Hello, (This method will probably work with any sph-l710 samsung galaxy s III)
Sorry if this thread already exists I spent numerous hours trying to find it. I am new to android and recently learned how to un-brick my hard bricked Samsung Galaxy S III. I bricked my phone by installing a kernel not meant for my device (I know rookie mistake). Through many of these forums and YouTube I was able to figure out how to easily un-brick my device. I am new to this so everything I am posting is all I know.
This post will only cover how to un-brick a hard bricked phone using windows...but if you follow this YouTube link for virgin mobile you can un-brick your soft bricked Samsung Galaxy S III: Stock Galaxy S3 Virgin Mobile Rom - YouTube
This is the video I used to unbrick my phone so if you don't understand my instructions this is the video you should watch
most of my links I got from the video too:
Unbrick HARD BRICKED Galaxy S 3 on Verizon (i535, CDMA) - YouTube
you cannot use the debrick image however in the video so I provided my own here (Link 1):
debrick_sph_l710
Here is the .tar file to restore your Virgin Mobile phone to factory settings (Link 2):
https://mega.co.nz/#!LtIxUYDa!P6gOGWCJczy1AgQaa0q-nzgY7Qhgme-p1F3UVEeUwsA
Here is the link to the Odin version you need:
Download: Odin3v185.zip | DownloadAndroidFiles
Here is the download link to Win32DiskImager:
Download Win32 Disk Imager from SourceForge.net
I got the image from this forum and converted it to a .img file.
This forum contains the method for Sprint users, however if you are uncomfortable doing the Linux coding you can use the image above and this process
you just have to find a .tar file from sprint to flash.
[GUIDE]Unbrick a Hard Bricked SPRINT Galaxy S3 (Without JTAG) - xda-developers
Here is the link to the exact type of microSD card you need to buy depending on your storage:
Amazon.com: SanDisk Ultra 16 GB MicroSDHC Class 10 UHS-1 Memory Card with Adapter (SDSDQU-016G-AFFP-A): Electronics
What you have to do:
1. First buy a microSD card the same size as your internal memory and it needs to be a class 10 (Very important, idk why)...If you use someone else's this will wipe the card.
2. Next download the sprint debrick image above, the .tar (for virgin mobile users), and the Win32DiskImager from the links above
3. Plug the microSD card into an adapter and plug the adapter into the computer.
4.Open Win32Disklmager and click the blue folder looking icon near the upper right.
5. Find the downloaded .img file and open it (Link 1).
6. Choose your microSD card from the drop down box on the left and click the write button.
7. After the file is written to the card, remove the microSD card and insert it in the externalSD card slot in your S III.
8. For this step the verizon video says you can just power up the phone. I put the phone straight into download mode.
9. Open Odin, click the PDA button, make sure the F. reset time and the auto reboot options are checked and find the virgin mobile .tar file and flash it (Link 2) This will take about 8-10 minutes to flash.
10.You should be back to factory settings.
If anything is wrong I can try to help...but like I said I am very new to this and learned how to do this about an hour ago.
Sorry if this thread already exists I spent numerous hours trying to find it. I am new to android and recently learned how to un-brick my hard bricked Samsung Galaxy S III. I bricked my phone by installing a kernel not meant for my device (I know rookie mistake). Through many of these forums and YouTube I was able to figure out how to easily un-brick my device. I am new to this so everything I am posting is all I know.
This post will only cover how to un-brick a hard bricked phone using windows...but if you follow this YouTube link for virgin mobile you can un-brick your soft bricked Samsung Galaxy S III: Stock Galaxy S3 Virgin Mobile Rom - YouTube
This is the video I used to unbrick my phone so if you don't understand my instructions this is the video you should watch
most of my links I got from the video too:
Unbrick HARD BRICKED Galaxy S 3 on Verizon (i535, CDMA) - YouTube
you cannot use the debrick image however in the video so I provided my own here (Link 1):
debrick_sph_l710
Here is the .tar file to restore your Virgin Mobile phone to factory settings (Link 2):
https://mega.co.nz/#!LtIxUYDa!P6gOGWCJczy1AgQaa0q-nzgY7Qhgme-p1F3UVEeUwsA
Here is the link to the Odin version you need:
Download: Odin3v185.zip | DownloadAndroidFiles
Here is the download link to Win32DiskImager:
Download Win32 Disk Imager from SourceForge.net
I got the image from this forum and converted it to a .img file.
This forum contains the method for Sprint users, however if you are uncomfortable doing the Linux coding you can use the image above and this process
you just have to find a .tar file from sprint to flash.
[GUIDE]Unbrick a Hard Bricked SPRINT Galaxy S3 (Without JTAG) - xda-developers
Here is the link to the exact type of microSD card you need to buy depending on your storage:
Amazon.com: SanDisk Ultra 16 GB MicroSDHC Class 10 UHS-1 Memory Card with Adapter (SDSDQU-016G-AFFP-A): Electronics
What you have to do:
1. First buy a microSD card the same size as your internal memory and it needs to be a class 10 (Very important, idk why)...If you use someone else's this will wipe the card.
2. Next download the sprint debrick image above, the .tar (for virgin mobile users), and the Win32DiskImager from the links above
3. Plug the microSD card into an adapter and plug the adapter into the computer.
4.Open Win32Disklmager and click the blue folder looking icon near the upper right.
5. Find the downloaded .img file and open it (Link 1).
6. Choose your microSD card from the drop down box on the left and click the write button.
7. After the file is written to the card, remove the microSD card and insert it in the externalSD card slot in your S III.
8. For this step the verizon video says you can just power up the phone. I put the phone straight into download mode.
9. Open Odin, click the PDA button, make sure the F. reset time and the auto reboot options are checked and find the virgin mobile .tar file and flash it (Link 2) This will take about 8-10 minutes to flash.
10.You should be back to factory settings.
If anything is wrong I can try to help...but like I said I am very new to this and learned how to do this about an hour ago.