Root Getting into Download mode w/buttons

[reinbeau]

I know there are a zillion threads on this, and I've tried everything, but I just can't seem to get the little guy to dig anything - I can get into recovery no problem, but I can't get into download mode, and I'm not sure that I'm doing it right at all. Can someone post the exact procedure? What I'm doing is this:

Turn off phone
Hold the down volume button (tried it with holding both, also, but read somewhere it's the down button to get into download mode, neither works, they both go to recovery) and the power button at the same time.
Wait until the AT&T logo comes on, goes away, and then comes on again.
Release the power button and wait for the little digging guy - but all I get is recovery.

What am I doing wrong? I know I can try the other methods (Odin), but I'd rather exhaust this one, first.

For the record, my phone is one of the older Captivates, I am on JH7.

 

[Shelbster]

I know there are a zillion threads on this, and I've tried everything, but I just can't seem to get the little guy to dig anything - I can get into recovery no problem, but I can't get into download mode, and I'm not sure that I'm doing it right at all. Can someone post the exact procedure? What I'm doing is this:

Turn off phone
Hold the down volume button (tried it with holding both, also, but read somewhere it's the down button to get into download mode, neither works, they both go to recovery) and the power button at the same time.
Wait until the AT&T logo comes on, goes away, and then comes on again.
Release the power button and wait for the little digging guy - but all I get is recovery.

What am I doing wrong? I know I can try the other methods (Odin), but I'd rather exhaust this one, first.

For the record, my phone is one of the older Captivates, I am on JH7.

I was never able to use that method. The following works for me. Plug the usb into the computer, but not into the phone yet. Turn phone off. Hold down both volume buttons. While holding down the volume buttons, plug the phone into the computer. That has always worked for me...

 

[reinbeau]

I was never able to use that method. The following works for me. Plug the usb into the computer, but not into the phone yet. Turn phone off. Hold down both volume buttons. While holding down the volume buttons, plug the phone into the computer. That has always worked for me...

While holding down both volume buttons and the power button? Just want to make sure....

 

[Shelbster]

While holding down both volume buttons and the power button? Just want to make sure....

Do NOT hold the power button. Just the volume up and down buttons.

 

[NorCal Einstein]

For whatever reason, I can never seem to get the above methods to work. I've had success with this though:

1. Remove battery, SIM and microSD from phone (if you have one)
2. Wait at least 10 seconds with the phone in this state
3. Plug your phone into your computer (this step has always been optional for me)
4. Hold Volume Up/Down, don't let go!
5. While holding both volume keys, insert the battery

If it worked, you should almost instantly be in Download Mode. I've omitted step 3 and still had success using those steps on my batch 1007 phone. In general, I get my phone into Download Mode first, and then plug it into the computer.

Download Mode via key combos has always been one of those things where I notice everyone's "mileage may vary". There are probably like 5+ variations on button combos you can use, and not all of them seem to work on all phones. The only constant I've found is a JIG.

 

[Shelbster]

For whatever reason, I can never seem to get the above methods to work. I've had success with this though:

1. Remove battery, SIM and microSD from phone (if you have one)
2. Wait at least 10 seconds with the phone in this state
3. Plug your phone into your computer (this step has always been optional for me)
4. Hold Volume Up/Down, don't let go!
5. While holding both volume keys, insert the battery

If it worked, you should almost instantly be in Download Mode. I've omitted step 3 and still had success using those steps on my batch 1007 phone. In general, I get my phone into Download Mode first, and then plug it into the computer.

Download Mode via key combos has always been one of those things where I notice everyone's "mileage may vary". There are probably like 5+ variations on button combos you can use, and not all of them seem to work on all phones. The only constant I've found is a JIG.

It's amazing that we all have the same phone, and yet there is no consistency about what works for recovery mode or download mode from phone to phone.

 

[NorCal Einstein]

And then you some phones that belong to the 1008 batch with no button combos at all!

*I stress "some phones". Not all batch 1008 phones lack button combos

 

[reinbeau]

Eureka! Using Shelbster's method I've got the little green guy digging! Now how do I turn it off? Yikes! I really wasn't ready to download anything, just checking to make sure I could get there.....

 

[Shelbster]

Eureka! Using Shelbster's method I've got the little green guy digging! Now how do I turn it off? Yikes! I really wasn't ready to download anything, just checking to make sure I could get there.....

Pull the battery. You should be fine.

 

[reinbeau]

Ok, I pulled it, but the little green guy is still there - ok to disconnect USB? Guess I'm going to have to......

 

[NorCal Einstein]

Yeah, you can disconnect the USB.

Another way to get out of Download Mode: Hold all physical buttons (Volume Up/Down, Power) for about 10+ seconds. The phone will reboot, and you'll be back in the Android OS

 

[Shelbster]

Ok, I pulled it, but the little green guy is still there - ok to disconnect USB? Guess I'm going to have to......

Yeah, sorry...Meant to say unplug from computer, and then pull battery.

 

[reinbeau]

S'awright, it worked, the phone turned on and all is well. I'm writing down all of my widgets on each screen in preparation.

 

[Shelbster]

S'awright, it worked, the phone turned on and all is well. I'm writing down all of my widgets on each screen in preparation.

If at any point you decide to use Odin one click to flash back to stock, make sure you open Odin BEFORE you connect your phone to the computer.

Just to make it easy for me, I like to Open Odin, then plug the usb into the computer, then hold down the up and down volume buttons, then connect the phone to the computer to enter download.

It's easy, just remember to enter download mode after Odin is up on your computer screen.

 

[reinbeau]

Shelbster, thank you. Another question, though - I've got the USB cable always plugged into the computer, because the only open USB connection I have is on the back of the PC, which is stuck in a desk, and a real PITA to move out - is that ok?

 

[NorCal Einstein]

That's fine. My desktop has a dedicated USB cable for that same reason.