I've been modding androids, iphones, and windows phones for years now but I somehow ended up to finally brick a phone.
So I was running stock 4.3 rooted on my N900A and decided to install SafeStrap 3.71 in order to upgrade to Knoxraid. I followed this guide (kind of):
http://galaxynote3root.com/att-galaxy-note-3-roms/knoxraid-kitkat-rom-for-att-galaxy-note-3/
Everything went well and I got SafeStrap but I installed the rom to Rom Slot 1 instead of the Stock Rom slot., I rebooted into the regular download mode. Everything went okay with the install but after flashing the ODIN files I noticed that SafeStrap no longer booted to the recovery menu (of course). Knoxraid installed just fine but after booting into the rom I noticed that it would soft-reboot every 20-30 seconds. I couldn't get into Settings>General>Security. I couldn't load any apps because it rebooted too fast. It was basically useless. I booted into recovery mode to try and reload the rom there. Now I just get a black screen on bootup.
I think my saving grace might be that I took a backup of my phone using SafeStrap before I made any changes. However, how can I apply that backup without SafeStrap?
HELP!!
I've done this before and I'm wondering if I can do it again
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2559715
Okay I've made some progress. After restoring the original MJ5 ODIN files in the above link, SafeStrap came up after the reboot!!!!!! Now I'm doing a restore.in SafeStrap. I should be all set but I'll update in case anyone else has the same issue in the future.
It worked flawlessly after that. I followed the instructions to the letter and now everything is working perfectly!
Related
So I just got this phone, and I've been trying to get it up to ICS. I've gone through and was able to complete the ICS update the first time completely, installed Safestrap, etc. Now this is where the issues came in. I did a backup, and then I started restoring some apps from titanium, from an old phone. This is where I started getting constant force closes. Tried fix permissions, went through again, same issue. So I wiped the phone, and went to restore with safestrap - it failed. Now on bootup, it refuses to even boot into safestrap anymore. All I can get is either a blank screen, or motorola recovery menu. By the fact that I can get into the motorola recovery menu, I presume it's not fully bricked, but I know there can be issues with installing on top of Safestrap.
Long story short, my question: In this condition, will flashing the same file I did during the ICS leak installation through Moto Recovery allow the phone to boot? Or will that cause a brick like downgrading from ICS does?
So, just to be sure, you installed one of the ICS leaks correct? Then you installed safestrap 2.0?
Sent from my Droid 4
Yes, that's exactly what I did. Was able to boot up into Safestrap (2.0) and restore through Safestrap, but after wiping /data I got errors with restoring a backup, and after rebooting to attempt it again, Safestrap splash screen no longer appears for me. It has the initial splash, and where the Safestrap splash should be, it just stays blank screen.
Not sure what would have caused this. I don't think you'll be able to flash the zip again since it looks for a .219 system build. Might be worth a shot though. You could also try booting into recovery and doing a factory reset. If neither of those work, try following the instructions for upgrading from one leak build to another.
Sent from my Droid 4
Tried Factory reset already, and attempted just flashing the update anyways - got an error saying build.prop file was invalid/missing?
Now I'm going through the tool steps to swap between ICS builds. At least I'll hopefully get something working.
Though I did do a step I forgot to mention, if that explains why it happened. After the Safestrap restore failed, I tried to do a partial restore of /system and /data. /system restored fine, when I went to do /data it said it was restoring /system in the log - could that have been an issue? A possible mistake in safestrap that overwrote the wrong folder? Or just an issue with the menu?
Doing the ICS switch got it working for me. Now to attempt round 2 and see if I can get into CM9, and Safestrap works right.
More research, root cause : Forgot to install busy box when doing the initial root.
Glad you got it working!
Sent from my Droid 4
Hello Folks,
I have a Droid Bionic Running 98.72.22XT875.Verizon.en.US (The stock JB update rooted)
I FXZ'd this onto the phone, so there are no files from the ICS install.
With SafeStrap 3.11 installed, including recovery I see the option to choose Menu to boot into the recovery, but when I press it the device just boots like normal.
I'm not sure if it is misreading my press, or if the recovery is not bootable.
IS there a new version, or is there a way I can boot into SS without using the button?
Can anyone help me out?
Thank You,
-Dacooter
Why haven't you removed & reinstalled Safestrap yet? Safestrap 3.11 works fine with JB on my phone, and I put JB on my phone with an FXZ.
I have tried re-installing SafeStrap.
I've even tried Differend APK downloads.. no luck.
Hey Folks,
I got this all figured out.
I flashed Via RSD one more time, then rooted without modifying the stock ROM at all. now it is working.
Thanks,
-Dakotah
Same problem as starter
So I'm having the same problem as the person who started this thread. I've tried SafeStrap 3.11 about 5 times and no luck. I've reflashed it using the RSD Lite tool about 5 times flashing it with http : // sbf. droid-developers. org/cdma_targa/list.php and still had no luck (of course i'm using the JB edition named "9.8.2O-72_VZW-22 Blur_Version.98.72.22.XT875.Verizon.en.US" )
Every time I press the Menu button when SafeStrap pops up it boots like normal. I can't seem to get this fixed. I tried CWR twice, made a backup, and both times the OS said "Encryption" was bad and I needed to factory reset. Only fix was using RSD Lite.
Any ideas? Should I try to manually flash recover.img?
Ok, so I tried following the method described here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2712039
I was on JB. Installed SS 3.71, downloaded the odexed version of UrDroid and odin files.
Procedure I followed:
Booted into SS
Factory reset
Install urdroid - deodexed
Installation failed, zip wouldn't open
Booted back up, downloaded urdroid again - odexed version this time
pulled battery, booted to safestrap
factory reset
install new zip, worked this time
tried booting to download mode with vol down key, didn't work for some reason. just went to SS splash screen then tried to boot
pulled battery, booted SS again, used the reboot menu to get to download mode
followed steps to set up partitions in ODIN, seemed to work fine
Now when I try to boot it just shows me the SS splash screen, then when I let it boot it just goes to a black screen with a solid blue indicator LED.
Next, I tried to verify the MD5 on the UrDroid zip and it didn't match. I downloaded it again, copied it to my external SD, and it then checked out.
Wiped, installed, ran the odin stuff again. Same problem.
I'm guessing the next step is to restore it back to MJ5 using this method: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2559715&page=118
Except several of the files linked there are no longer available....
I'm feeling a little panicked now, this is my only phone lol. Can anyone give me a hand?
If you're on MJ5 and If you can access Safestrap recovery, this should work : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2619005
andygev35 said:
If you're on MJ5 and If you can access Safestrap recovery, this should work : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2619005
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that once you update to KK, you can't go back to JB... except I don't know if I ever completed the update. I'm not entirely sure how this process even works.
Do you flash the rom, and then the ODIN portion of it prepares your phone for KK?
Boot into safestrap recovery, click reboot, click reboot to recovery (which will boot you into system recovery). Near the top of the system recovery screen it will show you what version of firmware you have. If it's MJ5, then just do a restore within safestrap recovery to the restore files you get from the link I posted earlier.
andygev35 said:
Boot into safestrap recovery, click reboot, click reboot to recovery (which will boot you into system recovery). Near the top of the system recovery screen it will show you what version of firmware you have. If it's MJ5, then just do a restore within safestrap recovery to the restore files you get from the link I posted earlier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, thank you for your help.
In recovery, it just says "Android system recovery <3e>". Then goes down to the options you can select.
Before you posted, I tried installing a MJ5 custom rom (FireNote) in the stock slot and now it successfully boots. Which is certainly an improvement. I tried the same process again with UrDroid and had the same result as before - no boot. Now I'm back on FireNote again.
Since FireNote works fine, is it safe to conclude that the Odin process did not properly prepare my boot system for KitKat, and that is why the KK rom isn't working at all?
Have I stumped XDA?? Haha.
I went over the guide again and can't see anything that I've done wrong, but I certainly could have. Are there glitches in Odin3 with Windows 7 that I should be looking out for or anything?
Another thought: I was attempting to do this with SafeStrap 3.71 installed. I thought that 3.72 should be sideloaded after I had switched to KitKat. Was this incorrect? Should I have started by installing 3.72 in my JB rom?
Well, I just let out a string of bad words.
When I ran Odin it defaulted to my 'return to stock' files even though I ran it from a completely different folder... and I didn't realize it.
I'm guessing using the right files will resolve this problem.
Wow, I'm an idiot.
steveh_131 said:
Well, I just let out a string of bad words.
When I ran Odin it defaulted to my 'return to stock' files even though I ran it from a completely different folder... and I didn't realize it.
I'm guessing using the right files will resolve this problem.
Wow, I'm an idiot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't say you're an idiot. You're human!
Hi Guys,
My 900A was running with S5 (Update 4) ROM and Safetrap 3.72 but I decided to try Biggins ROM. I didn't like the interface so I tried another one, RenMar's ROM 1.22.
Wiped my data as usual, loaded the ROM. Successfully updated. Restart the phone and... nothing. I don't see the usual screen from Safestrap but instead, Android recovery with the little android on its back.
It's giving me choice only to apply updates or to wipe data/cache. Odin doesn't work. I can connect to it for about 5~6 seconds by pressing Volume Up at startup but then, it restart and goes back to the little android.
At the top of the screen, I have :
Android system recovery <3e>
KOT49H.N900AUCUCNC2
What I did wrong? Reading the posts, should it be because I tried to "downgrade"? I tried to upload back the S5 (Update 4) ROM. But, of course, it didn't work since you are reading this.
I still have my backup from Safestrap but... can load to Safestrap. Is there a genius who can help me asap. You know what it's like without your phone.
Thanks for any help.
Your on nc2 so that mean your on kit Kat rom n you should install safe trap 3.75 which is for kit Kat rom
FireKat V14 infuse with MegaPower
Knowing that, what should I do to reactivate my phone?
babu2001 said:
Hi Guys,
My 900A was running with S5 (Update 4) ROM and Safetrap 3.72 but I decided to try Biggins ROM. I didn't like the interface so I tried another one, RenMar's ROM 1.22.
Wiped my data as usual, loaded the ROM. Successfully updated. Restart the phone and... nothing. I don't see the usual screen from Safestrap but instead, Android recovery with the little android on its back.
It's giving me choice only to apply updates or to wipe data/cache. Odin doesn't work. I can connect to it for about 5~6 seconds by pressing Volume Up at startup but then, it restart and goes back to the little android.
At the top of the screen, I have :
Android system recovery <3e>
KOT49H.N900AUCUCNC2
What I did wrong? Reading the posts, should it be because I tried to "downgrade"? I tried to upload back the S5 (Update 4) ROM. But, of course, it didn't work since you are reading this.
I still have my backup from Safestrap but... can load to Safestrap. Is there a genius who can help me asap. You know what it's like without your phone.
Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you had read through the posts in the renmar thread then you would have noticed that there was an issue with the ROM and that many other people ended up in the same boat as you are in now (including me).
You will need to ODIN NC2, then root with towelroot and install safestrap (and busybox I believe). Then you can reboot to safestrap recovery and use your backup.
Here is the link to get to ODIN NC2.
Happy flashing.
Thanks A LOT SAPPS to get me back on track. Those files made the trick. Really appreciated.
I have Safestrap 3.7.2 and Lollipop rooted installed. I've googled and googled and can't find an answer to this. I booted into Safestrap to try to figure out how to delete an old NC1 backup I made. I hit the reboot/recovery button once. What a mistake. The phone booted into stock recovery. Now when the phone boots, I get a message saying Safestrap is disabled with the options of recovery or continue. Continue does nothing but gives me a blank screen. Recovery takes me into Safestrap, and I can't get the phone to boot back into Lollipop. If I hit reboot/system, I get the same Safestrap disabled screen. If I hit reboot/recovery, I end up in the stock recovery. It says to wait 10 seconds and it will boot, but all I get is a blank screen. I have Lollipop in the stock ROM slot with no other ROMs loaded. HELP!
Well the only thing I could figure to do was to ODIN back to NC2, use Towelroot to get root, install Busybox and Safestrap 3.75, install the OC1 rooted ROM, and reinstall everything via Titanium Backup. This time once I get the phone set up the way I want I will make sure to make a Safestrap backup. What a pain.
Unbelievable. After restoring everything via Titanium Backup, and then booting back into Safestrap to make a backup, I decided to wait and the only thing I did was to power the phone off. I'm getting the same Safestrap disabled message again. I'm not even sure how this is possible.
voigts said:
Unbelievable. After restoring everything via Titanium Backup, and then booting back into Safestrap to make a backup, I decided to wait and the only thing I did was to power the phone off. I'm getting the same Safestrap disabled message again. I'm not even sure how this is possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you're on Lollipop did you flash the OC1 kernel before leaving Safestrap? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=59666958&postcount=2
Yes. What I have been finding after flashing/reflashing about 10 times today is that if I boot into Safestrap (v. 3.75) even once after flashing the rooted Lollipop Zip (OC1 that you linked to), Safestrap gets disabled. As long as I do not boot into Safestrap, the phone boots fine. Once Safestrap disables, I am dead in the water and can't get back into Lollipop at all. I then have to ODIN back to NC2, root with Towelroot, install Busybox, and then Safestrap to flash back to OC1.
I spent all day on and off messing with this. I'd really be in a fix without Titanium Backup.
voigts said:
Yes. What I have been finding after flashing/reflashing about 10 times today is that if I boot into Safestrap (v. 3.75) even once after flashing the rooted Lollipop Zip (OC1 that you linked to), Safestrap gets disabled. As long as I do not boot into Safestrap, the phone boots fine. Once Safestrap disables, I am dead in the water and can't get back into Lollipop at all. I then have to ODIN back to NC2, root with Towelroot, install Busybox, and then Safestrap to flash back to OC1.
I spent all day on and off messing with this. I'd really be in a fix without Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only thing I can think of is something in your Titanium backup is messing things up. If you happen to flash all that again (not saying to do) but if you do, I would boot into Safestrap (once you install Lollipop) and flash the OC1 kernel to see if it boots ok. (Before you do the Titanium Backup).
Thank you for the replies. I failed to realize that I needed to extract the lollipop file and then flash the SM-N900A_OC1_Kernel_Safestrap_Installer.zip file contained within AFTER flashing the lollipop file. Yes, I get the stupid award for the day. Duh....
I extracted the file, copied to MicroSD card, and then booted into Safestrap and flashed it. Hopefully things will work correctly now. I feel pretty stupid.
I need help myself.. Every time I try to flash any type of zip I get stuck in safestrap disabled