Related
Note, other threads related to this software go back to Oct 2014 (search computrace on XDA forum) however my issue with the software has not been discussed.
I have just encountered this software (along with others according to a quick google search) on my new Note 4 (SM-N910F) on EE. Initially the phone auto updated to lollipop before I knew this was pushed to the device while I set up my accounts on it. The SIM was not active and I found a number of outgoing, but failed SMS messages containing encrypted information being sent to the number (+13106916499). I immeditaly did a factory reset to remove my accounts and details, restarting with the stock lollipop build from EE.
Again the sms messages attempts started up again (and failed). The only downloaded app on the phone was Computrace Agent, with permissions to do everything on the device, including sending SMS messages (showing the cost warning too). As other threads have gone into what this app is, I'll leave that out, but will mention it is impossible to uninstall or even (force)stop this application. Ok you can force stop, but it restarts immediately, and sends another text!
I've left the phone with no accounts on it, and had the SIM activated. As soon as this was complete, Computrace successfully sent a new message to the above number., but has not stopped attempting to send more (failed for some reason).
I contacted EE support and registered a complaint, but they deny knowledge of the software, or it's intended use as a legitimate tracking tool. They also have no idea what the number this SMS is being sent to is for, nor what the information in the encrypted contents actually contains.
I'm looking for others recent experience with this software, and whether people have had charges/resource consumption on any newish device. I have the option to cancel the contract for 14 days, and I am mainly looking for more information before making my decision. Obviously nobody in their right mind would use such a compromised handset, so it's remaining in airplane mode and will have no accounts/services added while I have it, which kinda makes it an oversized 1990's brick right now!
Look forward to your comments and advice.
Thanks
4t
EDIT: My brother, who has more Android brains than I do found the number was actually registered to T-Mobile in the US http://www.whitepages.com/phone/1-310-691-6499
EDIT/Update: OK I went to the local shop today, they were also shocked at the texts, and knew nothing about it. The guy there is now checking his note 4 too, just in case. He hadn't seen the software before but admitted to not really looking for anything untoward. He recommended I call it in as a dodgy phone and get a replacement. So I tried that, but was passed onto Samsung support.. like transferred to their switchboard! Another queue? Stuff that, I hung up, called back on 150 and cancelled the contract. I'm now buying an unlocked replacement and will shop about for cheaper deals on the SIM as I'm out of contract. I still intend to raise a ICO complaint about the encrypted sms sent to the US though.
I noticed this as well with mine when I got it. Mine was EE locked, and before I inserted a SIM I was getting multiple messages just like yours, but containing different letters and symbols.
I have since unlocked my note and rooted, flashed a debloated stock ROM and all is good. It might not be carrier specific to EE, since Computrace is a Samsung app that's in all stock firmwares.
Hi. I'm also having ussues with this software. I want it GONE!
Info: this forum - p=60864843&postcount=896 | I cant post links, sorry.
I tried deleting it from /presdata/ to no avail. It reinstalls the dropper again. If anyone can remove this I will generously tip you. I want this removed from my phone.
illuz said:
Hi. I'm also having ussues with this software. I want it GONE!
Info: this forum - p=60864843&postcount=896 | I cant post links, sorry.
I tried deleting it from /presdata/ to no avail. It reinstalls the dropper again. If anyone can remove this I will generously tip you. I want this removed from my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From other information I have found around the net, the only way to remove is to flash a new rom that does not contain the software. I'll take a look at your post but see the poster above yours.
MDaveUK said:
I noticed this as well with mine when I got it. Mine was EE locked, and before I inserted a SIM I was getting multiple messages just like yours, but containing different letters and symbols.
I have since unlocked my note and rooted, flashed a debloated stock ROM and all is good. It might not be carrier specific to EE, since Computrace is a Samsung app that's in all stock firmwares.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you might be right there, but the pattern so far from my Googling seems to point at EE/T-mobile. I'm not comfortable flashing my phone in the 1st 6months, also never done it before so I'd prefer a solution from my carrier. Also, I showed the situation to a family member who is senior in local trading standards. He was shocked, and more than a little interested in finding out more (no holding breath there though, resources and all).
I still have the Computrace app in my debloated ROM, it's not something easily removed I'm afraid. However, it doesn't send any sms messages in my ROM, I tried testing by removing my sim and rebooting the phone.
I did a little research into what it actually does and I believe it's what Samsung use for their 'Find my phone' feature, and to remotely delete data and lock it.
This info page sounds just like it:
http://www.absolute.com/en/landing/...demo?sc_camp=231FCC716F544DF08BFA6C366AA77EF5
So if you try to remove Computrace you are probably disabling this feature. But it's part of the firmware's SystemUI so removing it breaks the firmware.
This is still largely a guess but I would bet on this being exactly the case.
If it still bothers you I would search for a ROM that somehow totally removes it, or CyanogenMod 12.1 if you want to avoid any Samsung software at all.
It lies in the /dev/block/.../sda13 which links to - /persdata/absolute
Please check out this thread too: (google for thread link,I can't post them) galaxy-g900f-s5-phone-has-been-disabled-ee-1899259
I will work on removing it later, I have to go out, in my post you'll see I said I was runing XtresoLite deodexed ROM along with new bootloader and modem firmware, the software still persists.
illuz said:
It lies in the /dev/block/.../sda13 which links to - /persdata/absolute
Please check out this thread too: (google for thread link,I can't post them) galaxy-g900f-s5-phone-has-been-disabled-ee-1899259
I will work on removing it later, I have to go out, in my post you'll see I said I was runing XtresoLite deodexed ROM along with new bootloader and modem firmware, the software still persists.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This post? http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/10834349-post19.html
So you flash that file in Odin and it will wipe it out, nice.
Guys. Let me tell you my problem and how I solved the computrace issue on my Note 4 N910F on EE.
I bought my Note 4 from a community called Gumtree in UK. It was a phone locked to EE on contract from the guy I got it from. At this point, I didn't know what computrace was or whether to look for it on the phone.
Normally when I get a new phone, I wipe it, root it and make it work to my taste coz, what's android for right?
I installed titanium backup to freeze some bloatware and remove some as well. I then came across computrace and the name "trace" sounded funny to me. I decided to use titanium backup to remove it right away coz i dont want any Samsung crap snooping on my phone.
After a reboot, the software installed itself back and i was like WHAT?
I removed it again and it installed itself again and again. And i was like F*** this. I installed a custom recovery and installed a custom rom but it was still there. It appeared it wasn't a software on the data or system partition. It has a separate untouchable partition to itself or something. Very dangerous app even more than the NSA to me.
So i was randomly using my phone some day and my phone went to lockscreen to say "ABSOLUTE COMPUTRACE SOFTWARE, this phone has been disabled by EE.... Bla bla bla" and I needed a pin to unlock to use it.
I called EE, they didn't do jack ****. I called the person I bought the phone from, he was long gone. I checked the IMEI of the phone using swappa esn checker but it is clean and not blacklisted. Turns out the guy breached his contract coz the phone still belongs to EE for 6 months and within that time, he had sold it. It also kept sending some random jargon sms in form of an encrypted message to my most recent contacted person via sms. Weird and dangerous stuff is what Computrace is. I went on their website to read about them but I don't believe in them and need to sue them.
I had to resort to using a CyanogenMod rom for about a month to avoid the phone asking me for that pin coz the phone was basically useless. But having a note 4 with cm, letting go of all the Samsung and seen feature is like me cheating myself.
I went into deep research and finally found a solution to remove it completely by wiping the partition it's installed in (I think).
Using odin, I placed the file in AP/PDA then flashed a rom that is BTU CSC and not anything that had to do with EE (EVR) so that it won't come back. I booted my phone and computrace is totally gone. I was able to use the phone again.
I have uploaded the file here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/k59gxqpwv7hofco/Note4PersistWipe.tar?dl=0
Reboot to recovery.
1. Wipe your current rom and install a fresh one.
2. Don't reboot into system yet.
3. Reboot to download/bootloader mode
4. Open Odin and place the file in AP/PDA.
5. Press "Start"
6. Reboot
7. Profit and give the middle finger to computrace.
Please note that this file is only tested on the SM N910F because that is what version of Note 4 I have.
As said here and one of the simplegx threads. http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/help/remove-computrace-reinstalling-t2929102#post60906417
On my device it seemed to mostly sit idle doing not much except waste memory, but after I did a rom flash it went crazy and had the following issues.
