Database Users

[Q] Phone has no recovery and other issues.

First want to say hi and that this site is full of knowledge so any help with my subject will be great.
Got a att s4 sgh-i337 phone. I rooted it before the lollipop ota update was out and everything went fine. Then the lollipop update came out and I followed one of the methods on keeping root and updating to 5.0.1 lollipop on the phone. Everything went fine with that. Still showed root status and never did the phone brick or have any issues in the updating.
At some point though, I did run triangle away because I would have the custom logo and opened padlock when the phone would boot up. I knew it wasn't a huge deal but the counter showed correct and never could just figure out how to get it to go away. Either way, I did run it and I think rebooting twice, the factory loading image came back to it. Now it shows my current status as 0 for the counter and the binary is Official.
I have not tried to load any roms or nothing like this to the phone, just followed the instructions to give it root access so I could run a few different apps and adaway for when I listen to Spotify.
One day, I was trying to install a new version of Words with Friends and it failed because I think wwf was open, but I did go back and install it. For some reason now, my phone never notifies my with a wwf notification when somebody plays me. Every now and then, it might pop up when I restart the phone but that is it. I don't think facebook notifies me everytime also but was more worried about words with friends.
Searching google, it says to go into recovery mode and flash the cache of the phone there. I have done the cache memory in the phone but that has not fixed my problem. When trying to go to recovery, it never works, it would always show, recovery booting and then load the phone up as normal.
I have download quick boot and rom manager since they all have an option to boot into recovery rather than pressing the buttons but it always does the same thing. Reading the web though, it seemed like I needed to install a different recovery than the factory I guess, so using rom manager, I tried twrp and that didn't work so I installed ClockworldMod 6.0.4.7. Rom manager shows that as the current recovery method.
When I try to boot into recovery, it still shows that recovery is booting and then goes straight to loading the phone as it should normally.
Now though, every time I restart my phone, it says recovery is trying to boot but never does.
How do I fix my phone to be able to boot into recovery and it not try to boot every time it powers on. I have tried searching google but I just just can find an answer to my direct problem. I know how to hold the buttons and go to recovery but does not work, and I also know how to get to it from the different app programs(rom manager and quick boot) but they do not work either. It would be nice to get the wwf notifications to work properly again also.
If you need any information from my phone, please ask. Thanks for any help on my matter,
Charlie

Odin stock and start over.

Apparently, you are not aware that the boot loader is locked, preventing the installation of a custom kernel. You can not use twrp, or rom manager. Rom manager itself may cause issues.
I agree you should flash back to stock and start over to get a clean install. Hopefully, this will solve the issues with notifications as well. You can use the "[GUIDE]Odin to Stock, Updating, Rooting, and Installing Safestrap" by guut13 in the general forum for files and instructions.

creepyncrawly said:
Apparently, you are not aware that the boot loader is locked, preventing the installation of a custom kernel. You can not use twrp, or rom manager. Rom manager itself may cause issues.
I agree you should flash back to stock and start over to get a clean install. Hopefully, this will solve the issues with notifications as well. You can use the "[GUIDE]Odin to Stock, Updating, Rooting, and Installing Safestrap" by guut13 in the general forum for files and instructions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the replies guys, I really don't know a whole lot about rooting other than following instructions about it. I was unaware you could not use the twrp or cwr as a recovery. My recovery did not work before so that is why I was trying to install those. I knew you could not install custom roms but I did not know that you could not use rom manager to install custom recoveries.
I appreciate the help so far and I will look into that thread you mentioned. I haven't read it but will this take me back to stock lollipop 5.0.1 and I just reinstall apps or will I have to re-root the phone.
Charlie

please delete, sorry
Charlie

You have to go back to 4.4.4, to the nb1 base, root with towelroot, and then use the keeproot method to get back to 5.0.1 rooted. The instructions are in the guide, and also a link to the keeproot thread is there.
By the way, for future reference, questions, help and troubleshooting issues should go in the Q&A forum, not the general forum.

not having any luck
Ok guys,
I am trying to follow the guide but not having much luck.
I downloaded the I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar and put it in the AP Odin file. I'm not sure if I should be using it or the other file named I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Rootable_Stock_Odin_tar to begin with. The instructions said to use the first one so that is the one I was trying to use.
After putting the first file in the AP slot of Odin and hitting start, it begins to try to do it's thing and then says it fails!
What do I do now? Am I doing something wrong or what because I'm trying to follow instructions but not having much luck.
Please help. Sorry for posting in the wrong area also in the beginning.
Charlie

