[Q] Stock rom can Vodafone tell if its been rooted? - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi all
Ok Ive just had my phone repaired by vodafone as the motherboard was dead and it came back with stock rom so i straight away set about rooting it but ive had multiple problems.
No matter how many roms i put on it with stock different kernels, super wipe, mega wipe and now even back to vodafones stock rom it keeps crashing and rebooting
I didnt run it long enough when it came back from repair so i dont know if it did it before root, does anyone think this is a issue before i started to root or something i've done?
Also now ive put stock rom on it when i try to do anthing that requires root access it says its not rooted and there is no little orange ! in the corner when booting up, so if i send this back to vodafone can they tell from this that ive attempted rooting etc, is there anyway for them to tell?
Thanks for your helps

not if you se the triangle away app in the playstore to reset your binary counter

Its not so simple as just TA.
Your status is modified and requires run TA flash stock rom then factory reset then check status in download mode and about phone in settings .
jje

ok so i've flashed the stock romj then do a factory reset in options in android? when do i do TA? also doesnt TA need root privledges? As its showing as not rooted?
Thanks

So is the process re root, run ta then reflash stock rom and factory reset?

Related

[Q] Rooted Transform Ultra problem

I have a Samsung Transform Ultra (rooted), I am using the stock ROM that came with the phone, recently I have corrupted something and need to attempt a factory reset, however some people have said that doing a factory reset on a rooted phone could brick it, so this brings a couple of questions:
1.- How would I un-root my phone, or, if un-rooting is not necessary, what steps should I take to factory reset it safely? My data is safely backed up already.
2.- Has anyone done a factory reset on a rooted Transform Ultra?
Any help would be most appreciated.
The4thDoctor said:
I have a Samsung Transform Ultra (rooted), I am using the stock ROM that came with the phone, recently I have corrupted something and need to attempt a factory reset, however some people have said that doing a factory reset on a rooted phone could brick it, so this brings a couple of questions:
1.- How would I un-root my phone, or, if un-rooting is not necessary, what steps should I take to factory reset it safely? My data is safely backed up already.
2.- Has anyone done a factory reset on a rooted Transform Ultra?
Any help would be most appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't you have a custom Recovery installed? I don't know about this device specifically, but there should be a factory reset option you can utilize within your Recovery image. You'll need a ROM to flash afterwards also, otherwise you'll have no OS on your device. Or simply flash a NANDroid backup.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Since my (rooted) phone has the stock factory ROM only, and I never changed it, do I still need a ROM? My original ROM was never removed or changed.
The4thDoctor said:
Since my (rooted) phone has the stock factory ROM only, and I never changed it, do I still need a ROM? My original ROM was never removed or changed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's the thing, when you factory reset a rooted phone it wipes everything, including the OS. So after a factory reset there will be no ROM to boot into. Even though you've never changed it and you're running stock, you'd still need a copy of that stock ROM (if you wanted to continue running stock). But if you've made a nandroid backup (complete snapshot of your entire system) at some point before you noticed the current problem you're having, it might be easier to simply restore that particular backup via Recovery.
I never flashed any roms or recovery, just rooted.
Unfortunately, I never made a nandroid backup before I had this problem, however, my daughter has an identical phone, could I make such a backup from hers, and use it on my phone, then just delete her settings etc?
I had no idea that just rooting would kill the stock ROM image, making the phone un-recoverable, I thought that rooting only gave me superuser permissions.
The4thDoctor said:
I never flashed any roms or recovery, just rooted.
Unfortunately, I never made a nandroid backup before I had this problem, however, my daughter has an identical phone, could I make such a backup from hers, and use it on my phone, then just delete her settings etc?
I had no idea that just rooting would kill the stock ROM image, making the phone un-recoverable, I thought that rooting only gave me superuser permissions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like Clockworkmod doesn't support your device.... not sure what custom Recoveries are available for your phone... but rooting doesn't mess up the stock ROM, we (the users) mess up our ROMs. You're right when you said that rooting gives you superuser privileges, and with those privileges come the unfortunate ability to screws stuff up. In my case I have tons of backups and a custom Recovery whereby I can wipe the phone and restore if need be. I also have ADB installed and can use Fastboot commands if things go sideways. Basically if you're gonna root have a backup plan.
Can you perhaps follow an unrooting method? Then you could safely factory reset without losing the OS... you know...the more I think about this, the more I wonder if you could just use the factory reset option from within the phone's settings... on a custom ROM you'd never do it, but in your situation (no custom recovery or ROM) who knows, maybe it would work with a problem.... I'll ask a friend of mine and post back.
Edit: Never heard back, but in your case on the stock ROM without a custom Recovery you *should* be able to factory reset through the Privacy setting section of your settings. If you do lose root, simply re root and you're good to go.
Thanks, Well I am going to give it a try and see what happens, worst case, I will have to buy another phone.
EDIT: I had no problems with factory reset, thank you!

[Q] Cannot Remove Pin Lock

hey all
i found a galaxy s2 and i want to wipe it and use it as attempt's to find owner have failed here here is my problem
screen lock is enabled i can not remove it at all i have tried Full Flash via odin cwm firmwares a cmw backup of an other gs2 kernel flash nothing works
i flash phone and it lets me go through the setup .. the phone becomes unlocked but i cannot factory restore (to remove pin )as pin is required the and same gos
's for removing screenlock .. ive tried bricking the phone and recovering still no good ive searched for weeks for an answer and i cant find one
the phone is an Australia telstra branded gt-i9100t ... as far as firmware go's it have been flashed so many times iam not sure whats on it lol
if you need any more info let me know what u need n ill get it
pleas help
kjrol0 said:
i have tried Full Flash via odin cwm firmwares a cmw backup of an other gs2 kernel flash nothing works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While i've never been in this situation its hard to believe that flashing a new firmware won't remove the pin, did you do a full wipe/factory reset in recovery?
yes i have same thing ... phone set up then as soon as the screen turns off ...locked its really annoying
Try flashing the stock kernel and rom for i9100T from then on i believe u can root + cwm all in DL mode / odin
but it is very strange, if you've successfully wiped cache, wiped user data, all pw and pin should've been removed.. especially if u flash a new rom..
i would have thought so myself but for some reason apparently not i mean what other options do i have ..none really swap stickers n send it a way ... lol i mean what would they do .. nothing we cant its really starting to frustrate me ... like i installed gs1 firmware to brick it than re flashed it still nothing .. its bull
The pin is stored in the efs iirc... So wiping data won't help...
Did you try to flash cm, as it stores pin in regular place?
dogiefix
ok so i went thru the setup n had the phone temp unlocked so used Hc-kTool to backup efs file ok than u used an other gs2 efs back up to restore it ok re boot ..then boom unlocked ... both imei codes are different for som reason but i can make calls on both so pfft
however my imei code is 004990106.ect i think that is the imei code that needs repairing but i can fix that lol
my phone had a pin lock,the previous owner didnt tell the second hand store owner,so he wouldnt sell it till he re flashed the firmware to check its components etc, i could tell he did as it had odin after download mode, or is that normal?

Devce status: MODIFIED

hi guys!
i recently flashed uk stock lfb rom over my orange stock rom, i rooted my s3 using chainfire cf-root 6.4 and i used triangle away to reset the counter.
everything went smooth, counter shows 0, but in settings/about device/status/ device status is now MODIFIED and not NORMAL as it used to be.
even if the counter is reset to 0, isn't this an obious proof for servicing companies that phone has been modified and loosin warranty? is any way to go back to normal? i searched the forum and i didn't find a solution.
thank you!
flash stock rom and your phone will show that normal status again. samsung will never know what you did to the poor phone. double check that you don't have supersu or superuser app or else something bad might happen
stfudude said:
flash stock rom and your phone will show that normal status again. samsung will never know what you did to the poor phone. double check that you don't have supersu or superuser app or else something bad might happen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i already tried that, but a lot of apps didn't start corect, phone became very unstable and unusable. i even couldn't check if the status went back to normal. could it be because the original version seems to be an earlier release compared to lfb release?
i flashed stock rom, ALE8 to be exact, a few days ago, after having a few problems with wanam 1.9. the status changed to normal after flashing. i use desktop odin to flash. after flashing wanam 2.0 the status changed to modified. tried triangle away, but the status still doesn't change to normal even though flash counter has been succesfully reset.
The full steps are: (in that order)
- Triangle Away
- Flash Stock ROM
- Flash correct CSC / Modem (optional, not required)
- Factory-reset the phone
Reset the flashcounter, update rom and after boot do a facory reset.
flash stock rom, wipe everything, doesn't mean that the phone back to normal. for example, i always set my line to wcdma only. after flash any rom, reset everything, that setting still wcdma only. the only way to have absolutely format, is change csc code. it's truly format back to stock. but, be warning, you will lose everything, backup 1st.
so the trick is factory reset? good to know! i will not try it btw, because i need a working phone for this 2 months. OP, is your question answered now?
I don't know yet
I have to try that first, but i can't do IT right now. I hope that after flashing my original orange rom the phone will be stabile enough to perform a factory reset.
Thank you guys for your suggestion.
noris08 said:
hi guys!
i recently flashed uk stock lfb rom over my orange stock rom, i rooted my s3 using chainfire cf-root 6.4 and i used triangle away to reset the counter.
everything went smooth, counter shows 0, but in settings/about device/status/ device status is now MODIFIED and not NORMAL as it used to be.
even if the counter is reset to 0, isn't this an obious proof for servicing companies that phone has been modified and loosin warranty? is any way to go back to normal? i searched the forum and i didn't find a solution.
thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey dude. I'd just stick with it
even if you should have to send it in, they'll pretty much only look at the counter (If possible) and if that is not possible, then they'll JTAG it; meaning that EVERY tiny piece of information on that phone is gonna be wiped... Just make sure you don't send it in, just because of a small SIM failure. (Because that's caused by bad radios/basebands). Only send it in, if it's proper bricked, and they'll not no a thing (I've done this loads of times, they haven't noticed a thing to date )
yep, factory reset did the trick.
as i said, after flashing original orange rom over lfb rom the phone became unstable.
i booted into mini cwm that came original with the phone and there is an option to do a factory reset, et voila, no more modified status.
thank you guys!
No problem hit thanks button )
I have a brand new s3 from orange which has not been rooted or anything and the device status shows as modified. i have used the Samsung GS3 Int ToolKit and odin to flash an unsecure boot image so i could back up my phone which i still havent yet as i need to root and install busy box. i have not rooted the phone or changed the rom so why does it say device status modified. I did a factory reset but it still shows as modified.
I will be flashing the rom once i know how to backup the orange rom and data. I want to remove the modified status incase i want to return the phone to orange so they can give me an unbranded phone in the first place.
daflex86 said:
I have a brand new s3 from orange which has not been rooted or anything and the device status shows as modified. i have used the Samsung GS3 Int ToolKit and odin to flash an unsecure boot image so i could back up my phone which i still havent yet as i need to root and install busy box. i have not rooted the phone or changed the rom so why does it say device status modified. I did a factory reset but it still shows as modified.
I will be flashing the rom once i know how to backup the orange rom and data. I want to remove the modified status incase i want to return the phone to orange so they can give me an unbranded phone in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you flashed an insecure kernel, you did modify the state of the device. Are you saying that it showed as modified out of the box?
same problem
I have never rooted my device, never intended to either. However my device status appears as modified. While I personally feel there arent many glitches in my phone (s3), I'm worried i wont be able to upgrade to jellybean when the update comes out.
Any help?
Which firmware/ROM are you using? Are you rooted?
I'm asking this cause if you bought it second-hand the previous owner could have modified it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
would having this status affect OTA updates?
Yep, it generally means the phone is running a custom rom/recovery and is rooted. OTA updates only work on non rooted stock recovery roms... However this doesn't mean you can't update through ODIN...
ultramag69 said:
Yep, it generally means the phone is running a custom rom/recovery and is rooted. OTA updates only work on non rooted stock recovery roms... However this doesn't mean you can't update through ODIN...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so. As long as you're on an official ROM it doesn't matter if you're rooted or not.
donalgodon said:
If you flashed an insecure kernel, you did modify the state of the device. Are you saying that it showed as modified out of the box?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I realised that later on and was just about to re-edit the post. Im sure it didn't say modified when out of the box. Orange won't replace the mobile as they say all their phones are branded and the replacement would be branded anyway. Im gonna flash with unbranded software as i dont want orange bloatware. Just need to know how to back up this useless orange rom and then i can flash!
---------- Post added at 08:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:59 PM ----------
Lunchbox115 said:
I don't think so. As long as you're on an official ROM it doesn't matter if you're rooted or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep as long as i've read you can download as long as your on official ROM. You might lose your root but you can just re-root again.

Unroot help needed

When I first got my S2 I rooted it to remove some bloatware like orange backup and maps. I was looking to also remove the orange startup and shutdown logos but never found how to do this. Now I want to undo all I've done (not much really) and put it all back the way it was.
Having searched the webs I find all the results about flashing using Odin to a new custom ROM, but I'm sure this is not what I want to do.
I am sure I made a backup of the original files but I can't find them anywhere on my computer. However, I have managed to find some files I must have originally used to root/flash.
Odin
S2Root 1.4.3
GT-I9100_XXKG3_insecure
GT-I9100_XXKG3_original
I have rebuilt my computer since I originally rooted my handset, so when I needed the drivers and installed Samsung Kies it told me I had an update to ICS. I've completed this but Sky Go is still saying my device is rooted and will not work. I've downloaded and tried superoneclick (latest version) but this crashes every time. Opening S2Root, which I'm assuming I used originally, and trying to Unroot it tells me my device is not rooted and aborts the operation.
How can I fix this now?
Thanks in advance
Boxa786 said:
When I first got my S2 I rooted it to remove some bloatware like orange backup and maps. I was looking to also remove the orange startup and shutdown logos but never found how to do this. Now I want to undo all I've done (not much really) and put it all back the way it was.
Having searched the webs I find all the results about flashing using Odin to a new custom ROM, but I'm sure this is not what I want to do.
I am sure I made a backup of the original files but I can't find them anywhere on my computer. However, I have managed to find some files I must have originally used to root/flash.
Odin
S2Root 1.4.3
GT-I9100_XXKG3_insecure
GT-I9100_XXKG3_original
I have rebuilt my computer since I originally rooted my handset, so when I needed the drivers and installed Samsung Kies it told me I had an update to ICS. I've completed this but Sky Go is still saying my device is rooted and will not work. I've downloaded and tried superoneclick (latest version) but this crashes every time. Opening S2Root, which I'm assuming I used originally, and trying to Unroot it tells me my device is not rooted and aborts the operation.
How can I fix this now?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there,
The best way to get your phone back to stock is to wipe cache and dalvik cache and do a factory reset.
This will bring everything back to how it was and you will lose root you can use Astro to back up all your apps and take screenshots of home screens so you can get it back to how it was.
I see you have the Original Kernel file still XXKG3, you can simply flash this through odin back to your phone and you will lose root access and be back to how it was before root. Just open Odin and flash this file in the PDA section of Odin and hit start
Or you can flash an official stock Samsung ROM using Odin..
If you let me know where abouts you are I can send you a link for the appropriate firmware ie Orange carrier branded official firmware, as released by Orange
Also is it Gingerbread or ICS you were wanting to revert to?
Obagleyfreer said:
Hi there,
The best way to get your phone back to stock is to wipe cache and dalvik cache and do a factory reset.
This will bring everything back to how it was and you will lose root you can use Astro to back up all your apps and take screenshots of home screens so you can get it back to how it was.
I see you have the Original Kernel file still XXKG3, you can simply flash this through odin back to your phone and you will lose root access and be back to how it was before root. Just open Odin and flash this file in the PDA section of Odin and hit start
Or you can flash an official stock Samsung ROM using Odin..
If you let me know where abouts you are I can send you a link for the appropriate firmware ie Orange carrier branded official firmware, as released by Orange
Also is it Gingerbread or ICS you were wanting to revert to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset and wipe cache will never remove root
There are many ways, but for a complete reset to stock, only way is format /system, wipe data and cache, then flash a stock rom in odin. Before, use triangle away to reset counter if needed
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Just Flash a stock frimware and all will be done
PopAhmad said:
Just Flash a stock frimware and all will be done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will unroot, but data in /system that comes with root apps will stay
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Thanks for the replies guys.
I have flashed using kies with the latest orange update so this is what I would like to keep. I want to go back to keeping it original as possible (couple more months and I'm due an upgrade and will be selling this)
Ok so going by Phil's process I need to format system? How do I do this?
Wipe data and Cache I think these two are options in Odin right?
Flash a stock ROM? I have that GT-I9100_XXKG3_original that I must have downloaded when I rooted it, will this do or do I need a different ROM?
If you can fully explain this in a step by step guide with using the ROM I already have, then I can simply connect kies and let it update to latest firmware?
Also, what is triangle away and will I need that? I thought if I flashed to original ROM in the steps said above I shouldn't get that yellow triangle?
Why would I need to reset counter?
I am a complete noob at this and appreciate all the help you are giving me.
Thank you
PS. Obagleyfreer can you post a link to the latest Orange ICS firmware just in case I need that too? Thanks
Having done some more googling I found the clear data and cache is when you put the phone in download mode (volume down+home+power buttons). This is also where I can factory reset the phone. I found this on youtube and the video didn't clearly show what options and folders to select if any. So, can you tell me exactly what options and folders to select please?
I'm assuming the above is my first step, then flashing a new stock ROM. Can you post a link to this please?
The video on youtube showed the yellow triangle went away after doing the flash, but he also had a little usb stick which reset the counter. Is there a way I can do this without that usb thing-ma-jig?
What's the best way to backup all my contacts?
Just do what Phil says.Triangle away is an app to remove traces that the phone has been tampered with,as that can invalidate warranty.You need to learn about cwm and Odin.
Sent from my GT-I9100
I don't know all the steps and exactly what to do, otherwise I would give it a ago. If there is a step by step guide to this, then I'd be more than happy to try it on my own without any questions.
Telling me to format system and flash I don't fully understand some points about this process, hence why I asked for more details, like what options do I chose and what folders do I select? You're asking me to go do something without giving me all the variables, would be like you giving a kid your bank card with pin and asking him/her to take some money out. If you don't tell the person the amount, then what's to stop the kid from completely emptying your account? Same principle applies to my situation, you have told me what to do but not given me all the details I need, so I could simply go and format the entire phone and go through every option and selection without knowing what's its doing and if it's the correct thing to do.
Before you telling me the triangle away is an app, I thought Phil was just telling me to get rid of the Triangle I never knew it is an app, so you see, you provided a final bit of information and now I know what this is, I can go and look for it (google ofcourse), once found I will try it, but post back if I have any questions. Such as, do I use this app first or is it the last thing I do.
I am a complete noob at this and details matter loads to me. Being a computer enthusiast building my own computers, I know every little detail counts when it comes to software/firmware settings. So, try to understand all your help is really appreciated and much needed information before I can start off on my own.
Thanks for the read.
Wipe data and cache is done in stock recovery options as you found, not in download mode
Format /system needs cwm. You can get it flashing a cf root kernel in odin. Another way is to get a temporary cwm like in the link in method 1 from my signature. Once in cwm, go to advanced or partition settings and you find the format /system.
Triangle Away is an app that needs root to run
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

S3 wont boot and not registered on network !

Hey,
My friend was running a flawless custom rom on his s3. Suddenly, it turns off by itself and the phone is then stuck on boot logo.
1. I tried to factory reset with no luck.
2. I tried to install stock 4.3 with no luck.
3. I tried to install 4.1.2. The phone booted but with no recovery. Then i noticed that imei changed to *0049 and i'm not registered on network (even though it was working well on the custom rom).
4. I tried to upgrade to 4.3, i got succeeded but recovery didnt install.
5. I tried to install the custom rom again but no luck.
6. I tried all patches of modems and kernels and ariza. All Failed.
7. I also tried EFS backup/restore and Failed.
My only concern is to know what made this issue appear all by itself ?? Because i guess we should take it to a mobile repair shop.
One last thing to say is that every time i try to install a software, available space gets low, and even if i delete some files from internal storage the storage wont free up.
Thank you !
get stock 4.3 fom and flash it via Odin (wipe everything before flash). Then flash recovery via odin. then backup efs. then flash custom roms.
downgrade from 4.3 to 4.1.x causes efs to become corrupted
Seems like a corrupt nand. Was it rooted previously when it died the first time?.
Going from 4.3 to 4.1.2 will cause the imei to be lost as the efs encryption changed at 4.3. You cannot go back.
If the phone has a custom rom on it try an official cwm recovery, if not or it doesn't work then proceed to the following:
If you can get the phone into download mode try flashing the stock firmware twice or thrice with a factory reset in between each flash. Do not allow the phone to boot into the os!!. If it attempts to boot to OS after the blue pass in odin then pull the battery out immediately and boot to recovery or download mode respective of what you are doing at the time, resetting or flashing.
If that fails you can then call it a dead phone.
Beamed in by telepathy.
Wow these are new solutions to me..
I really thank you guys and i'll look forward into trying them in any upcoming problems.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge
And just to mention, yes the phone was rooted when it went bricked suddenly.
I'd try to flash an official cwm and if it takes then flash back to stock twice with a reset, reroot and leave it as that. Custom roms aren't worth the paper they're written on.
In addition to downgrading from 4.3 to an earlier version, but forgot at the time of writing, you can downgrade but you need an efs backup from the time it was at 4.1.2, which has to be restored but I'm not sure of the process. I couldn't tell you if it has to be restored before flashing, after or both.
Not a lot of people have an efs backup from 4.1.2. I do, but then my phone hasn't acted wierd yet. Sods law.
Kies 2 (not kies 3) can restore the phone but only if it was in original condition. You can try the emergency recovery routine but don't hold your breath.
Beamed in by telepathy.
You're right.. Efs is the only part most of us miss !!
I wrote all of the steps you said in order.. So that if any problem occur ill deal with it based on your info.
Btw do you suggest using KK TW 4.4.4 by back-to-n00t ? Or this wont be considered as a kind of official firmware ?

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