yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
Can someone please upload firmware 4.0 so I can unlock my gfs phone. Thanks
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] premsuni:
link

http://www.4shared.com/zip/MB4g5bTCce/I437UCALI6_ATTALI6_ATT_USA_ATT.html
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
Good lookin! Is this just the modem or is it the full firmware?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] premsuni:
link

Its a whole firmware. Look at my older posts to unlock the phone.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
Good lookin.... odin failed tho. The model number has like a z at the end or something tho so I'm thinking cause it's version? It's att tho
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] 4b3ck:
I've got i437Z too ... do you was able to unlock by downgrading??
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Rayksu:
any one plz have the Express-OUDHS-CWM.tar working download lind and can lend it to me plz? im desperate
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
You're in luck I had it backed up on my Drive. Hope this works for you.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz_XWMaCuwPDODdYRF9pRFZkVDQ/view?usp=sharing
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JDC2389:
Yeah it looks like I am in the same boat now. Either at&t software update sucks and just isn't working or it's seeing that my phone is different a bit and won't give me the update. Hey blind you should upload and share the stock recovery you managed to get. You should try sending the Recovery to Chainfire maybe he can help.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
Sworder,

Never mind. Bad advice.

Jdc,

I'd be interested in the details as to what, exactly, blindartisan did.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
@invert_nexus

The galaxy express follows a mmc partition format. This format actually turned out to be identical to the galaxy s3. (although recoveries, roms, and rooting methods are different. Attempt at your own risk)

I'll explain my process.

Try in terminal "cat /proc/partitions" this will list 23 something unnamed labels.

Although if you do "cat /proc/mounts" it will list the mounted partitions.

I downloaded the disk info app and it found the sizes for all the blocks.

I compared this to an image of Samsung partitions (included in attachments)

Seems easier than it was but the blocks were found.

Anyway to address the issue of the Express not having a recovery partition; in short it does. The partition is /dev/block/mmcblk0p18

@rdawson28

I have included a stock recovery in attachments.

Download, unzip, and place this file into your sdcard

To revert your recovery do the following in terminal emulator

su

dd if=/sdcard/Express-Recovery.img of=/dev/block/mmc0p18

(make sure to be careful typing the partition as you could write over the wrong partition.)

It should say some text then you can boot into recovery to check if it works by typing "reboot recovery"(without quotes)

@shimp208

I will make a copy, thanks =)

@Sworder and invert_nexus (about the update)

I haven't pushed the update yet I will get back to you with a solution. EDIT:

it seems that you mean you deleted the AT&T update app? if so I can get you a copy as that isn't in the app store.

Edit for lolz I tried to update jellybean without having my recovery installed almost flipped a table trying to figure out why it wasn't working >_<

@everyone I hope these resources help further Galaxy Express Development =)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
awesome thanks downloading now ill let ya know how it works out
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
BlindArtisan,

Thanks for the process. I'd hoped we wouldn't have to mess with initranfs, but wasn't sure and my eyes were crossing trying to find relevant posts.

I did know about the recovery partition from a different avenue. While looking for the ota update in cache, I found /cache/recovery/last-log which contained this:

I just wasn't sure if that actually invalidated the initramfs theory or not. Hopefully, it does.

If so, then we just have to create a working cwm.

Fingers crossed.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
got the recovery working by typing

su

dd if=/sdcard/Express-Recovery.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p18

then tried the update again keeps saying install interupted

hopefully we get a cwm recovery soon and some roms
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
FLASHING THE UPDATE IN RECOVERY WILL WIPE YOUR DEVICE.

TRY TO DO IT THROUGH OTA AND/OR MAKE BACKUPS

Some people learn the hard way ='(

I found a solution for those who have delete system apps.

Note 2400258 refers to the update number. there is a different update number in your /cache/fota folder then use that.

Download the OTA. When the OTA is complete do not install. Go to /cache/fota and copy the 2400258.cfg to sdcard (or pull to computer through adb)

On your computer rename 2400258.cfg to 2400258.zip.

Open the zip to 2400258.zip\system\app\ Copy extract all to a folder.

Open the zip to 2400258.zip\patch\system\app\ Copy extract all to a folder. These files will end with .p you need to remove all the .p extensions so that the file ends in either .apk or odex (use a batch file or a program!!)

When done put the folder onto your device.

Make a copy of /system/app folder (backups are good since you will be adding a ton of bloat to your apps)

Move all the files to your /system/app folder. (moving is faster than copying)

Wait for the files to finish. (this will take a long while)

Optional: delete any duplicates (I recommend SDMaid)

You can now try to OTA update again.

If that still fails try the following.

Put the 2400258.zip onto an external SD

Reboot into recovery.

Apply update from external storage

Select and flash 2400258.zip

If there is a (status 7) error read what apk is missing and install.

Once the patching goes through your device will reboot. The att logo will now be different and will freeze there for a while.

Enjoy your update.

DO THE FOLLOWING ONLY IF YOU ORIGINALLY MADE A BACKUP OF /system/app

For nice removal of the bloatware you just added to install the OTA.

Make a new backup of the /system/app with all the apps installed (for the next OTA)

delete the apps from /system/app

add the system apps from the backup you made before the OTA ( The one missing the apps)

Enjoy the bloat free jellybean
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
So, just to verify, you've updated and are still rooted?

---------- Post added at 03:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:25 PM ----------

Oh. And for those who have to wait 24 hours to try updating again, set your clock manually forward one day.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
Unfortunately I am updated and my /data was wiped so that means no root. I would use ota root keeper.

Also you can simply clear cache of att update to force another ota
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JDC2389:
Can someone upload the OTA update here please! I messed up my phone. I att update stuck on "Connecting to DM server.."
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
Messed up how?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
I'm not sure that ota rootkeeper will work. At least it says that it won't work for s and the s2. I suppose it might be significant that it didn't mention the s3. Only one way to find out and then it's too late.

But, what I'm wondering is if the unlockroot exploit still works.

---------- Post added at 04:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:53 PM ----------

I've seen that before. It generally clears up. What I've done before is going to manage apps and force stop the update process. Then reboot. Then set the date forward if it won't let you update yet.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JDC2389:
Please upload the ota update! I messed it up by doing a factory reset like an idiot, I replaced the stock launcher and keyboard now I have neither so yeah it's pretty bad. :[

E:also I think the att update thing sees that I am missing some stuff it deems necessary to have and it's denying access. I have cleared the update cache etc and restarted the update a bunch of times always to get stuck on "Connecting to DM server.."
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
Know a good file server?

It will take awhile.

I just looked into how a factory reset actually works and I realize that I was under a miscomprehension. I thought it flashed a factory rom backup. Now I see that it doesn't even touch system.

Maybe you need a stock system dump. Can you use adb still?

Edit: Actually, would be quicker to simply send you the missing files rather than the whole dump. Do you know which files you need?

---------- Post added at 05:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:24 PM ----------

Jdc,

I'm uploading to my dropbox now. I'll send you a link when its done.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
Can anyone tell me the size of the OTA update? (or upload) It seems like mine was corrupt and I cannot enable wi-fi.

Neither ATT or samsung could be helpful in providing a factory image or the update. Basically they told me to send it in so they could flash stock.....

For comparison mine was 418,327,613.00 bytes
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
Mine's the same size.

Here's the checksum (note: this after copying to extSdCard thus erasing file permissions.)

09786adb93677364064efcec12d004df
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
Genius... they don't have a checksum for their OTA... 7ef3ffbfb19a4829eed0540cae0ff35a

This was checked on the device or on windows?

Edit:regardless could you send me a copy of your's. Somehow I doubt Samsung giving me the odin files to flash.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JDC2389:
Typical most incompetent carrier in the US
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
apk

i need the acuweatherdaemon apk so i can flash the update from recovery i tried the other way and now my phone is stuck at the rethink possible screen it can be emailed to rdawson28@yahoo.com

e:i found it i have a complete update zip to flash from recovery but says signature verification failed
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
I checked the checksum on the android using es file explorer. It wouldn't let me checksum the file in the fota folder.

Uploading to dropbox now, although I'm wasting my time. I attempted to decompress the file on my computer but got an archive corrupt error even though it did extract. I think I'm going to have to delete the file and redownload. I'm not at home right now so must wait.

I wonder if there's something wrong with update itself or is it on our end somehow. There's not been a single success story yet. Although the biggest issues seem to be due to irresponsible app management. No offense, guys.

Here's my plan:

1. Attempt to get a non-corrupted update.

2. Factory reset. (Safe as I haven't deleted anything.)

3. Full system dump (boot, system, recovery, etc...)

4. I, personally, will not update unless assured of regaining root. Lesson learned on last phone. Possibility exists of tweaking update for root? Several other possibilities as well, root is vital.

---------- Post added at 07:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:58 PM ----------

So, you don't need the file?

As to signature verification, it's because we need custom recovery.

Hmmm. Does renaming the update invalidate the signature? I wouldn't be surprised. Maybe that's why they send it as .cfg.

...maybe paste into fota and fix permissions?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
problem is my phone is now stuck at the rethink possible screen all i can do put files on my external sdcard and hope they will flash
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
What about adb?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
im new to adb not even sure where to get it
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
Did you happen to have usb debugging enabled?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
nope i can use odin and stock recovery thats it not sure how to get the verification error fixed
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
Whenever that update gets uploaded please let me know. My device is basically useless in it's current state unless I want to run my data bill up =/

Also I found through the update.zip the update-script. In this script there are some lines to delete that will get rid of the app check.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] shimp208:
You can download the Android SDK from here, and you can learn more about how to use ADB from Google's official documentation here.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
i have it but it wont run just runs a dos window and goes away
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JDC2389:
If you still have root use this tool from chainfire, it will allow you to enter adb commands from the pc as long as you have the sdk and adb setup and usb debugging on in the phone. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1687590
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] shimp208:
I just ran the stock recovery image that was posted through the CWMR builder. If you want to test it you can download it below.

Note: The Clockworkmod Recovery image posted below has not been tested only flash it if you are willing to test it and are comfortable with the associated risks

CWMR Galaxy Express Test
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
no root no usb debugging and adb dont recognize device

---------- Post added at 03:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:01 AM ----------

renamed it to tar flashed with odin said succesful no luck still stock recovery
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
rdawson,

Looks like we might have to set up a working Odin image for you then.

Shimp,

I believe that BlindArtisan already did that and it didn't work. Do you know anything about cwm and samsung devices? There are caveats all over about them but little useful information on how to identify trouble devices and what to do if you have one.

JDC and BlindArtisan,

File is uploaded and I'm pm'ing you the link. Don't want to make it public as I believe there's a bandwidth limit. I'm not real sure that it's going to work as I stated previously. I retransfered the file directly from fota to my computer and even opened it in winrar without changing the name from .cfg and I still get the archive corrupt message. The checksum is the same even with the name change.

I'm going to delete the file from my phone and attempt to redownload and see what happens.

BlindArtisan,

Did you get any type of error message when opening the zip file on your end?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
seems that way im gonna take the phone back to the att store tomorrow and blame it on there update see if i cant get a new phone out of them if not im stuck waiting on odin file to flash
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
BlindArtisan,

Have you tried rooting your updated phone with unlockroot?

---------- Post added at 10:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:56 PM ----------

Update: redownloaded update. Ran checksum.

7ef3ffbfb19a4829eed0540cae0ff35a

Unzipped with no errors.

So. Mine was corrupt. Yours wasn't. Yet your update went wrong. Did you update with stock ota or did hou modify?

I'm uploading to dropbox. Will take some time. Link in morning.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] shimp208:
Unfortunately, I do not. I would however recommend look at this guide to building Clockworkmod Recovery from source as starting point.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JDC2389:
Thanks for the update but it didn't work. It said "Verifying current system... assert failed: apply_patch_check("/system/app/AccuweatherDaemon.apk" followed by a string of garbled numbers and letters, next noticeable thing it says is, E:Error in /tmp/sideload/package.zip (status 7) Installation aborted. I guess I have to get adb all set up again and try pushing the different apk's back on my wiped phone..what a mess. Thanks for sending me the ota.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Sworder:
Failed Root on updated phone

That's telling you that you need to install AccuweatherDaemon.apk into system/app folder. You can do that with ESfileExplorer with root actions turned on, and by following BlindArtisan's instructions on page 7 to get the original APK files.

____________

Let me be the one to say that if you do update, the UnlockRoot program will NOT root your phone anymore. I just finished replacing all of the APK files I deleted, and finally got my phone to update through the Recovery. When I went back to the unlock root program it gives an error.

"failed to chmod busybox"

"failed to chmod supersu"
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
You know, I had a suspicion. Seemed pretty coincidental for the update to come out mere days after the first discussion of successful rooting.

---------- Post added at 06:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:34 AM ----------

I suppose, then, the first order of business is to create a stock ics odin package so everyone can have root. After that, we can work on rooting the update, cwm, cyanogenmod, etc.

Further verification of failure to root the update would also be useful. Preferably someone with little to no prior system modifications. Also, to find out if ota rootkeeper works. I wouldn't suggest anyone who finds root important to guinea pig themselves until we have a working odin image though.

Also, sworder, how's your wifi?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
I'm going to the att store in hopes they can re-flash my modem partition and fix my wifi issue. (is anyone else having this issue or did the update delete something extra for me?)

EDIT: Not sure if anyone else has this issue but it turns out only ATT Device Warranty centers can Re-Flash. If you need to have your device sent to stock I would try finding one near you. Luckily there is one 30 minutes from here. =)

In terms of jellybean root I think the updater-script holds a good bit of information for flashing modified boot images. Although I wouldn't mess with it till we have a working odin.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
Current status: exploring Odin.

Current conundrum: .ops file. The ops file, from what I've gathered thus far, informs Odin of the partitions of the particular phone model fkr which ylu are using it; and, is particular to every phone. So, we need an sgh-i437 ops and the question is: from where? No answers thus far. A problem is that all the odin threads I've found are scattered about and are generally posted by one person detailing their experience with their particular phones. There should be a single odin thread somewhere linked in all samsung forums.

Anyway. I'm interspersing this with a rather full work schedule, so...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
my phone completly crapped out att is sending me a new one so once it gets here ill be able to help out
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
Update: Maybe an ops file is not necessary. I think that this is for Odin multi-downloader, not Odin 3.07.

I'm assuming the latest version is what we need for our phone.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
i got my new phone in fully updateed so i \f you neede help let me know
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
Well, unfortunately, now that you're updated, there's not much you can do other than attempt to unlockroot again and confirm (or, hopefully, contradict) sworder's claim that it no longer works.

Now, if you had waited to update, you could have tried ota rootkeeper to see if that works with our phone or not.

Keep your fingers crossed that we can figure out how to root the ota. Maybe an insecure kernel or some such.

Edit: oh. Wait. It came updated?

Scumbags.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] invert_nexus:
I've just been raped.

After postponing the update for days, it didn't even ask and bam.

No more root.

Have yet to try unlockroot.

I was planning on factory reset and system dump tomorrow. However, I did perform a system dump on my pre-reseted systrm. Perhaps I can work something out with it.

I hate at&t. And samsung.

---------- Post added at 11:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:49 PM ----------

Failure to get shell root. Try pro version.

I can't believe this. I shojld have installe rootkeeper, but I thought it would continue to ask permission not rape me. I could have deleted the update. Even removed apk's.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

At least I got the system dump. Even if it is not factory reset.

Grrrr.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] f437:
sounds like I'm in the same boat. I had put off rooting my device as ICS was tolerable, but some of the changes with the 4.1.2 update have prompted me to fix what they "updated".

I tried using factory reset to get back to ICS, but it seems to wipe user data, and retains the updates.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
I've tried exploring many options for rooting, unfortunately none of them worked.

Method 1 of this post looks the most promising http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1746794

Unfortunately when I tried installing the zip it failed to verify signature.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JDC2389:
I would love to see some Chainfire input on this, I bet he could make a root method right quick considering he has been all over the galaxy s3. I guess we could try talking to him about it/maybe giving some donations as incentive.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] br0adband:
Could be interesting to see what he might be capable of, but of course he'd probably have to have a Galaxy Express to do the dev work and I'm sure most of the more popular and more experienced devs just don't appear to be interested in this device. :(

I could be wrong in that - hell I most certainly hope I am but, I'm pretty amazed at a) the phone has some solid and respectable hardware in it, and b) nobody seems to give a damn about it. Somewhat ironic I suppose but the S3 and now the coming S4 (as well as the GN2) sure seem to steal all the thunder, literally.

Root would be nice, but since I upgraded to the Jelly Bean 4.1.2 OTA yesterday, now I'm thinking I should have just left it alone with ICS (I just made a post about the GPS issues, and potentially some with the CPU not downclocking properly, seems to stick at 1.1 GHz and won't go lower from my testing which will hurt battery life - this is on the JB build, this stuff didn't happen on the ICS stock factory build).
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] johnmarsford:
SGH-I437_ATT_ICS_Opensource.zip
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JDC2389:
I thought if you wanted to touch the clocks at all you needed root? If you get a root method it will downclock fine to 384mhz or so. Sybregunne made the best cpu governor http://bit.ly/PzOqbL
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] arturfenix:
have news

There is some information about the firmware!?!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
so what is it
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] arturfenix:
Oh, I'm sorry, but it is a question! HAve news?!?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
just a thought

the express and s3 mini are colse in specs i know some diffrent but still close and looking in there forum they have roms kernels root etc. how hard would that be to port over
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] arturfenix:
I wonder whether is suitable firmware from SGH GT I8730? for i437
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BlindArtisan:
A general rule of thumb is that it is not okay to flash firmware of the wrong phone.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] arturfenix:
but they also look for yourself
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
been exploring adb

how do i do a system dump and what not in adb even with out root on 4.1.2 couldnt we still pull everything we need to work on tweaks
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] shimp208:
Without root you'll only be able to pull the /system folder, using the command:

adb pull /system

This will give you the contents of the system folder. You will need root to get a copy of the other partitions such as boot.img, recovery.img and others.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rdawson28:
Thanks just trying to work on some general commands and figure thus stuff out