I'm screwed
Now when I turn my phone on, it says Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies and try again?

doing better now
Pretty sure I got it going finally. I changed cords and then changed ports on my computer and it finally did go back to stock without an error. I'm currently back on Lollipop and rooted so now is the fun of reinstalling contact info and anything else. So far I have not rebooted but it was not showing the recovery booting option when it did reboot. Hoping my notifications work properly now also!
Thanks!!!
Charlie

[Q] G900F Bricked(?), bootloop and not able to get into recovery.

Hey guys!
My friend just got the G900F and I wanted to help him root it and install custom recovery + custom rom.
1. I installed custom recovery
2. I rooted the phone with towelroot
- Everything seemed to work perfectly, I used apps that required root and had no problems.
3. I made a backup of the phone's original software
4. I made a backup of the phone's EFS
5. I updated the modem+bootloader to Lollipop latest versions for G900F (I did this when I had 4.4.2 installed on the phone)
6. I booted into TWRP and made a total wipe
7. I Installed XtreStoLite INTL 2.2 - I choose Ktoonsez's kernel and NEE as I am from Sweden.
8. I rebooted the phone and now the phone is in an endless bootloop - says Set Warranty Bit: Kernel and the Samsung Logo, then it reboots and vibrates 2 times.
I've tried to reinstall TWRP via latest ODIN v.3.10 - it works to install but I cannot go into recovery as it just restarts and the same bootloop as step 8 happends.
I've tried to reinstall CF-Auto-Root via latest ODIN to restore the original Recovery - it works to install it, I can see on the phone that it is recovering original recovery et.c but after that it ends in a bootloop as step 8.
I have no problems getting into download mode, KNOX is 0x1.
I don't know what to do and I seem to lack the knowledge how-to search correctly to find an answer for this model(?) How can I either get back to stock or make a total clean adb fastboot?
I'm guessing its semi or hard bricked? I don't understand why as I followed the steps 100% from this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2699648
then I used the guidelines edgarf28 gives when installing the XtreStoLite rom and updating the modem/bootloader.
Help is very very appreciated.

Probably the Kernel not playing nice with the ROM
Install Samsung drivers on PC (KIES3 installs them, or grab from samsung.com)
Boot the phone into download mode (Volume Down, Home & Power)
Flash a stock ROM using ODIN 3.10.6 from sammobile dot com, or from the link in my Sig (United Kingdom G900F ROMS)

Great! Thanks. Exactly what I was looking for, I'm not the best on the search function. I did actually try to find the version needed to totally reboot via ODIN but didn't find it. I made the process and the phone works again, I will try to reproduce the steps but I guess I should skip Ktoonsez's kernel? Any idea why it doesn't work with it? As it is baked into the rom's aroma installer I thought it was compatible.

The kernel being the problem is just a guess, could have been something else, but from what you said, the only step I can see that might have bricked it was an incompatible Kernel, or maybe it didn't flash correctly and corrupted something
You can try flashing it again now you know how to recover the phone, see if it was just bad luck - best to reboot after each step to make sure it's working up to that step, then if it fails to boot after doing something else, you know exactly which step went wrong and can avoid it next time

Alright, made the exact same steps as before and it booted after every step. Last step was installing the ROM and it worked fine, after it says the same thing but this time I do not end up in a bootloop. Waiting for the phone to start for the first time, usually takes awhile.. I have seriously no idea what went wrong, only thing I could think of is that the phone was on 4.4.2 on the first try and the second I used your 5.0.. so.. conclusion is that.. that was the problem.

These things happen, I flashed back to KK to give it a try a few weeks ago, first flash ended in a bootloop, so I flashed the exact same KK ROM again, exact same process, second time it booted fine
It's what makes things like this fun & interesting I suppose, always something to learn

You're right! I'm happy that you helped me! Works perfect now, I'll continue to tweak things to give my friend the best experience... so nice to remove all the bloatware! What a beast compared to original.....

How do I unlock my bootloader?

Hi all, new to Android and Samsung, so sorry for the noob question.. and sorry if its been answered before, Ive done a HEAP of reading and Im still confused...
I recently bought an S4 GT-I9505, thinking that getting into Android and maybe tweaking it a bit would be fun..
This phone was a Warranty replacement for a Telstra "POST Paid" service and has been sitting in a cupboard for a few years, It is NOT network locked. The phone had never been used before I bought it but has since ran out of warranty,,
I can't remember what ver of Android was on the phone when I got it but Its now updated to 5.0.1 and ofcourse has KNOX.. I obviously dont care about KNOX Warranty tripping to 0x1 as its ran out anyway...
My question is though....
Every guide or thread I read about installing custom ROMs and such says "phone must have an UNLOCKED bootloader" ... So how do I "UNLOCK" the bootloader or is this something that happens when flashing a custom ROM? ... What am I missing here guys?
Thanks in advance
kingsdene

Only few devices have a locked bootloader.
Verizon and AT&T devices have a locked bootloaders.
If you're device is none of the above then you're good to go.

GDReaper said:
Only few devices have a locked bootloader.
Verizon and AT&T devices have a locked bootloaders.
If you're device is none of the above then you're good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi thanks for your reply,,
That clrears things up a bit,,
I read somewhere that the international versions weren't locked.. and in another thread I read they said the I9505 is international but on that same thread someone else said that it wasn't international, only the i9500 was,, so that confused me a little...
but on wikipedia the I9505 and I9506 are listed as international.... so if thats the case I definitely should be right hey???
Also because Im from AUS and not much is listed in terms of Australian Service providers.. would it be worth me trying to contact Telstra because its a Telstra "POST Paid" phone and asking if there would be any restrictions on it???

kingsdene said:
Hi thanks for your reply,,
That clrears things up a bit,,
I read somewhere that the international versions weren't locked.. and in another thread I read they said the I9505 is international but on that same thread someone else said that it wasn't international, only the i9500 was,, so that confused me a little...
but on wikipedia the I9505 and I9506 are listed as international.... so if thats the case I definitely should be right hey???
Also because Im from AUS and not much is listed in terms of Australian Service providers.. would it be worth me trying to contact Telstra because its a Telstra "POST Paid" phone and asking if there would be any restrictions on it???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It might at worst have a network/carrier lock on it, but that would be it, no other locks.
See here for info/fees: https://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/phone_unlocking
I believe post paid phones are unlocked from the word go, but you may want to check...easiest way is to grab a sim from a family member/friend on another carrier and put it in and see if it registers on the network...prolly quicker than waiting on the phone to telstra...only to be told its not locked .
Here you go, more info:
http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/engage-blogs/engage-blogs/Telco/The-key-to-unlocking-your-mobile
Me im in Aus too, i bought my S5 i9505, a former Telstra S4, a few days back knowing it was unlocked fortunately....took it home and rooted it, debloated it and living happily on the stock 5.01 TouchWiz ROM with TWRP Recovery and Xposed , ill prolly chuck a custom one on at some point....

stylemessiah said:
It might at worst have a network/carrier lock on it, but that would be it, no other locks.
I believe post paid phones are unlocked from the word go, but you may want to check...easiest way is to grab a sim from a family member/friend on another carrier and put it in and see if it registers on the network...prolly quicker than waiting on the phone to telstra...only to be told its not locked .
Me im in Aus too, i bought my S5 i9505, a former Telstra S4, a few days back knowing it was unlocked fortunately....took it home and rooted it, debloated it and living happily on the stock 5.01 TouchWiz ROM with TWRP Recovery and Xposed , ill prolly chuck a custom one on at some point....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mate, Thanks very much for the reply/info
Thats really good to know.. Looks like Im all set then,, I knew it wasn't networked locked, I tested with an Optus sim..
Would you mind sharing your process on how you rooted it and installed TWRP? Did you use apps or flash from Odin/Heimdal etc,, I know theres heaps of guides and different ways of doing so.... Im just curious on different peoples experiences
Oh and just thaught id let you know I noticed in your sig you've listed you device as S4 I9095

kingsdene said:
Hi mate, Thanks very much for the reply/info
Thats really good to know.. Looks like Im all set then,, I knew it wasn't networked locked, I tested with an Optus sim..
Would you mind sharing your process on how you rooted it and installed TWRP? Did you use apps or flash from Odin/Heimdal etc,, I know theres heaps of guides and different ways of doing so.... Im just curious on different peoples experiences
Oh and just thaught id let you know I noticed in your sig you've listed you device as S4 I9095
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice pickup on the sig
Im the king of typos...i have a wonky brain, and it doesnt always connect my hand with the right keys Sig corrected
Heres what i did on mine, and how i remember doing it, though if some steps dont match up, let me know via PM or email, in my profile:
Required utils/files (assuming you have a standard i9505):
Odin: http://dl.sammobile.com/Odin3-v3.11.1.zip
CF Auto Root: https://download.chainfire.eu/316/CF-Root/CF-Auto-Root/CF-Auto-Root-jflte-jfltexx-gti9505.zip
TWRP: https://dl.twrp.me/jfltexx/twrp-3.0.2-0-jfltexx.img.tar.html
1) Rooting
a) Put phone into download mode - Power + Home + Vol Down, then Vol Up
b) Connect to PC via cable
c) Run Odin
d) Tick next AP
e) Press AP and browse to locate and select the CF Auto file downloaded
f) Press Start
g) It should upload to phone and phone should reboot into recovery and do its thing and then reboot
h) Unplug the phone form the cable
i) You may get, i did, a Google Play update to update SuperSU. I did this and rebooted, you may also get a prompt to update the su binary, do this using the Normal method, and reboot
2) TWRP
a) Put phone into download mode - Power + Home + Vol Down, then Vol Up
b) Connect to PC
c) Run Odin
d) Tick next AP
e) Press AP and browse to locate and select the TWRP file downloaded
f) Click options, and untick Auto Reboot - if you dont manage to catch the device using the recovery boot keys as it reboots, it may boot normally and over-write the recovery, and you'll have flash it again, so i turned this off
f) Press Start
g) When its uploaded, unplug phone,and hold down Power + Home + Vol Up until it reboots and you see the recovery boot text appear in the top left (lines of blue, yellow, red text), let go at this point, a
the device should boot to recovery and install recovery
h) Unplug the phone form the cable
i) Power down the phone (i got a cache mounting issue - discovered when i was flashing Xposed, that you may need to fix...best to do it anyways, and do it now to fix the issue before you try and flash a custom ROM in the future etc)
j) Boot to recovery again - Power + Home + Vol Up until it reboots and you see the recovery boot text appear in the top left, let go at this point, the device should boot to recovery
k) Go into Mount and see if Cache is mounted, if it is, youre fine, if it isnt, try mounting it by ticking Cache. If it wont mount:
i) Click Wipe,
ii) Click Advanced Wipe
iii) Tick Cache
iiii) Click Repair or Change File System
iv) Click Change Filesystem
v) Click Ext4
vi) Swipe to change
It may take some time to fix....
l)Reboot when done
3) Debloating (highly recommended on the stock ROM)
Theres a few pages on which apps and files to remove using a root uninstaller app, or you can Install this and tick the items you want removed: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adamioan.s4lollipopdebloater&hl=en
Please dont ask me what to tick or leave ticked Theres descriptions in the app, or more info on the forums. Personally i tend to decimate ROM's from all non-essential apps, but what works for me may not work for you, you may use things i dont.
When done, reboot
Optional though recommended: Boot into recovery and wipe your dalvik & cache (note: once Dalvik is wiped your next reboot will be long due to app optimising - it will be shorter than normal with less apps though)
Hope this helps

stylemessiah said:
Nice pickup on the sig
Im the king of typos...i have a wonky brain, and it doesnt always connect my hand with the right keys Sig corrected
Heres what i did on mine, and how i remember doing it, though if some steps dont match up, let me know via PM or email, in my profile:
1) Rooting
a) Put phone into download mode - Power + Home + Vol Down, then Vol Up
b) Connect to PC via cable
c) Run Odin
d) Tick next AP
e) Press AP and browse to locate and select the CF Auto file downloaded
f) Press Start
g) It should upload to phone and phone should reboot into recovery and do its thing and then reboot
h) Unplug the phone form the cable
i) You may get, i did, a Google Play update to update SuperSU. I did this and rebooted, you may also get a prompt to update the su binary, do this using the Normal method, and reboot
2) TWRP
a) Put phone into download mode - Power + Home + Vol Down, then Vol Up
b) Connect to PC
c) Run Odin
d) Tick next AP
e) Press AP and browse to locate and select the TWRP file downloaded
f) Click options, and untick Auto Reboot - if you dont manage to catch the device using the recovery boot keys as it reboots, it may boot normally and over-write the recovery, and you'll have flash it again, so i turned this off
f) Press Start
g) When its uploaded, unplug phone,and hold down Power + Home + Vol Up until it reboots and you see the recovery boot text appear in the top left (lines of blue, yellow, red text), let go at this point, a
the device should boot to recovery and install recovery
h) Unplug the phone form the cable
i) Power down the phone (i got a cache mounting issue - discovered when i was flashing Xposed, that you may need to fix...best to do it anyways, and do it now to fix the issue before you try and flash a custom ROM in the future etc)
j) Boot to recovery again - Power + Home + Vol Up until it reboots and you see the recovery boot text appear in the top left, let go at this point, the device should boot to recovery
k) Go into Mount and see if Cache is mounted, if it is, youre fine, if it isnt, try mounting it by ticking Cache. If it wont mount:
i) Click Wipe,
ii) Click Advanced Wipe
iii) Tick Cache
iiii) Click Repair or Change File System
iv) Click Change Filesystem
v) Click Ext4
vi) Swipe to change
It may take some time to fix....
l)Reboot when done
3) Debloating (highly recommended on the stock ROM)
Theres a few pages on which apps and files to remove using a root uninstaller app, or you can Install this and tick the items you want removed: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adamioan.s4lollipopdebloater&hl=en
Please dont ask me what to tick or leave ticked Theres descriptions in the app, or more info on the forums. Personally i tend to decimate ROM's from all non-essential apps, but what works for me may not work for you, you may use things i dont.
When done, reboot
Optional though recommended: Boot into recovery and wipe your dalvik & cache (note: once Dalvik is wiped your next reboot will be long due to app optimising - it will be shorter than normal with less apps though)
Hope this helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha your not the only one with a wonky brain bro.....
And WOW wasn't expecting all that... Thanks very much man, your a legend.
I really appreciate your help
Ill give it a crack and see how I go..
Cheers mate

stylemessiah said:
Heres what i did on mine, and how i remember doing it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mate,, just thaught I'd let you know I followed your guide and all was sucsessful, thanks again, I had it running for a while and I really like the stock ROM when unbloated.
Since then I've flashed a Resurrection Remix Marshmallow ROM -ver 5.6.7 and its running well except for a few glitches but nothing serious.
I have a question for you though, if you dont mind... I am planning on getting the latest RR ROM and upgrading to that to see how it runs...
But if I were to downgrade to a Lollipop version of RR, would I be ok flashing it from my current state? I have read somewhere that flashing to an earlier version of Android (Marshmallow to Lollipop) is a bit of a different process?
And also if this were true.... Than when I made a TWRP Backup of my rooted stock 5.0.1 Lollipop before I flashed RR 6.0.1 Marshmallow.. If I were to try now to restore from my backup it wouldn't work? because of the different Android versions?
I have done heaps of reading and can't seem to find a great deal on this... only when it comes to stock ROMs
Cheers
kingsdene

kingsdene said:
Hi mate,, just thaught I'd let you know I followed your guide and all was sucsessful, thanks again, I had it running for a while and I really like the stock ROM when unbloated.
Since then I've flashed a Resurrection Remix Marshmallow ROM -ver 5.6.7 and its running well except for a few glitches but nothing serious.
I have a question for you though, if you dont mind... I am planning on getting the latest RR ROM and upgrading to that to see how it runs...
But if I were to downgrade to a Lollipop version of RR, would I be ok flashing it from my current state? I have read somewhere that flashing to an earlier version of Android (Marshmallow to Lollipop) is a bit of a different process?
And also if this were true.... Than when I made a TWRP Backup of my rooted stock 5.0.1 Lollipop before I flashed RR 6.0.1 Marshmallow.. If I were to try now to restore from my backup it wouldn't work? because of the different Android versions?
I have done heaps of reading and can't seem to find a great deal on this... only when it comes to stock ROMs
Cheers
kingsdene
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im glad that my wonky memories of rooting/twrp and debloating worked out for you. The stock 5.01 ROM is great without the bloat. Ive since moved onto Optimised CM13, which is going well.
Im afraid i cant help you on downgrading from LP to MM, as ive never done it on this device, but i cant see how that would in any way be an issue as you have a custom recovery installed...afaik thats all thats needed...at least on the S2 it was as easy as flash what the hell you want to on it as long as you had at least a KK recovery installed..
Cant help on backups, as i literally never use them, i never carry over stuff from one ROM to the next, i clean install everything

