[General Questions and Answers] connorcnguyen:
Hello. I managed to get a hold of a Samsung Galaxy Golden (SHV-E400). I like the phone but I'm looking to get it rooted so I can remove the Korean bloatware...Now, I did my research and tried many rooting methods and they have all failed despite following the instructions (i.e. installing Android SDK, updating adb and fastboot, installing current Samsung drivers, ADB recognizes device by spitting out my serial number, USB debugging mode, changing micro-usb cables)

Using ADB Toolkit v1.5.2 (which shows my SU status: Unrooted), Device name: ks02lteskt) (<--- not sure if that's correct or not...), BOARD: MSM8960, Serial: ****b035) includes several "universal" rooting tools:

SuperOneClick: freezes at "daemon started successfully"

z4Root: crashes during the process

Original OneClick: says "phone is not connected"

DooMLoRD: lots of "the system cannot find the path specified"

UnlockRoot: says "Not any device detected"

I used Framaroot earlier on, but none of the included exploits succeeded. It just said failed and to try a different exploit...

I also used motochopper which came the closest to working as it managed to get superuser on to my phone, however, it couldn't root it and my "superuser (su) binary needs to be updated".

Now, having done my research for a solid week and pulling most of my hair and punching holes in my wall, I'm finally admitting defeat and asking/begging for help. I'm just looking for some way to get this darn phone rooted. I figured the best method is to flash a rooted ROM or a custom kernal that has root using Odin (though I'm unsure which version of Odin I should be using as I read different phones use different versions?)... but I haven't found a rooted ROM or custom kernal with root for my phone and I don't want to brick this expensive phone using the wrong one (which if I read correctly is will happen). So I would greatly appreciate it if someone might show me an alternate method? Maybe a generic or universal method that can be applied to Android 4.2.2 JDQ39? Or maybe tell me if I can use a rooted ROM or custom kernal with root from a phone that is relatively close (<---not sure about this one...)

I'm afraid I can't provide concrete info on this thing as I can't find anything official (just things from eBay sellers)...

Model Number: SHV-E400S

Android Version: 4.2.2

Baseband Version: E400SKSUAMH2

Kernal Version: 3.4.0-1108005

se.infra@R0301-12 #1

Tue Aug 6 20:52:45 KST 2013

Build number: JDQ39.E400SKSUAMH2

UPDATE: I came across this site which seems to have info on the Android OS build for my phone. If you think it's relevant, please let me know and I'll send it to you (can't link outside links yet).

Specifications

SIZE: 59.5 x 118 x 15.8 millimetres

WEIGHT: 179 grams (battery included)

Software Environment

Operating System: Google Android 4.2.2 Korean

Microprocessor Chipset

CPU Clock: 1700 MHz

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8930AB

Memory Storage capacity

RAM capacity: 1.5 GB (some say 2 GB)

ROM capacity: 14.9 GB (accessible: 11.4 GiB)

Display

Display Type: color Super AM-OLED , 16777216 scales

Display Diagonal: 3.7 "

Display Resolution: 480 x 800

Secondary Display Type: color Super AM-OLED Plus , 16777216 scales

Secondary Display Diagonal: 3.7 "

Secondary Display Resolution: 480 x 800

Video out: Supported

Sound

Microphone(s): mono

Loudspeaker(s): mono

Audio Output: 3.5mm

Networks:

S version:

Cellular Phone

Cellular Networks: GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS1900 (B2), UMTS2100 (B1)

Cellular Data Links: GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA

Secondary Cellular Phone

Dual Cellular Network Operation: Dual standby

Secondary Cellular Networks: LTE850 (B5), LTE1800 (B3)

Secondary Cellular Data-Links: LTE

K version:

Cellular;Phone

Cellular Networks: GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS1900 (B2),UMTS2100 (B1)

Cellular Data Links: GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA

Secondary Cellular Phone

Dual Cellular Network Operation: Dual standby

Secondary Cellular Networks: LTE1800 (B3), LTE900 (B8)

Secondary Cellular Data Links: LTE

Control Peripherals

Positioning Device: Multi-touch screen

Primary Keyboard: Built-in numeric phone keyboard

Directional Pad: 4 -way

Scroll Wheel: Not supported

Interfaces

Expansion Slots: microSD, microSDHC, TransFlash, microSDXC

USB: USB 2.0 host/client, 480Mbit/s

micro-USB

Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0

Wireless LAN: 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n

Infrared Gate: Not supported

Multimedia Telecommunication

Analog Radio Receiver: FM radio (87.5-108MHz) with RDS

Digital Media Broadcast Tuner: Not supported

Satellite Navigation

Built-in GPS module: Supported

Complementary GPS Services: Assisted GPS, QuickGPS, Geotagging

Built-in Digital Camera

Main-Camera: 8 MP

Autofocus (AF): Supported

Optical Zoom: 1 x

Macro Mode: Supported

Built in Flash: mobile light (LED)

Secondary Camera: 1.9 MP

Additional Details

Built in:accelerometer: Supported

Battery: removable

Battery:Capacity: 1820 mAh