Found something interesting about the knox counter, my OTA update failed and when I went to use Kies, I was told I had a modified ROM. I went to download mode and it seems the failed OTA triggered the counter.
I went to someone here who can reset it and then tried to flash a HK image on a Chinese unit, of course with the locked loader it failed immediately, once again Knox was tripped, as this was duplicated several times it is probably safe to claim that the knox trigger is unreliable and would be defensible in a warranty argument.
Interesting, but I'm not sure I would count on this to work. Seems like it would be easy for Samsung to argue against it.
you would say the OTA tripped knox??
spacemanvt said:
you would say the OTA tripped knox??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Failed OTA tripped knox
Q. Are you rooted and have you modified your system partition?
If so, I can see why the OTA failed and it's possible that detecting a modified system partition when trying to apply the OTA is what tripped KNOX.
Related
Seems there is some confusion on what is currently going on with the 4.3 MJA update and development. The MJA update is a patch file, NOT a full rom. Devs had to update OR use someone else that has updated in order to get the TW 4.3 system image. NOW....
The recent MJA update was major in terms of firmware in that Knox was incorporated. (firmware on the GS4 is the bootloader, recovery and modem/radio. the ROM is the OS) Currently, once you update to the new MJA bootloader you can't go back.
Why would you go back? Well Knox is a pain in the a$$ and trips the flash counter in the bootloader, which will most likely void your warranty. For crack flashers this is a nightmare. If you do not care about tripping the flash counter make sure right after you succesfully update to MJA you make a nand back up of stock MJA with Philz Touch CWM recovery found here: http://d-h.st/WUe Flash this in odin 3.07. This is so you can restore to stock if you mess up your system. There are many reports of issues restoring a nand backup of stock MJA with TWRP and other recoveries.
Devs are currently VERY close on getting a MJA 4.3 rom up and running with a custom kernel. Why a custom kernel? There are reported issues with bootloops after flashing a MJA 4.3 rom in the MF9 bootloader. The stock MJA kernel will not boot if you're still on the MF9 bootloader.
To sum up:
If all you want is rooted TW 4.3 MJA and you don't care about tripping the flash counter go ahead and update to full MJA then immediately nand backup.
[HOW TO]Update from stock rooted MF9 to MJA (with root) without losing data
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2509605
[GUIDE]How to safely root MJA 4.3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2511156
Nice explanation. Thx
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
Very well said. Its indeed a pain in the ass for us flashaholics! I hate being limited, i miss downgrading at will. I check daily to see if there has been any updates with mja. Thank you for your post.
Thank you hope this helps people and limit the questions in the development section. Very well said
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
I have a question please...
so when you talk about tripping the knox counter...
would this happen every time you flash something?
so like if im getting my flash on 2-3 times a day this would make it tick up one 2-3 times?
is there any difference between knox being tripped from 0x1 to 0xFiftyMillion? I mean once its tripped does it really matter to sprint/Samsung or is there some kind of threshold? will it eventually brick device or something?
raptorseye said:
I have a question please...
so when you talk about tripping the knox counter...
would this happen every time you flash something?
so like if im getting my flash on 2-3 times a day this would make it tick up one 2-3 times?
is there any difference between knox being tripped from 0x1 to 0xFiftyMillion? I mean once its tripped does it really matter to sprint/Samsung or is there some kind of threshold? will it eventually brick device or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The knox flag doesnt trip every time you flash. It uses binary numbers so its only 0x0 or 0x1 thats it. Once its tripped there is no way or reversing the it back to 0x0. People have confirmed that sprint will still take phone with 0x1 but that voids your warranty with samsung. Other than that i dont know about your last two questions.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
TriForce Rom 4.0!!!
ROMANTiC KiD said:
The knox flag doesnt trip every time you flash. It uses binary numbers so its only 0x0 or 0x1 thats it. Once its tripped there is no way or reversing the it back to 0x0. People have confirmed that sprint will still take phone with 0x1 but that voids your warranty with samsung. Other than that i dont know about your last two questions.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully in time, one of our amazing Devs will figure out how to reset it back to 0x0!
Hello,
I'd like to ask if I can safely downgrade my current XXUEML9 ROM to some older releases of 4.3 s3 i9305 official Samsung ROMs.
Why do that? I've read some reports that first releases of 4.3 ROMs for i9305 could be rooted with kingo without tripping knox flag and the XXUEML9 release has been reported to be tripping the flag (some new samsung's security measures introduced meanwhile), so I think it could be worth trying but better safe than sorry - I know I can't downgrade to 4.1.2 or whatever under 4.3 but what about new 4.3 to "older" 4.3? Just wondering if there aren't safety patches in the bootloader itself that prevent users from downgrading to anything lower than current FW
Thanks for your help.
you can do it safely...i would recommend doing a factory reset after it...just to be sure it won't mess with kingoapp...i did it without problems(i tripped knox way before doing this)
spiderman07 said:
you can do it safely...i would recommend doing a factory reset after it...just to be sure it won't mess with kingoapp...i did it without problems(i tripped knox way before doing this)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the info,
I plan to do it that way:
1. enter factory recovery -> factory wipe
2. odin -> flash oldest 4.3 i9305 stock image
3. if bootloops -> repeat step 1.
4. kingo root -> let's see if knox stays 0x0, ofc I'll let you know in the thread here
5. whatever ROM, but keeping stock kernel and stock recovery (otherwise all the steps above pointless)
Kingo trips knox
Raistlin1158 said:
Kingo trips knox
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt it. Kingo either roots the phone or fail, and then gives you option of installing custom recovery which trips Knox flag.
---------- Post added at 10:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 PM ----------
Which firmware is the oldest 4.3?
I used it and it did...
shayind4 said:
[/COLOR]Which firmware is the oldest 4.3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seems that XXUEMKC is the oldest 4.3 - it has the release date 28.11.2013
well, looks like a lottery with kingo root; but as far as I read in some forums some were successful with rooting that way and keeping the flag 0x0 with older FWs and everybody reporting using kingo on latest FWs says it had tripped KNOX
and, to be clear - as of now, there aren't any other ways to root i9305/4.3 than:
a) kingo (knox lottery)
b) CF-Root (trips knox)
..
..
z) waiting for miracle and some new rooting methods?
adamuadamu said:
seems that XXUEMKC is the oldest 4.3 - it has the release date 28.11.2013
well, looks like a lottery with kingo root; but as far as I read in some forums some were successful with rooting that way and keeping the flag 0x0 with older FWs and everybody reporting using kingo on latest FWs says it had tripped KNOX
and, to be clear - as of now, there aren't any other ways to root i9305/4.3 than:
a) kingo (knox lottery)
b) CF-Root (trips knox)
..
..
z) waiting for miracle and some new rooting methods?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you are right. I have MKC firmware but not able to root with Kingo. It always failed and asked if i wanted to install custom recovery with root which will trip Knox flag, and i always clicked 'NO' button. My knox flag remains 0x0 but phone not rooted.
so, all the things I planned turn out to be pointless
the ***MKC PDA FW is the oldest one of 4.3 for i9305
you've got no root on MKC via kingo, and I got some information from a Polish forum, that kingo did the root on MKC but tripped the flag anyway (I can only assume it tries to get the root through some dirty tricks via cable and if it fails that way, it offers to flash custom recovery in order to flash apk and su binary to the system).
so, for the time being CF-Root seems the only reasonable option to root - you'll trip knox either way, but without sending all your sensitive data to china and back.
I'd like to flash TWRP onto my Note 5, but want to be absolutely sure it will NOT trip the KNOX counter. Is this a possibility at all, or does flashing any custom recovery lead to KNOX being tripped?
I am NOT looking to root the phone - I just need TWRP. (I am fully aware that at the moment, all rooting methods will trip the KNOX counter.)
Thanks!
Tom
hey_tommy said:
I'd like to flash TWRP onto my Note 5, but want to be absolutely sure it will NOT trip the KNOX counter.
Thanks!
Tom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will trip Knox.
Thanks for confirming - that's what I figured as well.
I'm guessing that flashing ANYTHING other than the unmodified stock image would result in Knox being tripped...
hey_tommy said:
Thanks for confirming - that's what I figured as well.
I'm guessing that flashing ANYTHING other than the unmodified stock image would result in Knox being tripped...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing other recoveries, kernels, and modified firmware packages will trip Knox.
Hello, i have question. If i root my phone or flash rom is there any way to get knox and get the phone unrooted, with official firmware? Via odin? Please tell about that, i need to know if i lose knox FOREVER...
Thank you.
Once you have rooted or install a custom OS onto your Samsung Device you will trip Knox and Knox will be disabled on your device.
pospi69 said:
Hello, i have question. If i root my phone or flash rom is there any way to get knox and get the phone unrooted, with official firmware? Via odin? Please tell about that, i need to know if i lose knox FOREVER...
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can unroot by flashing stock firmware, but you will still lose Knox forever (including secure folder, etc.). Knox can't be untripped.
I heard that rooting will trip KNOX on my phone and I'm not sure if I want that or not (I'll surely want to sell it in 1-2 years) but my phone has a firmware from my provider, which is updated every 3-4 months, so I'll need to flash the generic stock firmware. Will this trip my KNOX, or is it only just rooting/custom ROM? Thanks!
Ofcourse rooting will trip Knox, you will loose your warranty by doing that, no surprise there whataoever... On the other hand, flashing original firmware with Odin will NOT trip knox, just be sure to follow the steps... You can find instructions online.
Kemby13 said:
Ofcourse rooting will trip Knox, you will loose your warranty by doing that, no surprise there whataoever... On the other hand, flashing original firmware with Odin will NOT trip knox, just be sure to follow the steps... You can find instructions online.
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Click to collapse
Thanks! Installed the generic firmware. KNOX is just fine
Kemby13 said:
Ofcourse rooting will trip Knox, you will loose your warranty by doing that, no surprise there whataoever... On the other hand, flashing original firmware with Odin will NOT trip knox, just be sure to follow the steps... You can find instructions online.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understood that long ago. What I dont get is why reseting knox to cero is one of the custom ROM features. If I want to use my warranty, I would try to flash a original firmware with Odin, but I guess that after loosing root I would have a tampered Knox sign. Right?
It's a bit hard to explain, especially if you are not on good terms with english. Lets put it like this, imagine that Knox is like a "little copper wire" inside your phone which is controled by software. Once you install a custom rom or root, the Knox is tripped - in another words that little wire is cut in half. By doing that you ofcourse void your warranty and you can never undo it. I hope that clarifies it a bit. If you want, you can google "e-fuse" and find out more info about nature of knox...