First time Sprint GS4 user trying to learn about root - Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot

Hi, I am new to the GS4, came from the EVO 4G LTE, couldn't wait until it was time to upgrade and here I am finally! I did a search and specifically looking for information on rooting. Looking for pros and cons and possibly of returning to stock when necessary. Any help would be appreciated! I am currently running latest and greatest firware. Phone was purchased this weekend and I have upgraded to the latrst. Hopefully not a bad thing as I know with the EVO you would be screwed with the wrong hboot etc.
Thanks for your time and glad I went with Samsung, I'm loving this phone!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app

waterbound said:
Hi, I am new to the GS4, came from the EVO 4G LTE, couldn't wait until it was time to upgrade and here I am finally! I did a search and specifically looking for information on rooting. Looking for pros and cons and possibly of returning to stock when necessary. Any help would be appreciated! I am currently running latest and greatest firware. Phone was purchased this weekend and I have upgraded to the latrst. Hopefully not a bad thing as I know with the EVO you would be screwed with the wrong hboot etc.
Thanks for your time and glad I went with Samsung, I'm loving this phone!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
If you've upgraded to the 'latest greatest' you actually are kind of screwed.
That means that you took the OTA to MK2 with the Knox bootloader. AND that means that you cannot modify your device without tripping the 'knox counter flag'. That may not be a big deal - you can still flash loads of ROMs.
AND you can root using CF-Autoroot - search it's here in the dev section. then add a custom recovery like Philz or TWRP (some ROMs require flashing with one or the other; I keep zips of both on my SD to let me flash between them for installing different ROMs.
And you can now return to stock MK2 via Odin thanks to a .tar you can download from Sammobile.com (link is here too). BUT you cannot 'reset' the knox counter - as of yet.
Take some more time and you'll surely find this device to be as fantastic as most of us do.
Good luck!

Thanks for the details! I figured I might have screwed myself a bit by taking the updates. I assume the counter flag isn't a big deal unless I want to return to stock? I'll read up on Knox to understand my limits. Thanks again!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

The Knox warranty flag will only affect you if you need to send the phone to Samsung for warranty repair or replacement. If you never need to send it to Samsung then it won't matter. Sprint has really changed their rooting policies lately and don't seem to complain as much if you rooted your phone. TEP, Best Buy Ins, Square Trade, and other insurances will still replace or fix your phone, Samsung is the only one that will have a problem that the warranty flag is tripped.

Related

New to S4

How's it going? I am upgrading to the S4 coming from the e4gt on Thursday. I've flashed just about everything there is for the e4gt, but would like to know what is recommended for starting out with this phone. What recovery do you recommend? I've downloaded the cf autoroot which I plan on using, and also the cwm jfltespr 6.0.3.6. Is this the best route for getting started? Thanks in advance.
Welcome over bt.
If you're going to stay on 4.2 then TWRP 2..5.0.2 has proven best for me and most others. TWRP-Recovery-jfltespr-2.5.0.2
If you're going to jump in to 4.3 (and I suspect you will) then use Philz CWM based recovery. philz_touch_5.18.2-jfltespr.tar
Just know that if you take the OTA or Odin 4.3 there is NO going back to 4.2 because of the Knox bootloader.
You can however run 4.3 on 4.2 firmware (non Knox tripped bootloader).
Many of the usual Sammy stuff caveats are the same. biggest difference is that Kernels are seperated from Recoveries. Making it easy to mix and match.
Flashing is a breeze, developers here are great - many came from the e4gt and S3. Same with the contributors and others.
Take some time to read through the posts and you'll soon get a good handle on it.
Have fun!
Hey, i remember you. It's great to see you here. How do I avoid the ota? Can I freeze system updates in tb or for toolbox? Also, what rom do you recommend that I try first? I was looking at the carbon rom, but will try 4.2 first because it looks like they have the save data issues on 4.3 like the e4gt. I will miss all the guys on project x.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app
btvolta said:
Hey, i remember you. It's great to see you here. How do I avoid the ota? Can I freeze system updates in tb or for toolbox? Also, what rom do you recommend that I try first? I was looking at the carbon rom, but will try 4.2 first because it looks like they have the save data issues on 4.3 like the e4gt. I will miss all the guys on project x.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
If you install a custom recovery and kernel you won't be able to take the OTA - it may download but shouldn't install. I use TB to freeze Sprint Installer and Sprint Zone. Sprint Installer is a really sneaky app - it goes out and grabs all their crapware and just loads it up!.
I'd recommend Any of the 4.2 ROMs if you'd like to mess around - Sac, Unknownforce, Negamann's and of course rujelus22's.
For 4.3 I'd say give those guys a go too; just be sure to do it without tripping the Knox counter - using custom recovery and flashing ROM that has the knox bootloader removed.
For CM/AOSP type there are some pretty good ones too.Carbon, Sniper and Garwynn have some builds up. I like to try them but I'm a TW guy - I have to have everything working flawlessly for business so even small things like no 4G, no sms or the like make using them for my daily driver still out of the question for now.
leaderbuilder said:
If you install a custom recovery and kernel you won't be able to take the OTA - it may download but shouldn't install. I use TB to freeze Sprint Installer and Sprint Zone. Sprint Installer is a really sneaky app - it goes out and grabs all their crapware and just loads it up!.
I'd recommend Any of the 4.2 ROMs if you'd like to mess around - Sac, Unknownforce, Negamann's and of course rujelus22's.
For 4.3 I'd say give those guys a go too; just be sure to do it without tripping the Knox counter - using custom recovery and flashing ROM that has the knox bootloader removed.
For CM/AOSP type there are some pretty good ones too.Carbon, Sniper and Garwynn have some builds up. I like to try them but I'm a TW guy - I have to have everything working flawlessly for business so even small things like no 4G, no sms or the like make using them for my daily driver still out of the question for now.
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Is there a chance my phone will come with the 4.3 already installed?
btvolta said:
Is there a chance my phone will come with the 4.3 already installed?
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A friend of mine just bought the S4 two days ago and maybe he was lucky but it was still on 4.2 But don't know if that's the case with all of them.
GS4 Stock Rooted MJA 4.3,Philz Touch CWM,HotSpot Mod,Transparent Weather Widget,8SMS(Stock Messaging,KitKat)
btvolta said:
Is there a chance my phone will come with the 4.3 already installed?
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as @BIGSAMDA1ST said, there is that possibility. Really depends on the supplier and how deep their inventory is.
If is on 4.2, after initial setup it will surely try and update to 4.3 if you let it - I wouldn't. But that's just me. I'd keep it 4.2 and go the 'non-knox' route to 4.3.
btvolta said:
Is there a chance my phone will come with the 4.3 already installed?
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Click to collapse
Welcome!
I just got mine on Monday Pre Balck Friday Sale, been on E4GT bricked 3, 4th the power button broke and the E4GT was BO so the bumped me to GS3 was rooted running Cyan 11 4.4 kitkat, PA Gapps, Xposed 128 DPI then the Pre Sale .96 cent's upgraded to this GS4. Monday got it and a hour later the 4.3 OTA was pushed to the phone.
I do have to say this is a Big Learning Curve because a lot of the customization i was used to do on my phone is already stock on this phone.
Been researching trying to figure what exactly to do but also been running tests to see what improvements Sprint and or the phone has made for me. I agree with Leaderbuilder " I have to have everything working flawlessly for business so even small things like no 4G, no sms or the like make using them for my daily driver still out of the question for now".
Everything has seemed to be running great my wife upgraded from Galaxy S "GB" love ginger just not as a OP. Spending a lot of time finding how things work for her and have yet to set my phone up or let it settle in. I say all this to say "what I've read" in all different posts is there is possibly 1 stable 4.4 rom and just now trying to compare the benefit for me rooting. I know removing bloatware but it doesn't seem to be messing the phone up like it did on E4GT, battery life? What I've seen this is pretty good. So take your time get your phone and get used to it I think those of us who came from E4GT was used to having a "fairly good" phone and rooting to make it better however this seems to be at a different level.
I just moved from the Epic 4G to an S4. Still really missing my slide-out keyboard...
I bought my S4 a week ago and it came with 4.2.2. I had NO clue about the Knox BS, and doing a quick Google for 4.3 issues did not bring it up, so I took the OTA update. BIG mistake... Especially since I need to root to run ARLiberator.
Thankfully, my Sprint dealer is great, and after finding they could not roll it back, gave me a direct exchange to a new S4 with 4.2.2. If they would not have done that, I would have exchanged it for a white one to get back to 4.2.2.
Sooo, to sum it up, as of yesterday, it was possible to still get an S4 with 4.2.2 without Knox on it.
VaderSS said:
I just moved from the Epic 4G to an S4. Still really missing my slide-out keyboard...
I bought my S4 a week ago and it came with 4.2.2. I had NO clue about the Knox BS, and doing a quick Google for 4.3 issues did not bring it up, so I took the OTA update. BIG mistake... Especially since I need to root to run ARLiberator.
Thankfully, my Sprint dealer is great, and after finding they could not roll it back, gave me a direct exchange to a new S4 with 4.2.2. If they would not have done that, I would have exchanged it for a white one to get back to 4.2.2.
