Database Info

My flash counter appears to stay at zero

I have flashed and reflashed roms probably over 15 times since i got my phone. I have read that booting in download mode, you can see a small white number that says your flash count. When I go there I see no number anywhere at all. It says my binary is official and system status as modified. I have downloaded triangle away and when I go into that app, it also says my flash counter is 0 and my binary is official. I have the samsung custom unlock picture boot screen. Is this normal or should I have a flash count? If its normal what triggers the flash count? Also just to make sure, if I ever need my phone to be totally stock and remove the boot unlock screen and modified status I just have to follow the guide to return to stock which involves download mode and a windows pc, right? ( Cant remember the name of the windows app you use for that)

sfetaz said:
I have flashed and reflashed roms probably over 15 times since i got my phone. I have read that booting in download mode, you can see a small white number that says your flash count. When I go there I see no number anywhere at all. It says my binary is official and system status as modified. I have downloaded triangle away and when I go into that app, it also says my flash counter is 0 and my binary is official. I have the samsung custom unlock picture boot screen. Is this normal or should I have a flash count? If its normal what triggers the flash count? Also just to make sure, if I ever need my phone to be totally stock and remove the boot unlock screen and modified status I just have to follow the guide to return to stock which involves download mode and a windows pc, right? ( Cant remember the name of the windows app you use for that)
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the only way the flash counter is tripped if you flash custom software in odin.

Ok thanks for the info. Is there any reason for a non developer to flash custom software in Odin, like some kind of non stock release or tool?

sfetaz said:
Ok thanks for the info. Is there any reason for a non developer to flash custom software in Odin, like some kind of non stock release or tool?
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We cant until the booloader is unlocked.

I don't know but I really don't mind if my flash counter gets to be 10000. Isn't this just for Samsung to gage how much development is being done? Why else would they care if we flash ROMs?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

They also probably use it to see if people have tried to hide rooting the phone if you send it in.
Sent from my SCH-I535

[Q] Yellow triangle of death?

Got the yellow triangle with " unauthorized software found on your device. Return to authorized Verizon dealer." I was trying to return this to stock and the directions on Odin said the bootloader had to be locked. I took the EZunlock and locked it back then all hell broke loose. Any ideas?

ergon said:
Got the yellow triangle with " unauthorized software found on your device. Return to authorized Verizon dealer." I was trying to return this to stock and the directions on Odin said the bootloader had to be locked. I took the EZunlock and locked it back then all hell broke loose. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
where did u read the bootloader had to be locked? all u need to do is odin back to stock, root, unlock bootloader.

All you need to do is download Odin, and and whatever tar file you want, boot phone into download (volume down, home, power), select yes when it asks are you sure, open Odin, select the tar file and start. Easy schmeasy
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

ergon said:
Got the yellow triangle with " unauthorized software found on your device. Return to authorized Verizon dealer." I was trying to return this to stock and the directions on Odin said the bootloader had to be locked. I took the EZunlock and locked it back then all hell broke loose. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You rebooted your phone after locking the bootloader. You shouldn't have done that. Your issue isn't unfixable tho, not by any means. IIRC VRALF2 I'm pretty sure is the only stock image that doesn't re-lock the bootloader(I haven't tested all of them). If you choose VRALG1 that will re-lock the bootloader for you when you flash it, it did for me the other day when I started over.
Just boot into download mode and flash the G1 thru Odin then do a factory wipe and you should be fine. I'm 99% sure you didn't trip the flash counter doing this, someone else chime in on this please?
And make sure you use PDA mode when you use Odin and don't unplug your phone from it until it says finished(even if it says removed, let it continue rebooting and doing its thing before unplugging. The Start and Cancel buttons should 'come back to life' when it's ok)

This might be the source the OP was referring to:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1867253&highlight=odin+to+stock
Although it clearly says to NOT reboot after re-locking your bootloader, it does say that the first step is to lock it before flashing to stock via Odin. Further down in the thread he says he'll remove it from the guide, but I don't think flashing stock via Odin locks the BL so if youre trying to return it to Verizon I would lock it first.

nghtrain88 said:
This might be the source the OP was referring to:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1867253&highlight=odin+to+stock
Although it clearly says to NOT reboot after re-locking your bootloader, it does say that the first step is to lock it before flashing to stock via Odin. Further down in the thread he says he'll remove it from the guide, but I don't think flashing stock via Odin locks the BL so if youre trying to return it to Verizon I would lock it first.
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Certain stock images do. I've had g1 lock and I've read that he will to.
Don't get me wrong, locking it yourself prior to flashing thru Odin is a good thing to do just to make sure. It's easier than having to re-root just to lock it then flash all over again.

Brian Gove said:
Certain stock images do. I've had g1 lock and I've read that he will to.
Don't get me wrong, locking it yourself prior to flashing thru Odin is a good thing to do just to make sure. It's easier than having to re-root just to lock it then flash all over again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only stock rom i have found that locks the bootloader is vralhd... are you sure g1 locked your bootloader because i thought we had this conversation already lol? unless your returning the device, why would you even want to lock it back up?

droidstyle said:
the only stock rom i have found that locks the bootloader is vralhd... are you sure g1 locked your bootloader because i thought we had this conversation already lol? unless your returning the device, why would you even want to lock it back up?
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Click to collapse
Yeah, I meant HD, not HE.
We did, but that was when I flashed F2. F2 doesn't lock it, but a week or so ago I had to flash back to stock to start over, used G1 and it re-locked my bootloader on me.
One of these days when I'm bored I'll sit down and try them all just to double check too.

cvbcbcmv said:
Don't over think it. This is simply happening because the bootloader is locked and your trying to run a custom rom. Just restore to stock and you're fine.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
I am having the same issue but when I go to restore back to stock Odin says it has completed 100% but when the phone reboots I get the triangle again. Please help.

i get this very same problem with with yellow triangle when i try to flash a rom it happend to me 2 times so i had to odin back any ideas why it happens when i try to flash a rom

Bootloader is locked
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Verizon note 2 will not go into download just yellow triangle
Okay bye hope someone can help me I rooted my galaxy note 2 by Verizon with framaroot and didn't realize the boot loader was locked and try to download ROM manager and it locked my phone up all I got was a yellow triangle said that they did not recognize a program then I did Adam's way of returning to stock with casual will not read it so then I found the root66_vzw..... same as stock but rooted and unlock boot loader and I flashed it and the pit file that went with it using Odin. It said pass when everything was done it upload bar on the phone I seen it on the screen and when it went to reset then it come back to the same Verizon yellow triangle and now I can't get it to going to download mode or do anything at all except for when I plug in the cable to my computer the yellow triangle come on. Can someone help?? Please I really we'd love to have my phone back! I would appreciate it very much thank you sincerely

worknman69 said:
Okay bye hope someone can help me I rooted my galaxy note 2 by Verizon with framaroot and didn't realize the boot loader was locked and try to download ROM manager and it locked my phone up all I got was a yellow triangle said that they did not recognize a program then I did Adam's way of returning to stock with casual will not read it so then I found the root66_vzw..... same as stock but rooted and unlock boot loader and I flashed it and the pit file that went with it using Odin. It said pass when everything was done it upload bar on the phone I seen it on the screen and when it went to reset then it come back to the same Verizon yellow triangle and now I can't get it to going to download mode or do anything at all except for when I plug in the cable to my computer the yellow triangle come on. Can someone help?? Please I really we'd love to have my phone back! I would appreciate it very much thank you sincerely
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We don't have a Note 2 go to the Note 2 forums to get help.

[Q] Need some help... rooted my phone, then received OTA update JZO54K.I535VRBMF1...

Hello,
Need some help here... I am a newbie... I had rooted my phone to unlock and use data while traveling in Europe with the below instructions... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2046439 .... worked great!
I installed VRBLK3 (last update) before I received the VRBMF1 OTA update last night which automatically updated my phone. I am faced with error saying Unauthorized Software on phone, goto Verizon.
I am unable to boot into Odin Recovery Mode, but I can boot into Odin mode. I am unable to perform any steps to flash my phone again and then load the latest update manually via Odin.
What am I missing here? Thoughts? Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jason

Your bootloader wasn't unlocked correctly and the update sure did mess up it up as it updated while you are rooted.
You can odin it just takes time as soon pull out the battery as soon as you out it in hold power, volume up and home. You should get into odin so you can flash a stock image.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I have the same problem. I haven't run the update, but it has downloaded. Either with buttons or through rommanager, I can't get into recovery mode (I have ClockWorkMod Recovery installed) . I keep deferring the update.
What are the steps to flash a stock image?

airtrons said:
I have the same problem. I haven't run the update, but it has downloaded. Either with buttons or through rommanager, I can't get into recovery mode (I have ClockWorkMod Recovery installed) . I keep deferring the update.
What are the steps to flash a stock image?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the ODIN program and then download the stock image from rootzwiki (or here at XDA if its posted)
Plug your phone into the USB port of a computer and then run the ODIN program. Then post the entire .tar package in the PDA section after your phone gets recognized (you'll need to boot into download mode, which is volume down+power+home).
Read the guide over at XDA for a better explanation. Here's the URL.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1762709
sent from my GS3 from the infected army

Addiso said:
Your bootloader wasn't unlocked correctly and the update sure did mess up it up as it updated while you are rooted.
You can odin it just takes time as soon pull out the battery as soon as you out it in hold power, volume up and home. You should get into odin so you can flash a stock image.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can get into Odin Download Mode, but I can't get into Odin Recovery (it gives me error in upper left corner ... SECURE FAIL: KERNEL).
When I get into Odin Download Mode and I hook it up to my laptop, it doesn't recognize the device even though I have the drivers loaded on my laptop.
Thoughts?

It should still work. Check the USB drivers in device manager.
Sent from my XT912 using xda app-developers app

Similar Problem
OK, so I've just been deferring the update. Just wanted to know if there is a way to get the update without having to unroot my phone first. I'd really rather not run through the motions of doing the whole unroot-reroot process but this update is bugging me.

iamme216 said:
OK, so I've just been deferring the update. Just wanted to know if there is a way to get the update without having to unroot my phone first. I'd really rather not run through the motions of doing the whole unroot-reroot process but this update is bugging me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was rooted (stock), took the OTA (a no no but did it anyway) this locked the bootloader and i lost root.
I used this one click to unlock bootloader, gain root AND install TWRP custom recovery and it worked FLAWLESSLY!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2332825
-SKB

iamme216 said:
OK, so I've just been deferring the update. Just wanted to know if there is a way to get the update without having to unroot my phone first. I'd really rather not run through the motions of doing the whole unroot-reroot process but this update is bugging me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=42978477&postcount=9
try this it worked for me

kidhudi said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=42978477&postcount=9
try this it worked for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe I just got soft bricked with this method.

iamme216 said:
I believe I just got soft bricked with this method.
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Click to collapse
what? how is that possible? what were the steps you took? where did things go wrong?
if you can get into odin you should be ok. just flash the stock image and use the one-click method. but be careful i am reading about the one click casual method causing hard bricks on some devices.

kidhudi said:
what? how is that possible? what were the steps you took? where did things go wrong?
if you can get into odin you should be ok. just flash the stock image and use the one-click method. but be careful i am reading about the one click casual method causing hard bricks on some devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed everything. started the update, it reset and i got a "system software not authorized by Verizon Wireless has been found on your phone. Please turn off your phone and go to the nearest verizon wireless store for help." About to go in and odin now.

sorry about that bro. that process worked for me and a buddy of mine flawlessly. are you able to get into odin mode?
I deleted that post. I really still don't understand what went wrong. I have used these apps successfully MANY times in the past.
let me know how it all works out.

kidhudi said:
sorry about that bro. that process worked for me and a buddy of mine flawlessly. are you able to get into odin mode?
I deleted that post. I really still don't understand what went wrong. I have used these apps successfully MANY times in the past.
let me know how it all works out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just went all the way back to stock. Had to erase everything. Luckily I have most of my stuff on my SD card and my TiBu backup so not all is lost. Sucks I ended up having to do what I didn't want just for an update.

skbgiants said:
I was rooted (stock), took the OTA (a no no but did it anyway) this locked the bootloader and i lost root.
I used this one click to unlock bootloader, gain root AND install TWRP custom recovery and it worked FLAWLESSLY!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2332825
-SKB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's interesting. The same exact thing happened to me. I was rooted, running stock, accepted the ota, lost root but it left the bootloader unlocked.And then the next time I powered up my phone I saw Verizon had given me an unlocked icon and it says custom under it. I originally rooted my phone using that one click casual so now I'm really not sure if I should use it to root again. Any thoughts?

RipRip said:
That's interesting. The same exact thing happened to me. I was rooted, running stock, accepted the ota, lost root but it left the bootloader unlocked.And then the next time I powered up my phone I saw Verizon had given me an unlocked icon and it says custom under it. I originally rooted my phone using that one click casual so now I'm really not sure if I should use it to root again. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want root, then root. Preexisting root tools still work on the latest VRBMF1 ota. You can check if you're still rooted by downloading Root Checker from the store.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

RipRip said:
That's interesting. The same exact thing happened to me. I was rooted, running stock, accepted the ota, lost root but it left the bootloader unlocked.And then the next time I powered up my phone I saw Verizon had given me an unlocked icon and it says custom under it. I originally rooted my phone using that one click casual so now I'm really not sure if I should use it to root again. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously use this tool. Works great!

[Q] HELP ME!! I f$*ked my phone up royally!

Okay, kind of a noob. I have the Samsung Galaxy S3 Verizon. I was on 4.1.2 rooted using Beanstown 106 method, and was running axis rom. It was ok but 4.3 came out & I wanted to try it, since the rom had excellent performance, but a lot of little bugs that were bothering me. I shut the root off in the SU accepted the 4.3 ota update and everything was fine except for when the phone would boot up it showed the samsung logo with an unlock padlock and said custom.. Not a big deal but I liked the 4.3 so wanted to take away the boot unlock icon (just in case for warranty purposes). It was my understanding if I would ODIN back to stock it would go away. Long story short in between trying to odin to stock, Kies back to stock and every other method I can find, my phone is stuck in ODIN/download mode and won't do anything else. I've searched everywhere and cannot figure it out. In odin mode the phone says something like Software upgrade error, use software repair assistant or something like that. Don't know what to try or do, and stuck using a razr until I get my GS3 back. Please help!!!

Didn't accept the OTA, but from what others have posted, it sounds like the correct way to do it is to revert to stock, unroot, relock bootloader and use triangle away to reset counter, then accept the OTA. If you dont use triangle away prior to accepting OTA, you get the unlock icon + custom. Once you accept the OTA, trying to revert to anything else or flashing a custom recovery will result in a hard brick.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Shibby87 said:
Didn't accept the OTA, but from what others have posted, it sounds like the correct way to do it is to revert to stock, unroot, relock bootloader and use triangle away to reset counter, then accept the OTA. If you dont use triangle away prior to accepting OTA, you get the unlock icon + custom. Once you accept the OTA, trying to revert to anything else or flashing a custom recovery will result in a hard brick.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Well then I'm hard bricked, because I tried to ODIN back to stock as well as KIES and they both just say fail..

I just fixed my phone with verizon software utility. My guide should be up with the utility sometime tonight. If you can get into bootloader it will flash SCH-I535_I535VRUCML1 I tried to get the files it downloaded but there not odin files or zips.

Hopefully this helps http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2586319

ThePagel said:
Hopefully this helps http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2586319
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy **** I can't wait to get home and try this! Hopefully it works, thank you!

Anyway of resetting custom binary counter on locked bootloader

So I wanted to get a spare S3 back to stock so I could trade it in for an upgrade, so I Odin'd to the official 4.3 with NC1 locked bootloader, but forgot to reset the custom binary counter. Is there any way to reset custom binary counter once you are on a locked bootloader? Any help would be appreciated.

Any thoughts?
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I have seen people who say you can use triangle away but I have also seen people who said triangle away doesn't work or bricks the phone on the locked bootloader. I am 99% sure it doesn't work and 100% sure you shouldn't try.

scadilla said:
So I wanted to get a spare S3 back to stock so I could trade it in for an upgrade, so I Odin'd to the official 4.3 with NC1 locked bootloader, but forgot to reset the custom binary counter. Is there any way to reset custom binary counter once you are on a locked bootloader? Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an option to reset this in Odin when you odin a stock image. And yes do not use triangle away on a locked bootlaoder. It will brick you. Do it in odin!

Sandman-007 said:
There is an option to reset this in Odin when you odin a stock image. And yes do not use triangle away on a locked bootlaoder. It will brick you. Do it in odin!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if I mentioned it previously, but I don't need to preserve anything on the phone. That being I didn't happen to notice the option in Odin, can you point me in the right direction? I appreciate it. Thanks for all your help.

scadilla said:
Not sure if I mentioned it previously, but I don't need to preserve anything on the phone. That being I didn't happen to notice the option in Odin, can you point me in the right direction? I appreciate it. Thanks for all your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its a check box "F. Reset Time" under options.

Just use the vzw repair assistant. It will reset you phone to stock as well as killing off the counter. No need for odin. For the users that just want the custom padlock gone, wanam. Resets the flag to official.

delete

BROKEN1981 said:
Just use the vzw repair assistant. It will reset you phone to stock as well as killing off the counter. No need for odin. For the users that just want the custom padlock gone, wanam. Resets the flag to official.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seeing that he doesn't need to preserve anything his best bet is Odin. The program you mention is unnecessary as it takes much longer and backs up his phone and he does not need to that.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Actually its straight forward, eadier to use, and has a check mark option to back up the phone. Its the same as using odin. I used it with out backing up my phone. Other users reported problems with using odin. Like the process stops. Never happened to me. Also the vzw tool put the phone in download mode. And I have to say for putting your phone back to stock and resetting the flash counter is better then odin.