HELP! Boot loop - can't even factory reset

[GoBigRed4]

My G4 went into a boot loop. Did battery pull and retried several times. Decided to do a factory reset through the stock recovery. Click down to factory reset, click down to 'Yes' and hit the power button. No response, just sits there. How can I get this thing going again if factory reset won't even work? HELP!

 

[LeoRex]

You might have run into the issue that's plagued older G4's.... there's a fauly in the main board that causes the phone to brick like this. You might want to either contact your carrier, or LG Support directly. LG has said they will fully cover any phones faulted because of this issue.

 

[GoBigRed4]

Any way to find out if I do? Is there a range in serial #'s that would indicate mine might be faulty?

 

[Mooncatt]

As LeoRex said, the boot loop is most likely a hardware defect, and a factory reset won't help anything.

There is one trick you can try if you need to back up the phone. Stick it in the freezer, battery and all, for 15-20 min. With it still in the freezer, boot it up. This should give you enough time to do what you need before it can heat up enough to cause the boot loop. If you need to plug it into a computer and can't bring that to the freezer, you can maybe try sandwiching the phone between a couple ice packs. At this point, I'd also suggest encrypting the phone before doing a factory reset to make sure all your data is wiped when you file the warranty claim.

The freezer trick is specific to the G4 due to the common defect with a bad connection on the main board. It won't work with boot loops caused by other problems.

 

[shadavis08]

Yes the first 3 numbers are usually beginning with 505 through like 509 and a few others what are the first 3 number of the phones serial number?

 

[Mooncatt]

Any way to find out if I do? Is there a range in serial #'s that would indicate mine might be faulty?

The most common are phones with SN's starting with 505 to 508 (manufactured from May to August last year), but there have been sporadic reports of the defect popping up in phones made after August too.

 

[GoBigRed4]

My SN starts with 505.

 

[tardus]

My SN starts with 505.

Did you get the phone from a carrier? LG has admitted the problem. I wouldn't pay any fees.