Sooo, to sum it up, as of yesterday, it was possible to still get an S4 with 4.2.2 without Knox on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chalk it up to me being an old 48 gray haired (although consider myself pretty good searcher) What exactly is Knox and why/not want or want it?What is the issue with taking the OTA update? Layman's terms? My sprint store has really cool tech's but they know nothing about rooting and all different issues. Always like playing with my phone for a bit and never get pissed if I get an issue they can't resolve.
Should I not have done the OTA update? I'm trying to determine if I actually want to root or not because things have seemed good so far.
Main 4.4 item i wanted was "OK Google" but I've got that on my stock phone, sure 128 dpi would be great but if it really worth it for me? I'm still out to lunch on that one.
VaderSS said:
I just moved from the Epic 4G to an S4. Still really missing my slide-out keyboard...
I bought my S4 a week ago and it came with 4.2.2. I had NO clue about the Knox BS, and doing a quick Google for 4.3 issues did not bring it up, so I took the OTA update. BIG mistake... Especially since I need to root to run ARLiberator.
Thankfully, my Sprint dealer is great, and after finding they could not roll it back, gave me a direct exchange to a new S4 with 4.2.2. If they would not have done that, I would have exchanged it for a white one to get back to 4.2.2.
Sooo, to sum it up, as of yesterday, it was possible to still get an S4 with 4.2.2 without Knox on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying you can't root it because of the update? I believe you still can.
btvolta said:
Are you saying you can't root it because of the update? I believe you still can.
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Click to collapse
jtsv said:
Chalk it up to me being an old 48 gray haired (although consider myself pretty good searcher) What exactly is Knox and why/not want or want it?What is the issue with taking the OTA update? Layman's terms? My sprint store has really cool tech's but they know nothing about rooting and all different issues. Always like playing with my phone for a bit and never get pissed if I get an issue they can't resolve.
Should I not have done the OTA update? I'm trying to determine if I actually want to root or not because things have seemed good so far.
Main 4.4 item i wanted was "OK Google" but I've got that on my stock phone, sure 128 dpi would be great but if it really worth it for me? I'm still out to lunch on that one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OTA update installs the Knox boot loader which cannot be rolled back. Once on it, you are on it for good, at least at present.
Knox adds a tattle-tale, so that if you root in the conventional, "fully rooted" manner, install a custom recovery, rom, or kernel, it will trip a flag, titled "Knox Warranty Void" which cannot, at present, be reset. which also breaks certain functionality in the phone. If you don't care about tripping this flag, it looks like you can still mod your phone as before.
There is a way to partially root in spite of Knox, without tripping the flag, but this method may open your phone up in ways you don't want to do. This is still under investigation.
Personally, I did not want a non-resetable flag telling Sprint/Samsung that I had modded my phone... That in itself was enough to make me return the phone.
Thank you for explaining now you have given me more to think about. Why do they care since warranties still cover rooting? Also makes me have something else to add to the puzzle do I root or not. Most things I was rooting for are now stock so I will continue to think about now knowing about the Knox.
Hello BTVOLTA...looking fwd to being here as well. Coming from the E4GT myself this evening and am looking forward to the stuff this thing has the ability to do:thumbup:
btoddweber said:
Hello BTVOLTA...looking fwd to being here as well. Coming from the E4GT myself this evening and am looking forward to the stuff this thing has the ability to do:thumbup:
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I'm waiting in line right now
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
jtsv said:
Thank you for explaining now you have given me more to think about. Why do they care since warranties still cover rooting? Also makes me have something else to add to the puzzle do I root or not. Most things I was rooting for are now stock so I will continue to think about now knowing about the Knox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the knox bootloader is big if you are worried about warranty issus and if may need to run 4.2 ROMs.
If you don't think you ever will have either of those situations then that shouldn't matter.
Knox also does have some cool stuff for the corporate world - high security container for applications etc. It's essentially a secure 'sandbox'. I think you'll find many more corps. insisting on an using it. I know my brothers company gave him an S4 with knox for just that reason - secure email/CRM container and connection. This guy had the need too.
But for me I really am pissed that, if needed, I could not set my device to factory original.
Just one more thing an entity will use to keep from supporting a hardware problem they should own by blaming me.
I've had phones with bad radios (GPS part) that needed warranty replacement and one time was told no because I had a custom ROM and the problem was my ROM or my fault for 'destroying' the chip. I promplty went back around the corner flashed a stock .tar and walked back in and proved it to be the hardware.
All that being said this is so far the best phone I've had. And the developers and support folks here are great.
