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[Q] [SM-N910F][SOLVED] SIM removed error

After trying to install few custom ROMS namely DR. Ketans and SimplRom I experience SIM removed error problem.
The flashing goes fine with full factory reset (only internal SD is not wiped), I enter the PIN when I'm asked for it. The SIM is unlock but when the phone registers on the network it gives SIM removed error and forces a reboot.
I also upgraded the bootloader and the modem to the latest versions BL_N910FXXU1BOD2 and CP_N910FXXU1BOC4 but the problem remains the same.
When I restore back to the original ROM (backed up by TWRP) everything works fine. If dirty flash custom ROM over it again there are no problems with the SIM card.
The only conclusion is that T-Mobile has some additional software installed.
The phone is SM-N910F bought from T-Mobile. It has T-Mobile branding on boot and shutdown.
Does anyone now anything about this ?

To update it with my own research.
Apparently the SIM card is lock to Macedonia region. MBM CSC. When installing custom ROM the CSC gets changed and the phone rejects the SIM.
In an effort to resolve this I've flashed DE DBT CSC ROM and the phone won't accept my SIM card.
Currently I'm downloading the original T-Mobile MKD firmware and I hope by restoring it that I will be able to use the phone again.
Also since I paid for the phone in full I intend to contact T-Mobile tomorrow and ask them to unlock my phone.
Will write what comes out of this. Don't want someone else to lose their nerves as I did today

Definitely the issue was in wrong CSC. I've downloaded the original firmware and everything worked again.
But I couldn't stay put and wanted to flash a custom ROM so I went with http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/snapdragon-dev/rom-bob4-devbase-multi-csc-safe-bloat-t3033881.
It's a great base ROM stripped of Knox and de-bloated. Most importantly it keeps your current CSC intact.
The procedure was:
Flash original firmware with Odin,
Root with CF-Auto root
Flash TWRP recovery with Odin
Reset data so that it completely goes stock because flashing the original firmware doesn't reset data
At this point I made full nandroid backup
Flash ALEXAND ROM
Uninstall additional bloatware
So far it's working fine.
I hope that this will help someone.

No hidden menu, no CSC, no LTE

Somewhere over the years I apparently lost the carrier directory in /efs, as well as the CSC data - is there any way of getting this back? I'm hoping it's at least possible by flashing back to stock but only as a last resort - I've tried a bunch of different things without success so far.
The phone started as a Rogers N900W8 and was immediately unlocked and rooted. Sometime soon thereafter a Bell 4.3 firmware was flashed (via Heimdall). I then switched from Rogers to Wind (now Freedom) - I believe this is where the hidden menu disappeared if I remember correctly - and the phone functioned just fine through all of this.
I then moved from that Bell BMC 4.3 to the Wind GLW PG1 5.0 firmware (grabbed from sammobile and flashed via Odin) thinking that the presence of the Wind SIM would trigger the firmware to switch from BMC to GLW but it doesn't seem to have worked out like that. I'm now running the LineageOS nightlies and the phone works just fine except for a lack of LTE which is what I'd like to sort out with the secret codes. Also, since switching to Wind I believe my mobile network has always been displayed as HOME.
Samsung Phone Info doesn't list any CSCs except BMC under original. In the firmware tab, it's not listing PDA or CSC version. There is no carrier directory in /efs nor are there any CSC files in the file system. Entering almost any secret code fails "Connection problem or invalid MMI code" - *#06# will display IMEI but all others I've tried don't work.
UPDATE #1:
Have been able to get the Canadian CSCs onto the device and recognizable as being present by Phone Info.
Ripped out cache.img.ext4 from the PG1 firmware and used Cache Ripper (found on XDA somewhere) via Wine on linux to create a TWRP flashable zip. Had to mount system in TWRP before flashing.
Changing CSC with Phone Info apparently does a Factory Reset and not quite ready to do that yet as more research seems to point to reverting to stock for the hidden menu.
UPDATE #2:
Flashed stock PG1 via Odin. Went into a bootloop after building Dalvik on first boot and had to reboot into the stock recovery and wipe data and system, then it booted fine. The back button stopped working (LOL Samsung) and I had to flash a random 5.0 custom kernel (idlekernel) to get it back. Flashed TWRP and SuperSU.
There is now an empty carrier directory in root but there still isn't one in /efs. Lots of information on XDA pointing to this being a prerequisite for the secret codes - turns out it's all bunk.
Secret codes work. Had some difficulties with Phone Info not letting me into the root menus to change CSC - was spitting out output from some failed scripts - and when I was just about to give up it started working. Changed CSC to GLW which prompted another factory reset, and now it shows GLW / BMC as the active CSCs. APNs were Bell's originally, which is not what I wanted, but after following the *#272*IMEI directions from this thread and another factory reset they are now Wind's. No LTE yet. Would like to get rid of the BMC CSCs altogether since this was never a Bell device.
Some more stuff changed in Phone Info: Product Name is now hltevl, Firmware's CSC Code is now BMC and CSC Country is Canada/CA. PDA and CSC version has also been populated. CSC Changer still defaults to having BMC selected and I'm still getting the Bell bloatware.
UPDATE #3:
Active CSC reverted to BMC after a couple reboots...they're all BMC now.

Attaching (the initial) Samsung Phone Info screenshots (don't see how to edit them into OP via mobile app) .

I recommend to flash a stock firmware instead of this custom rom.

vndnguyen said:
I recommend to flash a stock firmware instead of this custom rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for stopping by.
I flashed the stock PG1 firmware for the GLW CSC. But the device still thinks it's BMC - this probably has something to do with all the Canadian devices sharing identical hardware and firmware.
Then I used your tool to change the CSC to GLW. All of the CSCs remained BMC except for Active CSC which was BMC/GLW. After a couple reboots even that was gone and Active CSC reverted to BMC.
Do I maybe need the stock recovery for the CSC changes to stick ? I flashed TWRP 3.1.1 for root.

perosredo said:
Thanks for stopping by.
I flashed the stock PG1 firmware for the GLW CSC. But the device still thinks it's BMC - this probably has something to do with all the Canadian devices sharing identical hardware and firmware.
Then I used your tool to change the CSC to GLW. All of the CSCs remained BMC except for Active CSC which was BMC/GLW. After a couple reboots even that was gone and Active CSC reverted to BMC.
Do I maybe need the stock recovery for the CSC changes to stick ? I flashed TWRP 3.1.1 for root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your problem is to get LTE back, or get rid of BMC?

vndnguyen said:
So your problem is to get LTE back, or get rid of BMC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to do both if possible but I'm not going to sweat over the CSC if it's purely cosmetic - mainly concerned about the LTE.
I wouldn't be surprised if they are linked however since the carriers here operate LTE on different bands to the best of my knowledge.

So firstly try to install the stock BMC firmware to see if the LTE works?

Long story short, LTE isn't yet available in this location on this carrier on a Note3-supported band yet.
So that's that.

FIXED?? - Getting back to AT&T stock from S8 Factory Binary (failed carrier change)

FIXED?? - Getting back to AT&T stock from S8 Factory Binary (failed carrier change)
==== Latest update (I am not an expert but please check out (at your own risk) ============================
All - I installed latest Tmobile firmware for SM-G950U downloaded from sammobile (G950USQU5CRK1) using odin3v3.13.1.
To my pleasant surprise I find that Wifi Calling etc works fine. You need to have TMobile SIM in the phone when you flash the firmware. I believe S8 automatically customizes firmware based on sim detected (I tried AT&T/TMO sims and it did).
It is likely that all the carrier change guides are no longer relevant (at least as of V5 bootloader) I am not an expert but please check out (at your own risk)
========== OLD Thread =======================
Will appreciate help.
Here is what I did or wanted to do: I switched carriers from AT&T to TMobile and tried to install TMobile stock using these instructions
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817
I have a V5 bootloader so I used Factory Binary from here https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...bination-files-bit-5-g950uu1-g955uu1-t3816112
Current State: I am on factory binary, but the instructions to change carrier files (32-33 in carrier switching) don't seem to work for V5.
I would like to get back to AT&T stock - but cannot figure out how to. I cannot find AT&T stock firmware with V5 bootloader anywhere. ANy help / guidance is appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

cnewsgrp said:
==== Latest update (I am not an expert but please check out (at your own risk) ============================
All - I installed latest Tmobile firmware for SM-G950U downloaded from sammobile (G950USQU5CRK1) using odin3v3.13.1.
To my pleasant surprise I find that Wifi Calling etc works fine. You need to have TMobile SIM in the phone when you flash the firmware. I believe S8 automatically customizes firmware based on sim detected (I tried AT&T/TMO sims and it did).
It is likely that all the carrier change guides are no longer relevant (at least as of V5 bootloader) I am not an expert but please check out (at your own risk)
========== OLD Thread =======================
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have come to believe this as well. I was flashing the unlocked firmware on mine and if I kept my Xfinity wim in it it no matter what,would default back to my cct csc. So I tested and inserted other Sims flashed a CSC and auto configuration took over on boot and would reflash itself with the apropriate carrier CSC and sales codes...The auto configuration seems to handle most carrier changes. There is also a hidden menu where you can select a csc. And again. If I selected one if I had my sim in it would disregard and keep sims csc. If I removed it would take til I inserted my carriers sim.
Also at the bottom of this hidden menu you can select to disable auto configuration....
Don't know if this helps your hunting's and findings but it was observations I made

TheMadScientist said:
I have come to believe this as well. I was flashing the unlocked firmware on mine and if I kept my Xfinity wim in it it no matter what,would default back to my cct csc. So I tested and inserted other Sims flashed a CSC and auto configuration took over on boot and would reflash itself with the apropriate carrier CSC and sales codes...The auto configuration seems to handle most carrier changes. There is also a hidden menu where you can select a csc. And again. If I selected one if I had my sim in it would disregard and keep sims csc. If I removed it would take til I inserted my carriers sim.
Also at the bottom of this hidden menu you can select to disable auto configuration....
Don't know if this helps your hunting's and findings but it was observations I made
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks

How does SmartSwitch know my old mobile number?

My SM-950FD unlocked international UAE version bought from US (BHPhotoVideo) is still on October 2018 patch. Hoping that I could use SmartSwitch to update, I did the following:
1. Removed SIM card and SD card.
2. Booted into recovery mod.
3. Wiped cache.
4. Chose the factory reset option from the recovery menu (forgot the wording).
After setting up the phone again with my Google account (no Samsung account), I connected it to a PC and launched SmartSwitch. SmartSwitch said my phone is up to date.
When I went to SmartSwitch's preferences, I saw that my old US phone number is still shown there. At this point, I haven't inserted any SIM card or SD card. I am in India now.
I have seen people recommend trying with the original country SIM (US in my case) to get the update. So I was wondering how does that old number show up there (could it be why I don't get the update)? And is there a way to change it?
Attached is a screenshot of my SmartSwitch preferences. The green box is where it shows my old phone number.

SIMCARD NOT DETECTED (Modem Not installed)

I was install some custom rom on my S7 Edge Device (SM-G935FD), and after that, my simcard is not available. I tried to install another rom and do flash again and again, and my simcard not detected until now. Please HELP

This will always occur if you try to install any samsung that has the BLCP version but older than the bootloader you had before installing the rom. To solve this you will have to install via odin the latest version of stock for your device.

Dark Stranger said:
This will always occur if you try to install any samsung that has the BLCP version but older than the bootloader you had before installing the rom. To solve this you will have to install via odin the latest version of stock for your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i had the same problem but flashing the latest firmware didnt solve it for me.
here is the whole story. Any ideas would be appreciated
I have an SM-G935FD Galaxy S7 edge phone from Malaysia. I have it in Greece and as soon as I got it in my hands I let it go all the updates until Android 8. Since then I can't make or receive any calls and sometimes it recognize my sim card (Cosmote) and sometimes it doesn't. Even the times that recognize my network operator I still can't make or receive calls. And of course I don't have any data.
What I have done:
1. Flashed original Malaysian and Indonesian firmware with no luck
2. Activated and deactivated volte
3. Tried different sim card
4. Flashed original Greek firmware (which I thought it would solve my problem but nothing). At root files it has all the network operators enebled as normal.
5. Tried several custom ROMs from Android 7 to 10. The only one that had some result was Floyd 10. The result was that for a minute I had data and couple of sms came from missed calls. But then again nothing. And since the first time I installed it, when I reinstalled Floyd not even for a minute.
6. Tampered customer.xml file for csc folder as a friend from Floyd rom thread suggested but still nothing
7. With a different sim from different provider I have data almost all the time but no calls at all