Database Users

[Q] Won't boot after official update

Hi all,
My firmware has been the same since the day I bought it, which also was the day of release here in the UK, so it was 2.3.3. Today it said that a firmware upgrade was available, so I selected to download and install it. After a while it rebooted, showed it installing, then booted up normally. I got the main screen again and it said there were more software updates available, so I said to install those too. Again it rebooted, showed installation progress, then when booting up, it now gets permanently stuck on the boot screen where it just shows the Samsung Gaiaxy S II logo (along with the GT-I9100 text). I've left it for over 30 mins and nothing changes. I've tried rebooting several times, both with charging cable in and out, removed the battery for a few minutes and tried again, but it won't get beyond this screen anymore.
I looked at the thread about what to do about this situation (boot loop) which involved erasing user data, so I did this. The message that also came up during erasure said that it wiped the cache too. Tried rebooting after that but it's still stuck.
Is there a way to fix this?
Note that I've never installed custom firmware and never rooted my phone. I also don't have a 32-bit version of Windows, so can't use Odin (it never picks the device up). Plus I don't wish to void the warranty. Is it possible to get the official update zip package which I can flash from the recovery menu?
Thanks
Thom

Is there not a warranty provided by your cell carrier? I know in the us most carriers provide a 1 year warranty with all devices. They would exchange it gladly especially since you did everything by the rules.
Sent from my i897 running MIUI 1.8.19 with TalonMTD kernel.

xijar said:
Is there not a warranty provided by your cell carrier? I know in the us most carriers provide a 1 year warranty with all devices. They would exchange it gladly especially since you did everything by the rules.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's under standard warranty. I bought it sim-free without being tied to a network. I have already contacted Samsung and they said they'll email me details of the service centre to return it to, but I was hoping for a solution before needing to do that.

Nothing you can do without odin picking the phone up.
I use 64bit windows and it picks up fine, make sure you have the drivers installed (see the link in my sig, for my 4shared, where you can get them) or if you have kies installed you have them but make sure to kill all kies processes first in task manager.
But in the end, best bet is just to send it in, to make sure you dont void your warranty

Sorry this is a mistake.

darkixion said:
Hi all,
My firmware has been the same since the day I bought it, which also was the day of release here in the UK, so it was 2.3.3. Today it said that a firmware upgrade was available, so I selected to download and install it. After a while it rebooted, showed it installing, then booted up normally. I got the main screen again and it said there were more software updates available, so I said to install those too. Again it rebooted, showed installation progress, then when booting up, it now gets permanently stuck on the boot screen where it just shows the Samsung Gaiaxy S II logo (along with the GT-I9100 text). I've left it for over 30 mins and nothing changes. I've tried rebooting several times, both with charging cable in and out, removed the battery for a few minutes and tried again, but it won't get beyond this screen anymore.
I looked at the thread about what to do about this situation (boot loop) which involved erasing user data, so I did this. The message that also came up during erasure said that it wiped the cache too. Tried rebooting after that but it's still stuck.
Is there a way to fix this?
Note that I've never installed custom firmware and never rooted my phone. I also don't have a 32-bit version of Windows, so can't use Odin (it never picks the device up). Plus I don't wish to void the warranty. Is it possible to get the official update zip package which I can flash from the recovery menu?
Thanks
Thom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you erase user data?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

inkyadrian said:
How did you erase user data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When it was switched off, I held down Vol-Up, Home and the power button. There was an option in the menu called "wipe data/factory reset". There's also a "wipe cache partition" option, the action of which is performed in the wipe data option anyway.

[Q] How can I tell if I'm running tampered firmware?

Hey XDAers,
I bought a used Samsung Focus off ebay and I noticed a peculiar firmware boot up on it. IIRC, it had a screen that said "no SIM", some big text that said "retry in XXXXXX minutes" but had the usual emergency calling button. Seemed a little different looking than what I'm familiar with (I've had two WP7s already). Using the emergency dialer I couldn't even enter the diagnostics mode. Even hooking up USB zune would report that the device was "locked" I thought this all seemed fairly phishy, so I did a hard reboot on the phone and it returned to the usual initial firmware state that I would have expected the first time, just like it should.
I'm running through WP7 updates now, but I'm just wondering, is there still a chance my phone is running a rogue firmware even after these updates? Can I be confident that the Zune updater will verify authenticity of the running firmware on the device?
Thanks in advance!

yay4furryanimals said:
I'm running through WP7 updates now, but I'm just wondering, is there still a chance my phone is running a rogue firmware even after these updates? Can I be confident that the Zune updater will verify authenticity of the running firmware on the device?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you run an update that includes firmware, it will overwrite the current firmware, thus easing your mind.

I figured this to be the case. Was just a little worried about the boot loader being compromised.

[Q] Problem "Unauthorized actions have been detected."

Hello everyone,
I just received my S4 AT&T (manufacture refurb, eBay), but the phone already is giving me headaches.
Every 5 minutes appears in the notifications the following message:
Security Notice:
Unauthorized actions have been detected. Tap here for more information. And then I tap and it appears: cancel or reboot.
After rebooting the phone the message keeps appears (is also keeps appearing if I tap cancel).
I think it's related with the wifi connection. I made some tests, and when I'm only in data connecting, the message do not appear.
Anyone have an idea? I really appreciate,
Matheus

I got the same problem
Phone was dead and i had to use odin to get back to stock.
Since that, I keep getting that warning too
Keep rebooting but still get the message ... all the time
very annoying
matheus zebu said:
Hello everyone,
I just received my S4 AT&T (manufacture refurb, eBay), but the phone already is giving me headaches.
Every 5 minutes appears in the notifications the following message:
Security Notice:
Unauthorized actions have been detected. Tap here for more information. And then I tap and it appears: cancel or reboot.
After rebooting the phone the message keeps appears (is also keeps appearing if I tap cancel).
I think it's related with the wifi connection. I made some tests, and when I'm only in data connecting, the message do not appear.
Anyone have an idea? I really appreciate,
Matheus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Its root
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

I just rooted my Galaxy S4 and started receiving these notifications. It is related to 'Knox' - Samsung's newish security feature, made to appease corporate customers. I side loaded the latest version of SuperSU, installed it, and during the install it asks if I want to disable Knox - said yes, issue gone. Note that you have to have root to install SuperSU

saddie22 said:
I just rooted my Galaxy S4 and started receiving these notifications. It is related to 'Knox' - Samsung's newish security feature, made to appease corporate customers. I side loaded the latest version of SuperSU, installed it, and during the install it asks if I want to disable Knox - said yes, issue gone. Note that you have to have root to install SuperSU
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks @saddie22
I was trying to avoid root, but I think this will be the only way of get rid of this headache =(

matheus zebu said:
Thanks @saddie22
I was trying to avoid root, but I think this will be the only way of get rid of this headache =(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@saddie22
 @mic141414
I just checked here, and my phone already have root access !!! it came "factory" rooted. It's VERY WEIRD. Again, I bought it from Ebay, and the seller stated in the ad: Manufacture Refurbished.
Once I'm new in this Root World, should I be worried about that? Like, it's is possible the seller put some malicious app in the sold phones? Sorry about the conspiracy theories, but I've never seen a supposed brand new phone (even though it's refurbished) came already with root.
Thanks

matheus zebu said:
@saddie22
@mic141414
I just checked here, and my phone already have root access !!! it came "factory" rooted. It's VERY WEIRD. Again, I bought it from Ebay, and the seller stated in the ad: Manufacture Refurbished.
Once I'm new in this Root World, should I be worried about that? Like, it's is possible the seller put some malicious app in the sold phones? Sorry about the conspiracy theories, but I've never seen a supposed brand new phone (even though it's refurbished) came already with root.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First thing I'd do with a new phone bought of eBay would be to flash the stock firmware in Odin. That way you know what you got and it would be like new. Just my $0.02.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
First thing I'd do with a new phone bought of eBay would be to flash the stock firmware in Odin. That way you know what you got and it would be like new. Just my $0.02.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just started a similar thread and then saw this one. This happened to me also but as far as I know I did flash stock firmware, fnb1. It isn't the latest but it worked after several others failed so I just left it but now I have the same problem. Is it possible that I rooted the phone accidentally? I thought about trying towelroot to fix it but then I am rooted for sure. By the way, I never have found the latest stock firmware to be able to flash it.

SM-G870A Failing to Update Past 4.4.2

Hey everyone!
I've got an interesting predicament here. A little back story: a while back I installed TowelRoot, and then Xposed Framework. Everything was kosher until I got an OTA update (I believe the NG3 update) and it killed the root. No problem, I'm fine without root. But now that Lollipop has come out, I want to update but can't. My buddy applied the same root, but did not do Xposed. The difference between our phones after that OTA update: mine says "Custom" with an unlocked padlock at the Samsung boot screen; his does not.
I read in another thread that someone took their phone to Best Buy and the guys at the Samsung booth were able to fix the problem because they can pull updates and apply them via USB. So we went there yesterday and they had no problem getting Lollipop on my buddy's S5 Active. Mine, however, would not take the update. The Samsung S.M.A.R.T. tool they use on the PC was saying that "my device is running an unauthorized operating system", even though I have never flashed a custom ROM.
When I go into download mode, the Knox flag does not appear to be tripped. I've also performed a clean factory reset with a data wipe and that still didn't allow me to update. Whenever I try to update, it downloads the entire 4.4.4 update (which needs to be done first, before the 5.0 update) and it starts to install, failing at 25%, without hesitation, every single time.
I've attached a couple of screenshots that I hope will help. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

MGArcher007 said:
Hey everyone!
I've got an interesting predicament here. A little back story: a while back I installed TowelRoot, and then Xposed Framework. Everything was kosher until I got an OTA update (I believe the NG3 update) and it killed the root. No problem, I'm fine without root. But now that Lollipop has come out, I want to update but can't. My buddy applied the same root, but did not do Xposed. The difference between our phones after that OTA update: mine says "Custom" with an unlocked padlock at the Samsung boot screen; his does not.
I read in another thread that someone took their phone to Best Buy and the guys at the Samsung booth were able to fix the problem because they can pull updates and apply them via USB. So we went there yesterday and they had no problem getting Lollipop on my buddy's S5 Active. Mine, however, would not take the update. The Samsung S.M.A.R.T. tool they use on the PC was saying that "my device is running an unauthorized operating system", even though I have never flashed a custom ROM.
When I go into download mode, the Knox flag does not appear to be tripped. I've also performed a clean factory reset with a data wipe and that still didn't allow me to update. Whenever I try to update, it downloads the entire 4.4.4 update (which needs to be done first, before the 5.0 update) and it starts to install, failing at 25%, without hesitation, every single time.
I've attached a couple of screenshots that I hope will help. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you resolved this issue, if so, would you mind sharing how you did it. I've been combing the net for a few days trying to discover what is going on and your issue appears to be exactly what I am experiencing. I've read about flashing back to my stock firmware using Odin but I cannot get into download mode, when I try and get there, the phone only says "recovery reboot" in blue small font on the top of the screen and reboots.
Thanks

Ladies and gents, I apologize for abandoning this thread. I forgot exactly how I got to get the phone to update, but if I recall correctly, it had to do with me putting the phone in download mode, downloading the original firmware and using ODIN to flash it. Afterward, the "unlocked" padlock symbol disappeared and the phone was able to get the OTA update from AT&T.
I have since moved from an LG G4 to a V20 and that is what I am currently playing with. I also have a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (which T-Mobile replaced my G4 with when the touch screen stopped responding). I was quite stoked to find out that there is a way to root it and (seemingly) unlock the bootloader, so I'll be toying with that this weekend to see what I can do. I'd love nothing more than to just wipe that Samsung-ified Android and install a vanilla Android or CM.
Good luck to anyone who is still trying to fix this issue. Again, my apologies. I'll dig through my archives and see if I can piece together what I did to get it going again. I still have the S5 Active. Best phone by far. It's a great backup phone for when the new stuff goes kaput.

Tracfone SM-S902L: Bad ROM flashes, need to recover stock ROM

Hello all,
I recently discovered that my S5 was only running KitKat despite Marshmallow having been released for it. I checked for OTA updates and it found nothing, so I decided to flash a custom 6.0 ROM onto it (and for some reason I ended up deciding not to make a backup of the phone beforehand, the ultimate mistake).
The problem became that it didn't recognize Tracfone for my service provider and wouldn't connect to the mobile network. I then downgraded it to a 5.0 ROM, and it no longer even recognized the SIM card, saying there was none.
So I tried to flash the original stock ROM a few times, but every time either got errors from ODIN, the phone itself, or the TWRP bootloader.
Long story short, I seem to have screwed up multiple times trying to install a ROM to get around KitKat and now my phone appears to be softbricked. I can get into the TWRP menu and the "download" mode, but when trying to start the phone, it sits on the "Samsung Galaxy S5" screen with the "Set Warrenty Bit : kernel" text at the top left.
I'm just wondering if there's a way to fix it at this point, or if I've completely trashed the phone.
If anybody has suggestions or experience with this, all help is welcome!
Thanks!

MevNav said:
Hello all,
I recently discovered that my S5 was only running KitKat despite Marshmallow having been released for it. I checked for OTA updates and it found nothing, so I decided to flash a custom 6.0 ROM onto it (and for some reason I ended up deciding not to make a backup of the phone beforehand, the ultimate mistake).
The problem became that it didn't recognize Tracfone for my service provider and wouldn't connect to the mobile network. I then downgraded it to a 5.0 ROM, and it no longer even recognized the SIM card, saying there was none.
So I tried to flash the original stock ROM a few times, but every time either got errors from ODIN, the phone itself, or the TWRP bootloader.
Long story short, I seem to have screwed up multiple times trying to install a ROM to get around KitKat and now my phone appears to be softbricked. I can get into the TWRP menu and the "download" mode, but when trying to start the phone, it sits on the "Samsung Galaxy S5" screen with the "Set Warrenty Bit : kernel" text at the top left.
I'm just wondering if there's a way to fix it at this point, or if I've completely trashed the phone.
If anybody has suggestions or experience with this, all help is welcome!
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure you have the stock firmware for the 902l and not the 903vl? The reason you didn't get the update for 6.0 is you have the 902l model. If you had the 903vl model you'd have 6.0. Straight talk never released it for the 902l model. No idea why being both models are very similar. Im not sure but if you make it back to stock on kitkat. I think you can use safestrap from the Verizon s5 to use some custom roms that run kitkat. If your bootloader is in fact unlocked and you can install a custom recovery other then safestrap. I believe you can install pretty much anything but I'm pretty sure straight talk ships the phones with the Toshiba chip so the bootloader isn't unlockable