Database Users

[Q] i9505 "clean" stock Android

Hello guys,
I’m aware this has been discussed many times before, but this information is "old" most of the times. My Galaxy S4 (i9505) is now running stock Touchwiz Android 4.3 (i9505XXUEMJ7).
What I want to do is the following: flash my phone to a i9505G, but with some research I've found that that isn't possible. Are there any other ways to get the clean i9505G 4.4.2 ROM without any changes (like root) on my i9505? (I know there are much custom ROM's, but if possible I'd like to keep it "stock".)
Since I'm running 4.3 with Knox I'm a little scared about the Knox 0x1 status, is this already "resolved" or will this still be a problem?
Thanks.

Broodplank's AOSP rom is the way to go:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2397511
You still need to flash a custom recovery to flash it, though. I recommend CWM. Simply works.

tsphere said:
Broodplank's AOSP rom is the way to go:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2397511
You still need to flash a custom recovery to flash it, though. I recommend CWM. Simply works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply. Rooting and flashing a custom recovery shouldn't be a problem, however I'm still a little worried about Knox, there simply isn't a way to reset it after it goes to 0x1?
The HTC One can be "changed" into a HTC One Google Edition: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2358781
But as far as I can tell this isn't possible for the Galaxy S4?

As far as i seen, once you flash something with odin, your knox flag gets changed. However it's not clear to me whether it changes the warranty actually...

tsphere said:
As far as i seen, once you flash something with odin, your knox flag gets changed. However it's not clear to me whether it changes the warranty actually...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not just the warrenty I'm worried about. If I want to sell the phone later I want it to be fully working, I assume with Knox 0x1 Knox isn't working anymore?

JoeyLe said:
Thanks for your reply. Rooting and flashing a custom recovery shouldn't be a problem, however I'm still a little worried about Knox, there simply isn't a way to reset it after it goes to 0x1?
The HTC One can be "changed" into a HTC One Google Edition: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2358781
But as far as I can tell this isn't possible for the Galaxy S4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In theory every non G device can be converted into a G device if the hardware model is the same but in practice is not always accomplished 100%. The problem here is Knox, for waht I understand it has 2 layers: The knox bloatware that comes stock on sammys ROM and the off rom portion included in the bootloader. The bootloader is basically what the system loads up first
. so it can't bypassed. So to kkep it simple, if you flash ANYTHING (not sure however if re flashing the stock original ROM activates the flag) on the knox bootloader (AKA: new bootloader) the ''flag'' will change to 0x1, this flag is called eFuse so basically 0x1 means is burned and it can't be changed ANYWAY. If you don't plan to use your phone for work you shouldn't care about the flag.
For more information you can check this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2447832

JoeyLe said:
It's not just the warrenty I'm worried about. If I want to sell the phone later I want it to be fully working, I assume with Knox 0x1 Knox isn't working anymore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. It isn't clear if Knox 0x1 voids warranty or not.
2. If you have Knox 0x1 your phone will work fine, but you won't be able to use Knox security enhancements.
3. You can't convert the 9505 to the 9505G, the Google Play edition has different bootloader, modem and pit partition.
Enviado do meu Xposed Galaxy S4 4G LTE

dclarkg said:
In theory every non G device can be converted into a G device if the hardware model is the same but in practice is not always accomplished 100%. The problem here is Knox, for waht I understand it has 2 layers: The knox bloatware that comes stock on sammys ROM and the off rom portion included in the bootloader. The bootloader is basically what the system loads up first
. so it can't bypassed. So to kkep it simple, if you flash ANYTHING (not sure however if re flashing the stock original ROM activates the flag) on the knox bootloader (AKA: new bootloader) the ''flag'' will change to 0x1, this flag is called eFuse so basically 0x1 means is burned and it can't be changed ANYWAY. If you don't plan to use your phone for work you shouldn't care about the flag.
For more information you can check this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2447832
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much! That was very interesting to read. I personally don't care about Knox, all the Samsung bloatware is the main reason I want to have stock Android on my S4.

dandroid13 said:
1. It isn't clear if Knox 0x1 voids warranty or not.
2. If you have Knox 0x1 your phone will work fine, but you won't be able to use Knox security enhancements.
3. You can't convert the 9505 to the 9505G, the Google Play edition has different bootloader, modem and pit partition.
Enviado do meu Xposed Galaxy S4 4G LTE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the information. I see there are many custom roms which are very close to stock Android, that should be fine as well.

