[Samsung Galaxy Tab A series Guides, News, & Discus] jnsnfl:
Samsung Tab A 8" 2015 T350

Okay... I'm a noob at rooting a flashing an android device. Also, I realize this is an older post / thread and am hoping someone still monitors it.

I am a MacBookPro user (have been for +20 yrs) and am not uninitiated when it comes to doing core systems work. The point is most of the instructs are for Windows folk and I'm not in that group so I need a little help from some friends...

Previously my Tab A under Marshmallow had the Adoptable storage formatting capability but now that I have Nougat (7.1.1) I no long have that option and for some reason I can no longer execute the ADB commands through the developer options. Dilemma... I decided to clean up my device and reload doing a factory reset then updated with the new OS and boom.. no joy for me...

I've downloaded the latest heimdall 1.4.1 unoffical signed tool and successfully installed it.

I've downloaded the JODIN java front end for the heimdall tool and successfully installed it as well, but things appear less than helpful with untexted button objects.

I've downloaded the adoptable storage enabler crafted by [MENTION=4899305]ashyx[/MENTION] and have it unpacked.

I've downloaded the TWRP (not sure what it does) for both the marshmallow version 18317 and the T355 nougat version 251117 (both tar files).

Its been quite a while since I dealt with Unix/MaxOS file expansion and overwriting so I'm uber cautious to take the next steps as outlined below because I'm missing something in the translation.

The steps I'm expected to follow are:

1. Install most recent Heimdall from http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=755265 SUCCESSFULLY DONE

2. Open Heimdall frontend from applications folder of your Mac. SUCCESSFULLY DONE

3. Put device into download mode with power+vol down+home. Will sometimes require multiple attempts. When successful you will see warning about adding custom software to your device. SUCCESSFULLY DONE

4. Click utilities tab of Heimdall and detect device. SUCCESSFULLY DONE

5. Download pit file to your Mac with the save as dialouge. NOPE?!

6. Click on flash tab of Heimdall. NOT HERE YET!!!

7. Select pit file you just created

8. Hit add partition select RECOVERY and then select the custom recovery you have already dowloaded from the other threads. Extract to .img before selecting the recovery though. Make sure repartition is NOT selected

9. I unchecked no reboot and resume. (Near bottom right by the start button)

10. Hit start.

11. Verify by restarting with power+vol up

The concerns I have are:

1) When I connect my device to my Mac I do get the "connected" green light in the ODIN / Heimdall tool. However I don't know how to copy out the TWRP boot loader from the device (which I presume I should do if I ever want to restore back).:eek:

2) I don't really know what the TWRP tar file is doing for me or how the storage enabler gets attached to it.:fingers-crossed:

3) I need more clear instruction on how the enabler and TWRP files become one new file that gets loaded to my device that then enables the format command to become adoptable storage (and that's the only thing it adds or alters in the boot loader).:crying:

Sorry for being the mental deficient in the room but I would like a touch more guidance..... :confused:

Please.....