Database Users

[Q] Question regarding Samsung S3 and Knox

Ok, so I recently (about 2 weeks ago) bought a brand-new/stock Samsung Galaxy S3 through Amazon as an upgrade for Verizon. When I received and activated it, etc, it went through a series of downloading/rebooting/installing screens which I assume means that it was updating to the latest official firmware.
Anyway, now I want to try putting a custom ROM on my S3 (I'm kinda new at this, like I just started reading about it yesterday), and as far as I know, it's running Android version 4.3, which is also said to contain Knox, which would prevent loading any custom ROMs. However, when I go into download mode on my S3, it says the following:
---------------------------
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: SCH-1535
CUSTOM BINARY DOWNLOAD: No
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official
SYSTEM STATUS: Official
QUALCOMM SECUREBOOT: ENABLE
Warranty Bit: 0
BOOTLOADER RP SWREV: 1
----------------------------
As far as I can tell, there's no mention of Knox, but maybe there's something I'm missing?
As I said, I'm new at this, so I might be missing alot of stuff. But my main question is whether or not I'd be able to root my phone and flash a custom ROM without damage (barring my own mistakes)?

One thing that you missed is that you are in a forum for the wrong device. This one is for the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Even rooting experts run into trouble by taking information/advice from the wrong forum. That's because - especially with Samsung smartphones (which are operated on many different carriers & have slightly different model numbers) - there can be extremely important differences depending on carrier and country.
You need to go to forum that matches your device for both model & carrier to get advice from folks that actually have your exact model - probably HERE
I will edit this post when the mods move it to the correct forum.

[Q] Root without getting KNOX flag 0x1 on Exinos?

Hi everyone, my Exynos Note 4 (I am in Europe so it will probably be the "c" version) will be arriving tomorrow and I can't stand an unrooted device (lol) so I was wondering if anyone managed/tried to root the Exynos Note 4 without triggering KNOX (with towelroot or other "safe" root methods)?
I am asking this because as long as there are no custom ROM's available I would rather not void my warranty and as I would like to root it on the first day I won't really have time to check that I don't have any hardware problems so if I will need my warranty I would rather have it there, thanks in advance to anyone that can help me.

Actually, most of the Note-4 on the EU will be N910F with the Qualcomm chip.
Unfortunately, all root methods these days will change the warranty bit

Actually there are multiple versions of Note 4 being sold in Europe (for example in my country I have 3 friends that bought the qualcom one and got different versions, one of them being the "s" version), and as I said I bought an exynos version but I am not sure of the version as I will get the phone in a few hours but right now the exynos versions can only be bought free of carrier (at least in my country) and there are currently only 4 shops that sell the exynos version in my country and I was wondering if anyone tried towelroot (because I think that has the best chance of working and AFAIK it does not trigger KNOX) or other root exploits and managed to root without triggering it?

Question about converting model from sm-n900k to sm-n9005

1. Is it okay if i just dont root the device sm-n900k and just flash the sm-n9005 firmware from sammobile? I just want to try and change firmware because i can't update the version, still stucked at 4.4.2 having some problems with signal, korean apps and the shutter sound of the camera.
Thank you

Personally, I would not try it as it may brick the phone. The 900k uses a Samsung Exynos processor and the n9005 uses a Qualcomm.
http://www.imei.info/phonedatabase/14281-samsung-n900k-galaxy-note-3/

Are there any other site except sammobile that offers firmware? I just want to update my phone to lollipop version but i am also scared to unlock the bootloader because i cant find a guide and btw im not sure if the bootloader is locked or maybe i just can't find a compatible custom recovery for my phone

Traditionally Korean model has had slightly different hardware making them incompatible with international variants (TV antenna for example on the S1/S2). However, at least from forum posts here N9005 custom ROM should work fine, as long as you keep your old modem.
Although, there should be an official 5.0.1 ROM around with a GOF2 ending, considering the existence of a Lollipop bootloader for it. Have you tried just plugging it into Kies and check for update?
(If you want to give it a shot, here is the baseband + bootloader: https://mega.nz/#F!0MNyVboS!XpjPYizNyY7LPZdsepyTFw . Flash this then a 5.0 custom ROM and you should be good to go)
@audit13 N900K is Snapdragon. Exynos doesn't have LTE, but all Korean model has LTE (different bands for different networks though)

@thebulletfromhell, I am not familiar with the n900k and I based my information on the link in my post above yours. I looked at several site and they specifically mention the Exynos. This one also mentions LTE: http://welectronics.com/gsm/Samsung/SAMSUNG-SM-N900K-GALAXY-NOTE-3-4G-LTE-BLACK.HTML
I know you can't believe everything you read on the internet. Thank you for the information.

I saw that too, but it was the only site that mentioned it, so I looked further. Info on Korean models are pretty rare in English, as the hardware for the most part is incompatible with Network Bands in the English speaking part of the world, making grey import iffy, and thus no reason to write about them.

Bootloader unlocked, can I use any rom?

So Ive had this Verizon Note 3 since day one. Finally unlocked my bootloader... What are the rules on what I can and can't do now. Can I install any Android rom? Can I only install note 3 roms from any carrier... Can I install only Verizon note 3 roms? Or is it a hybrid... I can install any rom if I replace the firmware and or modem.
I really want something on 7.1 but I'd rather take 6 and have something custom... Fast and responsive.
Thanks community.

You are in luck. :crying:
There's hardly anything to choose from; maybe 3 or 4 ROMs and about the same number of kernels.
AFAIK, there are no Nougat ROMs and only one Marshmallow ROM (AryaMod6.6).
Normally, when a dev ships a "ROM", there are two important pieces: the /system image (what some folks call "the ROM"), and the boot image. The boot image is what some folks erroneously call "the kernel"; but it is really a combination of kernel + ramdisk. The ramdisk has all the scripts in it that the "init" process reads to start up all the low-level daemons and services... as well as the Android UI as well.
The kernel is very tightly tied to the specific hardware in a given handset - both the processor/gpu and all the sensors/leds/peripherals.
So that's the reason you can't just flash any old ROM. In the least bad case, your device wouldn't boot; in the worst bad case the kernel would boot up far enough go off in the weeds and possibly damage some of your hardware.
You might be tempted to think "we'll, what if I find a boot image for the "hltevzw" SM-N900V device... can I flash that after I have flashed 'any old Android ROM'? Won't that take care of things?"
Well, not really. The system library binaries in /system are possibly compiled with instruction-set optimumization tweaks that are only supported by specific CPU and GPU hardware chips. Moreover, other peripheral chips such as GPS have unique "downloadable" vendor firmware in the system image... so again, there's the issue of hardware dependencies of the /system image.
Beyond that, there's carrier-specific "setup and activation" software that differs between ROMs, so even using ROMs that are from a different carrier's version of the exact same handset hardware might not work fully - specifically in the telephony function areas. Everything else might work fine though. For instance if you wanted to use the device as a WiFi-only unit for kid's games etc.
Note BTW that the "International" Note 3 GSM phones are not the same hardware - they use an Exynos processor.
good luck in your quest

Thanks
That was very helpful... Looks like Araya is my best bet. I'll leave jasmine rom to try it.
I was hoping that I could get another note 3 rom on this forum and flash the CDMA modem for networking... But doesn't seem like that's an option.
If I'm still stuck to Verizon Note 3 rom... What is the purpose or benefit of unlocking the bootloader... Was that really just to avoid Odin so I can flash my couple rom choices easier?
I appreciate your time!

cyberoptics said:
That was very helpful... Looks like Araya is my best bet. I'll leave jasmine rom to try it.
I was hoping that I could get another note 3 rom on this forum and flash the CDMA modem for networking... But doesn't seem like that's an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might have very slightly overstated the case for pessimism. There is a "consolidated" Verizon Note 3 Forum which is meant for devs to provide development tools and even ROMs that could potentially be used on devices from more than one carrier. But the world being organized the way it is, that means that you are more likely to find multi-carrier GSM ROMs over there than multi-carrier ROMS which support GSM and oh by the way CDMA and LTE as well.
If you want to fool around over there, I recommend that you proceed with great caution to make sure that the ROMs you choose specifically target Qualcomm MSM8974AB Note 3 handsets, and you should read the developer notes very carefully to see whether you need to flash an "hltevzw" kernel separately. If the dev does not mention "supports hltevzw" or "supports N900V" (for example here) you might be taking chances with your hardware.
I suppose it is possible that the radios are 100% "software defined" in the sense of which bands they can support. Maybe you can get what you want by simply flashing the desired carrier's "modem" firmware, but I have never done that so I can't say for certain whether that works or you are risking a brick (or hardware damage) by doing that. I simply don't know (e.g.) if the chips and antennas in a T-mo version of the Note 3 are identical or different from a Verizon Note 3's hardware
cyberoptics said:
If I'm still stuck to Verizon Note 3 rom... What is the purpose or benefit of unlocking the bootloader... Was that really just to avoid Odin so I can flash my couple rom choices easier?
I appreciate your time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, for one - having a custom recovery allows you to make backups - even if you never change ROMs
People don't think of backups as being "sexy", but they allow you something which is really valuable: freedom to mess around and experiment with the knowledge that "if something goes wrong, I'll just restore the backup".
And with Odin, you only had the choice of Stock Roms. Now you have a few more.
cheers

Yes you can install Any rom for note3
Here is my experience with installing roms on note 3 after unlock bootloader
you should Flash twrp-2.8.7.0-hlte-4.4.img by ODIN for the hlte roms or twrp-2.8.7.0-hltevzw-4.4.img if you looking to flash verizon roms ,
im on Phronesis Rom N7 now and i tryed many roms
AryaMod N7 & S7 Edge
MagMa-NX from NXT TEAM
Resurrection Remix Nougat 7.1.1
CM 13 ROM 6.0.1 for Trader418
Purify CM13 6.0.1 ( the best CM13 till now )
and more ...
i have only one problem that i cant get LTE in mobile network always on H+
i tryed to add screenshot but i couldn't its my firist reply :laugh:

@ALPHA85
Pretty informative first post - thanks, and welcome aboard!
Are you on a Verizon SIM? If not, have you been flashing modems from other Note3 devices?
Just curious; I don't have much experience with radio issues or carrier activation issues. Trying to port a carrier-specific ROM elsewhere (esp starting from a VZW ROM) looks like a massive pile of interlocking software dependencies, though. My respect to anyone who can succeed at it.
Feel free to write a brief summary about what's broken in each - any of them have NFC working? I was on CM13 (trader418) for a long time and would have been happy to stay there were it not for all the GPS issues.

Thank you ,:angel:
i dont use Verizon SIM becouse im from egypt, i bought my verizon note 3 by wrong , when i bought it i saw N9005 under the battery and in the boot screen also inside the rom ,it was lollipop 5.0 ,but sinse i did factory rest i surprised it change to N900V even the imei changed , till now i cant understand how they flashed N9005 rom for N900V device with locked bootloader
i'm on OF1 bootloader unlocked and i flashed PL1 Modem i thought maybe it help me to get LTE but still the same H+
about NFC i really didn't try it at all , i always disable it by titanium pro

ALPHA85 said:
when i bought it i saw N9005 under the battery and in the boot screen also inside the rom ,it was lollipop 5.0 ,but sinse i did factory rest i surprised it change to N900V even the imei changed , till now i cant understand how they flashed N9005 rom for N900V device with locked bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you first got it, did it appear to have a Verizon ROM on it? (For instance, the Verizon splash screen?) Or some other carrier's logo?
Actually, that cleared something up for me. Well, except for the part about the IMEI changing
Apparently there were both LTE and GSM models of the "Note 3" that were sold in international markets. I understand the LTE version was originally sold in China, but the GSM model is more common?
The SM-N9005 is an LTE phone (I don't know about CDMA) with the Qualcomm MSM8974 processor
and the N9000 is the GSM model with an Exynos 5420 processor
So that probably explains the binary compatibility of the SM-N900V and the SM-N9005 - same processor, and both phones were designed for LTE service.
But your report should give @cyberoptics a little less pessimistic view of things; thank you for that.
But I wouldn't go so far as to say you can flash ANY Note 3 ROM. Even though both the Exynos and Qualcomm processors use ARM cores, they are fairly different - the Exynos has 8 cores, half of which are Cortex-A15, and the MSM8974 has only four cores which are Krait- something or other. I think they are not quite compatible. Note that in theory, ARM code that was compiled to earlier standards (e.g. thumb, armv5) would certainly work on both devices - but if they compiled ALL the code in ROM libraries that way they would be giving up a lot of performance on either device. So.... to the extent that they target processor specifics for either Cortex-A15 or Krait, they will be incompatible.
cheers.

bftb0 said:
You are in luck. :crying:
There's hardly anything to choose from; maybe 3 or 4 ROMs and about the same number of kernels.
AFAIK, there are no Nougat ROMs and only one Marshmallow ROM (AryaMod6.6).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bftb0 I just wanted to thank you once again for your consistently helpful, verbose posts about the N900V. I've been using CM13 thinking it was the best thing going, when, as nice as it was at the time, it doesn't hold water compared to AyraMod, which I switched to yesterday after reading this thread.
Now my GPS won't take me sailing past Easter Island when en route to a noon meeting downtown. Maybe Google Cardboard will even work, now that NFC appears to.
Thanks again, and please don't ever bore of being a great and helpful resource, we need you!

Note 4 rooting questions

I am new to rooting phones and I have a couple of questions first can I use the s pen after rooting second what is the easiest way to root the phone and third what to I get for rooting the phone apart for newer software.

Pizzaking587 said:
I am new to rooting phones and I have a couple of questions first can I use the s pen after rooting second what is the easiest way to root the phone and third what to I get for rooting the phone apart for newer software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hola! Welcome to XDA.
First of all I would just like to give a friendly reminder to include your model number in your post. For instance, my Note 4 model variant is the SM-N910V. From what I've read the 910V is the trickiest to root other than the SM-N910A which never had a method of rooting as far as I know. So if you're using an AT&T phone aka SM-N910A then you're unfortunately out of luck. I think most other variants are relatively easy to root depending on your experience level.
Spen functionality depends on the kind of rom you're wanting to use. I mostly just use a modified 6.0.1 TouchWiz rom and the spen works as good as if I didn't have root. In case you're wondering, the note 4 officially received 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) and TouchWiz is what Samsung branded their software (until recently anyway). If you want to run anything newer than 6.0.1 your chances of a working spen decreases, but that also depends on your particular model. The note 4's with the exynos chip has a Nougat port that I believe has a working spen.
The last question, what can you do with a rooted device, all depends on what you use your phone for. It really would take a long time to list the possibilities. If you have something specific in mind I could try to point you in the right direction though.

My model is sm n910f (I think it is the international version but I am not sure) abd I mostly want newer software that supports the s pen
Edit: it is the unlocked European version

kevintm78 said:
Hola! Welcome to XDA.
First of all I would just like to give a friendly reminder to include your model number in your post. For instance, my Note 4 model variant is the SM-N910V. From what I've read the 910V is the trickiest to root other than the SM-N910A which never had a method of rooting as far as I know. So if you're using an AT&T phone aka SM-N910A then you're unfortunately out of luck. I think most other variants are relatively easy to root depending on your experience level.
Spen functionality depends on the kind of rom you're wanting to use. I mostly just use a modified 6.0.1 TouchWiz rom and the spen works as good as if I didn't have root. In case you're wondering, the note 4 officially received 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) and TouchWiz is what Samsung branded their software (until recently anyway). If you want to run anything newer than 6.0.1 your chances of a working spen decreases, but that also depends on your particular model. The note 4's with the exynos chip has a Nougat port that I believe has a working spen.
The last question, what can you do with a rooted device, all depends on what you use your phone for. It really would take a long time to list the possibilities. If you have something specific in mind I could try to point you in the right direction though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My model is sm n910f (I think it is the international version but I am not sure) abd I mostly want newer software that supports the s pen
Edit: it is the unlocked European version

kevintm78 said:
Hola! Welcome to XDA.
First of all I would just like to give a friendly reminder to include your model number in your post. For instance, my Note 4 model variant is the SM-N910V. From what I've read the 910V is the trickiest to root other than the SM-N910A which never had a method of rooting as far as I know. So if you're using an AT&T phone aka SM-N910A then you're unfortunately out of luck. I think most other variants are relatively easy to root depending on your experience level.
Spen functionality depends on the kind of rom you're wanting to use. I mostly just use a modified 6.0.1 TouchWiz rom and the spen works as good as if I didn't have root. In case you're wondering, the note 4 officially received 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) and TouchWiz is what Samsung branded their software (until recently anyway). If you want to run anything newer than 6.0.1 your chances of a working spen decreases, but that also depends on your particular model. The note 4's with the exynos chip has a Nougat port that I believe has a working spen.
The last question, what can you do with a rooted device, all depends on what you use your phone for. It really would take a long time to list the possibilities. If you have something specific in mind I could try to point you in the right direction though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
?^

Pizzaking587 said:
My model is sm n910f (I think it is the international version but I am not sure) abd I mostly want newer software that supports the s pen
Edit: it is the unlocked European version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The international version is the SM-N910C
But regardless, the 910F has a huge amount of rom development, i would say you just need to dive into the note 4 snapdragon rom thread and get used to flashing your phone in odin, all the resources you need are right here!
Good luck and enjoy