[Q] Un-unlock Verizon Galaxy S3 - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So I have learned that as of recently it is illegal to unlock my Verizon Galaxy S3. Well, too late. I followed this tutorial and installed the AxisM ROM.
Well about the same time I found this out I decided I was going to sell my phone on craigslist. I don't want to do anything illegal so I would like to restore it back to factory default before I sell it. Personally I never had any use for an unlock, I only wanted root. I looked around for information about how to un-unlock a phone and couldn't find anything on xda or google. Please don't just redirect me to some thread about how to flash to stock JellyBean 4.1.1 or something without explaining how / why your suggested method will remove unlock-carrier function. I am not very experienced with the details of all these modifications. Modding phones isn't really my hobby, I just blindly / drunkenly followed a tutorial. That is why I ask for an explanation - but if it turns out that merely flashing back to a stock JellyBean would remove the illegal function, that's great. Also, please don't bother trolling me with your legal advice / opinions, just keep it to yourself, I won't even read it.
tl;dr
How can I un-unlock my phone?

Related

[Q] SN - Super noob

Hey guys! I got my atrix 4g around the end of may and i haven't regretted switching from iphone since! . But i don't know alot about android hacking, modding, tips, tricks, features, etc, so as you can see i need help. I was wondering if some of the AMAZING people on the android forum could maybe take me in as an "Apprentice" so that i could learn all the hacking and tricks about atrix or android in general , like i knew when i had an iphone?
heyhey24 said:
Hey guys! I got my atrix 4g around the end of may and i haven't regretted switching from iphone since! . But i don't know alot about android hacking, modding, tips, tricks, features, etc, so as you can see i need help. I was wondering if some of the AMAZING people on the android forum could maybe take me in as an "Apprentice" so that i could learn all the hacking and tricks about atrix or android in general , like i knew when i had an iphone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.
How did you learn when you had your iPhone? In most cases most people will search and read this forum time after time and then they fig, it out. So my advice is to read and search before you want to start asking questions im sure somewhere on this thread there is the anwser you are looking for. If you cant find what your looking then you need to find someone in the dev. forum and be nice and they might will help you. There is alot of really good devs out there that are willing to help you. I am a noob too that came from iphone
heyhey24 said:
Hey guys! I got my atrix 4g around the end of may and i haven't regretted switching from iphone since! . But i don't know alot about android hacking, modding, tips, tricks, features, etc, so as you can see i need help. I was wondering if some of the AMAZING people on the android forum could maybe take me in as an "Apprentice" so that i could learn all the hacking and tricks about atrix or android in general , like i knew when i had an iphone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, read a lot, search a lot, and you will have to try a lot. If you follow instructions, most of the time everything will go fine, but if it doesn't, you also need to look for the answers you will need to get back on track. You will get frustrated a lot, but the best way to learn anything is to try things yourself, and learn by your mistakes.
There are plenty of resources outside of XDA to learn about Android. There are some very good guides in the Atrix forums here also which will help you. Don't expect the devs to teach you programming. You will have to learn that yourself, but the devs will help you when you get stuck...........if, as was said, you treat them nicely!
Remember to post in the correct forums also. You will bring down the fires of hell on you if you post questions in the dev forum, themes in the general forum, etc.
lol thank you both, if its not too much can i run a scenario by you?
you may well know that gingerbread is comming to atrix [:{D>]
and i saw on the forum a build for 2.3.4 through hwk
Sooo many questions popped up in my head
1.what is hwk?
2.how would i return to 1.8.3 stock
3. what is flashing?
4.what is sbf?
and etc
do you know any threads or people who could help me?
also do you have any hacks on your atrix?
heyhey24 said:
lol thank you both, if its not too much can i run a scenario by you?
you may well know that gingerbread is comming to atrix [:{D>]
and i saw on the forum a build for 2.3.4 through hwk
Sooo many questions popped up in my head
1.what is hwk?
2.how would i return to 1.8.3 stock
3. what is flashing?
4.what is sbf?
and etc
do you know any threads or people who could help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) HKTW is a Chinese version of ginergbread more or less (i.e. Hong Kong Tai Wan), that happens to be usable on a U.S. AT&T Atrix w/ a unlocked boot loader. It's pretty buggy, since it wasn't specially designed for our device or carrier.
2, 3 & 4) To return to stock, which you will have to do if you flash any ROM before being able to OTA (Over The Air) update, you have to flash (a nice word for install) a fresh sbf. A sbf file is a original source file from Motorola that upon installing (i.e. flashing) will return your device back to stock, more or less. For instance, if you were to flash the 1.26 sbf onto your phone, it would exactly like the way you got it from the store; everything back to "normal" and stock. So before you do this you make a backup of your stuff, preferably on a external sd card. That way if you have to flash a sbf file and return to stock for what ever reason, you can re-install your stuff with minimal effort. Here is a good guide for flashing a sbf, explaining what you need and what to do:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=991072
and here is another for all the sbf files currently:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1125944
I'm sure you have more questions, so ask always, and I'll try to help when & where I can.
Ok, so I'm assuming you are running a U.S. AT&T Atrix??
So the first thing you are probably going to want to do is get Root access (like getting a jail break on iphone, more or less):
- If your on 4.1.83 firmware (the most current). You can check by going to setting -> About Phone -> System Version. You will need to use Gingerbreak to Root your phone. This will most likely wipe your phone, so save what you can on your pc, ext. sd card, etc.
Instructions here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1046626
And Crap, my wife called and whats to grab a bite to eat... start there, and I'll edit and add to the post later.
Swiftks said:
Ok, so I'm assuming you are running a U.S. AT&T Atrix??
So the first thing you are probably going to want to do is get Root access (like getting a jail break on iphone, more or less):
- If your on 4.1.83 firmware (the most current). You can check by going to setting -> About Phone -> System Version. You will need to use Gingerbreak to Root your phone. This will most likely wipe your phone, so save what you can on your pc, ext. sd card, etc.
Instructions here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1046626
And Crap, my wife called and whats to grab a bite to eat... start there, and I'll edit and add to the post later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOW lol thank you brb 4th of july dinner
SwiftKS,
Just wanted to say thanks. While your post doesn't help me directly, it is great to see people helping others out and not just flaming newbies. You are a credit to the community!
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Sorry I haven't updated.. been working on a N00B guide that I can post and then add to, and not have to type this over & over.
Posting in the General Section.
Swiftks said:
Sorry I haven't updated.. been working on a N00B guide that I can post and then add to, and not have to type this over & over.
Posting in the General Section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The N00B Guide
Well i think you guys would be happy to know im now on the dark side i rooted at about 10:00 pm est yesterday
_______________________________________________________________________________
EDIT 7-9-11
Bricked my phone edditing system folder permissions...
REGREATED ROOTING EVER SINCE
Any way to fix it its simply the phone keeps rebooting with a red light blinking and the M sign dual core stuck
Ive tried methods but they didnt work!! :'(
Check out noob guide referred to a couple posts back
heyhey24 said:
Well i think you guys would be happy to know im now on the dark side i rooted at about 10:00 pm est yesterday
_______________________________________________________________________________
EDIT 7-9-11
Bricked my phone edditing system folder permissions...
REGREATED ROOTING EVER SINCE
Any way to fix it its simply the phone keeps rebooting with a red light blinking and the M sign dual core stuck
Ive tried methods but they didnt work!! :'(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pay someone bud. You arent suited for this stuff.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Fixed it on the same day lol
just didnt see that rsd noticed my phone
#teamblind ^__^

[Q] Noob - Where to Start

Hiya guys,
I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 that I got this week. Im finding the phone is brilliant to use at the moment and works very well. It's alot better for me to use this device that it was when I had my previous phone which was an iPhone (don't shoot me)...
Anyway here we are. I've had the phone 4 days and i'm wanting to root it. The main reason for this is that I hate bloatwear. Samsung have filled it with all their own specific software that they find useful and I don't want that. All I want is a lovely OS with no Samsung to worry about etc.
Right a little about what i'm wanting. Ok so the phone is a Samsung Galaxy S2 GT-I9100. The andoid version is 2.3.4, the Baseband is I9100XXKI1 and the Build is GINGERBREAD.
Im basically wanting to install the exact same version of Gingerbread but without all the bloatwear. Is this possible? Im completely new to this so any guides and tutorials that you can point me to would be brilliant. Is there anything I should be wary of when rooting my phone etc.
I have been looking around on the net and from what I can see Cyanogen M7 seems to be the same version as what im on now other than you don't get the touchwiz.
Any help would be brilliant on where to start.
If there are any questions then please ask.
Regards,
Just freeze the bloat yourself, rather than trying to find a ROM with it removed.
Root via zergRush, freeze bloat with one of the apps on the market.
However, if you do go down the CM7 route, just follow the instructions on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1176411
Other things to look out for. If any instructions are telling you to make a nandroid backup, do it, and back up your efs folder. You can use Hellcat's kTool for that.
Ok thanks for your post. So i guess my next question is What is Rooting and what does it actually do to your phone?
Do I need to root my phone in order to install new Roms??
Also the link to the M7 *Nightly* release you gave me. Is that stable? I read on their forums that I should only look at installing their *Stable* release and be wary of their *Nightly* release as its still buggy.
Since your first post said you were wanting to root, I kinda thought you'd know why. Bad assumption on my part, I know.
Anyway, before you flood the place with more questions, have a read for a while.
FAQS/Guide/Additional Info For Rooting S2 - High level summary
[FAQ] GT-i9100 Galaxy S II FAQ thread
Also, there is no so called "stable" CM7 build for the Samsung Galaxy S II.
Hi again.
Ok so I've had a read through the links provided to me and Im positive i want to root my device so that i can install new roms and unlock the phone and such. So next then can someone suggest what method i should do next. could someone also tell me what cf-root and clockworkmod is? Im confused as to what these are.
Regards
CF will give you root and clockwork, you can then reboot into clockwork and flash roms. Just make sure you read everything thoroughly and be sure to avoid the repartition option in odin.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Thanks but could you explain to me what they both do? Im assuming that its better to use cf-root as it allows you to install roms also...
Love spoon feeding eh?
http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=cf-root
http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=clockworkmod+recovery
Please search before open a new thread. All the info you need is there to be found. Start you hunt.
Thread closed

Vodafone UK S3, rooting and custom rom install

First post, hopefully someone will be able to answer some questions I've got.
I've previously had an HTC Desire and held off rooting it as I didn't feel I needed it. Towards the end of my contract I found I was running out of space but still held off rooting it incase I messed it up and rendered it bricked.
I've got a S3 16gb coming on Tuesday from UK Network Vodafone.
I've done a fair bit of researching in the last few days on this forum but just want a few things cleared up.
I'm aware I have to make sure I root using a guide for my version of phone. How would I find that out exactly? Is it going to be a network specific version or will 'International' cover it?
Once rooted I'm going to put Omega Mod on as it seems to be the one to go for. Will I still be able able to use all the features of the phone as standard (I'm thinking more along the lines of the play store and other things that require a sign in)
If I ever get bored of it or want an 'unrooted' phone again (if I were to sell it, or claim on warrenty for example), would I be able to flash back to my standard rom?
What are the main benefits/disadvantages to rooting and installing this particular rom?
Is there anything that will no longer work after rooting/flashing Omega?
Finally, is there ANYTHING else I need to take into consideration before beginning?
Thanks alot
Here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1671969
[Guide+ROMS]Odin Flash+Root Guide & Stock Firmwares LE4/6/8/9/F/D, LF1/2
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
I will try and answer all your questions in the order you posted them.
1. Your device will be an international model so this guide will work and all the info you need to root and unroot is there http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1695238
2. I am presuming here you mean Omega ROM and not Omega Aosp, if so Omega ROM is a stock Samsung ROM so all features that work on stock will work on omega. To find out the differences between different types of ROMs I suggest going to this thread and looking at the different ROM descriptions under different settings.http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1674286
3.See the link in point 1. I smashed the screen of my first S3 and had to claim on insurance and this worked for me
4. This is a question that I cannot really answer as I feel it is specific to each person, however their are plenty of threads on XDA that answer this just use google or the seach bar.
5.http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1663656 It looks stable and there are no bug reports in the OP (original post) so yes everything should be working but just in case before you flash any ROM always make a nandroid backup in recovery. (if unsure on nandroid backups seach XDA and google)
I think that answers all your questions but the best advice I can give you is to read and re-read every thing you can find on rooting and such. Like you I also had a desire before my S3 and before I rooted that I spent atleast a week reading around on various different forums about what to do. You need to be confident in what you are doing before you do it and know what is going on.
That way if something goes wrong you can provide as much info as possible and and get more help!
Hope this helped

[Q] I really need some help with rooting my phone

Hello guys!
First thing I wanna say is that I'm a complete noob when it comes to rooting, flashing, installing new roms. I have read alot of threads in the past two weeks but I still don't feel comfortable doing it cause this is my first smartphone and I'm really scared that I can completelly hard-break my phone. In order to avoid this I decided to make this thread even tho I knew you will say "read the forum" etc.
So first I wanna ask what should I never, NEVER DO that can hardbreak my phone. I read that I shoudn't use SBF files which are installed on my phone true RSD Lite, but then this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871 "cool stuff" (I don't know how you call it) uses RSD Lite to unlock my phone, should I use it on my phone and is it safe?
Second, if I wanna go back to stock I read that I must use fruitcakes, but I'm not sure how to create one..:/ And if I use someother's fruitcake I'm not sure if my warenty will still be OK.
Third and last thing I wanted to ask is: Is it safe to use programs for Atrix 4G on EU Atrix, cause my atrix is European one. Model MB860, Android Version: 2.3.4, Baseband N_01.100.0R, Kernal 2.6.32.9, Build nuber 4.5.2A-74_OLE-27
Hope this info helps.
And if there is some guy from Europe who has device similar to mine can he please post links to programs he used in order to root and unlock his device.
I will really appriciate an answer! Thanks for all the good work you did here!
Same here mate. I'm not sure what program to use to root and unlock my bootloader. I have the exact same version of Motorola.
Would love help here!
Cheers!
t1ber1umwrs said:
Hello guys!
First thing I wanna say is that I'm a complete noob when it comes to rooting, flashing, installing new roms. I have read alot of threads in the past two weeks but I still don't feel comfortable doing it cause this is my first smartphone and I'm really scared that I can completelly hard-break my phone. In order to avoid this I decided to make this thread even tho I knew you will say "read the forum" etc.
So first I wanna ask what should I never, NEVER DO that can hardbreak my phone. I read that I shoudn't use SBF files which are installed on my phone true RSD Lite, but then this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871 "cool stuff" (I don't know how you call it) uses RSD Lite to unlock my phone, should I use it on my phone and is it safe?
Second, if I wanna go back to stock I read that I must use fruitcakes, but I'm not sure how to create one..:/ And if I use someother's fruitcake I'm not sure if my warenty will still be OK.
Third and last thing I wanted to ask is: Is it safe to use programs for Atrix 4G on EU Atrix, cause my atrix is European one. Model MB860, Android Version: 2.3.4, Baseband N_01.100.0R, Kernal 2.6.32.9, Build nuber 4.5.2A-74_OLE-27
Hope this info helps.
And if there is some guy from Europe who has device similar to mine can he please post links to programs he used in order to root and unlock his device.
I will really appriciate an answer! Thanks for all the good work you did here!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, the app link you posted only applies to AT&T Motorola, I am not sure it will work with your european model. I recommend PMing the developer.

[Q] Advice on Atrix 4G Root/Unlock/ROM

I know there are a thousand threads on Rooting/Unlocking and Custom ROM's for the Atrix, because I've spent the last 3 days reading every one I could find. However, most of them appear to be very dated and often conflicting. As I'm coming to the game a little late I was hoping for some assistance on how to proceed.
Here's what I have;
AT&T Motorola Atrix 4G (I bought this new under contract, kept it for 2 years, upgraded to another phone and this one has been a paperweight for the past 18 months) AT&T will give me an unlock code if I ask, but I'm a little confused by the conflicting reports on whether to do it this way or not.
It's an MB860
FW Version 4.5.141
OS Version 2.3.6
Baseband N_01.77.37P
Webtop WT-1.2.0-110_OLY-6
Kernel Version 2.6.32.9
Build 4.5.141
I'd like to Unlock it so I can run a Foreign SIM card, I'd like to Root it so I can add non-approved apps, and I'd like to play with some ROM's, Redpill has some very good user reviews so I'm thinking of giving it a try but I'm not stuck on it.
Obviously don't want to brick the phone, so any advice would be appreciated, the more detailed the better
I have Windows 8.1, Mac OS X, and Windows XP-SP3 computers to work with.
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
While certain threads are (or might seem) outdated and/or conflicting, there are also other threads that serve as a kind of index of the most current methods and procedures. That should help you get around. Plus there are threads and guides written especially for noobs...
Yes, the code from AT&T is the safest and simplest way to do SIM unlock. Only important point here is that the device must be running the official Moto/AT&T firmware at the time of unlock. I'm not sure what kind of "conflicting information" you came across, to my knowledge nobody who's used the code as described never had any problems.
As for rooting, regardless of the variant or firmware version of your device, the preinstall method is the one to use. By far the most universal, plus personally and generally I dislike any "automatic", "one-click" or similar methods - for me at least they are usually more trouble than they're worth.
As for playing with ROMs, you first need to unlock your BL, then install a custom recovery, and then you have a shot at ROMs. So quite a wide topic with plenty enough threads created on the subject, so no point in repeating what's already said countless times. By the time you're done with other things mentioned (SIM unlock, rooting) you should be able to find your way around.
Sequence
ravilov said:
While certain threads are (or might seem) outdated and/or conflicting, there are also other threads that serve as a kind of index of the most current methods and procedures. That should help you get around. Plus there are threads and guides written especially for noobs...
Yes, the code from AT&T is the safest and simplest way to do SIM unlock. Only important point here is that the device must be running the official Moto/AT&T firmware at the time of unlock. I'm not sure what kind of "conflicting information" you came across, to my knowledge nobody who's used the code as described never had any problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick reply. I've requested an unlock code from AT&T, should be good to go in 48 hours.
In the mean time, is it important that I have it unlocked before I root, or will it matter?
Update
I realize this may seem to be off-topic but I'm not asking for assistance with this newest update, I'm only using the experience to help clarify my concerns about the Atrix.
Waiting for my requisite 24 hours before unlocking the SIM on my Moto Atrix. While I'm waiting i decided to gain a little experience by rooting a Galaxy S5570 and installing a custom Rom.
Like the Atrix there are dozens if not hundreds of threads, videos, tutorials etc for how to accomplish this. I found the most recent one I could that seemed to be a complete tutorial and it was dated from January of this year (much newer than any threads I've found on the Atrix BTW)
Rooting went fine. Confirmed with a Root Test app.
Loaded a CWM 6.0.4.5 recovery package as instructed and ended up bricking the phone. By all accounts this tutorial was for the exact model of phone with the exact same FW and Android version.
This is no big loss as it was a cheap phone that I wasn't using anyway, but it certainly opened my eyes to the risks involved in attempting this procedure on the more costly Atrix.
I'd really appreciate if anyone could point me in the direction of a current procedure for Rooting, Unlocking the Bootloader and installing a custom ROM on the Atrix with the specs from my Original Post. If any of you have the same phone and had success following a particular procedure I would greatly appreciate some links.
I know how forums work, and I know there are always the guys that reply RTFM to every noobs questions, as someone with technical skills in other areas I can generally tell the difference between someone who just doesn't want to bother doing the Due Diligence and someone who is struggling to sort through the myriad solutions to find the one that's right. I really don't want to brick this phone so any pointed advice would be greatly appreciated.
arkansascontrols said:
I realize this may seem to be off-topic but I'm not asking for assistance with this newest update, I'm only using the experience to help clarify my concerns about the Atrix.
Waiting for my requisite 24 hours before unlocking the SIM on my Moto Atrix. While I'm waiting i decided to gain a little experience by rooting a Galaxy S5570 and installing a custom Rom.
Like the Atrix there are dozens if not hundreds of threads, videos, tutorials etc for how to accomplish this. I found the most recent one I could that seemed to be a complete tutorial and it was dated from January of this year (much newer than any threads I've found on the Atrix BTW)
Rooting went fine. Confirmed with a Root Test app.
Loaded a CWM 6.0.4.5 recovery package as instructed and ended up bricking the phone. By all accounts this tutorial was for the exact model of phone with the exact same FW and Android version.
This is no big loss as it was a cheap phone that I wasn't using anyway, but it certainly opened my eyes to the risks involved in attempting this procedure on the more costly Atrix.
I'd really appreciate if anyone could point me in the direction of a current procedure for Rooting, Unlocking the Bootloader and installing a custom ROM on the Atrix with the specs from my Original Post. If any of you have the same phone and had success following a particular procedure I would greatly appreciate some links.
I know how forums work, and I know there are always the guys that reply RTFM to every noobs questions, as someone with technical skills in other areas I can generally tell the difference between someone who just doesn't want to bother doing the Due Diligence and someone who is struggling to sort through the myriad solutions to find the one that's right. I really don't want to brick this phone so any pointed advice would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1302423
I just did it with my old A4G. No issues exist in procedure.
Motorola Atrix KCC-MB860- rom
please anyone send me a link to download rom for this model (Motorola Atrix 4G KCC-MB860- rom)
manoj panay said:
please anyone send me a link to download rom for this model (Motorola Atrix 4G KCC-MB860- rom)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meanwhile you have ROMs all over the place here in the Atrix 4G section of xda that you are not going to go download, rather you are going to request a ROM for the phone instead. Head over to the development section and download a ROM instead of requesting the necessary resources that are already available to you.
Sent from my ATRIX HD using XDA Free mobile app
help me recover my phone
i downloaded and tried to flash with lots of rom.... non of them was working with this model .... please help me. . . . i was rooted and unlocked the boot loader and erased the original rom to flash the downloaded rom . . . know non of the rom in this site is working and in my phone only hardware is remaining, i mean it is not bricked , i can boot it and i can go to fastboot mode, android recovery mode, rsd mode,, atc.... actually i want suitable ram for that model so please......
my phone model: kcc-cmm-mot-w-mb860-0211 ( and all the remaining thing are written in Chinese ) it is a unlocked phone and am using in india . . .

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