So I am upgrading from my beloved S3 to the Red S4 now, getting it in on Tues. Thank you employee line deals.. So anyways, I saw some stickies about to avoid the OTA otherwise can not flash a diff kernel, correct? That there are no odin files of the new update.
That being said, How will I know when I get my device in, if they already gave it to me updated or if its where I can custom rom it. Would figure its a certain thing in the status menu part for a version. Dont wanna mess this up, so doing my research now.
Also any custom roms that are super worth it? I know on my S3, I use a nice one with the multi window and floating windows. So if there is a super good one to use, IF I can use one, what is it?
Also does the toolbox program we used for the S3 work for S4? (Havent checked on updates in awhile) cause I need to least root this sucker if I wanna restore my titanium backups.
Anyways thanks for any points in the right direction, this is the part I always hated.. working with a new phone then sitting with it till I study up on all the roms and tweaking of it.
When you get your device got to settings>more>about device and if the the last three characters of the baseband is MF3 then you can only use stock kernels with safestrap recovery and if it is MDL or MDB you can have custom recovery, custom roms with motochopper root. There are some pretty good roms out there. Unfortunately i'm on MF3 cause i got the OTA and it updated overnight.
Also when you first get your box with the phone inside. Look on the outside of the box and it will show which firmware is on it. It will have the last three letters of mdb, MDL, or MF3. All I can say is HOPE for MDL which may or may not be possible. But the red colored ones do not seem to go as fast so HOPEFULLY it is MDL.
Next course of action IF it is MDL is DO NOT connect to WiFi, and I would also suggest NOT putting in the Sim card yet. Download Motochopper by Jbliss and or Casual+motochopper by Adam Outler which will root and install tarp recovery. Then read up from there and flash a ROM.
If it comes with MF3 then you will need to flash SafeStrap to be able to out "some Roms" onto your phone and have root. But safestrap is more limited than what you are used to/what I posted in the paragraph above.
I am GUESSING you are buying it from ATT? Then chances may be slim of anything other than mf3. But I did get a MDL from Walmart (they had black and white if I remember correctly, not sure about red). I got a black one with MDL about a month ago and they had two others in stock. So places like that MAY be a better bet for you.
Now this is MY opinion and take it for what it is worth. I will NEVER be buying another ATT phone due to how hard they are locking the boitloaders down. NEVER... So my next suggestion is get a T-Mobile S4 and you can use it on ATT and it does not have locked bootloaders at this time and hopefully never.
Read all the sticky threads about MF3 and prepare yourself in case you want to keep it. Good luck to you
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
You will have to try out different roms and see for yourself what they have to offer.if it turns out to be MF3 take the most important advice "!!READ!!"
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Before you get your phone read a whole lot about it. Read all the pinned (stickies) threads first. Then keep reading before you do anything with it. Good luck!
RockRatt said:
Also when you first get your box with the phone inside. Look on the outside of the box and it will show which firmware is on it. It will have the last three letters of mdb, MDL, or MF3. All I can say is HOPE for MDL which may or may not be possible. But the red colored ones do not seem to go as fast so HOPEFULLY it is MDL.
Next course of action IF it is MDL is DO NOT connect to WiFi, and I would also suggest NOT putting in the Sim card yet. Download Motochopper by Jbliss and or Casual+motochopper by Adam Outler which will root and install tarp recovery. Then read up from there and flash a ROM.
If it comes with MF3 then you will need to flash SafeStrap to be able to out "some Roms" onto your phone and have root. But safestrap is more limited than what you are used to/what I posted in the paragraph above.
I am GUESSING you are buying it from ATT?
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Yes, getting from ATT dealer accounts, while I know I can use T-Mobiles stuff, I wouldnt have the "LTE" ability, which is what is happening now with my TMO S3, I have 4G, yes, but not LTE. So giving that phone to my friend for her upgrade, so she can get LTE with TMO while upgrading myself. Now if I am MDL, then woot, I take it its almost business as usual with the way I worked my roms and so of the past?
Then lets say I am MF3, now that in itself. may not be "as bad" since honestly, the S3's rom was pretty solid out of the box, just root it and go. Could I assume if I dont wanna put a diff rom on MF3, I could least root the stock rom easy enough and move on? (Plus could use titanium backup to remove the bloat) Seems abit crazy on MF3 and safe strap, sounds like its using the internal storage space to run the rom off of.
Now in regards to if I am MDL, I assume you mean download motochopper for the pc, then hook up and let it run. Now after that point, is my phone safe from OTA? Do I need to install a new rom right then and there or can I use stock rom and know that I am safe from it updating to MF3. Just making sure I got my notes right for tm morning when it comes in by fedex heh.
Qbeezy24 said:
When you get your device got to settings>more>about device and if the the last three characters of the baseband is MF3 then you can only use stock kernels with safestrap recovery and if it is MDL or MDB you can have custom recovery, custom roms with motochopper root. There are some pretty good roms out there. Unfortunately i'm on MF3 cause i got the OTA and it updated overnight.
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So there is no difference in MDL and MDB? Or was MDL still better? Sounds like really the next couple days are gonna be research and testing.. thats after I put my screen protector on it heh.
Mysticales said:
Now if I am MDL, then woot, I take it its almost business as usual with the way I worked my roms and so of the past?
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Yes it would be almost exactly business as usual. Of course READ any Roms HOW TO INSTALL section. About the only difference from the S3 flashing is if you are flashing kernels/Roms make sure the are loki'd or use Loki doki during flashing. Again read up on this.
Mysticales said:
Then lets say I am MF3, now that in itself. may not be "as bad" since honestly, the S3's rom was pretty solid out of the box, just root it and go. Could I assume if I dont wanna put a diff rom on MF3, I could least root the stock rom easy enough and move on? (Plus could use titanium backup to remove the bloat) Seems abit crazy on MF3 and safe strap, sounds like its using the internal storage space to run the rom off of.
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Yes you can flash some Roms (4.2.2 based Roms) with Safestrap. Read all about safestrap as I do not have it and don't know many if the answers since I cannot test. But the one thing is be VERY CAREFUL removing bloat with tibu, once it is gone you will NOT be able to get it back. Read many horror stories if debloating gone wrong and phone not working.
Mysticales said:
Now in regards to if I am MDL, I assume you mean download motochopper for the pc, then hook up and let it run. Now after that point, is my phone safe from OTA? Do I need to install a new rom right then and there or can I use stock rom and know that I am safe from it updating to MF3. Just making sure I got my notes right for tm morning when it comes in by fedex heh.
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Yes download either Motochopper or I like "Casual+Motochopper" as it gives you a recovery as well. Either cwm or twrp.
No at that point it is NOT safe from OTA updates, you will need to FREEZE certain apps with tibu.
Check out the Roms section. I haven't used it but I believe there is a "neutered mf3 stock firmware" that has the ota updating parts removed already. If you do NOT freeze the apps ATT set up mf3 to Auto Download and INSTALL mf3. Most users got it while they were sleeping, even if they were only stock and rooted. But IF you have a custom recovery and a ROM on it you will not get the auto update and install.
Mysticales said:
So there is no difference in MDL and MDB? Or was MDL still better? Sounds like really the next couple days are gonna be research and testing.. thats after I put my screen protector on it heh.
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MDB was what came with the phone and MDL was updated within a few weeks if I remember correctly. I believe I still have the mdb bootloaders on my phone and my wife's came with MDL and has those bootloaders. I have seen NO DIFFERENCE as far as flashing or things working differently in my case.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
So, being on MF3 will not allow us to flash kernals and we are limited to specific Roms? Are those the major differences? Also, should we stay away from the OTA...I keep hearing about it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
nash2000 said:
So, being on MF3 will not allow us to flash kernals and we are limited to specific Roms? Are those the major differences? Also, should we stay away from the OTA...I keep hearing about it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Yes I believe you cannot flash kernels with safestrap. And only 4.2.2 based Roms will work and possibly on tw Roms, but there might be one cm variant that would work. Just check out the safestrap thread for more info on all if this. I think they even have a list if tested working Roms there.
No one knows FOR SURE but I believe the new 4.3 update blows a second qfuse, this will make it so you cannot downgrade to anything lower than MJ6.
MF3 blows the first qfuse which is why you cannot downgrade to MDL bases.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
Well I have a mf3 gs4 :/ sooo now then. I don't "mind" stock really too much.. ill miss my drop down toggles I thing more from my gs3. I saw one post that explains using terminal to get root access which is something I know I need for sure. So now then those on mf3 are you too staying on stock and just rooting?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Mysticales said:
Well I have a mf3 gs4 :/ sooo now then. I don't "mind" stock really too much.. ill miss my drop down toggles I thing more from my gs3. I saw one post that explains using terminal to get root access which is something I know I need for sure. So now then those on mf3 are you too staying on stock and just rooting?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Kingo root method is an easy one click method that works also. Why stay stock when you can root easily? I was rooted but now on 4.3.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
I just got my phone!!!! I got mine at Costco which I normally get my phone through best buy but there insurance plan stinks now.
Anyways, My phone had the MDF!! So get your phone at Costco!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
[email protected] said:
Kingo root method is an easy one click method that works also. Why stay stock when you can root easily? I was rooted but now on 4.3.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
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Of course I am rooted... you think after being a pioneer with a beloved Htc G1, that I would EVER be on a device without root. =p (Man.. the reinstalling of a 100 apps manually alone without titanium backup along with its prefs, config and data would take a week to get right) I used that exFat method.
But yea, even tho I am rooted, I wouldnt "mind" a diff rom.. or least debloat this sucker. Half tempted to see which ATT apps I could get rid of, issue is... no odin to restore to if something messes up. I am sure someone will do a mf3 recovery sometime eh?
Oh... btw, how would I disable any auto OTA that could come in the future?
So i rooted and used safestrap to install my 4.2.2 rom a little while back when that was all that was available. Now i cant find out how people are moving away from this old 4.2.2 junk and moving to 4.3 or 4.4
I know safestrap i have only works with certain TouchWiz roms (found that out when i triend to use CM a while back) and that is a headache only having really the plain google rom available to use.
any help would be appreciated, its been annoying
Read the "pinned" threads in General and Q&A and make sure to read the threads about 4.3 and 4.2 in the same places (General and Q&A sections). The questions you asked have been asked and answered several times already Good luck
Unfortunately on MF3 you only have safestrap and that's it. No CWM recovery exists.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Thread cleaned.
Lets keep it civil in here alright?
Thank you.
HiTideBlastoise said:
Unfortunately on MF3 you only have safestrap and that's it. No CWM recovery exists.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
THANKS!! wish that other person would of just said that! ive been looking and looking, and there is no possible way to get off MF3? odin and install a flash image from prior to MF3? anything? haha
i tried to install CWM like an idiot cause i couldnt find anything saying NO and it soft bricked my phone, got that all sorted out and now just back to the 4.2.2 google rom
just so plain and basic, its the same I had on my skyrocket for a year.. i bought the skyrocket the day it came out and got the s4 the day it came out too.... wanting 4.4 so bad lol
There is a q-fuse that is raised when updated to mf3 preventing a downgrade to happening.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
jmanning91 said:
THANKS!! wish that other person would of just said that! ive been looking and looking, and there is no possible way to get off MF3? odin and install a flash image from prior to MF3? anything? haha
i tried to install CWM like an idiot cause i couldnt find anything saying NO and it soft bricked my phone, got that all sorted out and now just back to the 4.2.2 google rom
just so plain and basic, its the same I had on my skyrocket for a year.. i bought the skyrocket the day it came out and got the s4 the day it came out too.... wanting 4.4 so bad lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the second post of this sticky thread, it states if you try to install a custom recovery on MF3 you will hose your device.
Lucky we have the MF3 odin files now so we can recover from soft bricks (that post was created before the MF3 files were leaked).
Glad to hear you got it sorted out though.
rayburne said:
Read the second post of this sticky thread, it states if you try to install a custom recovery on MF3 you will hose your device.
Lucky we have the MF3 odin files now so we can recover from soft bricks (that post was created before the MF3 files were leaked).
Glad to hear you got it sorted out though.
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Click to collapse
Does this mean we can now load an old version of the firmware from before mf3?
Hi! well. i've been out of xda for a while, can any one tell me if there are news about custom recoverys for at&t sgh i337? im running 4.2.2 mf3
since i've been out, i'd like to know if there is any custom recovery or 4.3 upgrade +root/safestrap or something.
it feels 4.2.2 is out-dated now.. any help?
GRGC25 said:
Hi! well. i've been out of xda for a while, can any one tell me if there are news about custom recoverys for at&t sgh i337? im running 4.2.2 mf3
since i've been out, i'd like to know if there is any custom recovery or 4.3 upgrade +root/safestrap or something.
it feels 4.2.2 is out-dated now.. any help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want to be a jerk....but there are plenty of posts about the updates you're looking for. I understand you probably don't want to actually read through the forums but that's what you should do instead of posting something like this. There's safestrap for MF3/ root, and 4.3 update and 4.3 root. Good luck.
NO NO and NO...Just read through the many threads about the locked bootloader...
About all you can do is root and Freeze the AT&T software update so you don't
end up with the arguably flaky 4.3 for this phone.
Tremulant1 said:
I don't want to be a jerk....but there are plenty of posts about the updates you're looking for. I understand you probably don't want to actually read through the forums but that's what you should do instead of posting something like this. There's safestrap for MF3/ root, and 4.3 update and 4.3 root. Good luck.
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well, i was asking about any news. anyways im gonna search for it. thanks anyways
GRGC25 said:
well, i was asking about any news. anyways im gonna search for it. thanks anyways
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Click to collapse
Safestrap 3.70 is still in its early stages for 4.3 and its a beta.. There are only a handful of ROMs that you can flash. I would say go with darthstalker for the time being if you need a custom ROM. If not just root it and customize it yourself.. Good luck in finding more info. It takes time and days of reading to get all the knowledge you need to know about this device.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
[email protected] said:
Safestrap 3.70 is still in its early stages for 4.3 and its a beta.. There are only a handful of ROMs that you can flash. I would say go with darthstalker for the time being if you need a custom ROM. If not just root it and customize it yourself.. Good luck in finding more info. It takes time and days of reading to get all the knowledge you need to know about this device.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, i actually just found an update.zip which contains mk2 4.3 stock rom and a rooting way who seems safe to be used. i heard 4.3 has battery improovements and open gl3.0 for gaming but i heard 4.3 is also buggy, so it all makes me hesitate, i use xposed modules for customize stock. is not my priority to have a custom room 4.3 yet, im really sorry samsung is makeing everything more complicated
do you think i should give a shoot to 4.3 and root it and then wait for a safestrap?
I would like to know if this exists.
Is there a time line starting with the stock Rom (that came with my phone) to where we are now. Maybe somewhere this exist. I can't seem to find it though. If it doesn't, maybe this would be a helpful tool for us Noobs. Like a family tree. In the beginning there was version 4.2. Then Sac ate of the forbidden fruit, which beget so on and so on. It would be great if it compared each stock version to the appropriate mod options as well.
I included a screen shot of what I'm running now. I got through it last go round but I felt like i had no idea what the hell i was doing or why. Free hot spot was my motivation. Now there is a new software update. I want to keep up but I feel lost as to what I am supposed to be doing. I wanna be smart too! Any good reading material available? (PDA soft Ware basics for dummies )
Thanks for the patience and help it's greatly appreciated.
Robert out!
If you want to upgrade to rooted custom 4.4rom you will have to flash the NAE modem firmware, use Unkownforces. Most of the custom roms have specific instructions on how to flash so follow them
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Here is the version path: MDC, MDL, MF9 were all 4.2 then, MJA, MK2 were 4.3, then NAE IS 4.4.2.
Sent from my icrap 2 using Tapatalk HD
first I would like to say please don't flame me if this has been answered elsewhere Lol.I have already tried the search function with no luck.
I have a galaxy s4 AT&T that I just received from warranty and I would like to install the latest update with root capabilities I believe its 4 .3 as I couldn't find anything for 4.4
I'm looking for a package which includes the stock TW 4.3 update w root and cwm.
as I mentioned before I have tried the search function several times as well as looked through the threads in the android development section. If there is a link that you could provide me with i would be immensely grateful.Thanks in advance!
The bootloader is locked. You can't flash a stock package with root. There's also no exploit to flash any recovery. Read the nice clear threads in the general section like the index and root guide for MK2.
Sent from my SGH-I337 running Blackbox 3.0
DeadlySin9 said:
The bootloader is locked. You can't flash a stock package with root. There's also no exploit to flash any recovery. Read the nice clear threads in the general section like the index and root guide for MK2.
Sent from my SGH-I337 running Blackbox 3.0
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Click to collapse
I am aware of the locked bootloader I didnt realize that was the reason i was unable to flash CWM previously only root. Thanks for the info!
so I just powered on the new device and they shipped it with 4.4 damn it lol. Is there a way to downgrade to 4.3 then root? The reason I chose to stick with TouchWiz is because in the past w my S2 when flashing ROMs there was always some glitch or missing features even w the safest CM roms.so hypothetically speaking if I decided to go with a custom ROM so that I may have CWM could you possibly recommend a good one that will not lack any features or capabilities and stable of course. Thanks
alfizzle said:
I am aware of the locked bootloader I didnt realize that was the reason i was unable to flash CWM previously only root. Thanks for the info!
so I just powered on the new device and they shipped it with 4.4 damn it lol. Is there a way to downgrade to 4.3 then root? The reason I chose to stick with TouchWiz is because in the past w my S2 when flashing ROMs there was always some glitch or missing features even w the safest CM roms.so hypothetically speaking if I decided to go with a custom ROM so that I may have CWM could you possibly recommend a good one that will not lack any features or capabilities and stable of course. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to do a lot of reading. See the general forum and read all you can on nb1 and mk2. There is a work around to get a rooted, touch wiz rom on your device. But you won't get cwm on your device. Look for safestrap too
Sent from my Nexus 5
HOLY S**T!!! you werent joking when you said alot of reading...wow. Finally finished...then wifi/data wasnt working so it took a little extra time and research(8hours total LOL) but i got everything up including safestrap! Thanks for the guidance. very much appreciated!!!!:highfive:
alfizzle said:
HOLY S**T!!! you werent joking when you said alot of reading...wow. Finally finished...then wifi/data wasnt working so it took a little extra time and research(8hours total LOL) but i got everything up including safestrap! Thanks for the guidance. very much appreciated!!!!:highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good job! Now you know how to do it. And, yea, lots of good stuff out there but did take awhile to digest it all.
Sent from my Nexus 5