Laggy access to the "usage data" part of the settings. (taking 30 seconds to load it)
"Restrict background data" setting kept been turned back off.
Large battery drain by the computrace agent process.
All these symptoms stopped after I uninstalled it in the app manager (have to be on a non EE rom to successfully do this). It hasnt ran on my device since.
This is on my s5 901f which I got from UK carrier EE.
There is a thread on the EE forum, where they did initially deny the software is to do with them, but then instead of denying they started to ignore the discussion. But given all non EE roms seem to not have this software, it does point to them.
---------- Post added at 10:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 PM ----------
illuz said:
It lies in the /dev/block/.../sda13 which links to - /persdata/absolute
Please check out this thread too: (google for thread link,I can't post them) galaxy-g900f-s5-phone-has-been-disabled-ee-1899259
I will work on removing it later, I have to go out, in my post you'll see I said I was runing XtresoLite deodexed ROM along with new bootloader and modem firmware, the software still persists.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah I still have these files, somehow I cannot remove them.
The bad news is abit of googling shows this rootkit gets embedded into the bios not just the OS, so I think managing to stop it running in the OS is probably about as far as we can go. I ran a file in odin which supposedbly wipes that partition but the dir still exists.
A bit worryingly also is a few of the files can be deleted but then get recreated suggesting something somewhere still is using that folder. I asked androidgx (creator of simplegx rom) if he could add a command in the recovery installer to wipe that folder but he said it isnt possible.
---------- Post added at 11:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 PM ----------
ok guys I read the forum illuz said to search for on google, I wont post the url incase it breaks XDA rules (dont know why he couldnt post it)
long story short did some reading and then went to this url.
http://www.cellrabta.pk/2015/05/thi...oftware-computrace-free-solution-all-samsung/
That guide worked for me, the flashing in odin wouldnt get rid of the folder, but manually issuing the commands in adb worked.
After booting the phone back up, I still had an empty absolute folder, but this time I wiped it in root explorer, there was nothing blocking the wipe.
So thankfully you dont need to factory reset the device like that guide says.
EE has never locked my phone, but I didnt like that rootkit been on it, thanks to those involved in the research.
Nice one, another poster here has a similar solution. I updated my post today, pretty much dropping EE. I called after getting advice from the local EE shop to do a return on the handset for one without computrace, and they almost instantly forwarded my call to Samsung switchboard before I could object! I'm not going to repeat the language I shouted down the phone here.
I hung up, and called 150 and cancelled my contract (14 day terms). I'm getting an unlocked Note 4 from a reputable retailer now, so we shall see if that has Computrace on it too (though advertised as Kitkat so doubtful). If I run into this malware again, I'll be grateful for all the help.
Edit: Phone has arrived, is clean and has kitkat 4.4.4, which I have been told to stick with (by the guy in the EE shop).
from what I understand all touchwiz roms now have ABTPersistenceService which enforces the file state, however the computrace agent app seems unique to EE roms so I think the ABTPersistenceService is just a support service, and so far I have not heard of any other EU carrier activating computrace agent.
The steps that seem to be required are (assuming phone hasnt been locked by the service).
1 - install a non EE rom, BTU is recommended.
2 - uninstall computrace agent app via app manager. (not listed on the other site but I did this)
3 - wipe the persdata partition using adb whilst in recovery using the guide I linked to (I didnt bother backing it up).
4 - enjoy
If its worked there should be no computrace app running and the absolute folder should stay empty.
ABTPersistenceService seems to recreate the folder tho but not the files.
To disable ABTPersistenceService, the framework2.jar needs patching.
Galaxy SM-G920X FIX:
1. Download a CLEAN NON-EE ROM.
2. Root the device & install TWRP (2.6.8.2), Copy ROM to the handset.
3. Advanced - Terminal - Execute the two commands: "dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/sda11" && "dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/sda13"
4. Install the ROM - Do not reboot the device, stay in TWRP.
5. Wipe dalvik & data / factory reset.
Hi,
How can I find out whether Computrace Agent is running on my phone or not?
I have Galaxy S4 I9500.
Thanks
Hi,
I have been having a ongoing problem with my Galaxy Note 3 N9005 in where after the 5.0 upgrade (stock over air) it has been restarting pretty much 4-5 times during the day, and a number of times while even just sitting on the desk doing nothing.
Since I am still on contract with my supplier in NZ, I took the phone back to get repaired, in which Samsung sent it back to state "Software corruption, reloaded software".
I didn't believe them, but hoped it was correct - but sure enough the same thing happened. So I once again took it back, where they have once again told me the same thing. It is now the third time I have done this, with Samsung saying the same thing!
Now I am at wits end, and have asked for replacement, but I am being told "It is due to your google account being corrupt, and it is causing software corruption....." *sigh*
So now not only is Samsung just not helping, they are blaming my Google accounts for causing the issue. Which btw - I didn't setup the last time, and still it restarted - but they are ignoring that fact!
Anyway - the advice I want to get is has anyone else had the same issue with the Galaxy Note 3 after upgrading? I know there is no way to rollback 5.0 to old version, but did anyone fix the issue by Root and then adding another ROM (I don't want to root this phone, but to be honest I also can't afford right now to replace so I am looking at options)
Right now I am facing a ongoing battle with Samsung and my provider to replace the phone, but they are fighting it a lot and to be honest I have lost my patience so I am thinking to just drop them, root/flash new Rom, and then go to another provider - and probably never buy Samsung again when I can finally upgrade.
(used to love Samsung products but this behavior I have had is certainly making me think twice before I touch them again)
Since they refuse to accept warranty you can try to flash twrp. Then clear everthing(system/caches). Then back to stock with odin. There might be leftover of corrupted files that could cause reboot.
But later they have a better reason not to accept your phone, knox tripped.
And you can actually downgrade to 4.4.2. Just flash firmware of the same csc to be safe.
Sent from my SM-N920C
Do you have memory card installed? if so then scan you memory card for possible viruses.
Actually I have this issue too before.
Even if I left it lying on the table, it can restart by itself.
I tried to update to latest PB1 rom, the update failed, the phone restart while ODIN updating.
So I use Kies recovery and got it working again.
After that, i tried again update to PB1 rom using ODIN. and now no issues at all.
I dont know which one did the trick whether update to PB1 or KIES recovery.
Goldendawn said:
Hi,
I have been having a ongoing problem with my Galaxy Note 3 N9005 in where after the 5.0 upgrade (stock over air) it has been restarting pretty much 4-5 times during the day, and a number of times while even just sitting on the desk doing nothing.
Since I am still on contract with my supplier in NZ, I took the phone back to get repaired, in which Samsung sent it back to state "Software corruption, reloaded software".
I didn't believe them, but hoped it was correct - but sure enough the same thing happened. So I once again took it back, where they have once again told me the same thing. It is now the third time I have done this, with Samsung saying the same thing!
Now I am at wits end, and have asked for replacement, but I am being told "It is due to your google account being corrupt, and it is causing software corruption....." *sigh*
So now not only is Samsung just not helping, they are blaming my Google accounts for causing the issue. Which btw - I didn't setup the last time, and still it restarted - but they are ignoring that fact!
Anyway - the advice I want to get is has anyone else had the same issue with the Galaxy Note 3 after upgrading? I know there is no way to rollback 5.0 to old version, but did anyone fix the issue by Root and then adding another ROM (I don't want to root this phone, but to be honest I also can't afford right now to replace so I am looking at options)
Right now I am facing a ongoing battle with Samsung and my provider to replace the phone, but they are fighting it a lot and to be honest I have lost my patience so I am thinking to just drop them, root/flash new Rom, and then go to another provider - and probably never buy Samsung again when I can finally upgrade.
(used to love Samsung products but this behavior I have had is certainly making me think twice before I touch them again)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Munawar Mehmood said:
Do you have memory card installed? if so then scan you memory card for possible viruses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - but no I don't - these are the first things I did when it started happening.
When it started happening I did factory reset, removing memory card, factory reset again, didn't restore backup from google... etc etc - so the general admin tech stuff.
Because under warranty (2 year contract) I didn't want to do anything more so sent to provider to get dealt with (into my 22 months of 24 months). For the last 4 months it has been to them a number of times for the same thing.
Now each time they send it back they claim "software corrupt" and that there is no hardware issue. So doing a software root and mod change for me is a hope - and probably not a good one - that the Stock 5.0 is the problem on this phone. And only going down this road because I am coming out of the warranty and right now I have a phone I can't really use, and damn Samsung won't support it or fix it (which is really all I want them to do!!) sigh
syamsoul said:
Actually I have this issue too before.
So I use Kies recovery and got it working again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this information, because in fact you are not the first time I have read this but I am not sure what the Kies recovery is - is there some instructions you have because maybe that is what should try, because I have seen other people on Google state this has helped them with restarting, but that was usually after Mod fix. Maybe there is something in the 5.0 update on GN3 that might cause this?
Rosli59564 said:
Since they refuse to accept warranty you can try to flash twrp. Then clear everthing(system/caches). Then back to stock with odin. There might be leftover of corrupted files that could cause reboot.
But later they have a better reason not to accept your phone, knox tripped.
And you can actually downgrade to 4.4.2. Just flash firmware of the same csc to be safe.
Sent from my SM-N920C
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I didn't think from what I was reading that you could backwards - in fact Samsung have just down right refused, which is all I have asked them to do in the last two times - "Just flash back to the version that was on there last 4.4.2. because that didn't cause any issues!" However, they are stating very firmly that you can not rollback or re-flash back to a previous version.
Is there any instructions which are for the 9005? I have seen for the 900 but the instructions state very clearly you can't use them for 9005.
Goldendawn said:
Thanks I didn't think from what I was reading that you could backwards - in fact Samsung have just down right refused, which is all I have asked them to do in the last two times - "Just flash back to the version that was on there last 4.4.2. because that didn't cause any issues!" However, they are stating very firmly that you can not rollback or re-flash back to a previous version.
Is there any instructions which are for the 9005? I have seen for the 900 but the instructions state very clearly you can't use them for 9005.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just flash the firmware with odin. Factory reset in recovery after it's done. That's it. There are a lots of threads about going down such this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...o-downgrade-lollipop-to-kitkat-t2990262/page2
I suggest you read through before you go further. They are mixed results. Some successful. Some did not. That is why it is better to flash the same csc firmware.
I even able to downgrade my S6 from 6.01 to 5.1.1 without issue but of course it's different phone.
Sent from my SM-N920C
---------- Post added at 08:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:15 PM ----------
I sent you a PM.
Sent from my SM-N920C
Hey guys! A friend of mine gave me her old phone (Samsung Grand Prime(SM-G530W)) and I planned to reset it so my Father can have a new phone. Unfortunately, after a hard reset the phone kept asking for the previous gmail account (My friend said it's a very old gmail and have not logged in with it for so long).
So far I have tried to flash 2 stock firmware (both lollipop 5.1.1 and even tried to flash a bell variant firmware) with Odin and no luck so far.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Spin_101 said:
Hey guys! A friend of mine gave me her old phone (Samsung Grand Prime(SM-G530W)) and I planned to reset it so my Father can have a new phone. Unfortunately, after a hard reset the phone kept asking for the previous gmail account (My friend said it's a very old gmail and have not logged in with it for so long).
So far I have tried to flash 2 stock firmware (both lollipop 5.1.1 and even tried to flash a bell variant firmware) with Odin and no luck so far.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No compaltion to use old gmail acc. Get a new 1! Till u wanna get any conracts or data back from it
Spin_101 said:
Hey guys! A friend of mine gave me her old phone (Samsung Grand Prime(SM-G530W)) and I planned to reset it so my Father can have a new phone. Unfortunately, after a hard reset the phone kept asking for the previous gmail account (My friend said it's a very old gmail and have not logged in with it for so long).
So far I have tried to flash 2 stock firmware (both lollipop 5.1.1 and even tried to flash a bell variant firmware) with Odin and no luck so far.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't matter how many different versions of firmware you flash. It's a security feature built in to the device to deter theives from stealing it. (Think iCloud lock for Android, similar concept).
There are methods to bypass this but I won't discuss them as I don't know for sure how you came across the phone and don't want to be complicit in theivery, but be sure to check google.
Your best bet at this point is to give your friend some truth serum and torture her for the old password (Or to ask her to initiate password recovery in order to obtain a new password. Please note that after the password has been changed you will have to wait a further 72 hours before accessing the phone.... another google security thing).
---------- Post added at 08:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 PM ----------
hackerboy ~AP said:
No compaltion to use old gmail acc. Get a new 1! Till u wanna get any conracts or data back from it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cannot add a new gmail account to the phone unless he is able to access the phone... which he needs the old account information for. The problem is he cannot access the phone because
The phone was already hard reset (No Contacts or Data on the phone, it's been wiped) so this is a mute point.
1- Perform a factory reset using recovery mode
2- when the phone boot up , Connect your phone to a wifi and complete all necessary step until you have to verify your Google account .
3- When you are to the point when you have to verify your account use the the OTG Cable in order to connect your phone to some memory stick which contain the bypass app
4- Navigate to the app and install it .
5- immediately after installing open the app , it will redirect to SETTINGS .
5- open it and navigate to Backup and Reset
6- proceed to the factory reset again
7- choose erase everything
Done
The next time it boot up , Frp should be gone
u0aol said:
It doesn't matter how many different versions of firmware you flash. It's a security feature built in to the device to deter theives from stealing it. (Think iCloud lock for Android, similar concept).
There are methods to bypass this but I won't discuss them as I don't know for sure how you came across the phone and don't want to be complicit in theivery, but be sure to check google.
Your best bet at this point is to give your friend some truth serum and torture her for the old password (Or to ask her to initiate password recovery in order to obtain a new password. Please note that after the password has been changed you will have to wait a further 72 hours before accessing the phone.... another google security thing).
---------- Post added at 08:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 PM ----------
Cannot add a new gmail account to the phone unless he is able to access the phone... which he needs the old account information for. The problem is he cannot access the phone because
The phone was already hard reset (No Contacts or Data on the phone, it's been wiped) so this is a mute point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it bro ty for increasing my knowledge
My method did not work?
downlode Miracle box crack and just press frp remove
all is done
ciel phantomhive said:
1- Perform a factory reset using recovery mode
2- when the phone boot up , Connect your phone to a wifi and complete all necessary step until you have to verify your Google account .
3- When you are to the point when you have to verify your account use the the OTG Cable in order to connect your phone to some memory stick which contain the bypass app
4- Navigate to the app and install it .
5- immediately after installing open the app , it will redirect to SETTINGS .
5- open it and navigate to Backup and Reset
6- proceed to the factory reset again
7- choose erase everything
Done
The next time it boot up , Frp should be gone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you navigate anywhere without a file browser though? What am I missing? At the point you're asked to sign into the google account there's no option anywhere I can find to navigate anywhere but the password text area
Hey anyone in here able to upload me a good QCN file for this canada model? please?
Spin_101 said:
Hey guys! A friend of mine gave me her old phone (Samsung Grand Prime(SM-G530W)) and I planned to reset it so my Father can have a new phone. Unfortunately, after a hard reset the phone kept asking for the previous gmail account (My friend said it's a very old gmail and have not logged in with it for so long).
So far I have tried to flash 2 stock firmware (both lollipop 5.1.1 and even tried to flash a bell variant firmware) with Odin and no luck so far.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked for my SM-G530W (Solo Mobile Canada, but has nothing to do with the firmware as is factory unlocked w.w.)
I had the same problem, and i used KIES 3 (not compatible with my phone anyway), but if you go on Kies toolbar to "TOOLS", "Firmware Upgrade and initialisation", it asks you for your device model (for mine i typed SM-G530W, and then it asks you for device serial number (S/N) found under the battery by the IMEI number. After this, follow on screen prompts (Restart your device in Download mode/ PDA, connect USB cable, etc), and let the software download and install (factory rom); After your device restarts, you are good to go (sometimes if it gets stuck on booting, remove battery for fer second and start again.) Now you have to go back and set up everything you want, including re-rooting your device... Good luck. (My device is Galaxy Grand Prime SM-G530W Factory unlocked rom, Android 5.11.
Hi,
I am somewhat in the same boat. My friend's SM-G530W just crashed in her hands, and she ended up buying a new phone. When I got to her place she told me nobody managed to do anything with it, not even her carrier (Telus) , so I said gimme that and i'll see if there really is nothing you can do. Factory reset didn't fix the boot loop , so I grabbed the latest firmware from sammobile and reflashed it using Odin. I didn't even know about FRP until that day. After flashing , the phone came to life.. so I said to myself.. Too easy! .. Then FRP hit me. Because she didn't even understand what a google account is , I ended up resetting her password using her new phone and a google code to change it. Afterwards the phone told me I needed to wait 24h after a password change. It has now been 2 weeks , and same issue. I know I have the right password because if I type another , it tells me wrong password , but when I type the correct one it says to wait 24h, but it never goes beyond that.
I have tried every method possible that I have seen to bypass FRP, including OTG , disconnect wifi during update check, realterm and a few softwares , yet the same problem persist. I also tried Freelancer's tip , but same thing. It still asked for the old account because password was reset, and again tells me to wait 24h because of a password change.
Any more ideas?
SM-G530W Telus
Damn
Out Of all the phones in the world you had to get that one.... that one is impossible to unlock, it uses multiple built-in software and has a glitch in the systems hardware to make it impossible to unlock I have two of them since 2016, december 12th, it is 2017-12-25. and let me tell you I would give anyone 1000$ who ever can prove me wrong... I am very confident that this phone can not be unlocked, it was one of the first phones to use frp and honestly it kinda sucks, I got a samsung galalxy 8s now... perhaps in the distant future someone will unlock this phone.. but ofcourse by then it will be ****...
Working unlock method
Roamin64 said:
Hi,
I am somewhat in the same boat. My friend's SM-G530W just crashed in her hands, and she ended up buying a new phone. When I got to her place she told me nobody managed to do anything with it, not even her carrier (Telus) , so I said gimme that and i'll see if there really is nothing you can do. Factory reset didn't fix the boot loop , so I grabbed the latest firmware from sammobile and reflashed it using Odin. I didn't even know about FRP until that day. After flashing , the phone came to life.. so I said to myself.. Too easy! .. Then FRP hit me. Because she didn't even understand what a google account is , I ended up resetting her password using her new phone and a google code to change it. Afterwards the phone told me I needed to wait 24h after a password change. It has now been 2 weeks , and same issue. I know I have the right password because if I type another , it tells me wrong password , but when I type the correct one it says to wait 24h, but it never goes beyond that.
I have tried every method possible that I have seen to bypass FRP, including OTG , disconnect wifi during update check, realterm and a few softwares , yet the same problem persist. I also tried Freelancer's tip , but same thing. It still asked for the old account because password was reset, and again tells me to wait 24h because of a password change.
Any more ideas?
SM-G530W Telus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is going to sound crazy, but I guarantee that it will work. I have unlocked a dozen plus grand primes SM-G530W phones. You will not need any OTG cables or flash any firmware. But you will have to download a couple apk's to remove the account. So that said. Take your grand prime to MacDonalds. . When there connect to the MacDonalfs free wifi. Normally you cant open a captive portal on google locked phones. But you can with the grand prime. The macdonalds splash screen will open up and you can scroll down to the bottom and click a link for policy. That will open your browser. From there you can download technocaretricks apk and quickshortcutmaker apk and bypass the google account .
---------- Post added at 09:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:00 PM ----------
Miyuki_Izawa said:
Out Of all the phones in the world you had to get that one.... that one is impossible to unlock, it uses multiple built-in software and has a glitch in the systems hardware to make it impossible to unlock I have two of them since 2016, december 12th, it is 2017-12-25. and let me tell you I would give anyone 1000$ who ever can prove me wrong... I am very confident that this phone can not be unlocked, it was one of the first phones to use frp and honestly it kinda sucks, I got a samsung galalxy 8s now... perhaps in the distant future someone will unlock this phone.. but ofcourse by then it will be ****...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will gladly take your thousand dollars. Let me know when you have it and I will send you my address to etransfer it. I have proved you wrong. And hope you can keep your word cheers mate. I will be waiting for my private message requesting my email address for payment.
Hello everyone, I will make it short, yesterday I bought a s7 edge which worked perfectly until today when I decided to just restart it, it gave me FRD Error in RED. So I decided to go with a stock ROM (UK) , so I put this rom in ODIN, worked BUT there is this problem that come over and over:
1. I get a "Welcome" screen with language options. I select "English."
2. I get a "Wi-Fi" screen. I select my my wifi.
3. I get this message. "Unable to sign in to Wi-Fi AP. An unauthorized factory reset has been performed on this device. The sign-in screen cannot be accessed."
And I tried everything posible, I used only data and turn off wifi and it took me to "checking process" which never ends up checking.
Please I have been 9-10 hours on this and no IDEA where the problema is.
NOTE: The phone came with ROOT(I requested)
And also i remember a ROM Called AURORA.
