Database Users

New to the S4. Need some help

Hey there everyone. I am trying to help my sister out with her (new to her) S4.
She bought an s4 and it is very cool (I'm having a blast playing with it.).
It is carrier unlocked at the moment (I believe, though I don't have a SIM to test it out with)
I believe that it is rooted.
It is advertised as having the MDB bootloader with a MF3 baseband. How do I check this?
When I go to setting I see that the baseband version is i337ucuamf3. I am assuming that since it ends in MF3 that is correct.​
The rom installed is GoldenEye 38.1 XXUGNG8.
I am assuming that XXUGNG8 is the base firmware from Samsung\At&T, is that correct?
It currently has a version of TWRP installed and the person it was bought from says it doesn't need SafeStrap. Is that correct? I see a lot of posts saying that safestrap needs to be installed.
Lastly, I'm trying to figure out if she wants CM11, Stock TouchWiz or something like Goldeneye. I am assuming that the "S" apps will only work on a TouchWiz ROM, is that right?
Lastly, how would i get the phone back to a stock? HTC has RUU's, is there an equivalent for Samsung devices? Or is there a download somewhere of the plain stock ROM? I didn't see anything in the development section.
Thanks in advance for all the help, I know that I am asking a lot of questions but I am coming from the HTC side of android (which seems to be a lot less confusing) so I am doing the best I can here.

waterboy100 said:
Hey there everyone. I am trying to help my sister out with her (new to her) S4.
She bought an s4 and it is very cool (I'm having a blast playing with it.).
It is carrier unlocked at the moment (I believe, though I don't have a SIM to test it out with)
I believe that it is rooted.
It is advertised as having the MDB bootloader with a MF3 baseband. How do I check this?
When I go to setting I see that the baseband version is i337ucuamf3. I am assuming that since it ends in MF3 that is correct.​
The rom installed is GoldenEye 38.1 XXUGNG8.
I am assuming that XXUGNG8 is the base firmware from Samsung\At&T, is that correct?
It currently has a version of TWRP installed and the person it was bought from says it doesn't need SafeStrap. Is that correct? I see a lot of posts saying that safestrap needs to be installed.
Lastly, I'm trying to figure out if she wants CM11, Stock TouchWiz or something like Goldeneye. I am assuming that the "S" apps will only work on a TouchWiz ROM, is that right?
Lastly, how would i get the phone back to a stock? HTC has RUU's, is there an equivalent for Samsung devices? Or is there a download somewhere of the plain stock ROM? I didn't see anything in the development section.
Thanks in advance for all the help, I know that I am asking a lot of questions but I am coming from the HTC side of android (which seems to be a lot less confusing) so I am doing the best I can here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since the phone has TWRP installed, you either have MDB or MDL bootloader since newer firmwares (bootloader) do not allow for the stock recovery to be replaced.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52415064&postcount=1625 gives you the way to find your bootloader (the most restrictive component of the firmware).
When samsung releases firmware/update, it sets the version of all components to the same. So, on the stock firmware, all components have the same version. Baseband is actually the version of the modem.
Since you have TWRP installed, you should be able to install a lot of ROMs. All you have to ensure is that the bootloader is not updated. When you use ODIN to flash stock firmware, your bootloader will get updated. Since MF3, we are not able to replace the stock kernel and recovery. This brings in a lot of restrictions.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221 has a list of ROMs that can be installed.

jmjoyas said:
Since the phone has TWRP installed, you either have MDB or MDL bootloader since newer firmwares (bootloader) do not allow for the stock recovery to be replaced.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52415064&postcount=1625 gives you the way to find your bootloader (the most restrictive component of the firmware).
When samsung releases firmware/update, it sets the version of all components to the same. So, on the stock firmware, all components have the same version. Baseband is actually the version of the modem.
Since you have TWRP installed, you should be able to install a lot of ROMs. All you have to ensure is that the bootloader is not updated. When you use ODIN to flash stock firmware, your bootloader will get updated. Since MF3, we are not able to replace the stock kernel and recovery. This brings in a lot of restrictions.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221 has a list of ROMs that can be installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
So my bootloader is reported as i337ucuamdb (So MDB Bootleader)
My baseband is 1337ucuamf3 (MF3?)
Does this just mean that i have an older bootloader that was rooted and had newer radios installed?
That that a problem for anything? Should they be the same?

waterboy100 said:
Thanks.
So my bootloader is reported as i337ucuamdb (So MDB Bootleader)
My baseband is 1337ucuamf3 (MF3?)
Does this just mean that i have an older bootloader that was rooted and had newer radios installed?
That that a problem for anything? Should they be the same?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're on the mdb bootloader which is a good thing, don't update the firmware you can still use twrp or cwm. The baseband is the modem and does not need to be the same version as the bootloader
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

[Q] Some fairly Noob Clarifications (TWRP/CWM/MDL Related)

Purchased my S4 at launch, only rooted it and never really got around to tweaking it much. It has slowed down a bit so now is the time.
I'm on MDL, stock 4.2.2, and rooted with TWRP 2.5.0.2 On to the questions/clarifications, hopefully these aren't egregious. I know the info is out there but for actually finding specific information, the xda forums are a bit overwhelming and sometimes conflicting...
1) Recovery - Latest/preferred recovery for the s4 (on MDL) with auto-loki baked in? Are any of the latest versions of TWRP/CWM dangerous/incompatible or can I just install the latest/greatest with ROM Installers and go from there?
2) Modem - Flashing an updated modem, regardless of ROM/OS # should not break anything and/or lock down the bootloader any more so than it already is at MDL, correct? Updating the baseband will have no effect on the build # and thus loki is still and option (versus safestrap)? Preferred modem at this time? (ATT, SF Bay Area)
3) ROMS - Any ROM, followed by loki patch or flashed via an auto-loki capable recovery should be fine, correct? Is a ROM specifically built for safestrap applications and thus would not work with MDL, or are ROMs noted as being safestrap ready just able to be used via safestrap, but loki as well?
4) Hard to keep track of all the ROMs and the builds and branches etc - Can anyone point me in the right direction of either a) the latest stock touch-wiz 4.4.4 ROM that can be flashed over MDL without essentially updating past MDL? b) the best/most recent pure google (Play Store S4 Edition) ROM, same story with not breaking MDL?
Again, I apologize I am sure the info is all buried in here somewhere, it just gets to a point where pointed questions rather than multiple 500+ post threads are hopefully less likely to brick my phone. Ideally I just want to get on the latest software (and enable screen casting, for one). Assuming it comes quick enough, once I get this process down I will probably make the jump to 5.0 when it is ready, anticipate a couple months? Who knows.
Thanks, much appreciated.

Norcalz71 said:
Purchased my S4 at launch, only rooted it and never really got around to tweaking it much. It has slowed down a bit so now is the time.
I'm on MDL, stock 4.2.2, and rooted with TWRP 2.5.0.2 On to the questions/clarifications, hopefully these aren't egregious. I know the info is out there but for actually finding specific information, the xda forums are a bit overwhelming and sometimes conflicting...
1) Recovery - Latest/preferred recovery for the s4 (on MDL) with auto-loki baked in? Are any of the latest versions of TWRP/CWM dangerous/incompatible or can I just install the latest/greatest with ROM Installers and go from there?
2) Modem - Flashing an updated modem, regardless of ROM/OS # should not break anything and/or lock down the bootloader any more so than it already is at MDL, correct? Updating the baseband will have no effect on the build # and thus loki is still and option (versus safestrap)? Preferred modem at this time? (ATT, SF Bay Area)
3) ROMS - Any ROM, followed by loki patch or flashed via an auto-loki capable recovery should be fine, correct? Is a ROM specifically built for safestrap applications and thus would not work with MDL, or are ROMs noted as being safestrap ready just able to be used via safestrap, but loki as well?
4) Hard to keep track of all the ROMs and the builds and branches etc - Can anyone point me in the right direction of either a) the latest stock touch-wiz 4.4.4 ROM that can be flashed over MDL without essentially updating past MDL? b) the best/most recent pure google (Play Store S4 Edition) ROM, same story with not breaking MDL?
Again, I apologize I am sure the info is all buried in here somewhere, it just gets to a point where pointed questions rather than multiple 500+ post threads are hopefully less likely to brick my phone. Ideally I just want to get on the latest software (and enable screen casting, for one). Assuming it comes quick enough, once I get this process down I will probably make the jump to 5.0 when it is ready, anticipate a couple months? Who knows.
Thanks, much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try to help with a few of these questions, but others I am not familiar with very much. On that note DO NOT update your bootloader!!! It will be locked down further and Loki will NOT WORK. And you could NOT flash any kernels with safestrap. So with safestrap ONLY the stock kernel can be used. Now on to your questions...
1) I am using TWRP 8.1 if I remember correctly. You can find it in the Original Android Development section. It does NOT Auto Loki, so keep the loki-doki flashable zip on your sdcard OR use Roms that already have/use the boot.Loki kernels like ShoStock-i 8.1
2) Modem flashing will NOT lock anything up further as far as the bootloader. You can flash ANY or ALL of them from my modem thread. See which works BEST FOR YOU in YOUR AREA. I am in So Cal and the best for me has been either MDL. But I have and do test ALL of them. You can always flash back to whichever one works best for you.
3.) Like I said I use ShoStock-i 8.1 because it has and does EVERYTHING I need my phone to do and does it without any issues. I have NOT tried to use a Safestrap modified ROM so I have very little experience with that. Normally most devs will have two separate versions, one for safestrap compatible and one for us without safestrap. ShoStock-i is already built with Loki in the kernel so you do not NEED to flash Loki-Doki patch.
4) there are NO Touchwiz 4.4.4 Stock Roms for ATT yet. But I did try out one of the Touchwiz 4.4.4 T-Mobile based Roms and it worked perfectly. You can either get it from the ATT forums and I believe it is already lokified, or get it from the T-Mobile forum and make sure to flash Loki-Doki patch before booting up phone after flashing the ROM. Again the will NOT update your bootloader past your MDL bootloader, so you are good as you are with no worries. By the way on ShoStock-i 8.1 the screen casting to Chromecast works PERFECTLY without having to flash any other .apk's or mess with ANYTHING

This is the exact same boat I'm in. Trying to track down the answers as well. Will keep an eye here as well to watch for answers.

awesome reply thanks RockRatt, that just about covers it. I will maybe give the ShoStock ROM a go and see how I like it. As long as all the normal features are working fine, I should be good.
One last thing I forgot - Odin. I have the stock odin firmware files from when my phone was new (The MDL package). As long as I dont update the bootloader, I should be able to Odin back to the brand new in box state should something go awry or not dig the other ROMs, correct?
Thanks again,

Norcalz71 said:
awesome reply thanks RockRatt, that just about covers it. I will maybe give the ShoStock ROM a go and see how I like it. As long as all the normal features are working fine, I should be good.
One last thing I forgot - Odin. I have the stock odin firmware files from when my phone was new (The MDL package). As long as I dont update the bootloader, I should be able to Odin back to the brand new in box state should something go awry or not dig the other ROMs, correct?
Thanks again,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. Just don't update the bootloader...So no flashing newer firmware that contains the bootloader files. Most if not all custom Roms do not have the bootloader files in them. So no problem flashing back to MDL stock if the need never arises. I still in fact have the original MDB bootloader installed that came with the phone before the MDL firmware update.

[Q] s5 ported to s4

So I've seen a lot of threads with links to the stock S5 (or modded for compatibility) apps ported to the S4. I would absolutely love to have the newer experience on my current S4. I know there is some things that can't be replicated but it appears that all the things I'd like to change are indeed available. Other than removing bloatware, getting these apps to replace the ones I have is the only reason I even consider rooting my device at the moment. But I seriously need more information before I begin this process. Also, it appears that the S4 will eventually get not only these new features in the near future but will also receive Android L.
What I want to do:
Replace all my stock apps including the launcher and etc. with the port versions from the S5.
Questions I have:
Has anyone else done this successfully?
Does everything function as intended?
Will this work on a stock rooted ROM?
If I screw up or decide otherwise, will I be able to revert the device back to stock completely(I normally use Odin+files to return it to the NB1 state)?
If the S4 gets the rumored update(mentioned above), will I be able Will I be able to revert back to stock (Above) in order to update and get these items in the official manner?
Thanks again for all the help. Need as much information as I can get as soon as possible.

BUMP
Bump

C'mon!
Over 78 views and not a single reply? I could really use the information here guys. I haven't been able to find much information on how to go about doing this. Tried searching on my own and was unable to get anywhere so this is sort of a last resort/hope for me on this matter.

shipwrexx said:
So I've seen a lot of threads with links to the stock S5 (or modded for compatibility) apps ported to the S4. I would absolutely love to have the newer experience on my current S4. I know there is some things that can't be replicated but it appears that all the things I'd like to change are indeed available. Other than removing bloatware, getting these apps to replace the ones I have is the only reason I even consider rooting my device at the moment. But I seriously need more information before I begin this process. Also, it appears that the S4 will eventually get not only these new features in the near future but will also receive Android L.
What I want to do:
Replace all my stock apps including the launcher and etc. with the port versions from the S5.
Questions I have:
Has anyone else done this successfully?
Does everything function as intended?
Will this work on a stock rooted ROM?
If I screw up or decide otherwise, will I be able to revert the device back to stock completely(I normally use Odin+files to return it to the NB1 state)?
If the S4 gets the rumored update(mentioned above), will I be able Will I be able to revert back to stock (Above) in order to update and get these items in the official manner?
Thanks again for all the help. Need as much information as I can get as soon as possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know there is a ROM called Echoe ROM that is supposed to be the S5 ported to the S4, but I haven't messed with it any. From what I saw of ZedoMax's youtube video, it seems that everything is functioning fine. You will have to have a rooted phone with either custom recovery (MDL firmware is the only s4 firmware that allows custom recovery to be installed) or safe strap recovery to boot the echoe ROM.
You should be able to ODIN back to stock if anything acts up, however I am not 100% on this. If you want to revert back to stock for the Android L update, I suggest making a Nandroid backup of your stock ROM so you can restore the backup later to fetch the update after unrooting.
Note in order to update you need to be 100% stock unrooted with no bloatware removed. The s4 is picky about ODIN. Some firmwares you can downgrade to an older firmware, other firmwares won't let you and you risk bricking. Hope this helped.

[Q] I337M advice request.

I'm going looking into flashing a custom ROM on my sister's i337m (on Rogers) . Currently it is on Lollipop OTA update, and she says that ever since the update it has been super slow and laggy. I told her i can flash a custom ROM and it should be much better performance (in my experience good custom roms can provide much better performance than stock firmware in most cases).
I'm not familiar with the S4 specifically but have been using custom ROMs myself on various other phones so i generally familiar with the procedures involved. Just want to ask for advice on a couple points.
1) From what i've read so far i am trying to decide between Goldeneye and Kangapop. both seem to be pretty solid options. I noticed in the install instructions for both it mention that the i337m useres need to have 4.4.2 baseband and bootloader. Is there any specific one that works better than others i see a few different stock versions of 4.4.2 for i337m Rogers on sammobile (MG1, NC1, NE1, NI2) I am currently downloading the most recent NI2. Just not sure if specific versions have any bugs, flaws or advantages/disadvantages to worry about..
2) I figured while i'm going to have to downgrade the firmware to install the custom ROM i might as well try the Root/Unlock procedure from this thread . Is this still working? I think i would need to flash the stock NI2 firmware then follow the procedure in that thread to root and unlock the phone then from there i could install Goldeneye or Kangapop? Has anyone done this or can confirm if it should work this way.
Thanks

L720 Upgrading Modem and Android to Unlock Features

Current device:
L720, rooted android 4.2.2, baseband MF9, kernel kt-sgs4-08-09-2013, rom Negalite-WondeROM-r52.
What's up guys, I am just looking to upgrade to a newer android version and newer rom. When I've tried to update, I either usually lose data coverage or lose the ability to use the dialer. So my question is what kernel, modem, and rom version do I need to install to have access to the following features? -
Mostly, I just want to have my hotspot toggle on the pulldown menu (SQL editing hasn't worked for me), obviously native hotspot enabled, sound boosting mod, and to use emojis without installing an app that logs every key entry. I would also like to stay away from KNOX (even though I still don't fully understand what it does to the phones after being tripped?)
Do I need to unroot, let the updates come through OTA, then re-root and find a new rom for the android version?
Or do I do something like flash each android version by version until I'm all updated?
I've rooted and customized multiple phones with the help of xda, this is just the first time I haven't been able to solve my problem after many many tries at flashing. I am good with recovery, flashing, and odin, but I still don't totally understand differences in kernels, modems, and basebands.

I'd love a little help here too. Similar issues but on mf9 baseband and mk2 firmware, running SACs 4.3. I think twrp 2.6.3.
I'd love to know what I need to do to get my firmware updated and a working ROM installed. Please and thanks.

yall need to odin to at least the oldest version of the Android version you wish to move to. but first, you should know that the MF9 bootloader is a special one. it is one of the last Sprint bootloaders ever to not have a Knox trip.
this opens some opportunities for you -- upon updating via Odin, your phone would become a fresh knox 0x0 with valid warrantee (until your next root or TWRP) and also you could downgrade to the very first rom for the s4. I can't remember the fine details but I think it (MDC) was the only s4 rom that permitted some kind of CDMA editing or APN stuff. if interested you'll have to dig for whatever the perk was
if you want to update to jellybean 4.3, you'll need MJA* or MK2
*first bootloader on s4 both to prevent downgrading and include knox
for kitkat, odin NAE* or NG2**
*might permit downgrade to MK2
**notice! this is the final kitkat version! upgrading past here makes acquiring your MSL more difficult, so be sure to grab that first from any version NG2 or older and write it down. also, last s4 rom to (easily) UUIC unlock. it will stay unlocked
if you want lollipop 5.0.1 you'll need OD2* OH1** or OK3
*does not allow downgrade!
**some of the custom ROMs will require this version or newer.
I don't know if the s4 is one of them, but on some Sprint devices the APN settings are only (easily) accessible from roms with the XAS product code. factory default is SPR. you can change this with GalaxyTools (requires factory reset) or just odin the XAS version (might factory reset).
I know I might have created more questions than answered ...xda search & Google search are your best friends
edit: you can change your recovery to whatever you like, the only trick here is older recoveries don't like installing lollipop / marshmallow(CM13) ROMs -- I think TWRP 2.8 was the minimum? either way, just shoot straight for 3.0.2 there's nothing to lose.