Hi all, after being screwed over by The Android Doctor, a remote network unlocking site (they messed with my IMEI leaving me unable to make/receive calls/texts or use mobile data), and pulling my hair out, trying how to get round their malicious behaviour without having to spend out more money, I stunbled across another thread on this web site with one out of many solutions. (This may well be the most full proof though). The original post referred to a Galaxy S3 and was posted by Nev of Innsbruck, Austria on 4 November 2015.
Well my problem referred to a Galaxy S5, but as Nev rightly said if you download and fire up Samsung Kies, head for tools and select firmware upgrade and initialisation before connecting your phone, Kies will ask for your model number and serial number and then download all the various files it needs to reset your phone to original factory conditions but with the latest firmware for that particular model/serial number. From there on it's just a question of following the on-screen prompts, and stand back in amazement when normality is restored once again. Initially I thought this would undo the network unlock I paid for, but nope my phone is still unlocked, but fully usuable once again. This will obviously not work for a black listed IMEI phone. I have started this new thread in the hope of getting this answer out there, as finding a actual solution that worked, was like looking for a needle in a hay stack...
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Hi all,
Thought i'd post my findings here rather than muddled in to the other i5500 thread (will this phone get it's own device area?).
This is what worked for me and may hopefully help others to do the same. Please post here if this works for you also.
I bought an unlocked, unbranded Samsung Galaxy Europa for my girlfriend for christmas.
It is being used on a Tesco mobile prepay sim (uses O2 network).
It immediately had this duplicate text issue from some contacts, where duplicates of the same text would come in at random times, and some messages did not come through at all. A few googles later shows it is quite a common problem for O2 / Tesco users.
The phone also had a faulty sync / charging port so it was returned.
The next phone seemed fine until I made the mistake of updating to the latest firmware through Kies (the previous handset was already up to date). The duplicate text issue returned to the new handset which pretty much made it un-usable.
I dug around on the interwebs and the only fix I could find seemed to be a factory reset, but this didn't solve the problem for me.
I wanted to roll back the firmware via Kies but couldn't get this to work after trying to modify the registry. Hopefully someone can update here if they work out how to roll back to previous official updates via Kies. To be honest, I don't think Kies is any safer than flashing firmware via Odin.
I have tried out a number of firmwares from samfirmware.com and have found a couple that don't seem to have the duplicate text issue and others that do. The froyo update is just ugly and also seemed to have the duplicate text issue. Hopefully someone will release a custom froyo rom as Samsung seem to have made a mess of it!
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What worked for me:
I used 'Odin' to flash the firmware 'I5500XWJG9' and followed the instructions on page 1 of this thread to do so: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=781149#
The firmware I settled on is 'I5500XWJG9'. It's a European firmware but not a UK one so you need to change the default language and set up your APN in order to get your internet and MMS working. This is acceptable if it resolves the text issue I think.
After updating you may recieve the last few of your duplicate texts or some that you never received previously.
Something strange I noticed was that the message centre number seems to be incorrect (for tesco mobile anyway) or the menu to display or change it does not work correctly.
If you enter *#*#4636#*#* on the dialler and go to phone information and scroll down, you will see 'SMSC'. Click 'Refresh' and it should display your service centre number. You should also be able to update it but it doesn't work on this phone. I suspect this may be something to do with the problem but texts seem to work on this firmware anyway.
Bah, we had a few duplicate texts after a week. Not as bad as before it would seem but still there. How annoying!
Hi using a Samsung Europa on Giffgaff (o2 derivative) and using the originally provided usb link cable. It used to work, but the first time I plugged it in, the language was set in german for a joke, and I got very confused about Kies and said 'No don't do that' - now my PC doesn't seem to want to know about my phone no matter which usb socket I plug it in. I have it in download mode right now and Odin can't find it at all.
Any thoughts - this repetitive text issue is driving me up the wall (x100 copies of the same text over a week and all my other non-O2 messages getting stuck!) ?
Hi!
So I have a Galaxy S6 which came with a Dutch T-mobile package. On my way to China, where I moved a few weeks ago for an indefinite period, I cracked the screen and brought it to the local repairman to fix. That went perfectly well, but the phone didn't recognize my fingerprint anymore and I forgot my backup password. That's why I performed a factory reset, and that's where the real trouble began.
After the reset, I tried setting up the phone again, and got to the Samsung reactivation screen. I entered my account info, and provided the password for the wifi, after which the phone connected to wifi (with the corresponding message), but after a few seconds I get a pop up message saying "Unable to connect to the Internet" - even though the wifi symbol would still flash its arrows in the upper right corner. Thus, I can't get past this screen nor in my phone, which is quite a devastating fact as a poor new expat in China . Tried several other wifi networks, to no avail.
My guess is that it's the Great Firewall of China acting here, somehow preventing the phone to connect to the Samsung (and/or Google) network to check my info. I don't know if this is correct, the Samsung helpdesk couldn't say for sure as well, but I really really want to find a workaround here. Once I get the phone working again I can install a VPN to have the Google stuff working in China, but this way I can't get to that point. Now I am completely new to rooting/ installing ROMS and the works, but I am willing to try anything to get this expensive piece of electronics to work out here.
Any helping comment is an absolute lifesaver, and I will name my firstborn child after you!!
Thanks so much!
All the best, Maarten
EDIT: I made some screenshots, but appearantly I am not allowed to post outside links yet.
Hello,
I wanted to share what I had to do in order to fix my phone after it took the July 27 OTA update. The update somehow corrupted my display and the white portions of the display were now pink and red. A google search has info and pics on this display problem so I won't elaborate on it. The first thing I tried was power cycling the phone, the red and pink remained. The next thing I tried was factory reset the device, that didn't work either. I simply wanted to revert back to the previous firmware and hopefully that would fix it. I liked the new firmware features, but that pink screen had to go! I foolishly flashed the US unlocked firmware (XAA) from SamMobile site with Odin. The pink screen probem was fixed but this definately was not the firmware that came on this phone. Gear VR didn't work, Samsung pay was borked, and there were all types of problems with the software.
At this point I called Samsung Tech Support. The guy was really nice and after a bit of explaining he offered to have the phone flashed at no cost to me. However I would have to send the phone in to be repaired and I would be without my device for a week at least, maybe 2 weeks. I thanked him and hung up. Why couldn't he simply make the firmware available to me so I could fix this without having to send it in and be without my phone for over a week. Not really a acceptable solution. I went online and did some reading. That's when I found the fix!
To anyone who is having problems and would simply like to get back to original factory firmware Samsung has a program called " Smart Switch ". It's available as a App for your phone or as a PC software program. The phone app helps sync devices, but the PC program can do much more. I'm not going to go over in detail how to use the software because a google search has videos and tutorials on how to use it. For me I was able to enter my phone model and serial number and Smart Switch went and downloaded the "correct factory firmware" and installed it to my phone. Now I have the latest firmware (7/27) full factory install and the pink / red display problem is gone. So what I'm getting at is if you are having problems after taking the OTA update like I did, you can try using Smart Switch and install the complete factory firmware from scratch to your device. Make sure to follow instruction on how to use the program, I had to put the phone into download mode for it to work for me. Also be sure you understand about "Google lock" before flashing your phone. This program claims it can un-brick a Samsung phone, and will also over-write a rooted phone to get it back to stock. I'm sure Smart Switch has been discussed before, but for a new Samsung user (like myself) it sure got me out of a bind!
*****FINAL UPDATE: THIS POST IS A WASTE OF TIME WANDERING AROUND SOLUTIONS FOR THE IMEI. THE REAL REASON IS THAT I WAS SCAMMED AND BOUGHT A STOLEN PHONE WITHOUT KNOWING, AND THE IMEI/IMEIs WERE CHANGED, so when I factory reset the phone, the IMEIs were gone. If you're in the same situation, see if you can return the phone. If not, the only thing you can do is sell it AS IT IS, because YOU WERE PROBABLY SCAMMED, LIKE ME, so please sell it declaring the state of the phone and the IMEIs.*******
****If you want to read the entire post, go ahead, but you'll waste all your time. You were scammed, it's a stolen phone, end of story.****
Guys I was really excited about this purchase, I tested network with the seller, on both SIMs, both worked great, 4G data, when I took it home I noticed the phone was BL unlocked with Magisk, which made me worry about any security issues or not being able to update. Relocked BL from download mode, flashed stock G970FXXSDFUI5 (I live and bought it here in Colombia), and I checked this was the same FW that it had while rooted with Magisk
Cleared data/cache, flashed successfully, warnings gone, but no network at all, this is what I have:
- Only emergency calls with any SIM in any slot, already tried different carriers
- Checked IMEI in national blacklist database imeicolombia.com, they're both clean
- When trying to make a call "not registered on network"
- When going into Mobile Networks - Select Network - Select Automatically is ON, if I try to turn off it instantly says "Error searching for networks" and the switch stays on, so no "Manual Search" button.
Already tried clearing data/cache of SIM Toolkit app, what am I missing? Thank you!
UPDATE: I went through all the process of unlocking BL again and rooting again with Magisk successfully following this tut
with updated Magisk, etc, but still no ntwk, will now try flashing other countries same/higher SW REV, will post any other update.
Additional steps: I tried putting 2G only or 3G only and reset APNs to see if "Select Automatically" switch was fixed but same story, it wont turn off and shows same "Error while searching for networks" msg right away
UPDATE 2: I wanted to share a video I found that shows the exact same error that I get in the "Mobile Networks" menu:
Altough I rly dont think it's the same situation, cause in that video, the phone has no signal at all, mine is able to pick full signal for emergency calls. I rly dont think my situation is that of hardware but some kind of software/activation/sim thing (It's not the SIM bc it works in any other phone)
Please someone help me, I've invested more than labor hours researching and trying to fix this, I fear I could damage the phone by flashing it so many times
Fixed by @hainguyenthao
DDDDDD
SamaelThuum said:
Fixed by @hainguyenthao
DDDDDD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How?!
PatnosD said:
How?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A VERY VERY VERY complex process. It turns out the answer was a very simple one. They sold me a stolen phone with the IMEIs changed, so at the moment that I factory reset the phone, the "fake" IMEIs were cleared, leaving the phone with NULL IMEIs. In short, I got scammed, had to sell the phone declaring the situation, ofc for a quite discounted price due to the fact of it being a stolen phone.
ALERT 1: WHEN YOU'RE GONNA BUY A SAMSUNG PHONE, ASK THE SELLER IF IT CAN BE FACTORY RESET RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM/HER BEFORE PAYING. IF THE SELLER SAYS YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN ALREADY GUESS WHAT'S GOING ON.
ALERT 2: NOW THEY CAN CRACK THE SAMSUNG PHONE IMEIS SO IF YOU FACTORY RESET, IT WOULD KEEP THE FAKE IMEIs, so the only thing you can do is go into this website:
IMEIpro - free Samsung IMEI checker
Check information about your Samsung cell phone - model, serial number, manufacture date. Verify Samsung carrier, age of the phone, purchase country, CSN number and other details.
imeipro.info
Enter the IMEI and the website will show you THE SERIAL NUMBER. COMPARE IT WITH THE ONE SHOWN IN THE PHONE. IF THEY DON'T MATCH, THE PHONE IMEI HAS BEEN CHANGED, LIKELY A STOLEN PHONE! DO NOT BUY IT!
This is the best guide I have for buying used samsung phones so far
Hello, and thanks in advance for any assistance y'all can provide.
I should preface this by saying that I'm comfortable tinkering with software and am technically inclined, but have only a vague understanding of what exactly a CSC code is and haven't flashed anything on a phone since tinkering with my old Galaxy S Captivate.
My wife and I bought "factory unlocked" S10e's via Amazon's "renewed" program. They have no visible branding, physically or in the software, and report their model as G970U1, as advertised. We're both on Cricket. My phone works without issue but she's been getting texts from Cricket for a few weeks saying that she needed to update her phone by 2/22/22, but the "software update" tool reports that the phone is up to date. Since that date, she's been unable to send or receive phone calls, but texts and mobile data still work as normal.
Going by the "Software Information" page, the phones are nearly identical in software versions, with the only difference in the two is the "Service provider software information" string. As best I understand, this displays the CSC code in the string, as "...OYM_[CSC]...".
Going by this, my phone has the correct CSC for Cricket, but my wife's phone has somehow obtained the code for T-Mobile. Given that this is the only software difference between the two, I can only assume that it's the culprit? (If not, what else could be causing this?)
I'm not 100% sure if this is something that we could have caused, or if the phone could have been de-branded somehow (again, no physical markings) and resold with a CSC already on it?
I've tried changing the CSC by using the code in google dialer, but it just throws a vague error and nothing happens. I'm not sure how to proceed from here? From googling around, I saw that flashing new firmware using Odin and Frija(?) can get the job done, but also requires resetting the phone and comes with some risk?
I'd like to avoid resetting the phone if possible, as it's also her interface to her glucose monitor (Type 1 diabetic), and this takes quite a long time to set up. From some searching, it seems there's a paid tool called Chimera that at least one person claimed can change the CSC without resetting. Is that accurate? If that's not correct, is there a better way?
Apologies for the wall of text, I hope I've provided enough information. Again, thanks to anyone who can provide guidance.