Call for testing: Samsung S3 Neo (s3ve3g) owners

Speiburger · 25 Feb 2020, 20:58

@Flohack Ok, quick question, from my research I concluded that I need heimdall to install the twrp and not fastboot.I also found out that the bootloader of the SIII Neo is probably unlocked from the beginning. Is this information correct? If yes, would it be enough to just flash the twrp via heimdall and continue with the installation?

Thanks for your quick answers and effort of porting!

flohack · 25 Feb 2020, 21:44

@Speiburger Ok sorry I confused you:

Samsung devices use a totally different bootloader concept
Samsung devices are always unlocked
I fixed the description: Just flash the recovery with Heimdall (I updated the step there) or follow TWRP description for Samsung on the net

Speiburger · 26 Feb 2020, 10:41

@Flohack ok, thanks for your effort! While making extra sure I have the correct files and the correct device, it came to my attention that I have a GT-9301i and not a GT-9300i. So I guess I should not procced with the installation as it would probably brick my device?

flohack · 26 Feb 2020, 17:37

@Speiburger said in Call for testing: Samsung S3 Neo (s3ve3g) owners:

GT-9301i

Oh thats the dual SIM right? This might need some modifications for supporting the 2nd SIM slot, but basically it should work, just go to try it...

Speiburger · 26 Feb 2020, 18:50

@Flohack I don't think i've got a second sim slot. Honestly IDK what the difference is, the only thing I know is that it's this model number. Just wanted to make sure I don't brick the system with a wron recovery. BTW, I read that in this thread that this smartphone runs android 5.1? My device never got an update over KitKat...? Strange...

flohack · 26 Feb 2020, 19:08

@Speiburger Smartphones are hard to brick. But you might want to google your model number for a different TWRP then...

Speiburger · 26 Feb 2020, 19:36

@Flohack Ok, guess I'll just try it then and report back what happened... Thanks again for your help and advice!

Speiburger · 26 Feb 2020, 19:50

@Flohack Soooo.. I tried installing the TWRP. The file is the same for both devices. Heimdall sent no errors, but I am not able to get into the recovery.... Neither Power + Vol. down nor Power + Home + Vol. down works. It always boots into the default recovery...

Speiburger · 26 Feb 2020, 20:25

@Flohack Update 2: GOTCHA!
When I press the Vol. up key just after uploading the recovery and it automaticly updates, I can get into the recovery! So next thing for me is to try and install ubuntu touch on it!

Speiburger · 26 Feb 2020, 20:43

@Flohack And now I reached the next Problem:

The first command appeared to be working, complaining about not being able to create a link in the end because the file already exists.
Now for the bigger problem: In the last command, heimdall tries to download the PIT file but fails... When installing the TWRP before it worked without any Problem. I tried different cables and different USB Ports...

Any Ideas on how to find the PIT are welcome!

flohack · 26 Feb 2020, 21:01

@Speiburger are you sure you are in download mode again, not in recovery?

Speiburger · 26 Feb 2020, 21:03

@Flohack 100% sure, big Downloading, do not turn off target sign.
BTW, I just realized that I didn't allow TWRP to write to my device. Could this be the Problem?

flohack · 26 Feb 2020, 21:04

@Speiburger No we bypass twrp normally. You can check in recovery whats the content of /data, should be a rootfs.img and a system.img

Speiburger · 26 Feb 2020, 21:07

@Flohack Nope, in the /data folder, there is a bunch of other folders(anr,app,app-lib,etc...) does this mean the first command was not working in the first place?

Speiburger · 26 Feb 2020, 21:16

@Flohack So I tried the first command again, no change, same error :

ln: Die symbolische Verknüpfung '.halium-install-rootfs.thm7J/cache' konnte nicht angelegt werden: Die Datei existiert bereits

In case you don't know german, it just states that ln could not create a link .halium-install-rootfs.thm7J/cache because the file already exists.

flohack · 26 Feb 2020, 22:49

Yeah seems you got 2 issues which one is that halium-install did not work out, and also seems that flashing of the boot image did not work. Are you able to join the German Telegram group, we might be able to sort it out there...

Speiburger · 27 Feb 2020, 18:56

@Flohack Sure! Could you please send me the link, I wasn't able to find it around here.

flohack · 27 Feb 2020, 19:03

@Speiburger Its https://t.me/UBports_Deutsch

hsce1 · 3 Mar 2020, 15:40

Thanks to @Flohack, @Nandell, @Speiburger, ... I also managed to install Ubuntu Touch on the S3Neo. Here is a short summary of the steps that were necessary: https://pad.ubports.com/p/k6P5Z9kPu1R5t_ocx3J-
They closely follow @Flohack's description on top of this thread.

flohack · 4 Mar 2020, 07:34

I am excited! Works for most people now. Can someone please confirm if MMS in and out is working?