Is it possible to downgrade from MF3 to MDL with Odin MDL stock files?
Ok, so before anyone starts telling me to search and read and what not, here is the reason to my question.
About a month or so ago I bought a GS4 from craigslist. The girl claimed she was selling the phone for her dad that was going through a divorce blah blah blah.
So I'm thinking this girl or her father didnt look or sound like the people that would know about rooting and stuff.
Now at the time I bought the phone I didn't even know what locked bootloaders meant. So I rooted the phone and followed instructions that I found on XDA att gs4 development thread, which requires me to install an Odin stock file for the root to work.
Either two things happenend here:
1. The previous owner did indeed know about rooting, had rooted the phone and never took the MF3 update via OTA. When seeling the phone he/she was kind enough not to flash stock MF3 files, but falshed MDL instead.
2. The previous owner did not know about rooting and her/his phone automatically updated to MF3. When I bought the phone, not knowing about boot loaders, I must've flashed MDL or whatever the version of stock I have and completely erased the MF3 crap and I was able to root the phone and go on with my life... again still not knowing about MF3 locked bootloaders.
So if number 2 was actually the case, has anyone with stock MF3 that took the OTA MF3 or decided to flash stock MF3 via Odin has ever tried to donwgrade to MDL or older??? Granted you had insurance (NO THIS IS NOT ABOUT INSURANCE FRAUD) one could easily tried to flash Odin files to something older and if it breaks u could always do the Samsung experience at BB or try to flash stock MF3 via odin, or send it for repair.
What do u guys think? Please be smart about your answers. Dont post "it can't be dome." Instead "this cant be done because... link to thread.... this person tried it already..."
Thanks again in advance
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Dude do your research. You put a lot of effort into writing this post, but if you looked at the stickies the answer is no. You will never ever ever be able to downgrade.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
cerobles1 said:
Is it possible to downgrade from MF3 to MDL with Odin MDL stock files?
Ok, so before anyone starts telling me to search and read and what not, here is the reason to my question.
About a month or so ago I bought a GS4 from craigslist. The girl claimed she was selling the phone for her dad that was going through a divorce blah blah blah.
So I'm thinking this girl or her father didnt look or sound like the people that would know about rooting and stuff.
Now at the time I bought the phone I didn't even know what locked bootloaders meant. So I rooted the phone and followed instructions that I found on XDA att gs4 development thread, which requires me to install an Odin stock file for the root to work.
Either two things happenend here:
1. The previous owner did indeed know about rooting, had rooted the phone and never took the MF3 update via OTA. When seeling the phone he/she was kind enough not to flash stock MF3 files, but falshed MDL instead.
2. The previous owner did not know about rooting and her/his phone automatically updated to MF3. When I bought the phone, not knowing about boot loaders, I must've flashed MDL or whatever the version of stock I have and completely erased the MF3 crap and I was able to root the phone and go on with my life... again still not knowing about MF3 locked bootloaders.
So if number 2 was actually the case, has anyone with stock MF3 that took the OTA MF3 or decided to flash stock MF3 via Odin has ever tried to donwgrade to MDL or older??? Granted you had insurance (NO THIS IS NOT ABOUT INSURANCE FRAUD) one could easily tried to flash Odin files to something older and if it breaks u could always do the Samsung experience at BB or try to flash stock MF3 via odin, or send it for repair.
What do u guys think? Please be smart about your answers. Dont post "it can't be dome." Instead "this cant be done because... link to thread.... this person tried it already..."
Thanks again in advance
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, you don't want to here someone tell you "no" (which is the answer), and you say you have searched but you want someone else to link you to threads about this???
What is it that you are looking for?
You CANNOT downgrade. It's a hardware limitation, called a blown qfuse. Not fixable. So, no.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-1337 using Tapatalk
Related
I don't know why I even rooted, I don't even understand it, I just hear others talk about how much better it can make your phone but I did root but that is it, I haven' teven installed a rom and do not even know how to do that. I probably should have waited until I I know more about it but I just got caught up in the moment a few weeks ago when someone else had done it and they said it was easy so I took the bait. Now I am going to give the phone to a family member and to avoid having any issues with the phone I want to unroot and do a reset so the phone is set to factory so they may set it up to their liking so how can I unroot? I was told that since I did not install a rom then I could do a factory reset and it would set everything back to stock so can someone advise me on this? If it can't be done that way is there a unroot abvailable?
First thing. This should have been posted in the Q&A section. Second thing. Go to the link provided. Follow the instructions and download the stock MDC.TAR file. Use Odin to flash and you'll be back to stock. No root!
http://www.sxtpdevelopers.com/showthread.php?p=2599
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
Ok so i know i am a newbie to this sort of thing but i wanted to wrap my head around everything and also specifically to my phone before i decide to do something and the results are permanent.
