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Hi All,
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this as I'm relatively new to posting on XDA. My girlfriend has a Galaxy S4 (I337) that I quickly and easily installed Cyanogenmod on. It's awesome and significantly better than TouchWiz. So, I bought an S4 off Ebay assuming it would be similar enough. It turns out this new S4 is an I9500 and before shipping it was updated to 4.3, which appears to lock the bootloader and prevent downgrading. I've tried Odin, Heimdall, ADB, Philz, Chainfire, Cofface, stock ROMs, etc with no luck. Today I did manage to root the phone and confirm root with TowelRoot. I'm wondering/hoping someone might have some resources to get CM on this thing. While I'd prefer not to brick it I am willing to take risks as I have a Razr (soft-bricked and unbricked) running CM and am relatively comfortable with computers/Linux.
I've been Googling and trying things for a month now and can't even find that much information on the locked bootloader. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
--
SL
The I9500 doesn't have a locked bootloader. You just can't downgrade from 4.3 to 4.2.2 with official roms. Same applies when you are running 4.4, then you also can't downgrade officially.
Just flash a custom recovery true Odin and flash away.
Why would you even want to downgrade? Are you sure you are picking the right files? You cant flash the files for the I337 on the I9500. So just go to the section for the I9500 roms and flash away.
Hi Lennyz1988,
Thanks for the quick reply. I don't specifically want to downgrade but that's the last option I've tried. Ultimately the goal is to put Cyanogenmod on the phone. When I attempt to upload any file via Odin I get "secure magiccode check fail : boot" (or fail : recovery) depending on what I'm flashing. All the reading I've done says that when these phones are updated to 4.3 a fix has been applied that stops Odin from working. Thus, I my last resort is/was to try and downgrade. As I said, I've been Googling for the last month and while few people have posted about this I have not found any solutions.
Hoping someone might have a solution or anything new to try that I haven't tried already, thanks again,
--
SL
Download the latest TWRP recovery:
http://techerrata.com/browse/twrp2/i9500
Fire it up in Odin under PDA. You need the .tar (DON'T EXTRACT IT).
If it fails:
- Different usb port
- Different cable
- Different pc
- Reinstall drivers
- Make sure Kies is not running the background.
Or you can use heimdall to flash it. Use the command line though:
heimdall flash --recovery nameoftherecovery.img (you need the .img instead of the .tar)
No luck there, Odin still fails with the same message. I have tried Heimdall on 2 different computers (4 different usb cables) and always get the libusb 12 error.
Since I have root access I figured I might be able to wipe the recovery partition from a terminal emulator. I copied recovery.img from the I9500 CWM to the internal sd card. I then went to /dev/block/msm_sdcc.1/by-name to figure out what partition is recovery, turns out its 21. I then did “dd if=/sdcard/recovery.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p21”. I then booted into recovery and it just hung up. I had previously found a stock recovery partition so I flashed that via Odin (the only file I have found that works flashing via Odin). I could then boot back into the normal recovery. I then tried flashing both recovery and cache with the CF Auto files (cache is partition 18). Same result, it just hangs when trying to boot into recovery. At one point I did manage to flash a recovery that then came up with a warning about “software installed that is not supported by AT&T” and I couldn’t get past that so had to flash the stock recovery again.
On a side note, I accidentally wiped the EFS partition in this process (if found a tutorial that shows the S3 had recovery in partition 10, which is EFS on the S4). As a result 1.) the menu didn’t pop up when I hit the power button and 2.) wifi didn’t work. So, I made an .img of the EFS partition on my GT-I337 and moved it to the I9500 and that worked restoring both. In case anyone makes the same mistake.
I have now also used CWM ROM Manager and GooManger and tried installing recovery that way with no luck.
Just check if the internal memory partitioning is correct ( number, size and format) (use fdisk or parsed).
ODIN will install according to the PIT file and if drivers and cables are OK it is no other explanation than that.
PS: do not trust heimdall data because it just read the PIT file and do not give the true info from the memory part.!
Uhm on the TWRP website they say that the I9500 has it on partition 10.....
This would be the proper partition based on their website:
mmcblk0p10
Are you absolutely sure you have an i9500? Because my guess is that you don't.....
Boot into download mode. What does it say your model is?
Because on the AT&T it's partition 21.... So my guess is that you are messing up....
Thanks everyone for the input/feedback,
Something I think I had forgotten to mention previously, when the initial root/recovery attempts didn't work I downloaded an app to verify it is a genuine Samsung as I have heard of very good knock-offs. It is genuine according to the app.
Good point/catch regarding the location of the recovery partition. Under About Phone it shows as an I9500 and always has. When in download mode it currently shows as I337 but I wasn't sure if that was simply a result of all my attempts so I figured best to go with the one I am certain has been the same since I bought the phone. I had been hesitant to try wiping the recovery with for the I337 as that is how I soft-bricked my RazrHD (ultimately un-bricked it).
Tonight I will try the I337 files and see if Odin is successful. Thanks again.
Damn! Turns out my phone is an I337. The hardward (under the battery) says I9500 and when I plug it into a computer it shows up as I9500. On the weekend I thought I read that there is now the ability to flash recovery and install CyanogenMod on I337 if its updated to 4.4.2. So, I donwloaded the firmware and flashed with Odin. It flashed successfully but now I realize I am mistaken and 1.) cannot flash recovery, and 2.) cannot downgrade. For the time being I have installed Nova Launcher and removed as much of TouchWiz as possible. It's not perfect but at least usable. I'd like to start researching what it would take to flash recovery on this phone but I suspect I'm too busy at this moment.
Thanks everyone for the help,
I was trying to remove the knox thing and now it won't go on beyond the Samsung Galaxy S5 custom screen. I have wiped, formated, ect... I have booted into the recovery mode (not safestrap because it does not boot that far. I have tried loading new NI2's NK2's, different kernals and nothing. When trying to load a new rom or kernel, I keep getting a red warnings that the footer is wrong and signature verification failed. Not sure where to go from here. I have gone through the forums and it's all running together now. HELP
Under Android system recovery it has the number KTU84P.G900VVRU1ANI2
I successfully loaded G900V_FirmwareOnly_NI2.tar.md5 with odin and then tried loading optimalrom 12.6 because it worked in the past, but I still get the failed message and the boot stops at the galaxy boot screen.
OK, loaded everything with Odin:
G900V_FirmwareOnly_NI2.tar.md5
G900V_ModemOnly_NI2.tar.md5
ALL_VZW_G900VVRU1ANI2_G900VVZW1ANI2_2525521_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5
Now I have my phone back. Now I need to figure out if Knox is back and I need to try to do this again
gr8wing said:
I was trying to remove the knox thing and now it won't go on beyond the Samsung Galaxy S5 custom screen. I have wiped, formated, ect... I have booted into the recovery mode (not safestrap because it does not boot that far. I have tried loading new NI2's NK2's, different kernals and nothing. When trying to load a new rom or kernel, I keep getting a red warnings that the footer is wrong and signature verification failed. Not sure where to go from here. I have gone through the forums and it's all running together now. HELP
Under Android system recovery it has the number KTU84P.G900VVRU1ANI2
I successfully loaded G900V_FirmwareOnly_NI2.tar.md5 with odin and then tried loading optimalrom 12.6 because it worked in the past, but I still get the failed message and the boot stops at the galaxy boot screen.
OK, loaded everything with Odin:
G900V_FirmwareOnly_NI2.tar.md5
G900V_ModemOnly_NI2.tar.md5
ALL_VZW_G900VVRU1ANI2_G900VVZW1ANI2_2525521_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5
Now I have my phone back. Now I need to figure out if Knox is back and I need to try to do this again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
amazing how difficult people make things.. stock recovery will NOT flash custom roms.. if you are on fresh ni2 just odin the ncg kernal in odin, root, install SS and then odin ni2 kernal back.. now with ss installed, download the ROM you want and flash rom.zip in ss and the kernal for it if necessary..
Every custom rom on here is already knox free. Id recommend not trying to remove knox yourself again or else youll screw it up again from the sounds of it.. leave it to the devs to remove it lol.
On a side note, a brick is a phone that doesnt boot at all.. meaning it sits on a black screen and NOTHING at all boots. If you can get into recovery or dl mode then you most likely do not have a hard brick
elliwigy said:
amazing how difficult people make things.. stock recovery will NOT flash custom roms.. if you are on fresh ni2 just odin the ncg kernal in odin, root, install SS and then odin ni2 kernal back.. now with ss installed, download the ROM you want and flash rom.zip in ss and the kernal for it if necessary..
Every custom rom on here is already knox free. Id recommend not trying to remove knox yourself again or else youll screw it up again from the sounds of it.. leave it to the devs to remove it lol.
On a side note, a brick is a phone that doesnt boot at all.. meaning it sits on a black screen and NOTHING at all boots. If you can get into recovery or dl mode then you most likely do not have a hard brick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue I have been having is the /dev/uinput. I thought it was because of knox, but now I see it's more than that and nobody has made a work around yet. I may be mistaken, but I think I don't have a chance with the uinput.
gr8wing said:
The issue I have been having is the /dev/uinput. I thought it was because of knox, but now I see it's more than that and nobody has made a work around yet. I may be mistaken, but I think I don't have a chance with the uinput.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Youre doing too much.. supersu disables knox and uninstaling anything knox related is all you can do.. messing around with stuff you dont know about you WILL end up bricking your phone
gr8wing said:
I was trying to remove the knox thing and now it won't go on beyond the Samsung Galaxy S5 custom screen. I have wiped, formated, ect... I have booted into the recovery mode (not safestrap because it does not boot that far. I have tried loading new NI2's NK2's, different kernals and nothing. When trying to load a new rom or kernel, I keep getting a red warnings that the footer is wrong and signature verification failed. Not sure where to go from here. I have gone through the forums and it's all running together now. HELP
Under Android system recovery it has the number KTU84P.G900VVRU1ANI2
I successfully loaded G900V_FirmwareOnly_NI2.tar.md5 with odin and then tried loading optimalrom 12.6 because it worked in the past, but I still get the failed message and the boot stops at the galaxy boot screen.
OK, loaded everything with Odin:
G900V_FirmwareOnly_NI2.tar.md5
G900V_ModemOnly_NI2.tar.md5
ALL_VZW_G900VVRU1ANI2_G900VVZW1ANI2_2525521_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5
Now I have my phone back. Now I need to figure out if Knox is back and I need to try to do this again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can I download the multi cert file?
ALL_VZW_G900VVRU1ANI2_G900VVZW1ANI2_2525521_REV00_ user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5
I have encountered the exact same problem.
Thanks.
robertb9657 said:
Where can I download the multi cert file?
ALL_VZW_G900VVRU1ANI2_G900VVZW1ANI2_2525521_REV00_ user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5
I have encountered the exact same problem.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here you go!
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23622183712474060
Tulsadiver and gr8wing you guys are life savers! Thanks so much! I "ODINed" the firmware only, and then the modem only. after the phone downloaded each, it did not get past boot either time, but I was calm and hopeful. I odined the multi cert file and although it took a lot longer than I thought it would, it worked to perfection and my phone is fully functional and back to where it was two days ago.
I had NI2 rooted, then accidentally did the NK2 OTA update, which lost root. I finally got around to rerooting and decided to get rooted lollipop. I now have changed course and will sit happily with rooted NK2 kitkat.
Thanks!
have rooted s5 on 4.4.4 nk2. Have been trying to install custom roms via safestrap. Apparently i am missing a step. I wipe data, try to install twi5ted Lollipop on custom rom slot....blank screen for over 30 min after reboot, phone gets real hot, take battery out. Try to install on stock rom slot, reboot then get stuck in boot loop and keeps booting into system recovery. I then saw through my hours of searching to format instead of wipe....so i format then try to install, get stuck again, take battery out, get back to safestrap dash now when i try to wipe/format/or even restore my backup it says unable to mount system. When i click reboot system it says no OS installed. After reboot, my custom slot gets erased.
I was about to try an odin flash back to stock but some how was able to get my phone back to a system restore. Why can i not get anything installed? Do i have to have odin to do a custom rom install?????? i know every rom is different but wtf. I have seen multiple videos and threads of people flashing zip via safestrap and rebooting into new rom without flashing kernals via odin or safestrap after rom install.
Also...my phone will not let me download zip files (ex. cm12.1) says unable to create download folder....how close to F'in my phone up am i? I have successfully rooted all phones in the past...s5 is giving me hell!
I just tried installing rom after format, then flash nk2 kernel from odin, still gives boot loop....ive tried everything i have found..never this much problem with custom rom..
When you try to install twisted it needs lollipop firmware which is flashed on odin, and based on your statement it says you're on NK2, a kitkat firmware. Try flashing a stock ncg tar and rerouting, downloading apps, etc. on the phone to see if that works. Also, I noticed you mentioned a cm 12.1 zip not downloading which, while unrelated to your current problem, will cause a bootloop when flashed due to the locked bootloader on the S5, so it isn't a smart idea to even attempt an install.
mrjiggywiggy said:
When you try to install twisted it needs lollipop firmware which is flashed on odin, and based on your statement it says you're on NK2, a kitkat firmware. Try flashing a stock ncg tar and rerouting, downloading apps, etc. on the phone to see if that works. Also, I noticed you mentioned a cm 12.1 zip not downloading which, while unrelated to your current problem, will cause a bootloop when flashed due to the locked bootloader on the S5, so it isn't a smart idea to even attempt an install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, i will try fresh from start ncg. so you have to be on the current kernel that you are flashing a rom for, whether its CM, Twi5ted, Alliance...etc i need to be on rooted 5.0 kernel then flash rom via safestrap?
i was having problems downloading from internet on phone, not downloading rom if thats what you thought i meant. I just tried installing zip for CM 12 via safestrap and got same issue. Phone reboots, goes to black screen and eventually heats up like crazy. .... I just noticed, after my restore ...again... it says safestrap disabled in red on the boot screen, why is that? it says installed and tried reinstalling.
FIXED
So i flashed ncg from odin on the messed up phone and got messed up worse. Ended up getting stuck on first boot image of samsung android s5 boot screen. Finally found original stock firmare file and used odin to complete install stock os and got rid of root. Now back to normal... luckily i figured it out my self! thanks to the 100's who viewed and didnt help and thanks to mrjiggywiggy for giving me some input to help out!
Hi Guys,
trying to flash a custom Rom on my Note 3. It is a UK model supplied by EE but is unbranded.
Flashed several phones before, just running into some issues this time round.
Got my Rom, Autoroot, CWM and Odin downloaded.
Flash Autoroot with Odin - no problem.
Flash CWM with Odin - no problem - until i try to boot into recovery anyway.
No error message etc on Odin but when i try to boot into recovery it keeps saying "cannot do normal boot" and puts me into download mode.
I can get to download mode to reflash and have tried TWRP with the same results.
It is saying "custom binary" when in download mode, and my Knox counter has tripped to 1 (phone out of warranty so not fussed).
Ive searched online and cannot find a thread where they actually manage to sort the problem.
Presumably what I want to do (install a custom Rom) is not impossible as there are so many Roms etc available for the Note 3, I am just a bit stuck as to my next step.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
Use TWRP or Philz Recovery .
Thanks for the reply JJEgan, I tried Twrp also to the same effect. I did try Cwm first though, is this a common thing when using Cwm or have I done something wrong?
Im going to flash a stock 4.4.2 from SamUK and try again from scratch to see if it made a difference coming from 4.4.2 instead of 5.0 and then TWRP
Hello to all ..
is there any chance to root my S4 with the i9505XXUPPI1 version installed on it Or is there any other Way to Downgrade it to an earlier version and root it thereafter?
greetingz from Germany
HouseMeischda
You could try cfautoroot or flash TWRP and then flash supersu from TWRP.
CF-Auto-Root is your best option.
Thanks for your help.
For all i9505 Users with the same Problem ..
First i've flashed the original I9505XXUHOJ2 Firmware who listed on chainfire's Page, to be on the safe way =). Then i've flashed the cf-root Kernel from Chainfire. After that i installed the newest TWRP recovery and then the Resurrection Remix Rom 5.5.9.
Now i will test everything but seems to be nice till this moment =)
Thread can be closed .. Thanx
BTW, rooting is not required to install TWRP with Odin.
audit13 said:
BTW, rooting is not required to install TWRP with Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. But some people (including me) have had problems getting TWRP to stick with the Odin install.
I had to use an app to flash it when I took to the custom software world.
A user had the same problem few days ago. Also solved it with the app method.
I've never had a problem with getting TWRP or CWM to stick on the s2, s3, s4, note 1, note 2, or note 3 by unchecking auto reboot in Odin before flashing recovery. Once recovery has been flashed, I remove the battery and immediately boot into recovery. I found that not booting into recovery right after flashing will cause the stock recovery to overwrite the custom recovery when the phone boots normally.
Thats right. But in my case and first of all i wanted to test the stock rom with only root Access. But then i decided to install a custom one very quickly =)
After all i installed latest twrp via twrp-app, backed up everything, perform a full wipe and flashed ResurrectionRemix 5.5.9. Now i went to dirty unicorn rom on Android 6.0 base. Very nice performance, very clear Design and absolutely stable.
One more word to overriding the Recovery. In many other Posts, this Problem seems to be normal, if the S4 was already updatet to an official lollipop rom(with the new knox Bootloader, that verifies signatures of recovery and kernel) in the past. I think this issue was not present with kitkat and oder versions.
But with my little detour, i also was not effected from that override
Hope this can help others with similiar reservations who i had before. Not the fear of loosing warranty(because phone is anyway too old) but fear of tripping the bad eFuse and thus hardbricking the phone. BUT WELL DONE !!!
Many thanks for the support .. And greetingz to all =)
There is no eFuse that will hard-brick the S4.
It only has an eFuse for Knox, which simply prevents you from resetting the Knox counter back to 0x0, but it won't hard-brick anything.