[Q] Developer Edition Tar 4.4.4 NE9

[hill180]

I may have messed up, but I am not 100%, not use to Samsung Devices.

I have a developers edition S5.

I tried to run updates but it would not take any update OTA even though there were two, NCG was the current room.

I flashed the ni2 via odin.

Now on the screen, instead of Mode: Developer, it says Qualcomm Secureboot.

I am not sure if I relocked the bootloader, if it can be unlocked,

Or this just the need to go into a recovery and flash a different rom.

Did I relock the bootloader?

 

[jpcalhoun]

I may have messed up, but I am not 100%, not use to Samsung Devices.

I have a developers edition S5.

I tried to run updates but it would not take any update OTA even though there were two, NCG was the current room.

I flashed the ni2 via odin.

Now on the screen, instead of Mode: Developer, it says Qualcomm Secureboot.

I am not sure if I relocked the bootloader, if it can be unlocked,

Or this just the need to go into a recovery and flash a different rom.

Did I relock the bootloader?

I believe you have. But first I need to ask you 1) were you rooted and 2) did you have a custom recovery (TWRP) on your phone before you ODIN'd NI2? If you had TWRP on your phone before ODIN can you get into TWRP recovery now? Just an FYI, Samsung does not send out, in any form (OTA or otherwise) updates to the Developer Edition phones. The explanation for why they don't is long and no one except for Samsung knows for sure and they are not commenting on the issue. Dev owners keep their phones up to date by flashing custom ROMs released by our Dev community for retail and dev edition phones.

 

[GuestK00143]

Did I relock the bootloader?

When you flashed the stock tar you locked the bootloader and unfortunately you will need to contact Samsung and explain what you did. Most likely you will need to send the phone in so they can unlock it again. Contact them first.

 

[jpcalhoun]

When you flashed the stock tar you locked the bootloader and unfortunately you will need to contact Samsung and explain what you did. Most likely you will need to send the phone in so they can unlock it again. Contact them first.

I think you're right Misterxtc, unfortunately all Samsung is going to do is return him a retail version of the S5. According to 3 other Dev owners that locked their bootloaders all Samsung would do is return their phones to working order, but no unlocked bootloader.

 

[GuestK00143]

I think you're right Misterxtc, unfortunately all Samsung is going to do is return him a retail version of the S5. According to 3 other Dev owners that locked their bootloaders all Samsung would do is return their phones to working order, but no unlocked bootloader.

That doesn't sound too promising. They really need to change their policy on that.

 

[elliwigy]

im not sure why you would have flashed a ne9 tar when instructions clearly say NOT to flash odin tars on a dev edition s5 because it will lock the bootloader

Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app

 

[hill180]

Thank you all.

Yes the phone has been locked. Obviously I blame myself for not researching and just assuming.

If there is a silver lining, it appears my phone has a bad microphone, when I called, Samsung wanted to do an warranty exchange. I told them it was a new item less than 5 days, so I am just going to return.

Still debating if I should wait a few month and get the S5 locked from VZW as I am not seeing a lot of dev (although it makes it easier to root), or if I should get another model of phone all together, or reorder the S5 Dev Edition.

 

[jpcalhoun]

Thank you all.

Yes the phone has been locked. Obviously I blame myself for not researching and just assuming.

If there is a silver lining, it appears my phone has a bad microphone, when I called, Samsung wanted to do an warranty exchange. I told them it was a new item less than 5 days, so I am just going to return.

Still debating if I should wait a few month and get the S5 locked from VZW as I am not seeing a lot of dev (although it makes it easier to root), or if I should get another model of phone all together, or reorder the S5 Dev Edition.

I hope Samsung does right by you. Just my opinion, but I think the Developer Edition S5 is the best phone on the market right now. The only other phone, that I know of, that allows the user the flexibility and performance of a unlocked bootloader phone is the HTC M8. The M8 is a good phone no doubt, but I like the S5 better. True, there aren't that many ROMs rilght now, but more and more get added as time goes by. The ROMs that are available are good, staple ROMs and range anywhere from super customization available to the user to lean, debloated super fast with great battery life...and a couple in between. Your choice, but if Samsung will replace your Dev Edition with a new Dev Edition...I think that is your best bet right now. But that is just my opinion. Good luck.

 

[hill180]

I hope Samsung does right by you. Just my opinion, but I think the Developer Edition S5 is the best phone on the market right now. The only other phone, that I know of, that allows the user the flexibility and performance of a unlocked bootloader phone is the HTC M8. The M8 is a good phone no doubt, but I like the S5 better. True, there aren't that many ROMs rilght now, but more and more get added as time goes by. The ROMs that are available are good, staple ROMs and range anywhere from super customization available to the user to lean, debloated super fast with great battery life...and a couple in between. Your choice, but if Samsung will replace your Dev Edition with a new Dev Edition...I think that is your best bet right now. But that is just my opinion. Good luck.

Thanks, Samsung is def returning the Dev phone without a 15% restock (have rma). Not because of the locking, but because of the mic. I think you are correct.

I had to go to my standby which is the dev Moto X. Love this phone, but the photos are bad, and it is slow. When I confirm the credit has been giving for the Dev phone, I will reorder the Dev edition. This time I will have to figure out a way to make a backup for resell, and flash only using TWRP.

 

[jpcalhoun]

Thanks, Samsung is def returning the Dev phone without a 15% restock (have rma). Not because of the locking, but because of the mic. I think you are correct.

I had to go to my standby which is the dev Moto X. Love this phone, but the photos are bad, and it is slow. When I confirm the credit has been giving for the Dev phone, I will reorder the Dev edition. This time I will have to figure out a way to make a backup for resell, and flash only using TWRP.

I've always been a Moto fan myself, but although they still make good phones, they're not great phones (camera, display etc). I just post a "Do's and Don'ts" for Dev owners. Give it a read and let me know if I should add something to the thread. I've seen six users brick their Dev S5s in the past couple of weeks, hopefully the thread will help the next guy from making a mistake: http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/developer-edition-s5-dos-donts-t2895563

 

[hill180]

I've always been a Moto fan myself, but although they still make good phones, they're not great phones (camera, display etc). I just post a "Do's and Don'ts" for Dev owners. Give it a read and let me know if I should add something to the thread. I've seen six users brick their Dev S5s in the past couple of weeks, hopefully the thread will help the next guy from making a mistake: http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/developer-edition-s5-dos-donts-t2895563

great read. (I my case I would have still been returning my phone, but the next S5 will be safe )

The only add, if even possible. It is possible to backup the stock recovery before installing TWRP. So when it is time to sell, you can return the TWRP original backup and flash the original stock recovery?

 

[jpcalhoun]

great read. (I my case I would have still been returning my phone, but the next S5 will be safe )

The only add, if even possible. It is possible to backup the stock recovery before installing TWRP. So when it is time to sell, you can return the TWRP original backup and flash the original stock recovery?

That's a great question and one that I have been trying to figure how to do. I am not sure about this, but in order to backup a stock recovery you would have to use ADB and do a total backup of the phone that way. I have never tried that and I don't know for sure if it will even work using ADB. Here is how I look at it...who would want to pay $550 (or less) for a Developer Edition phone and never replace the stock recovery with a custom recovery? It doesn't make sense. In fact, the only way you can tell that a Developer Edition phone has not been inadvertently "locked" (not trying to stick a finger in your eye here) is to ask/see if a custom recovery is installed. If not, then there is no guarantee to the buyer that the bootloader is truly unlocked. SafeStrap does not count!