Database Users

Just bought my S4 (I9505)

Hi guys!
Yesterday I've received my new S4 and obviously I'm really happy!
I'm planning to root my S4 after some tests (just to be sure the device has not problems) and I'm thinking to flash the Google Edition ROM.
Now some questions:
- Is there some test,stuffs to check or common warrenty problem to check/wait before root my S4?
- Just rooting the device will invalidate the KNOX? Is there a way to restore the KNOX or may I root my device only when I'm sure I really want invalidate my warrenty?
- After rooting decision/time... I live in Italy but I've bought an EU S4: do you suggest me to change the CSC (I9505OXXBMG3) to ITV and flash Italy sotck/mod ROM or it doesn't matter and I can stay on the actual CSC?
- In your opinion, Is it really worth to flash the Google Edition 4.3 or may I wait for the official 4.3 from Samsung (I saw the leaked ROM so maybe it's time for official!)
Thanks guys!

If your device has the older bootloader you're fine for flashing as it doesn't have KNOX implemented. If it has the new bootloader with KNOX, flashing a custom rom will void your warranty forever. It flags it in download mode and you can't remove it even if you went back to fully stock, so you still wouldn't have any warranty

Someone posted this on one of the BLOG.
chiragnarasimha on 4 October 2013 at 14:52 said:
Incase the above method failed, then i am sad to tell you that there is a long process that is probably going take more than an hour to complete the downgrade process.
First of all, remember that when you upgraded to 4.3, you also upgraded stuff like BL(bootloader), AP(formerly known as pda which can be downloaded from this site), CP (modem of the phone) and finally CSC. So, the trick is to download the BL of 4.2.2, AP(PDA) of your region, CP of your region or your carrier, and the CSC of your region. Trust me, finding these stuff can be hard depending on the popularity of your region and the popularity of your carrier.
Hopefully, you were able to download all the above mentioned stuff. Now go ahead and flash these things with odin. Also note that wiping the device with the stock recovery ( vol up + home Key + Power button) might be necessary. While flashing with odin, DO NOT CHECK ANYTHING APART FROM AUTO REBOOT AND F. RESET TIME.
OR THE EASIEST IS PROBABLY TO WAIT FOR THE OFFICIAL RELEASE AND THEN FLASH IT WITH ODIN. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL RELEASE WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE IN THIS WEBSITE ANYWAYS
will this work?? splitting the firmware? anyone?

imlgl said:
If your device has the older bootloader you're fine for flashing as it doesn't have KNOX implemented. If it has the new bootloader with KNOX, flashing a custom rom will void your warranty forever. It flags it in download mode and you can't remove it even if you went back to fully stock, so you still wouldn't have any warranty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for response!
I've just reboot in download mode and my S4 printout:
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: gt-I9505
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official
SYSTEM STATUS: Offical
CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30
WRITE PROTECTED: Enabled
Have I the older bootloader? I can't see any knox strings...
If yes, that means that if I want to flash the 4.3 Google Edition ROM it's better to flash it now before Samsung send me the OTA update of the official 4.3 ROM or I didn't understand well?
In which ROMs Samsung has introduces the KNOX.... I'm little bit confused because someone of you has KNOX but my S4 says to me via OTA thet there is no new update...

Markino said:
Thanks for response!
I've just reboot in download mode and my S4 printout:
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: gt-I9505
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official
SYSTEM STATUS: Offical
CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30
WRITE PROTECTED: Enabled
Have I the older bootloader? I can't see any knox strings...
If yes, that means that if I want to flash the 4.3 Google Edition ROM it's better to flash it now before Samsung send me the OTA update of the official 4.3 ROM or I didn't understand well?
In which ROMs Samsung has introduces the KNOX.... I'm little bit confused because someone of you has KNOX but my S4 says to me via OTA thet there is no new update...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup you have older bootloader, it's the same as mine except my says custom instead of official.

[Q] Rooting Unrooting Installing Only Official Roms on I9500 to Reclaim Warranty

Before anything, I have searched and searched on this topic, although I have found information on unrooting and reclaiming warranty, it seems to be focused on the I9505 version, so here goes the question:
I have the I9500 variant of the S4; I've always rooted my old phones and reclaimed warranty with Triangle Away and so on. Apparently, the Triangle Away app will never work for the I9500 variant. I would like to know if I can Root and Unroot my galaxy s4 I9500 variant without losing warranty. In addition, if I root, I will then only be able to update by downloading official firmware from the sammobile site. If I root my phone and eventually update to the official 4.4 firmware from the sammobile website using ODIN and then decide to unroot to reclaim warranty, will that be possible? Will installing the official firmware through ODIN cause the binary flash counter to change?
I really want to root my phone and maintain updates even if I have to download manually from the site and update through ODIN, but I also want to keep my 1-year official warranty and my extra 1-year extended warranty.

