Database Users

Soft-Bricked S4 by Flashing Different Version Rom

Hi everyone,
Before blasting away with comments as to why I would do this, here's my story,
I live in Canada and just brought home a i9508, a China variant of the S4. It belonged to my dad and he didn't want it so I just took it. The i9508 doesn't have Play Store, and it doesn't work on Canadian 3G network.
So to me, the phone is useless right off the start (don't intend on selling it either, who wants it?) So I had 2 options:
1) Leave the phone as it is, and probably use it once every 1-2 years when I visit HK
2) Flash custom roms on it fully aware of the risk it will have so that there's a possibility I can make it more usable
So in the end I went with option 2.
I followed a guide and flashed TWRP for i9505 using Odin onto the phone, and used TWRP to install chainfire SU, and it actually worked (but SU wouldn't open because some sort of security on the phone is blocking it)
Next step, I downloaded the CM version for i9505 and flashed onto the phone, and that worked too. Only problem I've encountered was that the phone would only boot after a fresh install. If I installed CM, turned the phone off after the initial start up, the phone wouldn't boot pass the Samsung logo.
Up until this point, I didn't make a backup, because of my arrogance, cause I have available a copy of the official firmware, in case anything happens.
So I figured at this point, maybe if I restore the original firmware, and try the whole process again, the custom rom would work. So I went into Odin, flash the firmware with PDA, and failed. It just wouldn't work. After retrying it a couple of times, and downloading different updates of the firmware, nothing worked. Only thing working right now is, I can get into Download mode, and I can get into TWRP recovery (but for some reason, I can't flash the zips that I've adb pushed onto the phone, zip can't open)
For me, if it can't be fixed, then it's really SOL. But if there's a way to fix it, I'm open to testing anything people have in mind, cause afterall, this phone is paper weight either way. I'm interested in seeing if I could enable 3G by flashing a i9505 radio, despite warnings, although, I've never actually came across a thread where someone had actually tried it before.
Either way, if someone has any idea on how to fix the phone, and wouldn't mind sharing it, that'll be greatly appreciated.
Working
I can get into Download mode, but Odin is failing (if you need the error please let me know and I'll post it)
I can get into TWRP recovery, but can't flash files
I can get into adb

This isnt the correct forum for your phone. XDA don't follow clones

Unfortunately a section for i9508 doesn't exist, so I figure the closest one would be i9505.
Anyhow, if someone has an idea of how to fix it, I'm more than happy to do testing on it, like flashing other roms or radios.

[Q] Unable to Update phone because of bootloader.

I have a GS4 on version 4.3 rooted and I have a custom bootloader, clockwork. I've recently tried to ota update but it makes my phone reboot into recovery mode asking if I want to install an unknown package, paraphrasing here. Last time I accepted this install and softbricked my phone so I'd like to figure out the problem so I can fix it and update to KitKat. If I have to flash the original recovery or Rom I'd very much appreciate links on how to do so given I haven't done either in a year or so. Thanks in advance.

The problem is you cannot take an OTA unless you are 100% bone stock.
This problem and the solutions have been discussed many many times. Please search and you will find everything you need.

[Q] Soft Bricked Galaxy S5

Hello,
I've got (had) an SM-G900W8 running the XtreStoLite v2.0 LP BETA5 ROM on the XXU1BOA3 kernel. I installed TWRP 2.7 via Odin, and left the latest modem and bootloader updates I got through KIES3.
At which point I got the chance to sell the handset on Kijiji, provided I could get the stock ROM back on.
I downloaded the latest Odin (3.09) and the correct Firmware for my handset from sam mobile, and factory reset the device. I pulled the battery, let it sit, and tried to flash once I got it back up in download mode, and it wouldn't work.
This isn't too much of a surprise to me, because since I flashed TWRP, Odin hasn't ever worked for me. Regardless of how many times I've tried to flash the modem and/or BL that XtreStoLite asked me to use in their how to thread, it wouldn't work. I was willing to ignore it b/c the ROM worked with the modem and BL it was running.
My problem is that once I tried to reboot, the system hung at the BL animation. I went back into recovery, and tried to move my backups off my external storage (I had 2 back ups that were about 2 or 3 gigs each, too much for the local storage) to the local card and restore (b/c TWRP won't restore from the external card) and the back ups failed.
Now I've got the BL screen, but it won't advance to the animation, and it won't boot to TWRP either.
I tried to restore from KEIS, but it says my device isn't supported by KIES 3 (it is). I could really use a hand here. Every time I try something this gets worse. I'm no pro, but I've had no problem figuring this out on my old HTC handsets.

Sir,
Please wait until mods will move this thread to the device specific forum for more relevant answers.
Stand by
Good luck

Noobs phone won't start - can't find the answer. Feeling dumb as my brick phone.

I've rooted and replaced the ROM on 3 other Android devices. I've spent two or three nights on this. Googling and reading page after page to try to get this right. I know I'm seriously lacking in knowledge, but I just can't stand the bloatware and lack of control over an OEM ROM. I knew I was taking a risk, but I did my best to be diligent without spending an excessive amount of time. All that said, I appreciate, in advance any help anyone can offer me. Whether that's direct advice or directing me to proper resources that I can't seem to find.
Samsung S5 SM-G900P (kltespr)
I had rooted it. I replaced the Sprint stock ROM (5.0.1 I think) with CM12.1 (which just got an OTA). I had TWRP 2.8.7 on it.
Unfortunately, I needed my research suggested I needed a Touchwiz ROM in order to activate phone service on the cell provider I'd chosen (Ting).
So I selected MOAR v7 and started following the directions here:
at galaxys5root.com/sprint-galaxy-s5-custom-roms/moar-lollipop-rom-for-sprint-galaxy-s5-w-2-8ghz-oc
I made a backup. I wiped the system/cache/davlik/etc.
I installed the Android 5.0 Bootloader TAR (G900P NDK Lollipop) per the instructions via Odin and using the Bootloader option. The flash failed. I can repeat the failure (ran Odin as admin, tried multiple USB ports, restarted the computer etc). I've since tried to send several recovery ROMS or OS ROMS (pardon if I'm using the wrong terminology here) to the device, but all I can get is download mode or a screen that says Samsung Galaxy S5 powered by Android (with Kernel is not Seandroid enforcing at the top). Sending TWRP via Odin has worked with a PASS, but still can't startup the device.
I can provide more detailed logs or information about where I'm stuck and how, but on the off chance that this is an obvious thing I'm going to stop here unless more detail would be useful.
Again, I'm grateful in advance for any help.
Moshker

Follow up and how I fixed my brick
This post is intended as a follow up in case anyone runs into a similiar problem and stumbles onto my post.
After trying several different bootloaders, including the stock ones from Samsung (multiple download attempts, very slow speeds, some didn't pass md5 check), and full ROM efforts via Odin 3.10.7 I was finally able to get one ROM to take.
G900PVPU3BOG1_G900PSPT3BOG1_SPR from androidfilehost.com/?fid=24052804347794921
After getting the phone activated on Ting I used Odin to push Chainfire Auto Root (408). I verified root after restart. Used Nandroid to make a new backup. I used Flashify to install TWRP 2.8.7. I restarted to recovery and DID NOT use TWRP to wipe the system/data/etc and instead loaded the MOAR7.0.OA6 ROM. During the ROM install process it asked if I'd like to wipe system/cache/davlik/etc. I did. The ROM installed successfully. I ran a Nandroid restore to bring back my apps and data. Most restored properly.
I still don't really understand what went wrong, why my efforts to fix it failed, and why the last thing I tried worked.
Really loving MOAR. I'm using the Numix theme and it's just incredibly clean and fast. CM12.1 had intermittent micro-freezes/lags that were driving me a little nuts and MOAR is really smooth and quite fast. I was pretty disappointed in CM as I had it a long time ago on an original DInc (7.2!).
Anyway, if you're phone is bricked, keep on fighting the good fight.

Axon 7 Mini Soft Brick cannot apply update from SD

I have only used stock roms on this phone. I originally upgraded my phone from a UK carphone warehouse rom 6.1 (B2017G UKV1.0.0B01)? I think?? That was a few years ago and upgraded to Nougat using the methods used in this forum.
I found that the wifi would sometimes disappear from the phone and you would have to reboot the phone to get wifi working again. That is ok but after about 3 times of having to do this over a period of a few months it would go again BUT then would then need a factory reset to get the wifi going again! After a year of doing three factory resets
i tried to revert to the older MM 6.1.
I used a ROM that i downloaded from here when i first done upgraded
anyhow i placed ROM in SD and proceeded with the downgrade it went fine up to 81% then got stuck then i restarted the phone again and it got stuck again, so i tried to flash from the SD in recovery mode instead and it says "sorry you can`t sdcard upgrade" so i then pressed reboot system and then it just hangs a the logo.!!
I have rooted phones in the past my last was an LGG2, and a brilliant tool was available so you could flash any stock rom back onto the phone if you had any trouble with custom or stock roms. but there does not seem to be any such tool from ZTE.
If you can help in any way?, i would be delighted!!
THANKS!!
(Soz if i posted in wrong area!)

I got the phone booted through EDL and EDL tool & backup files provided by this site. It took me a while to find all the info i needed.
Also renaming the files from boot to boot.img etc in the edl folder took a bit to work out as the tool kept telling me the files were insufficient!
All good now managed to downgrade to 6.1 UK ...Thanks XDA!!