[Replicant] No replicant, lineage OS, or even rooting for Samsung Mega GT-I9152?

Fri Aug 20 03:16:32 UTC 2021

Hello,

I tried to buy a Galaxy S3 from China to install Replicant on.  They sent the
wrong phone [1].  I now have a Samsung Galaxy Mege GT-I9152.  It appears that this
phone is not supported by Replicant, correct?

The specs are here:

https://www.phonemore.com/specs/samsung/galaxy-mega-5-8/duos-gt-i9152/

Does this look like something that replicant could run on?

In the above link it says it has FM radio but I can't see any radio app or
other indication that there is such a thing.  In the "About Device" it says:

Model number: GT-I9152
Android varsion: 4.2.2
Baseband version: I9152XXUAML4
Kernel version: 3.0.31-2378944 se.infra at R0210-13#1 Wed Jan 29 13:26:44 KST 2014
Build number: JDQ39.XWUANA5

Next I tried to see if Lineage OS supports it.

The lists here (various versions of Lineage OS for Samsung Devices)
don't include it.

https://www.getdroidtips.com/official-unofficial-lineage-os-14-1-device-list/#List-of-Unofficial-and-Official-Lineage-OS-141-For-Samsung-Device

https://www.getdroidtips.com/lineage-os-15-1-android-8-1-oreo/

This page:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/rom-7-1-2-unofficial-i9152-i9150-dualsim-lineageos-14-1-15-04-2018.3551336/

claims it exists, but the DL links are broken.

This page has instructions but no downloadable code:

https://androidbiits.com/samsung-galaxy-mega-5-8-gt-i9152-android-7-1-1-nougat-lineageos-14-1-unofficial-rom/

the DL link refers to the previous link, but the DL links are broken.  It also
says that TWRP and rooting are mandatory.

This page:

https://www.geekdashboard.com/root-samsung-galaxy-mega-gt-i9152-2/

claims that it's possible to root this phone, but the DL link leads here:

https://www.mediafire.com/file/90c4q79za1k4jvv/Rooting_kit_Mega_.zip/file

and the zip file there contains a corrupt tar file

$ ls *.tar
I9152-JB_4.2.2-boot.tar
$ tar -tvf *boot.tar
-rwxr-xr-x 0/0         6782976 2013-07-19 18:40 boot.img
tar: Unexpected EOF in archive
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
$ tar -xvf *boot.tar
boot.img
tar: Unexpected EOF in archive
tar: rmtlseek not stopped at a record boundary
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
$ ls -l boot*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 afc afc 611328 Aug 19 16:36 boot.img*

Not sure if this error matters but I'm reluctand to flash (if it is even
possible) a corrupt boot.img.

I have enabled developer options and enabled usb debugging.

Heimdall and heimdall-front-end are installed on a Debian 10 system and
the phone is recognized in download mode.  I could print the pit file:

$ sudo heimdall print-pit
Heimdall v1.4.1

Copyright (c) 2010-2014 Benjamin Dobell, Glass Echidna
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/

This software is provided free of charge. Copying and redistribution is
encouraged.

If you appreciate this software and you would like to support future
development please consider donating:
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/donate/

Initialising connection...
Detecting device...
Claiming interface...
Setting up interface...

Initialising protocol...
Protocol initialisation successful.

Beginning session...

Some devices may take up to 2 minutes to respond.
Please be patient!

Session begun.

Downloading device's PIT file...
PIT file download successful.

Entry Count: 24
Unknown 1: 1598902083
Unknown 2: 844251476
Unknown 3: 29251
Unknown 4: 29793
Unknown 5: 29285
Unknown 6: 0
Unknown 7: 0
Unknown 8: 0

--- Entry #0 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 80
Attributes: 2 (STL Read-Only)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 0
Partition Block Count: 512
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: BOOT
Flash Filename: BcmBoot.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #1 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 1
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 28672
Partition Block Count: 2048
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: cal
Flash Filename: 
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #2 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 2
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 30720
Partition Block Count: 512
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: sysparm_dep
Flash Filename: sysparm_dep.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #3 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 3
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 31232
Partition Block Count: 512
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: parm-spml_dep
Flash Filename: sysparm2_dep_blob.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #4 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 4
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 31744
Partition Block Count: 512
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: RF_CAL_FILE
Flash Filename: HEDGE_RF_LE_SS_CAPRI_00.bin
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #5 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 5
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 32256
Partition Block Count: 16384
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: KERNEL
Flash Filename: boot.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #6 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 6
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 48640
Partition Block Count: 16384
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: RECOVERY
Flash Filename: recovery.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #7 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 7
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 65024
Partition Block Count: 38400
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: modem
Flash Filename: BcmCP.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #8 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 8
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 103424
Partition Block Count: 65024
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: reserved
Flash Filename: 
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #9 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 9
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 168448
Partition Block Count: 4096
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: SBL1
Flash Filename: sboot.bin
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #10 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 10
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 172544
Partition Block Count: 4096
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: SBL2
Flash Filename: 
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #11 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 11
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 176640
Partition Block Count: 16384
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: PARAM
Flash Filename: param.lfs
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #12 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 12
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 193024
Partition Block Count: 1024
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: DTSBK
Flash Filename: 
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #13 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 13
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 194048
Partition Block Count: 1024
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: DTS
Flash Filename: dt-blob
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #14 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 14
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 195072
Partition Block Count: 16384
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: VC-FirmwareBK
Flash Filename: 
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #15 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 15
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 211456
Partition Block Count: 16384
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: VC-Firmware
Flash Filename: vc-firmware.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #16 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 16
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 227840
Partition Block Count: 512
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: FOTA_SIG
Flash Filename: 
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #17 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 17
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 5 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 228352
Partition Block Count: 40960
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: efs
Flash Filename: efs.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #18 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 18
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 5 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 269312
Partition Block Count: 409600
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: CSC
Flash Filename: cache.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #19 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 19
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 5 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 678912
Partition Block Count: 3072000
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: system
Flash Filename: system.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #20 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 20
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 5 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 3750912
Partition Block Count: 20480
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: HIDDEN
Flash Filename: hidden.img
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #21 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 21
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 5 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 3771392
Partition Block Count: 0
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: userdata
Flash Filename: userdata.img
FOTA Filename: remained

--- Entry #22 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 70
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 34
Partition Block Count: 16
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: PIT
Flash Filename: crater.pit
FOTA Filename: 

--- Entry #23 ---
Binary Type: 0 (AP)
Device Type: 2 (MMC)
Identifier: 71
Attributes: 5 (Read/Write)
Update Attributes: 1 (FOTA)
Partition Block Size/Offset: 50
Partition Block Count: 2048
File Offset (Obsolete): 0
File Size (Obsolete): 0
Partition Name: MD5HDR
Flash Filename: md5.img
FOTA Filename: 

Ending session...
Rebooting device...
Releasing device interface...

Can someone point me to the appropriate binaries for this phone? Has anyone
had any success reflashing it? or even rooting it?

At the very least I would like to root it so I can remove the google viruses.

Is there a newer version of Lineage OS that runs on it?

Any hints, links, instructions, or binaries would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Augustine

[1] Luckily ebay refunded the purchase price after almost 2 months of
waitign for the phone and then an email exchange with the seller that
eventually went silent.