I am tired of dealing with SGH-I467's (AT&T only) locked bootloader. It makes installing custom ROM impossible. Now I'm thinking of buying and swapping in a mainboard from SGH-I467M (the Canadian version is bootloader UNLOCKED) or GT-N5120 (international version).
1. will this give me an unlocked bootloader without any other hardware change? I know I probably have to swap in a new modem code, but with an unlocked bootloader, any software change is possible
2. will the mainboard from GT-N5120 work in a SGH-I467? I know SGH-I467M's mainboard will for sure work in SGH-I467 because the only difference is the latter has a locked bootloader. Unfortunately, SGH-I467M's mainboard is hard to come by, but GT-N5120's is still available. Although the LTE bands in N5120 are overseas and SGH-I467 has AT&T bands, are they really different hardware, or same hardware with different software?
Any comment is highly appreciated. Thanks
[Updated Feb 9th, 2018] Now I don't think it is doable at all to download SGH-I467 or SGH-I467M's modem code to a GT-N5120 hardware even if the bootloader is unlocked. I have a Canadian Galaxy S4, SGH-I337M (bootloader unlocked, unlike the AT&T version). Since my carrier is U.S. T-Mobile, I tried to download T-Mobile's modem to my S4 thinking it may give me better data rate. Odin prompted Fail! (Auth) and S4 showed Secure Check Fail! After some googling, I realize regardless of unlocked bootloader, these phones/tablets are engineered to check if authorized modem codes are being flashed. I know for sure my S4's bootloader is unlocked because I have installed TWRP for recovery.
Since GT-N5120 has international frequency bands, turning it into a North American tablet is DOA if another carrier's modem code cannot be installed. If anyone questions why a custom ROM can be flashed to a phone/tablet with unlocked bootloader, it is because a custom ROM seldom comes with the modem code!
Related
My Canadian variant of the S4 is an i337m, which, at least according to the model name, seems similar to the AT&T variant
If it's only AT&T that has locked its bootloader, is there any chance that code from the Canadian S4s (like from Bell) would be in some way helpful in getting your US AT&T variant up and running with custom firmware, etc?
This is all way above my pay-grade so to speak, so if this is a non-starter, my apologies. Just brainstorming / offering to help.
Bootloader unlock is already done. The release is just being delayed until the Verizon locked GS4's are released so the maximum number of people can use the unlock.
What a nice canadian!
This is really confusing. Most of the threads are written such that 'how to root while updating to OF2/OF3'...it doesn't tell me which versions allow rooting in the first place? Any help. Coming from the GS3
As far as I know, the S5 Active is only available as an AT&T phone, which means it will have a locked bootloader and any somewhat newer firmwares will be unrootable. Pre-lollipop builds (Anything below OF2) are rootable but still have a locked bootloader.
Just a word from the wise, don't get an S5 Active, and DEFINITELY don't get an AT&T phone. a GS5 (regular) with a thin case (Spigen slim armor or neo-hybrid/ otterbox commuter) will be WAY more durable anyway, plus it's still waterproof/dustproof.
Get yourself a G900T (T-Mobile variant), or a G900AZ (Cricket wireless variant --Cricket is a subsidiary of at&t--), or even a G900F. Those all have unlocked bootloaders and will allow you to root, install custom recovery, custom roms, whatever you want forever. I personally have a G900T using it on AT&T with no issues, as the G900T supports all the same frequencies (and an extra one!) as the G900A (AT&T model). The G900F doesn't support every single band AT&T uses, so I would pick one of the other two if you want 100% compatibility.
MAKE SURE if you buy a G900T or G900AZ that it is UNLOCKED or you won't be able to use it. And after you get it, you'll have to call AT&T support and give them the new phone's IMEI number in order for LTE to work.
Hope what I said makes sense..
FYI The best place to buy a phone is always (XDA's own..) Swappa!
https://swappa.com/
Sean89us said:
As far as I know, the S5 Active is only available as an AT&T phone, which means it will have a locked bootloader and any somewhat newer firmwares will be unrootable. Pre-lollipop builds (Anything below OF2) are rootable but still have a locked bootloader.
