[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (Snapdragon) ROMs, Kernels, ] minionhunter:
I have a Chinese Note 9 N9600 phone N9600ZCU1ARL3 that is brand new, never used, never connected to wifi or cell service, Date is December 2018.

I have two main questions:

1. Is there any reason at all to keep it on Oreo or should I just go to Android 10 (and use the AIO method)? I only get one shot at keeping the original bootloader and Oreo so I don't want to regret not trying to figure out how to keep it on Oreo. Does Android 10 break functions that I can't get back if I stayed on Oreo?

2. jrk said that I should use Hong Kong firmware since Chinese firmware does not have playstore. I have a google play store play button on my phone when it boots up. I'm not sure what to do here. [note I've never connected to the internet.

This is the starting firmware:

sammobile dot com/samsung/galaxy-note9/firmware/SM-N9600/CHC/download/N9600ZCU1ARL3/249018/

"Download the Samsung firmware for the Galaxy Note9 SM-N9600 with product code CHC from China (Open China). This firmware has version number PDA N9600ZCU1ARL3 and CSC N9600CHC1ARL3. The operating system of this firmware is Android 8.1.0 , with build date Fri, 14 Dec 2018 11:09:51 +0000. Security patch date is 2018-12-01, with changelist 14505206."

Maybe they got rid of the paystore in Android 10?

I want to be careful with changing the firmware

---------- Post added at 03:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:34 PM ----------

Phone N9600

Chinese N9600ZCU1ARL3

Thank you very much for posting and answering my questions above. I really appreciate it. I’m quite nervous about doing this. I apologize for the additional questions, I just want to make sure I don’t screw this up. I also will post my procedure when I’m done so it can be a template for others who follow me.

I’m familiar with Odin and I’ve rooted 4 phones/tablets, I’m fine following instructions. I have a few questions below.

1. What do you mean by “set phone”?

2. If you mean set up phone as my own, why would I do this if it just will get wiped.

3. Why is it important to log into my accounts? Do I have to do this?

4. What is the reason for “set phone” after OEM unlock and then factory reset?

5. What do you mean “backup”? I don’t know how to backup a phone other than titanium backup.

6. Why would I deliberately invoke prenormal when it seems this is a dreaded state?

7. Is there any way to do this without getting to the dreadful prenormal in the first place?

8. Is the step of logging into my accounts what triggers prenormal? Do I really need to?

9. Does anything above update the phone to Android 10?

10. Does the Chinese Android 10 block the playstore? I currently have a playstore button on my phone, but I've never connected it to the internet.

Thank you very much for your help. I'm grateful.

The following is just me working through what you posted,

only refer to it if my questions above aren't clear

.

This is your write up from above, I inserted my questions, but I suggest skipping to the end instead

I would set your phone

1>>>What does this mean?

2>>>If you mean set it up as mine, why is this important if it is just going to get wiped?

log into your google and Samsung accounts [OK, I can do that, I don’t like to log into Samsung account but I can do it if needed]

3>>>>Why is it important to log into my accounts?

then oem unlock your phone [OK]

let phone factory reset after you toggle oem unlock [OK]

set phone [I need to know what you mean by this, you said reset in the step directly above, so “set phone” for myself? I don’t understand why I would want to do this because everything will just keep getting reset, I would rather do it once I’m rooted.]

4>>>What is the reason for this step and what does “set phone” mean?

backup [I don’t know how to backup anything except with titanium backup and can’t do this without root]

5>>>What do you mean?/How do you backup a phone without root?

resign into your accounts [OK]

and wait your 72 hrs for phone to get out of prenormal [This appears to be a dreaded state that everyone wants to avoid.]

6>>>why do I deliberately invoke prenormal? [Also my phone thinks it is December 2018 right now – I’ve never let it connect to the internet or cell service]

7>>>Is there a way to update the software without getting prenormal?

8>>>Will logging into my accounts automatically reset the phone time and date? [maybe avoid the 72 hour lockout in prenormal?]

Then follow my method.

To update. I would also use TGY firmware when you do so as Chinese firmware does not have playstore [you are saying Chinese firmware lacks google play store so change to Hong Kong, correct?]

9>>>TGY means Hong Kong? When is the update procedure, during your zip installation?

---------- Post added at 04:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:41 PM ----------

I also just want to say thank you to everyone who has worked on making it so we can root our N9600 devices, I'm grateful.