Database Develop

[Q] Can't flash any ROM with a hidden.rfs

Any ideas?
I have been experimenting with upgrading and down-grading my tab, it now seems that I can't flash any ROM that contains a hidden.rfs, the flash will just stop near the end of flashing the hidden.rfs and never continue, then I have to go through recovery processes to get a working tab back.
I managed to get my Tab back to CPW standard UK JJ3 by dumping the ROM from my other Tab and writing it, I then tried to update with Kies, which also hung at what seems to be exactly the same place.
I have tried repartitioning several times with the p1_add_hidden.pit but it just doesn't seem to work.
Any ideas? Can I check the size of the hidden partition see if that' the problem? Then modify the hidden.rfs to make it smaller so it fits?

Nobody at all got any feedback on this?

Anyone had any luck with this? I'm guessing it's a partitioning issue but it'd be good to know.

alias_neo said:
Nobody at all got any feedback on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like you're currently partitioned without the hidden partition. I would think flashing a full ROM like JJ4 with the P1_add_hidden.pit in Odin would be the fix.
After thats up and running, use my JMC upgrade package to safely upgrade.

rotohammer said:
...use my JMC upgrade package to safely upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Time to upgrade to JMD me thinks

rotohammer said:
It sounds like you're currently partitioned without the hidden partition. I would think flashing a full ROM like JJ4 with the P1_add_hidden.pit in Odin would be the fix.
After thats up and running, use my JMC upgrade package to safely upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Roto i wanna ask you something. You say "safely" upgrade why ? Because on your FW's you remove the boot.bin and the SBL.bin ? So that a user wont be able to flash them and something go wrong ?
As far as i know my tab ( A euro one ), is factory unlocked and i will have no problem whatsoever in upgrading the bootloader and the baseband.
Isnt that right ?

sedde said:
Roto i wanna ask you something. You say "safely" upgrade why ? Because on your FW's you remove the boot.bin and the SBL.bin ? So that a user wont be able to flash them and something go wrong ?
As far as i know my tab ( A euro one ), is factory unlocked and i will have no problem whatsoever in upgrading the bootloader and the baseband.
Isnt that right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocking is unrelated. I say safely because flashing a bootloader is the only thing that makes me squirm. If it fails your device is toast. I never want to give anyone firmware that has the potential to destroy their device. I'd feel bad

daniel.weck said:
Time to upgrade to JMD me thinks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too : ) maybe tonight after my guests leave.

rotohammer said:
Unlocking is unrelated. I say safely because flashing a bootloader is the only thing that makes me squirm. If it fails your device is toast. I never want to give anyone firmware that has the potential to destroy their device. I'd feel bad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And you are so right in removing them...
The leaks from Samsung's servers of JM6/JMA/JMC/JMD flash a signed recovery, after flashing it is impossible to flash unsigned sbl, boot, and zImage. No more downgrade (and possibly upgrade).

rotohammer said:
It sounds like you're currently partitioned without the hidden partition. I would think flashing a full ROM like JJ4 with the P1_add_hidden.pit in Odin would be the fix.
After thats up and running, use my JMC upgrade package to safely upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought my original post covered this? I can't flash _any_ ROM that uses the hidden partition. I have tried repartitioning a dozen times wit hthe p1_add_hidden.pit, that goes through fine, but NO ROM, full or otherwise, down or up from my current one will successfully complete flashing the "hidden" partition.

alias_neo said:
I thought my original post covered this? I can't flash _any_ ROM that uses the hidden partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You never mentioned JJ4 or Odin specifically, hence my post. Unless you spell out exactly which firmwares you tried and which software you used to flash with, how can anyone offer assistance?
If you've tried ALL firmware and All flashing software, that leaves only your computer or Tab at fault.

rotohammer said:
You never mentioned JJ4 or Odin specifically, hence my post. Unless you spell out exactly which firmwares you tried and which software you used to flash with, how can anyone offer assistance?
If you've tried ALL firmware and All flashing software, that leaves only your computer or Tab at fault.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not really worried about my Tab, i just think its a cause for concern that somehow iv stumbled on this problem. If its just the flash in my tab thats damaged its not a problem.
I have tried every firmware available on samfirmware as well as ripping the firmware from an identical tab i have.
Neither Heimdall, Kies nor Odin (either version) would get past flashing hidden and they all stop at about the same point. I have tried flashing various firmware without hidden with no problems. If i then repartition it will flash about 80% of the hidden then just stops.
Problem isnt my pc, i have tried several machines and virtual machines.
I think its a curious problem that would be good to find the cause of.

alias_neo said:
I think its a curious problem that would be good to find the cause of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Do you have time to jump on irc #ModADroid-Galaxy-Tablet?

rotohammer said:
I agree. Do you have time to jump on irc #ModADroid-Galaxy-Tablet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cant at the mo, just off out to visit family, xmas and all...
Ill get back to you later tonight?

alias_neo said:
Cant at the mo, just off out to visit family, xmas and all...
Ill get back to you later tonight?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, we're about to get a blizzard on the east coast of the US, so I may be cancelling my family visiting plans. Just ping me later.

rotohammer said:
Sure, we're about to get a blizzard on the east coast of the US, so I may be cancelling my family visiting plans. Just ping me later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm around and will hop on the channel now. Don't have too long but maybe we can look into this a bit.

I just noticed what has veen going on with tje secured boot loaders etc. I will check mine with the script once I get home from my trip tomorrow to see if any info froem my tab is relevent to fixing the problem. I noticed a mention of creating jigs, im not sure what hardware is required but I have a couple of usb-rs232 connectors on order for an unrelated project so if it requires the same hardware I can put a spare one to use and build a jtag/jig cable for the tab and see if I can help the cause.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

Question for rotohammer
Once upon a time I bricked my Verizon Galaxy Tab trying to flash a custom ROM, the only way I could bring it back was by using Odin and flashing the hidden pit. Now every time I install the original verizon rom my tab is extremely, extremely slow. I have been trying to reformat and wipe clean to start over, but I haven't had any luck.
Any suggestions on how to: either flash the right pit on it or remove the hidden partition? Anything I can do to bring my tab to full speed. I have also tried the overclocked rom with voodoo5, and at this point anything I put there is extremely slow. The only way I can get it to operate normally (Kind of) is to flash the Honeycomb Alpha rom, then restore to a day when it was working fine, however this breaks my auto rotate sensor.
That is how I use it now a days, but it sucks that I cannot use it on landscape mode.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Follow up from my previous question to rotohammer
By the way, just in case you were wondering, the rom I flashed to unbrick it was a GSM ROM, that was the only way to make it past the Samsung logo.
So, my theory is that I have problems with it because now I am trying to flash CDMA roms to a GSM partition/files system? Excuse me if my post does not make much sense or I am using the wrong terminology, I am extremely new a this. I just know enough to get myself in trouble.
Thank you again for any help.

I've encountered the same problem as the original poster. SGT with CPW CSC causes problems with the hidden.rfs when trying to flash ROMs. Does appear to be a size issue with the hidden partition - I wonder whether this has been sized incorrectly when it was originally flashed as re-partitioning doesn't help. I'm currently on a XEU ROM so I guess I'll find out when Gingerbread is officially released whether I can flash that or not. If not, I think it'll need to the internal SD card repartitioning.
Anyone got any tips on how to do this?

[Q] Gs5 active soft break

I recently rooted my s5 acttive and eveythign was workign great so I tried out he s5 tool kit to remoe the bloatware it froze up and now I can not my phone reboots into the att flash screen then freezes half way I treid to use this guid
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2785185
but odin keeps failing can anyone offer any help?

levytheman91 said:
I recently rooted my s5 acttive and eveythign was workign great so I tried out he s5 tool kit to remoe the bloatware it froze up and now I can not my phone reboots into the att flash screen then freezes half way I treid to use this guid
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2785185
but odin keeps failing can anyone offer any help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what error/where does it hang at? are the active and retail s5 the same firmware? more details please
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium HD app

elliwigy said:
what error/where does it hang at? are the active and retail s5 the same firmware? more details please
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When trying to reboot theres no error just gets stuck on att loadup screen. In odin fails after nand write start
on the phone it says sys recovery check fail :no version
SECURE MAGICCODE CHECK FAIL : boot
my guess is I need the gs5 active firmware but I cant find it anywhere any suggestions?
Im guessing the phone isnt letting the firmware go through because its meant for a different mode.
thank you for the quick response

levytheman91 said:
When trying to reboot theres no error just gets stuck on att loadup screen. In odin fails after nand write start
on the phone it says sys recovery check fail :no version
SECURE MAGICCODE CHECK FAIL : boot
my guess is I need the gs5 active firmware but I cant find it anywhere any suggestions?
Im guessing the phone isnt letting the firmware go through because its meant for a different mode.
thank you for the quick response
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would look on sammobile or try kies
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium HD app

Unfortunately, the active is not compatible with that tutorial's firmware.

