Database Users

[Q] about rooting and unlocking

so i just picked up an S4 yesterday due to my old phone finally dying on me. I tried the loki method to root it and install TWRP. but when my phone reboots it gives me takes me back t the stock android recovery instead of TWRP.

Grona said:
so i just picked up an S4 yesterday due to my old phone finally dying on me. I tried the loki method to root it and install TWRP. but when my phone reboots it gives me takes me back t the stock android recovery instead of TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What firmware was on the phone?
MDB/MDL or MF3?
If MF3, you have softbricked your phone and may need to go to Best Buy to have it fixed.
Review the Stickies in the General section about MF3 (if you haven't already).

rayburne said:
What firmware was on the phone?
MDB/MDL or MF3?
If MF3, you have softbricked your phone and may need to go to Best Buy to have it fixed.
Review the Stickies in the General section about MF3 (if you haven't already).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like I'm mf3 but I'm still able to use my phone normally.
Is there a different unlocking method or am I missing something?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Grona said:
Looks like I'm mf3 but I'm still able to use my phone normally.
Is there a different unlocking method or am I missing something?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to hear you didn't soft brick your phone.
MF3 has a locked bootloader that no one has cracked yet.
Read through MF3 stickies in both the General and Q&A sections for more info.
Long story short, you can Root the phone then use Safestrap as your recovery to install custom roms.

rayburne said:
Good to hear you didn't soft brick your phone.
MF3 has a locked bootloader that no one has cracked yet.
Read through MF3 stickies in both the General and Q&A sections for more info.
Long story short, you can Root the phone then use Safestrap as your recovery to install custom roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds good. I'll be rooting it soon once my SD card comes in.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

I don't see much action in the dev section that would make me believe its going to be cracked at all.thank Hashcode for what we do have.
sent from a I337 MF3 S4

Should I root now? I keep hearing about the latest update from Sprint...

So Sprint is pushing out their latest update which is supposed to be v4.3 with a bunch of apps that will prevent or cause problems for us root enthusiasts. I'm wondering if I should root with Sac now or forget about it?

heyjoojoo said:
So Sprint is pushing out their latest update which is supposed to be v4.3 with a bunch of apps that will prevent or cause problems for us root enthusiasts. I'm wondering if I should root with Sac now or forget about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bad place to post a question. This had been discussed and people will troll you. BUT sprint pushed out 4.3 with knox bootloader. Which that you cant downgrade to older firmwares. I havent heard of such apps that make rooting difficult. Ive rooted 4.3 stock mja with the latest cf auto root successfully but it triggered the knox flag which voided my warranty. Its either your choice really whether you want knox bootloader or not. Either way your able to flash 4.3 rom if your on 4.2.2 but you need to add extra steps.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app

heyjoojoo said:
So Sprint is pushing out their latest update which is supposed to be v4.3 with a bunch of apps that will prevent or cause problems for us root enthusiasts. I'm wondering if I should root with Sac now or forget about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So where can I download "Should I root now? v.1.0"?

ROMANTiC KiD said:
Bad place to post a question. This had been discussed and people will troll you. BUT sprint pushed out 4.3 with knox bootloader. Which that you cant downgrade to older firmwares. I havent heard of such apps that make rooting difficult. Ive rooted 4.3 stock mja with the latest cf auto root successfully but it triggered the knox flag which voided my warranty. Its either your choice really whether you want knox bootloader or not. Either way your able to flash 4.3 rom if your on 4.2.2 but you need to add extra steps.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your response. People can troll if they wish, they will get no response from me. Lol. But yes, that's a bit of a bummer that sprint would do this. I've heard that AT&T has already done this to some of their devices.

SGH-I337 AT&T 4.2.2 MF3 Rooted (Motochopper) - best route to AT&T 4.3?

Hi all,
My Google-fu is failing me and I'm not certain of the best route to take a Galaxy S4 SGH-I337 AT&T 4.2.2 MF3 (Rooted with Motochopper) up to the new AT&T 4.3 firmware.
Can anyone point me in the direction of a guide for doing this? Everything I'm reading seems like I'll have to sacrifice my root, flash to stock with Odin, and then wait for AT&T to re-release the OTA update to 4.3. Am I off base?

Motochopper cannot root MF3. We're you able to hold root when you upgraded and are hoping to keep root again?
At the moment yes you will have to sacrifice root. I did. Root keeper does not support android 4.3 and keeping with SuperSU does not work either.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

CAG-man said:
Motochopper cannot root MF3. We're you able to hold root when you upgraded and are hoping to keep root again?
At the moment yes you will have to sacrifice root. I did. Root keeper does not support android 4.3 and keeping with SuperSU does not work either.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is still rooted at this moment, though I'm on 4.2.2. I haven't upgraded anything yet. I was hoping there was a custom rom or something I could flash to get to 4.3 and retain root.

