How to Root your Galaxy Note (SGH-i717) w/o Boosting Flash Counter
For all those who haven't yet gotten a full glimpse of what the world of flashing kernels to a Samsung android device looks like - or just flashing in general - then you will definitely learn something after reading this article.
I'm sure you've heard of the Samsung Galaxy Note from AT&T as it is the one device that has boldly gone beyond the average 4.x inch screen with it's Super AMOLED capacitive, 800 x 1280 pixel, 5.3 inch touchscreen. Like many Galaxy phones the Note is indeed an easy phone to root. However, Samsung has implemented what is called a flash counter into their devices that keeps track of the number of times that particular phone has been flashed. So if you decide you want to root the Galaxy Note by flashing a pre-rooted kernel, you must be willing to accept an increase in number on the Note’s flash counter. No one knows for certain what the flash counter will be used for, but there are fears that Samsung may use it to refuse honoring warranties after a phone has been flashed. Understandably, then, you’d prefer to flash pre-rooted kernels to your Galaxy Note without increasing its flash counter.
If you want to root your Galaxy Note without being subjected to the flash counter, check out the guide below:
Requirements
- Samsung Galaxy Note SGH-I717 (AT&T). Go here if you have a GT-n7000
- A computer running Windows
- Odin-flashable pre-rooted ROM for AT&T Galaxy Note SGH-I717 (att_note_root.zip, 535.5 MB, md5sum: 9c1dff3867e014774d776f45375956b5) — Download from here
- Odin3 v1.85 — Download from here (198 KB)
- USB drivers for Samsung Galaxy Note. Install these on your computer. You can get them from here.
- Charge the phone’s battery to at least 70% or more to make sure it lasts throughout the entire flashing process.
- Disable system tools such as Samsung KIES, firewall programs, and anti-virus software to avoid interruption while you root your phone.
- Backup your personal phone data, files, and settings.
Warnings
- This rooting guide works only with the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note SGH-I717. Using this guide on a variant or on another device may cause damage.
- Follow these step-by-step rooting instructions at your own risk. We will not be held liable for any damage arising from the use of this rooting guide.
Instructions
- Download att_note_root.zip from the link above. Save the file to your computer.
- Extract the content of att_note_root.zip. You will get one huge file called att_note_root.tar. This is the file that you will flash through Odin3.
- Download Odin3 v1.85 from the link provided above. Extract the ZIP package.
- Run the newly extracted Odin3 v1.85.exe executable file to launch Odin3 on your computer.
- Enable USB Debugging on your phone. You can do that by going to Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging.
- Turn off your Samsung Galaxy Note.
- Hold down the Volume Down key and OK button (middle key) simultaneously, while tapping the Power button to reboot your phone into download mode.
- Hook up your mobile phone to the computer using USB cable.
- Once connected, the ID:COM box in Odin will turn yellow. This signals that your device has been successfully connected to your computer. If not, make sure the appropriate USB drivers are installed on your computer.
- In Option in Odin3, make sure that only Auto Reboot is checked. Leave the other options unchecked.
- Click on the PDA tab and select the att_note_root.tar. style=”font-weight: bold;”>
- Click the Start button in Odin3 to flash the ROM. Your phone will automatically reboot.
- Disconnect your phone from your computer once the phone has completely rebooted.
- Verify successful flashing and rooting by checking for the Superuser app. Optionally, you can also update the su binary at this point.
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