[How to] Factory Restore (or Fix a Bricked Phone)

[spectator52]

I am still having issues. I cannot download the driver. When I open it in winzip, I get the installation package which then proceeds to download. I can't save any "SPH-D700-DK28-8Gb-REL.tar.md5" to my computer.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Paul627g]

First, you need to EXTRACT that file to a specified folder rather than opening it directly from the zip. Then click on the driver, it will install taking a few minutes. You will need to connect your phone once it has completed its process and it should recognize the phone and possibly further complete the installation of the drivers. Then when that is done you can move to the next step.

What browser are you using away from Google Chrome? There should be no problem downloading the SPH-D700-DK28-8Gb-REL.tar.md5, to your computer just like any other file.

 

[spectator52]

I am using firefox.

 

[Paul627g]

First, did you get the driver successfully installed?

If so, then your having a problem getting the .tar file to download? Do you have a problem getting to the download prompt from one of the download sites? What is the problem your having?

I use Firefox myself and when I select a download site, I go with the Free Download/Slow Download, wait for the countdown timer to provide you with a download link and then click on it when ready. Then I'm asked if I want to save or open the file. Click save.

 

[spectator52]

I did extract the zip file and the same installation package opens. I click on that and the driver does successfully install. I guess I don't know where I am supposed to find the .tar file to download.

 

[spectator52]

got it! didn't realize .tar files needed to be downloaded from a separate source! i am now running truly epic!! thanks for the help

 

[grrrlplz]

This literally saved my life. The back speaker blew itself out and I need to take the phone to the Sprint store tomorrow and try to exchange it for a new one- hence making it look precisely like it did when I got it. Thank you

 

[Paul627g]

Glad our guides helped you out. We will be here when you return with your new phone

 

[stormglove]

Sorry complete noob still. trying to get DK28. I have windows vista 64-bit but cannot get the 64 bit file to download correctly. should I just try the 32 bit and when I plug in the phone to comp which option do I choose (charging, storage, etc..) again sorry for being so ignorant on these things.

 

[Paul627g]

When you plug in your phone to your computer via USB cable, you would select "Mass Storage" to transfer files.

This should automatically open a window prompt giving you options, the main one being allowing you to open a Windows Explorer window showing you the contents of your phone's SD card.

This same directory is also known as your "root directory" of your phone's SD card. Keep this in mind as it is referred to often when about transferring something to your phone's SD card.

If the 64 bit drivers are not working for you then yes go ahead and try the 32 bit drivers.

 

[tptshoe]

Hello,

I just restored to stock after experimenting with ext4 and trulyepic rom. Odin failed, so I ended up using heimdall, which worked and I now have my phone up and running.

However, now I'm unable to load any apps from the market. It says "download unsuccessful." I've seen this error before a while back and searched for fixes. I did all the various clearing of data and caches that other threads recommend, with no results.

So, I tried a factory reset. This bricked my phone! It came up with a screen with blue text that looked a lot like clockworkmod, but I wasn't able to select any of the options.

So, I re-restored to stock using Heimdall, and I'm back at square one. I would *really* like to have some apps!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

2 more things:
On first boot after restore, it didn't go to the usual welcome to android setup screen, just booted to the home screen.
2nd: It looks like I have the old version of the market.

 

[DroidXcon]

Hello,

I just restored to stock after experimenting with ext4 and trulyepic rom. Odin failed, so I ended up using heimdall, which worked and I now have my phone up and running.

However, now I'm unable to load any apps from the market. It says "download unsuccessful." I've seen this error before a while back and searched for fixes. I did all the various clearing of data and caches that other threads recommend, with no results.

So, I tried a factory reset. This bricked my phone! It came up with a screen with blue text that looked a lot like clockworkmod, but I wasn't able to select any of the options.

So, I re-restored to stock using Heimdall, and I'm back at square one. I would *really* like to have some apps!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

yeah factory restore from within a rom is never a good idea,,,,so you still get download unsuccessful? are you using wifi or 3g?

 

[Paul627g]

Now that your back at stock Eclair 2.1 using Heimdall have you tried using Odin once again to again restore to factory?

The blue screen you were talking about was probably Recovery mode. You need to scroll using your volume buttons just like CWM but make your selections using the Home capacitive key.

Its been a while since I've been there (LOL). If I remember you can do a Factory Reset from there.

 

[tptshoe]

yeah factory restore from within a rom is never a good idea,,,,so you still get download unsuccessful? are you using wifi or 3g?

Maybe I don't know the terminology, but I don't *think* I tried a factory reset within a rom. At that point I'd already successfully flashed back to stock 2.1 using Heimdall, so it was my understanding that the phone should be exactly as though it had just come out of the box.

But it's not acting that way, so I must be missing something.

Yep, still getting download unsuccessful, both on wifi and 3g. It does see my app history.. ie if I select menu/downloads I get a list of all the apps I used to have installed.

I did read somewhere that the problem could be solved by creating a new google account when you set up the phone instead of using an existing one, so I may try that later today when I have more time.

 

[tptshoe]

Now that your back at stock Eclair 2.1 using Heimdall have you tried using Odin once again to again restore to factory?

The blue screen you were talking about was probably Recovery mode. You need to scroll using your volume buttons just like CWM but make your selections using the Home capacitive key.

Its been a while since I've been there (LOL). If I remember you can do a Factory Reset from there.

Yes, I did re-try Odin, but it fails pretty early in the process. I've tried with and without the pit file, and I've re-downloaded both the pit and the stock rom just to be sure. Same result every time. I don't think it's the usb cable, since I used the same cable to flash to Froyo.

Interestingly, I did use the Home key to do the factory reset, and the phone came back up with no change in the data... ie all my contacts and everything were still there... not what I would call a real factory reset.

One other interesting item: I checked out the available storage on the phone: Internal phone storage has only 66.41MB of space available. This with only one installed app, which is the mandatory voicemail update. That seems very very low to me. I know it used to be upwards of 300MB.

I have a 90 minute break later today, so I'll try doing Odin, etc. all with a different computer then. Maybe that'll do the trick.

In the meantime, if any of you have seen this and have an idea what the problem is, I'd be forever grateful.

 

[tptshoe]

Oh well, I did my best with Odin and Heimdall, and now the phone is completely bricked. Off to the Sprint store in the morning to pay them to deal with it. I've learned my lesson. No more custom roms for me.

 

[ragnarokx]

Remove and replace your battery. If your phone still won't turn on, your battery is likely dead - follow the instructions at the top of post #1 to charge it.

 

[tptshoe]

Oh, the battery is OK. It powers up to the Samsung logo, then the Sprint 4G animation, then black screen, red power light and capacative button lights and stays there.

Odin fails every time, with every configuration I've tried.
Heimdall appears to work but the phone doesn't.

 

[LS2982]

Just wanted to let you guys know, I couldn't get the phone to factory reset using this thread's suggestions. The phone bricked on me after I installed the ex4 files and unzipped the TER file, which I found out was a no-no. If you are in this situation what I found out to work is to use Odin and flash Froyo DK28 like you did earlier in the steps to get TER. That worked just fine.

 

[LS2982]

Yes, I did re-try Odin, but it fails pretty early in the process. I've tried with and without the pit file, and I've re-downloaded both the pit and the stock rom just to be sure. Same result every time. I don't think it's the usb cable, since I used the same cable to flash to Froyo.

Interestingly, I did use the Home key to do the factory reset, and the phone came back up with no change in the data... ie all my contacts and everything were still there... not what I would call a real factory reset.

One other interesting item: I checked out the available storage on the phone: Internal phone storage has only 66.41MB of space available. This with only one installed app, which is the mandatory voicemail update. That seems very very low to me. I know it used to be upwards of 300MB.

I have a 90 minute break later today, so I'll try doing Odin, etc. all with a different computer then. Maybe that'll do the trick.

In the meantime, if any of you have seen this and have an idea what the problem is, I'd be forever grateful.

Did you try using the other version of Odin and flashing Froyo DK28 to it?