[Q] Soft-bricked, two versions of ODIN hang, out of ideas

[SkipSandwich]

I'm running a Samsung Galaxy S2 (SGH-I777) with the Shostock 3 ROM using the instructions from GalaxyS2Root (which I have since learned was not wise, but hey...you live and learn.)

Last night I plugged it in to a new charger, and when I woke up the phone was frozen on the Galaxy S2 Splash screen (the one with the yellow exclamation mark and the model number). I've tried several things to get it back, but nothing seems to work. I have tried:

•Getting back to stock using the I777UCKH7-CL503881-No-BL download from the "getting back to stock" thread at XDA but it hangs on the "cache.img" step, and now my phone shows the "firmware upgrade encountered an issue..." screen. I tried this several times with Kies installed, on, off, uninstalled and drivers only, and nothing made it past that step.

•Installing the latest firmware from sammobile.com via Odin 3.07. It gets to the "factoryfs.img" step and then gives me " Complete(Write) operation failed. All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)" despite re-installing drivers, switching ports, and doing it without the battery in. Also now the box with the phone's ID is blue, not yellow, despite further driver re-installs.

•Installing the Siyah Kernel, also via Odin, where the same error message occurs after "NAND WRITE START."


I have spent the better part of my day working on this, and I am completely out of ideas. As of right now, when the battery is in the phone it automatically starts itself up to the "Phone > ! > computer" firmware error screen recommending I go KIES, which does not recognize the phone (And, I have been turning off during ODIN runs and is currently uninstalled because I downloaded the S2 drivers directly).
I've been told that as long as I can get into download mode (which I still can, though I can't get to recovery) there is still some hope, so if anyone has any ideas I would be extremely grateful.

 

[creepyncrawly]

First, the reason for failed odin flash can be one of many things, such as bad usb port (on computer or on phone), or bad usb cable. Try other ports, other cables, even another pc. Also, Odin 3.07 may be a problem. Odin3 v1.85 is known to work with the I-777. I've had one person switch from v3 to v1.85 to get a flash to go through. And sometimes when there is a problem with odin flashes failing, multiple tries will eventually result in a pass.

The following is for recovering from nand read/write corruption on the I777. This may or may not be your problem, but it's worth a try.

1)Go to this post and download the Tar version of Siyah 2.6.14 Kernel. Flash it in PDA without ticking Re-Partitioning.

2) Successful? Nice. Next, flash the full stock Gingerbread distribution from the Download Repository, I777UCKH7 including the bootloaders and everything, in the PDA slot.

3) If that is successful you are done.

If it is not, then:

4) Download the SBL Bootloader from the Download Repository. Flash it as PDA in ODIN, without ticking Re-Partitioning.

5) Flash the Kernel, as in step 1.

6) Flash the full stock Gingerbread distribution, as in step 2.

 

[SkipSandwich]

First, the reason for failed odin flash can be one of many things, such as bad usb port (on computer or on phone), or bad usb cable. Try other ports, other cables, even another pc. Also, Odin 3.07 may be a problem. Odin3 v1.85 is known to work with the I-777. I've had one person switch from v3 to v1.85 to get a flash to go through. And sometimes when there is a problem with odin flashes failing, multiple tries will eventually result in a pass.

The following is for recovering from nand read/write corruption on the I777. This may or may not be your problem, but it's worth a try.

1)Go to this post and download the Tar version of Siyah 2.6.14 Kernel. Flash it in PDA without ticking Re-Partitioning.

2) Successful? Nice. Next, flash the full stock Gingerbread distribution from the Download Repository, I777UCKH7 including the bootloaders and everything, in the PDA slot.

3) If that is successful you are done.

If it is not, then:

4) Download the SBL Bootloader from the Download Repository. Flash it as PDA in ODIN, without ticking Re-Partitioning.

5) Flash the Kernel, as in step 1.

6) Flash the full stock Gingerbread distribution, as in step 2.

Flashing the SBL Bootlaoder from Odin 1.85 works and allows me to see the Galaxy S2 logo screen again instead of the Firmware error.
After that though, flashing the Siyah 2.6.14 kernel hangs up at the "STARTING NAND WRITE" step and stays there until I unhook it, which takes me back to the firmware error and requires me to flash the SBL again.

I only have one USB cable, but I typically use it for file transfer and it worked with the SBL flash, but that may be the culprit.
Also, when I hold the volume buttons and restart, it goes straight into downloading mode and does not allow me to choose to factory wipe the phone. I feel like if I could get that menu back, it could possibly solve the problem.

Thanks for the help so far, I'm glad I can at least get back here. If I don't have the original USB cable, how can I get another one and be sure it will be sufficient for the job?

 

[122ninjas]

Flashing the SBL Bootlaoder from Odin 1.85 works and allows me to see the Galaxy S2 logo screen again instead of the Firmware error.
After that though, flashing the Siyah 2.6.14 kernel hangs up at the "STARTING NAND WRITE" step and stays there until I unhook it, which takes me back to the firmware error and requires me to flash the SBL again.

I only have one USB cable, but I typically use it for file transfer and it worked with the SBL flash, but that may be the culprit.
Also, when I hold the volume buttons and restart, it goes straight into downloading mode and does not allow me to choose to factory wipe the phone. I feel like if I could get that menu back, it could possibly solve the problem.

Thanks for the help so far, I'm glad I can at least get back here. If I don't have the original USB cable, how can I get another one and be sure it will be sufficient for the job?

For the instant download mode, make sure no cable is plugged in and clean your micro usb port. Also glad to see you got help


Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[SkipSandwich]

For the instant download mode, make sure no cable is plugged in and clean your micro usb port. Also glad to see you got help


Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Update so far:
I cleaned the USB port, which did turn out to be full of lint and other crud. I still can't get it to flash anything but the bootloader.
However, the phone will do nothing at all when the battery is in, and only works when plugged into the computer with no battery inside. I had been getting battery temperature errors, so I think it being kind old, a cheap USB cable, and the port being dirty for who knows how long probably fried that battery. I'm gonna get a new battery and a new cable and see if that helps me out.

 

[Teknodad1974]

USB Port i777:
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=121134043504

Battery:
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=121113924124

Samsung data cable

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=400467800450



Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app

 

[SkipSandwich]

Well, the new battery came in and still nothing. The screen will turn on again, but otherwise the behavior is the same. Except for a new cable, which I'll get tomorrow, I'm out of ideas.