kingsdene said:
Hi mate,, just thaught I'd let you know I followed your guide and all was sucsessful, thanks again, I had it running for a while and I really like the stock ROM when unbloated.
Since then I've flashed a Resurrection Remix Marshmallow ROM -ver 5.6.7 and its running well except for a few glitches but nothing serious.
I have a question for you though, if you dont mind... I am planning on getting the latest RR ROM and upgrading to that to see how it runs...
But if I were to downgrade to a Lollipop version of RR, would I be ok flashing it from my current state? I have read somewhere that flashing to an earlier version of Android (Marshmallow to Lollipop) is a bit of a different process?
And also if this were true.... Than when I made a TWRP Backup of my rooted stock 5.0.1 Lollipop before I flashed RR 6.0.1 Marshmallow.. If I were to try now to restore from my backup it wouldn't work? because of the different Android versions?
I have done heaps of reading and can't seem to find a great deal on this... only when it comes to stock ROMs
Cheers
kingsdene
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The downgrading is only a problem on stock to stock ROMs. Any combination of custom to stock should work.
And TWRP has a problem with TouchWiz ROM backups. So your backup might not work either.
I mean, it will work, but you get errors.

Trying to install TWRP and Lineage . . . vbmeta is in the way

I've been trying for the last few days to root and install Lineage on a brand new S6 lite tablet. I've downloaded Lineage, Odin, stock rom, ADB/platform tools, Ls4 tool, the 7 whatever it is extraction tool. I've unlocked the bootloader (I can recite every option under developer options). I've installed Magisk hoping that it might help if I rooted the dumb thing (spoiler alert: it rooted, it didn't help). I've tried to install it using ADB (before reading that Samsungs don't play nice with it ). I tried to side load it with an SD card; tablet liked the card, poo poo'd the files on it. I've used ODIN in every way shape and form, it always says "Yay! You Pass!" then my tablet reboots saying "Boo! You Lose!". I then reinstall the stock ROM, try something else, reinstall stock ROM, try this solution, reinstall stock ROM. The latest and greatest hurdle: when trying to install TWRP I get the error message VBMETA Error verifying image, not signed (3), verification disabled bit is set. I found info on that here, downloaded vbmeta from my stock ROM, tried to use a blank vbmeta, even went overboard and did something with the PIT function in Odin (saw it in the internet, it HAS to be correct, right?). Nothing nothing nothing.
I've rooted and installed custom ROM on Samsung tablets in the past, but this is ridiculous. It would take me a LONG time to give all the details of everything I've tried, if needed I can. At this point it's the principal of the matter . . . I am going to make this happen one way or another, and any advice someone might have would be appreciated.
About me!
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 tablet LITE, SM-P610, running Android 11, UI 3.1, WIFI only.

vstarjewel said:
I've been trying for the last few days to root and install Lineage on a brand new S6 lite tablet. I've downloaded Lineage, Odin, stock rom, ADB/platform tools, Ls4 tool, the 7 whatever it is extraction tool. I've unlocked the bootloader (I can recite every option under developer options). I've installed Magisk hoping that it might help if I rooted the dumb thing (spoiler alert: it rooted, it didn't help). I've tried to install it using ADB (before reading that Samsungs don't play nice with it ). I tried to side load it with an SD card; tablet liked the card, poo poo'd the files on it. I've used ODIN in every way shape and form, it always says "Yay! You Pass!" then my tablet reboots saying "Boo! You Lose!". I then reinstall the stock ROM, try something else, reinstall stock ROM, try this solution, reinstall stock ROM. The latest and greatest hurdle: when trying to install TWRP I get the error message VBMETA Error verifying image, not signed (3), verification disabled bit is set. I found info on that here, downloaded vbmeta from my stock ROM, tried to use a blank vbmeta, even went overboard and did something with the PIT function in Odin (saw it in the internet, it HAS to be correct, right?). Nothing nothing nothing.
I've rooted and installed custom ROM on Samsung tablets in the past, but this is ridiculous. It would take me a LONG time to give all the details of everything I've tried, if needed I can. At this point it's the principal of the matter . . . I am going to make this happen one way or another, and any advice someone might have would be appreciated.
About me!
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 tablet LITE, SM-P610, running Android 11, UI 3.1, WIFI only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stumbled upon the answer to get Lineage OS and recovery installed . . . AND IT FREAKIN WORKED! Happy Dance!!!!!

vstarjewel said:
Stumbled upon the answer to get Lineage OS and recovery installed . . . AND IT FREAKIN WORKED! Happy Dance!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you fix? Just for a reader's curiosity sake.

Real_fakename said:
How did you fix? Just for a reader's curiosity sake.
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I believe he used LineageOS Recovery instead of TWRP (since the latter has been abandoned by the developer due to too many problems getting it working properly).

MJPollard said:
I believe he used LineageOS Recovery instead of TWRP (since the latter has been abandoned by the developer due to too many problems getting it working properly).
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What he said . . . still my hero!!!! Not sure if it matters or not, but I ended up using Heimdall/ADB to install Lineage. More key strokes but it worked the first time I tried it. Thumbs up for it

I'm hanging installing the recovery, see: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...s-on-galaxy-tab-s6-lite.4417629/post-86603873
How to reboot into recovery after flashing? I always land into Stock ROM

I mistakenly thought that Heimdell could get you right into recovery mode, but upon reading the instructions I sent you it says you need to boot into recovery manually . . . I apologize for the wrong info. I can say that I found that if you don't move them fingers FAST from the reboot mode to recovery mode buttons, you will keep getting plopped back to the stock ROM. Like the SECOND the screen goes dark you switch over to the power and volume up buttons, AND DO NOT LET GO! I do remember having a bit of a pause when booting into the Lineage recovery, and I thought I would have to start over when the recovery screen came up. I did a triple take, couldn't believe I got it to work.

vstarjewel said:
I mistakenly thought that Heimdell could get you right into recovery mode, but upon reading the instructions I sent you it says you need to boot into recovery manually . . . I apologize for the wrong info. I can say that I found that if you don't move them fingers FAST from the reboot mode to recovery mode buttons, you will keep getting plopped back to the stock ROM. Like the SECOND the screen goes dark you switch over to the power and volume up buttons, AND DO NOT LET GO! I do remember having a bit of a pause when booting into the Lineage recovery, and I thought I would have to start over when the recovery screen came up. I did a triple take, couldn't believe I got it to work.
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Did your S6 happen to show "KG STATE: Checking" constantly? After 2 hours, even though the console shows that there was success, the device itself appears to constantly be downloading, as per the instructions. But even after 2 hours, there is no notification on the tablet that shows the download is complete.

SM-P613. Error vbmeta image.

Hello!
I was recently gifted a Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 SM-P13. I only use my tablet to watch chess videos on Youtube, so I was happy to get a tablet to mess around a bit with it. I did not know much about rooting, but I thought installing Lineage OS and learning from it would be exciting.
I'm good at following instructions, but with some overenthusiasm, I realized that Lineage OS did not support my model a bit too late. So I reached step 5 of "Installing a custom recovery using heimdall" in the official instructions (https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/gta4xlwifi/install).
But I could not do step 6 as it could not boot into recovery mode. It will stay in download mode with the following message:
<!>
_partition recovery
Reason recovery: Error verifying vbmeta image: invalid vbmeta header(6)
CUSTOM recovery
VBMETA P613XXU1AVG5, 54410278R
I have looked around to see fixes, but I have felt slightly overwhelmed. So I have installed Odin, and at this moment, as Lineage OS is not an option, I don't care which ROM to install (stock, lite, etc...).
Can someone guide me on what to do now so I won't worsen things?
Thank you for your help in advance!

Hey Pablosky000, have you tried using odin to flash stock firmware to fix it back to how it orignally was?

oFluffy said:
Hey Pablosky000, have you tried using odin to flash stock firmware to fix it back to how it orignally was?
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Hi. Liked I said, I feel a bit overwhelmed and risk-averse at the moment. I have Odin installed and a the stock lite version downloaded. Was hoping for a "Try Odin with stock first" before making any further mistakes.

Pablosky000 said:
Hi. Liked I said, I feel a bit overwhelmed and risk-averse at the moment. I have Odin installed and a the stock lite version downloaded. Was hoping for a "Try Odin with stock first" before making any further mistakes.
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I don't fully understand whether or not you are wanting to return it to normal or not here, but I do know about the S6 lite. I have my own S6 lite, and I noticed no one has been updating the patched files for it. A recent update forces it to have the file it was talking about, and unless someone makes a specific twrp for that device specifically, we won't be able to use a custom recovery to flash a rom.
If your issue is getting it into recovery mode however, you aren't alone. The Samsung tablet's usually have the same method for launching, but this one specifically was weird.
You have to:
1.Unplug it
2.Hold power and volume down
3. As soon as it turns off plug it back in and begin holding the recovery key buttons
4.If it isn't in recovery you may have just missed the small window you had to do it, which is fine just start from step one until it works.
If you did flash your own recovery and expected it to show the stock Samsung recovery menu, that won't happen since you overwrote it by flashing a recovery. You should be able to find your device model on https://sfirmware.com/
In odin "AP" is where you flash your recovery files. If the device isn't working you may have to also flash the "BL" or binaries for your device. I usually do anyway just to make sure it is going to work correctly. Make sure you have adb, and any Android drivers needed for it to work. Let me know if you need more help! Thanks.

oFluffy said:
I don't fully understand whether or not you are wanting to return it to normal or not here, but I do know about the S6 lite. I have my own S6 lite, and I noticed no one has been updating the patched files for it. A recent update forces it to have the file it was talking about, and unless someone makes a specific twrp for that device specifically, we won't be able to use a custom recovery to flash a rom.
If your issue is getting it into recovery mode however, you aren't alone. The Samsung tablet's usually have the same method for launching, but this one specifically was weird.
You have to:
1.Unplug it
2.Hold power and volume down
3. As soon as it turns off plug it back in and begin holding the recovery key buttons
4.If it isn't in recovery you may have just missed the small window you had to do it, which is fine just start from step one until it works.
If you did flash your own recovery and expected it to show the stock Samsung recovery menu, that won't happen since you overwrote it by flashing a recovery. You should be able to find your device model on https://sfirmware.com/
In odin "AP" is where you flash your recovery files. If the device isn't working you may have to also flash the "BL" or binaries for your device. I usually do anyway just to make sure it is going to work correctly. Make sure you have adb, and any Android drivers needed for it to work. Let me know if you need more help! Thanks.
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Perfect!!! Thanks a lot. I didn't have much expectation apart from "not bricking it". I just wanted to make sure I did not do anything stupid. Follow your instructions. And it worked perfectly! Thanks a lot for the help! I truly appreciated. I am usually alright at a lot of these things, but I ended up being a bit lost, and just wanted to make sure I stopped doing stupid stuff!
Million thanks!!!!

I am facing a similar issue, but I can't seem to find a recovery image, so can you please help with that? I went to the sfirmware website, but can't locate the recovery image for sm-p613, though I did find it for other models such as p610. At this point, I'm fine with going stock os if it means I haven't bricked the tablet.

mr_scientific127 said:
I am facing a similar issue, but I can't seem to find a recovery image, so can you please help with that? I went to the sfirmware website, but can't locate the recovery image for sm-p613, though I did find it for other models such as p610. At this point, I'm fine with going stock os if it means I haven't bricked the tablet.
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I softbricked mine with Snapdragon last night. See the fix and link to a working recovery image here. Developer says there's no hope for Snapdragon support for the S6 Lite Wifi now or in the future. Samsung doesn't even support the firmware reload for this device in their own Smart Switch Windows app.

deckardsdream1988 said:
I softbricked mine with Snapdragon last night. See the fix and link to a working recovery image here. Developer says there's no hope for Snapdragon support for the S6 Lite Wifi now or in the future. Samsung doesn't even support the firmware reload for this device in their own Smart Switch Windows app.
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Thank you, I managed to get my tablet working. Really wish samsung made the firmware more available.