[Philips, Sony, TCL Android TV] Deleted member 11575455:
My Android TV lost power during a firmware update and is now in a bootloop. In the case of the 5000 Series TV's, Philips removed the built in hardware feature(Standard on all Android Devices) to boot into bootloader/fastboot or recovery using hardware buttons on the TV. Why I ask? They don't disable that on their European model TV's, so why only in the US? when i should just be able to boot to bootloader and reflash the firmware myself, I now can do nothing and my TV is an expensive brick. I'm not a baby and I can work on my own stuff Philips, no need to disable standard features and render my device junk for no reason other than from a bad update flash! Their website claims to have the update file but of course they give a dead link. Customer support says they have no updates to give and that the update they claim to provide on their website doesn't exist(still claims to be available on their support website). They also claim that the low level flashing mode used by their updates, explained in their update instructions, again, don't exist and I made it all up. I was repeatedly told they couldn't help me, when asked to be put into contact with someone who could help me, I was simply asked if there was anything else they could help me with and the same cycle repeated, at which point I terminated the call. When i asked to speak with a supervisor in hopes of escalating the issue to someone that was in a position to have an actual conversation with me, I was told they were all busy and that I would be called back. I was never called back. After my own testing and extensive research, I found that the blue upgrade screen explained in their update instructions from their website, does indeed exist, as I was able to rename a zip to the naming scheme the tv wants, and the blue upgrade screen comes up, but because I don't have the proper signed .pkg file, the reflash fails. Multiple attempts with customer service has done nothing, they are all programmed, braindead robots and I just wanted to scream into the phone from frustration, that's how ridiculous the interactions were. It was clear to me that these customer service people are payed to not think or use any sort of logic and instead just continue reading off their rhetoric on the screen in front of them. It was a very toxic environment from the moment someone picked up and it was akin to some sort of warfare tatics I would imagine are being used by the likes of the CIA and such. I called customer support for support, instead of support what I got was the runaround, felt belittled and bullied into the belief that I am wrong, when the information presented to me, as well as personal testing has shown otherwise, not to mention my own extensive knowledge of the Android ecosystem. At the core, this TV is just an Android device with a giant non-touchscreen. I have an update file from another user on XDA in zip format, but without the ability to boot into the bootloader or recovery, I can't use it. I would need the untouched upgrade_loader.pkg file for this tv to be run from usb in order to reflash the TV and recover from my brick. If anybody was smart enough to grab any files from the tv, any of the updates, ota updates, .pgk files, anything that could possibly help me get this TV going again, please reach out to me.

pizzag98@gmail.com

Luckily, this TV is still under warranty and if I can't get this fixed myself following the proper channels, then I will def be getting it either repaired under warranty or just telling them I want my money back and going to a more customer friendly company. If Philips wants to be Anti-Consumer and disable standard built-in hardware features, offer non-existent files on their website and then treat their paying customers like crap with their dodgy customer support practices, then fine, they can pay for the damages caused by their practices and decisions, and never again will I spend another penny to support or help keep this company afloat, and I encourage others to rethink their purchases as well, across the board.....

I strongly encourage Philips to rethink their position and to stop stiff-arming their customers and instead work with them. When I call to inquire about an offered firmware file on their website, I don't expect to be asked why I want the file. The fact I want it, their website claims to have it available for download and just the plain old fact that I want the file for my $900 TV for my own personal archive for instances such as this, I don't feel any explanation is required. I have no issue taking this over to YouTube and placing my terrible experience with this into the proper hands of somebody that will get this info out there to the masses and attempt to get several million more sets of eyes on this in the hopes of maybe putting some pressure on these people to stop being so trivial and petty about dumb things. I need the .pkg file to fix my TV, Philips, not a big deal, stop pretending it is please.....

TV Webpage: https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/75PFL5604_F7/5000-series-android-tv-with-google-assistant

TV Support Webpage: https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/75PFL5604_F7/5000-series-android-tv-with-google-assistant/support