Firstly ill start off with saying im a Canadian Virgin Mobile customer and i just got the Galaxy S4 (SGH-i337m).
Ok so i want to root my device but i am confused about some of the basic concepts. I saw the tutorial video posted for my specific phone by the smoking android (link for those who havent seen it: youtube. com/watch?v=cI9r5dEcNo4) and i understand that the rooting process is fairly simple.
What i am confused about though is my options once i am a root user and if i ever chose to revert back to original. Lets say i went ahead and rooted my phone. Will i be able to software update through the updates that virgin sends me? also if i am able to then will i maintain root acess?
my second biggest question is lets say for whatever reason i want to go back to the way my phone is now, with the stock virgin firmware. is this possible? and with no trace of the root before (is this the same as achieving original status instead of a custom one)? i know that you can remove the root and then reset the binary counter but im not too sure how all of this works, its a lot to take in at once.
im just trying to clear things up and yes i am quite new to all this (got my s4 yesterday) but i am a quick learner and im just trying to get a grip on everything.
thanks in advance for bearing with me
shibby123 said:
Ok so i know i am a newbie to this sort of thing but i wanted to wrap my head around everything and also specifically to my phone before i decide to do something and the results are permanent.
Firstly ill start off with saying im a Canadian Virgin Mobile customer and i just got the Galaxy S4 (SGH-i337m).
Ok so i want to root my device but i am confused about some of the basic concepts. I saw the tutorial video posted for my specific phone by the smoking android (link for those who havent seen it: youtube. com/watch?v=cI9r5dEcNo4) and i understand that the rooting process is fairly simple.
What i am confused about though is my options once i am a root user and if i ever chose to revert back to original. Lets say i went ahead and rooted my phone. Will i be able to software update through the updates that virgin sends me? also if i am able to then will i maintain root acess?
my second biggest question is lets say for whatever reason i want to go back to the way my phone is now, with the stock virgin firmware. is this possible? and with no trace of the root before (is this the same as achieving original status instead of a custom one)? i know that you can remove the root and then reset the binary counter but im not too sure how all of this works, its a lot to take in at once.
im just trying to clear things up and yes i am quite new to all this (got my s4 yesterday) but i am a quick learner and im just trying to get a grip on everything.
thanks in advance for bearing with me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read these threads...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301762
and
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2312444
Information that isn't in those threads are definitely linked to in those threads. Good luck.
scott14719 said:
Read these threads...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301762
and
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2312444
Information that isn't in those threads are definitely linked to in those threads. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok so i read the threads an i understand a lot more now. It seems to me like i have the ability to easily root and then go back to the stock firmware if i please with no consequences. i just have to flash the with the correct rom [and modem?] to put it back to stock and everything should work fine.
i hope i have this straight
shibby123 said:
ok so i read the threads an i understand a lot more now. It seems to me like i have the ability to easily root and then go back to the stock firmware if i please with no consequences. i just have to flash the with the correct rom [and modem?] to put it back to stock and everything should work fine.
i hope i have this straight
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why modem? is that really necessary, I think you mean kernel.
if you flash back to stock, modem and kernel will be included.
Have you tried this thread also? you do have a i337m
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2269304
Good Luck
Is there a way to unroot my AT&T S4 with a Mac?
blbeesley said:
Is there a way to unroot my AT&T S4 with a Mac?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flash the latest at&t official firmware via heimdall
TheAxman said:
Why modem? is that really necessary, I think you mean kernel.
if you flash back to stock, modem and kernel will be included.
Have you tried this thread also? you do have a i337m
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2269304
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so if i just flash to that stock firmware in the link you gave me everything will be back to normal? how would i achieve original and not "custom" status if i have to send the phone back to samsung. would i have to unroot then flash then reset the binary counter? would that be it and im back to the very original state i got my phone in?
shibby123 said:
so if i just flash to that stock firmware in the link you gave me everything will be back to normal? how would i achieve original and not "custom" status if i have to send the phone back to samsung. would i have to unroot then flash then reset the binary counter? would that be it and im back to the very original state i got my phone in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
also check out this post
xBeerdroiDx said:
flash the latest at&t official firmware via heimdall
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will heimdall use the zip downloaded from sammobile or do you have to extract the .tar.md5 from the zip?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
xBeerdroiDx said:
also check out this post
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your good sir, you got 2 thanks from me today...no more for you actually, I'm out of thanks, get you tomorrow.
Good help.
TheAxman said:
your good sir, you got 2 thanks from me today...no more for you actually, I'm out of thanks, get you tomorrow.
Good help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:highfive:
community
cheers, buddy
I have done some reading and finally decided I will be using the Casual method to root my S 4, but I am stock with not wanting to end up with the custom lock pad permanently, and I have seen many people have not been able to get rid of it.
So here is my question... After using Casual, what would be the way to get back to stock? This method installs custom recovery, so I am not sure how to go back if indeed to....
Can some one point me in the right direction?
Appreciated!
Before we move forward here, have you updated? As it stands the update released yesterday effectively blocks root and more then likely also blocks Loki. O and it blocks Odin so you can't downgrade. This is like first and foremost if you even wanna run casual now.
no update on my phone yet...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2314494
post #1 is about rooting/flashing. post #2 addresses returning to stock, which literally is about as simple as flashing stock firmware via odin and factory resetting. cheers
Awesome.. I read that post but forgot completely about it.. most appreciated!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
genesiss said:
Awesome.. I read that post but forgot completely about it.. most appreciated!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as Thermalwolf stated, your firmware version is important. make sure you dont have the latest MF3
No.. MDL still
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
If you're still on MDL I recommend rooting now before your phone tries to force MF3 on you as it blocks root and possibly loki.
Thermalwolf said:
If you're still on MDL I recommend rooting now before your phone tries to force MF3 on you as it blocks root and possibly loki.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, talk about making it just under the wire, your lucky you decided to root today and that your phone hadn't already updated.
I feel for those poor souls that updated, personally I think loki is patched and I remember sitting around for months and months while people tried and failed to unlock the rezound bootloader, locked bootloaders can be a b***h
Take care of your non MF3 Galaxy S4's everyone, they just became more valueable ...
movielover76 said:
Yea, talk about making it just under the wire, your lucky you decided to root today and that your phone hadn't already updated.
I feel for those poor souls that updated, personally I think loki is patched and I remember sitting around for months and months while people tried and failed to unlock the rezound bootloader, locked bootloaders can be a b***h
Take care of your non MF3 Galaxy S4's everyone, they just became more valueable ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right?! This guy could not have picked a better day too root. Also I'm damn sure Loki is patched, we can't Odin back to MDL so that should speak for itself.
OP, Root and block the OTA APKs immediately! If your phone starts downloading just rip the battery out lol
Thermalwolf said:
Right?! This guy could not have picked a better day too root. Also I'm damn sure Loki is patched, we can't Odin back to MDL so that should speak for itself.
OP, Root and block the OTA APKs immediately! If your phone starts downloading just rip the battery out lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just rooted last night. I keep postponing the update. I did some searching and found that I should rename wssyncmldm.apk and reboot to block the OTA update. Is this correct? Is there another file that should be renamed?
Thanks!
ok just did it.. had some issues with Windows drivers but it turns out MAC worked just fine.. i am currently doing nandroid back up..
thanks to all for replies..
ok everything works just fine.. now.. what would be my next step
. how can I avoid update? so far I am interested in staying stock. maybe remove some apps and add some.. but how can I assure I will not update?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
genesiss said:
ok everything works just fine.. now.. what would be my next step
. how can I avoid update? so far I am interested in staying stock. maybe remove some apps and add some.. but how can I assure I will not update?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to read the existing threads. Go to the 'General" section read the stickies and then read the threads about the new OTA. ALL of your questions are answered in detail in those threads. Good luck.
Hopefully this works for me
I Bought my S4 yesterday and the sales rep at AT&T pressed the update button before handing it to me. I didn't think anything of it because as far as I knew android was designed to be open and easily rooted. Man was I mad when I got home. So today I went back and complained that the "phone was glitchy" and was handed another one. This time I told them not to touch it. Hand over the box and nobody gets hurt (keep in mind I paid full price for it too so i was extra mad). This one is on MDL. Now to root and block update. Hooray!
Hi,
I am kicking myself for accepting on OTA without checking XDA first. Only got my S4 yesterday.
Is there a thread/irc chat/etc, (on XDA or elsewhere) where any discussion is going on regarding custom recovery installation and bootloader unlock on MF3 OTA?
I just want to take a look.... not to bug anyone.
Check here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=40828975
gregk232 said:
Hi,
I am kicking myself for accepting on OTA without checking XDA first. Only got my S4 yesterday.
Is there a thread/irc chat/etc, (on XDA or elsewhere) where any discussion is going on regarding custom recovery installation and bootloader unlock on MF3 OTA?
I just want to take a look.... not to bug anyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look in the first couple of pages in the General section. There are a few threads about it, just look at the thread titles.
So I've searched around and found this post which seems to be fit my question. I recent brought a jflteatt and it was upgraded to MF3 (FML) Now I see that I can still root the phone but no custom recovery. I did some more searching and it appears I may be able to downgrade. Is this safe Will it downgrade the bootloader? From what I'm seeing it's using odin method so I would think it would downgrade everything. Please insight would be greatly appreciated!
zeyoner said:
So I've searched around and found this post which seems to be fit my question. I recent brought a jflteatt and it was upgraded to MF3 (FML) Now I see that I can still root the phone but no custom recovery. I did some more searching and it appears I may be able to downgrade. Is this safe Will it downgrade the bootloader? From what I'm seeing it's using odin method so I would think it would downgrade everything. Please insight would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot down grade. Doing so will Bork your recovery. There is an efuse that is blown when the phone is upgrade to mf3 in the internal circuitry.
You cannot downgrade from mf3.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4
Damit!! wtf!
So I'm stuck with this MF3 BS. I just don't get why have bootloaders locked. Isn't it against the Android usage agreement?
zeyoner said:
Damit!! wtf!
So I'm stuck with this MF3 BS. I just don't get why have bootloaders locked. Isn't it against the Android usage agreement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Follow the work on safe strap. It's close to being a work around to be able to flash custom roms.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45186518
jd1639 said:
Follow the work on safe strap. It's close to being a work around to be able to flash custom roms.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45186518
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet! :victory:
This safestrap is pretty interesting reminds me of the HTC HD2. You can even install multiple ROMs. This is great, it'll hold me down until maybe one day the bootloader is unlocked! I hate this bootloader locked BS. I had to deal with it when I had the HTC Aria. But it ended up being unlocked and S-Off.
Hello!
I am new to this and I rooted my phone to 4.3. There is now an update for 4.4.2 and I want to update to it. I have tried uninstalling my root and apparently, I still can't update to 4.4.2. How do I completely uninstall the root so I can go to 4.4.2. I have even tried factory resetting my phone.
Thanks!
irokatcod4 said:
Hello!
I am new to this and I rooted my phone to 4.3. There is now an update for 4.4.2 and I want to update to it. I have tried uninstalling my root and apparently, I still can't update to 4.4.2. How do I completely uninstall the root so I can go to 4.4.2. I have even tried factory resetting my phone.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you rooted you shouldn't be new to this. Return to stock. See the general forum and look for the mk2 tar files.
Sent from my Nexus 5
jd1639 said:
If you rooted you shouldn't be new to this. Return to stock. See the general forum and look for the mk2 tar files.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do I do when I find the MK2 tar files? I used an easy way to root my phone and I don't know how to completely unroot it. How do I return to stock?
Search for how to return to stock using Odin
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
jd1639 said:
If you rooted you shouldn't be new to this. Return to stock. See the general forum and look for the mk2 tar files.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so obviously you're a very experienced user on this site. I just wanted to know what is the point of your comment? Do you think that the op will suddenly know what to do because you told him that he should know it?
Update
miamibeachlife said:
so obviously you're a very experienced user on this site. I just wanted to know what is the point of your comment? Do you think that the op will suddenly know what to do because you told him that he should know it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Galaxy S4 was rooted and I got and installed Kit Kat 4.4.2 yesterday with No Problem. Some roots maybe different. I did not have CWM installed.
miamibeachlife said:
so obviously you're a very experienced user on this site. I just wanted to know what is the point of your comment? Do you think that the op will suddenly know what to do because you told him that he should know it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's the point:
You don't buy/get a high end phone and just take the quick way to doing everything. I have seen dozens and dozens of folks get into trouble that way. I spent a month just reviewing how to root my Nexus One before I even got it. That may have been overkill but was awaiting back surgery and wanted something to do while recuperating. You need to take the time to learn not only what to do, but why you are doing it. If not, you guys see the consequences. XDA asks that you search before asking questions and this one has been addressed numerous times. By the question itself, you know whether the OP made any attempt at all to look for answers or just wants spoon fed.
That said, we all feel bad when someone messes up their phone and if asked properly they will get help. Just reminded that they need to research some before asking or jumping into something. I know it is water under the bridge at this time, just FYI--
Do hope you all get it sorted. Also, it can get confusing when others hijack the OP's thread. I see that a lot too. Makes it hard to follow and give correct answers to the OP.
BTW, if you unroot and update, you are not re-rooting at this time--
Good Luck on it--:good:
Nothing meant personal here, just trying to get some advice out that can take time to get on your own--