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Hi,
I bought my SGS2 from Phones4u 12 months ago as "unbranded SIM only".
Recently I had to take it to a Samsung authorised repair agent as there was an issue.
When the repair agent entered my S/N and/or IMEI number into his database to check warranty info he said "oh that's strange, the phone appears to be an O2 one".
I never thought anymore about it until today, when I recieved my phone back from Samsung where it has been for a repair under warranty.
It has been returned with "the latest software on it" - says Samsung.
Anyway, they have flashed the phone with O2 branded firmware.
This would suggest the phone was indeed originally O2 branded.
I suspect Phones4u unlocked it before selling it to me.
Does this mean the phone is now locked to O2?
I want to remove the branding/lock.
What I want to know is whether I can simply use Odin and flash a non-branded firmware onto it?
For the UK it's GT-I9100_XEU_I9100XWLP7_I9100XXLPS_I9100XEULP5.tar.md5
Would this remove the lock or create any problems?
Many thanks for any help.
vwgolfman said:
Hi,
I bought my SGS2 from Phones4u 12 months ago as "unbranded SIM only".
Recently I had to take it to a Samsung authorised repair agent as there was an issue.
When the repair agent entered my S/N and/or IMEI number into his database to check warranty info he said "oh that's strange, the phone appears to be an O2 one".
I never thought anymore about it until today, when I recieved my phone back from Samsung where it has been for a repair under warranty.
It has been returned with "the latest software on it" - says Samsung.
Anyway, they have flashed the phone with O2 branded firmware.
This would suggest the phone was indeed originally O2 branded.
I suspect Phones4u unlocked it before selling it to me.
Does this mean the phone is now locked to O2?
I want to remove the branding/lock.
What I want to know is whether I can simply use Odin and flash a non-branded firmware onto it?
For the UK it's GT-I9100_XEU_I9100XWLP7_I9100XXLPS_I9100XEULP5.tar.md5
Would this remove the lock or create any problems?
Many thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it wont unlock it but will put unbranded firmware on it without problems
for unlock just google or use the search bar ''sgs2 unlock'' or ''i9100 unlock''
are you sure its locked? just put another sim in and try it
I think o2 phones are unlocked anyway.The last few I've bought have been......
sent by my s2 using xda premium
Thank you guys....
I checked to see if it was locked by entering...
*#7465625#
Everything displayed "OFF" indicating the phone was not locked.
Then I simply flashed the firmware to a Samsung stock unbranded.
All done. Thank you once again :good:
I have quite the opposite problem, ever since i got my SGS2 from a local salesman, the box said DNA sim locked. Tried the key combination and it was confirmed that this is network locked. The main problem now is that i have no idea what's the latest DNA (Finland) firmware and am too afraid to send my phone for a repair until i can figure out which FW needs to be in to keep my warranty. Since I got my phone in 12/2011 ive kept the original GB firmware for a mere 3 days and forgot to take screenshots from it. Any ideas how to find out the current FW for finnish phones?
Hi
My friend has got S4 (I9505). He wasn't flashing his phone with anything - it is original like it was bought. He has got now I9505XXUBMGA firmware (Android 4.2.2) with BTU CSC, which is outdated. System status says that phone is not modified, but despite this, he is unable to do OTA/Kies update. In both cases (when using OTA or when connecting to PC with Kies) he got message "This is the latest firmware". This is not true, latest for BTU CSC is I9505XXUGNG8 (Android 4.4.2).
Questions:
1) What can prevent OTA/Kies from update of unmodified phone?
2) Can software say, that phone is unmodified when it is not true? For example when flashing count is not "0"? Maybe someone flashed my friends phone before he had bought it? Changed kernel or recovery can lead to such problems?
3) Freezing of some Samsung bloatware can lead to locking both OTA and Kies on PC?
4) Are we able to diagnose this phone (how?) and fix OTA to avoid Odin flashing? (I know that there is hard to brick Samsung phone completely, but there are always some small chances that something will go wrong, my friend is not keen on flashing and I'm not so rich to buy him another one S4 when something will fail )
Thanks for answers
From what I recall, the S4 firmware will report a status of Official if all the pieces match, regardless of whether the firmware actually is for the S4 in question. So it is possible, and in fact likely, that your friend's phone was carrier branded at one point, but was then subsequently unlocked and the firmware flashed with an unbranded firmware.
You can find out if the device was flashed by entering the IMEI here. One item it will tell you is who the original carrier is. From there you can put two and two together.
Thank You very much for reply, that's important clue. I don't know how phone was bought, but CSC reports UK (BTU) and I'm not in UK - Poland. So it could be sold by some UK carrier and then unlocked to unbranded firmware.
IMEI gives no results, but I will try to get more informations about how phone was bought, that can explain a lot... Looks like in this case Odin will be only way to push Android further...
Thanks for answer, now I know for what I should look :good:
If anybody else will run into other idea - also feel free to answer, I will check anything as I want to help my friend Thanks everybody, XDA is great
Just a follow up. When you entered the IMEI at the link I gave, did it come up with the device's model number, e.g. GT-I9505ZKAXXX? If so, did yours read "GT-I9505ZKABTU" or some other model?
No, unfortunately not, I see no data after entering IMEI, only information about API, however if I enter IMEI on main page of this website I see some basic data. This lead me to information that Reporting Body Identifier is BABT (IMEI starts with 35) and BABT means United Kingdom.
Website didn't show model number, but my friend has installed Phone INFO ★Samsung★ and inside it there is model number (Product Code):
GT2I9505ZKABTU
This is very similar to Yours suggestion, but I see something weird - shouldn't be "-" after "GT" instead of "2"? Product Code with "GT2" instead of "GT-" is OK?
Thanks for answer
Then I sent you to the wrong page. You want the Samsung warranty page: https://imeidata.net/warranty/samsung
That page is the one that is supposed to tell you everything about your phone. Post that information here, minus the IMEI of course.
You had send correct link On Warranty page when I enter IMEI I got no data, only some data on mainpage of this website - looks like they don't have any information about this IMEI
I think they want you to register with the site, which is something new. Regardless, the reason we can't go by the Phone Info information your friend provided is that when a new firmware is installed the product code changes. For example, my I9505 was originally a GT-I9505ZKAO2U, which means my S4 was originally tied to the carrier O2 in the UK. Before I purchased the phone, the product code changed to GT-I9505ZKASIM, which is Slovenian firmware, specifically SI Mobil. About a month after I purchased the phone I installed a Black Edition firmware, which changed the product code to GT-I9505ZKAAUT, an unbranded Swiss firmware.
Currently on his phone is an unbranded UK firmware. If the site doesn't reveal the original carrier, the box may, depending on how long he has owned his S4. Some boxes have the product code on a label attached to the box.
Looks like website is down - after registering I got still no data, just message "The TAC info not found on database, we will update in 1-2 days."
Thanks for help - I will try to get details from my friend and I will go back to this when I will have some new infos
Hi guys, quick question...
The wife has an EE locked Galaxy s5 and is not really that happy with how its running, so I was thinking I may flash the latest BTU firmware and software reset the phone.
Can we do this without sim unlocking the phone? Or does this have to be done first?
Any other issues to be aware of?
I always buy sim unlocked phones for myself so I'm not sure, many thanks to anyone who knows the answer.
Pete.
madpete said:
Hi guys, quick question...
The wife has an EE locked Galaxy s5 and is not really that happy with how its running, so I was thinking I may flash the latest BTU firmware and software reset the phone.
Can we do this without sim unlocking the phone? Or does this have to be done first?
Pete.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock generic BTU should work fine its multi CSC, my phone came with o2 firmware first thing I did was flash the Generic BTU version, you will need to do a factory reset afterward to clear any of the old rom residue as flashing firmwares doesn't wipe the phone it only replaces certain parts of the original firmware, make sure you copy all pictures, music etc from your phones internal storage first otherwise it will be lost.
Make sure you are fully happy with flashing using Odin before you do it, get it wrong and you brick the phone, get it right and it will work perfectly
Thanks for the reply, thats good news. We've got everything backed up, and Im used to using Odin...just wasn't too sure if the network lock would cause any probs. Thanks again.
Edit: Just to say all done, and everything went well
Hello a friend of mine bought a SM-G900F phone in China. When I booted into download mode to download a new ROM, the screen displays "product name: SM-G900A". You can see screenshots on to the following address (I'm not authorized to insert links): goo.gl/photos/LVJXVdUwAiY6URkJA (open with https protocol)
In recovery mode, it displays:
Android system recovery <3e>
KOT49H.G900AUCU1ANCE
.../...
#MANUAL MODE #
-- Applaying Multi-CSC
Applied the CSC-code : CHN
successfully applied multi-CSC
I tried to flash the bootloader with TWRP and when I rebooted the phone in recovery mode, display the following message: "System software not authorized by AT&T has been found on your phone. Please turn off your phone and go to the nearest AT&T store for help".
I tried to flash the phone with ODIN and an official ROM, but every time I got the following error message:
<ID:0/003> NAND Write Start!!
<ID:0/003> FAIL! (Auth)
I tried in the end to flash the phone using an official ROM for ATT SG-900A. The operation is completed successfully with ODIN (no authorization failed) and the phone is again functional.
So how should I do to return to a ROM SG-900F?
i have exactly the same issue. the sticker at the back says "g900F" but i can only flash g900a firmwares! Please help!
AT&T supply phones with locked bootloaders.......you're not going to be able to flash anything except AT&T firmwares (according to what I've read here on XDA)
Sent from my rooted, debloated stocKK kn0x0 SM-G900F
.
do G900A Phones also have the "G900F" Stickers on the back?
rednaxela92 said:
do G900A Phones also have the "G900F" Stickers on the back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea.......but at the end of the day, a sticker is just a sticker........
Download CPU-Z from the playstore and run it.....it'll tell you with way more accuracy than a sticker exactly which model you have......
Sent from my rooted, debloated stocKK kn0x0 SM-G900F
Well, it says G900A in CPU Z. But it's strange, right? I mean, why would they put a G900F Sticker on a G900A Device? Does anyone have an idea how i can get rid of the AT&T Bootloader? Before i tried to flash Android 5.0, i had a non-AT&T Firmware on my Device. help!
The way I understand it is that the bootloader is a 'partition' on the devices memory. With AT&T, this partition is 'locked' or write protected.....In effect, it becomes 'read only'.......I don't *think* that anybody has found a way to overcome or get around this 'protection'.....
Now this is where my definitive answers stop......i've never owned a device with a locked bootloader so I just don't know......
.......but.......
From what I've read (if I understand correctly) irrespective of what software was on the device before, it's now running AT&T software with a locked bootloader.....this locked bootloader can't be overwritten, so I *think* from now on, the only software that will successfully flash on your device is AT&T software....... (please somebody step in and correct me if I'm wrong).....
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
bull****
rednaxela92 said:
bull****
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Care to expand on that ambiguous and not particularly polite statement?
rednaxela92 said:
Well, it says G900A in CPU Z. But it's strange, right? I mean, why would they put a G900F Sticker on a G900A Device? Does anyone have an idea how i can get rid of the AT&T Bootloader? Before i tried to flash Android 5.0, i had a non-AT&T Firmware on my Device. help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boot into download mode, if it says G900A in there, it's a G900A
If it was sold to you as a G900F you've been stung, end of story
Stickers and firmware model numbers can be changed, download mode can not
Bro it is fake sm-g900f it is g900a flash stock g900a rom thats youre hope :victory:
keithross39 said:
Care to expand on that ambiguous and not particularly polite statement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry, i just wanted to point out that my original (unedited) post was bull****, as i wasn't able to find the "delete" function. Has nothing to do with you or your posts.
rednaxela92 said:
bull****
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need to be a douche.
You were sold a 900A stickered as a 900F obviously to decieve the buyer.
hey buddy.
i have the same problem.
it's a little different from yours.
i've just bought a samsung S5 G900f as the phone info says and the sticker as well.
my phone is running kitkat 4.4.2
and can't get any update via software update.
for the record, the phone shows the AT&T software update which means i need an AT&T SIM card to get an update.
i'm frm morocco and if its An AT&T version of s5 , that means it was unlocked.
when i go to bootloader it says G900A....
as well as the download mode says it's a G900A
i took my EMEI and put it in emei.info website they said it is a G900f.
i installed an app from play store called phone info.
it says that my phone has A G900A bootloader , A G900A baseband version , an AT&T finger print build , and an AT&T original CsC code and an AT&T firmware's CsC code and states that the Csc country is Usa and the hardware revision is G900A.00
but on the other hand it says that my build number is G900FZHU1AND1.
please, anyone here can help me out with this.
what phone model do i have ?
what firmware should i flash via odin ? the G900f or G900A one?
will flashing An AT&T firmware lock my device network again if it was obviosly unlocked?
Dear all,
I lost my S5 recently, and since I was very much happy with this model I went to buy another one.
There was a chain of unfortunate events which I will skip here, but shortly - I fund the phone running android 5.0. Tried to downgrade - it didn't work. Starting from this point I became very curious, because I've downgraded that lost phone after automatic OTE update.
So, if I go to the Settings - About the phone I can see next thing:
Model Name: SM-G900F
Baseband version G900FXXU1BOC7
AP:G900FXXU1BOC7
CP:G900FXXU1BOC7
CSC:G900FITV1BOC1
So first I thought it's an Italian version of S5 somehow came to Malaysia (we live in Malaysia, yes) and they sold it to me.
Well, I went and downloaded appropriate (as I thought) firmware from sam-mobile and tried to downgrade. No success, Odin failed.
Then I was trying different versions of Odin, different firmwares - all without success until , at some point,I noticed that in Odin mode , right at the top of the screen was MODEL VERSION is SM-G900V (V, not F!!!)
Things became really ugly at this point, I realized that it's probably Verizon phone. I went to googleplay and Downloaded Z-CPU to check some more info, and this is what I found:
Model Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900F)
Brand Verizon
Bootloader G900VVRU2BOG5
At this point I'm almost gave up. This phone was absolutely new, I opened the box by myself, and all stickers and protecting films were on place.
How is it possible that it was refurbish?
But it's not that important.
what is important - in view of aforementioned things, - can I downgrade it to 4.4.2 or 4.4.4? Lolipop 5.0 drains battery in about 4 hours from 100 to 10%, it's not possible to use the phone in this conditions.
If yes (I really hope) , then would you kindly provide me with step by step instructions?
Thank you
PS I don't need any root access, just bringing back old good kikat
Check which model it says in download mode, that's the info you can trust, anything else can be changed with firmware / edits / stickers
Agreed.....download mode is what counts......
If it is the V variant, it'll have a locked bootloader.......
Verizon and AT&T are the two main culprits for this behaviour, and it's certainly the case for the AT&T variants that the locked bootloader will prevent downgrading.....I can only assume that Verizon's locked bootloader will cause similar problems......
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
Guys, thanks for reply.
So, no chance, right?
If the bootloader is locked to the same extent as with AT&T, then downgrading won't be possible.....sorry fella...
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg