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Duplicate text Samsung Galaxy i5500 / 5 / Europa

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!
*********
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!) ?

Samsung IMEI missing

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...

LG G3 Can't Access Hidden Service Menu With MMI Code

Hello all, I have run into some unfortunate trouble that I'm sure many of you have heard about before. I shall start with the short and sweet for those who know about this, and then move onto a detailed description of the events and steps I've taken. Put simply, for those in the know: My phone always runs into the "Connection problem or invalid MMI code" error when attempting to access the hidden Service Menu.
The details:
My phone, an LG G3, used to be working well, without any significant issues for a significant time. Then, one day, it was acting slowly for no clear reason. I decided that a reboot would be the most likely help. When my phone came back on, it was very hot. I also noticed that I could no longer double-tap the screen to turn it on -- a feature called KnockON. This works also to turn off the screen, when on the lock or home screen. I restarted the phone and set it to cool down near a vent, hoping this would set everything as it was before. The issues remained, and those issues were that a few features, just a small handful that I observed, were switched. If they were disabled, they were turned on, and if they were enabled, they were turned off. Not many, so I dealt with all of them quickly. Examples: The battery percentage was hidden, when I had it showing. Vibrate On Tap was active, even though I leave it off. And most importantly, KnockON, a feature not in an openly accessible menu, suddenly no longer worked.
After some research, I discovered that those seeking to disable the KnockON feature can go through the Dialer, by typing in it special codes called MMI codes, which would depend on the phone model, primarily. The site stated that what needs to be entered into the Dialer is: 3845#*XXX# where XXX is the model number of the phone, or 855 is it is an international model. Apparently, this model number actually varies by Provider. AT&T uses 850, T-Mobile uses 851... This is irrelevant, but slightly interesting. By searching in the regular menus, I determine that my model number is 852. Thus, I enter the code as instructed, and receive an error message, which follows me with every future attempt I make with other codes just in case: "Connection problem or invalid MMI code"
Source for the MMI code information: The article is called "How to disable KnockON (double tap to wake) on the LG G3 and other LG Android phones" but I cannot link it in my post.
Now, I've asked LG for their customer service person to help me out. After a series of live chats and calls, mostly summing up to "Hard Reset" a specialist told me that the code which I found online is wrong for my phone. Because my provider is Canadian, "3845" is not how my code is supposed to begin. Therefore I have to ask my provider, Virgin Mobile, to give me their MMI code. Virgin leads has their own agent then explain to me that they don't have any MMI codes, that this is a matter for the Manufacturer to handle. Therefore I was just led in a loop. Which one is really supposed to have this number in one of their documents somewhere? I'd imagine somebody made the system and determined how these phones are preset before customer use, including these, and that the rules can be found somewhere. This is irrelevant, as it appears I will never know.
Among the other solutions I've tried through research and suggestions by the help desk agents include:
-Going to the Mobile Networks submenu and making sure that my provider's network is properly selected (after all, the first part of the error message says "Connection problem...")
-Using a comma or a plus sign in various places when dialing in order to use their supposed ability to force the MMI code to go through by ignoring the error message (the comma never had any effect, and the plus sign failed with a disconnecting call)
-Restarting my phone
-Inputting the code while in Safe Mode
One possible solution that failed was accessing the hidden "Info" menu in order to enable SMS Over IMS (VoLTE). This was suggested as a solution, for reasons unknown to me, but I could not even attempt it because a message popped up when I tried to access that section of the Info menu, clearly stating that my phone wasn't permitted to go there. This hints that maybe my Service Menu is disabled too, but can't be assumed with absolute confidence.
As far as I am aware, these are all the steps I've taken to resolve this issue, and all the necessary context behind it. If you stop by to help, I thank you very much for your time and effort.

Found it!
Hi, I was having the same problem and then read your post, after many tries, no codes worked, until I found a video on youtube.
I also found that the model number on my Virgin Canada phone had D850 on the back, but D852 in the settings... I guess that made the other codes useless...
Anyhow, If your still stuck the code is
*#546368#*XXX#

Thank you!
You are amazing! I really wish I knew why neither the cell carrier nor the manufacturer know their codes, but you are awesome, thank you so much. I can finally use KnockON/OFF again!

Additional question
Kyrev, did your issue get triggered the same way as mine? Sudden overheating? And did multiple of your features toggle just like in my issue?

Bought used 970F with Magisk, relocked, flashed stock UI5, no network at all

*****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

G970U1 has the wrong CSC I think - causing issues - how to fix?

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.