Help S3 System reset with no Screen?

[Deleted User]

Ok, so just after 3 weeks of ownership my wife sat her S3 in a small puddle of water on the counter. She didn't realize it had made contact with water and went about her day, the phone slowly stopped working. It wasn't much water, but enough I suppose.

I dried it out, put it in rice for days/weeks. The phone WILL turn on, power up, make sounds, but the screen doesn't light up. The touch portion of the screen works, as you can here the water sound when unlocking, and press things on the screen, but it doesn't light up.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the phone, but I considered selling it for parts on Ebay. However, I'd like to reset the phone to erase any potentially personal information. Is there a way I can do this without the screen working? Thanks for the help.

 

[Pookeysgirl]

Ok, so just after 3 weeks of ownership my wife sat her S3 in a small puddle of water on the counter. She didn't realize it had made contact with water and went about her day, the phone slowly stopped working. It wasn't much water, but enough I suppose.

I dried it out, put it in rice for days/weeks. The phone WILL turn on, power up, make sounds, but the screen doesn't light up. The touch portion of the screen works, as you can here the water sound when unlocking, and press things on the screen, but it doesn't light up.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the phone, but I considered selling it for parts on Ebay. However, I'd like to reset the phone to erase any potentially personal information. Is there a way I can do this without the screen working? Thanks for the help.

I think you might be able to do it through Kies: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1984717

As long as the phone will still connect to your PC.

 

[funkylogik]

I think theres a button combo but i dont know it. Either that or maybe someone could "guide" you to do it through recovery mode. I would but i cant remember how stock recovery is layed out

 

[rcsrich]

I think theres a button combo but i dont know it. Either that or maybe someone could "guide" you to do it through recovery mode. I would but i cant remember how stock recovery is layed out

Yep, should be easy for someone more familiar with stock recovery mode to tell you how many presses of which buttons you need to do once you get into recovery by shutting down your device and boot while holding the volume up, home button and power button simultaneously. There's a video here:

How to enter recovery mode on Samsung Galaxy S3

 

[Deleted User]

Thanks, I will try all of the above. I thought about replacing the screen...until I watched a video about it. Scared me out of it!

 

[rcsrich]

Boot into recovery as stated above, do three pushes of the volume down button, then press the power button to select & that should get you your factory reset- just tried it on mine (minus actually resetting of course ).

I would wait a little while (10-15 seconds?) after you feel the vibrate before trying to do the volume down presses to navigate in the recovery menu since you won't be able to see what is being displayed.

Good luck!

 

[funkylogik]

Thanks, I will try all of the above. I thought about replacing the screen...until I watched a video about it. Scared me out of it!

My gut feeling is that the actual display unit is probably fine and its something that drives it thats been damaged. Pity theres no easy way to test it.. the display is a valuable part

 

[rcsrich]

My gut feeling is that the actual display unit is probably fine and its something that drives it thats been damaged. Pity theres no easy way to test it.. the display is a valuable part

Sure, could be corrosion on a connection or something, but it's going to be hard for a non-pro to figure out. I suppose you could always follow one of the teardown videos on Youtube & just unplug & remove everything, then put it back together & see if it helps- probably not a lot to lose. If you think you can get it covered under warranty tho, just let a pro deal with it...

 

[Deleted User]

Sure, could be corrosion on a connection or something, but it's going to be hard for a non-pro to figure out. I suppose you could always follow one of the teardown videos on Youtube & just unplug & remove everything, then put it back together & see if it helps- probably not a lot to lose. If you think you can get it covered under warranty tho, just let a pro deal with it...

There is a repair shop where I live that does corrosion removal for cell phones. I may let them try it, couldn't hurt.

I spoke to AT&T and Samsung, unfortunately I don't feel right about lying, so water damage isn't covered.

 

[rcsrich]

There is a repair shop where I live that does corrosion removal for cell phones. I may let them try it, couldn't hurt.

I spoke to AT&T and Samsung, unfortunately I don't feel right about lying, so water damage isn't covered.

Good for you for taking the high road & I'd say go for it- it's an expensive enough phone that I would certainly not mind spending a little to try & fix it if I were in your shoes.

 

[rcsrich]

Boot into recovery as stated above, do three pushes of the volume down button, then press the power button to select & that should get you your factory reset- just tried it on mine (minus actually resetting of course ).

I would wait a little while (10-15 seconds?) after you feel the vibrate before trying to do the volume down presses to navigate in the recovery menu since you won't be able to see what is being displayed.

Good luck!

Hey- just looked at a picture of the recovery menu online and, just like a custom recovery, you will need to press the power button to accept the selection of factory reset as outlined above, but then it looks like this opens a second menu where you have to select "yes", so I think it would be four presses of the volume up button (or seven of the volume down button), then another press of the power button to accept the "yes".

Here's the picture:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oW1VpbJXQ...No+Computer.+att.tmobile.verizon.Still017.png

 

[GTWalling]

Your wife did not get the insurance for the phone through AT&T? Insurance would cover water damage, the warranty will not.

 

[rcsrich]

Your wife did not get the insurance for the phone through AT&T? Insurance would cover water damage, the warranty will not.

Insurance isn't for those of us with the middle name "danger".