[Q] Debranding S4 AND keeping official updates? - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi there!
My gf wants a S4, but here in Norway these phones are pretty expensive. So,I started searching eBay for cheaper phones.
I've found brand new phones there,but they are branded for AT&T and others.
Is there any way to debrand the phone AND keep getting official updates?
(And,she need the phone to support our langue,but i think that wouldnt be any problem? (Norwegian))

You can flash a stock rom and flash triangle away to keep official status
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

Thanks for your answer!
A new SG4 at half price it is then!

I have quite the same problem...can you explain what triangle is please?thank you very much
Inviato dal mio GT-I9505 con Tapatalk 2

When you flash anything to your phone it updates the flash counter telling the phone its been modded, then a yellow triangle appears (I think) and that's what stops the updates as it shows as unofficial, triangle away removes it
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

If you flash an official Samsung firmware (for example, using Odin) it shouldn't update the flash counter, should it? I thought that was only when flashing third-party ROMs and then wanting to go back to an official one.
At least that was the case on my Galaxy S2. Flashed a different official firmware, unbranded and from another region using ODIN, and the phone still shows as "original".

MercuryStar said:
If you flash an official Samsung firmware (for example, using Odin) it shouldn't update the flash counter, should it? I thought that was only when flashing third-party ROMs and then wanting to go back to an official one.
At least that was the case on my Galaxy S2. Flashed a different official firmware, unbranded and from another region using ODIN, and the phone still shows as "original".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could be right, probably are I've not messed around with flashing in ages
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

MercuryStar said:
If you flash an official Samsung firmware (for example, using Odin) it shouldn't update the flash counter, should it? I thought that was only when flashing third-party ROMs and then wanting to go back to an official one.
At least that was the case on my Galaxy S2. Flashed a different official firmware, unbranded and from another region using ODIN, and the phone still shows as "original".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Official Samsung firmware is signed by samsung itself, so flashing it through odin will not increase the counter and status will stay official.
sent from my GT-I9505..

Lucius1972 said:
Official Samsung firmware is signed by samsung itself, so flashing it through odin will not increase the counter and status will stay official.
sent from my GT-I9505..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So will youstil be able to receive ota updates? I was waiting for the newest update to come ota but didn't want to lose all my data and lose stock official status and update my flash counter... if I flashed it would all that be okay?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

calum96 said:
When you flash anything to your phone it updates the flash counter telling the phone its been modded, then a yellow triangle appears (I think) and that's what stops the updates as it shows as unofficial, triangle away removes it
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashin official stock firmware won't require root or trigger the triangle counter, only custom roms or rooting does this

cameracartwright said:
Flashin official stock firmware won't require root or trigger the triangle counter, only custom roms or rooting does this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but to get OTA updates dont you have to change your CSC to the same as your ROM has?
for example, I'm from Brazil and I have ZVV S4, from my career, but if I want to debrand it I have to change the CSC to ZTO and flash ZTO rom later to have OTA updates, right?

Related

Flashed the latest update /how to remove?

Hi guys, I recently flashed the latest update on my i9500 (the one that enables you to move apps to sd) I downloaded the update and flashed it using Odin. But I can no longer do an OTA update, whenever I check it says something like "Device is modified unable to update". It also says under device status as "Custom". BTw, I completely wiped my device but the flashed update still remains. I rooted BTw and using persues kernel if it matters.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Marck527 said:
Hi guys, I recently flashed the latest update on my i9500 (the one that enables you to move apps to sd) I downloaded the update and flashed it using Odin. But I can no longer do an OTA update, whenever I check it says something like "Device is modified unable to update". It also says under device status as "Custom". BTw, I completely wiped my device but the flashed update still remains. I rooted BTw and using persues kernel if it matters.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to sammobile.com and find the firmware of your region and flash it.
Sent from my GT-I9500
Did you used to be rooted before you flashed the update with Odin?
In that case you'll probably have to re-root your device, run Triangle Away by chainfire to reset the counter and then flash the latest official firmware from sammobile. That ought to get you back to official status.
abuarman said:
Go to sammobile.com and find the firmware of your region and flash it.
Sent from my GT-I9500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but I just checked and the firmware for my region is not available on sammobile yet.
Obscure Reference said:
Did you used to be rooted before you flashed the update with Odin?
In that case you'll probably have to re-root your device, run Triangle Away by chainfire to reset the counter and then flash the latest official firmware from sammobile. That ought to get you back to official status.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I rooted straight away after I flashed the update. So I can just run triangle away and flash the firmware for my region?
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Marck527 said:
Thanks, but I just checked and the firmware for my region is not available on sammobile yet.
No, I rooted straight away after I flashed the update. So I can just run triangle away and flash the firmware for my region?
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worth a shot. It'd be interesting to see if it's even increased the counter. But.. if the right firmware isn't available on sammobile yet.. what'd you flash? And where did you get it?
Hi,
There is no Triangle Away for the i9500.
Once you root it ,there is no way to get it back to "Official"
Hence, you cannot get OTA
To get the firmware you want,look HERE
malybru said:
Hi,
There is no Triangle Away for the i9500.
Once you root it ,there is no way to get it back to "Official"
Hence, you cannot get OTA
To get the firmware you want,look HERE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah just bought it and quickly refunded as soon as I found d out its incompatible so does this mean I have to flash all the future update? Or wait for triangle away to be compatible I guess.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Marck527 said:
Yeah just bought it and quickly refunded as soon as I found d out its incompatible so does this mean I have to flash all the future update? Or wait for triangle away to be compatible I guess.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Yes.
Yes.
Marck527 said:
Yeah just bought it and quickly refunded as soon as I found d out its incompatible so does this mean I have to flash all the future update? Or wait for triangle away to be compatible I guess.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Djembey has an official status mod that u can use to stay rooted but have official status. I have done this on the latest rom for I9500, and it works. My device and binary status are still official, OTA works, and I am rooted.. You may need to flash the mod a couple of times and factory reset/wipe cache, but this works 100%.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2255190
msquare said:
Djembey has an official status mod that u can use to stay rooted but have official status. I have done this on the latest rom for I9500, and it works. My device and binary status are still official, OTA works, and I am rooted.. You may need to flash the mod a couple of times and factory reset/wipe cache, but this works 100%.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2255190
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks for the link, but wouldn't I still need to run triangle away? Which isn't compatible?
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Marck527 said:
Hey thanks for the link, but wouldn't I still need to run triangle away? Which isn't compatible?
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, thats true. My understanding is that using triangle away may become relevant when you want to return your phone to Samsung for warranty, but until then this method works perfectly for making the phone run almost like a stock unrooted phone.

