Help HTC One M8 stuck in recovery mode

Ok, am travelling now but will get back to you tomorrow. Meantime don't be tempted to try anything else just in case, as we need your bootloader working just as it is.

Ok, I will be waiting for your reply. Btw, since I am working I will be online after 4 p.m. CET (3 p.m. in the UK). Thanks in advance.

Armada07, your bootloader says "S-OFF" correct?

Please confirm, because if it is, you'll be able to perform other options S-ON folks won't.

@saltire I haven't been in the game in a little while, but I think we can still get his hboot flag reset without booting the OS. Scotty had a guide for setting the flags through fastboot, but I need to look it up.

saltire said:

@BrowncoatMel Ok, that's good that you have x.x.401.x firmware as that's a WWE version and tends to make certain files easier to get if we need them. Is Straight Talk your carrier (I'm in UK so don't recognise it)? If you do have 401 firmware though, there isn't a specific RUU available to you from the HTC US site. What we be useful is to get a screenshot of your bootloader screen, or boot your phone to the bootloader and post what's on the screen - specifically whether the bootloader is "Locked" or "Unlocked" and whether the phone is S-ON or S-OFF. Do you have a Win PC/laptop with the adb/fastboot tools installed? You can get it here if not:

ADB Guide (updated 2014/11/11)

along with instructions to install.

Note that if your bootloader shows "Locked", unfortunately we may end up in the situation where to get phone working again the process involved wipes your phone including the internal SD card. I'm going to do some digging as well, but just letting you know so you're aware of this.

Click to expand...

Thank you, @saltire for the reply. Straight Talk is one of the contract-free companies which uses other cell towers for a cheaper monthly rate.

My bootloader screen says it's Locked and S-OFF. Do you need all the info on the screen? Fortunately, since it's brand new, I won't lose too much if we need to wipe the phone.

And just double-checking, it's the UniversalAdbDriver from GitHub that is the correct download for Windows?

@Granite1 Yes, my bootloader screen says it's Locked and S-OFF.

@Granite1 good to have someone else here, just in case I get stuck . Not sure what you have in mind though, do you mean bootloader unlock? We should be able to do that via fastboot and HTCDev - but it'll wipe device if it isn't already wiped due to the bad OTA flash. Been trying to see if there's a way to resolve without a wipe but haven't come up with anything yet.

@BrowncoatMel yes, can you post all the info from running the fastboot getvar all command please, but scrub out your IMEI and serial number first.

( @Armada_07 replied to your PM)

Hi all,
I've been following this thread for a few days as I have exactly the same situation as the author and @Armada_07. My pc doesn't recognize my phone either and the output of 'fastboot getvar all' on the cmd prompt is pretty much the same. The only difference is in this line:
(bootloader) product: m8_ul (instead of m8_ul_ca)
Tried all options (factory reset, wipe cache and so on) and nothing worked. It's no problem to me either to wipe everything on my phone.
Thanks a lot @saltire and @BrowncoatMel for all the help!!

Mauricio123 said:

My pc doesn't recognize my phone either and the output of 'fastboot getvar all' on the cmd prompt is pretty much the same. The only difference is in this line:
(bootloader) product: m8_ul (instead of m8_ul_ca)

Click to expand...

@Mauricio123 pretty much the same or exactly the same? There is also some useful info returned that can point to other problems (or not). It may seem a bit pointless because you have compared the outputs, but I have now way of seeing it and need the specifics so I can point you in the right direction. This is why we ask you to post the full "fastboot getvar all" output specific to your phone, and also ask you to confirm if your bootloader is "Locked" or "Unlocked".

I am sure that the output does match apart from the product code, but need to be 100% sure so we can get you sorted

saltire said:

@Mauricio123 pretty much the same or exactly the same? There is also some useful info returned that can point to other problems (or not). It may seem a bit pointless because you have compared the outputs, but I have now way of seeing it and need the specifics so I can point you in the right direction. This is why we ask you to post the full "fastboot getvar all" output specific to your phone, and also ask you to confirm if your bootloader is "Locked" or "Unlocked".

I am sure that the output does match apart from the product code, but need to be 100% sure so we can get you sorted

Click to expand...

Yeah, it's exactly the same problem. My phone tried the software update OTA unsuccesfully and now it gets stuck on the recovery screen. My pc doesn't recognize the phone, and I tried the previously mentioned solutions (wipe cache, factory reset, etc) but none worked.
On the bootloader screen it shows:
*** Software Status: Official ***
*** Locked ***

And with 'fastboot getvar all', as I said, I get almost the same as @Armada_07, with only that difference:
(bootloader) version: 0.5
(bootloader) version-bootloader: 3.19.0.0000
(bootloader) version-baseband: 1.29.214500021.12G
(bootloader) version-cpld: None
(bootloader) version-microp: None
(bootloader) version-main: 6.12.401.4
(bootloader) version-misc: PVT SHIP S-OFF
(bootloader) serialno:
(bootloader) imei:
(bootloader) imei2: Not Support
(bootloader) meid: 00000000000000
(bootloader) product: m8_ul
(bootloader) platform: hTCBmsm8974
(bootloader) modelid: 0P6B10000
(bootloader) cidnum: 11111111
(bootloader) battery-status: good
(bootloader) battery-voltage: 0mV
(bootloader) partition-layout: Generic
(bootloader) security: off
(bootloader) build-mode: SHIP
(bootloader) boot-mode: FASTBOOT
(bootloader) commitno-bootloader: 76df2b54
(bootloader) hbootpreupdate: 11
(bootloader) gencheckpt: 0

Ok (BrowncoatMel this is not for you until we check your "getvar all" output).

Before trying this, might be a bit of a long shot but try removing the external sd card and rebooting, and the sim card and rebooting. Worth a shot to keep your internal storage intact (if it's still ok anyway).

The following will do a complete wipe of your phone. Download the files in this post:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/sho...b634df425888c700e71036&p=64926626&postcount=6

to your PC and save in the same folder where you have the fastboot.exe already, and follow the instructions to install the downloaded RUU. When you enter the:

fastboot oem rebootRUU

command, the phone should go into HTC RUU mode - you will see black screen with HTC in grey in middle, and probably a green progress bar below as the RUU components are flashed. The phone may also reboot itself a few times, and I think should reboot itself once process is complete. If it doesn't just do:

fastboot reboot

Edit: Note that I'm not sure you need to use the htc_fastboot.exe, as normal fastboot works just fine for me when flashing firmware zips with the phone in RUU mode (but I have s-off so maybe it's needed). It won't hurt to use it.

If the above doesn't work, and if you have a sd card reader and micro card adapter you can also try the following.

Rename the RUU zip file to exactly 0P6BIMG.zip (the first character is a zero, not a letter O - fifth is capital letter I, not a number one) and copy it over to the root (top level directory) of your sd card - i.e. not in any folder or sub-folder on your sd card. Make sure in Windows Explorer that you turn off the option to hide extensions for know file types - you don't want to end up renaming to 0P6BIMG.zip.zip.

Insert the sd card back in to your phone and reboot the bootloader in to HBOOT mode. HBOOT should automatically recognise the 0P6BIMG.zip and start working through the install. Once complete and phone has booted successfully, delete the 0P6BIMG.zip file off your sd card otherwise if for any reason you go back in to HBOOT it will do the full wipe and install again.

Both may take a while to run through.

Let us know how you get on.

Hi @saltire these were the outputs I got for what you suggested:

For 'htc_fastboot flash zip RUU.zip':
Access is denied

For 'fastboot flash zip RUU.zip':
load_file: could not allocate 1727767223 bytes
error: cannot load 'RUU.zip'

Just an additional piece of information: in the folder where I have the fastboot.exe, I also have adb.exe and AdbWinApi.dll (as I was oriented previously)
One more thing: should I turn my antivirus off?

I'll try the other option you gave me too

You sure phone is in RUU mode?

SD card method definitely works.

@saltire Okay, I downloaded and installed the Windows Adb Driver from GitHub, but can't get the computer to change the phone's driver. It's insisting that a CD-ROM driver is the best driver for my phone, and there's no option to override and change it anyway. Is there a way to change this or would it be easier to do this on my Dad's computer, which just had Windows 10 installed?

@Mauricio123 Any credit for help goes to saltire, because all I've done is attempt to follow their directions! I've done nothing, but I'm glad you're getting helped out!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH THAT'S AMAZING! HAHAHA the SD card method worked!!
Thanks a lot!!!!1!!!11!!1!!eleven!!!
Finally!! It's been weeks that I've been trying to get help from HTC tech support with no fix to my problem!
You have no idea how grateful I am for your help!!

BrowncoatMel said:

@saltire Okay, I downloaded and installed the Windows Adb Driver from GitHub, but can't get the computer to change the phone's driver. It's insisting that a CD-ROM driver is the best driver for my phone, and there's no option to override and change it anyway. Is there a way to change this or would it be easier to do this on my Dad's computer, which just had Windows 10 installed?

Click to expand...

@BrowncoatMel you shouldn't need anything else but the mini-sdk tools zip file, installed as per the instructions. Are you saying that when you boot the phone into bootloader FASTBOOT mode, you don't see FASTBOOT USB appear on the phone screen when you connect to PC? Stay clear of Win 10 at the moment. What type of pc are you using at the moment?

@saltire Unfortunately, I'm not picking this up as quickly as I normally do (I'm a theatre tech, honestly, I'm not usually such a ninny), and because I am caring for my mother who's on hospice, I'm short on time/energy to devote to it, so I'm opting to take my phone in to be repaired. Thank you so much for your willingness to help me with my phone, though.

@BrowncoatMel no problem, and sorry to hear that, family comes first. You know where we are.

@saltire Dude i have a Verizon M8, Locked, S-ON and System Status: Official.... The only problem is that i live in Pakistan and obviously do not have Verizon sim card my local sim is working but only on GSM/EDGE { no LTE .. } How can i achieve S-OFF and Unlocked so i can remove bloat, get root and flash a GPE to rest in peace ?

Hello anyone who can help, or the person who helped Amanda_07, or Amanda_7 herself.

I too have an HTC One M8 International phone that is stuck in Android Recovery Mode.
Hboot says it is OS 6.12.401.4 I looked this up and I think it is a WWE (Worldwide English) version.
My Bootloader is locked and the phone is S-OFF.
I downloaded the Adb/Fastboot tools.
When I typed in "fastboot getvar all" my phone generated exactly the same information as Amanda_07's with the exception of the serial number and IMEI.
Should I try and replicate the instructions given to Mauricio123?

Thanks in advance for anyone's help.

A GREAT thank you to Saltire!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used the first method you gave Maricio123 and it worked perfectly.
I had regularly backed up my phone, so even though it is now wiped I should be able to restore most of what was on it.

saltire said:

@BrowncoatMel no problem, and sorry to hear that, family comes first. You know where we are.

Click to expand...

Thanks saltire. I couldn't find anyone to fix my phone, so I'm back, and I finally figured out the fastboot getvar all! So here it is:


(bootloader) version: 0.5
(bootloader) version-bootloader: 3.19.0.0000
(bootloader) version-baseband: 1.29.214500021.12G
(bootloader) version-cpld: None
(bootloader) version-microp: None
(bootloader) version-main: 6.12.401.4
(bootloader) version-misc: PVT SHIP S-OFF
(bootloader) serialno:
(bootloader) imei:
(bootloader) imei2: Not Support
(bootloader) meid: 00000000000000
(bootloader) product: m8_ul
(bootloader) platform: hTCBmsm8974
(bootloader) modelid: 0P6B10000
(bootloader) cidnum: 11111111
(bootloader) battery-status: good
(bootloader) battery-voltage: 0mV
(bootloader) partition-layout: Generic
(bootloader) security: off
(bootloader) build-mode: SHIP
(bootloader) boot-mode: FASTBOOT
(bootloader) commitno-bootloader: 76df2b54
(bootloader) hbootpreupdate: 11
(bootloader) gencheckpt: 0

Dear Browncoat Mel,

I just fixed my phone yesterday morning using Saltire's instructions.

I just compared your getvar to mine and it is almost identical except for (bootloader) product: m8_ul, mine says (bootloader) product: m8_ul_ca. I don't think this will make a difference, but confirm with Saltire.
I believe your getvar is also identical to Amanda_7's.
But, please don't try and fix your phone without hearing from Saltire first. I'm just replying to give you confidence and give you some details on how Saltire's solution works.

I followed Saltire's istructions in message #35 and was able to get the RUU to install without using an SD card.

The only comment I will make on the the process is to follow the instructions on the link Saltire gives.
First
fastboot oem rebootRUU
then
htc_fastboot flash zip RUU.zip (You need this second line to get the process started)

At that point my phone went into RUU mode. It is scary to watch and takes some time. Don't get impatient as it has to open all sorts of different zipped files, which is why it is a good idea to have your phone fully charged. The phone gets quite hot as well. It will eventually end. I did have to reboot. Then it went to a white screen for what seemed like absolutely ages. I was almost convinced that I had done more damage than good, but finally the phone gave a chirp and went into setup. After setup the phone told me it had located a backup file--apparently I had activated HTC backup when I first set up the phone--and then started to restore all my apps, messages, photographs etc.

I am delighted and relieved. I had bought my phone from a dealer in China and was going to have to send it back to them for the warranty to be honored.

Good luck and thanks again Saltire.

@BrowncoatMel welcome again. Ok, your info from running the "getvar all" command makes this easy. You can use the same RUU file and follow either one of the methods in post #36 here:

HTC One M8 stuck in recovery mode

Both methods work (thanks to @Cycads for confirming the first method was successful), although you may find the second one easier if you have a sd card reader and a micro sd adapter.

Hello @saltire, you forwarded me to this thread, I just want to make sure if this RUU matches my HTC.

HTC is locked and S-ON

C:\sdk-tools>fastboot getvar all
(bootloader) version: 0.5
(bootloader) version-bootloader: 3.19.0.0000
(bootloader) version-baseband: 1.29.214500021.12G
(bootloader) version-cpld: None
(bootloader) version-microp: None
(bootloader) version-main: 6.12.401.4
(bootloader) version-misc: PVT SHIP S-ON


(bootloader) imei2: Not Support
(bootloader) meid: 00000000000000
(bootloader) product: m8_ul
(bootloader) platform: hTCBmsm8974
(bootloader) modelid: 0P6B10000
(bootloader) cidnum: HTC__001
(bootloader) battery-status: good
(bootloader) battery-voltageb 0mV
(bootloader) partition-layout: Generic
(bootloader) security: on
(bootloader) build-mode: SHIP
(bootloader) boot-mode: FASTBOOT
(bootloader) commitno-bootloader: 76df2b54
(bootloader) hbootpreupdate: 11
(bootloader) gencheckpt: 0
all: Done!
finished. total time: 0.094s

C:\sdk-tools>