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[Q] Need help with BRICK will donate for solution

I apologize for starting a new thread for this but I'm dying here! I have been reading all the bricked captivate tales of woe for 2 days straight and I have tried all the button combinations till my fingers feel like they are going to bleed. If somebody can help me with this mess I would gladly donate to the beer fund for their trouble.
This is my second go round with paperweight style captivate but I'm lost now. The first time I was visited by the phone-!-computer image but I had no problem getting it into download mode by removing battery,sim, and external sd then replacing battery holding down both volume buttons down (no power button) and inserting usb cable(odin one click was already running on my pc). I flashed back to stock twice with this method and no issues. The first time was to load cognition and the second time was after messing with some mods my phone started lagging horribly bad.
I guess I got a little cocky this last go round and was messing around with ninja morph(no issues there) then I loaded a market app called Galaxy S Tweaker. I made a few tweaks with the app and went to reboot, subsequently my phone will now get stuck on the white ATT boot screen.
As previously stated I have tried all variations of button combinations to no avail. The only 2 screens I see are the battery charging screen and this dreadful white AT&T screen.
Is there anything I can do to get my computer to recognize my phone and/or get into download mode.
Please and Thank You!!

Have you tried adb commands? Such as 'adb reboot download'
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=775911
Try what's at the top and report back. Should work... otherwise there's the usb jig
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

CB650 Wolf said:
Have you tried adb commands? Such as 'adb reboot download'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am having issues trying adb. I have everything installed but I think I made an error when updating my path and overwrote the existing text so that the only thing in the path is the location of adb. I get an error every time I try to run it

ronandi said:
Try what's at the top and report back. Should work... otherwise there's the usb jig
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried several times I just end up going back and forth between the white screen with AT&T logo and the battery charging screen

micjenks said:
The first time I was visited by the phone-!-computer image but I had no problem getting it into download mode by removing battery,sim, and external sd then replacing battery holding down both volume buttons down (no power button) and inserting usb cable(odin one click was already running on my pc).
As previously stated I have tried all variations of button combinations to no avail. The only 2 screens I see are the battery charging screen and this dreadful white AT&T screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you did originally should work again, keep trying, if you had usb debugging enabled try the adb reboot download method. What error is adb giving you anyway?

uninstall the sdk completely. Reinstall it into a folder and do not move anything out of the folder. I keep mine in C:/Users\[user name]\sdk.

Hey there, im pretty new to Android myself and had a very similar issue :S
It seems like you have lost your three button combo, which was exactly what happened to my poor Captivate, the "USB jig" was the only method I found that could put my phone in to download mode, if you search the forums there is a pretty decent walk through on how to do it!
Basically, as long as you have some skill with a soldering iron and a micro USB cable to cut up you can do it pretty quickly. I bought the resistors from a local computer store (you need 301k resistance) and used a scalpel to cut the plastic from the end of the cable, then soldered the resistors to the 4th and 5th pins in series. Once you have done that, plug the cable in to your computer and fire up Odin, the connect your Cappy and presto, download mode!
Honestly when I saw the instructions to build the jig I was skeptical, but since I exhausted every other option first (and had already voided my warranty obviously) I decided to give it a shot and it worked like a charm!
Give it a try and let us know how it goes!

CB650 Wolf said:
uninstall the sdk completely. Reinstall it into a folder and do not move anything out of the folder. I keep mine in C:/Users\[user name]\sdk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
should I remove it from the environmental variables path first and then replace it? do I need to remove it from eclipse as well before I reinstall it?
ADB keeps telling me device not found

Try a different usb port, preferably ones at the back of the motherboard.

peachpuff said:
Try a different usb port, preferably ones at the back of the motherboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done that, initially I had to move to the back to get it to work with odin
Edit: Can anyone link me to the solder jig how to? I found the solder-less i-go thread but wanted to look at both before I head off to radio shack and potentially the liquor store depending on how this goes..... going back to my BlackBerry sounds about as appetizing as a warm bath and razor blades. I've had my Captivate for 2 weeks and I'm already spoiled on Android goodness

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=872476
This is the solder-less method, however the only difference is that in the above thread, he didn't use solder to connect the resistors, it should work exactly the same! Otherwise you can simply solder the resistors in series to the exact same spots and you are good to go

Ok well I am off to radio shack to test my luck with this. will report back with the results...... wife has already informed me there is no way in hell I am buying another one so pray for me lol

Rofl well in that case my prayers are with you! If you need any help with it feel free to PM me.

ugh I have to go back to radio shack.... one of the wires broke off while stripping it, I tried touching the resistors to it anyway but it's not working so I am going to give it another shot. If that doesn't work I ordered one from norcal einstein..... this sucks!

micjenks said:
ugh I have to go back to radio shack.... one of the wires broke off while stripping it, I tried touching the resistors to it anyway but it's not working so I am going to give it another shot. If that doesn't work I ordered one from norcal einstein..... this sucks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although mine has never been this bad, the fear of it happening has always been in the forefront of my mind.
Your wife sounds alot like mine. In that case, much good luck coming your way from here.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

LOL I have been pushing my luck a bit lately considering I got a BlackBerry Torch in August (Piece of Sh*t). I have been developing BlackBerry themes for the last 2 years and am transitioning to Android.... gonna be hard without an operational device lol

Did you get everything to make your jig?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I believe so.... trying to peel this damn silicone stuff off without ripping any wires off this time(got a spare igo adapter this time just in case)

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It ain't Purdy but it's B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!!!

Captivate Hardware Reset Button

Hey, Just thought I should post this... To reset the Captivate without removing the battery, there is a connection on the board called "TP". It is right below the MMC card and you can barely see it with the phone's case on it. Here is a picture of the rear case removed. The TP is the white dot. It is covered with white paint to avoid accidental connection.
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You can stick a needle through and ground "TP" to the side of the SDCard. Your phone will reset.
It's a signal line. and it's separated from bat+ by 1000ohms.

Thats very useful. Thanks!

Will this reset work on "soft" bricks and/or paperweight states?
Sent from Gingerbread on a Captivate using XDA Premium App

It will work on soft bricks. I'd like to see how a hard brick would react to UART communications. I've got one comming, so I will be able to tell you more soon.

This is a great find for flashing addicts. Thanks so much for sharing this. When I get to my PC I will hit the thanks button.
Sent from Gingerbread on a Captivate using XDA Premium App

I've found it quite useful... but I've been doing some non-standard things with my phone...

That looks sick! Someone's been having fun. Has your phone orbited the Earth yet?

Haha not quite... I've been researching non-invasive methods of recovering bricks, and it requires invasive techniques for analysis. Its amazing how many people brick their phones and how expensive jtag methods are.

Doesn't work on Hard Bricks. Tested.

So is it possible to fix a soft brick using this method instead of making a jig?
On my way home right now, guess I will find out soon enough, thank you

Wasn't quite sure what it was gonna do, and hoping it would magically get me into download mode, where the usb or power wouldn't. big down side, it botch'd something in my hardware, and my battery will no longer charge, can not run the phone without being pluged into the wall or pc. unbricked using a standard ol jig, flashed to 2.1 via 1 click, dunno if it just fried battery or did something else. Any ideas what to trouble shoot first? i've tried reflashing, few different roms, tried reseting battery stats, tried factory reset via settings, and via 1 click with no luck, wont be able to test another battery till tomorrow

bloodforge said:
Wasn't quite sure what it was gonna do, and hoping it would magically get me into download mode, where the usb or power wouldn't. big down side, it botch'd something in my hardware, and my battery will no longer charge, can not run the phone without being pluged into the wall or pc. unbricked using a standard ol jig, flashed to 2.1 via 1 click, dunno if it just fried battery or did something else. Any ideas what to trouble shoot first? i've tried reflashing, few different roms, tried reseting battery stats, tried factory reset via settings, and via 1 click with no luck, wont be able to test another battery till tomorrow
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did something else....
I used this method about 50 times consecutively. No ideas for you on your issue.
This reboots the phone and that's it. Its easy for bench testing purposes. How long did you hold it?

Just until the screen shut off, then released, not really what sure happened. Is there something rom side that controls the charging of the battery or is it strictly hardware?
Just hoping battery just decided to die, needed excuse to get a bigger one anyways.
Edit-Yeah definetly thinking battery is bad now, it showed 100% charge this morning finally, but as soon as i unplugged from wall it died, plugged it back in and was showing it dead again. Soo hmm, dunno sound like bad battery? fixin to make the 30min trip to ATT store to see if they can check it or swap it.

just wanted to say, i wasn't trying to imply the reset you pointed out had killed the phone, i just wasn't quite sure what happened, and this had been one of the last things i had done.
I just didn't realize a battery could go that quickly, had it tested today, and the guy at store said i was the first person he could tell without a shadow of a doubt there battery was dead.
1500mAH battery, and it read dead at first then full charge on tester at 28mAH.

This looks very interesting and I would like to try it out. Before I try it, I was wondering if you could explain it more in depth like if the battery should be in the phone, if it is necessary for the battery to be fully charged and if this method will work on all Captivates. I also noticed a number on your sd card slot that is different than mine but I assume all phones have a different one. Thanks in advance

Phone power downs randomly, then...

So i've recently come back again with an issue i had before with my S2 where i had an issue of it randomly shutting off then vibrate. Back then i just restock to ATT and made sure the power button wasn't stuck. It wasn't happening for a while until just yesterday. [ I did go back to Jellybean after the problem stopped happening as well]
Now currently i've restock back to ATT 2.3 /
So now im almost positive it isn't my battery because once that problem started happening [still stocked] again. Also it would randomly shut off when im and listening to music with headphones and emit a high freq. pitch and the LED camera was flashing when it vibrated as well. Its also very hard to get it back to recovery/download mode but i can and also just starting it up again with the power button and i have to also take out the battery as well .
So so far i've gone back ATT with Odin, and was wondering if someone could help me.

You restored to stock 2.3? Gingerbread? I've only experienced this when uninstalling apps on jellybean, particularly apps with root access. Will do a hot boot. Likely because the system is not mounting or unmounting properly during process. I assume. Never once have I experienced this on any ICS Rom. Try Sky ICS or Embryo 5.x.x Rom. They're both pretty stable.
Sent from my SGH-I727 using xda premium

aliysared said:
So i've recently come back again with an issue i had before with my S2 where i had an issue of it randomly shutting off then vibrate. Back then i just restock to ATT and made sure the power button wasn't stuck. It wasn't happening for a while until just yesterday. [ I did go back to Jellybean after the problem stopped happening as well]
Now currently i've restock back to ATT 2.3 /
So now im almost positive it isn't my battery because once that problem started happening [still stocked] again. Also it would randomly shut off when im and listening to music with headphones and emit a high freq. pitch and the LED camera was flashing when it vibrated as well. Its also very hard to get it back to recovery/download mode but i can and also just starting it up again with the power button and i have to also take out the battery as well .
So so far i've gone back ATT with Odin, and was wondering if someone could help me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you get me a copy of the info tag under the battery please? There was a series (which I had 3 of) that had the same hardware issue that you are experiencing. I'm not near my SR of the series, but will look when I get home and post. It is however an issue that AT&T and Samsung are aware of. AT&T gave me a GS III due to the issue.

risondi 1650
Edit: I see!

aliysared said:
Sure:
Model: sgh-i727
fcc id: a3LSGHi727
Rated 3.7 1500ma
IMEI:
S/N : R2CBA64411R
SKU: 65319
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that looks like it was from a different batch. Same factory but different batch. Most likely you have the same hardware issue I had. My recommendation is to contact AT&T via PHONE, not the international line. You don't want warranty dept. Tell them that you are on a Sky Rocket, and that this is your "x" one that was under warranty, and that all "x" of them have failed under the same known hardware issue. The options you will have are either get a replacement, file under any extended warranty you purchased, OR you can tell them that it is unacceptable, and you would like a different device. They cannot offer you a note, note 2 or any of the iphones. I opted for the S III, and have been happy ever since.

Just so you know it is not the best idea to post you're IMEI publicly.

hechoen said:
Just so you know it is not the best idea to post you're IMEI publicly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
man now i cant even remove it from the other users qoute, but i think i found out it is the powerbutton because when i eventual am able to boot up my phone, if i press the powerbutton to wake up it , it then a few seconds later will shut down randomly and start vibrating with either the flash or no flash at all [camera LED] also it seems like my phone was wet and the power button is not stuck because i opened up the entire phone and its still clickable with no problems.

aliysared said:
man now i cant even remove it from the other users qoute, but i think i found out it is the powerbutton because when i eventual am able to boot up my phone, if i press the powerbutton to wake up it , it then a few seconds later will shut down randomly and start vibrating with either the flash or no flash at all [camera LED] also it seems like my phone was wet and the power button is not stuck because i opened up the entire phone and its still clickable with no problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done did, well get a dental pick (not a tooth pick) and gently clean around the edges of the power button. When you do get it powered back up, make a backup to your sd card, JUST IN CASE you need to send it back to sammy.

I dunno if I'm having something similar happen. My phone was working completely normally (CM 10). Working this AM ok, I pull up an email, and then it shuts off, tries rebooting, the Samsung logo comes up, I get a brief flash on the screen (sometimes just a single line that varies in position on the screen) and then it keeps vibrating. Never had this happen before....and of course it happens as I am at the airport without my laptop to try and put it into download mode...I can't even get it into recovery. Ugh!
Any thoughts?

jslanger said:
I dunno if I'm having something similar happen. My phone was working completely normally (CM 10). Working this AM ok, I pull up an email, and then it shuts off, tries rebooting, the Samsung logo comes up, I get a brief flash on the screen (sometimes just a single line that varies in position on the screen) and then it keeps vibrating. Never had this happen before....and of course it happens as I am at the airport without my laptop to try and put it into download mode...I can't even get it into recovery. Ugh!
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sticky power button, 1stop sticky has a few links for that problem

Or take the phone apart and clean it. Its not hard like 6 00 screws and a box cutter then its really easy to clean.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

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This is what the power button looks like
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Thx. I did take it apart. Luckily I had a micro screwdriver for glasses with me, since I am out of town. Took the board off, blew into it, pressed the button a bunch, etc. Seems to be working now.
Sounds like this is not an uncommon problem though. Makes me wonder about the quality of the parts... This phone is just over a year old, and has always had a case on it (though I do keep it in a pocket so there could be some lint working its way in).
I am a novice at taking this phone apart, and I managed to do it with the following:
An old laminated Blockbuster video card
A hotel door key
A glasses flathead screwdriver.
So if you are nervous about taking it apart, don't worry... It's not hard.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

[Q] What to do with Hard Bricked Phone Under Warranty

I rooted my Verizon Galaxy S III a long time ago (at least 6 months), and never really did anything with the root (it was running the most recent Touchwiz that updated a few days before this happened). A few days back, after leaving my phone on and plugged into a wall charger the night before, I woke up to it being nonresponsive. This has happened before, so I removed the battery and put it back in. It booted fine, but with the time in the upper corner an hour fast. I thought that was weird, so I decided to reboot it. I started to reboot it and then turned away to take a shower. When I get out of the shower, I discover that the phone is now hard bricked and will not boot in any mode (download, recovery, normal). It won't respond to anything. The only thing that it will do is illuminate the red LED when it is plugged into the wall without a battery for about 90 seconds (then, when you put in a battery, it won't do anything). When I plug it into a computer, all that comes up is that "QHSUSB_DLOAD" popup.
My family has GS3's as well, so I tried swapping out the battery and charger. That doesn't change anything.
So I decided to go ahead and call verizon, and the replacement phone came in. Now, however, realizing that my phone used to boot up to a Samsung screen with a lock and "Custom" below it, and it looks an awful lot like I hardbricked it myself, since it's rooted, I question whether or not I will get charged that $600 if they think that I killed my phone (which I think I didn't, but I AM a noob).
My question to you knowledgeable people is: Do you think it is safe to send it to Verizon as it is? Is there anything I can do to make it safer to send in? Or should I send back the replacement phone and look for a $250 used one on craigslist?
TL;DR It looks like I hardbricked my rooted Touchwiz GS3 when I didn't. Is it safe to send it into Verizon's Warranty Department?

Check this out http://mobiletechvideos.mybigcommerce.com/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-jtag-brick-repair/
Definitely cheaper than buying a used device. I don't think I would send in a sgs3 that has that "custom" display on it. If you took it into verizon, they wouldn't replace it after seeing that it has been modded. I would think as soon as they see that in their facility, they would charge you for the replacement. I don't know for sure but that would be my guess. I wouldn't risk getting charged $600. Though maybe someone can help you troubleshoot it more but it definitely seems bricked.

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tu3218 said:
Check this out (URL)
Definitely cheaper than buying a used device. I don't think I would send in a sgs3 that has that "custom" display on it. If you took it into verizon, they wouldn't replace it after seeing that it has been modded. I would think as soon as they see that in their facility, they would charge you for the replacement. I don't know for sure but that would be my guess. I wouldn't risk getting charged $600. Though maybe someone can help you troubleshoot it more but it definitely seems bricked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am of the understanding that JTAG brick repair is aimed at solving problems arising from software, but I suspect that this is a hardware issue (seeing as there were about 6 months between the root and the brick) that wouldn't be fixed by that.

IF it does'n;t boot at all, I doubt Verizon will spend the time to do anything with it other than send you a replacement. As long as you didn;t drop it in water.

DigitalMD said:
IF it does'n;t boot at all, I doubt Verizon will spend the time to do anything with it other than send you a replacement. As long as you didn;t drop it in water.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The water stickers still show purple X's, so I'm not worried about that. I'm more inclined to agree with you than tu3218. And it looks like I'll need to brick a few more phones before I can get that earlier work of art going. Haha.

Triforce11 said:
I am of the understanding that JTAG brick repair is aimed at solving problems arising from software, but I suspect that this is a hardware issue (seeing as there were about 6 months between the root and the brick) that wouldn't be fixed by that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you could email the folks at Mobile Tech and get their input on this. I wouldn't necessarily rule them out entirely just cuz you didn't hard brick it yourself.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

SlimSnoopOS said:
Well you could email the folks at Mobile Tech and get their input on this. I wouldn't necessarily rule them out entirely just cuz you didn't hard brick it yourself.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a bad idea. I'll shoot them an email and post whatever they say here. If anyone else has any input though, I'd be glad to hear it.

If all fails put in microwave for 15-30 seconds and you will be good for exchange.
Sent from my can on a string using Tapatalk 4

Triforce11 said:
The water stickers still show purple X's, so I'm not worried about that. I'm more inclined to agree with you than tu3218. And it looks like I'll need to brick a few more phones before I can get that earlier work of art going. Haha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AS bad as Verizon is in most regards, they really can't afford to accuse everyone that comes in with a dead phone of breaking it and refuse to honor the warranty.

QHSUSB_DLOAD = hard brick
jtag is aimed at fixing a software problem, but more specifically your base coding of your phone. Technically, a hard brick isn't always a hardware malfunction (although it can be), but your base coding to your phone which tells it to boot at its most essential level.
Getting that message when you plug it into your computer means your phone is unrecognizable. It's trying to read what you're plugging in, but your base coding is gone so it can't tell what device is plugged in making it impossible to odin back to stock.
A jtag will rewrite your base coding and allow the phone to be able to boot into recovery and download mode. I would send it in to mobile tech videos and not to verizon. $60 isn't too bad for a working phone.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

I just Odin my s3 back to stock for the warranty reason. Started having some issues with the power button and need another warranty replacement. I didn't want it flashed with no way to get back to stock. With this being my 3rd or 4th replacement I think I might try to guilt them into the s4.
Sent from my GT-P5113 using xda premium

Any luck with this or did you ever return it? I'm in the same situation. Rooted phone a while back, no problems until yesterday when the phone turned off at some point while not in use and would never turn back on or charge, same QHUSB_DLOAD message when connecting to a Windows machine. It would seem to be unrelated to rooting, but I'm afraid if I send it to Verizon, they'll notice and charge me. I'm not sure what their actual procedure is with returned phones and how far they'll go in troubleshooting/doublechecking a phone that's bricked in this way. I don't feel like this is warranty fraud, but Verizon may disagree.

Screwed by repair shop, stuck in boot loop, flashed, no luck

cliffs at end
Nexus 5 in boot loop.
Almost all sources point to power button being the issue.
Finally call a local place ( AZcellphones in Tempe AZ) that says: 20 dollar diagnostic, 39 total if its software, 49 if its hardware. I take it in the next day.
Two days later i call the guy and he says. its fixed, the software was bad you owe me 30 bucks. Uhm you said 39 total if software( i already knew i was going to have an issue with this guy so i didn't say anything on the phone.
( i am going to digress here for a bit) I go in the following day i stop in, and explain id like to pick up the Nexus5, he brings it out hands it to me and says 30 bucks, it wont boot. Hold on i said, i want to see it run, battery is dead. Plugs it in, i start it and it starts to boot and begins the "optimizing apps routine".
By now the owner is over at his desk and the the tech is standing behind the counter explaining to me, "its just updating, i load the oldest factory image of android and then it take a couple boots for it to update.
Ok, fine, lets watch it do just that, i happen to have an identical N5 with me that is fully updated, i check its at version M. "broken" N5 finishes boot and seems to be working fine, i check version, still not current, check for software update and it finds on and starts the download and reboots, seems legit so far.
This is where things start to get hairy... as the N5 starts the optimizing apps routine again for this update, the owner get up and comes over to the desk and start telling me, "This is normal, why are you wasting our time, its going to work, why don't you just take it home and and let it finish updating on your wifi instead." I was floored.
are you kidding dude?
Cmon man just give me the 30 bucks and get the F%&* out of here.
WHAT?
listen i say, first of all, you told me that the charge was 20 for the diagnostic, and a total of 39 if it was software, so at best i owe you 19 PLUS you didn't finish the job.
BUT to top it off i never gave the ok to repair, the receipt even say "diagnosis please"( which i show him). You are a Liar he says, i never told you 39 give me the 30 bucks and the receipt( my copy) and go away( hes holding the phone).
NO chance.
Now im pissed and i dont really give a crap and i tell him i didn't authorize the repair but i ll give you 10 extra for it.
F( you he says. you just wanted it diagnosed? He hands the phone to the tech and say "BREAK THE F&$%#* PHONE", turns to me and says, you will get it back the way you brought it in, Tech now has the phone, and i am on my phone with the non emergency police line.
I explain to them that i am at a local repair facility, the owner did some unauthorized repair on a device and he is no strong arming me for payment. They send and officer, while i wait he tells me to get out of his store its private property and im trespassing, it tell HIM to go F$#% him self. (Tech has back of phone open and is fiddling with a screw driver). I say , that thing better boot loop when i get it back or you are going to have a problem. ( i figured he just hosed it completely) He says "ill call the cops" i said, ill already did they are on the way. Silence.
So, officer arrives, i explain the situation, she explains to me that unfortunately this is civil, not a lot she can do but goes inside with me **** for brains is all nice hands me my phone back that flashes the google logo and the goes black. Tech explains to officer that he just removed the software that they installed. We go outside , i apologize for wasting her time and she says..Did you Yelp this place? Nope, you should have ( she is very nice about it)this isnt the first time ive had problems here with this guy, lesson learned i guess.( i yelped them and sure enough, loads of crappy comments)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/azcellphones-tempe-2
So back to my question: I connected this phone to my computer via usb cable and it inst recognized even when boot looping.
How did the tech get access to it and how do i get access to it or am i SOL?
Cliffs, N5 was boot looping Tech did unauthorized software( factory image flash) repair which they reversed.
To add: i posted this on reddit as well and got a lot of help first it was trying to use Wugfresh Nexus tool kit which didnt seem to work other than unlock the boot loader and i was walked through and learned on the fly how to flash from command prompt and manual flashed 5.1.1 (LMY48I) along with TWRP for this unit.
all that said , the phone will not power up when not connected to usb. when connected to usb it cycles between the google logo and a white battery indicator, i can get into bootloader but any choice i make( like boot into recovery) starts the cycle again.
From the story above, when the tech had the phone after the owner told hi to break it, i think he opened the back up and did something to it. ive looked and cant see anything obvious.
any suggestions?

There are a lot of terms you misused above, I don't mean to be rude about it but it makes it hards to understand your problem.
with that said, back up your personal files and follow this guide Tutorial How to Flash Factory Image
If you any more trouble let me know.

appologies for the misuse of terms as i am a novice, BUT over the course of the last few days i have done the following..
since i could get to the boot loader when on usb i:
Learned to use WUGfresh Nexus tool kit, unlocked the boot loader and flashed a factory image.
Phone remained unusable as it would just go into this weird cycle of flashing the google logo and showing the battery indicator as long as it was plugged into usb, as soon as it unplugged, it went dead.
So i learned to manually flash the image files similar to the link you provided.
Flashes all finished with no errors yet the phone remained int he same weird cycle.
I started to suspect something else( especially after remembering the tech had the back off the phone to "break it" form my story)
So today i opened it up and found the issue:
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Tech cut the connector off the ribbon cable of the battery.
So i ordered a new battery of amazon, that will resolve the issue.

Consider yourself lucky damaging the battery was all he did. It could have been so much worse.

So now you're out much more than the extra 19 dollars? I'm not sure that was worth all the hassle. I would have pushed the 19 then complain to police or whatever. Then just reverse charges on cc. I know that's not how it should work, but if it's something you care that much about 19 dollars seems pretty trivial. All that said your power button works fine now?

frigidazzi said:
So now you're out much more than the extra 19 dollars? I'm not sure that was worth all the hassle. I would have pushed the 19 then complain to police or whatever. Then just reverse charges on cc. I know that's not how it should work, but if it's something you care that much about 19 dollars seems pretty trivial. All that said your power button works fine now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im not out more than the extra 19, the new OEM battery was 12 bucks shipped.
I actually did try to pay him the 19 dollars he refused and said i owed him 30, that how this went downhill. I took it in expecting that it was the power button, wasn't sure, he said it was a software issue and though i was skeptical, it was working, for a bit.
And hopefully the battery is the only things he hosed, i don't see anything else glaringly obvious and if so i AM lucky.
Though, i am a clever and determined individual, he hasn't heard the last of me in one form or another.

Received the new Battery, installed and the N5 booted up without issue.
The entire boot loop was cause by the battery cable being cut by that POS.
So fresh factory image, latest TWRP and rooted.