Just unlock or flash new rom - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi, I just bought a new S3 off ebay. It is unfortunately locked to Orange UK.
I was wondering should I just unlock the phone (Vodoo SIM unclok) and stay content or better yet get an unbranded stock ROM and flash it through ODIN. I am confused.
I have not done any flashing of ROMs since my old Galaxy S (DarkyROM). So have not been in touch. Now with the new phone I wanted to know if I can flash a Stock UK ROM straight from Samsung (SamFirmware) and get rid of Orange branding and also will this unlock my phone?
Thanks for the help in advance.

Flashing a stock rom will remove Orange branding but it won't unlock your phone!
And Voodoo Unlock is outdated and does not work on latest S3 firmwares
Best way to do what you want:
-Create an account on http://www.sammobile.com/and take from this site the latest UK stock firmware
-Flash the new firmware with Odin (it will remove branding)
-Root your phone with CF-root by Chainfire
-Use GalaxSim Unlock to unlock your phone

Thanks for your suggestion Mopral, and really appreciate the links you have provided.
And I am guessing from then on, the OTA updates through KIES just happens as it does?

orange s3
hi bro
i hav got an orange branded s3 in india which is unlocked and i`m using with my local indian sim card..
can u help me remove the orange logo in the splash screen also there is no update option in the settings menu
Mopral said:
Flashing a stock rom will remove Orange branding but it won't unlock your phone!
And Voodoo Unlock is outdated and does not work on latest S3 firmwares
Best way to do what you want:
-Create an account on http://www.sammobile.com/and take from this site the latest UK stock firmware
-Flash the new firmware with Odin (it will remove branding)
-Root your phone with CF-root by Chainfire
-Use GalaxSim Unlock to unlock your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Related

[Q] Question about unlocking

If I unlock my Bell Galaxy S2, does that mean if i do a factory restore it will still be the bell bloatware version? or the same version that comes on an unlocked Galaxy s2?
id just like to remove the bloatware and have the software updates available without waiting on bell to fiddle fart with them before release or having to use KIES to obtain updates
I have a new unlocked version here for someone else in the office and i has the update button and no bloatware, thats what I was aiming for
thanks
wesg79 said:
If I unlock my Bell Galaxy S2, does that mean if i do a factory restore it will still be the bell bloatware version? or the same version that comes on an unlocked Galaxy s2?
id just like to remove the bloatware and have the software updates available without waiting on bell to fiddle fart with them before release or having to use KIES to obtain updates
I have a new unlocked version here for someone else in the office and i has the update button and no bloatware, thats what I was aiming for
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well for your first question, to unlock; you have to root first to root you have to flash a custom kernel so when you flash a custom kernel there is no way to go back to the original bell kernel as of yet as bell hasn't released an update for the phone. So you'll be "Stuck" on the rooted kernel with bell firmware KG2 if you choose to unlock. If you perform a factory reset, your firmware will reset (stay bell) but your kernel will stay as the rooted/modded one!
If you want a bloat less experience, the easiest and best way to do that iMO, is to just take one of the generic european roms (such as kG3,kg6) and flash them. When you do this, the phone will essentially become "identical" to the unlocked one you have in your office, same software and hardware (assuming the unlocked one in your office has a generic firmware installed)
Regards
Your network will unlock at a probable cost .
Once unlocked it stays unlocked even if you restored the original networks firmware .
jje
cant you just unlock with cellunlocker.net?
that just removes the provider lock, but once done will that allow you to remove bell apps, or is that built into the OS
wesg79 said:
cant you just unlock with cellunlocker.net?
that just removes the provider lock, but once done will that allow you to remove bell apps, or is that built into the OS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but with that you will be paying roughly 40$ or so. That will only unlock the phone, won't do anything to the bell apps or firmware.
But then to remove bloatware you have to root anyway, so why not just root and have the unlock for free?

Galaxy Ace with Orange in Spain

Hi to all!
A friend have the Galaxy Ace, from Orange in Spain. I want to unlock it and root it to flash an stock or CyanogenMod.
I see that SuperOneClick can root the device, but I don't know if I can unlock the net restriction to unlock it.
Any clue to make this possible?
Thanks !!!
You may head over to jcmaster's unlocking tutorial but be warned, anything to do with unlocking may turn the phone into a useless doorstopper.
Now I have rooted with SuperOneClick. Now I need to unlock the SIM Lock of Orange. I need it to flash a new version of stock firmware?
By Kies, I can't update the phone.

Atrix Orange UK SIM Unlock firmware

Hi guys I have just bought a Motorloa Atrix off ebay that comes unlocked but it is the UK orange model. I have a couple of questions regarding the firmware.
1. Do I have to use the Orange firmware updates if I want to officialy update the phone (for example when the gingerbread update comes out)
2. If it is the case that I do have to use the Orange firmware will it then re-lock my phone back to orange.
3. Is there any way of me installing a debranded firmware on the the phone without bricking it?
Any help would be much appreciated.
rsemp said:
Hi guys I have just bought a Motorloa Atrix off ebay that comes unlocked but it is the UK orange model. I have a couple of questions regarding the firmware.
1. Do I have to use the Orange firmware updates if I want to officialy update the phone (for example when the gingerbread update comes out)
2. If it is the case that I do have to use the Orange firmware will it then re-lock my phone back to orange.
3. Is there any way of me installing a debranded firmware on the the phone without bricking it?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes you do!
2.No it will not!
3. Of course there is! Check my thread to Unlock your bootloader http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1302423
Then head over to the atrix developer forum and choose a ROM to download. I personally recommend Aura or Darkside for starters. But if you like stock android without the Motorola stuff Cyanogenmod is great!

[Q] Upgrade my galaxy s2 can lock my phone ?

Hello, my question is very basic, but I have no experience with android updates. I have a Galaxy S2 model GT-I9100P (NFC), unlocked because I've used it with other companies, I'm not root, the phone has ICS version 4.0.3. My firmware does not support upgrade via Kies. My questions: if I update the firmware to Jelly Beam or others (Odin?), my phone can be locked (SIM-Locked)?, My phone is factory unlocked?
no, it will remain unlocked.
WARNING!!! successfully locked my factory unlocked phone after upgrading it to 4.1.2
mcp.ipod said:
Hello, my question is very basic, but I have no experience with android updates. I have a Galaxy S2 model GT-I9100P (NFC), unlocked because I've used it with other companies, I'm not root, the phone has ICS version 4.0.3. My firmware does not support upgrade via Kies. My questions: if I update the firmware to Jelly Beam or others (Odin?), my phone can be locked (SIM-Locked)?, My phone is factory unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I upgraded my phone with the official jellybean firmware released for Spain and my factory unlocked phone is now Sim locked!!!
So im not sure if you should continue with it. And i haven't been able to find any help with about the "Sim network unlock pin" either. The only info i've read is about apps that I'll have to buy that will unlock the phone provided it's rooted!!
Someone with good experience can explain this?
Help please !!!
mcp.ipod said:
Help please !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't panic, upgrading to Official (or even Leaked) JB 4.1.2 leads your phone to lock again
There was an app here named GalaxSim unlock that solved the problem for me (and many people), it was free but I think the author removed it because it is available on the playstore now and can unlock your phone for around 2$
Look for it in the playstore, you can download a free version that checks your device and tells you if it is unlockable, if yes, you have an in-app option that will unlock your device for the above price
Take a look and I hope this helps
PS: It needs a rooted phone, so you'll have to flash an appropriate kernel (If you are on JB, try Phil's Kernel, it is available here on xda)
EDIT:
I was wrong, you can download it from this thread (On the first post)

[Q] How to downgrade to 2.3.6 from JB 4.1.2 to simunlock?

Hi all!
Well, my problem is that I can't do the sim unlock and I think it is because the phone has 4.1.2 and a rooted kernel.( the phone isnot mine,owns to one friend)
I've been trying with the 2 most popular apps : Galaxy s2 sim unlock by chainfire and odia, and galaxy s unlock (this I think no root needed).
I'm thinkin that I can't unlock it because the kernel is not the official one. The phone is from Orange (Spain) and yesterday i was trying to flash the original firmware downloaded from Sammobile and it crash, so I had to flash a kernel (ApoloJb) to make it run again.
I am crazy to get the unlock sim... because If I get the sim unlock my friend will give me the S2
Thanks and sorry about my english :/
Bimbarraces said:
Hi all!
Well, my problem is that I can't do the sim unlock and I think it is because the phone has 4.1.2 and a rooted kernel.( the phone isnot mine,owns to one friend)
I've been trying with the 2 most popular apps : Galaxy s2 sim unlock by chainfire and odia, and galaxy s unlock (this I think no root needed).
I'm thinkin that I can't unlock it because the kernel is not the official one. The phone is from Orange (Spain) and yesterday i was trying to flash the original firmware downloaded from Sammobile and it crash, so I had to flash a kernel (ApoloJb) to make it run again.
I am crazy to get the unlock sim... because If I get the sim unlock my friend will give me the S2
Thanks and sorry about my english :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look at guide in my signature.Use ICS

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