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Ultra Noob here
So I had my first android-TF700 for about 10 days. Played around with it, read around this site and realized it was a tablet for someone with experience.
So I now have an N10. Charged, not even turned on yet. What should be my next steps? I see a couple toolkits,an auto root, and ASOP-
What would you suggest a noob start with?
I know, I know, turn it on
Thanks!
Depends on what you want to accomplish with the device. If you want to try or at least gain some understanding as to the different features you might be interested in, read the first post of the different ROMs available and see if anything sounds enticing.
I personally use me for taking media with me on the go, be it news or videos, so I don't have to carry a laptop around. I'm on CM10.1 right now but cycle through every rom to see how everything works. Good luck!
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Premium HD app
First step is unlocking the bootloader and installing root and a custom recovery. Even if you don't need it at the moment there will come the time you want to try it. When you unlock the bootloader you will lose all your data so it's the best if you do it at first when you get your tablet.
rauschkugl said:
First step is unlocking the bootloader and installing root and a custom recovery. Even if you don't need it at the moment there will come the time you want to try it. When you unlock the bootloader you will lose all your data so it's the best if you do it at first when you get your tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And how do you unlock the bootloader and install root?
What do you mean a custom recovery?
Are there other ways to root the device with out wiping it? Seems like most android smartphone you can load up an exe or something to shift the su app around or something.
Thanks.. (still waiting for my N10 to arrive.. meanwhile.. still playing with my ICS Bionic)
There are tons of threads here about unlocking the bootloader, rooting and installing a recovery like teamwin or clockworkmod.
rauschkugl said:
There are tons of threads here about unlocking the bootloader, rooting and installing a recovery like teamwin or clockworkmod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Found the threads. Look easy enough to follow. Something I'm not understanding . What does it mean to install a recovery? whats the purpose of that. I've search and (at least not yet) found a good description of what/why that it. I'm sensing that devices are different (duh!) and I didnt need to install a "recovery" on my Droid Bionic when I rooted it, but this N10 must be different.
With the custom recovery you're able to install zip files, make a backup of your Rom,... You can't do that with the recovery that comes with the nexus 10.
Recovery is like a separate system that you can boot to, if you want to mess with the main Android OS. Like rauschkugl said, you can boot to a custom recovery to flash different ROMs that are distributed in flashable ZIP files. You can also make (or if anything goes wrong, revert to) a complete backup of the device's internal memory.
Ok I am rooted and unlocked with mskip's awesome toolkit and DroidModderX video which really helped.
I picked all in one click option and choose TWRP. I fell asleep when I got to TWRP, so I guess I will have to reboot to the recovery page to pull it up.
After that I have no idea what to do I really haven't played with the N10 much. I was planning to leave it stock for awhile (as suggested by rauschkugl).
Do I need to do any backup or anything with TWRP if it's a new tablet? if so what and how ? Please point me to a tutorial for noob types.
Other question is I have a system update and 6 new updates waiting for me to install, can I go ahead and do that rooted and unlocked with stock ROM and no TWRP backup yet?
Thanks!
EraVulgaris said:
Ok I am rooted and unlocked with mskip's awesome toolkit and DroidModderX video which really helped.
I picked all in one click option and choose TWRP. I fell asleep when I got to TWRP, so I guess I will have to reboot to the recovery page to pull it up.
After that I have no idea what to do I really haven't played with the N10 much. I was planning to leave it stock for awhile (as suggested by rauschkugl).
Do I need to do any backup or anything with TWRP if it's a new tablet? if so what and how ? Please point me to a tutorial for noob types.
Other question is I have a system update and 6 new updates waiting for me to install, can I go ahead and do that rooted and unlocked with stock ROM and no TWRP backup yet?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great questions. You are one step ahead of me on my new N10. I've not turned it on yet, really wanting to, but I dont want to do much to it, until after I unlock/root/ and learn how to make backups. Though since i've got a TBpro license, I'll probably use that. I dont want to tweak the OS. so I think I need root just to be able to run TBpro. I just want to be sure I'll still get OFA updates, and I want to learn more about if and how backup work for a multi-user N10.
EraVulgaris said:
Ok I am rooted and unlocked with mskip's awesome toolkit and DroidModderX video which really helped.
I picked all in one click option and choose TWRP. I fell asleep when I got to TWRP, so I guess I will have to reboot to the recovery page to pull it up.
After that I have no idea what to do I really haven't played with the N10 much. I was planning to leave it stock for awhile (as suggested by rauschkugl).
Do I need to do any backup or anything with TWRP if it's a new tablet? if so what and how ? Please point me to a tutorial for noob types.
Other question is I have a system update and 6 new updates waiting for me to install, can I go ahead and do that rooted and unlocked with stock ROM and no TWRP backup yet?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suggest straight away that you perform a backup with TWRP, so that if you decide to delve deeper into ROMs and playing with your system files, you'll have a completely stock backup to rely on. Simply boot into recovery and select 'Backup', then you can rename the backup file if you want, then swipe the slider across and wait, then you're done!
When it comes to system updates, you'll most likely have to use your root toolkit to unroot the device, else the update will fail. You can however continue to update all your apps as you normally would. Hope this helped
OK
So I kinda started from the beginning of Droid ModderX's video, picked yes to update the toolkit i had donated- (got an update) accessed TWRP (pain to get to- could I download goomanager now after I have TWRP?) and backed up my stock set up just as you said Huggogguh :good:.
Then I went ahead and touched "install system update" that was hanging around in the upper left corner of my tablet (I'm being really specific for other noobs) and it updated my system to 4.2.1 and my apps. Build number changed to JOP4OD
Looked at root checker app. I am now not rooted, so I will go back through toolkit and choose 4 once I am in fastboot mode to reroot I hope:fingers-crossed:.
Thanks!
EraVulgaris said:
OK
So I kinda started from the beginning of Droid ModderX's video, picked yes to update the toolkit i had donated- (got an update) accessed TWRP (pain to get to- could I download goomanager now after I have TWRP?) and backed up my stock set up just as you said Huggogguh :good:.
Then I went ahead and touched "install system update" that was hanging around in the upper left corner of my tablet (I'm being really specific for other noobs) and it updated my system to 4.2.1 and my apps. Build number changed to JOP4OD
Looked at root checker app. I am now not rooted, so I will go back through toolkit and choose 4 once I am in fastboot mode to reroot I hope:fingers-crossed:.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a great success then so are you saying that you performed the system update while you were rooted and you retained the root access?
Nope. Got the OTA system update and it knocked me off root. But I got it back easily with the toolkit.
Hey guys, will the android update 4.2.2 erase everything on my nexus?I am rooted and unlocked, so if the main update thing does erase all of my data is there another way to update without loosing any of my data? I used the nexus toolkit to root, and I know there was an option to reinstall android without erasing data, but is that possible with a newer version of android..
Thanks
Micro
No it will not erase everything.
Because you are rooted, there is a chance that the OTA will not succeed, depending on how close to stock you are. (Some root apps appear to diddle a variety of things in /system, and if any of these things are targets of the OTA patching process, the OTA will fail). Also if you have a custom kernel, this particular OTA will not succeed.
If the OTA fails, no worries - it always fails during initial verification steps when it is checking to make sure that the checksums of targeted files exactly matches what it expects, before anything on your tab has been altered. So, if it fails don't freak out - everything on your tablet is the same as before the OTA started.
If it succeeds, you will loose root as a result of the setuid/setgid permissions of the "su" binary getting reset by the OTA installer script. You can either manually fix that with a "chmod" command (via adb with the custom recovery running and /system mounted) or you can simply re-flash the same SuperSU (or Superuser) root installer kit that you used when you originally rooted. The OTA also flashes a new stock recovery in place, so you will need to re-flash your custom recovery back into place after it has finished. That should be no problem so long as you know how to do so, using either fastboot directly or a toolkit.
I'm not sure you needed to start a new thread on this - scroll through a few pages here and see just how many "4.2.2. update question" threads there have been recently.
good luck.
PS If your OTA fails and you want to try patching things by hand, read through all the trouble threads in here before posting. Each time it runs, it will report the source of the error in /cache/recovery/recovery.log. As always, make a Nandroid backup before you begin.
Sorry what exactly does ota mean? And so your saying there's no way to update without loosing my data? If that's the case I'm not updating because I'm filled to the max with data
Thanks
Micro
microzee said:
Sorry what exactly does ota mean? And so your saying there's no way to update without loosing my data? If that's the case I'm not updating because I'm filled to the max with data
Thanks
Micro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which part of this:
bftb0 said:
No it will not erase everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you find confusing?
I said that it will either succeed or fail, and if it fails it will do so in a way where nothing changes. If it succeeds, it will change some things, but not the things you are referring to as "my data".
OTA = Over The Air (update)
I used rootkeeper, temp unroot then installed ota update by toching on it. But after successfully updating my tablet is still on 4.2.1. Pls help. Even after updateing application msg on boot ithas not updated.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
sukhjit_bhullar said:
I used rootkeeper, temp unroot then installed ota update by toching on it. But after successfully updating my tablet is still on 4.2.1. Pls help. Even after updateing application msg on boot ithas not updated.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering if RootKeeper would work or not.
---------- Post added at 06:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:46 PM ----------
Wait....I just tried usig RootKeeper to temporarily un-Root the device then upgrade to 4.2.2 and it seems to have worked without an issue. I let it run through the entire upgrade, it rebooted, I looked to see what version I was on, it shows as 4.2.2, I then used RootKeep to restore Root, it worked like it was supposed to and it looks like it kept 4.2.2 as well.
I've tested a few apps that need Root and they worked just fine.
Hi all,
I've the same Problem here. the OTA-Update fails on my Nexus 7 (rooted). The message is only the green Robot with "Error". After restarting I can see that the version is still 4.2.1 :crying:
This is not the mainpoint (I've read up to now some threads which describing this issue). My point is: I can not restart the OTA-Update. There is no message whicht tolds me, that there is an update avalible... neither in the statusbar nor in the Settings.
Additionaly I can not find the log-file, which was some times described, where the error will be explained (I think it was deleted after the second restart).
Can someone explain me, how I can restart the OTA? Is it possible with the Framework-data deletion-trick? If I use this trick, what will be deleted in the Framework? Is there a place where the file /cache/recovery/recovery.log will be backuped?
If here is the wrong place for my questions, I'll make a new thread, but I think the thread which I've chosed fits it more or less
BR
SolarPlexus said:
Can someone explain me, how I can restart the OTA? Is it possible with the Framework-data deletion-trick? If I use this trick, what will be deleted in the Framework?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's the framework data deletion trick*, yes. If you find solution to the update error problem, please keep us posted, cause i have the same issue...
*settings->apps->all->google service framework->force close->clear data. After that you go to the update menu (settings->about tablet->system updates) and tap on check now.
Here is the Droid Razr HD software update. I have not tested it as I use CM 10.1 and have no interest in going back to stock. I found it on www.droidrzr.com in a forum post then shared it on my dropbox account.
I posted it on my Dropbox account so not sure how long it will last until the link is gone:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d2x9vutel4vnqmm/Blur_Version.9.16.6.XT926.Verizon.en.US.zip
It does "fix" the bootloader unlock exploit though
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/1...the-kernel-exploit-for-unlocking-bootloaders/
scoobaspeaz said:
Here is the Droid Razr HD software update. I have not tested it as I use CM 10.1 and have no interest in going back to stock. I found it on www.droidrzr.com in a forum post then shared it on my dropbox account.
I posted it on my Dropbox account so not sure how long it will last until the link is gone:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d2x9vutel4vnqmm/Blur_Version.9.16.6.XT926.Verizon.en.US.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, stock recovery to install this?
I would assume you would need to be 100% stock, including the recovery, to install this.
scoobaspeaz said:
I would assume you would need to be 100% stock, including the recovery, to install this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm put it on my internal storage and its not found, I think stock recovery wants to see it on a sdcard.
If your boot loader is unlocked before the update, it should stay unlocked. You just will not be able to unlock with methods out there now.
Sent from my Razr HD using xda app-developers app
I received the OTA today on my Max HD. It was build 9.18.79.
Sent using xda premium
A few questions I haven't been able to find answers to (many threads have been started on this new update topic and I haven't found the answers I'm looking for yet):
1) I've heard that there are two versions of this update, 9.20.xx and 9.18.xx... Anyone know the differences yet? Is one version for phones that have been unlocked and the other for phones that are still locked? Is one version for XT925 and the other for XT926? I received the 9.18 version, I am rooted, unlocked, and have a XT926 phone.
2) Anyone with an already unlocked bootloader try and take the update? Do you remember which version of the update you took? Did it install correctly? Are you still unlocked?
3) Anyone that is rooted and unlocked try to take the update? Did it install correctly? Are you still rooted and unlocked after the update? Did you have to protect the root with either SuperSU or Voodoo OTA Root Keeper? If so, do you mind posting step-by-step instructions for protecting the root so the phone is still rooted after the update?
Thanks to all who can shed light on these questions!
LifeAsADroid said:
A few questions I haven't been able to find answers to (many threads have been started on this new update topic and I haven't found the answers I'm looking for yet):
1) I've heard that there are two versions of this update, 9.20.xx and 9.18.xx... Anyone know the differences yet? Is one version for phones that have been unlocked and the other for phones that are still locked? Is one version for XT925 and the other for XT926? I received the 9.18 version, I am rooted, unlocked, and have a XT926 phone.
2) Anyone with an already unlocked bootloader try and take the update? Do you remember which version of the update you took? Did it install correctly? Are you still unlocked?
3) Anyone that is rooted and unlocked try to take the update? Did it install correctly? Are you still rooted and unlocked after the update? Did you have to protect the root with either SuperSU or Voodoo OTA Root Keeper? If so, do you mind posting step-by-step instructions for protecting the root so the phone is still rooted after the update?
Thanks to all who can shed light on these questions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are 2 different versions, depends on what System version you have of 4.1.2 on the XT926 only. The 9.18.79 version would indicate that your Systems version is 9.16.6 if this is not correct DO NOT FLASH. I am Rooted/Unlocked, if you take the plunge you must OTA Rootkeeper/SuperSU backup SU, as the update breaks Root> IF there is no backup of SU with the latest binaries. If you lose Root, there are a couple of ways to Downgrade. A common problem for those of us Root/Unlocked the Update FAILs at the end. Most of the Update goes through, however the new Radio does not go through, as of right now if you Update and your Baseband is VANQUISH_BP_100730.081.64.09P then you have the OLD radio, the new Radio is VANQUISH_BP_100730.160.64.15P.
Between the 2 OTA's these should match-up as either 9.16.6 = 9.18.79 or 9.16.9 = 9.20.1
Thanks for the reply! A few more questions if you don't mind (would hate to do something wrong... like I did last time... luckily I was able to revert back to an original version and fix the install... sigh...):
4) With protecting root, I need the SuperSU Pro version, yes? To be able to use the survival mode, yes? Will Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper do the same thing? Is it possible to use both "to be sure"?
5) I have everything backed up with Titanium Backup. Should I bother getting the pro version and backing everything up using the cloud backup and hypershell? Or won't this matter since if root doesn't keep I won't be able to use Titanium Backup?
6) I also have performed the VZW Wireless Hotspot hack using SQLite. Am I going to have to undo the hack in order for the OTA update to work?
Thanks again for all your help!
Update - I decided to attempt the update and hope for the best. System update 9.18.79.xx updating from 9.16.6.xx.
I purchased the SuperSU Pro from the Play Store, and used the survival mode in SuperSU. I also used the Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper and protected root. I figured if one didn't work the other might... Voodoo worked to protect and re-install root access (not sure about SuperSU as I tried Voodoo first to restore root after the install).
I am unsure if the bootloader is still unlocked, but from what people have said there doesn't seem to be a reason to believe it is re-locked. I haven't tested it out to know for sure though.
It appears that the entire update installed correctly. No errors, and the baseband version was updated to the new radio (xxx.15P).
I did not undo the VZW Wireless Hotspot hack prior to installing the update.
Hopefully this post helps others out there.
My final question... what does updating the radio/baseband do exactly?
i need help! i tried installing the update but i forgot i had TWRP.. so the update did not got installed, i rebooted the phone, but the OS tried to install the update again and inmediatly reboot the phone in recovery again .. then from recovery i flashed liquid smooth rom but i got stuck in the boot animation... my big issue is that my power button is broken! now i cant reset the phone to enter in fastboot mode.. i cant do anything... now my battery is totally drained and i cant turn on the phone (my power button does not work).. i can plug the usb cable and the led turns green. but i dont see any more options
rodmc123 said:
i need help! i tried installing the update but i forgot i had TWRP.. so the update did not got installed, i rebooted the phone, but the OS tried to install the update again and inmediatly reboot the phone in recovery again .. then from recovery i flashed liquid smooth rom but i got stuck in the boot animation... my big issue is that my power button is broken! now i cant reset the phone to enter in fastboot mode.. i cant do anything... now my battery is totally drained and i cant turn on the phone (my power button does not work).. i can plug the usb cable and the led turns green. but i dont see any more options
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My suggestion, let your phone charge a bit.
Once charged up, turn it on and get it into Fastboot. From there you can use the DROID RAZR HD UTILITY 1.21 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2307439). In that utility option 1 will bring you back to complete stock ROM, option 2 will bring you back to a stock recovery. This will completely erase your phone.
This should at least give you a fresh functioning phone. If you want to try to keep your data or personal files, I'm not sure what you could load via fastboot to get yourself a functioning phone again (maybe just a kernel?).
As a side note, I used TWRP to load the update and my phone updated except the radios it seems. It sounds like the same thing happens with the stock recovery.
Lenny
KachowPow said:
There are 2 different versions, depends on what System version you have of 4.1.2 on the XT926 only. The 9.18.79 version would indicate that your Systems version is 9.16.6 if this is not correct DO NOT FLASH. I am Rooted/Unlocked, if you take the plunge you must OTA Rootkeeper/SuperSU backup SU, as the update breaks Root> IF there is no backup of SU with the latest binaries. If you lose Root, there are a couple of ways to Downgrade. A common problem for those of us Root/Unlocked the Update FAILs at the end. Most of the Update goes through, however the new Radio does not go through, as of right now if you Update and your Baseband is VANQUISH_BP_100730.081.64.09P then you have the OLD radio, the new Radio is VANQUISH_BP_100730.160.64.15P.
Between the 2 OTA's these should match-up as either 9.16.6 = 9.18.79 or 9.16.9 = 9.20.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So any idea how one might fix this?
LifeAsADroid said:
A few questions I haven't been able to find answers to (many threads have been started on this new update topic and I haven't found the answers I'm looking for yet):
1) I've heard that there are two versions of this update, 9.20.xx and 9.18.xx... Anyone know the differences yet? Is one version for phones that have been unlocked and the other for phones that are still locked? Is one version for XT925 and the other for XT926? I received the 9.18 version, I am rooted, unlocked, and have a XT926 phone.
2) Anyone with an already unlocked bootloader try and take the update? Do you remember which version of the update you took? Did it install correctly? Are you still unlocked?
3) Anyone that is rooted and unlocked try to take the update? Did it install correctly? Are you still rooted and unlocked after the update? Did you have to protect the root with either SuperSU or Voodoo OTA Root Keeper? If so, do you mind posting step-by-step instructions for protecting the root so the phone is still rooted after the update?
Thanks to all who can shed light on these questions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried to take the 9.18.79 update I protected the root (I'm not unlocked) before I did so I also temporarily un-rooted (I've always been told to do this before and update) Now I an no longer rooted and it can't find any SU binary codes. Gonna have to flash back to 9.6.16 and try it again I guess or stay on 9.6.16 in order to maintain root for now. If you find a solution please share.
IDroidThere4Iam said:
My suggestion, let your phone charge a bit.
Once charged up, turn it on and get it into Fastboot. From there you can use the DROID RAZR HD UTILITY 1.21 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2307439). In that utility option 1 will bring you back to complete stock ROM, option 2 will bring you back to a stock recovery. This will completely erase your phone.
This should at least give you a fresh functioning phone. If you want to try to keep your data or personal files, I'm not sure what you could load via fastboot to get yourself a functioning phone again (maybe just a kernel?).
As a side note, I used TWRP to load the update and my phone updated except the radios it seems. It sounds like the same thing happens with the stock recovery.
Lenny
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with Lenny. This same thing happened to me when I tried to take the liquid smooth ROM. Follow his instructions above. You'll lose all your pics, vids, files, etc. But at least you'll have a working phone again.
Went smoothly here
All my devices except this one are rooted and some are rom'd. I thought long and hard about whether to void this warranty but decided one day it would be out of updates from VZW and I would want to flash something. I have been denying the OTA for the last day so I figured now or never.
Here are the simple steps:
Download and install Moto device manager (for the USB drivers) here
Enable USB debugging in developer options on the phone
run motochopper here
run motoapocolypse here
install voodooOTA root keeper from Play and backup root
apply OTA
It went error free. The phone has the 15P radio update, unlocked BL and root.
larsdennert said:
It went error free. The phone has the 15P radio update, unlocked BL and root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want to confirm something, you unlocked the bootloader and then took the OTA and the bootloader remain unlocked (and stayed rooted due to root keeper)?
So the benefit to all this would be to get the new radio update?
bananapeapod said:
I want to confirm something, you unlocked the bootloader and then took the OTA and the bootloader remain unlocked (and stayed rooted due to root keeper)?
So the benefit to all this would be to get the new radio update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the bootloader won't get locked again after it is unlocked. Moto would be shooting themselves having to reinstate warranties if they did that. Yes I wanted the option of flashing later becuase the ota will install sooner or later. I also want to stay on the upgrade path for now to have current radios.
I still have an Eris lying around that is long out of support but i have gb on it.
IDroidThere4Iam said:
My suggestion, let your phone charge a bit.
Once charged up, turn it on and get it into Fastboot. From there you can use the DROID RAZR HD UTILITY 1.21 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2307439). In that utility option 1 will bring you back to complete stock ROM, option 2 will bring you back to a stock recovery. This will completely erase your phone.
This should at least give you a fresh functioning phone. If you want to try to keep your data or personal files, I'm not sure what you could load via fastboot to get yourself a functioning phone again (maybe just a kernel?).
As a side note, I used TWRP to load the update and my phone updated except the radios it seems. It sounds like the same thing happens with the stock recovery.
Lenny
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's what i want to do, but i cant because my power button is broken! so i cant enter to fastboot mode without the power button.. i will have to open my phone and try to fix the power button myself.
Just to make a point and to clear up any confusion, this Update will not lock the Bootloader. If you have an Unlocked Bootloader then you will have an Unlocked Bootloader after the update, regardless if it fully works or not, and even if you lose Root, the Bootloader will still be Unlocked. If Root is lost with an Unlocked Bootloader, I suggest downgrading through an FXZ of either 9.16.6 or 9.16.9 and restore Root.
Hello everyone-
New user for the Samsung Galaxy S4 here. I used to own both the iPhone 3GS and 4S prior. My general background was writing VB in version 3.0 for AOL back in the late 90s for all you old school people, progs/punters that may remember those days. Unfortunately, even now I'm still have issues following along with new technology. So far, I have really enjoyed the android system and have made modifications through various launchers. I did use SuperSU and rooted the phone by the automated process. I realize these may be 'noob' questions, however; everyone I suppose goes through it at some point. I do have some general questions and several of them that I have read about have conflicting information. This will be somewhat long, but I do appreciate any input:
The Galaxy S4 that I have is SPH-L720, MK2, and 4.3 version.
At this point, I backed-up and installed several Google Games, Books, and Sprint ID, Sprint Worldwide, etc.....general bloatware using Titanium Back-up. Again the root method I used was SuperSU by Chainfire. I have NOT use TWRP/Clockwork Mod or flashed any custom ROMs. I just have it rooted and diabled some bloatware, installed Xposed Installer and other root only apps. I checked my phone and its status says 'custom'.
1. Given this set-up, can I still get OTA for new Android versions ? I don't care if it removes root, but I was just wondering if I can get OTA updates to get new versions for my phone. Some threads I have read say yes, others say no. If I cannot, how can I then get new updates ? I don't want to not be able to permanently update to 4.4 in the future. I know there is a way to update via Kies to the computer.
2. The root access via Chainfire SuperSU involves 2 components from what I understand. SU.apk and busybox. I was using Terminal Emulator based on the advice from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2565758
I could not get it to work when typing in the prompts on the screen, it just would not go through. I tried downloading Total Commander which allows root access. Can I instead of using Terminal Emulator to get rid of busybox, use Total Commander to get into the /system/xbin folder and manually delete all busybox files prior to using the permanent unroot of SuperSU feature in settings ? Or does the Full unroot remove everything ?
3. Maybe I still don't understand the flashing process, but it seems, you download Odin, then use the ROM file you need under the PDA selection then start the process while the phone is in download mode (home button, down volume, etc...) Is this how all custom ROMs and re-stores are performed ? Is this form of the restore different that the phone Samsung settings (back-up/restore) ? I've read about TWRP, custom recovery, Clockwork Mod, etc....but I dont understand what all these are. It seems easy enough to download files then put them via Odin then hit start....
At this point, I've refrained from doing anything other than back-up/uninstalling some bloatware and using some cool apps that supposed xposed installer. I'm worried that I might brick my expensive phone or render it unable to get anymore updates :crying:
Thanks for the input !
mikeprius said:
Hello everyone-
New user for the Samsung Galaxy S4 here. I used to own both the iPhone 3GS and 4S prior. My general background was writing VB in version 3.0 for AOL back in the late 90s for all you old school people, progs/punters that may remember those days. Unfortunately, even now I'm still have issues following along with new technology. So far, I have really enjoyed the android system and have made modifications through various launchers. I did use SuperSU and rooted the phone by the automated process. I realize these may be 'noob' questions, however; everyone I suppose goes through it at some point. I do have some general questions and several of them that I have read about have conflicting information. This will be somewhat long, but I do appreciate any input:
The Galaxy S4 that I have is SPH-L720, MK2, and 4.3 version.
At this point, I backed-up and installed several Google Games, Books, and Sprint ID, Sprint Worldwide, etc.....general bloatware using Titanium Back-up. Again the root method I used was SuperSU by Chainfire. I have NOT use TWRP/Clockwork Mod or flashed any custom ROMs. I just have it rooted and diabled some bloatware, installed Xposed Installer and other root only apps. I checked my phone and its status says 'custom'.
1. Given this set-up, can I still get OTA for new Android versions ? I don't care if it removes root, but I was just wondering if I can get OTA updates to get new versions for my phone. Some threads I have read say yes, others say no. If I cannot, how can I then get new updates ? I don't want to not be able to permanently update to 4.4 in the future. I know there is a way to update via Kies to the computer.
2. The root access via Chainfire SuperSU involves 2 components from what I understand. SU.apk and busybox. I was using Terminal Emulator based on the advice from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2565758
I could not get it to work when typing in the prompts on the screen, it just would not go through. I tried downloading Total Commander which allows root access. Can I instead of using Terminal Emulator to get rid of busybox, use Total Commander to get into the /system/xbin folder and manually delete all busybox files prior to using the permanent unroot of SuperSU feature in settings ? Or does the Full unroot remove everything ?
3. Maybe I still don't understand the flashing process, but it seems, you download Odin, then use the ROM file you need under the PDA selection then start the process while the phone is in download mode (home button, down volume, etc...) Is this how all custom ROMs and re-stores are performed ? Is this form of the restore different that the phone Samsung settings (back-up/restore) ? I've read about TWRP, custom recovery, Clockwork Mod, etc....but I dont understand what all these are. It seems easy enough to download files then put them via Odin then hit start....
At this point, I've refrained from doing anything other than back-up/uninstalling some bloatware and using some cool apps that supposed xposed installer. I'm worried that I might brick my expensive phone or render it unable to get anymore updates :crying:
Thanks for the input !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can answer 1 & 3 for you.
1. No, you won't be able to take an OTA because you removed or modified system files. This will cause the update file of the OTA to abort once it encounters the modded file or can't find the file your removed. The best process to take an OTA would be to return the phone to stock before taking the OTA. The easiest method is to use Odin and install the full stock tar file that you are currently on. In your case it would be the MK2 tar file. This will return your phone to stock with the stock recovery and allow your phone to update via OTA, then you can re root.
3. Odin is used to flash things like stock tar files, modems(basebands), recoveries & firmwares. If you are installing a custom rom, that is usually done using a custom recovery like Phillz's or TWRP. These recoveries can be installed via odin or TWRP via goomanager app in playstore. Once the custom recovery is installed you copy the rom file or other mod to your sdcard and install through recovery.
cruise350 said:
I can answer 1 & 3 for you.
1. No, you won't be able to take an OTA because you removed or modified system files. This will cause the update file of the OTA to abort once it encounters the modded file or can't find the file your removed. The best process to take an OTA would be to return the phone to stock before taking the OTA. The easiest method is to use Odin and install the full stock tar file that you are currently on. In your case it would be the MK2 tar file. This will return your phone to stock with the stock recovery and allow your phone to update via OTA, then you can re root.
3. Odin is used to flash things like stock tar files, modems(basebands), recoveries & firmwares. If you are installing a custom rom, that is usually done using a custom recovery like Phillz's or TWRP. These recoveries can be installed via odin or TWRP via goomanager app in playstore. Once the custom recovery is installed you copy the rom file or other mod to your sdcard and install through recovery.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the response....Does it matter what version of Odin I use if I were to restore the phone back to stock ? Also do I need to manually remove all rooted program and features, or can it be flashed back to stock ROM as is ? I have a lot of apps that I also don't want to lose and I've tried manually back up files on my SD card, but I didn't know if there was a way to back it up, so that it literally can be dumped right back in when stock is restored.
mikeprius said:
Thanks for the response....Does it matter what version of Odin I use if I were to restore the phone back to stock ? Also do I need to manually remove all rooted program and features, or can it be flashed back to stock ROM as is ? I have a lot of apps that I also don't want to lose and I've tried manually back up files on my SD card, but I didn't know if there was a way to back it up, so that it literally can be dumped right back in when stock is restored.
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Click to collapse
I believe if you are on MK2 you will want to use the latest version of odin which is ver3 3.09. If you are using the MK2 complete stock tar file it will rewrite everything in system and restore all the apps that were removed or modded so you don't need to manually remove root. Currently, the stock files available to us do not wipe the data partition so anything you have in that partition will remain there unless you do a factory reset. One thing you will want to make sure you are doing is backing up to the external sdcard and not the internal. You can then use TB to replace any files if you did a factory reset.
cruise350 said:
I believe if you are on MK2 you will want to use the latest version of odin which is ver3 3.09. If you are using the MK2 complete stock tar file it will rewrite everything in system and restore all the apps that were removed or modded so you don't need to manually remove root. Currently, the stock files available to us do not wipe the data partition so anything you have in that partition will remain there unless you do a factory reset. One thing you will want to make sure you are doing is backing up to the external sdcard and not the internal. You can then use TB to replace any files if you did a factory reset.
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Click to collapse
I'm using Kies 3 and using the data back-up feature ? I assume this is backing up to the computer then I was planning on using the 'restore data' feature once they phone is back to stock. Will this revert it back to the way it was previously customized before root ? So if I understand correctly, once I download Odin 3.0, I load the MK2 .tar file into the phone, enbable download mode, then hit start and the phone will be like it was out of the box and ready to be OTA and restored with prior data ? I may be confusing flashing the stock firmware with factory reset ?
I also noticed there is an update firmware feature on Kies 3, if I try using this while SuperSU is present and the phone is rooted, will I also have a failed update/issues ? Again, thanks for your help. Do appreciate it.
mikeprius said:
I'm using Kies 3 and using the data back-up feature ? I assume this is backing up to the computer then I was planning on using the 'restore data' feature once they phone is back to stock. Will this revert it back to the way it was previously customized before root ? So if I understand correctly, once I download Odin 3.0, I load the MK2 .tar file into the phone, enbable download mode, then hit start and the phone will be like it was out of the box and ready to be OTA and restored with prior data ? I may be confusing flashing the stock firmware with factory reset ?
I also noticed there is an update firmware feature on Kies 3, if I try using this while SuperSU is present and the phone is rooted, will I also have a failed update/issues ? Again, thanks for your help. Do appreciate it.
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I have never used Kies and heard that it doesn't work with the MJA or MK2 software yet. I don't believe Kies will work if your status is custom but I could be wrong on that. If you odin the MK2 full tar file your phone will be back to stock but your data should still be there. You will only lose your data if you do a factory reset in recovery. Remember, a factory reset is just wiping the data partition and does not restore any software or apps.
cruise350 said:
I have never used Kies and heard that it doesn't work with the MJA or MK2 software yet. I don't believe Kies will work if your status is custom but I could be wrong on that. If you odin the MK2 full tar file your phone will be back to stock but your data should still be there. You will only lose your data if you do a factory reset in recovery. Remember, a factory reset is just wiping the data partition and does not restore any software or apps.
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Click to collapse
Ok, I think I have the general idea. It sounds similar to putting back on the stock 'image' nothing else.........I currently have the Odin 3.0 software, but I have been having a hard time finding the stock firmware online and downloading it. I will keep looking. Once I get the .tar and flash in download mode, will I just see all the bloatware back on, but everything else the same ? I was wondering what will happen if I kept Titanium Back-up, SuperSU, and Xposed Installer on when I do this ? Does it just render them all un-useable, but the new OTA will still install anyway ? Thanks.
mikeprius said:
Ok, I think I have the general idea. It sounds similar to putting back on the stock 'image' nothing else.........I currently have the Odin 3.0 software, but I have been having a hard time finding the stock firmware online and downloading it. I will keep looking. Once I get the .tar and flash in download mode, will I just see all the bloatware back on, but everything else the same ? I was wondering what will happen if I kept Titanium Back-up, SuperSU, and Xposed Installer on when I do this ? Does it just render them all un-useable, but the new OTA will still install anyway ? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every thing in the data partition(titanium backup) will remain and everything in the system partition (SuperSU & stuff modified via xposed installer) will be gone and replaced with the bloatware.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
Ok, so it appears to have worked. I flashed the 4.3 prior version however it was hooked up to wifi and automatically downloaded the new version and removed root (not a big deal). My status says custom still, but I am assuming that I can OTA after the flash b/c it updated to the most recent 4.3 in Dec 2013. I re-rooted so it is back to prior, but I know now how to do it.
Is there anything that I may delete or uninstall that cannot be replaced by flashing the stock firmware ? For example I was thinking about getting rid of the 'help' on the phone and Titanium Back up said it is odexed or something to that extent and can only be replaced by using Titanium Backup and the exact same copy ?
I figured that I might as well just try deleting the bloatware and not back up b/c worse case scenario if something happens I can just flash back the stock ROM and all is well ?
Being able to flash the stock .tar through ODIN gives me peace of mind from screw ups, even if it removes root and takes time.
mikeprius said:
I figured that I might as well just try deleting the bloatware and not back up b/c worse case scenario if something happens I can just flash back the stock ROM and all is well ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you haven't spent much time customizing, that'll work fine. Most of us use custom recoveries (like Philz or TWRP) to make "nandroid" backups of our setups. A nandroid is like a drive image on a computer, so restoring it will restore all of the customizations you've done (accounts, apps, app data, bloatware deletions, etc). Nandroids don't back up firmware (modem, bootloader,etc), but back up the ROM completely. A Titanium backup is almost as good, but requires a bit more work.
As for deciding what apps you can delete, most of the custom ROM creators post a list of the bloatware they remove. So, if it's on their list, it's almost certainly ok to delete it on your phone too.
nobody291 said:
If you haven't spent much time customizing, that'll work fine. Most of us use custom recoveries (like Philz or TWRP) to make "nandroid" backups of our setups. A nandroid is like a drive image on a computer, so restoring it will restore all of the customizations you've done (accounts, apps, app data, bloatware deletions, etc). Nandroids don't back up firmware (modem, bootloader,etc), but back up the ROM completely. A Titanium backup is almost as good, but requires a bit more work.
As for deciding what apps you can delete, most of the custom ROM creators post a list of the bloatware they remove. So, if it's on their list, it's almost certainly ok to delete it on your phone too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks being able to flash the stock .tar and use ODIN gives me peace of mind of any potential screw ups. So far I'm just using stock rom and toggling some of the features with xposed installer and titanium back up.
I'd like to explore more eventually with custom ROMs and I've heard of Clockwork mod and TWRP, Nandroid, Cyanogen, etc... but I don't know what any of that means or what it is.
Is TWRP/Philz like ODIN program then you download custom ROMS like Cyanogen the same way as the stock firmware. tar ?
As you can tell I am extremely new to this.....this is also my first time owning an Android phone as well, but I never messed with jailbreaking my past 2 iPhones in the past. I just have used VB 3.0 back in the day....
mikeprius said:
Thanks being able to flash the stock .tar and use ODIN gives me peace of mind of any potential screw ups. So far I'm just using stock rom and toggling some of the features with xposed installer and titanium back up.
I'd like to explore more eventually with custom ROMs and I've heard of Clockwork mod and TWRP, Nandroid, Cyanogen, etc... but I don't know what any of that means or what it is.
Is TWRP/Philz like ODIN program then you download custom ROMS like Cyanogen the same way as the stock firmware. tar ?
As you can tell I am extremely new to this.....this is also my first time owning an Android phone as well, but I never messed with jailbreaking my past 2 iPhones in the past. I just have used VB 3.0 back in the day....
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Click to collapse
To me, one of the hardest parts of this whole thing is getting to the point where the basic terms make sense. I've been at this for a couple of years with an HTC Evo and now the GS4 since October, and sometimes it still makes my head spin. Here is an attempt to explain my understanding of a few things:
1. Booting...you can boot into Download mode, recovery, or system. Download mode is what you use with ODIN, you need the correct drivers on your computer (which can be found lots of places), so that ODIN and your phone can communicate. In download mode, the phone just accepts whatever ODIN sends it, so it's the easiest way to totally brick your phone. Don't mess with partitions and follow the instructions for whatever you're doing very carefully, because I think this is the only way to "hard brick" your phone.
2. Recovery - something you use to create images of your phone's ROM (nandroids), flash ROMs and mods, and restore past nandroids. The stock recovery will only flash approved updates from the carrier, so to do any of the things I listed you need a custom recovery. Most people use Philz (which is based on the ClockworkMod recovery) or TWRP. To flash the custom recovery, use ODIN and follow the instructions in the thread exactly. There is a way to flash recoveries without ODIN, but I've never done it. I was using TWRP, and switched to Philz to flash the rooted stock 4.3 update because the thread suggested it. They both seem to do the same thing, and I have been happy with both. I'm sure there are technical differences, but I couldn't explain what they are. You can switch back and forth as much as you'd like between the recoveries with ODIN. Recoveries can flash a complete ROM or just partial changes (like the hotspot mod). In a custom recovery (or the stock) you can also do factory resets and cache cleaning (most ROMs suggest you do this before flashing). Factory reset doesn't return the ROM to the factory original, it just clears out all of the user data (including user apps). A nandroid is the fastest way to restore a phone if you screw it up...I always make one before making significant changes to the phone. It takes several minutes to do, but I think it's well worth it. The operating system can't be running when you make one, that's why you need to boot into recovery mode. You create a Nandroid in Philz by selecting "backup and restore" then "backup to" which will allow backup to the internal storage or external SD card.
3. ROM - the actual operating system used by the phone when you actually use it as a smartphone. There are 2 basic flavors for the GS4...touchwiz and AOSP (Android Open Source Project). Touchwiz is Samsung's "flavor" of Android, AOSP is the "pure Google" version of Android. A lot of the things the GS4 will do rely on touchwiz (multiwindow is one example...but there are several). Some people really like the AOSP ROMs (Cyanogen is AOSP), but make sure you understand their limitations. I've never used one on the GS4. There are several touchwiz custom ROMs which have various features. I've tried a few and just settled on the stock rooted touchwiz ROM, but there are lots of options from great developers. I think most custom ROMs require you to use a custom recovery to flash them, but there might be ways to do it using ODIN. I like having a custom recovery, so I've only used ODIN for flashing modems and recoveries.
4. Firmware - as far as I can tell, there are two important parts of the firmware...the modem (sometimes called "radios" or "baseband"...find your version by looking in "about device"->"Baseband version"...the different modems are described by the last 3 letters you see) and the bootloader. The modem and the version of the ROM you flash need to match or you'll have problems with the radios in the phone (wifi seems to be the biggest problem if you have a mismatch). MF9 was the last modem version based on 4.2.2, and 4.3 has had MJA and MK2 (MK2 is the latest). The bootloader is what the phone uses to initially decide how to boot up. If you have the 4.3 version of the bootloader it will include "Knox", which will prevent you from flashing older versions of the modem, so you'll have to use a 4.3 ROM. Knox also "trips" a counter if you flash a custom ROM and Samsung claims they won't honor the warranty on a phone with the "Knox flag" tripped. If you have the 4.3 bootloader you're stuck with it (for now at least). I still have the 4.2.2 bootloader, so I don't have much more to offer on this subject. There are ways to get the 4.3 modem and ROM without the 4.3 bootloader. There is a lot here (and lots on youtube) on how to navigate the Knox minefield if you care about it. If you still have the 4.2.2 bootloader you can flash older (and newer) modems as much as you'd like without getting the updated bootloader using ODIN.
Hopefully this helps...this is a great place with lots of great people. Sometimes the scale of the amount of information here is overwhelming. But, search is your friend along with lots of time! Feel free to keep asking questions.
thanks for explaining this nobody-
The information does help quite a bit and I am still learning, however; I do enjoy the process of messing with the phone. My GS4 now runs the RAM at 750-800mg instead of a bloated 1.2GB which was happening quite a bit. I had to originally not use a lot of apps I wanted to like Facebook bc the programs themselves bloated up to accomidate the existing bloatware which was also running. I did flash my phone back with the stock firmware today and it looks like it installed all the stock software. My status said 'custom' when I looked at it however I was already connected to wifi and it went from 4.3 (Oct 2013 version which I flashed) to Dec 2013 version automatically so it appears that the OTA feature works.
I assumed if I accidently delete something from the phone that I really need to affects the phone, I can always flash the stock ROM to fix it. Losing the root is not that big of an issue, but I did lose Superuser and had to re-root the phone. I suppose I do have a few more questions, one was when I was reading another carrier provider thread.
1. Is there anything I can delete from the phone that I could not eventually recover by flashing the stock firmware ? When I uninstall for example the 'help' app on the phone Titanium Backup says this only copy can be replaced by using Titanium 5.1 and it's existing copy ? Could this just be replaced by flashing the stock firmware as well ? I like being able to flash the stockfirm ware rom at any point as a fail safe.
2. The other issue is the bootloader that I heard about ? It was on a Verizon thread where the person was able to flash the stock firmware on his phone, but then after an upgrade, he was not longer able to flash the rom b/c the carrier in the most recent upgrade he did blocked ODIN ? Is this something that I should possibly be concerned about in the future not being able to flash stock firmware via ODIN ? As you can tell, I'm pretty OCD about being able to have a failsafe for my phone. LOL. Thanks again for your help, I do appreciate it.
mikeprius said:
1. Is there anything I can delete from the phone that I could not eventually recover by flashing the stock firmware ? When I uninstall for example the 'help' app on the phone Titanium Backup says this only copy can be replaced by using Titanium 5.1 and it's existing copy ? Could this just be replaced by flashing the stock firmware as well ? I like being able to flash the stockfirm ware rom at any point as a fail safe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can always flash the stock firmware to fix whatever you do to the ROM (just to the ROM, use ODIN very carefully). In the case of the Help file, you could also back it up using Titanium, then delete the app, and restore it later using Titanium if you want it back. This is probably obvious, but use Titanium to delete the app, but don't delete the backup.
2. The other issue is the bootloader that I heard about ? It was on a Verizon thread where the person was able to flash the stock firmware on his phone, but then after an upgrade, he was not longer able to flash the rom b/c the carrier in the most recent upgrade he did blocked ODIN ? Is this something that I should possibly be concerned about in the future not being able to flash stock firmware via ODIN ? As you can tell, I'm pretty OCD about being able to have a failsafe for my phone. LOL. Thanks again for your help, I do appreciate it.
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Click to collapse
Sprint is a lot more friendly toward its users modifying their phones than Verizon. But, they could change their minds any time. For now, there are no issues (other than the Knox warranty issue). But, don't presume that'll always be the case. The best precaution is to not take OTA (over the air) updates. OTAs are the ones that pop up as a notification on the phone saying "system update available, tap to install". Kit Kat should become available in the next month or two, who knows what'll come along with the OTA. Threads will start here almost immediately when the update rolls out; watch those threads and don't do the update until you're comfortable with what's inside. I will wait and flash something from the development section, even if it is just the stock ROM.
nobody291 said:
Yes, you can always flash the stock firmware to fix whatever you do to the ROM (just to the ROM, use ODIN very carefully). In the case of the Help file, you could also back it up using Titanium, then delete the app, and restore it later using Titanium if you want it back. This is probably obvious, but use Titanium to delete the app, but don't delete the backup.
Sprint is a lot more friendly toward its users modifying their phones than Verizon. But, they could change their minds any time. For now, there are no issues (other than the Knox warranty issue). But, don't presume that'll always be the case. The best precaution is to not take OTA (over the air) updates. OTAs are the ones that pop up as a notification on the phone saying "system update available, tap to install". Kit Kat should become available in the next month or two, who knows what'll come along with the OTA. Threads will start here almost immediately when the update rolls out; watch those threads and don't do the update until you're comfortable with what's inside. I will wait and flash something from the development section, even if it is just the stock ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was good that you mentioned the Knox bootloader issue with the 4.3 upgrade. When I purchased my cell phone back in Nov, I believe it had the 4.3 (1st) version loaded, but it already had Knox features as I do recall seeing them. If I were to try and flash 4.2.2 like the version you initially had, would the phone have a bootloop error or fail to flash because there were some free wifi tethering exploits that were not yet fixed in the 4.2.2 version ? This may have been the error I read about due to the new Knox feature.
I think since my phone is currently rooted and I altered some of the bloatware system files that the update if it were made available OTA should not update anyway due to the root. Will the stock ROM/firmware .tar files eventually be posted in the developers section that can just be flashed via ODIN later on ? With that, if I were to load 4.4 and not like it, could I flash back 4.3 ? I am guessing this is the part where you mentioned that the carrier may decide differently later on.....I suppose I will just keep an eye out in the meantime.
Good good............, I'm picking up this pretty well so far.............
mikeprius said:
If I were to try and flash 4.2.2 like the version you initially had, would the phone have a bootloop error or fail to flash because there were some free wifi tethering exploits that were not yet fixed in the 4.2.2 version ?
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I'm not sure what symptoms you'd see if you installed 4.2.2 with the 4.3 bootloader. Most likely the phone would fail to boot. ODIN will flash whatever you tell it to, I don't believe it does any compatibility checking on its own. You can still get the wifi hotspot feature to work even with Knox and the 4.3 bootloader, I don't think that was what they were trying to do with the update. There are threads discussing 4.3 and what changed, but there wasn't much obvious to the user. For now you can't go back if you're on 4.3, but there might be an exploit discovered down the road that lets you get the old bootloader and go back.
Will the stock ROM/firmware .tar files eventually be posted in the developers section that can just be flashed via ODIN later on ?
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Click to collapse
Yes, they won't be available immediately though. It can take some time for the community to re-obtain root too, depending on how big the changes are.
With that, if I were to load 4.4 and not like it, could I flash back 4.3 ?
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I think you alluded to the answer already, but it depends. It took a month or two before you could flash the stock 4.3 without the 4.3 bootloader. There were custom ROMs available that used custom kernels sooner, but there was a problem trying to use the stock kernel with the 4.2.2 bootloader. So, always read and read and read some more before flashing updates.
So far i think i got the hang of it. I have been modifying the phones original touchwhiz. I ended up freezing alot of files instead of deleting them so the ability to turn them back on is there. Some of the files while there are not meant to be frozen/disabled/turned off. I tried a few methods for keeping SuperSU over an ODIN with no luck. I do have a question though. If i turned off (but did not delete) alot of system files and were to run ODIN again will all of them including the bloatware be turned back on and restored? That would be bad if i flashed, lost root, then simultaneously had all the system files disabled with no way to turn them back on......
This also a dumb question but what exactly am i flashing with ODIN? Its a 1.5 GB file with Sprint and it is a tar that restores all bloatware and turns the phone status back to official so i can get OTA updates. Am i flashing the entire stock ROM or just the firmware? Its nice that i have not lost any existing apps or data. It just restores the bloatware and removes root
Reading the above posts im guessing firmware....along the lines of the previous question will this restore system files and apps as well that have been shut off because ive been on a roll disabling and freezing a lot of files and apps and not sure what to turn back on to restore function to some of them. If the ODIN firmware flash resets all settings then that will also be very useful as well. Thanks much
mikeprius said:
Reading the above posts im guessing firmware....along the lines of the previous question will this restore system files and apps as well that have been shut off because ive been on a roll disabling and freezing a lot of files and apps and not sure what to turn back on to restore function to some of them. If the ODIN firmware flash resets all settings then that will also be very useful as well. Thanks much
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The .tar you are flashing from sprint is what we would call stock firmware image. This is the image that shipped on the phone from the factory. I'm an avid flasher and would highly recommend installing twrp or philz touch, creating a nandroid backup and giving some debloated touchwiz roms a shot. You'll see some significant improvement in battery life and performance and some really cool upstream features. I use odin as a last resort, when I need to go back to stock for whatever reason (ie domestic sim unlock) or have fubar'd my current setup past a point of no return.
Hey everyone,
I put a stock image of 4.3 on my phone - T Mobile to remove root, update to 4.4.2; then realized that it's really not worth the issues I'm dealing with in customizing the phone. I really regret doing this!!! I have no idea how to roll it back because when I do so in odin 3.07 or 3.09 with UVUEMK2 I have to reflash the "stock boot img" in order to get my S4 back alive as trying to roll it back that way "FAILS" in odin and breaks the stock boot and the phone asks me to plug it in and use kies to troubleshoot; when I just flash the bootloader and it's fine again.
ULTIMATELY:
1- Can ANYONE tell me how I can roll it back to 4.3 until I JUMP to my S5 in April?
2- If not how does one go about removing - ROOT - by Chainfire or CF-AutoRoot?
=> so I can at least trade in my phone for the 5 and be done with this mess in a month.
Reason I want 4.3 is because I had much more control over the system and was able to perform tethering tasks and APN tricks that have been blocked by the Kitkat update.
Thank you to whomever has the capacity to help me I've spent all day trying to figure it out and I have a 4 page grad paper I'm postponing because I gotta figure this out first, for some apparent reason. So any help APPRECIATED!!
I may be giving you bad news but last time I checked the ota notice said you cannot roll back ... I have yet yo see anyone roll back from KitKat official on the 9500
The new boot loader is pretty persistent at rollback prevention.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
How about in terms of Unrooting? CF-Autoroot has the option in SuperUser app to unroot. I'm guessing this will do the trick for when I hand the phone back over to T-Mo? Or have they added things to circumvent removing SU?
I basically don't want to do it now (Figure out how to unroot) if I don't have to quite yet.
Gillion said:
I may be giving you bad news but last time I checked the ota notice said you cannot roll back ... I have yet yo see anyone roll back from KitKat official on the 9500
The new boot loader is pretty persistent at rollback prevention.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
zz1049 said:
Hey everyone,
1- Can ANYONE tell me how I can roll it back to 4.3 until I JUMP to my S5 in April?
2- If not how does one go about removing - ROOT - by Chainfire or CF-AutoRoot?
=> so I can at least trade in my phone for the 5 and be done with this mess in a month.
Reason I want 4.3 is because I had much more control over the system and was able to perform tethering tasks and APN tricks that have been blocked by the Kitkat update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you have installed 4.4.2 with the matching boot loader, you cannot install 4.3 with Odin. However you can restore an Nandroid backup of your old 4.3 setup from recovery, so the phone will be back to how it was before the upgrade.
If you want to unroot, you can fire up SuperSU and select the "Full Unroot" option from the settings tab.
In order to restore APN settings on 4.4.2, I have always taken a backup of them on earlier versions using this great app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.APNBackupRestore
In order to make it work on 4.4.2, you move the APK from /Data/App to /System/priv-app using Root Explorer or similar, then reboot. Disable the ICS check in the settings section of APNBackupRestore, and you're good to go!
For tethering by USB, this works very well for me:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.tether
Good Luck!
Nandroid recovery
Hi VogonP0et,
I have a Sprint S4. I also upgraded OTA to 4.4.2 and am regretting it. I was not rooted when upgrading. Haven't been rooted for a few months. I do not like 4.4.2 restrictive sd card. Screwed up my Doc's to Go and Sygic nav.
I do have a nandroid recovery back up from last summer. MDL i believe.
Do I understand you correctly, I can root 4.4.2 reinstall TWRP. Then do a recovery back to my earlier version. Is this correct?
Thanks in advance.
Jim
Clean install rooted 4.4.2
BrickBait said:
Hi VogonP0et,
I have a Sprint S4. I also upgraded OTA to 4.4.2 and am regretting it. I was not rooted when upgrading. Haven't been rooted for a few months. I do not like 4.4.2 restrictive sd card. Screwed up my Doc's to Go and Sygic nav.
I do have a nandroid recovery back up from last summer. MDL i believe.
Do I understand you correctly, I can root 4.4.2 reinstall TWRP. Then do a recovery back to my earlier version. Is this correct?
Thanks in advance.
Jim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Jim
You can only restore a 4.3 or 4.4.2 backup, not an earlier version.
I have an International i9505 jfltexx, although I believe the process would be the same for you. Here's what I did:
- Nandroid backup to the external SD card first job! Copy to the PC for safety.
- Power off the phone, and manually re-start in Download mode.
- Flash original factory KitKat 4.4.2 firmware of choice using Odin (I used V3.09), which will include the matching boot loader.
- Allow the phone to start up, which will take some time.
- Power off the phone, and manually re-start in Download mode.
- Use Chainfire's CF-Auto-Root to root it, using the Odin that comes in the package. Find it here (3rd post):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2219803
- phone will re-start when the process is complete
- I did a full wipe at this point, and although it's a bit of a pain to restore all your data with Titanium backup it gives a problem-free start.
- Full wipe made my Sygic work properly again!
- Before you drop in a custom recovery, it is a good idea to use Chainfire's Triangle Away to reset the flash counter. It seems that the Flash Counter needs to be zero for successful operation of Mobile Odin in future.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.triangleaway
- once you have set up your Google Play account, download SGS4Flasher here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.bvgemert.flasher
- SGS4Flasher will drop in the recovery of your choice. I use and recommend TWRP personally.
- You're good to go, and Flash Counter is still zero!
- Now you can restore an earlier Nandroid backup of a 4.3 ROM, or install a new custom 4.3 or 4.4.2 ROM
After this I installed the custom ROM of my choice, which is Echoe V16 based on 4.4.2. Echoe makes all the limitations and restrictions of 4.4.2 go away, but there must be a custom ROM suitable for you. I don't think you can use Echoe on your phone, but you may have a favourite. I have to say that doing the full wipe was an important step to make it all work well, so worth the hassle.
The only concern I have is that your backup at version at MDL may actually be Android 4.2, which I don't think you can use directly. However Titanium Backup can extract the data from a Nandroid backup to restore. I have spent quite a bit of time understanding the 4.4.2 limitations and restrictions, and found ways to make it do what I want now. Overall I'm happy, but it has taken some time to get there.
Good Luck!