[ROOT] SM-T707A - Lollipop with SuperSu - Xposed & Debloated - Part I

Root SM-T707A on Lollipop with SuperSu - Xposed & Debloated - Part I

The purpose of this thread is to provide several guides (written by myself) to achieve the following on the SM-T707A tablet:

* Flash Stock Lollipop 5.0.2 <---- YOU ARE HERE!
* Gain Root access for Lollipop with SuperSU.
* Flash Xposed Framework thru Flashfire.
* Debloat the tablet from both AT&T and most of Samsung stuff.
* Improve usability and aspect with Xposed Modules.

But first, some words of our sponsors: NO, I'm NOT resposible for any consequence originated from the use of this guide, being that the death of your tablet, your phone, North Korea launching a nuclear strike or the Sixers winning the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Whatever happens to your tablet, it's ON YOU.

Introduction (recommended reading - not mandatory):

Four weeks ago I managed to capture this tablet for a very decent price on eBay. After buying an HTC 10, my bank account was in ashes and I was growing impatient with my unstable iPad mini 2. I wanted to live the full android experience on a tablet, while spending a mere $ 150.00. Buying a Pixel C was clearly out of the question. So, after some research, the T707A had the 8 cores, 3gb of RAM and also the AWS LTE neeeded for my country (Uruguay). Perfect match!

I was already drooling about installing CM and all the stuff to take this beast to the next level. With the tablet in my hands, just 5 minutes of -late- XDA reading made me realize that...CM wasn't happening (Locked BL). The consolation prize was to root the tablet with the infamous kingoroot and use Xposed to eviscerate as much bloat and touchwiz as possible. Sadly, that same kingoroot paired with a not-so-good battery life and the inability to use xposed almost put me back on the market for another tablet.

But...(there's always one) last monday, after several weeks of failures, there was a breakthru. SuperSU was breathing. Minutes later, Xposed modules where flying off the shelves and suddenly, the T707A was back into the game with more speed and less touchwiz feel. Since most of my objectives were met on Monday, if AT&T releases MM and someone helps us pulling that, I would love to achieve the same over MM. But, what didn't worked in this case (updating a rooted device), will have to in MM to manage the same results. At least we can enjoy lollipop in the meantime.

Part 1: Flashing Stock Lollipop

If you're standing on Kitkat or, in Lollipop but messed too much with the system and want a fresh start, over the following lines we'll comment on the process of flashing stock kitkat (with odin), and afterwards applying the OTA zip files to reach Lollipop. We can't flash straight to Lollipop because we don't have the firmware for that. So, if you're already on Lollipop and only want SuperSU root, you can use my next guide BUT I STRONGLY SUGGEST you to flash kitkat first and update to lollipop with this guide to raise your sucess chances. Remember that doing that you are going to lose all your files, the flashing process ERASES EVERYTHING. So please BACKUP!

You'll need to download the following files, have an external MicroSD card (on your tablet), a PC and a microUSB cable.

* Odin 3.09
* BL file
* AP file
* CP file
* CSC file
* Update.zip
* Update2.zip

For Odin to work properly, you might need the Samsung USB drivers. Chances are you already have them installed in place. You'll know that in a minute.

Flashing KitKat 4.4.2 with Odin

Extract the Odin.zip in some handy place. Also, move the BL,AP,CP and CSC files to the same folder where Odin was extracted. Last, copy the Update.zip and Update2.zip to your EXTERNAL MicroSD card that's mounted on your tablet.

With your tablet disconnected from the USB cable, open Odin3 v3.09.exe.
We have to put the tablet in Download Mode. Make sure the tablet was turned OFF first. Now press and mantain the HOME and VOL DOWN buttons and then press the POWER button. All 3 buttons at the same time until the screen turns on with a Warning!! message. Now release the 3 buttons and just press the VOL UP to access download mode.

The Android robot will appear with the legend "Downloading...Do not turn off target!!".
Connect the USB cable to your computer and tablet. If done correctly, the Odin screen will show this legend below ID:COM:

"0:[COM1]" (the numbers on this legend are not relevant, and may differ).

If 0:[COM1] appears below ID:COM, we are good! If not, you have to try installing the Samsung USB drivers, or changing the USB port on your computer (use rear ports please!).

The last part of this segment is to choose the 4 files we have copied to our Odin folder. You have to select them on the Odin screen on the right "Files (Download)".
Hit the BL button and select the BL file. Do the same for the other 3 files. BE PATIENT!. After selecting every file, do not touch anything else until Odin shows the route of the file to the right of the button you pressed. The AP button may take up to 20 seconds to display the route after choosing the AP file.

The 4 files are set, so you just hit START and wait for 6 minutes. By the end, you'll have stock KitKat, and your tablet will show you the Samsung first use wizard. PLEASE don't touch anything during those 6 minutes!!!. A green "PASS!" will show in ODIN when its finished.

Flashing the OTAs for Lollipop 5.0.2

The tablet will boot and show Samsung first use wizard. Disconnect your USB cable and power OFF the tablet. Now we have to access Recovery Mode. Hold the HOME and VOL UP buttons and press the POWER button. When the GALAXY TAB logo appears, release only the POWER button while maintaining the VOL UP and HOME buttons pressed.

You're faced with Recovery Mode. Using VOL DOWN, move the cursor and highlight "apply update from external storage" and press the POWER button. Now move the cursor again to highlight "Update.zip" and press the POWER button. This will flash the first update file. When finished, the tablet will reboot itself. That will take you again to the Samsung first use wizard, so once more power OFF the tablet.

We need to enter "Recovery Mode" again (HOME + VOL UP + POWER). And again we have to apply an "update from external storage" but this we do apply file Update2.zip. Now Lollipop is being flashed. Ignore any error that might appear in red letters on your tablet.

After yet another automatic reboot, the tablet will boot the Samsung Wizard but now in Lollipop. Before putting your fingers on the display, PLEASE don't conect to your WiFi or use Internet over your Data Plan. Remove your simcard and don't use your Wifi until I tell you.

Now that you know that, head to our second guide to continue (here).

Special Thanks:

* @frizzdizzle27 for providing both KitKat and Lollipop firmware/files. He was/is key for us SM-T707A users.

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2cSEHO9
via IFTTT