Today we share to you other 4 issues addressed to us by some TheDroidguy readers. If you are new to our site, make sure to browse other #GalaxyS5 articles for more solutions.
Below are the specific topics discussed in this post:
- Using a Verizon Galaxy S5 on T-Mobile network
- Galaxy S5 won’t turn on after charging
- Galaxy S5 reboots when Snapchat opens
- Galaxy S5 crashes and has bootloop issue
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Problem #1: Using a Verizon Galaxy S5 on T-Mobile network
I was given an unlocked Verizon Galaxy S5 and have confirmed that it can connect to the T-mobile network with my T-mobile SIM card. T-mobile also says it should work also once I insert the T-Mobile SIM…and update the settings.
Now I would like to re-flash the firmware from Verizon to T-Mobile in order to get rid of all of the Verizon stuff that no longer applies since I’m on T-Mobile.
Current configuration:
SM-G900V
Android V: 5.0
Baseband V: G900VVRU2BOE1
Hardware V: G900V.05
Configuration V: J13.SAM.SMG900V.1
Questions:
1) Is it possible to re-flash the firmware from Verizon to T-Mobile in order to get rid of all of the leftover Verizon stuff?
2) I see a warning over at http: // www. Galaxys5update . com/galaxy-s5-stock-firmware/ that says “Each of these Galaxy S5 versions uses different firmware build, flashing a non-specified stock firmware to other Galaxy S5 variants may result into bricks.” So I’m a bit nervous to just try it and find out. I don’t want to brick my phone!
3) It appears (from my novice viewpoint) that I should be able to simply re-flash using the latest (or at least some version of the firmware) here: http: //www. sammobile. com/devices/specs/SM-G900T/ Is that the case, or am I likely to brick my phone if I do so?
4) Do you have any additional suggestions for success in this endeavor?
Thanks! — Brad
Solution: Hi Brad. Before we proceed to answering your questions, we have to remind you that there may be some potential mobile connection problems later on with this device. The reason for that lies in the fact that Verizon phones like your Galaxy S5 uses CDMA technology. Phones of this type don’t usually work properly or at all with GSM networks like that of T-Mobile. We are glad though that you are assured by T-Mobile itself that the phone may work on their network after all.
1.) Now to your questions. For the first one, the answer is no. The Verizon firmware (SM-G900V) is designed to work with an S5 shipped for use by Verizon so flashing a T-Mobile SM-G900T will certainly cause problems.
2.) The second question is addressed by the previous answer. Even when flashing the correct firmware, there’s always the risk of problems during and after the procedure. For example, a faulty USB port can potentially corrupt the data being transferred from a computer to the phone’s flash memory. A sudden power failure can also brick the phone. Other reasons for potential failures can happen that may result to unrecoverable state. We don’t recommend flashing or modification of the firmware so do it at your own risk.
3.) As mentioned, SM-G900T firmware is for T-Mobile Galaxy S5 only. Never use that on your phone.
4.) There are three types of ROMs, also known as firmware or operating systems — original stock, carrier, custom. The original stock firmware is the Android version released by Google that doesn’t have any modifications, either cosmetic or functional, done by a manufacturer and/or carrier like Samsung or Verizon. The carrier firmware or ROM is the Android version with added functionalities, features, and design changes from a carrier like Verizon. This is the current firmware on your phone. Finally, custom ROMs are Android versions that are popularly found in the XDA-Developers Forum and have more additional features, hacks, functionalities on top of the stock or carrier firmware offerings.
What you can try to do is to either flash a truly stock firmware or a custom ROM on your phone. As mentioned above, flashing has inherent risks involved so you must accept the fact that you still end up bricking the phone somehow if something goes wrong. For additional third party support, please use Google to look for resources.
Problem #2: Galaxy S5 won’t turn on after charging
The other night I was charging my Galaxy S5 and was working just fine. About 20 minutes later, I tried to use the phone and it was halfway working. Part of the screen seemed to not want to work, or at least that’s what it seemed (could have been the phone lagging terribly). It was also not wanting to connect to the Network. I did a reboot and that didn’t fix anything. I tried to connect a charger to it and it was charging, just charging really slow, So slow that it got to the point that the phone actually died on the charger. Since then I have not been able to get the phone to take a charge from any of my chargers and it has become a sitting brick. Someone I know mentioned that it could have been a Total Hardware Failure. Is that common with these phones after time? Is there anything I can try to maybe get the phone back and operating normally? — Dylan
Solution: Hi Dylan. The battery and not the phone may have died on you. Consider replacing the battery to see if that will work.
You can also attempt to boot the phone (as it is now) in safe mode to see if you can boot it that way. Make sure to leave the phone plugged in to the charger for at least 30 minutes before attempting this procedure. Also, keep the phone connected to the charger during the process to ensure constant power source. Here are the steps to boot the phone in safe mode:
- Turn the device off.
- Press and hold the Power key.
- When ‘Samsung Galaxy S5′ appears on the screen, release the Power key.
- Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
- Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
- Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
- Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.
Safe mode is an alternative boot environment that prevents third party apps from running. If one of your apps is the culprit, the phone should boot up fine in this mode. If the issue remains, or if the phone fails to even start, have the device checked by a technician for a possible hardware issue.
Problem #3: Galaxy S5 reboots when Snapchat opens
About last week sometime, it seemed like everytime I opened Snapchat my phone would crash. Then I deleted snapchat and it was still happening, now more often. I tried taking the battery out and leaving it out for a couple minutes and nothing changed. It started happening more often to the point where I couldn’t finish a text or even open an app up once it restarts. I put it on the charger and it’ll stay on, this is the only time the phone will stay on. When not on the charger, the phone just keeps dying.
I have it on Boost Mobile and everytime it restarts it’ll make it to the boost mobile screen but will shut off and restart again before it even gets to my lock screen. I’ve already ordered a new battery offline, hoping that will help. However, the battery won’t be here till the end of the week and I’m hoping you may be able to come up with a solution for me if any.
Recently, I deleted all my pictures and videos, and downloaded a bunch of apps that I’ve been wanting to download for a while but didn’t have the space. I’ll include those as well, but the problem was happening before then about a week or so. — Anice
Solution: Hi Anice. You may have a similar issue with Dylan above. In your case though, we strongly believe that it’s the battery that’s causing the reboot. There’s nothing that you can do on your end to fix that. The usual software troubleshooting that we suggest are clearly of no help either. You have to wait for the battery replacement to see the difference.
Problem #4: Galaxy S5 crashes and has bootloop issue
I’m having trouble with the lock screen or the power button (i don’t know which caused my phone crashed). So when i read some articles (blog to be exact) on Chrome, the screen sometimes turned off automatically, right? i tried to woke up the screen by pressing power button but the screen remainsl black, so i pressed the power button once more. My phone is glitched, then restart and doing bootloop. i’m in stress after go back to the local service TWICE just because of that. what goes wrong? the mainboard? the power button? help!
Device: G900F
Running on latest firmware 5.0
Device status: still free from any data, like a new phone, just took it from the local service, install + update some apps. The normal apps.
P.S: After the bootloop, i removed the battery, and reinstall the battery, and turned on the phone. it booted! but i don’t have any guts to restart my phone again. I’m afraid i’d bootloop again (from my experience, when my phone is booted normally after bootloop, i test my phone by doing restart, aaaand the phone is bootlooping again), or read articles on Chrome. — Reza
Solution: Hi Reza. This bootloop issue may be due to a corrupt system cache or firmware. We recommend that you try two things — deleting the cache partition and factory reset.
Sometimes, a corrupted or outdated system cache leads to app issues so it’s best if you can refresh it. Here’s how to do it:
- Turn the phone off.
- Press and hold the following buttons together: Power, Volume Up and Home.
- Release the buttons once the Android system recovery menu appears.
- Use the Volume buttons to navigate to Wipe Cache Partition option.
- Press the Power button to confirm selection.
- Select Reboot System Now option after deleting the cache. Wait for the phone to reboot.
If nothing changes following system cache deletion, back up your personal data like photos, videos, contacts, etc and do a factory reset. Simply follow these steps:
- Power down the Galaxy S5.
- Press and hold the Volume up button, the Home button, and the Power button together until you see the Android on screen.
- Use Volume down to highlight the wipe data/factory reset option and press the Power button to select it.
- Use Volume down again to highlight Yes – delete all user data and press Power to select it.
- Use the Power button to select Reboot system now.
- When the S5 restarts it should be completely wiped and ready to set up again.
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