Nothing?

iancarvalho said:
-SNIP-
I also want to keep my 1-year official warranty and my extra 1-year extended warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't flash anything on your phone if you want the above guaranteed.
Though this wasn't a primary intention so far as Knox is concerned, making it difficult to dud Samsung on warranty claims (I.E where you've clearly used the phone in a manner which breaches the warranty conditions) post-Knox is a nice little bonus for them (and frankly, I don't blame them).
The moment you start flashing stuff to your phone, you should lose all expectations of any warranty.

It depend on in what country you bought the phone if you even will lose warranty by rooting and flashing.
And if you already have a knox bootloader. If you don't have knox bootloader, then just go ahead, root, flash etc. If you do have a knox bootloader, then rooting and flashing will trip the counter. Then it depends on in which country you live if you will get warranty again

Software update i9192 available now..

INU ver. I9192DDU1BML1
OTA 96.79 MB

Was hoping that the compability with Galaxy Gear would mean 4.3 but w/e. If we will be getting 4.4 Kit Kat directly then that's not bad either.

What is changed? Unable to get OTA since phone is rooted. Have to flash stock ROM, install updates & then root which is a pain in the a$$
EDIT: "You cannot downgrade to the old software after this new software upgrade due to the security reason" DAFUQ? Does that mean KNOX is added now? Oh crap!
Could you please boot into Download Mode and write everything what is in the output?

chemicalrage said:
What is changed? Unable to get OTA since phone is rooted. Have to flash stock ROM, install updates & then root which is a pain in the a$$
EDIT: "You cannot downgrade to the old software after this new software upgrade due to the security reason" DAFUQ? Does that mean KNOX is added now? Oh crap!
Could you please boot into Download Mode and write everything what is in the output?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep Knox is there

chemicalrage said:
what is changed? Unable to get ota since phone is rooted. Have to flash stock rom, install updates & then root which is a pain in the a$$
edit: "you cannot downgrade to the old software after this new software upgrade due to the security reason" dafuq? Does that mean knox is added now? Oh crap!
Could you please boot into download mode and write everything what is in the output?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
odin mode
product name : Gt-i9192
current binary : Samsung official
system status : Official
knox kernel lock : 0x0
knox warranty void : 0x0
csb-config-lsb : 0x30
bootloader rp swrev : 1
write protection : Enable

Thanks. Mother [email protected]#kin knox

this update is android 4.3?

Nope... its still 4.2.2

I can confirm compatibility with gear!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Connection symbol changed to H+ from simple H & started facing frequent disconnection.
Any one facing such issue?

what is new with this update ?
i have rooted device so i cant try it out ...and why there is no rooms for our device

kilouhm said:
and why there is no rooms for our device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because there is not enought customer, if you count the number of post about i9192 you will notice that they are rare even though this phone is supposed to have great features.
Be carefull in the case of the new version it's as now impossible to root without setting the knox void warranty flag to 0x1 ==> warranty void

Kiwyxda said:
Because there is not enought customer, if you count the number of post about i9192 you will notice that they are rare even though this phone is supposed to have great features.
Be carefull in the case of the new version it's as now impossible to root without setting the knox void warranty flag to 0x1 ==> warranty void
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually i don't care about warranty ...i bought the i9192 cause i don't have the choice to get the other versions in my country....the phone is great i like it so much better then my old xperia sl but the fragmentation from samsung and all these version is get in my mad

[Q] Rooting G900H

So, i got tired of waiting a port or something like Towelroot for the exynos variant of the S5 and, before i start rooting the phone, i'd like to clear some questions:
1 - Towelroot really doesn't work on 900h and there's no other option besides CF, right?
2 - I live in Brazil, but the phone was bought at one Bestbuy in the US. The warranty will be covered by the store after tripping knox? If not, it means it'll be covered by Samsung in the US (if there's a law for it, like in EU) or in Brazil (couldn't find anything about knox tripping effect in here)?
3 - I think i remember, a long time ago, that there were some problems after rooting and tripping knox, like bricking the fingerprint scanner and loosing other features. Is that a thing, or just an old rumor?
4 - Tripping knox and flashing a knox-free rom blocks you from flashing another rom with knox right? If i only root it and, i don't know, just mess around with Xposed and other root apps, i'll be able to flash the stock rom and install OTAs or i'll need to stick with custom knox-free roms?

1- Yeah. G900H model can only root via CF method.
2- In my country (Bangladesh) tripping knox will not void warrenty, until any damages made by hand..
3- Tripping knox will not create problems with fingerprint or private mode etc. It's an old rumor..
4- Yes. You can always revert back to Stock Rom by flashing your device by a stock firmware.