Welcom over y'all and have some fun.
Just got mine and I guess while I was looking foe a case they pushed the update while setting up my s4.
Any advice on what to do?
Depending on the inventory your new one may come with MF9. If so you can just use cf-autoroot to root install a custom recovery and go from there. There is a thread on how to update that firmware (modem and radio) without tripping the knox counter.
To keep it from updating don't take any 'Sprint Firmware updates' during install. You can root right away and then use Titanium to freez the sprint installer and sprint zone to keep the update at bay.
If it comes with MJA you can still root and then install custom recovery. You will just not be able to run a 4.2 ROM stock (using Odin).
Yeah thats the issue part says dont care othet says dont need security issue but its nice to be safe amd secure. Bricked 3 E4GT andb4th power button broke but all covered by insurance when they upgraded me to GS3 and then I needed a new phone and got the Gs4.
My 3 was running Cyan 11 w/4.4 kitkat and Xposed 128 dpi. I have almost everything I was used to with root with this stock except the 128 dpi so Im trying to figure if I just need to play it safe for a while or not.
I'm irritated by the play store every time I try to install with it pulling 1 of 3 error codes ever since upgraded to 4.3 so part of me wants to just root to 4.4 since I know how it runs but Ive only found 1 stable 4.4 available and not too familiar of roms since my experience is from E4GT and Gs3 days.
My first thoughts are if I know I may have issues and create more issues with my phone with Knox then why even bother?
Last clarification if I root Knox then acts like the old odin counter and or it also will keep me from flashing unroot back to stock? Kinda if can't reboot back to stock then if I softbrick and need help im on my own where as in past I still got help from sprint tech support and insurance because they couldn't prove I rooted an csused the issue.
Knox makes it permanent like water damage sticker with iOs?
btoddweber said:
Just got mine and I guess while I was looking foe a case they pushed the update while setting up my s4.
Any advice on what to do?
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I was all over it, made sure they didn't push the update. I now have it frozen, and I flashed beanstalk. It's running great so far. It seems though that none of the nice features that come with this phone are on this ROM. Next I will look to flash another kernel and then comadose. BTW, the recovery I installed B is Philz. It appears that if you want to use some of the nice stock options, probably need flash a TW ROM.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

Very confused about MF3

I just bought the HTC One for $200, but then I saw that Best Buy had the Samsung Galaxy s4 on sale for $50. I did not know which one I wanted and was truly torn between the two and ended up buying the HTC but if I can save $150 I will gladly get the s4. My only problem is that as I've been reading up on cs4 forums to make sure that I would be able to unlock root and flash custom roms I had came across what seems to be the problem with an AT&T firmware update known as mf3. If I cannot root and flash custom kernels and roms I do not think I will take advantage of the offer from Best Buy. My problem is that even after all the reading I cannot figure out whether it is possible to root and flash custom ROMs and kernels to the new version from AT&T, known as mf3, or if it is still not possible, or if it will be possible very soon so that I'm may use Android 4.4 Kit Kat on the phone or any custom Rom I wish. Can someone please clarify this for me as soon as possible because my time to return the HTC One to AT&T is coming close to its end?
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
You can root and flash some roms using safestrap. But it's very limited. Imo I'd stay away from the s4
It's there any progress toward cracking MF3? I've had a one x for pat year and kinda wanted a change and I love the screen on the s4. If you had to choose between the s4 and the HTC one taking into consideration the mf3 problem, which would you choose? And which would you choose if there was no mf3 problem?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
If you can find a S4 with MDL or earlier firmware it's a excellent phone. Personally if it has MF3 or later I wouldn't bother. But that's just my opinion.
You might as well get rid of the One as well. It's just as locked down.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Untrue, about HTCone being just as locked down. It can have it's boatload unlocked quiet easily and if you want to, although it's not necessary, you can even do s-off to get full unbridled access. I previously had a HTC one x and also from everything I've read it seems AT&T went out of there way to lock down s4 tight , just like they did to the one x but eventually the devs got it. I do want the s4 though,even though this phone is awesome(HTC One), and I can live with no custom Rom for a while but I can't go without root. So if I get a s4 with mf3 will it still be able to be rooted ? I've read up on it but don't understand what everyone is talking about when they say if the phone is encrypted or notand it seems to be random.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
So sick and tired of reading about MF3, or MK2 constantly on these forums. If you want to buy an S4 on AT&T look for an MDL one on eBay. It's not that hard, really.
Or buy the T-Mobile variant or International version.