Just a word from the wise, don't get an S5 Active, and DEFINITELY don't get an AT&T phone. a GS5 (regular) with a thin case (Spigen slim armor or neo-hybrid/ otterbox commuter) will be WAY more durable anyway, plus it's still waterproof/dustproof.
Get yourself a G900T (T-Mobile variant), or a G900AZ (Cricket wireless variant --Cricket is a subsidiary of at&t--), or even a G900F. Those all have unlocked bootloaders and will allow you to root, install custom recovery, custom roms, whatever you want forever. I personally have a G900T using it on AT&T with no issues, as the G900T supports all the same frequencies (and an extra one!) as the G900A (AT&T model). The G900F doesn't support every single band AT&T uses, so I would pick one of the other two if you want 100% compatibility.
MAKE SURE if you buy a G900T or G900AZ that it is UNLOCKED or you won't be able to use it. And after you get it, you'll have to call AT&T support and give them the new phone's IMEI number in order for LTE to work.
Hope what I said makes sense..
I habve an at&t variant OC5 phone available on Swappa should I get that or not, because I can't find a rooting guide for OC5
Or are you saying buy unlocked so you can use it on AT&T?
Problem is I can't find the SM-G900AZ anywhere used....might just go with the Zenfone 2 . DISSAPOINTING SAMSUNG and ATT I loved the GS3 and was looking forwar to the GS5
Which frequencies does the T mobile version NOT share?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
zetsui said:
I habve an at&t variant OC5 phone available on Swappa should I get that or not, because I can't find a rooting guide for OC5
Or are you saying buy unlocked so you can use it on AT&T?
Problem is I can't find the SM-G900AZ anywhere used....might just go with the Zenfone 2 . DISSAPOINTING SAMSUNG and ATT I loved the GS3 and was looking forwar to the GS5
Which frequencies does the T mobile version NOT share?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The T-Mobile version shares all the same frequencies plus includes an additional frequency which AT&T does not use, so therefore the T-Mobile (G900T) retains 100% compatibility with AT&T. Yes, if you want to use a G900T on any carrier besides T-Mobile it will have to be unlocked. Luckily it's not hard to find an unlocked G900T.
Let me make this clear: If it's AT&T and it's a Samsung phone and it's on lollipop, don't expect to be able to root it. Go with a T-Mobile or factory unlocked phone.
Hey, just a quick question. I'm thinking of getting the N910F after formatting my N910C's efs partition (;_ and I'm a bit reluctant since it's sold out in all of my country's stores BUT it's available through my carrier. What I'm asking is, if I buy the phone from them (just the phone, no contract since I already have one) is there a chance the bootloader will be locked and if it is, will there be a way to unlock it? Also, will it be sim-locked? If you don't know, how could I ask?(This isn't a local branch of t-mobile, verizon, sprint, etc. etc. large US carrier. It's a domestic government owned company so I don't know about that on my own).
-As far as i know Only Verizon and at&t have locked bootloaders (You wont be able to flash anything)
-Now a days samsung has started partially locking bootloaders on all its devices (910C + 910F) Any note 4 running COJ5 rom has a partially locked bootloader, which means you can not downgrade to 5.0.1 or 4.4.4 but you are still able to root and Flash coj5 based custom roms, recovery etc.
-If you buy a phone from local carrier you can turn it on at the shop go to settings>about> Check if the baseband version is COJ5 or COL or anything newer if it is then you wont be able to downgrade to earlier versions of stockrom but you can still root and do stuff.
- you can ask the company reps if the phone is locked to work on their carrier only (you can pay them to sim-unlock the phone)
I recently activated my SM-N910A on my new T-Mobile account. The phone was out of contract, so I asked AT&T to unlock it, and they did. The phone is working properly with my T-Mobile SIM card, albeit on the AT&T firmware.
Is it possible to replace the AT&T firmware with a stock Samsung Firmware, or, at the very least, with the T-Mobile branded firmware (for SM-N910T)? I understand that the bootloader is locked on these AT&T devices. Is it possible to unlock the bootloader and load a different firmware onto the device?
AT&T firmware has SO much bloatware, and I've not had any luck finding a way to root the phone on this firmware, so I'm stuck with all that bloat. What are my options here? Thanks!
EDIT: The phone was updated OTA to Marshmallow (6.0.1) when it was on the AT&T network. Build number is MMB29M.N910AUCS2EPH7
Here I discovered a new firmware for N5120:
https://samsung-firmware.org/download/GT-N5120/wo45/NEE/N5120XXSDQC1/N5120OXXDNE1/
Phone Samsung GT-N5120
Model GT-N5120
PDA Version N5120XXSDQC1
CSC Version N5120OXXDNE1
PHONE Version N5120XXDNE4
Region NEE
Country Nordic countries
Build Date 30.03.2017
Changelist 1600517
OS KitKat
OS Version 4.4.2
Updated OTA:
new kernel and new security patch:
I am tired of dealing with SGH-I467's (AT&T only) locked bootloader. It makes installing custom ROM impossible. Now I'm thinking of buying and swapping in a mainboard from SGH-I467M (the Canadian version is bootloader UNLOCKED) or GT-N5120 (international version).
1. will this give me an unlocked bootloader without any other hardware change? I know I probably have to swap in a new modem code, but with an unlocked bootloader, any software change is possible
2. will the mainboard from GT-N5120 work in a SGH-I467? I know SGH-I467M's mainboard will for sure work in SGH-I467 because the only difference is the latter has a locked bootloader. Unfortunately, SGH-I467M's mainboard is hard to come by, but GT-N5120's is still available. Although the LTE bands in N5120 are overseas and SGH-I467 has AT&T bands, are they really different hardware, or same hardware with different software?
[Updated Feb 9th, 2018] Now I don't think it is doable at all to download SGH-I467 or SGH-I467M's modem code to a GT-N5120 hardware even if the bootloader is unlocked. I have a Canadian Galaxy S4, SGH-I337M (bootloader unlocked, unlike the AT&T version). Since my carrier is U.S. T-Mobile, I tried to download T-Mobile's modem to my S4 thinking it may give me better data rate. Odin prompted Fail! (Auth) and S4 showed Secure Check Fail! After some googling, I realize regardless of unlocked bootloader, these phones/tablets are engineered to check if authorized modem codes are being flashed. I know for sure my S4's bootloader is unlocked because I have installed TWRP for recovery.
Since GT-N5120 has international frequency bands, turning it into a North American tablet is DOA if another carrier's modem code cannot be installed. If anyone questions why a custom ROM can be flashed to a phone/tablet with unlocked bootloader, it is because a custom ROM seldom comes with the modem code!
luckysoul777 said:
I am tired of dealing with SGH-I467's (AT&T only) locked bootloader. It makes installing custom ROM impossible. Now I'm thinking of buying and swapping in a mainboard from SGH-I467M (the Canadian version is bootloader UNLOCKED) or GT-N5120 (international version).
1. will this give me an unlocked bootloader without any other hardware change? I know I probably have to swap in a new modem code, but with an unlocked bootloader, any software change is possible
2. will the mainboard from GT-N5120 work in a SGH-I467? I know SGH-I467M's mainboard will for sure work in SGH-I467 because the only difference is the latter has a locked bootloader. Unfortunately, SGH-I467M's mainboard is hard to come by, but GT-N5120's is still available. Although the LTE bands in N5120 are overseas and SGH-I467 has AT&T bands, are they really different hardware, or same hardware with different software?
Any comment is highly appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That firmware is almost year old now..
I have no issues with my at&t i467, it runs and does everything my modded Note 8.0 does. Except a lack of custom recovery, and kernel. All you need is to learn a bit on simple file managment and permissions, while plugging away with dropping in system files and libs. I guess I will be the only one here with a modded out yank i467 that works on EU wifi channels.
I had a few threads on libs and apps, along with settings config files to customise on your own. But everybody acts like it's complex trig. Heck i hardly knew much about android when I bought my tablets, and in a years time peeps think i am a god. WTFF!
gooberdude said:
All you need is to learn a bit on simple file managment and permissions, while plugging away with dropping in system files and libs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great idea! Thank you. Says who one has to do all mods during the Odin time and get rejected by this locked bootloader? I will definitely look up your threads on how to swap out these files post boot.
gooberdude said:
I had a few threads on libs and apps, along with settings config files to customise on your own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried to look up these posts, but you have a lot of them! If you don't mind, can you suggest the key words needed to filter them out? Thank you