Database Users

[Q] Soft bricked after 4.4.2 update failed, please help.

Hey guys
I have a Hong Kong Note 3 N9005. Yesterday I flashed the 4.4.2 sammobile update to my phone using ODIN 3.09. I had auto reboot and f.reset ticked. The ROM was put in AP and I hit start. Then I received the error Invalid ext4 Image. Turns out that Hong Kong versions of the N3 cannot install European ROMs. Since then I have not been able to boot my device into android. I just loop into download mode telling me it detected a firmware update. Kies was no help.
The update DID update the bootloader, so now I cannot go back to stock ROM. I have tried a few things. I tried flashing the stock Hong Kong ROM MK1, it fails. So i found a guy that fixed a similar problem buy removing the aboot.mbn file and repacking the ROM. Tried that too and the ROM flashes but it leaves me in a bootloop. Phone turns on says booting recovery then restarts. I also tried cf-root in an effort to flash another ROM still not working. I cannot get into recovery mode no matter what I do.
It seems I have run out of ideas and am reaching out for help.

Robbbie said:
Hey guys
I have a Hong Kong Note 3 N9005. Yesterday I flashed the 4.4.2 sammobile update to my phone using ODIN 3.09. I had auto reboot and f.reset ticked. The ROM was put in AP and I hit start. Then I received the error Invalid ext4 Image. Turns out that Hong Kong versions of the N3 cannot install European ROMs. Since then I have not been able to boot my device into android. I just loop into download mode telling me it detected a firmware update. Kies was no help.
The update DID update the bootloader, so now I cannot go back to stock ROM. I have tried a few things. I tried flashing the stock Hong Kong ROM MK1, it fails. So i found a guy that fixed a similar problem buy removing the aboot.mbn file and repacking the ROM. Tried that too and the ROM flashes but it leaves me in a bootloop. Phone turns on says booting recovery then restarts. I also tried cf-root in an effort to flash another ROM still not working. I cannot get into recovery mode no matter what I do.
It seems I have run out of ideas and am reaching out for help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2507403 flash this with cwm or twrp should work

jaythenut said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2507403 flash this with cwm or twrp should work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello thanks for replying.
Only problem is I cannot get into cwm or twrp. Any advice on what I can do to try to get CWM or twrp working? I can flash with ODIN. But with the CWM I tried it still just boot loops and does not allow me to get into recovery.
Thank in advanced.

Robbbie said:
Hey guys
I have a Hong Kong Note 3 N9005. Yesterday I flashed the 4.4.2 sammobile update to my phone using ODIN 3.09. I had auto reboot and f.reset ticked. The ROM was put in AP and I hit start. Then I received the error Invalid ext4 Image. Turns out that Hong Kong versions of the N3 cannot install European ROMs. Since then I have not been able to boot my device into android. I just loop into download mode telling me it detected a firmware update. Kies was no help.
The update DID update the bootloader, so now I cannot go back to stock ROM. I have tried a few things. I tried flashing the stock Hong Kong ROM MK1, it fails. So i found a guy that fixed a similar problem buy removing the aboot.mbn file and repacking the ROM. Tried that too and the ROM flashes but it leaves me in a bootloop. Phone turns on says booting recovery then restarts. I also tried cf-root in an effort to flash another ROM still not working. I cannot get into recovery mode no matter what I do.
It seems I have run out of ideas and am reaching out for help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same Issue here. I tried to install the 4.4.2 N9005XXUENA6_N9005OXXENA5_N9005XXUENA2 update on my Note 3 via odin 3.09.
Got an ext4 update failed error.
After this, the phone's bricked and is stuck on the Kies Recovery Screen. I tried to go into recovery mode in Kies, but it says this model does not have initialization.
I tried installing a 4.3 N9005XXUDMK3_N9005TNLDMK1_N9005XXUDMK2, but again failed. Download mode shows SW REV CHECK FAIL : [aboot] Fused 3 > Binary 2
Can someone please guide me to unbrick my phone?
I don't know what ROM I was on initially. It was the stock ROM that came with the phone.
I dont have CWM and TWRM installed.

Robbbie said:
Hey guys
I have a Hong Kong Note 3 N9005. Yesterday I flashed the 4.4.2 sammobile update to my phone using ODIN 3.09. I had auto reboot and f.reset ticked. The ROM was put in AP and I hit start. Then I received the error Invalid ext4 Image. Turns out that Hong Kong versions of the N3 cannot install European ROMs. Since then I have not been able to boot my device into android. I just loop into download mode telling me it detected a firmware update. Kies was no help.
The update DID update the bootloader, so now I cannot go back to stock ROM. I have tried a few things. I tried flashing the stock Hong Kong ROM MK1, it fails. So i found a guy that fixed a similar problem buy removing the aboot.mbn file and repacking the ROM. Tried that too and the ROM flashes but it leaves me in a bootloop. Phone turns on says booting recovery then restarts. I also tried cf-root in an effort to flash another ROM still not working. I cannot get into recovery mode no matter what I do.
It seems I have run out of ideas and am reaching out for help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got this response from MrAndroid12 in another thread I'd started:
"This is not a brick at all. Just add a .pit file and restart the upgrade via Odin again.
You should be fine."
I don't know how to add a .pit file though.

I am certain the bootloops are because it flashed the new bootloader. I think your best option is to wait for a dev like indie to release Omega V7 and try to flash that through Odin.
Or if you can extract the different partitions from the original thread you can try push them one by one with Odin.

hallydamaster said:
I am certain the bootloops are because it flashed the new bootloader. I think your best option is to wait for a dev like indie to release Omega V7 and try to flash that through Odin.
Or if you can extract the different partitions from the original thread you can try push them one by one with Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is the bootloader yes. But it NEEDS the bootloader to be able to boot in to KitKat. And there is no downgrading once you've installed the new BL.
Best option is to re-flash via ODIN again and not wait 2 weeks for a Dev to modify a custom ROM...

Solution
Here is the solution:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=49426283&postcount=14

m1ndst0rm said:
Here is the solution:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=49426283&postcount=14
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works thanks
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Samsung S4 GT i9505 System Partition wiped, what to do?

Hi,
I have a rooted Samsung Galaxy S4, with stock firmware (5.0.1, I think...) and TWRP recovery v3. I tried to flash a file, which got the phone stuck in a boot loop, and when I tried to factory reset it, I somehow accidentally tapped the 'wipe system partition' check box, too. When I tried to boot the phone again, it was stuck on the 'Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505' screen, with no advance to the boot animation.
I tried to flash the stock firmware on again, with an error: "Could not find 'META-INF/com/google/android/update-binary' in the zip file." Using my own knowledge, I've narrowed it down to two options: 1. Either the firmware zip is corrupt, but I have re-downloaded the zip a good five times, and 2. There's something else that also needs to be flashed to the system partition.
I really need some help. Is there anything to do before flashing the firmware zip, and if yes, what? And, is there a good, CONFIRMED WORKING link to a Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 Stock firmware (LTE, Android 5.0.1, United Kingdom, Vodafone)?
Thanks,
hamzabil11

Firmwares aren't flashed through the recovery, but with Odin.
Firmwares also come with a tar extension. So it should be firmeare.tar
You could flash a custom rom now, or you can go to sammobile.com and download the official firmware from there and flash it with Odin.
Remeber, it has to be a tar file. Sammobile compresses them to zips, so you just extract them to get the tar file.

hamzabil11 said:
Hi,
I have a rooted Samsung Galaxy S4, with stock firmware (5.0.1, I think...) and TWRP recovery v3. I tried to flash a file, which got the phone stuck in a boot loop, and when I tried to factory reset it, I somehow accidentally tapped the 'wipe system partition' check box, too. When I tried to boot the phone again, it was stuck on the 'Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505' screen, with no advance to the boot animation.
I tried to flash the stock firmware on again, with an error: "Could not find 'META-INF/com/google/android/update-binary' in the zip file." Using my own knowledge, I've narrowed it down to two options: 1. Either the firmware zip is corrupt, but I have re-downloaded the zip a good five times, and 2. There's something else that also needs to be flashed to the system partition.
I really need some help. Is there anything to do before flashing the firmware zip, and if yes, what? And, is there a good, CONFIRMED WORKING link to a Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 Stock firmware (LTE, Android 5.0.1, United Kingdom, Vodafone)?
Thanks,
hamzabil11
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears that you're phone is soft-brick. You need to flash the factory stock firmware.
You can also find all the factory stock firmware for lollipop i-9505 here.

It's not soft-bricked. He just needs to flash a rom. Any rom, either custom or official, should get the phone running again.

GDReaper said:
Firmwares aren't flashed through the recovery, but with Odin.
Firmwares also come with a tar extension. So it should be firmeare.tar
You could flash a custom rom now, or you can go to sammobile.com and download the official firmware from there and flash it with Odin.
Remeber, it has to be a tar file. Sammobile compresses them to zips, so you just extract them to get the tar file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot, I wasn't aware of this. I thought that you could just use the recovery to flash a stock OS, just like a custom OS. Never thought of using ODIN. I will check sammobile for the firmware; I'd heard of it before, just never thought of using it.
I was aware about the .tar extension though, just the websites i used gave them in .zip format.
Thanks,
hamzabil11

hamzabil11 said:
Thanks a lot, I wasn't aware of this. I thought that you could just use the recovery to flash a stock OS, just like a custom OS. Never thought of using ODIN. I will check sammobile for the firmware; I'd heard of it before, just never thought of using it.
I was aware about the .tar extension though, just the websites i used gave them in .zip format.
Thanks,
hamzabil11
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sammobile has slow download speeds for non-premium users. So you might as well check the link suggested by sway8966.

GDReaper said:
Sammobile has slow download speeds for non-premium users. So you might as well check the link suggested by sway8966.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah Ok, thanks. I found out about the slow download speeds the hard way.
I've already checked the link, and it looks all good. I will try from there.
One more related question: If I flash this stock firmware, will I need to re-root the phone, and re-install TWRP recovery? Not really a problem if ido, but I would like to know in advance so I can be prepared.
Thanks,
hamzabil11

hamzabil11 said:
Yeah Ok, thanks. I found out about the slow download speeds the hard way.
I've already checked the link, but it only seems to offer Android KitKat Firmware. Since this phone is likely to be used offline all the time, I may not have the time to update it to Lollipop.
I will check out other sites, too, though.
Thanks,
hamzabil11
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SamFirm.

Help recovering data

So I have a friend who decided to mess with his phone, of course without doing a backup, and now he's stuck in a situation that it can't boot even into recovery.
Currently all I see when booting to recovery:
Recovery Booting. . . . .
Set Warranty Bit : recovery
The phone is G900F
He has no idea what version was installed on it before.
I don't need the phone to boot, I need to recover the files on it.
Being a oneplus person myself, I'm not that familiar with samsung phones (my latest samsung was s2).
I've tried to install with odin (3.0.7 - if that matters) the following recoveries:
official twrp 2.8.7
twrp
cwm
All these recoveries showed "Recovery is not seandroid enforcing" message as well as the above when trying to boot into recoveries.
I've tried the official recovery as well:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/general/sm-g900f-stock-recovery-5-0-lollipop-t3228871
which removed the "seandroid" message, but that's all.
Not sure what I'm missing.
Any help would be appreciated!

Tahvok said:
So I have a friend who decided to mess with his phone, of course without doing a backup, and now he's stuck in a situation that it can't boot even into recovery.
Currently all I see when booting to recovery:
Recovery Booting. . . . .
Set Warranty Bit : recovery
The phone is G900F
He has no idea what version was installed on it before.
I don't need the phone to boot, I need to recover the files on it.
Being a oneplus person myself, I'm not that familiar with samsung phones (my latest samsung was s2).
I've tried to install with odin (3.0.7 - if that matters) the following recoveries:
official twrp 2.8.7
twrp
cwm
All these recoveries showed "Recovery is not seandroid enforcing" message as well as the above when trying to boot into recoveries.
I've tried the official recovery as well:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/general/sm-g900f-stock-recovery-5-0-lollipop-t3228871
which removed the "seandroid" message, but that's all.
Not sure what I'm missing.
Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm...
I see that your friend messed up his phone very well .....
Hopefully the eMMC memory is not corrupted becuase then only motherboard replacement would be necessary.
Summarising what you wrote:
1. you flashed "official recovery 2.8.7" -> where did you get it from? 2.8.7 is the very old version!
2. you flashed unofficial TWRP very old (2014) recovery (I checked your link)
3. you flashed unofficial CWM very old (2014) recovery (I checked your link)
4. finally you flashed stock, from old OS 5.0 Lollipop recovery provided from entrusted source - nobody reported that it works in the thread.
I listed this for you in order to underline one thing - READ, READ, READ, ASK, ASK, ASK .... before flashing anything to the phone and tell it to your friend.
Le's start with flashing from ODIN ver 3.12.7 (I am using it) this version of TWRP:
twrp-3.1.1-0-klte.img.tar for G900F which is the latest official recovery:
https://twrp.me/samsung/samsunggalaxys5qualcomm.html
Read how to flash it with odin method (when you open the link).
Edit: Are you sure the phone is SM-G900F? Please check model number on the label under battery (inside the phone).
Edit2: When you enter odin mode check phone model version as well - it is provided by installed bootloader.

Many40 said:
Hmm...
I see that your friend messed up his phone very well .....
Hopefully the eMMC memory is not corrupted becuase then only motherboard replacement would be necessary.
Summarising what you wrote:
1. you flashed "official recovery 2.8.7" -> where did you get it from? 2.8.7 is the very old version!
2. you flashed unofficial TWRP very old (2014) recovery (I checked your link)
3. you flashed unofficial CWM very old (2014) recovery (I checked your link)
4. finally you flashed stock, from old OS 5.0 Lollipop recovery provided from entrusted source - nobody reported that it works in the thread.
I listed this for you in order to underline one thing - READ, READ, READ, ASK, ASK, ASK .... before flashing anything to the phone and tell it to your friend.
Le's start with flashing from ODIN ver 3.12.7 (I am using it) this version of TWRP:
twrp-3.1.1-0-klte.img.tar for G900F which is the latest official recovery:
https://twrp.me/samsung/samsunggalaxys5qualcomm.html
Read how to flash it with odin method (when you open the link).
Edit: Are you sure the phone is SM-G900F? Please check model number on the label under battery (inside the phone).
Edit2: When you enter odin mode check phone model version as well - it is provided by installed bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, thank you for trying to help me!
Please see attachments:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1euC7-CoBeeUQxTGXQnPPgRE2-5VxFXLh
You can see that it is indeed g900f. I've also checked under the battery.
I've flashed the recovery you asked, however I could not find odin 3.12.7 only 3.12.10, so I've flashed with that (the odin thread on xda does not provide a link for 3.12.7 download).
You can see that it's still not booting with that recovery, it's just stuck at "booting recovery" screen.
I'm thinking perhaps it has a bad bootloader? How would you suggest to proceed?

Tahvok said:
First, thank you for trying to help me!
Please see attachments:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1euC7-CoBeeUQxTGXQnPPgRE2-5VxFXLh
You can see that it is indeed g900f. I've also checked under the battery.
I've flashed the recovery you asked, however I could not find odin 3.12.7 only 3.12.10, so I've flashed with that (the odin thread on xda does not provide a link for 3.12.7 download).
You can see that it's still not booting with that recovery, it's just stuck at "booting recovery" screen.
I'm thinking perhaps it has a bad bootloader? How would you suggest to proceed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. Let's continue ... I hope (as I had very similar situation) that the phone is not hardbricked and eMMC memory is not corrupted -> I faced this on my phone and finally had to replace motherboard.
But let's be optimistic:
1. For data recovery - I don't have a silver bullet for this but I found this software: http://www.recover-android-iphone.com/recover-android/how-to-recover-data-bricked-samsung.html
It needs working odin mode so under condition that it supports s5 G900F it should be able to restore some data.
2. For unbricking - I recommend to flash via odin the latest official Samsung stock firmware dedicated to your friend's country/region:
https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-s5/SM-G900F/
You must be registered to download the software. Link for odin 3.12.7 is available on the bottom of the download page.
Just to underline - odin flash most probably (anybody please confirm that) will wipe your data so be aware of that.
Good luck.

Many40 said:
Ok. Let's continue ... I hope (as I had very similar situation) that the phone is not hardbricked and eMMC memory is not corrupted -> I faced this on my phone and finally had to replace motherboard.
But let's be optimistic:
1. For data recovery - I don't have a silver bullet for this but I found this software: http://www.recover-android-iphone.com/recover-android/how-to-recover-data-bricked-samsung.html
It needs working odin mode so under condition that it supports s5 G900F it should be able to restore some data.
2. For unbricking - I recommend to flash via odin the latest official Samsung stock firmware dedicated to your friend's country/region:
https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-s5/SM-G900F/
You must be registered to download the software. Link for odin 3.12.7 is available on the bottom of the download page.
Just to underline - odin flash most probably (anybody please confirm that) will wipe your data so be aware of that.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why a full firmware is needed? Perhaps I can flash only the parts required to get into recovery? I count mount the phone from recovery, that's why it's my priority.
I would like to know also if odin will wipe everything if flashing a full firmware?

Tahvok said:
Why a full firmware is needed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it is commonly recommended way to unbrick a phone.
Perhaps I can flash only the parts required to get into recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps, yes. But:
1. I don't exactly know what restricts your recovery to run properly. Flashing separate recovery failed.
2. You, for example, could try flashing separately one of the latest bootloaders dedicated to G900F from BL section with odin but I doubt it would help.
I count mount the phone from recovery, that's why it's my priority.
I would like to know also if odin will wipe everything if flashing a full firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know yes but I am not 100% sure because I didn't try that myself on s5.
I would appreciate if somebody else confirms that.

Many40 said:
2. You, for example, could try flashing separately one of the latest bootloaders dedicated to G900F from BL section with odin but I doubt it would help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you suggest a bootloader for me? I would like to try that first.

Tahvok said:
Can you suggest a bootloader for me? I would like to try that first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my opinion, if odin mode works then bootloader should be OK. But as you wish -
tell me first what stock firmware will you later on trying to flash on your friends phone or in which country the phone will be operated.

Many40 said:
In my opinion, if odin mode works then bootloader should be OK. But as you wish -
tell me first what stock firmware will you later on trying to flash on your friends phone or in which country the phone will be operated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hong Kong

Tahvok said:
Hong Kong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Latest available Firmware version for Hong Kong is G900FZHS1CQD1 however I can't find a separate flashable bootloader for you.
Generaly, in my opinion you might try any of the latest bootloaders compatible with SM-G900F phone (here you can find a collection: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=54094068&postcount=3, I am on G900FXXS1CQI4) but again:
1. I doubt it will help for entering recovery;
2. I still recommend to flash complete stock firmware to unbrick the phone.
However if you anyway decide to try with a bootloader, flash it with odin from BL section (untick auto reboot). Also turn off the phone before and after flashing and pull out battery for about 30 sec. It happens that bootloader doesn't flash properly at once even the odin says "PASS" so some people reported that they needed to repeat flashing a few times. I managed to flash bootloader at first time.

Unfortunateely the phone is not with me anymore, so I won't be able to continue testing. Thank you anyway for trying to help me! I really appreciate your help!

Tablet blocked with a Chinese firmware

hello everyone, I'm exposing my problem:
So my tablet was under a stock rom but modified (rooted with magisk, and with TWRP). I lent it to a friend but this one had a problem, the tablet was in bootloop. He preferred to arrange that himself and he thought to put a rom stock completely normal, he flashed via odin the latest firmware of the tab A6, but that of China!
He put everything in odin: the BL file, AP and the CSC.
Since I try to reflash the version of France, but on the tablet, it looks like it is displayed a message like "please visit the website www.sam ..... / cn"
I can not flash TWRP or even root the tablet!
I at least managed to boot the tablet on the system, but there is no google play services or anything, No synchronization!
Help me please ! It was my work tool and I really need it!

ced97418 said:
hello everyone, I'm exposing my problem:
So my tablet was under a stock rom but modified (rooted with magisk, and with TWRP). I lent it to a friend but this one had a problem, the tablet was in bootloop. He preferred to arrange that himself and he thought to put a rom stock completely normal, he flashed via odin the latest firmware of the tab A6, but that of China!
He put everything in odin: the BL file, AP and the CSC.
Since I try to reflash the version of France, but on the tablet, it looks like it is displayed a message like "please visit the website www.sam ..... / cn"
I can not flash TWRP or even root the tablet!
I at least managed to boot the tablet on the system, but there is no google play services or anything, No synchronization!
Help me please ! It was my work tool and I really need it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Details far too sketchy.
No firmware info, no device info, no screen shots.

ced97418 said:
hello everyone, I'm exposing my problem:
So my tablet was under a stock rom but modified (rooted with magisk, and with TWRP). I lent it to a friend but this one had a problem, the tablet was in bootloop. He preferred to arrange that himself and he thought to put a rom stock completely normal, he flashed via odin the latest firmware of the tab A6, but that of China!
He put everything in odin: the BL file, AP and the CSC.
Since I try to reflash the version of France, but on the tablet, it looks like it is displayed a message like "please visit the website www.sam ..... / cn"
I can not flash TWRP or even root the tablet!
I at least managed to boot the tablet on the system, but there is no google play services or anything, No synchronization!
Help me please ! It was my work tool and I really need it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have seen many people reporting that they are locked on the Chinese firmware after flashing it and that they cant flash any other ROM or binary afterward. The solution is to disable Crom Service using the app.

Hello! The problem is that in the Chinese version they install a thing called crom protection.
To deactivate it you have to install an apk on the tablet called "crom service" and do the steps that come on this website https://www.teamandroid.com/2018/06/...hinese-samsung -devices-crom-service /
It has worked for me, if you realize it, before using and entering bootloader mode you get "CROM SERVICE: ON"
then once done the steps you will get "CROM SERVICE: OFF"
when that comes out install twrp and from there install the rom you want. If you have problems reinstall the Chinese version with odin and do the same again. Sorry for my bad English!

Please anybody, need help on flash back STOCK ROM

Hi there, I have a SM-A5000 2015.
Here is the problem. I have made it unrecognizable by ODIN (Seems because I tried to flash the bootloader of other A500 model, because I couldn't find any for A5000)
ODIN works before I tried that bootloader)
so I can't flash STOCK rom via ODIN, and I don't have backup sorry..
I have TWRP 3.0.2.1 flashed and usable.
I tried to flash custom ROM but I neither faced "device model not match error 7" or If I remove the whole model assert code or amend the model name, it gave me "unknown command error 7".
That's why I'd like to make a STOCK .TAR.MD5 into a TWRP flashable ROM, I have searched and found Android Kitchen. But it is too hard for me sorry.
Is there anyone who can advise me how to solve this..please? I'd be grateful for any help.
SM-A5000 2015
TWRP 3.0.2.1
ODIN 3.10.7
NO OS installed
(tried to install this ROM, but it didn't reboot successfully, and turned into some wrong color screen and stucked https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/rom-7-1-1-xtreme-os-for-a5-2015-v3-5-30-12-18.3779606/ )
STOCK ROM LINK: https://firmwarefile.com/samsung-sm-a5000
A5000..TGY.ZIP