Thanks for your kind response to my honest question mattmjb0188. I can't get a t mobile or international variant bc I'm on a budget. I will use my upgrade to get the phone at best buy for $50, and the condition of this price is that it must be a contract renewal/upgrade, which is another reason I can't get diff version of the phone. Did you even read the op? I would love to get one brand new out of the box with mdl but the odds of that are slim hence why I asked the question in the 1st place. So if you can't help or don't like the question then don't respond, but I do thank you for your info about the other variants that don't have issues, it just doesn't help me.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk
Rad ryan said:
Thanks for your kind response to my honest question mattmjb0188. I can't get a t mobile or international variant bc I'm on a budget. I will use my upgrade to get the phone at best buy for $50, and the condition of this price is that it must be a contract renewal/upgrade, which is another reason I can't get diff version of the phone. Did you even read the op? I would love to get one brand new out of the box with mdl but the odds of that are slim hence why I asked the question in the 1st place. So if you can't help or don't like the question then don't respond, but I do thank you for your info about the other variants that don't have issues, it just doesn't help me.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone new on these forums just asks over and over about MF3 and the Android 4.3 update. Basically, if you get an S4 with Mf3 or later firmware, you are pretty much stuck on stock. Then we have noobs who don't read and attempt to root their MF3 phones and brick them.
On pure stock, the S4 is a bad phone. The software is very laggy and needs a lot of improvement. I was one of the early adapters when it first came out. The phone was a nightmare with MDB and MDL firmware. Mf3 made slight improvements, but not enough.
I would not even invest in buying this phone right now. Most development for it has died down because of the restrictions. Developers are moving on. Those of us with MDL firmware (like myself) won't see much continued support for Loki nowadays anyway. If the bootloader could be unlocked, I believe it would have been unlocked by now. All these workarounds are very limited, and dangerous.
Personally, I wouldn't even buy the phone at this point. Scrape the funds together for either the T-Mobile S4 or Note 3.
Get the nexus 5, you'll be very happy
Thank you very much for that answer, that was an excellent answer. Although I'm not a noob bc I've been doing this stuff for years and been a member for years.I did the trading but I am not familiar with Samsung at all bc the last Samsung I had was a captivate. It's there a lot of active development for the t mobile variant? I'm guessing it's probably around $600, right? Lastly do you think that there will be a solution to the lock down of mf3 and later in the next few months?
Again thanks for your very helpful answer.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk
Rad ryan said:
Thank you very much for that answer, that was an excellent answer. Although I'm not a noob bc I've been doing this stuff for years and been a member for years.I did the trading but I am not familiar with Samsung at all bc the last Samsung I had was a captivate. It's there a lot of active development for the t mobile variant? I'm guessing it's probably around $600, right? Lastly do you think that there will be a solution to the lock down of mf3 and later in the next few months?
Again thanks for your very helpful answer.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The development for the AT&T S4 has died down. In my opinion, no one will ever unlock the bootloader for it. Maybe someday with some future device, but not this device. The closest we got was with the loki method, which was great. But that's long gone now.
Look on negri for the T-Mobile variant. I think its M919. I'm not sure. T-Mobile developers have been able to make great roms for the device, instead of wasting so much time to find a workaround. Maybe even try T-Mobile out and see if they've improved in your area. They got a lot better in my area, but still a lot of EDGE.
If I were you, I'd go for the Nexus 5.
