Database Users

Question about binary counter for insurance issue

Hello everyone,
Today I have root my i9500 today through this topic http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/4...exynos5-root-android422-xxuamde-jellybean.htm
I did this because I want to flash to another country firmware. So I root the phone and I flash it back to an official firmware. When I go to Dowload Mode to check the binary counter status, I see this :
Current binary: samsung official
System status: official
how is it possible? I thought that when we root the device once, the counter is not zero anymore, do I miss something? Is there somewhere else that showing Binary Counter? Could the Current binary be official even if the counter is not zero?
Can we reset the binary counter with Triangle Away for the i9500? People report that it works for i9505, but does someone try if it works for i9500?
Thank you in advance.

I think binary counter increases when we use twrp or cwm
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda premium

Madawcisrich said:
Hello everyone,
Today I have root my i9500 today through this topic http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/4...exynos5-root-android422-xxuamde-jellybean.htm
I did this because I want to flash to another country firmware. So I root the phone and I flash it back to an official firmware. When I go to Dowload Mode to check the binary counter status, I see this :
Current binary: samsung official
System status: official
how is it possible? I thought that when we root the device once, the counter is not zero anymore, do I miss something? Is there somewhere else that showing Binary Counter? Could the Current binary be official even if the counter is not zero?
Can we reset the binary counter with Triangle Away for the i9500? People report that it works for i9505, but does someone try if it works for i9500?
Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Triangle Away only works on the I9505 atm unfortunately.

Zahid Ali said:
I think binary counter increases when we use twrp or cwm
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your answer. Sorry for my noobiness, but I don't know what is twrp. So clearly, does my counter increase or not? If i send my phone to samsung, will they notify that I have already root once my phone? Thank you in advance

Zahid Ali said:
I think binary counter increases when we use twrp or cwm
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will always say 1 after each reboot if you have custom recovery, even if you could reset the counter to 0.

gee2012 said:
It will always say 1 after each reboot if you have custom recovery, even if you could reset the counter to 0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you mean that my counter is zero now, since my binary status is samsung official?

Madawcisrich said:
So you mean that my counter is zero now, since my binary status is samsung official?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it is most probably 1. Most servicecenters however rarely check the counter. I once turned in a rooted S2 with a custom rom on it and it got fixed under warranty. They wipe it and reflash a stock rom after repair.

binary counter is hidden in s4
you do not need to root for flashing official firmware!

samersh72 said:
binary counter is hidden in s4
you do not need to root for flashing official firmware!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, didn`t know that. First time on a Samsung device
Does the counter show up in Triangle Away on the I9505?

samersh72 said:
binary counter is hidden in s4
you do not need to root for flashing official firmware!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ha, didn't know that. So according to you, will I have some problem if I return the phone to Samsung?

Madawcisrich said:
ha, didn't know that. So according to you, will I have some problem if I return the phone to Samsung?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flashing unsigned stuff by samsung (cwm, rom..) via odin only, turn your status to custom and increase binary counter. i see that your status is official. but i think you dont have 0 count since when you rooted your phone you used odin.
if samsung look at your counter, so there is a problem

samersh72 said:
flashing unsigned stuff by samsung (cwm, rom..) via odin only, turn your status to custom and increase binary counter. i see that your status is official. but i think you dont have 0 count since when you rooted your phone you used odin.
if samsung look at your counter, so there is a problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So at the moment there is no solution for the i9500 to reset the counter to 0, right?

Madawcisrich said:
So at the moment there is no solution for the i9500 to reset the counter to 0, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not by using triangle away (waiting CF for solution). but i dont know if there is other solution. search

Any galaxy s4 i9500 Indian users with root?????

Hello friends I have a i9500 Indian version and I want to root but worried about the counter has anyone been able to root and later was the service able to detect the counter please help
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 2

hypergamer1231 said:
Hello friends I have a i9500 Indian version and I want to root but worried about the counter has anyone been able to root and later was the service able to detect the counter please help
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, no way to reset the counter atm on the I9500 and it is visible for service personal.

gee2012 said:
Yes, no way to reset the counter atm on the I9500 and it is visible for service personal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a ton for the reply so did the svc center void the warranty and does this mean we will have to wait till chainfire or someone can find a way to make triangle away work on the I9500.....I kinda feel sad for the exynos variant isnt there any way to root the device without losing the warranty..

hypergamer1231 said:
Thanks a ton for the reply so did the svc center void the warranty and does this mean we will have to wait till chainfire or someone can find a way to make triangle away work on the I9500.....I kinda feel sad for the exynos variant isnt there any way to root the device without losing the warranty..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not that i know of, it is triggered when custom software is beeing installed with Odin.

gee2012 said:
Not that i know if, it is triggered when custom software is beeing installed by Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what am trying to check here is if i install a custom recovery which obviously will be via odin and for some reason if i have to give the phone to the svc center and i flash back to the stock rom will i be able to cover it under warranty....

hypergamer1231 said:
So what am trying to check here is if i install a custom recovery which obviously will be via odin and for some reason if i have to give the phone to the svc center and i flash back to the stock rom will i be able to cover it under warranty....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your counter will still be raised and the status will still show modified, if they see that they may void warranty as it is not in original condition.

I am rooted. My counter is at 0. Link to stock rom with root is below
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2317105
Flashing this via odin doesnt trip the counter.

hellboy13 said:
I am rooted. My counter is at 0. Link to stock rom with root is below
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2317105
Flashing this via odin doesnt trip the counter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, thats the only exception Unless you want/need custom recovery.

[Q] Reverting back to stock

Hello everyone,
I have Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 and using CyanogenMod's installer version a few months now.
CyanogenMod's installer has A LOT of problems and I had enough of it and want to go back to stock.
Before I moved to CM I had 4.3 and also Knox bootloader so it went to 0x1 after CM's installation.
I want to ask can I go to stock 4.3 even that my Knox is 0x1?
Do I need to use TriangleAway? If so, how?
I understood that TriangleAway requires Samsung's official kernel but I have the kernel of CM now.
Anyway, what do I need to do?
Thanks in advance

Meyhemg said:
Hello everyone,
I have Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 and using CyanogenMod's installer version a few months now.
CyanogenMod's installer has A LOT of problems and I had enough of it and want to go back to stock.
Before I moved to CM I had 4.3 and also Knox bootloader so it went to 0x1 after CM's installation.
I want to ask can I go to stock 4.3 even that my Knox is 0x1?
Do I need to use TriangleAway? If so, how?
I understood that TriangleAway requires Samsung's official kernel but I have the kernel of CM now.
Anyway, what do I need to do?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Find your stock rom specifically the one that is your region. If your phone is for example like mine, i9500 XSE which is the first three letters of Indonesia then get that specific stock file.
It's probably around 1.4 gigs. It downloads very slow. After that open Odin flash the stock rom, and your good to go. I've bricked numerous times and all I've done was revert back like this. No problems.
I don't know if you can put the stock rom in your custom recovery and flash it there, I haven't tried it yet just run Odin in administrator mode, insert the stock rom, go into download mode on your phone by pressing - vol and power, then click start.
Wait.
Stock.
Done,
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Drasztic said:
Find your stock rom specifically the one that is your region. If your phone is for example like mine, i9500 XSE which is the first three letters of Indonesia then get that specific stock file.
It's probably around 1.4 gigs. It downloads very slow. After that open Odin flash the stock rom, and your good to go. I've bricked numerous times and all I've done was revert back like this. No problems.
I don't know if you can put the stock rom in your custom recovery and flash it there, I haven't tried it yet just run Odin in administrator mode, insert the stock rom, go into download mode on your phone by pressing - vol and power, then click start.
Wait.
Stock.
Done,
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but don't I need to use TriangleAway to reset binary counter so that I'll be able to receive future updates from Samsung?

Meyhemg said:
Thanks, but don't I need to use TriangleAway to reset binary counter so that I'll be able to receive future updates from Samsung?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may be wrong on this one but, if you use the auto CF root method I don't think there's a way to use the triangle method.
Therefore you're stuck on Knox. I could be wrong but I'm leaning on 70% being right..
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Meyhemg said:
Thanks, but don't I need to use TriangleAway to reset binary counter so that I'll be able to receive future updates from Samsung?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess the binary counter is hidden somewhere. And for updates you can get OTA kies updates if you are havin stock recovery. One last thing Triangle away doesnt supports I9500.
All the best.

Mandark52 said:
I guess the binary counter is hidden somewhere. And for updates you can get OTA kies updates if you are havin stock recovery. One last thing Triangle away doesnt supports I9500.
All the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
I installed stock BTU and now my device status shows "Official" and also in download mode, without using TriangleAway.
Also, Kies works with my device again and recognizes it.

Meyhemg said:
Thanks.
I installed stock BTU and now my device status shows "Official" and also in download mode, without using TriangleAway.
Also, Kies works with my device again and recognizes it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it says official but your knox counter might be already 0x01. If so, you won't be able to update your device via Kies anymore. You can always download the updates anyway.
cheers ~

deandoi said:
Yes it says official but your knox counter might be already 0x01. If so, you won't be able to update your device via Kies anymore. You can always download the updates anyway.
cheers ~
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But when I connect my phone to Kies it does recognize my phone and says I have the latest firmware and it doesn't shoe any sign that I won't be able to update through it.
I think you're mistaken with the binary counter. If the binary counter wasn't 0 and showed custom in download mode and settings only then I couldn't update via Kies.

deandoi said:
Yes it says official but your knox counter might be already 0x01. If so, you won't be able to update your device via Kies anymore. You can always download the updates anyway.
cheers ~
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a custom recovery then you wont be able to update via Kies or OTA.
Sent from my OCTA CORE I9500

Meyhemg said:
But when I connect my phone to Kies it does recognize my phone and says I have the latest firmware and it doesn't shoe any sign that I won't be able to update through it.
I think you're mistaken with the binary counter. If the binary counter wasn't 0 and showed custom in download mode and settings only then I couldn't update via Kies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah. My mistake.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

deandoi said:
Oh yeah. My mistake.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PHEW. I thought it's the end of updates for my device.
What I did understand is that I won't be able to use Knox app on the phone. right?

Meyhemg said:
PHEW. I thought it's the end of updates for my device.
What I did understand is that I won't be able to use Knox app on the phone. right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. You won't be able to use them. I disable them anyway.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Root without tripping knox idea (will not work)

Hawke84 said:
Lots of work went I to finding a solution on S4 when knox first came out including by chainfire with no luck. Also since october people have been trying to root note 4 without tripping knox with no luck.
There is no difference in the system of tripped and not tripped. Soon as anything unsigned or insecure is flashed the bootloader burns the efuse
Sent from my SM-G920F using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you can see my idea was a bust but here is the original op
Okay, Lets try this here because nobody seems interested in helping in the T-Mobile section.
ThePagel said:
Correct me if I am wrong here, the reason knox is being tripped by cf auto root is because of the way it acquirers root not because it is rooted. With that in mind I would Like to make a tar ball with a pre rooted system.img. To make sure it will have the best possibility to not trip knox and not cause a soft brick I want to use a system dump from a running phone that has only been rooted. I am pretty sure this has worked on every galaxy phone before the s6 and the only reason you don't hear more about it recently is because of the success of towelroot. I am getting this phone on the 1st (so excited) and would like root but want to try samsung pay more.
If you are willing to help I need the following:
Be on a 100% stock samsung bloated system with root (absolutely no tweaked systems I need pure stock with root)
Install supersu into /system (supersu settings)
Make a system.img dump with adb or terminal emulator and upload it for me (as long as you do not dump the data partition no personal data will be dumped)
At this point I will make the tarball and upload it and have the person who made the system dump flash the tarball. If he/she boots up fine I will the need a volunteer who has not rooted and verified that knox has not been tripped on his/her phone to flash it and see if knox still has its warranty. Obviously the volunteer should go into this not caring if knox gets tripped.
To make things completely clear I need the following:
Somebody who knows how to dump with adb/terminal emulator and already rooted
Somebody without a tripped knox warranty who doesn't care if it gets tripped
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

As soon as you flash an unsigned image Knox is going to be tripped.

Lots of work went I to finding a solution on S4 when knox first came out including by chainfire with no luck. Also since october people have been trying to root note 4 without tripping knox with no luck.
There is no difference in the system of tripped and not tripped. Soon as anything unsigned or insecure is flashed the bootloader burns the efuse
Sent from my SM-G920F using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Drumrocker said:
As soon as you flash an unsigned image Knox is going to be tripped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^ This, unfortunately, ends the discussion altogether.

Drumrocker said:
As soon as you flash an unsigned image Knox is going to be tripped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hawke84 said:
Lots of work went I to finding a solution on S4 when knox first came out including by chainfire with no luck. Also since october people have been trying to root note 4 without tripping knox with no luck.
There is no difference in the system of tripped and not tripped. Soon as anything unsigned or insecure is flashed the bootloader burns the efuse
Sent from my SM-G920F using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CafeKampuchia said:
^^^ This, unfortunately, ends the discussion altogether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed now I get closure, thank you.

So how does safestrap work?

lowspeed said:
So how does safestrap work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't matter in this instance because you need root to use safestrap. He is pretty open on how safestrap works if you look at his threads and website.

Sorry guys, which signature needs to be applied? I found a guide to sign Windows modded drivers, I don't know if this can be applied here, too...

