[Q] Help! I keep digging myself further into a hole - Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot

I have a Samsung Galaxy S4, the Sprint version. I wasn't able to send or receive picture messages and I thought it might have something to do with my APN being wrong (I bought the phone on eBay and had it flashed to nTelos, my provider) but I wasn't able to edit the APN and nTelos was, as usual, no help. So I figured I'd just root it and be able to edit it then!
It was at that moment I stuck my shovel into the soft dirt and started digging.
Essentially, I believe my phone is without an OS at this point. I have tried using ODIN to put a recovery on there so I can at least do something, but now even ODIN is freezing up when I try and flash the Clockwork recovery. I am stuck on the Samsung S4 logo screen and while I can enter download mode I don't think I can enter recovery mode - at least, it hasn't been working tonight. I don't remember everything I've done to my poor phone, but it has to be hurting after the beating I've put it through. I originally tried to root it though I don't think I was successful because the Root Checker said I wasn't, though I'm not sure what I was doing wrong then. Things went downhill from there.
I've read through thread after thread hoping for something that would work, but I've given up trying to use other people's problems to solve my own. This is me saying "Uncle". I require assistance. Let me know what you need from me to provide me with the help I need.
Also - I have ADB on my computer and I think I have a basic understanding of how to use it, but since I can't enter recovery mode I can't do anything other than pat myself on the back for figuring it out. I think my first problem at this point is ODIN. I uninstalled KIES so that's not interfering (and don't even get me started on KIES - I installed KIES and it told me to install KIES3 which told me my device wasn't supported... which is crap because it's running Android 4.3 - or was before I got to it).
Thanks,

If you're sure the phone was on 4.3, then your options are limited thanks to Knox. You can only restore a 4.3 (MJA) based ROM to the phone via Odin, whether it is stock or custom. Easiest giveaway is if you see a line for "Knox" on the Download Mode screen.
At this point you should look in the ROM directory here for a full ROM (xxxxx.tar.md5), either MF9 (4.2.2) if it doesn't have Knox or MJA (4.3) if it does. If you cannot use Odin to put a full ROM on there, then you will need some more serious help.

Odin the stock 4.3 MJA OEM. Will return your phone to a stock unrooted state.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2522810

Related

[Q] GS4 - How to return completely stock for warranty exchange

Hi,
I've been do many flash last 24 hours on my Galaxy S4(Model SGH-I337M, Telus). Initialy, i've the factory stock rom, rooted. So, yesterday, i've decided to install Cyanogen mods nightly on my phone. Not the first time i've been used it on my phone. No problem before. So, this night, after a friend show me the release canditate release seem to be more stable, i've been try to put it on my phone. So, accidentaly wipe all the data on my phone. When i'm back home, i've put again the samsung original rom from my operator(4.2.2), found here, on the website, whit odin. All completed succefully, but i've noticed that the wifi won't turn on after the flash, and no sound from the speaker. So, i've put Cyanogen nigthlies again to test if it rom relative, but same issues here, no sound, but the wifi was working. The phone was very instable, so. Then, finaly, put the original rom again, without any rooting. Stuck on samsung logo, that i've finaly got fixed by clear the data and cache. But, no sound, and no wifi. Instable too.
Precision about phone: Unlocked whit the service mode(work), and enabled AWS whit a software and file(tutorial found here)
My question is: Anything else i can do to make my phone work fine again, and does it's possible to make the phone totaly stock? When i boot up, i've noticed that the phone, whit all rom i've try, said on samsung logo: Kernel is not sendroid enfonced, warranty status: kernel, so i can't go to return my phone on warranty whit that. How i can erase that line, and make my phone seem to be no modified?
Just to specify, it's not the first time i flash a phone. Do many flash, whit galaxy s2, s3 and s4, and sure, mine. Got try Cyanogen, stock, know how Odin work and all, try many rom, and before today, never has any problem to do turn back, but now, it's seem to be impossible.
Thank you very much for your help, very appreciated!
I would flash the stock firmware with odin again. After flashing do a factory reset in the stock recovery.
jd1639 said:
I would flash the stock firmware with odin again. After flashing do a factory reset in the stock recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just try this. Flash the stock rom whit odin, and factory reset on original recovery after. Same, no wifi, no any sound.
Just see yesterday, when i'm flashing, i'm flashing on the bootloader in odin(whit the tar for the stock rom). Today, correct this by flash on the pda section, still not work. Found here on the forum the stock bootloader, rom, csc, and modem, but when i do this whit odin, odin said fail.
Thank very much, i think my phone is dead, and nothing to do to exchange it on warranty.
I think Kies has an emergency firmware recovery mode.... maybe that'll work.
Found a nice guide here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2261153
saj222 said:
I think Kies has an emergency firmware recovery mode.... maybe that'll work.
Found a nice guide here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2261153
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just try this. Kies is the worst software i've ever see. The software completely freeze random. When i go to the emergency menu, never, kies recognize my phone here. I've tried to plug my phone, no recognized. Tried without plug it, no recognized. When i plug it, kies said connection in progress, and can stay here 30 min.
I'm a idea of what is my problem. Before do install of cyanogen, i've been applied the samsung official 4.3 update, whit knox. And, according to what i read on many forum, knox is not ereasable, So, it's completely freeze my phone, and nothing to do.
Anyone have the factory telus bootloader and other factory stock items because i want to put it stock.
Thank.
Finally get problems fixed by take the TELUS stock 4.3 ROM and flash it whit Odin. After, can flash cyanogen nightlies again and the phone work well again.
Whit the stock ROM, didn't see any line on the Samsung boot logo that i've rooted. After root this appear again. Knox regardless of ROM installed said 0x1.
If anyone have a fix to put it again 0x0 very appreciated otherwise the phone work fine and thank you very much for your help.
dardares said:
Just try this. Kies is the worst software i've ever see. The software completely freeze random. When i go to the emergency menu, never, kies recognize my phone here. I've tried to plug my phone, no recognized. Tried without plug it, no recognized. When i plug it, kies said connection in progress, and can stay here 30 min.
I'm a idea of what is my problem. Before do install of cyanogen, i've been applied the samsung official 4.3 update, whit knox. And, according to what i read on many forum, knox is not ereasable, So, it's completely freeze my phone, and nothing to do.
Anyone have the factory telus bootloader and other factory stock items because i want to put it stock.
Thank.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen worse software, it's no better or worse than iTunes.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk
dardares said:
Finally get problems fixed by take the TELUS stock 4.3 ROM and flash it whit Odin. After, can flash cyanogen nightlies again and the phone work well again.
Whit the stock ROM, didn't see any line on the Samsung boot logo that i've rooted. After root this appear again. Knox regardless of ROM installed said 0x1.
If anyone have a fix to put it again 0x0 very appreciated otherwise the phone work fine and thank you very much for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can u plz give me link for the flash file u just flash
i have same problem here after i flash with 4.2.2 no sound and phone freez all time
i like to flash 4.3 so i can fix my phone
thanks
mps5566 said:
can u plz give me link for the flash file u just flash
i have same problem here after i flash with 4.2.2 no sound and phone freez all time
i like to flash 4.3 so i can fix my phone
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the link i've found whit all the factory stock operator ROM. This is what rescue me.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2269304
@Spacemonkie4207 never my itune was freeze, and i can do basic operation like transfer music or create playlist without any problem. My kies stay on connection in progress, and turn, turn, turn, but never connect. And when it connect, only one operation, and kies completely freeze, stop responding, need to close it, and open it again. Tried many cable, usb cable, reinstalling software, two other computer, but nothing to do.
I recovered back to stock from custom to 4.3 however if you do so, depending on carrier you could lose root and the ability to install custom recovery.
I would revert back to 4.2.2 (as it's knox free) go to samsungupdates (google it) and pull the 4.2.2 for your region and carrier. flash with odin 3.9
you'll lose root, but you can always perform again as long as not on 4.3 (with 4.3 u can still root if you remove all the knox stuff, u just lose warranty).
Az

Soft-Bricked S4 by Flashing Different Version Rom

Hi everyone,
Before blasting away with comments as to why I would do this, here's my story,
I live in Canada and just brought home a i9508, a China variant of the S4. It belonged to my dad and he didn't want it so I just took it. The i9508 doesn't have Play Store, and it doesn't work on Canadian 3G network.
So to me, the phone is useless right off the start (don't intend on selling it either, who wants it?) So I had 2 options:
1) Leave the phone as it is, and probably use it once every 1-2 years when I visit HK
2) Flash custom roms on it fully aware of the risk it will have so that there's a possibility I can make it more usable
So in the end I went with option 2.
I followed a guide and flashed TWRP for i9505 using Odin onto the phone, and used TWRP to install chainfire SU, and it actually worked (but SU wouldn't open because some sort of security on the phone is blocking it)
Next step, I downloaded the CM version for i9505 and flashed onto the phone, and that worked too. Only problem I've encountered was that the phone would only boot after a fresh install. If I installed CM, turned the phone off after the initial start up, the phone wouldn't boot pass the Samsung logo.
Up until this point, I didn't make a backup, because of my arrogance, cause I have available a copy of the official firmware, in case anything happens.
So I figured at this point, maybe if I restore the original firmware, and try the whole process again, the custom rom would work. So I went into Odin, flash the firmware with PDA, and failed. It just wouldn't work. After retrying it a couple of times, and downloading different updates of the firmware, nothing worked. Only thing working right now is, I can get into Download mode, and I can get into TWRP recovery (but for some reason, I can't flash the zips that I've adb pushed onto the phone, zip can't open)
For me, if it can't be fixed, then it's really SOL. But if there's a way to fix it, I'm open to testing anything people have in mind, cause afterall, this phone is paper weight either way. I'm interested in seeing if I could enable 3G by flashing a i9505 radio, despite warnings, although, I've never actually came across a thread where someone had actually tried it before.
Either way, if someone has any idea on how to fix the phone, and wouldn't mind sharing it, that'll be greatly appreciated.
Working
I can get into Download mode, but Odin is failing (if you need the error please let me know and I'll post it)
I can get into TWRP recovery, but can't flash files
I can get into adb
This isnt the correct forum for your phone. XDA don't follow clones
Unfortunately a section for i9508 doesn't exist, so I figure the closest one would be i9505.
Anyhow, if someone has an idea of how to fix it, I'm more than happy to do testing on it, like flashing other roms or radios.

Stuck in Download mode

So, before I begin, I'd like to point out that I'm an idiot. I don't know how or why, but I'm an idiot.
I've been running danv's ROM for the longest time without issues (galaxy s4 on Rogers) and then decided to update the ROM today. After making my titanium backups and everything like that, (haven't made a ROM backup in a while though - again, idiot) I decided it was time to flash the ROM.
Well, I went and did a full wipe, and then all of a sudden when my phone rebooted, it rebooted into download mode with the whole "could not do normal boot" in the top left corner.
I was able to get into my phone by doing volume up/home/power and then canceling when it said to install new OS or not. So I do have access to my phone, but anytime it restarts it goes into download mode, I can't even get into recovery mode to flash the ROM.
Any ideas what to do to be able to flash this ROM? I have a rom backup from March of this year, would that fix the issue and then just try to flash the new ROM again once I was able to get into recovery mode?
Any help anyone can provide me would be much appreciated. I'm currently downloading the stock firmware from sammobile to see if that would fix the issue since I can install that over odin.
Thanks in advance.
*Edit* So recovering from a ROM backup didn't work either. I've done some researching and I think trying to flash through odin is my only option unless I've missed something. I'm running firmware NE3, so does that mean I should get the stockfirm ware for my device (S4 Rogers NI2) or get the firmware for the same NE3 that I have on my phone (In this case it would be Puerto Rico firmware)?
If someone could let me know if this would work, I would very much appreciate it.

[Q] Quick Question If Someone Has a Moment, Please

I just swapped from my Amaze 4g, to a used Note 3, and I'm a little lost as far as where I should start.
It says that it's on 4.4.2, and that I cannot update due to a modified system.
Basically, I would like to get updated to 5.1.1 (or as close as is official for the Note 3), and root it.
I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Samsung devices, and because I purchased this from ebay, I don't know how to tell the exact state that the former user put it in (I expected they would return it to stock prior to selling).
It's currently a T-Mobile branded, SM-N900T, on 4.4.2, build is KOT49H, security software MDF v1.0 release 2. Kernel is 3.4.0-660648.
It is supposedly unlocked for carriers, though I have not attempted a SIM card use yet, until I can tell that what I have is a valid device and the IMEI is checked out.
Any thoughts on how to validate the IMEI, and sort out how to get my new phone up to date would be appreciated. As I stated, I expected the vendor would have returned it to stock, but that is clearly not the case, so I don't want to accidentally boot loop it by doing something I shouldn't. I have not owned a Samsung before, so I want to be careful on how it differs from my Nexus 7, Amaze 4g, and Droid X, as they're all obviously very different in the OS area.
Thank you for the help1
Download tbe stock 4.4.2 rom and use odin to install. Then you will get the OTA updates.
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
There is no stock 5.1.1 for note 3, only cm12.1/ aosp. Latest is 5.0 and you can use odin to flash. Maybe it's rooted that's why you can't update.
bladebarrier said:
I just swapped from my Amaze 4g, to a used Note 3, and I'm a little lost as far as where I should start.
It says that it's on 4.4.2, and that I cannot update due to a modified system.
Basically, I would like to get updated to 5.1.1 (or as close as is official for the Note 3), and root it.
...
Thank you for the help1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some apps to install from Play Store...
Phone INFO Samsung - this will tell you all about your phone and the firmware etc.
Root Checker Basic - tells you if you are rooted or not.
SuperSU - this is so valuable you should buy the Pro licence. Chainfire does some great work for our phones.
TWRP - I have the zip version on my extSDCard and an Odin version on PC in case I have to rebuild from a Stock firmware. CWN works OK but most ROM builds seem to be for TWRP I think and a backup from one will not work on the other.
I don't know your previous phone so you probably need Odin v3.09 - this sits on PC and lets you flash firmware to the phone. (connected by USB)
For which you need Samsung USB drivers so the PC will recognise the phone. Install on PC before connecting phone.
Then do some browsing and find the processes to root your phone and install the ROM you want. If you just want Stock and access to all your phone, you can root it after flashing the original v5.0 download (from Sammobile or similar site - note on Sammobile you need a free account to DL) and then install Custom recovery (if wanted - it WILL trip the Knox flag but that may not matter given it's 2nd hand and might already be tripped anyway)
Read, make SURE you understand what is being said BEFORE you do anything - ask if you don't.
Good luck...
N9005 Lollipop brick
Hi All, just need a huge help here, a friend of mine has been using a N9005 which was auto restarting, she went online and downloaded this firmware...N900AUCUEOC1_N900AATTEOC1_N900AUCUEOC1_HOME.tar.md5....2.5GB in size...and flashed it, but the phone is stuck in boot loop even after recovery wiping data and cache, the phone can boot into download mode but re flashing the firmware always fails.....is there a solution for this.....please help
Thank you all for the info, especially the detailed info from Journyman16. I checked, and it is flagged as custom, which is fine, so I'm going to go ahead and try to return to mostly stock, update it, and root it.
Ok, everything went well. I had to do two attempts at rooting, but I think it's just one of those things where sometimes it doesn't restart into the process every time.
All seems good. I'm on 5.0, rooted, busyboxed, and smooth sailing.
Thank you all, again, for the tips. The Note 3 is running very well. Thank you to all of the devs that have made this process so refined. I've donated to you before, and did so again today. It's outstanding to have such well versed coders, on XDA, helping out the community.
mjmbirige said:
Hi All, just need a huge help here, a friend of mine has been using a N9005 which was auto restarting, she went online and downloaded this firmware...N900AUCUEOC1_N900AATTEOC1_N900AUCUEOC1_HOME.tar.md5....2.5GB in size...and flashed it, but the phone is stuck in boot loop even after recovery wiping data and cache, the phone can boot into download mode but re flashing the firmware always fails.....is there a solution for this.....please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have never learned not to ask in others posts? What does your problem has to do with this topic at all?
When you need help. Just click on Q&A then Create a new thread. How hard is it?

(Soft?)-Bricked My S7 with a Flashfire Update, Need Help to Fix It?

So I've been rooting me phone for a while and have managed to never f*** up, till now, and I sincerely hope you guys can help me.
After rooting my S7 a while back, I just recently noticed SuperUser telling me that I didn't have root anymore, so I decided to follow these instructions to re-root my phone:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ve...-to-notes-root-install-xposed-unroot-t3411039
I successfully followed all the steps to get root, but when I opened Flashfire it told me I could install a new update while maintaining root, so since my android is at 6.0.1, I did that and it bricked my phone.
On boot it says "Startup Failed - Use the Verizon Software Repair Assistant . . . " and on top it also says "Custom binary blocked by SECURE BOOT." I have tried going into recovery mode and deleting the system cache, but that doesn't do it. So is there any way to get the phone to properly boot while not deleting my data? I was rooting my phone precisely so I could use Titanium Backup again, so I don't have any backups stored anywhere. I have heard that flashing a recovery image with Odin can work, but would that delete my files? Someone please lend me your expertise.
My phone is a Verizon S7.
Fixed
I am surprised that no one responded to me, but what's important is that, miraculously, I managed to un-brick the phone myself without losing any data! What I did was, as my last hope (since Odin wasn't able to flash the stock image, a la the traditional soft-brick fix), decide to follow the on-screen instructions my phone was giving me and to download and run something called the "Verizon Software Repair Assistant," which can be found in the top google results after searching for the quoted name (xda doesn't let me post the link).
After putting my phone into download mode, I plugged it in, ran the software and let it work overnight. Checking on it in the morning, I found my phone, not only completely functional and working, but updated to Android 7.0 (it was 6.0.1 previously before the failed Flashfire OTA update) and still holding all of my data intact.
So, the interesting thing that I learned is that flashing to stock via Odin to fix a soft-bricked phone should not be the default resolution for potentially most people, as the carrier's default (in my case, Verizon's) repair utility managed to completely fix my phone without any side effects or data loss.
Is there anyone who could chime in on why the Repair Utility did not wipe my phone's memory, even though it warned it would?
**Note**
Verizon links to the Windows version of the repair assistant on their site, but to get the Mac version (which I used), the only way you can get it is by changing the end of the url they mention within the thread from "Win" to "Mac."
Pleased you managed to fix it, and thanks for posting the method for others
As for replies, if you stick around XDA you'll see replies can take days sometimes, patience is the key here
*Detection* said:
Pleased you managed to fix it, and thanks for posting the method for others
As for replies, if you stick around XDA you'll see replies can take days sometimes, patience is the key here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess I am not acquainted with this forum enough then, thanks!
Most likely the cause of the fault would be updating via FlashFire and keeping root. When the update was flashed, it most likely flashed the stock kernel and patched it for root, which is not a compatible root for our devices. Flashing the root kernel with Odin probably would have made the phone boot normally.

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