High-tech Miracle: From Brick to Phone!
I’ve been flashing ROMs and otherwise tweaking my mobile phones for several years now. One thing I’ve learned is that I never seem to learn. In my pursuit of device perfection, I’m always pushing the limits (or rather my limits) on what I install or how I configure one of my phones.
Well, I proved my point last week while trying to install the new Google S-Voice into my Samsung Galaxy SII running an ICS ROM. For some reason, my phone locked up and, after dozens of attempts to bring it back to life, it was clear that I had turned it into the dreaded “brick.” My first thought was that I would have to pony up another $500 or so for a new phone (not a pleasant thought at all).
But, as they say, hope springs eternal. In scouring through xda-developers.com for a solution, I came across a Texas outfit called MobileTechVideos (not sure how the videos fit in) that stated boldly that they can unbrick bricked phones for only $50. I was obviously skeptical, but their web site seemed legit and the testimonials were convincing. So, I decided to take a shot and see what happened.
Guess what? A week after I sent my phone in dead as a door nail (what precisely a door nail is and why it is emblematic of death, I just learned), it was returned to me in its former functioning state, unrooted and running its original Gingerbread ROM.
Of course, given the lesson that I haven’t yet learned, I will be diving back in today by flashing a new ICS ROM and hoping that I don’t brick my phone again. But, thanks to MobileTechVideos, if I do, it can be brought back to life for a mere $50.
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About The Author
I remember I once had a Samsung Omnia that I bricked by attempting to flash a ROM over a USB 1 port. Somebody on the old MoDaCo community forums offered to buy it, but I had already bought a JTAG repair tool. I soldered it on, but I couldn’t actually get the repair tool to work, so the person offered to fix it on Messenger for the cost of shipping round trip and if I let him keep the adapter. I sent it down to Florida, and it got fixed in a matter of days, but he suddenly changed his tune and demanded much more cash to return it than we previously agreed on. We went back and fourth talking in messenger for about a month before he finally caved. I told him I’d give him payment for return shipping after I got it, and to my surprise, he finally shipped it.
Long story short, I got the device back in working order a month later, but not after it had depreciated considerably. I eventually sold it on eBay and got an HTC Diamond to go. And I never gave that person the money for return shipping either because of all the cash and inconvenience he caused me ☺.
.:AB