yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
Can someone try these in Odin: http://goo.im/devs/bigbiff/note3
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] mocsab:
THANK YOU for all your efforts - they are appreciated! I taking it slow this time (hard for me, I am a true Flashaholic - but patience has it's rewards - thanks again.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
If I was at home I would but I cannot and I assume thats for tmo

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
Yes. T-mobile. Had to double check I posted in the right thread. :D
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
I figured. But I see someone has downloaded it so we should have an answer shortly

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] siraltus:
Running 2.6.3.1. Successfully backed up (to an exFAT card, too!) and restored a full backup with no bootloop or errors of any kind.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Awesome so you did so by flashing the 3 files in sequence that biff just posted? Then re rooted with 2.6 3.1? Please explain as this may be a turning point

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] siraltus:
Did you even read my post? I didn't mention anything about flashing. I've been running 2.6.3.1 since the day it came out and just did my first backup and restore today, which went perfectly. This should be useful information for those trying to decide which TWRP version is the most reliable right now.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Haha apparently I misread it lol!

Some users report successfully restoring only to eventually have the bootlooping problem. And it seems not to matter which version they are on. So you may have just been lucky. Maybe. Still imo I think we should wait for biff to do his thing and give us another update once we have confirmation that the bootloop can be recovered from via his method. That way users who know they can recover from it can try multiple restores in order to safely determine that the update which he is likely working on has fixed the issue altogether

Also to whomever downloaded biffs tar files we are eagerly awaiting the results

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] les_garten:
Thanx for your work here.

You got your work cut out for you with this device!
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Warrior1975:
Unfortunately it's been hit or miss. There have been those that have restored without issue, and less fortunate ones that have had bootlooping issues. Both using this version of TWRP.

We need someone to test the file Bigbiff posted. I'm praying this works.

sgh-TWEAKED-889©
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Haha you beat me to it. I guess I better type faster lol

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Warrior1975:
I'll handle simple things like this, you can help with the important stuff, like whatever the hell you wanted people to do in Linux. :D

sgh-TWEAKED-889©
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] mocsab:
I believe there are two totally different kinds of BOOTLOOPS - though they seem to look exactly the same until you try to fix it. One Bootloop you can recover from - using ODIN to flash STOCK TARS - then there is the BOOTLOOP from HELL - which seems to be the one you cannot recover from. There needs to be a distinction - just saying Bootloops isn't enough for me anyway - Cause I have had both - and the second one, the "bootloop from hell' is no fun at all

I am curious if the solution that BigBiff is talking about - is fixing the bootloop from hell - is there anyone who has this still and has not yet taken their phone back to TMOBILE for a replacement? getting them to test the solution is paramount to our finding out if this really can be fixed, don't you think? .

The reason I say this is I have seen people say they fixed 'bootloops' doing this or that - but they never distinguished the Bootloop type they were having. If an ODIN to Stock did not work at all - and every other method did not work - then it is likely that is a BOOTLOOP from Hell. (if you get the screen on bootup that says - something about this process has stopped - and you can wait or close, and when you do either one it goes back to a bootloop - that is likely the bootloop from hell too.)
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
I agree man. And I'm working on a solution as well. I have at least one tester lined up but can't get him to test until I get home as I'm not finished it yet. My solution is for Canadian variants. However if it works the process should be univeral and easy to translate to other variants

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] siraltus:
I have a hunch that Sucksung might have released a batch of defective hardware, there were reports of bootloops even on completely stock devices... just like the infamous Exynos4 Superbrick of 2012...
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] flashcity90:
So i havent rooted my phone yet but i do want to. If i root and want to go back to stock for fresh flash do i just install stock rom from odin? has anyone experienced a bootloop from trying to go back to stock using odin? or only when they try to restore a backup?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] mocsab:
I don't know if there is a bounty started for anyone who comes up with a fix for the BOOLOOPS From Dearth - But I am willing to donate at least $50 to anyone who comes up with a solution that can be relied on by anyone using Note3 - US/Canadian - I have my fingers crossed for you and hope it is successful - and I will put my money where my mouth is if and when it happens,.

THANK YOU!
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
To my knowledge the brickloop as I dub it is from restoring a nandroid. But please read this thread in it's entirety and the q and a thread to be safe

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] HughesNet:
On the backup and restore options did you have all items checked? Or did you backup/restore just system and data
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Warrior1975:
Great name brickloop. Lolzzz.

Anyway, has anyone tried Bigbiff new solution?

sgh-TWEAKED-889©
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
I am dying to know. However if you click the link it shows that it has been dl so hopefully we have an answer soon. If not I still have to get my method tested. Not gonna be for a few hours till I get home and put the finishing touches on it and then wait to upload it etc

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
I did but unfortunately it's a no go sorry to kill hopes and dreams:(
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] jmerlos:
Installed using the steps to recover a bootloop brick from restoring a TWRP backup and no go. It got all the way to the process waiting screen and rebooted.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Give details and if you got an error in odin please post the log. That log contains valuable info

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
I follow everything like a T on the second post in the OP and there was no errors in Odin, same like always gets up to the process system isn't responding then bootloop. ..
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
[MENTION=2638973]bigbiff[/MENTION] is yours in ext4 format and did you md5sum it? I know you said earlier you usually don't due to it not working.

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
Got my replacement phone yesterday, so I have until Monday to send back this semi brick, if anymore fixes I'm all ears..
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
That means you didn't factory reset in stock recovery before booting system.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
I didn't append an md5sum.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Steve Lazarus:
Damn, was hoping that would work. I'm happy to see it's still being worked on by folks. I'd really like the comfort in knowing there's a way out of the brickloop before I start tinkering again. Thanks to those of you for your continued efforts.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
Yes I did just forgot to mention it sorry
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] gonnapushthru06:
Hey Steve when u tired cwm did u use the newest on 6.0.4.4 cause its supposed to fix boot loop many confirms on the thread if anyone willing to try would be good
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Ok cool

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bakachu:
I fixed my brickloop by doing the following:

(I would backup your efs partition before doing this, just for completeness sake)

Installed Stock firmware via Odin,

Installed TWRP 2.6.3.2 via odin, rebooted to recovery

Did an "adb shell" when phone is in recovery mode to run commands via TWRP

From the ADB shell: Wiped the EFS partition with the following command:

mke2fs /dev/block/mmcblk0p12

mkdir /efs

mount -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk0p12 /efs

(the last two commands probably did nothing, but thats what I did anyway)

Did a Factory Reset

Then... reboot to system

Afterwards, no more boot looping, the phone successfully registered on the mobile network, and my IMEI is there and correct. Seems like the EFS partition can rebuild itself now I guess...
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Best news I've heard all day. Congrats man.

Other brickoppers please try this and confirm. I hope it wasn't a fluke

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] jmerlos:
I will try it on mine when I get home in a couple hours
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] siraltus:
Every single partition: boot, system, cache, EFS, data. I was actually restoring from a bad kernel flash (testing NFC-enabled kernels for Google Wallet support).
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
Did you pre-order your note 3?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] jmerlos:
***Update***

This confirmed working after bootlooping my device after restoring a backup using TWRP 2.6.3.1. Followed steps and after booting up I got a signal but some samsung apps kept FC. Did a factory reset and booted up like new!

***Restoring using TWRP***

I was able to restore my Darthstalker backup by selecting System & Data. Having all options boot, system, data, cache & EFS is what originally got me in a bootloop.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] mocsab:
I just wanted to confirm a few things - to be sure I understand. (I don't have a bricklooped phone any more - but just in case it happens)

You said to Use Odin to get Stock - then flash Twrp - I assume you are not rooting first? (can you flash a custom recovery before you are rooted ?)

Help me your statement that you "Did an ABD Shell" - I know I sound like a noob here - but walk me thru the steps of what you did to do this? I have never used TWRP for anything more than flashing or restoring nandroids - so is there a step in TWRP that lets you do this?

Thanks in advance for your help....
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] dirtbikerr450:
theres NO need to root first before you flash a recovery
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] jmerlos:
Pic attached. New replacement on the left and freshly booted soft bricked device on the right.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] mocsab:
thanks for that - now, can you help me understand the "ABD SHell" - ? As I said, I have only used TWRP to restore and flash ROMS - make backups and stuff - so how does one do "AN ABD SHELL" is there a step in TWRP that you do this in? (where?)
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] les_garten:
So what is your IMEI now?

If you wipe EFS and make a new EFS, doesn't that give you a generic IMEI like an 049 one or whatever?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] jmerlos:
Here's a pretty good guide that can help you setup adb and understand commands.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2141817

---------- Post added at 10:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:34 PM ----------

My IMEI is still the same
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bakachu:
Glad to hear that people are getting positive results!

