything but still had the same problem. Apps and settings still keep reocurring from the corrupted android 2.2

I have done everything and am hoping for a solution for this frustrating problem. THinking of reflashing to android 2.2 and sending my phone to samsung for warranty.

I think you have done everything correctly. Maybe it's a hardware problem because your sd card keeps unmounting. Have you dropped it? They best way is to send it to service center for repair.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

reflashing back to froyo

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Hey guys thanks for your help. but the problem seems to be related to the hardware. I am reflashing my phone back to froyo and sending it to get the warranty. But after reflashing there seems to be another problem. I cant receive calls anymore. But i can make calls..

I need to know if samsung can find out if I have reflashed my phone because I am afraid that my warranty will be void. Is there anyone with experiece regarding samsung warranty?

Originally Posted by Kishel Raj

Hey guys thanks for your help. but the problem seems to be related to the hardware. I am reflashing my phone back to froyo and sending it to get the warranty. But after reflashing there seems to be another problem. I cant receive calls anymore. But i can make calls..

I need to know if samsung can find out if I have reflashed my phone because I am afraid that my warranty will be void. Is there anyone with experiece regarding samsung warranty?

play dumb, dont mention you flashed, tell them you tried to update with kies and since then the FW is acting up, you can't make calls anymore etc