I don't know how strict people are about "searching" things before posting on the forums, but I rather get yelled at by some nerd on the internet, than to have my $350 device screwed over because I followed the wrong tutorial. Anyways here are my questions:
1) I bought this device from someone brand new, and it came out of the box configured to work with Windmobile, but I was able to get my FIDO SIM card to work by simply inputting it into the device. So does this mean that my device is already unlocked?
2) I still have the old 2.2 version on my phone, and I want the new version (2.3), but since I cannot update the OS from the device itself, I don't know what method I should follow from my computer, also I am afraid that I might lose my unlock (if it is) with the update.
Please link me to the proper tutorial, or give me some insight on my problem, Thank you.
Greetings everyone!
Few weeks ago, I gave my device to a friend of mine to manually update it. Something went wrong so he decided not to go any further. Yday i tried to "Factory reset", after reset some error pop'd in the left upper corner of the phone.It says:
[LGE_SECURITY] ERROR: boot image signature
Critical failure: Unable to start kernel.
Unrecoverable bootloader error (0x00000002).
Anyone had any similiar or even the same problem as i am facing right now? Thanks in advance.
best regards, Milan
Guy didn't know what he was doing apparently. Your handset is still locked and he apparently tried installing a 3rd party ROM, lemme guess, you wanted a newer version of Android than 4.1., which is a reasonable enough thing. Problem is that out of the box you can't do that because it only boots images signed by LG and they abandoned development after releasing 4.1 and a couple of minor point releases. You aren't totally screwed but if you were having somebody else do it for you, you might need to get some help. You can find the details elsewhere here, or more likely point a more skilled friend at it, but here it is in a nutshell.
You need to get LG's official updating software (from the LG website) and you need to fiddle with it a bit until you get it to do a rescue because it expects to have already paired up with the phone while it was still working. If you already had it installed, great because it will make it easier. Anyway, you will probably have to manually pick your model and input the IMEI since it won't already know those things and it will go out and fetch the most recent image. You will push VOL Down and insert the USB cable from a powered down state, it will then do the rest. Good chance you will even retain your data unless that 'factory reset' you mention actually succeeded.
Of course that will only get you back to stock 4.1. Read around for the official way and several un-official ways to unlock your boot loader. Once that is done you can install a better recovery and then a newer version of Android. But the first step is to restore the stock software since you have to have a running phone to be able to unlock it.
And no, nobody has ever been able to explain WHY they lock them, but every single manufacturer seems determined to do it, chipmakers put a lot of work and ad copy into how extensive and unbreakable the locks on their newest chip is, etc. And then they either bow to customer demand and add an unlock feature or we here at xda do it for them... as a courtesy of course. Truly we do live in the asylum. Wonko the Sane was onto something.
Hello everyone!
My Samsung S10 phone recently died, so I gave it to the local repair shop. They said that it couldn't be repaired, I should buy a new one. Instead, I tried to fix it myself.
While trying, the phone turned on again like nothing ever happened. Unfortunately, the phone now is FRP locked, it seems to have reset itself.
In order to remove the FRP bypass of my Samsung S10, I looked into removing FRP in general. I found a few guides online saying to use a Combination ROM. I downloaded the one provided and tried flashing it using Odin. This didn't work, the phone said "Please get the approval to use factory binaries". In addition, the Combination ROM provided doesn't have the same model number as my phone. The Combination ROM downloaded is called "COMBINATION_FAC_FA90_G973FXXU1ASB2_FAC_CL15414360_QB22060741_REV01_user_mid_noship.tar", while the phone model number displayed in factory mode is "G97XFXXS3ASJG".
I would be really happy if you could help me out with this. I have two concerns in particular:
1. What do I have to do in order to be able to flash a Combination ROM?
2. Do I even need the Combinaton ROM with the exact same model number, and if so, can anyone provide the file?
P.S.: I'm a beginner, got into this topic only for the cause of fixing my own phone.
Greetings,
reqqu
read this https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...bination-factory-binarysm-g973f-odin-t3904992
Today I got up real pissed with Samsung for being so restrictive around ROM flashing, rooting, flashing custom firmware or even stock firmware, so wanted to create this post to help anybody considering to get a Samsung phone to stay away from it.
This post is not intended to recommend any specific brand or model of android phone, but to recommend the exact opposite, which brand and model NOT TO EVEN THINK of purchasing.
This post relates to Samsung Galaxy S9 G9600 model which is Snapdragon architecture, but since Samsung is coming up with a bunch of "security features" I tend to think this may be the case for other models as well. I browsed all around XDA and other sources for guides on how to root and install custom roms, and it turns out Samsung manages to have limitations for EVERY step of the way.
Getting a few facts straight
Reference post: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga.../rom-lineageos-17-1-s9-s9-snapdragon-t4093301
Ok, so there is a solid thread about a custom firmware and looks like several users got hands on it, but they might have been able to get passed though all Samsung security crap before it came out or before it got so tightened up. I'll list below every limitation I found:
OEM Unlock
There is a step where we need to tick OEM Unlock from the phone developer settings, it turns out Samsung has put a 7-day timer for this option to even appear listed to enable. If you do factory reset of the phone, the 7-day timer restarts. There are a few posts around on how to get passed this timer, but to me they were all crap, none of them worked. STRIKE ONE!
Bootloader unlock
After 7-days, we get the OEM Unlock option to appear, at this point you may think: Hurray!! .... WRONG! Now next step is to unlock the bootloader using an utility called CROM Services... And as you may have already guessed, did not work! I'm able to install the apk, but on launch it complains about wrong android version. (Tried with Android 8 and 10) STRIKE TWO!
There are some posts and guides claiming to be able to unlock bootloader by using fastboot utility, I can't reach to understand how, since fastboot commands rely on the bootloader to be previously unlocked (?). I least that is my understanding, correct me if wrong. Needless to say fastboot did not work for me. ADB lists my device but fastboot doesn't. There are a few troubleshoot guides around to try selecting proper USB driver from windows device manager, tried all that, tried a couple of ADB installations, fastboot didn't work.
Knox and RMM state
After some lookup in the web, Samsung incorporates some security features trying to prevent device theft and such things. For us power users this is in reality just a whole load of crap preventing us to get all the juice out of our phones.
Reference: https://www.goandroid.co.in/unlock-bootloader-of-galaxy-s9-plus-snapdragon/84688/
TWRP Recovery
Next step would be to flash a custom recovery such as TWRP with Odin or adb/fastboot, but since we are not able to unlock the bootloader in previous step, this is not doable at all. STRIKE THREE! OUT!
Fastboot utility doesn't recognize the device in download mode, so we can't send any commands to the phone.
Odin complains it is only able to flash signed stock roms, so since TWRP is not, we cannot flash it.
Rooting
Needless to say that if we don't have TWRP, we cannot flash the corresponding packages to root. Although this step may not be needed to install custom firmware, rooting has not been possible.
Stock ROM Flashing
Ok, so let's stay out of custom firmware - let's play around with stock firmwares. At this point, since flashing stock firmwares is kind of allowed by Samsung I was able to try out a couple from android 8 to 10 with Odin
Stock ROM Source: https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-s9/firmware/#SM-G9600
But watch out! Once you get to install a specific build version, you cannot go back or downgrade to ROMS with previous Android build version. So now that I got Android 10 cannot go back to 8 or 9, this is probably because locked bootloader and unable to unlock. Here, Odin complains with FAIL! (AUTH) message.
STRIKE FOUR! EVEN OUTTER!
SIM Unlock
Ok, let's stay out of Samsung S9 G9600 model, let's crash it to the wall and throw it away to the garbage! Ok no, let's have it carrier unlocked and sell. Unlockbase is a well known and trusted sim unlock provider, I purchased a license to unlock by USB cable, but... GUESS WHAT! G9600 is not supported for unlocking operator network with this software... what a surprise!! I was able to apply for a refund and got my money back, so no worries here.
Note that flashing carrier free ROM does not unlock sim to use with any network operator.
I'll be trying to unlocking by code soon, as this is based on IMEI number, I may think this is independent to the phone model and edition, so I hope I have more luck with this option.
Conclusion
G9600 is a really crappy phone to mess around with. I may have ran low on luck with this specific Samsung Galaxy model since I got it as a gift, which is the latinamerican crappy edition. I wonder if other S9 editions and other Samsung models run with better luck than mine on this scenery... But as a lesson to myself, I will stay away of any Samsung smartphone in the foreseeable future.
OEM Unlock
The 7-day lock prevents stolen phones from being factory reset, leaving the thief with a phone permanently protected by your account. While a minor inconvenience, it's actually effective and not the worst compared to other manufacturers.
Bootloader Unlock
After OEM Unlocking, flashing TWRP through ODIN is effectively unlocking the bootloader. This is possible on both exynos and snap.
Knox and RMM
While this is an inconvenience, from Samsung's point of view, it's worth it. It makes the phone look more secure in the eyes of potential customers. If you really wish for NFC payments, I'm still able to use GPay with Magisk on a custom ROM.
TWRP Recovery
TWRP is flashed through ODIN, not fastboot. Look up an actual guide before complaining.
Root
Yes you can
Stock ROM Flashing
The one thing I could agree on with you is Samsung disabling OTA updates when OEM unlocking. I don't see the point really, but you're free to flash whatever you want through ODIN. Downgrading shouldn't be an issue. Not sure what's up with that.
Before buying a phone, how about you do some research before crying on forums. As a power user coming from the Oneplus One, I don't regret going for Samsung in the least.
Thanks for your reply, I had dropped all hope after several attempts over last few weeks. Found this option and I was able to get past my blocking issue with TWRP and moved on.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...er-development/g9650zhu6dta7-android-t4051751
I have G960F and have to admit I totally disagree with your original post. I've been using custom ROMs on nearly every phone I ever had and don't think S9 (G960F) is bad in terms of unlocking. Just did an OEM unlock, waited a week, flashed TWRP through Odin, booted straight to TWRP and immediately flashed a custom ROM from it (because a boot to the stock ROM would replace TWRP back with the stock recovery IIRC). In the end I got sick of all the problems with Magisk and non-working google pay that I went back to the stock ROM - making S9 the first phone I use with a stock ROM even though it can be flashed. I think it's a great phone for power users.
And as far as SIM unlock goes - Samsung is not to blame, the carrier the phone was made for (and purchased from) is. Phones that Samsung itself sells are unlocked. I wonder why there's still some countries where SIM locking remains legal.
This thread is a prime example of how people end up with bricked devices. So much misinformation in one page LOL
I had the 9650 and most of what I'm doing here is user error. This was one of the best devices I've ever owned. I mention of fast boot and such you obviously just do not know samsung devices. You can't blame samsung on your own ignorance
I was using the Sony conpanion app to update my phone when we had a power cut mid update.
Now the phone refuses to boot, only message I get is "your device is corrupt and cannot be trusted and cannot boot"
It then restarts after 5 seconds and is now stuck in this constant loop.
The Sony companion app is now useless as even though it can detect the phone it can't repair it. It throws up and error about it not liking the model oh my phone for some reason.
Thinking my phone might be 100% dead I installed Sony's flashing tool Emma, and thanfully it can detect the phone and thinks it is a XQ-AT51 since I flashed UK/EU androind 11 on it before.
I am really not sure how I can even try and fix this phone, I can't flash it because OEM unlocking was not enabled along with USB-Debugging, (why when its a normal update) and I can't get the recovery menu to show up at all anymore.
If anyone has any idea on how I may salvage this id like to know since most if not all guides I find are out of date or require me to be able to enable OEM unlocking or boot into the phone in the first place. If all else fails I am just tempted to buy a used phone with a broken screen from Ebay and just swap out the mainboard...I looses 12GB ram to 8GB but its better than having a brick.
Currently playing 12.13GSI, so seeing your post is too slow, follow the steps below to restore the original factory!
1. https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/tool-xperifirm-xperia-firmware-downloader-v5-6-5.2834142/
Follow the guide~
2. https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/tool-newflasher-xperia-command-line-flasher.3619426/page-83
Follow the guide~
Hope all is well with your phone!