Device has been modified after odin flash

Hi all
I used to be able to flash official firmware using odin when i wanted a clean install and get ota updates.
Recently i have been getting "your device has been modified" when trying to check for updates.
Download mode. System status and binary "custom"
My network providers firmware is MEA and i have been lucky to avoid the knox issue as i have not odin flashed any firmware beyond MGA.
The only thing i have done recently is install foxhound 2 which is on ML1.
I know i can reset it using triangleaway but obviously i would have to root it.
Is there a reason why the bootloader would still show as custom after an official install?
Just concerned incase i need to send it back for repair thats all.
Many thanks for your help
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Triangle away doesn't reset flash counter. Please help

I have galaxy s4 and wanted to reset flash counter with triangle away . After doing all the steps and I rebooted the phone the triangle away flash counter still show 9 . How come ? Why does it still show 9 and not 1 ?
Any help will be appreciated .
It will most likely be because you're not using stock recovery or kernel
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
symondo12 said:
It will most likely be because you're not using stock recovery or kernel
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it means if I go back to stock rom and kernel ,it will reset flash counter to zero and not if i am trying to reset on a already custom rom ?
ricky0001 said:
So it means if I go back to stock rom and kernel ,it will reset flash counter to zero and not if i am trying to reset on a already custom rom ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It won't work you must have stock kernel, stock recovery
You need to flash pre-rooted stock fw with odin, then use triangle away to reset counter. After that you can flash non rooted stock fw with odin to get your phone back to stock, if that is what you want.
vesu said:
You need to flash pre-rooted stock fw with odin, then use triangle away to reset counter. After that you can flash non rooted stock fw with odin to get your phone back to stock, if that is what you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for noob question . But what is pre rooted stock ? Isnt it same as samsung stock firmware which I can flash to overwrite custom rom ?
ricky0001 said:
Sorry for noob question . But what is pre rooted stock ? Isnt it same as samsung stock firmware which I can flash to overwrite custom rom ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, its stock samsung firmware but it is already rooted, so you can use triangle away.
vesu said:
Yes, its stock samsung firmware but it is already rooted, so you can use triangle away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So i need to be rooted to have triangle away working ? I have already downloaded stock firmware but where do I get pre rooted stock firmware ?
ricky0001 said:
So i need to be rooted to have triangle away working ? I have already downloaded stock firmware but where do I get pre rooted stock firmware ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure that you absolutely know what you are doing, I dont want you to brick your deivce or trip knox flag.
If you are still with fw that has OLD bootloader without knox flag, then you can use this one: http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23050663588004454
But if you already have bootloader with knox, then I am not one to help you. After reseting my counter and flashing stock fw, I ota updated my phone to newer fw that has knox bootloader and I've been with stock since then.
Oh and btw, you have i9505 right?
vesu said:
Make sure that you absolutely know what you are doing, I dont want you to brick your deivce or trip knox flag.
If you are still with fw that has OLD bootloader without knox flag, then you can use this one: http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23050663588004454
But if you already have bootloader with knox, then I am not one to help you. After reseting my counter and flashing stock fw, I ota updated my phone to newer fw that has knox bootloader and I've been with stock since then.
Oh and btw, you have i9505 right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I have I9505 model. I am on new bootloader as I updated my phone with MH8 firmware and got 0x1 knox warranty void. Doesnt really care about losing warranty because I have always handled my phone carefully.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Which baseband do you have ?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have reset it now to 0.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Q][Australian]XSA OTA

Does the latest update activate KNOX? I've blocked my phone from OTAs after seeing the chaos caused by Samsung with the euro S4s.
Are you sure xsa is for galaxy s4 i9505?
I can only find xsa for galaxy s3.
The only Australian 4.3 I can find is for optus which is MK9
http://live.samsung-updates.com/index.php?device=GT-I9505
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
XSA for I9505 is available on Samfirmware (so is the Voda update) and as it's XXUE, yes, it has the 'Knox enabled' bootloader; I.E the one that has gives you this pic in DL mode & at the moment has no way of resetting the Knox warranty if you flash non-stock firmware.
MistahBungle said:
XSA for I9505 is available on Samfirmware (so is the Voda update) and as it's XXUE, yes, it has the 'Knox enabled' bootloader; I.E the one that has gives you this pic in DL mode & at the moment has no way of resetting the Knox warranty if you flash non-stock firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome thank Mistah.
I9505XXUEMK9_I9505VAUEMK1_VAU
Obviously that other website not up to date.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
No worries
Thanks for the confirmation. I'm totally not updating with official stock firmware anymore.
Unless you're happy with always running a completely stock phone, that's a wise choice
Oniyuri said:
Thanks for the confirmation. I'm totally not updating with official stock firmware anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

XSA ROM

Hey guys.
Quick one, is the XSA rom you can get from samobile the stock Samsung rom? As in not telstra or Optus? Like you would get if you bought unbranded from a Samsung store?
Thanks guys. Only reason I ask is that I'm trying to figure out if my Optus firmware is crappy, I'd guess it is but just need to see before I can't take it back.
Thanks again.
Search all the different AU(?) Firmwares and see, its possible XSA is the unbranded one - although saying that, I think sammobile says if its unbranded.
Sent from my CM11 Kitkat powered N9005
XSA is the unbranded one...
Thanks guys.
So I shouldn't have any trouble with that yeah?
It's the same build number as I have now so that should flash fine, without triggering Knox?
Thanks.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Yup no Knox worries
Sent from my CM11 Kitkat powered N9005
Thanks again guys. Might do that in the next day and see if it's this crappy rom.
Help me understand this note 3 Knox business. So, I've had nexuses and other Samsung's and I've never had the thing where I couldn't use a previous version of Android if I updated.
So is it just the bootloader we're talking about? If I updated to 4.4.2, I couldn't use anything older than that? Even just the rom?
So how would I even get a 4.4.2 rom if say the roms didn't include the bootloader? And if I did get a bootloader, is the right one? Haha.
Sorry to ask so much, just things seem different with this particular phone and the current versions of Android.
Maybe it's just the bootloader and you can't go and use an older version of Android if that's been flashed.
Couldn't you flash a stock 4.3 official rom if you wanted to go back?
Thanks in advance.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Lambetts said:
Thanks again guys. Might do that in the next day and see if it's this crappy rom.
Help me understand this note 3 Knox business. So, I've had nexuses and other Samsung's and I've never had the thing where I couldn't use a previous version of Android if I updated.
So is it just the bootloader we're talking about? If I updated to 4.4.2, I couldn't use anything older than that? Even just the rom?
So how would I even get a 4.4.2 rom if say the roms didn't include the bootloader? And if I did get a bootloader, is the right one? Haha.
Sorry to ask so much, just things seem different with this particular phone and the current versions of Android.
Maybe it's just the bootloader and you can't go and use an older version of Android if that's been flashed.
Couldn't you flash a stock 4.3 official rom if you wanted to go back?
Thanks in advance.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you flash a stock KK rom it updates the bootloader. If you get the broken up KK polish rom and don't update the bootloader then KK doesn't load.
Once you update to the latest KK bootloader you CAN'T go back to JB... You will trip Knox warranty void if you try...
Argh I see.
So basically it's the bootloader. But if you root, flash custom recovery and or rom, that's going to trip knox anyway isn't it? So if you did use a earlier version of Android, you still can, it will just trip knox?
Tripping knox doesn't make your phone unusable does it? I'm sure there will be some sort of triangle away or similar that will get rid of it. What if you flash a clean bootloader? Would that clear knox? I wonder where the knox counter info is stored and if it's accessible...
Geez, making myself sound like a noob here haha. I swear I'm an experienced flasher haha.
Just making sure I understand this before I do anything. Seems a little different than normal. Everyone should understand this stuff before they do anything. Haha.
Thanks again.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Categories

Resources