Tried to install microSD... stuck in "Download Mode"

[chsoriano]

Picked up my Focus tonight from the AT&T store...

As soon as I got home I turned it off, popped in my microSD card and then held down the "Vol. Down + Camera + Power" buttons per the instructions... now I'm in "Download Mode" and can't seem to get out of it...

There's obviously nothing about this online, but I did find similar "Download Mode" problems with other Samsung phones. Anyone have any ideas?

P.S. The ten to fifteen minutes I did play with the phone before I tried to install the microSD card was awesome...

UPDATE: So, it doesn't seem to be stuck in "Download Mode" because I re-set the battery and it booted fine... but it didn't initialize my microSD card. So I'm not sure what's going on.

 

[chsoriano]

Okay, so FYI for anyone who saw this... using the method in the Samsung manual sucks. I used the "reset device" option in the OS itself and it rebooted and initialized the microSD card in about a minute. At least I got it to work

 

[Dusteater]

Thanks for the info chsoriano, I am going to have to be doing this in about an hour for a family member. Here is hoping it goes smoothly.

Update: Or not, looks like AT&T stores in WA don't have any, all gone to MS associates.

 

[maverick96]

So once you install the SD card and turn the phone on you have to go and reset device?? I already put some apps and stuff on my phone..

 

[sirkirby]

Yep, a reset is the best way to get the os to recognize the card and assimilate it. I actually like how it just adds the sd amount to the overall storage. Nice not to have to worry about managing data between internal and external memory like on my android phone.

 

[Dusteater]

Anyone had any issues with this? Not sure why, but AT&T store people this morning said not to put any memory into Samsung Focus. They said there was a big alert when they logged in today about it, some software bug that will be fixed shortly. Don't know any of the details though.

 

[DanSmithKY]

Yeah I had a problem with the memory but the quick start guide helped me. Sometimes resetting your phone from the about section of settings doesn't work. I couldn't get my computer or Zune to recognize the phone after resetting it one time. It also only showed a few MB of total storage on the phone in the about section. I had to format it by holding the down volume rocker, the camera button, and the power button. After that everything worked fine.

 

[Johnny]

also had a problem with the memory on the focus, sure it is the sd card, had set up everything then lost it, not a big problem. Hard reset, was not fruitful. Did the format reset as stated, perfect. Love the phone

 

[RJD1]

Cant get past Download Mode

I cannot seem to get out of download mode. I used reset your phone option after pulling battery but, the phone will not recognize memory card. I am sure it needs a hard reset to recognize and assimilate to phone memory. Any ideas how to hard reset differently?

 

[DanSmithKY]

Turn it off or pull the battery if you have to. Then push and hold these buttons and make sure you push the power button last: the down-volume rocker, the camera button, and the power button. Hold them until the Samsung logo comes up and then the screen changes asking if you want to format the phone. Hit the windows hardware button twice to confirm and your phone should boot up just as it did when it was first taken out of the box.

 

[chsoriano]

Turn it off or pull the battery if you have to. Then push and hold these buttons and make sure you push the power button last: the down-volume rocker, the camera button, and the power button. Hold them until the Samsung logo comes up and then the screen changes asking if you want to format the phone. Hit the windows hardware button twice to confirm and your phone should boot up just as it did when it was first taken out of the box.

Hmm... see I could never get the "Do you want to format the phone" screen to come up... it just went straight to "Download Mode"

 

[chsoriano]

Anyone had any issues with this? Not sure why, but AT&T store people this morning said not to put any memory into Samsung Focus. They said there was a big alert when they logged in today about it, some software bug that will be fixed shortly. Don't know any of the details though.

Not sure what that was about... after initializing the reset from the OS Settings menu, it worked fine... finally synced all my music/photos from Zune and it's been great.

I wonder if people were using shoddy cards... ?

 

[rosswesleyporter]

Practical suggestion: use Sandisk class 2 cards. I haven't seen any reports of problems with Sandisk class 2 cards. I'm not advertising for Sandisk, just reporting what I have read in other forums. My Kingston 16GB class 10 card did not work in the Focus. My much cheaper Sandisk 16GB class 2 card worked. In other forums, people have been happy with their Sandisk 32GB cards. One report of an A Data class 6 16GB card working. Two reports of Kingston class 6 16GB card not working.

 

[siradude]

I think I know what the problem is with the DOWNLOAD MODE problem...

If you Press Volume UP instead of VOLUME DOWN in the key combination it will take you to download mode instead of format...LOL

I made the same mistake...

BTW: Centon 16G Class 6 working!
Then again... maybe not?
http://forums.windowscentral.com/samsung-focus/176482-froze-had-format-story-wp7-user.html

 

[rijc99]

32Gb class 2 Sandisk is working great for me. After formatting by the phone anyways. Prior to formatting the phone did not recognize the extra memory.

 

[droppedlife]

Got it!

OK i read all of this and i figured it out. Push vol down button (NOT UP), then push camera button, then push power button. HOLD ALL 3 DOWN until the format screen pops up. It will be after the samsung screen. Be warned this will format the entire phone, save all your stuff first. I used a Kingston 32 GB card

 

[RJD1]

How do you backup and save your stuff?

 

[siradude]

Solved!

OK i read all of this and i figured it out. Push vol down button (NOT UP), then push camera button, then push power button. HOLD ALL 3 DOWN until the format screen pops up. It will be after the samsung screen. Be warned this will format the entire phone, save all your stuff first. I used a Kingston 32 GB card

+1

But...I beat you to it by 2 days!

 

[siradude]

How do you backup and save your stuff?

To save you contacts and calendars, just configure an Gmail/Hotmail/Live email account with your phone. Your Phone will automatically upload all your info into that account.

To save Music/pics/videos just sync it with ZUNE on your PC.

Format...

Once formatted enter your email account info Live/Hotmail/Gmail and all your contacts and calendars should appear again.

I'm using a Live.com account just to keep everything within microsoft

Then add your facebook and Xbox Live account info and you are set for go!

Note: Once you add a Facebook account you might end up with duplicate People in your list... to solve this just open your main contact/person name in the list.. select at bottom LINK and now selet their facebook listing... this will combine both listings into one... (you can link more than one contact into a single listing)..

 

[yinqiaol]

Yeah same here...
We have the same issues...
If there's anybody out there who share something with regards to this please post it here and share..
Thanks...