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I have a Tmobile Galaxy S4 SGH-M919, I have tried every rooting method I can fine and so far all I have done is made a brick, I need this phone working asap, and rooted so I can go onto Crickets service
PLEASE HELP
I can root Sprint, but when it comes to Tmobile apparently I'm an idiot
wolfen1086 said:
I have a Tmobile Galaxy S4 SGH-M919, I have tried every rooting method I can fine and so far all I have done is made a brick, I need this phone working asap, and rooted so I can go onto Crickets service
PLEASE HELP
I can root Sprint, but when it comes to Tmobile apparently I'm an idiot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This the method I used for rooting when I had 4.3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2611175
Check my signature for a link to how I rooted with 4.4.2
Depending on the version of Android you have on that phone, it will trip the Knox flag. Which won't affect the performance of the phone, but will indicate you messed with your phone. There may be other rooting methods that work, but this one worked for me.
BTW, I found that method by using Search on this forum and Google.
Rob
wolfen1086 said:
I have a Tmobile Galaxy S4 SGH-M919, I have tried every rooting method I can fine and so far all I have done is made a brick, I need this phone working asap, and rooted so I can go onto Crickets service
PLEASE HELP
I can root Sprint, but when it comes to Tmobile apparently I'm an idiot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The safe root method is how i rooted with 4.3 but it is my understanding that you need your phone to be unlocked to use a different carrier. Unlocked and rooted are 2 different things.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Unlocked sop I can use whatever carrier I want.
Rooted Because I want control over my pohone and not somebody else saying what I can and cant do with it.
I can get it to bot in cwm recovery but thats all it won't rot the rom so I can see it its rooted or not. I followed eth entire instructions provided and used oden like it said to and all I suceded in doing was makeing a damn brick out of a phone I got to have running tomorrow morning
rlichtefeld said:
This the method I used for rooting when I had 4.3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2611175
Check my signature for a link to how I rooted with 4.4.2
Depending on the version of Android you have on that phone, it will trip the Knox flag. Which won't affect the performance of the phone, but will indicate you messed with your phone. There may be other rooting methods that work, but this one worked for me.
BTW, I found that method by using Search on this forum and Google.
Rob
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem is I'm with Tmobile, my phone is a SGH-M919
wolfen1086 said:
Unlocked sop I can use whatever carrier I want.
Rooted Because I want control over my pohone and not somebody else saying what I can and cant do with it.
I can get it to bot in cwm recovery but thats all it won't rot the rom so I can see it its rooted or not. I followed eth entire instructions provided and used oden like it said to and all I suceded in doing was makeing a damn brick out of a phone I got to have running tomorrow morning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can get into Download mode (Power Off, then Volume Down+Power Button), then you'll need to download the Stock Rom and transfer it to your phone via ODIN. Do you know if you were 4.2, 4.3, or 4.42 before you bricked it? You can download the images from Sammobile.com
Rob
rlichtefeld said:
If you can get into Download mode (Power Off, then Volume Down+Power Button), then you'll need to download the Stock Rom and transfer it to your phone via ODIN. Do you know if you were 4.2, 4.3, or 4.42 before you bricked it? You can download the images from Sammobile.com
Rob
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I do I was 4.3
going to Samsung now to try to get the stock rom and start over, the only thing I have not tried yet is CF autoroot, if that don't work I guess its back on t mobile with their payment lies
wolfen1086 said:
Yes I do I was 4.3
going to Samsung now to try to get the stock rom and start over, the only thing I have not tried yet is CF autoroot, if that don't work I guess its back on t mobile with their payment lies
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have access to ClockWork Mod Recovery, wipte the cache and dalvik and see if that lets it boot.
If not, just download a rom, any rom from the dev section that you want to try and put it on a micro SD card. Put the SD card in your phone.
Do a full wipe (data, system, cache, dalvik) in recovery and flash the downlaoded ROM file. Your phone should boot right up.
You'll want a TouchWiz based rom if you still need to perform the SIM unlock proceedure so you can use it on the Cricket network. But once step at a time here...
wolfen1086 said:
Unlocked sop I can use whatever carrier I want.
Rooted Because I want control over my pohone and not somebody else saying what I can and cant do with it.
I can get it to bot in cwm recovery but thats all it won't rot the rom so I can see it its rooted or not. I followed eth entire instructions provided and used oden like it said to and all I suceded in doing was makeing a damn brick out of a phone I got to have running tomorrow morning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. You didn't mention your phone was unlocked in the OP.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
wolfen1086 said:
Problem is I'm with Tmobile, my phone is a SGH-M919
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you look at my signature, you'll see that I've got a SGH-M919 also and I'm on T-Mobile with a phone purchased from T-Mobile.
I've provided links that worked for me.
Rob
Kriptik210 said:
Ok. You didn't mention your phone was unlocked in the OP.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats cause it wasn;t rooted before, hopefully it is now, cause my wife just went to Cricket to see if she can get her Iphone and mine on their network
I finally got the phone rooted but I screwed it up so bad I had to install a different rom to make it work, so not I'm roted and running wicked rom .Next I installed, updated and ran region away, it said it didn;t know if it worked or not, but I was told that it does unlock so hopefully it did.
I havea different S4 here ( SGHM919) that I'm gonna try the cf auto root on when the battery is fully charged, cause both my sons have S4's and they want to keep the rom they have now just be unlocked
If you were looking at cwm recovery then you most likely have root.
Pp.
Sent from my Touchwiz device that never forgets apps.
PanchoPlanet said:
If you were looking at cwm recovery then you most likely have root.
Pp.
Sent from my Touchwiz device that never forgets apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And if you don't you can easily get root with CWMrecovery
Sent from your phone. You should be more careful where you leave that thing.
wolfen1086 said:
Thats cause it wasn;t rooted before, hopefully it is now, cause my wife just went to Cricket to see if she can get her Iphone and mine on their network
I finally got the phone rooted but I screwed it up so bad I had to install a different rom to make it work, so not I'm roted and running wicked rom .Next I installed, updated and ran region away, it said it didn;t know if it worked or not, but I was told that it does unlock so hopefully it did.
I havea different S4 here ( SGHM919) that I'm gonna try the cf auto root on when the battery is fully charged, cause both my sons have S4's and they want to keep the rom they have now just be unlocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I used Region away it says somewhere that it doesn't unlock your phone to where you can use other carriers. So you might want to find out lol
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Google is your friend.
Pp.
Sent from my Touchwiz device that never forgets apps.
Thank you gentlemen, my phone is working again, rooted, currently running wicked rom, all the other phones are rooted with the stock roms for the kiddies unless they want to have a better rom
Region away works perfectly on mine even though it says it doesn't know if it did.
I was going to use triangle away, but it says something about bricking my phone and I really don't give a damn about the counter so ........
PanchoPlanet, Google is NOT my friend when it comes to phones XDA id my friend when it comes to phones
Now to go look for the stock memo pad that comes with the S4, I like that one best its simple and works
I too prefer Memo Pad, it's quick and simple, my reference to Google was that its quicker than the XDA search and more accurate. Good to hear your back on track.
Pp.
Sent from my Touchwiz device that never forgets apps.
wolfen1086 said:
Thank you gentlemen, my phone is working again, rooted, currently running wicked rom, all the other phones are rooted with the stock roms for the kiddies unless they want to have a better rom
Region away works perfectly on mine even though it says it doesn't know if it did.
I was going to use triangle away, but it says something about bricking my phone and I really don't give a damn about the counter so ........
PanchoPlanet, Google is NOT my friend when it comes to phones XDA id my friend when it comes to phones
Now to go look for the stock memo pad that comes with the S4, I like that one best its simple and works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If Google is not your friend, then maybe his big brother may be - Google Advanced Search:
https://www.google.com/advanced_search
where you can seach specific sites, specific words or phrases.
Rob
I found Smemo on line, took a while since I'm on oxycodone for pain due to a hernia operateing, but I got it, placed it in eth rom and reflashed it
Now I'd love to find a theme for Wicked V10 that would change teh color of the phone dialpad, I HATE white dialers, makes me remember when I was a kid back in teh 60' when my mom had nothing but white so she could see if it was clean, and sanitized, degermed, and all that, ( yes I was an outside type, and brought it all inside )
Oh and all I can say guys, is thanks for trying to help me I WILL figure it out for the firmware and hardware and software that I have, experimenting with a phone that I totally bricked today, gotta re-instal the entire os on it, so I'm gonna experiment with various versions of the SGH-M919 software, if I find out what works on what I'll post it for you guys to check and make sure I did right
I recently bought a new "Samsung Galaxy S III 16GB SGH-T999L 4G LTE White - T-Mobile" from Oakland Wireless via Amazon. This is for my fiancé, to replace her broken iPhone 4s. After popping in her T-Mobile sim card, the phone seems to work fine. However, the WiFi calling feature seems to be missing and when we try to perform a software update it ends with "process failed". The installed Android version is 4.1.1.
She went to a T-Mobile store to see if they could help. They were also unable to get the phone to update, and eventually told her that it would never work simply because we didn't buy the phone from T-Mobile. They also told her it would only be a talk and text phone, and wouldn't get data service. However, this last part is clearly false, as she has been using data without any problem.
Does anybody have experience with this issue? Were the folks at the T-Mobile store correct or mistaken?
Also, assuming they are correct and the phone can't be updated over the air, can I just download and install a stock ROM with the latest version and WiFi calling? I have a custom ROM installed on my Galaxy Exhibit, so I am familiar with installing ROMs, but my fiancé doesn't want a custom ROM, she wants stock.
Look in the t mobile s3 section there should be a Odin file you can flash (stock firmware)
Sent from my SM-N900A using XDA Free mobile app
Well first of all the T999L released with 4.1.2 so something doesn't seem right, and it may be why its not updating. To get a better idea of the phone model, can you post a screenshot of the about device section? And I assume you are not rooted correct? Download this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.phoneinfo scroll to firmware info and post it here as well
Thanks for the replies!
ryant100 said:
Look in the t mobile s3 section there should be a Odin file you can flash (stock firmware)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't see any stock stuff in the tmobile s3 ROM list, but I did a little more searching and found this thread with stock firmware and OTA's:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1949687
Not sure if I should try to do the OTA update or one of the complete firmwares. Any idea why there is no OTA update for 4.3?
serio22 said:
Well first of all the T999L released with 4.1.2 so something doesn't seem right, and it may be why its not updating. To get a better idea of the phone model, can you post a screenshot of the about device section? And I assume you are not rooted correct? Download this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.phoneinfo scroll to firmware info and post it here as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm. Maybe I got the version wrong or maybe it's not really a T999L? She isn't here with the phone right now, so I'll have to get back to you.
I stopped posting the OTA's simply because they're next to useless for us. Fladhing the firmware via Odin has a much greater success rate snd OTA's are notorious for causing all sorts of problems. Just wasn't worth the trouble to post them anymore.
I attached the screenshots from the phone info app. Looks like maybe it's not the LTE model after all? I looked behind the battery, and it also says SGH-T999 with no "L" on the end.
The strange thing is that it shows an LTE mode in the network settings. However, I've never seen it actually use LTE mode, even though T-mobile says it should work at our location (Seattle). Using the Ookla speed test app, I get ~4 Mbps down (the same speed as my Galaxy Exhibit).
I'm thinking about returning the phone if it is not the correct model. I'm curious though, if I try updating the firmware and it doesn't work, can I restore everything exactly to it's current state before I return it? I don't want them to refuse the return because I messed with the firmware.
Ok looks like you got a Frankenstein phone.. That's an at&t bootloader with a Canadian product/model name & T999 build that I've never heard of.. I would just return it or ask for an exchange, not worth it to keep messing with it
Yup. Another one! And its got a csc from the I9300! The LEM build, if I remember right, was the original stock 4.0.4 firmware. But there is way too much conflicting info there for me to be comfortable recommending much of anything.
I just installed that app to make sure it wasn't giving bad info, and it is showing everything correctly for mine.
As for the LTE showing up in the menu, that isnt too uncommon. If you want to know what you are really connected to, check Settings, About Device, Status, Network Type. Best to do this during a large download.
But aside from it being a franken-phone, everything that is related to the T-Mobile model points to it being a non-LTE T999.
DocHoliday77 said:
Yup. Another one! And its got a csc from the I9300!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I noticed that too but guess I forgot to mention it ? so odd how out of nowhere there this wave of franken-phones going around
Thanks for everyone's advice. I'm going to return the phone.
Probably the best choice. Its just more trouble than its worth imo.
So, I recently bought a galaxy s4 from ebay, and it seems to work on the network, so I don't think the IMEI is blacklisted. However, when I tried the steps here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2282683 and here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2283068, I am unable to complete the process. When I do the latter, which seems more like what I did with my S3, I get the same message "unable to process request". I remember I was getting this message on my S3 when I had the SlimKat ROM on it. But when I look at my S4, it looks like it has the OEM ROM on it, so I am not sure what is happening. I looked at my boot loader/baseband, and this is what I have: m919uvufnh7. I know that with my S3 I had to make sure I used the correct ROM to flash my phone, so I could get it unlocked the free method. So, does anyone know what bootloader and ROM could help me accomplish these steps in the second thread?
I am thinking I should flash a different ROM on my phone.
mji2015 said:
So, I recently bought a galaxy s4 from ebay, and it seems to work on the network, so I don't think the IMEI is blacklisted. However, when I tried the steps here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2282683 and here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2283068, I am unable to complete the process. When I do the latter, which seems more like what I did with my S3, I get the same message "unable to process request". I remember I was getting this message on my S3 when I had the SlimKat ROM on it. But when I look at my S4, it looks like it has the OEM ROM on it, so I am not sure what is happening. I looked at my boot loader/baseband, and this is what I have: m919uvufnh7. I know that with my S3 I had to make sure I used the correct ROM to flash my phone, so I could get it unlocked the free method. So, does anyone know what bootloader and ROM could help me accomplish these steps in the second thread?
I am thinking I should flash a different ROM on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried contacting T-Mobile? If the phone is paid for in full, they are supposed to unlock it for free.
This worked for me:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=58645651
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Free mobile app
rlichtefeld said:
Have you tried contacting T-Mobile? If the phone is paid for in full, they are supposed to unlock it for free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response, but I have not tried it, because I don't think it is that easy. I also purchased AT&T tablets and tried unlocking them, but AT&T said they were 'active' under someone else. They were not not showing as stolen, but active. I am not sure what that entails, but I am guessing I have to register it under my account first, before I can request to unlock it. So before I try going through the long process of figuring out how T-Mobile can unlock my device, I thought I would give this a try. It seems simpler and since I plan on modding my phone after I unlock it, I see it as just part of the process. (At least I hope so.)
radoo7701 said:
This worked for me:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=58645651
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try this. But I was trying to make sure that there was no problem with downgrading, as I am currently on 4.4.4. And I know that on my S3 there was a big warning about downgrading from 4.3 to 4.1. To avoid bricking my phone, I thought I would ask and make sure.
So thanks again to both of you for the responses!
I will try this. But I was trying to make sure that there was no problem with downgrading, as I am currently on 4.4.4. And I know that on my S3 there was a big warning about downgrading from 4.3 to 4.1. To avoid bricking my phone, I thought I would ask and make sure.
So thanks again to both of you for the responses![/QUOTE]
You only have to downgrade the modem. This should not brick your phone.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Free mobile app
Would you please posts step by step on what you did to successfully unlock 4.4.4 T-Mobile which I assume is version M919UVUFNK2.
How to Unlock Samsung Galaxy S4 M919 4.4.4
c627627 said:
Would you please posts step by step on what you did to successfully unlock 4.4.4 T-Mobile which I assume is version M919UVUFNK2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, I was able to get mine to work, so maybe I will list my steps. However, I must say that I had some failed attempts (in part due to not understanding the post referred to by radoo7701) and some issues with my phone. But those steps wont be included. Also, my version was m919uvufnh7, not NK2. I would think it does not make a difference, as long as you reflash back to NK2 at the end.
1. I locaed the modem for M919UVUAMDL and m919uvufnh7 modem (as I did not make a backup of mine before starting)
2. I used Odin 3.07 to flash the AMDL modem
3. I tried the steps here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2283068, but this would not work, I could not even get the menu to pull up, as it would say request unable to complete. So I tried this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2282683 and that actually worked, so I went through these steps successfully.
4. Use cf-auto-root to root your phone
5. Download regionlockaway and transfer it to phone, then install it on phone and run it.
6. flash m919uvufnh7 modem and booted up with my AT&T sim, and it did not ask for unlock code. It just worked!
NOTE: I did have to use a T-Mobile sim card to do the menu process, but radoo claims that he did not do the menu portion. I had already done the menu portion when I finally got to reading his comment. So I can't say that it will work or not. Either way, his suggestion worked for me and I am content with the result!
Thanks radoo7701!
Please post link to files in step 1 you specifically used. And also links for step 5 you used.
I have an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that was a Verizon Wireless variant. I went to swap the SIM cards from the Total Wireless SIM to active AT&T SIM card just to see if it would work and it did but I went to put the Total Wireless SIM card back in and I'm left with all of this AT&T bloat ware that won't let me uninstall along with the AT&T globe as boot logo... Any ideas?
Liftkit said:
I have an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that was a Verizon Wireless variant. I went to swap the SIM cards from the Total Wireless SIM to active AT&T SIM card just to see if it would work and it did but I went to put the Total Wireless SIM card back in and I'm left with all of this AT&T bloat ware that won't let me uninstall along with the AT&T globe as boot logo... Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to flash the unlocked firmware that's N950U1 because that doesn't have the bloatware like that.
I'm confused. The phone is not rooted it's just been carrier unlocked. It acts like bloatware and it wasn't there before I don't understand how a SIM card inserting it and replacing it with a different carriers what causes it to leave behind un-installable applications and a boot logo
Liftkit said:
I'm confused. The phone is not rooted it's just been carrier unlocked. It acts like bloatware and it wasn't there before I don't understand how a SIM card inserting it and replacing it with a different carriers what causes it to leave behind un-installable applications and a boot logo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it caused your CSC to change and the carriers love putting all their crappy bloatware in the phone because they want you to use their products.. Root has nothing to do with it. If you flash the unlocked firmware N950U1 you won't have to deal with that again!
MrMike2182 said:
Because it caused your CSC to change and the carriers love putting all their crappy bloatware in the phone because they want you to use their products.. Root has nothing to do with it. If you flash the unlocked firmware N950U1 you won't have to deal with that again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah bloatware is such a nuisance. Could you provide a link to some instructions on how to flash firmware? thanks
Liftkit said:
Yeah bloatware is such a nuisance. Could you provide a link to some instructions on how to flash firmware? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's pretty easy actually.. You just download odin that's the application you flash with then you download the firmware you want to flash then unzip the downloaded firmware so you can see all the files in it.. Make sure the computer already has the cellphones drivers already installed or it won't see the phone connected then open odin and put each file in their respective places AP to AP BL to BL etc... Then flash. If you end up with an error just ask us.
MrMike2182 said:
It's pretty easy actually.. You just download odin that's the application you flash with then you download the firmware you want to flash then unzip the downloaded firmware so you can see all the files in it.. Make sure the computer already has the cellphones drivers already installed or it won't see the phone connected then open odin and put each file in their respective places AP to AP BL to BL etc... Then flash. If you end up with an error just ask us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok ive got all of it downloaded and unzipped and files added to all the corresponding boxes, my phone is recognized and in download mode.. Yet it still fails to start the process. Ive got the latest odin and im assuming it must be the firmware version?
Just out of curiosity, did you try doing a cache wipe and factory reset in recovery mode with the Total Wireless SIM card installed. Honestly dont know if that would work but might be worth a try.
Also with Odin, did you try to run as administrator? And assuming you are using a Windows based computer, what version of Windows are you using? And I believe there are also 2 versions of the latest Odin, 1 regular and 1 that is modded. Maybe try the other version as well. I dont have a link but I'm sure someone may come along and provide it.
I was trying to keep all of my info so I didn't do a wipe. In the odin version that I have on been using is the one on the Samsung firmware website.
I'm pretty sure this is the patched one here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/patched-odin-3-13-1-t3762572
Also if you use Samsung Smart Switch, that is an easy way to save pretty much all your data, customizations, and most of your programs right to your SD card. It will restore pretty much everything for you. It makes things a lot easier to restore when playing with different ROMs or versions of Android. When you use Smart Switch to restore, it will basically look and feel like it was before you wiped.
Liftkit said:
Ok ive got all of it downloaded and unzipped and files added to all the corresponding boxes, my phone is recognized and in download mode.. Yet it still fails to start the process. Ive got the latest odin and im assuming it must be the firmware version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're using the wrong odin you need to use the patched version or it will continue to fail.. I've attached the patched version of odin here.
MrMike2182 said:
You're using the wrong odin you need to use the patched version or it will continue to fail.. I've attached the patched version of odin here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the version in the link provided and now it doesnt even recognize the phone when connected where as the the one on sammobile recognized it and started but failed
Liftkit said:
I tried the version in the link provided and now it doesnt even recognize the phone when connected where as the the one on sammobile recognized it and started but failed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something isn't right.. Try a different USB port and a different wire!! Also make sure you right click on odin and run it as administrator.. Go through the firmware files that you extracted and delete just the .md5 part off of all of the files you're going to flash.
MrMike2182 said:
Something isn't right.. Try a different USB port and a different wire!! Also make sure you right click on odin and run it as administrator.. Go through the firmware files that you extracted and delete just the .md5 part off of all of the files you're going to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay I got it to download it was a USB drivers not installed properly although know that I have completed the firmware update now my SIM card doesn't even register in my phone, what happened?i have attached screen shots. to addit was a Verzon firm not sprint
Liftkit said:
Okay I got it to download it was a USB drivers not installed properly although know that I have completed the firmware update now my SIM card doesn't even register in my phone, what happened?i have attached screen shots. to addit was a Verzon firm not sprint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pop the sim card tray out and then push it back in with the phone on and see if it sees it and asks to restart.. If it doesn't then I'm not sure and someone else will need to chime in.
MrMike2182 said:
Pop the sim card tray out and then push it back in with the phone on and see if it sees it and asks to restart.. If it doesn't then I'm not sure and someone else will need to chime in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i tried that and nothin still restarted it but nothing, still. no. service
I couldn't get my phone to work if I tried right now anyting I'm screwed with any SIM card
Liftkit said:
I couldn't get my phone to work if I tried right now anyting I'm screwed with any SIM card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get the phone from?
MrMike2182 said:
Where did you get the phone from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A third-party seller on eBay but it was brand new never been opened or activated.
But I think that would be irrelevant since it was working just fine with the exception of some bloatware.
I live in Canada. I purchased an S20 Ultra off a seller on Canadian best buy (open box). I assumed it'd be a Canadian variant, but it was an unlocked US version (U1 firmware). OK whatever, but it meant my Samsung Pay doesn't work, along with a few other calling features.
I downloaded the patched Odin, downloaded the G988W firmware (with XAC CSC) with Frija, added the appropriate files to Odin (used Home CSC), and flashed it. The flashing itself went fine, but when I went to re-insert my SIM...nothing. It didn't even error out and say "No SIM Detected", I just had no coverage, and in SIM manager, both slots were empty.
Freaked out, and eventually flashed back to G988U1/XAA and thank Christ it works now. But my question is...why?
I dug though this forum before doing it to try and anticipate any issues. Followed the instructions to the letter, nowhere said this would be an issue. Couldn't even find any relevant support questions for this issue on this model. Not sure if it's a new development, but I absolutely don't want to risk messing my phone up further if I reattempt.
Bonus question: My CSC info is: XAA/XAA,XAA/SPR. Does that mean that it was originally a Sprint model phone, someone's flashed the firmware to an unbranded version, then sold it off as New (Open Box)?
You can't just flash a firmware from a different phone. The hardware is different, so the way to communicate with it is different. You're lucky it even booted, I wouldn't have expected that even. You're simply stuck with the original firmware and CSC list. Or, maybe you could try with custom ROMS but I wouldn't be so sure about it. Either way, you'll have to use a ROM/firmware that is built for your phone (G988U1).
Mwyann said:
You can't just flash a firmware from a different phone. The hardware is different, so the way to communicate with it is different. You're lucky it even booted, I wouldn't have expected that even. You're simply stuck with the original firmware and CSC list. Or, maybe you could try with custom ROMS but I wouldn't be so sure about it. Either way, you'll have to use a ROM/firmware that is built for your phone (G988U1).
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Huh I thought the actual hardware between U1 and W was the same? They're both Snapdragons. Besides I've seen other posts of people doing the same (tbh, they were going from W to U1, but still)
Mwyann said:
You can't just flash a firmware from a different phone.
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Oh but you CAN.
U, U1, and W have all been cross-flashable ever since Samsung first introduced universal hardware, starting with the S8
Jetrel1 said:
Bonus question: My CSC info is: XAA/XAA,XAA/SPR. Does that mean that it was originally a Sprint model phone, someone's flashed the firmware to an unbranded version, then sold it off as New (Open Box)?
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Probably. Very common for online sellers to do.
The key probably lies in what the CSC shows as after flashing W firmware. If it stays as XAA, changing the CSC manually to a Canadian one could possibly make it work
iBowToAndroid said:
Oh but you CAN.
U, U1, and W have all been cross-flashable ever since Samsung first introduced universal hardware, starting with the S8
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I thought so too, lol
Any thoughts on why my flash caused the SIM issue? Did I maybe just install the wrong version? I don't think I did, I used Frija
Some further research led me to the subject of accidentally mucking up the modem firmware which I might have done
Jetrel1 said:
I thought so too, lol
Any thoughts on why my flash caused the SIM issue? Did I maybe just install the wrong version? I don't think I did, I used Frija
Some further research led me to the subject of accidentally mucking up the modem firmware which I might have done
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See my other post above
iBowToAndroid said:
See my other post above
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My bad I didn't even compute. Thanks!
Jetrel1 said:
I live in Canada. I purchased an S20 Ultra off a seller on Canadian best buy (open box). I assumed it'd be a Canadian variant, but it was an unlocked US version (U1 firmware). OK whatever, but it meant my Samsung Pay doesn't work, along with a few other calling features.
I downloaded the patched Odin, downloaded the G988W firmware (with XAC CSC) with Frija, added the appropriate files to Odin (used Home CSC), and flashed it. The flashing itself went fine, but when I went to re-insert my SIM...nothing. It didn't even error out and say "No SIM Detected", I just had no coverage, and in SIM manager, both slots were empty.
Freaked out, and eventually flashed back to G988U1/XAA and thank Christ it works now. But my question is...why?
I dug though this forum before doing it to try and anticipate any issues. Followed the instructions to the letter, nowhere said this would be an issue. Couldn't even find any relevant support questions for this issue on this model. Not sure if it's a new development, but I absolutely don't want to risk messing my phone up further if I reattempt.
Bonus question: My CSC info is: XAA/XAA,XAA/SPR. Does that mean that it was originally a Sprint model phone, someone's flashed the firmware to an unbranded version, then sold it off as New (Open Box)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I Just did exactly the same and got a tmobile variant but want the W preferably the samsung factory rom not a carrier one. Which guide did you follow? I found this for the 21 Ultra and expect the steps to be similar https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...-samsung-unlocked-bloatfree-firmware.4224423/
What calling features don't work in Canada? I have a W variant, live in Canada, and want an U1 to get esim working. I am also looking for a guide to follow to flash my phone.
funrunner said:
What calling features don't work in Canada? I have a W variant, live in Canada, and want an U1 to get esim working. I am also looking for a guide to follow to flash my phone.
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Samsung Pay doesn't work - that's a big one for me, it's a pain in the **** losing that. Will only accept US ZIP codes when setting up.
Caller ID doesn't work
That extra info you get when texting (like seen/read stuff) doesn't work in the native Samsung text app, you have to use google messages (yeah, no)
I'm sure there's other stuff but those are the main ones