Running the phone after Factory Data Reset Without Verizon SIM, How ? - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III

Hello guys,
After loosing my HTC ONE X on the street a week ago, I bought from some guy an almost brand new GALAXY S3 without knowing it is a VERIZON version.
I live in Israel so i had no idea what is the meaning of buying a device that will work only on Verizon network, we only have GSM here.
The guy i bought it from also had no idea what it means as his father bought it on the US and brought it here wishing to sell it as he had no use in it.
Without realizing the mistake I've made, I then made another one, Taking out the VERIZON SIM CARD and giving it back to the owner!
I thought to myself... well... that's his SIM CARD, not gonna be using that one...
Well, i got home to find out i'm in trouble with this deal I've made, i searched for a way to unlock it for GSM networks and i saw that here in XDA someone made it possible.
As i started working on it i had to download from Google play an application, when i was asked to pay for it i saw it's running on the old owners google account, so i decided i don't wanna pay with my credit while he might get the receipt for it and i figured i should do a Factory Data Reset for the phone and start from point zero the whole process.
Sadly i had no idea i'm doing another big mistake because when the phone finished the reset it asked for a VERIZON SIM CARD in order to run, well you know where that SIM Card is - back at the previous owner and i'm not even sure i will be able to track him down again.
I wish to get this device working without any traces of Verizon, maybe beside the name on the back panel of the device.
Now that the device won't even run without the SIM, what should i do ?
Thanks in advance,
Ohad.

ohadgfn said:
Hello guys,
After loosing my HTC ONE X on the street a week ago, I bought from some guy an almost brand new GALAXY S3 without knowing it is a VERIZON version.
I live in Israel so i had no idea what is the meaning of buying a device that will work only on Verizon network, we only have GSM here.
The guy i bought it from also had no idea what it means as his father bought it on the US and brought it here wishing to sell it as he had no use in it.
Without realizing the mistake I've made, I then made another one, Taking out the VERIZON SIM CARD and giving it back to the owner!
I thought to myself... well... that's his SIM CARD, not gonna be using that one...
Well, i got home to find out i'm in trouble with this deal I've made, i searched for a way to unlock it for GSM networks and i saw that here in XDA someone made it possible.
As i started working on it i had to download from Google play an application, when i was asked to pay for it i saw it's running on the old owners google account, so i decided i don't wanna pay with my credit while he might get the receipt for it and i figured i should do a Factory Data Reset for the phone and start from point zero the whole process.
Sadly i had no idea i'm doing another big mistake because when the phone finished the reset it asked for a VERIZON SIM CARD in order to run, well you know where that SIM Card is - back at the previous owner and i'm not even sure i will be able to track him down again.
I wish to get this device working without any traces of Verizon, maybe beside the name on the back panel of the device.
Now that the device won't even run without the SIM, what should i do ?
Thanks in advance,
Ohad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In setup when you are on language screen press left corner/right corner/left corner/right corner/volume up. Should boot to home screen.

prdog1 said:
In setup when you are on language screen press left corner/right corner/left corner/right corner/volume up. Should boot to home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks but i was able to track down the previous owner and get the verizon sim card.
I found away to use it on GSM but still im very disappointed because im not sure there´s a real way to remove any trace for the verizon stuff installed here and there are few errors like it is connected to the provider but it says no verizon sim card connected.
and im not so sure all the device's frequencies are "open" for my provider.
I was wondering if there's any option to burn an international galaxy version to the device and it will bypass all of these issues.

ohadgfn said:
Thanks but i was able to track down the previous owner and get the verizon sim card.
I found away to use it on GSM but still im very disappointed because im not sure there´s a real way to remove any trace for the verizon stuff installed here and there are few errors like it is connected to the provider but it says no verizon sim card connected.
and im not so sure all the device's frequencies are "open" for my provider.
I was wondering if there's any option to burn an international galaxy version to the device and it will bypass all of these issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not unless you want paperwieght for a device.

Why don't you just flash CM10 or similar to get rid of all the VZW stuff.... that's what I did.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

droidstyle said:
not unless you want paperwieght for a device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would that happen ? There's no option to do something like that what so ever ?
Beemer533 said:
Why don't you just flash CM10 or similar to get rid of all the VZW stuff.... that's what I did.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure how to do so, but either way i'm not sure i will get the device working completely normally with my local SIM card on a gsm network, without bugs, without asking me to put a verizon sim card all the time, without having any option to update the device...
I dunno, i thought i could easily get this Galaxy version to become unlocked completely and get it running like all the other guys around...
Unless anybody here have a good recommendation about what should i do to overcome the verizon and networks issues, maybe i should just sell this guy on ebay and get a normal version...
Do you think this would be a smart move to do ?
Beemer - after you flash the CM10, do you still need to unlock the device and do you still get issues running on other than Verizon providers or do you enjoy a device that is similar to the worldwide versions ?
Thanks,
Ohad.

If you flash an international ROM on a Verizon S3, your phone will no longer power on or do anything useful. That's why it will become a paperweight. Flashing an international ROM on your Verizon S3 is one of the easiest ways to make it useless.

International=quad-core us=s4 processor, very different guts.I'd listen to the ppl on this forum, unless you want to end up with a paper weight.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

ohadgfn said:
Why would that happen ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it will put your phone into qpst diag mode and the only way to recover it will be with jtag. try it if you dont believe...what do i know.

droidstyle said:
it will put your phone into qpst diag mode and the only way to recover it will be with jtag. try it if you dont believe...what do i know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
alright then... i won´t go for it.
but what about the other issues ? what do you guys recommend to do with the device ?
I'm thinking "get rid of it or get it working smoothly", the question is, is it possible to have it running "just like the unlocked international version" ?

prdog1 said:
In setup when you are on language screen press left corner/right corner/left corner/right corner/volume up. Should boot to home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This just works on stock rom??? Whats happened in cm10 or aokp?? How to avoid activating screen?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Premium HD app

tiraceite said:
This just works on stock rom??? Whats happened in cm10 or aokp?? How to avoid activating screen?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Know it works on Touchwiz roms. It may not be in AOSP based roms.

Well, i flashed CM10 successfully, i was able to receive and send SMS before with the Stock ROM, and also to make/receive phone calls but i had sim card issues and errors and also some unwanted Verizon apps and stuff.
After updating the device to the latest Verizon version, i couldn't make phone calls, just receive and i could send and receive SMS.
Now that device runs much faster on the CM10 and i can make/receive phone calls but i can't send SMS.
*UPDATE: I have updated to the latest CM10 version, now i can't connect to the provider at all... no internet/phone/sms at all.
SOS

Ok, Im going to try a different tactic, i saw some people tried flashing At&t Roms on their verizon devices and they done it with success.
So far i tried doing it twice, one time with CM10 ROM for at&t, the 2nd time with stock at&t ROM.
I've tried doing it through CWM.
Both times i got an error while installing... it just didn't move on.
Luckly i had the CM10 for the verizon Zip file over there aswell so i installed that ROM again just to get the device running.
Any ideas how to flash the AT&T ROM on the Verizon Device ???

Related

[Q] Sim driver?

So i tried rooting my phone using debloated_deodexed_ep4d.tar.md5.
I took out the sim card during the process, even have a friends charge to test something from doing this before. I found out that some how after the flash the phones sim card slot stops working ive tried many other roms and modems to try getting it to work is anyone able to tell me why it would stop working does anyone have the working piece i need to get it to work again?
If you tried other roms, with the same result, then you need to get your phone exchanged.it isn't a dover issue if it happens with all roms.
xfallenxcripplex said:
So i tried rooting my phone using debloated_deodexed_ep4d.tar.md5.
I took out the sim card during the process, even have a friends charge to test something from doing this before. I found out that some how after the flash the phones sim card slot stops working ive tried many other roms and modems to try getting it to work is anyone able to tell me why it would stop working does anyone have the working piece i need to get it to work again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call verizon and get to second level of technical support. They can send something to your sim that displays "updating sim" on your screen.Not saying this will fix your issue but it worked for me on a similar situation. first thing tech guy asked was "you have 4g phone?" Than he sent the info.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
i rooted my phone as soon as the first debloated rooted+voodoo came out and that installed fine but i liked having some of the features they got rid of and was a little buggy and ive tried two different debloated rooted roms they might be different but they seem to look the same and i cant do the sim update because i live in alaska where they have no "verizon" towers just leased towers or whatever from another cell leader in our area but suck for cell phone choices and only recently became price comparative. well i was hoping id get a programmer or someone that could help or someone who has an exact copy but i lost my job so i had to turn off my phone anyways better to stay local anyways. i just put my service on pause still have the unlimited package why i wanted to get root back on my phone

No 4G

so I'm loving the new phone been flashing all the roms thought i messed up my IMEI but I'm good cause its back and looks normal. But ever since I flashed CM9 and did a battery pull during activation (I know I know) I no longer get 4G on my phone. when i switch it manually to 4G with Phone Info I can get data and go on web, but when I go to make calls it says I can not because no coverage.
I called VZW today, and got my up to 2ed teir, and they said that this is known issue with the SG3 and there are many complaints, and they are working with Samsung to correct this and said a software update will be coming out to fix this.. has any one else experienced this? I'm thinking I need a new sim?
has anyone been able to fix this, I looked at my radio and its not the most recent version... could this be causing the issue
i got best buy to replace my gs3 because of no 4g, i still was within my 30 day return period though... pretty sure i could of used phone info to fix it back to 4g, i didn't try because i wanted a new gs3, never had any issued connecting to 4g with new gs3, exept when i play around with cm10 or other jelly bean roms
I lost my 4G connection last night and most of today, ended up flashing a stock rom (then lost all data connection) drove all the way to the verizon store to get a new sim card, put the phone into airplane mode and when it came out of that i had full connection again. Not sure what caused it.
tprouty said:
so I'm loving the new phone been flashing all the roms thought i messed up my IMEI but I'm good cause its back and looks normal. But ever since I flashed CM9 and did a battery pull during activation (I know I know) I no longer get 4G on my phone. when i switch it manually to 4G with Phone Info I can get data and go on web, but when I go to make calls it says I can not because no coverage.
I called VZW today, and got my up to 2ed teir, and they said that this is known issue with the SG3 and there are many complaints, and they are working with Samsung to correct this and said a software update will be coming out to fix this.. has any one else experienced this? I'm thinking I need a new sim?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have 2 Galaxy S3 and they both did the same thing when I switched the sim cards, I cannot get back to 4G
and I AM NOT EVEN ROOTED, thats sad very sad
I had a similar issue when using a third party 3g toggle in Quicker. Ever since then no data or vice capabilities.
sorry - did not know anyone was posting here, I started posting in the one in Q&A... There are too many 4G threads!
I fixed mine by getting a new sim card.
tprouty said:
sorry - did not know anyone was posting here, I started posting in the one in Q&A... There are too many 4G threads!
I fixed mine by getting a new sim card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not experiencing no 4g, but I am experiencing a horrible connection.... This is my second gs3. My first one did not experience these connection issues, and I'm pretty sure I'm using the same sim card (I exchanged it at the store and wasn't paying attention when they were setting it up...).
Maybe I have another faulty device?
Kreeker said:
I'm not experiencing no 4g, but I am experiencing a horrible connection.... This is my second gs3. My first one did not experience these connection issues, and I'm pretty sure I'm using the same sim card (I exchanged it at the store and wasn't paying attention when they were setting it up...).
Maybe I have another faulty device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would start with a new sim, just walk into a store and say you are having connection issues and vzw said to get a new sim
No 4G fix - you've punked you SIM card!
tprouty said:
so I'm loving the new phone been flashing all the roms thought i messed up my IMEI but I'm good cause its back and looks normal. But ever since I flashed CM9 and did a battery pull during activation (I know I know) I no longer get 4G on my phone. when i switch it manually to 4G with Phone Info I can get data and go on web, but when I go to make calls it says I can not because no coverage.
I called VZW today, and got my up to 2ed teir, and they said that this is known issue with the SG3 and there are many complaints, and they are working with Samsung to correct this and said a software update will be coming out to fix this.. has any one else experienced this? I'm thinking I need a new sim?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
onpoint10101 said:
i got best buy to replace my gs3 because of no 4g, i still was within my 30 day return period though... pretty sure i could of used phone info to fix it back to 4g, i didn't try because i wanted a new gs3, never had any issued connecting to 4g with new gs3, exept when i play around with cm10 or other jelly bean roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tprouty said:
sorry - did not know anyone was posting here, I started posting in the one in Q&A... There are too many 4G threads!
I fixed mine by getting a new sim card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy fix (just copied from a post elsewhere): save everything you have open, pop up your dialer, and type *2767*3855# - which resets (it says "Reformat" on an ugly red screen that flashes by in a heartbeat, just go with it) your SIM card and therefore your 4G capabilities. It will immediately reboot and - "tada", you have 4G service again.
ratledge said:
Easy fix (just copied from a post elsewhere): save everything you have open, pop up your dialer, and type *2767*3855# - which resets (it says "Reformat" on an ugly red screen that flashes by in a heartbeat, just go with it) your SIM card and therefore your 4G capabilities. It will immediately reboot and - "tada", you have 4G service again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
copied form the IMEI backup thread right? I did this and it did not work for me, the only thing that worked was getting a new SIM.
Just trying to help narrow down why people are getting this. Just posted this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=30913011#post30913011
In the other "No 4G" thread. Anyone who loose their 4G use lucky patcher and TiBu?

Getting Cell Service with NO SIM! And some other guys number ! Help

I just bought a phone the guy who made no mention of the fact that it was rooted when I bought it. What is worse is he mentioned that his GF worked for Verizon, which did not seem to mean much at the time. Knowing that here is what i'm dealing with.
I was in a rush when I checked out the phone as I had to meet another person to pick one up for my wife as well. It's the sch-i575 in white 16gb. After having a minute to look at the phone it turns out he had Paranoid Android flashed and the phone was rooted. CRAP! Not what I was looking for and he was not upfront about it. The incredibly strange thing was that with NO SIMCARD the phone was getting 3g signal! I spent all night trying to unroot \ undo what he did. I managed to use ODIN to get back to the stock rom although I think it's still a rooted one since I still have the super user app. I got a sim card from verizon but since it was rooted I did not bring the phone in and when I tried to activate later it would not activate. My wife's by the way is working flawless and when I put my sim in her phone it works fine as well. I had to put the sim in my wife's phone and it activated there. Here is the crazy thing, with or with out a simcard the phone makes calls and has 3g internet only but when I make a call it uses HIS NUMBER!! I'm not sure what the hell to do, what could have he done? Any ideas? Please all help is appreciated! I did not think this was even possible for the phone to function w/o a sim. I'm worried about taking it in to Verizon because of the funkiness. Ty again for any insight...
tekkski said:
I just bought a phone the guy who made no mention of the fact that it was rooted when I bought it. What is worse is he mentioned that his GF worked for Verizon, which did not seem to mean much at the time. Knowing that here is what i'm dealing with.
I was in a rush when I checked out the phone as I had to meet another person to pick one up for my wife as well. It's the sch-i575 in white 16gb. After having a minute to look at the phone it turns out he had Paranoid Android flashed and the phone was rooted. CRAP! Not what I was looking for and he was not upfront about it. The incredibly strange thing was that with NO SIMCARD the phone was getting 3g signal! I spent all night trying to unroot \ undo what he did. I managed to use ODIN to get back to the stock rom although I think it's still a rooted one since I still have the super user app. I got a sim card from verizon but since it was rooted I did not bring the phone in and when I tried to activate later it would not activate. My wife's by the way is working flawless and when I put my sim in her phone it works fine as well. I had to put the sim in my wife's phone and it activated there. Here is the crazy thing, with or with out a simcard the phone makes calls and has 3g internet only but when I make a call it uses HIS NUMBER!! I'm not sure what the hell to do, what could have he done? Any ideas? Please all help is appreciated! I did not think this was even possible for the phone to function w/o a sim. I'm worried about taking it in to Verizon because of the funkiness. Ty again for any insight...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like you didnt flash the proper stock image. I would start with that and report back.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1755386
tekkski said:
I just bought a phone the guy who made no mention of the fact that it was rooted when I bought it. What is worse is he mentioned that his GF worked for Verizon, which did not seem to mean much at the time. Knowing that here is what i'm dealing with.
I was in a rush when I checked out the phone as I had to meet another person to pick one up for my wife as well. It's the sch-i575 in white 16gb. After having a minute to look at the phone it turns out he had Paranoid Android flashed and the phone was rooted. CRAP! Not what I was looking for and he was not upfront about it. The incredibly strange thing was that with NO SIMCARD the phone was getting 3g signal! I spent all night trying to unroot \ undo what he did. I managed to use ODIN to get back to the stock rom although I think it's still a rooted one since I still have the super user app. I got a sim card from verizon but since it was rooted I did not bring the phone in and when I tried to activate later it would not activate. My wife's by the way is working flawless and when I put my sim in her phone it works fine as well. I had to put the sim in my wife's phone and it activated there. Here is the crazy thing, with or with out a simcard the phone makes calls and has 3g internet only but when I make a call it uses HIS NUMBER!! I'm not sure what the hell to do, what could have he done? Any ideas? Please all help is appreciated! I did not think this was even possible for the phone to function w/o a sim. I'm worried about taking it in to Verizon because of the funkiness. Ty again for any insight...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought the I575 was an old slide phone. So A. your in the wrong section of the forum since this is Verizon's S3 or B. you mentioned the wrong device number? I saw phones before working and running on networks without sim-cards but that was years ago. If it is an S3, you sure it's a Verizon device? Also since you see 3g....can you browse around in the browser or make a phone call?
ctsr
galchristian said:
I thought the I575 was an old slide phone. So A. your in the wrong section of the forum since this is Verizon's S3 or B. you mentioned the wrong device number? I saw phones before working and running on networks without sim-cards but that was years ago. If it is an S3, you sure it's a Verizon device? Also since you see 3g....can you browse around in the browser or make a phone call?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's a galaxy s3 16gb in white. It looks like currently I was using the tar66 using ODIN. I'm reverting back to the bone stock one now. As far as the models go isn't the SCH-I575 the Verizon version of the S3?
I'm waiting on the stock unrooted rom to take through ODIN and will report back. Thank you for taking the time to try and help.
Ohh, yes the internet works and when I make phone calls with or with out my sim in it makes calls successfully but the other guys number shows up. What the heck did this guy do to the phone!
Our model is the SCH-i535
Dont thank/like/rep my posts or ill report you.
DROID3R said:
Our model is the SCH-i535
Dont thank/like/rep my posts or ill report you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are obviously absolutley correct. I'm frantically trying to figure this out. I have flashed the stock rom and don't have super user anymore. The problem persists with the guys number.
Could he have flashed a custom kernel and modem or does reverting back using the stock rom cover all that ?
tekkski said:
You are obviously absolutley correct. I'm frantically trying to figure this out. I have flashed the stock rom and don't have super user anymore. The problem persists with the guys number.
Could he have flashed a custom kernel and modem or does reverting back using the stock rom cover all that ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one i linked covers all that and completely erases all data on the phone. Did you insert your sim after the stock flash?
toy028 said:
The one i linked covers all that and completely erases all data on the phone. Did you insert your sim after the stock flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just double checked and I had the I535VRLAG1 version, yours is the I535VRALF2 in the link you posted trying this now. The crazy thing is that it even says that the sim is activated with MY number! but the calls are still comming from him. I even tried wiping the device and clearing the cache. I also tried to JUST flash the modem with VRLG1.modem.tar.md5 and nothing :\. Waiting on the file from your link to download and will try that.
Is it possible that this is being caused by something on Verizon's end? The phone ( with out the SIM ) is registered to him somehow? I know this is not normal but because his GF worked for Verizon could they have done something funky?
Yeah its definitely possible its from something she did to the phone but most likely nothing from Verizon's end. Does the IMEI number under status match the IMEI number under the battery?
toy028 said:
Yeah its definitely possible its from something she did to the phone but most likely nothing from Verizon's end. Does the IMEI number under status match the IMEI number under the battery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes IMEI is the same in the OS as behind the battery.
The curious thing is that on the same screen in the OS where you find the IMEI there is also a field called Network and it says " Unknown"
It also has things like:
Eri v : 5
Mobile network type : EvDo-rev.a:8
The thing I keep coming back to is how is it possible for this phone to make calls\ have data with out a sim?
Starting to really think I got cheated
Cheated? Sounds like you have free Verizon service.
Roll with it. If you really want a bill you can have mine...
Sent from my SGH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
tekkski said:
Yes IMEI is the same in the OS as behind the battery.
The curious thing is that on the same screen in the OS where you find the IMEI there is also a field called Network and it says " Unknown"
It also has things like:
Eri v : 5
Mobile network type : EvDo-rev.a:8
The thing I keep coming back to is how is it possible for this phone to make calls\ have data with out a sim?
Starting to really think I got cheated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very strange that's for sure. Try re-provisioning the device *2767*3855#
toy028 said:
Very strange that's for sure. Try re-provisioning the device *2767*3855#
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just did and the same thing happened. I went to the Verizon store and the guy there had no idea and got me in touch with tech support from the store. They were dumbfounded and flat out said that what is happening is impossible. "It's impossible to make\receive phone calls with out a sim unless they are emergency" I harped on the fact that I am making phone calls as one of their other customers and that this is a big deal. In the end since I had the insurance and extended warranty they will ship me a new phone.
tekkski said:
Just did and the same thing happened. I went to the Verizon store and the guy there had no idea and got me in touch with tech support from the store. They were dumbfounded and flat out said that what is happening is impossible. "It's impossible to make\receive phone calls with out a sim unless they are emergency" I harped on the fact that I am making phone calls as one of their other customers and that this is a big deal. In the end since I had the insurance and extended warranty they will ship me a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow... you gave away free service
Dont thank/like/rep my posts or ill report you.
Yeah i agree. Screw it. Just forward your number to the new one until everyone gets used to the new number. Free service equals win baby win
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Halp! no data!

Alright here's the thing. A friend of mine went to Mexico a while back. There is a wifi access point in the area and he tried to get on the internet with his phone. He told me that he was able to connect for about 5 seconds before he lost internet. Back in the states, he has not been able to use his data at all on his inspire. He can get on wifi fine though. Additionally he cannot send or receive picture messages, but he can still text other than that.
I don't get it, I've tried a billion things. flashing radios/roms/etc and can't figure it out. Right now hes paying X amount of money for something he isn't using and hes probably going to have to buy a new phone soon if this issue keeps up. If someone could toss me some advice that would be great, thank you.
Have you looked into the apn settings?
Sent from a dream.
yup, followed countless guides on different AT&T apns. tried it with two apns as well as just one, selecting it, rebooting. nothing. i dont get it.
raishiro said:
Alright here's the thing. A friend of mine went to Mexico a while back. There is a wifi access point in the area and he tried to get on the internet with his phone. He told me that he was able to connect for about 5 seconds before he lost internet. Back in the states, he has not been able to use his data at all on his inspire. He can get on wifi fine though. Additionally he cannot send or receive picture messages, but he can still text other than that.
I don't get it, I've tried a billion things. flashing radios/roms/etc and can't figure it out. Right now hes paying X amount of money for something he isn't using and hes probably going to have to buy a new phone soon if this issue keeps up. If someone could toss me some advice that would be great, thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was it working before mexico, or did he buy it in mexico? Also have you tried to install the stock ruu for this device. If it was purchased in the states and you are completely stock then the sim card probably needs to be replaced. Warm climates like mexico can cause electronics to run hotter than expected and things can fail.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium
Gizmoe said:
Was it working before mexico, or did he buy it in mexico? Also have you tried to install the stock ruu for this device. If it was purchased in the states and you are completely stock then the sim card probably needs to be replaced. Warm climates like mexico can cause electronics to run hotter than expected and things can fail.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was purchased in the states and the phone was completely stock and untouched by me when he was in mexico, I only started messing with it afterwards. I didn't even think about the sim card, thanks I'll let him know. Would it be possible to buy a new sim card while hes rooted or should i reverse that beforehand? Also got any idea about how much they cost? thanks!
raishiro said:
It was purchased in the states and the phone was completely stock and untouched by me when he was in mexico, I only started messing with it afterwards. I didn't even think about the sim card, thanks I'll let him know. Would it be possible to buy a new sim card while hes rooted or should i reverse that beforehand? Also got any idea about how much they cost? thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just return it to stock firmware and take it to your carrier and tell them MMS isn't working. They will most likely just give you a new one.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium
Gizmoe said:
Just return it to stock firmware and take it to your carrier and tell them MMS isn't working. They will most likely just give you a new one.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would i be able to return it even if its unlocked, s-off, and all that craziness? I'm sure it would be reversible right?
raishiro said:
Would i be able to return it even if its unlocked, s-off, and all that craziness? I'm sure it would be reversible right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can reverse it but as long as its the stock firmware i doubt they will notice.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using xda premium
Got it, I guess that's what were going to have to do. Thanks for all your help Gizmoe.

[Q] Phone Thinks I Am Roaming

Hello,
I bought my HTC Sensation about a year ago on Ebay. The seller claimed the phone was purchased outright and paid off. I checked the imei and it showed clean. When I got it, I popped my Airfire sim card into it and it worked fine. A month ago, I switched to Cricket as Airfire was going out of business. Cricket made me enter my imei. It said it was bad. I called T-Mobile and they said the seller defaulted on payments. They refused to help in any way. They told me to buy the phone direct from them next time. I told them I had proof I was buying it in good faith. They didn't care and apparently have no problem punishing the victim.
Anyways, when I got my Cricket sim and popped it in, my phone said I was roaming. It has said I was roaming for a full month now. I can send and receive calls, but my data is stuck at EDGE and some of the programs don't work since the phone thinks its roaming. I need to have "data roaming" enabled for data to work. Cricket ran some tests and eventually said I needed to do a factory reset.
So, I switched from the Android Revolution rom to the ViperS 5.2.1 rom. I did a full dalvik and cache wipe and reformatted everything but the sd card. I installed the new rom and kernal. Same thing. Phone still says I am roaming. Odd thing is, when I go to manually select carrier, my options are Cricket (current carrier), Airfire (previous carrier) and TMobile (stock carrier). Also, when I am using data, it has an "E" above the data. E is what Airfire used. Is there somehow somewhere a place that the phone is storing info through wipes?
I am s-off, rooted and debranded. I sim unlocked the phone myself. I am so stuck and think that only one of the geniuses on XDA are my only hope. I have went mental spending hours and hours on this. Some XDA peeps are smarted than HTC and Cricket combined, so please help me out here.
Thanks,
Grant
SuperGrant said:
Hello,
Thanks,
Grant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi grant, this is a very odd situation your in. With my sensation when I leave the UK and connect to another EU "partner network" is the only time my phone would jump into roaming mode. Is it possible that cricket is not directly supported in your area? Maybe they rent their local connection from another carrier and thats why your getting connected as roaming? Have you tried any other sim cards to see if they come up as roaming?
Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk
Hi heavy_metal_man
I am quite sure that At&t is Cricket's parent company so all of the towers should be At&t's networks. Also, I have checked it when in other cities and I get the same message, though I haven't traveled more than 30 miles away.
The previous sim with AirFire worked fine. I also popped out the sim for Cricket and put it in my mom's phone to see if it was the sim. Her's worked fine. She got the automatic Cricket update settings right away and was not roaming. Mine never got the Cricket pop-up so I had to manually enter all of the data info. Yes, odd indeed and I am lost.
SuperGrant said:
I am quite sure that At&t is Cricket's parent company so all of the towers should be At&t's networks. Also, I have checked it when in other cities and I get the same message, though I haven't traveled more than 30 miles away.
The previous sim with AirFire worked fine. I also popped out the sim for Cricket and put it in my mom's phone to see if it was the sim. Her's worked fine. She got the automatic Cricket update settings right away and was not roaming. Mine never got the Cricket pop-up so I had to manually enter all of the data info. Yes, odd indeed and I am lost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, the info your adding manually, is that the same info as is registered when the card is in your mums phone? Same APN etc?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk
heavy_metal_man said:
OK, the info your adding manually, is that the same info as is registered when the card is in your mums phone? Same APN etc?
Hi heavy_metal_man. Yup. Same info. Only difference is that the info all loads automatically on hers. I do get automated texts from Cricket when I put the sim in my phone as did she, but I had to get the APN info from Cricket the first time because it didn't auto load. I am still wondering if it is a sim issue, but I expected my mom's phone to be roaming when I put the sim in hers. I was shocked when it wasn't. She just has a free stock phone from Airfire btw. Nothing fancy and nothing done to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SuperGrant said:
heavy_metal_man said:
OK, the info your adding manually, is that the same info as is registered when the card is in your mums phone? Same APN etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi heavy_metal_man. Yup. Same info. Only difference is that the info all loads automatically on hers. I do get automated texts from Cricket when I put the sim in my phone as did she, but I had to get the APN info from Cricket the first time because it didn't auto load. I am still wondering if it is a sim issue, but I expected my mom's phone to be roaming when I put the sim in hers. I was shocked when it wasn't. She just has a free stock phone from Airfire btw. Nothing fancy and nothing done to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. Are those 3 carriers the only ones available to you? I think the imei may be key here, if cricket know its a T-Mobile phone they may register that you are roaming. I think your previous carrier (airfire) was a Virtual mobile network, much like giffgaff in the UK ( which runs on the o2 network.) As such they may not have inforced the same imei policy's that cricket does. But this is just a hunch as I am on UK networks and we do things much differently. If you could ask about any friends and colleges that have different carrier simcards from our previous 3 you could gauge what carriers your phone is compatible with.
Worst case scenario you could maybe buy another broken htc sensation and perform a motherboard swap. This would solve your imei issue, assuming that it was the primary issue. But check the simcards first and report back
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
heavy_metal_man said:
Hmm. Are those 3 carriers the only ones available to you? I think the imei may be key here, if cricket know its a T-Mobile phone they may register that you are roaming. I think your previous carrier (airfire) was a Virtual mobile network, much like giffgaff in the UK ( which runs on the o2 network.) As such they may not have inforced the same imei policy's that cricket does. But this is just a hunch as I am on UK networks and we do things much differently. If you could ask about any friends and colleges that have different carrier simcards from our previous 3 you could gauge what carriers your phone is compatible with.
Worst case scenario you could maybe buy another broken htc sensation and perform a motherboard swap. This would solve your imei issue, assuming that it was the primary issue. But check the simcards first and report back
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... There are only 3 carriers available. Should there be more? It's not tied to the sim? Everyone I know either still has Airfire and plans on switching to Cricket or has cdma so I have been out of luck with trying another sim. The only other thing I thought about was 4ext recovery. No matter what I flash; roms, kernals, firmware or radios, the recovery always survives of course. So, if the previous carriers are surviving the flashes, perhaps there is a place on the phone like the recovery where they are surviving.
SuperGrant said:
Hmm... There are only 3 carriers available. Should there be more? It's not tied to the sim? Everyone I know either still has Airfire and plans on switching to Cricket or has cdma so I have been out of luck with trying another sim. The only other thing I thought about was 4ext recovery. No matter what I flash; roms, kernals, firmware or radios, the recovery always survives of course. So, if the previous carriers are surviving the flashes, perhaps there is a place on the phone like the recovery where they are surviving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its unlikely to be to do with the recovery, no reason for it to keep anything like that. It's most likely the phones imei at this point, though im unsure as to why this was not an issue for airfire.
Do you know what firmware version you have? Have you flashed 3.33 by yourself?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
heavy_metal_man said:
Its unlikely to be to do with the recovery, no reason for it to keep anything like that. It's most likely the phones imei at this point, though im unsure as to why this was not an issue for airfire.
Do you know what firmware version you have? Have you flashed 3.33 by yourself?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, I flashed 3.33 universal after doing a super Cid. Well, maybe its time to just get a new phone, although I would really like to figure out this problem first. I am not the kind of person who can just drop things, lol.
SuperGrant said:
Yup, I flashed 3.33 universal after doing a super Cid. Well, maybe its time to just get a new phone, although I would really like to figure out this problem first. I am not the kind of person who can just drop things, lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know how you feel. Maybe its because they cricket know the sensation 4g is a T-Mobile device and force you into roaming mode by default. I think its possible to overwrite the devices mid and cid, flash a sensation XE rom and effectively have a sensation XE. But such things can be quite dangerous and i couldn't say for definite if it would work to fix your issue :/ (not recommending anyone tries this without proper research and understanding :/)
Can you get access to another cricket sim without a contract? Just for testing?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
heavy_metal_man said:
I know how you feel. Maybe its because they cricket know the sensation 4g is a T-Mobile device and force you into roaming mode by default. I think its possible to overwrite the devices mid and cid, flash a sensation XE rom and effectively have a sensation XE. But such things can be quite dangerous and i couldn't say for definite if it would work to fix your issue :/ (not recommending anyone tries this without proper research and understanding :/)
Can you get access to another cricket sim without a contract? Just for testing?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe I have already done that. When I go into info about my phone, it says Sensation XE. It also registers as Sensation XE in the Google play store. I was thinking about telling Cricket to send me a new sim. Otherwise, I have no access to one at this time.
SuperGrant said:
I believe I have already done that. When I go into info about my phone, it says Sensation XE. It also registers as Sensation XE in the Google play store. I was thinking about telling Cricket to send me a new sim. Otherwise, I have no access to one at this time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that it would be your best bet, although your device is probably showing up on the play store as an XE because of its build.prop from your custom rom, not any advanced MID changes. although you can check by using the command
Code:
fastboot getvar all
this will show your your mid, cid and your imei among other things.
SuperGrant said:
I believe I have already done that. When I go into info about my phone, it says Sensation XE. It also registers as Sensation XE in the Google play store. I was thinking about telling Cricket to send me a new sim. Otherwise, I have no access to one at this time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've worked it out! Its a frequency issue. Cricket apparently only support cdma frequency's, while the sensation only uses gsm frequency's. So in order to connect your phone is bunnying onto a local gsm service, which is then redirecting you to cricket. Hence the roaming! If you want off the data roaming you will need to either swap to a different phone carrier or buy a cdma phone
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Hi heavy_metal_man,
Cricket did use CDMA for most of the time, but they have switched to GSM. They send a sim now and are trying to switch all of their old customers to GSM. What I am having trouble figuring out is what frequencies they use. Perhaps my phone is not quite compatible. I am having trouble with that as well. GSM arena, Phonescoop and the other major sites kind of have different data as far as my phone goes. My phone is called "HTC Sensation 4G" as far as I know. Yet, they list no 4g capability or frequencies. Of course, I believe that would only affect data and I still should not show as roaming.
I have been unable to figure out fastboot since switching to the viper rom. It doesn't use usb mass storage anymore. It uses the new system in which the whole phone is recognized as a storage device by the computer. Forgot what they called it. I wish they hadn't changed it, and apparently Windows 7 should recognize it by default, but it does not. I am sure if I get enough time to put into it I will figure out how to use the fastboot commands again.
I am ready to give up and just get a new phone pretty soon. Would be nice if Cricket's customer service wasn't so worthless. It could still be the IMEI or something on their end that I can do nothing about but they have failed to provide any solution.
SuperGrant said:
Hi heavy_metal_man,
Cricket did use CDMA for most of the time, but they have switched to GSM. They send a sim now and are trying to switch all of their old customers to GSM. What I am having trouble figuring out is what frequencies they use. Perhaps my phone is not quite compatible. I am having trouble with that as well. GSM arena, Phonescoop and the other major sites kind of have different data as far as my phone goes. My phone is called "HTC Sensation 4G" as far as I know. Yet, they list no 4g capability or frequencies. Of course, I believe that would only affect data and I still should not show as roaming.
I have been unable to figure out fastboot since switching to the viper rom. It doesn't use usb mass storage anymore. It uses the new system in which the whole phone is recognized as a storage device by the computer. Forgot what they called it. I wish they hadn't changed it, and apparently Windows 7 should recognize it by default, but it does not. I am sure if I get enough time to put into it I will figure out how to use the fastboot commands again.
I am ready to give up and just get a new phone pretty soon. Would be nice if Cricket's customer service wasn't so worthless. It could still be the IMEI or something on their end that I can do nothing about but they have failed to provide any solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for my delayed reply, I noticed that cricket swapped out to gsm and I discovered that their gsm tech is actually supplied at&t as they bought them out.
So I looked at their coverage map for the area airfire operated and I noticed that they had 2 or 3 area that were only providing 3g support via a partner, so I assume that would put you into roaming. It might be worth a look at their map and confirm if you reside on one of these black areas ?
Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

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