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Downloade Mode - Write Protection : Enable- safe flash with Odin?

I have Galaxy S4 i9505. I downloaded latest MEA firmware from sammobile I wanna update via odin. WHen I get into download mode. It says Write Protection : Enable. Will this effect from flashing via odin? Is it safe to flash? I have not rooted my phone, original stock rom doesn't give me the latest update of firmware. So I would like to update it myself. Even kies doesn't have it.
Please assist me. Thank you all.
I really don't want an expensive brick.

Yep just flash newest firmware whit odin
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

Mine said exactly the same... nothing to worry about, just flash as normal through Odin

I tried flashing CWM recovery instead. it says success but I still do not get CWM recovery. What did I do wrong?

yvliew said:
I tried flashing CWM recovery instead. it says success but I still do not get CWM recovery. What did I do wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for boot into CWM , you hold "power + volume up + home" after shutdown phone

I have a "GT-I9505". I was able to Odin TWRP. My objective is actually to turn it into an SGH-I337M, a bootloader unlocked version of SGH-I337, which is locked. All 3 are S4 variants. The mainboard of my SGH-I337M recently died. Since I couldn't find a replacement I337M board anywhere, and my research shows the mainboard of these 2 variants are interchangeable, hardware-wise, I bought an I9505 mainboard and dropped it in. An I9505 certainly comes with I9505's bootloader and baseband. Since I live in the U.S., I'd like to replace at least the baseband to North America, ie. my original I337M baseband. However, when I tried to Odin either the entire I337M stock ROM or just the baseband alone, it kept failing due to (AUTH). Since I was able to Odin TWRP, does it not imply the bootloader of my I9505 is unlocked? If it is unlocked, why is it preventing the baseband or the entire ROM from being flashed? I do have this "WRITE PROTECTION: Enable" message on my download mode screen too, but you guys have determined it can be ignored. Thank you in adv for any tips.

luckysoul777 said:
Since I live in the U.S., I'd like to replace at least the baseband to North America, ie. my original I337M baseband. However, when I tried to Odin either the entire I337M stock ROM or just the baseband alone, it kept failing due to (AUTH).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The I9505 is bootloader unlocked and comes that way by default; it's the US that loves locking bootloaders. Regardless, you CANNOT mix and match boards and basebands, as the low-level firmware in the S4 will detect the mismatch and reject the change. I know, as I attempted it with a flashable zip on my I9505. The device refused it and would not install it. Odin will reject it as well, for the same reason.
You would have to re-program the cellular radio's low level firmware to accept North American bands. People have tried it, including myself, but most of them were unsuccessful, including me. There is a thread in the forums here explaining what to do. Read it, and good luck.

[Q] messed up good this time

hi all. need help
i've been playing with different roms for couple of years now on different phones and did not have any problems.
till now that is ....
i have installed Omega 21.1, but from time to time phone would lose gsm data connection so i decided to flash something else.
installed [ROM]KOT49H【4.4.2】AOSP official Google Edition and it was good.
for some, God knows what reason, wanted to try Omega19 (4.3). installed fine but sound was broken. when ever phone used any kind of sound it would start flashing or would freeze or something. Flasing any other rom did not help. and for some reason it does not let me change modem with odin.
Last modem i have installed is XXUEMJ5.
tried to do restore using [GUIDE] Unroot/Unbrick, Flash official stock firmware on Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 & I9505 but Odin would fail with Auth error
tried with Odin 3.47, and 3.07
now i still can install rom but stops in logo loop. tried both Omega and google edition.
pls help

gec said:
hi all. need help
i've been playing with different roms for couple of years now on different phones and did not have any problems.
till now that is ....
i have installed Omega 21.1, but from time to time phone would lose gsm data connection so i decided to flash something else.
installed [ROM]KOT49H【4.4.2】AOSP official Google Edition and it was good.
for some, God knows what reason, wanted to try Omega19 (4.3). installed fine but sound was broken. when ever phone used any kind of sound it would start flashing or would freeze or something. Flasing any other rom did not help. and for some reason it does not let me change modem with odin.
Last modem i have installed is XXUEMJ5.
tried to do restore using [GUIDE] Unroot/Unbrick, Flash official stock firmware on Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 & I9505 but Odin would fail with Auth error
tried with Odin 3.47, and 3.07
now i still can install rom but stops in logo loop. tried both Omega and google edition.
pls help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Once you have installed a TW 4.4.2 ROM , it installs the latest knox bootloader.
At that point , you cannot downgrade your firmware.
You said you installed [ROM]KOT49H【4.4.2】AOSP official Google Edition and it was good.
Your best bet is to re-install that.
As for the modem , there is a technique which you have to try:
Look HERE
That should help.
BTW , I edited your title

thx. will try that and report back.

nope, still stuck @ logo loop
not sure what more combination to test

tried Omega 21.1 with
Bootloader -> BL_I9505XXUFNA5_373648_REV06_user_low_ship_MULTI_C ERT.tar.md5 and
Modems -> CP_I9505XXUFNA5_373648_REV06_user_low_ship_MULTI_C ERT.tar.md5
but now it does not get to the logo. shows samsung logo and than screen goes blank.

gec said:
tried Omega 21.1 with
Bootloader -> BL_I9505XXUFNA5_373648_REV06_user_low_ship_MULTI_C ERT.tar.md5 and
Modems -> CP_I9505XXUFNA5_373648_REV06_user_low_ship_MULTI_C ERT.tar.md5
but now it does not get to the logo. shows samsung logo and than screen goes blank.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Did you try the GE ROM?

gec said:
tried Omega 21.1 with
Bootloader -> BL_I9505XXUFNA5_373648_REV06_user_low_ship_MULTI_C ERT.tar.md5 and
Modems -> CP_I9505XXUFNA5_373648_REV06_user_low_ship_MULTI_C ERT.tar.md5
but now it does not get to the logo. shows samsung logo and than screen goes blank.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to reFlash those Files with Odin then Boot into TWRP mode and Do a full wipe and Install Omega (Inside Omega file there's Fullwipe , Click that and Setup the apps you need) then reboot .Make sure that You have a TWRP recovery^

malybru said:
Hi,
Did you try the GE ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope. cant find anything with that name. could you link it please?

Repulsa said:
Try to reFlash those Files with Odin then Boot into TWRP mode and Do a full wipe and Install Omega (Inside Omega file there's Fullwipe , Click that and Setup the apps you need) then reboot .Make sure that You have a TWRP recovery^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thx.
tried it. no success after samsung logo just goes black.

gec said:
nope. cant find anything with that name. could you link it please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
You said you tried the [ROM]KOT49H【4.4.2】AOSP official Google Edition ,and it worked .
So I figured to try and re-install that one.
The other thing you must do between flashing different ROMS is a full wipe (Cache and data)

yes. that was first thing i tested. at best i get the logo loop.
and yes, i do full data wipe before and after reinstallation of the new rom.
cache wipe only whe requested but in this case done that to.
is there a way to see a boot log or something to see where and why booting stops?

gec said:
yes. that was first thing i tested. at best i get the logo loop.
and yes, i do full data wipe before and after reinstallation of the new rom.
cache wipe only whe requested but in this case done that to.
is there a way to see a boot log or something to see where and why booting stops?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best thing you can do is flash the entire 4.4.2 stock rom via odin.And start from scratch(Recovery/Custom rom) Since you already flashed the newestbootloader (from OMEGA file) .This mean your knox is now triggered and your warranty is now void 0x01.

gec said:
yes. that was first thing i tested. at best i get the logo loop.
and yes, i do full data wipe before and after reinstallation of the new rom.
cache wipe only whe requested but in this case done that to.
is there a way to see a boot log or something to see where and why booting stops?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Perhaps you should try to find the latest test stock 4.4.2 firmware ( I9505XXUFNA1) and flash it in odin.
Wipe data and cache before and after flashing.
And then wait for the official update.
At least you should have a phone you can use.

following http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2265477
i've found that there is 4.3 stock image I9505XXUEMKF. downloaded it and tried to install but that did not work.
now this is a noob question but is there a speciffic bootloader, modem or something else i need to flash before flashing this image?
or should i search for 4.4.2 version?
thx

flashing stock 4.3 on current bootloader/modem combination gives me Fail from Odin and Sw. Rev. Check Fail error on the phone.

gec said:
flashing stock 4.3 on current bootloader/modem combination gives me Fail from Odin and Sw. Rev. Check Fail error on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe malybru already answer that for you .Thread and Stop experimenting with your Phone because there's a chance that you might bricked your Device or end up with no IMEI.. and Your asking for help/Solution mate so follow their instruction . If not feel free to send your Phone to customer Service for repair.( and Be aware that your warranty is already voided unless your Country is part of EU so Rooting and Flashing don't void your warranty)

Repulsa said:
I believe malybru already answer that for you .Thread and Stop experimenting with your Phone because there's a chance that you might bricked your Device or end up with no IMEI.. and Your asking for help/Solution mate so follow their instruction . If not feel free to send your Phone to customer Service for repair.( and Be aware that your warranty is already voided unless your Country is part of EU so Rooting and Flashing don't void your warranty)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what you mean that if you leave in a country that is part of EU, It doesn't matter if KNOX is triggered? (I life in Holland btw)

KingOfDope said:
So what you mean that if you leave in a country that is part of EU, It doesn't matter if KNOX is triggered? (I life in Holland btw)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click the link on EU mate . And start reading even my provider said that if the knox is already triggered, My phone still have warranty for 2 years as long its a hardware/system problem. But if i break the glass on my phone and such then i dont have any warranty for that..and must pay them for a repair.
Sent from Hell ��

Repulsa said:
I believe malybru already answer that for you .Thread and Stop experimenting with your Phone because there's a chance that you might bricked your Device or end up with no IMEI.. and Your asking for help/Solution mate so follow their instruction . If not feel free to send your Phone to customer Service for repair.( and Be aware that your warranty is already voided unless your Country is part of EU so Rooting and Flashing don't void your warranty)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ah, my bad. for some reason i was reading 4.4.2 as 4.2.2
i did follow all other instructions, and i thank you all for them, but still not sure where to go from here.
i know i should stick to 4.4.2 firmware but need to check somehow if bootloader/modem combination that i've install is actually installed.

gec said:
ah, my bad. for some reason i was reading 4.4.2 as 4.2.2
i did follow all other instructions, and i thank you all for them, but still not sure where to go from here.
i know i should stick to 4.4.2 firmware but need to check somehow if bootloader/modem combination that i've install is actually installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you already flash the Bootloader from Omega then you can no longer downgrade to 4.3 stock , that's why your Getting Fail (Auth) in Odin Flash the 4.4.2 stock Leak rom for now then if you consider flashing a Custom Rom then ,flash the philz recovery 6.09.2 or TWRP (Dont forget to Nandroid backup EFS and such and then DO A CLEAN WIPE by Wiping cache, dalvik cache data and system) and From recovery flash any Custom rom you like. (no need to root your phone, Your phone will be rooted after flashing any custom rom . So goodluck

[Q] Soft Brink! Please Help i337m

Hi, everyone I'm at a lost my S4 has been down for over a month now.
I've tried all the steps in the s4 bricked forums with no luck. I can't do the Kies recovery because it asks for a recovery code I don't have. (I bought the phone 2nd hand)
At this point I'm not even sure which stock rom I need to set the phone back to stock. I believe its a I337MVLUAMG1. I'm trying to run the phone on Aio.
When flashing from odin I usually get a failure. Seems like the Canadian S4 is prone to soft bricking searching the forums.
Currently I have Philz Advanced recovery installed. I'm stuck at Samsung Galaxy S4 logo
with
Kernel is not seandroid enforcing
Set Warranty bit: kernel
Any help of suggestions are gratefully appreciated.

Hey dude. No expert here, but it sounds like u have the new bootloader i.e. Knox. If ur going to do an odin flash to restore it, it's going to have to be at least MK6 firmware (I'm guessing this is the firmware u were on as NC1 just dropped and u said u'd been bricked for a month). Knox won't let u downgrade so if u've been flashing a 4.2 firmware then that's prolly why ur stuck at the boot screen. Good luck chief.
Oh, also, if u can boot into recovery, doing a factory reset and wiping /system couldn't hurt.

blankingblank said:
Hey dude. No expert here, but it sounds like u have the new bootloader i.e. Knox. If ur going to do an odin flash to restore it, it's going to have to be at least MK6 firmware (I'm guessing this is the firmware u were on as NC1 just dropped and u said u'd been bricked for a month). Knox won't let u downgrade so if u've been flashing a 4.2 firmware then that's prolly why ur stuck at the boot screen. Good luck chief.
Oh, also, if u can boot into recovery, doing a factory reset and wiping /system couldn't hurt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright thank you thats a step in the right direction. I downloaded: I337MVLUFNC1_880525_REV06_user_low_ship_MULTI and tried flashing it. I'm getting odin failures. I can successful flash a recovery or modem. But flashing an entire ROM from odin fails every time. I'm not sure what stock ROMs will work with my phone. Its a Canadian i337m last time I was able to boot I was on MG1 i believe. I don't know if it matters. But I bricked my phone trying to undo the tmobile AWS work around (I swtiched to Aio).

crayak said:
Alright thank you thats a step in the right direction. I downloaded: I337MVLUFNC1_880525_REV06_user_low_ship_MULTI and tried flashing it. I'm getting odin failures. I can successful flash a recovery or modem. But flashing an entire ROM from odin fails every time. I'm not sure what stock ROMs will work with my phone. Its a Canadian i337m last time I was able to boot I was on MG1 i believe. I don't know if it matters. But I bricked my phone trying to undo the tmobile AWS work around (I swtiched to Aio).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U said u had the Knox msg come up when booting right? That means ur bootloader is 4.3 or higher regardless of what baseband ur on (modem). U can find a carrier specific version of the latest firmware at samsung-updates. Extract the tar.md5 and flash under AP in Odin 3.09 after unticking auto reboot and force reboot. If that fails u can try formatting all ur device partitions in recovery. Doubt that last part would help the odin flash stick but it's worth a shot. I use philz and u can format everything from /boot to /firmware_mdm. Like I said, dunno if that'll help but u could try it. Also, using kies on ur PC, u should make sure u have the latest drivers installed. Hope some of that helps

blankingblank said:
U said u had the Knox msg come up when booting right? That means ur bootloader is 4.3 or higher regardless of what baseband ur on (modem). U can find a carrier specific version of the latest firmware at samsung-updates. Extract the tar.md5 and flash under AP in Odin 3.09 after unticking auto reboot and force reboot. If that fails u can try formatting all ur device partitions in recovery. Doubt that last part would help the odin flash stick but it's worth a shot. I use philz and u can format everything from /boot to /firmware_mdm. Like I said, dunno if that'll help but u could try it. Also, using kies on ur PC, u should make sure u have the latest drivers installed. Hope some of that helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holly Vag thank you! I can now fully boot the phone. I installed Philz recovery and installed Vision X G4. WiFi is not working, and I haven't put my sim card in to see if it'll work with At&t/Aio yet.
Okay next step this is a Canadian Rogers i337m I think. Not sure how to confirm it. But assuming it is. What do I need to do to get wifi running. I see forums saying to install certain kernel and modems for the Canadian version. I'm not sure how to proceed considering I'm trying to use the phone on Aio/At&t, and suggestions?
Thank you, thank you. This is the farthest I've gotten I've been using a SGH-I437Z=Crapola.

crayak said:
Holly Vag thank you! I can now fully boot the phone. I installed Philz recovery and installed Vision X G4. WiFi is not working, and I haven't put my sim card in to see if it'll work with At&t/Aio yet.
Okay next step this is a Canadian Rogers i337m I think. Not sure how to confirm it. But assuming it is. What do I need to do to get wifi running. I see forums saying to install certain kernel and modems for the Canadian version. I'm not sure how to proceed considering I'm trying to use the phone on Aio/At&t, and suggestions?
Thank you, thank you. This is the farthest I've gotten I've been using a SGH-I437Z=Crapola.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol not sure anything I said helped. I think u must've wiped /firmware or /firmware_MDM right? I only meant to do that if u were going to flash a stock fw as it would replace those parts automatically. I think u lost ur non.hlos.bin file... Flashing a stock fw will bring it back. U can wipe everything again from philz if u want and try an Odin flash again using my instructions from the last post. Also, u want to flash a stock fw that uses the same base as the rom ur planning to flash, i.e. if u restore using a stock KitKat ROM (NC1), then ur gonna wanna make sure u flash a KitKat rom afterwards as the Knox BL won't let u downgrade.
As for which carrier fw to choose, the hardware is the same in all the Canadian variants, so any will work, although I think u were on a bell fw originally cuz of the MG1 suffix.

blankingblank said:
Lol not sure anything I said helped. I think u must've wiped /firmware or /firmware_MDM right? I only meant to do that if u were going to flash a stock fw as it would replace those parts automatically. I think u lost ur non.hlos.bin file... Flashing a stock fw will bring it back. U can wipe everything again from philz if u want and try an Odin flash again using my instructions from the last post. Also, u want to flash a stock fw that uses the same base as the rom ur planning to flash, i.e. if u restore using a stock KitKat ROM (NC1), then ur gonna wanna make sure u flash a KitKat rom afterwards as the Knox BL won't let u downgrade.
As for which carrier fw to choose, the hardware is the same in all the Canadian variants, so any will work, although I think u were on a bell fw originally cuz of the MG1 suffix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You helped me quite a bit. Thank you. I reflashed Philz recovery with odin, then installed Vision X. I'm not sure what MDM or non.hlos.bin fiels are for. I don't want to use Odin with this phone. Searching the forums seems like this phone and odin don't get along when flashing a full ROM. I'd prefer to do all flashing using recovery. Now I just need to find the right stock zip.

crayak said:
You helped me quite a bit. Thank you. I reflashed Philz recovery with odin, then installed Vision X. I'm not sure what MDM or non.hlos.bin fiels are for. I don't want to use Odin with this phone. Searching the forums seems like this phone and odin don't get along when flashing a full ROM. I'd prefer to do all flashing using recovery. Now I just need to find the right stock zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. Ya I guess the recovery zips could work just as well as the Odin tar.md5's would. I've just never used a recovery to flash a stock rom before.
Fwiw I have the same phone as u and have used Odin plenty, with positive results, although I've heard that peoples experiences with it vary a great deal. Having the right USB drivers installed on ur PC is key tho if u do use it.

Rom or Firmware?
crayak said:
Hi, everyone I'm at a lost my S4 has been down for over a month now.
I've tried all the steps in the s4 bricked forums with no luck. I can't do the Kies recovery because it asks for a recovery code I don't have. (I bought the phone 2nd hand)
At this point I'm not even sure which stock rom I need to set the phone back to stock. I believe its a I337MVLUAMG1. I'm trying to run the phone on Aio.
When flashing from odin I usually get a failure. Seems like the Canadian S4 is prone to soft bricking searching the forums.
Currently I have Philz Advanced recovery installed. I'm stuck at Samsung Galaxy S4 logo
with
Kernel is not seandroid enforcing
Set Warranty bit: kernel
Any help of suggestions are gratefully appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that have tried to install rom or firmware?

Pika71 said:
that have tried to install rom or firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have it booting into Maple Leaf now. Still trying to figure out if my performance issues are kernel, modem, or maybe its just KitKat?
My next phone is going to be a developer edition.

oh...
crayak said:
I have it booting into Maple Leaf now. Still trying to figure out if my performance issues are kernel, modem, or maybe its just KitKat?
My next phone is going to be a developer edition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is the kit kat is very little battery

Mystery Frankenstien S4 Multiple Errors and Inconsistencies

I've got a strange S4 on my hands. Its stock 4.4.2 was reporting it as i9505, international S4 LTE version.
However the download mode is reporting it as SPH-L720. Nvm, just a little hiccup I thought, let's go ahead.
I managed to get it to root and install TWRP 3.0.1.0 S4 LTE version. However after this it started throwing the Recovery is not SELinux enforcing error. It was still booting fine however. Could enter both S4 Stock rom and TWRP.
I wiped its data, cache, dalvik, and system, formatted to F2FS. So far so good. Installed AOSP 6 by JD Team, installed stock GApps. Booted straight into
Great. Everything's working perfect. Now I inserted my sim and whoop-de-doo. Sim shows up in home menu, but no antenna activity.
That's strange, why isn't it working? I thought the modem firmware was out of date or incompatible with Android M. Decided to find the latest FW matching my modem description and flash it.
Except, this is what showed up in the data I'd taken care to gather before beginning anything:
Model Number: GT-I9505
Baseband version: I9505OLBFNB4
Build Number: KOT49H.V1
AP: I9505XXUBFNB7
CP: I9505OLBFNB4
CSC: I9505DXUFNB3
Found a firmware I thought matched and flashed it. Rebooted, and suddenly phone won't boot at all.
Can't find a firmware now. PIT's gone. Phone is showing "SECURE FAIL: KERNEL" and "System software not authorized b Samsung has been found on your phone" on normal power on where it refuses to boot at all. Can't access TWRP either.
I can still go into Download mode and Odin can still access the phone.
I'm completely lost with how to proceed with this now however. Phone model numbers do not match anything, PIT gone, TWRP gone, serial numbers do not match anything, Kies refuses to initialize the phone, etc etc.
Any help would be welcome. I had opened over 50 tabs before I suddenly lost heart and closed all of them and took to writing this post. Thanks for reading.
EDIT: Further checking the IMEI shows the phone is actually a i9500 according to SNDeep.com. This just keeps getting worse.

if you bought this from a second hand from a phone shop it's state is down them not having a clue what they are doing and flashing firmware onto it. pretty much everyone here has the not enforcing SEandroid on recovery and kernel it's nothing to worry about.
AOSP 6.0.1 is almost a unified rom so it works with all but a few variants of s4, the problem is whatever you tried to flash after that, you didn't mention what that was. but it's kinda beside the point now.
when you enter download mode whatever model it mentions there is the firmware want to download and flash via odin.

3mel said:
if you bought this from a second hand from a phone shop it's state is down them not having a clue what they are doing and flashing firmware onto it. pretty much everyone here has the not enforcing SEandroid on recovery and kernel it's nothing to worry about.
AOSP 6.0.1 is almost a unified rom so it works with all but a few variants of s4, the problem is whatever you tried to flash after that, you didn't mention what that was. but it's kinda beside the point now.
when you enter download mode whatever model it mentions there is the firmware want to download and flash via odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed a MDCModemOnly version of the CP firmware. Since the phone said its a SPH-L720, I thought the latest unlocked European rom would fix the antenna problems.
Clearly I screwed that up.

blackroseblade said:
I flashed a MDCModemOnly version of the CP firmware. Since the phone said its a SPH-L720, I thought the latest unlocked European rom would fix the antenna problems.
Clearly I screwed that up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The SPH-L720 is a Sprint S4. So you'll have to flash that firmware. I believe sprint is a US carrier only, is that right?
So it's a CDMA (or CMDA?) device I guess. That means it uses different frequencies to connect to the network. I'm not really sure what I saying, lol. I just know that GSM and CDMA are a bit different when it comes to network connectivity.

GDReaper said:
The SPH-L720 is a Sprint S4. So you'll have to flash that firmware. I believe sprint is a US carrier only, is that right?
So it's a CDMA (or CMDA?) device I guess. That means it uses different frequencies to connect to the network. I'm not really sure what I saying, lol. I just know that GSM and CDMA are a bit different when it comes to network connectivity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Won't flashing the original firmware lock my bootloader back to sprint?

blackroseblade said:
Won't flashing the original firmware lock my bootloader back to sprint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint, as far as I know, don't lock the bootloaders. Only AT&T and Verizon do.
Here you have the CF Auto root thread for the SPH-L720 if you still are concerned.

Is there any place to download the firmware aside from sammobile.com? They're demanding I pay them to download a firmware at more than 15kb/s!

blackroseblade said:
Is there any place to download the firmware aside from sammobile.com? They're demanding I pay them to download a firmware at more than 15kb/s!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try SamFirm. It's a tool for downloading Samsung firmwares, but it requires some info about the phone and, since you can't boot up, it will be hard to get.

GDReaper said:
You could try SamFirm. It's a tool for downloading Samsung firmwares, but it requires some info about the phone and, since you can't boot up, it will be hard to get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thanks, that worked like a charm! Already had pulled my PDA, CP and CSC, knew the region and Downloading mode reported SPH-L720.
Currently downloading at 400kB/s.

Voila! Works. Stock SGS4 5 installed, only Knox Warranty set to 0x1, everything else's fine.
I've already rooted the phone with cf-auto-root and Odin, installed TWRP Manager, now what?
TWRP manager is asking me to install Busybox, should I do that? I'm attempting to install TWRP recovery and flash JDCTeam's AOSP 6.

blackroseblade said:
Voila! Works. Stock SGS4 5 installed, only Knox Warranty set to 0x1, everything else's fine.
I've already rooted the phone with cf-auto-root and Odin, installed TWRP Manager, now what?
TWRP manager is asking me to install Busybox, should I do that? I'm attempting to install TWRP recovery and flash JDCTeam's AOSP 6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TWRP can be flashed with Odin or with an app called Flashify.
I recommend the Odin method.
But if you want to install it with TWRP manager, there is no harm in that. But you do need to install busybox. Just follow the app's prompts.

Followed your advice, installed TWRP 2.8.4 via Odin, upgraded it via TWRP to 3.0.1.0.
Following this I've tried installing JDCTeam's AOSP 6.0.1 again. However, my cellular network has been deactivated. AGAIN.
Now what?
EDIT: My baseband is reporting L720VPUGOK3 according to the current ROM.

blackroseblade said:
Followed your advice, installed TWRP 2.8.4 via Odin, upgraded it via TWRP to 3.0.1.0.
Following this I've tried installing JDCTeam's AOSP 6.0.1 again. However, my cellular network has been deactivated. AGAIN.
Now what?
EDIT: My baseband is reporting L720VPUGOK3 according to the current ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that the most recent?
It could be caused by the fact that the phone was repaired with mismatched parts.
Or kernel related. They have a stock aosp kernel that you can flash. Try with that.

GDReaper said:
Is that the most recent?
It could be caused by the fact that the phone was repaired with mismatched parts.
Or kernel related. They have a stock aosp kernel that you can flash. Try with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash it via ODIN's AP command?
EDIT: Yes, I believe so. It is the one that was returned as most recent by both Sammobile and Samtool, as well as according to official samsung releases.
EDIT 2: Flashed it via TWRP, no difference. Still no network.
I don't get it, this is odd. The team lists L720 as supported, and my phone is unlocked, after all I can use the default SGS4 stock ROM with my SIM and network, so why isn't it working on this?

blackroseblade said:
Flash it via ODIN's AP command?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It's done with TWRP.

GDReaper said:
No. It's done with TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've done that, still not getting cellular however.
Baseband version was NB4 on the original rom. Moving it to latest stock SGS4 brought it up to OK3. That is what JDCTeam's AOSP6 is also reporting it as.

blackroseblade said:
I've done that, still not getting cellular however.
Baseband version was NB4 on the original rom. Moving it to latest stock SGS4 brought it up to OK3. That is what JDCTeam's AOSP6 is also reporting it as.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try and update the modem and bootloader even further, manually, via Odin.
There is a dedicated thread in the general section.
I don't think it will work, but it may be worth a try.

If I look further...
Phone Model = GT-I9505
Bootloader = SPH-L720
IMEI = a GT-I9500 phone
I think it's a GT-I9505 phone with SPH-L720 motherboard and IMEI that tampered from a GT-I9500 phone. Really, I would bring back this phone to the seller.
Sent from my ASUS_Z00A using XDA Labs

krasCGQ said:
If I look further...
Phone Model = GT-I9505
Bootloader = SPH-L720
IMEI = a GT-I9500 phone
I think it's a GT-I9505 phone with SPH-L720 motherboard and IMEI that tampered from a GT-I9500 phone. Really, I would bring back this phone to the seller.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GDReaper said:
You can try and update the modem and bootloader even further, manually, via Odin.
There is a dedicated thread in the general section.
I don't think it will work, but it may be worth a try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. Things are really weird with this. But returning this isn't an option. Phone belongs to a friend and he's been using it a while. Can't take this back now.
Also restoring to stock wiped out the international unlock. Phone is showing Sprint in top left corner.
Right now the phone is 101% stock 5.0.1. If anyone can please help guide me through unlock this permanently for all future foreseeable ROMs and flashes, please.

Managed to unlock it via the S4 Unlocker, following the instructions in that thread.
Still can't get 4G LTE to run on it like it was before, but can confirm 3G HSPA+ mode is working fine on it.

Galaxy S8 bricked - Stuck in boot loop after flashing twrp

Hey there everyone,
I wanted to root my s8 (sm-950f) and when I flashed twrp my phone initially got stuck in Samsung logo. After managing to shut it down I tried to go to recovery mode to wipe everything and perform a factory reset but I can not do it. All that happens is I get to s8 screen and it reads in red on top left of the screen "Only official released binaries are allowed to be flashed" and it keeps resetting itself. I can access download mode but that's it, I can't do anything else. Currently downloading a stock firmware to try and flash it but with the free downloads it's taking its time. Any help appreciated, I really want to unbrick my phone
note: It shows FRP and OEM lock to be off in download mode, i dont even know if i'll even be able to flash a new fw. Do I just have a very expensive brick in my hands now?

nekropok said:
Hey there everyone,
I wanted to root my s8 (sm-950f) and when I flashed twrp my phone initially got stuck in Samsung logo. After managing to shut it down I tried to go to recovery mode to wipe everything and perform a factory reset but I can not do it. All that happens is I get to s8 screen and it reads in red on top left of the screen "Only official released binaries are allowed to be flashed" and it keeps resetting itself. I can access download mode but that's it, I can't do anything else. Currently downloading a stock firmware to try and flash it but with the free downloads it's taking its time. Any help appreciated, I really want to unbrick my phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This must be a international S8... Did you activate oem unlock in developer settings before flashing twrp
([emoji3590]09-09-18[emoji3590])

I'm not sure if it's international, it's most likely a Turkish version.
And yeah to your question

nekropok said:
I'm not sure if it's international, it's most likely a Turkish version.
And yeah to your question
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But you know for a fact that there's a twrp version for your device.... Not good to do these expensive phones like that without officially having all the facts
([emoji3590]09-09-18[emoji3590])

Well it's too late for that now, I need actual solutions. I also tried smart switch - it doesn't recognize the phone

nekropok said:
Well it's too late for that now, I need actual solutions. I also tried smart switch - it doesn't recognize the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the xda thread for your device there aren't no stock roms uploaded to Android host for fast download so you can flash in Odin and start the process of twrp again or just leave it alone you have a S8 it's good money
([emoji3590]09-09-18[emoji3590])

WHEW. Flashing a stock firmware seems to have fixed the issue. Mods can lock the thread.

nekropok said:
WHEW. Flashing a stock firmware seems to have fixed the issue. Mods can lock the thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You going to give up on twrp
([emoji3590]09-09-18[emoji3590])

I do want to root, but I don't want to approach it without knowing all my facts, do you have any suggestions for guides for Android 9.0?

nekropok said:
I do want to root, but I don't want to approach it without knowing all my facts, do you have any suggestions for guides for Android 9.0?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just look in your device forum everything Is there however your device is a international cause it ends in with the F so twrp does work for your device..... You just need to find the specific one for your model once you have twrp you can install a android 9 custom rom
([emoji3590]09-09-18[emoji3590])

I had same issue as you and was pointed towards this thread may be of some use to you?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/sa...w-to/guide-root-install-twrp-samsung-t3747535

Problem on my S8
PoochyX said:
This must be a international S8... Did you activate oem unlock in developer settings before flashing twrp
([emoji3590]09-09-18[emoji3590])
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but I have a serious problem. I have activated oem and debug usb on developer option, but I can't install TWRP. I have tried with odin, prince cosmy odin, odin patched but FAIL everywhere, please help me, I just want twrp and i want to install a custom rom. thanks in advance everyone. If is a problem answer me here, you can send me a pvt message. I tried it from 3 days with the same FAILS :_(

I had this problem too a year ago but wasn't able to reflash the official firmware, but when I went to Samsung they fixed it for free even though Knox was already tripped

FabiusMod said:
Sorry but I have a serious problem. I have activated oem and debug usb on developer option, but I can't install TWRP. I have tried with odin, prince cosmy odin, odin patched but FAIL everywhere, please help me, I just want twrp and i want to install a custom rom. thanks in advance everyone. If is a problem answer me here, you can send me a pvt message. I tried it from 3 days with the same FAILS :_(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you able to flash the stock firmware on it and get it to boot without TWRP installed?

I am with a stock rom now, The device works fine.