Database Users

How to return to 100% stock with no traces of root?

Need to go to Best Buy to possibly get a replacement because my dual camera doesn't work, I have the "smearing" problem on black screens and the pink tint issue on grey screens. So yeah I need a replacement phone so I want no traces of root! Pretty disappointed though, although minor problems with a $700 phone there should be NONE!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Joe0113 said:
Need to go to Best Buy to possibly get a replacement because my dual camera doesn't work, I have the "smearing" problem on black screens and the pink tint issue on grey screens. So yeah I need a replacement phone so I want no traces of root! Pretty disappointed though, although minor problems with a $700 phone there should be NONE!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the official Stock rom from here, then flash with Odin. Youll be all set.

Gam3r 4 Life said:
Download the official Stock rom from here, then flash with Odin. Youll be all set.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about my flash counter and all that?? I want 0 traces of root!!!
Also, that's MDC and I'm on MDL... Does that matter? Can I just downgrade like that without going through any extra steps? Thanks!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Joe0113 said:
What about my flash counter and all that?? I want 0 traces of root!!!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used this when I needed to return a previous Sprint S4 and it was 100% stock. No traces at all!

Gam3r 4 Life said:
I used this when I needed to return a previous Sprint S4 and it was 100% stock. No traces at all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm currently on stock rooted MDL though and that's MDC. Does that matter at all, can I just downgrade like that with no extra steps?
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Joe0113 said:
I'm currently on stock rooted MDL though and that's MDC. Does that matter at all, can I just downgrade like that with no extra steps?
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could downgrade, or look for stock MDL, its available at the Samsung Updates site.

I thought I had read somewhere that doing a full factory reset before or after the stock odin flash will reset the counter. I haven't tried it yet.

use triangle away first then use odin back to stock.. triangle away works for the s4 now.. i already used it 2 times.. i was gonna bring me s4 in the other day cause i thought it was my phone that was screwed up but it was the towers near me.. i used triangle away.. then stock tar file in odin and everything was stright like it came new from the store..

P.Mobile said:
use triangle away first then use odin back to stock.. triangle away works for the s4 now.. i already used it 2 times.. i was gonna bring me s4 in the other day cause i thought it was my phone that was screwed up but it was the towers near me.. i used triangle away.. then stock tar file in odin and everything was stright like it came new from the store..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes triangle away works just make sure you are on a stock recovery. Then unroot.
Sent from my Sprint Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2

P.Mobile said:
use triangle away first then use odin back to stock.. triangle away works for the s4 now.. i already used it 2 times.. i was gonna bring me s4 in the other day cause i thought it was my phone that was screwed up but it was the towers near me.. i used triangle away.. then stock tar file in odin and everything was stright like it came new from the store..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I thought my dual camera was screwed up and it was faulty hardware... turns out it's either a MOD I installed or the KT kernel that conflicts with it. Gonna re flash the stock deodexed ROM now to find out who the culprit is! No need to bring it back!

Optional fix to a MF3 brick (point of no return)

After just playing around with odin.
I think i have found a fix.
I flashed http://downloads.fairview5.com/i337/I337UCUEMJ6_full_wipe.tar.md5.7z through odin and it went through for the first time.
Then i used the pit file called "SGS-I337_16GB.pit" idk where it is but it's on the forums
Note:This will upgrade your phone to 4.3 and there are no root methods for 4.3 as of right now.Plus there might be some problems with the playstore.(i haven't encounter any yet)
Also remember that you can go to bestbuy and ask them to flash your phone so you can stay on 4.2.2. This is for people who just want to fix it now instead of going to a store.
Credit to jball and rayburne for telling me to put the downsides and other opitions

Cool deal buddy
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Odischeese said:
After just playing around with odin.
I think i have found a fix.
I flashed http://downloads.fairview5.com/i337/I337UCUEMJ6_full_wipe.tar.md5.7z through odin and it went through for the first time!!!!!!
Then i used the pit file called "SGS-I337_16GB.pit" idk where it is but it's on the forums
And now i have recovery!
Not just recovery, but i have my phone back!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
isn't that the leaked 4.3 fw?

xuanphucn said:
isn't that the leaked 4.3 fw?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and it works like a charm.
I still have no clue why it can flash with odin if you're on MF3, regardless i am happy with it as it is the only rom that you can flash (that i know of) if you're on MF3.

Just a word of caution to anybody who wants to try this, there is no root method for it and playstore is having some issues installing some apps.
Edit, here's the thread discussing mj6 and some of the issues people are having http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=46860747

Playstore?
jd1639 said:
Just a word of caution to anybody who wants to try this, there is no root method for it and playstore is having some issues installing some apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am having no problems with the playstore as of right now.I'm downloading over 4gb of apps right now. I'll post back if there's any problems.:good:
After downloading 4GB of apps, there were no problems.

Odischeese said:
Yes and it works like a charm.
I still have no clue why it can flash with odin if you're on MF3, regardless i am happy with it as it is the only rom that you can flash (that i know of) if you're on MF3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm MF3 as you know and I'm using Omega V12 4.2.2 and it's a rom .I use Safestrap with no problems
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

jball said:
I'm MF3 as you know and I'm using Omega V12 4.2.2 and it's a rom .I use Safestrap with no problems
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but i was talking about flashing with odin though
Some people with the MF3 problem couldn't even get to their stock recovery like me:crying:
This is the only ROM i know of that you can flash with odin on MF3.

Even if you don't have a stock recovery you should have been able to use Safestrap. I don't have stock recovery
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

jball said:
Even if you don't have a stock recovery you should have been able to use Safestrap. I don't have stock recovery
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was ****ed big time. I did install SS but like i told you yesterday, SS ****ed up the wiping and it looked like SS just deleted itself. The reason why i said that because SS never came up. My phone never could go past the bootlogo nor bring up the 2 SS options. If i had SS at the time then i would of never came to forums lol

Odischeese said:
After just playing around with odin.
I think i have found a fix.
I flashed http://downloads.fairview5.com/i337/I337UCUEMJ6_full_wipe.tar.md5.7z through odin and it went through for the first time!!!!!!
Then i used the pit file called "SGS-I337_16GB.pit" idk where it is but it's on the forums
And now i have recovery!
Not just recovery, but i have my phone back!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odischeese said:
I was ****ed big time. I did install SS but like i told you yesterday, SS ****ed up the wiping and it looked like SS just deleted itself. The reason why i said that because SS never came up. My phone never could go past the bootlogo nor bring up the 2 SS options. If i had SS at the time then i would of never came to forums lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad you were able to fix your phone and share with other to help them out, but I feel this title is a little misleading.
Yes you are fixing a soft bricked MF3 phone but the fix is upgrading them to MJ6 4.3. I understand a fixed MJ6 phone is better than a broken MF3 phone but I think it should be mentioned in your instructions. Best Buy is an alternative to fixing your phone and remaining on 4.2.2. Maybe a fix is around the corner for MF3 soft bricks that won't apply to MJ6 devices (yes I agree high unlikely but it should be mentioned this is upgrading the user to 4.3).
Sorry to hear your troubles with Safestrap. I'm on MF3 using SS and not had a problem. I think I have installed most of the 4.2.2 ATT and International Roms without issue. With what you described above about SS, I can only guess that SS has a bug that you encountered that affected your stock slot or you mistakenly wiped or flashed something to your stock slot that hosed your MF3 stock slot. Either way glad you recovered and shared your fix.

rayburne said:
I'm glad you were able to fix your phone and share with other to help them out, but I feel this title is a little misleading.
Yes you are fixing a soft bricked MF3 phone but the fix is upgrading them to MJ3 4.3. I understand a fixed MJ3 phone is better than a broken MF3 phone but I think it should be mentioned in your instructions. BB is an alternative to fixing your phone and remaining on 4.2.2. Maybe a fix is around the corner for MF3 soft bricks that won't apply to MJ3 devices (yes I agree high unlikely but it should be mentioned this is upgrading the user to 4.3).
Sorry to hear your troubles with Safestrap. I'm on MF3 using SS and not had a problem. I think I have installed most of the 4.2.2 ATT and International Roms without issue. With what you described above about SS, I can only guess that SS has a bug that you encountered that affected your stock slot or you mistakenly wiped or flashed something to your stock slot that hosed your MF3 stock slot. Either way glad you recovered and shared your fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I was just a little over exited finding a fix and quickly made a title.
I'll edit the instructions a little more...
Thanks for catching my mistakes :good:

Odischeese said:
Yeah I was just a little over exited finding a fix and quickly made a title.
I'll edit the instructions a little more...
Thanks for catching my mistakes :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Naw man, I'm not claiming you made any mistakes :good:
Just trying to help others who read the OP to fully understand the fix.
I'm just glad you found an alternative fix to Best Buy and shared it with others!

rayburne said:
Naw man, I'm not claiming you made any mistakes :good:
Just trying to help others who read the OP to fully understand the fix.
I'm just glad you found an alternative fix to Best Buy and shared it with others!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh ok
what do you think i should rename the title btw???

"Optional fix to a MF3 brick" point of no return
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Thanks man, you got me back up and running... I know it's not ideal but it works...

jball said:
"Optional fix to a MF3 brick" point of no return
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Optional fix to a MF3 brick point of no return"
the entire quote???

Sure
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Issue updating from stock MK2 to NAE. Never rooted. Help appreciated!

Background.....not new to flashing and used to be a flashaholic but I am new to flashing Samsung.I never saw the need to root or rom my S4 because well, it's a good performer for me, unlike my previos HTCs which I flashed to hell and back.
I am on stock MK2....no custom recovery and never rooted. Took the new KitKat NAE update this morning and it failed in recovery and rebooted. Downloaded the NAE.zip from here after that to manually flash in recovery myself. Update failed again but was able to see why this time....failed signature verification... Phone did reboot successfully again and functioning well, but if this isn't fixed I'm gonna be stuck on Jellybean....
I believe a previous update may have been corrupted....may have been from MK2 or even MJA. Since one of those 2 updates "Help" (system app InteractiveTutorial.apk) force closes upon start-up every time and when opened. Even tried a factory reset with same results. I believe this to be the culprit.
My question is where do I go from here to be able to install stock KitKat? Can I reflash a full stock MK2 in Odin to cure the obvious corruption? If so, which version of Odin would you suggest? Any special instruction?
Any help is very much appreciated.

I really need to know if you can flash back to mk2 after taking the 4.4.2 update too because the update didn't flash the new modem on my phone and wifi isn't working so I wanna retry it lol.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Wow. Really? 98 views and not a single reply (I would bet $20 that no less than 20 of you knew the answer to my question).... thanks guys for nothing, Yet another reason I no longer feel the need to mod my phone...XDA used to be a friendly helpful place but now it is just place of the gimme gimme and "tough luck, it's not my problem" crowd.
BTW, after spending about 3 hours trying to navigate XDA's notoriously horrible search feature, I did find my answer. Yes, 3 hours.....
Churchey, I hope you find your answer as well. From what I have read, it works fine for MK2 and MJA but haven't read anything pertaining to going back to MK2 from NAE
Edit: Turns out there are still some helpful friendly people around,

I'm not 100% sure of which file you need to flash, but I'm pretty sure that you're able to flash an Odin file. That would be what I'd try first
Sent from my SGH-L720 using Tapatalk

troyboytn said:
Wow. Really? 98 views and not a single reply (I would bet $20 that no less than 20 of you knew the answer to my question).... thanks guys for nothing, Yet another reason I no longer feel the need to mod my phone...XDA used to be a friendly helpful place but now it is just place of the gimme gimme and "tough luck, it's not my problem" crowd.
BTW, after spending about 3 hours trying to navigate XDA's notoriously horrible search feature, I did find my answer. Yes, 3 hours.....
Churchey, I hope you find your answer as well. From what I have read, it works fine for MK2 and MJA but haven't read anything pertaining to going back to MK2 from NAE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Views don't mean much. Did you ever think that maybe those 98 viewers of this thread didnt know or have an answer for you. Be patient to receive an answer.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

k2buckley said:
I'm not 100% sure of which file you need to flash, but I'm pretty sure that you're able to flash an Odin file. That would be what I'd try first
Sent from my SGH-L720 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Thanks k2, that did work. Flashing MK2 of top of MK2 in odin did clear the issue that was preventing signature verification to install the update to NAE.

troyboytn said:
Thanks k2, that did work. Flashing MK2 of top of MK2 in odin did clear the issue that was preventing signature verification to install the update to NAE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good deal man. I'm glad you got it up and running properly again
Sent from my SGH-L720 using Tapatalk

troyboytn said:
Thanks k2, that did work. Flashing MK2 of top of MK2 in odin did clear the issue that was preventing signature verification to install the update to NAE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Link to MK2 you used? Having the same issue

I'll link it to you when I get home from work in a couple of hours if someone hasn't already. Saved the link on my home pc. Should be in the dev section.....title has MK2
in it. Hope that helps.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

This one. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2601443
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

Thanks guys

DARN IT!!!!! Just took the MF3 update...

I had Odin'd back to stock amdl as I planned on trading in my S4 at AT&T. forgot it was stock and that there was an update out there for it. My phone just restarted and is now installing the update... Grrrr. Not to happy about that.
Thanks, Just had to rant for a second..

schollianmj said:
I had Odin'd back to stock amdl as I planned on trading in my S4 at AT&T. forgot it was stock and that there was an update out there for it. My phone just restarted and is now installing the update... Grrrr. Not to happy about that.
Thanks, Just had to rant for a second..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry man thats the worst thing that can happen. I guess kiss your bootloader goodbye

I know what you are going through, been there myself.

I was one of the first people to take the update before it was all over XDA that it kills the exploit. I had custom recovery for a short while, never even got to try out any ROMs ;P

My situation was unlucky, foolish nonetheless.
Had a bad ROM flash last summer using MDB. Reverted back to MDL just to start over. Tried going back to MDB before rooting, etc. because it was more stable. That was the day MF3 rolled out and that was the OTA I took without knowing.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

phobia09 said:
My situation was unlucky, foolish nonetheless.
Had a bad ROM flash last summer using MDB. Reverted back to MDL just to start over. Tried going back to MDB before rooting, etc. because it was more stable. That was the day MF3 rolled out and that was the OTA I took without knowing.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what that's like too. I got my MF3 S4 in Dec, opened it, everything was glorious and working great. Next morning I find out phone download ota mk2. WTF? I now have Titanium Back Pro & freeze the updater from Samsung & At&t. No worries.

