[Q] Restore to stock with Kies - flash counter question

Hi

I'm currently on CM11 (nightly and TWRP) and want to revert to stock. Kies has the "Firmware upgrade and initialization" option ..
My question is:

Is it necessary to reset the flash counter in order to use this? What will happen if I try to use it without resetting the counter?

I tried to find an answer for the last few days, but couldn't (or couldn't understand what I found).

The backstory is my serial number was reset and I can't connect to network after flashing ArchiDroid with a new modem. I afterwards flashed a different (JB) modem. I was already on Samsung stock 4.3 so I guess my efs is v2 (so no Ariza's patch..), and I have some backups of it.
I'd rather not use Odin or ADB. I figured the easiest and safest way is to reset and restore everything to stock, send to a lab if necessary, then reinstall cm11. I'm also not sure how restoring the efs works ..

I'll be very thankful for any feedback, as I've been wasting a lot of time on trying to solve it recently ..

Ron

andrewwright said:

Kies sucks. Flash with Odin and no it don't matter about flash counter. Flash counter only matters when sending back to samsung service.

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Thanks. Flashed with Odin - something went wrong at first, then went fine and now the phone won't boot But I'm on the right track and lost my fear of Odin, so thanks

andrewwright said:

Factory reset it stock recovery and reboot.

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That solved it. Unfortunately my phone would not connect to the cellular network stating "service is not available". Good thing I have a backup phone (in which the same SIM works ...)

Personally I don't think Kies is that back, but Samsung's mobile-related software (Android, apps, etc.) is truly bad. Kies was mainly useless when it was relevant ..