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] Flashing ROM of Same Region but different Product Code with Odin

Hi all. I wanted to flash a ROM from Same Region (same CSC) but different Product Code with Odin cause I can't already wait for the OTA or kies update for my specific product code.
Question: Will this trip knox flag to 0x1 and/or flash counter?. I think it will not but I am not sure.

lou_pams said:
Hi all. I wanted to flash a ROM from Same Region (same CSC) but different Product Code with Odin cause I can't already wait for the OTA or kies update for my specific product code.
Question: Will this trip knox flag to 0x1 and/or flash counter?. I think it will not but I am not sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing Stock ROM does not trip KNOX.. However some people have reported that it has tripped for them, It shouldn't but there is a small possibility from what others have said.

restore to KNOX-disabled firmware

i have a galaxy s4 i9500 with android 4.2.2 and i read that if i update to 4.3 i will get a security feature called KNOX which tracks your custon kernel flashes and cannot be reset. and also you can't flash back to 4.2.2. is that true?
if it is so:
1.what will happen if you'll try to flash 4.2.2 with odin?
2.what other disadvantages KNOX have?
3.shoiuld i really care about KNOX if my phone's warranty is already void?
4.can KNOX harm my device by any way?
please answer the question by order!
i am thankful for any help i can get in this forum and appriciate everyone who answers my questions beacause i wanna know if i should update or not.
P.S.:if i have 4.2.2 can i install cyanogenmod 11 (unofficial) or i need to update to 4.3 to do that?

Knox doesn't track custom kernel flashes specifically, it detects if you flash anything non-samsung (whether it's cf-autoroot, custom recovery or whatnot). It just says knox 0x0 or 0x1, if it's 0x1 your warranty is void. There is another counter detecting number of flashes, but that can be reset with TriangleAway. Knox cannot be reset. EDiT: TriangleAway only works on i9505, sorry.
1. If you don't have a knox-enabled bootloader you can flash an older rom version. Boot into recovery mode, if you see a knox counter there you cannot flash older firmwares than the one you already have (on i9505 there was one knox-enabled fw before 4.3). If you don't see anything knox related you can flash what you want, but once you flash a knox enabled rom you cannot downgrade to older official samsung roms.
2. Besides not being able to reset the knox counter there isn't really anything special. Atleast none that I have noticed. SuperSU asks if you want do disable knox-features upon first run.
3. No, then it doesn't really matter. Unless you really want to flash an older firmware from samsung.
4. No, it's a samsung feature.
If I were you I'd flash official 4.3 builds anyway, as they're generally much faster and much more stable, atleast for me on i9505. And the improvements outweigh the downsides of knox. 4.3 feature list: http://www.sammobile.com/2013/10/18...al-android-4-3-update-for-galaxy-s4-gt-i9500/

Q. Is it Necessary to unlock boot loader for root s4?

Hi,
I am new to samsung phones . I have s4 i9500 i would like to root my phone and install custom recovery . is it mandatory unlock boot loader if yes how can i unlock boot loader n root?
please help me
Thanks
Mahesh

Warranty will be void
Read the forum for the rooting instructions . i9500 has a e fuse , warranty bit called the knox , if you flash a custom rom or recovery or rom , the fuse is permanently blown (only in i9500) , and warranty cannot be claimed from samsung . This applies only to the Indian/Global exynos octa i9500 and not to the qualcomm quad core American i9505 .

@ankushv: All Galaxy S4 devices worldwide have the Knox flag (E-fuse) that is tripped if a custom recovery or custom ROM is applied. The only exception to this is if the firmware on the device is so old as to still have a flash counter, in which case Knox will not be present. In the case of the international models (I9500, I9505, I9506, I9507, I9515), depending on where the user is located Samsung may not be permitted to deny warranty service on the basis of the Knox flag being tripped. In the US and Canada, the devices there (e.g., I9505G, I337, I337M, I545, L720, M919) all are usually serviced by the carriers. Sometimes the warranty is honored despite the Knox flag being tripped. Other times, not.
@Mahesh8348, the only S4 devices with a locked bootloader are the I337 and I545, both US models. So you have no worries about rooting. You will however need to find out whether your warranty will be voided if the Knox flag is tripped. The local Samsung service center should be able to tell you that.

Knox Trip issue
@Strephon Alkhalikoi
I agree that when custom recovery or rom is flashed knox is tripped , what I meant was in case of i9500 the system status cannot be made official again (towelroot and chainfire) , but in the case of i9505 the system status can be set to official again .

You're mixing terms. Any S4 can be returned to "official" status simply by installing the proper ROM through Odin and not customizing the ROM by rooting. However, the status of the firmware has nothing to do with the Knox flag being tripped. Once the Knox flag is tripped and changed to 0x1, there is no way known by us to reset it. If a custom recovery is installed, the flag is tripped. If you try to install a custom ROM, the flag is tripped because you have to install a custom recovery to flash custom ROMs.
The Towelroot method is the only way to avoid tripping the Knox counter. But using Towelroot is rather limiting.
For the benefit of the OP, Knox will be tripped when installing a custom recovery or installing a custom ROM. It will not be tripped if using Towelroot, but you then cannot install a custom recovery or custom ROMs. Your software will remain "Official" only if it's not modified. Rooting will change the firmware status to "Custom". Installing a custom recovery or custom ROM will also change the firmware status to "Custom".

My Bad !!
So am I to understand , that if I install a custom Rom to my i9500 my knox will be 0x1. Which can never be reversed .
What will happen if I install stock rom again , I know knox will be 0x1 , but will I be able to get ota updates ?
I would like to know , as 2 days back my i9500 completed a year and now I do not care about warranty .
BTW My s3 and note never have this problem about knox , I guess samsung implemented stricter measures s4 and newer models now .

If you install a custom ROM Knox will be tripped (0x1). This cannot be reversed. If you install a stock ROM appropriate to your country and do not customize it, you will get OTA updates. I'll try to explain.
The CSC (Consumer Software Customization) is the system Samsung uses to specify the region the firmware is to be used in as well as any carrier-specific features that may apply. This is only speculation, but the OTA system compares the IMEI of the device and the CSC code of the firmware with an internal database on Samsung's end. If the two match, then the OTA update proceeds normally. Otherwise you get nothing. Attempting an update through Kies with an incorrect CSC will throw up an error message, as Kies is essentially the desktop equivalent of the OTA system.
For example, my S4 is originally intended for use on the UK carrier O2. It currently runs Danvdh's GPE ROM, but when I received it the S4 had firmware with CSC SIM on it (Slovenia, SI Mobil). As a result, OTA updates would fail, as the CSC and the IMEI did not match Samsung's database. Had I changed the firmware to CSC O2U and not customized the firmware, I'd get OTA updates. Personally, I'd just use Odin and upgrade that way, if I wanted to stay on stock, as I wouldn't want O2 branding on my device here in the US.
Knox is something Samsung added for the S4, Note 3, and all future devices in an effort to spur adoption of their devices into the workplace. In a workplace environment having a phone which cannot easily divulge its secrets is sometimes necessary, and this is Samsung's solution. It's a royal pain in the a** for us because of the warranty issues that surround tripping the Knox flag. But we are not the majority. The bulk of the Samsung device owners don't deal with these issues because they don't root or customize their devices.

Which firmware to use?

Hi,
My brother has bought a S7 edge AT&T model for me from USA which was rooted. I am not able to update the firmware to nougat as it was unlocked and cannot be updated in India using the local carrier. I wanted a small bit of help. I am planning to update the firmware for the first time ever on any handset, hence I am completely unaware of the process. Though I can see the guide, but I have the following questions if anyone can answer
Which is the best firmware to be used in India (would be helpful if you can provide with the thread link for the firmware)
Does it harm the mobile in any manner like lower battery life?
Is it difficult to update the firmware? What are the chances of me bricking it?
It seems that the original firmware has changed and the Samsung Pay is not working. How would I know if this is because the knox is tripped? I downloaded the Knox Status app and it shows warranty is valid, does this mean knox is not tripped? If so, I would like to update the firmware which would not trip the knox.
How does the back up work? Do I have to reinstall all the applications after firmware update?
My reason of updating the firmware is only have the latest features on the original firmware. Not for any specific modified features that I am looking out for.
Thanks for the help.
Regards,
Chandrahas Sampat

try this
https://forum.xda-developers.com/att-s7-edge/how-to/updated-935u-935a-live-links-pi3-t3501686
clean flash i would recommend restore apps via smart switch or any 3rd party apps