Masum56k said:
1- Yeah. G900H model can only root via CF method.
2- In my country (Bangladesh) tripping knox will not void warrenty, until any damages made by hand..
3- Tripping knox will not create problems with fingerprint or private mode etc. It's an old rumor..
4- Yes. You can always revert back to Stock Rom by flashing your device by a stock firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean the warranty is "not void until damaged by hand?"

Y.G. said:
What do you mean the warranty is "not void until damaged by hand?"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means, Phone damaged by dropping from hand.

Masum56k said:
That means, Phone damaged by dropping from hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So they check to see if you've rooted if you break the glass or digitizer? That sucks.

Masum56k said:
1- Yeah. G900H model can only root via CF method.
2- In my country (Bangladesh) tripping knox will not void warrenty, until any damages made by hand..
3- Tripping knox will not create problems with fingerprint or private mode etc. It's an old rumor..
4- Yes. You can always revert back to Stock Rom by flashing your device by a stock firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, thanks for clearing that up :good:
And since there were no reports of warranty problems with knox voided phones, i'll assume that rooting is safe in here.

[Q] Knox Trip

Hello,
I want to flash cyanogenmod or any other custom rom on my Galaxy s4. (1 year old)
I'm too scared to trip my knox and void my warranty if it ever breaks.
Is there any way to install a custom rom without tripping it?
Thanks!

No way to install AOSP rom without tripping knox. However, you can install custom touchwiz rom without tripping knox.
we are in the same boat. My warranty has only three months remaining. I will only trip knox if ktoonsez kernel come for official TW lollipop.

ha966 said:
Hello,
I want to flash cyanogenmod or any other custom rom on my Galaxy s4. (1 year old)
I'm too scared to trip my knox and void my warranty if it ever breaks.
Is there any way to install a custom rom without tripping it?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tripped knox 2 months after purchase.
Chances are low that a brand new device malfunctions. Even so, there are reported cases where people who tripped knox said that they were still able to send the device to be serviced in warranty conditions.

I'm going to try it, I will let you guys know if it worked.

Flashed cyanogenmod, works like a charm.
I have 0x1 but that seems that i still have warranty.

ha966 said:
Flashed cyanogenmod, works like a charm.
I have 0x1 but that seems that i still have warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your warranty is void.

ha966 said:
Hello,
I want to flash cyanogenmod or any other custom rom on my Galaxy s4. (1 year old)
I'm too scared to trip my knox and void my warranty if it ever breaks.
Is there any way to install a custom rom without tripping it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot flash cyanogenmod (or other AOSP roms), but you can flash other Samsung-based custom roms without tripping knox.
The method is quite complex though. Generally you have to downgrade your kernel, root with towelroot, use Mobile Odin Pro to flash a new rom preserving root, update bootloader to have wifi.
The risk of mistakes is quite high.
But if you want to have a deeper look, jump here
As you will see the first step is rooting without tripping knox, which is already a challenge.
Once you achieve that, you will find that root gives you already enough mod opportunities, so you may not feel the need to flash custom roms.

khsh97 said:
Your warranty is void.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Incorrect. He lives in the Netherlands. Tripping knox never voids your warranty in the Netherlands. Samsung made an official statement about it.
It depends entirely in which country you live. In the EU for example, tripping Knox can never void your consumer rights.

Lennyz1988 said:
Incorrect. He lives in the Netherlands. Tripping knox never voids your warranty in the Netherlands. Samsung made an official statement about it.
It depends entirely in which country you live. In the EU for example, tripping Knox can never void your consumer rights.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is awesome. But as far as I know Samsung are not the ones who will handle the warranty, but the store from where you bought it the phone.
I bought mine from DOMO (an electronics store here in my country), which means that they will handle the warranty, not Samsung.
Either way, warranty is void once you temper with the software (rooting and changing roms), it is even stated in the "Warranty will be void if" clause. Unless you change back to stock before sending it in.

GDReaper said:
That is awesome. But as far as I know Samsung are not the ones who will handle the warranty, but the store from where you bought it the phone.
I bought mine from DOMO (an electronics store here in my country), which means that they will handle the warranty, not Samsung.
Either way, warranty is void once you temper with the software (rooting and changing roms), it is even stated in the "Warranty will be void if" clause. Unless you change back to stock before sending it in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung gives warranty to their product. They do that freely. But that's completely separate from your consumer rights.
The store where you bought it from has a legal obligation to fix the phone within a certain period of time. You can even pull the device apart, put it back together and you still have your rights. As longs as the fault is not caused by you. I'm talking about countries within the EU. The warranty void message has absolutely zero consequences.
Compare it with a pc. You can reinstall Windows, install a different Windows version, install Linux and when your motherboard breaks down, it will never void your warranty because you installed different software.
So you basically have two options. You can send it directly to Samsung or send it to the store you bought it from.
In the Netherlands Samsung made an announcement that tripping Knox, flashing your phone will NEVER void your warranty. Even if you manage to brick it, they will fix it free of charge.

