Database Users

[Q] Need Unlocking Help -Rooting with a Mac/Online Codes Not Working

Yes, I searched. I have a GS2 Locked to Virgin Mobile in Canada.
First off, I have a mac, so the whole rooting/unlocking thing seems to be impossible as ODIN and the other programs are all .exe's.
I tried buying a code online and they said they couldn't unlock it and most others sites don't like the phone as compatible.
What are my options here?
Thanks all.

Borrow a real computer.

to root use this to flash the correct kernel from here
to unlock
I have used Heimdall and it works

I'm struggling here. heimdall doesn't read .tar. I extract the tar and I just get an zimage and nothing more.
It seemed simpler on Odin, but I'm lost on this.

Take tar or the zimage and put it in the kernel slot and hit flash, it's less picky about the file type.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

I appreciate the help, but it's not that simple. It says firmware.xml is missing when I put it under the load package tab under firmware.
When I put it under the flash tab, it says not a valid PIT type. These are the only two places I can select a file.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}

veyka said:
to root use this to flash the correct kernel from here
to unlock
I have used Heimdall and it works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
could you verify that you have managed to flash with latest version of Heimdall? i have tried everything with beta2, 1.3 and it simply refused to work. i just used a pc to update to latest version, and i have no files to flash to test (it's been one day and if something happens i have to reintsall everything again), so if you could verify this, or teach me a trick or two to get it to work, it will be much appreciated

FWIW, I loaded 1.1 and it was not compatible. 1.2 looked the same as 1.3 for me.

SGS2 has only been supported from version 1.2 onwards, maybe try the newest 1.3 that's just been released.
I have never used it apart from on windows, it looks like you may need to give it a pit before it will do anything.
You should be able to find it in an official rom, when I get home in 4-5 hours ill have a look at it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

The screen looks like the ones I posted on 1.3.

Then you will need a pit from a stock rom, might try reading the faq
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

HOWTO: flashing via Heimdall Suite 1.3.0
1) put your phone into download mode
2) connect to pc
3) load Heimdall GUI
4) click Utility tab
5) click detect device (if it detected goto 6, if not install drivers which should come with Heimdall)
6) click save as under "download pit", save it somewhere easy to find with a name like SGS2 (no need to add .pit)
7) hit download
8) phone will reboot, put back into download mode
9) click "flash" tab
10) click "browse" near the top and select your pit you saved earlier
11) on the righthand side there is a window saying "Partitions(files)" click "add" below it
12) select "kernel" on the lefthand side below "partition details"
13) click Browse below "partition details", select the kernel you want
It should now look like the attached pic
If it does, hit Start, and it should flash

i think problem with mac is still there :
although i have yet to try flash a ROM or parts of it, to see if it could successfully flash it.
EDIT: nope, it does not work , still the same error

Same issue here.
6) click save as under "download pit", save it somewhere easy to find with a name like SGS2 (no need to add .pit)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I am selecting here? It asks you to DL something.
8) phone will reboot, put back into download mode
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phone just gets attached error - nothing further.

[Q] Bricked Phone

I bricked the phone.Anyway, how i did?
1) I flashed B526
2) i edited cust.img but even they are same size, i couldn't copy new to /.cust_backup folder.So i deleted the original one.
3) i thought, i should give a try to Aurora 4.03 from dzo
4) I got into recovery, wiped data, wiped cache, wiped dalvik cache etc.
5) I couldn't install it, anyway then i thought i have to flash B526 again
6) But it stopped around %50 and it said "update failed" but i started the phone, 2 times.
7) With root explorer, i got into /.cust_backup folder but there was only amss.mbn, cust.img with higer size, emmcboot.mbn and boot.img but there wasn't any sign of recovery.img
8) I tried to copy 5.5.0.4 recovery file but there wasn't enough space for it so i deleted cust.img again but after i deleted it, "there isn't enough space" said root explorer nothing changed
9) i deleted amss.mbn, managed to copy recovery.img
10) Restarted phone but then i realized i can't get into recovery mode or start phone normally.
11) Because Huawei blocked bootloader mode, now i have a bricked phone.I tried 5 or 6 times flashing stock rom but update failed again and again
12) Packed up the phone, will send technical support tonight.
- I tried flashing without battery
- I tried mounting with ubuntu
Nothing changed
Any ideas?

Already sent.Thanks, who helped me and who wanna help but couldn't do it

Hi
Space is not enough to flash any ROMs;
Bootloader is locked,you could not edit that sector.
So is there a special ROM that is very small and allows to edit the bootloader?
Here is the MINI ROM: (thread is from anzhi,only copy the download url.)
115,com/file/clyzgmw1
(replace " , " by ". ")
Click the "电信下载“ right besides the red link"VIP ...."
Flash it than edit the bootloader~
NOTICE: I format the whole sector ,and the file including IMEI was missing
'Cause I don't know how to edit recovery or other system files like .mbn,
so just delete the abnormal big file and you would be able to flash any ROM s

shuiyunxingzuo said:
Hi
Space is not enough to flash any ROMs;
Bootloader is locked,you could not edit that sector.
So is there a special ROM that is very small and allows to edit the bootloader?
Here is the MINI ROM: (thread is from anzhi,only copy the download url.)
115,com/file/clyzgmw1
(replace " , " by ". ")
Click the "电信下载“ right besides the red link"VIP ...."
Flash it than edit the bootloader~
NOTICE: I format the whole sector ,and the file including IMEI was missing
'Cause I don't know how to edit recovery or other system files like .mbn,
so just delete the abnormal big file and you would be able to flash any ROM s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Thank you for this, gonna try it now
Hope it works.
*EDIT: I'm having a problem downloading this file. It is extremely slow to download and once downloaded it is corrupt. I've tried 3 times now. Any chance anyone who has downloaded could upload it to a European or US host?
Thanks in advance.

shuiyunxingzuo said:
Hi
Space is not enough to flash any ROMs;
Bootloader is locked,you could not edit that sector.
So is there a special ROM that is very small and allows to edit the bootloader?
Here is the MINI ROM: (thread is from anzhi,only copy the download url.)
115,com/file/clyzgmw1
(replace " , " by ". ")
Click the "电信下载“ right besides the red link"VIP ...."
Flash it than edit the bootloader~
NOTICE: I format the whole sector ,and the file including IMEI was missing
'Cause I don't know how to edit recovery or other system files like .mbn,
so just delete the abnormal big file and you would be able to flash any ROM s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where were you 3 days ago I have already sent my phone to technical service
xmsnx said:
Hi, Thank you for this, gonna try it now
Hope it works.
*EDIT: I'm having a problem downloading this file. It is extremely slow to download and once downloaded it is corrupt. I've tried 3 times now. Any chance anyone who has downloaded could upload it to a European or US host?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here but i think it is for cwm

Thanks, it needs unzipping. In there is a UPDATE.APP file

xmsnx said:
Thanks, it needs unzipping. In there is a UPDATE.APP file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What?
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}

Tmp341 said:
What?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Woohoo, after having a brick on my desk for about 6 weeks, I've finally got my phone up and running again. Even the IMEI didn't mess up
Instructions

xmsnx said:
Woohoo, after having a brick on my desk for about 6 weeks, I've finally got my phone up and running again. Even the IMEI didn't mess up
Instructions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You couldn't reach bootloader before, could you?

No I couldn't.
Sent from my Galaxy far, far away!

I looked technical service's web site and it shows that my phone is within the warranty I hope it won't change
Update : They say, my phone's motherboard is going to change. They are waiting for it

[Q] Samsung s5360 - Customizing Odin Ready PDA.tar.md5 file

So I have the odin pda tar file - PDA_S5360_DDLF2.tar.md5
I unzipped it and extracted the following files:
Code:
1) boot.img
2) param.lfs
3) sbl.bin
4) system.img
5) userdata.img
I opened system.img and added/removed some apps inside the app folder. Saved system.img and exited. Look below:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
These are the five files again from pda.tar which I'm putting in the tar archive
Code:
1) boot.img
2) param.lfs
3) sbl.bin
4) system.img (edited using ultraiso: see above)
5) userdata.img
I used the following code in terminal to make the tar ball:
Code:
tar -H ustar -c boot.img param.lfs sbl.bin system.img serdata.img > Custom_PDA_S5360.tar
The I used the following commands to md5 it:
Code:
md5sum Custom_PDA_S5360.tar
md5sum –t Custom_PDA_S5360.tar >> Custom_PDA_S5360.tar
mv Custom_PDA_S5360.tar Custom_PDA_S5360.tar.md5
Now i have the custom pda.tar.md5 with me. I'm a little scared to flash it without knowing whether it could brick my phone or not.
I need some guidance and advise from the senior xda gurus.
Will it work? Or not?
Or will I end up with a bricked phone?
Am I wasting my time?

Connect your phone to odin and flash it...
If it doesn't work flash stock...
And if flashing stock fails goto service center and sae " I swear i am never going to use that online update again!!!"
Globally recognised and certified NOOB

alkesh saar ji,
thank you for the wise crack answer. but i don't have the time to run around the service centre to fix my phone.
im not sure what the actual reasons are for hard bricking a phone
A phone that gets stuck in bootloop but can still switch into odin download mode is not actual brick IMO
in the past, i have successful placed several windows and linux OS's on one bootable dvd. I guess what im trying to say is that im not familiar with the mechanisms of an android OS.

broadways said:
alkesh saar ji,
thank you for the wise crack answer. but i don't have the time to run around the service centre to fix my phone.
im not sure what the actual reasons are for hard bricking a phone
A phone that gets stuck in bootloop but can still switch into odin download mode is not actual brick IMO
in the past, i have successful placed several windows and linux OS's on one bootable dvd. I guess what im trying to say is that im not familiar with the mechanisms of an android OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to try then do as I said....
Wait why you are using odin method you can simply push apk via rootex or adb
Globally recognised and certified NOOB

Do you mean adb install method?
After each time i flash stock, i root and remove things i don't need from system(youtube, maps etc)
Then i install my imp apps on system(by removing sd) using adb install
Then i shift dalvik to system
I'm trying to automate my work. I don't think i can do dalvik shift in an odin package but I think I can do the apps add/remove thing.
What do you think?

broadways said:
Do you mean adb install method?
After each time i flash stock, i root and remove things i don't need from system(youtube, maps etc)
Then i install my imp apps on system(by removing sd) using adb install
Then i shift dalvik to system
I'm trying to automate my work. I don't think i can do dalvik shift in an odin package but I think I can do the apps add/remove thing.
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do simplest method use root explorer to push apps to system and set their permission rw-r--r--
Globally recognised and certified NOOB

I prefer automation.
I use batch "rm" commands in adb shell to remove apps from "system/app"
And I use adb install batch command file to install all apps in android.
The order of automation:
1) Flashing rom
2) Rooting
3) Removing unwanted app from system
4) Installing apps on system
5) Unrooting
Whole process takes around 15-20 minutes and much of it is done through batch files.
What I want now is to add/remove the apps in the pda.tar flashable file itself.
If I can achieve this, my time will be reduced from 15-20 minutes to 3-5 minutes.

What is the result? Have u flashed it?
Sent from my GT-S5360 using xda premium

Rockchip TV Sticks - RK3xxx Firmware Tools

Here is RK3xxx_firmware_tools, works better than wendal tools.
It can depackage/repackage Rockchip update.img, system.img, boot.img & recovery.img
'h**p://***.multiupload.nl/M5CKMYFBSW'
Instructions to use
Split ROM file
1. Firmware Image Tools - Select Img
Select your ROM.img file eg. a rom made by lewy20041
Select Extract - It will extract the rom into: boot.img, kernel.img, recovery.img & system.img
Now you can replace the kernel.img(to get wifi working for a rom that is not for your device) or recovery.img.
Extracting System.img or Boot.img
2. Go to the System or Boot frame on the program and select 'Extract'.
The contents of the System.img in step 1 is now extracted to the 'temp' folder and you can edit the files.
- You can now edit build.prop file to tweak the rom or change default settings like the default language of the rom.
- You can also change the boot animation of the device by going to system/media/bootanimation.zip
- You can also add additional wifi adaptor files for your device by going to system/lib/modules and adding eg. 8188eu.ko wifi module. Remember to depmod -a in a terminal to apply changes.
When you are satisfied with your changes click 'Build' to put the files together again as an *.img file.
The files are stored as eg system_new.img in the programs main directory. Rename this file/files to eg system.img without the 'new' and copy it to the temp folder to replace the old file.
You can then click Build in the Firmware Image Tools frame at the top to make a complete *.img file again to flash to your device.
If you use Finless Bob Roms, click on 'Single tools' at the bottom to only modify one file at a time eg the system.img file.
The same usage can be applied as above as for a lewy20041 or stock rom.
This tool will help a lot of people that don't have custom roms for their devices to create their own one or use a different devices's rom that is almost identical to theirs and only replace the kernel to get wifi/bluetooth working.
This tool can also flash roms to your device.
Previously you needed linux to repackage a system.img file and couldn't depackage a boot.img or recovery.img easily.
Thanks to user SergioPoverony for putting this app together on 4pda forum.
Hope people find this useful.

Great, thanks. I'll give it a try.

sounds like this should be useful. i bought a minix x7 mini by accident. non mini roms run fine with the exception of wifi and bt

burnitdown said:
sounds like this should be useful. i bought a minix x7 mini by accident. non mini roms run fine with the exception of wifi and bt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?8825-NEO-X7-MINI-Neomode-Custom-Rom-Version-1 Give it a try, i think it's the first custom rom for the X7 Mini

PlutoDelic said:
http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?8825-NEO-X7-MINI-Neomode-Custom-Rom-Version-1 Give it a try, i think it's the first custom rom for the X7 Mini
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried it already, it's buggy. the quickshot rom for the mini seems to run alright so far

Thanks for posting this here! Exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you very much for this useful tool.
I use RK3xxx_firmware_tools 4.2.22.0.
Any firmware I try to Extract (your step 1 [Split ROM]) bring that same error:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Could you tell what goes wrong? I tried this on EQUANCY's CS968 Exclusive MODDED ROM EQS-v2.0M 1080p and with CS968 Android 4.4 based ROMs from freaktab's Tech1.

It will work on Allwinner softwares? ...

Raddub said:
It will work on Allwinner softwares? ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's for Rockchip devices.

Monster M7 HefferRom
Hey Guys. A buddy asked me to fix his M7 so i cooked up this little "rom" for it. This is the latest firmware from monster that gives you full nand storage for apps and whatnot. None of that seperate partition BS.
I went ahead and debloated this img of most of the preinstalled chinaware apps. There are a few remaining that can be disabled in settings>apps such as facebook, movie studio, skype, and mwidget. I didn't have enough time to find them all. Root is not included.
It has solid explorer, open camera(I left the stock cam as well), and nova launcher. Rename the file to update.img and place on external sd card. It will flash from internal but you'll only have about 1 GB total storage, so don't do that.
It definately seems a little snappier than bone stock.
Uploaded to my Drive, Enjoy.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0KjDbYxIBLwcy16WUhqdnM5cDQ/view?usp=drivesdk

thank you for your help
thank you for your help

How to flash a rom on jiayu s3

I'm a newbie in flashing roms, it will be very helpful some one to do a full tutorial of most of the ways for flashing rom for example =>flashing a custom rom, upgrading, downgrading , recovery, going from KK to lolipop, for people like me it will be extremely useful and to have full forum we needed more treads , this will be great start!

Download the desired rom.
Download the latest flash tool: I can not post links yet
Run the file of Flash_tool.exe in the tool folder
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
1.Run Flash Tool，click Scatter –loading to choose the file of Scatter in the rom，and then click D or double click the file
2.Click “Download Only”，to choose“Firmware-upgrade”
To check DA DL
Click options-----download----Check DA DL All with checksum
Click download
Then turn off the phone and connect to the computer, then it will download to the phone

Bangsat86 said:
Download the desired rom.
Download the latest flash tool: I can not post links yet
Run the file of Flash_tool.exe in the tool folder
1.Run Flash Tool，click Scatter –loading to choose the file of Scatter in the rom，and then click D or double click the file
2.Click “Download Only”，to choose“Firmware-upgrade”
To check DA DL
Click options-----download----Check DA DL All with checksum
Click download
Then turn off the phone and connect to the computer, then it will download to the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of the roms for jiayu s3 can be found here... http://www.needrom.com/category/jiayu/s3-jiayu/ Thanks for helping!
Sp-Flash tools=> https://yadi.sk/d/3niZ3G1Ye9QR9

Thanks for the info above, is there a tool or set of instructions that can be followed on a mac?

Don't know man sry..!
Sent from my JY-S3 using XDA Free mobile app

scatter.txt
Bangsat86 said:
Download the desired rom.
Download the latest flash tool: I can not post links yet
Run the file of Flash_tool.exe in the tool folder
1.Run Flash Tool，click Scatter –loading to choose the file of Scatter in the rom，and then click D or double click the file
2.Click “Download Only”，to choose“Firmware-upgrade”
To check DA DL
Click options-----download----Check DA DL All with checksum
Click download
Then turn off the phone and connect to the computer, then it will download to the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
when i click on "scatter loading" i don't get a file with scatter.txt.
Can you help me out please?
Thanks,
Alex

Problem with program
iOceanAlex said:
Hello,
when i click on "scatter loading" i don't get a file with scatter.txt.
Can you help me out please?
Thanks,
Alex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When flashing my smartphone I get an error (S_DA_EMMC_FLASH_NOT_FOUND)

Can I copy the scatter.txt from RC5 to whichever ROM i want as long as it is for the same phone? Basically I have the RC5 but I experienced that the battery is horrible so I wanted to try a different newer OS. Somehow there is an error installing via TWRP the other roms I have in zip but flashtool works fine. These files do not have a scatter-file though.

Thank`s for the instructions
I will thank for the instruction, because I breaked my phone while trying to flash madOS 8.1.0 (update from april). Before my Jiayu S3 basic (16 GB, 2 GB) worked fine with madOS 8.1 from 2017-12-30. I surely made a big mistake, therefore the phone was dead - no reaction any more.
I found this solution to flash back the stock rom 5.1.1 with twrp. Phone is alive and works.
I think, I have done a big mistake, because all trials to flash madOS 8.1 from april ended with boot into TWRP. I tried flashing to madOS for a long time, isn`t possible any more. Maybe also my old phone has a failure.
Therefore I have to thank for Your excellent work. Thanks.

Hi!
I'm trying to flash my S3Adv. (3GB RAM, Kitkat, TWRP 2.8.4.0) with madOS_8.1.0_s3_h560_20180422.zip, but, the "Zip signature verification failed". Before, the MD5 sum is checked and matches. I also checked the file with "zip -T" on my Linux machine and it reports "OK". When the "Zip file signature verification" is turned off, TWRP reports "error executing updater binary in zip ..." What's going wrong? Anybody here who can help?
Thanks in advance
Frank
Nearby: I wiped system, dalvik, cache and data.
Solution:
- Install Flash Tool
- Flash Android 5.1.1 (RC5_S3_16GB.zip)
- Start 5.1.1 to do a basic configuration
- Boot into TWRP recovery which was included in RC5
- Install twrp_20180417.img
- Boot into TWRP recovery
- Install madOS_8.1.0_s3_h560_20180422.zip
(a full wipe is, may be, necessary, but, I don't know, when the full wipe should be done within my procedure - I did it earlier)