Database Users

[Q] truth about the bootloader

I've read elsewhere that the new S4 bootloader has locked.
Can someone verify this?
How does it affect the usage of the device?(i.e CM,AOSP etc)

So far only on the AT&T and Verizon models.
They'll have root for now but no custom recovery/roms.

ChronoReverse said:
So far only on the AT&T and Verizon models.
They'll have root for now but no custom recovery/roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just want to know a bit more about it...I've got the I9505 model,which is definately not AT&T or Verizon.
But it's not confirmed yet,isn't it?

hunhool said:
I just want to know a bit more about it...I've got the I9505 model,which is definately not AT&T or Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The AT&T and Verizon bootloader is locked, which will restrict flashing roms and kernels but not root for those devices until the bootloader is unlocked. The international versions seem to be not locked so that does apply to all the octa versions.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app

short story: the international isn't the carriers are
effect on dev gives them a extra work to do

inlineboy said:
The AT&T and Verizon bootloader is locked, which will restrict flashing roms and kernels but not root for those devices until the bootloader is unlocked. The international versions seem to be not locked so that does apply to all the octa versions.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any simple way to find out whether is locked or not?

hunhool said:
Is there any simple way to find out whether is locked or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There isn't sadly. People were saying if you boot into download mode and it said Write Protection: Enabled that the bootloader was locked, as is the case for atnt and verizon, but the it says the same thing for sprint and our bootloader does not seem to be locked- it's a bit more complicated to actually know and I don't have the tech knowledge to explain it as well as someone else probably could. Probably should find others with your exact phone in the forum and just read what they have said cause this has been a huge topic over the last few days that everyone has been asking.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app

How to unlock ATT S4's bootloader

Hello everyone, I just get ATT galaxy S4, It is so fancy, but ATT's craps sucks.
Does ATT S4's bootloader already been hack by XDAs?
If so, how to unlock it?
I just have the TWRP installed in my ATT galaxy S4, could I flash customized ROM and customized kernel now? Or I have to wait until the bootloader is unlock?

puamystery said:
Hello everyone, I just get ATT galaxy S4, It is so fancy, but ATT's craps sucks.
Does ATT S4's bootloader already been hack by XDAs?
If so, how to unlock it?
I just have the TWRP installed in my ATT galaxy S4, could I flash customized ROM and customized kernel now? Or I have to wait until the bootloader is unlock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you should search or look in the developers section

Dude you didn't even try to look in the other forums
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

Search is your friend.
Sent from my GT-N7100

I highly suggest you read...read...and read again
To start you off in the right direction though, read up on Loki as that is our bootloader bypass method...basically anything that has been lokid can be flashed...
But seriously read!!! Don't want to waste a headache and trouble shooting on a soft brick
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

go here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2297900
sent from xda app

The Loki thing still has me confused and curious what folks think... I've been through many of flashes and had good and bad issues over the years but unsure how I feel about flashing up a ATT S4. I've been leaning towards getting a Tmobile S4 with a unlocked bootloader and getting that unlocked since I feel like it will be a bit more bulletproof. Is that paranoia or is Loki close enough to a unlocked bootloader that I can basically do everything with as little risk as would be expected with normal device flashing?

puamystery said:
Hello everyone, I just get ATT galaxy S4, It is so fancy, but ATT's craps sucks.
Does ATT S4's bootloader already been hack by XDAs?
If so, how to unlock it?
I just have the TWRP installed in my ATT galaxy S4, could I flash customized ROM and customized kernel now? Or I have to wait until the bootloader is unlock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THIS INFO IS EVERYWHERE! READ MAN. useless thread here serious.

hey there bud, sorry everyone feels the need to repeatedly tell you to search instead of ending the thread with an explanation. im also sorry everyone else feels like this information is readily available, when its the furthest from that. you will require some digging and deduction skills to acquire all the information needed to fully utilize the loki function.
Since att took it upon themselves to lock the bootloader, the kernel has to be properly provisioned before it will allow it to boot (if the kernel is not set up correctly, you will receive an error about unapproved software on the device and will have to restore sans odin....yuck), so our awesome drjbliss and the infamous adamoutlers have provided a tool called "loki" which will allow bypassing of the locked bootloader and allow us to run the custom firmware.
please ensure that whatever ROM you are running has been previously provisioned with loki, or you are flashing a custom kernel that has loki baked in. Alternatively, there is an auto loki tool floating around called "loki doki" that can be flashed after any ROM to pre-loki it before boot.
You can PM me with any specific questions, and all you trolls should learn to help instead of complaining. In the amount of posts it took to complain about the OP not searching, it would have only taken one post to clarify and then this thread would have simply got buried.
---------- Post added at 06:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:09 AM ----------
Screwbal said:
The Loki thing still has me confused and curious what folks think... I've been through many of flashes and had good and bad issues over the years but unsure how I feel about flashing up a ATT S4. I've been leaning towards getting a Tmobile S4 with a unlocked bootloader and getting that unlocked since I feel like it will be a bit more bulletproof. Is that paranoia or is Loki close enough to a unlocked bootloader that I can basically do everything with as little risk as would be expected with normal device flashing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Loki is close enough to an unlocked bootloader, no worries my friend. Flash away and enjoy!

