Thank you for your advice @archie, however I had completely forgot to mention it but I use arch BTW 
and I haven’t used a Windows machine in years (I don’t even own one anymore).
If there is still a way to go on Linux I would like to follow it, as it would seem morally wrong otherwise… After all if we are using a mobile OS for privacy reasons we should be able to install it from another privacy oriented system rather than through Windows…
Will edit my post for others coming later
It offers ADB and Fastboot. It is available for Windows, Mac & Linux.
Data protection under the Windows® operating system is very easy to handle. The reliable MS Windows® 7 and Samsung ODIN3 can be used offline, without internet connection.
My PC (work and test computer) consists of a dual boot system: Windows + Ubuntu. This gives me the possibility to try different installation possibilities of customROMs.
I have no moral concerns when using these operating systems and tools. What counts for me is the successful installation of customROMs.
@ROM
I did it on Mint a week ago (edit: using Heimdall, to be clear). I hit the ‘only official binaries’ wall, too, and my understanding was that I triggered the 7-day lock by allowing the stock ROM to boot (a whole thread around it here, there was also a very informative recap post on how it exactly works, can’t find it now), eg the OEM unlock was gone from dev options, but to my surprise I was able to flash TWRP when I tried two days later. Maybe the cool-off was shorter in my region or something, I don’t have the answer as to why.
The terminology “Only official released binaries” I haven’t met it not yet in connection with flashing customROMs.
Samsung’s ODIN3 and Samsung smartphones harmonize very well with each other. Even the subsequent upgrading of /e/ OS with a new bootloader/baseband firmware or the bottles of a 4-part StockROM firmware works very well.
Whatever that may be: Every user can choose his tool to switch to /e/ OS. And every /e/ user is welcome in the /e/ club.
Sorry, what offers ADB and Fastboot, again?
You can’t seriously believe that I’m discussing with you a lá @harvey186 /e/ support continue …
Your question “What does “/e/ support” stand for on this forum?” is enough for me.
I seriously believe that the quality of posts on this forum varies greatly from kids running wild to useful and informed advice.
Now, if you were claiming that it’s Odin that offers ADB and Fastboot, which I believe you did but I wanted to make sure, you were wrong on both accounts.
I just checked on the official Samsung Odin website and it clearly states
- This tool only works with Windows Computers
- Use Heimdall for Linux/MAC OS
Following your suggestions @reb77 I tried to reenable OEM, it helped but it’s not the end of my problems.
I followed this guide to enable the OEM without waiting a full week. When it appeared, the OEM switch was on, which isn’t too surprising cause I had enabled it previously, anyway I don’t know if it changed much but when trying again to flash with Heimdall I don’t meet the official binaries wall but the process is stuck.
I tried restarting the phone on download mode (Power + Bixby + Volume Down) then plug-in cable and flash with Heimdall. Terminal output looks normal, the loading bar appears on the phone screen, the command ends… and nothing happens… the phone is stuck on Downloading... Do not turn off target, it has been 2 hours and 3 attempts, what does that mean ? How long is the normal waiting time ? (Heimdall command takes 20 seconds)
Here is Heimdall’s output for reference.
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.
Uploading RECOVERY
100%
RECOVERY upload successful
Ending session...
Releasing device interface...
@ROM
You have flashed TWRP successfully, you now need to manually boot into it.
(Finish reading before you press any button).
You restart the phone from the Download mode by pressing and holding Power+VolDn for 7s. You boot into TWRP by pressing and holding Power+VolUp+Bixby. So, to smoothly go from Download to TWRP (and not to allow to boot into system), you press and hold Power+VolUp+VolDn+Bixby, and when the screen turns off (as the result of Power+VolDn), you release VolDn (thus holding the correct combination for booting into the recovery/TWRP). You should first see the Galaxy logo, as you always do, and then the TWRP screen, from where you can do a backup (which normally is recommended but I didn’t so I won’t sing a song that’s not mine), and either Install your custom ROM from an SD card or sideload it with the help of ADB tools. If you have problems with finding any instructions, ask here.
Edit: with these button combos, it’s a good practice to press Power as the last one.
2 Likes
Thank you so much @reb77 !!!
That 4 button combo was a life-saver, I would never had made it through without you!
I succesfully booted into TWRP as you explained then I sideloaded verity, the vendor and /e/ and it works 
!
I didn’t do a backup either cause the phone was brand new and I didn’t have anything to backup.
Seriously now, this part should be clearly mentioned in the /e/ install guide for the S9, after a quick look at the gitlab documentation repo, it seems that the install page is genererated through templates for every device… I would happily volunteer to rewrite part of the tutorial but I am unsure about opening an issue there, the whole process looks very messy…
Follow-up, first impressions after 10 minutes use: It sucks 
Glitchy apps, very ugly cross-breed look between Ubuntu and iPhone (I hate both ^^), f*ing advertisement in the app store and weird buggy search engine…
Also seems impossible to access the app menu (swipe up on Stock), or I am retarded or it’s really iPhone-like
Guess I will give it a week try and revert to Stock if I can’t adapt it to my needs (was still very interesting to flash a custom ROM).
Thanks everyone for the support!
2 Likes
It is correct that Samsung’s Odin (firmware flashing software) is designed for Windows system. Heimdall is the open-source variant of Samsung Odin. But after a test of Heimdall unter Windows I stayed with Odin.
On the heimdall website it is “clearly stated” …
What platforms does Heimdall run on?
Officially - Linux, OS X and Windows (XP, Vista, 7 etc.)
If you don’t want to use the installation method offered by /e/ documentation or Samsung’s Odin to install TWRP Recovery, you can use the so-called dd Install Method:
dd Install Method (Requires Root):
Download the latest image file (.img) from the download link above. Place it in the root of your /sdcard folder and rename it to twrp.img. Run the following commands via adb shell or a terminal emulator app:
su
dd if=/sdcard/twrp.img of=/dev/block/platform/11120000.ufs/by-name/RECOVERY
TWRP for Samsung Galaxy S9 (Exynos)
As so often: The user has the choice…
@ROM
Glad you’ve made it. I only knew what needed clarification because I’m freshly after struggling with the process myself, so I know where folks are likely to get stuck and frustrated.
As for your initial impressions… The greatest job the /e/ team did is full degooglification. This is their ONLY advantage over LineageOS, and everyone else for that matter. All the bells and whistles (/e/ email accounts, service integration, the ridiculous iOS rip-off look) are unnecessary distractions, perhaps an attempt to attract less aware crowds, I don’t know.
For this full degooglification, though, I’m happy to pay the price of having to live with certain technical issues and logistic workarounds here and there.
The /e/ app store – I wouldn’t even bother, just use F-Droid and Aurora. To get rid of the iOS look and feel, get another launcher, my choice was Lawnchair and I couldn’t be happier. If you decide to go away from /e/, I suggest giving LineageOS a try, although S9 isn’t officially supported anymore and you will have to settle for unofficial releases (worked fine for me for the few days I used it).
Good luck! 
1 Like
Hi, a year ago I got an old Nexus 5 and was able to install /e/ on it as a trial, then I bought a second hand Xiaomi Mi 6 and it was a disaster, I couldn’t manage to install /e/ (stuck in loop), got very frustrated and end up selling the phone. After a break, a feel courageous enough for a secon trial and thought buying a second hand Samsung Galaxy s9. My question is: what android version as to be in the phone in order to install /e/ without loops or strange things? And the next one: were you able to install it following the instructions? (I’ve read some threads and something wasn’t really clear @cosmin You ended up not installing that “patch” and installing the ARI9 from the SD card, and afterwards flashing the /e/ image via sideload?
With which StockROM Android version is your S9 SM-G960F/DS/N | G960FXX… currently running?
@graz Have you bought the device yet? If not, have a look at the device’s page and check the “Models Supported” section.
About the software, I’m not sure what version I had. I had all the updates installed and then I did a factory reset.
In the end I did install the patch - it was the only way I could move forward.
I flashed everything through adb, I didn’t use the SD card at all.
I don’t think it matters, as long as your model is supported by /e/.
Why do you think it matters? I asked a similar question here.
@archie @cosmin, I didn’t buy it yet, so I don’t know which stock version they come with. I can ask it in the shop. And I’ll check the “Models Supported” section first, I didn’t know about that. and also thanks for sharing your installation details @cosmin
With my catastrophic Xiaomi experience, apparently that was exactly the problem. I asked Manoj and he told me this:
That’s why I don’t want to risk it again and be sure to have the right Stock ROM before installing /e/. Anyway, after my frustrating attempt, to be honest I’m still having doubts about buying a second hand S9 and making another trial or just buying the S9 with /e/ preinstalled, evein if it is quite more expensive (almost double!), specially because I’m not a very Samsung fan, but it seems like a “safer” or “easier” phone to try to install it, at least easier than Xiaomi.
→ Help installing /e/ on Galaxy S9
©rhunault /e/ support | Migration to e-Pie will make things easier in the near future.
@graz: This is weird – as far as I know, when you install a new ROM, you’re writing it over the existing ROM, thus unconditionally wiping the latter.
@Manoj: Would you mind elaborating on why you think there is a version dependency between the existing and new ROM?
@archie: I think answering your question here makes more sense given the discussion: I went stock Pie > LOS Pie > /e/ Oreo.