IMEI is exactly the same as the IMEI printed on my note 3 box.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Warrior1975:
Best news I've seen all day. Thank you.

sgh-TWEAKED-889©
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] dirtbikerr450:
advance -> adb sideload
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
I'm getting device not found
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] jmerlos:
Another update

I've been able to replicate the bootloop. Restoring a backup with all other options except EFS boots up perfectly. Restoring including EFS caused the bootloop for me. Restored using Odin and used the same steps to successfully recover the phone a second time.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] ttav:
I have the N9005 and have been looking for a solution to the bootloop from hell for a week now.Was following this thread as it was more active than anything i could find in the N9005 forum.

I decided on one final try before sending my device in for repair.......glad i did one last check here:)

Downloaded and flashed stock UK firmware.

Then flashed TWRP 2.6.3.2 in Odin (yes it`s not for my device but clutching at straws here)

Rebooted into recovery and in Terminal Command i moved to root and entered mke2fs /dev/block/mmcblk0p12

I didn`t enter the rest of the code supplied by bakachu (many thanks)

Did a factory reset......and i now have a working phone:)

No process system errors.No bootloops.WiFi working.Network working with correct IMEI.

Thanks a million to everyone here:good:
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] gonnapushthru06:
Amazing man Id kiss u if I swung that way lol hopefully more ppl give this a try would u be able to make a more detailed process for those that are boot looping and don't know much about adb commands and see if we can get some more confirms would try but this is my second note and don't think store will return again if process is only working for u at the moment
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
Anyone could tell me why I'm getting device not found?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] ttav:
I had adb problems as well. I just typed the code in Terminal Command.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
Thanks B I got it now, confirm success!!!!
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] zmore:
So the root of the "brickloop" problem stems from all current recoveries restoring the EFS partition incorrectly somehow (why? if it's just a bitforbit image then even SELinux contexts are restored), AND from KNOX refusing to boot up if it decides it doesn't like the EFS partition, BUT simply ext2 reformatting it + a factory reset solves the problem? Weird.

Thanks for helping narrow this problem down, everyone, though it could still be narrowed down further, simplified, and demystified for others.

EDIT: what does "ls -alRZ" say for the efs partition before & after a recovery restore?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Agreed. A step by step, button by button very thorough "noob" friendly guide needs to be done asap as a lot of users may have trouble understanding how adb works. And because of all the crap and stress they've had to endure we should give it to them as such. Let's throw them a bone guys! Can't wait for more confirmation to come in!

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
Damn I wish I had my old nandroid oh well I'll start from scratch...
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Yeah but you got a working phone:thumbup::D

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
Actually I have my replacement here too..but

Have to send the other one brick though lol
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] shin lucifer:
Just out of curiosity, people who didnt do restore and still ended up in boot loop. How did that happened? Or people who just flashed a rom and ended up in boot loop? Any insight?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
I nandroid restore everything that's why I end up in bootloop. .
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Just flash an s4 kernel or jellybam lmao both guaranteed to brick lol!

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] siraltus:
Yup. Why?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] abalosmusic:
Took the risk... got my n3 liking it so far. But once it's rooted with a custom rom I'll be loving it
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] glensta:
External SD Doesn't Read

So far so good - thanks so much for providing this recovery, totally stoked. Ran my 1st backup and it showed my external sd as 0mb so I backed up to internal. Seemed to work good. File size is 3.13Gb. Also it backed up super fast compared to the GS4 backup. I went with all default settings as well.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
Do you use exfat? I might try recompiling the kernel.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] rockinandroid:
just got att note 3.....will this work on it....i know they talked about possible locked boot loader...how can you tell....thanks for any help...
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] glensta:
I believe it's Fat32.

Thank you for your work on this bigbiff - appreciate it.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
Can you pull /tmp/recovery.log and paste it at http://paste.tinyw.in?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] glensta:
Recovery Log

Ok - I pasted the log - hope I did it right - first time n all. It's under Glensta. Here's the url:

https://paste.tinyw.in/index.php/view/98757886
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
Can you verify your sdcard has only one primary partition?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
You can try to see if Odin will flash it. I assume the partitions are all the same.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] glensta:
Sure - how do I do that?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
You can find a howto on how to use a partitionmanager.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] zoth:
Thanks for the quick recovery. Mine to does not see my external 64 gig sdcard format exfat.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] glensta:
Here's a screenshot, hope it helps.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] zoth:
Here to is my screenie... I used my Note 2 to format it about a week ago using latest Saber Kernel.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
Unfortunately that tool doesnt show the partition table clearly imho. Can you do a fdisk -l /dev/block/mmcblk1 in TWRP adb shell?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] glensta:
No clue what that is. Can you give exact instructions and I'll try it?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] jovy23:
When I boot into recovery I get a message saying "Recovery Is Not SEANDROID Enforcing".
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] zoth:
Nice to see you with a Note 3. Hopefully some Custom ROMS from you ;)
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] jovy23:
Already working on it. ;)
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
We don't enforce selinux contexts in recovery.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
Because my back case has China Mobile logo instead of T-mobile

---------- Post added at 05:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 AM ----------

So who about to root now?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] stress1ner:
Thanks this worked like a charm for me, now i have 2 notes have to decide to sell or give to the wife lol
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] siraltus:
...and why didn't you call T-Mobile and complain? That's definitely some kind of warehouse screw-up.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] bigbiff:
I have never tried to restore that partition so that is why I never experienced that issue. We are storing that partition with dd so I am at a loss why it didn't restore properly. When you are doing the mkfs it's wiping the partition. I will have to investigate further.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] fryingpan0613:
Everytime I go to flash a rom (tried 2 versions of myrom and a debloated version of the stock deodex), I wipe system dalvik data and cache. I get the splash screen, black screen, repeat. Am I missing something? I'm trying to work on my rom but I can't get anything going.

I also tried wiping just system to the same results.

Team PATB

Rats Of Anarchy

now Free
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] siraltus:
Might have to do something with the bootloader doing partition signature checking for Qualcomm SecureBoot/TIMA... would explain why when you let the phone rebuild it (and probably re-sign it), it works again. I'd read up on the KNOX secure boot environment.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] JT man:
Check your twrp recovery version , you need version 2.6.3.1 to flash
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] fryingpan0613:
Oh I was on 2.6.3.2 I will give that a try. Thank you!

Edit that worked! Now I can start building :)

Team PATB

Rats Of Anarchy

now Free
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] ttav:
I posted a link to the fix in the N9005 forum.Directed all thanks back here as you guys deserve it.

All i can say is my gratitude is immense:D
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
Well we're not quite out of the water yet but getting closer to shore

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] ttav:
I swam and swam....think i reached the shore:) Hope no sharks in the shallow waters:eek:
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] shin lucifer:
Exactly! I am still going to wait a week at-least before i root my second N3 lol. After feeling super horrible for killing my first N3; and even more guilty returning it, and pretending it wasnt me LOL. I dont plan to repeat my mistake/ dam Boot loop of hell problem again.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] ttav:
I`m pretty positive...used the code and as i`m on a N9005 i changed to the latest CMW and flashed the rom of my choice.No bootloops so far.

Everything working fine.Might be unforseen problems ahead but so far i have rescued my phone from a total brick and i can`t report any negatives.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
No no not bootloop from hell. I have officially trademarked it the "brickloop"

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] RMXO:
is v2.6.3.2 safe to use & it reads exFAT extsdcard? Just making sure its working properly before i install it.
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] d.cortez:
@ TWRP Team - expressing thanks from a (technically inclined-new-to-android-noob) friend (non-xda member) who used bigdiff's steps to restore his T-Mo Note 3 from the brickloop (52P3898747611112H). my noob-friend's troubles began when he restored all partitions - including EFS - from a nandroid backup. personally, i only restore the System, Data & Boot partitions when using nandroid backups. question: is it correct to assume that (for now) one should only restore the System, Data and Boot partions of a nandroid when using TWRP ver 2.6.3.1 with the Note 3? thanks in advance for replies!
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] HughesNet:
Not sure that version sports exfat but the previous one does.

Guys would anyone be willing to flash Jovy's new kernel with permissive SELinux and do a nandroid and see if restoring all including efs is still a problem?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Negan:
I wont test his but I will let you guys know if it works on Ptmr3's kernel

sent from my Note 3

respect,teach,coach,say thanks and have fun...

●●●The Jedi way●●● ? ? ?
[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3] Steve Lazarus:
I'll give it a shot.. Give me 30 min to report back... :thumbup: