Database Users

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.

[Q] Having a problem with S4 "soft bricking"

Hello,
I recently tried to root my AT&T Galaxy S4 and install cyanogean mod on it. I screwed something up along the way but I'm not sure what. I tried rooting my phone with Kingo Root Tool, which it said I was successfully rooted. I made the mistake of then accepting an OTA, and of course that soft bricked my phone. I am able to get the phone out of soft brick mode by taking the battery out and putting back in, then entering download mode, and cancelling out. That fixes it every time. As I'm on android 4.2.2, and I understand that I need 4.4.2 for CM11, I thought that I would un-root using the tool, and then try the update again. I un-rooted, it said that it was successful at this. I then tried to install the OTA again, unfortunately it softbricked my phone again. I reset it back to normal, then I figured my best option would be to try and do a factory reset. When I tried the reset, it once again soft bricked my phone. I've reset it back to normal, and everything is working fine, however I'm a little confused as to what's going on. My amateur assumption is that by rooting, it tripped some file rooted deep inside the phone, and now it knows that I tried rooting, therefore it'll block me from updates. If someone could help me this, and possibly help me try and fix it I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

[Q] Soft-bricked SM-T230NU (what next)....

Its been a few months since Ive bothered trying to figure out how to fix my Galaxy Tab 4, SM-T230NU, but Im finally getting around to fixing it. It sat in my closet for a few months simply because I did not have the time to fix it. It's soft bricked (loads the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 bootscreen, but stays stuck on the single Samsung logo). Its not hard bricked as power turns on, but it is soft-bricked. Will running NE2 I found in the firmware section fix the soft-brick? I just downloaded odin 3.09, and right now NE2 is downloading through Mega.nz......any help would be appreciated....

jxcorex28 said:
Its been a few months since Ive bothered trying to figure out how to fix my Galaxy Tab 4, SM-T230NU, but Im finally getting around to fixing it. It sat in my closet for a few months simply because I did not have the time to fix it. It's soft bricked (loads the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 bootscreen, but stays stuck on the single Samsung logo). Its not hard bricked as power turns on, but it is soft-bricked. Will running NE2 I found in the firmware section fix the soft-brick? I just downloaded odin 3.09, and right now NE2 is downloading through Mega.nz......any help would be appreciated....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash the right firmware for your device and see if it boots. If it doesn't boot within 20minutes after flashing, simply reboot into recovery and factory reset.
-DUHA

When I rooted the device, gaining root on the 230NU was abit of work, so I had to go through a lot of in and out holes just to root the sucker, and then a week or two later there are many different ROMs available for the 230NU...I'm shocked that someone finally found a workaround for the marvel processor in the 230NU because the 8 I believe has a snapdragon and/or euronoyx (however you spell it)

jxcorex28 said:
When I rooted the device, gaining root on the 230NU was abit of work, so I had to go through a lot of in and out holes just to root the sucker, and then a week or two later there are many different ROMs available for the 230NU...I'm shocked that someone finally found a workaround for the marvel processor in the 230NU because the 8 I believe has a snapdragon and/or euronoyx (however you spell it)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works, im running 4.4.2 stock....Im about to look into some information about rooting.....When I got everything running smooth I got a system update message, so right now it's going through a system update......Do you have any good source of information for rooting the SM-T230NU ???

jxcorex28 said:
It works, im running 4.4.2 stock....Im about to look into some information about rooting.....When I got everything running smooth I got a system update message, so right now it's going through a system update......Do you have any good source of information for rooting the SM-T230NU ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here

[Q] I337 ROM/WiFi trouble for a "not quite noob"

Hey folks, hope I`m not coming off as one of the "hey, I broke my stuff, how can I fix it without anyone knowing I broke it" types LOL. I`ve actually been modding Android devices since my Droid X what seems like ages ago, and have done a few along the way so it`s not new in theory. So....I`ve got an I337 S4. It appeared with 4.4.4 on it, and you can imagine how that went when I started modding. My ultimate goal was/is simply to have the native tether app working (and it was, very briefly). Long story short, I bricked it, and brought it back with 4.3 on Odin. It functions fine with the exception of Wifi. It won`t activate wifi, a very, very common problem I`m reading. I`m totally comfortable doing the mods to get it going, I just don`t know what I need. It`s rooted. (here`s where I`m lost): Baseband version is FNJ4, bootloader is FNJ4, but the BUILD number is MK2. Tried the BypassLKM method, no dice. So my question is this: What is the simplest way to get WiFi access back so I can get the Native Tether function going again? If everything was FNJ4 or MK2 I`d be able to make something happen, but several approaches have gotten me bootlooped and I`1m just ready to get it right (safestrap has saved my a$$).
Thanks for any help!!

update
See, a studious and persistent student of modding gets the worm LOL. I got my WiFi back with this procedure right here http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/how-to-root-i337ucufni1-t2881298
I used the safestrap method without a hitch. Hope it helps someone else out there

[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?