Hello,
I recently picked up a Canadian Galaxy S4. This is my first android device after using an iPhone 4 for the last 3 years. I'm a tinkering kind of guy so when I heard about the whole custom ROM community for the s4, I was excited. I've been reading up on this for the last 3 weeks and I still have a couple questions that I haven't really seen a solid answer for specifically regarding the 1337m model.
1) If I root it would be nice to be able to reverse things should I need to send it in for warranty repair. I understand that triangle away isn't working on the latest MG1 firmware (which my device came with). I know that the ME7 update on the US version included a bootloader that no longer allowed downgrading firmware. Is this the case with the Canadian models as well? If it is possible to downgrade are there any special steps that need to be taken, or can I just flash a stock MDJ image via odin/heimdall
2) I have read the whole thread about the issues with the knox warranty void efuse. I checked the download mode on my phone and it does not have any of the knox info on it, so as I understand it, knox isn't enabled and therefore as long as I don't update to new stock firmware and I shouldn't trip the efuse. I have disabled auto-update in the settings. Is there anything else that I should do or be aware of to make sure that my phone doesn't update and force the knox stuff on my phone.
At the end of the day, if my warranty is permanently void, that's fine, but if there's a way that I can still keep the ability to restore my phone to 100% stock without tripping and binary counters or efuses I'd like to make sure that I know and understand how to do that before I start flashing custom roms rather than trying to figure it out in a panic if something goes wrong on my device.
Hello guys,
I apologize whole heartly for posting this noob question as it probably was answered already but I couldn't find the exact answer myself:
I updated my vodafone branded german n3 from MI7 to unbranded MJ3 downloaded from sammobile.com.
The flash was successful and everything, but then I read in different places (but without further exlanation) that with the new bootloader which is included in this MJ3, you can no longer root? Or does this only mean the RTDLV method with knox 0x0?
I can't live without root, so I need to know please, because if I can't root any longer now I will hve to get an exchange phone asap.
Please somone answer this one or me please.
(and if rootin mj3 with new bootloader is possible still, can this be done knox-friendly? in the rtdlv thread I didnt get an answer so pls apologize for asking here)
please someone answer shortly - I am very busy with work lately and this weekend I finally got some time to root and set everything up on my Note 3 - but if I ****ed it up by updating the firmware through stock odin I need to know so that I can get a phone exchange before it end up with Knox 0x1 or even worse a bricked phone.
I will be modding hardcore (while still remaining on stock) and will give all you guys tips n tricks that I will find out during this etc - but I just need to get initial root on my phone - preferably with Knox 0x0.
So because my phone had some display issues and I could get a good deal, I bought a new note 3 today lol. (gonna sell the other)
On my first I "messed" up and updated with odin to debrand without thinking. This put on the new bootloader as you all hopefully know by now.
Well now the new phone still has the old bootloader, but since I still could get root on my other phone with the new bootloader, I was wondering what the actual difference between those 2 is?
On the S4 the new bootloader actually introduced the SELinux enforcing status and Knox, but all N3s ship with that already, so what is the difference and why should I try to keep the old bootloader?
Does it have more or other attack vectors for root exploits than the new?
ADD: And how can I debrand and update safely without updating the bootloader prior to rooting?
zroice said:
On the S4 the new bootloader actually introduced the SELinux enforcing status and Knox, but all N3s ship with that already, so what is the difference and why should I try to keep the old bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That depends on if you care about losing your warranty or not. If you don't care there are plenty of options (including CF-Root). If you care about your warranty (don't want the knox flag to be tripped to 0x1) search for root de la vega in the 'original android development' Note 3 forum. Because you're still on the old bootloader (mi(x) or mj1) this might still be an option. Beware: I'm on the international Note 3 (SM-N9005), so please do read what to do on your phone model. Good luck!
If you update to the new bootloader then you won't be able to downgrade to older version.. flashing custom roms won't be an issue but downgrading via odin will be impossible AFAIK. I heard that there were a lot of efs bricked on the note 2 after a similar bootloader update when users tried to downgrade firmwares or even radios so I haven't updated key bootloader and it isn't necessary so you can stick to the old bootloader as well if you want
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Hi !
Today I bought my Samsung Note 3. I've been reading this forum for a few days and I have a question.
I have heard of problems rooting/unlocking bootlodaer in some updates. My phone is MJ3 (i don't know if It's old or new)
and I don't plan on rooting my phone for few months but someday I will finally get tired of stock ROM. My question is- Does updating software gives any benefits (battery, RAM etc) and should I care about not being able to root without triggering KNOX? Or should I be calm that by the time I will finally decide to change something there will be possibilites to safely root/unlock bootloader?
Thank You very much !
Kontal said:
Hi !
Today I bought my Samsung Note 3. I've been reading this forum for a few days and I have a question.
I have heard of problems rooting/unlocking bootlodaer in some updates. My phone is MJ3 (i don't know if It's old or new)
and I don't plan on rooting my phone for few months but someday I will finally get tired of stock ROM. My question is- Does updating software gives any benefits (battery, RAM etc) and should I care about not being able to root without triggering KNOX? Or should I be calm that by the time I will finally decide to change something there will be possibilites to safely root/unlock bootloader?
Thank You very much !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Official Dev & un-Official Dev
both of them work and it means u will be able to root and unlock all firmwares (updates) after few days.
SO if u don't have plan for rooting now SO update it (setting > general > about > software update OR kies)
updates are official to make it more stable
for the latest update of firmwares u can also check http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/
i m on MK1 and for this update samsung just mentioned stability
:good:
DUDE! Battery Life is TERRIBLE on newer upgrades, I have SM-N900 tho.. But i think it's about same for 9005. Enjoy ur phone on MJ3 till this thing is fixed. Afterall, nothing special has been added. I regret that i upgraded. Cheers!
Okay guys, thanks for the answer. As you suggested, I will stay with MJ3.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app
Hi Guys,
New to this device, but not new to Android... Read all over the web, various sites (esp this one) about this device and seeing mixed views/comments. Some saying its possible, others saying it will brick or flag the Knox.
Is it possible to downgrade this phone (G900F) currently on the latest 6.0.1 stock rom. But was wondering if I could try either official stock of 4.4.2 or 5.1.1 of this device.
Or due to this bootloader, is it likely to brick or even trip Knox?
Thanks, Lister
Lister Of Smeg said:
Hi Guys,
New to this device, but not new to Android... Read all over the web, various sites (esp this one) about this device and seeing mixed views/comments. Some saying its possible, others saying it will brick or flag the Knox.
Is it possible to downgrade this phone (G900F) currently on the latest 6.0.1 stock rom. But was wondering if I could try either official stock of 4.4.2 or 5.1.1 of this device.
Or due to this bootloader, is it likely to brick or even trip Knox?
Thanks, Lister
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Official stock ROMs shouldn't trip Knox because they are, ummm, official.
I think the G900F bootloader is unlocked.
Sent from my Samsung SM-G900I using XDA Labs
Why downgrade in the first place..... ? 6.0.1 is way better than previous FWs...
Hi @Dirty Flasher,
Yeah, that's what I thought... It's all stock, so all should be good... But I've read reports saying it will trip Knox as since a certain version of Marshmallow, the bootloader has been locked to only go with future firmwares and not allow downgrades. I assume to prevent people restoring to the older firmware (with bootloader) which was unlocked, that allowed rooting without tripping. But some say it will trip, others say it will not... I'm confused, and wondered if anyone has tried this, and what the outcome was... Don't want to trip Knox unnecessarily... if someone has already tried and tested it.
Dirty Flasher said:
Official stock ROMs shouldn't trip Knox because they are, ummm, official.
I think the G900F bootloader is unlocked.
Sent from my Samsung SM-G900I using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi @Zlate2255,
I got this device when it was already one 6.0.1, so I missed seeing it go through the various stages. I would like to see how it used to look like and work. As there are some features that have been removed since, such Face Unlock and Iris tracking when viewing pages. Whilst the latter is still there burried away, it barely works, so should be removed completely. But would just be nice to see what it did look like.
Zlate2255 said:
Why downgrade in the first place..... ? 6.0.1 is way better than previous FWs...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, Lister
With my G900W8, I could downgrade to 4.4.2 with very-first firmware for G900W8 (NCG). Just try the earliest version of 4.4.2 and then upgrade back to 5.1.1
You can downgrade the g900f to every firmware (if unlocked) you want. On some s5 devices who have a locked bootloader like the at&t version there have been reported some problems.
Therefore, you shouldn't run into any problems while downgrading.
If you want some pro and cons to the firmwares:
Kitkat:
+ dark design (the touchwiz apps like contacts)
+ more battery friendly than marshmallow
- less security due to no security updates
- you might run into some minimal bugs, for example on wikipedia you sometimes have to reload the page to watch pictures (at least on mine)
- no app permissions can be removed (only with root and app ops)
Lollipop:
Honestly, I havent used this one that much, but here you have a white design with the different statusbar and pull down menu, better security (but not as good as on marshmallow) and the material design, but slightly worse battery time.
Marshmallow:
+ OTA Updates still available, best option for security
+/- White design, material design
+ new icons (but tbh not a real deal)
- less battery friendly (atleast for me even tho doze is enabled on marshmallow)
So yeah, choose what you want
And be sure that you have an unbranded device (check your csc) before downgrading/updating.
Hi @tm60405,
Wow, what a fantastic post... Thank you, exactly what I was looking for, and thanks for your reviews of each rom too.
- appreciate that, cheers
Quick question, how do I know if my Bootloader is unlocked??
Its a G900F (UK) was originally on the Three network, however I've flashed it to pure stock BTU, and to the EE network and back to stock BTU (all Marshmallow roms).
So where am I looking, or how do I know if the Bootloader is unlocked? Also, what am I looking for in the CSC info...??
Many thanks, Lister
Install the app called phone info from the play store.
Then, you swipe to the csc code and you can see your info and remember the csc you are on.
If it is BTU, you can install another firmware based on BTU without problems. But even if you don't have BTU, you can try installing BTU because it doesn't contain much bloatware. In the worst case, you just install the firmware with the csc you had before.
Then, follow the instructions on sammobile.com and there will be no problems during the installing process.
After downgrading, you might get a bootloop. Then, you have to factory reset your device, so get the data from the internal storage elsewhere BEFORE the installation.
And if the download takes too long, try another browser like opera, for me it takes around 1 hour only instead of 4-5 hours on chrome.
If you might have another problem while installing the firmware, say so.