Lost in Seattle with an apparently rooted Galaxy Note Pro 12.2

[Vasubandu]

Hi all, I do not understand your magic and really hope I don't have to learn too much of it. I have never rooted a device, so please bear with me. I just purchased a used Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 off eBay. I did my research and planned to just follow instructions to root it and upgrade to Android 10. However, I had a few issues and when I tried to boot to recovery mode, I get an android on its side with a red triangle. In the upper left hand corner, it says

Android System Recovery <3e>
KOT49H.P())XXUANB2

Volume up/down to move highlight
power button to select

reboot system now
apply update from ADB
apply update from external storage
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache partition
apply update from cache

Power-Volume down takes me to a screen that says

WARNING!
A custom OS can cause critical problems in phone and installed applications
If you want to download a custom OS press the volume up key
Otherwise, press the volume down key to cancel

When I press Volume up, I get a screen with the green android and the message

Downloading...
Do not turn off target

In the upper left hand corner it says
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: SM-P900
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official
SYSTEM STATUS: Official
KNOW WARRANTY VOID: 1
AP SWREV A1

It then is stuck there. It seems like I cannot turn it off for a while like it is timing out.

It has Android 4.2.2. When I go the update in settings, it downloads a file but will not install it.

So I did some more research, and I believe that the device is already rooted with Odin (not quite sure what that is). If my hunch is correct, a lot of the work has already been done. The device was restored to version 4.2.2. By the way, an upgrade in settings downloads a new version, but it will not install.

If anyone could walk me through the process from where I am to install Android 10, I would be ever so grateful. I need a stable version, so if Android 10 is not finished, whatever version makes sense. Right now, it will not install things like Hulu or Outlook.

Although I do not know much about Android, I can follow instructions. And I know very well that I proceed at my own risk.

Thanks!

 

[rhricik447]

Bubble-burst here...

First and foremost... you can't get Android 10 on the SMP-900. This is an older device and is no longer supported/updated by Samsung, so the binary blobs that connect the hardware to the operating system are stuck at Android 5.0.2 (I think - the numbers AFTER the decimal may be off by a few, but point is that Samsung's last supported update was for Android 5.xxx). There are some later ROMs (what you're trying to load) that were made by some great developers that shimmed those binary blobs into a newer version of Android (AOSP) or LineageOS that makes the tablet quite usable and enjoyable.
I personally am running LineageOS and OpenGapps (the OpenGapps project is an open source version of Google's proprietary framework that makes things like Gmail, Calendar, Play Store, etc, work) and it works great. That at least gets you a more up-to-date tablet that runs better than Samsung's last update.

It sounds like you got a corrupted op/sys or bootloader and a corrupted (or missing) recovery image. The reference to Odin is the mode it is currently sitting in - Odin is the software that Samsung uses to load the images onto the device. You are basically holding a 'raw' SMP-900.

You are going to need to:
1) Download a copy of Odin for whatever operating system you use, i.e., Windows/Mac/Linux
2) Download a copy of an official Samsung Android 5.xx ROM (to get the new bootloader you'll need to upgrade to LineageOS later - trust me, you want this!)
3) Use Odin to load the official Samsung ROM on the device
4) Once you have the device booting up on the official Samsung ROM, you're back in business
5) Download TWRP recovery for this device (v1awifi) and use Odin to install it
6) Root the tablet
7) Install LineageOS
8) Install OpenGapps
9) Install the LineageOS root app (or install Magisk... your choice)
10) finish up the installation with whatever software you want to install from Play Store

Since most, if not all, of this is well documented in various places on this site... the search box can be your best friend. Most everyone here will offer help if you run into trouble, but please search this site first - there are some really, really good instructions and videos of just about everything you will need to do to get the SMP-900 to an nice, usable tablet. Oh, and remember that this is a 32-bit device, so when you go to OpenGapps, make sure you select the 32 bit version.

Good Luck, and remember to read/watch stuff twice, THEN do it.

 

[Vasubandu]

Thank you so much, friend. This is exactly what I was looking for. I am quite capable of searching and I have been a lifelong of measure twice, cut once.

I have downloaded Odin for Windows, and it recognizes the SMP-900, so that is something. I really appreciate the heads up about Android 10. I wondered about it. Double thanks for the 32 bit warning. I downloaded the 64 bit.

You have given me a clear road map, and I no longer feel lost. I completely understand about searching before asking questions and will try to make any questions I ask focused. People here have been very generous with their time in the past, and as you said there is a lot of wisdom for the asking here.

I think I will track my progress and perhaps put up a post detailing my experience for comic relief if nothing else.

Your reference to Lineage is new to me, but if I understand you, it will serve my purposes.

I will upgrade the SMP-900 to the latest Samsung ROM as you indicated. That makes sense, and I tried earlier, but it would not install.

Again, I cannot thank you enough.

 

[Vasubandu]

You da bomb!

Thanks again for your help. I am not at Android 5.0.2 and ready to move on with TWRP, boot and lineage. You have made a terrifying process understandable.

 

[Vasubandu]

Mission Accomplished I think

I followed your instructions carefully and had to do some research along the way. I did not find an official lineageos file for the P900, but did find files here for 14.1 and 17.1. I ended up installing TWRP from Google Play, and once I figured out how to start it, things seemed to go well. Took a while for me to understand not to unzip the zip file. I downloaded

lineage-17.1-20200412-UNOFFICIAL-viennalte
lineage-14.1-20200523-UNOFFICIAL-v1awifi
open_gapps-arm-10.0-stock-20200523
open_gapps-arm-7.1-pico-20200523

to my SD Card. Then, in TWRP, I wiped everything and tried to install lineage-17.1-20200412-UNOFFICIAL-viennalte and open_gapps-arm-10.0-stock-20200523. That did not work. I got some kinds of error or reset message. I wondered if 17.1 was pushing things, so I tried again with lineage-14.1-20200523-UNOFFICIAL-v1awifi and open_gapps-arm-7.1-pico-20200523. That time, it went very smoothly. The device now boots up with LineageOS. It seems to have Android 7.1.2.

My purpose for the table was to watch Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime video and Youtube basically. Maybe play games if I ever have the desire. Nothing would loan on 4.4.2. This time, I was able to install everything from Google Play except for Netflix. I kept getting a message that my device was not compatible, but a little searching took me to a Netflix page with a direct download, and now everything seems to working great.

I cannot think of any Android advances after 7.1.2 that I really want or need. It seems to suit my purposes as is, so unless I discover a reason to throw caution to the wind, I think I will leave it as-is.

You took a task that seemed impossible and gave me the guidance I needed to figure it out. I am sure that you saved me at least 20 hours of searching that may not even have been successful. It is so wonderful to encounter people like you who will take a few minutes to help people you don't know. I will always be grateful, and I will think of you every time I start the device. Thank you.