Database Users

Noob guide.

Just wondering if there is anything special to know about rooting etc on the G2. Or is it as simple as others? I have had MANY android phones from Xperias to Galaxy's, htcs and most recently the Nexus 4.
Is there a noob guide on here I can't find much but admittedly I'm on Tapatalk at the minute.
How do I unlock boot loader or even can I?
Can I just fastboot flash a custom recovery?
What is this root checking that voids warranty is it like Samsung yellow triangle?
Sorry if any of this is stupid but I've never had an LG.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

ephumuris said:
Just wondering if there is anything special to know about rooting etc on the G2. Or is it as simple as others? I have had MANY android phones from Xperias to Galaxy's, htcs and most recently the Nexus 4.
Is there a noob guide on here I can't find much but admittedly I'm on Tapatalk at the minute.
How do I unlock boot loader or even can I?
Can I just fastboot flash a custom recovery?
What is this root checking that voids warranty is it like Samsung yellow triangle?
Sorry if any of this is stupid but I've never had an LG.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first things first what model of g2 do you have/ are planning on getting(to recommend proper rooting method), anyways I recommend ioroot for rooting your device(easiest way and lots of support), second to unlock bootloader and flash roms/kernels without issues you need to loki your device or get a twrp/cwm with loki built in to it. As for flashing recovery the easiest is to use freegee from the play store and choose which recovery you would like to use, once rooted the root check is in download mode it will say if it's rooted or not but using lg flash tool and going to stock removes this and there aren't any stupid questions if I do say so myself. Hope this helps any thing else let us know
---------- Post added at 06:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:17 PM ----------
ddzado said:
Take all of those questions and start searching google/forums. All of those questions already have a nice post associated with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are not gonna help you are better off just not saying anything in the first place

XxZombiePikachu said:
first things first what model of g2 do you have/ are planning on getting(to recommend proper rooting method), anyways I recommend ioroot for rooting your device(easiest way and lots of support), second to unlock bootloader and flash roms/kernels without issues you need to loki your device or get a twrp/cwm with loki built in to it. As for flashing recovery the easiest is to use freegee from the play store and choose which recovery you would like to use, once rooted the root check is in download mode it will say if it's rooted or not but using lg flash tool and going to stock removes this and there aren't any stupid questions if I do say so myself. Hope this helps any thing else let us know
---------- Post added at 06:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:17 PM ----------
If you are not gonna help you are better off just not saying anything in the first place
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That does help thanks I've learnt to ignore the unhelpful and ignorant.
It is just the international version it should arrive tomorrow. So from what I understand I can follow any root and boot loader unlock guide that matches my version. And can fully return to stock with no traces or issues?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

ephumuris said:
That does help thanks I've learnt to ignore the unhelpful and ignorant.
It is just the international version it should arrive tomorrow. So from what I understand I can follow any root and boot loader unlock guide that matches my version. And can fully return to stock with no traces or issues?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea pretty much as long as you don't flash the wrong file everything will be smooth anyways this is the international thread(http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g2/development-d802) so you can sart planning what you want to do once it arrives and trust you gonna love it
also:
root- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48709232&postcount=869 (latest ioroot and drivers)
rooting instructions- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2448887
recovery twrp- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2449670 (I prefer twrp)
recovery cwm- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2468858 (just in case your not a fan of twrp)
(both recoveries include loki already)
As a last note if by any chance you want to try stock kitkat (you can try official without root by flashing http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2664933 through lg flash tool) or if you root first you can try(http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2665985) although you will lose custom recovery and need to use the flash tool to jump down to stock jb and start again have fun :fingers-crossed:

Similar Situation but with Sprint
Hello, I'm kinda in the same situation. except the G2 is with Sprint.
First, i'd just like to say that i can root, twrp, custom with quite a few HTC and Samsung phones but have yet to tackle an LG. It's actually my girlfriends. I told her not to accept any updates when she recieved the phone today from the local Sprint Store. So as it stands she's completely stock to my knowledge. I've included pictures.
Since she's on Sprint and NOT International, i can only assume the guides that you posted to help our other friend will not help me(or at least to an extent). I'm definitely not opposed to reading and learning, just really unsure where to start as the G2 is only split on the carrier level at Development. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

lancemulvihill85 said:
Hello, I'm kinda in the same situation. except the G2 is with Sprint.
First, i'd just like to say that i can root, twrp, custom with quite a few HTC and Samsung phones but have yet to tackle an LG. It's actually my girlfriends. I told her not to accept any updates when she recieved the phone today from the local Sprint Store. So as it stands she's completely stock to my knowledge. I've included pictures.
Since she's on Sprint and NOT International, i can only assume the guides that you posted to help our other friend will not help me(or at least to an extent). I'm definitely not opposed to reading and learning, just really unsure where to start as the G2 is only split on the carrier level at Development. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the rooting works with the g2 as long as it's stock 4.2.2 and the recovery guide for twrp plus 2.6.3.3 from here(http://techerrata.com/browse/twrp2/g2spr) should work but I did see somewhere that an update to the sprint model added some spark thing(I don't know what it is exactly) that does not play too well with custom kernels
on another note the reason for it splitting on a carrier level is so that no one flashes something that isn't for them which would cause lots of unwanted problems but of course if you want a rom for your model you head over to the sprint thread look for the one you want and flash away, and always remember to have a backup it can save your phones life someday
---------- Post added at 11:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 PM ----------
also forgot to mention there are other methods of flashing recoveries from play store like freegee, goo manager, rom manager, etc but I did not include because I am not sure wether they include loki or not which is important if you wanna flash certain roms and mainly different kernels

Wow that's some great help and info there mate thanks for all the help! Seems like everything I need all in one place. Its out for delivery today so will hopefully be playing with it by this evening.
From what I can tell from a little reading there isn't a UK KitKat officially yet at the minute? Is there any I can manually flash with minimal to zero bloat? Just standard LG software?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

ephumuris said:
Wow that's some great help and info there mate thanks for all the help! Seems like everything I need all in one place. Its out for delivery today so will hopefully be playing with it by this evening.
From what I can tell from a little reading there isn't a UK KitKat officially yet at the minute? Is there any I can manually flash with minimal to zero bloat? Just standard LG software?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well like I mentioned before if you root first you can flash this(http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2665985) if done correctly you keep root but will lose recovery because as of yet there isn't one and since its international bloat is minimal unlike when it's from an American carrier

Once you root, using freegee to install recovery is trivial and yes it includes Loki.

I used ioroot to root my G2 and I have no complaints, everything went through smoothly
Sent from my LG-D802 using xda app-developers app

XxZombiePikachu said:
the rooting works with the g2 as long as it's stock 4.2.2 and the recovery guide for twrp plus 2.6.3.3 from here(http://techerrata.com/browse/twrp2/g2spr) should work but I did see somewhere that an update to the sprint model added some spark thing(I don't know what it is exactly) that does not play too well with custom kernels
on another note the reason for it splitting on a carrier level is so that no one flashes something that isn't for them which would cause lots of unwanted problems but of course if you want a rom for your model you head over to the sprint thread look for the one you want and flash away, and always remember to have a backup it can save your phones life someday
---------- Post added at 11:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 PM ----------
also forgot to mention there are other methods of flashing recoveries from play store like freegee, goo manager, rom manager, etc but I did not include because I am not sure wether they include loki or not which is important if you wanna flash certain roms and mainly different kernels
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a bunch! It seems as though this is going to be unexpectedly simple!
I highly doubt I'm going to be flashing anything other than a modified stock Rom for her. Stability, battery life, with no bugs is all I'm looking for as it's not my phone. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Also, I get why they're split at the development level, it's just that running through the QA and General sections is a little tougher. I do so appreciate all the help and advice!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

lancemulvihill85 said:
Thanks a bunch! It seems as though this is going to be unexpectedly simple!
I highly doubt I'm going to be flashing anything other than a modified stock Rom for her. Stability, battery life, with no bugs is all I'm looking for as it's not my phone. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Also, I get why they're split at the development level, it's just that running through the QA and General sections is a little tougher. I do so appreciate all the help and advice!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well that's good then anyways I won't recommend a rom mainly because I have the d800 at&t variant so I don't know what has what anyways glad to be of help enjoy the freedom root

Just a quick update, rooted with io24, twrp with freegee, backing up as we speak (also to pc).
Now to find a Rom!
Thanks again!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

Tried flashing a rooted kitkat stock rom and my touchscreen didnt work!
Flashing the kitkat kdz works though but no root...hmm

ephumuris said:
Tried flashing a rooted kitkat stock rom and my touchscreen didnt work!
Flashing the kitkat kdz works though but no root...hmm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I noticed on international that has been an issue, not really sure why well there are other options you can try a flex rom or maybe aosp
Sent from my LG-D800 using xda app-developers app

Replacing factory firmware!!!
Hello,
i Am newbie here, recently i brought a LG G2 D802 supposedly from a EU store and i am in Finland, but to my surprise the software firmware is Asia made, Hong Kong to be particular. it goes like this, D80210b-HKG-XX build JDQ39B kernel 3.4.0. With this original Stock software, the 4G option is not shown( i know it can be done by hidden menu but i want to get a permanent fix); the MMS setting althought i did it manually by inserting the values provided by the Network service provider.Still i am unable to get that fix.
I am in turn to contacting my seller for the correct working OPEN stock rom installed G2 but if the case does not go like that then i wish to root it to the OPEN international ROM . From what i have read, if you update then it goes back to the HKG rom, if there any way i can remove the factory rom with the OPEN Rom and receive the update OTA and it will not revert back. I have been doing my research on this but i am not able to get the answers... Hope some one will shine some light on this.
Thanks in Advance !!!

[Q] Rooting my device.

Hello,
First, let me introduce myself, I have just registered myself. I am Demy, seventeen years old and I live in The Netherlands. I've got a Samsung Galaxy SIV, previous I had a Samsung Galaxy SII.
I have seen some people talking about 'rooting' your phone. It makes to get the 'superuser' status, which means I can do everything I want with my device which I could not do previously. My questions are as follows.
When I root, will my device lose it's warranty? If so, can I unroot it in order it getting it's warranty back?
What will be the benefits, and what are the downsides?
I understood that there are multiple 'stocks'(?) What is the difference in those?
I hope you can help me.
Demy.

Hi and welcome to the xda.
Which model of s s4 do you own? ( i9500, i9505, etc)
The answer of all of those questions depends on the model of your s4.
I almost forgot, which version of android are you running on your device?

arminale said:
Hi and welcome to the xda.
Which model of s s4 do you own? ( i9500, i9505, etc)
The answer of all of those questions depends on the model of your s4.
I almost forgot, which version of android are you running on your device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you.
I am owning a GT-I9505, running android 4.3. I read that android 4.4.2 has been released for the Galaxy S4, but mine has been branded. The update for android 4.3 was really late, also. When I root my phone, will brand go away?
Demy.

Demy. said:
Thank you.
I am owning a GT-I9505, running android 4.3. I read that android 4.4.2 has been released for the Galaxy S4, but mine has been branded. The update for android 4.3 was really late, also. When I root my phone, will brand go away?
Demy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Demy, well i got the same phone just recently updated from stock to 4.3 and it is all the same i used the safe root took maybe 3-5min and it was done and it does not void your warranty either as the laws of eu says that rooting does not void warranty, after you rooted you can install root explorer or es fileexplorer and easily de-bloat your phone

Hagis2k said:
Hi Demy, well i got the same phone just recently updated from stock to 4.3 and it is all the same i used the safe root took maybe 3-5min and it was done and it does not void your warranty either as the laws of eu says that rooting does not void warranty, after you rooted you can install root explorer or es fileexplorer and easily de-bloat your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello Hagis2k,
If I understand correctly, de-bloat is unrooting my phone?
I saw a guide on YouTube where people are using the Chainfire method, it look really easy to me. What is the difference between different rooting methods?
Demy.

Demy,
Hi im jeremy (mejakola97) you can call me meja, jeremy, mejakola, jak, whatever you like,
Im in the usa and I am 17 as well AWESOME!!!
Ok you know those apps that you never use that came with the phone and you cant uninstall? Debloating is where you use your root access to bypass your carriers "block" and uninstall it anyway. the block is kinda like a firewall, ill talk more about that later in this novel
Debloat is NOT unroot. it is removing apps preloaded to the phone by your carrier that you normally would not be able to uninstall
I have the i337 (at&t) running 4.3 mk2 build,
In settings>more>about phone
Under the phone info, scroll down to the build number and what are the last three characters? Also tap on it about 5 times in a row to enable devoper mode if you haven already done so. This just gives you some cool settings that you can use, you will need to turn on usb debugging of course.
Going back,those three characters can help determine what method to use to root,
Saferoot is a good way to go because of KNOX
Knox is the new security feature that came with 4.3 with the soul purpose to make our live harder and piss us all off. XD
Anyway it has a "trip wire" that is supposed to "void" your warrenty
However, I have heard people who have a problem and the company fixes it for them anyways, they just wipe the phone beforehand. All the tripwire is is it changes a number in the download mode display in the top left from "0x0" to 0x1
If you had a problem idk if you have a BestBuy store there but they are miraculously good at fixing Samsung, I had a friend that didnt know what he was doing and flashed an old htc rom on his gs4active, and of course bricked it... they fixed it for free flashed the stock firmware for free.
So to talk about stock, stock refers to "the origanal" the real copy, of your firmware, so there is one set of stock files per phone per update. Your stock 4.3 is different from mine even though we both have gs4.
It would be a good idea to go to the samsung website and download 4.3 stock firmware and keep it on your computer just in case you need it. make sure you get the one for your i9505
So, for rooting, each way is different, they all try to find loopholes "exploits" on the phone to try and get around like the phones personal firewall. its put there so we dont do anything dumb like when uninstalling system apps that are bloatware, accitentally uninstalling the phone app and no longer being able to make phone calls, in fact now i wonder if i actually can do that,
Then they install superuserSU developed by chainfire and copied by many. And superuser acts as an on off switch to allow certain things through the firewall to the root side of the phone, (someone should really buy that guy a beer, chainfire is such a badass)
Now with knox people are worried about it messing up the warranty but I mean you can get away with it im sure,
So there is saferoot, 1st choice even though I couldnt get it to work
Second choice, kingo root, you put it on your computer, install the phone drivers, (I would just install kies since its got it all the drivers), enable usb debuging, plug it in, wait, click root.
There were some rumors about kingo sending imei's to like a chinese database but idk... it was also rumored that kingo tripped knox but im still 0x0 so...
Third preferred methood is a little trickier, odin.
This is where you flash a file with your computer and it roots your phone, again it didnt work for me but im weird.
Now there is a chinese rooting methood called "vroot"... DONT DOWNLOAD IT!!! Just dont, it bricked my phone by trying to root it when I already had root capabilities... that was a nightmare!
there are other ways for older phones such as downloading an apk like gingerbreak for gingerbread or framaroot... but there arent very many of those now that dont need a computer i think.
Um I know I jumped around on the answering part but thers a lot of info here for you to digest im sure, ill be willing to give you as much knowledge as I have, I know its hard to learn everything at once so its nice to be able to have questions answered.
so what else you got for us?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Jeremy, mejakola97
ps you should totally hit the thanks button for me, it'll be my first like.

mejakola said:
Demy,
Hi im jeremy (mejakola97) you can call me meja, jeremy, mejakola, jak, whatever you like,
Im in the usa and I am 17 as well AWESOME!!!
Ok you know those apps that you never use that came with the phone and you cant uninstall? Debloating is where you use your root access to bypass your carriers "block" and uninstall it anyway. the block is kinda like a firewall, ill talk more about that later in this novel
Debloat is NOT unroot. it is removing apps preloaded to the phone by your carrier that you normally would not be able to uninstall
I have the i337 (at&t) running 4.3 mk2 build,
In settings>more>about phone
Under the phone info, scroll down to the build number and what are the last three characters? Also tap on it about 5 times in a row to enable devoper mode if you haven already done so. This just gives you some cool settings that you can use, you will need to turn on usb debugging of course.
Going back,those three characters can help determine what method to use to root,
Saferoot is a good way to go because of KNOX
Knox is the new security feature that came with 4.3 with the soul purpose to make our live harder and piss us all off. XD
Anyway it has a "trip wire" that is supposed to "void" your warrenty
However, I have heard people who have a problem and the company fixes it for them anyways, they just wipe the phone beforehand. All the tripwire is is it changes a number in the download mode display in the top left from "0x0" to 0x1
If you had a problem idk if you have a BestBuy store there but they are miraculously good at fixing Samsung, I had a friend that didnt know what he was doing and flashed an old htc rom on his gs4active, and of course bricked it... they fixed it for free flashed the stock firmware for free.
So to talk about stock, stock refers to "the origanal" the real copy, of your firmware, so there is one set of stock files per phone per update. Your stock 4.3 is different from mine even though we both have gs4.
It would be a good idea to go to the samsung website and download 4.3 stock firmware and keep it on your computer just in case you need it. make sure you get the one for your i9505
So, for rooting, each way is different, they all try to find loopholes "exploits" on the phone to try and get around like the phones personal firewall. its put there so we dont do anything dumb like when uninstalling system apps that are bloatware, accitentally uninstalling the phone app and no longer being able to make phone calls, in fact now i wonder if i actually can do that,
Then they install superuserSU developed by chainfire and copied by many. And superuser acts as an on off switch to allow certain things through the firewall to the root side of the phone, (someone should really buy that guy a beer, chainfire is such a badass)
Now with knox people are worried about it messing up the warranty but I mean you can get away with it im sure,
So there is saferoot, 1st choice even though I couldnt get it to work
Second choice, kingo root, you put it on your computer, install the phone drivers, (I would just install kies since its got it all the drivers), enable usb debuging, plug it in, wait, click root.
There were some rumors about kingo sending imei's to like a chinese database but idk... it was also rumored that kingo tripped knox but im still 0x0 so...
Third preferred methood is a little trickier, odin.
This is where you flash a file with your computer and it roots your phone, again it didnt work for me but im weird.
Now there is a chinese rooting methood called "vroot"... DONT DOWNLOAD IT!!! Just dont, it bricked my phone by trying to root it when I already had root capabilities... that was a nightmare!
there are other ways for older phones such as downloading an apk like gingerbreak for gingerbread or framaroot... but there arent very many of those now that dont need a computer i think.
Um I know I jumped around on the answering part but thers a lot of info here for you to digest im sure, ill be willing to give you as much knowledge as I have, I know its hard to learn everything at once so its nice to be able to have questions answered.
so what else you got for us?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Jeremy, mejakola97
ps you should totally hit the thanks button for me, it'll be my first like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello Jeremy,
Thank you so much for your novel! Do you also have a GT-I9505?
I liked your post, although I would've liked to like it for another 10 times. It is really nice to see you putting so much effort in this, for me. Thank you!
I would love to remove all the apps I can't remove, because I don't use like 95% of them. Just to make sure, when I have rooted my phone, I can remove those? (De-bloat)?
The last digits are MKF. I also activated developer mode, what can I do with this?
We don't have a BestBuy store in The Netherlands, as far as I know. But there are more stores. Let's pretend I will never have to go there, shall we? Haha
When I root my phone, I will get a custom stock, right? I saw a custom ROM called cyanomen 11 or something. A stock is something else than a ROM right?
The Chainfire root looks pretty easy to me, would you recommend this for me?
Thank you again for this comprehensive post!
Demy.
Verstuurd van mijn GT-I9505

Demy. said:
Verstuurd van mijn GT-I9505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting your phone using chainfire's magic trick can void your warranty .. Anyways Your country is part of EU... so no need for a warranty if something happen to your phone . Such as Hardware failure . (The Best thing you can do is call your provider about it. ) Im sure you have 2 years warranty for your phone but if any chance you broke your screen , your warranty is now gone. that's what my Provider told me

Repulsa said:
Rooting your phone using chainfire's magic trick can void your warranty .. Anyways Your country is part of EU... so no need for a warranty if something happen to your phone . Such as Hardware failure . (The Best thing you can do is call your provider about it. ) Im sure you have 2 years warranty for your phone but if you broke the screen , your warranty is now gone. that's what my Provider told me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello Repulsa,
I had my screen broken one time, but I had to pay for it. I think my phone does not have warranty, so that is not a problem.
Verstuurd van mijn GT-I9505

Demy. said:
Hello Repulsa,
I had my screen broken one time, but I had to pay for it. I think my phone does not have warranty, so that is not a problem.
Verstuurd van mijn GT-I9505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if you think your phone doesnt have warranty then feel free to do what you want with your Phone such as Rooting/flashing custom rom etc.. But Remember do it at your own risk . Always follow the Dev's tutorial on how to do it .Goodluck and Have a nice day.

Repulsa said:
Well if you think your phone doesnt have warranty then feel free to do what you want with your Phone such as Rooting/flashing custom rom etc.. But Remember do it at your own risk . Always follow the Dev's tutorial on how to do it .Goodluck and Have a nice day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yet another question, I'm such a nooby haha. What is flashing a ROM?
Verstuurd van mijn GT-I9505

Demy. said:
Yet another question, I'm such a nooby haha. What is flashing a ROM?
Verstuurd van mijn GT-I9505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing rom is an alternative name for the device firmware, basically means to load a different version of the Android OS.It is the process used to change/Modify/Tweaks Such as completely changing the user interface/auto root/providing additional features and such Feel free to visit this website . and Please use the search button or ask first before you do something with your Phone. So once again "Do it at your Own risk"

Can I unbrand my phone when I have rooted it, so I will get the newer android versions earlier? T-mobile is very late with the new android versions. If yes, is this done when rooting, or do I have to do this myself?

Ok so to explain stock another way, you have stock firmware right now, stock refers to the original, is this case its the original firware,
If you flash a custom rom for your phone then that would be a custom firmware essentially.
Sometimes people refer to stock as "official firmware".
So when you root your phone you will still have the same firmware, and thus still have stock.
I have a sgh-i337, its almost the same as yours except for I cant update as frequently because my carrier is mean.
Check out this page, hopefully it wont still be blank, I just made it last night.http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/samsung
Just look at the bottom one, I have the at&t version, you have the international version.
---------- Post added at 02:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:22 PM ----------
Chainfires way is definitely the way, I mean he made superuserSU.
I would still rather use kingo, because I dont have to do any thing, just install the drivers and king on my computer.

mejakola said:
Ok so to explain stock another way, you have stock firmware right now, stock refers to the original, is this case its the original firware,
If you flash a custom rom for your phone then that would be a custom firmware essentially.
Sometimes people refer to stock as "official firmware".
So when you root your phone you will still have the same firmware, and thus still have stock.
I have a sgh-i337, its almost the same as yours except for I cant update as frequently because my carrier is mean.
Check out this page, hopefully it wont still be blank, I just made it last night.http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/samsung
Just look at the bottom one, I have the at&t version, you have the international version.
---------- Post added at 02:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:22 PM ----------
Chainfires way is definitely the way, I mean he made superuserSU.
I would still rather use kingo, because I dont have to do any thing, just install the drivers and king on my computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the point in rooting my phone, when I keep the same stock?
My phone is T-mobile branded, the update for Android 4.3 came like 2 months later than other carriers. That why I want to unbrand my phone.
Demy.

Demy. said:
What is the point in rooting my phone, when I keep the same stock?
My phone is T-mobile branded, the update for Android 4.3 came like 2 months later than other carriers. That why I want to unbrand my phone.
Demy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The point is that you gain full rights of what you own, imagine you bought a new car but they locked the hood for you so you can not check
your oil and fill windscreen wiper fluid and so that pretty stupid ?
I have the same MKF too believe my phone was imported from france by swedish reseller anyway there is a special saferoot for the s4 that works like a charm, and the EU laws says that if you root your device does not void warranty it is up to the manufacturer to prove that your "rooting" has caused the issues and lets say your battery fails happens sometimes... then they can't just come and say hey you rooted your device your out of warranty if the service center tell you that then just call samsung
This guide i followed:
http://www.w0lfdroid.com/2013/12/Safe-Root-Android-4.3-Galaxy-S3-S4-Note-No-Warranty-Void.html
And i have de-bloated my phone a lot runs smother and less garbage in it

Hagis2k said:
The point is that you gain full rights of what you own, imagine you bought a new car but they locked the hood for you so you can not check
your oil and fill windscreen wiper fluid and so that pretty stupid ?
I have the same MKF too believe my phone was imported from france by swedish reseller anyway there is a special saferoot for the s4 that works like a charm, and the EU laws says that if you root your device does not void warranty it is up to the manufacturer to prove that your "rooting" has caused the issues and lets say your battery fails happens sometimes... then they can't just come and say hey you rooted your device your out of warranty if the service center tell you that then just call samsung
This guide i followed:
http://www.w0lfdroid.com/2013/12/Safe-Root-Android-4.3-Galaxy-S3-S4-Note-No-Warranty-Void.html
And i have de-bloated my phone a lot runs smother and less garbage in it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was a good comparison! That video looked really easy, thank you!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but when I have rooted my phone I can flash(?) a custom rom, like Cyanogenmod 11, to my phone?
I want to do a factory reset, so my phone is clean when rooted. Do I have to do this myself or is this happening when rooted?
Demy.

Demy. said:
That was a good comparison! That video looked really easy, thank you!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but when I have rooted my phone I can flash(?) a custom rom, like Cyanogenmod 11, to my phone?
I want to do a factory reset, so my phone is clean when rooted. Do I have to do this myself or is this happening when rooted?
Demy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
neither.
if you do a true factory reset then you WILL lose root.
i think i know what your wanting to do, when you go to flash a custom rom, your supposed to wipe the phone,
a factory wipe using safestrap bootloader, wipes everything on the phone except media, pictures etc.
if you want i can get you all set up with what you need to root and flash.

mejakola said:
neither.
if you do a true factory reset then you WILL lose root.
i think i know what your wanting to do, when you go to flash a custom rom, your supposed to wipe the phone,
a factory wipe using safestrap bootloader, wipes everything on the phone except media, pictures etc.
if you want i can get you all set up with what you need to root and flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would really appreciate it if you're willing to do that!
Demy.
Verstuurd van mijn GT-I9505

Demy. said:
I would really appreciate it if you're willing to do that!
Demy.
Verstuurd van mijn GT-I9505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so you know where to get saferoot from. download all that and should be pretty simple.
if it doesnt work, just google kingo and try that. way...
next this one has got to be the most important out of all of them, DOWNLOAD TITANIUM BACKUP from google play. i would recomend the pro version.
open it and grant it SU access, it will tell you to enable 'install from unknown sources' and 'enable usb debuging' if you have not already done so.
hit your menu button, and then select preferences, then change the backup folder location to your external sd card (/storage/extSdCard)
now in the main screen of TB hit the checkmark in the top right corner, for the first time find 'backup all user apps + system data' and hit RUN, it will take a while, then do the same thing except for this time run "create 'update.zip' from app+data backups"
make sure its on your external sd card and that you can find it... I would also recommend FREQUENTLY putting the copies of both the TB backup and the .ZIP file on your computer... just in case...
now we can start having some fun.
download safestrap: custom recovery for locked devices.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2448925
follow the instructions and flash SS.
IF YOU HAVE AT&T I337 YOU MUST DO THIS STEP!!!
now i337 users (not you demy) you have a locked bootloader so you must use loki. or check this out...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2291956
again this is only for i337 users, and also i337 users as stated in the above thread, dont even try any other custom recovery, they wont work with our locked bootloaders.
next go into the safestrap app and click 'reboot to recovery' and in the top left corner hit that button, not sure exactly what it says off the top of my head but... then hit rom one and hit create. note that the only thing that you should flash is the update.zip file you created in TB else you run the risk of soft bricking like i did two days ago.
so go find your rom and make sure it is supposed to work with your phone and also with SafeStrap. follow any extra instructions on how to flash the rom that are given in the thread, and you should be good to go there.
last, download TB if its missing, and restore your missing apps ONLY .... this applies to in a rom.
if you just went back to stock and have a wiped phone what i do is restore missing apps and data and system apps too.
any questions about this just let me know. or if you brick it and get stuck in a bootloop or something stupid like i did the other day while attempting to flash ShoStock, lol let me know gs4 users, BUT REMEMBER YOU DID IT AND ITS NOT MY FAULT
if you arent a gs4 user, i may be able to help you just not as quickly most likely.

Double check before I root

I just acquired a GS4 from ATT today. it is:
Android 4.4.2 (which I upgraded myself)
Baseband V: I337UCUFNC1
I found this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2663545 But I wanted to make sure there is not anything newer or different since then. I wasn't able to find anything else by searching. I'm trying to root this phone to use CyanogenMod. Unfortunately, my phone is not supported in their list of easy installs.
Can someone verify the steps for me to root and flash Cyan to this model phone before I pull the trigger? Thanks!

burgertime78 said:
I just acquired a GS4 from ATT today. it is:
Android 4.4.2 (which I upgraded myself)
Baseband V: I337UCUFNC1
I found this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2663545 But I wanted to make sure there is not anything newer or different since then. I wasn't able to find anything else by searching. I'm trying to root this phone to use CyanogenMod. Unfortunately, my phone is not supported in their list of easy installs.
Can someone verify the steps for me to root and flash Cyan to this model phone before I pull the trigger? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't flash anything other than Touch Wiz Roms. That guide and ones like The Ultimate All in one Guide will be a starting place. No custom recoveries either.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk

rugmankc said:
You can't flash anything other than Touch Wiz Roms. That guide and ones like The Ultimate All in one Guide will be a starting place. No custom recoveries either.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what's the problem? ATT? too new a hardware version? I have the worst luck with this stuff - if I buy a router to flash a custom firmware like Tomato, it's the ONLY version that isn't supported. crazy.
I'm not sure what a custom recovery is unfortunately. That said, can I root this phone at all? I guess if I can't flash the rom I want to use, can I at least install titanium and freeze all the crapware that I don't want running?
btw - thanks for the response.

burgertime78 said:
So what's the problem? ATT? too new a hardware version? I have the worst luck with this stuff - if I buy a router to flash a custom firmware like Tomato, it's the ONLY version that isn't supported. crazy.
I'm not sure what a custom recovery is unfortunately. That said, can I root this phone at all? I guess if I can't flash the rom I want to use, can I at least install titanium and freeze all the crapware that I don't want running?
btw - thanks for the response.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any build after mdl has the bootloader locked down. If you read thru those two threads OP pages you get an idea. You will also need to get familiar with SafeStrap. I am on the old build and can use an exploit called loki-doki to bypass Sammy's security check and allow kernel to flash.
There may be some new stuff on rooting NC1, but I don't keep up. Basically you had to go back to mk2 to root then go back NC1 and use SafeStrap to flash only TW roms. The SafeStrap thread will explain that. But, it creates slots on the System partition again fooling Sammy. More or less--
Like I said not an expert as I don't have the issue you have with bootloader. But that is the gist of it. Just need to read up so you don't brick--good luck.

rugmankc said:
Any build after mdl has the bootloader locked down. If you read thru those two threads OP pages you get an idea. You will also need to get familiar with SafeStrap. I am on the old build and can use an exploit called loki-doki to bypass Sammy's security check and allow kernel to flash.
There may be some new stuff on rooting NC1, but I don't keep up. Basically you had to go back to mk2 to root then go back NC1 and use SafeStrap to flash only TW roms. The SafeStrap thread will explain that. But, it creates slots on the System partition again fooling Sammy. More or less--
Like I said not an expert as I don't have the issue you have with bootloader. But that is the gist of it. Just need to read up so you don't brick--good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DAMN! Thanks!

burgertime78 said:
DAMN! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good Luck
There are plenty of folks here to help with specifics like jd and tedusa--:good:

burgertime78 said:
I just acquired a GS4 from ATT today. it is:
Android 4.4.2 (which I upgraded myself)
Baseband V: I337UCUFNC1
I found this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2663545 But I wanted to make sure there is not anything newer or different since then. I wasn't able to find anything else by searching. I'm trying to root this phone to use CyanogenMod. Unfortunately, my phone is not supported in their list of easy installs.
Can someone verify the steps for me to root and flash Cyan to this model phone before I pull the trigger? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New way to root is call towelroot. Google it or search for it around here the link is everywhere. It's an apk file made by geohot (same guy that jail broke the iphone and ps3). Once you root you can install safestrap. If you've ever owned an droid device they have something identical called boot strap. Think of it as a dual boot of sorts. Definitely keep your eyes on these threads as well as the sgs5 thread. If an exploit is discovered it'll probably be for the s5 and will be compatible with our s4 (towel root was made for the s5 but works for a whole bunch of devices)
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

burgertime78 said:
DAMN! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52167774&postcount=3&nocache=1&z=8413408249616623
I was in the same boat as you 2 weeks ago, bought a NC1 and wanted CM, and used this to root. I currently use the Google Edition ROM that has been modified to work on locked bootloader phones, though it does have it's fallbacks. For someone new I'd recommend GoldenEye, just click the link on my signature to download it.
Good luck!

Oh, btw--check out GEOHOT's Towelroot thread in General for NC1. I knew I forgot one. That was the recent method I was thinking of. Not sure which of threads are best for you--depends what you want to do.
---------- Post added at 10:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 PM ----------
HaHa posted at same time.

You all are AWESOME! Thank you so much! I'll look into this and keep you posted.

rugmankc said:
Oh, btw--check out GEOHOT's Towelroot thread in General for NC1. I knew I forgot one. That was the recent method I was thinking of. Not sure which of threads are best for you--depends what you want to do.
---------- Post added at 10:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 PM ----------
HaHa posted at same time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just towelrooted. It worked! I was watching this video http://gs5.wonderhowto.com/how-to/r...nt-even-at-t-verizon-20-seconds-flat-0155617/ and I did it while I Was watching the video. On my device, it did not even reboot - i just said "should be rooted" so I loaded a root checker and sure enough, it is rooted! took all of about 8 seconds.
Now, on to a rom.
I'm confused now. Why can I not use CM? I read about SafeStrap and I understand it's sort of a dual boot setup - I get that. So, in a sense, I'm not really installing FRESH, a new rom - at least not in the sense that you format your hard disk and install a new OS. However, what ARE my choices in roms? I know the whiz touch, and now the golden eye, plus the google modified - but what else? I want something cut down, simple and battery friendly. I'm not a super power user and I don't require much. Actually, battery life is the most important thing to me.
This is my business phone - I use Gmail, SMS, maybe take a few pictures - and I listen to podcasts. very basic user. Advice?

burgertime78 said:
I just towelrooted. It worked! I was watching this video http://gs5.wonderhowto.com/how-to/r...nt-even-at-t-verizon-20-seconds-flat-0155617/ and I did it while I Was watching the video. On my device, it did not even reboot - i just said "should be rooted" so I loaded a root checker and sure enough, it is rooted! took all of about 8 seconds.
Now, on to a rom.
I'm confused now. Why can I not use CM? I read about SafeStrap and I understand it's sort of a dual boot setup - I get that. So, in a sense, I'm not really installing FRESH, a new rom - at least not in the sense that you format your hard disk and install a new OS. However, what ARE my choices in roms? I know the whiz touch, and now the golden eye, plus the google modified - but what else? I want something cut down, simple and battery friendly. I'm not a super power user and I don't require much. Actually, battery life is the most important thing to me.
This is my business phone - I use Gmail, SMS, maybe take a few pictures - and I listen to podcasts. very basic user. Advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MDL builds have an exploit that allows the kernel to flash. That is loki-doki. Bypasses the Sammy security check to allow this. There is no exploit yet for post MDL builds. Hence you can only flash stock Touch Wiz kernels, thus only roms that have them. So, no aosp based roms. In one of the threads in General that talk about MK2/NC1 etc is a list of roms for you. I forget the technical coding side of SafeStrap. But, it puts roms in System bypassing the bootloader. But, no way of doing that with aosp roms yet.
I am old and don't retain things much anymore if they are not very important to me. So, although I have read up on this stuff, and have a "45 year old" Engineering Degree, I don't need SafeStrap having the MDL bootloader. So, don't remember all that I have read. But, what I said is the basics of it.
Your roms need to have SafeStrap option in the rom thread's OP page. If not listed, it won't work. Having said all that things like Towelroot are new and more options may come along. :good:

S3 to d4....everything's different and I'm scared!

Not really scared lol. Last phone I had anything custom on was the s3. Looking around it's obvious things don't work the same.
Only thing I have done with this s4 is root. Now I'm wanting to run a rom without all the extra att bloat. So just wondering what rom and recovery I should go with. I have Nl1 if it matters.
I want the bloat gone but still have the fancy features. Any input is appreciated!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221

Lots to read. But, in case it isn't immediately obviuos, you will need SafeStrap and its recovery. You will only be able to run, for the most part, TouchWiz roms. No custom recoveries or kernels.

Yeaaa lot of reading done after posting lol. Got safestrap running and recovery. Decided on the golden eye rom. For some reason I lose imei. Created a new Rom slot for it and flashed the module after the rom.
Had this issue on the s3 but can't remember what I did to fix it. If anyone has any ideas let me know.

mustk1ll20 said:
Yeaaa lot of reading done after posting lol. Got safestrap running and recovery. Decided on the golden eye rom. For some reason I lose imei. Created a new Rom slot for it and flashed the module after the rom.
Had this issue on the s3 but can't remember what I did to fix it. If anyone has any ideas let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to use the stock slot. You cast use a secondary rom slot
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

thanks bro working great now. everything i read said creat a rom slot. even a couple vids.

wouldn't hurt to back up efs also along with a nandroid now or however you do it on SafeStrap. Put a copy of both on PC also--:good:

backed up efs with samsung tools. nice to have an app for that now! also did nandroid.
for anyone who comes across this thread. get samsung tools here http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/development/efs-samsung-tool-universal-support-t2602325
thanks to everyone who replied! really helped me get a grasp on how all these new things work.

mustk1ll20 said:
backed up efs with samsung tools. nice to have an app for that now! also did nandroid.
for anyone who comes across this thread. get samsung tools here http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/development/efs-samsung-tool-universal-support-t2602325
thanks to everyone who replied! really helped me get a grasp on how all these new things work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you got it working. ☺
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

ok need to go back to stock nl1 any one know how? i searched through the "everything" thread but it doesnt list my version. just how to root. my imei is gone and wifi as well. dont know wtf happened but yea need to go to stock

anybody? i lost custom recovery as well. i don understand how this happened. gonna try and flash NB1 in stock recovery because i cant find nl1.

mustk1ll20 said:
anybody? i lost custom recovery as well. i don understand how this happened. gonna try and flash NB1 in stock recovery because i cant find nl1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no nl1. Flash the nb1 and ota to.nl1
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

[Q] Need Help Updating AT&T S.Galaxy 4 V. 4.2.2 Rooted to Newest Version AT&T

Hey guys,
I ran a search but I don't understand half the things people are writing. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could please explain to me my options. In layman's terms, as I do not understand half the abbreviations and jargons here.
I rooted my phone over a year ago and really don't remember much about the process. I can't download important apps from Google Play anymore as they require newer versions than 4.2.2... So I'm stuck on this old version and need to update ASAP.
I have ONLY rooted the phone. I haven't done any mods or installed any ROMS. It's on stock AT&T Rom. (sometimes I wonder why I even bothered in the first place).
Can someone please point me in the right direction, I want a regular STOCK AT&T newest version, whether it stays rooted or not that's fine, but a newer version, KitKat preferably. What are my options? The simplest method would help me the most.
Things I really need backed up: My Text Messages, Voicemail, Call Logs, Whatsapp Messages etc. What is the best way to back that up? If I use Titanium Backup, and I don't have root after I update, Titanium Backup would be obsolete. So what would my other option?
Please help.
Much appreciated,

Are you sure you want to update from 4.2.2. You probably have the option to flash custom roms on your phone. There are many custom roms that that'll put 4.4.4 on your phone. Since you're rooted get terminal emulator from the play store. In it type
getprop ro.bootloader
If the last three characters are mdb or mdl you have a lot of options. I can help walk you through on how to get a custom rom on your phone.
You can update your firmware and bootloader to 4.4.4 too but you'll lose the option to flash most custom roms.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
Are you sure you want to update from 4.2.2. You probably have the option to flash custom roms on your phone. There are many custom roms that that'll put 4.4.4 on your phone. Since you're rooted get terminal emulator from the play store. In it type
getprop ro.bootloader
If the last three characters are mdb or mdl you have a lot of options. I can help walk you through on how to get a custom rom on your phone.
You can update your firmware and bootloader to 4.4.4 too but you'll lose the option to flash most custom roms.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bud,
I got I337UCUAMF3
I'll be honest, I haven't really messed with any custom ROMS before. I just use the stock AT&T one. But I would like to upgrade to KitKat so my phone is faster and can download / upgrade the latest Apps. Lollipop isn't out for the AT&T Samsung S4 right?

Kepela523 said:
Thanks bud,
I got I337UCUAMF3
I'll be honest, I haven't really messed with any custom ROMS before. I just use the stock AT&T one. But I would like to upgrade to KitKat so my phone is faster and can download / upgrade the latest Apps. Lollipop isn't out for the AT&T Samsung S4 right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will the phone Not download the latest 4.4.4 from the phone settings?? Settings/More/About Device/Software Update. It must be connected to WiFi to download!!! Or you can get the AT&T S4 i337 to Stock 4.4.4 NJ4 Kit Kat Scroll down this page, easy to do. http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/guide-odin-to-stock-updating-rooting-t2926642

tailgunner9 said:
Will the phone Not download the latest 4.4.4 from the phone settings?? Settings/More/About Device/Software Update. It must be connected to WiFi to download!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. My phone is rooted... Is it supposed to download to 4.4? And also couldn't there be issues with that?

I found this post. So I know this is ONE option: But I'll lose my Root. Which is fine if that's my only option.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2728462
As the OP says, I will lose ROOT. So my question would be, If I back up using Titanium Backup, how can I restore my backup if Titanium Backup works only on ROOT? This is very important.
@ jd1639 - He had mentioned there were several other options, so I will wait to hear them, and I can make a decision from there. Otherwise, I may have to fork out another $150 - $200 Bucks on a Samsung Galaxy S5 or S6. depending which suits my needs.
Many thanks for the replies!

Kepela523 said:
I found this post. So I know this is ONE option: But I'll lose my Root. Which is fine if that's my only option.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2728462
As the OP says, I will lose ROOT. So my question would be, If I back up using Titanium Backup, how can I restore my backup if Titanium Backup works only on ROOT? This is very important.
@ jd1639 - He had mentioned there were several other options, so I will wait to hear them, and I can make a decision from there. Otherwise, I may have to fork out another $150 - $200 Bucks on a Samsung Galaxy S5 or S6. depending which suits my needs.
Many thanks for the replies!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're on mf3 bootloader which doesn't really allow you to flash any roms anyway. You'd have to use safestrap.
What I'd do is flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll update you to 4.4 and the device should then ota update itself from there. You will lose root, you can root it again if you want. See this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50912149
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
You're on mf3 bootloader which doesn't really allow you to flash any roms anyway. You'd have to use safestrap.
What I'd do is flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll update you to 4.4 and the device should then ota update itself from there. You will lose root, you can root it again if you want. See this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50912149
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks JD, do you know if this wipes my phone? In other words, does it factory reset my phone?

Yes Flash the NB1 Stock file as he said. But you are going to loose Root and any pictures etc. stored on phone memory, so copy them to your PC or SD card. I always like to take SD card out just in case when I flash just in case it may erase it. But after you flash NB1 Stock or the Stock Root it is like a phone and have to set it up. Then it should Update to 4.4.4 itself from the settings/ Software update. Good luck. Any problem let us now.

Ah cheers,
Last question: Do you recommend the First or second option?
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Rootable_Stock_Odin_tar
Just a bit confusing as why he would post two separate links? I'm interpreting the first cannot be rooted ever.
Thanks again to the both of you for helping with this.

Kepela523 said:
Ah cheers,
Last question: Do you recommend the First or second option?
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Rootable_Stock_Odin_tar
Just a bit confusing as why he would post two separate links? I'm interpreting the first cannot be rooted ever.
Thanks again to the both of you for helping with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible to root even the 4.4.4. It just gets a little trickier to do it and you have to flash modules in Odin. In the general forum see "all things at&t....." by guut13
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

Kepela523 said:
Ah cheers,
Last question: Do you recommend the First or second option?
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Rootable_Stock_Odin_tar
Just a bit confusing as why he would post two separate links? I'm interpreting the first cannot be rooted ever.
Thanks again to the both of you for helping with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep I think you are correct. So if you want to root again use the Rootable to flash in Odin. Once you go from Jelly Bean to Kit Kat bootloaders are Locked for some .tar Same for Lollipop, they have not been able to root and unlock bootloader as yet. Just follow the steps and take your time and all will be good. Have done it several times on mine with Odin.

Hey guys, I just wanted to take the time and thank you both for the help. I finally updated today. After backing up all my data and making sure everything was safe to go. Bam! I did exactly as you suggested and had zero issues... I am now on 4.4.2
There were a couple hiccups along the way, but I figured them out without too much of a hassle.
Cheers again and best of luck to the both of you!