So, if my phone is unlocked and rooted, do I still need to unlock the bootloader?

ShowMeMo said:
So, if my phone is unlocked and rooted, do I still need to unlock the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What? You can't unlock the bootloader. The i337 never had and never will have a bootloader that can be unlocked
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

Lol jd
Bored and just browsing my old S4 threads and see you still get a post in a 7 month old thread about bootloaders which was already answered. [emoji19]
Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using Tapatalk

rugmankc said:
Lol jd
Bored and just browsing my old S4 threads and see you still get a post in a 7 month old thread about bootloaders which was already answered. [emoji19]
Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some things never change. How have you been?. The iPhone still working?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
Some things never change. How have you been?. The iPhone still working?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been doing fine jd, thanks. Hope you are too.
Yes, I really like it. Not gonna Jailbreak, but my bank just started accepting Apple Pay. So, going to play with it. Something for an old man to have fun with.
It's just picking up steam as far as number of merchants, so ordered and will mess with the LoopPay FOB where AP isn't used yet. A year ago I would have sworn I would never use this techy stuff for banking. Must be getting soft.

[Q] Best model to get? Stopped into AT&T got the 900A...

So, Was not in the market for a new phone, stopped into at&t, great salesman added a tablet line and set me up with the phone for the contract price plus 10$ a month. good deal.
I Love this phone!! but as I'm moving from apple, want to be able to have absolutely full control over it including custom roms.
From what I'm reading I have the model (900A) which has the bootloader locked.
I am going to order another Note 3 right now and sell this one. What model is Best and will be fully customizable?
I'm sure this has been covered a thousand times. Please simplify this process for me as I continue to research. Thanks!
The one on ebay I'm considering is entitled:
New Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005 Quad-Core 5.7'' 13MP 4G LTE 32GB Black Phone

It doesn't matter if the bootloader is locked... You can still customise till your heart content. .. my bootloader is locked. .. hadn't speed me.
To be fair. . There seems more roms available for the n9005 but I'm sure with time they will all get lots of development done
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

alom5 said:
It doesn't matter if the bootloader is locked... You can still customise till your heart content. .. my bootloader is locked. .. hadn't speed me.
To be fair. . There seems more roms available for the n9005 but I'm sure with time they will all get lots of development done
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can load custom roms with a locked bootloader? forgive me, I'm learning as I go

So if I have the 900a.. if I root it am I able to change the color themes etc throughout the system and modify it fully or should I go with the 9005?

If your rooted you are able to change just about everything.
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Once you root it and put a custom recovery like cwm or twrp... Flash what you like lol
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

So what specifically are the disadvantages of the 900A vs the 9005?
Thanks for all the help!

Until you root and put in a new ROM the only difference is the ATT bloatware. I know becuase I also have a 900A and have two pages of Apps from ATT that I never will use and can't rid of. In a nut shell the 900A is just ATT variant of the 900.

If you want to see all the difference between the 900A and the 9005 head over to gsmarena and compare the 2.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

What can you do with a bootloader that you can't do with a locked bootloader?
Will I be better off with a phone with an unlocked bootloader.
Explain it to me like I'm a child. Like I said earlier, am moving from apple so it's all new to me.
I don't want to get deep into it and realize I need an unlocked bootloader to do what I want to do.
If it is a non issue tell me why.
Thanks for the help.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using xda app-developers app

With a locked bootloader you can still root, but if you try to flash a recovery/kernel/etc the bootloader will refuse to boot it because it is unsigned. That means no recovery, no kernels, no ROMs...only stock ROM tweaking. The N900A, N9005, N900T, and a few other models are all essentially the same phone with different bootloaders, modems, and stock ROMs. I'd recommend the N900T (T-Mobile) which has all the bands needed for AT&T LTE ready to use after you get it unlocked. The N9005 (international Qualcomm) version lacks the LTE bands for AT&T/T-Mobile I think but you might be able to flash a T-Mo or AT&T modem file to enable them as I think the hardware is actually the same inside.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app

[Q] International Unlock On STOCK NG2

Hi, I've been reading a lot of posts and finally got courage to ask if there's a way to do a international unlock on Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 running stock NG2, i already tried to downgrade to MF9 but couldn't pass in odin.
Any thoughts?