John The Rhino said:
I know what that's like too. I got my MF3 S4 in Dec, opened it, everything was glorious and working great. Next morning I find out phone download ota mk2. WTF? I now have Titanium Back Pro & freeze the updater from Samsung & At&t. No worries.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there really any advantage to being on mf3 as opposed to mk2?
Honest question, I'm still on mdl myself.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

ssn713 said:
Is there really any advantage to being on mf3 as opposed to mk2?
Honest question, I'm still on mdl myself.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really. If you are still on mdl, I envy you. You have no reason to upgrade to mf3 or mk2. Only if you want to be pure stock & the latest bloatware available from Samsung & At&t. You can flash whatever roms you wish on mdl. Okay, now where is my Skyrocket? I need to flash some roms damn it.

ssn713 said:
Is there really any advantage to being on mf3 as opposed to mk2?
Honest question, I'm still on mdl myself.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both use Safestrap recovery...
on MF3 you can flash other 4.2.2 touchwiz and GPE ROMS since kernel is same (or close enough)
on MK2 you can only flash other 4.3 touchwiz ROMs, but no GPE roms. (There are some "hybrid" touchwiz ROMs, though, that have a AOSP theme. Check out Blackbox and Purified from the i9505 dev threads.)

Tipped your KNOX? Rooted? Custom Recovery On? And want Stock 5.0.1?

ITS OKAY!
if you want to try out stock and not wait for a stock rooted, update via KIES software, took 30 mins But im all golden, phone was flashed rooted and everything and KIES Still updated phone!

How would i do it?

Joee21 said:
ITS OKAY!
if you want to try out stock and not wait for a stock rooted, update via KIES software, took 30 mins But im all golden, phone was flashed rooted and everything and KIES Still updated phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you still rooted?

I have done this many times in the past when I did not care about waiting for root. For those interested, you will lose root, so you will have to root again following the update. Also, if you don't already, use Kies to back up all your data beforehand just in case, everything should carry over though if you don't wish to back it up.

Here's your answer

Lmax579 said:
How would i do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You gotta install kies on your computer and connect your phone you should be prompt about an update Soon!

Does a flashable zip exist yet? I've searched to no avail.
Sent from my SM-N910T using xda premium

C-4Nati said:
Does a flashable zip exist yet? I've searched to no avail.
Sent from my SM-N910T using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=60392963&postcount=974

Ok I'll try it

Or simply flash the stock md5 file via odin? Tadaa?

lazer9 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=60392963&postcount=974
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but that's just the kernel, not the whole ROM.

Im on CM12.1 will Kies update it it or no? Probably not have to odin back to 4.4 huh?

Zoide_ said:
Thanks, but that's just the kernel, not the whole ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I must have misread the post.

PhilUSAF21 said:
Im on CM12.1 will Kies update it it or no? Probably not have to odin back to 4.4 huh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kies will update it. But you will lose root, custom recovery and your ROM. Make a nandroid.
I just made a nandroid while shopping at Wal-Mart. I'm going to apply the stock OS via kies when I get home and check it out. Kind of excited. Kind of worried about tmobile knowing that I tripped Knox.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Premium HD app

Temetka said:
Kind of worried about tmobile knowing that I tripped Knox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think they care. I'm on jump and have turned in like 4+ samsung phones all with tripped knox never once have they looked or said anything. Also never heard of anyone being called out on it with tmo either.

I flashed a random KK NK4 ROM, booted, plugged into kies for the LP COD6 update. Lost root of course. Probably going to use the unrooted stock for a little bit.

jietzer said:
I don't think they care. I'm on jump and have turned in like 4+ samsung phones all with tripped knox never once have they looked or said anything. Also never heard of anyone being called out on it with tmo either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, i've heard other peple's stories on that as well. No issues for them either. So I'm not totally paranoid about it, but still a small concern will be there. To be honest though I plan on paying the phone off and keeping it instead of using Jump. I really like this phone and even if I do upgrade to the Note 5 or whatever, having a backup phone is a great idea.
whitev004 said:
I flashed a random KK NK4 ROM, booted, plugged into kies for the LP COD6 update. Lost root of course. Probably going to use the unrooted stock for a little bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ODIN'd back to stock and then ran the OTA (not Kies) to upgrade to 5.0.1. I am very happy with the performance. Actually I am blown away. It's far more responsive than it ever was on FireKat 11 and I didn't think it could get any better than that as it was running great. Color me 3 different shades of surprised and happy. I am going to stay stock w/ no-root for a bit and see what the dev's bring us.