[Q] Not sure if anyone noticed... - Samsung Epic 4G Touch

After putting my phone into ODIN I noticed that it appears the phone keeps track of how many times it has been "custom" flashed. Perhaps a way for Sprint to deny warranty coverage?

piaa_nissan said:
After putting my phone into ODIN I noticed that it appears the phone keeps track of how many times it has been "custom" flashed. Perhaps a way for Sprint to deny warranty coverage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint doesn't care if you root your phone... they do when you screw it up and try to get a new one.
Probably Samsung.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

Where do u see this at?
The Evo3D Killer!!!

It's also on the euro version. They are working on clearing the counter and removing the exclamation mark. You can remove it with a peg they sell on eBay.
sent from my Eptouch 4g

When you do the volume down and power it's at the top of the screen in ODIN mode. It also tells you at a glance if your have an official or custom kernel/ROM

piaa_nissan said:
After putting my phone into ODIN I noticed that it appears the phone keeps track of how many times it has been "custom" flashed. Perhaps a way for Sprint to deny warranty coverage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe a search next time would answer your question.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1271890

I'll remeber that next time I'm trying to figure out what Tom, **** and Harry refer to it as. Never in the world thought about searching for a "flash counter" Egads!

So sprint can deny that
Samsung Galaxy S Dos indeed

Don't worry bout it PiaaNissan. I actually learned something.M from that post. Thanks man. Tell the haters to kiss your ass.
The Evo3D Killer!!!

Related

Counter for amount of times ROM flashed

As some of you might or might not know.
Can anyone that has flashed a Custom ROM verify if there is a counter on our incarnation of SGS2
details here:
[HOWTO] reset custom binary counter in download mode
and here:
Default [ROOT] Stock FW, w/o increasing custom counter
Dude. I was wondering how the hell we were gonna fix this. Thanks for sharing
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
mikeyinid said:
Dude. I was wondering how the hell we were gonna fix this. Thanks for sharing
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing!!! ur psychic
Why do they want to keep a record of how many times we flash? I wonder if it's to prove that they don't have to pay for warranty.
most likely something along the line
or perhaps to count how many times the internal storage has been written to, which causes wear
AllGamer said:
most likely something along the line
or perhaps to count how many times the internal storage has been written to, which causes wear
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normally, I'd scoff at the idea that a company was being all big-brother and trying to embed ways to track what your doing to your device but I see no reason for this type of software besides A) giving my wife more proof that I spend way too much time, effort, and money on my phone and B) giving Samsung another reason to not honor your warranty. That said, I'm not the type to try and make someone else pay out for my mistakes but I'm not a fan of being spied on.
i got the jig that is "suppose" to reset the counter also. maybe its with our variant of the GSII that it doesnt reset?
lookitzjohnny said:
i got the jig that is "suppose" to reset the counter also. maybe its with our variant of the GSII that it doesnt reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
possibly, since our CPU is different, it might be related to that?
or perhaps related to the SIM unlock, which in our phone is also different than the regular SGS2
kenvan19 said:
Normally, I'd scoff at the idea that a company was being all big-brother and trying to embed ways to track what your doing to your device but I see no reason for this type of software besides A) giving my wife more proof that I spend way too much time, effort, and money on my phone and B) giving Samsung another reason to not honor your warranty. That said, I'm not the type to try and make someone else pay out for my mistakes but I'm not a fan of being spied on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was one of the reasons I started the thread on getting insurance. I don't want any problems when it comes to getting my phone replaced. Manufacturers suck when it comes to that. I could see them easily denying a replacement for that reason alone. I'll just deal with tmobile instead.
this is one of the little reasons that actually makes the Best Buy no question no hassle insurance really worth while
I know someone that was having problems with their vibrant and called in a warranty replacement. They told the rep that the phone was rooted and had a different ROM. The rep checked with their supervisor and said that the warranty was still in place. He got a new vibrant and was not charged an out of warranty fee.
has anyone found a way to reset it yet?
Where is this counter? Didn't know there was one. I've done a lot of exchanges ( Vibrant, G2, G2X and SGS2) from different phones and never bothered to reset any counter.
Ooopps!
Hercules Hercules!!
The thing is, from having,worked at Tmobile is that most phones will get inspected for common warranty breaking.g things, like water damage, taking apart your phone. Other than that, I believe they just factory wipe the data with their computers and either refurb. Or recycle. I've sent back phones that have been bricked from bad ROM flashes and have never incurred a fee.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
Jigs work to get into download mode but they don't reset the count. This is from my personal experience
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
I saw I forgot to post the URL. I added it to op
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
i would be really interested to know if this resets the counter tooooooo
What does the counter do anyways? In terms of flashing ROMs, does it limit the number of times we can flash custom ROMs?
Sent from my SGH-T989D using xda premium
Why would we need to reset the counter? I've returned lots of phones without resetting and I've had no problems.
Just curious as to why? Thanks.
Hercules Hercules!!
if u sent ur phone back to samsung it tells them how many times u have flashed roms on it! ive never heard of a person getting in trouble for a high count before but thats wht i know

does the galaxy nexus have the counter like other

does our device have the counter like on gs2 for the modded roms ??? or not?? i am asking because some one have told me that it has but till now i cant find it. and secondo so also we need to have the jig to reset it??
1. No, there is no counter. This is a stock Google experience without any TouchWiz widgets.
2. The device supports Odin but you don't really need it as you can use fastboot (which is more popular on Nexus devices).
zephiK said:
1. No, there is no counter. This is a stock Google experience without any TouchWiz widgets.
2. The device supports Odin but you don't really need it as you can use fastboot (which is more popular on Nexus devices).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so i can breathe a sigh of reliefe ?? sorry to bother you but im worried
qamrij said:
so i can breathe a sigh of reliefe ?? sorry to bother you but im worried
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. I'm not sure what this "counter" app/widget does, but look around on the market you might find something relatively similar to it.
zephiK said:
No problem. I'm not sure what this "counter" app/widget does, but look around on the market you might find something relatively similar to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no maybe i did not explained what i mean . on the gs2 there is a counter that if you exceed the limit of flasshed rom the device stops working i think it bricks the device. is there a same thing on the nexus.
zephiK said:
No problem. I'm not sure what this "counter" app/widget does, but look around on the market you might find something relatively similar to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the GS2 the bootloader keeps track of flashes. Any time your flash counter increments and it's an unsigned (by Samsung) image you get a wonderful yellow triangle on your boot splash and possibly no boot at all.
I had a GS2 for three days before I jumped carriers and got the GN... so I don't know all the details but that's the gist of it. It's lame.
AFAIK, there shouldn't be such a thing on the GN.
so my doubt is confirmed ???
That sounds silly if there are a number of flashes that you can do on a phone. That just seems pure bogus if there is a number of flashes on a phone.
Don't worry, flash all you want on the Galaxy Nexus. The device won't brick.
I don't think there was a limit to anything. I think the counter was there for ota and warranty purposes. Flashing should only be limited by the write cycles of your NAND. most people won't encounter that problem. Flashing a rom everyday then you might hit write cycle limit.
My grandma beat me down and took my nexus. Sent from a jitterbug with beats by dre.
@rbiter said:
I don't think there was a limit to anything. I think the counter was there for ota and warranty purposes. Flashing should only be limited by the write cycles of your NAND. most people won't encounter that problem. Flashing a rom everyday then you might hit write cycle limit.
My grandma beat me down and took my nexus. Sent from a jitterbug with beats by dre.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doubt it. On my G1, I flashed like a new ROM every day and never had a problem. Same with my Nexus S (on CM kangs/nightlies).
I wouldn't be scared to flash anything. Just flash and have fun with it. I'm positive that the OP will be fine.
you guys are wright because i dont think tht on nexus devices there is any limitation for flasshing. but when this person told me i just get little bit scared you know i care about my device ahahah
qamrij said:
you guys are wright because i dont think tht on nexus devices there is any limitation for flasshing. but when this person told me i just get little bit scared you know i care about my device ahahah
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't worry about it lol. That's like saying a keyboard has a key span of X amounts of taps before it stops fully working.
Just flash and have fun with it. You'll be fine. Nothing to be scared about
zephiK said:
I wouldn't worry about it lol. That's like saying a keyboard has a key span of X amounts of taps before it stops fully working.
Just flash and have fun with it. You'll be fine. Nothing to be scared about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flashing the aokp update and franco kernel
The GS2 just kept track of custom ROM flashes and had that yellow alert triangle on boot. You could easily get rid of it with a USB jig with a certain resistance, purchased from eBay. I had one that was meant to be for the Galaxy S, but also worked with the GS2, and if you flashed then booted the phone plugged into the PC with that, the triangle would be gone, and any ROM would be recognised as an official Samsung binary with the counter reset to 0. Best £3 USB cable I ever bought.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I think the counter is meant to keep track whether you have done something that would void your warranty.
Imagine this scenario: you have rooted your device and unrooted it or flashed it to a custom rom and then back to your stock rom and then ask for a replacement or warranty service. Even you have unrooted your device or flashed it back to stock rom (if that's possible), the counter will tell them that your warranty is void.

[Q] I flashed CM9 now i cant turn on the phone anymore

hi can someone help me i cant turn on the phone anymore i tried to clear used data and it just frose i took of the battery now i cant turn it on on download or in regular mod or in clockwork recovery any advice
majmuni said:
hi can someone help me i cant turn on the phone anymore i tried to clear used data and it just frose i took of the battery now i cant turn it on on download or in regular mod or in clockwork recovery any advice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normally I wouldn't answer, because this question should be posted in the Q&A board, not here, but....
You hardbricked. WHen you try to turn on the device, you just get a solid blue LED, right? That's a hardbrick. Most likely because you did not follow the instructions in the OP telling you DO NOT FLASH ROM/KERNEL FROM ANY ICS RECOVERY. Only flash from EL26 StockCWM
If you have device insurance you can get Sprint to replace it, so long as you don't tell them HOW you killed it If you DON'T pay for insurance, it'll cost $35 to replace.
Moral of the story? READ THE OP. TWICE.
well my bad thanx no way to get it to turn on
neatchee said:
If you have device insurance you can get Sprint to replace it, so long as you don't tell them HOW you killed it If you DON'T pay for insurance, it'll cost $35 to replace.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of this is true. However, Sprint doesn't care HOW the phone gets bricked. I work for a Tech Store in Buffalo. If any tech/rep tells you that they won't replace a rooted/attempted root phone, call them a liar. Tell them to check Sprint's M&P's (methods and procedures).
That being said, rooting STILL voids your warranty, but Sprint is supposed to work on them. Chances are we just flash stock and work on it from there.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
dav3wash said:
Most of this is true. However, Sprint doesn't care HOW the phone gets bricked. I work for a Tech Store in Buffalo. If any tech/rep tells you that they won't replace a rooted/attempted root phone, call them a liar. Tell them to check Sprint's M&P's (methods and procedures).
That being said, rooting STILL voids your warranty, but Sprint is supposed to work on them. Chances are we just flash stock and work on it from there.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So...how do you flash them back to stock if it gets bricked? care to share
d1msum4lyfe said:
So...how do you flash them back to stock if it gets bricked? care to share
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I manage some repair shops. Last one I saw, last Wednesday, I couldn't get it going. I only had about an hour to mess with it, but I couldn't get anything to work. I wouldn't say I had completely given up, but given my resources at the store, it wasn't happening. Neither of the 2 computers we use in the tech room would recognize the device in Odin mode (while it read other Touches in Odin mode just fine). It would recognize the device if you booted regular and let it sit on the Galaxy S screen, but flashing wouldn't work and it would never advance past that screen. We just ordered a replacement for the guy. He had flashed a ROM from an ICS kernel.
Only problems I've had on mine is losing signal and the phone going into Airplane mode on rare occasions. Power button menu will actually say it's in airplane mode, too. Turning it off usually fixes things. My phone did have LOS problem initially, but that went away once Samsung updated the modem awhile back. So, it does seem that I end up in low signal situations now and again. Currently running the FC05 modem.
d1msum4lyfe said:
So...how do you flash them back to stock if it gets bricked? care to share
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh if its hard bricked, we don't lol. I guess my point was more that if you bring a rooted phone into a sprint store, Mr. Hesse says we have to work on it or replace it if there's no physical or liquid damage
you did not follow the instructions in the OP telling you DO NOT FLASH ROM/KERNEL FROM ANY ICS RECOVERY. Only flash from EL26 StockCWM
Flash stock rom with odin and pit file then go from there.....
dav3wash said:
Oh if its hard bricked, we don't lol. I guess my point was more that if you bring a rooted phone into a sprint store, Mr. Hesse says we have to work on it or replace it if there's no physical or liquid damage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then why did the rep say I had to wait a day and speak to the store supervisor to approve a replacement?
Mattheyu said:
Then why did the rep say I had to wait a day and speak to the store supervisor to approve a replacement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because the employee was a moron, doesn't know how to read, or doesn't know how to do his job properly.
Mattheyu said:
Then why did the rep say I had to wait a day and speak to the store supervisor to approve a replacement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because technically you voided your warranty by flashing software to your phone... It says that everywhere there is a big difference between rooted and custom firmware.... That would be why most everyone has a USB jig to reset the flash count in download mode ....
If they can prove you had ics on it they really don't have to do anything but flag your phone as warranty void
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Epix4G said:
Because technically you voided your warranty by flashing software to your phone... It says that everywhere there is a big difference between rooted and custom firmware.... That would be why most everyone has a USB jig to reset the flash count in download mode ....
If they can prove you had ics on it they really don't have to do anything but flag your phone as warranty void
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Their system reported that it was running stock EL29 (from a rep when I asked), the ODIN flash count was zero, and it reported that it was running official Samsung firmware. I could only get a vague answer pertaining to "microcode" when I asked them to prove it.
Mattheyu said:
Their system reported that it was running stock EL29 (from a rep when I asked), the ODIN flash count was zero, and it reported that it was running official Samsung firmware. I could only get a vague answer pertaining to "microcode" when I asked them to prove it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well call back and get the info so that you can at least inform us about micro code or whatever....good info is good info sorry about your phone but if you're going to be doing stuff like flashing alpha rooms you really need insurance too
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Epix4G said:
Well call back and get the info so that you can at least inform us about micro code or whatever....good info is good info sorry about your phone but if you're going to be doing stuff like flashing alpha rooms you really need insurance too
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do have insurance, and they are now replacing it, but they refused to do it that day because the supervisor was not there.
Can you suggest a graceful way of convincing the tech who relayed this information to divulge his methods?
Mattheyu said:
I do have insurance, and they are now replacing it, but they refused to do it that day because the supervisor was not there.
Can you suggest a graceful way of convincing the tech who relayed this information to divulge his methods?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just ask them ... It's my phone And just tell him you would like the info if possible just be nice is usually the thing kind of BS with them
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Mattheyu said:
I do have insurance, and they are now replacing it, but they refused to do it that day because the supervisor was not there.
Can you suggest a graceful way of convincing the tech who relayed this information to divulge his methods?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to hear you're getting a replacement. I'd been think about this microcode thing, ever since you posted about it in the other thread.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcode
I have a feeling the tech was using the word "microcode" as a synonym for the phone's firmware, taking the stance that the only way for the firmware to get wiped was if you manually flashed your phone. They're replacing your phone because 1) they really can't prove you rooted and flashed it, and the microcode thing was bull**** and 2) at the end of the day, they have to replace your phone anyways under warranty if you didn't drop it in the toilet.
If Sprint techs had some other way to identify that a phone had been manually flashed, other than the known methods, I'm quite sure the good folks at XDA would already know about it.

[Q] Epic in SUPER SLOW SLOW MODE. (kinda bricked)

Ok so a little after midnight i rebooted my phone cuz it was being flaky.
Then it got stuck on the Cyanogen SGS boot screen from PAC 20.1 I tryed to ODIN cwm-5.0.2.7-epic4g.tar.md5. I got that to stick but every time i would flash a rom it would get stuck and end up and the samsung boot screen again. i tryed to flach cm9.1 and it hang at the BLM MTD part for a very long long time. then it went to the gray screen(the backgound of cwm 6) so that didn't work. So i tryed to ODIN stock EL30 EC05 just like hear http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1052813
Well that ended with the phone booting up after about 40 minues. But i could not unlock the dam thing. So i did it again & left it for an hour & now its just siting there 12:19 on the clock but i cant unlock the phone. the sprint 4G boot aniy was/is all chopy and the sound cuts in and out. IDK i think my Epic is Epicing F(ced
(i'v been ODINing & reading xda all night:crying: )
Any ideas?
How about just going back to 100% stock FC09? Use re-partition, and you may even want to consider EFS clear (unless not on Sprint). Try that and let it run on that for a day. Note any issues that appear.
If no issues, then try to flash another rom.
Worst case scenario, your flash memory is on it's last leg and heading to become kaput. Flash memory only has so many reads & writes before it kicks the bucket. Constant flashing of roms over the lifetime of this phone diminishes the lifespan faster than a regular user.
A regular user wouldn't even come close to the read/write red zone for this flash memory, but a custom rom user/tester could (especially given the age of our phone).
Which is precisely why I find a somewhat stable ROM and stick with it for about 3 months, then i update/switch ROMs
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2
I typically only flash stable roms and stick with one for 4-8 months before doing a fresh Odin, re-root and new rom flash. I'm your normal user here; I stick with what I know works.
jeffreyjicha said:
Which is precisely why I find a somewhat stable ROM and stick with it for about 3 months, then i update/switch ROMs
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that kinda what i have done.
@nikon120 i tryed FC09 100% stock. i didn't try clearing EFS & yes i'm still on Sprint.
IDK i'm guna call sprint and see what they will give me to keep me?
zman519 said:
IDK i'm guna call sprint and see what they will give me to keep me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A big ole nothing. I've tried to get discounts and upgrade fees waived before, and they have given nothing. I'm a 10+ year customer.
Once a nicer than Nexus 4--Nexus device comes out, or if Sprint's suck-tacular service becomes even more sucky, I'm jumping to T-mobile.
nikon120 said:
A big ole nothing. I've tried to get discounts and upgrade fees waived before, and they have given nothing. I'm a 10+ year customer.
Once a nicer than Nexus 4--Nexus device comes out, or if Sprint's suck-tacular service becomes even more sucky, I'm jumping to T-mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SGS III Purple for $0.99 FTW
I really loved my Epic & i'l be back around the forums, my buddy has a busted Epic so maybe i can make one working phone out of the two.:good:
zman I have the EXACT problem with my Epic 4g, it's brand new I have only had it a handful of days and I haven't a clue as to what caused this error, my clock also reads 12:19 and the screen is unresponsive, so I can't slide unlock the screen to get usb debugging checked either. I am by no means new to android, flashing roms or anything else so this wasn't some noob error on my part.
I have messaged QBKing77 and he is as perplexed as I am, and well I figure if he can't figure it out, we might just be screwed.
Did you get yours fixed? If so could you please share what you did.
If i get it fixed I'll be sure to let you all know how i did it.
I have been playing with my new Purpal SGS III
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
nerdygadgetguy said:
zman I have the EXACT problem with my Epic 4g, it's brand new I have only had it a handful of days and I haven't a clue as to what caused this error, my clock also reads 12:19 and the screen is unresponsive, so I can't slide unlock the screen to get usb debugging checked either. I am by no means new to android, flashing roms or anything else so this wasn't some noob error on my part.
I have messaged QBKing77 and he is as perplexed as I am, and well I figure if he can't figure it out, we might just be screwed.
Did you get yours fixed? If so could you please share what you did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ever get your Epic back to life?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
Nope. I had it fixed then it went back to the same old issue. I've tried every version of odin, Heimdall and using every possible pit, .tar and md5 file combination I can come up with and I cannot remember what I used the first time to fix it. blah
Did you get yours fixed or figure out what the problem was? If I ca
zman519 said:
Did you ever get your Epic back to life?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] KNOX=Warranty Void?

Hi,
Im new to Samsung devices and I have a very simple question.
Does tripping KNOX void my warranty?
The reason I ask this is because everytime I search the forum I see a different answer.
PieceOfCake said:
Hi,
Im new to Samsung devices and I have a very simple question.
Does tripping KNOX void my warranty?
The reason I ask this is because everytime I search the forum I see a different answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About>Legal>SamsungLegal>Warranty. First Paragraph (g) would state that it does void it, but....
It all depends on the sale rep/tech though.
(h) and (i) are worth reading for the chuckle.
I am getting a new phone because I have a very bad lag issue. Sprint never even rebooted the phone. The only way to see it is tripped is to enter download mode. I would think if you sent your phone to Samsung they would check, not so much with sprint though.
dschachm said:
I am getting a new phone because I have a very bad lag issue. Sprint never even rebooted the phone. The only way to see it is tripped is to enter download mode. I would think if you sent your phone to Samsung they would check, not so much with sprint though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ran across a thread in t mobiles note forum. A couple of folks got repairs with it tripped. A couple more said they got thier phones back with knox bit reset. Another claimed he works out front and knows that the samsung techs can infact reset it. If true someone should go corleone on one of them.
Edit: here's the link.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2637718
jhill110 said:
I ran across a thread in t mobiles note forum. A couple of folks got repairs with it tripped. A couple more said they got thier phones back with knox bit reset. Another claimed he works out front and knows that the samsung techs can infact reset it. If true someone should go corleone on one of them.
Edit: here's the link.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2637718
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats actually some good news in the realm of 'possibilities' for future modding in that area.
xxSTARBUCKSxx said:
Thats actually some good news in the realm of 'possibilities' for future modding in that area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya betcha...

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