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] problem with device

I know this isnt the right place for this thread, but i lost my other login credentials and had to start fresh, so Im posting here....
Device: SM-T230NU
Problem: I used a website outside of XDA to root my device. I followed the instructions precisely too, I than unplugged the device hoping that replugging and restarting odin would fix the problem i have/had as displayed by the picture. I than tried rebooting the device, and got this error message: Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies and try again. Well I downloaded Kies 3, and much to my surpise I got an error message about the samsung galaxy tab 4 7.0 not being supported by Kies 3. I am now downloading Kies 2.6, so I can atleast get this device booting normally.

If you knew this was not the place to post, why did you post a question here? A play by play of your device root is not of much interest to anyone! I hope you got it fixed up anyway!

It's been fixed. I found an alternate DL site that had Odin in the package..I used ODIN to run cf_auto_root which created that firmware upgrade issue...I had to Odin firmware from the links I found on these forums...it's rooted now though

[Q] HELP!!!! note 3 bootloop

Hello everyone,
i am fairly new to the world of rooting and recently encountered a problem while flashing a rom
i have the at&t samsung galaxy note 3 N-900A running 4.3 jellybean (2 year contract expired and i got and used the unlock code)
i rooted the phone using the kingo root app, because i could not update the phone (I recently moved out of the USA so i cant connect to an at&t server to update)
i installed safestrap recovery 3.71 and it was running fine
i found a tutorial from galaxy note 3 root for the knoxraid ro
(put youtube. c o m here) /watch?v=8HDHt4xSnQY
according to the tutorial i had to install the rom over the stock rom file
so i copied the stock rom to rom slot 1
this is where i messed up, i installed the knoxraid rom over the stock rom without wiping/data factory reset first. But it gets worse, i realized i forgot to wipe the data from safestrap so before the install was even halfway completed, i pulled the battery out.
now whenever i turn it on it will go straight to recovery mode
it wont even turn off. i have to pull the battery out.
i can get to download mode and recovery mode but thats it.
im not sure about the build number because it wont boot up
all i can tell you is it is a at&t note 3 running 4.3 jellybean
please help if you can
btw: my computer wont recognize the phone because it says the PHONE does not have the correct drivers installed
however odin still recognizes it with the blue box with 0:[COM6] if that helps
so yeah please help me the phone is fairly new and i dont want to waste $600

infinitephase said:
Hello everyone,
i am fairly new to the world of rooting and recently encountered a problem while flashing a rom
i have the at&t samsung galaxy note 3 N-900A running 4.3 jellybean (2 year contract expired and i got and used the unlock code)
i rooted the phone using the kingo root app, because i could not update the phone (I recently moved out of the USA so i cant connect to an at&t server to update)
i installed safestrap recovery 3.71 and it was running fine
i found a tutorial from galaxy note 3 root for the knoxraid ro
(put youtube. c o m here) /watch?v=8HDHt4xSnQY
according to the tutorial i had to install the rom over the stock rom file
so i copied the stock rom to rom slot 1
this is where i messed up, i installed the knoxraid rom over the stock rom without wiping/data factory reset first. But it gets worse, i realized i forgot to wipe the data from safestrap so before the install was even halfway completed, i pulled the battery out.
now whenever i turn it on it will go straight to recovery mode
it wont even turn off. i have to pull the battery out.
i can get to download mode and recovery mode but thats it.
im not sure about the build number because it wont boot up
all i can tell you is it is a at&t note 3 running 4.3 jellybean
please help if you can
btw: my computer wont recognize the phone because it says the PHONE does not have the correct drivers installed
however odin still recognizes it with the blue box with 0:[COM6] if that helps
so yeah please help me the phone is fairly new and i dont want to waste $600
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, this is the wrong forum to begin with.
However, head over here, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703006 , and read very, very carefully.

sirobelec said:
Well, this is the wrong forum to begin with.
However, head over here, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703006 , and read very, very carefully.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry, next time ill post in the right forum
thanks for the link, however this appears to be for the N900AUCUCNC2 variant, which i believe is KitKat (sry if im wrong) i need files for 4.3 jellybean firmware. (i never updated)
thanks in advance

Noobs phone won't start - can't find the answer. Feeling dumb as my brick phone.

I've rooted and replaced the ROM on 3 other Android devices. I've spent two or three nights on this. Googling and reading page after page to try to get this right. I know I'm seriously lacking in knowledge, but I just can't stand the bloatware and lack of control over an OEM ROM. I knew I was taking a risk, but I did my best to be diligent without spending an excessive amount of time. All that said, I appreciate, in advance any help anyone can offer me. Whether that's direct advice or directing me to proper resources that I can't seem to find.
Samsung S5 SM-G900P (kltespr)
I had rooted it. I replaced the Sprint stock ROM (5.0.1 I think) with CM12.1 (which just got an OTA). I had TWRP 2.8.7 on it.
Unfortunately, I needed my research suggested I needed a Touchwiz ROM in order to activate phone service on the cell provider I'd chosen (Ting).
So I selected MOAR v7 and started following the directions here:
at galaxys5root.com/sprint-galaxy-s5-custom-roms/moar-lollipop-rom-for-sprint-galaxy-s5-w-2-8ghz-oc
I made a backup. I wiped the system/cache/davlik/etc.
I installed the Android 5.0 Bootloader TAR (G900P NDK Lollipop) per the instructions via Odin and using the Bootloader option. The flash failed. I can repeat the failure (ran Odin as admin, tried multiple USB ports, restarted the computer etc). I've since tried to send several recovery ROMS or OS ROMS (pardon if I'm using the wrong terminology here) to the device, but all I can get is download mode or a screen that says Samsung Galaxy S5 powered by Android (with Kernel is not Seandroid enforcing at the top). Sending TWRP via Odin has worked with a PASS, but still can't startup the device.
I can provide more detailed logs or information about where I'm stuck and how, but on the off chance that this is an obvious thing I'm going to stop here unless more detail would be useful.
Again, I'm grateful in advance for any help.
Moshker

Follow up and how I fixed my brick
This post is intended as a follow up in case anyone runs into a similiar problem and stumbles onto my post.
After trying several different bootloaders, including the stock ones from Samsung (multiple download attempts, very slow speeds, some didn't pass md5 check), and full ROM efforts via Odin 3.10.7 I was finally able to get one ROM to take.
G900PVPU3BOG1_G900PSPT3BOG1_SPR from androidfilehost.com/?fid=24052804347794921
After getting the phone activated on Ting I used Odin to push Chainfire Auto Root (408). I verified root after restart. Used Nandroid to make a new backup. I used Flashify to install TWRP 2.8.7. I restarted to recovery and DID NOT use TWRP to wipe the system/data/etc and instead loaded the MOAR7.0.OA6 ROM. During the ROM install process it asked if I'd like to wipe system/cache/davlik/etc. I did. The ROM installed successfully. I ran a Nandroid restore to bring back my apps and data. Most restored properly.
I still don't really understand what went wrong, why my efforts to fix it failed, and why the last thing I tried worked.
Really loving MOAR. I'm using the Numix theme and it's just incredibly clean and fast. CM12.1 had intermittent micro-freezes/lags that were driving me a little nuts and MOAR is really smooth and quite fast. I was pretty disappointed in CM as I had it a long time ago on an original DInc (7.2!).
Anyway, if you're phone is bricked, keep on fighting the good fight.

Rooted Samsung Galaxy S4 has Nonresponsive Touchscreen

Hello all. Today I decided to root my Samsung Galaxy S4, model SM-S975L. I followed a post from these forums to the T, and everything was going great, until my phone went to sleep and then locked. After it was locked, the touch screen stopped responding. I gave it a reboot and it worked until locked yet again, and again and again and again. I then attempted to use a USSD code that was supposed to bring up some kind of fix to the touch screen firmware, I believe, and the code didn't do anything. Got a pop up that said it was running the USSD code and then nothing happened, it just disappeared. I was also unable to update the su binary when I downloaded SuperSU. Don't know if this is related. Below is the link I used to root my phone. Any help would be wonderful!
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=66590962&postcount=223

Judging by that guide, you did not root your device, you installed a completely different firmware.
Not only that, but it is an old version too.
I suggest you download this version and in the configuration screen select "STOCK KERNEL".
It's pretty much the same process as with the other version.

I forgot to mention I rooted my device with the PC version of KingoRoot, and when I used a root checker app it did say it was rooted.
But say I go this route, am I to also install open gapps? And does it need to be a different version?

So my touch screen stopped working again, this time during the AROMA installer. Managed to get through that with the volume keys and power button. Then it took me back to the screen from TWRP where it says I successfully installed the zip. But my phone is locked and my touch screen is not working. What to do? Please, anybody... I don't want to just pull the battery because I still need to wipe the cache and dalvik and doing that to your phone isn't good for it anyways, from my understanding. Please, I don't want to make it even worse if I can avoid it!

rainygreeneyes said:
So my touch screen stopped working again, this time during the AROMA installer. Managed to get through that with the volume keys and power button. Then it took me back to the screen from TWRP where it says I successfully installed the zip. But my phone is locked and my touch screen is not working. What to do? Please, anybody... I don't want to just pull the battery because I still need to wipe the cache and dalvik and doing that to your phone isn't good for it anyways, from my understanding. Please, I don't want to make it even worse if I can avoid it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then flash any other ROM that does not have the word "Optimized" or "Aroma" in its name.
You can also flash the official Lineage ROM, I assume it should work.

I attempted to unroot by flashing the original firmware for my Galaxy S4 and ended up soft bricking it, I think. It says "firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies and try again." Kies is not recognizing the phone. Am I correct in thinking it is soft bricked? If so, how can this be fixed? Please explain as if you were explaining to a child, I am clearly not very good at this.

rainygreeneyes said:
I attempted to unroot by flashing the original firmware for my Galaxy S4 and ended up soft bricking it, I think. It says "firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies and try again." Kies is not recognizing the phone. Am I correct in thinking it is soft bricked? If so, how can this be fixed? Please explain as if you were explaining to a child, I am clearly not very good at this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try flashing it with Odin again, Kies isn't needed, just connect it to PC(while in that screen) and flash the stock rom with Odin, it should recognize it.