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Hello. Please forgive me for being a noob, but I'll do my best to be precise.
But, I decided to sign up and create a topic here because I need some specific help and/or clarification.
(Sorry if I am perhaps not in the correct place but my brain is numb from hours of reading all areas here)
The story:
Purchased used Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in Canada originally on WIND Mobile. Unlocked phone for use on TELUS.
After a month, the phone ended up getting blocked IMEI due to it being reported lost/stolen.
Purchased "IMEI repair" service with free SIM unlock and sent phone away to "Joe The Android Rooter" (androidrooter.com) based on other's similar experiences and praise.
Received phone back, IMEI good, phone in good working order.
The problem:
The Note 3 with manual APN settings via a phone call with Telus only has Network Mode options WCDMA/GSM (Auto), WCDMA or GSM only. Phone gets 3G signal. Slow data speeds are fine, but my text messaging and phone calls rarely work where I live, which is a rural area. Dropped calls, lost texts, or no service. My Samsung Galaxy S3 does LTE and never has an issue. I would prefer to have faster data and reliable network/modem mode.
Called Telus again, and was directed to this thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2489766
Have been reading around here wherever I could find information, and I'm not totally confident or clear about doing that.
It is all a little confusing to me so I need some straight forward help. I would be forever in debt.
The questions:
According to that thread, I would have to follow all those steps to enable LTE on my phone. What do I need to ensure that nothing has been modified with the IMEI repair so I don't run into any problems?
I tried the step of using the dialer for *#272*[IMEI]# and it brought me the options, and the Telus one (TLS) is listed. Can I just make that change, and voila? Or do I have perform root, etc? I'm just trying to make this easy and from what I read, I shouldn't even have been able to bring up that option through the dialer in the first place?
This thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2618684 made me second guess everything.
The phone information:
AP: N900W8VLUCNB7
CP: N900W8VLUBMJ4
CSC: N900W8OYACNB7
Model Number:
SM-N900W8
Android Version:
4.4.2
Baseband Version:
N900W8VLUBMJ4
Kernel Version:
3.4.0-859721
[email protected] #1
Thu Feb 27 17:06:41 KST 2014
Build Number:
KOT49H.N900W8VLUCNB7
SE for Android Status:
Enforcing
SEPF_SM-N900W8_4.4.2_0017
Tue Jun 24 18:55:11 2014
Security Software Version:
MDF v1.0 Release 2
Shows as Official.
I hope I have provided all the info and posted in the right spot and I am very grateful for whatever help and clarification I could get.
Sorry for the length, but thanks for taking the time to read it.
-Adam, Canada.
You just have to do the 272 code to switch to Telus... You should have lte after that. But beware, this will completely reset your device... You will have to reconfigure it from scratch.
You might as well upgrade it to the latest firmware... Your baseband should be nb7 also... Or ni1 if you use the latest videotron firmware to manually upgrade. To your will still have to change the csc (272 code) to get the correct config from r Telus
Envoyé de mon SM-N900W8 en utilisant Tapatalk
Resetting isnt an issue or anything. My main concern is doing the code/csc change, still being able to do OTA updates, or at least over Kies. I'm happy enough sticking with OTA and TouchWiz and not toying around with the phone otherwise.
I've rooted (and loved) all my devices in the past (HTC, Motorola, LG) but had such a problem with my Galaxy SIII and when I tried to root it, not only was it the most difficult, but it turned it into a nice paperweight.
I got a good deal on this phone and like the size is all.
Mr3ff said:
Resetting isnt an issue or anything. My main concern is doing the code/csc change, still being able to do OTA updates, or at least over Kies. I'm happy enough sticking with OTA and TouchWiz and not toying around with the phone otherwise.
I've rooted (and loved) all my devices in the past (HTC, Motorola, LG) but had such a problem with my Galaxy SIII and when I tried to root it, not only was it the most difficult, but it turned it into a nice paperweight.
I got a good deal on this phone and like the size is all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you change the csc with the 272 code, you shouldn't have any trouble doing ota updates. All stock Canadian roms are exactly the same... You can download and install a bell rom on a Rogers device and retain your Rogers apps/config. Only the csc is changing... And this csc is there to reconfigure your device for the specific provider.
Worst thing worst, you will have to manually download and install the latest stock rom with Odin... And after that, you will be fine. But I really doubt that you will have to do this.
Well thank you!
I backed up the phone with Kies just to save my settings and simple stuff so I wouldn't have to do it again manually, but I don't mind doing it again if I have to.
Used the code to change the CSC, rebooted, LTE is working fine. Texts+calls all function like they used to without dropping my signal and stuff.
Just using Kies to restore little stuff and I'm good.
I checked to see if I have root, which I don't. What I wonder is why everything I read told me I shouldn't have been able to simply dial that code and change the CSC without rooting? I have seen a number of people having similar issues, but if it really was this simple without root, why is it not clear that you simply just need to do this? Heck, even Telus told me to root the phone. I didn't expect that.
Mr3ff said:
Well thank you!
I backed up the phone with Kies just to save my settings and simple stuff so I wouldn't have to do it again manually, but I don't mind doing it again if I have to.
Used the code to change the CSC, rebooted, LTE is working fine. Texts+calls all function like they used to without dropping my signal and stuff.
Just using Kies to restore little stuff and I'm good.
I checked to see if I have root, which I don't. What I wonder is why everything I read told me I shouldn't have been able to simply dial that code and change the CSC without rooting? I have seen a number of people having similar issues, but if it really was this simple without root, why is it not clear that you simply just need to do this? Heck, even Telus told me to root the phone. I didn't expect that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You never have to root a phone to change the csc when the target csc is already included on your rom... Which is the case for the Canadian version of the note 3... It contains all csc for all Canadian providers (at least those that are selling it). And I think it's the same for all recent Samsung devices...
I believe You need root to change csc when the csc you want to use is not in your rom and you want to flash an other rom that includes the new csc.
tprevir had
How come then, such as on that thread here that initially sparked my willingness to do all this, was it not simply mentioned in there that one could just use the code and make the change, without having to deal with all the rooting/etc?
Of course rooting has many benefits, but some may just simply need the carrier/radio switch to enable LTE and nothing more - such as myself. (I'm okay with stock because of the S-Pen, but I am certainly considering rooting the device down the road, once it becomes "stale" to me)
As stated in http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2489766 "Have a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (model: SM-N900W8) and wish to enable LTE for a specific carrier? Follow these in-depth instructions and you will enable LTE for this specific model." which was the most comprehensive thing I could find via Google, but it really did make me wonder if it was all truly needed, to which it was not.
probably no one know at that time that all Canadian Note 3 were using the exact same rom...
that being said, not all SM-N900W8 are the same... this model is also used in other contries... so if one had bought it somewhere else, he would need to do more things to finally get LTE and/or the correct carrier apps.
The thread is from April... and at that time, I just had my device for a few days... and I did not know that we could only change the CSC to switch the configuration for an other provider. I learned a lot by reading on this subject here and there.
Envoyé de mon SM-P900 en utilisant Tapatalk
Maybe i'm wrong but i noticed you have NB7 Rom but MJ4 baseband and your problem is probably here. I bought a used note 3 and it was in the same condition. i wasn't getting LTE. If you try to upgrade your phone via ODIN, you have to go to download mode by powering off the phone first . If you go to download mode by any other way the modem partition is protected and will be not updated. I've reflashed the entire Rom and now i have NB7 baseband and NB7 Rom and i'm getting LTE with fido. Hope this helps!
Tornade69 said:
Maybe i'm wrong but i noticed you have NB7 Rom but MJ4 baseband and your problem is probably here. I bought a used note 3 and it was in the same condition. i wasn't getting LTE. If you try to upgrade your phone via ODIN, you have to go to download mode by powering off the phone first . If you go to download mode by any other way the modem partition is protected and will be not updated. I've reflashed the entire Rom and now i have NB7 baseband and NB7 Rom and i'm getting LTE with fido. Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I was concerned about at the beginning (NB7 & MJ4) but my solution was to quickly backup what few things I wanted to keep from my phone (a few pictures, contacts, settings) and then do the *#272 code and select Telus. Once it rebooted, everything worked good as new. In fact, my up/down speeds are through the roof compared to the SGS3 that I had previously and for whatever reason the quality of sound in phone calls are dramatically increased. Like AM radio to FM.
Either way, doing that code, nothing else had to be done on my phone - no rooting, no tinkering and no hassle - other than entering the code and selecting Telus.
Hi community I got my SGs4 from China and it is i9505 but came with i337 bootloader and Baseband,TW 4.3MK2
I got this from the phoen info app:
GENERAL INFO
Phone model:GT-i9505
Device type:jflteatt
Product Name:jflteuc
FIRMWARE INFO
Bootloader version: I337UCUEMK2
Baseban version: I337UCUEMK2
PDA version: I9505ZHUEMK2/i337UCUEMJ6
CSC version: i9500ZSUEMJ6
OS INFO
Build number: JSS15J.I9505ZHUEMK2(I337UCUEMJ6)
I want to know what firmware can I flash( because I want to update to 4.4.2 but dont know the right firmware),is my bootloader locked,can TWRP be install or do i need SS? and anything you can add will be appreciated
Well I think this info is important if you need more just ask me,if you need my build.prop I´ll upload ,looks like a hybrid firmware between I9505&i337
This seems like a definite Frankenstein. AT&T bootloader and device type, I9505 PDA and phone model, and I9500 CSC.
Your first task will be to download the AT&T firmware and install it. Then you need to borrow a friend's AT&T SIM and test to see if you're getting LTE. If you get LTE, then you have an AT&T phone, regardless of what anything else says. Unfortunately, that will mean you have to use Safestrap.
How much did you spend on the phone?
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
This seems like a definite Frankenstein. AT&T bootloader and device type, I9505 PDA and phone model, and I9500 CSC.
Your first task will be to download the AT&T firmware and install it. Then you need to borrow a friend's AT&T SIM and test to see if you're getting LTE. If you get LTE, then you have an AT&T phone, regardless of what anything else says. Unfortunately, that will mean you have to use Safestrap.
How much did you spend on the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right Now I'm on mexico with Telcel, my friends are on USA T-mobile,Verizon, Try to use Telcel LTE data and it connect to 4G, LTE logo dont appears.
I went to sammobile and download the 4.4.2 from hong kong, I'll flash trough odin to see what happens
I Got it on ebay for 255 dlls when it arrive home the phone was sealed
The fact it was sealed doesn't mean much. You're the second or third person I've seen on the forum asking about this, and in the case of the first user he was able to get his device working perfectly using the AT&T firmware. Regardless, the fact you weren't able to pick up LTE is a clue. It leads me to believe that in this case the phone may be correct but the firmware wrong. Here's why.
If you had an AT&T phone, as I suspected, your phone should have picked up LTE if it was unlocked for use on any carrier, as both Telcel and Nextel use band 4, while Movistar supposedly uses band 2, bands which an AT&T phone supports (bands 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 17). Check Telcel's coverage map to be certain you have LTE coverage in your area.
Neither an I9500 nor an I9505 would pick up those LTE bands. The I9500 doesn't have LTE at all, and the I9505 has LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 20. Neither phone will get LTE in North America (including Mexico). The best those phones will do is HSPA+, which on the AT&T firmware would be labeled as 4G.
Try the firmware you downloaded, but I suspect you're going to want to return the phone if you want LTE service.
this phone.....
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Neither an I9500 nor an I9505 would pick up those LTE bands. The I9500 doesn't have LTE at all, and the I9505 has LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 20. Neither phone will get LTE in North America (including Mexico). The best those phones will do is HSPA+, which on the AT&T firmware would be labeled as 4G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the scenario with my *chinese* version of the i9505.
I downloaded CPU-Z and it shows hardware: i9505, however, kernel build is a AT&T one.
I am REALLY SKEPTICAL to flash CM11 on it because I am very afraid to brick this phone. paid 300$ for it.
The funny thing is, I have the EXACT same phone as OP.
Anything I could try? please note AT&T doesn't work in Canada, nor I can borrow someone's AT&T sim card.
HOWEVER, I do have experience with a previous confirmed i337, and with bell it picked up LTE waves.
However this one doesn't.
Probably safe to flash?
I think my pat response to anyone purchasing these phones from now on will be to return them and purchase one through a Samsung-authorized retailer if Swappa isn't an option. For example, as of the time and date I write this, on Swappa there are currently 32 of the AT&T Galaxy S4 available, with prices ranging from $184 to $500US. The T-Mobile version, which doesn't have the locked bootloader of the AT&T model, has 8 devices available with prices ranging from $255-$310US. That doesn't include the Active variants or the MVNO-branded phones.
Purchasing a cell phone through eBay is, to be blunt, dangerous. You have no guarantee that the phone will be clean for activation, no guarantee that you won't have to do additional work to get the phone working, and no guarantee that the phone is even legitimate. Couple that with the buyers not doing their homework before purchasing and you get a clusterf**k of major proportions.
So, return the phone. If the seller doesn't accept returns, do a chargeback on your credit card. Or else put it up for sale as a parts phone.
Albie_Stark said:
Right Now I'm on mexico with Telcel, my friends are on USA T-mobile,Verizon, Try to use Telcel LTE data and it connect to 4G, LTE logo dont appears.
I went to sammobile and download the 4.4.2 from hong kong, I'll flash trough odin to see what happens
I Got it on ebay for 255 dlls when it arrive home the phone was sealed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Albie, can you please let me know when you get home if the phone picks up AT&T LTE waves? I am convinced this is the i9505 due to the baseband and specific board details (which correspond to the i9505 model rather than the i337, but not GPE)
VladimirMan93 said:
Albie, can you please let me know when you get home if the phone picks up AT&T LTE waves? I am convinced this is the i9505 due to the baseband and specific board details (which correspond to the i9505 model rather than the i337, but not GPE)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not a AT&T user my apologies, I used to be Cleartalk wireless user(took my verizon SGS4-i545 and flashed with them) but I drop the contract sell my phone to buy this SGS4-i9505, I'll be hard to get a AT&T sim, I download from Sammobile the i9505 4.4.2-NK2 firmware from hongkong and then try to flash through Odin,because 4.3 has a poor battery life in my case,but before I flash it I'm making a Flashable Zip for safestrap to extrac the "build.prop" and see what is in there, because may be this update fix some problems :fingers-crossed:
Albie_Stark said:
Right Now I'm on mexico with Telcel, my friends are on USA T-mobile,Verizon, Try to use Telcel LTE data and it connect to 4G, LTE logo dont appears.
I went to sammobile and download the 4.4.2 from hong kong, I'll flash trough odin to see what happens
I Got it on ebay for 255 dlls when it arrive home the phone was sealed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Albie_Stark said:
I'm not a AT&T user my apologies, I used to be Cleartalk wireless user(took my verizon SGS4-i545 and flashed with them) but I drop the contract sell my phone to buy this SGS4-i9505, I'll be hard to get a AT&T sim, I download from Sammobile the i9505 4.4.2-NK2 firmware from hongkong and then try to flash through Odin,because 4.3 has a poor battery life in my case,but before I flash it I'm making a Flashable Zip for safestrap to extrac the "build.prop" and see what is in there, because may be this update fix some problems :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did some more snooping around desperately trying to find out more information about this phone and the last thing I remember reading about before going to bed was:
No matter what we try, this phone is with a locked bootloader after the knox 4.3 update.
Unofficial firmware can and will brick this phone resulting either in a soft-brick OR, for the more unlucky ones, even a hard brick.
BUT, I also found other contradictory posts claiming that regardless the presence of the knox update, the bootloader IS infact unlocked.
It's hard to take a side due to the lack of tools to verify if the bootloader is in fact locked.
Could you please do me a HUGE favor?
if yes:
Go to your download mode and if possibly post a snapshot of the screen. I've included mine.
For some stupid reason, even though it's a i9505, it is recognized as AT&Ts SGH-I337.
Since I don't have my camera lying around, I'll write word for word what's on my screen:
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: SGH-I337
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official
System Status: Official
Knox Level Lock: 0x0
Knox Warranty Void: 0x0
CSB-Config-LSB: 0x30
Write Protection Enable
eMMC Brust Mode: Enabled
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If this flash works for you, please let me know.
If the BL is unlocked in the Firmware you're trying to flash to it, Please let me know.
I want to go out of this nightmare and continue with my work.
and if you could share links in a PM to me or here, that would be simply perfect.
Cheers and thanks for everything
We have the same download mode screen -_- u.u ,I try to flash the NK2 and it fail than t means we have a locked bootloader :'( ,couple of minutes ago I dowload the mk2 & NB2 for i9505 from Hongkong I would flash them at 10 pm pacific time I will keep you updated my last resource will be to flash mk2 for the AT&T variant in my case I can live with that if root is available ooo! just found a threat to get 4.4.2 NB1 but it is for the i337 anyway Let me see what happens with the 2 Downloaded firmwares
Ps:I don't really care about the warranty so if there is a good dev reading this helpme.to install the i9505 official firmware from any country,
Albie_Stark said:
We have the same download mode screen -_- u.u ,I try to flash the NK2 and it fail than t means we have a locked bootloader :'( ,couple of minutes ago I dowload the mk2 & NB2 for i9505 from Hongkong I would flash them at 10 pm pacific time I will keep you updated my last resource will be to flash mk2 for the AT&T variant in my case I can live with that if root is available ooo! just found a threat to get 4.4.2 NB1 but it is for the i337 anyway Let me see what happens with the 2 Downloaded firmwares
Ps:I don't really care about the warranty so if there is a good dev reading this helpme.to install the i9505 official firmware from any country,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anxiously waiting your progress!
It's simple.
You got an SGH-I337.
You probably got a rom installed that is ported from I9505 and they didn't edit the build.prop.
I'd crack open the phone and look for the model number on the motherboard. That would eliminate any and all confusion.
MK2 & NB2 for i9505 HKong version give "secure check Fail:system" cant find answer for that......with the 4.42 firmware it gave me "secure check fail:aboot"
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
I'd crack open the phone and look for the model number on the motherboard. That would eliminate any and all confusion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
man ,following your advice,flashin mk2 for i337 I done with this, Should hear you since the begining now odin is flashing
"Damn you 15's :Joey Tribbiani Quotes"
Hope this help you
@VladimirMan93 Sorry man I fail on my quest our hope is flash mk2 for i337 and if You want to update to 4.4.2 or 4.4.4
follow this threat is very usefull you will find MK2 ,the updates,rooting& safestrap
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/guide-odin-to-stock-updating-rooting-t2926642 :good:
Do not do anything stupid my friend!!
Albie_Stark said:
@VladimirMan93 Sorry man I fail on my quest our hope is flash mk2 for i337 and if You want to update to 4.4.2 or 4.4.4
follow this threat is very usefull you will find MK2 ,the updates,rooting& safestrap
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/guide-odin-to-stock-updating-rooting-t2926642 :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ALBIE!
DO NOT DO ANYTHING STUPID!!!
I just rooted my phone with success man!
Here is the link. literally took me 5 minutes. just be sure to:
1) no a-v on the phone!!! <- Very important!!!
2) use high quality USB cable
3) be patient.
4) have a VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY big nerdgasm like I did when my 4.3 pos was rooted!
Code:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2565758
here is the link my friend enjoy your rooted HongKong version of the i9505
PS: Are you willing to experiment a little more with it? Let me know I have something in mind.
VladimirMan93 said:
ALBIE!
DO NOT DO ANYTHING STUPID!!!
I just rooted my phone with success man!
Here is the link. literally took me 5 minutes. just be sure to:
1) no a-v on the phone!!! <- Very important!!!
2) use high quality USB cable
3) be patient.
4) have a VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY big nerdgasm like I did when my 4.3 pos was rooted!
Code:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2565758
here is the link my friend enjoy your rooted HongKong version of the i9505
PS: Are you willing to experiment a little more with it? Let me know I have something in mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man ,but I follow that threat the first day my phone arrive with success, install "Samsung phone info" to look deeper,that was the moment when I realize that my phone was a mess. tried to install the custom recovery,when I went to download mode I saw the screen you posted before, try to flash official firmware from samsun gi9505 -odin giveme the "aboot fail" wich means lock bootloader so I start this threat. the rest is history.... this afternoon I check the hardware and surprise!!! "I337" was all over the phone except for the sticker in the battery slot......
Flash 4.3MK2 for i33 via Odin,it intalled super fast with no problems then follow the threat I recommend you to take the update to 4.4.4NJ4 root,intall safestrap I´m so happy with my new improve battery life and maybe tomorrow I flash wanamlite,If I was able to flash it before on mi SGS4 from verizon I guess I can flash on my new phone wich has the same hardware that i9505,becsuse I read this on te forum:
"I337,i9505 & M919 have the same hardware except for the bootloader. any way I keep looking and experiment until I can install i9505 firmware through Odin
Albie_Stark said:
Thanks man ,but I follow that threat the first day my phone arrive with success, install "Samsung phone info" to look deeper,that was the moment when I realize that my phone was a mess. tried to install the custom recovery,when I went to download mode I saw the screen you posted before, try to flash official firmware from samsun gi9505 -odin giveme the "aboot fail" wich means lock bootloader so I start this threat. the rest is history.... this afternoon I check the hardware and surprise!!! "I337" was all over the phone except for the sticker in the battery slot......
Flash 4.3MK2 for i33 via Odin,it intalled super fast with no problems then follow the threat I recommend you to take the update to 4.4.4NJ4 root,intall safestrap I´m so happy with my new improve battery life and maybe tomorrow I flash wanamlite,If I was able to flash it before on mi SGS4 from verizon I guess I can flash on my new phone wich has the same hardware that i9505,becsuse I read this on te forum:
"I337,i9505 & M919 have the same hardware except for the bootloader. any way I keep looking and experiment until I can install i9505 firmware through Odin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only reason I buy the S4 is because Cyanogen mod 12. I am so excited to figure out how to put it on this phone. And they have compatible ROM!!! :C
Which is how this is so much more intense.
I WANT IT, I WANT IT! I paid 400$ for my freedom, I want it!! D:
VladimirMan93 said:
The only reason I buy the S4 is because Cyanogen mod 12. I am so excited to figure out how to put it on this phone. And they have compatible ROM!!! :C
Which is how this is so much more intense.
I WANT IT, I WANT IT! I paid 400$ for my freedom, I want it!! D:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG I paid 255$ !!! I belive Isaw you in other forum asking right??
Hope they find how to unlock the BL or AT&T give us Unlock BL with the Lolipop update
Hi
My OH has just bought herself a recon S5 in the UK.
But it seems to be a bit jumbled up. Sticker on the box said SM-G900A (American AT&T). Device info says it's an SM-G900F (Europe). We are in the UK. I'm believing the device info.
But it seems someone has flashed a Chinese or Korean version of the firmware on it? Factory reset starts in Korean or Chinese (I can't tell which) and the firmware version is G900FZHU1ANG1. It's KitKat 4.4.2.
She wants it up to date on Lollipop. Whatever that firmware version is, it doesn't want to OTA update to Lollipop.
So, I've downloaded the latest Lollipop BTU build for the 900F (BTU-G900FXXU1BOE5-20150601141257.zip - which I got from a link on here) and plan to flash it with Odin 3.10.6. As per instructions on sammobile. (and here, they're the same)
I've not flashed a ROM for a looooong time and I don't want to brick her phone (cos I'll have to buy the replacement!). So before I go any further, can someone quickly confirm I can just go ahead and jump straight from the current KitKat firmware to this Lollipop build? Don't want root or anything, just the latest, official, unbranded, firmware for it. Which is what I have as far as I can tell.
A simple Yes or No would be great.
Many thanks in advance.
First up ..... apologies. I didn't get any answers I suspect as this was too obvious a question.
I was in a hurry, so I signed up and asked quickly before I went out last night, hoping for just a yes/no. I should probably have posted this in the "Assist" forum anyway.
As it turns out, it doesn't matter. Further reading said I could flash it as it as is. So I tried. And it failed (didn't brick it, it barely got started, phone still works). Box sticker said 900A (AT&T - which is a horrible version as it turns out). Phone info said 900F (International - which would have been fine). Recovery mode though, also reported it as a 900A. Which is I think is why it failed very early trying to flash it with Odin. So it would appear it is a 900A version, which someone has managed to get a Chinese firmware onto somehow to hide it being an American version and sold it to a phone reclycling store in the UK. And it looks like they got away with it.
On that basis alone, I would be returning it. (It would never get auto-upadtes outside the USA, is hard to root, hard to update, and updates from AT&T are VERY slow and she wants stock, not CM or anything)
But it doesn't matter. It has a bigger fauly.
The blue LED on the top left stays on constantly. Even when the phone is powered down completely. Which is not right. Overnight last night, powered off, it lost almost 20% of it's battery. So it's fauly. It's going back.
Thankfully she bought it from a large, reputable, online store in the UK. So the return won't be a problem. Just hope the replacement isn't a dud as well!
Hi!
I've bought a Galaxy S5 (G900P) from Ebay last year, but I wasn't aware that the Sprint variant is meant for the US. (just realized that now, since I ran into problems). I've used it for almost a year now, running Android 5.1.1 with Cyanogenmod custom ROM on it - here comes the thing - as G900F. (which I just realized aswell, thinking back, and checking screenshots / Windows logs). The About Phone section, the usb drivers in Windows, several other things claimed it was G900F firmware on it - and I was able to use 3g mobile internet on it, was connected to Vodafone Hungary without problems. (turns out I can't use 4g in Europe with this variant, that's my bad). The Recovery mode (used Phil'z) and the Download mode both displayed G900P..I'm not sure what to think now.
The problems started when a few days back, Cyanogenmod announced the 13rd version, and my auto-update on CM12 took its curse, and updated it. The whole thing went smooth, phone rebooted, and instantly got hotter and hotter, draining the battery seriously fast. I've tried several apps, methods, none could help it, so I decided to just stick with Android 6.0.1 (since it came with the CM13).
Through 2 days of suffering and reading forums, pages till my eyes bled out, I managed to have a stock G900P 6.0.1. Android on my phone, it's currently charging, but here comes the fun, I'm not able to get mobile internet (3g). I could connect to Vodafone Hungary somehow, calling, and receiving calls, but there are several other things wrong with the phone like this. I've also tried to revert back to 5.1.1 (even the Stock ROM would be fine, I'd gladly skip on CM12), but Odin failed and failed each and every time.
So my question is: I know it's possible, because I DID have it, but I don't know how to anymore - G900F firmware on a G900P phone. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
(current status - Android 6.0.1 with stock G900P firmware - unrooted / I think/ ; without custom recovery, in Download mode both things say Official)
P.S.: if this subforum isn't the place for a thread like this, I'm asking a mod to please move it to a rightful section, thank you!
Hi all, (I previously asked this here.)
I have a carrier unlocked SM-G950U that was previously on T Mobile that I now have on Verizon, (long story, see below.) However, my device isn't updating, as seems to be the case for a lot of migrated SM-G950U(s). Of course, I want Android 9, and I also wouldn't mind getting rid of some of Verizon's bloatware. I was also fortunate enough to have received a research grant for some work in Italy, and I'd like to bring my phone along, (I'm a student.) So really, 3 reasons:
I want Android 9.
I don't want Verizon's bloatware.
I want to be able to switch carriers without the painful process of a carrier unlocked phone. (Ie., with the unlocked firmware my understanding is that I only need to restart my phone, as opposed to resetting my device, to switch carriers/SIMs in the carrier unlocked (ie., non-U1) device, (I think.))
I want to flash an SM-G950U1 ROM, but I'm not sure if this is still possible, (though according to here and here it was possible about 2 years ago, on different firmware/bootloaders.)
My plan is to do this:
Download this G950U1UEU5DSC1_XAA from updato. (I believe XAA is the unlocked region code. My device is already carrier unlocked.)
Flash with ODIN (3.12.3, as far as I know only making sure repartitioning is UNchecked.)
I have a Snapdragon device.
Will this brick my phone?
Alternatively, here says I can download any carrier version of G950USQU5DSC1 (except Verizon and Sprint,) flash it, and it will work. I think this only accomplishes my getting Android 9, however, as it is still a carrier branded ROM. (So I'd still have to deal with bloatware and (possibly) resetting my device to switch networks.)
Phone INFO (the app) lists:
Original CSC Code: [blank]
Firmware's CSC Code: XAA
Active CSC Code: VZW
Avaialble CSC Codes: [a bunch]
Bootloader Version: G950USQU5CRG3
CSC Version: G950UOTN5CRG3
Baseband Version: G950USQU5CRG3
Build Number: R16NW.G950USQU5CRG3
Long story of how I got a carrier unlocked (SM-G950U) and not unlocked (SM-G950U1) device:
I purchased my "new" device on Amazon through a third party about 3 months ago. I checked the model number and found SM-G950U, but a couple places online said that this was indeed a regular, unlocked S8. However, my device wouldn't update, and I could see that I was stuck on a mid July/August build of Android 8, (CRG3.) Now that the summer's getting closer, I need(ed) to make sure my device is going to work while in Italy, so I called Samsung to update it/make sure it would work. They told me my device was previously activated on T Mobile, unlocked, apparently refurbished and sold to me. I rechecked the Amazon listing and it was in fact listed as new. (It was alongside Amazon's own listing for the S8.) Unfortunately, after spending the second half of my day on support calls, I won't be able to return my device because it's been just over 3 months. Looks like my next best option is to update/maintain it myself.
staMerrill said:
Hi all, (I previously asked this here.)
I have a carrier unlocked SM-G950U that was previously on T Mobile that I now have on Verizon, (long story, see below.) However, my device isn't updating, as seems to be the case for a lot of migrated SM-G950U(s). Of course, I want Android 9, and I also wouldn't mind getting rid of some of Verizon's bloatware. I was also fortunate enough to have received a research grant for some work in Italy, and I'd like to bring my phone along, (I'm a student.) So really, 3 reasons:
I want Android 9.
I don't want Verizon's bloatware.
I want to be able to switch carriers without the painful process of a carrier unlocked phone. (Ie., with the unlocked firmware my understanding is that I only need to restart my phone, as opposed to resetting my device, to switch carriers/SIMs in the carrier unlocked (ie., non-U1) device, (I think.))
I want to flash an SM-G950U1 ROM, but I'm not sure if this is still possible, (though according to here and here it was possible about 2 years ago, on different firmware/bootloaders.)
My plan is to do this:
Download this G950U1UEU5DSC1_XAA from updato. (I believe XAA is the unlocked region code. My device is already carrier unlocked.)
Flash with ODIN (3.12.3, as far as I know only making sure repartitioning is UNchecked.)
I have a Snapdragon device.
Will this brick my phone?
Alternatively, here says I can download any carrier version of G950USQU5DSC1 (except Verizon and Sprint,) flash it, and it will work. I think this only accomplishes my getting Android 9, however, as it is still a carrier branded ROM. (So I'd still have to deal with bloatware and (possibly) resetting my device to switch networks.)
Phone INFO (the app) lists:
Original CSC Code: [blank]
Firmware's CSC Code: XAA
Active CSC Code: VZW
Avaialble CSC Codes: [a bunch]
Bootloader Version: G950USQU5CRG3
CSC Version: G950UOTN5CRG3
Baseband Version: G950USQU5CRG3
Build Number: R16NW.G950USQU5CRG3
Long story of how I got a carrier unlocked (SM-G950U) and not unlocked (SM-G950U1) device:
I purchased my "new" device on Amazon through a third party about 3 months ago. I checked the model number and found SM-G950U, but a couple places online said that this was indeed a regular, unlocked S8. However, my device wouldn't update, and I could see that I was stuck on a mid July/August build of Android 8, (CRG3.) Now that the summer's getting closer, I need(ed) to make sure my device is going to work while in Italy, so I called Samsung to update it/make sure it would work. They told me my device was previously activated on T Mobile, unlocked, apparently refurbished and sold to me. I rechecked the Amazon listing and it was in fact listed as new. (It was alongside Amazon's own listing for the S8.) Unfortunately, after spending the second half of my day on support calls, I won't be able to return my device because it's been just over 3 months. Looks like my next best option is to update/maintain it myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lss yes you can. I don't know the exact. But it is nearly impossible to truly brick a u model. But everything you show looks good. I think you need the modded odin for unbranded but you can Google carrier switching s8 and it should lead you right back to xda
TheMadScientist said:
Lss yes you can. I don't know the exact. But it is nearly impossible to truly brick a u model. But everything you show looks good. I think you need the modded odin for unbranded but you can Google carrier switching s8 and it should lead you right back to xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick reply!
I'll try later today with the G950U1 firmware. I've finished downloading the T Mobile firmware recommended by the second thread, (G950USQU5DSC1,) in case anything goes wrong, (in which case it looks like this firmware will positively work.)
staMerrill said:
Thanks for the quick reply!
I'll try later today with the G950U1 firmware. I've finished downloading the T Mobile firmware recommended by the second thread, (G950USQU5DSC1,) in case anything goes wrong, (in which case it looks like this firmware will positively work.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/rd-carrier-switch-root-snapdragon-t3597473
Just download the G950U1 firmware from Updato (or using SamFirm or Frija) and use that instead of the firmware referenced in the linked instructions.
Hai Karate said:
See here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/rd-carrier-switch-root-snapdragon-t3597473
Just download the G950U1 firmware from Updato (or using SamFirm or Frija) and use that instead of the firmware referenced in the linked instructions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So as a surprise to no one, this worked successfully.
Thanks for all the help!
Ultimately, I did have to deviate from the guide here, (the same one you linked and that I had above.) I needed to download a new patched version of ODIN, which I got here.
The process was:
Download PatcheD Odin
Launch PatcheD Odin
Put phone in Download Mode
Connect Phone to PC
Extract the G950U1UEU5DSC1_XAA firmware from updato. (The same link/URL as I have above.)
Browse to/find files in Odin and put them in the right places.
Start...
Wait a reasonable amount of time for the files to be downloaded to the device, and forever for it to actually update.
Profit, (and finish setting up the device, wondering how you're going to signin without your 2FA codes...)
So again, thank you everyone. If anyone comes across this thread in the future you have my steps.