mbwprod said:
Hi, I've been reading a lot of posts and finally got courage to ask if there's a way to do a international unlock on Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 running stock NG2, i already tried to downgrade to MF9 but couldn't pass in odin.
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would really like to know this as well I got caught up in the MF9 boot loop. Fixed that then tried to go MJA MDC MF9 and broke thing horribly. Just trying to get my Sprint Samsung S4 SPH-L720 over to T-mobile or at&t. Someone that could point us in the right direction with getting NG2 unlocked Internationally then domestically

mbwprod said:
Hi, I've been reading a lot of posts and finally got courage to ask if there's a way to do a international unlock on Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 running stock NG2, i already tried to downgrade to MF9 but couldn't pass in odin.
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mozze3291 said:
I would really like to know this as well I got caught up in the MF9 boot loop. Fixed that then tried to go MJA MDC MF9 and broke thing horribly. Just trying to get my Sprint Samsung S4 SPH-L720 over to T-mobile or at&t. Someone that could point us in the right direction with getting NG2 unlocked Internationally then domestically
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like neither of ya'll read enough. Well follow this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703955
There are other similar threads to search and read on.
Once we got the 4.3 MJA update. There was when out bootloader got locked by knox security from Samsung. We can't downgrade to any firmware by Odin but we can downgrade by ROMs just not the bootloader. You either need to use the firmware you are using to restore or update to a newer firmware.
Side comment. I still don't know why would you buy a specific phone for a carrier and use it for another carrier. Doesn't make sense.
Sent from my SPH-L720

ROMANTiC KiD said:
Looks like neither of ya'll read enough. Well follow this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703955
There are other similar threads to search and read on.
Once we got the 4.3 MJA update. There was when out bootloader got locked by knox security from Samsung. We can't downgrade to any firmware by Odin but we can downgrade by ROMs just not the bootloader. You either need to use the firmware you are using to restore or update to a newer firmware.
Side comment. I still don't know why would you buy a specific phone for a carrier and use it for another carrier. Doesn't make sense.
Sent from my SPH-L720
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's all about pennies, here in Mexico it's almost 1/3 of retail price if you bring a smartphone from USA and unlock it

mbwprod said:
It's all about pennies, here in Mexico it's almost 1/3 of retail price if you bring a smartphone from USA and unlock it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But why use a CMDA phone with a GSM carrier?
Sent from my SPH-L720

ROMANTiC KiD said:
But why use a CMDA phone with a GSM carrier?
Sent from my SPH-L720
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all thanks for the thread you provided, it helped me to get my phone unlocked and working on Telcel Mexico Carrier, but i can't make 3g service work, i think i screwed some ServiceMode Settings, is there any way to reset them to default and start over?
Thanks in advance

mbwprod said:
First of all thanks for the thread you provided, it helped me to get my phone unlocked and working on Telcel Mexico Carrier, but i can't make 3g service work, i think i screwed some ServiceMode Settings, is there any way to reset them to default and start over?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to Odin back to stock ng2 and do a factory reset. Also have you change your apns? That could be why you aren't getting 3g.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

ROMANTiC KiD said:
You might want to Odin back to stock ng2 and do a factory reset. Also have you change your apns? That could be why you aren't getting 3g.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did that and several apps (Internet, S Voice, S Wave) keep crashing after restart) also the ServiceMode Settings remain unchanged. Please help me here, I'm starting to panic!

Replacing My S4---ebay?

I got my ATT S4 wet and could not recover it so I am needing to get a used replacement on ebay. Will any "unlocked" S4 work on my ATT contract? My old S4 had MDB firmware when I purchased it so it was easy to use Custom ROMs and TWRP. With replacement phone I again want to use TWRP recovery and Flash ROMs. I keep seeing talk about how unlocked Verizon phone may or may not work with ATT and do not fully understand the differences in Carriers . Any info is appreciated.
Thanks

If it's sim unlocked it should work on at&t. But you'll probably not get a phone with mdb or mdl firmware and therefore will not be able to use twrp or cwm.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
If it's sim unlocked it should work on at&t. But you'll probably not get a phone with mdb or mdl firmware and therefore will not be able to use twrp or cwm.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for reply. I know it going to about impossible to find MDB again. I have emailed each seller of a phone am looking at and no MDB or MDL yet. Hopefully I will find an XDA guy with old S4 at some point that has used Custom ROMs and still on MDB or MDL and he can ODIN back to old Stock.

Ron,
keep me in mind here or PM since mods may not let a buying thread go on long
I have an MDL S4 ATT 32gb, and obviously by my member info, rooted and with TWRP 2.5.0.2--the best recovery for us. Perfect condition and many xtras plus a 64gb Sammy sdcard.
I may, due to my son and his wife's pushing, get the iPhone 6 plus. Flashing is winding down for me and they want us all on the iPhone "ecosystem" (continuity). And time for a change.
Wasn't sure I was ready to part with the S4, too damn nice of a phone.
Since I am now subscribed to this thread I wil see your posts as long as thread is open. I need to do some quick decision making.
Ken

Use Swappa.com
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk