Broken Screen, Need To Factory Reset

[Norwood]

Hi all,

I need to reset my Galaxy SIII so that I can sell it for parts and would like to wipe it, however I cannot see the screen so I cannot follow any onscreen prompts/menus.

I've searched and searched, yet every single post I've read on this topic tells people to hold the power button, home key and the volume key...then to follow the on screen instructions.




Thanks!

 

[Rukbat]

You have 4 options.

1) Put the phone under the tire of a car. Drive over it a few dozen times. (You can get the same effect with a hammer.)

2) Sell the phone with your data in it. (Not a bad idea unless there's data in it you don't want anyone to get - like the passcode to your bank account.)

3) Find a nice friendly independent cellphone repair shop that will hook up a temporary screen and do a factory reset for you. Some of then save parts like screens when they junk phones.

4) Replace the screen.

I can't think of any 5th option.

 

[Norwood]

Heh

There's no way that the steps for a factory reset can be done without looking at the screen? I assume it's just a specific combination of buttons...

For example, press volume up twice, then press home, then press volume down once, then up twice...etc?

 

[Norwood]

If I plug the phone into a computer via USB and format it, will that remove any private data?

It seems as though it did, though turning it back on the phone still beeps as if it's notifying me of old texts/emails.

I've tried using adb/fastboot but the learning curve is a bit high for me without detailed instructions - and I'm not sure if those are tools more for modding than for erasing.

 

[TheBritton]

I'm not sure what carrier you are using but if I were in your situation I would find an Odin flashable TAR of the stock firmware. You should be able to still boot the phone into download mode and proceed to install that with Odin.

Is this an option for you?

 

[Norwood]

I'm not sure what carrier you are using but if I were in your situation I would find an Odin flashable TAR of the stock firmware. You should be able to still boot the phone into download mode and proceed to install that with Odin.

Is this an option for you?

Hi Tom,

I'm with Verizon. The farthest I've gotten with adb is having it tell me there's are no devices.

'Fastboot - format' sat at 'waiting for device'.

I'm fairly familiar with passing commands through a CLI, but like I said these are a bit over my head having never had to do this. A lot of the instructions assume that the user is familiar and well practiced at doing this.

I'll bing what you mentioned and hope to see what I can do.

Thank you.

 

[TheBritton]

Since your carrier is Verizon, this Guide along with the links provided should work for your device. When you flash firmware via Odin it does a COMPLETE WIPE of the phone.. meaning it will overwrite all partitions including your data! So all of your personal information will be gone forever, which is what I believe you want.

This method should not require looking at the screen. Just boot the phone in download mode as shown in the video and follow the instructions. Hope this helps!!

CreadevAndroid – Restore Samsung Galaxy S3 to Stock Factory Settings, Unbrick, Unroot, Verizon CDMA

EDIT: It does say the phone's debugging mode should be enabled but from personal experience I believe that it will be fine if it isn't for what you are doing.

 

[Norwood]

Since your carrier is Verizon, this Guide along with the links provided should work for your device. When you flash firmware via Odin it does a COMPLETE WIPE of the phone.. meaning it will overwrite all partitions including your data! So all of your personal information will be gone forever, which is what I believe you want.

This method should not require looking at the screen. Just boot the phone in download mode as shown in the video and follow the instructions. Hope this helps!!

CreadevAndroid

 

[TheBritton]

Hmm..
Did you try booting into download mode by holding the VOLUME UP and HOME button while powering on?
Hold those buttons long enough to let the phone boot into download mode.
Keep in mind that although you can't see it, the phone will then ask you to confirm download mode by pressing VOLUME UP.. if you are successful you will see Odin recognize the phone. Then you are free to install the factory firmware.

 

[Norwood]

Is it volume down or up?

Doing it either way I continue to hear the standard booting sounds/music and then notifications.

Does it make those noises if it's in download mode?

 

[Norwood]

Another question, does the sim card need to be inserted? I've been doing it without.

 

[Norwood]

Sorry for the multiposting...

I've either made some progress or regressed.

I've managed to get the phone to, I think, turn on into some other mode, though what it is exactly I don't know. I then connect it and fire up Odin, go through the process and get this:

Whereas before it was saying failed.

However, if I reboot the phone it's as if nothing happened.

Can a Verizon store do this?

 

[TheBritton]

Sorry for the multiposting...

I've either made some progress or regressed.

I've managed to get the phone to, I think, turn on into some other mode, though what it is exactly I don't know. I then connect it and fire up Odin, go through the process and get this:

Whereas before it was saying failed.

However, if I reboot the phone it's as if nothing happened.

Can a Verizon store do this?

Judging by the pictures, the phone is not in download mode or it just isn't being recognized by the computer. Where is says "ID:COM" one of those squares should change color and it will say something like COM8 or COM7 something of that nature indicating that the device has been recognized by Odin.

I would imagine that taking it to Verizon would be your best bet. They should be able to reflash the firmware which should wipe out all user data in the process. I feel bad you're going through this and I wish I could help you more. Let us know what Verizon says and if for some reason they can't help you we'll try this method some more

 

[Norwood]

My laptop and Odin seem to recognize the phone...

I then enter the PDA file...

Press start...and...

I've tried Android Device Manager, but it isn't an activated phone.

I can't believe this is so difficult.

 

[Norwood]

SUFFERING SUCCOTASH I DID IT!

I tested it on my new phone a few times to get the timing down and managed to use a stop watch to time it exactly. For some unknown reason it just kept restarting...but I finally got it, and I'm now watching Odin do its thing.

 

[TheBritton]

Yay!!!!!

Congrats man!!