Soft Brick Verizon Galaxy S3 SCH-I535

[PatrickS1]

Hi, everyone, I have a problem I've been trying to fix for hours but can't get it. I was trying to root my phone, which I believe was on 4.4.2. (I now know this was a BAD idea, as the bootloader is locked.) I installed towelroot, followed by SuperSU, and then ROMManager/Clockwork. When I went to set up a backup with Clockwork, the phone restarted (as I believe it should) but then couldn't go any further. It showed me a message saying that there was unauthorized software and i needed to take the phone to the nearest Verizon store.

There seems to be a decent amount of information on fixing a soft bricked Verizon Galaxy S3, but nothing's working for me. Flashing anything through Odin fails. I ended up at this thread called "[HOW-TO] Unbrick your soft bricked Galaxy S III (+ bootloader brick)". (I would post a link but it looks like I'm not allowed.) Anyway, even this isn't working.

I get this from Odin on my PC:
<ID:0/003> Added!!
<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..
<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..
<OSM> Please wait..
<OSM> VRALEC.bootchain.tar.md5 is valid.
<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..
<OSM> Leave CS..
<ID:0/003> Odin v.3 engine (ID:3)..
<ID:0/003> File analysis..
<ID:0/003> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/003> Initialzation..
<ID:0/003> Get PIT for mapping..
<ID:0/003> Firmware update start..
<ID:0/003> SingleDownload.
<ID:0/003> aboot.mbn
<ID:0/003> NAND Write Start!!
<ID:0/003> FAIL! (Auth)
<ID:0/003>
<ID:0/003> Complete(Write) operation failed.
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

ON my phone it says:
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: SCH-I535
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official
SYSTEM STATUS: Official
QUALCOMM SECUREBOOT: ENABLED
BOOTLOADER RP SWREV: 2
SW REV CHECK FAIL : Fused 2 > Binary 0


Interestingly, I no longer get that message about unauthorized software when I try to start up regularly. I now get a message that says "Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please use Software Repair Assistant & try again." I did try using Verizon's Software Repair Assistant, but it does not recognize my phone. (I have installed the drivers through Kies.)

Please help! Thank you in advance!

 

[Rukbat]

It's most likely a hardware NAND failure, but have you tried to update using Kies?

(The reason for the problem was, of course, using ROMManager on a locked bootloader.).

 

[PatrickS1]

Hi, Rukbat. Thanks for the fast response! When I put my phone in Odin mode, open Kies, and plug in the phone, Kies just hangs there trying to connect to the phone. Nothing happens.

 

[PatrickS1]

Does anyone have any idea why Kies doesn't connect to my phone?

 

[PatrickS1]

Well, I'm going to take the phone to Verizon as a last ditch effort to see if they might be able to repair it. Does anyone have any advice as to what I should tell them happened? Given that it no longer starts up with that "unauthorized software" screen and instead has the "firmware upgrade" message, I think I might be able to get away with not telling them I rooted it and just saying I don't know what happened.

 

[Nick Aguilar]

what happened im in the exact issue you were?

 

[jt1980]

Same situation here too. Very interested in knowing what happened. I can't get past the yellow triangle saying unauthorized software etc.

 

[Rom-er]

Same situation here too. Very interested in knowing what happened. I can't get past the yellow triangle saying unauthorized software etc.

Boot to download mode and flash the exact same stock firmware that you had via Odin.

 

[Abdul Qudoos Qudoos Jan]

Very bad

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