The real trick is getting it signed. There might be no easy way to do that unless the key method can be replicated to make signed binaries. This could be a samsung proprietery tool. That said I did find an interesting nugget of info hxxp://galaxys4root.com/what-is-binary-counter/ in the comments section.
HI,
I flashed pre rooted firmware 4.2.2 using ODIN on my Samsung I-9500 4.2.2. Then the status is remain same
Binary : Samsung Official
System : Official.
Then I installed Wanam apk to modify the UI, It asked me to download Xposed framework I grant Super user permission. Once It completed I checked the status
Binary : Samsung Official
System : Custom.
I flashed stock firmware 4.2.2 and did the reset factory reset. Then it changed to
Binary : Samsung Official
System : Official.
My question, Is the hidden binary count or knox counter triggered or not ?
If I updated to stock 4.3 Is the Knox Warranty bit 0×0 or 0×1 ?
Please help me.
The rooted aspect only seems to be possible provided nothing in the UI itself is changed? There is a trigger file in the rom. Something that obviously a Wanam install triggers. All that seems to indicate that it might actually be possible to have a pre-rooted rom and install via recovery. But considering the phone model referenced, its possible this particular workaround has been plugged. On the off chance that it has not. It might be the only viable way to do root without tripping knox. I imagine the existing stock roms with root preloaded however trip knox (I saw no indication of that in posts but I did not dig that deep).
If anyone can answer that in the affirmative or negative it might be worth noting. Will knox get tripped on a stock (but pre-rooted) rom?

The point of this thread is to point out something we already know and have known for some time? WTF

shollywood said:
The point of this thread is to point out something we already know and have known for some time? WTF
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the OP was aware of all the information when he started the thread. I think the thread title has since been changed.
But yeah, i guess the thread could be closed.

Knox counter 0x1 :(

Hello everyone,
I have just one month old galaxy grand prime SM G530H.
i have not rooted my device, and recently installed philz touch recovery 6 on my device using odin but it flagged my knox counter to to 0x1.
That means my warranty is lost. can anyone help me?
I am frequently getting this error, that unauthorized actions has been detected.
Please anyone consider this.. Thanks.

harshil33 said:
Hello everyone,
I have just one month old galaxy grand prime SM G530H. i have not rooted my device, and recently installed philz touch recovery 6 on my device using odin but it flagged my knox counter to to 0x1. That means my warranty is lost. can anyone help me?
I am frequently getting this error, that unauthorized actions has been taken.
Please anyone consider this.. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, I believe, most of the people using XDA forums possess enough eyesight to view things in normal font. (and if not, there are numerous tools available to help them read or even listen to what is written). So you don't need to make your writing so big and bold that looks harsh. If you want to emphasize, you can use emoticons/smilies (that is what they are meant for). I don't want to be rude but to keep this platform clean and nice is OUR responsibility. Hope you don't mind.
As for as your problem, I think you have to flash back the stock recovery and (even the stock rom if the problem persists). Do some more research before taking any step or wait for solutions from experts. I believe guys will see your post soon
Best of luck :good:

Ohhhh hmm i understood. Waiting for reply. Thank you
Sent from my SM-G530H using XDA Free mobile app

Rooting or Installing Custom Recovery = Knox 0x1. There's nothing you can do about it. You cannot change it back to 0x0. It is permanent. No more warranty.
For the error you need to disable knox. Read here on how to disable knox.
http://androidcentral.us/2014/01/how-to-disable-uninstall-knox-on-your-samsung-galaxy-devices/

Thanks for valueable reply. i tried that non rooted method. But the problem still persists.
So now i lost my warranty.... then should i root my device or not. I think it doesnt matter... right ?
Sent from my SM-G530H using XDA Free mobile app

harshil33 said:
Thanks for valueable reply. i tried that non rooted method. But the problem still persists.
So now i lost my warranty.... then should i root my device or not. I think it doesnt matter... right ?
Sent from my SM-G530H using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root your device it doesn't matter anymore you already tripped knox.

vancer32 said:
Root your device it doesn't matter anymore you already tripped knox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any working method please....
Sent from my SM-G530H using XDA Free mobile app

harshil33 said:
Any working method please....
Sent from my SM-G530H using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you already flashed philz recovery? Just flash the latest SuperSU thru recovery
CWM / TWRP / MobileODIN installable ZIP: http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu

vancer32 said:
you already flashed philz recovery? Just flash the latest SuperSU thru recovery
CWM / TWRP / MobileODIN installable ZIP: http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much.

harshil33 said:
Any working method please....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kingroot is the flawless and perfectly working method. At least it did the job for me
View this Post for link
or this thread for full details.
Best of luck. :good:

So u rooted without tripping knox ?
Sent from my SM-G530H using XDA Free mobile app

harshil33 said:
So u rooted without tripping knox ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes of course. I rooted without tripping the knox

virtualyasir said:
Yes of course. I rooted without tripping the knox
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good bro... if there is any way to recover knox please let me know.
Sent from my SM-G530H using XDA Free mobile app

harshil33 said:
Good bro... if there is any way to recover knox please let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As much as I know for now, the knox once tripped is impossible to recover. May be there is some hardware switch thing associated with it. Anyhow, I think it does not make much difference because knox can only be a problem if you ever want to reclaim your warranty or re-sale the device. In my case, I am 99% sure that the device is working perfect to my needs and I don't have to claim the warranty or resale it within the warranty period. So if you don't have to claim warranty and also you don't want to re-sale, tripped knox is nothing to worry about
best of luck :good: