Develop Bugs

[Q] Trouble-shooting and making a tar.gz

So I'm hoping I'm posting in the appropriate place, and if not please feel free to point me in the right direction. There may be threads that already exist that are what I need, but I find it so hard to find the right thread on this website so after lots of trying I figured I'd just post.
I have Samsung Galaxy S III on WIND Mobile (SGH-T999V) which is said to be identical except in name to the T-Mobile Variant. I tried a few different ways to get root, and since the first which involved CWM weren't working I ended up using Odin to install (flash?) a file called root66.tar from god knows where. I acquired root, but every time I go to flash any Mod (through recovery > apply zip from sd), whether its CM9 or an update pushed to my phone from Wind, i get a status 7 report (I think it's checking for my devices product name to see that it matches whatever the thing is designed for and it doesn't check out?)
I've heard that this is a problem with CWM and all I need to do is flash the latest CWM or a different CWM. I've tried downloading the CWM app, and manually flashing, etc etc, none of it seems to actually change my recovery. Maybe I'm just missing something, but I'm quite sure the recovery simply is not being flashed.
So I found this thread for T-Mo variant that sed to get on root explorer and delete a couple files, which I'll probably try if nobody responds quickly, and hopefully nothing bad will happen, but I wanted to confirm that this will be safe for Wind variant.
Also, I'm freaking out a little inside and want to revert back to my stock ROM, which I found. The thing is it's in zip file and i'm unable to flash .zip. My Windows computer is out of commission and I only have Linux Mint, for which Odin doesn't work, so I have this program called Heimdall. I'm wondering how to package a tar.gz file, what is a tar.gz file? Why not just use a .tar file? or a .gz file? What's the difference. Basically, when I give Heimdall my tar.gz file, whats it gonna do with it?
Any thread-pointing or explanation would be super appreciated! Thank you in advance
edit: In regards to Heimdall, I've looked at some guides, they all site older versions, which appear to be different? the only flashhing I can do is either thru a Heimdall Firmware Package, which I don't know how to make but I'd like to learn, or with a PIT, which I dont have or understand, so any help there would also be good

The files you are supposed to delete are safe to do so. Or you can rename them. Either way will work. Once you do this you can now install recovery from rom or goo manager. Use the app to reboot recovery as well. Very easy.
You don't flash zip files from the computer. You do that in recovery.
There are also other ways to flash. I suggest you read through my firmware thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1949687
Pay attention to Mobile Odin, it may be your easiest and safest way to flash stock firmware.
You got root66.tar from god knows where???
Don't take this the wrong way but it sounds like you are getting a little careless and could cause more problems than you started with.
Do not flash anything except what you find in this forum. Aside from custom roms you should find everything you need in that thread.
Id also suggest reading the stickied threads in this section as well.
Good luck!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

DocHoliday77 said:
The files you are supposed to delete are safe to do so. Or you can rename them. Either way will work. Once you do this you can now install recovery from rom or goo manager. Use the app to reboot recovery as well. Very easy.
You don't flash zip files from the computer. You do that in recovery.
There are also other ways to flash. I suggest you read through my firmware thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1949687
Pay attention to Mobile Odin, it may be your easiest and safest way to flash stock firmware.
You got root66.tar from god knows where???
Don't take this the wrong way but it sounds like you are getting a little careless and could cause more problems than you started with.
Do not flash anything except what you find in this forum. Aside from custom roms you should find everything you need in that thread.
Id also suggest reading the stickied threads in this section as well.
Good luck!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, I know you flash .zip from recovery. I meant I'm unable to flash .zip through recovery, and I can't use Odin to flash any .tar for example, so I thought if I could learn how to use Heimdall, learn how to package a 'Heimdall Firmware Package', that'd be safest.
Anyhow, Thank you, I will be more careful
Edit: checking back in, I went to delete the files
/system/recovery-from-boot.p
/system/install-recovery.sh
They're nowhere to be found. I looked around other places like /root/system, and /mnt/system, still nothing. Any ideas?

dudds4 said:
Haha, I know you flash .zip from recovery. I meant I'm unable to flash .zip through recovery, and I can't use Odin to flash any .tar for example, so I thought if I could learn how to use Heimdall, learn how to package a 'Heimdall Firmware Package', that'd be safest.
Anyhow, Thank you, I will be more careful
Edit: checking back in, I went to delete the files
/system/recovery-from-boot.p
/system/install-recovery.sh
They're nowhere to be found. I looked around other places like /root/system, and /mnt/system, still nothing. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I really font know anything about heimdall. That's why I suggested looking into mobile odin. It will let you flash the firmware from the phone itself. The free version here on xda won't root the fw during flash like the paid version will.
If those files aren't on your phone then don't worry about them. They rewrite stock recovery every boot.
You can try this to get flashing to work in recovery:
Open /system/build.prop and wherever it says d2can, change it to d2tmo. And change T999V to just T999.
Make a copy of the original first and save to your external sdcard.
Now reboot recovery and try to flash again.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Separate an One Package ROM

Hi
Please I'd like to know if it's possible to create a Complete ROM (3 files - Modem, PDA and CSC) from an One Package ROM (only one .TAR file).
And is that really useful? After this process, can we only flash the CSC file with Odin (Desktop)?
Thanks for your help. (always appreciated help)

Yes you can extract single ROM file and later create tar file for each component
Alternatively you can use mobile odin to flash indivudual components.

Thanks dr.ketan.
Extracting a tar file we obtain several img files (system.img, hidden.img, boot.img, recovery.img...) (from my own experience with an official rom of a French telephone company).
How could I know which img files is for the Odin's fields PDA, Phone, CSC...?
Alternatively you can use mobile odin to flash indivudual components.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Atm I don't have Mobile Odin. Do u mean that we can flash .img file thanks to this app?
And do u know if this kind of Full Package flash is better than a One Package one? The result could be different?
Thanks again for your explanation.

System. Is PDA, modem is phone, boot is kernel, recovery is recovery this is different component of ROM file
Single file flashing flash all required component on one go, while individual useful when you want to flash only single component.
PC odin can flash tar file but not. img file, you have to convert it to tar
While mobile odin can flash tar as well img file too.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

All what I need to understand
Thanks again.

Ready to flash firmware, just one last thing
Hello, I have a gt-n7100 which I bought in china and I am looking in to flashing the firmware into the UK version as this chinese version has bloatware and i cant access google play or install many apps even if i get them from other markets. The guys here are all a great help but im stuck on one bit of info.
As I have read the threads, I see that the chinese note 2 cannot be flashed with other firmware using Odin PC, because it has a different bootloader ..(is my understanding correct?) So the solution would be to root it and use Odin Mobile instead. But i cant get mobile odin pro because i can never access the google play because it is blocked by this firmware. (ZCALJ6) So I have to use mobile odin LITE, which the tutorial says I have to manually download and install seperate files such as flash kernels. Thats fine, I located the files needed but i dont know when to install it and run it ? Before I install odin or after? or after I have flashed the new firmware or before? And when I install it what should i do next?....because i couldnt find where it says anything about that process, just goes on to explain that mobile odin PRO does it all for you automatically and picks it up from there.
Seriously in need of help, this chinese firmware does to note 2 what kryptonite does to superman.

[Q] Flashing Custom ROM on ET4G

Hi guys. I want to put a custom ROM on my Epic Touch 4G, and while I've read a lot of forum posts, I have a few questions which will hopefully be easy to answer. I don't think I'm a total newbie -- more of an informed layperson (I've put a custom ROM on my wife's LGL-35, for example).
My phone is an Epic Touch 4G (obviously!) running 4.0.4 (IMM761.FL.24) which has been successfully rooted.
My first question is: should I use CWM Recovery (as I would like to do)? I've seen several posts which say "no," but the Cyanogenmod page on the 4G (can't post a link because I'm new) suggest a specific version for the process. Would you consider it safe to use?
My second question is: what's the best way to get the recovery on the phone? The consensus seems to be Odin, but I can't use that owing to the fact that my computer runs Linux (I have a Mac for work, but Cyanogenmod's suggestion of Heimdall doesn't work for it owing to library version conflicts.) So I'd like to use Mobile Odin (which seems to support the phone now).
My last question relates to Firmware. I believe that it is IMM761.FL.24 (as above), but that number looks different from what I've seen in the forum. Perhaps this would be stated as ICS24? From my reading it seems that firmware version is important, and I don't want to brick my phone! Is the methodology I'm proposing here relevant for that firmware version?
My reading of things suggest that this should be pretty easy:
1) Download Mobile Odin and the appropriate flash kernel to the phone.
2) Install Mobile Odin and use it to flash the kernel
3) Use Mobile Odin to flash the recovery tar.md5 file referenced above.
4) Backup my apps and data with TiBU and create an update.zip
5) Perform a nandroid backup of the current ROM.
6) Place the appropriate ROM and Gapps on the SD card
7) From CWM flash the ROM, Gapps, and update.zip
Am I missing anything?
Thanks in advance!

MCW77 said:
Hi guys. I want to put a custom ROM on my Epic Touch 4G, and while I've read a lot of forum posts, I have a few questions which will hopefully be easy to answer. I don't think I'm a total newbie -- more of an informed layperson (I've put a custom ROM on my wife's LGL-35, for example).
My phone is an Epic Touch 4G (obviously!) running 4.0.4 (IMM761.FL.24) which has been successfully rooted.
My first question is: should I use CWM Recovery (as I would like to do)? I've seen several posts which say "no," but the Cyanogenmod page on the 4G (can't post a link because I'm new) suggest a specific version for the process. Would you consider it safe to use?
My second question is: what's the best way to get the recovery on the phone? The consensus seems to be Odin, but I can't use that owing to the fact that my computer runs Linux (I have a Mac for work, but Cyanogenmod's suggestion of Heimdall doesn't work for it owing to library version conflicts.) So I'd like to use Mobile Odin (which seems to support the phone now).
My last question relates to Firmware. I believe that it is IMM761.FL.24 (as above), but that number looks different from what I've seen in the forum. Perhaps this would be stated as ICS24? From my reading it seems that firmware version is important, and I don't want to brick my phone! Is the methodology I'm proposing here relevant for that firmware version?
My reading of things suggest that this should be pretty easy:
1) Download Mobile Odin and the appropriate flash kernel to the phone.
2) Install Mobile Odin and use it to flash the kernel
3) Use Mobile Odin to flash the recovery tar.md5 file referenced above.
4) Backup my apps and data with TiBU and create an update.zip
5) Perform a nandroid backup of the current ROM.
6) Place the appropriate ROM and Gapps on the SD card
7) From CWM flash the ROM, Gapps, and update.zip
Am I missing anything?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CMW will only work for AOSP ROMs. If you are not rooted, you need to do that first. Start off by deciding what ROM you want first. Some require you to be on FL24 and some require you to be on GB27. Since you are in FL24, just download the ROM of choice with the Gapps.
I would suggest you go to @rwilco12's repository and download the one-click for both GB27 and FL24. You will also need to download EL29 kernel and AGATs recovery kernel from the same website. Once you have them on your computer, look up E4GT ROMs on YouTube. @qbking77s videos are spot on for what you need to do. If you get stuck, let me know. I would suggest you download the files on your PC and view the video after. Your steps will brick you. Do not do any if them until you views the videos. CMW is for AOSP ROM/FL24 and AGAT is for TW/GB27.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 09:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 AM ----------
The recovery is installed in the ROM. Don't worry about getting it to the phone.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2

Thanks for your reply -- it was very informative. I've looked at some of the resources you linked to, and they're chocked full of good information.
I'm still at a loss as to how to install the recovery, as all of the links assume that you're running Windows (and I'm running Linux on my PC). I assume that I'll just have to get access to a windows PC to perform the recovery install?

MCW77 said:
Thanks for your reply -- it was very informative. I've looked at some of the resources you linked to, and they're chocked full of good information.
I'm still at a loss as to how to install the recovery, as all of the links assume that you're running Windows (and I'm running Linux on my PC). I assume that I'll just have to get access to a windows PC to perform the recovery install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That part I don't know about. I have pc.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2

I need stock firmware from ANYONE SM-t807A it does not exist on the web.

I have spent days looking, turn on goes to kies firmware screen yet when i put in the model and s/n it shuts and the new samsung app to replace kies is of no help. I can get to the download screen and odin shows it up but no ATT 10.5 Tab S Sm-T807A firmware ANYWHERE.
Please help this is a very very expensive paperweight and im not affiliated with ATT so them helping me is out of the question.

Samobile.com

info.sven said:
Samobile.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They dont have it for the SM-T807A

0 Results found
You searched for "sm-t807a"

It would better if you just explain what state the tablet is in and how it got to that state.
There is no official software for the t807a.

OK here how it goes,
The tablet was completely fine.
The original owner ( a family member) tried to root it and didnt accomplish it, somehow through his process it ended up softbricked.
I can enter he download mode for odin but no firmware for this LTE model.
When I turn it on it goes to the kies screen but kies doesnt recognize it, and when I enter the serial it buffers for 2 seconds then closes the process of kies.
Also it says device isnt supported and yes I have installed the right drivers and uninstalled kies numerous times.
The new replacement prog for Kies (forgot the name) is no help either.
Im terrified of what to do next as it does go to the odin screen just no firmware as I stated.

Any update, or could someone upload the stock firmware so i can use Odin on it.
Samsung told me ATT can flash it for free onto it so its deff a possibility however I do not have a ATT account so they cant help me.

It doesn't boot because the stock recovery has been wiped/replaced.
Thats assuming you have tried to boot recovery?
The att models are all bootloader locked.
I'm surprised a bootloader locked device even allowed an unsigned image to flash or did they use something like flashify?
The stock ota update was posted by someone here a while back. Your only chance is to pull the recovery from it and try and flash it in download mode. However odin may refuse to flash it.
If I can find it I can pull out the recovery.img and post a modified cf_autoroot which will try and flash the original recovery, that's if odin will even accept the image.

I was used with something like kingroot.
"The stock ota update was posted by someone here a while back. Your only chance is to pull the recovery from it and try and flash it in download mode. However odin may refuse to flash it.
If I can find it I can pull out the recovery.img and post a modified cf_autoroot which will try and flash the original recovery, that's if odin will even accept the image."
this i would highly appreciate as the firmwares not deleted just corrupted.

i have searched the whole web.
here is the link to the pulled stock sm-t807a files from a xda member
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B7ndOWpeCEJ4NFVHZmtvTFN0UFU&usp=sharing

PowerfulJY, any successfull update with your SM-T807A journey?
I have the same problem as you, and Odin refuses to flash your firmware files

synphonica said:
PowerfulJY, any successfull update with your SM-T807A journey?
I have the same problem as you, and Odin refuses to flash your firmware files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The images won't flash as they are raw unsigned images.
The update should contain a signed recovery image, but may still not flash with odin as the tar package you make will not be signed either and odin may refuse to flash
There may be a way though, another member managed to brick their device by flashing twrp using Heimdall, but couldn't then flash back the stock recovery with Heimdall.
If somehow the stock recovery can be forced to flash with Heimdall then there's a chance of unbricking the device.

I worked just flashed the FW part through AP did it on a friends pc all is back to new.
if you need a link for the ripped files just pm me.

also odin was used.

ashyx said:
The images won't flash as they are raw unsigned images.
The update should contain a signed recovery image, but may still not flash with odin as the tar package you make will not be signed either and odin may refuse to flash
There may be a way though, another member managed to brick their device by flashing twrp using Heimdall, but couldn't then flash back the stock recovery with Heimdall.
If somehow the stock recovery can be forced to flash with Heimdall then there's a chance of unbricking the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, Heimdall shows the same behaviour as Odin has.
AFAIK they are using the same protocol and seems that recovery CRC/sign check done via device internally, not via flashing tool.

PowerfulJY said:
I worked just flashed the FW part through AP did it on a friends pc all is back to new.
if you need a link for the ripped files just pm me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please explain in more detail what you have done for the benefit of others.
---------- Post added at 03:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:22 PM ----------
synphonica said:
Unfortunately, Heimdall shows the same behaviour as Odin has.
AFAIK they are using the same protocol and seems that recovery CRC/sign check done via device internally, not via flashing tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you use command line or gui?

I used GUI, i didnt do the bootloader or choose any special clickies, I simply tried another pc with the same FW and it flashed in a hearbeast with PASS.
USB hubs are the devil, TRY EVERY USB PORT YOU HAVE
Kies sucks so does the new one.
any issues PM me and ill set you straightm any public questions ask away.
You have to download the IMG files and use the IMG to TAR app, I will provide a ZIP with all tars included but I assure you dont start ****ing around with bootloader images stick to AP.
AT&T is he devil.
The new Rockstar Whipped Strawberry OWNS, Oraneg Creme is Meh.

PowerfulJY said:
I used GUI, i didnt do the bootloader or choose any special clickies, I simply tried another pc with the same FW and it flashed in a hearbeast with PASS.
USB hubs are the devil, TRY EVERY USB PORT YOU HAVE
Kies sucks so does the new one.
any issues PM me and ill set you straightm any public questions ask away.
You have to download the IMG files and use the IMG to TAR app, I will provide a ZIP with all tars included but I assure you dont start ****ing around with bootloader images stick to AP.
AT&T is he devil.
The new Rockstar Whipped Strawberry OWNS, Oraneg Creme is Meh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The gui question was for synphonica about Heimdall.
Are you saying you flashed the images with odin? Which version and which images?
This has been tried before and failed.
Also what do you mean you tried a pc with the same firmware, same firmware as what?

I'm new to rooting so be gentle, I just bought a Galaxy Tab S 10.5 sm-t807a (AT&T) with Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. I want to backup the stock ROM (firmware) so I can go back just in case I bricked it when rooting or installing custom ROM. I searched the web but there are no clear instruction on how to do it for an unrooted sm-t807a. Can someone provide me with a step-by-step instruction? I can share my backup of the stock ROM afterward since there does not seem to be one on the web. Thank you in advance for your help.

cluver53 said:
I'm new to rooting so be gentle, I just bought a Galaxy Tab S 10.5 sm-t807a (AT&T) with Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. I want to backup the stock ROM (firmware) so I can go back just in case I bricked it when rooting or installing custom ROM. I searched the web but there are no clear instruction on how to do it for an unrooted sm-t807a. Can someone provide me with a step-by-step instruction? I can share my backup of the stock ROM afterward since there does not seem to be one on the web. Thank you in advance for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can only root with Kingroot, don't try any other method or you'll brick it nor can you install a custom kernel or recovery.
Once you have root you can pull the partition images with EFS PRO or PARTITION BACKUP.
The best way to have a back up is to catch the stock Firmware update.
This is tricky so research how to do it.
There is one backup I know of:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B7ndOWpeCEJ4NFVHZmtvTFN0UFU&usp=sharing

Can't get OS to reload.

Please forgive me for being so basic but here goes. I rooted via chainfire my Sm-N910p. Somehow I completly wiped the OS off the phone. So now It has been a challenge of trying to figure out which Firmware I can load to at least get back to a starting point. Every firmware I download odin fails. If anybody has a suggestion as to how reload the firmware. I am not sure which marshmallow I last updated too.
Like I said I am very basic but I follow directions very well. I tried searching so I woudnt have to bother you with my foolishness. Any help is deeply appreciated.

There are stock ROM's available for download within this subsection of XDA. You should be able to pretty easily flash one with ODIN. If you've been having issues, make sure you have the correct Samsung driver package installed to your PC.
Try downloading the PK1 ROM file from this thread .... https://forum.xda-developers.com/no...tock-deodexed-debloated-pk1-12-11-16-t3517454
Then using Assayyed Kitchen you can unpack the ZIP file and rebuild it easily into an ODIN compatible .tar package.
Here's a link to Assayyed Kitchen.... https://forum.xda-developers.com/ch...-android-roms-editor-assayyedkitchen-t3410545
If you don't want to go through the trouble of using Assayyed Kitchen to convert a ZIP to a .tar file, look for a ROM that's already .tar format.
Here's a link to some downloads for ODIN https://androidmtk.com/download-samsung-stock-rom
And here's a link to flashing the ROM once it's downloaded.... https://androidmtk.com/flash-samsung-stock-rom-using-odin
I hope this helps a little!!