NO power button. Need to factory reset. Possible?

[AC Question]

Hi everyone, I need to factory reset my GS3 but I can only boot up in download mode since my power button is gone. It doesn't boot up in normal mode because while the phone was updating with the latest OS it died. Now it just boots up for a few seconds, the Samsung SIII screen comes up and then nothing. Is there a way to do a factory reset without using the power button? I tried using Odin but when I plug in the phone it doesn't see it. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me!

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! First have you tried a new battery? Perhaps it's not able to complete the boot process because the battery can't hold a charge.

 

[nelaco]

Yes, I tried 3 different fully charged batteries. Thank you.

 

[nelaco]

I called Samsung and they were useless. Any ideas anybody? Thank you in advance.

 

[B. Diddy]

You're in a difficult spot. The fact that the phone died in the middle of an update probably means that the phone itself got bricked. I would guess that the only way you can fix it would be to reinstall the firmware, but as you already know, this requires Odin. If the computer can't detect the phone when plugged in via USB, this could be due to a hardware issue (with the cable, the USB port, or the motherboard). Are you able to boot into Download (Odin) Mode at all?

 

[nelaco]

I am able to boot into download mode but Odin doesn't see the phone. I had used it with this phone before to root it but somehow is not working now. The PC does see the phone but just to charge it. I've tried different cables too.
I think my next step is to have someone put a new power button on it. Someone on ebay does it for $35. Thank you B Diddy.