[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Kay Kostrowski:
I know this problem and the search for it just to good. 😣🥴🥱

I wanted to root my old Note 8 Exynos German Version by Telefonica and messed it up a year ago.

I had that extra difficulty that my display is in "Camel_mode" (3/4 of the display is broken and just black, looking like the camel on the cigarette boxes. So there is only some kind of a bit stamp area at the upper left side working )

Now I know, I messed it up, because I was using wrong country version. Samsung has made it quite easy with Odin, so they put in some extra difficulty with these different country versions and even you need the right version of Odin for every kind of firmware version)

There are not only 2 different versions for Snapdragon and Exynos-pocket-warmers for different countrys, there are also different versions for every ISP in your country and in Germany there is some kind of extra "fits-all-ISP" Version (multi CSC)

So I was always getting the wrong version, after I barely find some edition of should fitting them all.

After some nights of searching, I gave up real frustrated and let it rotten in shelf for one year,

until successfull new attempt 2 months ago.

Now it is turning more and more into my power saving little all propose server and extra computer for all kind of experiments with Ubuntu and Kali Linux running via Thermux.

May god bless the first version of DEX station, that was even for free because of pre-ordering the phone.

After 6 or 7 versions of Odin and all kind of German adoptions, I could guide you through whole process just out of my mind. But unfortunately I am not real sure which Version finally worked. I got all very well documented and still saved with all that not working stuff, everything time consuming send in and tested by Virustotal, because some of the download and information sides are more power user orientated, so they provide you with some bonus material or challenging tasks for your entertainment and intense level of user experience.

To make it short, I am really with you and your problem of "just click here, download the version you need and it is done by Odin, before your coffee is ready....) In fact it is that easy, but only with the right version of firmware and matching Odin version ( in my case it was not the lastet one, even if you can read it on most sides.

So let's start and get the following information:

- Snapdragon or Exynos

- What Country and more important what phone company (SP (Telefon company)

- any locks of bootloader or some of that? (Knox is all ready dead, just forget it.)

Screenshot of that Odin mode screen would be helpful and provides you will all Information you need

Now you got the version N950usqu8dvb1

The first number after the N950 and some letters gives you the version of your firmware version!

In your case it is 8, so you got the 7th update after factory or the 8th version at all, if you want to call it like that

You want to look for a number 1 or even 2, because the first update is allways right after selling starts, so if it was not bought right in September, they might already updated it in factory, if it was her christmas present for example)

What Android Version was on it, at first start up?

I pre orderd my Note8 and got it the same day official sell started. I can remember it was on Android 7 and got the update to Android 8 quite some days or very few weeks later. So it made it not easier to find the original Android 7 factory version between all that Android 8 stuff.

Please just keep in mind, as lower that number, as more happy you will be.

The 3 letters before that one or even two digit number is your country code (CSC)

there might be a certain CSC for that special ISP (telefone company) or even just a multi -ISP code for whole area. Certain ISP version is allways better than just the (fits all) version.

Your CSC in N950usqu8dvb1 is USQ

We all know that effect shortly after buying our first jeans that "fits-all" but not my butt... 🥴

Or read this artical I have just found, to make yourself super sure, how your firmware number look like and how to understand what it means and how it helps you by that.

Change CSC on Samsung Devices – Samsung CSC Codes - DroidViews

Samsung firmware has usually 4 or 5 binaries or components including BL or Bootloader, AP or PDA, CP or Phone, and CSC (CSC and Home_CSC). In some cases, you may also need the PIT or Partition Information Table file. In this article, we'll focus on Samsung CSC and Samsung CSC codes only...

www.droidviews.com

So just don't give up and no fear about that horrific drama of bricking it and only get some well designed door stopper....☝️

That is only arketing of the company's, to better make you buy a new one or at least sending in and they will fix it for you.

In my case I propably would have gotten the extra expensive deluxe Package.... 😉

Display mostly complete black, guessing me through while system almost blind,

only be counting the amount of button hits and see a color change on the last rest of display in the top left.

So I must have clicked everything in every menu, they all make panic about, never ever to hit.

I must have done it several times, so my boot and more important, all factoryy pre-installed (one dozend 🤯 ) partitions were completely f%!#;¢ or better say, "fallen" apart.

So I also needed to fine the right PIT number for the partions tablels and looked for hours until I understand, that this information is already included into your firmware number. So I needed to get some extra new tool, or was it by Odin at the end and that tool was just just a helping tool 🤔 I can't remember which one finally made it to get that PIT but I still got all collected on my drives.

But at the end in maybe 60-80 hours at all, I teached myself from zero and a half by watching some YouTube videos for first attempt, Bricking it of course and giving them right, it is dangerous, never ever again,

until today, knowing every kind of special knowledge about that note8, because at the end you really try everything for every exotic issue you will find with now knowing so much about all flashing, Bricking, galaxy, Root, hardness of display or how fast these 2 little pigeons baby's growing up 2m away behind the window next to me and gave me that bad feeling it is finally time for go to sleep, when started to make alarm and remember pigeon parents for steady food supplies, around 4' o clock (in the morning ☝️😱)

And now it works just fine, hidden behind huge TV, oh I mean Desktop Monitor 😏, with wireless mouse, keyboard and old but fast 256GB Stick + old 500 HDD attached on ACTIVE USB hub,

Not always but sometimes, it is just to much power for Dex station

Please just skip some of my frustrations on that topic and better get an active hub from start. Every cheap one with USB3.0 will be enough, because dexstation was coming out at time when USB 3.0 really started and so it the Dex was designed for these early speeds.

The best thing, now I have a mobile and quickly packed workstation with me and all I need is some kind of screen or TV/beamer which will be helpful not to use normal devices for and still got theset embarrassing messages popping up during presentation, like questions from mom or that it is only one more step to reach Platinum Mega user on your favorite adult entertainment site.

So don't give up and no fear of that mean daemon of expensive bricks.

Now you only have some useless but fancy door stopper or perfect material for next YouTube video

on how a flagship smartphone melts in fireplace, with these romantic cracking sounds of battery during long and cold winter nights.

I would also aks the other side, if Apple dont' want to sponsor this...😉

With other words, nothing to lose and you could just grab you a hot coffee and some fresh pigeon family

and get to work.

Most important:

Just feel free to ask your questions and strongly recommended to reward your brick for successful reincarnation with some DEX station and a long and productive second life.

Kay

PS: If nothing will help at the end, I would be really happy if you could send me the link to that YouTube video... 😉