Gutted! Lost wedding/honeymoon photos. Galaxy S3 hooked up at login. Please help.
Dear All,
I hope I have posted this in the correct place. We are desperate for some help. I have a galaxy S3. We were married two weeks ago in Spain and we have over 2000 pictures stored on the phone from the wedding/honeymoon. The day before we returned, disaster struck...
When I turn the phone on it will not go past the boot screen - 'Samsung Galaxy S3 GT I9300'. The phone will automatically come on and hook up at this screen. If I plug the charger in, a grey bttery picture appears, but nothing to say the phone is charging. Soft reset does nothing. Kies does not recognise the phone.
We are devastated at the thought of losing all of our photographs from the wedding/honeymoon.
Can anyone help? Is there any way to retrieve our pictures? We would be eternally grateful for any help!
Hello Joe, welcome to AF, although sorry to hear it is in such dire circumstances... I have moved your thread into the Galaxy S3 forums, hopefully the people in there can figure out a way to save your pics! Good luck
__________________
Site Rules & Guidelines
Got some help? Hit Thanks!
See something you like? Hit Like!
See something you hate? Hit Report!
Device(s): Galaxy S3 16GB White(only functioning as paperweight right now), Ipad 3, Galaxy S+, Iphone 3g(retire
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 12
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Internal SD should be intact. I think the problem is at operating system not at hardware. I am not expert at this subject but MAYBE, authorized service may boot your phone in debugging mode and you may access everything in Internal SD card.
And I will suggest you to use Dropbox, a cloud storage app that automatically backs up your pictures.
I can't imagine how cutting that must be to lose these photos, but the images should still be intact on the internal storage but I don't see how you can access them now.
A factory reset might reboot your phone but you would lose all the data on the internal storage.
Hopefully somebody knows a way around this, there must be a way to recover the images.
Also if you are a google + user the automatic picture upload could have been enabled. You can access those pictures from your profile (it's a private album i believe). Also did you have an SD card in it or were the pictures saved in the phone memory?
I can tell you from experience that the photos most likely (99%) are not lost. I am sure you are using the phone the way it was designed and you are using an SD card. Even if the card became corrupted there is software that can recover the photos. If you are not using a good quality SD card (why?), then the pictures still can be recovered by almost anyone with forensic capabilities. Samsung may even be able to help.
__________________
Glock 23 Armed Vet
Last edited by shotinthenads; August 2nd, 2012 at 07:51 AM.
Device(s): VZW Galaxy S3, Transformer Prime, Droid X (ret)
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 17
Thanked 400 Times in 322 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shocky
A factory reset might reboot your phone but you would lose all the data on the internal storage.
I don't think that is true. I have done factory resets and retained the data on the internal "SD" memory. However, I was using a custom recovery, so I'm not sure if it is applicable to the stock recovery.
If you have an SDcard in the phone remove it and see if the phone will boot up. If you stored your photos on the internal memory and have a 16GB phone, you may have filled up the memory. In that case I don't know what you should do.
They aren't as recent as the others but I'm not too sure whether firmware from samfirmware wipe your phone as they flash. I've heard cases of some do and some don't so it maybe a bit risky.
I don't think that is true. I have done factory resets and retained the data on the internal "SD" memory. However, I was using a custom recovery, so I'm not sure if it is applicable to the stock recovery.
I think its true if you do it from the stock android settings menu, but its definitely not true from CWM Recovery.
__________________ "I am only responsible for what I say. Not for what you understand"
I don't think that is true. I have done factory resets and retained the data on the internal "SD" memory. However, I was using a custom recovery, so I'm not sure if it is applicable to the stock recovery.
Stock android factory reset will delete all personal data on the internal SDCard.
So will a factory reset from stock samsung recovery. I know.
Device(s): VZW Galaxy S3, Transformer Prime, Droid X (ret)
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 17
Thanked 400 Times in 322 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by davoid
Stock android factory reset will delete all personal data on the internal SDCard.
So will a factory reset from stock samsung recovery. I know.
DO NOT FACTORY RESET.
Ah, good to know. Also, I know Odin can write to the phone, but can it also copy from the phone onto a computer? That might be a good way to back up the data before trying anything.
Ah, good to know. Also, I know Odin can write to the phone, but can it also copy from the phone onto a computer? That might be a good way to back up the data before trying anything.
I like the idea. You have to put the phone into Download mode though. Sounds like a one-way process.
But, if CWM recovery was flashed onto the phone, it could possibly be accessed via ADB from the PC?
If you put cwm on the phone, then you will be able to get the pictures off the internal sd card. You might need to "adb pull" them if you can't turn on usb storage in recovery (don't have my s3 yet, and use 4ext on my g2, so I can't remember what cwm gives you in that area).
So, bite the bullet and flash cwm.
The Following User Says Thank You to tronmech For This Useful Post:
I've just moved house and the hotspot broadband has given me limited internet access...
Thank you all for your kind replies. I'm reluctant to try anything suggested as I dont want to lose our pics. Are there any methods above that will definitely not wipe the phone?
Just to put you guys in the picture - I must be the unluckiest Samsung customer alive. This is my 4th phone in as many weeks. O2 keep sending me reconditioned models that have had all sorts of problems. This being the worst. Unfortunately, the phone arrived a couple of days before we flew out for our wedding, so I had no time to get an SD card. How I am now regretting that decision. So, the pics are all stored to the phones internal memory. I thought 16GB should hold me for two weeks!
Samsung support have recommended taking it to a service centre - they provided details of several today. Any thoughts on this?
A quick update. Since the battery has drained with the phone switching on and off, it now does not start at all. The only sign of life is the grey battery picture when you plug the phone in.
It has been suggested to me by an O2 guru that the power button is stuck on. Any idea how I would fix this. He said that he had seen similar before. So, no progress as yet and it looks like our pics could be lost...
Thanks again. You have all been very kind. Again, any help at all would be gratefully received.
Just my two cents. Copy all the data on the device. You may need to seek out a forensic specialist. There are several law enforcement programs (and now civialian variants) that can copy all contents from a phone in a couple of minutes. US police routinely copy the contents of cell phones of arrested individuals (depending on the type of arrest) Many countries secretly copy cell phone contents of foreign nationals coming into the country (if they take your phone to examine out of your sight, they are copying it :-) Without getting into all the details - a secondary market opened up and many private companies will do the same thing for a fee. You may need to do a little searching. Even if the phone is completely dead the data can still be recovered. Look for computer forensic specialists that advertise being able to recover computer data from failed drives. They should be able to help you.
The battery probably won't charge in the phone in that state, so you'll probably need an external charger or if you know someone with a gs3 charge it in their phone. Once your phone has power hopefully you'll be able to get it into download mode.
Last edited by Shotgun84; August 7th, 2012 at 01:12 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to Shotgun84 For This Useful Post:
Wow not everyone is using cloud storage yet? Why even have a smartphone not a desposible camera? Just use Google plus in the future it backs up to you Picasa account that's free with your gmail.
I have tried to flash using the Odin link above and all seemed to be going well... Until it got near completion and there was a message in Odin along the lines of 'Cannot find pit file or partition'. Then FAIL! Any thoughts on how to proceed? Or a way around this issue? Any other methods I can try? Basically, anything that will stop me putting a gun to my head and just ending the torment!
If you put cwm on the phone, then you will be able to get the pictures off the internal sd card. You might need to "adb pull" them if you can't turn on usb storage in recovery (don't have my s3 yet, and use 4ext on my g2, so I can't remember what cwm gives you in that area).
So, bite the bullet and flash cwm.
You would mount /sdcard in adb.
I'm not sure that you can root / flash cwm without a booting device though
Edit you can as its in download mode....
Joe, what model have you got?
Last edited by SUroot; August 10th, 2012 at 06:27 AM.
Device(s): HTC Desire (depreciated)
Blue Galaxy s3 (international)
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 114
Thanked 1,016 Times in 838 Posts
i realised last night when connecting my device that you can use adb shell without bootinging the device.
when you connect the device to the pc and the charging symbol comes on, wait for about 30seconds and you will hear a "dun-dun" in windows. try adb shell and it works.
the op may not be familiar with adb but it means that he could try and pull from the device
EDIT: infact i can adb remount, adb shell and su in this area.
__________________
Samsung Galaxy S3 (playing with roms still)
Siyah Kernel
Last edited by Rastaman-FB; August 10th, 2012 at 07:19 AM.
i realised last night when connecting my device that you can use adb shell without bootinging the device.
when you connect the device to the pc and the charging symbol comes on, wait for about 30seconds and you will hear a "dun-dun" in windows. try adb shell and it works.
the op may not be familiar with adb but it means that he could try and pull from the device
EDIT: infact i can adb remount, adb shell and su in this area.
Cool.
Although got to root first. Lets see if we can get that and get into download mode to flash CF root (or whatever depending on phone model)..
The Following User Says Thank You to SUroot For This Useful Post:
Device(s): HTC Desire (depreciated)
Blue Galaxy s3 (international)
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 114
Thanked 1,016 Times in 838 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by SUroot
Cool.
Although got to root first. Lets see if we can get that and get into download mode to flash CF root (or whatever depending on phone model)..
it seems that this is a mini os/kernel for charging
once he has the su binaries there he will be good to go
as you said if he can get to just apply the pda update to add root then it doesnt even need to boot
i wonder if im the only one to find this area, i found it cos i was looking for the ever elusive fastboot.
ive looked over the net and no one mentions being able to use adb while in charging mode
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Rastaman-FB For This Useful Post:
Nice one. A couple of questions before I take a leap into the great unknown...
Does it matter that my phone does not boot up? Just asking as the instructions assume that you have a functioning phone!
Does it matter that I cannot enter debugging mode as I cannot power the phone up?
What are the chances of bricking my phone? I'm on contract, but my provider is happy to send me a replacement, which will be a doorstep swap with the courier, although they do not check anything with the phone.
Sorry for all the questions, I really do appreciate the help, but I'm just a little nervous that I could completely screw a £500 phone...
Device(s): HTC Desire (depreciated)
Blue Galaxy s3 (international)
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 114
Thanked 1,016 Times in 838 Posts
hold that thought
im not sure you need root to mount sdcard.
its a little different with samsungs to mount sd via ADB. it doesnt respond to to adb shell mount /sdcard/
or mount /sdcard like htc devices do.
i think you have to do some mad stuff with ums.
more testing is in order here, last thing we want to do is void your warranty with no return.
the fact its not charging and only lighting up the charge icon concerns me as there may not be enough power for download mode to work properly.
im gonna do some tests
The Following User Says Thank You to Rastaman-FB For This Useful Post:
im not sure you need root to mount sdcard.
its a little different with samsungs to mount sd via ADB. it doesnt respond to to adb shell mount /sdcard/
or mount /sdcard like htc devices do.
i think you have to do some mad stuff with ums.
more testing is in order here, last thing we want to do is void your warranty with no return.
the fact its not charging and only lighting up the charge icon concerns me as there may not be enough power for download mode to work properly.
im gonna do some tests
As in android, in charging modes you have to use full comands i.e with switches such as -r -w -o.
Using recovery is much easier.
Step 1) Boot into recovery
Step 2) Go into Mounts and Storage > Mount /data
OR
Step 2)
Code:
adb shell
mount data
exit
step 3)
Code:
adb pull /data/media/DCIM/Camera
Maybe you can use this to try mounting in charging mode. I havent time to test that
Device(s): HTC Desire (depreciated)
Blue Galaxy s3 (international)
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 114
Thanked 1,016 Times in 838 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by SUroot
As in android, in charging modes you have to use full comands i.e with switches such as -r -w -o.
Using recovery is much easier.
Step 1) Boot into recovery
Step 2) Go into Mounts and Storage > Mount /data
OR
Step 2)
Code:
adb shell
mount data
exit
step 3)
Code:
adb pull /data/media/DCIM/Camera
Maybe you can use this to try mounting in charging mode. I havent time to test that
ive tried, you cant mount data. lets hope he can use odin to root it. problem is how will he unroot as odin is refusing to flash full roms.
hell need to unroot to send it back for warranty and also hes unable to remove the flash count
might have to count it as a loss but then again can you put a price to wedding photos!!!!
I agree. Where as I am about 95% certain rooting will allow us to recover the photographs, we know we cannot flash roms with Odin.
However, we do not know if we can just keep it rooted and flash custom roms. Its possible.
Device(s): HTC Desire (depreciated)
Blue Galaxy s3 (international)
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 114
Thanked 1,016 Times in 838 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by SUroot
I agree. Where as I am about 95% certain rooting will allow us to recover the photographs, we know we cannot flash roms with Odin.
However, we do not know if we can just keep it rooted and flash custom roms. Its possible.
Its a risk.
Decide whats worth more. Photos or phone.
hmm, it doesnt charge properly according to the above i doubt it will flash
Device(s): HTC Desire (depreciated)
Blue Galaxy s3 (international)
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 114
Thanked 1,016 Times in 838 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by SUroot
Yeah its probably hardware. If he roots, Samsung will know and will probably not do a warranty repair.
Maybe if he can get Samsung Support to agree to let him root it, in the knowledge that the issue pre-exists...
good point.
OP, who is replacing the unit? samsung direct or your provider?
I would present them with your scenario and tell them you dont want to lose the phones as they are on the phones internal memory.
explain to them after much research you have been informed that rooting the phone will at least allow you to collect the photos from recovery as they are valuable.
see what they say, if they allow it then you have a chance
Maybe if he can get Samsung Support to agree to let him root it, in the knowledge that the issue pre-exists...
Yes i was wondering this - would Samsung maybe even offer to retrieve the data themselves if they knew the circumstances, or at least allow him to attempt to access the data being forewarned that he might have to technically void his warranty on a phone that is already faulty and under warranty. I very much doubt the carrier would, but Samsung might.
It would be worth his obtaining an external charger or at least a second OEM battery which would come with a charge, in order to attempt a flash.
Device(s): HTC Desire (depreciated)
Blue Galaxy s3 (international)
Carrier: Not Provided
Thanks: 114
Thanked 1,016 Times in 838 Posts
from reading about the net, the pit error can be down to a usb port. you could try a different usb socket
it does concern me that devices can just die like that
Doubt you can recover them. For future photos, try the auto-upload feature in Google+ and also DropBox. They both work great, but I lean more towards DropBox....flawless.
Thank you for signing up to receive updates for the 374
An email has been dispatched to confirm your signup. Please click the link in the email.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S III
Sign up for instant notification when the Samsung Galaxy S III goes on sale!
The Samsung Galaxy S3 is the company's flagship device of 2012. As one of the most anticipated devices of the year, this device is the first to come with a Exynos 4 Quad processor. It also has Android 4.0, a 4.8-inch 720p Super AMOLED ... Read More
3Likes
Gutted! Lost wedding/honeymoon photos. Galaxy S3 hooked up at login. Please help.
Flashing is indecent fun 
