MDL to MF3 - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

From what I have read on the forums MF3 has is suppose to patch loki and prevent custom recoveries from being installed on the phone. I am on MDL with a custom rom flashed on it and running on T-Mobile and was curious about the "benefits" if I were going to upgrade to MF3. The most interesting one to me is better cell signal... Would there be anyway to flash a hacked version of mf3 or some other baseband update? Or are the differences so minute that it doesnt really matter.

jmarsh24 said:
From what I have read on the forums MF3 has is suppose to patch loki and prevent custom recoveries from being installed on the phone. I am on MDL with a custom rom flashed on it and running on T-Mobile and was curious about the "benefits" if I were going to upgrade to MF3. The most interesting one to me is better cell signal... Would there be anyway to flash a hacked version of mf3 or some other baseband update? Or are the differences so minute that it doesnt really matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OTA MF3 update includes a locked bootloader. This is what you don't want.
You could either flash an MF3 Rom (this won't include the locked bootloader) or just flash the MF3 modem if you want to see if it gives you a better signal.

Is there a way to do it to maintain the ability to flash asop roms?
rayburne said:
The OTA MF3 update includes a locked bootloader. This is what you don't want.
You could either flash an MF3 Rom (this won't include the locked bootloader) or just flash the MF3 modem if you want to see if it gives you a better signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

jmarsh24 said:
Is there a way to do it to maintain the ability to flash asop roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. As stated abive just flash a mf3 modem. You xan find the modem thread in the dev section. It wont change anything but your baseband so you can keep your aosp rom you have now.
If you do decide to flash a mf3 based rom you can always go back to aosp roms. Nothing will change for you as far as flashing any roms you want to. UNLESS you go back to stock and take the OTA MF3 software update. All the info you need can be found in the dev section for our device
Sent from My Spiderman/IronMan/Dark Blue/Red/Green/GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337

Luckily, if you go back to stock, you will not be able to get the OTA MF3 since you are on T-Mobile's network. Unless, you had the phone or anyone had the phone activated on AT&T's network at any time in the past.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Related

[Q] Seeking some MF3 guidance and sanity checks

Hey guys, I'm planning on flashing a new ROM in the next few days, and I just wanted to make sure I get all of my ducks in a row and don't get my hardware stuck in a bad state. I'm a moderately experienced S3 ROM flasher, but I'm no expert by any means. Anyways, part of this will be me rambling, and part of it will be me asking questions. I hope to get some answers from the awesome XDA community, as well as perhaps help anyone else who comes along and might have the same questions as I.
Anyways, here's what I'm on right now:
AT&T Galaxy S 4 (SAMSUNG-SGH-I337)
Stock Firmware Build: JDQ39.I337UCUAMDL
Baseband: I337UCUAMDL
Rooted
TWRP 2.6.0.0
I am looking to flash the following
MDOB (Modified AT&T build, UCUAMF3)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2280556
or
Goldeneye (Modified International build, XXUBMGA)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2313469
From what I have read, there aren't many differences between the two other than preference.
From what I have read, the MDOB ROM is not a full MF3 update, it only contains the firmware build, it does not contain the baseband update. (May need confirm/deny here) Flashing MDOB will leave me on the AMDL baseband, which means I will not benefit from the new LTE modem updates.
I have seen people flashing the MF3 baseband manually, and have reported that it works just fine.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2324667
Kernel support seems to be a case-by-case basis right now, I'll be sticking to the stock Loki'd for now (which is included).
Conclusion / TL : DR
Here are all of the questions that I have, and hopefully someone can help me out with this.
1) MDOB or Goldeneye? (The only possible benefit I could think of is that I might be able to redeem the Dropbox offer on the international version... maybe)
2) If I flash MDOB or Goldeneye, will I lose my ability to root my device with motochopper?
3) If I flash the MF3 baseband, will I lose my ability to root my device with motochopper?
4) If I flash any of the above, do I lose any access priveleges on my phone?
5) If I flash any of the above, do I lose my ability to roll back to previous versions?
6) Since MDOB lacks the MF3 baseband, does it lack anything else I need to flash separately?
7) Is the MF3 baseband compatible with Goldeneye?
ChrisG683 said:
Conclusion / TL : DR
Here are all of the questions that I have, and hopefully someone can help me out with this.
1) MDOB or Goldeneye? (The only possible benefit I could think of is that I might be able to redeem the Dropbox offer on the international version... maybe)
2) If I flash MDOB or Goldeneye, will I lose my ability to root my device with motochopper?
3) If I flash the MF3 baseband, will I lose my ability to root my device with motochopper?
4) If I flash any of the above, do I lose any access priveleges on my phone?
5) If I flash any of the above, do I lose my ability to roll back to previous versions?
6) Since MDOB lacks the MF3 baseband, does it lack anything else I need to flash separately?
7) Is the MF3 baseband compatible with Goldeneye?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Try both of them and see which one you like more (if you're trying to do the dropbox promotion, flash a t-mobile rom....Wicked rom then flash TouchWizz kernel that is for ATT)
2. You won't lose root
3. As long as you flash only the MF3 modem, you won't lose root
4. No
5. No....make a nandroid just in case
6. No
7. Yes
Sent from my SGH-I337 using xda premium
doktor buknasty said:
1. Try both of them and see which one you like more (if you're trying to do the dropbox promotion, flash a t-mobile rom....Wicked rom then flash TouchWizz kernel that is for ATT)
2. You won't lose root
3. As long as you flash only the MF3 modem, you won't lose root
4. No
5. No....make a nandroid just in case
6. No
7. Yes
Sent from my SGH-I337 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the speedy reply doktor buknasty!
I guess my follow up question is, what is the part of the stock AT&T MF3 update that causes our phones to become locked down? Is it the aboot thing? I want to make sure I don't flash the wrong thing.
ChrisG683 said:
Thanks for the speedy reply doktor buknasty!
I guess my follow up question is, what is the part of the stock AT&T MF3 update that causes our phones to become locked down? Is it the aboot thing? I want to make sure I don't flash the wrong thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tbh....I'm not quite sure (someone with knowledge about this please chime in), but if you want your phone rooted...DO NOT take the OTA update.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using xda premium
You can run any MF3 that has been included into a cooked rom, just not the OTA update. So flash away, I flashed Goldeneye lastnight, no issues what so ever.
Stay away from OTA and odin tar MF3, some say it works, but I stay away from those, again, if you see a MF3 cooked rom, you are safe.
Thank you.
I second the motion on flashing either MDOB/GOLDENEYE. I use the MDOB MF3 with the MF3 modem flashed over and have zero issues.no probs with root as well

