Ok, so yesterday my phone was unable to be rooted and unlocked for some unknown reasons. So, stupidly, I flashed the back to bone stock restore file realizing that it was a custom rom file and soft bricked my device. Luckily, with the help of google, I used root66 in which made my device able to boot up back to normal while rooted.
I then took the 2 OTA updates to get to Android 4.1.2 with the build VRAMC3 and now I know for a factho its completely stock according to odin mode. Im ready to unlock this device and get roms up.
Although, Im still scared at when I soft bricked my device. Im wondering if there is any sort of restore file that is compatible for VRAMC3 or if I can use root66 or a downgradeable pda file if I were to soft brick my device again somehow? If someone can link me to it, that would be appreciated.
Thanks.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2024207.
Read through this has everything u need
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
Wow, you have now created 3 different threads and posted in 2 different casual threads. Just stick to the most current casual thread and stop the unnecessary multiple threads. Use the current version of casual to unlock your phone. Don't worry, your phone isn't going to blow up from using it
AldenIsRad said:
Ok, so yesterday my phone was unable to be rooted and unlocked for some unknown reasons. So, stupidly, I flashed the back to bone stock restore file realizing that it was a custom rom file and soft bricked my device. Luckily, with the help of google, I used root66 in which made my device able to boot up back to normal while rooted.
I then took the 2 OTA updates to get to Android 4.1.2 with the build VRAMC3 and now I know for a factho its completely stock according to odin mode. Im ready to unlock this device and get roms up.
Although, Im still scared at when I soft bricked my device. Im wondering if there is any sort of restore file that is compatible for VRAMC3 or if I can use root66 or a downgradeable pda file if I were to soft brick my device again somehow? If someone can link me to it, that would be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In this case I would only use the alternate restore to return to stock if you have to. Then you can accept updates or not.
Ridin' a Note 2 blast
Related
OK so here is the story and I was debating if this is the right place to post but I do feel it is more on the developing side. I originally rooted and unlocked my bootloader following Casuals method and everything was just fine. I had an option to sell the phone in preparation for buying the GS4 so I used the return to stock method posted in the forums to return my device completely to stock. After doing so everything was also fine. I received an update to LL4 and that went OK straight from Verizon but last night when the VRAMC3 update was pushed to my phone it soft bricked it. It ultimately was stock on the splash screen stating Samsung Note 2. After trying to ODIN back to stock with multiple FAILS I was able to get it back to the Root66 MR Robinson by using the pit file but every time I try to update and or root/unlock bootloader it soft bricks again. I am assuming that the update that was pushed updated my bootloader and as of now I am stuck till there is a new bootloader Jailbreak. If not I would love some instruction on how to get my phone rooted with an unlocked bootloader or a flashable ODIN file that will at least get me to the latest VRAMC3 fully stock ROM. Thank you for the HELP.
want relocked BL running newest stock via odin flash without tripping flash counter
Edit; I never did manage to relock the bootloader. However, Verizon still accepted the device since it appeared close enough to stock. I used the alternative restore and triangle away to bring it 95 percent to stock. So I can safely say from my experience that if this is your problem you will probably be fine. It's been a few months and still no new charges on my bill for out of warranty device but YMMV
Shawnkanan said:
OK so here is the story and I was debating if this is the right place to post but I do feel it is more on the developing side. I originally rooted and unlocked my bootloader following Casuals method and everything was just fine. I had an option to sell the phone in preparation for buying the GS4 so I used the return to stock method posted in the forums to return my device completely to stock. After doing so everything was also fine. I received an update to LL4 and that went OK straight from Verizon but last night when the VRAMC3 update was pushed to my phone it soft bricked it. It ultimately was stock on the splash screen stating Samsung Note 2. After trying to ODIN back to stock with multiple FAILS I was able to get it back to the Root66 MR Robinson by using the pit file but every time I try to update and or root/unlock bootloader it soft bricks again. I am assuming that the update that was pushed updated my bootloader and as of now I am stuck till there is a new bootloader Jailbreak. If not I would love some instruction on how to get my phone rooted with an unlocked bootloader or a flashable ODIN file that will at least get me to the latest VRAMC3 fully stock ROM. Thank you for the HELP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in a similar situation. I am sending the device back for warranty service since the screen must have burnt out or something. The digitizer catches a touch but there is no light emanating from the screen and since the device was purchased March 28th it is completely under warranty. As it is obvious the root modifications did not cause the screen issue, I do not wish to get a new device via insurance claim and so I am getting another sent.
but my issue is after managing to run triangle away via screencast/adb, how the hell does one relock the device if it's been upgraded to vramc3? from what I have searched, and trust me I have been searching the past two days, which led me here and a few other threads btw, it appears that once the device is on vramc3 it cannot odin back to anything else or it will fail on sboot.bin. And I am not finding any stock odin packages for vramc3, so how the hell does a person take this bad boy back to stock and relock the bootloader for sending to vzw for service? not only that but I can no longer activate recovery since I wouldnt have access to screencast and there is absolutely no way I am sending this device back with even the most minute amount of data in tact so it can be sold to the highest bidder or handed over via an illegal court order for mass search and seizure. anybody have experience with this? i am at the point where i think the only thing I can do is flash the alternate restore for vral but wouldnt that trip my flash counter, and then when they check the device it would probably OTA and softbrick, which I do not want them to have to deal with.
OK so here is the story and I was debating if this is the right place to post but I do feel it is more on the developing side. I originally rooted and unlocked my bootloader following Casuals method and everything was just fine. I had an option to sell the phone in preparation for buying the GS4 so I used the return to stock method posted in the forums to return my device completely to stock. After doing so everything was also fine. I received an update to LL4 and that went OK straight from Verizon but last night when the VRAMC3 update was pushed to my phone it soft bricked it. It ultimately was stock on the splash screen stating Samsung Note 2. After trying to ODIN back to stock with multiple FAILS I was able to get it back to the Root66 MR Robinson by using the pit file but every time I try to update and or root/unlock bootloader it soft bricks again. I am assuming that the update that was pushed updated my bootloader and as of now I am stuck till there is a new bootloader Jailbreak. If not I would love some instruction on how to get my phone rooted with an unlocked bootloader or a flashable ODIN file that will at least get me to the latest VRAMC3 fully stock ROM. Thank you for the HELP.
Next time read the stickies...when they say NOT to accept OTA updates, usually there is some meaning behind it.
Shawnkanan said:
OK so here is the story and I was debating if this is the right place to post but I do feel it is more on the developing side. I originally rooted and unlocked my bootloader following Casuals method and everything was just fine. I had an option to sell the phone in preparation for buying the GS4 so I used the return to stock method posted in the forums to return my device completely to stock. After doing so everything was also fine. I received an update to LL4 and that went OK straight from Verizon but last night when the VRAMC3 update was pushed to my phone it soft bricked it. It ultimately was stock on the splash screen stating Samsung Note 2. After trying to ODIN back to stock with multiple FAILS I was able to get it back to the Root66 MR Robinson by using the pit file but every time I try to update and or root/unlock bootloader it soft bricks again. I am assuming that the update that was pushed updated my bootloader and as of now I am stuck till there is a new bootloader Jailbreak. If not I would love some instruction on how to get my phone rooted with an unlocked bootloader or a flashable ODIN file that will at least get me to the latest VRAMC3 fully stock ROM. Thank you for the HELP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem. Flash the pit file with odin and wait for the phone to turn on. the problem is fixed to get the phone working. Then you can flash other stuff.
Thank you for the replies even though one was not helpful at all. I have flashed the root66 file with the pit and it does work but if I try to run the casual jailbreak or flash any other odin files it fails. My assumption is my bootloader got updated and has locked me out and I will just have to wait for a new boot loader exploit. Thanks
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
droidstyle said:
Next time read the stickies...when they say NOT to accept OTA updates, usually there is some meaning behind it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is best advice u can get to avoid unwanted situations
XT912 CDMA
1droidmod said:
Is best advice u can get to avoid unwanted situations
XT912 CDMA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I can give more, but I get tired of repeating myself all the time...especially when its posted in every section of this sub forum.
Read Read, Search Search... U will figure it out..
XT912 CDMA Pac Man 4.2.2
1droidmod said:
Read Read, Search Search... U will figure it out..
XT912 CDMA Pac Man 4.2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a sticky or something definitive on the subject of rooted (via Casual) Verizon Note 2 users getting the OTA update and retaining root? I'm currently VRALL4, rooted via Casual, with SDM frozen to avoid the OTA update. But I'd rather not stay in this state indefinitely.
madtowner11 said:
Is there a sticky or something definitive on the subject of rooted (via Casual) Verizon Note 2 users getting the OTA update and retaining root? I'm currently VRALL4, rooted via Casual, with SDM frozen to avoid the OTA update. But I'd rather not stay in this state indefinitely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you are rooted via Casual there is no such thing as accepting Verizon's OTA if you want your phone to keep working. (This info can be found in 1 or 2 basic searches, which everyone should do first.)
If you want to get the 4.1.2 features there are 3 options that I know of: 1) flash a zip of the 4.1.2 update, 2) flash a full 4.1.2 stock rom, or 3) flash a custom rom that has 4.1.2 features in it. You can find all 3 options in the Original Development section of xda. Imnuts has implemented #1 but read the forum on the ins and outs. Beanstown106 has created #2. And Beanstown106's latest Jellybeans 16 is a custom rom that incorporates 4.1.2.
So before I go off with no knowledge and restoring back to stock, I feel afraid. I believe I may have rooted the deodex 4.3 rom (the first one to come out based on the ota for verizon). Note: I did not flash the firmware package in odin. But I did plash a .zop with MJ9 params required for the rom to have working mobile data.
How I got a soft brick was I was nandroid restoring back to when I first unlocked it but my restore failed for some reason. So I restored my nandroid back up of jedi rom (this was in 4.1.2) and it complted however the logo would only stay on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 logo screen forever. Would never move from there. I am able to access download mode and recovery (TWRP) mode.
I am thinking of restoring back to stock 4.1.2 VRAMC3 baseband version since I unlocked my bootloader on that OTA and since been using custom roms. However, I believe that the 4.3 rom and flashes I've done may interfere and possibly cause worse damage.
I am a bit paranoid right now.
Can someone please lead me in the right direction. Thank you XDA!
AldenIsRad said:
So before I go off with no knowledge and restoring back to stock, I feel afraid. I believe I may have rooted the deodex 4.3 rom (the first one to come out based on the ota for verizon). Note: I did not flash the firmware package in odin. But I did plash a .zop with MJ9 params required for the rom to have working mobile data.
How I got a soft brick was I was nandroid restoring back to when I first unlocked it but my restore failed for some reason. So I restored my nandroid back up of jedi rom (this was in 4.1.2) and it complted however the logo would only stay on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 logo screen forever. Would never move from there. I am able to access download mode and recovery (TWRP) mode.
I am thinking of restoring back to stock 4.1.2 VRAMC3 baseband version since I unlocked my bootloader on that OTA and since been using custom roms. However, I believe that the 4.3 rom and flashes I've done may interfere and possibly cause worse damage.
I am a bit paranoid right now.
Can someone please lead me in the right direction. Thank you XDA!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't be paranoid or afraid.. You'll be ok..
Ok did you flash MJ9 Deodex ROM? If so thats when you bootlooped? Just trying to see where you are now... If you have MJ9 deodex on your sdcard reflash it.. Does it boot? Let me know.
Also the MJ9 firmware package with params and tz is for you to have working Wifi not mobile data..Just to clear things up
Report back..Ill be on all morning
lacoursiere18 said:
Don't be paranoid or afraid.. You'll be ok..
Ok did you flash MJ9 Deodex ROM? If so thats when you bootlooped? Just trying to see where you are now... If you have MJ9 deodex on your sdcard reflash it.. Does it boot? Let me know.
Also the MJ9 firmware package with params and tz is for you to have working Wifi not mobile data..Just to clear things up
Report back..Ill be on all morning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, I'd like to thank you for offering to help me.
Onto the question, when I flashed the mj9 deodex rom, it worked and booted normally. However, I did not flash the Odin firmware package to get wifi working. Yesterday I was trying to nandroid backup to my Jedi x backup and the restore works but I boot loop. I then try to restore my nandroid backup from when I first unlocked and rooted and I get same results.
Basically the only rom that has booted was the mj9 deodex rom. However it is not on my sd cardare to be reflashed. So I'm relying on unrooting / restoring back to stock. But which version do I need to restore back to.
Bump. Still need help with this. I know lacoursiere18 is helping me and has no response possible due to timezones and such and im willing to wait hoping he responds tomorrow but any help is appreciated!
As long as you never took an OTA for 4.3 or higher... and didn't flash anything that is "stock" above build 4.1.2, then you should be able to restore back to stock 4.1.2 VRAMC3 and reroot/ unlock your bootloader. Droidstyle has written a great guide to help with this. You can find the guide here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=34891181
Under section 1b in Droidstyle's guide... you would need to choose the download link for the "Official VRAMC3 4.1.2 5/5/13" stock restore image, along with the 16gb pit file to restore the phone to full stock.... and follow Droidstyle's steps to Odin flash those 2 files back to the device.
After you restore to stock... then you can use Adam Outler's Casual program to reroot and unlock the bootloader on VRAMC3. Adam's guide is here-- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2272066
The version of Casual that worked for me was R515.... just make sure you totally disable all virus scanning on your computer before running it.. including Windows Defender...
Good luck!
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
mattnmag said:
As long as you never took an OTA for 4.3 or higher... and didn't flash anything that is "stock" above build 4.1.2, then you should be able to restore back to stock 4.1.2 VRAMC3 and reroot/ unlock your bootloader. Droidstyle has written a great guide to help with this. You can find the guide here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=34891181
Under section 1b in Droidstyle's guide... you would need to choose the download link for the "Official VRAMC3 4.1.2 5/5/13" stock restore image, along with the 16gb pit file to restore the phone to full stock.... and follow Droidstyle's steps to Odin flash those 2 files back to the device.
After you restore to stock... then you can use Adam Outler's Casual program to reroot and unlock the bootloader on VRAMC3. Adam's guide is here-- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2272066
The version of Casual that worked for me was R515.... just make sure you totally disable all virus scanning on your computer before running it.. including Windows Defender...
Good luck!
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks for the response. I have one mroe precaution,
I flashed the rom (the link to the right) : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2561450
I believe it is "based" on stock but not actually stock. I'm not actually sure and hoping you can confirm. Thanks
AldenIsRad said:
Hey thanks for the response. I have one mroe precaution,
I flashed the rom (the link to the right) : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2561450
I believe it is "based" on stock but not actually stock. I'm not actually sure and hoping you can confirm. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right. The link you reference is not a totally stock version of android 4.3 MJ9... Beanstown106 created that "modified stock 4.3" version for people with unlocked bootloaders. So as long as you never actually installed an unmodified totally stock version of android 4.3 MJ9 ( or any higher full stock build above build version 4.1.2), then you should be able to restore back to full stock VRAMC3/4.1.2 using Droidstyle's guide. If you decide to take the risk to restore back to stock 4.1.2 and reroot with CASUAL...then I hope it works out for you. I know it can be a little scary, but as you know, there is always some risk that we take when we start modifying our phones. For me, the risk has paid off well so far. Good luck.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile
Delete... Accidentally double posted when intended to edit
Hi guys,
I am trying to help someone get their phone back to stock. It's a verizon galaxy note 2 and all the information I have is that they tried to root or rom it and now it doesn't start (and to get it to boot you have to remove/put in the battery)
I'm following droidstyle's guide and I can get as far as starting the odin flash process to stock, but it goes for a few minutes and then I just get a FAIL.
UPDATE1: So I tried again but with the root66 stock VRALJB and it passed but I'm getting the system software not authorized message. I'll keep trying some things..
Anyway I can get this thing up and running again?
UPDATE2: I'm flashing the stock roms semi-successfully, but even after a PASS on the flash, I get the "Verizon has detected unauthorized software" message. Any ideas?
Bascotie said:
Hi guys,
I am trying to help someone get their phone back to stock. It's a verizon galaxy note 2 and all the information I have is that they tried to root or rom it and now it doesn't start (and to get it to boot you have to remove/put in the battery)
I'm following droidstyle's guide and I can get as far as starting the odin flash process to stock, but it goes for a few minutes and then I just get a FAIL.
UPDATE1: So I tried again but with the root66 stock VRALJB and it passed but I'm getting the system software not authorized message. I'll keep trying some things..
Anyway I can get this thing up and running again?
UPDATE2: I'm flashing the stock roms semi-successfully, but even after a PASS on the flash, I get the "Verizon has detected unauthorized software" message. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version of stock firmware was on the phone when the person tried to root it? If it was mj9 4.3 or above you will have to flash the version that was installed through Odin to get it to work. The bootloader starting in mj9 4.3 doesn't allow to downgrade to previous version.
BluGuy said:
What version of stock firmware was on the phone when the person tried to root it? If it was mj9 4.3 or above you will have to flash the version that was installed through Odin to get it to work. The bootloader starting in mj9 4.3 doesn't allow to downgrade to previous version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good question. He doesn't really know as he was even newer to this than I am (I've done it on a couple phones in the past only a few times, so I do kinda have the hang of it, but this phone's a bit different).
Can I just try flashing 4.3 or above and see if that works? What would be the way to go if I don't know what was flashed previously?
Always getting either "Not authorized by Verizon" or "Upgrade encountered an issue"
Hey guys, hoping someone can help me out with what appears to be a soft brick on my phone.
Background
Bought phone in January 2013, immediately rooted and installed custom recovery. Phone stayed this way until yesterday, when I restored with ODIN and then installed all OTA's to prepare for a replacement under a Best Buy service plan, expecting it to work like it used to where I go into the store and drop off the phone, then a new one is sent to the store. I then installed all OTA's up to 4.4.2 (I think that one is ND7 but not sure as I was using AOSP-based ROMS while rooted). The ODIN restore brought me back to saying the firmware was all official.
Currently
Replacement process changed and I am stuck with this phone for another week while a replacement gets mailed to my home, so I decided to play around with ODIN to restore to MJ9 since most root methods seemed to work for MJ9, but I accidentally chose the LJB image that I had downloaded yesterday for the PDA in ODIN. When running this, it failed on sboot.bin.
I restarted the phone and it said "Firmware Upgrade encountered an issue" and tells me to connect it to Kies, which I tried, but for some reason Kies just runs on Connecting to Device and won't do anything else. I didn't spend a whole lot of time on that though, as it also changed the "System Status" to Custom while leaving Current Binary as Official, and from what I read Kies will refuse to do a recovery if anything is Custom.
I tried to install MJ9 through ODIN and it also fails at sboot.bin, resulting in the same message as above. I downloaded the alternate MC3 from this thread and it ran through ODIN fine since it does not have an sboot.bin, but it gives the error about the firmware not being authorized by Verizon and changes both Current Binary and System Status to Custom (I think MJ9 was the first locked bootloader, so I would assume that is why, but I don't know for sure). There was no alternate for MJ9 so I tried to make my own by extracting, removing sboot.bin, and then putting the rest of the files in a new tar file, but ODIN won't run it and gives an error about the MD5 not matching.
At this point the phone working is not so much of an issue since I already have a replacement on the way to my house, but I would prefer to fix this so a) I have a phone for the next few days, and b) so I don't have to go short something inside on purpose to hard-brick it and prevent them from refusing my replacement claim.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Michael
Once you updated the phone to factory stock 4.4.2, you permanently locked the bootloader and you can't downgrade to any other pre 4.4.2 ND7 firmwares. The easiest thing to do now would be to use Odin to restore the device back to to factory 4.4.2 stock firmware. There is GhettoRoot for 4.4.2 if you're wanting to root the device again on 4.4.2... and people are reporting that safestrap works as well for flashing 4.4.2 touchwiz roms. Good luck!
Ahh, I wasn't aware that ND7 couldn't be downgraded at all; I thought anything past MJ9 would work since that was when the bootloader became locked. I don't see any ND7 ODIN images available anywhere and Kies won't allow me to restore the device. Is there another method I should be using to restore? My wife has an i605 on 4.1.1 right now (same background as mine, just not bricked and no OTAs downloaded); if we updated until ND7 was downloaded but not installed, would I be able to pull the OTA from hers and flash in ODIN, or are they not ODIN-compatible?
opalelement said:
Ahh, I wasn't aware that ND7 couldn't be downgraded at all; I thought anything past MJ9 would work since that was when the bootloader became locked. I don't see any ND7 ODIN images available anywhere and Kies won't allow me to restore the device. Is there another method I should be using to restore? My wife has an i605 on 4.1.1 right now (same background as mine, just not bricked and no OTAs downloaded); if we updated until ND7 was downloaded but not installed, would I be able to pull the OTA from hers and flash in ODIN, or are they not ODIN-compatible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a link to the Verizon stock 4.4.2 firmware from Sammobile. You'll have to register, but the download should be free. You should be able to use Odin to restore the device with this firmware file and the pit file from Droidstyle's restore guide. If Odin 3.07 doesn't work, try Odin 3.09 from Sammobile... or try Odin 3.10, which I've been using lately with no problems.
Thanks for that link, I was able to download and restore my phone with the ND7 download. I wasn't aware that SamMobile keeps a firmware database, so I also appreciate that piece of info.
Thanks,
Michael