AOSP & AOKP SD Card Bricked [Think Tank]

[kmmxracer]

I wanted to start a thread for those of us that have bricked our Sensation by formatting the SD card while using a AOSP style or AOKP ROM.

Let's use this thread to collaborate ideas and ways to possibly un-brick our devices.

What we know

-Formatting the SD card in past versions of AOSP and AOKP caused the device to "brick" due to possibley reformatting the NAND memory or at least the eMMC partition.

-Our devices are unresponsive and are only recognized by a PC in "download mode"

-AOSP and AOKP ROMs did brick the devices. Instead of formatting the external SD card, it formatted the internal SD card or what is more commonly known as NAND flash memory of the device(Thanks to T-Macgnolia for this explination)

-Only hope may be to try JTAG and RIFF box.

So let's try a think tank and see what happens. If you have any experience with JTAG and RIFF Box PLEASE put in your 2cents.

I am willing to tear my Sensation apart and go at it with a RIFF box since I just ordered a Galaxy Nexus from Google.

I will start researching JTAG and RIFF tonight, but I figured some one should start a thread like this to clear up the HTC Unbricking Project thread.

 

[T-Macgnolia]

You got two thanks from me for this, one here and one in the Unbricking Project thread in the development forum. I am like you I can see this subject clogging up the Unbricking Project thread, so this is a good idea here if members will just use it.

Now as for how to revive devices that fall victim to the awful bug that was in the AOSP and AOKP ROMs. I truly hate that such a bad bug was not noticed before so many had fallen victim to it. I also hope someone or a group of someones can come up with a working solution. But from my knowledge JTAG will more than likely be the only option to revive these devices. I hope I am wrong though. Best of luck to all of you.

 

[kmmxracer]

I don't know much about JTAG at this point, but if it's the only way I'm willing to go for it and share my experience. As it stands now, my Sensation is just a nice expensive paper weight, so I'm not afraid to tear it down

 

[T-Macgnolia]

Well best advice I can do is tell you to start eoing searchs on Youtube. Here is a link to the only video I have found on the Sensation so far. You will need to try to find s video that shows the tear down process that will get you to the point the video I linked shows. But at least the video shows the proper way to attach the JTAG and external power supply. I suggest you aleo see if you can not get in touch with josh from Mobile Tech Videos as I know he can give you some very sound advice on JTAGing a Sensation, or just about any other device for that matter. He is known as connexion2005 here on XDA. It also might not hurt to drop ole AdamOutler a PM asking if he has any advice or input.

 

[blackcell1]

well im in this boat with my bricked sensation xe, im taking my phone upto http://www.fonefunshop.co.uk/ on wednesday to get it jtaged with the riff box.

but on some good news, if you read the updates on the riffbox it says it can jtag a htc phone via usb (without opening it) but you need a riffbox plugged in to open the software... so if someone could make a hack to open the software without the box connected you might be able to flash the phone

http://www.jtagbox.com/

 

[John.K]

Guys,

I'm going to RMA my phone with HTC (i got the SD card brick format issue with AOSP)

Assuming the whole of the internal memory got wiped - HTC cannot tell anything can they? So they should repair it with no hassle?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[heavy_metal_man]

just for those of us that are new has this bug been fixed?? as it seems like a pretty big deal. also jupuntobear deals with the sensation devices in download mode to do its s-off so maby they know a way to flash the firmware back onto it?? some sort of homebrew usb/jtag kit maby?

 

[husam212]

I want to confirm that jtag solution works ... I bricked my phone and now its back to life

I am not the one who actually done the jtagging thing, I will ask him to post a tutorial here on how to do it step by step ...

 

[Logseman]

just for those of us that are new has this bug been fixed?? as it seems like a pretty big deal. also jupuntobear deals with the sensation devices in download mode to do its s-off so maby they know a way to flash the firmware back onto it?? some sort of homebrew usb/jtag kit maby?

The latest Open Sensation builds have that problem corrected, check the change log for more details.

Swypesation

 

[Alipk52]

Hello pplz,
I just wanted to let you know about my story:

I had lots of unused crap that was left behind by different ROMs and APPLICATIONs on my sd card, so I used this app called SD MAID.

Then when my phone's battery dead that day, the phone turned off and I could never revive it...

I had AOKP rel 34, the one just before milestone 5.
SO probably that was the cause of the brick.

BE CAUTIOUS with any kind of sd card related app on AOSP/AOKP!!

I Don't think your Device is bricked...i saw somewhere that sometimes or maybe in some ROMs, when you used up full juice of your Battery, it usually takes time to start..i am obviously not sure if i am right, i just read that quickly and ignored it because i never consume the Battery till it goes to 0% and phone turns off...by the way i think this SD CARD Format doesn't cause bricking in Virtuous Inquisition? it's also AOSP..Although senseless..but maybe some files could be used in V.I As well which causes this.i don't have PC..So my Sensation fullfils my PC Needs (Almost)..so definitely cannot fancy tearing my phone a part...

 

[kmmxracer]

It seems like JTAG w/ RiffBox is the only way....boooooo.

Does anyone have or know someone with a box, or at least where to get one???

 

[T-Macgnolia]

I Don't think your Device is bricked...i saw somewhere that sometimes or maybe in some ROMs, when you used up full juice of your Battery, it usually takes time to start..i am obviously not sure if i am right, i just read that quickly and ignored it because i never consume the Battery till it goes to 0% and phone turns off...by the way i think this SD CARD Format doesn't cause bricking in Virtuous Inquisition? it's also AOSP..Although senseless..but maybe some files could be used in V.I As well which causes this.i don't have PC..So my Sensation fullfils my PC Needs (Almost)..so definitely cannot fancy tearing my phone a part...

I don't really know what happen to Alipk52's Sensation. But I can tell you this, the bug that was in the AOSP and AOKP ROMs did brick the devices. Instead of formatting the external SD card, it formatted the internal SD card or what is more commonly known as NAND flash memory of the device. Now with the internal memory formatted this means you have no bootloader which means the device can not boot, which means brick. So yes the SD card format bug did cause bricking.

 

[Lfhmzd]

Hi!
I've read about jtagging withot soldering but via usb cable. So, maybe someone will compile the software emulator of riff box presence...

 

[kmmxracer]

I sent mine out to HTC since it's still under warranty. Let's see what they do to fix it.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[RussianBear]

I sent mine out to HTC since it's still under warranty. Let's see what they do to fix it.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

they will replace the board.

 

[shahkam]

GUYS!!!!

OLEGOR215 ON EBAY fixed my phone (JTAG)!

I sent my phone from Vancouver to Philadelphia for $4CAD (!) it got there in 5 days and he fixed it in 1 day, it took a week though for receiving it - so I had my phone back to life in just 2WEEKS!

Thanks and you guys should go ahead and do it!

good luck

Sending your phone somewhere out whitout knowing the person ? Pretty risky.

Sent From My Sexy Sensation Running Aokp.

 

[Rusty!]

GUYS!!!!

OLEGOR215 ON EBAY fixed my phone (JTAG)!

I sent my phone from Vancouver to Philadelphia for $4CAD (!) it got there in 5 days and he fixed it in 1 day, it took a week though for receiving it - so I had my phone back to life in just 2WEEKS!

Thanks and you guys should go ahead and do it!

good luck

The problem you had was not the one described in this thread, and I would put money on him not using JTAG on it at all. I find that often if I let my phone battery die completely it will not turn back on, even if I leave it on charge.

I have to charge it up a bit, unplug it, turn it on, then plug it back in again.

 

[heavy_metal_man]

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1205983

i think this guy was on to something. if we could create a generic copy of the sensation using this program, with imei and other sensitive things removed and then flash it back using that program. thoughts?

 

[saynotopunx]

I would just like to offer my Sensation as a sacrifice to the cause. It's bricked either because of the AOKP SD brick or failure to update to the ICS radio before upgrading from 2.3 to 4.0.

Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk 2

 

[Rusty!]

Not updating the firmware only causes bootloops, not a brick.

You'll know if it's proper bricked as it wont even charged.