Question with MDL

If I am on AT&T with MDL can I upgrade to 4.3 without going to MF3?
dtronx said:
If I am on AT&T with MDL can I upgrade to 4.3 without going to MF3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
However, I suggest you just install one of the 4.3 ROMS (there is at least one available already) from the development section instead of taking the full update so you can still use a custom recovery and LOKI'd ROMs..
scott14719 said:
No.
However, I suggest you just install one of the 4.3 ROMS (there is at least one available already) from the development section instead of taking the full update so you can still use a custom recovery and LOKI'd ROMs..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks will do that
I would check out ShoStock-i MF3 or Venoms or Ax's International Roms. At all cost keep your MDL Bootloaders and have access to custom recoveries and flash WHATEVER you want. Safestrap is nice IF your stuck on MF3 but it has its limitations on what you can flash with it. Plus I am sure once the official tar drops for the ATT MJ9 firmware you will see some Roms based on ATTs stock firmwares and STILL have the ability to go back to other older firmwares if you want. With SafeStrap you are limited to 4.2.2 Roms at this time
Sent From My ATT S3 i747 Dark Blue BadAss Theme

[Q] MDL Firmware

Currently have a AT&T S4 rooted with MDL firmware. I have flashed other 4.3 loki roms without any problems (using Goldeneye 20 now). From the reading that I have done on the forums, it is my understanding that certain roms require a newer firmware version, for example, Hyperdrive. Is that a correct statement? If so, will that continue to be the trend with later releases? Can anyone provide any additional information to help me understand this better? Thanks in advance!
beefwilliams said:
Currently have a AT&T S4 rooted with MDL firmware. I have flashed other 4.3 loki roms without any problems (using Goldeneye 20 now). From the reading that I have done on the forums, it is my understanding that certain roms require a newer firmware version, for example, Hyperdrive. Is that a correct statement? If so, will that continue to be the trend with later releases? Can anyone provide any additional information to help me understand this better? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For MDL, that does not apply. Basically people with MF3+ phones need to upgrade to 4.3 to have 4.3 ROMs. All you need to do is continue to use loki and never upgrade your bootloaders.
DeadlySin9 said:
For MDL, that does not apply. Basically people with MF3+ phones need to upgrade to 4.3 to have 4.3 ROMs. All you need to do is continue to use loki and never upgrade your bootloaders.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless he wants a 4.4.2 rom then he needs the new bootloader....which is locked! so stay away of 4.4.2 for now
Flashing roms (unless stated by OP) will not update your bootloader correct? Since I am one of the lucky ones to have the MDL, I don't want to jeopardize it.
daraj said:
Unless he wants a 4.4.2 rom then he needs the new bootloader....which is locked! so stay away of 4.4.2 for now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true, he can flash a 4.4.2 ROM with the MDL bootloader as long as he gets a loki 4.4.2 kernel. Otherwise the 4.4.2 Google Edition thread wouldn't get much attention
beefwilliams said:
Flashing roms (unless stated by OP) will not update your bootloader correct? Since I am one of the lucky ones to have the MDL, I don't want to jeopardize it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing ROMs will not touch your bootloaders. Just never take any OTA updates to the stock ROM, and never ODIN any firmware except MDL. OTA updates on custom ROMs will only work in some cases (GE doesn't because they're ported from a different model, Hyperdrive will because it has a specialized system).
I'm MDL on 4.2.2, how did you upgrade to 4.3 but keep your MDL?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
Wittyusernametaken said:
I'm MDL on 4.2.2, how did you upgrade to 4.3 but keep your MDL?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use the StockUp ROM, it's just MK2 with bloat removed and you can even flash the bloat back on if you want.
DeadlySin9 said:
You can use the StockUp ROM, it's just MK2 with bloat removed and you can even flash the bloat back on if you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting yeah, no bloat love here, I've got a metric ton of it frozen with Titanium. I was thinking that the only thing I could try was http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2356276 . I haven't actually flashed any roms yet, only rooted and have twrp. Thank you for the info
I'm on MDL firmware (AT&T) running Hyperdrive RSL13 with KTs kernel. I've had 4.2.2 and 4.4.2 roms on this phone. You can bounce around with no problem. My recovery auto lokis...using shabby penguins recovery.

[Q] S4 / can I downgrade?

I have a S4 on MK2 on AT&T
The fact that I am stuck on TW is depressing. And to top things off AT&T has disabled WIFI tethering, which I was using occasionally.
Is it possible to ODIN back to stock and the firmware the phone came with a year ago?
Is it correct that the originally firmware would allow me to flash Cyanogen / Task etc?
What firmware do I need to get? I understand MF3 is also bad?
You cannot downgrade.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
wavemaster00 said:
I have a S4 on MK2 on AT&T
The fact that I am stuck on TW is depressing. And to top things off AT&T has disabled WIFI tethering, which I was using occasionally.
Is it possible to ODIN back to stock and the firmware the phone came with a year ago?
Is it correct that the originally firmware would allow me to flash Cyanogen / Task etc?
What firmware do I need to get? I understand MF3 is also bad?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As stated above, you can't downgrade. You can enable tethering by the thread in the general section and use Safestrap to change to other TW ROMs like Foxhound which has AOSP theming.
Sent from Black<3's I337 running Hyperdrive
You could only downgrade from 4.3 if you were using the leaked 4.3 ROM with the MJB bootloader. The official OTA 4.3 updates cannot be downgraded as Samsung blew a "qfuse" with this major (4.3) update preventing reversion of the bootloader.
However, you can change or downgrade the actual ROM filesystem, provided that you keep your MK2 boot loader in place. That means that you can't revert to a pre 4.3 stock ROM but you can use custom ROMs that are 99% stock while restoring the functionality that you'd like to restore.
.
.

[Q] What is best way to get back to complete stock?

Hello,
What is the best way to get back to complete stock (including locked bootloader). I'm done with playing with custom ROMs (running CM11 right now). I want stock and guaranteed stability then nightmare dealing with nightlies etc.
artisticcheese said:
Hello,
What is the best way to get back to complete stock (including locked bootloader). I'm done with playing with custom ROMs (running CM11 right now). I want stock and guaranteed stability then nightmare dealing with nightlies etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm guessing you're on an I337 since you mentioned locked bootloader. If I were you I'd just flash a 4.4.2 stock ROM so that you can keep the possibility to use AOSP ROMs like the Google Edition ROMs and others. You can flash the ROM from HERE, use the version that doesn't say wBL at the end. Then just flash one of the 4.4.2 modems in RockRatt's I337 modem thread and it should work just fine. You could even reflash the MDL firmware before all of this to make it clean, or even just freeze the updater and stay on MDL.
If you really want to get rid of all possibility of running more than themed and modded TouchWiz ROMs, you can simply go to the General section, find the NB1 ODIN files, and flash them. If you want root after that, take the OTA to NC1 or sideload it and then use towelroot.
DeadlySin9 said:
I'm guessing you're on an I337 since you mentioned locked bootloader. If I were you I'd just flash a 4.4.2 stock ROM so that you can keep the possibility to use AOSP ROMs like the Google Edition ROMs and others. You can flash the ROM from HERE, use the version that doesn't say wBL at the end. Then just flash one of the 4.4.2 modems in RockRatt's I337 modem thread and it should work just fine. You could even reflash the MDL firmware before all of this to make it clean, or even just freeze the updater and stay on MDL.
If you really want to get rid of all possibility of running more than themed and modded TouchWiz ROMs, you can simply go to the General section, find the NB1 ODIN files, and flash them. If you want root after that, take the OTA to NC1 or sideload it and then use towelroot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I flash one of NB1 ODIN files my phone will looks like something I get from ATT store if I walk in there today, right? That's what I want to achieve, completely something unadultered.
artisticcheese said:
So if I flash one of NB1 ODIN files my phone will looks like something I get from ATT store if I walk in there today, right? That's what I want to achieve, completely something unadultered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it will be just like the others in every way, knox bootloader and settings and all, no custom flags or anything.

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