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Root Rooting T-Mobile Galaxy S3 SGH T999L doesn't work

I am following the rooting thread on the GALAXYS3ROOT.COM site.

The Samsung Win Drivers are installed and my Win7 PC sees the S3 just fine.

I get to the point in the procedure where I run ODIN.

I get a YELLOW COM button. The USB connection is good.

I click PDA and open the CWM TAR file and click START.

At the end it says succeeded=1 and added.

The S3 boots itself.

I boot the S3 into RECOVERY.

I expect it to announce itself as\ CWM Recovery.

But it announces itself as ANDROID System Recovery instead.
And the options are wrong.

I downloaded 2 different TAR files for the SGH T999L from two
different sites. Both fail the same way.

Can anyone help me?

Steve
 
If Odin said it succeeded I doubt the issue is with your Connection. What version of CWM you trying to install? It sounds like the file was not specific to your device. I would recommend Philz Touch recovery! Here is an updated Tar I was able to find for you specifically for that Model and Carrier.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9fmoaje8m1d7oed/openrecovery-twrp-2.8.3.0-d2tmo.img?dl=0
The guy on the galaxy s3 root com forum has posted 3 different CWM TAR files
and I have tried all 3 with the same problem mode each time.
 
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Perhaps try "un-ticking" the "auto reboot" option in ODIN.
Flash your recovery as you have tried before.
When you are done flashing the recovery TAR file, unplug your device, pull the battery, put the battery back in, then reboot to recovery.
( I assume you have the SU .zip on your internal memory to flash it once you get into the custom recovery)
 
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Perhaps try "un-ticking" the "auto reboot" option in ODIN.
Flash your recovery as you have tried before.
When you are done flashing the recovery TAR file, unplug your device, pull the battery, put the battery back in, then reboot to recovery.
( I assume you have the SU .zip on your internal memory to flash it once you get into the custom recovery)
Thank You !!!
That made it work CORRECTLY.
It now says CWM-based Recovery v5,5.0.4.
Was this a CACHE MEMORY problem?
I will continue the ROOT procedure now and report back.

Steve ...
 
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Thank You !!!
That made it work CORRECTLY.
It now says CWM-based Recovery v5,5.0.4.
Was this a CACHE MEMORY problem?
I will continue the ROOT procedure now and report back.

Steve ...

This was a result of /system/etc/install-recovery.sh

The stock system overwrites cwm/twrp with the stock recovery on every boot. You skipped the reboot step preventing the recovery from getting overwritten and your recovery should disable that part off the script.

Here's what my install-recovery.sh contains

Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
if ! applypatch -c EMMC:/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/recovery:2048:60eaf752376ca805093f3ebe5c0515cd6be62516; then
  log -t recovery "Installing new recovery image"
  applypatch EMMC:/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/boot:13983744:f31efd077d0a1f7bcd6618426e44572cff949b22 EMMC:/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/recovery f3a0bfe59d931d9fcaf37a977ec9d5bb80156b7b 14522368 f31efd077d0a1f7bcd6618426e44572cff949b22:/system/recovery-from-boot.p
else
  log -t recovery "Recovery image already installed"
fi
 
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Awesome! :D



Beats me! Seriously though, not sure;)

The problem continues ...

I ran ODIN with auto reboot OFF and installed CWM.TAR successfully.

I powered off the phone and pulled the battery.

I booted into RECOVERY MODE and CWM was right there.

I selected INSTALL ZIP FROM CARD.

I then received several ERRORS that it COULD NOT open any files from the CACHE.

I then did a standard boot, power off, and booted again into RECOVERY MODE.

CWM is GONE. I get the ANDROID SYSTEM RECOVERY.

I pulled the battery and booted recovery again but CWM is not there any more.

Repeating this procedure yields the same results.

I need help please.

Steve ...
 
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Are you sure the recovery.tar you used is for the android version you are using?

When you got the errors, did it still give the option to choose a file from sd? (Cache warnings/errors are sometimes normal and don't do any harm)

Did you install the super user zip?
 
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Give this file a shot. I did in fact give the proper file the first time around, I just noticed. Do not extract the image, as the .tar does in fact include a .img. Odin should recognize the file as it is downloaded, no extracting required.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/od6649p4817upzh/twrp-2.8.6.0-d2tmo.tar?dl=0
The CWM.TAR file came from the Android Root site that provided the procedure.
I have to rely on the author to provide the correct TAR for my phone. Is there another
way to verify this?

I did not extract the TAR file, I sent the TAR file itself to the phone with ODIN.

After all the cache errors CWM is no longer there.
There is nothing but the error messages.
So it is impossible to install SUPERSU.
I will try the TWRP file you provided.

Steve
 
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The reason you lost cwm is you rebooted before installing the superuser.zip

TWRP is (imho) a much better recovery than CWM ands will offer you a choice to 'disable recovery flash' after installing superuser ands before you reboot (you should be prompted when you select the reboot option)

I asked if you used the correct cwm version since you say the author provided 3 (presumably for different android versions on the device)

Also, after you selected install zip from sd and before rebooting (when you got the cache errors) did you still have menu options? ('choose zip from sdcard', etc)
 
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I SPOKE TOO SOON.

TWRP has now DISAPPEARED and I have
ANDROID SYSTEM RECOVERY again.

And when I had the cache errors, no I didn't
have any menu options.

If I should be installing SUPERSU.ZIP before
rebooting how do I do that? The procedure
has me REBOOTING into CWM to install
SUPERSU.ZIP and that is exactly when
CWM went away.

And YES, TWRP looked to be an excellent
program before IT went away.

Steve ...
 
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Until you disable the recovery flash, EVERY TIME you reboot the phone you will lose your custom recovery.

Once Odin is successful, remove your battery, replace it and then boot into TWRP

With TWRP you are presented with a touch interface. Select install and then browse to the superuser.zip (or supersu.zip. Whichever you're using) select it and then swipe the slider to install

Once that says successful, go back to the main screen and select reboot then reboot system.

You should be prompted to disable recovery flash. Say yes.
 
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I will try more precisely right now, but I am pretty sure using the battery
removal technique,

1. Booting RERCOVERY and running CWM the first time resulted in the CACHE failure problems.

2. Booting RECOVERY the second time took me to stock ANDROID RECOVERY.

S0 if I can't DISABLE the overwrite then CWM will need some additional steps to stop this.

Rebooting RECOVERY without pulling the battery, CWM just doesn't run.

So in either mode CWM doesn't run so CWM would never be able to disable the overwrite.

And, if I am skipping one of the reboots, I don't know which one.

I will try your TWRP steps now.

Steve
 
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Sorry but I need more handholding.

First, I verified that SUPERSU.ZIP is in both the
PHONE and CARD directories from Windows.
I didn't know which to choose.

I am in TWRP on the phone.

I press INSTALL.

It says SELECT ZIP TO INSTALL.

How or where do I select the ZIP?
There is a /SUPERSU folder I can see.

I looked at an on-line TWRP help site at the
INSTALL SELECT function but it was not
much help.

Sorry to need so much help.

Steve ...
 
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Ok. So where is the superuser zip located? (Where on the phone/sdcard) For ease of use I put it in the root of the sdcard. (Meaning not in any folder)

When you select install you should be presented with a scrollable list (again touch interface, so just swipe up)

is this the case? If so, is the superuser zip not present? If not, can you describe what you are seeing or provide a picture?
 
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Sorry but I need more handholding.

It says SELECT ZIP TO INSTALL.

How or where do I select the ZIP?
There is a /SUPERSU folder I can see.
.

It is because your SD card is not mounted. Go into "Mount" from the main menu. And make sure both internal storage and MicroSD card storage is selected as "Mounted" Then go back to see individual files from your directories. As lord stated, it is always easier just to put .zips in the Root directory, not a separate folder.
 
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