Hi
My friend has got S4 (I9505). He wasn't flashing his phone with anything - it is original like it was bought. He has got now I9505XXUBMGA firmware (Android 4.2.2) with BTU CSC, which is outdated. System status says that phone is not modified, but despite this, he is unable to do OTA/Kies update. In both cases (when using OTA or when connecting to PC with Kies) he got message "This is the latest firmware". This is not true, latest for BTU CSC is I9505XXUGNG8 (Android 4.4.2).
Questions:
1) What can prevent OTA/Kies from update of unmodified phone?
2) Can software say, that phone is unmodified when it is not true? For example when flashing count is not "0"? Maybe someone flashed my friends phone before he had bought it? Changed kernel or recovery can lead to such problems?
3) Freezing of some Samsung bloatware can lead to locking both OTA and Kies on PC?
4) Are we able to diagnose this phone (how?) and fix OTA to avoid Odin flashing? (I know that there is hard to brick Samsung phone completely, but there are always some small chances that something will go wrong, my friend is not keen on flashing and I'm not so rich to buy him another one S4 when something will fail )
Thanks for answers
From what I recall, the S4 firmware will report a status of Official if all the pieces match, regardless of whether the firmware actually is for the S4 in question. So it is possible, and in fact likely, that your friend's phone was carrier branded at one point, but was then subsequently unlocked and the firmware flashed with an unbranded firmware.
You can find out if the device was flashed by entering the IMEI here. One item it will tell you is who the original carrier is. From there you can put two and two together.
Thank You very much for reply, that's important clue. I don't know how phone was bought, but CSC reports UK (BTU) and I'm not in UK - Poland. So it could be sold by some UK carrier and then unlocked to unbranded firmware.
IMEI gives no results, but I will try to get more informations about how phone was bought, that can explain a lot... Looks like in this case Odin will be only way to push Android further...
Thanks for answer, now I know for what I should look :good:
If anybody else will run into other idea - also feel free to answer, I will check anything as I want to help my friend Thanks everybody, XDA is great
Just a follow up. When you entered the IMEI at the link I gave, did it come up with the device's model number, e.g. GT-I9505ZKAXXX? If so, did yours read "GT-I9505ZKABTU" or some other model?
No, unfortunately not, I see no data after entering IMEI, only information about API, however if I enter IMEI on main page of this website I see some basic data. This lead me to information that Reporting Body Identifier is BABT (IMEI starts with 35) and BABT means United Kingdom.
Website didn't show model number, but my friend has installed Phone INFO ★Samsung★ and inside it there is model number (Product Code):
GT2I9505ZKABTU
This is very similar to Yours suggestion, but I see something weird - shouldn't be "-" after "GT" instead of "2"? Product Code with "GT2" instead of "GT-" is OK?
Thanks for answer
Then I sent you to the wrong page. You want the Samsung warranty page: https://imeidata.net/warranty/samsung
That page is the one that is supposed to tell you everything about your phone. Post that information here, minus the IMEI of course.
You had send correct link On Warranty page when I enter IMEI I got no data, only some data on mainpage of this website - looks like they don't have any information about this IMEI
I think they want you to register with the site, which is something new. Regardless, the reason we can't go by the Phone Info information your friend provided is that when a new firmware is installed the product code changes. For example, my I9505 was originally a GT-I9505ZKAO2U, which means my S4 was originally tied to the carrier O2 in the UK. Before I purchased the phone, the product code changed to GT-I9505ZKASIM, which is Slovenian firmware, specifically SI Mobil. About a month after I purchased the phone I installed a Black Edition firmware, which changed the product code to GT-I9505ZKAAUT, an unbranded Swiss firmware.
Currently on his phone is an unbranded UK firmware. If the site doesn't reveal the original carrier, the box may, depending on how long he has owned his S4. Some boxes have the product code on a label attached to the box.
Looks like website is down - after registering I got still no data, just message "The TAC info not found on database, we will update in 1-2 days."
Thanks for help - I will try to get details from my friend and I will go back to this when I will have some new infos
I am very confused, Item is a refurb, has been rooted and therefore i want to put a clean stock rom on it, however i am getting mixed signals. phone is labelled g900f on the sticker and about phone, however i think this is fake, so the seller could sell it as a British model, I went in to recovery, the boot-loader stated it was a g900t. Also in the settings / about / there is a section referring to The united Emirates, which i have not ever seen before. I do believe it is a real s5 though as it has a snapdragon processor. Also the Imei number and serial number match the sticker, however i have a feeling this was somehow done by the seller, or who ever is supplying the seller who sold it to me. Other than that phone is working fine, but does not receive OTA updates. Also for some reason in the Ringtone section there are some built in AT&T ones.
can someone try to make sense of this, and tell me which exact Official ROM i would need to use.
Thanks.
G900T is American T-Mobile version
tigger69 said:
G900T is American T-Mobile version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does anyone know why there is a UAE section if this is supposed to be a American phone? also is this a At&t or tmobile original?
Whichever model is says in download mode is the correct model
A lot of models are modded to look like G900Fs as they are one of the most popular models, firmware, stickers etc etc can all be changed, Download mode can't be changed
thanks for the reply. if i reflash to a clean g900t marshmallow, what is the likelyhood it will corrupt the imei , network unlock status or anything like that, also will a g900t rom work fine in the Uk, i read on xda the g900t rom contains alot of branding and junk, can anyone confirm this?
thankyou
kuljit55 said:
thanks for the reply. if i reflash to a clean g900t marshmallow, what is the likelyhood it will corrupt the imei , network unlock status or anything like that, also will a g900t rom work fine in the Uk, i read on xda the g900t rom contains alot of branding and junk, can anyone confirm this?
thankyou
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try it, as it seems to be a 900T, i would have to assume it will be ok.
So I ordered a refurbished s7 edge that was supposed to be SM-G935A but the phone settings say SM-G935U and when I checked the IMIE online it said it was different from those 2. Can someone please tell me how I can find the exact Model? Maybe a app that is 100% accurate?
Well, you might find that you continue to receive at odds info. Phone INFO, CSC Feature Expert, your Settings About area, Device ID, etc. Sounds like the phone was taken off stock ROM, and perhaps changed further. The serial and IMEI ought to partner up.
I'd run the serial and see what you can find out.
Good luck.
JeffDC said:
Well, you might find that you continue to receive at odds info. Phone INFO, CSC Feature Expert, your Settings About area, Device ID, etc. Sounds like the phone was taken off stock ROM, and perhaps changed further. The serial and IMEI ought to partner up.
I'd run the serial and see what you can find out.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I was to root it would I still go with the OS model that is says in settings?
What do I do? What model do I use? My OS says it's G935U but the back of the phone and IMIE say it's G935P. It's like the user before had the P version but flashed the U version over it. Do I root my device as if it's G935U or the exact model G935P
If your phone is working well, I'd probably stay U (Universal). I have an 930S, initially all Chinese. I flashed an 8+ ROM and it software changed it to an 930F. It works perfectly here in the US with AT&T. One glitch is that in the Data settings, I still have options to set the Region for a number of Chinese cities.
It's your choice.
Choices are good
JeffDC said:
If your phone is working well, I'd probably stay U (Universal). I have an 930S, initially all Chinese. I flashed an 8+ ROM and it software changed it to an 930F. It works perfectly here in the US with AT&T. One glitch is that in the Data settings, I still have options to set the Region for a number of Chinese cities.
It's your choice.
Choices are good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just want to know so I can get it rooted. Any good methods for a easy root or do I need to unlock my bootloader first?
Context: Bought a an s8 for cheap, model number comes up as g950fd, went about installing stuff then went to get a sim card the next day.
Aaaannddd I can't connect to my network, and upon checking i have no imei number, and my baseband is uknown. Only thing I have is a serial # that comes up "clean" upon checking on sndeep.info
I casually browse/lurk this forum so I'm not gonna ask for IMEI advice. Rather I'd like to know if I should be going after this dude (who has about 2 days head start I guess), or I can take this somewhere to have it "fixed"?
p.s. I'm in the philipines so IMEI services aren't illegal (I think?)
Thanks!
Best thing to do is to reinstall firmware with smart switch software. If after that it still says no imei and no baseband then whoever you bought the phone off, they messed up the efs possibly.
panicMode said:
Context: Bought a an s8 for cheap, model number comes up as g950fd, went about installing stuff then went to get a sim card the next day.
Aaaannddd I can't connect to my network, and upon checking i have no imei number, and my baseband is uknown. Only thing I have is a serial # that comes up "clean" upon checking on sndeep.info
I casually browse/lurk this forum so I'm not gonna ask for IMEI advice. Rather I'd like to know if I should be going after this dude (who has about 2 days head start I guess), or I can take this somewhere to have it "fixed"?
p.s. I'm in the philipines so IMEI services aren't illegal (I think?)
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
=======================================================================================
The only thing i would say about that, is this phone was locked to a network, and someone used a software to unlock it. But the issue with unlocked phone from their network, is that you might lose the IMEI, and i you lose that, you might not be able to use the phone properly. My only suggestion is to go to sammobile.com and download one of the ROMs from there, yet you need to know which network it was in before the happen to it. I think you need to speak with the buyer and ask about the name of the network.
You're basically scammed.
because the previous owner did rootings and stuffs i guess, (check if warranty is 0x0 instead of 0x1.)
If you've rooted and played around system files, wipes etc. You will probably lose your imei @ 10% chance possibility?
Unless you have a EFS Partition backed up before hand from this phone from TWRP. You're basically screwed?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/help/lost-imei-efs-folder-messed-t3614320
And yeah try reflashing firmware from your country etc.
panicMode said:
Context: Bought a an s8 for cheap, model number comes up as g950fd, went about installing stuff then went to get a sim card the next day.
Aaaannddd I can't connect to my network, and upon checking i have no imei number, and my baseband is uknown. Only thing I have is a serial # that comes up "clean" upon checking on sndeep.info
I casually browse/lurk this forum so I'm not gonna ask for IMEI advice. Rather I'd like to know if I should be going after this dude (who has about 2 days head start I guess), or I can take this somewhere to have it "fixed"?
p.s. I'm in the philipines so IMEI services aren't illegal (I think?)
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sofir786 said:
Best thing to do is to reinstall firmware with smart switch software. If after that it still says no imei and no baseband then whoever you bought the phone off, they messed up the efs possibly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would follow this advice.This is about the same options i would do my self.Sometimes IEMIs can get messed up with basebands and such so no harm in trying stock restores but most def contact seller and return it if possible
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I'll try and get my money back but if this was done with prior knowledge that the phone was wonky my bet is he's gone.
As for the technical advice, will definitely look into it as I'm a complete novice. Will update when something comes up.
Thanks all.
panicMode said:
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I'll try and get my money back but if this was done with prior knowledge that the phone was wonky my bet is he's gone.
As for the technical advice, will definitely look into it as I'm a complete novice. Will update when something comes up.
Thanks all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reflashing of the firmware is quite easy,I hate it for ya buddy if he is gone....It's sad to see people scam others hard earned money....
Not a scam!
panicMode said:
Context: Bought a an s8 for cheap, model number comes up as g950fd, went about installing stuff then went to get a sim card the next day.
Aaaannddd I can't connect to my network, and upon checking i have no imei number, and my baseband is uknown. Only thing I have is a serial # that comes up "clean" upon checking on sndeep.info
I casually browse/lurk this forum so I'm not gonna ask for IMEI advice. Rather I'd like to know if I should be going after this dude (who has about 2 days head start I guess), or I can take this somewhere to have it "fixed"?
p.s. I'm in the philipines so IMEI services aren't illegal (I think?)
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't panic just yet! I'm actually super new back into the android game, ditched iphone a few weeks ago and got myself an s8. I started looking into rooting my phone since the last time I rooted an android phone was back when T-mobile had their G1's. So, I thought I had to really re-educate myself upon what android now has to offer. Well, going through different sites, and the different models, versions, variants, etc about the s8, I did come across the G950FD. It's a legit phone. I believe (and feel free to correct me if i'm wrong) they were only sold in India, unlocked, and dual sim! The sim tray in the phone can either hold 2 sim cards, (1 nano sim, 1 micro sim) or if you preferred to extend the capacity instead, the slot for the micro sim, can hold a micro SD card instead, since they're the same size, give or take. The reason it doesn't have an IMEI nor baseband is because the dual-sim capability, thus why the serial number comes back clean. You weren't scammed, you're actually quite lucky since those versions of the s8 were sold in India, and you managed to come into possession of one, for cheap, yet alone a phone everyone here thought was a scam as well. I wish I could have one! But unfortunately, here in the states, I have a CDMA carrier and dual-sim phones don't support it. But heres a link to the source of your awesome new phone! Now you can relax! You not only got an s8, you have a rare one! Enjoy it!
EDIT: I tried to link you to the source, but being a new member I couldn't. However, if you search for Samsung g950fd, it should link you to the Samsung website, where your phone is it. Hope this has helped you feel more at ease with your phone!
G950fd is an international version. I believe the FD has an unlockable bootloader, which makes it sought after. Somebody probably wiped efs In Recovery by accident.
BBREEDMEE said:
Don't panic just yet! I'm actually super new back into the android game, ditched iphone a few weeks ago and got myself an s8. I started looking into rooting my phone since the last time I rooted an android phone was back when T-mobile had their G1's. So, I thought I had to really re-educate myself upon what android now has to offer. Well, going through different sites, and the different models, versions, variants, etc about the s8, I did come across the G950FD. It's a legit phone. I believe (and feel free to correct me if i'm wrong) they were only sold in India, unlocked, and dual sim! The sim tray in the phone can either hold 2 sim cards, (1 nano sim, 1 micro sim) or if you preferred to extend the capacity instead, the slot for the micro sim, can hold a micro SD card instead, since they're the same size, give or take. The reason it doesn't have an IMEI nor baseband is because the dual-sim capability, thus why the serial number comes back clean. You weren't scammed, you're actually quite lucky since those versions of the s8 were sold in India, and you managed to come into possession of one, for cheap, yet alone a phone everyone here thought was a scam as well. I wish I could have one! But unfortunately, here in the states, I have a CDMA carrier and dual-sim phones don't support it. But heres a link to the source of your awesome new phone! Now you can relax! You not only got an s8, you have a rare one! Enjoy it!
EDIT: I tried to link you to the source, but being a new member I couldn't. However, if you search for Samsung g950fd, it should link you to the Samsung website, where your phone is it. Hope this has helped you feel more at ease with your phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude I have the FD version and I have 2 IMEI's. Also, it's not just in India as it's also popular in UAE. Please do your research before replying.
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 AM ----------
bushako said:
Dude I have the FD version and I have 2 IMEI's. Also, it's not just in India as it's also popular in UAE. Please do your research before replying.
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pic
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Vinnvin said:
You're basically scammed.
because the previous owner did rootings and stuffs i guess, (check if warranty is 0x0 instead of 0x1.)
If you've rooted and played around system files, wipes etc. You will probably lose your imei @ 10% chance possibility?
Unless you have a EFS Partition backed up before hand from this phone from TWRP. You're basically screwed?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/help/lost-imei-efs-folder-messed-t3614320
And yeah try reflashing firmware from your country etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can we tone the FUD down a bit? "Rootings and stuffs" does not equate a 10% chance of losing your imei. There is a 0% chance of that happening. There is a 100% chance of that happening if you mess up and explicitly do it yourself, but even that is pretty hard to accomplish.
There are more than enough legitimate cautionary tales and lessons to be learned from this to spread around. Let's not ad not only unnecessary (and incorrect) information needlessly
So spent the last couple of days on a wild goose chase. Long story short, guy's gone.
So, novive me is gonna follow the guides on here. I've skimmed a through a few and would like some clarification before i end up messing this phone up even more.
What "stock rom" should i be looking for?
And for what model in the sense that the phone's model number is G950fd, but the Google play store tags it as g950f. Is that one letter difference important? Did this guy change the model name? Is there a way to double check?
Sorry if I'm coming off as paranoid. I've never done a flash before, nor have i ever been in this kind of situation.
Thanks!
Well, there's still hope. The seller had to possibly tampered with the firmware before giving it away towards you. Advice given before hand about re-flashing the firmware is strongly recommended to double check if everything is correct. You can either use sammobile.com or updato.com whichever you would prefer. since you have the SM-G950FD version, put that model number in the search bar and get the most up-to-date fw you can get. Use ODIN to re-flash the firmware back onto your phone and wait a couple of minutes to see if everything is back to normal. If the baseband and IMEI is still unknown, then we'll have to see another method to get it back to normal. But for now, re-flash the stock firmware.
Edit: Tell me what carrier you're using and i'll supply you with a link to the firmware you need, for now, download ODIN from here if you don't have it yet: https://samsungodin.com/
DaNamesFrank said:
Well, there's still hope. The seller had to possibly tampered with the firmware before giving it away towards you. Advice given before hand about re-flashing the firmware is strongly recommended to double check if everything is correct. You can either use sammobile.com or updato.com whichever you would prefer. since you have the SM-G950FD version, put that model number in the search bar and get the most up-to-date fw you can get. Use ODIN to re-flash the firmware back onto your phone and wait a couple of minutes to see if everything is back to normal. If the baseband and IMEI is still unknown, then we'll have to see another method to get it back to normal. But for now, re-flash the stock firmware.
Edit: Tell me what carrier you're using and i'll supply you with a link to the firmware you need, for now, download ODIN from here if you don't have it yet: https://samsungodin.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so I'm going through the available firmwares in the Philippines and they have ones available for the g950fd. They do not have any available for the g950f.
Now, I'm scared bec the Google play store says my phone is NOT a g950fd, and is in fact a g950f. I also don't have a sim2 label on my sim card tray.
Is there a way to double check what model i actually have?
panicMode said:
Ok so I'm going through the available firmwares in the Philippines and they have ones available for the g950fd. They do not have any available for the g950f.
Now, I'm scared bec the Google play store says my phone is NOT a g950fd, and is in fact a g950f. I also don't have a sim2 label on my sim card tray.
Is there a way to double check what model i actually have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Settings, about phone, model number should be under device name
panicMode said:
So spent the last couple of days on a wild goose chase. Long story short, guy's gone.
So, novive me is gonna follow the guides on here. I've skimmed a through a few and would like some clarification before i end up messing this phone up even more.
What "stock rom" should i be looking for?
And for what model in the sense that the phone's model number is G950fd, but the Google play store tags it as g950f. Is that one letter difference important? Did this guy change the model name? Is there a way to double check?
Sorry if I'm coming off as paranoid. I've never done a flash before, nor have i ever been in this kind of situation.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way to find out for sure what phone model you have is to put your phone in download mode. There you'll see your phone number. That's the only accurate way. Anything else it's useless. What Google play store show, what phone number is shown on settings it's irrelevant. The phone model listed by Google play store or on your phone settings can be changed very easy but editing a simple line on build.prop.
Now about your phone. From what you described it's obvious that you have your EFS partition corrupted. Without a backup of your EFS partition you're screwed. You can download and flash whatever firmware you want. It's just a waste of time. Flashing another firmware will not going to fix it. You have a backup of EFS partition? If yes, then it's great. Search for a guide for restoring EFS partition. If not, stop wasting your time. The result can be only one: a very expensive paperweight.
Ah thanks, so according to download mode I indeed have a g950f and not aG950fd - efs professional also shows the same thing
How screwed am I now that:
a. i'm apparently running on firmware that tags the unit as G950fd
b. sammobile doesn't show any G950f firmware for the philippines
c. i have no idea where this phone has been prior to my purchasing it
thanks
panicMode said:
Ah thanks, so according to download mode I indeed have a g950f and not aG950fd - efs professional also shows the same thing
How screwed am I now that:
a. i'm apparently running on firmware that tags the unit as G950fd
b. sammobile doesn't show any G950f firmware for the philippines
c. i have no idea where this phone has been prior to my purchasing it
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doing some research, there isn't any philippine fw for the g950f, hence the firmware being g950fd. I'll try to edit more with more info to find.
I am disappointed by all the FUD and paranoid advice in this thread so far.
@panicMode
Install the following app from playstore - Samsung Phone Info
And then post screenshot of each tab. MAKE SURE to hide IMEI and Serial number if visible in any screenshot.
If you are not sure how to do that, then you can PM me the screenshots or your telegram handle to take this conversation private.
There is no need to panic when there are ways to ascertain.
madnav said:
I am disappointed by all the FUD and paranoid advice in this thread so far.
@panicMode
Install the following app from playstore - Samsung Phone Info
And then post screenshot of each tab. MAKE SURE to hide IMEI and Serial number if visible in any screenshot.
If you are not sure how to do that, then you can PM me the screenshots or your telegram handle to take this conversation private.
There is no need to panic when there are ways to ascertain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I buy a device I expect it to have A IEMI also I dont expect to have to fix it myself....
Please next time take this into consideration with your disappointment As Most of the advice in this thread is legitimately correct AS no one should have to Fix it contacting the orig seller and then reflash correct firmware is proper steps.Just because you do not feel it is Does not make it "disappointing"