[Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0, 5.0] Mevordel:
I am in the process of updating and expanding this thread to a useful state, so it's a bit disorganized right now.

Don't panic.

The first step in recovering your device is to examine the situation. Which variant of the Galaxy Player 5.0 do you have? If you have a 3.6, 4.0, or 4.2, leave now before you break something! If you have a physical home button (that moves when you push it), you have an "international" device. If your home button is flat, you have a "USA" device. If you have a Korean or 16GB model, ask and I will add more specific instructions.

Next, what is your problem?

My device will not turn on, and is stuck at a black screen.

First, of course, make sure the battery is not dead. If the screen does not show anything even with the device plugged in, go to step 1.

My device only shows a black screen with "Phone -- ! -- PC" in the middle.

You are actually in download mode. It just looks different. Go to step 2.

My device shows a mostly black screen with a "loading" circle in the middle when I turn it on, but still can enter download mode.

Drain your battery fully, and you should be fixed. See *link* for more information.

My device shows a yellow triangle with "Downloading" at the top.

You are in download mode. If you are stuck here, you need to flash a kernel. Go to step 2.

My device is stuck at a non-animated Samsung logo.

You need to flash a kernel or a firmware. Head to step 2.

My device is stuck at a boot animation indefinitely.

You are in what is called a "boot loop." See step 4.

My device boots fine. I just want to make a backup.

Good job thinking ahead. See post four for instructions.

I not know what download mode is.

Step 2 gives a brief explanation.

I do not know what CWM is.

Step 3 gives a brief explanation.

I cannot flash things in download mode, even with a PIT.

See the section of post three about DD dumps and fdisk.

I just want to go back to stock

See step 2.

Step 1 - Restoring Bootloaders

If your device is stuck at a completely black screen (no Samsung logo), then something is wrong with the Player's boot loaders. Your device cannot do anything until these are fixed (as they provide the download mode used in step 2). There is a tool that can help you fix them, but it does not work in every case. If it does not work for you, there is nothing you can do but pay someone to fix your player, or send it back to where you bought it from.

What you will need:

A computer running Linux (if you have never used Linux before, Ubuntu is considered a good place to start).

A USB cable and a port on the back of your computer (if it is a desktop). No hubs!

Boot into Linux and make sure Java is installed. Download *tool*, *bootloaders*, *heimdall* and the *appropriate PIT for your device*.

To run the Unbrickable Resueerctor tool, double-click the .jar file (or right-click and open with java), or on the command line, run

java -jar ~/path/to/jarfile

Technical Explanation:

Step 2 - Flashing a Kernel

Now that your device has functional boot loaders, you can enter and use download mode. There are two tools you can use on your PC to flash things while your device is in this mode: Odin and heimdall. Odin is proprietary software made by Samsung that only runs on windows; heimdall is an open-source, cross-platform replacement.

Technical Explanation: