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Help s4 i9500 comes up with Backup account needed and Sim not detected, restarting

Sb2020

Lurker
Apr 10, 2015
3
1
I have a S4 i9500 4G 16gb Unlocked, I got it off ebay for $350. Turns out it was from China. I am a broke student, and needed a new phone to assist with university. so I didn't and still don't have a choice.
Anyway, since I got it, it has been coming up with two major problems. The first is it will come up with "Sim card not detected, device will now restart" which is pretty serious, and the retailer suggested I upgrade my sim from 3G to a 4G. They said their advertisement clearly stated that the phone was not intended for 3G sim cards. I thought that was weird. So, I upgraded to a $2 dollar 4G sim card and put $10 credit on it to test, and the phone worked for a few days. It came up with the Restart problem today, a few hours after the second problem, which I will describe shortly, returned.

The second problem is very annoying, and could potentially leave me stranded if I ran out of Data in Australia (where there is limited free WIFI). What happens is, I normally have about 16 contacts on my Sim card, and another 85 on my Google account, so my Google account and internet is my main way of keeping in contact with the outside world, the Google Backup Account somehow "gets lost", and the device comes up with a notification that says, "Backup account required".

Sure, it is simple enough to re-sign in - several times, on every single app/email/account that requires it - and allow everything to sync, but this takes 7-10minutes to do and I don't have the time nor the data for this to happen every day.

I am wondering if anyone can help me find a resolution before I have to send it back to the retailer, as I will be without a phone for at least three weeks if this happens. This goes without saying that it will be a difficult three weeks.
Both issues seem to be random, however, the Backup account error today, seems to have happened immediately after I turned on WIFI.
I then did a factory reset, my 5th or 6th in three weeks, and after it had cleared and I selected the language etc, I put the phone down and got something to eat. I returned 15 minutes later and the Sim card problem had resurfaced, I had installed no Apps or changed any settings or even touched the phone.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
I have a S4 i9500 4G 16gb Unlocked, I got it off ebay for $350. Turns out it was from China. I am a broke student, and needed a new phone to assist with university. so I didn't and still don't have a choice.
Anyway, since I got it, it has been coming up with two major problems. The first is it will come up with "Sim card not detected, device will now restart" which is pretty serious, and the retailer suggested I upgrade my sim from 3G to a 4G. They said their advertisement clearly stated that the phone was not intended for 3G sim cards. I thought that was weird. So, I upgraded to a $2 dollar 4G sim card and put $10 credit on it to test, and the phone worked for a few days. It came up with the Restart problem today, a few hours after the second problem, which I will describe shortly, returned.

The second problem is very annoying, and could potentially leave me stranded if I ran out of Data in Australia (where there is limited free WIFI). What happens is, I normally have about 16 contacts on my Sim card, and another 85 on my Google account, so my Google account and internet is my main way of keeping in contact with the outside world, the Google Backup Account somehow "gets lost", and the device comes up with a notification that says, "Backup account required".

Sure, it is simple enough to re-sign in - several times, on every single app/email/account that requires it - and allow everything to sync, but this takes 7-10minutes to do and I don't have the time nor the data for this to happen every day.

I am wondering if anyone can help me find a resolution before I have to send it back to the retailer, as I will be without a phone for at least three weeks if this happens. This goes without saying that it will be a difficult three weeks.
Both issues seem to be random, however, the Backup account error today, seems to have happened immediately after I turned on WIFI.
I then did a factory reset, my 5th or 6th in three weeks, and after it had cleared and I selected the language etc, I put the phone down and got something to eat. I returned 15 minutes later and the Sim card problem had resurfaced, I had installed no Apps or changed any settings or even touched the phone.

Any help would be appreciated.

Hello and welcome to Android Forums Sb2020 :)

Thank you for your post.

There are currently 29 different models of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and over 3,000 different stock Samsung firmware versions, worldwide, covering 6 different Android platforms, Android 4.2.2, Android 4.3, Android 4.4.2, Android 4.4.3, Android 4.4.4 and Android 5.0. Not all issues will affect all models or firmware releases and your answers to the following questions will help in the forum's answers to your specific query.

#1 Could you post your Model number and Android version...

To locate these, go to...

Settings > More > About device > Model number and Android version

This will give you the model of Samsung Galaxy S4 that you have and which Android version you are on.


#2. Your current Firmware, (not just Baseband), version .

To locate your current firmware version, go to the stock, Samsung, dial pad and type in...

*#1234#

This will give you your, "Version", details in full, usually 3 lines of information, AP: CP: CSC:, which may all be relevant.

*** If code *#1234# has been disabled on your firmware, you can download and install, free from the Play Store, Phone Info and it will give you, under Firmware Info... PDA, Baseband, CSC, versions.


#3. Also helpful would be your carrier, (service provider), location, (UK, India, Russia, USA, etc: ), and if your phone is rooted or not and running a custom ROM, (give details).


Thanks. The above helps us to help you and hopefully someone will be able to reply to you shortly. :)


For more information, see, 29 Galaxy S4 models - know yours?

(TIP If you are a poster it is a good idea to mention your model number and firmware version in case this has a bearing on your problem.

Better still, if you have 25+ posts, you can go to the black bar at the top of this forum and click on your
Username, which will show a drop down menu. Just select, "Signature", and you can enter in the signature box the details of your phone, i.e. - "Galaxy S4 i9505". This ensures that your device details are shown in every post you make. You can update this as often as you like and will help other users immediately identify your phone and firmware.
 
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Thanks for the quick response.
1.
GT-I9500
andriod version 4.3
2.
AP:i9500zsuemj6
CP:i9500zsuemj6
CSC:i9500zsuemj6
3.
My 4G simcard is with OPTUS AU, and my 3G is with VODAFONE AU.
It is not rooted, nor running a custom ROM as far as I can tell. I am not a techy person.

You have the Galaxy S4, GT-i9500, octa core, non 4G/LTE model it would appear. The phone is running the old, "Jelly Bean", Android 4.3, firmware. The CSC code, "ZSU", is unknown to me and there seems to be some issues and mystery surrounding this model, see...

Galaxy S4 still on Android 4.3 - no update available!

I9500ZSUEMJ6 problem

I would point out that, after reading the above links, that neither AT&T or Verizon have ever used the non 4G/LTE, octa core, GT-i9500.

Personally,I would get shot of it, a.s.a.p.
 
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