S5 Recovery Advice? Please help...

[Lkslowly]

Hi there,

I recently tried to boot my Samsung S5 as per "forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2696537" and then watching a tutorial so I'd have an idea of what things should look like (youtube.com/watch?v=N14tL0_VOrU).

Everything seemed to work fine, I downloaded the Autoroot for my Model, the SM-G900F, and then selected the appropriate .md5 file after extracting and flashed it via Odin, and it seemed okay. Then when I put it into restart mode (Vol + (+) power button (+) Home button) it said something along the line of command not found and I wasn't given the same screen as per the Youtube tutorial. As this didn't look right I just left it as is and rebooted. Phone still worked 100% fine, all same icons, wallpaper etc. Put it into restart mode again, same thing happened. I clicked an option that said apply update from ADB or something, but then as I realised this wasn't correct, I just restarted the phone, and it was still 100% fine, same apps/wallpaper etc.

So thinking it didn't flash properly, I did the process again, went into download mode, into odin, flashed it with the same file. This time however upon going into restart mode it was mostly the same except for the a larger android logo on the screen for a bit then went to the previous menu which didn't look right. Thinking I'm now in over my head I decided I'd give up, and rebooted the phone....except now it doesn't work.

So now when I turn it on all I get is a series of messages saying " unfortunately 'X' has stopped working" and then after all the messages it's essentially just a black screen. I don't understand why after flashing it the first time it was fine after the reboot, but after the second it's gone into this. Is it possible to still recover everything and use my phone with the current contacts/apps etc?

I cleared the cache partition and now from what I've read the best thing to do is to flash it with the stock firmware, however the sammobile site doesn't have any listed for Australia, so not 100% sure which it is or if they have it. I don't know my exact model details but I read several threads before starting anything including one on here entitled "How to Root the Samsung Galaxy S5" and although I didnt write them down they were very similar to these (Baseband Version - G900FXXU1POEC Build Number - LRX21T.G900FXXU1POEC) just slightly different at the end.



Kinda freaking out, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ironass]

Hi there,

I recently tried to boot my Samsung S5 as per "forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2696537" and then watching a tutorial so I'd have an idea of what things should look like (youtube.com/watch?v=N14tL0_VOrU).

Everything seemed to work fine, I downloaded the Autoroot for my Model, the SM-G900F, and then selected the appropriate .md5 file after extracting and flashed it via Odin, and it seemed okay. Then when I put it into restart mode (Vol + (+) power button (+) Home button) it said something along the line of command not found and I wasn't given the same screen as per the Youtube tutorial. As this didn't look right I just left it as is and rebooted. Phone still worked 100% fine, all same icons, wallpaper etc. Put it into restart mode again, same thing happened. I clicked an option that said apply update from ADB or something, but then as I realised this wasn't correct, I just restarted the phone, and it was still 100% fine, same apps/wallpaper etc.

So thinking it didn't flash properly, I did the process again, went into download mode, into odin, flashed it with the same file. This time however upon going into restart mode it was mostly the same except for the a larger android logo on the screen for a bit then went to the previous menu which didn't look right. Thinking I'm now in over my head I decided I'd give up, and rebooted the phone....except now it doesn't work.

So now when I turn it on all I get is a series of messages saying " unfortunately 'X' has stopped working" and then after all the messages it's essentially just a black screen. I don't understand why after flashing it the first time it was fine after the reboot, but after the second it's gone into this. Is it possible to still recover everything and use my phone with the current contacts/apps etc?

I cleared the cache partition and now from what I've read the best thing to do is to flash it with the stock firmware, however the sammobile site doesn't have any listed for Australia, so not 100% sure which it is or if they have it. I don't know my exact model details but I read several threads before starting anything including one on here entitled "How to Root the Samsung Galaxy S5" and although I didnt write them down they were very similar to these (Baseband Version - G900FXXU1POEC Build Number - LRX21T.G900FXXU1POEC) just slightly different at the end.



Kinda freaking out, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hello and welcome to Android Central Lkslowly!

I am pretty sure I know what your problem is. I just need you to answer a couple of questions...

1. Did you obtain the phone in Australia?

2. Is your phone carrier branded, (i.e. Opus, Telstra, etc: )?

 

[Lkslowly]

Thank you. Oh really?!

1. I purchased the phone from an Australian online store called Kogan (it has a reputable name, ie. it wasn't just off some random merchant line)

2. I was with Telstra, but switched to another carrier about 4 months called Lebara, which uses the Vodafone network


Really appreciate the help, truly.

 

[ironass]

Thank you. Oh really?!

1. I purchased the phone from an Australian online store called Kogan (it has a reputable name, ie. it wasn't just off some random merchant line)

2. I was with Telstra, but switched to another carrier about 4 months called Lebara, which uses the Vodafone network


Really appreciate the help, truly.

OK... Whilst it is not unheard of to sell the international, G900F, Galaxy S5 model in Australia, I would guess that you actually have the regional model for Australia, New Zealand, etc; the G900i. See #1.4 of 41 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide. This is why you could not find any stock firmwares for your model for Australia. It also explains why the CF-Auto-Root kernel for the G900F did not work.

Can you double check on your box or paperwork, as to which model you actually own. Alternatively, could you turn your phone off and boot into Download Mode and check which model you have, as per 1' 33" into this video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDE1oB2-nYw

 

[Lkslowly]

The box and download mode both state the model as SM-G900F, couldn't find the paper work however

 

[ironass]

Interesting! They are selling the international version and not the regional model! I wonder what firmware they are using. Since you cannot boot your phone to check which exact, "Version", of firmware your G900F was running, (as per #1.8 of 41 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide), we will need to flash a generic, stock, unbranded firmware to your phone to get you up and running and to enable us to make further investigations as to the original firmware that came with the phone. I suggest downloading and flashing the stock, unbranded, Samsung firmware for the U.K. for the G900F. by following the instructions and video in the links of #1.11 of the aforementioned Dummies Guide.

I appreciate that there is an 11 hour, or so, time difference between the U.K. and Australia and so I will not expect a prompt reply.

Here is the download link...

Model SM-G900F
Model name GALAXY S5
Country United Kingdom
Version Android 5.0
Changelist 5508620
Build date Mon, 05 Oct 2015 07:14:38 +0000
Product code BTU
PDA G900FXXU1BOJ1
CSC G900FOXA1BOJ1

 

[Lkslowly]

Downloading it at the moment, but may take a bit as it's over a 1GB and net speeds aren't the greatest here...

Do you think if we can figure out the actual firmware I'll be able to access everything that's on my phone?

 

[ironass]

Downloading it at the moment, but may take a bit as it's over a 1GB and net speeds aren't the greatest here...

Do you think if we can figure out the actual firmware I'll be able to access everything that's on my phone?

Yes. Once you flash the firmware and sign in with your Google account you will be able to restore all the stuff, (Contacts, Calendar, etc: ), that you had backed up with Google sync.... you did sync your device, didn't you?

Just been on the Kogan, Australia website and I notice that they do not state which model of Galaxy S5 they are offering except for the dual sim, G900FD, and the non 4G/LTE, octa core model, G900H.

 

[Lkslowly]

Yeah pretty sure it's all sync'd, but therefore do you mean it's gonna be wiped and then the only data recoverable will be that which is sync'd? I won't be able to access photos, apps etc?

Not sure if they've changed anything, but I bought it early August last year. Just managed to find the old email for the order stating it as 'Samsung Galaxy S5 4G LTE SM-G900' but with an attached user manual stating it as the manual for SM-G900F

 

[ironass]

Yeah pretty sure it's all sync'd, but therefore do you mean it's gonna be wiped and then the only data recoverable will be that which is sync'd? I won't be able to access photos, apps etc?

Not sure if they've changed anything, but I bought it early August last year. Just managed to find the old email for the order stating it as 'Samsung Galaxy S5 4G LTE SM-G900' but with an attached user manual stating it as the manual for SM-G900F

OK. It definitely looks as though you have the G900F, international, model then and not the Australian regional, G900i, phone.

With any amount of luck and depending on what your other flashes have done, this installation should, as it is a, "no-wipe", firmware, leave all your info intact... fingers crossed!

After you have set up the phone I will ask you to install the very useful Phone INFO ★Samsung★, free from the Play Store, and get you to give me, under the heading, "CSC CODE", the, "Product Code", and, "Original CSC Code", details. Hopefully, from these details, I should be able to see which exact stock Samsung firmware needs to be flashed to your phone and guide you on which CF-Auto-Root kernel to use for rooting.

 

[Lkslowly]

Oh great! If it ends up being unavaoidable to wipe it, so be it. But yeah, fingers crossed!

Yeah should be about 45mins before I have the UK firmware downloaded. So i'll let you know those details asap, but as it's already 2am may not be able to get it all sorted tonight.

At this point if I'm able to just get my phone back to how it was I'll be happy and I'll probably try not to tempt fate by trying to root it again. But if it wipes and nothing can be salvaged then I'll probably go for it.

 

[Lkslowly]

Okay so I finally managed to download it and flash it via ODIN, and EUREKA!! It works!! Everything is back to normal =)

Thank you so much mate, you don't know how relieved I am and grateful for your help!

As per your request:
Product Code= SM-G900FZKAXSG
Original CSC Code= XSG

Also incase it helps

Firmware's CSC Code= BTU
Active CSC Code= XSG/BTU
Available Code= BTU, CPW, DBT, ITV, KOR, XEF, XEO
CSC Country= UK & IRE/ GB
Mobile Operator= Vodafone

 

[ironass]

Okay so I finally managed to download it and flash it via ODIN, and EUREKA!! It works!! Everything is back to normal =)

Thank you so much mate, you don't know how relieved I am and grateful for your help!

As per your request:
Product Code= SM-G900FZKAXSG
Original CSC Code= XSG

Also incase it helps

Firmware's CSC Code= BTU
Active CSC Code= XSG/BTU
Available Code= BTU, CPW, DBT, ITV, KOR, XEF, XEO
CSC Country= UK & IRE/ GB
Mobile Operator= Vodafone

Congratulations Lkslowly!

Even more interesting! Kogan are selling the international model, G900F, running UAE, (United Arab Emirates), firmware, XSG.

The latest XSG firmware is lower/older than your BTU firmware I have got you to flash. However, if you wish to receive updates OTA or via Kies, you will need to install it. See the warning in #1.11 of the Dummies Guide.

Alternatively, you can update the BTU firmware manually, as you have just done, in future. Your warranty, if you still have one, will be void though.

Here is the latest stock Samsung UAE firmware...

Model SM-G900F
Model name GALAXY S5
Country United Arab Emirates
Version Android 5.0
Changelist 5640614
Build date Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:09:46 +0000
Product code XSG
PDA G900FXXU1POI1
CSC G900FOJV1POG1

The choice, as they say... is yours!