I'm just gonna wait until a stock 4.3 rom comes out that supports safestrap so I can keep root
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

mrpeters said:
My phone is still rooted at this moment, though I'm on 4.2.2. I haven't upgraded anything yet. I was hoping there was a custom rom or something I could flash to get to 4.3 and retain root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you are rooted with a custom recovery you CAN flash 4.3 now without losing root. Just use ShoStock-i MJ9 4.3http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2468860
Or VisionX MJ9 4.3 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2391142
Or Deadly Venom MJ9 4.3 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2503692
and POSSIBLY a couple other 4.3 Touchwiz firmwares that are found in the Android Development Section
These are all from he International MJ9 firmwares but to me are better than the ATT firmwares for 4.3. The ATT 4.3 removed the Data Toggle completely from the pulldown menu and now you have to go into settings each time to turn it on or off. Plus other changes that are solely LACKING compared to the international firmwares. I have tried two of the above and they are both great and the third from what I have read works great as well. They are all great devs. Try them out and I suggest using the Jeboo 3.0 kernel for best results.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337

I concur with RockRatt. Shostock-I is smooth. It is bundled with jeboos 3.0 kernel. Love it. Biased, though. I've been using Sho's roms since my/his s2 days..
Sent from my TARDIS

If "mrpeters" is MF3 he can't and shouldn't try flashing a 4.3 rom cause our MF3 Safestrap don't support it at the moment.
Sent from my ATT S4 MF3 using Tapatalk

mrpeters said:
Hi all,
My Google-fu is failing me and I'm not certain of the best route to take a Galaxy S4 SGH-I337 AT&T 4.2.2 MF3 (Rooted with Motochopper) up to the new AT&T 4.3 firmware.
Can anyone point me in the direction of a guide for doing this? Everything I'm reading seems like I'll have to sacrifice my root, flash to stock with Odin, and then wait for AT&T to re-release the OTA update to 4.3. Am I off base?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mrpeters said:
My phone is still rooted at this moment, though I'm on 4.2.2. I haven't upgraded anything yet. I was hoping there was a custom rom or something I could flash to get to 4.3 and retain root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jball said:
If "mrpeters" is MF3 he can't and shouldn't try flashing a 4.3 rom cause our MF3 Safestrap don't support it at the moment.
Sent from my ATT S4 MF3 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only gave the advice above because he said he is ROOTED WITH MOTOCHOPPER ON MF3. As we know MF3 cannot be rooted with motochopper. So I was guessing that he rooted while on MDL or MDB with motochopper and used a ROM to upgrade to MF3.
So unless he is/was mistaken with those comments and he meant to say rooted on MF3 with safestrap then I would of told him to look at the safestrap threads.
Hopefully he clears things up with that as I WON'T want to give him Bad Advice.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337

I didn't quote anybody for a reason.just stating facts based on my reading the OP post.its all good
Sent from my ATT S4 MF3 using Tapatalk

Yea there's a difference between having a phone shipped with MF3 and having upgraded to MF3
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

My phone stock was MDL and I took the OTA to MF3.
MF3 is MF3
Every time I read a thread anyone starts I also read the profiles of all the people in the threads posted.no clear mention of his base in his profile
Sent from my ATT S4 MF3 using Tapatalk

My phone was not MF3 stock. It got upgraded sometime after I rooted. To be completely honest, I'm not sure how. Kies maybe?
All I know is I still have root If I have to wait where I'm at, no big deal!

mrpeters said:
My phone was not MF3 stock. It got upgraded sometime after I rooted. To be completely honest, I'm not sure how. Kies maybe?
All I know is I still have root If I have to wait where I'm at, no big deal!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well my touch screen has stopped working, so now this phone gets to go back to AT&T for repairs.
whats the best way to remove root and factory default it?

sorry to bump an old thread, but I wanted to see if anything had changed so I could upgrade from my rooted 4.2.2 I337UCUAMF3 to one of the newer OS versions that are out. This phone was a warranty replacement, but I had no trouble rooting it with Motochopper when I got it so I don't think it came stock with MF3, but its been 6 months so I can't say for certain.

mrpeters said:
sorry to bump an old thread, but I wanted to see if anything had changed so I could upgrade from my rooted 4.2.2 I337UCUAMF3 to one of the newer OS versions that are out. This phone was a warranty replacement, but I had no trouble rooting it with Motochopper when I got it so I don't think it came stock with MF3, but its been 6 months so I can't say for certain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could flash the md3 tar and return it to stock. Then let out update itself. You'll lose root and you'll want to read some of the threads on the general section dealing with mk2 and nb1 before you do so so you know what you're getting in to
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727

jd1639 said:
You could flash the md3 tar and return it to stock. Then let out update itself. You'll lose root and you'll want to read some of the threads on the general section dealing with mk2 and nb1 before you do so so you know what you're getting in to
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
10-4. I don't want to lose root, so that's key. I should have clarified that. I use too many apps (LightFlow, NoBloat, Titanium, etc.) that I wouldn't want to give up.

mrpeters said:
10-4. I don't want to lose root, so that's key. I should have clarified that. I use too many apps (LightFlow, NoBloat, Titanium, etc.) that I wouldn't want to give up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could flash 4.3 MK2 with odin then root with saferoot.
The 4.3 tar can be found here http://d-h.st/wH3 The pit here http://d-h.st/5gz
Saferoot can be found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2565758

jball said:
My phone stock was MDL and I took the OTA to MF3.
MF3 is MF3
Every time I read a thread anyone starts I also read the profiles of all the people in the threads posted.no clear mention of his base in his profile
My MDL updated itself when I went back to stock and forgot to disable OTA. Now that I'm locked into TW, is there a reason NOT to update to MK2? I know that it will install KNOX but with saferoot and safestrap, I'll have the same functionality of my rooted MF3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I am at the same place in my phone. Were you ever able to update to 4.3 I need to do the same to have access to certain options and apps

[Q] Bootloader Help

OMG!!!! After tons of reading for a way to check if my Bootloader is locked. I have gotten no result except to use safstrap for bootloader stuff or what not. I just want a straight answer to my question/s. A post should also be sticky about this.
My Phone BASEBAND is I337UCUAMF3
1.How do I know if my bootloader is unlocked or locked. When I go into download mode, will it say like bootloader=locked/unlocked or so.
2.If its locked. How do i unlock it. Secure or non secure. Just wanna install CWM/TWRP Recovery with updates straight from there site without a need for modification like safestrap. Wanna install custom roms A.S.A.P

alvin14 said:
OMG!!!! After tons of reading for a way to check if my Bootloader is locked. I have gotten no result except to use safstrap for bootloader stuff or what not. I just want a straight answer to my question/s. A post should also be sticky about this.
My Phone BASEBAND is I337UCUAMF3
1.How do I know if my bootloader is unlocked or locked. When I go into download mode, will it say like bootloader=locked/unlocked or so.
2.If its locked. How do i unlock it. Secure or non secure. Just wanna install CWM/TWRP Recovery with updates straight from there site without a need for modification like safestrap. Wanna install custom roms A.S.A.P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any AT&T I337 that's MF3, MK2, or NB1 has a locked bootloader so don't bother checking. So far there is no exploit, Devs are working on it and when they crack it it will be all over the S4 threads. Safe strap is the only way to run custom roms. Don't try to flash a custom recovery.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

dave5777 said:
Any AT&T I337 that's MF3, MK2, or NB1 has a locked bootloader so don't bother checking. So far there is no exploit, Devs are working on it and when they crack it it will be all over the S4 threads. Safe strap is the only way to run custom roms. Don't try to flash a custom recovery.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for your speedy reply. So upgrading my Baseband to something else wont change the bootloader locked? I am also guessing every AT&T S4 comes bootloader locked then... In other words, would it be best i get my i9500 back since i don't have to worry about bootloader locked and brick and all that stuff that's currently making my i337 useless.

Yes every AT&T is locked, get your i9500 back.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

dave5777 said:
Yes every AT&T is locked, get your i9500 back.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a million. Now that was easy and straight forward. Someone should create a sticky thread of this topic with it close so no replies. Damn. Information was so hard to get but many thanks to you. It was a breeze.

alvin14 said:
Thanks a million. Now that was easy and straight forward. Someone should create a sticky thread of this topic with it close so no replies. Damn. Information was so hard to get but many thanks to you. It was a breeze.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This information is already in the "stickied" threads.

[Request] Update from NB1 to NC1

currently I am outside us i want NC1 Frimware to upgrade with out rooting my device
ٍSorry i but it on wrong place i want to move it to question sections i am sorry for that

The NC1 update is provided by your carrier. You should just be able to do a check for updates on your device and it'll find it. Please know that it's a very recent update and not much is known about how it affects custom ROMs or the rooting process. I updated to it and I'm waiting to see what the experts here say.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

5erv0 said:
The NC1 update is provided by your carrier. You should just be able to do a check for updates on your device and it'll find it. Please know that it's a very recent update and not much is known about how it affects custom ROMs or the rooting process. I updated to it and I'm waiting to see what the experts here say.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My carrier is At&t and they don't allow any update out the US

There was another thread I posted this to but for some reason the OP wanted the thread deleted.
So here is the link to the file I was pushed.
https://mega.co.nz/#!oYp13KoL!iM-Wr_M4ix22OeLw6cne0G1WXH7BjuN9i0Fr995G6lQ
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

0o0nano0o0 said:
My carrier is At&t and they don't allow any update out the US
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Currently living in Japan and my i337 took the 4.3 and 4.4 updates just fine prior to rooting.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

0o0nano0o0 said:
currently I am outside us i want NC1 Frimware to upgrade with out rooting my device
ٍSorry i but it on wrong place i want to move it to question sections i am sorry for that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly do not trust the update and I will explain. I believe the update was pushed to prevent us, the custom ROM users, from downgrading back to mf3. We all know that in mf3 there is an exploit where we can change the kernel inside the memory or something like that. I am rooted on nb1 and am running a bootloader that lets me downgrade back to mf3. It would make sense to me that they are trying to prevent that exploit. I know they probably fix a stability issue or something but I would not flash to nc1 if you don't want custom roms here in the near future.

braindead444 said:
I honestly do not trust the update and I will explain. I believe the update was pushed to prevent us, the custom ROM users, from downgrading back to mf3. We all know that in mf3 there is an exploit where we can change the kernel inside the memory or something like that. I am rooted on nb1 and am running a bootloader that lets me downgrade back to mf3. It would make sense to me that they are trying to prevent that exploit. I know they probably fix a stability issue or something but I would not flash to nc1 if you don't want custom roms here in the near future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We could never downgrade to mf3, only a partial downgrade to MK2 from nb1. And jeboo already said the nc1 bootloader does not increment the q fuse counter so you can still go back to nb1 if you want...

braindead444 said:
I honestly do not trust the update and I will explain. I believe the update was pushed to prevent us, the custom ROM users, from downgrading back to mf3. We all know that in mf3 there is an exploit where we can change the kernel inside the memory or something like that. I am rooted on nb1 and am running a bootloader that lets me downgrade back to mf3. It would make sense to me that they are trying to prevent that exploit. I know they probably fix a stability issue or something but I would not flash to nc1 if you don't want custom roms here in the near future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dmc2359 said:
We could never downgrade to mf3, only a partial downgrade to MK2 from nb1. And jeboo already said the nc1 bootloader does not increment the q fuse counter so you can still go back to nb1 if you want...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On top of that, the exploit is at the kernel level. We can still get the MK2 kernel so we can still get the exploit. That's why bypasslkm still works on the downgrade.
Sent from my SGH-I337 running Blackbox 3.0

I was Odining back to stock MK2 and after it was finished I set it up then went outside real quick. Came back and phone said it was updated to this NC1 firmware and this happens when looks like potential progress on the "serious about unlocking bootloader" thread f u ATT.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app

Thread moved :good:

raulz28 said:
I was Odining back to stock MK2 and after it was finished I set it up then went outside real quick. Came back and phone said it was updated to this NC1 firmware and this happens when looks like potential progress on the "serious about unlocking bootloader" thread f u ATT.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry, chances are exploits will function still if one is found, and if Hashcode implements kexec you'll still be fine.

0o0nano0o0 said:
My carrier is At&t and they don't allow any update out the US
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you should be able to connect through a proxy and download the update over wifi that way. Note that the update will only work over WiFi... not mobile data. I hope you get it worked out.

CAG-man said:
There was another thread I posted this to but for some reason the OP wanted the thread deleted.
So here is the link to the file I was pushed.
https://mega.co.nz/#!oYp13KoL!iM-Wr_M4ix22OeLw6cne0G1WXH7BjuN9i0Fr995G6lQ
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sir,
Download the OTA package I337UCUFNC1 19MB Zip File
This Link Not Working : https://mega.co.nz/#!oYp13KoL!iM-Wr_M4ix22OeLw6cne0G1WXH7BjuN9i0Fr995G6lQ
Unavailable To Download
Plz Give Fresh Link :
Plz Upload Official NC1 Update 19MB ... I Can't Download Plz Upload Another Link I Need Sir
Plz Help Me :crying: