yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Zangetsu156:
RAC phones are not a custom firmware they are unlocked phones of which RAC installs an application as a system app and in the case of samsung phones with knocks security knocks installs absolute dds to the phone which gives RAC complete admin control over your so absolute dds then installs sec.abt which also has device complete admin privileges sec.abt prevents you from uninstalling itself and absolute dds and knox will reinstall the profile anytime a hard reset is done to the phone this is all to prevent customers from running off with the phones without paying for them so just as a warning RAC keeps track of all the cell phones IMEI #'s this is how knox knows you have a RAC phone and if your caught your are in possession of a stolen phone thats is why the phone is locked up in the first place. The system admin for knox will send a uninstall request to the phone once they are paid off however the exception is they are not removed from phones that are charged off because they are considered stolen property for this instance RAC rolled out the buyback program so that people who may haved purchased the phone unaware of this can at least get some of there money back they cant give you all of what you paid for it because otherwise they wouldnt make anything off the phone to be honest RAC's buy backprogram is really more like a reward program for returning a stolen phone. This concept of locking the phone is no different from any other cell phone provider who locks the IMEI of a phone for non payment of the mobile device like sprint and verizon do. It is illegal to remove these system apps so just be warned.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dinndonuffing7:
Would you be the one to ask? I'm about to pull my hair out. I have a A42 5G that's kg locked. Thanks in advance
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
Yes you can PM me ;)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zelendel:
You will need to have a pc available.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] keyma1:
I have a pc but I don't use computers a lot....... so what do I do....... I pulled up one of things but not sure of which to download. but once I get them downloaded to my pc how will I transfer it to my phone. i am so lost........

---------- Post added at 11:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:18 PM ----------

i hv a pc but i stll hv no ideal on how to do ths
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zelendel:
Then do some research. Spend a few days learning what your doing or you will be worse off then you are now.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Timmy C:
Got through all the steps and keep getting the message Unfortunately, Sidesync 3.0 has stopped. Any idea why?

---------- Post added at 12:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 AM ----------

Got it. Had to remove it quickly between the notifications.

---------- Post added at 01:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:59 AM ----------

As much as I hate to admit it this took me about six hours to do. Thank you to everyone that was able to help. Really enjoying this system. Kudos to the creators.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zelendel:
Don't be hate to admit it. You learned something. And the prize is always worth the work. The first time I started messing with the os on my device it took me weeks to get it working lol. My old moto razr (yes I dated myself lmao) had a busted os for weeks.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] keyma1:
can someone please reply to me who is willing to help instead of telling me to make my head fall off...... if I knew how I would not hv a problem passing on the info instead off telling a person to figure it out. I thought this cite was used to help each other. if u r not willing to help please don't reply to me. thanks
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] candey11:
need help

Can someone really help step by step with links. I'm no genius. I bought mine off eBay and 6 months later got this rent a center lock on it yesterday and I don't want too spend 600 dollars on a new s5 either. Can anyone please help? Is there an easier way to do?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mburg77:
buy back program

I work at rent a center and those phone that our being sold online. Rent a Center is started to lock those phone that people had rented and selling on ebay,Craigslist. I just went through Training and they said it I'd nearly impossible to unblock they are offering a buy back program that if your turn it in to the closes rent a center they will give you money up to $100 maybe $150 depending on the condition they would be your best bet or keep on trying to unblock it so you won't lose you money I understand
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Timmy C:
100 to 150 dollars is a joke when I am sure people paid a lot more for their phones than that. What the people at rent a center need to do is realize that they screwed up and made it way to easy for people to get these phones and just turn around and sell them. Mine was in the original box with all original stickers. It even still had the static sticker on the screen. When you power up there are no signs that it is from rent a center or that it is tied to them. Rent a center should admit they screwed up and unlock these phones that are lost already and figure a way to get some sort of non removable bloatware on any phones they decide to sell in the future. Quit punishing people who buy the phones second hand and go after the people who are getting them in the first place. You would think they have the peoples information. It only takes a simple search to find that I would never want anything to do with rent a center.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ROBODUDE88:
Thanks a bunch ttn1185! Took a while but finally got there.

Tips:

1.Be sure to DL everything from some sort of android forum, otherwise you will end up with needing to restore your computer too (like I had to).

2. Need Odin3_v3.09 (as instructed) new version didn't work. Also be careful not to get a fake!

3. The TWRP needs to be for Galaxy S5, I think it was a .tar file, some fakes out there too.

4. download mode: press Power button along with Volume down key until download mode is being displayed.

Good Luck.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Timmy C:
Had to restore computer also.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] kibay1:
Thank you

I followed the steps above and my S5 is working again. Thank you for posting steps and links to files.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sevenworlds:
pm me

good evening/morning ,,, :D:D:D pm me for help
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mandy09:
How can this be done using a Mac computer?

---------- Post added at 09:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 PM ----------

[/COLOR]

Is there any way to get pictures/videos off my phone that saved to device?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] y0:
i have found myself in more typical condition handset have removed that RENT-A-CENTER message but after installing CynogenMod 12...... i need the some of the codes working like *#7284# and *#0808# to unlock a simlock but none of the codes are working on that somoene can tell me is there anyother way to put the UART ON MODEM?

wbr
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Flash the stock software back. Do not skip the initial setup: the Rent A Center won't kick in till the initial setup wizard is done. Put in a different SIM and unlock with Unlock Code.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] madflasher:
Does anyone have a screen-shot or pic of what the RAC lock-screen looks like on the phone?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mandy09:
These are both of the screens that pop up. I can't even access pictures that are on the device. So irritating.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mandy09:
help please

How do you get the computer to recognize the phone? I hooked another s5 to the computer and it found it right away and installed the driver's with the blocked one it's showing that its hooked up but it's not showing up in Odin.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] madflasher:
Rooting is pretty simple and easy, the instructions would be in your devices forums here in XDA probably under the GENERAL section within that forum. Do you want to root, if so you can locate the files and delete it.

---------- Post added at 01:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 PM ----------

it wont show if it has the block or lock. needs to be unlocked first.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] deneverett33:
Determine RAC Phones

There is a way to tell if its a rent a center phone as long as they havent put cm on it already. if you go into about device under settings the version or build number will say RAC in it somewhere because they run their own custom firmware.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
You can flash stock T-Mobile firmware on it. But the RAC lock still shows up.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tachwab06:
My Tmoblie gs5 is also locked through rent a center my question is my s5 was on the kitkat version of android can I still use cyanodrenmod 12 it seems like everything I've read about it is saying 12 is for lollipop an 11 is for kitkat? I might have completely took it the wrong way if so one could shed some light on this for that would be awesome an when I go to download cyanodrenmod the only version for the s5 I can find is Klte is this what I need
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Your direction is correct. Please follow my guide in previous post.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dtherri:
Note 3

Will this fix work for note 3? I had this issue happen to me the other day.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Should be. But I have not tested before.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Job Easow:
Thank you so much.....! This is the best available solution.

Thank you so much.. you saved me $200 :) :) :p
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hero913:
Thank you sooooooooo much TTN1185!!!

My Note 3 was locked by RAC today and your instructions helped save my phone!!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Madibabyy:
Ughhh

What am I doing wrong?! I'm so lost this literally just happened to me like 7 hours ago and I'm not too savy in this lol.. but I'm def going crazy without my phone..
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jes1987:
Please Help Me

I see the instructions and im infront of my computer im not understanding how to unlock the rent a cent lock at all please i would so appreciate it alot if you helped me they locked my phone up today and it has all my personnal stuff along this is the only way i can contact my son or talk to him please help me:rolleyes:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jes1987:
please help

my phone has been saying downloading all night and do not turn off target with the android man on screen what did i do wrong and what do i need to do please help
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Pull the battery out. Start over from Step 6.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jes1987:
RAC HELP

on the left hand corner it has

ODIN MODE

PRODUCT NAME:SM-G900T

CURRENT BINARY: CUSTOM

SYSTEM STATUS:CUSTOM

KNOX WARRANTY VOID:0x1 (3)

THEN IN GRAY IT SAYS THIS RIGHT UNDER THAT

QUALCOMM SECUREBOOT: ENABLE (CSB)

RP SWREV: S1 Y1 R1 A1 P1

UDC START

AND WHAT IS STEP 6

---------- Post added at 03:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 PM ----------

After pulling out battery and starting at step 7 it now says reboot system now apply undate from adb apply update from external storage wipe data and factory wipe cache partition apply update from cache which one do i do
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Step 6 is to use Odin downloaded in Step 2 to flash the TWRP custom recovery you downloaded in Step 3.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
You have not flashed TWRP custom recovery to your phone at Step 6

Follow this http://www.droidviews.com/install-twrp-recovery-samsung-galaxy-s5/ or watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuAT7GwSAic
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PAinguINx:
Ok, I said I would reply once I had finished with the process. The easiest way for me was to flash TWRP via ODIN. You must put the phone in download mode first and using Odin 3.9 or whatever the newest one is. Click the "AP" button which is the same as the "PDA" button and choose the TWRP TAR you downloaded. At some point, you should copy the latest Cyanogen Mod (12.1 as of yet) and copy it to your SD Card. You'll also want to copy over GAPPS arm64 if you're doing this with an S5 using the Snapdragon 801 (The G900T does for sure and probably all American models do). After flashing the customer recovery you must boot into it and flash CM12.1 and and GAPPS but not before Wiping-->Advanced Wipe-->Cache, Dalvik, System, Data.

Actually, in short, follow TTN1185's instructions at the top of the page. But when you d/l GAPPS d/l the arm64 file. I used twrp-2.8.6.0-klte, cm-12.1-20150511-NIGHTLY-klte, gapps-51-arm64-2015-05-03 and flahsed TWRP with Odin v3.09 (even though I usually try to avoid using Odin I just wanted this done so whatever.) Anyway, it works, you'll lose all of your data of course unless you have been using a cloud service (any smart man would be imho).

If you have trouble following the OP's directions PM me and I'll walk you through it. Even login remotely and help if need be.

Good Luck!! And by the way, RAC was NOT helpful. I was promised an audience with the District Manager and when I finally caught him in his office, at least thought I had, he would not answer his phone or return calls from my messages. The store clerks refused to help and in fact, they really did just start doing this about a week before I made my original post in this thread. If they are going to do this then they need to provide us with a nationwide database just like we use to check IMEI's/MEID's. I never buy a phone unless I can verify the ESN is clean on at least 2/3 sites and sometimes only if I call the carrier directly.

And for an unrelated tip, never buy an iPhone unless you've checked the IMEI on iphone.imei, checkesnfree.com and swappa.com as well as ensuring that the previous/current owner has removed/signed out of their iCloud account (more importantly, they need to disable the "Find My Phone" feature). Then you can simply log out of and delete the iCloud account yourself. If you don't make sure then you're screwed unless their iCloud email account is setup on the device and you can receive a password reset request email on the device.

Anyway, good luck and thanks again OP!!!! :D

PAinguIN
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DESERTDART:
Stock Firmware

I spoke with an ebay seller today who claims he can remove whatever the Rent-A-Center software is and leave the stock firmware in place.

I have 2 S5 that I have been trying to find a solution for and found his listing.

I am a noob here so am not posting a link because not sure if I am allowed.

Ebay item number is 261872842585

I am not associated with the seller and am not trying to spam for business...just thought if he can do it then the minds here can figure it out.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
There is indeed a method to remove the lock without flashing a custom ROM.

It is extremely difficult and complicated - no amount of factory resets or tar flashes will do it.

Not saying that the eBay seller isn't competent, but if you'd like a 2nd option, there are others doing it - if you know who to ask....
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DESERTDART:
Thanks for being helpful (sarcasm). What is the point of your post? We already know it can be done because people are doing it.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
The point of my post was to give people a resource to reach out to if they need to get the lock removed
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
And what is the resource?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
me
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zelendel:
That is why this forum is here. To teach people to do it themselves.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Great. How do you remove the Rent-A-Center? You can throw any tech jargon on me.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Critical Detox:
It's likely they use ADM to lock it "Android Device Manager" or something similar. Places to look for these are within "Device administrators" disable them and you "should" be good.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
This doesn't make senses. Because phone has been flashed with stock firmware with/without pit file, and it still has Rent-a-Center screen after wizard. There must be a partition that stores Rent-a-Center data.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Roamingnome3:
A buddy and I were tinkering around with this after his ex sold him her phone and apparently quit paying...(after this he took it to RAC and got a wopping 100 bucks)

If you have twrp flashed, you can hunt down the samsung lock screen bypass zip on here somewhere and flash it(I did it over and over; works like a charm)... reboot the phone holding the volume down button to force safe mode(disables 3rd party apps! sec.abt is a 3rd party app) (this helps slow down the sec.abt app from initializing and setting some location device admin to remote lock the phone).

Then (as fast as you can) get to apps manager and find sec.abt under downloaded and keep clearing the cache and back out and go to security settings for device admin and disable the security program the sec.abt sets (you'll see android device manager also..dont worry about that)...You will have to do this a couple times bouncing between the two settings, eventually sec.abt will stop installing the device admin and then you can uninstall sec.abt.....BE FORE WARNED UPON REBOOT IN NORMAL MODE YOU HAVE ROUGHLY 20 SECONDS BEFORE sec.abt REINSTALLS and resets everything.

Thus...I flashed supersu (it will be a system app and runs in safe mode) and I also made a flashable Luckypatcher zip to make it a system app... once booted into safe mode I allowed luckypatcher su privilages and changed its setting to show system applications. SEC.ABT shows up near the top and after doing the steps mentioned earlier I was able to boot into normal mode and get to luckypatcher quick enough to FREEZE the sec.abt app. walla ...done...have a nice day. It took me nearly 10 tries or so to get it right so your mileage may vary.

AND make sure that you keep changing the lock sreen to none between boots just to be safe. Now abviously these are just my findings as I was tinkering...so ...yea. hope it helps.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DESERTDART:
Thank you very much for helping everybody!

What is it about Cyanagenmod that prevents the sec.abt from reinstalling since every other custom ROM I tried failed?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zelendel:
Cm roms use their own bootloader as well as other files that no other rom messes with due issues that could come up.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ROBODUDE88:
I pulled the trigger with DESERTDART's ebay seller this weekend. He did it all remotely. My phone is back to running stock Samsung 5.0 firmware. Probably will trade-in to get a clean S6.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
How long did the process take?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DESERTDART:
I just got an S4 returned to me today as well. Don't know how many more are out there. Thought they were just tmobile unlocked phones.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ROBODUDE88:
Not long maybe 45 minutes, but needed to wait 1.5 hrs, 2 times (first time file was bad?) to download the Samsung FW. He uses team viewer (which you need to DL) and Odin9. Use a clean computer with no personal data if you got one.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Did he warn you not to update or flash stock firmware anymore?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ROBODUDE88:
No warnings, but I didn't ask either.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
There's no FW needed. It's like a 5 minute process if done correctly...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dbvolcom:
do you need usb debugging

Does usb debugging need to be on because mine wasnt enabled

neither was my device rooted
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
Nope
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dbvolcom:
thanks

Thanks guys now I wish I could just see that guy from craigslist again so I can kick his ass!

BTW will rent a center blacklist the phone for T-Mobile? Should I call them and tell them what happened or are they going to give me a low cash offer to bring it back. Any advice ?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] toxicsoul:
how much did he charge to do it?

---------- Post added at 06:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:06 PM ----------

Has anyone figured out how to do this on there own and please share the link if there is one? Thanks:good:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DESERTDART:
I now have 2 Note 4 that are Rent a Center but not yet blocked. Also would be interested in knowing what needs to be done to prevent future blocking and if FW can be updated in future once fix has been completed.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] toxicsoul:
well we all know it can be done obviously, but I've searched and searched for a way of doing it with no results. There's ways of sending your phone or remote service from ppl who know how to do it. But there are a lot of ppl that don't trust or doesn't have the money to spend to have them do it for you. Ill keep searching and if I happen to find the solution I will either post a link or show how on here.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SilentMikeTC:
:mad:

how do you copy the cyanogen and GAPPS on to the sd card?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Just a hunch: Flash T-Mobile firmware on them.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DESERTDART:
Did you read whole thread?

Stock tmo firmware and even custom ROMs don't work.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
You said they are not blocked yet. So flash T-Mobile firmware on them now. Flash with pit file too.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
That won't work. Stock .tars don't touch the location where the lock software is held. It's much deeper than that.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chicofiebru:
Will you guys try to Backup the Boot Partition with TWRP from a Clean same phone and restore it back to the Rent a Center lock phone. I think the files is loaded in the Boot Partition. I have octoplus Box and i can try wiping any partition. I just need more info oh this Lock. I have in hand N900T lock. All i need is a Boot Partition backup from a Clean Note 3 N900T
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
The lock is not contained in boot. Octopus can't touch the partition that it's in.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chicofiebru:
Ohh ok. Any idea where.?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tripledtexas214:
ok. downloading the gapps and the cm12.. copy the files on to an SD card correct? next, how do i access them from the phone? twrp has already been installed. thanks
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
Unfortunately none of that really matters. You can do all the checks you want. The only guarantee you have is that the phone is not blocked at the moment you check it. After you buy it, all bets are off. The only way to 100% guarantee that you're not screwed on a phone purchase these days is to buy it full price yourself from the OEM or carrier.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] thatotherguy..:
I have a file to remove it on stock firmware

contact me in pm
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Can you post it here? Thx
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] kkatt19581:
I just wanted to say (Thank You) same thing happened to me was at my wits end until I read your post I'm forever grateful to you and this forum!!!