Old S8 "prenormal" state

[UrbanShaman]

I've got an old S8 I'd like to make use of for drone operations. However, the Android version is so darn old I can't install things like a sensible browser or Bitwarden (the browser I can live without, but Bitwarden I need for passwords and codes for drone-related apps).

Since it is an old phone I figured there'd be no harm in rooting it and installing a custom ROM, since the whole thing is way past any warranty anyway.

However I'm struck with the "prenormal" state problem and Samsung Knox / security measures, i.e. despite having the phone unlocked, the bootloader unlocked via Google's Developer settings... I still can't install anything that isn't official. This was likely because the first thing I did when I tried to get it working for drones was to do a factory reset.

Does anyone know what the official methodology is for the S8? There are plenty of very generic suggestions floating online, often with some conflicting information (i.e. keep phone on for 7 days, sometimes with SIM, sometimes without SIM, make a phone call and send an SMS, check for updates - various different "tricks" which are supposed to help with the removing the "prenormal" state).

Since this is such an old phone I was hoping someone here, on the official forums, might have some concrete information about the process.

[Mujibar]

Check in at XDA Developers. Plenty of people still rooting and ROM-ing over there.

[UrbanShaman]

Yeah, and quite a few people there are writing that they've given up, because (seemingly) Samsung has abandoned the old devices and Samsung's own RMM service website (responsible for unlocking the "prenormal" state) is using an expired certificate.

Beyond that lots of speculation, but nothing concrete, sadly. 😞

This is, of course, only in relation to old Samsung phones. I suspect new phones (or non-Samsung phones) get a lot more love.

[fisherman01]

I was having a problem and I called the company and they helped me good luck

[UrbanShaman]

"The company" meaning... Samsung? I can try, but given the phone's way past any warranty or support I'll be surprised if they don't just brush me off.

[fisherman01]

Maybe not good luck

[UrbanShaman]

...that was... not very helpful.

￣へ￣

[fisherman01]

Sorry I tried

[Members_83aohXa]

I think it's worth a try. They helped me one time with a very old phone. I was quite pleasantly surprised.  

[UrbanShaman]

Was that a contact via a phone call? Or physically visiting a store?