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Any bootloader checks in place to tell if I've rooted?

Q

qwer777

Newbie
I've heard about phones that can't relock the bootloader after unlock, or that keep track of the number of rom flashes, as ways to tell if you have rooted(and thus voided your warranty). Are there any checks on the S3?
 
qwer777 said:
I've heard about phones that can't relock the bootloader after unlock, or that keep track of the number of rom flashes, as ways to tell if you have rooted(and thus voided your warranty). Are there any checks on the S3?
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Yes Samsung has a flash counter on the S3. It is possible to avoid and to go back to stock if needed.

sherlock5545 said:
Samsung does not lock the bootloader. You can reset the flash counter using triangle away, developed by Chainfire.
Click to expand...

Triangle away only works for the international version of the S3. For the US variants (qualcomm s4) there is not a triangle away solution. However, there are some root methods that work without tripping the counter... but there is currently not a way to reset the counter if it has been tripped.

Not sure about the GS3 but samsung does lock bootloaders. They are not encrypted and are easy to unlock. With the Galaxy Nexus it only took a simply terminal command: fastboot oem unlock.
 
Trent Reznor said:
Triangle away only works for the international version of the S3. For the US variants (qualcomm s4) there is not a triangle away solution. However, there are some root methods that work without tripping the counter... but there is currently not a way to reset the counter if it has been tripped.
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Ok. So once I get the s3 I just have to use the right rooting method and I'll be fine?
 
I'm not worried because if you do have to take it in the reps( if you unroot it) 99% of the time have no clue about those things anyway. Now if you rooted and messed up the phone then you shouldn't take it in but if something else happens you will be able to return to stock.
 
Skeeter125 said:
I'm not worried because if you do have to take it in the reps( if you unroot it) 99% of the time have no clue about those things anyway. Now if you rooted and messed up the phone then you shouldn't take it in but if something else happens you will be able to return to stock.
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Cool. My main concern is if the screen gets cracked, or the power button breaks(has happened twice on my OG Droid)
 
Has anyone ever seen an instance of a carrier even checking the flash counter? I exchanged a rooted gnex(back to stock) back in late April with no problems. Verizon, bought through Wirefly. I think we are giving the carriers too much credit, personally. But interested to know if they are actually checking or are we all just speculating because they have the ability to check. I have found that we on these forums know far more about the phones than Verizon's tech guys.
 
jackdubl said:
Has anyone ever seen an instance of a carrier even checking the flash counter? I exchanged a rooted gnex(back to stock) back in late April with no problems. Verizon, bought through Wirefly. I think we are giving the carriers too much credit, personally. But interested to know if they are actually checking or are we all just speculating because they have the ability to check. I have found that we on these forums know far more about the phones than Verizon's tech guys.
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I went in once with a rooted gnex and it had rom manager installed and the rep was confused and asked another rep who said, "that is where all the apps go you download" Clearly they do not know about the flash counter lol
 
jackdubl said:
Has anyone ever seen an instance of a carrier even checking the flash counter? I exchanged a rooted gnex(back to stock) back in late April with no problems. Verizon, bought through Wirefly. I think we are giving the carriers too much credit, personally. But interested to know if they are actually checking or are we all just speculating because they have the ability to check. I have found that we on these forums know far more about the phones than Verizon's tech guys.
Click to expand...

Galaxy nexus does not have a flash counter. The nexus line is intended to be a developer phone so is less restrictive.

While going in with a flash counter tripped on the GS3 does not guarentee a warranty denial it is a chance a lot of us would like to avoid. Better safe than sorry;)
 
Trent Reznor said:
Galaxy nexus does not have a flash counter. The nexus line is intended to be a developer phone so is less restrictive.

While going in with a flash counter tripped on the GS3 does not guarentee a warranty denial it is a chance a lot of us would like to avoid. Better safe than sorry;)
Click to expand...
I agree, but I still wonder if there is even one instance of this happening yet.
 
jackdubl said:
I agree, but I still wonder if there is even one instance of this happening yet.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the counter method is pretty new isn't it? I think its only on a few phones. I could be totally wrong about that though, since the OG droid scene is the only one I follow.
 
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