[Samsung Galaxy A50 Questions & Answers] abidfahmi007:
Hi, I recently bought this new phone (Galaxy A50) from the official Samsung Store (11/7). The phone came with a software version:

PDP: A505FDDU1ASBD

CSC: ASB7

Security Patch: 1 February 2019

After sometime, I decided to start rooting my Galaxy A50 following the steps in a thread on XDA (created by [MENTION=1649452]geiti94[/MENTION]). Unlocked my bootloader and rebooted to the system, I setup the phone without my Samsung and Google Acc, and I switched off the phone then entered the download mode. I put the TWRP Magisk Patched file at the AP section in Odin and unticked everything except Flash Lock. Warranty void (Knox tripped). Everytime I restarted the device, I have to boot rooted with Magisk (Recovery) or else I will lose magisk. It turned out to be true and bricked my device:

"Only official released binaries are allowed to be installed".

I then downloaded the stock firmware files (ASBD) from Sammobile.com and reflashed it back to the device. Success flashing stock without any problem then I set up the device, plugged in and went to sleep. I didnt know what did happen while I was sleeping and when I woke up, my phone had the OVERHEATING WARNING (device was hot) and the system was already switched off my device automatically. I took off my phone casing and I found out that my phone casing was wet. I didnt know where the water came from and I didn't even know when it got there. I'd never thought that the water could flow into the phone since it was very little. I switched on my device without hesitation. Right after it switched on, moisture has been detected in my usb port. I switched on the device and took out my sim card and ext mmc, I put it in front of the fan and let it sit for like 5 hours. The phone was okay. Phone rebooted normally and I didnt face any unusual behavior from my device.

Within 30 minutes of using the phone, I received Device Overheating Warning again, apps were closing and device was shutting down (physically the device wasn't really hot). It was warm. I let it cool and I received no more overheating warning. Suddenly, the device was being abnormal. It went to:

1. Screen locked itself and display lockscreen. I unlocked it back and it locked itself back. It happens frequently.

2. Screen locked itself and display lockscreen and the screen will on off like something was playing with the power button. It got crazier when I tried to charge the device, the 'display on off' went faster. Then, i could no longer use my power button to unlock since device didnt let me get to my unlock screen.

When it happened, I couldnt shut down my device using the normal way. I had to hold my power button and (-) volume button to restart my device. Device rebooted, 3 minutes and it went strange again.

I was frustrated and clueless. Went into safe mode and getting the same result. I tried reflashing the firmware again and it was being normal until i finished device setup then it happened again. I thought it happened because I tripped my Knox.

Tried different method. This time I downloaded and flashed stock firmware (A505FDDU2ASH3).

PDP: A505FDDU2ASH3

CSC: A505FDDU2ASH1

Security Patch: 21 August 2019

And same issues occured. This time:

1. From getting locked itself and display will 'on off', this time it eventually went locked itself (noticed 'screen lock sound') and nothing i could do to unlock it because the power button had no function! But I could reboot manually by holding (-) volume and power button! Stock recovery mode everything was okay. Display, power button and volume up and down button is okay. No issue in that mode.

2. Attempted factory reset and tried setting up again. Right after it displayed 'Phone is starting' it locked itself again. Reboot again. I quickly swiped my finger trying to not let it locked itself again. It worked and prevented the device from locking again. I realized that my UI didnt respond when I used the volume button to increase/decrease the volume. Power button only responded to lock screen and didnt respond to unlock it back but the device was still on.

Since Knox had tripped, I tried another solution. I rooted the device just like how I done it before. I still believed that it was firmware error not caused by any faulty in my hardware component. I installed TWRP w Magisk Patched, multidisabler, and flashed a stable custom kernel (SkyKernel V1.2 by [MENTION=10034851]AlexGeek3[/MENTION]) that worked w my device, and yes device worked normally. Magisk installed. Safety net verified. I disabled some pre installed Samsung Apps and Services (e.g. Find My Mobile and screen lock service) that maybe would be the caused. Just when I set up my Google Acc, the issues occured again. When I checked my CPU and battery temperature using kernel tweaker (installed alongside SkyKernel V1.2) and noticed that the temperature reading was so high (70°C-90°C) but device wasnt even hot. This had become very strange ?

Then I decided to bring it to the mobile repair shop. He said it may happened when I downloaded the firmware files using Mobile Data, so the files downloaded weren't accurate since the network is unstable and told me to bring it to the Samsung Service Center. Then I tried to get help from Samsung Official:

1. Chat through Live Support: He told me that Sammobile.com wasn't authorized by Samsung. He told me that maybe hardware faulty issues because it had contact with water. Told me to bring it to Samsung Service Centre.

2. Called Samsung Hotline: She told me it happened when device had been root. And nothing I could do to unroot it back and asked me to go to Service Center instead.

3. Called Samsung Hotline: He told me that it might occured since I downloaded the files using Mobile Data and even that I had successfully flashed the firmware, the problems existed because the downloaded files had corrupt. He told me to just go to official service centre and tell them to flash the official stock firmware and check if the issues persisted.

4. Called Samsung Hotline: He told me since device had been rooted, warranty was voided and there would be NO WAY TO UNROOT THE DEVICE. Hence, I would have to replace the motherboard to be able to use the device again.

Each time I called the hotline, I spoke to a different staff. I explained thoroughly to each of them the issues I was currently facing at the moment and how/when it started to occur. All of them had a different explanation and the same solution. I called them again & again because I wanted to find the most least solution I could find to the major solution to fix the device. I was trying to make sure if the issues still happen after clean flash install official stock firmware, only then I will take further actions to check on my hardware.

Concluded myself to bring it to the Samsung Service Center and flash the official stock firmware for my device. (60 Km away from my place). I called them a day before going to the SSC to ask about the process and cost to do it. Next day I went to the SSC. Cut it short, I explained to the staff from the beginning. I wasnt really satisfied because she didnt pay attention to what I was explaining. And because of that, she printed out the agreement and asked me to sign it. I read it patiently and I was confused when I looked at the Details of Problems section and my warranty status was still VALID but device stated that my Warranty was already voided ?

Problems: Phone can't switched on. Scratch on the side housing. Water damaged.

I looked at her again and asked her if she really confirm about the problems. She said that the technician will check the hardware and told me to wait an hour for them to check the hardware. She called me again within 1 hour and I was really disappointed by the fact that they said my hardwares were water damaged and the repair cost is 3/4 the price if I buy a new same device. If that would be the cost, it would really better if I just buy a new phone ? I disagreed for it and asked if they could reflashed the official firmware for my device. She said yes but my warranty status will be discontinued, and they would take no responsibility if the problem still occured. But if I agree w them to repair it and pay 3/4 for the replacement, my warranty will be extended ? such a an idiotic way to make your customer pay you such costs.

W/out further due I told them to reflash/clean installation full official firmware for my device and they kept repeating the same thing again that they took no responsibility blablabla and I just nah just do it la haih ? and ended the call.

Arrived SSC later after 30 mins, I thought that they had done the job. No. Another disappointment, most stupidest reason that I had to accept from them. They were telling me that if I flash the official firmware, my warranty will be voided and they take no responsibility for it. What the heck? I already allowed them to do so, and that was the reason why I came to the SSC, and even my warranty was voided because I had tried customization using unauthorized firmware for my device. I asked them to take a picture of my device hardware or maybe bring it to me because I wanted to have a look at it but they denied my request (That repair cost is to replace new motherboard, new usb charging port, new lcd display and new battery).

Exhausted, angry, and disappointed by them, I requested them once again to flash the official firmware and I didn't care about what would happen afterwards. They told me to wait a couple minutes until their technician completed the flashing process. Such an utter bull****, they told me that my device couldn't being detected by the PC since my USB Port was damaged. I took the device, left with frustration. I have wasted my time, energy and money and didn't even get what I wanted.

To sum up everything:

Samsung Service Centre:

1. SSC: Phone couldnt boot/switched on.

Truth:

But even until today I still can switch on my device.

2. SSC said the charging port had been damaged but until today I still can charge the phone. Its only couldn't be charged when it is switched on because device will detect overheating and stopped the charging progress.

3. SSC: Charging port is damaged so USB data transfer to the PC cannot be used. PC won't detect device.

Truth:

But still, up until this day I could still make a data transfer, flash firmware using odin.

4. SSC: LCD Display is damaged thats why it doesnt display correctly.

But recovery mode and download mode didnt have the same issues only. Issues happen when device boot the system.

Firmware:

1. Firmware wasn't downloaded correctly using Mobile Data.

2. Security services provided by Google and Samsung could be the reason.

3. Knox had tripped (e-fuse) and forced the firmware to crush itself causing damage to the system. (I am not sure abt this, based on what I had read)

4. Replace a new motherboard because the current motherboard could no longer be used after device has been rooted (?)

Hardware:

1. The water may have caused little damaged to the hardware.

2. Flex cable connectors (LCD Connector, Charging Connector, Power/Volume Connector) need to be replaced.

3. Check the CPU and properly apply a thermal paste and check if the problems solved.

Any help is really helpful and appreciated ???