Flashing stock rom for Samsung devices with Heimdall - General Questions and Answers

Hello y'all.
I got this SM-A530F/DS, a galaxy A8 (2018), from a relative that got a problem. I am not sure about specifics, but it was never tampered with or rooted, I believe that things start to go bad after an unsuccesful OTA update. The phone does not boot, it just stays on samsung logo screen indefinetly, I can put the phone on download mode though so I think this is fixable by flashing the stock rom anew.
Now I got the stock firmware from sammobile and it seems good, but it is on a format for Odin, unfortunately I dont have access to a Windows computer, just Linux. So I got heimdall and read through whatever info I could find and I think I grok the fundamentals.
TLDR:
I have the following questions about the process:
1) Inside the stock files there is a .pit file that I assume is tailored to the stock ROM being distributed, should I use this .pit or should I use the one that I can extract from the phone with Heimdall?
2) The .img files seem to be lz4 compressed so should I first decompress those, or can I pass the compressed file to heimdall?
3) Inside the tar file for Odin {AP, BL, CP, CSC} there are a meta-data folder with a fota.zip file, does this file in any way influence heimdall flashing process?
p.s. I not sure if this should be moved to the device subforum as the questions mainly deal with the Samsung devices and heimdall in general and I could not find a Samsung sub forum to post this to

So I got the situation sorted.
1) The .pit file in the stock rom was the same as the phones, so I didnt have to do anything about that
2) The .img, .bin files must be decompressed first, not a great deal just had to 'lz4 -d' those
3) Those fota.zip didnt matter for heimdall, I just followed the phones .pit file to match partition names to partitions file and did a single 'heimdall flash' command

Related

[Q] GT-P5113 modify stock firmware and flash question

I have spent several weeks working on this (reading thread after thread) on modifying stock firmware and im running into a problem. I more or less want to know if what i want to do is actually possible. I have downloaded the original .tar.md5 firmware image, opened with 7zip and "extracted" the .tar file (more or less just removed the hash) and then extracted the .img files from the .tar file. I have unpacked/mounted/modified/repacked using several methods (dsixda kitchen -which havent been able to work around adding the java path since after i add the path cygwin thinks im missing clean app until i remove the path in which case i get an error saying it cant find java/ i have tried mounting using ext4_utils in ubuntu) my issue arises when i take my modified and repacked system.img file i cant get it to work either by 1. zipping it in a .tar with the other .img files and flashing with odin, 2. zipping system.img alone into a .tar and flashing with odin, 3. installing cwm/root and flashing the system.img)
More or less my question is
1. is it possible to modify the stock firmware and load it onto the tablet without rooting
2. can system.img be flashed by itself or does it need the other .img files in the same .tar
3. does the tar file require being signed before flashing even with CWM recovery and root already on the tablet?
I have used these forums for a while to find answers, but i am new to posting, i havent needed to post a question until now since i spend as much time researching as i can before bothering people with a question (i like to figure stuff out and hate to admit defeat) Thanks in advance for the help despite my noobishness

[Q] Help With Heimdall Flashing Stock Tar

I want to flash the 'stock everthing' .tar from SAMMOBILE. I've done this with Odin before, but don't have access to a Windows machine at the moment and am looking to do this with Heimdall. I am on Xubuntu.
I installed the latest version Heimdall and the frontend, tried to load the .tar from SAMMOBILE, but it errored out saying the 'firmware.xml' was missing.
Assuming the firmware.xml file just held information about the package for Heimdall to read, I didn't find it a big deal.
I then installed an older version of Heimdall thinking that it wouldn't require a firmware.xml file. So now when I open up Heimdall, I see the following.
Screenshot - Attached
So I then went on to extract the tar on my computer and have the following files..
Screenshot - Attached
I guess my question is, which of those files go into which fields so that I can flash all of them and return to stock.
Thanks.
sajanNOPPIX said:
I want to flash the 'stock everthing' .tar from SAMMOBILE. I've done this with Odin before, but don't have access to a Windows machine at the moment and am looking to do this with Heimdall. I am on Xubuntu.
I installed the latest version Heimdall and the frontend, tried to load the .tar from SAMMOBILE, but it errored out saying the 'firmware.xml' was missing.
Assuming the firmware.xml file just held information about the package for Heimdall to read, I didn't find it a big deal.
I then installed an older version of Heimdall thinking that it wouldn't require a firmware.xml file. So now when I open up Heimdall, I see the following.
Screenshot - Attached
So I then went on to extract the tar on my computer and have the following files..
Screenshot - Attached
I guess my question is, which of those files go into which fields so that I can flash all of them and return to stock.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bump?
The last time I checked heimdall didn't support our device. But its been a while since I checked.
If you Google search "how to create a heimdall package" you'll get plenty of answers:thumbup:
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

First ever attempt to upgrade my tab and failed! Need some direction

With much embarrassment I have to admit I really thought I was smarter than a tablet and a few simple clicks. Apparently not. So now I am here with issues that I am sure someone can answer because your more advanced than a few clicks and a tablet.
I have briefly looked for a resolve to my issue but it is very overwhelming. So if you can just point me in the right direction and hold my hand at the same time I would be very appreciative :good:
Issues:
I originally downloaded Odin, GT-P5113 4.0.4, CM 12.1, CW Unofficial Touch 6.0.3.3 p5100 zip. I launced Odin and followed the steps from a you-tube video. Well upon my surprise CW was not on the tablet so I was at the Tabs generic recovery screen. I choose the option to delete all user data ( lots of no's to select from and one Yes). Well continuing to be a fool I completed this process. When the tablet rebooted I was stuck at the Samsung logo screen. I decided to get to the download screen and install smt810_cf_autoroot.tar. After loading this tar via Odin I became stuck on the Android man downloading screen. Waited a bit and nothing. Then my tablet shut down and came up with "Firmware upgrade encountered and issue" with the tablet-yellow ! icon and pc icon.
Another issue is when i download these files Odin will not find them in my file. Why? I usually keep them unzipped as a .rar in order for odin to show them so I can select PDA and attempt to install them.
Is there a way to still upgrade the Android system and fix this Firmware error at the same time?
Basically I am so new to this I need specific directions on resolving my issue. So if anyone has a moment please help me out here. I appreciate your time and knowledge
And I can use Odin to install to the tablet. If that helps Just not in the download screen on the tablet.
Learning76 said:
And I can use Odin to install to the tablet. If that helps Just not in the download screen on the tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first you should download the stock firmware of your device, if it's p5113 then search and download the same firmware.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2203309 check this thread if it's there, if it's not please google it, if already have it, ignore..
Once you have it, you should get the firmware md5 file (by unzipping the rar.) Odin will take tar file or md5 file. put it in Odin AP/PDA check the thread for all the details on how to flash correctly.
you have to get into download mode by pressing the power and volume up/right to do that once the firmware is successfully flashed and your tab starts running again. first get this part done.
Always use files that are meant only for your device. if your tab say p5113. then make sure the file you are flashing states it is meant for p5113 and not p5100. (maybe not in the rooting case cause it's same
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2203309 here for all)
At some places you will find files marked as p51xx. those files are generally safe too and are meant for the p51xx tab series but that is later stage.
I appreciate the feedback and have found I had tried to flash my tablet with GT-P5110 software when i actually have a GT-P5113TS. I have found the firmware but my issue is when I download anything and extract it with using rar. I never get a .tar file or anything Odin can not recognize to select PDA and use.. What would cause that? How do I fix this?
Thank You
Learning76 said:
I appreciate the feedback and have found I had tried to flash my tablet with GT-P5110 software when i actually have a GT-P5113TS. I have found the firmware but my issue is when I download anything and extract it with using rar. I never get a .tar file or anything Odin can not recognize to select PDA and use.. What would cause that? How do I fix this?
Thank You
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try winrar or 7zip, it should extract, you need md5 or tar format in pda section. If not what error are you getting? There must be some file when you open the archive?
Basically when I download the zip file I want and then extract it to a specific folder. All I after unzipping is File folders with other file folders inside,Img, File, PROP, and SH. I never extract anything that is a Tar file or anything Odin can recognize when on PDA within Odin. Plus a lot of times I click on a link for a download off this site and it sends me to some watch-movies website. Not a actual download. Or I am just missing it.
Learning76 said:
Basically when I download the zip file I want and then extract it to a specific folder. All I after unzipping is File folders with other file folders inside,Img, File, PROP, and SH. I never extract anything that is a Tar file or anything Odin can recognize when on PDA within Odin. Plus a lot of times I click on a link for a download off this site and it sends me to some watch-movies website. Not a actual download. Or I am just missing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it's a bad link to your stock file then. Perhaps someone can give proper file link to the stock firmware. Inside the zip it's basically a md5 file for firmware to flash. Sadly I don't have a proper yoi will have to find of the net.

Odin Error (Can't open the specified file) line 1892 - FIXED (for me)

Hope this might help someone here.
I rooted my s8+ and basically got stuck with a soft-bricked phone, telling me I could only use official firmware etc etc. I was able to get the phone into download mode (eventually) but I wasn't able to flash anything including the stock Pie rom. I spent all night trying to find a solution to no avail and then found this, which I've edited a bit. And it worked. I've now got my s8+ back with Android 9 on it without any bloatware and it's actually better than ever. Thanks to Krolik301 for your help. I'm just hoping this may help someone.
1. Download the stock ROM and extract it.
2. Make a copy of the CSC file and rename one from the file type .md5 to .rar
3. Extract the PIT file from the CSC .rar file.
4. In Odin v3.13, make sure you add all four files from the extracted ROM (BL, AP, CP and CSC).
5. Click the PIT tab and add the PIT file that you just extracted from the CSC.rar file.
6. I the Options tab of Odin, make sure that Re-Partition, Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time are all ticked.
7. Click Start and hopefully you'll be back to your stock ROM
And please don't hold me responsible for any loss of data or a phone that still won't boot.
Hope this helps someone. Happy Easter
Muddyfunk said:
Hope this might help someone here.
I rooted my s8+ and basically got stuck with a soft-bricked phone, telling me I could only use official firmware etc etc. I was able to get the phone into download mode (eventually) but I wasn't able to flash anything including the stock Pie rom. I spent all night trying to find a solution to no avail and then found this, which I've edited a bit. And it worked. I've now got my s8+ back with Android 9 on it without any bloatware and it's actually better than ever. Thanks to Krolik301 for your help. I'm just hoping this may help someone.
1. Download the stock ROM and extract it.
2. Make a copy of the CSC file and rename one from the file type .md5 to .rar
3. Extract the PIT file from the CSC .rar file.
4. In Odin v3.13, make sure you add all four files from the extracted ROM (BL, AP, CP and CSC).
5. Click the PIT tab and add the PIT file that you just extracted from the CSC.rar file.
6. I the Options tab of Odin, make sure that Re-Partition, Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time are all ticked.
7. Click Start and hopefully you'll be back to your stock ROM
And please don't hold me responsible for any loss of data or a phone that still won't boot.
Hope this helps someone. Happy Easter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello. I'm helping someone on discord with this exact issue (the error code is "can't open the specified file (line 665)". I extracted the PIT file from CSC and placed it into the PIT file. I also put all of the firmware files in their proper place (except for HOME_CSC, as he wants to keep his files). Do I absolutely have to put the CSC file in place of the HOME_CSC file?

Rooting Samsung J4 Core - only official binaries allowed

Hello, apologies if this isn't the right place to post this question but I'm at a complete lost and I'm desperately trying to fix the device. My goal was to simply root the device.
I tried following this guide but by the end of my first run of the guide I had errors with the contacts and phone android apps. But the device still wasn't root. I attempted it again only to break the device completely. I wasn't even able to open Android Recovery and only flashing the bootloader only did I manage to to back to the recovery screen. However, from here, I am unable to flash the firmware any further. I only get a message now notifying me: "only official released binaries are allowed to be flashed".
What I'm hoping to achieve with this question is to get some direct guidance on how to resolve my current error. I've followed a few guides and thread a few threads but nothing seems 100% applicable to my issue or the device.
Using Odin3_v3.13.1 and what I think is the stock firmware for J4 (following the download links on the guides) I do the following:
Unzip the binaries with 7zip ZS to uncompressed the various files, specifically the AP, BL, CP, CSC and HOME MD5 files.
I further unzip the AP file and drag the boot.img.lz4 into lz4.exe to just give me the img file.
I run that through Magisk Manager to create a patch file (on another phone) and reupload back to the pc.
I then take the patched file and drag it into lz4.exe to just give me the img.lz4 file
I then delete the original boot.img file and select all of the files and compress into a tar archive.
OR, even without doing any of that and just straight selecting the AP file without doing the patching, I either get a straight up FAIL! (Auth) from Odin and if that doesn't happen, I get the error on the phone itself saying that "only official released binaries are allowed to be flashed".
And that's where I'm just stuck. I know there are many guides, and I tried making sure I have the best one and knowing what to do, but I think I messed something up along the lines. Any assistance would really be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

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