Is it possible to unlock an "unknown serial" tablet?
I haven't used the TF201 in a while and decided to just unlock and get a custom ROM. Found that I couldn't (I've been serial unknown since day 1 and never bothered to RMA). Anyway, I discovered Ratchet and set my serial number but that hasn't helped. Left the tablet running for a couple of days on WiFi and OTA updates and the unlock tool both fail.
So right now I have it on 9.4.2.15 with root (since I don't think it's possible to get root on any later fw).
Do I have any options?
Will Asus RMA it free out of warranty?
I don't want to spend any money on this and I'd prefer not to lose root, but if I can't unlock, I guess I might just manually update to the latest version. Is there a way to downgrade later (again without root or unlock)?
bump, any update on the state of unlocking?
I'd really like to get unlocked so I can get on 4.2 and have multi-user support.
But it's not a huge deal, I'm not using the tablet very much anymore
Related
So I recently rma (WIFI Bluetooth issues\ screen) my prime i was on 9.4.2.11 then tried to ota update for but no luck to 9.4.2.15. Had to do it manually via microSD
This was all working before the rma just got it back 2 days ago don`t wanna rma again.
So anybody else get this message when using unlock tool
"An unknown error occurs, which maybe network connection issue please try again later"
I know void warranty.
Also already logged in google account.
Any help would be appreciated.
Probably just Asus servers maybe busy, acting up, or having maintenance done to it. Just try at a different time.
k9chan said:
So I recently rma (WIFI Bluetooth issues\ screen) my prime i was on 9.4.2.11 then tried to ota update for but no luck to 9.4.2.15. Had to do it manually via microSD
This was all working before the rma just got it back 2 days ago don`t wanna rma again.
So anybody else get this message when using unlock tool
"An unknown error occurs, which maybe network connection issue please try again later"
I know void warranty.
Also already logged in google account.
Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you have serial unknown problem (check under settings, about, status: make sure you have a serial number) if no sn google "asus prime ratchet tool"
as to the unlock tool: if your sure you have an sn, and still cannot unlock, try "vipermod's primetime 4.5" many who get this error say they just keep trying every now and again, then one day it just works. I have spent HOURS on the phone with asus tech support about this problem. they may be able to help you. but, they did not help me. they tell you to hard reset and manual update. if it still doesn't work they start trying to get you off the phone and ultimately refuse further assistance. good luck.
ps, if you get a real solution pm me, so i can try it.
yea already tried vipermod's primetime still no luck, I definetly have serial number but as I said before after rma i couldn't ota had to do manual update from .11 to .15 been trying to unlock ever 1hr or so still nothing but same message.
Same issue here, did you eventually unlocked it?
I had mine with unknown s/n, used ratchet tool and then RMA'ed it but still cannot unlock ... nor can get OTA :\
i have the same issue
I had the unknown serial issue. I tried to fix it with ratchet. After fix, I still get no OTA's nor will the unlocker tool work. I tried to RMA with Asus but they are telling me I will have to pay for it. Apparently, from what you guys say, and RMA won't even help.
I wish someone could modify the unlocker apk so it didn't need to communicate with Asus's servers.
This is ridiculous.
Frustrated.
Same here. I do have a serial number but the "tool" fails
every time.
Same here.
RMA'd mine and the Mainboard got replaced.
Since then I do not receive OTAs and cant unlock :-(
ASUS please do something!
Same for me.
Sent it to RMA because of that issue, though it was not resolved.
Latest reply from Asus:
"ich habe Ihre Anfrage an unser Entwicklungsteam in Taiwan weitergeleitet.
Sobald mir Nähere Informationen zu Ihrem Anliegen bekannt sind, werde ich Ihnen diese Umgehend zukommen lassen."
(I forwarded your inquiry to our Taiwanese development team, will keep you updated)
I got no response so far (1 week passed), seems to me that there's no easy fix to it.
Long story short:
My goal is to root this TF201 (latest kernel&4.1.1).
A few weeks ago I successfully RMA:ed my bootloader unlocked transformer and got it back soon with a replaced motherboard.
Now when I try unlocking it through the ASUS Bootloader Unlocker app V6 it tells me something like "An unknown error has occured" every time I try to run through the procedure.
From what I've read in other threads it, the unlocker app, uses the devices' serial number and matches it with the ASUS servers, so my guess is that since i have the same SN as before it think that i'm trying to unlock an unlocked device which is neither allowed nor supported.
So my question now for you, more experienced and qualified, guys is: am i completely boned, or is there any other way to unlock via other software, or simply what would you recommend?
To me this device isn't really worth keeping unless it's rootable
Hello,
I want to bring my dad's TF201 back to life. It's on stock but that's extremely slow & laggy so I want to flash a custom rom on it. The only problem is that the device is locked and de unlocking tool from ASUS does not work on my tablet.
It says that there is a unknown error and something with the connection. That could be a fault with the serial number but when I go to device info, the serial number is visible so that is not te problem I guess.
Is there a fix for it or is there another method to unlock the TF201?
EDIT: I succeeded to unlock my bootloader. After a lot of tryouts I got a popup to log in with my google account.
But that was my other problem, It was constantly saying that my password was invalid (2 step verification was disabled).
So I removed my google account from my tablet and after another try my tablet was unlocked.
Hello,
I got an old Galaxy SIII (GT-I9300, Dutch Version) for free. However it appears to be SIM-Locked. I cannot get an unlock code from the prior owner, so I'm looking for a workaround. I heard that you can unlock the phone manually in Android 4+ (at least with European carriers).
Unfortunately, I immediately installed LineageOS 14 over the stock OS and only found out afterwards that apparently (jira.lineageos.org/browse/BUGBASH-397) LOS cannot unlock the SIM they way the Stock Android can. Is this correct?
If I need to install an original OS image (I have a Dutch one at hand already that seems to match the phone), could you point me to directions on how to accomplish this? I use Linux, so the Odin tool for Window isn't available to me. Can I do this using adb, heimdall or something similar?
Thanks in advance!
Update
I managed to flash the old Android image using heimdall. However it appears I cannot use the *#197328640# method to get to the unlock menu; I get something like "Not registered on network", which is obviously true since I'm trying to SIM unlock the phone with a new SIM card (from my current phone). I also read that Android 4.3 might not support this manual unlocking anymore the way 4.1 did.
It's free phone for me, but I might have to accept that I cannot get it to work (for free).
Nvdata unlock doesn't work after 4.1.2 as it was patched. If you want sim unlock then you must pay for it. Downgrading will not help.
I bought a new LTE Galaxy Tab a few days ago (Hong Kong region) and after a couple of days days of using it, the S-Pen and screen started becoming completely unresponsive. I had configured some basic things on the Tablet, activated Developer Options and installed some apps, but I didn't have tine to get TWRP or root before it broke down. After taking it to Samsung and getting it back repaired 2 days later, they told me they had to replace the whole screen and also the pen. Somehow I had the feeling they simply gave me a new unit. Fine to me..
So today, getting myself ready to install TWRP and rooting it, to my disbelief, the OEM UNLOCKING option in Developer Options is gone! It was absolutely there before I took it to Samsung for repair. This means what? Did they exchange my original purchased tablet with one that actually has a locked bootloader? Or can I still install TWRP and root as before, or what exactly is this? Im pretty upset and confused.
Thanks a lot in advance for any insight on this
If it's the LTE version, it would have an IMEI number, no? Check the IMEI on the Tab with the one on the box, (assuming you didn't also give them the box) it will tell you if they've switched them.
I could be wrong, so you may want to wait for further confirmation, but if OEM unlock is not present, it should mean the bootloader is unlocked by default. Try flashing TWRP with Odin, if the bootloader is locked, it will just fail. Again, I'm no expert, just speaking from my experience, when I first flashed TWRP to my Tab S6, I forgot to unlock the bootloader, flash just failed with no negative effect.
bartleby999 said:
If it's the LTE version, it would have an IMEI number, no? Check the IMEI on the Tab with the one on the box, (assuming you didn't also give them the box) it will tell you if they've switched them.
I could be wrong, so you may want to wait for further confirmation, but if OEM unlock is not present, it should mean the bootloader is unlocked by default. Try flashing TWRP with Odin, if the bootloader is locked, it will just fail. Again, I'm no expert, just speaking from my experience, when I first flashed TWRP to my Tab S6, I forgot to unlock the bootloader, flash just failed with no negative effect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I try flashing it and failed. And I did give them box.. my bad I guess and of court I didn't write down the IMEI number somewhere before I handed them the package. How could I have known? I am almost sure they have me a whole new system even because the USB charging cable was wrapped again like when I first unboxed it. It looked 100% a new unit in the box, minus the detail safety seals that were already broken is there repair clerk handed me the new tablet. Plus, it they had simply swapped the stylist and replaced the screen, I would not see a reason for them to have completely reset the unit to the point of the default language being again Chinese instead of English (as all TGY variants are here by default) along with all the apps that I had installed, all of which were gone as well. there's positively no need to completely wipe out and reset the unit simply because they replaced the screen. Plus, locally thinking, being just a couple days old, I'm sure they didn't want to bother for possibly a long time repair turnaround for me and gave me a new one.
That the OEM UNLOCK toggle was there originally is a given because I was just about getting ready to Flash recovery and root it and had specially gone into Developer Options and toggled it along with the USB Debugging Switch. All Samsung phones and tablets in this region have unlocked bootloaders by the default. This is one of the reasons I keep coming back to Samsung because with other brands you either can't do it or it's a nightmare to get it done. Of course, good thing I did not Flashed recovery and root before the Tablet crapped on me because of course I would have voided the warranty. Also, now it's not like I can go back to Samsung and complain about the OEM UNLOCK issue because obviously no one is supposed to be rooting the devices or asking for help on the matter.
I'll do some more research on this and if I can unlock it.. hopefully. If not I will sell it and buy another one retail again. I'm super bummed.
Thanks again for the reply.