Neither have the firmware yet
elliwigy said:
i would look on sammobile or try kies
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it safe to assume that the product name shown in download mode is the same name as the firmware because if so, the firmware is sm-g870a and I can not find that anywhere.
Also would it be reasonable to request the firmware in the general android section?

levytheman91 said:
Is it safe to assume that the product name shown in download mode is the same name as the firmware because if so, the firmware is sm-g870a and I can not find that anywhere.
Also would it be reasonable to request the firmware in the general android section?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the name, but you may have a difficult time finding that firmware, if at all.

Im in the same boat, hangs on the ATT logo. tried the download booster mod and i think I'm screwed.

Ill asume they will get the stock firmware soon
D3c0Y said:
Im in the same boat, hangs on the ATT logo. tried the download booster mod and i think I'm screwed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya thats what happens when wedicide to be guinea pigs. I assume the in the coming weeks someone will upload the firmware to kies or sammobile soon then it'll be just a odin flash away. So hang in there also if you find something before me please post it here id really appreciate it.

shortydoggg said:
That's the name, but you may have a difficult time finding that firmware, if at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it safe to assume that eventually the firmware will be extracted and available on sammobile or keis?

levytheman91 said:
Is it safe to assume that eventually the firmware will be extracted and available on sammobile or keis?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes.. or if you know anyone with knowledge of phones they might b able to pull it from there device.. i kno how to decompile a tar n create a zip but this wouldnt help you.. im sure theyll hafta have a tar eventually for situations like yours.. at least now you know that you have a different phone than the att s5 and a completely different model number..
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium HD app

elliwigy said:
yes.. or if you know anyone with knowledge of phones they might b able to pull it from there device.. i kno how to decompile a tar n create a zip but this wouldnt help you.. im sure theyll hafta have a tar eventually for situations like yours.. at least now you know that you have a different phone than the att s5 and a completely different model number..
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
could you maybe direct me to a tutorial on how its done? I know one other person with a gs5 active. thank you for the response.

D3c0Y said:
Im in the same boat, hangs on the ATT logo. tried the download booster mod and i think I'm screwed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright so I just called samsung this morning and the representative told me that its just a reflash and they will do it....personally I think she's wrong but I recorded the call and she sent me a free shipping label and everything so ya. try to call att you never know what might just happen. As soon as I get it back though i'm having someone/anyone help me pull the firmware off the phone.

levytheman91 said:
Alright so I just called samsung this morning and the representative told me that its just a reflash and they will do it....personally I think she's wrong but I recorded the call and she sent me a free shipping label and everything so ya. try to call att you never know what might just happen. As soon as I get it back though i'm having someone/anyone help me pull the firmware off the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea youd hafta search around on how to do it.. it is just a software reflash thats needed.. you should have asked where the odin tar for your device is at so u could reflash yourself using odin n saw if they had one anywhere
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium HD app

I recent purchased the sm-870a (ATT S5 Active). I'd be happy to dump my firmware if anyone still needs it. My only request is that someone who is a mod point me to the preferred tool/procedure and also verify the dump does not have any personally identifiable information on it. Id hate to find out that I dumped private keys or passwords or some other tid bit that allowed someone to screw up my account. (FIRST POST):laugh: I do infosec for a living so I'm pretty sure I can handle whatever instructions you guys recommend, Just trying to give back a little to the site that has taught me Android.

quick4321 said:
I recent purchased the sm-870a (ATT S5 Active). I'd be happy to dump my firmware if anyone still needs it. My only request is that someone who is a mod point me to the preferred tool/procedure and also verify the dump does not have any personally identifiable information on it. Id hate to find out that I dumped private keys or passwords or some other tid bit that allowed someone to screw up my account. (FIRST POST):laugh: I do infosec for a living so I'm pretty sure I can handle whatever instructions you guys recommend, Just trying to give back a little to the site that has taught me Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh if only I saw this 6 hours ago I just sent my phone into samsung to get it fixed. I think that many many people would appreciate you if you were to do so. you should probably make your own thread for this, there's definitely someone who will be willing to help you. if you manage to do it thank you.

I have the G870A as well. I got stuck on the boot logo after root but held the power button to force a reboot. You could have also forced a reboot to recovery and tried to wipe cache and reboot. If I get into this problem again I'll let everyone know how I got out of it.

quick4321 said:
I recent purchased the sm-870a (ATT S5 Active). I'd be happy to dump my firmware if anyone still needs it. My only request is that someone who is a mod point me to the preferred tool/procedure and also verify the dump does not have any personally identifiable information on it. Id hate to find out that I dumped private keys or passwords or some other tid bit that allowed someone to screw up my account. (FIRST POST):laugh: I do infosec for a living so I'm pretty sure I can handle whatever instructions you guys recommend, Just trying to give back a little to the site that has taught me Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, not sure if this will help, but it looks to be a start...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sho...mctr=(not provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=264947724
It'll allow us to basically dump the partitions in our phones. However, there's no way I can think of to turn this into an Odin tar file (unless its as easy as compressing as tar?) but this might still be useful If I see anything else, I'll let you guys know

quick4321 said:
I recent purchased the sm-870a (ATT S5 Active). I'd be happy to dump my firmware if anyone still needs it. My only request is that someone who is a mod point me to the preferred tool/procedure and also verify the dump does not have any personally identifiable information on it. Id hate to find out that I dumped private keys or passwords or some other tid bit that allowed someone to screw up my account. (FIRST POST):laugh: I do infosec for a living so I'm pretty sure I can handle whatever instructions you guys recommend, Just trying to give back a little to the site that has taught me Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes please if you could extract the firmware that would be awesome!

at&t stock firmware download

hi
i need to download at&t latest stock firmware to flash it on my note5 as i soft bricked it.
where can i find it?
nothing on sam mobile ..
please help

please help

Unfortunately, the only way to get firmware for att devices is usually from att Ota updates... rarely does it get posted on sammobile.
You may need to take the phone to att and see if they can reflash it. I was on att for many years and I recently left their service because of this issue and their cost.

dandroid7 said:
Unfortunately, the only way to get firmware for att devices is usually from att Ota updates... rarely does it get posted on sammobile.
You may need to take the phone to att and see if they can reflash it. I was on att for many years and I recently left their service because of this issue and their cost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is false, you can pull it yourself using the Samsung new kies tool(or whatever it's called). Look up the instructions, but be warned it will factory wipe your phone.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

I was not able to do so on my previous note 3 or my note 8... both were att. Maybe I did something wrong, but it never worked for me when I tried it.
If my info is incorrect on this, my apologies.
Give it a try and see if it works.

oh.. didn't know it is so complicated .. i always used no phones from carrier .
all i want to do is download tar file and flash it through odin..
i hate kies and otas...

I found att phones to be a pain in the butt... that was one of the biggest reasons I went to tmobile... because I like to root.
Att is terrible at providing updates, their Ota process is stupid - why can't their updates also be available online for download? the locked bootloaders totally Rob you of the joys of android.
Good riddance att!

How To Change CSC

I'm in Australia and want to change the CSC from OPS to TEL. I'm aware that the phone has a multi CSC and it seems the only way to change the CSC is with root. I've tried other methods and none seem to work.
With root, is it a simple matter to change the CSC? Is there a guide for changing it somewhere?

I'm curious about this myself. The store I got mine from sold me the wrong version (which I didn't know until I opened it since there was no way for me to tell on the outside, so they won't let me return it), and I really hate the boot screen from a carrier that isn't mine. More importantly, I can't use tethering, which I assume is because of the CSC, though despite my SIM card, the CSC is still set to the original carrier.
I read something about a different carrier's SIM card switching the CSC upon reboot, or using a USSD code to choose which carrier you're on for the multi-CSC, but those didn't work. I also tried flashing my carrier's CSC (though I used Home_CSC so my data wasn't deleted), even though I knew it would likely be fruitless because of the multi-CSC... and it was.
I'm really puzzled because I just want to change over to my carrier, and since the store won't let me exchange it, I'm not sure what to do. I saw a recommendation to ask Samsung. Maybe they could help. I don't know. I just want a solution for this too.

TankedThomas said:
I'm curious about this myself. The store I got mine from sold me the wrong version (which I didn't know until I opened it since there was no way for me to tell on the outside, so they won't let me return it), and I really hate the boot screen from a carrier that isn't mine. More importantly, I can't use tethering, which I assume is because of the CSC, though despite my SIM card, the CSC is still set to the original carrier.
I read something about a different carrier's SIM card switching the CSC upon reboot, or using a USSD code to choose which carrier you're on for the multi-CSC, but those didn't work. I also tried flashing my carrier's CSC (though I used Home_CSC so my data wasn't deleted), even though I knew it would likely be fruitless because of the multi-CSC... and it was.
I'm really puzzled because I just want to change over to my carrier, and since the store won't let me exchange it, I'm not sure what to do. I saw a recommendation to ask Samsung. Maybe they could help. I don't know. I just want a solution for this too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on the same boat. Wondering if you've figured out a way. ?
Sent from my HUAWEI LYA-L0C using XDA Labs

I've changed the CSC on my S7 without needing to root the device. I think the process should be the same for the Note 9, though I'm not really familiar with multi-CSC. You'll need a Windows computer.
Get the firmware with the CSC you want from SamMobile or Updato (TEL, XSA etc.)
Get the latest ODIN version from XDA
Unzip your firmware so you've got the various files (AP, BL, CSC etc.)
Put the phone into download mode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkdEcMGFvzY) Don't worry if it takes a couple of tries
Start ODIN and make sure the phone is connected and appearing in ODIN
Add the various firmware files to the corresponding boxes in ODIN. When you come to the CSC one, add that file that starts CSC. NOT the HOME_CSC one.
Run the flash in ODIN
Wait for the flash to complete and the phone to reboot. Both the flash and the reboot will take several minutes, go get yourself a coffee.
Process now complete, you can delete the firmware files from your PC.
This worked on my S7 and the phone was able to take an OTA afterwards.
A couple of notes though.
I have not tried this on a Note 9, but I believe the process should be the same.
This will wipe your phone, so backup first.
You must flash a firmware from the same model. You cannot flash a N960F firmware onto a N9600. They have different hardware.
While you'll only need to do this process once, think carefully about if you need to and what you'll get out of it (Samsung Pay, VoLTE, RCS). If these are features you don't use it's probably not worth the hassle.
Done correctly this won't trip Knox as you're using Samsung signed firmware.
If you give this a go, report back with your experiences.

Thanks but that won't work on the Note 9 now that Samsung has started using a "multi" CSC. I tried lots of methods including the one you have posted. The only method that works on Samsung phones using the multi CSC is this one:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...de-how-to-change-s9-s9-csc-model-csc-t3870836
I used this method on my Note 9 yesterday and it worked. Finally after 2 months I've been able to change the CSC.
I think that they started using the multi CSC from the S8 forward.

Dang. Looks like I have some reading to do to get my head around these multi CSC devices.

Sea-Wolf said:
Dang. Looks like I have some reading to do to get my head around these multi CSC devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a heavy handed approach by Samsung. I even tried to get an authorised Samsung service center to do it for me. I was willing to pay them. They told me that Samsung won't allow them to change the CSC. So if you want to switch service providers, in my case from Optus to Telstra, you can't change the CSC. Without the correct CSC VoLTE and VoWifi won't work.
Thankfully I found the method that I've linked and it works.

appro77 said:
Thankfully I found the method that I've linked and it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you followed that method, did you need to do the first step? I'm not sure what he means there but I think he's saying to flash the multi CSC with ODIN first.

Sea-Wolf said:
When you followed that method, did you need to do the first step? I'm not sure what he means there but I think he's saying to flash the multi CSC with ODIN first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first step is referring to the "Combination Rom". It's a special rom that is used by engineers ( I suppose) to do high level work on the phone. It's not a normal rom. You can't install apps on it etc. It opens to a screen with lots of settings that you don't have to touch. Once the Combination Rom file is flashed with Odin, the phone will reboot into the rom.
Then you do the steps using RealTerm, and then you flash the rom for your phone after rebooting into download mode again and use Odin.
Obviously the CSC file of the rom you flash must contain the CSC that you have nominated when you change the CSC using Realterm in the previous step.

Ah ok, thanks for the info.

mrnovanova said:
I'm on the same boat. Wondering if you've figured out a way.
Sent from my HUAWEI LYA-L0C using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short of rooting or getting it exchanged, not yet. Samsung has been telling me for a month that they'll get it sorted for me but their customer service sucks assssssss.
More info below, if you're interested.
Sea-Wolf said:
I've changed the CSC on my S7 without needing to root the device. I think the process should be the same for the Note 9, though I'm not really familiar with multi-CSC. You'll need a Windows computer.
Get the firmware with the CSC you want from SamMobile or Updato (TEL, XSA etc.)
Get the latest ODIN version from XDA
Unzip your firmware so you've got the various files (AP, BL, CSC etc.)
Put the phone into download mode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkdEcMGFvzY) Don't worry if it takes a couple of tries
Start ODIN and make sure the phone is connected and appearing in ODIN
Add the various firmware files to the corresponding boxes in ODIN. When you come to the CSC one, add that file that starts CSC. NOT the HOME_CSC one.
Run the flash in ODIN
Wait for the flash to complete and the phone to reboot. Both the flash and the reboot will take several minutes, go get yourself a coffee.
Process now complete, you can delete the firmware files from your PC.
This worked on my S7 and the phone was able to take an OTA afterwards.
A couple of notes though.
I have not tried this on a Note 9, but I believe the process should be the same.
This will wipe your phone, so backup first.
You must flash a firmware from the same model. You cannot flash a N960F firmware onto a N9600. They have different hardware.
While you'll only need to do this process once, think carefully about if you need to and what you'll get out of it (Samsung Pay, VoLTE, RCS). If these are features you don't use it's probably not worth the hassle.
Done correctly this won't trip Knox as you're using Samsung signed firmware.
If you give this a go, report back with your experiences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't work, unfortunately. I've changed the CSC on an S7 with no issue, but the Note 9 is a whole other beast. No matter how many times you do a complete flash and deep format/NAND erase etc., it won't work. Not really sure how or why. What's annoying is that it seems the N960F models (or, at least, some of them) won't switch CSCs depending on the installed SIM card. If they did, I wouldn't have an issue.
I will add that you definitely need Windows though. Odin on Mac just never seems to work for me. Odin in Windows via Parallels works okay (i.e. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it should work more often than not - if it doesn't, set it up via BootCamp first and then it should run fine in Parallels).
appro77 said:
Thanks but that won't work on the Note 9 now that Samsung has started using a "multi" CSC. I tried lots of methods including the one you have posted. The only method that works on Samsung phones using the multi CSC is this one:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...de-how-to-change-s9-s9-csc-model-csc-t3870836
I used this method on my Note 9 yesterday and it worked. Finally after 2 months I've been able to change the CSC.
I think that they started using the multi CSC from the S8 forward.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it got more egregious with the S9 and Note 9 though, but I could be wrong. Thanks for the link though, I'm going to give it a try tonight. Here's hoping...
appro77 said:
It's a heavy handed approach by Samsung. I even tried to get an authorised Samsung service center to do it for me. I was willing to pay them. They told me that Samsung won't allow them to change the CSC. So if you want to switch service providers, in my case from Optus to Telstra, you can't change the CSC. Without the correct CSC VoLTE and VoWifi won't work.
Thankfully I found the method that I've linked and it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I can't stand it personally.
As I mentioned earlier, Samsung actually said they'll sort it out for me and replace it, but that's because the retailer I bought it from misled me and sold me the wrong version of the Note 9 (different carrier to what I asked for; they said they were all the same, and I had my father pick it up for me because I was busy so I didn't have the chance to tell them how wrong that is unless it's carrier-unbranded, which wasn't what they were advertising anyway).
I suppose you could always try weaving a tall tale or exaggerating the issue to get Samsung to cooperate with you. It's worth a shot. Just be aware that they're slow as balls to do anything.
I talked to them on their live chat about a month ago and went through a whole process which amounted to nothing, then emailed them about it and they said they would sort it out and they escalated it... and now a month later, I got back on their live chat (Wednesday this week, in fact), and they apologised for not getting it sorted sooner and that they'd sort it out that day and email me back etc. It's Friday night here and still nothing so I'll get in touch with them again if I haven't heard from them by Wednesday next week (and if the above method doesn't work for me).
appro77 said:
The first step is referring to the "Combination Rom". It's a special rom that is used by engineers ( I suppose) to do high level work on the phone. It's not a normal rom. You can't install apps on it etc. It opens to a screen with lots of settings that you don't have to touch. Once the Combination Rom file is flashed with Odin, the phone will reboot into the rom.
Then you do the steps using RealTerm, and then you flash the rom for your phone after rebooting into download mode again and use Odin.
Obviously the CSC file of the rom you flash must contain the CSC that you have nominated when you change the CSC using Realterm in the previous step.
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The issue with this is getting a combination file compatible with your boot loader. The free ones that are available without paying dodgy Chinese websites didn't work for me (I got ONE of them to run but it wasn't happy about it, and it still wouldn't work, but I could try that process you mentioned with it and see for sure). And as for getting the right combination file even if you're willing to pay for it (which I'd be okay with since the price is low, but I'm not sure if I trust those sites enough to go ahead with it), figuring out which version one needs is a bit confusing, especially for an Android novice like myself.

TankedThomas said:
Short of rooting or getting it exchanged, not yet. Samsung has been telling me for a month that they'll get it sorted for me but their customer service sucks assssssss.
More info below, if you're interested.
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Oh. Thanks for replying. I was able to change. My CSC using the *#272 trick without issues. Worked like a charm. ?
Sent from my Samsung SM-N960W using XDA Labs

mrnovanova said:
Oh. Thanks for replying. I was able to change. My CSC using the *#272 trick without issues. Worked like a charm.
Sent from my Samsung SM-N960W using XDA Labs
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Really? On a N960F? Were you running the latest update? That's never worked for me. Just tells me the USSD code is invalid...
And unfortunately, so far, the other method doesn't work for me either: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=78425738&postcount=38
If only I could get my phone to connected properly to RealTerm, it should work fine... but it won't connect. Dammit...
EDIT: Seems the solution is to keep retrying (and restarting) your PC and phone until it works. Or something like that. I posted an update in the aforementioned thread, and now it works for me. Now I have XNZ/XNZ/TNZ (not super-happy about it remembering it was originally TNZ but it's not like I can change that without getting an entirely new device, or rooting it, anyway, and it doesn't affect anything negatively). The USSD code solution still doesn't work for me though, so there's that.

Cross Flashing Tmobile firmware to ATT Note 3 SM-N900A

Hi Everyone, If this is the wrong place to post this plz MODERATORS move it to correct place..
Ok so we all know what safestrap is, and that it's not TWRP really...
We also know that the bootloader on the SM-N900A isn't unlockable...
So I usually develop stuff for LG devices, but I got hands on an old Note 3 from At&t and want to
find a way to get past the limitations of Safestrap and the roms are all mostly lollipop K.K or J.B based.
without the bootloader unlocked we can't change the kernel away from stock...
Well I've been reading some things in reddit about S8 and S8+ etc.
and supposedly they have patched Odin not to check model numbers etc.
same with S9 see here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s9/how-to/how-to-flash-u1-firmware-to-device-t3765200
and so what I'm thinking is...
The modded/patched Odin has the model-ID and SHA hash check disabled, therefore allowing you to flash an unbranded "U1" firmware onto a branded "U" phone and vice versa.
As of now this works on most US Qualcom (QC) models, but an increasing number of international Exynos (EX) models now include a new RMM security which prevents this kind of cross-flashing unless you first disable the RMM, by flashing an RMM-Disabler package through TWRP.
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if we use this method to flash the tmobile branded firmware for the note 3 will we then be able to simply boot to TWRP This device has no fastboot...
If this seems like a really bad stupid Idea please say so and explain exactly why.
If this seems like it might work please explain how and why.
If you have tried this please let me know what the outcome was.
Thanks for reading
just looking for more input before I FRY a thousand dollar phone
old as it is it's still nice.

Would you not be better in the AT&T forum >>or TMobile forum

JJEgan said:
Would you not be better in the AT&T forum >>or TMobile forum
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you may be correct, but I just wanted experienced dev's to talk to about this and If I post on at&t specific threads, I'll likely have to tell a bunch of noobs that NO i haven't tried it yet { about to } and that no this isn't yet a bootloader unlock.
I wanted to discuss this with seasoned Devs such as @jcase

Any thoughts?
anyone?

Have a look almost nil Dev action on this section since day one .

JJEgan said:
Have a look almost nil Dev action on this section since day one .
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Well It's turned to a dead end, and I no longer believe it possible.
I can confirm flashing the modem.bin to modem partition resulted in soft-brick
so i'm scared to try flashing the boot aboot sbl etc.
I'm now looking for a way to possibly boot a modified second
boot.img through a boot hijack, to enable me to use something like EFIdroid to boot custom roms...