Installing Custom ROM after "Abnormal Factory Reset" - Verizon Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have an old Verizon Note 4 that I'd like to give to my wife's bed ridden grandmother. She could really use something to pass the time and talk with friends.
I wiped the phone to remove all my old stuff. I rebooted into recovery mode, wiped the cache partition and did a factory reset. When I rebooted and started to configure the phone it gave the message:
"The phone is locked because of an abnormal factory reset. Sign in to the Samsung account that was previously used on this phone to confirm that it belongs to you."​
I never had a Samsung account, and I don't want to start now. I think the best course of action is to install a custom ROM. I dislike all the Samsung bloatware anyhow.
But I can't boot this phone because I can't get past this "abnormal factory reset" screen (presumably it's an anti-theft thing?). How can I install a custom ROM on this phone? Everything I've read says that I already need to have root before installing the ROM, which seems impossible since I can no longer have access to this phone's OS.
How can I proceed?

Dou you have TWRP? If not, make Odin Download Mode, put Rom Stock, and try again... root/unlock bootload/Twrp/customrom, etc

peterNYC said:
I have an old Verizon Note 4 that I'd like to give to my wife's bed ridden grandmother. She could really use something to pass the time and talk with friends.
I wiped the phone to remove all my old stuff. I rebooted into recovery mode, wiped the cache partition and did a factory reset. When I rebooted and started to configure the phone it gave the message:
"The phone is locked because of an abnormal factory reset. Sign in to the Samsung account that was previously used on this phone to confirm that it belongs to you."
I never had a Samsung account, and I don't want to start now. I think the best course of action is to install a custom ROM. I dislike all the Samsung bloatware anyhow.
But I can't boot this phone because I can't get past this "abnormal factory reset" screen (presumably it's an anti-theft thing?). How can I install a custom ROM on this phone? Everything I've read says that I already need to have root before installing the ROM, which seems impossible since I can no longer have access to this phone's OS.
How can I proceed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got to be in the phone to unlock the bootloader. Ive never seen this screen you speak of . Could you post a pic?

Related

Factory Restore an Encrypted Galaxy S3

Model: Samsung Galaxy S3 AT&T i747
Hi!
I was forced to encrypt my galaxy s3 in order to receive corporate emails on my phone using the stock email app. However I never imagined that encrypting the phone would literally lock the memory and options to customize the phone.
I tried to root the phone to benefit from more flexibility and also debloat the phone. However during the rooting process, I could not mount /emmc/ when using ClockWorkRecovery in the startup menu. Based on what I found on the web, I figured it was due to the encryption.
I then tried to factory reset the phone to get rid of the encryption but I simply can't hard reset the phone from the OS or the startup menu. When doing the reset from the startup menu, the errors are "Can't mount /sdcard/". The reset continues but when the phone reboots, all my applications and personal data are there and the phone is still encrypted.
I read a lot about flashing a custom recovery via flashboot or ADB but I am reluctant to do it without guidance from the experts (you guys).
I deleted my corporate email account (It is my personal phone, I am not required to install exchange on it).
I tried to use an external sd card but as soon as the phone recoginizes it, I have to encrypt the card as well as a result from the corporate policies. I ejected the card and did not encrypt it.
I am new to android (long time iPhone user) and I would really appreciate your guidance on the methods to factory reset my phone or a different technique to get rid of the encryption because I am really stuck right now.
I have never encrypted an Android phone before. But maybe your response to these questions will serve as a "bump" to this thread.
1) What method did you use to encrypt the phone? Stock or 3rd party encryption?
2) Doesn't that same method also offer you the offer to unencrypt the phone?
3) If you used a stock method of encrypting the phone, then I'd assume your provider (AT&T?) tech support should be able to help you unencrypt it.
Eddie,
Thanks for your response.
1) I used stock method for encryption
2) Decrypt the phone is not possible apparently,only way is to factory restore the phone apparently
3) I went to the AT&T store and they were unable to factory restore (using the standard methods). They offered an exchange but since I purchase over the phone at a discounted price, I have to do the exchange using that method. Before shipping back the phone, I was wondering if I could fix it myself with the help of knowledgeable people.
CZ Eddie said:
I have never encrypted an Android phone before. But maybe your response to these questions will serve as a "bump" to this thread.
1) What method did you use to encrypt the phone? Stock or 3rd party encryption?
2) Doesn't that same method also offer you the offer to unencrypt the phone?
3) If you used a stock method of encrypting the phone, then I'd assume your provider (AT&T?) tech support should be able to help you unencrypt it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never used the encryption but if the phone can turn on and is usable, cant you go into the encryption settings and turn encryption off? then you should be able to do anything (may be best to start with a factory restore first just so you have a fresh slate to work with)
1ofAKind said:
Model: Samsung Galaxy S3 AT&T i747
Hi!
I was forced to encrypt my galaxy s3 in order to receive corporate emails on my phone using the stock email app. However I never imagined that encrypting the phone would literally lock the memory and options to customize the phone.
I tried to root the phone to benefit from more flexibility and also debloat the phone. However during the rooting process, I could not mount /emmc/ when using ClockWorkRecovery in the startup menu. Based on what I found on the web, I figured it was due to the encryption.
I then tried to factory reset the phone to get rid of the encryption but I simply can't hard reset the phone from the OS or the startup menu. When doing the reset from the startup menu, the errors are "Can't mount /sdcard/". The reset continues but when the phone reboots, all my applications and personal data are there and the phone is still encrypted.
I read a lot about flashing a custom recovery via flashboot or ADB but I am reluctant to do it without guidance from the experts (you guys).
I deleted my corporate email account (It is my personal phone, I am not required to install exchange on it).
I tried to use an external sd card but as soon as the phone recoginizes it, I have to encrypt the card as well as a result from the corporate policies. I ejected the card and did not encrypt it.
I am new to android (long time iPhone user) and I would really appreciate your guidance on the methods to factory reset my phone or a different technique to get rid of the encryption because I am really stuck right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1ofaKind,
Had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me. Encrypted my S3 in order to access work exchange server. Tried CWM but cannot mount /emmc/ problem after booting into recovery. Have not tried to factory reset yet as I am wanting to learn more before I go that route. But basically I am in the same boat as you. The only difference is I was not required to encrypt an external SD card when I put it in my phone. Read about flashboot as well...maybe the only way to actually factory reset after encryption??
Sorry I cannot offer any solutions at the moment...but I will keep scouring the forums looking for a way.
If I learn something valuable, I will try to post it here to help ya out.
EDIT: Maybe you have read these threads, but there is some decent info in them. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1451655 & http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392037
good luck
Look into using Odin to restore a factory image.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
I'm in the same boat here - had to encrypt my GS3 in order to receive corporate (Exchange Server) emails. Now can't update the OS on the phone which is more important to me than receiving corporate emails on the device.
Can someone tell me how to decrypt (UN-encrypt) the phone? Everything I've read says that a factory reset won't do it.
Please help!
CZ Eddie said:
Look into using Odin to restore a factory image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone tried this? If so, did it work?
I clicked install rom from sd card in cwm selected f/w which i had copied into internal memory. Did factory reset in recovery.
Odin it back to stock.
This might be too late to help you guys, but here's what worked for me. I odined it back to stock. Then I went into recovery (volume down, power and home button) and selected wipe data/factory reset. This does of course erase all your data, so try to copy whatever you can onto a computer or something before doing this. You should end up with an unencrypted storage.
sid9102 said:
This might be too late to help you guys, but here's what worked for me. I odined it back to stock. Then I went into recovery (volume down, power and home button) and selected wipe data/factory reset. This does of course erase all your data, so try to copy whatever you can onto a computer or something before doing this. You should end up with an unencrypted storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ODIN will not recognize my phone when it is in download mode ...
tamon77 said:
ODIN will not recognize my phone when it is in download mode ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you hit start, unplug then replug the usb from the computer. I had some issues with it not recognizing it either to flash stock, but when i messed with the cord, it made the noise that i unplugged and it started working. Same thing with the root injected, only this time i fully unplugged it when the fiddling with it didnt work. Make sure you replace it into the same com port.
so, i seem to be having the same problem as all of you, only i encrypted to protect my data from agents. So, right now, i am *hopefully* :fingers-crossed: installing the root injected JB now. I had many issues. TWRP and CWM were no help, couldnt see phone to add new roms to it. ODIN was the only hope. I booted into recovery after going back to stock, did a new factory reset and am installing the stock with root. When i let it boot, it didnt go to encryption this time, but the first time i flashed the stock, it did. This is a mess to say the least.
EDIT: YEAH! done. No encryption and i got root. i used the image from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1968625 DLK3 worked for me. Good luck. i hope this helps. Ill be happy to explain more if you want.
tamon77 said:
ODIN will not recognize my phone when it is in download mode ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ODIN (for me at least) wont see anything since im using Windows 8. On Windows 7, however, it works just fine.
Factory reset encrypted phone
hi,
I'm using CM11 as a rom.
I didn't want to reinstall stock rom, just to root it again later.
Installing updated version from external SD didn't work (updated the ROM but no decryption)
Tried to factory reset from recovery - didn't work, as the internal storage is encrypted it can't mount /sdcard/
however, from within settings menu, in backup&restore there's an option to do a factory reset - this is formatting internal memory altogether.
worked like a charm.
oxidase said:
After you hit start, unplug then replug the usb from the computer. I had some issues with it not recognizing it either to flash stock, but when i messed with the cord, it made the noise that i unplugged and it started working. Same thing with the root injected, only this time i fully unplugged it when the fiddling with it didnt work. Make sure you replace it into the same com port.
so, i seem to be having the same problem as all of you, only i encrypted to protect my data from agents. So, right now, i am *hopefully* :fingers-crossed: installing the root injected JB now. I had many issues. TWRP and CWM were no help, couldnt see phone to add new roms to it. ODIN was the only hope. I booted into recovery after going back to stock, did a new factory reset and am installing the stock with root. When i let it boot, it didnt go to encryption this time, but the first time i flashed the stock, it did. This is a mess to say the least.
EDIT: YEAH! done. No encryption and i got root. i used the image from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1968625 DLK3 worked for me. Good luck. i hope this helps. Ill be happy to explain more if you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand this is very old but I am going to make a note here in case anyone else gets into this problem. When you go back to stock, do the factory reset using the STOCK recovery. Don't install TWRP or anything else until you have cleared the encryption. At least, that's what worked for me.

Encryption issue

I recently just wipe did a factory reset on a encrypted (factory encryption) Galaxy S3, after rebooting it i have found that i am unable to get past the initial password prompt screen. I have tried to flash stock ROM, multiple times, to no avail as after each reboot i get the same password prompt screen. i have tried to flash custom ROM, multiple times, this to to no avail as it will not even go onto the device through push in Samsung toolkit v7 or slideloader. i have wiped the ROM to the point of nothing being on the phone and re-installed the factory ROM again this to with not avail as it still has the password screen. Now before i go back to t-mobile and see if they will help me, i decided to get community input to see if there is anything that can be done outside of the Factory as i have void warranty using Samsung Galaxy S3 Toolkit v7.
******UPDATE******* for those with similar problem, i just fixed this. Issue is as follows with possible fix action:
Issue was that encrypting the Samsung Galaxy S3 with the factory encryption and then wiping the system will cause the password file to be deleted but the encryption to stay on the phone. My fix action was that download original ROM from the provider, delete existing ROM on phone till it is basically a brick with USB debugging on and re install the original providers ROM. After it is re install you have to go in and wipe the phone's data one more time. This resulted in the password prompt screen disappearing and the basic start setup being initiated as if you just bought the phone from the store. Although this is my fix and other fixes for future reference would be much appreciated to. *********UPDATE************
zidale said:
I recently just wipe did a factory reset on a encrypted (factory encryption) Galaxy S3, after rebooting it i have found that i am unable to get past the initial password prompt screen. I have tried to flash stock ROM, multiple times, to no avail as after each reboot i get the same password prompt screen. i have tried to flash custom ROM, multiple times, this to to no avail as it will not even go onto the device through push in Samsung toolkit v7 or slideloader. i have wiped the ROM to the point of nothing being on the phone and re-installed the factory ROM again this to with not avail as it still has the password screen. Now before i go back to t-mobile and see if they will help me, i decided to get community input to see if there is anything that can be done outside of the Factory as i have void warranty using Samsung Galaxy S3 Toolkit v7.
******UPDATE******* for those with similar problem, i just fixed this. Issue is as follows with possible fix action:
Issue was that encrypting the Samsung Galaxy S3 with the factory encryption and then wiping the system will cause the password file to be deleted but the encryption to stay on the phone. My fix action was that download original ROM from the provider, delete existing ROM on phone till it is basically a brick with USB debugging on and re install the original providers ROM. After it is re install you have to go in and wipe the phone's data one more time. This resulted in the password prompt screen disappearing and the basic start setup being initiated as if you just bought the phone from the store. Although this is my fix and other fixes for future reference would be much appreciated to. *********UPDATE************
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say you reinstalled the original provider's ROM, I'm not sure if you mean you used ODIN. I believe ODIN install is the only way to recover from this as it reformats the partitions.
An ODIN flash back to OTA did not help my issue.
My company now requires the encrypt device policy for exchange, so I went ahead encrypted the device while running CM10. The encryption succeeded, but every time the screen timed out, it would turn off the device instead of just turn off the screen (CM10 bug?) - didn't want to have to deal with having to cold boot the device every time I want to do something, not to mention the phone being off :/
So I did a nandroid restore to my last known state and now I get prompted for the unencrypt password. However, the password doesn't work. Probably because the password file was deleted, but the system and data partitions are still encrypted.
I've tried doing a full wipe in TWRP and flashing multiple ROMs. I've also tried ODIN flashing root66 and OTA JB 4.1.1 with no success. It still asks for the unencrypt password. I suspect the only way to fix this is to completely re-create the system and data partitions.
If anyone knows how to accomplish this, I'd be grateful because I have a soft brick right now (i.e. can't get past unencrypt password prompt with any ROM)
OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. I was in the same exact situation you were in and thank god for this thread. I thought my phone was pretty much done for.
fix
BTT8 said:
OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. I was in the same exact situation you were in and thank god for this thread. I thought my phone was pretty much done for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flash ur rom. then flash CF-Auto-Root, boot to recovery, factory restore, done

Soft bricked SPH-L710- Possible to recover data or repair without wiping?

I was using Chrome when the phone froze. I restarted it, and now the phone just hangs at the Samsung logo.
I have a completely stock unrooted Sprint SPH-L710. I'm moderately sure the phone is on MD4 since I didn't want Knox. It would be nice if there were a way to double check, though, since I don't remember why it stopped pestering me to upgrade. The phone doesn't boot far enough to get into safe mode, but it will enter recovery and download mode. Clearing the cache in recovery had no effect.
My PC and Kies don't see it when I connect it.
My contacts and photos are mostly backed up, so I'm more worried about salvaging other things, like Chrome bookmarks. My bookmarks aren't synchronized with Google. Apparently root is required to access them, so I never got around to it. It would be nice to recover text messages and gamesaves too. I haven't tried a factory reset yet since that would wipe everything.
What should I do from here? Is it possible to install a custom recovery at this point and use that to backup files?
Or should I try to flash a stock rom from the SD card or Odin? Or will that wipe everything or cause other problems?
I don't have USB debugging activated, so is there anything useful I'd be be able to do with ADB?
Or should I just shrug and go for the factory reset?
Thanks guys.
It's been an educational experience.
Without root or USB debugging enabled, it's apparently impossible to install custom firmware from soft bricked status.
ADB was never even able to see my phone. Not even in recovery or download modes.
Odin is a surprisingly temperamental program. It would see my phone, but not successfully flash until I uninstalled Kies. Rwilco's ROM's and one click flashes were all entirely unsuccessful. It's difficult to find older GS3 ROM's since link rot has claimed nearly all of them. There's about a million skeychy Samsung firmware/update sites, and most of them are worthless.
Heimdall is a little disappointing. You can't just point it at a ROM. You have to track down a Heimdall specific package. I couldn't find a suitable one.
Eventually, I found a sketchy Samsung firmware site that had the MD4 ROM, and it actually flashed in Odin. Then Odin stopped seeing my phone entirely.
So, I ordered a Tmobile Note 4 to use on Ting. It's cheaper, and I like the removable battery and microSD. Just for kicks, I factory reset the S3. To my surprise, the factory reset worked. I guess I should have tried that before I ordered a new phone
In the meantime, I guess I will still try to recover files, demote the S3 to media player/backup phone status, and use the incoming Note 4 as my daily driver.
From here on, I guess it means rooting and monthly backups.
Thanks guys.
When you boot into download mode you'll see your Knox flag if the phone has been upgraded to a Knoxed up firmware. I'm too lazy to check but it looks something like Knox: 0x0 or 0x1.

HTC One M8 - Soft brick on unrooted phone (apart from OS upgrades)

I've had my M8 since about the end of 2014. Originally on Android 4, have since done OTA upgrades to 5 and 6 as they were flagged as available by my carrier (UK, O2).
I've never managed to get HTC Backup on my PC to recognise the phone, even with the original USB cable, so have never done a proper backup (Yes. I know). Fortunately for me, my Gmail contacts list was almost up to date, and apart from my calendar, that was the most important thing to save, so I've just had to grin and bear it.
Because of the lack of proper backup and therefore the facility to restore from one, I'd never done a factory reset after the various OS upgrades, which I've been told might have avoided my present situation, which is that I can't get any further than a bootloop situation. Other than that, I can get into recovery mode, but no further.
I've tried clearing the cache, I've tried a factory reset. Neither of those have got me anywhere.
I've no great desire (at present) to go fiddling with rooting or anything clever with the phone, I'd just like to get it working again. I've downloaded Android Studio to get the SDK for ADB but don't really know what I'm doing, and if I mess around without expert advice I could end up with a hard brick - which is why I'm here.
Can anyone give me some guidance about what I need to do to get my phone working again?
Thanks in advance...
Hi, I have the same problem, started a few days ago when I was trying to download VLC from the play store, the phone rebooted and said optimizing apps.... It has been in an optimizing apps bootloop since - it gets to the end, then says starting android then freezes and reboots, then starts again... I tried clearing the cache and doing the factory reset as well but nothing helps. We could really use some expert help on this :S
If a stock phone isn't booting, and factory reset doesn't help, the OS is possibly damaged or corrupted in some way; and needs to be restored.
If your version has RUU, you can try to run that.
If no RUU for your version, then probably your only choice is to unlock the bootloader, install custom recovery, so you can restore a stock TWRP backup from the following thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/htc-one-m8/help/tutorial-how-to-stock-stock-twrp-t3086860
I am in a very similar situation, apparently because of a botched automatic system update, almost same symptoms as airick94. I haven't tried a factory reset yet though, because I want to try to recover what I can from the internal storage first. Can I do that through ADB even if my phone is not recognised as a device by the computer?

Totally wiped my samsung galaxy sm-t111nq device. HELP!!!!

hello everyone,
recently i wanted to upgrade my Samsung galaxy tab 3, model:sm-t111nq device to see if it would install the telephony functionality on my device because it was running on a customized stock firmware (from samsung i guess) with no telephony functionality which means i can't make or receive calls. I flashed the firmware with odin two times but it got interrupted the second time, so it couldn't boot up. i searched for solutions on the internet, any time i tries to flash the firmware using odin it stops at file analysis and every time i try flashing with recovery it says "E:/ could not mount system" or something like that, then i installed twrp recovery to see if i could remove the firmware and flash it again still the same error. Now this is where i messed up, I initially wanted to just wipe the cache completely at first following a solution online but after doing this it still didn't work and so i felt i needed to wipe more than just that, and with no backup i went ahead to wipe the whole thing including EFS, system, data, preload, i basically selected all the boxes there :crying:. now i really dont know what to do seems like i'm the only one that messed up this bad. Please help me out. Can i use the back up of another of the same type of device to restore it and get it running. Please help, just wanna use it again even if its not gonna come with the complete functionalities.

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