Develop Bugs

Noob Question: What is a flash counter?

What is a flash counter and how can it effect me? I have a Sprint SGS II. TIA
Edit: i have the SGS III

The flash counter is a binary counter built in Samsung phones that is used by Samsung to basically help identify if you have been tampering with your firmware and flashing unofficial software.
Each time you flash unofficial firmware via Odin, your binary flash counter goes up by 1. Good news is this can be reset using triangle away.
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ergibson83 said:
The flash counter is a binary counter built in Samsung phones that is used by Samsung to basically help identify if you have been tampering with your firmware and flashing unofficial software.
Each time you flash unofficial firmware via Odin, your binary flash counter goes up by 1. Good news is this can be reset using triangle away.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
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Sorry I'm a noob too. Triangle? I wanna return my s3 from att to Verizon s3 because of coverage. I wanna reset it just in case. Please help
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adlzian said:
Sorry I'm a noob too. Triangle? I wanna return my s3 from att to Verizon s3 because of coverage. I wanna reset it just in case. Please help
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Do a Google search for "Triangle Away". It's an app that will reset your counter back to zero
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Just a heads up. Im not sure if you want to use triangle away. I think its only been tested om the s 3. But a flash counter is a counter that increases every time you use odin to push/flash a file to your phone. I dont really recommend using triangle away on ur s 2. Good luck. Im sure there is something in the s 2 forums to reset it back to 0. Ur warranty is void if its 1 or more
EDIT: i read that it will work for your sgs2 but only uf it is on ics.
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Flash counter?

I need to send my phone back to T-Mobile because Im trading it for an s3 to my friend. Nothing is wrong with the phone he just wants a refurbished one. Now im wondering where is the flash counter located if any. I put it in download mode and it didn't say anything mmaybe I am looking at the wrong place?
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seedofchaos said:
I need to send my phone back to T-Mobile because Im trading it for an s3 to my friend. Nothing is wrong with the phone he just wants a refurbished one. Now im wondering where is the flash counter located if any. I put it in download mode and it didn't say anything mmaybe I am looking at the wrong place?
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1578184
Flash the file in that thread. Then boot to download mode and check to see if you get a "NO" for custom binary

I didn't install it because im worried about brick, but it does say "no" where it needs to. Kind if wierd correct me if im mistaking but I rooted through Odin shouldn't it be at least one? Or am I fine to send it in.
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seedofchaos said:
I didn't install it because im worried about brick, but it does say "no" where it needs to. Kind if wierd correct me if im mistaking but I rooted through Odin shouldn't it be at least one? Or am I fine to send it in.
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There's no risk of brick, no one has had an issue because of this. But in any case, you're fine with a no. The counter is only tripped when you flash a custom kernel through Odin (rom and recovery is fine). When you first went through the root process, all you did was flash a recovery through Odin, thus you didn't trip the counter. So to go back to stock you should do this in order if your counter hasn't tripped:
1)flash stock kernel through cwm/twrp
2)flash stock rom/recovery through Odin
That way you don't trip the counter.

seedofchaos said:
I didn't install it because im worried about brick, but it does say "no" where it needs to. Kind if wierd correct me if im mistaking but I rooted through Odin shouldn't it be at least one? Or am I fine to send it in.
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you didn't technically root through odin, you just flash a recovery through odin and that doesn't trigger the flash counter for some reason.

Do not flash that flash counter, it's been reported that its been causing bricks
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bmakk2055 said:
Do not flash that flash counter, it's been reported that its been causing bricks
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2 people bricked out of countless that didn't brick, including myself and mrx. Those two people either had a bad download, or, more than likely did something stupid. In the case of a bad download, mrx switched file hosts so that shouldn't be an issue.
The saying in favor of gun rights applies here too: zips don't brick phones, people brick phones.

yoft1 said:
There's no risk of brick, no one has had an issue because of this. But in any case, you're fine with a no. The counter is only tripped when you flash a custom kernel through Odin (rom and recovery is fine). When you first went through the root process, all you did was flash a recovery through Odin, thus you didn't trip the counter. So to go back to stock you should do this in order if your counter hasn't tripped:
1)flash stock kernel through cwm/twrp
2)flash stock rom/recovery through Odin
That way you don't trip the counter.
Click to expand...
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Will it matter if I have ics if I flash stock kernal? And if so would it be a problem if I flashed the Rom directly after through Odin?
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Warrant Voided at Flash Counter = 1 ?

After flashing twrp, rooting, and flashing a rom my counter is at 1 even though i used the guide that said it would not trip the counter.
The counter stays at 1 even when flashing more things through recovery.
I read somewhere that if the flash counter is at 1 the warranty is not voided, and only if it is more than 1 it is voided. is this true?
Ive called samsung but they were giving me some weird answers and they had no idea what they were talking about.

Use triangle away app.
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Won't matter on new firmware. Stop worrying about the flash counter.

Aerowinder said:
Won't matter on new firmware. Stop worrying about the flash counter.
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what?

Stop worrying about flash counter.

Aerowinder said:
Stop worrying about flash counter.
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But doesnt it affect the status of the warranty?

Yes but it can be easily reset with triangle away.
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DocHoliday77 said:
Yes but it can be easily reset with triangle away.
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yes i understand this, but i was asking if the warranty is voided when the flash counter is >1 or >0 ?

Since we got updated to jb, the way the counter works changed. If I remember right, it will always show 1 if you have a custom recovery or kernel installed.
I keep stock recovery and use Mobile Odin for my flashing needs.
If you need to, just reset with triangle away and reflash stock firmware.
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DocHoliday77 said:
Since we got updated to jb, the way the counter works changed. If I remember right, it will always show 1 if you have a custom recovery or kernel installed.
I keep stock recovery and use Mobile Odin for my flashing needs.
If you need to, just reset with triangle away and reflash stock firmware.
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Alright thanks for the clarification. It all makes sense now.

chromium96 said:
yes i understand this, but i was asking if the warranty is voided when the flash counter is >1 or >0 ?
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Technically, yes it voids your warranty. But if you're worried about that you may not want to root to begin with as that also voids it.
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software update?!

" your device had been modified . software updates are not available " why is it saying that, is it suppose to say that im root and with TWRP

Did you use triangle away to reset your binary count to 0?
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no i have not where can i find the guidance for that ?

Check "[How To Guides] Root,Unroot,CWM,Stock,Hotspot, + Tips!" in the General forum.
Thats how I fixed mine
~Eric

What firmware is update?
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tikay00 said:
Did you use triangle away to reset your binary count to 0?
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It doesnt matter if he uses Triangle Away right now, he has TWRP on it. Until he is 100% stock + rooted it will always say modified.

stevessvt said:
It doesnt matter if he uses Triangle Away right now, he has TWRP on it. Until he is 100% stock + rooted it will always say modified.
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You're completely right. I forgot that he said he was still rooted. Assumed he unrooted at this point.
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I'm 100% stock+rooted and it says under status that my phone is custom. Even After using triangle away. If I want to get the OTA update I'm gonna have to ODIN flash a stock firmware.

ImperiousRex89 said:
I'm 100% stock+rooted and it says under status that my phone is custom. Even After using triangle away. If I want to get the OTA update I'm gonna have to ODIN flash a stock firmware.
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In triangle away check the box for 'System Modified Workaround', After a reboot it disables root for a few minutes, it should say Official after that.

What kind of recovery do you have? Stock?
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yeah I'm having the same problem . I'm rooted with twrp recovery and stock rom.. . getting the same message op has . I know it's because of twrp recovery but is there any way to get the update without having stock recovery since I'm still on stock rom ?
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traviswade said:
yeah I'm having the same problem . I'm rooted with twrp recovery and stock rom.. . getting the same message op has . I know it's because of twrp recovery but is there any way to get the update without having stock recovery since I'm still on stock rom ?
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Flash stock recovery (I think there is an Odin file floating around) then use triangle away. Should reset you back. The bootloader is running a check on the recovery at boot. If it doesn't match a certain value (I think it checks the signature) then it trips the counter.
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elesbb said:
Flash stock recovery (I think there is an Odin file floating around) then use triangle away. Should reset you back. The bootloader is running a check on the recovery at boot. If it doesn't match a certain value (I think it checks the signature) then it trips the counter.
Might not even matter, but just in case, do triangle away before you flash to stock. That's the way I've been told to do it, and its safer I guess.
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Whoops. I actually responded to this post, buy I guess I quoted it.
To be safe, I'd use triangle away right before you flash you stock ROM. That's the way I was told to do it, and worked without a hitch. Plus, it's way easier.
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where can I find a stock recovery file for the t-mobile sgh m919 ?
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traviswade said:
where can I find a stock recovery file for the t-mobile sgh m919 ?
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Quite possibly the easiest thing to find. Use Google or YouTube and type in "how to unroot TMobile S4."
All the instructions give you links to the official stock Roms.
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[Q] tried rooting my phone tmobile gs4

ok here is the thing i rooted my phone. it works but i believe i that i used the wrong baseband version which was m919uvufnb4 instead of M919UVUAMDL. also kernal version is 3.4.0-g4224a08-dirty fenny. i did not know about the knox counter. and my problem is i cant hear my phone ring, can't make a call, can't listen to music. i would like to just get it back to it's normal state can someone help me please:good:

I would guess the best thing you could do is flash (thru Kies) the stock NB4 firmware, that should get everything back to standard, then you can still root and everything from there, but it should get everything back up and running right for you. As far as Knox goes, if it's tripped (0x1) I don't think there's anything you can do to really reset it. I know at one point you could use triangle away think it was and that could reset it but I think I remember that's not working so well anymore, tho I could be mistaken.
good luck.

MoodSwinger said:
I would guess the best thing you could do is flash (thru Kies) the stock NB4 firmware, that should get everything back to standard, then you can still root and everything from there, but it should get everything back up and running right for you. As far as Knox goes, if it's tripped (0x1) I don't think there's anything you can do to really reset it. I know at one point you could use triangle away think it was and that could reset it but I think I remember that's not working so well anymore, tho I could be mistaken.
good luck.
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thanks for some insight MoodSwinger now i have kies but it's not reconizing my device

do you have the stock firmware full DL, It's something 1.5GB IRCC? If not, get it.
do you have a custom recovery installed? You said you were rooted so I'm guessing yes. Can you boot into recovery?
if you can do those try flashing the stock thru the custom recovery.
search how to fix a softbricked device there's a thread and answers in this (T-Mobile SGS4) section just find them, and you should be able to recover at least to get back to stock. Then you should be back on track.

Download fenny's 4.4.2 firmware, flash with Odin, problem fixed
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serio22 said:
Download fenny's 4.4.2 firmware, flash with Odin, problem fixed
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And where shall I place the 4.4.2 firmware in Odin meaning which box @ serio thanks for your input

For our devices always use PDA to flash stuff.
I haven't come across anything that uses anything else so far.

I shall try it once I get home. Should I uncheck anything thing like auto boot , repartition, reset time
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Just auto boot and reset time should be checked
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Serio i have the rooted stock uvufnb4 v1.3 not sure if that's the one but will look for the one you suggested
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warreng6x said:
Serio i have the rooted stock uvufnb4 v1.3 not sure if that's the one but will look for the one you suggested
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Go here.... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2679913
Go to first page, look for download, choose 5th one. It will say Odin tar.
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warreng6x said:
Serio i have the rooted stock uvufnb4 v1.3 not sure if that's the one but will look for the one you suggested
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Not the same.. Follow the sickness's link and directions and you will be good to go
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Sitting waiting for this fix finish in the library about ready to smack someone with a book
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warreng6x said:
Sitting waiting for this fix finish in the library about ready to smack someone with a book
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well here i go brb

warreng6x said:
well here i go brb
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Don't hit someone with a book ?
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serio22 said:
Don't hit someone with a book ?
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ok so followed the steps to the end now i still have the same problem making calls it goes black then return to say in call i can't change the volume so i can hear it if it rings i'm just stuck also the wifi is not turning on but i'll figure that one out

warreng6x said:
ok so followed the steps to the end now i still have the same problem making calls it goes black then return to say in call i can't change the volume so i can hear it if it rings i'm just stuck also the wifi is not turning on but i'll figure that one out
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You did flash the tar file right? If so try flashing it a second time and don't use mobile Odin.. If it still doesn't work you can try flashing a 4.3 or 4.2.2 ROM and see if that helps.. If all this fails its likely a hardware problem
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serio22 said:
You did flash the tar file right? If so try flashing it a second time and don't use mobile Odin.. If it still doesn't work you can try flashing a 4.3 or 4.2.2 ROM and see if that helps.. If all this fails its likely a hardware problem
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yes i did the the one in sickness post. now since im back on stock rom how should i go about doing the flash the second time around? thanks for the help i remember this s#it was easy at one point and time

warreng6x said:
yes i did the the one in sickness post. now since im back on stock rom how should i go about doing the flash the second time around? thanks for the help i remember this s#it was easy at one point and time
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Just go to download mode and flash it
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back up and running now i did another flash thru odin and unchecked auto reboot and time reset and its back to normal. to every one with a input thanks :good: time to make some new buddies
1 more thing i can only use fnb4 roms correct and which recovery is good to flash