Rad ryan said:
Thanks for your kind response to my honest question mattmjb0188. I can't get a t mobile or international variant bc I'm on a budget. I will use my upgrade to get the phone at best buy for $50, and the condition of this price is that it must be a contract renewal/upgrade, which is another reason I can't get diff version of the phone. Did you even read the op? I would love to get one brand new out of the box with mdl but the odds of that are slim hence why I asked the question in the 1st place. So if you can't help or don't like the question then don't respond, but I do thank you for your info about the other variants that don't have issues, it just doesn't help me.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Heres my suggestion, if you want the s4, get it from best buy than sell it unopened for as much as you can and than with the money you get buy a tmobile or i9505 international variant...(not i9500 or the verizon or sprint one)
The tmobile variant is probably your best bet, the tmobile variant supports all of ATT service bands so youll have no issues with reception or internet. The tmobile variant can flash roms from any of the other s4 variants (verizon sprint att i9505...just not any roms from the i9500)
So in other words if you get the tmobile variant you dont have to worry about a dead dev scene as you can always flash roms from a differnt carrier...only thing is you will probably have to set up your apns for att rom flashes
Hope that helps you
And on another note if you decide to stick with the ATT s4, every firmware can be rooted
Mdb has real recoveries, so you can flash anything as long as you "loki" the kernel - Unfortunately I do not think there are any stores that are selling phones with this firmware
Mdl has real recoveries, so you can flash anything as long as you "loki" the kernel...Unfortunately it is pretty much impossible to find a phone with this firmware in any store now
Mf3 has safestrap which is kinda like a recovery, with it you can flash any touchwiz based 4.2.2 rom (stock roms) or any 4.2.2 Google Phone Edition (aka GPE, which is an aosp experience S4, no bloatware no samsung features, its like having a nexus in the body of an s4) rom...NO CUSTOM KERNELS, NO AOSP ROMS (no cyanogenmod) - this is the firmware most phones come with
Mk2 (latest firmware) recently got a beta safestrap...as of now you can flash some 4.3 touchwiz stock based roms, alot dont boot yet, and the GPE 4.3 rom doesn't boot with it either. As it becomes stable it should work identical to the one for mf3 - phones will probably start coming with this one soon
In other words, safestrap allows you to run roms that are built off the same firmware version as your stock rom, safestrap flashes no kernel, so whatever rom you flash has to be compatible with the stock kernel of your current firmware
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---------- Post added at 08:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:40 PM ----------
Rad ryan said:
Thank you very much for that answer, that was an excellent answer. Although I'm not a noob bc I've been doing this stuff for years and been a member for years.I did the trading but I am not familiar with Samsung at all bc the last Samsung I had was a captivate. It's there a lot of active development for the t mobile variant? I'm guessing it's probably around $600, right? Lastly do you think that there will be a solution to the lock down of mf3 and later in the next few months?
Again thanks for your very helpful answer.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They actually seem to be getting close to another work around which will allow you to flash any rom or kernel using safestrap...turns out theres a feature in the 4.3 mk2 kernel which allows unsigned drivers to run, in theory they can compile a kexec driver for the kernel which would allow you to use any kernel thus allowing the flash of any rom...theres a how-to thread in the original development section with more info, however...its not a guarentee we will see this anytime soon, as you never know what issues they may run into...but something to look into if your interested
EDIT: actually heres a post from the thread i mentioned which pretty much sums up how we hope this "exploit" will work as far as kernel flashing goes http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48703510&postcount=10
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With all that said; how come I have the MF3 baseband my s4 (jflteatt), and I still have a custom recovery with the ability to flash different roms and kernels? Is it because I installed the custom recovery on an earlier baseband and then it got updated to a newer baseband but still kept recovery?
I only found out I had MF3 on my phone now because I couldn't flash a different recovery anymore.
Yes
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noel_leon said:
With all that said; how come I have the MF3 baseband my s4 (jflteatt), and I still have a custom recovery with the ability to flash different roms and kernels? Is it because I installed the custom recovery on an earlier baseband and then it got updated to a newer baseband but still kept recovery?
I only found out I had MF3 on my phone now because I couldn't flash a different recovery anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is literally impossible to have officially updated through OTA while on a custom Recovery. What I suspect has been done is the same as my phone. I got an MDL device and quickly installed TWRP and a custom ROM. As new updates came out, I flashed just the baseband. So now, I have a 4.4 ROM with the MK2 baseband and am able to install anything I like.
If I were to have ever done an OTA, I would no longer be able to have a custom recovery because of a blown Qfuse.
Please don't try to say that what you have is the only phone with OTA MF3 and custom recovery.
The only way to have anything like that is through SS and that is not a true recovery. If you do have that, you can only install certain ROMs not including AOSP, AOKP, MIUI, or CM.
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When did I ever say I was the only one? I asked a simple question that I mostly had the answer to already; which in turn was answered by a simple "Yes" from HiTideBlastoise.
And I never said anything about OTA either. I said I had installed custom recovery on an earlier baseband and then my baseband was updated but recovery was still intact.
I never said you did say that. It was preemptive. Secondly, you make it out to seem like you did nothing to update your baseband. You are making it seem like it just happened. Well, that can't happen without either updating the entire phone or flashing it yourself. The funny thing is the baseband means nothing when it comes to recoveries and flashing ROMs. It can only be used as a possible sign on a stock device as to what version one is running. On a modified device, like yours, it is worthless information on the version of Android. Like I said before, I have 4.4 with MK2 as my baseband. How can I install ROMs. Not because it updated my baseband after I already have a custom recovery... But because I never took an OTA and made it do the stuff I wanted.
Basically what I am saying is that you need to be clear with what you say. Everything you said makes it sound like your phone did it all by itself without you or someone else making it the way it is. There is no other option. You have to have done something to have a custom recovery and an MF3 baseband with pre MF3 bootloaders.
