Please Help Me Root Samsung Galaxy Golden (SHV-E400)

[connorcnguyen]

Hello. I managed to get a hold of a Samsung Galaxy Golden (SHV-E400). I like the phone but I'm looking to get it rooted so I can remove the Korean bloatware...Now, I did my research and tried many rooting methods and they have all failed despite following the instructions (i.e. installing Android SDK, updating adb and fastboot, installing current Samsung drivers, ADB recognizes device by spitting out my serial number, USB debugging mode, changing micro-usb cables)

Using ADB Toolkit v1.5.2 (which shows my SU status: Unrooted), Device name: ks02lteskt) (<--- not sure if that's correct or not...), BOARD: MSM8960, Serial: ****b035) includes several "universal" rooting tools:

SuperOneClick: freezes at "daemon started successfully"
z4Root: crashes during the process
Original OneClick: says "phone is not connected"
DooMLoRD: lots of "the system cannot find the path specified"
UnlockRoot: says "Not any device detected"

I used Framaroot earlier on, but none of the included exploits succeeded. It just said failed and to try a different exploit...

I also used motochopper which came the closest to working as it managed to get superuser on to my phone, however, it couldn't root it and my "superuser (su) binary needs to be updated".

Now, having done my research for a solid week and pulling most of my hair and punching holes in my wall, I'm finally admitting defeat and asking/begging for help. I'm just looking for some way to get this darn phone rooted. I figured the best method is to flash a rooted ROM or a custom kernal that has root using Odin (though I'm unsure which version of Odin I should be using as I read different phones use different versions?)... but I haven't found a rooted ROM or custom kernal with root for my phone and I don't want to brick this expensive phone using the wrong one (which if I read correctly is will happen). So I would greatly appreciate it if someone might show me an alternate method? Maybe a generic or universal method that can be applied to Android 4.2.2 JDQ39? Or maybe tell me if I can use a rooted ROM or custom kernal with root from a phone that is relatively close (<---not sure about this one...)

I'm afraid I can't provide concrete info on this thing as I can't find anything official (just things from eBay sellers)...

Model Number: SHV-E400S
Android Version: 4.2.2
Baseband Version: E400SKSUAMH2
Kernal Version: 3.4.0-1108005
se.infra@R0301-12 #1
Tue Aug 6 20:52:45 KST 2013
Build number: JDQ39.E400SKSUAMH2

UPDATE: I came across this site which seems to have info on the Android OS build for my phone. If you think it's relevant, please let me know and I'll send it to you (can't link outside links yet).

Specifications
SIZE: 59.5 x 118 x 15.8 millimetres
WEIGHT: 179 grams (battery included)

Software Environment
Operating System: Google Android 4.2.2 Korean

Microprocessor Chipset
CPU Clock: 1700 MHz
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8930AB

Memory Storage capacity
RAM capacity: 1.5 GB (some say 2 GB)
ROM capacity: 14.9 GB (accessible: 11.4 GiB)

Display
Display Type: color Super AM-OLED , 16777216 scales
Display Diagonal: 3.7 "
Display Resolution: 480 x 800
Secondary Display Type: color Super AM-OLED Plus , 16777216 scales
Secondary Display Diagonal: 3.7 "
Secondary Display Resolution: 480 x 800
Video out: Supported
Sound
Microphone(s): mono
Loudspeaker(s): mono
Audio Output: 3.5mm

Networks:
S version:
Cellular Phone
Cellular Networks: GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS1900 (B2), UMTS2100 (B1)
Cellular Data Links: GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA
Secondary Cellular Phone
Dual Cellular Network Operation: Dual standby
Secondary Cellular Networks: LTE850 (B5), LTE1800 (B3)
Secondary Cellular Data-Links: LTE

K version:
Cellular;Phone
Cellular Networks: GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS1900 (B2),UMTS2100 (B1)
Cellular Data Links: GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA
Secondary Cellular Phone
Dual Cellular Network Operation: Dual standby
Secondary Cellular Networks: LTE1800 (B3), LTE900 (B8)
Secondary Cellular Data Links: LTE

Control Peripherals
Positioning Device: Multi-touch screen
Primary Keyboard: Built-in numeric phone keyboard
Directional Pad: 4 -way
Scroll Wheel: Not supported
Interfaces
Expansion Slots: microSD, microSDHC, TransFlash, microSDXC
USB: USB 2.0 host/client, 480Mbit/s
micro-USB
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0
Wireless LAN: 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
Infrared Gate: Not supported
Multimedia Telecommunication
Analog Radio Receiver: FM radio (87.5-108MHz) with RDS
Digital Media Broadcast Tuner: Not supported
Satellite Navigation
Built-in GPS module: Supported
Complementary GPS Services: Assisted GPS, QuickGPS, Geotagging

Built-in Digital Camera
Main-Camera: 8 MP
Autofocus (AF): Supported
Optical Zoom: 1 x
Macro Mode: Supported
Built in Flash: mobile light (LED)
Secondary Camera: 1.9 MP
Additional Details
Built in:accelerometer: Supported
Battery: removable
Battery:Capacity: 1820 mAh

 

[ocnbrze]

yeah i have not found anything that will help you.....just keep in mind that not all devices are rootable. you will need to find a device that has a dev community behind the phone. you have to ask what would a dev want to use and want to root. some of these lesser known devices will not get support.

even if you were able to gain root access....you can't do much other with it. even if you were able to delete some stuff you would not have a custom recovery and would not be able to make a backup of your phone should you delete the wrong thing.....so you are playing with fire a bit without a recovery.

please read this:
http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/631594-off-brand-phones-tablets-worth-low-cost.html

 

[connorcnguyen]

Thank you for the quick reply and for trying to help. I figure any meddling with root access brings a certain degree of fire handling/playing... But I will keep your warning in mind and proceed carefully. IF I can figure out how to proceed that is...

yeah i have not found anything that will help you.....just keep in mind that not all devices are rootable. you will need to find a device that has a dev community behind the phone. you have to ask what would a dev want to use and want to root. some of these lesser known devices will not get support.

even if you were able to gain root access....you can't do much other with it. even if you were able to delete some stuff you would not have a custom recovery and would not be able to make a backup of your phone should you delete the wrong thing.....so you are playing with fire a bit without a recovery.

please read this:
http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/631594-off-brand-phones-tablets-worth-low-cost.html

 

[ocnbrze]

almost forgot(where is my manners!!!!!)........WELCOME TO AF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah good luck with that as i doubt that you will find an exploit that will work.......the way it works is that first you have your usual exploits for just the android os.....super one click or the zerg rush exploit.....these are exploits found in the android os. the next level will be an exploit found on the phone. now this can be either brand specific or phone specific and will require a dev to find an exploit to root the phone.

unfortunately your phone does not really have a dev community supporting it. for me i will always get a phone that has a dev community behind it, so rooting thus far for me have never been an issue.

these lesser phones will not get any support and thus gaining root will be hard to do on some.

all i can say is good luck and if you find something that works let us know.

 

[connorcnguyen]

Thank you for the welcome!

I'm curious. If I were to use Odin to flash a CWM recovery for a phone (say a Samsung Galaxy S2) that has very similar specs to mine, what would happen?

Would it be possible to port a CWM recovery file to make it work with my phone?

 

[ocnbrze]

Thank you for the welcome!

I'm curious. If I were to use Odin to flash a CWM recovery for a phone (say a Samsung Galaxy S2) that has very similar specs to mine, what would happen?

Would it be possible to port a CWM recovery file to make it work with my phone?

NOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

That is a great way to brick your phone......only flash something that is made for your device.

 

[connorcnguyen]

Yeah, I figured as much. Without an option to flash CWM Recovery, I figured I'm left with trying to use stock recovery 3e and getting it to "apply update from ADB/external storage"... I've been searching for a signed Supersu.zip/Superuser.zip/su.zip but all of the ones that I've found come back with "failed to verify whole-file signature".... You wouldn't happen to know of one, would you?

NOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

That is a great way to brick your phone......only flash something that is made for your device.

 

[connorcnguyen]

UPDATE! Possible Website With Root Tutorial Found

Stumbled across a Chinese/Korean/Japanese site (koxdaDOTcom) that has a subforum for the Samsung Golden SHV-E400 S/K/L. And there seems to be tutorials for rooting (I believe Google Translates it as "brush"). There are also ROMs and a one click program that I'd like to try out, but you have to be registered to the forums to download. Which wouldn't have been an issue, except there's a "Verification Code" section of the registration that generates a random picture of some Asian language characters that you have to type in to prove you're human.... And I can't read them! So if someone is interested, please register and download it and let us know if it works! I'll continue poking around as well...:thumb: