Fix: semi bricked/bricked SPH-L710 Sprint S3

[goku2778]

when I 1st rooted my s3 on 4.3, I messed it up lol I fixed it this way, which is installing a clean slate of 4.3 OTA via Odin...mine was a semi brick and keyboard was somehow gone as well, so this was my only choice:

1st download my bundle I made here
-once downloaded, extract the bundle preferably to your open desktop or wherever is easiest for you to guide through

your phone must have USB debugging mode enabled if you haven't done it already
-settings>more>developer options>enable usb debugging
-if you've never done this before, you'll have to go to: settings>more>about device>build number (tap on build number several times until the countdown states you're now a developer, once done press back once and developer options will now be present)

now once that's done, pull the battery, reinsert the battery and reboot into recovery by: holding volume up/home and power keys
once in recovery, do a factory data/cache wipe (fully wipe it out!)

now once that's done, pull your battery, reinsert your battery, hold: volume down/home and power keys and you'll be prompted with a warning and to press volume up to proceed, press volume up...this is "download mode"

on your computer, open the extracted bundle and run Odin 3.09 and make sure ONLY "auto reboot" and "f. reset time" boxes are checked
-connect your phone via usb cord and the ID: com will now light up and indicate it has detected your phone (if not, you'll need samsung drivers which can be found here)
-once recognized, load the necessary file by checking the box by the AP tab and then clicking the AP tab and load the .tar.md5 file in the bundled folder...this may take a few seconds, it's a large file so be patient
-once file is loaded, hit the "start" button and DO NOT INTERRUPT THIS PROCESS! once it's finished, again this is a large file and will take some time to finish, you'll see a "PASS" in Odin and also in the log box it will say "all threads completed (succeed 1/fail 0)

your phone will now reboot itself and restart with a freshly installed 4.3 OTA operating system! if it fails, try again and if it fails again, your phone may just be beyond repair...heard they can make a nice paper weight decoration lol GOOD LUCK!

To Reroot your phone: use my rooting guide

 

[koop1955]

Nice post, I am sure that it will save someone.

 

[phone_dude]

Thanks OP!

I had a software brick and it worked out perfectly

 

[goku2778]

Thanks OP!

I had a software brick and it worked out perfectly

thanks for the feedback and glad it worked! if you're looking to root it again, I have a guide up as well on doing that for 4.3, you won't brick by following that guide

 

[mattweed9]

Question, will doing this while on 4.3 and reinstalling 4.3 reset Knox counters? Or is there anyways yet to return to an unroofed stock with all Knox trips reset?

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[goku2778]

it should...this would be just like going to the sprint service techs and having them completely wipe and reinstall the 4.3 ota firmware like new

 

[beejmeister]

THANK YOU!!!!

Had a soft brick of my wife's phone. Had NO OS on the phone, wasn't able to flash ANY custom ROMs, even after ODINing and reODINing various recoveries.... Anyway... just nothing... Then THIS!

Great work. Wish I could hit Thanks 1000 more times. Cheers!

---------- Post added at 08:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------

Seriously. THIS is what should be stickied for returning to stock. Easy Peasy.

 

[goku2778]

THANK YOU!!!!

Had a soft brick of my wife's phone. Had NO OS on the phone, wasn't able to flash ANY custom ROMs, even after ODINing and reODINing various recoveries.... Anyway... just nothing... Then THIS!

Great work. Wish I could hit Thanks 1000 more times. Cheers!

---------- Post added at 08:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------

Seriously. THIS is what should be stickied for returning to stock. Easy Peasy.

thanks for the compliments and glad it worked out for you, that's all that matters

 

[ashamancurtis]

Count my @$$ as saved

Well, looks like you saved my @$$. My phone noted that there was an update for cyanogenmod.... and bricked on reboot.

 

[mister-crackers]

hi @goku2778

i'm about to try these instructions. you responded to my post in another thread. basically i'm still stuck. i've attempted several times to format data/wipe everything in the hopes of clearing the PIN code, or is it called PUC/PUK code that the phone wants to decrypt and boot into the ROM home screen. i used up the 10 attempts and it said "invalid PIN/password" or something like that, and keeps booting back to recovery to perform an automatic data reset.

but the problem is it still asks for a PUK/PIN code.

will your unbricking instructions that care of this?
-----------------------
WOOHOOO!!!! My ordeal has is over. Thank you very much for posting this. This cleared that pesky PIN code prompt like a champ.

And was able to update my PRL and Profile. Now I'll jump to one of the other ROMs, using your other thread.:good::laugh:

 

[goku2778]

hi @goku2778

i'm about to try these instructions. you responded to my post in another thread. basically i'm still stuck. i've attempted several times to format data/wipe everything in the hopes of clearing the PIN code, or is it called PUC/PUK code that the phone wants to decrypt and boot into the ROM home screen. i used up the 10 attempts and it said "invalid PIN/password" or something like that, and keeps booting back to recovery to perform an automatic data reset.

but the problem is it still asks for a PUK/PIN code.

will your unbricking instructions that care of this?
-----------------------
WOOHOOO!!!! My ordeal has is over. Thank you very much for posting this. This cleared that pesky PIN code prompt like a champ.

And was able to update my PRL and Profile. Now I'll jump to one of the other ROMs, using your other thread.:good::laugh:

just saw your post...glad it worked for you! let me know how you make out on your next tasks bro!

 

[neadams99]

"Process com.android.phone has stopped"

How do you think I can modify to get this idea to work on my semi-bricked Sprint SGS3? I just can't get past that error message once the phone starts. It was a result of a bad flash of CM11, unified yesterday where i must have lost the connection somehow. I do have it set for debugging. but I can't use phone buttons to enter the recovery or download modes. Everytime I pull the battery and try to enter recovery, it says it is going there,but then the CM logo appears and then that darn message shows up again not allowing for me to get past it. I can see it with the computer via the USB however. Would you suggest or recommend something else(ie. trying to get it back to factory reset)? If so, then please leave a link for instx.

 

[goku2778]

How do you think I can modify to get this idea to work on my semi-bricked Sprint SGS3? I just can't get past that error message once the phone starts. It was a result of a bad flash of CM11, unified yesterday where i must have lost the connection somehow. I do have it set for debugging. but I can't use phone buttons to enter the recovery or download modes. Everytime I pull the battery and try to enter recovery, it says it is going there,but then the CM logo appears and then that darn message shows up again not allowing for me to get past it. I can see it with the computer via the USB however. Would you suggest or recommend something else(ie. trying to get it back to factory reset)? If so, then please leave a link for instx.

damn...if you can't get into recovery, then I don't know what else you could do to be honest. 1 of those cm unifieds wrecked my phone also, my backup stock rom wouldn't load either, I could get into recovery but no other roms I downloaded would install, I had to do this method again...it took about 25 mins or so to do start to finish, finish meaning resetting up the phone after reinstalling 4.3 again and signing into it with Google id, updating the prl and profile to enable my data.

then spent another 20mins or so to reroot it, remove knox, and reinstall my cm11 package I have with the 2/03/2014 build release which I'm still on and phone has been awesome all over again. so if you can't get into recovery at all, I'd do the Odin 4.3 reinstall

 

[neadams99]

Followed your steps using ODIN -passed- stuck on s'sng logo

damn...if you can't get into recovery, then I don't know what else you could do to be honest. 1 of those cm unifieds wrecked my phone also, my backup stock rom wouldn't load either, I could get into recovery but no other roms I downloaded would install, I had to do this method again...it took about 25 mins or so to do start to finish, finish meaning resetting up the phone after reinstalling 4.3 again and signing into it with Google id, updating the prl and profile to enable my data.

then spent another 20mins or so to reroot it, remove knox, and reinstall my cm11 package I have with the 2/03/2014 build release which I'm still on and phone has been awesome all over again. so if you can't get into recovery at all, I'd do the Odin 4.3 reinstall

Woah. THat is rough, but I need it to be awesome again. It's been 4+ hours and I am still going on trying to fix it. Total noob. So, you must slow down the steps you mentioned above for me to follow along. Should I try getting into DL mode again and rerun ODIN? Please advise.

 

[goku2778]

Woah. THat is rough, but I need it to be awesome again. It's been 4+ hours and I am still going on trying to fix it. Total noob. So, you must slow down the steps you mentioned above for me to follow along. Should I try getting into DL mode again and rerun ODIN? Please advise.

lol try getting into download mode and if that works, just follow this guide along from download mode, don't worry about the debug part...let me know what happens with that part:

download mode, if it works, proceed with Odin flashing and report back

 

[neadams99]

2nd attempt failed.

lol try getting into download mode and if that works, just follow this guide along from download mode, don't worry about the debug part...let me know what happens with that part:

download mode, if it works, proceed with Odin flashing and report back

Failed to get past the logo again on second ODIN attempt. Does your .tar file include CM11 or another? I'm wondering if there is any ROM on the device to upgrade to as I had an interruption when flashing to CM11. Also ve second screw up was that I did not wipe the data / cache prior to that attempt to upgrade. I did have TWRP and TiBackup Pro (ran on Sunday last) on device. How can I recover those files to reinstall to device?

 

[goku2778]

Failed to get past the logo again on second ODIN attempt. Does your .tar file include CM11 or another? I'm wondering if there is any ROM on the device to upgrade to as I had an interruption when flashing to CM11. Also ve second screw up was that I did not wipe the data / cache prior to that attempt to upgrade. I did have TWRP and TiBackup Pro (ran on Sunday last) on device. How can I recover those files to reinstall to device?

wait...can you get into download mode? sounds like you can't, and if you can't get into that or recovery, dude you're probably pretty screwed.

um, there's a boot image unbrick method but it's quite complex and I've never done it myself, you'd have to search here for if in the general thread and it was made by cnexus...without the ability to go into recovery, you cannot flash a rom, without the ability to get into download mode, you can't use Odin

 

[neadams99]

can get into DL mode passed ODIN but then stuck w/logo

wait...can you get into download mode? sounds like you can't, and if you can't get into that or recovery, dude you're probably pretty screwed.

um, there's a boot image unbrick method but it's quite complex and I've never done it myself, you'd have to search here for if in the general thread and it was made by cnexus...without the ability to go into recovery, you cannot flash a rom, without the ability to get into download mode, you can't use Odin

I can get into DL mode. Here is the readout from second ODIN attempt ( which shows it passed). <ID:0/006> Odin v.3 engine (ID:6)..
<ID:0/006> File analysis..
<ID:0/006> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/006> Initialzation..
<ID:0/006> Get PIT for mapping..
<ID:0/006> Firmware update start..
<ID:0/006> SingleDownload.
<ID:0/006> sbl2.mbn
<ID:0/006> NAND Write Start!!
<ID:0/006> sbl3.mbn
<ID:0/006> aboot.mbn
<ID:0/006> rpm.mbn
<ID:0/006> tz.mbn
<ID:0/006> boot.img
<ID:0/006> recovery.img
<ID:0/006> system.img.ext4
<ID:0/006> NON-HLOS.bin
<ID:0/006> cache.img.ext4
<ID:0/006> RQT_CLOSE !!
<ID:0/006> RES OK !!
<ID:0/006> Removed!!
<ID:0/006> Remain Port .... 0
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 1 / failed 0)
<ID:0/006> Added!!
<ID:0/006> Removed!!
<ID:0/006> Added!!


Why would it not allow me into recovery mode?? that just makes no sense to me. I've tried it a dozen times and know to hold the three buttons for a long while. Then the phone shows "recovery reboot" or something like that in blue micro font up in the left top corner but then the CM logo comes on and then I get stuck again on Samsung logo forever. looks like your .tar files have the MD5 only, right? WHat more do I need to push onto phone? Can we send these msgs to another person to help further?

Plus, as I said I've been auto backing up weekly so how to restore old files, ROM, etc...via USB?

 

[goku2778]

I can get into DL mode. Here is the readout from second ODIN attempt ( which shows it passed). <ID:0/006> Odin v.3 engine (ID:6)..
<ID:0/006> File analysis..
<ID:0/006> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/006> Initialzation..
<ID:0/006> Get PIT for mapping..
<ID:0/006> Firmware update start..
<ID:0/006> SingleDownload.
<ID:0/006> sbl2.mbn
<ID:0/006> NAND Write Start!!
<ID:0/006> sbl3.mbn
<ID:0/006> aboot.mbn
<ID:0/006> rpm.mbn
<ID:0/006> tz.mbn
<ID:0/006> boot.img
<ID:0/006> recovery.img
<ID:0/006> system.img.ext4
<ID:0/006> NON-HLOS.bin
<ID:0/006> cache.img.ext4
<ID:0/006> RQT_CLOSE !!
<ID:0/006> RES OK !!
<ID:0/006> Removed!!
<ID:0/006> Remain Port .... 0
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 1 / failed 0)
<ID:0/006> Added!!
<ID:0/006> Removed!!
<ID:0/006> Added!!


Why would it not allow me into recovery mode?? that just makes no sense to me. I've tried it a dozen times and know to hold the three buttons for a long while. Then the phone shows "recovery reboot" or something like that in blue micro font up in the left top corner but then the CM logo comes on and then I get stuck again on Samsung logo forever. looks like your .tar files have the MD5 only, right? WHat more do I need to push onto phone? Can we send these msgs to another person to help further?

Plus, as I said I've been auto backing up weekly so how to restore old files, ROM, etc...via USB?

you're making me wanna beat you!! lol jk OK, read me/hear me and follow lol

you flashed 4.3 with Odin and looks like it worked, it should have auto reset itself after it worked and started booting back up into it's now completely stock rom...with me? you should see the Samsung logo working, it takes a good minute or 2 to finish its initial boot up after Odin, then like the 1St day you bought it you'll need to connect to a Wi-Fi source, sign in with a Google ID

did you do that or are you skipping the most important part of restoring your phone into working condition by right away trying to get into recovery mode?????? if so, please slap yourself hard!!! lol it must boot up and fully initialize, forget about recovery and back up roms right now, it must initialize like you just bought the phone new and set it up

THEN........

you have to reinstall philz recovery with Odin, remove the knox again and reroot by reinstalling supersu

saying it 1 last time...let the phone reboot itself after you performed the Odin steps from this guide and set up your phone like you just bought if brand new from sprint

do that, report back and stop messing with recovery steps and rom this and that or I'm not helping you bro!! lol report back

 

[neadams99]

Not getting past Samsung logo

you're making me wanna beat you!! lol jk OK, read me/hear me and follow lol

you flashed 4.3 with Odin and looks like it worked, it should have auto reset itself after it worked and started booting back up into it's now completely stock rom...with me? you should see the Samsung logo working, it takes a good minute or 2 to finish its initial boot up after Odin, then like the 1St day you bought it you'll need to connect to a Wi-Fi source, sign in with a Google ID

did you do that or are you skipping the most important part of restoring your phone into working condition by right away trying to get into recovery mode?????? if so, please slap yourself hard!!! lol it must boot up and fully initialize, forget about recovery and back up roms right now, it must initialize like you just bought the phone new and set it up

THEN........

you have to reinstall philz recovery with Odin, remove the knox again and reroot by reinstalling supersu

saying it 1 last time...let the phone reboot itself after you performed the Odin steps from this guide and set up your phone like you just bought if brand new from sprint

do that, report back and stop messing with recovery steps and rom this and that or I'm not helping you bro!! lol report back

So so Sorry, if you were in CA, I'd come by so you could do it yourself. I;d even pay you good money. OK, sorry, I was freakin out, brah.

I did use ODIn and waited for a long time and the Samsung logo just hangs there. There is no progress, nothing. I can't get to the signing into Google or anything at all.

You said, " THEN you have to reinstall philz recovery with Odin, remove the knox again and reroot by reinstalling supersu." But I cant get past the logo. I see the "Samsung" for two secs, then "Samsung Galaxy Slll" then the Sprint logo goes by with music, then back to the "Samsung" logo where it sits forever. This is killing me.