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I agree with graydiggy that the only way to still have a custom recovery and mf3 baseband is that you either flashed an mf3 tw rom with a modem or a a standalone modem to your mdl software. If you took the "OTA" successfully, you will definitely have a locked down bootloader now.
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Picking up an "un-used" Sprint S4, what software/baseband/bootloader is ideal?

Picking up an "un-used" Sprint S4, what software/baseband/bootloader is ideal?
Going to meet person at a Sprint store so I will confirm ESN is clean of course, but person claims phone has not been used so my question is what software/baseband and bootloader is ideal to have?
Basically I want to see if phone is pre Knox and if so I am not going to update it until I read up on here, but I am not sure what versions are pre knox.
Phone will be for my wife and I will be rooting it and I need it to be able to have the hacked/free wifi tether or built in tether, but I will want her to have the latest stock rom.
Thanks
MDC, MDL, and MF9 are the pre Knox. As these are 4.2.2 and below. MJA and MK2 are Knox being 4.3.
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daniel4653 said:
MDC, MDL, and MF9 are the pre Knox. As these are 4.2.2 and below. MJA and MK2 are Knox being 4.3.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is there any advantage?
You can open the hotspot on any version. All the knox bootloader does is trip the warranty flag so if you root it you want be able to get warranty service from Samsung. In my opinion, the newest firmware just works better than the old. If you're getting a good deal on the phone then it shouldn't matter. Just know that if you root it which you will need to do to hack the hot-spot then you do void the Samsung warranty.
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cruise350 said:
You can open the hotspot on any version. All the knox bootloader does is trip the warranty flag so if you root it you want be able to get warranty service from Samsung. In my opinion, the newest firmware just works better than the old. If you're getting a good deal on the phone then it shouldn't matter. Just know that if you root it which you will need to do to hack the hot-spot then you do void the Samsung warranty.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought there was a difference w
between the Knox warranty and the Samsung phone warranty for any malfunctions or such.
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cruise350 said:
You can open the hotspot on any version. All the knox bootloader does is trip the warranty flag so if you root it you want be able to get warranty service from Samsung. In my opinion, the newest firmware just works better than the old. If you're getting a good deal on the phone then it shouldn't matter. Just know that if you root it which you will need to do to hack the hot-spot then you do void the Samsung warranty.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a good amount of reading last night and what I think I have learned is the following:
Rooting MK2 doesn't always stick and I must be using Philz recovery on 4.3, some say CF auto root does work on MK2 but some say it does not. Been reading that there are some wifi issues on 4.3 after flashing/rooting/recovery but not sure exactly what the issue is. Also, not completely sure if I can flash the MJA hotspot mod on MK2, I think one person said it worked but that is all.
I bought the phone used off of CL so I really don't care about warranty because I have no proof of purchase or even original purchase date. I think the guy had his receipt but he did not give it to me. I just don't want any rooting headaches once on the knox bootloader which I have been reading there are a lot of.
Raistlin1 said:
I did a good amount of reading last night and what I think I have learned is the following:
Rooting MK2 doesn't always stick and I must be using Philz recovery on 4.3, some say CF auto root does work on MK2 but some say it does not. Been reading that there are some wifi issues on 4.3 after flashing/rooting/recovery but not sure exactly what the issue is. Also, not completely sure if I can flash the MJA hotspot mod on MK2, I think one person said it worked but that is all.
I bought the phone used off of CL so I really don't care about warranty because I have no proof of purchase or even original purchase date. I think the guy had his receipt but he did not give it to me. I just don't want any rooting headaches once on the knox bootloader which I have been reading there are a lot of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mk2 roots just fine if you use the newest cf-autoroot files. Sometimes you have to install superSU from the play store afterwards but much easier than HTC. There is an MK2 hot spot mod. It is in post #337 in the hot spot mod thread. Also you can use twrp or philz recovery. Just make sure you are on the latest one. As far as WiFi issues. Some experience it some don't. I'd you do them just reinstall the mk2 modem with Odin and it should clear up. Good luck.
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cruise350 said:
Mk2 roots just fine if you use the newest cf-autoroot files. Sometimes you have to install superSU from the play store afterwards but much easier than HTC. There is an MK2 hot spot mod. It is in post #337 in the hot spot mod thread. Also you can use twrp or philz recovery. Just make sure you are on the latest one. As far as WiFi issues. Some experience it some don't. I'd you do them just reinstall the mk2 modem with Odin and it should clear up. Good luck.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info, I am thinking that I may just take OTA to MK2 or flash to the latest (I think I just saw a thread that someone posted a flashable Odin file that is just like getting the OTA, Knox and all) and not care if I trip Knox or not.
The only possible reason I may not do this is if I can get insurance on this phone when I activate it on my wifes line (this is why I played the no flash count game on my E4GT). I am not sure if I even want the insurance but if I do then I have to worry about Knox.
Thanks again for the help and especially for the post number for the hot spot mod, that is very helpful.
Raistlin1 said:
Thanks for the info, I am thinking that I may just take OTA to MK2 or flash to the latest (I think I just saw a thread that someone posted a flashable Odin file that is just like getting the OTA, Knox and all) and not care if I trip Knox or not.
The only possible reason I may not do this is if I can get insurance on this phone when I activate it on my wifes line (this is why I played the no flash count game on my E4GT). I am not sure if I even want the insurance but if I do then I have to worry about Knox.
Thanks again for the help and especially for the post number for the hot spot mod, that is very helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The warranty flag is for warranty, specifically the Samsung factory warranty. It will not affect your ability to use TEP, Assurian, Square Trade, or the Best Buy insurance. Rooting and custom roms have always voided the factory warranty on all manufacturers. In the past, we usually had a way to reset the phone and hide the fact that we rooted it. The Knox flag at this point can not be reset so now Samsung knows you rooted it. As long as you never need a warranty repair you are fine if its tripped.

[Q] NAE Question

I just had to replace my S4 because I broke the screen on my old one. Unfortunately, the new one was shipped to me with NAE firmware and boot loader already installed. This means I'm already on KNOX from the first second of turning it on.
I have seen plenty of guides on how to update to NAE, and get root, etc. by not allowing KNOX to installed. However, I haven't really seen anything about what can be done if it's already installed. There's things scattered all over the net that suggest there might be ways around this, but nothing on the forums here that I have been able to find yet.
I'm not looking to flash any crazy roms or anything right now, I really just want root, but it seems like even that might be impossible now. Could I use something like "DrKetan Multitool" to "DeKNOX" my device and then root it? Does this tool even work on the S4, he claims it does but I've not seen it mentioned on the actual S4 forums. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Note, I am looking for a method that doesn't trip the flash counter; or at least allows a reset afterwards. I'd rather not void the warranty on a brand new device if possible.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53166571
Try this...it is a custom ROM but really close to stock
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I was already planning on installing UnknownForce Stock Rooted NAE Rom, if it's possible. However, you didn't really answer my question. Is there a method to bypass/kill the KNOX boot loader at this point or not? If not, then I might as well just stop now. I'm not prepared to void the warranty at this point.
tcatut said:
I was already planning on installing UnknownForce Stock Rooted NAE Rom, if it's possible. However, you didn't really answer my question. Is there a method to bypass/kill the KNOX boot loader at this point or not? If not, then I might as well just stop now. I'm not prepared to void the warranty at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Once you have Knox, you have it.
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Just got an AT&T Android 5.0 warranty replacement for my rooted 4.4.2; options?

So I just got a 5.0 Lollipop SM-G900A, Baseband G900AUCU4B0F3 warranty replacement for my old rooted 4.4.2 SM-G900A AT&T S5.
I want to get root back. I don't care about warranty since I'm technically out of warranty now and they replaced my phone past warranty (I was really nice to the friendly female CSR I got on the phone). I believe my options are:
Live without root
downgrade to 4.4.2 and root with towelroot without tripping knox
root 5.0 but trip knox
I'd like to do number 3, but I don't know what the best method is at this point. I haven't kept up on any developments in root area since I rooted my 4.4.2 and was supremely happy with it ever since. I know that flashing an already rooted ROM is one of the options but honestly I've gone down the custom ROMs road before on previous phones and I know if I start that again I'll be going through tons of ROMs looking for the one I like best and I've been so happy with rooted vanilla stock that I don't want to take the time to go down that path right now if I can help it. Is there a way to root 5.0 directly if you don't care about Knox/warranty?
I fully realize that I could RTFF and figure out what my answer is but I'm hoping someone who is current will take pity on me and point me in the right direction and cut my RTFF down from hours to minutes. TIA for any help.
https://twitter.com/srsroot/status/634952981960597504
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I don't believe it's possible to root 0F3 at this time. Sorry bro...
If root is achieved once again, I would highly recommend sticking to Muniz_ri's rooted stock roms which can be found in the "General" section of each carrier-specific S5 Thread, then running his debloat script (and installing google now launcher) to have a very clean android.
Has there been any updates on this? the "SRSroot" site seems sketchy. Google is not showing me results that I want to hear.
Frankbot said:
Has there been any updates on this? the "SRSroot" site seems sketchy. Google is not showing me results that I want to hear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No update, still unrootable.
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