Hello,
I am new to samsung and knox and really I am lost with so much information specially because I have a original version.
I have a i9505 without any upgrade, so I still have the Apr 12 kernel with I understand doesn't have knox.
Can I install any custom rom?
Can I then revert back to stock? And to stock without knox?
If I install custom roms in the forum they will upgrade my kernel and knox will be installed?
What is the best approach to continue knox free?
Thanks

Custom roms or GPE roms are your best bet if you want knox free roms.
Better upgrade to the latest software and root, then install a custom rom.
If you want stock without knox, you can install a knox-free (knox has been removed by the dev) touchwiz rom.

Thanks for replying.
If I upgrade the software first it will also upgrade the kernel to a version with knox with I will not be able to remove again. Isn't correct?
If I install a custom rom will it also upgrade my kernel to a version with knox?

filtragem said:
Thanks for replying.
If I upgrade the software first it will also upgrade the kernel to a version with knox with I will not be able to remove again. Isn't correct?
If I install a custom rom will it also upgrade my kernel to a version with knox?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Yes.
2) Kernel has nothing to do with knox. Knox is in the bootloader and the rom. Custom roms do not upgrade your bootloader.

So what is the advantage of upgrading first?
Isn't best to install a custom rom as is without having knox even close to my phone?
My previous question about returning to stock was if I need to send my phone for repair (I am still on warranty) can I be stock again but remain knox free, after installing a custom rom?
Thanks and sorry for probably so basic questions

Please read this thread and gain knowledge from Chainfire (developer of CF-Auto-root, SuperSU). Many of the questions asked have answer there.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45666586
AFAIK from reading the referenced thread only Knox-apps and libs are removed. That isn't truly Knox-free when bootloader is still holding the Knox features.
Even Chainfire hasn't been able to remove Knox.
Please give example what custom ROM is truly Knox free.

Lennyz1988 said:
Incorrect. He lives in the Netherlands. Tripping knox never voids your warranty in the Netherlands. Samsung made an official statement about it.
It depends entirely in which country you live. In the EU for example, tripping Knox can never void your consumer rights.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what about Asian countries?

O-T said:
Please read this thread and gain knowledge from Chainfire (developer of CF-Auto-root, SuperSU). Many of the questions asked have answer there.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45666586
AFAIK from reading the referenced thread only Knox-apps and libs are removed. That isn't truly Knox-free when bootloader is still holding the Knox features.
Even Chainfire hasn't been able to remove Knox.
Please give example what custom ROM is truly Knox free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I will read it.
I don't know if any custom rom is knox free.
I am still knox free because I have an old bootloader, and didn't install any update.
It's possible to install a new rom without updating the bootloader?
If I install a CM rom will it install a bootloader with knox? If not, can I later reinstall a samsung rom with a bootloader without knox?

filtragem said:
Thanks, I will read it.
I don't know if any custom rom is knox free.
I am still knox free because I have an old bootloader, and didn't install any update.
It's possible to install a new rom without updating the bootloader?
If I install a CM rom will it install a bootloader with knox? If not, can I later reinstall a samsung rom with a bootloader without knox?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any version CM/AOSP rom don't include bootloader or modem/non-hlos firmware as @GDReaper reply 2). Most Deodexed TouchWiz (TW-based) usually neither. Mind there can be exceptions for TW-based roms.
CWM or TWRP recovery isn't the same as bootloader hence it don't trip Knox.
I had previously CWM 6051, changed to TWRP 2840 and CM11. Updated to complete Samsung stock 501 lollipop directly from that state using PC Odin 3.07. Recovery back to stock and unrooted in one single Odin flash with preserved state Knox 0x0. Phone is GT-I9295 hardware 95% identical to GT-I9505 (some buttons +screen/camera difference).
Downgrade to Samsung TouchWiz rom with Knox-free bootloader =< MH1 when bootloader is newer (N** =kitkat or O** =lolipop) will trip Knox. Because Knox featured bootloader can't be downgraded without trip 0x1.
Updating to any Samsung TouchWiz rom with bootloader don't trip Knox.
Find version:
ADB or Terminal command: getprop ro.bootloader
It's common to press XDA Thanks Button sometimes.