THANKS
Tried this? http://www.xda-developers.com/rootjunky/
The OEM Unlock option in Developer Options had been unselected when you rebooted, you must have done this yourself otherwise it wouldn't have booted when you first started the phone after purchasing it when you powered up.
Anyway, it wouldn't have been FRD in red, it would have been FRP, which stands for Factory Reset Protection. This is to stop someone stealing a phone, factory resetting it, then selling it on or using it themselves with a new Google account. The official way of getting the phone back now is to sign into your Google account using the account information that was on the phone when you bought it, or the account details that you setup prior to rebooting. You should be able to sign into wifi in order to do this, I'm not sure why it's not allowing you to.
---------- Post added at 04:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:02 PM ----------
Phazonclash said:
Tried this? http://www.xda-developers.com/rootjunky/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think that works any longer, or I'll be surprised if it does given the amount of updates from Samsung since then. It's from 8 months ago.
Aurora ROM was only released yesterday. And you asked the seller for a rooted phone? So he installed a completely new ROM, only hours old, and sold it to you?
Really?!
Hello all,
Earlier today, I was browsing a website for a game on my phone when it rebooted. It continued into a reboot loop at which point no matter what I did, nothing worked. TWRP wasn't working, and I wound up flashing the phone several times with both stock Android as well as Pure Nexus. While I was able to fix TWRP, whenever I attempt to flash Beans G'Apps, the phone reboots again and stays in the reboot loop. I'm unfortunately unable to flash the image using that means. I feel like I've made progress on this issue, but everything else isn't working.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do in order to be able to stop the boot loop and save my device?
Thanks!
Flash stock firmware
DanPLewis said:
Hello all,
Earlier today, I was browsing a website for a game on my phone when it rebooted. It continued into a reboot loop at which point no matter what I did, nothing worked. TWRP wasn't working, and I wound up flashing the phone several times with both stock Android as well as Pure Nexus. While I was able to fix TWRP, whenever I attempt to flash Beans G'Apps, the phone reboots again and stays in the reboot loop. I'm unfortunately unable to flash the image using that means. I feel like I've made progress on this issue, but everything else isn't working.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do in order to be able to stop the boot loop and save my device?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe start from scratch flash the factory image threw fastboot and start over.
pacods61 said:
Maybe start from scratch flash the factory image threw fastboot and start over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had tried that but to no success. I will try this again. Do you have any guides or anything for that?
Edit: I have gone through and attempted to use fastboot to flash two different images... N2G47H and N2G47W. I'm still getting the same result. Since doing this, I've also attempted going back into Recovery (non-TRWP) and doing factory reset that way. Nothing.
So apparently this has been a known issue possibly. I don't know if for a fact this is the hardware issue, or the fact I had Pure Nexus installed on it... it would also explain why Google is so readily going to give me a new phone even though my warranty is expired.
I can't post the reddit links due to new XDA account, but they are there.
DanPLewis said:
So apparently this has been a known issue possibly. I don't know if for a fact this is the hardware issue, or the fact I had Pure Nexus installed on it... it would also explain why Google is so readily going to give me a new phone even though my warranty is expired.
I can't post the reddit links due to new XDA account, but they are there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you get Google to replace your phone? I bought mine from Swappa and warranty just expired in April
ornwilson said:
How did you get Google to replace your phone? I bought mine from Swappa and warranty just expired in April
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is DanPLewis under my account account (Wasn't able to remember credentials initially!). So my phone was purchased from Google for Google Fi. I reached out to their support chat. First they informed me that my phone warranty expired 3 months ago in March. I asked what options I have right now for replacement, and they voluntarily told me that they will go ahead and do a one time refurbished replacement.
The reasoning I feel as though they replaced it out of warranty was because they're aware of the issue with the phone... but they could've just been nice about it.
Punkrulz24 said:
This is DanPLewis under my account account (Wasn't able to remember credentials initially!). So my phone was purchased from Google for Google Fi. I reached out to their support chat. First they informed me that my phone warranty expired 3 months ago in March. I asked what options I have right now for replacement, and they voluntarily told me that they will go ahead and do a one time refurbished replacement.
The reasoning I feel as though they replaced it out of warranty was because they're aware of the issue with the phone... but they could've just been nice about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, thanks. That does seem good of them.