JoeyLe said:
Thanks for the information. I see there are many custom roms which are very close to stock Android, that should be fine as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, but the 4.4 roms (Google Play) have one main issue, random reboots.

Question about knox/OTA

Hello,
Is it possible to flash a stock firmware with Odin (with stock kernel, unrooted) if the knox flag is 0x1 and still receive OTA-updates? Or is it the knox flag that determines if the phone should receive OTA-updates? The question is because if I want to sell the phone in the future the buyer might want stock with OTA-updates...

ozzalbatrozz said:
Hello,
Is it possible to flash a stock firmware with Odin (with stock kernel, unrooted) if the knox flag is 0x1 and still receive OTA-updates? Or is it the knox flag that determines if the phone should receive OTA-updates? The question is because if I want to sell the phone in the future the buyer might want stock with OTA-updates...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes in short you can

For clearification and my own understanding: if the Knox flag is tripped you can still flash and use stock firmware (with the side effect that it disables Knox functionality and removes Samsung warranty coverage) but it can still receive pushed ota updates and those updates will work properly (assuming with the exception of Knox functionality). Is this the entirety of the effects of tripping the Knox efuse?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app

cpgeek said:
For clearification and my own understanding: if the Knox flag is tripped you can still flash and use stock firmware (with the side effect that it disables Knox functionality and removes Samsung warranty coverage) but it can still receive pushed ota updates and those updates will work properly (assuming with the exception of Knox functionality). Is this the entirety of the effects of tripping the Knox efuse?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes just voids Samsung warranty thats about it:silly:

jaythenut said:
yes just voids Samsung warranty thats about it:silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then may I ask why everyone is making a huge deal about it? Most (all?) manufactures state that you void your warranty when you flash non stock firmware. I'd bet if I submitted my original galaxy note to Samsung for warranty repair that they'd see the bootloader flag set as custom rom and not touch it... So what is it really that you lose by blowing Knox that you didn't lose when you flash custom firmware on any other device that is making people super angry?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app

cpgeek said:
Then may I ask why everyone is making a huge deal about it? Most (all?) manufactures state that you void your warranty when you flash non stock firmware. I'd bet if I submitted my original galaxy note to Samsung for warranty repair that they'd see the bootloader flag set as custom rom and not touch it... So what is it really that you lose by blowing Knox that you didn't lose when you flash custom firmware on any other device that is making people super angry?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The argument is, We own the device therefore swapping out software shouldn't affect any hardware issues. Samsung don't have the best quality control and things are faulty sometimes.. why should you be penalized if your volume button breaks or screen breaks due to fault, and they won't fix it because you rooted to add a nice clean theme to your device?
Then there is the underlying security issue surrounding KNOX.. is it a spy tool? is it not? who knows?
- Best answer I could give you there lol -

Hi guys,
first of all im sorry about my english... It's not very well :angel:
You say that its possible to do OTA-Updates although the KNOX flag is 0x1... But a few days ago i had a message like "This device is not original/Is touched - no updates available"...
Was it a temporary problem or what is it?
Greetings

shinchillahh said:
Hi guys,
first of all im sorry about my english... It's not very well :angel:
You say that its possible to do OTA-Updates although the KNOX flag is 0x1... But a few days ago i had a message like "This device is not original/Is touched - no updates available"...
Was it a temporary problem or what is it?
Greetings
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it means your system partition has been modified.
did you root the phone?

vndnguyen said:
it means your system partition has been modified.
did you root the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aaaah okay, yes i did a root! SO when i flash a STOCK ROM without a root it should be fine? And when Android 4.4 is released i am just able to update it OTA???

shinchillahh said:
Aaaah okay, yes i did a root! SO when i flash a STOCK ROM without a root it should be fine? And when Android 4.4 is released i am just able to update it OTA???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can anyway update OTA while keeping root.
Read this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2519103

Thank u sooo much!

[Q] How do I know if the ROM for S4 is KNOX enabled?

Are all KitKat firmwares KNOX enabled? Is it safe to assume that when the ROM says KNOX is removed then it is not going to trip the KNOX warranty even you try to install other custom ROMs after?
Some ROMs like FoxHound 4.6 explicitly mentions or warns users about KNOX. That implies that the ROM includes a firmware that is KNOX enabled. Yet some ROMs like Omega v25 warns its users about KNOX but at the same time it says "KNOX removed".
I'm totally confused and very hesitant to flash any KitKat ROMs because I couldn't tell if the ROM I want to try has KNOX in it.

KNOX is in 2 parts, the ROM and bootloader. Usually they need to be on the same version,, but thanks to developers , they are able to make new firmware running on old bootloader, that's what says KNOX free.
Power off
Hold volume down + home + power button for few seconds, you will into download mode, check out the text you have on the left-up side of screen you will know if your bootloader is KNOX free or not

qtwrk said:
KNOX is in 2 parts, the ROM and bootloader. Usually they need to be on the same version,, but thanks to developers , they are able to make new firmware running on old bootloader, that's what says KNOX free.
Power off
Hold volume down + home + power button for few seconds, you will into download mode, check out the text you have on the left-up side of screen you will know if your bootloader is KNOX free or not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. So basically, it all depends on the bootloader. If the ROM is OK to install using old bootloader, then we could say it's totally KNOX free. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

supertonsky said:
Thanks. So basically, it all depends on the bootloader. If the ROM is OK to install using old bootloader, then we could say it's totally KNOX free. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's correct. If you flash an official Samsung firmware, let's say KitKat, your bootloader will be upgraded and you will have Knox on your phone. If you are now on the old Knox free bootloader, you can install any custom ROM and Kernel without having Knox.
So the rule number one: don't upgrade to official firmware if you want to stay Knox free.:good:

Let say I'll get "Knox on", what its mean FOR me ? Do I loss my guaranty, do I blocked changing my Rom to non stock Rom?

xperia_88 said:
Let say I'll get "Knox on", what its mean FOR me ? Do I loss my guaranty, do I blocked changing my Rom to non stock Rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, only problem you shall have is warranty avoided, and you won't be able you downgrade to older version of official firmware , but however you can always have the workaround for this, like CWM package or something

qtwrk said:
Yep, only problem you shall have is warranty avoided, and you won't be able you downgrade to older version of official firmware , but however you can always have the workaround for this, like CWM package or something
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 :good: +1

[Q] CWM recovery removal with out tripping Knox Counter??

I recently purchased a SM-N900W8. Love this device, just retired my S2 which i messed around with for a few years and never had issues...
I neglected to do research on XDA (Big mistake) before rooting it and had no idea about the repercussions of this KNOX issue.
I used this method to root it (http://galaxynote3root.com/galaxy-note-3-root/how-to-root-galaxy-note-3/)
I successfully installed CWM recovery and SuperSu and the phone is rooted. I had no intentions of installing Custom Roms just yet just wanted to be able to use some of my favorite apps that require rooting. The phones Current Binary and Phone status have both been tagged custom but my KNOX Warranty Void is still tagged at 0X0. Needless to say maybe I got lucky?
I was hoping to Revert to Stock and Unroot so I could follow this method instead (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2498850)
Is there anyways to Accomplish this without tripping the KNOX counter? I've been scouring the forums for several hours trying to find a concrete answer but cannot.
I have downloaded my stock firmware (http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/3/?download=26653)
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have included a screenshot of my device info. I apologize in advance if this issue has already been addressed.
Thanks,
-Rob

For device info and Knox warranty status, you can use my app Phone INFO ★Samsung★ to get more detailed info.
Download link in my signature.

Why did you even install CWM if you didn't need it ?
Why do you want to remove it ? Don't fix it if it ain't broken. De la vega will trip Knox in 4.4, so leave it as it is.
Sent from my N9005

Dejan Sathanas said:
Why did you even install CWM if you didn't need it ?
Why do you want to remove it ? Don't fix it if it ain't broken. De la vega will trip Knox in 4.4, so leave it as it is.
Sent from my N9005
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will do. Was just worried about official updates and warranty if phone still says custom but knox is not tripped. But bell outsources another company for repairs and doesn't send back to Samsung directly so I probably don't need to worry to much..
I used CWM because I've used it for a couple years with my S2 and enjoyed the features so when I saw cwm was avaliable for note 3 I jumped on it.
But there is no way to revert to stock without tripping count?
Thanks.

SSJ3Rob said:
Will do. Was just worried about official updates and warranty if phone still says custom but knox is not tripped. But bell outsources another company for repairs and doesn't send back to Samsung directly so I probably don't need to worry to much..
I used CWM because I've used it for a couple years with my S2 and enjoyed the features so when I saw cwm was avaliable for note 3 I jumped on it.
But there is no way to revert to stock without tripping count?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing stock using odin should rever everything back to stock and possibly not trip knox counte, I am saying possibly cuz nobody has tried to flash stock recovery and try to keep knox cool as custom recoveries have tripped everyone's knox AFAIK. But your phone FW or maybe something else might make your device an exception.
Sent From My SM-N9005 To All You Wonder Nobodies!!

Khizar said:
Flashing stock using odin should rever everything back to stock and possibly not trip knox counte, I am saying possibly cuz nobody has tried to flash stock recovery and try to keep knox cool as custom recoveries have tripped everyone's knox AFAIK. But your phone FW or maybe something else might make your device an exception.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will leave as is for now until more info on the subject surfaces. As much as I want to try to flash back to stock recovery and test your theory I will hold out and not mess around with CWM or mess with apps requiring root to much incase it decides to trip the counter.
Thanks.

[Q] Binary Counter

Hello guys, i have recently bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500. I switched from ios to android and i am loving it so far. I have a couple of questions: I want to root my device. Does this affect the binary counter? Also if i have a problem with my device and i have warranty, will i be able to format my device (un-root)? Also will this affect binary counter? I don't want to loose my 2 years warranty. Thanks!
PS: While i was on IOS i received a lot of support on reddit but when i asked for android stuff, i never got any response. Is this the right forum for a beginner like me?

Arjoni said:
Hello guys, i have recently bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500. I switched from ios to android and i am loving it so far. I have a couple of questions: I want to root my device. Does this affect the binary counter? Also if i have a problem with my device and i have warranty, will i be able to format my device (un-root)? Also will this affect binary counter? I don't want to loose my 2 years warranty. Thanks!
PS: While i was on IOS i received a lot of support on reddit but when i asked for android stuff, i never got any response. Is this the right forum for a beginner like me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1)Yes rooting will affect your binary counter.
2) Yes you can unroot your device to gain back warranty.
BUT the binary counter is HIDDEN!
So you can just reset the STATUS(which is official for stock n custom for unofficial)
There is an app called Triangle away which resets this counter but it only available for i9505 n not for i9500.

you have one more problem that is Knox In some service centers do not pay attention to it, but in others lose two year warranty on the phone

AIkizov said:
you have one more problem that is Knox In some service centers do not pay attention to it, but in others lose two year warranty on the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes absolutely a problem. I forgot to mention it. If any unofficial stuff is flashed then this knox pox is triggered.

Mandark52 said:
1)Yes rooting will affect your binary counter.
2) Yes you can unroot your device to gain back warranty.
BUT the binary counter is HIDDEN!
So you can just reset the STATUS(which is official for stock n custom for unofficial)
There is an app called Triangle away which resets this counter but it only available for i9505 n not for i9500.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AIkizov said:
you have one more problem that is Knox In some service centers do not pay attention to it, but in others lose two year warranty on the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So does this mean i shouldn't root? I don't want to loose my warranty...

Arjoni said:
So does this mean i shouldn't root? I don't want to loose my warranty...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where do you live? In the UK, for example, (and I believe the EU as a whole) then it doesn't matter if you trip Knox.

Arjoni said:
So does this mean i shouldn't root? I don't want to loose my warranty...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First have a look on the stickies of Knox discussion. You wont get official software updates if you trip knox(as recovery is custom aftr rooting) n there are knox friendly rooting methods. But I dont really care about knox and after rooting it is upto you that you aint flashing anything wrong or not following the instructions. All the best.

Arjoni said:
So does this mean i shouldn't root? I don't want to loose my warranty...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally am currently with stock firmware
Twice my phone was in service for Knox experiments that I did
Had twice to change the motherboard, but it was replaced under warranty because I have a version that my phone and just motherboard died and there is nothing to see in the Samsung service centre
Knox is a major obstacle
The choice is yours

andyjg247 said:
Where do you live? In the UK, for example, (and I believe the EU as a whole) then it doesn't matter if you trip Knox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mandark52 said:
First have a look on the stickies of Knox discussion. You wont get official software updates if you trip knox(as recovery is custom aftr rooting) n there are knox friendly rooting methods. But I dont really care about knox and after rooting it is upto you that you aint flashing anything wrong or not following the instructions. All the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AIkizov said:
I personally am currently with stock firmware
Twice my phone was in service for Knox experiments that I did
Had twice to change the motherboard, but it was replaced under warranty because I have a version that my phone and just motherboard died and there is nothing to see in the Samsung service centre
Knox is a major obstacle
The choice is yours
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i want to make it clear that i don't intend to flash a custom ROM. I just want to root my stock firmware (4.4.2) and then to unroot (format with the stock ROM). Will this flag Knox and the counter? will that avoid my warranty? sorry for all of these questions but i just moved on android. thank you

Arjoni said:
i want to make it clear that i don't intend to flash a custom ROM. I just want to root my stock firmware (4.4.2) and then to unroot (format with the stock ROM). Will this flag Knox and the counter? will that avoid my warranty? sorry for all of these questions but i just moved on android. thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your warranty will void

AIkizov said:
your warranty will void
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so samsung doesn't allow you to format your device? well i think i am going back to ios... -_-

Arjoni said:
so samsung doesn't allow you to format your device? well i think i am going back to ios... -_-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have the ability to format, but the stock rom allows do not have permission to freely manipulate software - Void your warranty

Arjoni said:
i want to make it clear that i don't intend to flash a custom ROM. I just want to root my stock firmware (4.4.2) and then to unroot (format with the stock ROM). Will this flag Knox and the counter? will that avoid my warranty? sorry for all of these questions but i just moved on android. thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said previously that you should know what are you flashing and what will happen after it. If you flash anything by not following the correct procedure then you ll pay for it. I rooted my s4 3 months ago and immediately took a backup of my OS through a custom recovery. This backup helps me if something gets wrong. And I really dont care about about Knox because what you lose is only OTA updates and nothing else. So after rooting even you can backup your OS n stay on stock as long you want. Choice is yours. All the best.

Mandark52 said:
As I said previously that you should know what are you flashing and what will happen after it. If you flash anything by not following the correct procedure then you ll pay for it. I rooted my s4 3 months ago and immediately took a backup of my OS through a custom recovery. This backup helps me if something gets wrong. And I really dont care about about Knox because what you lose is only OTA updates and nothing else. So after rooting even you can backup your OS n stay on stock as long you want. Choice is yours. All the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Triggered Knox not prevent for receive OTA updates

AIkizov said:
Triggered Knox not prevent for receive OTA updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As stock recovery of the phone changes there will be no OTA updates for that device it ll say THE DEVICE SETTINGS HAS BEEN CHANGED or something similar to it. And stock recovery is replaced by philz touch or cwm while rooting. And side by side this knox pox is also triggered.

Mandark52 said:
As stock recovery of the phone changes there will be no OTA updates for that device it ll say THE DEVICE SETTINGS HAS BEEN CHANGED or something similar to it. And stock recovery is replaced by philz touch or cwm while rooting. And side by side this knox pox is also triggered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now just talking about root that does not alter Recoverу

Arjoni said:
i want to make it clear that i don't intend to flash a custom ROM. I just want to root my stock firmware (4.4.2) and then to unroot (format with the stock ROM). Will this flag Knox and the counter? will that avoid my warranty? sorry for all of these questions but i just moved on android. thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your warranty will be void depends strongly on in which country you live. There is no yes or no answer.

Flash anything but an official Samsung package through Odin and it will trigger the Knox flag and change the device status to Custom. OTA updates will stop.
Re flashing an official Samsung package afterwards will change the device back to Official and OTA updates will resume. But the Knox flag will still show as triggered. Theres no way to reset it.
Sent from my SM-T310