Database Users

[Q] I9500 Camera Issue and Installing ROMs of Other Countries

Hello,
I am quite confused by the fact that there's way too many stock ROM versions out there, each one seems to be targeting a different country and with no obvious changelog. So my two questions:
1- Has the camera issues been fixed any available ROM and/or kernel? Stock or modified. By issues here I specifically mean the lag when opening and the fact that it will crash the system if you have more than 4 processes running.
2- Can I install any stock ROM on my device? I mean different countries or cryptic symbols like "open CRM" or "German DMT" or stuff like that. If the answer is yes, is there anything special I should backup? I read about having to backup something like the IMEI or else the mobile data won't work. I am familiar with TiBu and doing Nandroid backups, are they enough?
I have an I9500 I got from Egypt, running stock ROM build number: JDQ39.I9500XXUAMDK and kernel version: 3.4.5-526212.
I am sorry if there is any common sense I seem to be missing, I tried my best searching before posting. Thanks in advance.

Mistrio said:
Hello,
I am quite confused by the fact that there's way too many stock ROM versions out there, each one seems to be targeting a different country and with no obvious changelog. So my two questions:
1- Has the camera issues been fixed any available ROM and/or kernel? Stock or modified. By issues here I specifically mean the lag when opening and the fact that it will crash the system if you have more than 4 processes running.
2- Can I install any stock ROM on my device? I mean different countries or cryptic symbols like "open CRM" or "German DMT" or stuff like that. If the answer is yes, is there anything special I should backup? I read about having to backup something like the IMEI or else the mobile data won't work. I am familiar with TiBu and doing Nandroid backups, are they enough?
I have an I9500 I got from Egypt, running stock ROM build number: JDQ39.I9500XXUAMDK and kernel version: 3.4.5-526212.
I am sorry if there is any common sense I seem to be missing, I tried my best searching before posting. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was living the same situation as your with the camera having the MDK FW version.
The simplest way to have the better camera working is to upgrade from this buggy MDK firmware to any other upper, MEA the fisrt.
Choose region close to your in the stock availabilty at SAMMOBILE site, or go to a custom rom. They are "few" available in the dev section and they are all about good.

lolo9393 said:
I was living the same situation as your with the camera having the MDK FW version.
The simplest way to have the better camera working is to upgrade from this buggy MDK firmware to any other upper, MEA the fisrt.
Choose region close to your in the stock availabilty at SAMMOBILE site, or go to a custom rom. They are "few" available in the dev section and they are all about good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you a lot. But what about the IMEI and CSC? Will it just work if I flashed a stock ROM via ODIN or the modem won't work because it's a different country?

Mistrio said:
Thank you a lot. But what about the IMEI and CSC? Will it just work if I flashed a stock ROM via ODIN or the modem won't work because it's a different country?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure the CSc will/must change but it has little importance, you will be updated by Kies (if you want follow this way, according your new CSC.
MODEM and IMEI are not modified 'hopefully' with this update.
From my side I flashed wananlite 1.8 custom rom that is complete with stweaks included for sound modification and will never come back under KIES hook....
your choice is up to you, if cautious read some other threads giving all explanation and learn to get skills!

[Q] Flashing stock

Hello,
Firstly i searched the forum for a good answer but didn't find one. Sorry in advance if this question has been already answered and i didn't see the thread \ post.
I would like to change my firmware from 4.2.2 NB5 ORO CSC to 4.2.2 ND5 ( or the latest ) NEE CSC. Is that possbile via odin without changing my CSC ? I mean if i just flash it directly will it work ?
My phone is not rooted and i know that in order to change the CSC i have to rood it. My phone is also locked on my carrier, Orange.
Thank you and sorry if this is a repost of something similar.

fookea said:
Hello,
Firstly i searched the forum for a good answer but didn't find one. Sorry in advance if this question has been already answered and i didn't see the thread \ post.
I would like to change my firmware from 4.2.2 NB5 ORO CSC to 4.2.2 ND5 ( or the latest ) NEE CSC. Is that possbile via odin without changing my CSC ? I mean if i just flash it directly will it work ?
My phone is not rooted and i know that in order to change the CSC i have to rood it. My phone is also locked on my carrier, Orange.
Thank you and sorry if this is a repost of something similar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash the ROM without updating your CSC IF the AP file does not contain the CSC file. If the ROM does not specify in its name that it only includes XXX or YYY without any mention of CSC, then you're fine (Assuming you download from Sammobile). If it does say something related to CSC codes or there are 3 model numbers (different or not) on the file name, then it includes the CSC.
You don't need to root to change CSC. You need the Samsung dialer code + your IMEI number, which will factory reset your phone but change your CSC.

nicholaschum said:
You can flash the ROM without updating your CSC IF the AP file does not contain the CSC file. If the ROM does not specify in its name that it only includes XXX or YYY without any mention of CSC, then you're fine (Assuming you download from Sammobile). If it does say something related to CSC codes or there are 3 model numbers (different or not) on the file name, then it includes the CSC.
You don't need to root to change CSC. You need the Samsung dialer code + your IMEI number, which will factory reset your phone but change your CSC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/3/?download=28789
This is the ROM i wanted to flash. I'm not quite sure if it includes or not what you said. It should be NEE CSC so i think i can't flash it...right ? :-s
If i can't flash it, can you give me a link to an example firmware that i can flash, other than my stock ORO CSC rom ?
The dialer code + IMEI doesn't work for me. I tried * # 272 *IMEI # and it says the code is invalid. Maybe because i'm branded on Orange ?

fookea said:
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/3/?download=28789
This is the ROM i wanted to flash. I'm not quite sure if it includes or not what you said. It should be NEE CSC so i think i can't flash it...right ? :-s
If i can't flash it, can you give me a link to an example firmware that i can flash, other than my stock ORO CSC rom ?
The dialer code + IMEI doesn't work for me. I tried * # 272 *IMEI # and it says the code is invalid. Maybe because i'm branded on Orange ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a full ROM. It includes everything - AP, CP and CSC.
I don't understand, do you just want to get rid of your ORO CSC ROM? You should be able to install your NEE ROM perfectly fine.

nicholaschum said:
That is a full ROM. It includes everything - AP, CP and CSC.
I don't understand, do you just want to get rid of your ORO CSC ROM? You should be able to install your NEE ROM perfectly fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, i want to fully get rid of this ROM because updates on this CSC are so friggin slow it's driving me mad. I want to completly move to NEE ROM. So i can flash this ROM perfectly with the instructions on Sammobile in the link right ?

fookea said:
Yes, i want to fully get rid of this ROM because updates on this CSC are so friggin slow it's driving me mad. I want to completly move to NEE ROM. So i can flash this ROM perfectly with the instructions on Sammobile in the link right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll have to unlock your phone first on a website, then you're free to install any ROM from any country. If not it will still be locked to Orange.

nicholaschum said:
You'll have to unlock your phone first on a website, then you're free to install any ROM from any country. If not it will still be locked to Orange.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem about that, i am still gonna be on Orange anyway. I don't want to unlock it just want to get a different ROM with a newer build number so i can (probably) get away from this stupid battery drain.

fookea said:
No problem about that, i am still gonna be on Orange anyway. I don't want to unlock it just want to get a different ROM with a newer build number so i can (probably) get away from this stupid battery drain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Give it a go, if you can't get it to work, just reflash your stock Orange.
The absolute worst thing that could happen is that KNOX would go 0x1, but you will still get your updates. If that happens, you should really just use custom ROMs, they're wonderful and updates more often.

nicholaschum said:
Give it a go, if you can't get it to work, just reflash your stock Orange.
The absolute worst thing that could happen is that KNOX would go 0x1, but you will still get your updates. If that happens, you should really just use custom ROMs, they're wonderful and updates more often.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know about custom ROMs and i've been looking and them and i really wish i would have the gut to just screw my warranty but i can't do it just now. I've had some problems with my old Xperia Z and i'm lucky i had custom roms but on locked BL so i could claim my warranty. I can't even root it and it's just killing me but meh...
okay, i'll give it a go thanks for the advice and time spent answering to me ! Cheers !

fookea said:
Hello,
Firstly i searched the forum for a good answer but didn't find one. Sorry in advance if this question has been already answered and i didn't see the thread \ post.
I would like to change my firmware from 4.2.2 NB5 ORO CSC to 4.2.2 ND5 ( or the latest ) NEE CSC. Is that possbile via odin without changing my CSC ? I mean if i just flash it directly will it work ?
My phone is not rooted and i know that in order to change the CSC i have to rood it. My phone is also locked on my carrier, Orange.
Thank you and sorry if this is a repost of something similar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how to answer your question but let me ask you... What is CSC and why you don't wanna change it ?

WandersonGD said:
I don't know how to answer your question but let me ask you... What is CSC and why you don't wanna change it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CSC is your region\carrier customization. It dictates what your updates are , what they contains and when you get them . I want to change it but i know ( i might be wrong about this ) that it's only possible via rooting, wich i can't do atm

OK so i flashed the NEE straight on my NB4 ORO firmware and it worked flawlessly.
So for everybody that is asking this: you can flash any full ROM with any CSC on top of any other CSC . This is my experience and i hope it goes well with you ! Good luck !

WandersonGD said:
I don't know how to answer your question but let me ask you... What is CSC and why you don't wanna change it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CSC is Customer Sales Code. You want to change it when you want to debrand/debloat your phone by removing carrier-specific apps or update it to another carrier's update stream (to get a different carrier's upgrades). It also allows for you to get correct APN values if your carrier's auto assign doesn't work properly.
You don't need root to change it, you need Odin and the CSC package. You can use the Samsung code + IMEI as a last resort.
---------- Post added at 07:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:52 PM ----------
fookea said:
OK so i flashed the NEE straight on my NB4 ORO firmware and it worked flawlessly.
So for everybody that is asking this: you can flash any full ROM with any CSC on top of any other CSC . This is my experience and i hope it goes well with you ! Good luck !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good job man! But you have to be aware, I did some research before you did it. It does not apply to all devices. As the Russian ORO and Nordic Countries are the "same" region, I automatically assumed you bought your device in Europe, hence you won't be region locked out of your device. If you had a Hong Kong device you will have to take account for your storage difference (whether its 16GB or 32GB) as ROMs are usually for the 32GB PIT (bootloader), and any flashing of other region based ROMs COULD brick your device.

nicholaschum said:
CSC is Customer Sales Code. You want to change it when you want to debrand/debloat your phone by removing carrier-specific apps or update it to another carrier's update stream (to get a different carrier's upgrades). It also allows for you to get correct APN values if your carrier's auto assign doesn't work properly.
You don't need root to change it, you need Odin and the CSC package. You can use the Samsung code + IMEI as a last resort.
---------- Post added at 07:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:52 PM ----------
Good job man! But you have to be aware, I did some research before you did it. It does not apply to all devices. As the Russian ORO and Nordic Countries are the "same" region, I automatically assumed you bought your device in Europe, hence you won't be region locked out of your device. If you had a Hong Kong device you will have to take account for your storage difference (whether its 16GB or 32GB) as ROMs are usually for the 32GB PIT (bootloader), and any flashing of other region based ROMs COULD brick your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice find , thanks for pointing it out. I don't think I have a region lock, it didn't have any of the stickers that usually say it's region locked. But yea, my version is from Europe.
p.s. ORO is from Romania

fookea said:
Nice find , thanks for pointing it out. I don't think I have a region lock, it didn't have any of the stickers that usually say it's region locked. But yea, my version is from Europe.
p.s. ORO is from Romania
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh cool cool, I guess I looked over too quickly but on Sammobile it said there was a Russian ORO too

nicholaschum said:
Ahh cool cool, I guess I looked over too quickly but on Sammobile it said there was a Russian ORO too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can only see SER and MGF CSC on sammobile . It doesn't matter anyway because it seems in the end it's ok to flash anything inside your region

fookea said:
I can only see SER and MGF CSC on sammobile . It doesn't matter anyway because it seems in the end it's ok to flash anything inside your region
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was embarrassing xD I just relooked and yeah you're right
It was a glance problem on my end. Sorry! But yeah it still applies

[Q] Software Update for my S5 (SM-G900F)

Hello there!
I need your help to be sure about some things.
(Oh! Sorry for my bad English, not my native language)
I have a Galaxy S5, I bought this with my country operator. The latest software for the SM-G900F model released by my operator is G900FXXU1ANCE.
I read that Samsung has updated the software with some better and this update is G900FXXU1ANE2.
My questions are:
1) If I download the G900FXXU1ANE2 version and install via ODIN, you modify a 0x1 Knox void warranty? Or is maintained in 0x0?
2) If I install G900FXXU1ANE2 and sometime I go to claim warranty, could reinstall the G900FXXU1ANCE version? Ie make downgrade. Or this could change me knox void warranty?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

gevensa said:
Hello there!
I need your help to be sure about some things.
(Oh! Sorry for my bad English, not my native language)
I have a Galaxy S5, I bought this with my country operator. The latest software for the SM-G900F model released by my operator is G900FXXU1ANCE.
I read that Samsung has updated the software with some better and this update is G900FXXU1ANE2.
My questions are:
1) If I download the G900FXXU1ANE2 version and install via ODIN, you modify a 0x1 Knox void warranty? Or is maintained in 0x0?
2) If I install G900FXXU1ANE2 and sometime I go to claim warranty, could reinstall the G900FXXU1ANCE version? Ie make downgrade. Or this could change me knox void warranty?
Thanks in advance for your answers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all flashing official firmware with Odin will NEVER trip KNOX. Don`t know if you can flash an older rom, if the bootloader is the same it should be possible, just try it mate and if it should fail you reflash the rom you have now. You can flash any compatible rom with Odin, also the ones that are not for your region.

gevensa said:
1) If I download the G900FXXU1ANE2 version and install via ODIN, you modify a 0x1 Knox void warranty? Or is maintained in 0x0?
2) If I install G900FXXU1ANE2 and sometime I go to claim warranty, could reinstall the G900FXXU1ANCE version? Ie make downgrade. Or this could change me knox void warranty?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installing this update should not change the Knox bit. It should remain at 0x0 in this situation. Flashing stock firmware will not normally change Knox, although if you try installing a pre KitKat firmware e.g. 4.2.1, may corrupt the bootloader and increment the Knox counter. A power interruption during the flash process may also trip Knox. More commonly, installing a custom kernel or recovery will also trip the Knox counter.
You should be able to revert or downgrade to the earlier firmware in your example. And that won't affect your warranty (or be necessary for warranty purposes). Note though that you cannot downgrade all firmware versions. For example, Samsung introduced the Knox DRM in 4.3 and don't want you downgrading to remove it, consequently you cannot downgrade from 4.3 to 4.2.x (or earlier).

Thanks for your answers.
Another question: I have csc CRM What if I install the csc PHE, I will receive in the future the OTAs to release in Spain?
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app

gee2012 said:
First of all flashing official firmware with Odin will NEVER trip KNOX. Don`t know if you can flash an older rom, if the bootloader is the same it should be possible, just try it mate and if it should fail you reflash the rom you have now. You can flash any compatible rom with Odin, also the ones that are not for your region.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fffft said:
Installing this update should not change the Knox bit. It should remain at 0x0 in this situation. Flashing stock firmware will not normally change Knox, although if you try installing a pre KitKat firmware e.g. 4.2.1, may corrupt the bootloader and increment the Knox counter. A power interruption during the flash process may also trip Knox. More commonly, installing a custom kernel or recovery will also trip the Knox counter.
You should be able to revert or downgrade to the earlier firmware in your example. And that won't affect your warranty (or be necessary for warranty purposes). Note though that you cannot downgrade all firmware versions. For example, Samsung introduced the Knox DRM in 4.3 and don't want you downgrading to remove it, consequently you cannot downgrade from 4.3 to 4.2.x (or earlier).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your answers!!
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA
Free mobile app

gee2012 said:
...
You can flash any compatible rom with Odin, also the ones that are not for your region.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, i tried to flash a PHN firmware once but it failed at hidden.img.ext4 with "FAIL! (size)".
So there are some exceptions =/
my stock firmware said:
Model: SM-G900F
Model name: GALAXY S5
Country: Czech Republic
Version: Android 4.4.2
Changelist: 1539356
Build date: Thu, 08 May 2014 03:44:41 +0000
Product Code: ETL
PDA: G900FXXU1ANE2
CSC: G900FETL1AND3
MODEM: G900FXXU1ANE2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

born4trance said:
Well, i tried to flash a PHN firmware once but it failed at hidden.img.ext4 with "FAIL! (size)".
So there are some exceptions =/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is your device from, if i may ask? Is it a Dutch device or imported?

I ordered mine from a dutch webshop (i'm also dutch btw) who import their devices from EU countries.

born4trance said:
I ordered mine from a dutch webshop (i'm also dutch btw) who import their devices from EU countries.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, saw that. So you can`t flash a Dutch PHN rom to your device? Strange as it its a EU device as you say Have you tried a German DBT rom?

gee2012 said:
Yup, saw that. So you can`t flash a Dutch PHN rom to your device? Strange as it its a EU device as you say Have you tried a German DBT rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything flashes fine, until it encounters hidden.img.ext4
I haven't looked at other firmwares yet but i did notice that the mentioned file's filesize differed from the PHN .tar one.
Its a shame that there are so many differences amongst the same model.

born4trance said:
Correct > FAIL! (Size) @ hidden.img.ext4
I haven't looked at other firmwares yet but i did notice that the file in question differed from the one inside the PHN .tar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What software version do you have now annd what is your CSC file? In the dialpad type *#1234#.

gee2012 said:
What software version do you have now annd what is your CSC file? In the dialpad type *#1234#.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already quoted the firmware i (currently) have, a few posts back

born4trance said:
I already quoted the firmware i (currently) have, a few posts back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for not reading that Usualy it shouldn`t be a problem to flash a different European rom. I got my phone with a TNL (T-Mobile) rom and flashed a PHN rom and it wasn`t a problem for me. I`ll try flashing a DBT rom just to see if it works.

gee2012 said:
Sorry for not reading that Usualy it shouldn`t be a problem to flash a different European rom. I got my phone with a TNL (T-Mobile) rom and flashed a PHN rom and it wasn`t a problem for me. I`ll try flashing a DBT rom just to see if it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps it will work for you but not for me Í'm not sure if or when i'll flash another FW, i don't really want to lose/give up towelroot :angel:

gevensa said:
Another question: I have csc CRM What if I install the csc PHE, I will receive in the future the OTAs to release in SpaIn?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An OTA update will check your CSC to see if the update should be applied to your system. If you change your CSC from AAA to BBB, you can't expect to receive OTA's for AAA any longer. If your intent in doing this is wanting to receive BBB updates, the CSC change will usually suffice. It's a carrier implementation though and a more conservative carrier could also do secondary checks such as matching the baseband CSC as well.
Also you shouldn't change a CSC unless you are confident that the BBB OTA is compatible with your current firmware.
.
---------- Post added at 11:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 PM ----------
born4trance said:
Well, i tried to flash a PHN firmware once but it failed at hidden.img.ext4 with "FAIL! (size)".
So there are some exceptions =/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't surprise me at all. As I said earlier, you cannot expect to flash any firmware with Odin. It is dismaying how many people state that you can do so when they don't really know that to be true. Or to be more precise, they think they know and want to help someone. But in fact, they don't understand the subject in any depth, have no reasonable basis to believe that they do and good intentions notwithstanding, do a real disservice by spreading dangerously inaccurate information.
To reiterate, you cannot flash any file with Odin. Someone who tells you that you can flash any carrier's S5 firmware onto your S5 is demonstrably wrong. It will work in some cases and they are making a bad assumption that because it worked in one case that it can be universally done. As you found out firsthand, that is not true. Someone who assumes it is universally true and further presents that unfounded assertion as fact isn't exercising sound judgement.
This is an oversimplification, but to give you a rough idea of what is going on.. hidden.img.ext4 contains carrier specific information. And it is partitioned. So if you flash a firmware from another carrier and it happens to be formatted as a larger partition, the flash will corrupt the partition structure, leading to the Odin error writing to hidden.img.ex4 and soft brick your phone.
Long story short, don't blindly believe everyone that makes authoratative statements about what you can safely do. Try to understand the process as much as possible yourself, so that you can spot the worst inconsistencies. And look for a sense of how deep and consistent someone's knowledge of a subject is before taking their advice.
To recover after flashing an incompatible flash from another carrier, you would ideally flash a stock copy of hidden.img.ext4 and the PIT from the original carrier. If you don't care aout Knox, flashing CWM will typically resolve the issue as well. Also if you understand partitioning structures, better informed users can discern in advance if a carrier x firmware can be safely flashed or not.
.

fffft said:
That doesn't surprise me at all. As I said earlier, you cannot expect to flash any firmware with Odin. It is dismaying how many people state that you can do so when they don't really know that to be true. Or to be more precise, they think they know and want to help someone. But in fact, they don't understand the subject in any depth, have no reasonable basis to believe that they do and good intentions notwithstanding, do a real disservice by spreading dangerously inaccurate information.
To reiterate, you cannot flash any file with Odin. Someone who tells you that you can flash any carrier's S5 firmware onto your S5 is demonstrably wrong. It will work in some cases and they are making a bad assumption that because it worked in one case that it can be universally done. As you found out firsthand, that is not true. Someone who assumes it is universally true and further presents that unfounded assertion as fact isn't exercising sound judgement.
This is an oversimplification, but to give you a rough idea of what is going on.. hidden.img.ext4 contains carrier specific information. And it is partitioned. So if you flash a firmware from another carrier and it happens to be formatted as a larger partition, the flash will corrupt the partition structure, leading to the Odin error writing to hidden.img.ex4 and soft brick your phone.
Long story short, don't blindly believe everyone that makes authoratative statements about what you can safely do. Try to understand the process as much as possible yourself, so that you can spot the worst inconsistencies. And look for a sense of how deep and consistent someone's knowledge of a subject is before taking their advice.
To recover after flashing an incompatible flash from another carrier, you would ideally flash a stock copy of hidden.img.ext4 and the PIT from the original carrier. If you don't care out Knox, flashing CWM will typically resolve the issue as well. Also if you understand partitioning structures, better informed users can discern in advance if a carrier x firmware can be safely flashed or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow.. and wow (+thanks )
So (long story short): besides flashing CWM/TWRP/Philz i could flash a .pit from a 16GB S5 (of the same model) that comes with a PHN firmware, and then flash the PHN firmware itself and retain 0x0

born4trance said:
So (long story short): besides flashing CWM/TWRP/Philz i could flash a .pit from a 16GB S5 that has a PHN firmware on it (and retain 0x0)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing a custom recovery would increment Knox to 0x1. But it should remain 0x0 if you use the proper PIT corresponding to the new stock firmware. I haven't tested that (as I don't really care about Knox personally) but I don't see any logical reason that Knox would be concerned with that scenario, nor heard of any reports of it happening to anyone.
PHN.. is Netherlands? So assuming that you have say, a 16 GB SM-G900F, you should be able to flash a 900F PHN firmware successfully and safely if you do so in conjunction with a PIT file for a 16 GB PHN 900F. I presume that the flash won't trip Knox either but I have not actually done so personally.
Theoretically the write could still fail on an aboot auth failure but I haven't seen any evidence that carriers are locking down their bootloaders that tightly and don't think that would be a likely impediment.
.

fffft said:
PHN.. is Netherands?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct: For non branded / SIM-lock free
fffft said:
So assuming that you have say, a 16 GB SM-G900F, you should be able to flash a 900F PHN firmware successfully and safely if you do so in conjunction with a PIT file for a 16 GB PHN 900F. I presume that the flash won't trip Knox either but I have not actually done so personally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I indeed own a SM-G900F and its also important to mention that the partition layout differs between 16GB/32GB models
Now to get ahold of the correct .pit (still looking)

Flashing other country's firmware?

I am in Thailand and have NH1 firmware.
Would I get any benefit from flashing a newer firmware?
For example India has NH6 firmware.
Can I flash another country's firmware on my phone?
And, does it give any benefits?
When looking at custom ROMS many of them say they need a certain firmware before being installed.
(though they also are very buggy at the moments so I doubt I want to flash them anyway .. LOL)
Thank You

There are not any major changes in newer versions they fix some bugs thats it however you can't just flash some different countries firmware it may cause bootloop and sometimes even soft bricks ...
Edit :- there are some methods where you can flash them safely for eg changing your CSC however I don't recommend it do it on your own risk ....Here's a link to change csc
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2342328

Well, I am no expert but I have flashed Indian firmware to my grand 2 whic was actually bought from Saudi Arabia. It still works fine. Similarlly, on my previous phone which I bought from Pakistan, I flashed KSA firmware that worked fine too. So, I guess only options for available languages change and nothing else gets affected adversly. Experts, kindly, express your opinion for further clarification.

Have a 910H. Regions seem to matter a lot. Why?

I have a 910H and I've tried to flash other region firmware but have had problems getting the flashes to actually complete. I had to repack one to use it.
IN any other Samsung device I've owned, the region didn't matter much at all.
Is the Note 4 different?
I'm looking for a Panama 5.1.1 ROM, but the only one released is a 910C variant ROM.

donalgodon said:
I have a 910H and I've tried to flash other region firmware but have had problems getting the flashes to actually complete. I had to repack one to use it.
IN any other Samsung device I've owned, the region didn't matter much at all.
Is the Note 4 different?
I'm looking for a Panama 5.1.1 ROM, but the only one released is a 910C variant ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have n910h too and I have no problem to flash other region firmwares, I followed this tread with success
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/general/galaxy-note-4-sm-n910h-5-1-1-released-t3193499, I used firmware link provided in post #50, it´s not for Panama but I used without any problems , change the language to spanish and enjoy, I hope it will help you.

Alega75 said:
I have n910h too and I have no problem to flash other region firmwares, I followed this tread with success
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/general/galaxy-note-4-sm-n910h-5-1-1-released-t3193499, I used firmware link provided in post #50, it´s not for Panama but I used without any problems , change the language to spanish and enjoy, I hope it will help you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I even posted in that thread with the response that region does not matter, because that had been my experience in the past, but when I flashed another region firmware, it got stuck at the MODEM portion and never completed. I first thought it was a bad download, so I tried several times, but eventually, I had to repack it to get it to work.
So, as I understand it, you are saying that region really doesn't matter after all and that maybe what I experienced was a fluke?

donalgodon said:
I even posted in that thread with the response that region does not matter, because that had been my experience in the past, but when I flashed another region firmware, it got stuck at the MODEM portion and never completed. I first thought it was a bad download, so I tried several times, but eventually, I had to repack it to get it to work.
So, as I understand it, you are saying that region really doesn't matter after all and that maybe what I experienced was a fluke?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, my answer is strictly based on my experience using the firmware provided on the download link in post # 50th, I have not tried other because I've read that other people did not succeed flashing the firmware provided on the other download links on previous post .