[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot] ManaVampire:
Help, Ive Tried Everything

SPHL720WTS Is the exact model off the box, Currently running cm-12.1-20151201-NIGHTLY-jfltespr

Sprint 16GB S4

I also have Sprint Airwave device because in my area, there is absolutely ZERO reception, with stock ROM this works perfectly.

Story begins when I went to the Sprint store, they did a wipe and claimed I had the new update (5.x). Ran home, it’s still 4.3 or something.

Finally frustrated I pulled the trigger on flashing my phone.

I have ZERO experience with rooting a phone. Cyanogen is the only ROM I know of, need an easy way to do it.

At this time Cyanogen had the downloadable Prep Tool from Play Store

Used it to prep phone

Then used Cyanogenmod Easy Installer thing crap

Everything works beautifully

CWM Recovery 6.0.4.7 is installed

Cyanogen cm-12.1-20150711-NIGHTLY-jfltespr was used at the time.

IT works, everything is working. Even working with Sprint Airwave. Do not think anything about it. Do not update daily. As I have read that Nightlies can cause multiple issues, I am satisfied with functionality. I love tether functionality to death.

Fast forward 40 days+ approximately. SINCE Cyanogen does not update PRL automatically (<- I have determined this is MOSTLY LIKELY what is the root [hah] cause), the phone no longer allows me to send Group Texts when I am at home on the Airwave. Consistently get APN not specified HOWEVER Normal Cell

tower connection functions perfectly fine.

Call to Sprint tells me my device is “out of sync with the network and a PRL update is needed”, Technician also proceeded to give me step by step instructions on how to update PRL on Sprint Stock ROM, which is obviously not installed on this phone.

Do some Google-Fu, people recommend formatting and wiping then doing clean install of ROM to get latest update. Too time consuming at the moment and cannot commit.

Fast forward to Sept 27th when next nightly install is done, attempted to install using Cyanogen update built within ROM. Fails, multiple times.

End up downloading cm-12.1-20150927-NIGHTLY-jfltespr

Place this (after much trial and error in CWM from the next step) in a spot easily accessible on SD Card

Reboot phone to CWM, choose to install from zip, choose ROM, install succeeds I am now updated. APN Not specified issue persists.

Fast forward December 1st, finally decide to upgrade to a new device but wish to restore S4 to stock. Have been doing some Google-Fu as to what needs to take place.

Steps are SIMPLE enough to follow, so I don’t believe I’m an idiot and im simply missing something:

1)	Get a Stock ROM, I have following, any other Stock ROM thus far I’ve located gives me MD5 hash error: L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5

2)	Use Odin, I have tried the following based on the various instructions I have followed: Odinv3 1.85, 3.04, 3.07, 3.09, 3.10.07

3)	Yes Samsung USB driver is installed

4)	No Samsung Kies is NOT installed, NO Samsung Smart Switch is NOT installed, and their services are not running, nor is it in Task Manager

5)	Whichever version of Odin is being used enter the stock ROM in PDA/AP

6)	Make sure that COM shows up

7)	Make sure Accept Shows up

8)	Make sure that phone is in “Download” mode

9)	Click Start

Yes I have gone into Recovery and tried the following after as well, then doing all the steps again:

1)	-"Wipe data/factory reset."

2)	-"Wipe cache partition"

3)	-"advanced" -> "Wipe Dalvik cache"

4)	-"mounts & storage" -> "format /cache"

5)	-"mounts & storage" -> "format /system"

6)	-"mounts & storage" -> "format /data"

The following variations are observed with the various combinations tried, I have tried these combinations with the other versions of Odin I am only listing the differences across combinations, rest assured I have tried all the combinations with Odin 3.09, and 3.10.7 with identical end results as well:

Combo 1 Odin 1.85:

1)	Above ROM

2)	No other Options except Auto Reboot

3)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

4)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

5)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

6)	<OSM> Please wait..

7)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

8)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

9)	<OSM> Leave CS..

10)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

11)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

12)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

13)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

14)	<ID:0/004> Get PIT for mapping..

15)	<ID:0/004> Firmware update start..

16)	<ID:0/004> aboot.mbn

17)	<ID:0/004> NAND Write Start!!

18)	<ID:0/004>

19)	<ID:0/004> Complete(Write) operation failed.

20)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

Phone shows:

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	SW REV. CHECK FAIL: fused : 4. Binary : 1

Combo 2 Odin 1.85:

1)	Above ROM

2)	PIT: jfltespr16gb.pit

3)	Auto Reboot, Re-Partition

4)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

5)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

6)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

7)	<OSM> Please wait..

8)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

9)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

10)	<OSM> Leave CS..

11)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

12)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

13)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

14)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

15)	<ID:0/004> Set PIT file..

16)	<ID:0/004> DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET!!

17)	<ID:0/004>

18)	<ID:0/004> Re-Partition operation failed.

19)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

Phone shows:

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	SECURE. CHECK FAIL: PIT

Combo 3 Odin 3.04:

1)	Above ROM

2)	Auto Reboot, F. Reset Time

3)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

4)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

5)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

6)	<OSM> Please wait..

7)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

8)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

9)	<OSM> Leave CS..

10)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

11)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

12)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

13)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

14)	<ID:0/004> Get PIT for mapping..

15)	<ID:0/004> Firmware update start..

16)	<ID:0/004> aboot.mbn

17)	<ID:0/004> NAND Write Start!!

18)	<ID:0/004>

19)	<ID:0/004> Complete(Write) operation failed.

20)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

21)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

Phone shows:

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	SW REV. CHECK FAIL: fused : 4. Binary : 1

Combo 4 Odin 3.04 Retry even if it says Fail and never disconnecting the phone:

1)	Above ROM

2)	Auto Reboot, F. Reset Time

3)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

4)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

5)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

6)	<OSM> Please wait..

7)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

8)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

9)	<OSM> Leave CS..

10)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

11)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

12)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

13)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

14)	<ID:0/004> Get PIT for mapping..

15)	<ID:0/004> Firmware update start..

16)	<ID:0/004> aboot.mbn

17)	<ID:0/004> NAND Write Start!!

18)	<ID:0/004>

19)	<ID:0/004> Complete(Write) operation failed.

20)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

21)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

22)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

23)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

24)	<OSM> Please wait..

25)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

26)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

27)	<OSM> Leave CS..

28)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

29)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

30)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

Phone shows (nothing changed):

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	SW REV. CHECK FAIL: fused : 4. Binary : 1

Combo 5 Odin 3.04:

1)	Above ROM

2)	PIT jfltespr16gb.pit

3)	Auto Reboot, Re-Partition F. Reset Time

4)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

5)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

6)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

7)	<OSM> Please wait..

8)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

9)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

10)	<OSM> Leave CS..

11)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

12)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

13)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

14)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

15)	<ID:0/004> Set PIT file..

16)	<ID:0/004> DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET!!

17)	<ID:0/004>

18)	<ID:0/004> Re-Partition operation failed.

19)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

20)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

Phone shows (nothing changed):

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	SECURE. CHECK FAIL: PIT

Combo 6 Odin 3.04:

1)	Above ROM

2)	PIT jfltespr16gb.pit

3)	Re-Partition F. Reset Time

4)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

5)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

6)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

7)	<OSM> Please wait..

8)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

9)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

10)	<OSM> Leave CS..

11)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

12)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

13)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

14)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

15)	<ID:0/004> Set PIT file..

16)	<ID:0/004> DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET!!

17)	<ID:0/004>

18)	<ID:0/004> Re-Partition operation failed.

19)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

20)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

Phone shows:

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	SECURE. CHECK FAIL: PIT

Combo 7 Odin 3.07:

1)	Above ROM

2)	Above Pit file

3)	Re-Partition, F. Reset Time, Nand Erase All

4)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

5)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

6)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

7)	<OSM> Please wait..

8)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

9)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

10)	<OSM> Leave CS..

11)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

12)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

13)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

14)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

15)	<ID:0/004> Erase...

16)	<ID:0/004> Set PIT file..

17)	<ID:0/004> DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET!!

18)	<ID:0/004> Get PIT for mapping..

19)	<ID:0/004> Firmware update start..

20)	<ID:0/004> aboot.mbn

21)	<ID:0/004> NAND Write Start!!

22)	<ID:0/004> FAIL! (Auth)

23)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

Phone shows (finally something different):

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	ERASING USER DATA PARTITION

12)	SECURE CHECK FAIL: PIT

13)	SW REV. CHECK FAIL: fused : 4, Binary : 1

Combo 8 Odin 3.07:

1)	Above ROM

2)	Above Pit file

3)	Auto Reboot, Re-Partition, F. Reset Time, Nand Erase All

4)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

5)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

6)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

7)	<OSM> Please wait..

8)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

9)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

10)	<OSM> Leave CS..

11)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

12)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

13)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

14)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

15)	<ID:0/004> Erase...

16)	<ID:0/004> Set PIT file..

17)	<ID:0/004> DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET!!

18)	<ID:0/004> Get PIT for mapping..

19)	<ID:0/004> Firmware update start..

20)	<ID:0/004> aboot.mbn

21)	<ID:0/004> NAND Write Start!!

22)	<ID:0/004> FAIL! (Auth)

23)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

Phone shows:

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	ERASING USER DATA PARTITION

12)	SECURE CHECK FAIL: PIT

13)	SW REV. CHECK FAIL: fused : 4, Binary : 1

Combo 9 Odin 3.07:

1)	Above ROM

2)	Auto Reboot, F. Reset Time, Nand Erase All

3)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

4)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

5)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

6)	<OSM> Please wait..

7)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

8)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

9)	<OSM> Leave CS..

10)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

11)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

12)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

13)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

14)	<ID:0/004> Erase...

15)	<ID:0/004> Set PIT file..

16)	<ID:0/004> DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET!!

17)	<ID:0/004> Get PIT for mapping..

18)	<ID:0/004> Firmware update start..

19)	<ID:0/004> aboot.mbn

20)	<ID:0/004> NAND Write Start!!

21)	<ID:0/004> FAIL! (Auth)

22)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

Phone shows:

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	ERASING USER DATA PARTITION

12)	SW REV. CHECK FAIL: fused : 4, Binary : 1

Combo 10 Odin 3.07:

1)	Above ROM

2)	Auto Reboot, F. Reset Time

3)	<ID:0/004> Added!!

4)	<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..

5)	<OSM> Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..

6)	<OSM> Please wait..

7)	<OSM> L720VPUAMDC_L720SPTAMDC_L720VPUAMDC_HOME.tar.md5 is valid.

8)	<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

9)	<OSM> Leave CS..

10)	<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..

11)	<ID:0/004> File analysis..

12)	<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

13)	<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

14)	<ID:0/004> Get PIT for mapping..

15)	<ID:0/004> Firmware update start..

16)	<ID:0/004> aboot.mbn

17)	<ID:0/004> NAND Write Start!!

18)	<ID:0/004> FAIL! (Auth)

19)	<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

Phone shows:

1)	ODIN MODE

2)	Product Name: SPH-L720

3)	Current Binary: Custom

4)	System Status: Official

5)	KNOX Kernel Lock: 0x0

6)	KNOX Warranty Void: 0x1

7)	CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0x30

8)	Write Protection: Enable

9)	eMMC Burst Mode: Enabled

10)	Start [224, 1440]

11)	SW REV. CHECK FAIL: fused : 4, Binary : 1

Every time a fail happens, no matter how much I Erase, the Cyanogen ROM remains intact. I can manually updated using CWM to another Cyanogen ROM. I have not tried another Custom ROM, I am not looking to UNROOT, I am looking to install Stock ROM WITH Sprint Apps regardless of whether it is a Rooted or Unrooted Stock ROM.

Extra Notes:

- Everytime I go from CWM to reboot system, it says:

“Root access possibly lost. Fix?”

I respond Yes – Fix Root (/system/xbin/su)

-Installed TWRP app on phone, TWRP App says “Phone must be rooted to use”

-I have switched to another phone, swapping SIMS does not allow the S4 to get activated at all. A link displaying dss//SprintSelfActivation appears but that is it. I would like to be able to go back to the S4 and tether data while I am on the road to my laptop or to extend wifi to someone visiting from overseas while we are out.

-made backup in CWM of rom, backup successful, after erasing everything, when trying to restore backup, backup fails at “cant mount /data” no matter what I try. Phone stuck in boot loop, install from zip fixes this, but all data is lost.

Thank you for your feedback in advance.

---------- Post added at 05:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:19 AM ----------

Update: Just for kicks, the last wipe of everything caused bootloop, installed downloaded nightly, booted up phone, went back into, CWM then tried restore, Restoring Data is currently taking place.

Still cant install stock ROM.