Database Users

A Couple of Questions

hello guys,
here's a list of questions I have compiled which were bothering me since i bought my SGS, hope you take your time and answer these:
What is "root"-ing. How different is it from flashing a firmware on motherboard and installing an OS on to a hard drive?
Does rooting an android device kill its warranty?
Which way is the best and reliable way to root my SGS?
How do I bring back my SGS to Factory state after I root my phone?
Is there a way that I can download the AOSP off the android site and install it on my phone.
I'm with O2 (UK) and I'm required to send blank text to a number. My SGS doesnt allow me to send blank texts. How do I send blank texts? :/
How do I integrate my contacts with the ones from Facebook/Google, when I dont want all the contacts from other sources to be shown in my contacts?
regards,
emc

Quick answers:
1. Root = full control of os ( linux superuser capability) it has nothing to do with flashing firmwares
2. YES
3. search the forum or google for Galaxy s rooting (very easy 10 min max)
4. firmware reflash or
*#*#7780#*#*
This code can be used for a factory data reset. It'll remove following things:
Google account settings stored in your phone
System and application data and settings
Downloaded
5. no. that is vanilla android with no drivers. look for vanilla custom rom for SGS on forum
6. I work for a carrier in Romania so i know : IT DOESN'T MATTER IS YOU PUT TEXT IN IT (just put a letter in it and send)
7.CONTACTS->Menu-> Display options
Hope it helps. Good luck.

thanks, your answers were helpful, but raised a few more question now.
if rooting has nothing to do with flashing firmwares, why does one have to reflash fimware to return to factory state? (can you explain technically?)
I still need to figure out how to setup friends in contacts, I've already enabled contacts from facebook/google.. What I wanted to know is how do I filter people from the list so that I can see only selected of them in my contacts and not all?
-----------------------------------
edit:
just saw that my Kies asked me to upgrade to JM1. should I do it?
If I do it will *#*#7780#*#* bring my phone back to JF3 (default)? or will it bring to JM1

emclondon said:
if rooting has nothing to do with flashing firmwares, why does one have to reflash fimware to return to factory state?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't HAVE to reflash the firmware technically, rooting basically just overwrites a few files (generally, the kernel). Technically, it should be possible to simply revert the files to unroot the phone. But the only reason you would probably want to unroot anyway is to send the phone in for service, and first thing they'll do is reflash your phone with a firmware which is known to work anyway.. So you might as well.
In regards to the warranty status after rooting, it's actually a grey area as to whether it affects the warranty. If you flash with the I9000M rom, yes, Samsung probably wont be impressed. It is always better to reflash with clean firmware before returning it to service, but unless there is evidence that rooting messed up the hardware on your phone, it's probably unlikely they would reject warranty. But better to be safe.
I don't think Samsung encrypted the bootloader sequence, and had they been concerned, they would have probably disabled USB debugging within the firmware.

ok thanks ^_^
now a few more questions:
whats a clockworkmod recovery?
whats a samset?
whats an odin?
do you suggest me to upgrade my firmware?
how do i backup my current firmware?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it is my moto . Do you experience any problems with your handset ? Like lags , lockups or anything of that sort? If you don't, then I think its better if you leave it as it is. Just apply the lagFix if you want to, but I see no reason to flash your phone to a different version right now.
I have flashed many phones before (where it was much riskier than Galaxy flashing) But I still didn't flash my Galaxy S , because I simply dont see the need to change to another 2.1. I'm waiting for Samsung to release official froyo 2.2. I suggest you wait for that too.

my phone lags a lot

I share phonix view and motto. If you do experience problems post symptoms before doing something like reflash or factory reset.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Lag can be easely fixed with a patch. You get root and lag patch in one pack. Will try to post a link.
http://***forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7587405&postcount=417
Delete the 3 stars in front of forum
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

emclondon said:
just saw that my Kies asked me to upgrade to JM1. should I do it?
If I do it will *#*#7780#*#* bring my phone back to JF3 (default)? or will it bring to JM1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
updgraded my phone and did a factory reset, phone DOES NOT GOES BACK TO JF3!
just for your info

that's because u upgraded/flashed a complete new rom which replaced the old one there for factory reset will give u the latest firmware/upgrade that u have installed.

[Q] Help! I keep digging myself further into a hole

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

NE9 OTA and go back to stock?

Trying to solve this for a friend.
We're on the pre-NE9 release and I used Towelroot to get the phone root. This was critical because we were migrating from an old S3 to the S5, so it was easier to use Titanium Backup to bring back the apps and savegame data.
Well it turns out my friend needs to run MDM Airwatch and Root cloak isn't working anymore. TBH there really isn't any reason to keep the phone rooted because it just makes OTA difficult too. So I think we're ready to go to an unrooted state.
So the first thing is we're struggling that even after doing a full unroot via SuperSU uninstalling Towelroot, it still doesn't pass MDM. So if anyone has a suggestion go ahead.
I'm not sure whats wrong but even then the OTA won't install either, so I'm suspecting the phone still finds something not in stock state.
So here's my question: Is it possible to install the OTA via Odin and ensure that the apps/data are not lost? I've heard that there's a lot of reasons OTAs can fail, so its more reliable to just use Odin to get the OTA applied. I figure that once we get the OTA updated, perhaps MDM will pass? If not we can always factory reset at that point.

bumpity

dmo580 said:
Trying to solve this for a friend.
We're on the pre-NE9 release and I used Towelroot to get the phone root. This was critical because we were migrating from an old S3 to the S5, so it was easier to use Titanium Backup to bring back the apps and savegame data.
Well it turns out my friend needs to run MDM Airwatch and Root cloak isn't working anymore. TBH there really isn't any reason to keep the phone rooted because it just makes OTA difficult too. So I think we're ready to go to an unrooted state.
So the first thing is we're struggling that even after doing a full unroot via SuperSU uninstalling Towelroot, it still doesn't pass MDM. So if anyone has a suggestion go ahead.
I'm not sure whats wrong but even then the OTA won't install either, so I'm suspecting the phone still finds something not in stock state.
So here's my question: Is it possible to install the OTA via Odin and ensure that the apps/data are not lost? I've heard that there's a lot of reasons OTAs can fail, so its more reliable to just use Odin to get the OTA applied. I figure that once we get the OTA updated, perhaps MDM will pass? If not we can always factory reset at that point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't flash the OTA via Odin but you can sideload it by placing it on your ext-sdcard then sideloading from stock recovery. And by MDM I am assuming it's the modem that is not passing verification. Here is the G900V_NE9_Stock_Modem.tar.md5. Flash in PDA slot in Odin(AP in Odin v3.09+) then attempt to take the OTA again.

dmo580 said:
Trying to solve this for a friend.
We're on the pre-NE9 release and I used Towelroot to get the phone root. This was critical because we were migrating from an old S3 to the S5, so it was easier to use Titanium Backup to bring back the apps and savegame data.
Well it turns out my friend needs to run MDM Airwatch and Root cloak isn't working anymore. TBH there really isn't any reason to keep the phone rooted because it just makes OTA difficult too. So I think we're ready to go to an unrooted state.
So the first thing is we're struggling that even after doing a full unroot via SuperSU uninstalling Towelroot, it still doesn't pass MDM. So if anyone has a suggestion go ahead.
I'm not sure whats wrong but even then the OTA won't install either, so I'm suspecting the phone still finds something not in stock state.
So here's my question: Is it possible to install the OTA via Odin and ensure that the apps/data are not lost? I've heard that there's a lot of reasons OTAs can fail, so its more reliable to just use Odin to get the OTA applied. I figure that once we get the OTA updated, perhaps MDM will pass? If not we can always factory reset at that point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go to google play
and download Helium - App Sync and Backup
options for rooted and non rooted try it i used it to backup a app data locally without gmail cloud on my rooted note3 and save the file did the same on my rooted s5 and had it Manuel restore that file just need to create the same file folder and drop the file in it if you do Manuel
so stupid i had passed a ton of level on chuchu rocket i didnt wanna redo
i also used this to do the sms altho helium may have done that for me too SMS Backup & Restore (Kitkat)
INFOLIFE LLC - February 25, 2014
Business
there is non kitkat and kitkat labeled one does it good just doesnt backup pics in the mms txts

[Q] What can I do with my I9500

My carrier seems to have flashed there own custom rom and rooted this I9500. I even found a TWRP
folder with a tiny .twrps file modified 2 days before I got the phone but recovery mode doesn't say anything about TWRP. They even tripped knox, I think. Pictures are attached at the bottom.
Now that I have studied up a bit I would like to know if I can just back up there rom and kernel with TWRP then flash a bloat free, hopefully smoother running combo and just flash back to theirs if need be and remove TWRP like they seem to have done?
They used TTT as a base for whatever reason if that matters. Actually that's the part I'm unsure about. Do I have to update to a different firmware and if I do can I go back to theirs?
PDA: I9500UBUFNB3
CSC: I9500UUBFNB3
MODEM: I9500UBUFNA2
Version: Android 4.4.2
Added: 2014-03-02

Bumping after total rewrite.

Bram Skull said:
Bumping after total rewrite.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mate
Your carrier gave you a phone with knox bit tripped?? that is odd , i can tell you right now the phone is not new...
If you decide to keep it , you have a few options , flash a stock rom and leave it with the original firmware , or go custom , flash new recovery , new custom rom ..........

I been with them for years so I went for contract and got it for bumping my bill up $10 for two years. Effectively paying $240 for a $350 phone. I just didn't know about knox and that it had been tripped. Pretty sure it is new they just flash it with there own logo on the bootscreen+rom, just not sure if they did anything else to the rom. Still has the little plastic strips along the sides, no scratches, and accessories in the box are unopened. Suppose it could be a refurb but the Samsung stickers on the box don't say anything about being a refurb.
I just thought the fact is just said 1 and not 0x1 was weird to since all the pics i see posted here have two lines related to know with 0x0 or 0x1. Thought maybe they had used one of the methods that doesn't trip knox since I haven't studied enough about it.
I just want to see if it runs better on different rom=kernel and be able to switch it back if I decide to and can return it. Then again I might just take it back and get out of the contract if I can on the simple fact they gave me phone they have already voided the warranty on. My plan was to rely on it the first year then pay for insurance after that. If all else fails my sister has been wanting a new phone but stuck in a contract she shared with here ex so I might just give it to her on a $10 month payment plan lol.
And if anyone is curious the carrier is "Cellular One of East Central Illinois"

I grabbed TWRP Manager and they already had 2.8.0.0 installed, so I backed up there custom version of TWRP and installed 2.8.1.0. I then made a full backup, wiped Data ,Cache Partitions and Preload as instructed in the thread for the rom I grabbed. I even factory reset and made a backup of that too. I flashed the latest version of Prism Barebone and all seemed good until I realized I had WiFi but no mobile data connection. I had already manually entered the APN info so I double checked it then checked efs folder and even pasted in a backup, rebooted and still no data. Flashed back to the factory reset backup and data was back so I grabbed an EFS backup app and an APN one and tried Prism again but still no data other than WiFi. Didn't really use the APN backup tool since it said something about not being able to load a backup on 4.x but I did look at the xml it produced and the settings were the same as I had manually entered.
I would try updating the modem but cant find a copy of I9500UBUFNA2 to flash back to if I decide to take the phone back and I'm really starting to think about doing that now, if I can. I just want this thing to run smooth, as of now my I927r runs Terra Battle smoother and loads it faster than this S4. Music even stutters when the screen is off unless I set the min cpu to 400 instead of the stock 250.
Terra Battle did run smoother on the prism rom but Injustice was no different. It seems like textures are slow on the first load but sometimes it freezes for a 1ms on particle effects and on rare occasion just randomly. Is this normal on the I9500's or did I just get a dud?
Almost forgot but with the carriers rom loaded I cant edit the APN's at all, if that means anything.

(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.