Flash to stock mf3 firmware? - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

I have been rooted on mf3, and want to get the new 4.3 update, however, i learned that even though I am unrooted, it still will no work, and I need to restore to the stock mf3 rom. Now after 4 hours of searching and soft-bricking my phone and recovering it, I have no idea how to do it. Any help? I'm new to this on android.

HeDsh0t said:
I have been rooted on mf3, and want to get the new 4.3 update, however, i learned that even though I am unrooted, it still will no work, and I need to restore to the stock mf3 rom. Now after 4 hours of searching and soft-bricking my phone and recovering it, I have no idea how to do it. Any help? I'm new to this on android.
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Check out Q1 and Q7 in the FAQ

Related

Back to stock 4.0.4 ICS after new update 4.1.2 JB

I just want to let everyone know that it is possible to go back to ICS after updating to 4.1.2(9.16.6) I was rooted on 4.1.1 today, used ota root keeper to temp unroot and update to 4.1.2 and restore root. I just used Matts RazrHD utility 1.10 and went back to ICS 4.0.4 with no problems what so ever...
Im not sure why its stated that once you update to the newest release that you cannot go back, but its possible. So for everyone that wants to try out 4.1.2 and didnt want to be stuck, you can downgrade.
Hope this helps.
Also for everyone willing to try to downgrade please post results and type of phone you have, also the way you downgraded...
Device: Razr HD XT926 US Verizon non dev ed.
Original firmware 4.0.4(0.6.25)
Used RazrHD Utility 1.10 to downgrade
UPDATE: 3/21
I tried to downgrade again so I can post screen shots for everyone, and it did not work this time!!! Something must have changed/sync'd with my phone since the last time I downgraded that did not sync the first time. This has been a strange experience, but I would not have posted if I really did not have success the first time! It now gives errors, and I have tried everything I could imagine. My phone is not bricked and I am still rooted and have SS.
Preserving the option to downgrade to ICS is certainly important to me. Please, what phone do you have and from what country is your carrier (and thus, presumably, your version of stock ICS)?
lesdense said:
Preserving the option to downgrade to ICS is certainly important to me. Please, what phone do you have and from what country is your carrier (and thus, presumably, your version of stock ICS)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XT926 Verizon US non dev edition, ICS 4.0.4 (0.6.25)
I will add it to the OP
OK ... I've got to know. Why did you leave 9.1.2 immediately after upgrading to it? The knowledge that downgrading back to 4.0.4 from 4.1.2 is certainly valuable, but knowing what prompted you to upgrade and then so quickly downgrade would be valuable to know as well. Did the upgrade go smoothly? Did the upgrade not function as expected?
lesdense said:
OK ... I've got to know. Why did you leave 9.1.2 immediately after upgrading to it? The knowledge that downgrading back to 4.0.4 from 4.1.2 is certainly valuable, but knowing what prompted you to upgrade and then so quickly downgrade would be valuable to know as well. Did the upgrade go smoothly? Did the upgrade not function as expected?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it was fine... I had some weird problems with data switching, from wifi to mobile... Sometimes it wouldn't switch back to mobile after turning off wifi but that was only a couple of times. I really just wanted to see if it was possible to downgrade and was willing to do it even though I could of been stuck without a phone. I also like to start fresh by downgrading and wiping/formatting my sd card every month or so. Im back on 4.1.1 now and will probably go to 4.1.2 soon on my stock slot either way.
What I did was Remote into a DROID RAZR HD owner's computer and flash the ICS boot.img file through fastboot. It failed pre-flash validation so I flashed to new boot.img back on there and considered it a case closed.
If it works to go back by using the Utility, thats great news. However I am not going to remove the warning until I get more than just one confirmation on it.
great news thx
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
I have JB 4.1.2 now and using Matt's tool, I can't seem to get it to downgrade. It will run through the process, then it will just boot up into 4.1.2 again. It gets a couple failed things along the way.
Because I'm still weighing whether to upgrade to 4.1.2 can you tell me -- did you get 4.1.2 OTA or did you flash a file? If you did a "manual" upgrade, how is the experience? Problems? Anything not working, or not working right?
Ota, everything went fine during the upgrade. Just make sure if you are rooted to activate stock slot and wipe all other slots. I also restored a backup of stock jb 4.1.1 I made a week ago with all apps updated and working. Then just booted up and temp unrooted with ota root keeper and accepted the ota. Restored root after it booted. Only thing that was different from other updates is that safe strap did not work afterwards so I had to uninstall and reinstall.
I don't see much improvement, but I just got back to 4.1.2 late last night after downgrading so that's not much time to tell if the improvements are there. I have not tried HDMI out yet,but will later today.
If anyone else tries to downgrade to stock 4.0.4 ICS from this latest update 4.1.2, please post what type of phone you have and if it worked for you. Any problems...???
Sent from my XT926 using Tapatalk 2
an21281 said:
Ota, everything went fine during the upgrade. Just make sure if you are rooted to activate stock slot and wipe all other slots. I also restored a backup of stock jb 4.1.1 I made a week ago with all apps updated and working. Then just booted up and temp unrooted with ota root keeper and accepted the ota. Restored root after it booted. Only thing that was different from other updates is that safe strap did not work afterwards so I had to uninstall and reinstall.
I don't see much improvement, but I just got back to 4.1.2 late last night after downgrading so that's not much time to tell if the improvements are there. I have not tried HDMI out yet,but will later today.
If anyone else tries to downgrade to stock 4.0.4 ICS from this latest update 4.1.2, please post what type of phone you have and if it worked for you. Any problems...???
Sent from my XT926 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to wipe your rom slots.just go back to stock slot take the ota and then reinstall safestrap recovery (not the program).your roms will still be there and functional.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
Don't know how I've missed all this "stock slot, rom slots" business. I've rooted Android phones and tablets, installed custom ROMs, I've still a noob but learning. Does "slots" refer to all that sdcard0, sdcard1, usbdisk_1.0 business in /storage? I don't think I'd seen that on any of my devices until I got my Maxx HD with 4.1.1. Or are slots part of SafeStrap (I have that too but only because it was on my phone when I bought it on eBay)? Upgrading to 4.1.2 sounds like it goes smoothly if you do it right and is a pain if you don't. Sure would appreciate a little guidance that's specific to this set of tasks.
Well I feel like an idiot. I got the leaked 4.1.2 and now it's literally impossible to downgrade. I hadn't installed any bootloaders/roots/ or anything before doing this, so now that my phone is 4.1.2, it's basically stuck there.
I've tried hours and hours of everything. If anyone has any idea on how to bypass this I'd be grateful.
Mystique5022 said:
Well I feel like an idiot. I got the leaked 4.1.2 and now it's literally impossible to downgrade. I hadn't installed any bootloaders/roots/ or anything before doing this, so now that my phone is 4.1.2, it's basically stuck there.
I've tried hours and hours of everything. If anyone has any idea on how to bypass this I'd be grateful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why it wont work for you, but Im going to downgrade again and post up screen shots and a vid. also. Just waiting for my phone to charge.
only ocigrarn
an21281 said:
Not sure why it wont work for you, but Im going to downgrade again and post up screen shots and a vid. also. Just waiting for my phone to charge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you do this procedure from stock? I tried from 100% stock. No unlocked bootloader, no root, nothing. I'm also using a Verizon Phone.
an21281 said:
I just want to let everyone know that it is possible to go back to ICS after updating to 4.1.2(9.16.6) I was rooted on 4.1.1 today, used ota root keeper to temp unroot and update to 4.1.2 and restore root. I just used Matts RazrHD utility 1.10 and went back to ICS 4.0.4 with no problems what so ever...
Im not sure why its stated that once you update to the newest release that you cannot go back, but its possible. So for everyone that wants to try out 4.1.2 and didnt want to be stuck, you can downgrade.
Hope this helps.
Also for everyone willing to try to downgrade please post results and type of phone you have, also the way you downgraded...
Device: Razr HD XT926 US Verizon non dev ed.
Original firmware 4.0.4(0.6.25)
Used RazrHD Utility 1.10 to downgrade
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you cant.
thewahlrus said:
No you cant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I downgraded successfully yesterday, so I reported my experience... I have no reason to lie, otherwise I would not have posted this in the first place!
I had some problems with my comp. and the usb/moto drivers on win7 today so I was trying to fix that before I could try again. I attempted to downgrade/restore to ICS again and this time it did not work! I cant see how it worked for me yesterday and today it wont? I was so happy when it worked, but something must have changed within the last day which is odd. I always upgrade and root the same way, and I have tried everything today to get it to downgrade with no luck. My phone still works so it is not bricked, and I apologize to everyone, like I said it did downgrade yesterday with the RazrHD utility 1.10 and there were no errors what so ever. Now after it asks you to hit any key once the phone comes back on in FB errors come right up. Some things seem to flash though, which is strange and basically it does a factory reset on the 4.1.2 . SS is still installed, its still rooted, and works fine. I can even restore back up of 4.1.1 stock jb(which I made last night after I downgraded to ICS and was upgrading again) on stock slot after wiping data/cache/dalvic and system and boot up to show 4.1.1 and then either try to downgrade, which fails, or take the ota and/or flash 4.1.2 manually but it fails also. Then I just reflash a back up of 4.1.2 and its fine IDK... I also flashed Vit 1.9.3 on stock slot fine, boots etc. but still wont let me downgrade. Then I tried uninstalling all updated apps on 4.1.2 and clearing data on all apps, still nothing.
So for some reason it let me successfully downgrade yesterday, but not anymore. So like many people have said do not try until there's a safe way, unless you are willing to risk bricking.
I am downloading the 4.1.2 fastboot files now.
mattlgroff said:
I am downloading the 4.1.2 fastboot files now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're amazing.are you a moto insider lol
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
koftheworld said:
You're amazing.are you a moto insider lol
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
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I have friends in the Firmware Team

MF3, MD5, 4.3...Ive gotten myself lost

I purchased my S4 shortly after its release...around the beginning of the summer.
I immediately rooted it and, at the advice of these forums, froze with Titanium Backup the service that calls for OS updates (so I wouldnt loose the ability to roor, custom backup and ROM). I am running stock ROM on a rooted phone and for now dont intend to put anything custom on.
I know since then there have been a number of updates, none of which I have received as I have frozen my update service.
Im totally unaware of what improvements, if any, these updates may have brought and am wondering whether I should allow AT&T to update my phone (and get whatever benefits come from 4.3, etc.) or whether I should stick to my 4.2.2 which (I think) is the MF3 that people recommended Id want to preserve.
Advice?
Thanks.
lirong said:
I purchased my S4 shortly after its release...around the beginning of the summer.
I immediately rooted it and, at the advice of these forums, froze with Titanium Backup the service that calls for OS updates (so I wouldnt loose the ability to roor, custom backup and ROM). I am running stock ROM on a rooted phone and for now dont intend to put anything custom on.
I know since then there have been a number of updates, none of which I have received as I have frozen my update service.
Im totally unaware of what improvements, if any, these updates may have brought and am wondering whether I should allow AT&T to update my phone (and get whatever benefits come from 4.3, etc.) or whether I should stick to my 4.2.2 which (I think) is the MF3 that people recommended Id want to preserve.
Advice?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you really have no interest in roms then you can go ahead and update. I'm on mf3 on a rom, so am not 100% sure on root, but it looks like some people have been able to upgrade and keep root, you might want to look more into that. But if you have no interest in roms and you can update and still root then I would say go for it.
However, if you are pre mf3 that's when it becomes tricky. If you are pre mf3 and update you lose a lot of freedom with ROMs. So if you have interest in other roms and are currently pre mf3, I would stick with pre mf3 and not update.
lirong said:
I purchased my S4 shortly after its release...around the beginning of the summer.
I immediately rooted it and, at the advice of these forums, froze with Titanium Backup the service that calls for OS updates (so I wouldnt loose the ability to roor, custom backup and ROM). I am running stock ROM on a rooted phone and for now dont intend to put anything custom on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm kind of in the same position, and I've been wondering the same thing.
I got my S 4 in May 2013. It came with 4.2.2 on MDL. I immediately rooted and froze the update service. I installed a custom recovery with the intention of exploring newer roms at some point, but I'm not sure what I'm missing by staying on 4.2.2 vs. 4.3. So much of the activity now surrounds the capabilities of 4.3, that I am feeling a bit left out!
mikew99 said:
I'm kind of in the same position, and I've been wondering the same thing.
I got my S 4 in May 2013. It came with 4.2.2 on MDL. I immediately rooted and froze the update service. I installed a custom recovery with the intention of exploring newer roms at some point, but I'm not sure what I'm missing by staying on 4.2.2 vs. 4.3. So much of the activity now surrounds the capabilities of 4.3, that I am feeling a bit left out!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Youre one of the few that actually still have a custom recovery! Use it to your advantage to flash a MK9 rom, as I think thats the latest software version from samsung
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
bennyboy78 said:
Youre one of the few that actually still have a custom recovery! Use it to your advantage to flash a MK9 rom, as I think thats the latest software version from samsung
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All Canadian variants can run custom recovery. No locked bootloaders in canada. However doing so, does trip knox. If you don't care about knox, and have an sgh-i337m then custom recovery away. This includes latest mk6 jb4.3
Sent from my SGH-I337M
Here's my $.02
If you STILL have MDB or MDL bootloaders that CAME on your phone keep the same bootloaders and DO NOT UPDATE with the OTA's.
You can find Roms JUST LIKE YOUR ON that are PURE STOCK 4.2.2 MF3 or PURE STOCK 4.3 MK2 without losing any of the functionality of those on the 4.3 or 4.2.2 stock firmwares.
OR you can use some STOCK BASED Roms Like ShoStock-MF3 that has some added benefits WITHOUT sacrificing anything. Or try even NEWER 4.3 Roms Like ShoStock-i 4.3 MK8 with all the added benefits of stock firmwares with some slight added benefits as well. Basically if you keep your original bootloaders you CAN DO anything you WANT without sacrificing what those users lost by upgrading or buying with MF3 or newer already installed.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
And like "RockRatt" +$.02
I know for myself I haven't been on MDL for a long time so until this nut gets cracked I'm up to date .those that are pre MF3 should hold on to what you have. cause like I tell most normal people that don't mess with there phones like we at XDA do that have a problem with there stock phone.Samsung devs do the same thing as XDA devs do minus the mad improvements/mods , so expect bugs of any sort from either. What I'm getting at is pre MF3 you have the option to find perfection using "Loki".
I will add that the newest update (MK2) runs pretty good
ROOTED ATT MK2 using Tapatalk

[Q] Help with Durn updates!

my Computer crashed on me a few weeks back and I lost pretty much all my files. Thankfully my personal files were all backed up, but none of my phone modification files survived. I meant to post here to ask for links and such, but couldn't remember what exactly I had. Then an update hits my phone. Never ever had luck updating a rooted phone. Always just ended up ignoring the icon until I got a new one. Well now there's TWO updates that I've fallen behind on......Better figure it out. So. Please. Help.
Info on phone:
Sprint L720T on MK5 Rooted stock rom.
My Question(s)
How to either un-root to get the updates OTA,
OR
How to flash updated stock roms
I've used odin, obviously, to flash the rooted stock. Pretty sure I used cf's autoroot. I just need a Link to Odin and a brief run down of what I'm trying to do. I may fire back a question or two.
I saw a post on flashing what I believe was a stock 4.3 and then up to 4.4.2. Well that's awesome, but I've TWO updates. Is 4.4.2 the newest? And why am I seeing numbers for jellybean, when I typically see things like "NAE" or "MK5".
And why is it sooo easy to root a bloody phone, but a nightmare to UNROOT said phone? Would think that "click, click....and bam. back to normal". Unfortunately, either I'm looking at the wrong things or I really do have to track down stock files for my specific model to re-flash with odin, then accept OTA, then re-root....?
If so, that SEEMS simple enough, but finding stock for my SPECIFIC model is....frustrating. So please, kind folks, help me out with some direct links to what I need?
Pretty sure answers to the question posted above exist on XDA
Use odin to flash L720TVPUAMK5_L720TSPTAMK5_L720TVPUAMK5_HOME.tar.md5
Use the stock recovery to factory reset.
Phone is now unrooted.
.
This^^ there are tutorials and videos on YouTube that show how to use Odin. All you do is place the tar on the PDA section.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
8er said:
Pretty sure answers to the question posted above exist on XDA
Use odin to flash L720TVPUAMK5_L720TSPTAMK5_L720TVPUAMK5_HOME.tar.md5
Use the stock recovery to factory reset.
Phone is now unrooted.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all I needed. Ty!
wait. i cant seem to come up with that file.
Got the stock ROM from sammobile.com.
http://www.sammobile.com
Ralamzull said:
wait. i cant seem to come up with that file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hit the thanks button if this helped.

Is my phone rooted, if yes how do I flash?

Here's my situation. Last year I bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 unlocked AT&T (SGH-i337) phone from ebay. I am using Cricket. A few months back I tried updating it by going to the update area and checking for an update. I am on 4.2.2 and wanted to upgrade to KitKat. Well my phone tells me every single time it's up to date even though I know it's not. I decided to use Kies to see if I could update it using that instead. Kies tells me my firmware is also up to date. I gave up for a few months.
Now that Lollipop is out for my phone I tried once again doing the same things. Once again both ways say my phone is up to date. I looked through multiple forums to finally find a possible answer. My phone may have been rooted at some point and apparently if it was, it can't be upgraded. I read it needs flashed back to stock. I looked at a nice long guide on here on how to flash back to stock and saw you need to know which boot loader you have?
Please help me guys. I'm assuming my phone was rooted and have never rooted myself but I want to flash to stock so that I can upgrade to Lollipop. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Flash the nb1 tar file in Odin and then let it ota up to 5.0.1. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50912149
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
I flashed it successfully and am now on 4.4.2 however OTA and Kies both still say my device is up to date. At this point it doesn't look like I will ever be able to update using these two ways. I looked around trying to find a Lollipop flash but didn't know if any of them were safe. Can anybody point me toward a safe stock flash for Lollipop, or does this not exist yet?
GMLancers58 said:
I flashed it successfully and am now on 4.4.2 however OTA and Kies both still say my device is up to date. At this point it doesn't look like I will ever be able to update using these two ways. I looked around trying to find a Lollipop flash but didn't know if any of them were safe. Can anybody point me toward a safe stock flash for Lollipop, or does this not exist yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ota's are rolled out in phases. You might have to wait a day or two for it to show up
Edit, alternatively you can read thru this carefully, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53758227
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

A bit of guidance please with S4 SGH-I337

I have a S4 Samsung SGH-I337 which is grey import to the UK. It is unlocked for any carrier but still bloated with ATT.
I would like to install and alternative ROM but am getting confused as whether this is possible or not. Have read so many threads and just as I think it is ok, I find another obstacle in the way.
So far I have found that the SGH I337 has a locked bootloader but it can be bypassed by using the loki method. I have now found that this has the MF3 firmware (I337UCUAMF3) and from reading through various threads I am not sure if installing another ROM is possible.
I would welcome some help with this please.
With a locked bootloader, you are limited to flashing tw-based ROMs with safestrap.
audit13 said:
With a locked bootloader, you are limited to flashing tw-based ROMs with safestrap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done a lot more reading on SGH I337 MF3 Non Active version running 4.2.2.
It seems that Safeguard will install but the only custom ROMS you can install are the Touchwiz and GED. Having looked at them neither appeal. So will have to give up on this or will end up bricking it.
MF3 is android jelly bean and it is an old OS. May be you prefer jelly beam. If I were you , I would upgrade my phone to Kitkat NB1 , root the phone and debloat the ATT stuff. There are also some cool kitkat custom there though.
sway8966 said:
MF3 is android jelly bean and it is an old OS. May be you prefer jelly beam. If I were you , I would upgrade my phone to Kitkat NB1 , root the phone and debloat the ATT stuff. There are also some cool kitkat custom there though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but I don't know if it is possible on this phone because of the AT&T on it, also I am using it in the UK.
I tried Kies and that comes up with "sgh i337 does not support initialising". Don't know if it would help if I did a factory reset. I have backed up everything to Kies.
I have looked at various threads about upgrading the o/s but seems to be the same as installing another ROM and is fraught with the same warnings.
dg2016 said:
Thanks, but I don't know if it is possible on this phone because of the AT&T on it, also I am using it in the UK.
I tried Kies and that comes up with "sgh i337 does not support initialising". Don't know if it would help if I did a factory reset. I have backed up everything to Kies.
I have looked at various threads about upgrading the o/s but seems to be the same as installing another ROM and is fraught with the same warnings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is possible for your phone. Here is a guide for the AT&T S4. I used that guide for my i337.
I use kies to check whether I have proper usb driver installed on my pic for the phone. That's it. I did try once to use kies to upgrade the firmware and it did not let me do it. Then again my phone was rooted and I was on a custom rom.
Factory reset will clear your caches. That is all.
The thread I mentioned is a guide to upgrade to lollipop rom . If you do not want to go to lollipop and stay in Kitkat , you could stop after the step one in Post #2. Then use twol root to root the phone.
If you want to stay in Jelly bean just to root the phone, there is a guide near the end of Post #2.
If you want just to root your mf3, here is a guide.
Thanks for the links. I am reading through them slowly.
Need my phone for work tomorrow so will try later in the week.
I have seen mentioned many times about the boot screen showing "Custom" and unlocked padlock. Does this have any effect on the process? Can't remember when it appeared or if it has always been there.
dg2016 said:
Thanks for the links. I am reading through them slowly.
Need my phone for work tomorrow so will try later in the week.
I have seen mentioned many times about the boot screen showing "Custom" and unlocked padlock. Does this have any effect on the process? Can't remember when it appeared or if it has always been there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that "custom" only shows up on the boot screen. I had that once. Has no effect on the operation of the phone. Only that you wont be able to get it fixed under warranty but with a device this old, I doubt you still have warranty.
I used kies to revert back to stock to get rid of the custom boot screen then re rooted. But then again I'm on MDL and I got custom by flashing a recovery that wasn't loki'd.
dg2016 said:
Thanks for the links. I am reading through them slowly.
Need my phone for work tomorrow so will try later in the week.
I have seen mentioned many times about the boot screen showing "Custom" and unlocked padlock. Does this have any effect on the process? Can't remember when it appeared or if it has always been there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The boot screen showing "Custom" and unlocked padlock means you have rooted OS and saying your warranty is void. It will not have any effect on the process. But I have one more information from you that your phone might be rooted. If your phone is rooted you have an admin right.
Download app like Root checker and see whether you have a proper root.
Check your app drawer and see you have app calls superSU installed and properly working.
Since your main concern was AT&T bloatware so you can start debloating those apps.
If you still want to upgrade the phone, follow the guides that I mentioned.

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