I just bought this phone and have been trying to unlock it for t-mobile and none of the ways I have found work I have tryed the windows unlocker tool from here it comes up with no cods and the same from the app from the market. i even purchased a cod from cellunlocker.net using the imei # and still no luck I dont want to exaust my tries fro the code if I cant get the unfreeze and unlock cod . So if anyone can help please.
This has been covered many times, but seeing as you already wasted money I'm feeling extra helpful.
Make sure your phone is rooted
Make sure you have Busybox on your phone
Go to the market and download Galaxy S Unlock
Run Galaxy S Unlock
Follow the instructions starting at Step #1 (your phone has no code stored on it)
Make sure you save your original EFS folder backup (sdcard/Galaxy_S_Unlock) in MULTIPLE places!
You should now be unlocked. On T-Mobile you will not receive 3G. You will only receive Edge.
Thank you so much! that made me feel dumb!!! LOL but thank you very much.
I tried to search for a thread to reference in my post and I realized just how hard it could be to find one. Maybe I can get a sticky made.....
I have another issue I dont know if I am doing something wrong but this seems to only work for me on the stock eclair 2.1 with GB bootloaders? When I flash anythig else like ICS or cyanogen 7 it dose not work? any ideas?
I don't believe this process works on anything past Gingerbread. But once it is unlocked, it will stay unlocked even if you flash to a new ROM.
I dont mean to be a bother. but can you tell me or give me a link to a Gingerbread Rom that will work? I'm not savy with this phone yet I'm comeing from the HTC HD2 and its alot harder than I thought to find a stable Rom for this phone that will work with this unlock method.
As far as a good ROM its to each his own. I highly recommend you try a few and see what fits you best. Each dev will tell you that they have the best and it turns into a big match of who has the best ROM which is why "the best ROM" threads are not allowed.
robm1911 said:
As far as a good ROM its to each his own. I highly recommend you try a few and see what fits you best. Each dev will tell you that they have the best and it turns into a big match of who has the best ROM which is why "the best ROM" threads are not allowed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree and I would say the same if someone was looking for the best Rom, but that would apply if I was in fact asking for the best Rom but that is not the case. I am simply looking for a rom other than the stock eclair that is stable and will most importantly work with this unlock, seeing I have t-mobile and am not going to switch to AT&T. I like my plan and this phone and simply need a Rom that will work with this unlock seeing any time I flash anything other than the stock eclair with GB bootloaders the unlock fails? I have been searching and it has been extremely hard to find one, So any info on that fact would be more helpful than the obvious facts, Thanks.
Related
1) Is it possible to brick while rooting? (my guess is if a file is corrupt or you type something incorrectly it would)
2)Possible while flashing?
3) Has anyone ever bricked their hero?
just use the auto rooter in fresh's kitchen, its basically two clicks and your done, and use the search functionhttp://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=606172
and to answer your question ive never seen it done but guess its possible
Haha, no no I already did all this jazz, I was just wondering
1. Not likely
2. Yes, but nandroid backup will save you.
3. Stay in the CDMA section, don't wander through te Hero section, and you should be ok.
Just don't get click happy
the only way that people seem to have bricked their heros is if they try to flash the Radio or a GSM ROM. just be sure that you download your rom from this section of the site, CDMA Hero
In fact, I'd recommend you start with FRESH 1.1, found at www.geekfor.me . it's what I use and it's great.
+1 for Fresh ROM 1.1 Also, flash gbhil's Gumbo Kernel to your phone. You'll notice a disgusting increase in speed (and less lag) from your phone.
ive never seen it done but I guess its possible. always do a nandroid ( saved my ass a few times)
and in theory if you **** up with a nandroid backup then you can even wipe to stock, correct?
I'll get back to you about bricking a Hero after I've finished trying some overclocking options in the kernel
@gbhil,
hahaha.
"OH MY GOD THIS IS LIGHTNING FAST"
"Wait, whats the sizziling sound?"
gbhil said:
I'll get back to you about bricking a Hero after I've finished trying some overclocking options in the kernel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
send me the good stuff I've got the black tie protection plan at best buy... if I do manage to brick most likely sprit will hook me up if not then best buy will
duplicate post, sorry.
1. As long as you study up on how to root the phone you will have no problems. Flip has a kitchen that you can download and it will root your phone automatically and decrease the odds of you messing up the process. Look for it in one of the stickies.
2. Installing ROMS for the CDMA Hero won't brick the phone. Just be sure to download the CDMA only ROMS as people have bricked their phones by downloading the GSM ROMS.
3. There have been a few people who have bricked their phones due to flashing the wrong ROM (GSM). If you download CDMA ROMs you won't have any problem.
Remember to do a Nandroid backup right after rooting your phone so you can always return to state if you have problems down the road, particulary associated with Beta ROMs if you chose to install them.
**Edit** LOL, I started the reply just after the thread started and stopped to make something to eat. Come back to send the reply and find it on page 2. lol
I have had my Touch Diamond for a while but have always been afraid to switch Roms. My battery life is awful and my phone seems really slow. So I have thought about switching Roms. I figure it will make my phone seem new to me again and maybe help with some of my issues.
A couple of questions:
How do I go about doing this the first time? What steps do I need to make sure I do so I don't brick my phone and will still have my contacts and all?
Which Rom would you recommend? I'm on Alltel, I don't know if that matters. I would like something that helps with battery life and performance and also will look cool.
Thanks for any help. I'm sure these are really generic questions, but I don't really know what I am doing with this the first time.
your concats will erase so make sure you get a buckup software to make sure you still have them
research
check out the wiki section http://wiki.xda-developers.com/ for starting info on how to flash a ROM.
There are certain things you need to know before flashing like if our phone is locked to a carrier.. you will also probably want to backup your contacts and other info, maybe even emails and txts, so you will need a backup application.
You will probably want to make not of your current phones ROM and radio settings as well.
Keep in mind that there is a risk, however small it may be, to flashing a ROM. Please read up on the steps thoroughly before jumping in for the best chance of success.
note, i am currently in the same boat as you, wanting to flash my first ROM, but am still in the process of educating myself on how it works.
I plan on putting together my own How-To written in complete noob-speak once i have successfully flashed my first....
regards\
d
dkehler said:
note, i am currently in the same boat as you, wanting to flash my first ROM, but am still in the process of educating myself on how it works.
I plan on putting together my own How-To written in complete noob-speak once i have successfully flashed my first....
regards\
d
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also new to this whole flashing thing.
Recently got bored of the look of my TD from Bell.... and stumbled across this site with so many cool looking ROMS but I have no idea how/where to start even after reading the guides.
Hopefully you have success with yours and teach me and the OP
Well, long story short, had it 2 days and hard bricked it. Here's the question though. Im getting a new one in an hour or two, and I'm looking for the absolute idiot proof version of rooting and getting a rom and kernel on the phone. I had a samsung moment, and I never had any issues with any of the flashing or anything on that. I have read probably 200 different post on rooting and 3e recoveries and roms and whatnot. Can someone suggest a decent set-up, maybe a 2.3 rom, and a recovery that works well together. I do not tether, and i dont really need to overclock it (maybe later). I just want to be able to have my phone run smooth, be able to install non market apps and have everything work well together...
thanks in advance!
There is nothing we can really say that hasn't been said already in those 200 other posts you mentioned.
make sure your computer / usb cable works properly first. then just follow the steps exactly described and you should be fine.
redneck.nerd said:
Well, long story short, had it 2 days and hard bricked it. Here's the question though. Im getting a new one in an hour or two, and I'm looking for the absolute idiot proof version of rooting and getting a rom and kernel on the phone. I had a samsung moment, and I never had any issues with any of the flashing or anything on that. I have read probably 200 different post on rooting and 3e recoveries and roms and whatnot. Can someone suggest a decent set-up, maybe a 2.3 rom, and a recovery that works well together. I do not tether, and i dont really need to overclock it (maybe later). I just want to be able to have my phone run smooth, be able to install non market apps and have everything work well together...
thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure it was a hard brick? This is somewhat of a "learn as you go" kind of thing. The devs on here post excellent instructions on what to do to get there Rom on your device. I would suggest MikeyMike's 2.3.3 JVB Rom or my personal choice of Cezar's Continuum 2.3.3 Rom with JVH Talon Kernel. These have a slight risk because of the "bootloaders" you will need to get on your phone, but I had no trouble and would do it again in a heart beat.
Take your time reading the instructions in the Rom you choice to go with, then read it again. Then go through the post to see what others had problems with, because 9 times out of 10, someone has posted the question multiple times.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, you will see others posts and get to know who actually helps, who is a douche and should be avoided. This is an excellent community of people who love to mess with things and have fun doing it.
I know I did not address the question with a tutorial on how to do this step by step...because it has been done
Best of luck, and if I can help...shoot me a message.
If all you want is a smooth running phone where everything works, flash Andromeda 3.0 on it and forget about JVB, CM7 or anything with bootloaders.
@ TigerEnigma: Yes im sure it was a hard brick. I've been modding android phones since donut and this was a definite brick. I was able to get into download mode one time, and after that nada. No recovery no, download, no boot of any sort. The guys at the "Shack" didnt even question my story so no big deal.
Thanks for all the help guys. This is the first phone I have had issues with. My last phone was the moment, which is probably one of the easiest phones to mod so going from that to this was a little bit of a shock. Im going to peruse the forum some more, before making any final decisions. i may try this stuff tonight so hopefully all goes well...
thanks again guys
Make a jig also. I made a jig that saved me and the guy i work with. Also if you are looking for a 2.3 rom then do go with a JVH build and not JVB.
I have an ATT Captivate which I managed to update from original Android 2.1 to 2.2 firmware, version I897UCJI6.
This was before ATT release their official 2.2 update.
I also managed to unlock the phone.
I have to admit I am totally ignorant of this stuff, and I was lucky enough not to brick my phone during those updates.
I am very unhappy with the battery life of my phone, and I read that the Gingerbread dramatically improves this aspect.
So, shall I upgrade to Gingerbread?
If yes, I am confused with the many sites which offer advice with how to do this, some contradicting with others. (One indicated to reverse back to 2.1 before upgrading to 2.3, other didn't say that, etc etc)
Should this upgrade be successfull, what happens to the lock/unlock status?
Do I need to unlock again?
Which is a trusted site?
Any advice?
Thank you for any help
UnLock stays after flashing.
As for a trusted site.... Ummm you found it. Xda...
Thank you
Will this upgrade really improve battery life?
If not I'll stay with 2.2
I got Max of 18 or so hours on froyo, I can go over 2 days now. Ymmv though.
Thanks again
I assume this would be the thread to follow, right ?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1233620
Which indicates the use of this file : I897UCKH3_noboot.tar.md5 (dated 8/24/2011, 305191 KB)
I did find another file somewhere, presumably doing the same thing - that file name is:
I897UCKH3_HOME.tar.md5 (dated 8/19/2011 298421 KB)
I stated before I am kind of ignorant, and easily confused with all those information.
Which one is the right file?
Am I on the right track?
If you going to use KH3 without bootloaders you need to flash This bootloaders first.
Is there a thread for novices, where all those terms are explained, or where the procedures to be followed are explained for somebody who who can follow indicated steps (without really knowing the meaning of all those terms) which could lead to 100% success?
I don't mind reading a little, but I don't have time to become an expert (and I'm sure many readers here are like me, looking for plain simple advice on how to upgrade their phones, without having the skills and knowledge to do it)
Reading those posts here can be sooo confusing...
Somebody recommends you to do this, somebody recommends you to do that, and the poor you have no clue what they're talking about...
Simple if you want Gingerbread you need new bootloaders (except Cyanogenmod and MIUI). Bootloaders are like the BIOS in your computer. If you mess up the bootloaders you can hardbrick your phone.
Got it
Next logical question would be WHY the person who indicated how to upgrade to Gingerbread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1233620) did not tell in his post that you need new bootloaders.
Or at least I do not see that in his post.
Which means that a novice like me can ruin his/her phone very easy..
No bootloader ODIN packages are made for people that already have the GB bootloaders. So you don't get a hard brick.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1232703
I believe this is what you want to use.
mirceani said:
Got it
Next logical question would be WHY the person who indicated how to upgrade to Gingerbread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1233620) did not tell in his post that you need new bootloaders.
Or at least I do not see that in his post.
Which means that a novice like me can ruin his/her phone very easy..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing a GB ROM without GB bootloaders won't ruin your phone. May cause a bootloop, but not a hard brick. Cezar is super picky about things being safe. If you had hit the link he had for tips and tricks, it says something about bootloaders.
After reading all related posts, I am still confused - pls help:
I understand that if I follow Cesar's link, I need bootloaders first.
If I follow Przekret's link, I do NOT need bootloadres first (they are included)
So how do I decide which route to follow ? In the end I get the same result, GB 2.3.4 - correct?
I am currently on Froyo, UCJI6, rooted and unlocked.
Do I loose my rooting (I understand that unlocking stays)
Again, which method should I use (Cesar or Przekret) ?
Thank you
If you need bootloaders, don't use Cezars.
As these are stock roms, you will lose root. But if you flash any custom ROM, it should be rooted.
No method is incorrect. I would flash Bootloaders firs because there seems to be less chance to hard brick (I've noticed sometimes ODIN doesn't flash one bootloader after another). Thats my personal experience, but like I said neither of the methods are incorrect, I just never used the one with bootloaders included since I already had them when KH3 came out, so I can't speak for that package myself.
How do I know if I need bootloaders or not?
Unless you bought that phone modded with the GB bootloaders you need them. No real way to know except flashing a GB rom like cezars package. If it works You didn't need them, If it din't work then you soft bricked your phone and you might need a jig to get in to Download mode again.
mrhaley30705 said:
If you need bootloaders, don't use Cezars.
As these are stock roms, you will lose root. But if you flash any custom ROM, it should be rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry for my ignorance, what is a "stock rom" and what is a "custom ROM" ?
prbassplayer said:
Unless you bought that phone modded with the GB bootloaders you need them. No real way to know except flashing a GB rom like cezars package. If it works You didn't need them, If it din't work then you soft bricked your phone and you might need a jig to get in to Download mode again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK
since I bought the phone from ATT a year ago, running 2.1, I would assume that I do NOT have them, so I do need them
mirceani said:
sorry for my ignorance, what is a "stock rom" and what is a "custom ROM" ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A stock rom is that package that Cezare and pretzel posted. A custom rom is Fusion V, Pinnacle, Fasty II, among many many other. All those are based on the stock KH3 that cezar and prertzel posted
Oh boy I really hope I am just too tired to look and info I've got so far is incorrect. My i337 Got stolen today and I managed to get Galaxy S 4 Active from ATT i537. I looked up only 1 thing before I did because only system I can use is CM11, I mean stock Samsung makes me uneasy if I am on it for more then 15 seconds. Sounds, UI, just feel and look, totally garbage. So now I see that bootloader is locked AND there is no solution to unlock it. Only then we can install some kind of Dual boot thing ? I really hope this is not true. Can I just get rid of everything Samsung and stock and get CM11 ? I don't want to waste space with stock as "not used" system.
Please let me know because like I said I had really bad day with two thugs stealing my phone, spend money on new one and now this. I just rooted it and was thinking like always I get Rom Manager and from there I install recovery ..... but phone is not listed .... I am freaking out a bit right about now. Please let me know if possible on where to start getting custom recovery cause ODIN + tar recovery files gave me magic error or something like that just now.
Thank you guys !
UPDATE: Couldn't sleep.
So I have my new phone rooted with "towel", I install Safestrap and backed up my current ROM (I am on NE3) I see now reason why this dual system needed and stuff. I mean too bad Samsung locking bootloaders and oh well. I have only 2 questions. 1 can I just install latest build from https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?device=jactivelte in to rom SLOT-1 and use it or no. And how much space I can allow for my current ROM and CM I mean I am not planning to have anything on stock so I don't need space at same time I cant make it that when I do want to go on stock I'd have a problem with running it because of not enough space.
Thank you guys once again. I mean If you know few lines ..that's all I am asking. Cause I do see some pros and cons but .. I need straight up answer. Thanks !
Your frustration is understand. Swearing or bad language is not excused in this forum for any reason. Moderate at least title or be prepared to get warning and/or thread locked down.
russiandivxclub said:
Oh boy I really hope I am just too tired to look and info I've got so far is incorrect. My i337 Got stolen today and I managed to get Galaxy S 4 Active from ATT i537. I looked up only 1 thing before I did because only system I can use is CM11, I mean stock Samsung makes me uneasy if I am on it for more then 15 seconds. Sounds, UI, just feel and look, totally garbage. So now I see that bootloader is locked AND there is no solution to unlock it. Only then we can install some kind of Dual boot thing ? I really hope this is not true. Can I just get rid of everything Samsung and stock and get CM11 ? I don't want to waste space with stock as "not used" system.
Please let me know because like I said I had really bad day with two thugs stealing my phone, spend money on new one and now this. I just rooted it and was thinking like always I get Rom Manager and from there I install recovery ..... but phone is not listed .... I am freaking out a bit right about now. Please let me know if possible on where to start getting custom recovery cause ODIN + tar recovery files gave me magic error or something like that just now.
Thank you guys !
UPDATE: Couldn't sleep.
So I have my new phone rooted with "towel", I install Safestrap and backed up my current ROM (I am on NE3) I see now reason why this dual system needed and stuff. I mean too bad Samsung locking bootloaders and oh well. I have only 2 questions. 1 can I just install latest build from https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?device=jactivelte in to rom SLOT-1 and use it or no. And how much space I can allow for my current ROM and CM I mean I am not planning to have anything on stock so I don't need space at same time I cant make it that when I do want to go on stock I'd have a problem with running it because of not enough space.
Thank you guys once again. I mean If you know few lines ..that's all I am asking. Cause I do see some pros and cons but .. I need straight up answer. Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot install CM. Since you have a locked bootloader, it is not possible to install any custom kernels, so ROMs that require a custom kernel (CM, AOSP, or any ROM based off those) will not work. Using SafeStrap you can flash TouchWiz-based ROMs since they can use you stock kernel.
Look in the AT&T S4 forums for ROMs that say they are compatible with SafeStrap, you should be able to use most of those. Since they are meant fir a different phone you'll have to flash the MasterPatch afterwards. A lot of people seen to like the Hyperdrive ROM.
O-T said:
Your frustration is understand. Swearing or bad language is not excused in this forum for any reason. Moderate at least title or be prepared to get warning and/or thread locked down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad you're 100% correct I see how to edit op but not tutle.
Devo7v said:
You cannot install CM. Since you have a locked bootloader, it is not possible to install any custom kernels, so ROMs that require a custom kernel (CM, AOSP, or any ROM based off those) will not work. Using SafeStrap you can flash TouchWiz-based ROMs since they can use you stock kernel.
Look in the AT&T S4 forums for ROMs that say they are compatible with SafeStrap, you should be able to use most of those. Since they are meant fir a different phone you'll have to flash the MasterPatch afterwards. A lot of people seen to like the Hyperdrive ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it. Thanks. I remember back in a day I've been using "theme" that allowed me to have Google stock feel u guess I need to look in this but for now I guess I'll just remove what I can and will suffer until Nexus 6 is in stock and I can afford it. Love that phone. Also I see 5.0 will be out for active next year so it's not that bad. Meanwhile should I do Ota update to latest stock firmware ?
russiandivxclub said:
Got it. Thanks. I remember back in a day I've been using "theme" that allowed me to have Google stock feel u guess I need to look in this but for now I guess I'll just remove what I can and will suffer until Nexus 6 is in stock and I can afford it. Love that phone. Also I see 5.0 will be out for active next year so it's not that bad. Meanwhile should I do Ota update to latest stock firmware ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want, you can still root the latest firmware so you have nothing to lose.