Help How to fix soft bricked phone

[chadmartin]

I was trying to root my phone last week and I used this file on Odin (G900A_ND3_Stock_Kernel.tar.md5). Ever since I did that my phone has not been working properly. Everytime I turn it on it gets stuck in a bootloop. I already tried factory reset, but that did not work. How can I fix my phone? The model is SM-G900A

 

[ironass]

I was trying to root my phone last week and I used this file on Odin (G900A_ND3_Stock_Kernel.tar.md5). Ever since I did that my phone has not been working properly. Everytime I turn it on it gets stuck in a bootloop. I already tried factory reset, but that did not work. How can I fix my phone? The model is SM-G900A

Hello and welcome to Android Forums chadmartin

Could you post a link to the instructions that you were using to root your G900A phone.

Are you on Android 5.1.1 stock AT&T firmware?

 

[chadmartin]

Hello and welcome to Android Forums chadmartin

Could you post a link to the instructions that you were using to root your G900A phone.

After I flashed the G900A ND3 Stock Kernal, my phone stopped working properly.
These are the instruction and the link:

muniz_ri on XDA. He originally posted them at this link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s5/general/g900and3tong3keeprootota-zip-t2862299

IMPORTANT: Before beginning this process, please install Samsung Kies 3 to ensure that you have the proper drivers in place, so that your computer can communicate with the phone.


1. Take the NG3 OTA update (if the update fails see troubleshooting section below).
2. Place your phone into "Download Mode" (press and hold the Home, Volume Down, and Power keys until the phone powers on and displays warning screen, then press Volume Up key).
3. Flash the G900A_ND3_Stock_Kernel using Odin's PDA slot(AP in Odin v3.09+).
4. Root using Towelroot.
5. Power off then boot into "Download Mode" again.
6. Flash the G900A_NG3_Stock_Kernel also in Odin's PDA slot(AP in Odin v3.09+). Done!


Notes: After flashing the ND3 kernel your phone may run a little wonky and towelroot may not root on the first try. If that happens reboot and try towelroot once again. Once rooted and after flashing the NG3 kernel your phone will run like a champ again!

Troubleshooting: If the NG3 update fails consider flashing back to stock NCE by flashing the G900A_Downgrade_to_NCE.tar in Odin's PDA slot(AP in Odin v3.09+), then taking the NG3 OTA update or place the G900A_NCEtoNG3_OTA.zip on your ext-sdcard and sideload from stock recovery.

 

[ironass]

After I flashed the G900A ND3 Stock Kernal, my phone stopped working properly.
These are the instruction and the link:

muniz_ri on XDA. He originally posted them at this link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s5/general/g900and3tong3keeprootota-zip-t2862299

IMPORTANT: Before beginning this process, please install Samsung Kies 3 to ensure that you have the proper drivers in place, so that your computer can communicate with the phone.


1. Take the NG3 OTA update (if the update fails see troubleshooting section below).
2. Place your phone into "Download Mode" (press and hold the Home, Volume Down, and Power keys until the phone powers on and displays warning screen, then press Volume Up key).
3. Flash the G900A_ND3_Stock_Kernel using Odin's PDA slot(AP in Odin v3.09+).
4. Root using Towelroot.
5. Power off then boot into "Download Mode" again.
6. Flash the G900A_NG3_Stock_Kernel also in Odin's PDA slot(AP in Odin v3.09+). Done!


Notes: After flashing the ND3 kernel your phone may run a little wonky and towelroot may not root on the first try. If that happens reboot and try towelroot once again. Once rooted and after flashing the NG3 kernel your phone will run like a champ again!

Troubleshooting: If the NG3 update fails consider flashing back to stock NCE by flashing the G900A_Downgrade_to_NCE.tar in Odin's PDA slot(AP in Odin v3.09+), then taking the NG3 OTA update or place the G900A_NCEtoNG3_OTA.zip on your ext-sdcard and sideload from stock recovery.

As I thought. Those instructions are a well over a year old and are for rooting the AT&T G900A on Android 4.4.2. Since the release of Lollipop, Android 5.0, the AT&T phone is not downgradeable or rootable. See #1.6 of 41 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide.

This presents a problem as you will need to flash either the stock firmware that you were on which I guess is Android 5.1.1, or flash the Android 5.1.1 stock kernel. However, since the AT&T firmware is not released by Samsung, it is not readily available from the usual Samsung sources.

You can try searching for your stock AT&T firmware or kernel for Android 5.1.1 or, as I suspect, you will need to take your phone to an AT&T store for them to flash the firmware.

See, also... Tried downgrading from 5.0 to 4.4.2 now bricked...HELP PLEASE

 

[chadmartin]

As I thought. Those instructions are a well over a year old and are for rooting the AT&T G900A on Android 4.4.2. Since the release of Lollipop, Android 5.0, the AT&T phone is not downgradeable or rootable. See #1.6 of 41 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide.

This presents a problem as you will need to flash either the stock firmware that you were on which I guess is Android 5.1.1, or flash the Android 5.1.1 stock kernel. However, since the AT&T firmware is not released by Samsung, it is not readily available from the usual Samsung sources.

You can try searching for your stock AT&T firmware or kernel for Android 5.1.1 or, as I suspect, you will need to take your phone to an AT&T store for them to flash the firmware.

See, also... Tried downgrading from 5.0 to 4.4.2 now bricked...HELP PLEASE

I see
=My brother has the same phone as me. Is their anyway I can copy his firmware?

 

[ironass]

I see
=My brother has the same phone as me. Is their anyway I can copy his firmware?

I am afraid not. I'm not even sure that you could extract his kernel to flash to your phone as he cannot get root access to his phone either.