Database Users

Samsung Galaxy S5 (G870A) Bootloop Fix!

I've recently found away to fix a Galaxy S5 Active stuck in a boot loop. (This method only works if your device is on lollipop 5.0! )
Note: This method only works on the OC5 update.
More firmware support coming soon.
What happened: I accidentally made my Galaxy S5 Active get stuck in a boot loop. I couldn't find a solution for the longest time because the bootloader is locked. Time passed and I eventually found away to fix the boot loop if your devices is running Lollipop 5.0!
Solution:
1. You should always try to fix the boot loop by booting into recovery mode by holding down the Home+Volume-Up Key+Power button. Once the phone logo pops up on the screen releases the power button only, but continue to hold the Home+Volume-Up Key. If it worked is should say "Booting into recovery." or something along those lines in blue letters.
Once you're into recovery use the volume keys to navigate Up and Down. Find wipedata/factory reset. Select it with the power key and navigate down to Yes. Wait till it finishes. Then see if that fixed the problem. If not proceed to next step
2. Since the boot loader is locked it's really difficult to flash any kind of Recovery, ROM, or Stock Rom unless your phone accepts it as a valid file. So here's what you do!: (Method 1)
Download this file and save it to your desktop: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3UBRFq3BojVQnBSc3lCSzloYUU
Download ODIN v(3.09): http://odindownload.com/Samsung-Odin/#.VgiJ_8tViko - Extract it to your desktop.
Put your phone in download mode. (Note: Before you do this, install the correct drivers for your phone to your computer.)Make sure your phone is completely off and Hold the Home+Volume Down+Power. You will get a warning message just press the volume up key to continue.
Go to desktop and launch ODIN. After ODIN pops up, plug in your device. (Make sure you have the correct phone drivers installed)
You should see a dialog box in ODIN that say 0:[COM6] in blue. Note: It might be different for everyone, just make sure it says COM.
After that, Under "File [Download]" click "AP" Then navigate to the file you downloaded earlier called "boot.tar"
MAKE SURE RE-PARTITION IS UNCHECKED!
Leave everything else alone then click start. Wait till it says PASS! in green letters in ODIN!
(Method 2):
Go to this link download it to your desktop and follow the instructions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3UBRFq3BojVdXlSUE43VzJPbEU/view?usp=sharing
Done! Your device shouldn't be in a boot loop anymore! If you have any questions let me know!
Note: Once this process is complete, your phone will permanently show a warning in your notifications saying "Unknown action detected." This happens because your phone will detect that your kernel was modified so if you don't want this to happen, then I suggest you wait for a official lollipop OS release.
UPDATE!: You should now be able to download the "Boot.tar" file. Sorry about that!
UPDATE!: New files and instructions added if the first method didn't work!

Having some major issues
First post so forgive me if this is misplaced. Before I was aware I'm unable to down grade from 5.0 or 5.1 version of sm-g870a I attempted to downgrade and apply root from version 4.4.2/4.4.4 via another XDA thread in a faulty attempt to root. At first this presented no issues until restart. At this point the phone is soft bricked and bootloops. Both download mode and system recovery ARE accessible and prior to this I had USB debug open. I have the factory cable and odin identifies the device easily. All other md5 files failed to apply OTHER than one. (4.4.4 ota) I presume because of bootlocks which I'm now aware of. I have attempted three different stock flashes via odin all from XDA all fail at authentication claiming error fused 2 binary 1. I attempted add data pull before all of this and the device ignored a request which prompted a factory reset which was odd. I have attempted installing 3 alternative stock and stock rooted 5.0 and 5.1 firmwares from XDAs threads. All of which failed, hiwever one granted me some precious Information when I slowed down the error message via recording. It states, "Package expects fingerprint of Samsung kltattactive/lteactive:4.4.2/kot49h/g870aucu1ang3:user/release-keys o0A1:user/release-keys this device has kltactive/kltactive. This tells me as far as I know that the device is showing no firmware installed and a double fed file making the attempting installation incompatible. At this point I want to start anew, I have how attempted every route accessible via XDA and feel my options are running very low other than attempting to randomly apply firmware in sequence until odin accepts one and it sticks. That sound like a brick plan however. I don't care what firmware is loaded as long as an OS is accessible. I think this is all available Information I apologize for typos I have been at this for a total of 20 hrs straight. This bootloop was a tired lapse in judgement and has cost me 5 hours of trial and error. Wiping cache fails, reformatting internally fails, as far as I know root was never successful and I THINK philz was successful installed although at this point I cannot recall. Thanks for reading and in advance for any available help. I have SOME c# experience and some java script which is zebra vs dolphin situation I only mention as to aide and explain my trainers of thought. All other languages are vague at best
Edit: I stopped bootloop with the file attached to this thread. It now boots into samsung display bht will not go further and stops there as though it still has no operating system.

Ghujii said:
First post so forgive me if this is misplaced. Before I was aware I'm unable to down grade from 5.0 or 5.1 version of sm-g870a I attempted to downgrade and apply root from version 4.4.2/4.4.4 via another XDA thread in a faulty attempt to root. At first this presented no issues until restart. At this point the phone is soft bricked and bootloops. Both download mode and system recovery ARE accessible and prior to this I had USB debug open. I have the factory cable and odin identifies the device easily. All other md5 files failed to apply OTHER than one. (4.4.4 ota) I presume because of bootlocks which I'm now aware of. I have attempted three different stock flashes via odin all from XDA all fail at authentication claiming error fused 2 binary 1. I attempted add data pull before all of this and the device ignored a request which prompted a factory reset which was odd. I have attempted installing 3 alternative stock and stock rooted 5.0 and 5.1 firmwares from XDAs threads. All of which failed, hiwever one granted me some precious Information when I slowed down the error message via recording. It states, "Package expects fingerprint of Samsung kltattactive/lteactive:4.4.2/kot49h/g870aucu1ang3:user/release-keys o0A1:user/release-keys this device has kltactive/kltactive. This tells me as far as I know that the device is showing no firmware installed and a double fed file making the attempting installation incompatible. At this point I want to start anew, I have how attempted every route accessible via XDA and feel my options are running very low other than attempting to randomly apply firmware in sequence until odin accepts one and it sticks. That sound like a brick plan however. I don't care what firmware is loaded as long as an OS is accessible. I think this is all available Information I apologize for typos I have been at this for a total of 20 hrs straight. This bootloop was a tired lapse in judgement and has cost me 5 hours of trial and error. Wiping cache fails, reformatting internally fails, as far as I know root was never successful and I THINK philz was successful installed although at this point I cannot recall. Thanks for reading and in advance for any available help. I have SOME c# experience and some java script which is zebra vs dolphin situation I only mention as to aide and explain my trainers of thought. All other languages are vague at best
Edit: I stopped bootloop with the file attached to this thread. It now boots into samsung display bht will not go further and stops there as though it still has no operating system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New method for you...

irontaco1 said:
New method for you...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright this stopped the looping now, to find a proper rom. I believe. Im going tohave to wait for 5.1 in order for it to be successful, however is having 4.4.2 still on it is a bit worrisome, I predict overwriting it should be fine though. Thank you for giving me a way to at least resolve bootlooping. I believe I shoulda have safestrapped the device, but hindsight is always 20/20 eh?

Ghujii said:
Alright this stopped the looping now, to find a proper rom. I believe. Im going tohave to wait for 5.1 in order for it to be successful, however is having 4.4.2 still on it is a bit worrisome, I predict overwriting it should be fine though. Thank you for giving me a way to at least resolve bootlooping. I believe I shoulda have safestrapped the device, but hindsight is always 20/20 eh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad you got past your Bootloop! If you need anymore help let me know.

Is there a way to root my galaxy s5 active [G870A] on att with 5.0? I'm getting conflicting info and not finding the root.tar I need to flash in order to roll back to 4.4.2 so I can root. Right now I'm just trying to get root. Thanks for any help or direction.
S5 Active

I'd say hold off for a while I did that exact 5 Hong with the s5 active and it bootlocks it. You need to, if you're going to do this install and use safestrap to di so and BACK UP EVERYTHING with safe strap to SD. As long as you follow those method you SHOULD be able to even soft brick it and come back from it.

shadavis08 said:
Is there a way to root my galaxy s5 active [G870A] on att with 5.0? I'm getting conflicting info and not finding the root.tar I need to flash in order to roll back to 4.4.2 so I can root. Right now I'm just trying to get root. Thanks for any help or direction.
S5 Active
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't found any successful way to to go back to Kit Kat or 4.4.2 for this phone. In fact that's why this thread exist is because people who have tried to flash back to 4.4.2 have failed and got stuck in a Bootloop. So if you plan on trying to find away make sure you back everything up and if you fail you can use this tutorial to get your phone working again.
Make sure you have "USB Debugging" on
Make sure you have the drivers for your phone installed on your PC before you start the process of looking for a root.

Yeah I tried flashing back to 4.4.2 and it was a no go . I had the stuck on 5.0 issue where download mode says "downloading do not turn off ...... " but after I wiped my phone I was able to update to 5.1.1 successfully without any "download interrupted "errors . So at least I'm not stuck on 5.0 now lol
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 03:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:21 PM ----------
Although I still have that "Downloading do not turn off target " thing when I try to enter download mode! Sheesh
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

shadavis08 said:
Yeah I tried flashing back to 4.4.2 and it was a no go . I had the stuck on 5.0 issue where download mode says "downloading do not turn off ...... " but after I wiped my phone I was able to update to 5.1.1 successfully without any "download interrupted "errors . So at least I'm not stuck on 5.0 now lol
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 03:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:21 PM ----------
Although I still have that "Downloading do not turn off target " thing when I try to enter download mode! Sheesh
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There should not be anything attempting to download when you boot into ''download mode'' if there is, its highly likely there are still particulates of the last bad flash. I would as he said above, enable USB debugging and the like, and install safe strap to be safe. After safe strap is done and youve followed the tutorial which you can find in another thread on this site, boot your phone down and then power it back on, safe strap should come up first, when it does so push the ''recovery'' option to enter safe strap( someone correct me if thats wrong, my phone is currently dead/charging so i cant check) From there you can back up to an SD card, make sure you enable compression when you do.
Once thats done, WIPE YOUR PHONE, and Cache,( maybe dalvik as well if you cant find it dont worry.)and its all on SD CARD, then attempt to dirty flash( I dont recommend), or clean flash your device WITH safe strap. This typically entails downloading a .zip file and opening it THROUGH safestrap, which is done the same way as backing up your data, only via another option in the menu. Simply put; Back up data with safe strap, after thats done push back and choose FLASH, it should show you all available items it can flash from/to, pick and pray. I didnt go this route when I tried, I attempted to brute force the Bootlocked S5A, and it caused some errors that I now have reversed after much pain. If I HAD safe strapped, It may have went smoother for me, and may for you. Safestrap for us Samsung users is the same as Clockwork Mod for the rest if you weren't aware.
I'll edit this when my phone charges and I can walk you through appropriately, if need be MSG me and Ill do it as soon as I receive the message via this thread if I have not already.

hi guys! good day! i have tried the new method twice! and odin fails everytime! the problem is with the modem.bin! is there any way to fix this?

Make sure you're running lollipop and not Kit Kat and make sure you have the correct phone model. If you don't meet both those requirements then it won't work.

it has on lollipop recoverymode comes up with LRX21T.G870AUCU1B0C5. ISNT that lollipop? download mode also says ;A2, P1

abatoir said:
it has on lollipop recoverymode comes up with LRX21T.G870AUCU1B0C5. ISNT that lollipop? download mode also says ;A2, P1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that information is correct. You might want to download the latest version of ODIN and try again. (Make sure you're putting the modem.bin file in the correct spot in Odin.)

I think I have the latest odin.. And modem can only fit in the cp field I think. Its just not working for me. I tried doing each part separately. And the modem flash always fail.
---------- Post added at 06:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:57 AM ----------
I used odin 3.10 and also tried with odin 3.7

Hey irontac. Since you came up with this fix. Are you able to tell me why those s5 go into bootloop like that? By the way mine is not in bootloop. It hangs on the AT&T logo (the glob) . I was thinking maybe I need to flash the system.img , but where can I find that. And how can I flash it by itself? Actually the phone belongs to a friend. He seems to have rooted it. But I don't know what else he messed with.

abatoir said:
Hey irontac. Since you came up with this fix. Are you able to tell me why those s5 go into bootloop like that? By the way mine is not in bootloop. It hangs on the AT&T logo (the glob) . I was thinking maybe I need to flash the system.img , but where can I find that. And how can I flash it by itself? Actually the phone belongs to a friend. He seems to have rooted it. But I don't know what else he messed with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to boot into recovery mode and try to factory reset it normally. If his phone is rooted you could also flash a custom rom to it and get it out of Bootloop.

I also forgot to mention you can't get ahold of the system.img because it's not released to the public.

Yeah. I wanted it back to stock. I downloaded the 5.0 cfg file. Opened it up and I realized that there is no system.img in there. Oh Well. You think it would boot if I used kitKat system.img?

abatoir said:
Yeah. I wanted it back to stock. I downloaded the 5.0 cfg file. Opened it up and I realized that there is no system.img in there. Oh Well. You think it would boot if I used kitKat system.img?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you flash the Kit Kat system.img you might have to downgrade the kernel also. I would give it a try and see if it works.

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.

Rooting SM-S920L

Tracfone version
I'm having no luck with Kingroot. It says no root available for device.
According to 'one-click-root' website, the device has no way of rooting it.
Is there any updated information?
.
device specifics:
model: SM-S920LZAATFN
android: 5.0.2
build: LRX22G.S920LUDU1APK2
hardware version: S920L.03
.
[edit: was hoping to change the title to reflect that this post is about the tracfone version]

TWRP recovery method?
TWRP recovery method?
I've read that a phone may possibly be able to be rooted by using odin to download a TWRP recovery, then booting into that new recovery using hardware keys, instead of rebooting normally. And this results in a rooted phone?
I think I have seen a TWRP that may work with this phone. Any help is appreciated. I'd like to be able to update this thread to include a step by step approach to this and other versions of the same model 920.
I'll continue to post updates as I discover more information.

DIY time : crash course in brain surgery
Ok, so I've read a bit of stuff in the forums on the SM-S920L, mostly about the StraightTalk variant, which apparently uses the same system rom, though I'm not so sure.
At any rate, rather than just throw carp at the phone and hope it sticks, I'm going to teach myself how to do it all myself, a-z, 1,2,3... etc., starting with making stock images of the various components, for recovery purposes. Perhaps the phone can be used as a TracFone again someday, though I have no desire to do so, having already bought another for cheaper that even works better, though not as fancy, just newer.
So, I'll leave it here for now and just update the primary with new information as I discover it, starting with the extraction of the stock images, hopefully without goofing up the phone, lol.
This is an unpopular phone, at least for hackers. But it will be a good tool for expanding my knowledge.
Any help appreciated, such as, 'Is this even necessary? There are files here here and here that will do it all'.
(lol, nope... so far I've discovered there is no root option, kingroot no work, etc. There seems to be no posts with information specifically regarding the TracFone 'variant' of this model. It suggests that i can use the StraightTalk files for it, which may work, but there are many questionable unanswered problems.)

friimynd said:
Ok, so I've read a bit of stuff in the forums on the SM-S920L, mostly about the StraightTalk variant, which apparently uses the same system rom, though I'm not so sure.
At any rate, rather than just throw carp at the phone and hope it sticks, I'm going to teach myself how to do it all myself, a-z, 1,2,3... etc., starting with making stock images of the various components, for recovery purposes. Perhaps the phone can be used as a TracFone again someday, though I have no desire to do so, having already bought another for cheaper that even works better, though not as fancy, just newer.
So, I'll leave it here for now and just update the primary with new information as I discover it, starting with the extraction of the stock images, hopefully without goofing up the phone, lol.
This is an unpopular phone, at least for hackers. But it will be a good tool for expanding my knowledge.
Any help appreciated, such as, 'Is this even necessary? There are files here here and here that will do it all'.
(lol, nope... so far I've discovered there is no root option, kingroot no work, etc. There seems to be no posts with information specifically regarding the TracFone 'variant' of this model. It suggests that i can use the StraightTalk files for it, which may work, but there are many questionable unanswered problems.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely don't use kingroot.
Do you have a laptop or pc? If so I can help you out. I have the same phone. Mine is straight talk, but it's sm-s920l a tracefone just through straight talk.

c3p0u812 said:
Definitely don't use kingroot.
Do you have a laptop or pc? If so I can help you out. I have the same phone. Mine is straight talk, but it's sm-s920l a tracefone just through straight talk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya I got the straight talk, I have been using king root but I totally bricked and wiped my phone on purpose because I wanted to start fresh and let it update. Having a problem though I used twrp and nuked all my ****, or so I thought. I'm trying to OTA update I'm currently on 5.0.2 and it's saying I have a system update and even after I checked everything to be deleted it still says error and one of my files is modified or some**** like that. I think it's like admin.prop so **** it. I do however want to go systemless root. What do you suggest is the best root and rom for our device?
To answer op question yes your phone is the same as ours. Mine even shows tracphone on boot.

Inuyashian said:
Ya I got the straight talk, I have been using king root but I totally bricked and wiped my phone on purpose because I wanted to start fresh and let it update. Having a problem though I used twrp and nuked all my ****, or so I thought. I'm trying to OTA update I'm currently on 5.0.2 and it's saying I have a system update and even after I checked everything to be deleted it still says error and one of my files is modified or some**** like that. I think it's like admin.prop so **** it. I do however want to go systemless root. What do you suggest is the best root and rom for our device?
To answer op question yes your phone is the same as ours. Mine even shows tracphone on boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well for our phone there is only one custom ROM and it's LineageOS 13.0 https://forum.xda-developers.com/grand-prime/development/unofficial-cyanogenmod-13-0-galaxy-t3491494 It's android 6.0 and it can be rooted too. It's not being updated anymore for our device as far as I know. There is Lineage 14.* but not for our variant.
For systemless root you'll want to go with Magisk. https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 I had Lineage, and don't get me wrong it's worth checking out, but I downgraded back to stock and went with Magisk. You can even get Xposed throughMagisk.
If I was you, I would flash back to stock. You can go to this thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 and download the first two, Stock Boot and Stock Recovery. Make sure to unzip them because you need the md5 files they extract. I'd wipe everything again and then get into download mode. On your PC fire up Odin, I'm using version 3.10 http://odindownload.com/download/clean/Odin_3.10.0.zip Click BL use the stick boot md5 and then under ap use the stock recovery md5. When it reboots and you set it up do not turn reactivation lock on.
If you don't already have Magisk on your sd card get it on there and install through twrp. It will ask if you want to root. Might make a back up after. I always make backups and then transfer from sd to my pc. I can restore to like 6 different versions of my phone right now lol I'm no expert, I haven't been messing around with all this for long so I hope that all makes sense. :fingers-crossed:

c3p0u812 said:
Well for our phone there is only one custom ROM and it's LineageOS 13.0 https://forum.xda-developers.com/grand-prime/development/unofficial-cyanogenmod-13-0-galaxy-t3491494 It's android 6.0 and it can be rooted too. It's not being updated anymore for our device as far as I know. There is Lineage 14.* but not for our variant.
For systemless root you'll want to go with Magisk. https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 I had Lineage, and don't get me wrong it's worth checking out, but I downgraded back to stock and went with Magisk. You can even get Xposed throughMagisk.
If I was you, I would flash back to stock. You can go to this thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 and download the first two, Stock Boot and Stock Recovery. Make sure to unzip them because you need the md5 files they extract. I'd wipe everything again and then get into download mode. On your PC fire up Odin, I'm using version 3.10 http://odindownload.com/download/clean/Odin_3.10.0.zip Click BL use the stick boot md5 and then under ap use the stock recovery md5. When it reboots and you set it up do not turn reactivation lock on.
If you don't already have Magisk on your sd card get it on there and install through twrp. It will ask if you want to root. Might make a back up after. I always make backups and then transfer from sd to my pc. I can restore to like 6 different versions of my phone right now lol I'm no expert, I haven't been messing around with all this for long so I hope that all makes sense. :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha ya it does I just wish they didn't treat our phone like it has Ebola or some****. All kinds of **** for the other ones. I agree on the magisk because I really want to try that out. Alright thanks for all the helpful links I come to this site to find **** for ours and I end up looking at a bunch of cool stuff I can't have.
I'm waiting on the pixel 2 XL before I upgrade. We just missing out on too much stuff. I think magisk will keep me busy in the meantime though. Thanks again man I'm Soo add once I get here on all the stuff then I wonder well will this work or this work and by then just like awwww **** it.

Inuyashian said:
Haha ya it does I just wish they didn't treat our phone like it has Ebola or some****. All kinds of **** for the other ones. I agree on the magisk because I really want to try that out. Alright thanks for all the helpful links I come to this site to find **** for ours and I end up looking at a bunch of cool stuff I can't have.
I'm waiting on the pixel 2 XL before I upgrade. We just missing out on too much stuff. I think magisk will keep me busy in the meantime though. Thanks again man I'm Soo add once I get here on all the stuff then I wonder well will this work or this work and by then just like awwww **** it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I thought I'd let you know LineageOS 14.1 is available to us now. I can't find a specific thread on it, but you can download it from http://grandprime.ddns.net/jenkins/job/LOS_Builds/# Flash it with twrp. You will want to flash that and then flash open gapps [ARM - 7.1] and then whichever from here http://opengapps.org/ I did all that first, set it up rebooted and then installed Magisk.
It has Substratum pre-installed and it let's you theme it nicely. There is only an unofficial xposed version so far.
Anywho, thought I'd throw that out there.

thanks for the replies, gives me inspiration to keep on trying; the phone is pretty ho-hum with default stuff and the general blah blah of social media, etc.;
thanks for the tips, feel free to post more details as they come in

My Turn
I'm about to try and put 14.1 and Magisk on mine. Wish me luck!

downloading twrp recovery and rooting
in google search up twrp click on the first link then click on devices on the top right corner then search up your phone download the twrp.img.tar file
power off your phone and press volume down + home button + power button to boot into download mode
in odin select AP then select the twrp.img.tar you downloaded then press start
your phone will reboot then download the SuperSU zip file
then go to settings then go to find my mobile you have to get a samsung account then you will see reactivation lock option turn that off
then power off your phone then press volume up + home button + power button to reboot into twrp recovery
once booted tap the install option then select where you downloaded the supersu zip file swipe to flash it once done flashing you will see the reboot system option to reboot your phone
then your phone should be rooted!

[HELP] I would like to go into developer options but I can not

Hello to all,
first of all sorry for my English, i'm using google translate, I do not know if you can help me here.
I bought this jewel from Gearbest and arrived yesterday.
I would like to unlock the bootloader and root it following this wonderful guide , but I can not get into developer options, I get the error "the settings application crashed abnormally"
I wanted to do this via the toolkit, but in EDL mode the phone is not recognized, maybe because in developer options I have to select the OEM UNLOCK.
The only good thing is that it recognizes usb debugging mode (at least I think) because I see the debug notification icon.
I can not understand where it came from, I went into bootloader mode but did not release me information.
From the onscreen screen I can only provide these info:
model number zte a2017g
version android 6.0.1
kernel version 3.18.20
build number zte a2017gv1.0.0b11
baseband version th.2.0.c1.9-00050-m8996faaaanazm
The MiFlavor version is 4.0
The smartphone does not receive OTA updates. I downloaded the global version (b05) of Nougat, the update with Android started I did not find it (I renamed the rom file in update.zip and put in the root of the SD CARD). I tried through recovery mode but it does not do anything to me, it's as if the smartphone was locked in everything and for everything.
I'm doing well ? How do I update when I download the rom? Can you please help me? Is there any system to interact with this smartphone and unlock it? I do not want to keep a phone that I can not update and root it.
Thanks in advance to who will help.

UPDATE:
I tried to manually install the downloaded ROM, but in recovery mode it does not flash the new rom ... the phone does not even try it !!!
It's as if the phone was locked in everything and I only have to keep the installed rom.
Some idea ?

SuDGLaD said:
UPDATE:
I tried to manually install the downloaded ROM, but in recovery mode it does not flash the new rom ... the phone does not even try it !!!
It's as if the phone was locked in everything and I only have to keep the installed rom.
Some idea ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey I would recommend clearing the data for settings if you can. To do this go to your launcher, find the settings icon and either drag or hold down or do whatever it takes to get to the app info. I haven't used stock in a long time so idk. But then go into storage and clear data. Then go and try again.
I do have one question though. How did you get usb adb debugging enabled if you didn't get into developer options at all?
For the second half of your question you won't be able to flash anything without first unlocking the bootloader and flashing TWRP onto the device. For the devices recovery idk which one you meant, but it needs to be TWRP. Good luck!

JTruj1ll0923 said:
Hey I would recommend clearing the data for settings if you can. To do this go to your launcher, find the settings icon and either drag or hold down or do whatever it takes to get to the app info. I haven't used stock in a long time so idk. But then go into storage and clear data. Then go and try again.
I do have one question though. How did you get usb adb debugging enabled if you didn't get into developer options at all?
For the second half of your question you won't be able to flash anything without first unlocking the bootloader and flashing TWRP onto the device. For the devices recovery idk which one you meant, but it needs to be TWRP. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks to my friend, without doing anything, suddenly, he made me enter the developer options menu.
I've been able to do the rest.
Now I have the phone with unlocked bootloader, root and TWRP installed.
Do not ask me how I got the debug without going into the menu, I could not answer you ... it will remain a mystery !!!
I take advantage of your availability: can I flash the zip of the official ROM through TWRP? Or is there a risk that the phone goes into brick mode?

SuDGLaD said:
Thanks to my friend, without doing anything, suddenly, he made me enter the developer options menu.
I've been able to do the rest.
Now I have the phone with unlocked bootloader, root and TWRP installed.
Do not ask me how I got the debug without going into the menu, I could not answer you ... it will remain a mystery !!!
I take advantage of your availability: can I flash the zip of the official ROM through TWRP? Or is there a risk that the phone goes into brick mode?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What rom are you trying to install? Usually you will be absolutely fine.

SuDGLaD said:
Thanks to my friend, without doing anything, suddenly, he made me enter the developer options menu.
I've been able to do the rest.
Now I have the phone with unlocked bootloader, root and TWRP installed.
Do not ask me how I got the debug without going into the menu, I could not answer you ... it will remain a mystery !!!
I take advantage of your availability: can I flash the zip of the official ROM through TWRP? Or is there a risk that the phone goes into brick mode?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JTruj1ll0923 said:
What rom are you trying to install? Usually you will be absolutely fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't flash an official zip through TWRP, it will just fail. No brick.
Edit: didn't read OP lol. If you want to update, you have to flash the stock recovery (there are stock recovery flashable zips on the Download Center) then install the update, then get TWRP again. Or you can install a custom ROM (I recommend one based on stock MiFavor 5.0, I think that the best one is ADM Team V3 (the one that's not based on B13), this way you can simply download, flash in TWRP, and you'll be done

JTruj1ll0923 said:
What rom are you trying to install? Usually you will be absolutely fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks :good:
Choose an username... said:
You can't flash an official zip through TWRP, it will just fail. No brick.
Edit: didn't read OP lol. If you want to update, you have to flash the stock recovery (there are stock recovery flashable zips on the Download Center) then install the update, then get TWRP again. Or you can install a custom ROM (I recommend one based on stock MiFavor 5.0, I think that the best one is ADM Team V3 (the one that's not based on B13), this way you can simply download, flash in TWRP, and you'll be done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mate !!
I installed the rom that you suggested to me, I find it very good, but this phone has very poor support (MiFavor).

SuDGLaD said:
Thanks :good:
Thanks mate !!
I installed the rom that you suggested to me, I find it very good, but this phone has very poor support (MiFavor).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very poor support? It's going to get Android O, and it's got at least 1 update per month (officially). It's unclear whether that ROM you installed will be updated since it's based on an older version, but the latest (B13) breaks a bunch of stuff like Google Play Games, Maps, the GPS works awfully...

Choose an username... said:
Very poor support? It's going to get Android O, and it's got at least 1 update per month (officially). It's unclear whether that ROM you installed will be updated since it's based on an older version, but the latest (B13) breaks a bunch of stuff like Google Play Games, Maps, the GPS works awfully...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No no ... do not get me wrong.
My reference is to rom, MiFlavor is really bad. I come from 3 Xiaomi smartphones and I can assure you is another world.
The smartphone is really nice and well balanced (apart from the just enough battery) and I would replenish it a thousand times. :fingers-crossed::good:

ATT I-337 running GoldenEye and having major issues.

My Prior thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/help/n00b-sgh-i337-running-original-kernel-4-t3850783
I obtained a stock MDL i337 S4 running 4.2.2 and following the instructions in the prior thread I rooted with TowelRoot and updated to Lollipop 5.0.1/ GoldenEye and I've had nothing but problems ever since, so much so that the phone has almost gotten me lost in Oakland and has made me late for work twice!
The phone freezes, sometimes randomly reboots, shuts down applications without reason or warning (LIKE MY ALARM CLOCK!!!), apps can freeze while in use (like Google Maps at a critical time!), it eats power like me at a Chinese buffet and runs hot sometimes, apps are slow to load or won't load (sucks when a call comes in. By the time I am able to answer it, the caller has hung up!), app updates hang, and more. I suspect that part of the issue is that the instructions I got for rooting it and installing a custom ROM were a bit different than those of the GoldenEYe dev (who abandoned his project years ago and no longer answers questions) but I'm not sure.
The first time I did the upgrade, it froze at the Samsung screen for almost 30 min and I had to start over. Then when it was complete the phone was almost unusable. I read that there were issues with SuperSU so I started uninstalling some of the dev apps (I really don't know what the hell I'm doing but was desperate) and when I disabled SuperSU and did clean up to switch to another superuser app" then thought I uninstalled it and all the problems seemed to go away. A few days later while doing something else in the play store, I find that SuperSU is running even though it no longer shows in my apps! So thinking something nefarious was going on, I uninstalled it via the play store and my phone was back to being hosed again. Ok, yes I'm an idiot and deserved that.
I go back to the beginning and started all over AGAIN, reinstall/upgrade but with a different kernel (thinking maybe that?, I tried leaving my apps and settings but that didn't take. Any clue how many times I've now configured my email and office tools? lol) and ended up with what I have now, ie the issues above. I thought about trying to just somehow go back to stock 4.2.2 then just finding the stock ATT Lollipop firmware and saying to hell with root but those instructions are not clear and most post links to the firmware are now dead (I REALLY don't want to brick my phone. I have no money for another and I need my phone for my job). I'd really like to go above Lollipop if at all possible but would be happy just to have GoldenEye work!
Does anyone have any idea what the heck is going on with my phone and how I fix it? This is a serious problem for me.
SGi337
Android 5.0.1
Baseband I337UCUAMDL
Kernel Ver: 3.4.0-S4-AELKerel-v4.3-LP [email protected] #36 Wed Apr 8 19:56:06 EEST 2015
Build number LRX22C.I9505XXUHOD7
Rom Ver: GOLDENEYE 53 XXUHOD7
Dev iB4STid
SuperSU PseudoPro (had Pro, didn't reinstall it the last time) is installed but disabled
ES Task Manager and ES File Manager
Titanium Backup Pro

And so we meet again! Okay so forget golden eye. What you should do is get ODIN for your PC. Then get the MDL firmware and flash it with ODIN by connect your phone to your PC. You might also need Samsung Kies for your PC for this as it has the drivers for your phone.
Once you're back on Android jelly bean, use towel root to root, install Loki, install clockwork mod or TWRP recovery (for TWRP go here https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2262996 and for clockwork mod just use my guide again).
Then flash this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/development/rom-100-stock-i337oc3-5-0-mdl-t3098197
This will give you the latest stock Rom for your phone. It's from AT&T but has been modified to work with the MDL bootloader so it doesn't patch the Loki exploit.
Also remember that you need superSU installed or else you won't have any root management for your root apps.

Hi! lol
Any idea why this is happening? I'd really like to go to something like Marshmallow or the like but if stock is it, that will have to do.
I tried finding the MDL firmware but so far all the links are old dead ones. Have you seen anything more current?
StoneyJSG said:
And so we meet again! Okay so forget golden eye. What you should do is get ODIN for your PC. Then get the MDL firmware and flash it with ODIN by connect your phone to your PC. You might also need Samsung Kies for your PC for this as it has the drivers for your phone.
Once you're back on Android jelly bean, use towel root to root, install Loki, install clockwork mod or TWRP recovery (for TWRP go here https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2262996 and for clockwork mod just use my guide again).
Then flash this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/development/rom-100-stock-i337oc3-5-0-mdl-t3098197
This will give you the latest stock Rom for your phone. It's from AT&T but has been modified to work with the MDL bootloader so it doesn't patch the Loki exploit.
Also remember that you need superSU installed or else you won't have any root management for your root apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I have no idea why golden eye is giving you issues. It works fine for me and you followed my guide just like I did. Anyway, you can goto marshmallow but it'll be AOSP based rather than touchwiz based so the look and feel will be way different than that of golden eye or any other stock Samsung ROM.
You can also just try going into clockwork mod and do a wipe (I forgot the sequence, it's wipe system, data, cache I THINK but it's in my guide on the order of how to do it) for a clean install of a ROM from there. This will eliminate the need for ODIN. You should however, keep ODIN on standby in case anything goes south you can go back to how the phone was when you first got it. I have the ODIN MDL firmware on a USB drive, let me find it over the weekend and upload it to my Google drive and will link you to it.

SilkRoadDog said:
I tried finding the MDL firmware but so far all the links are old dead ones. Have you seen anything more current?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey dude, here's the link to the MDL firmware for ODIN off my Google drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZXv9FAcDbfkbFZzh078SSMZ85jbMVPSx/view?usp=drivesdk

StoneyJSG said:
Hey dude, here's the link to the MDL firmware for ODIN off my Google drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZXv9FAcDbfkbFZzh078SSMZ85jbMVPSx/view?usp=drivesdk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well after putting up with the phone issues for 2 months, I reset everything following your instructions to the best of my abilities (except couldn't get towelroot to load so went with another). Let's see how this works! lol

Your instructions say "SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you." What is that and how do I do this?

SilkRoadDog said:
Your instructions say "SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you." What is that and how do I do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once rooted, goto the Google play store and download the SuperSU app, open it and it will ask you some stuff then do the rest. Towel root needs internet access to work. I was starting to have issues with golden eye rom off and on until I flashed the OC3 modem, you may wanna try that after you get back to golden eye.
There's also another ROM on here called i337_OC3_stock_rooted_rom(MDL) , you may want to try it out as it's 100% stock and hasn't been modified like golden eye rom has. I am not sure it works with clock work mod recovery so you might need TWRP recovery for it.