Ok so having just come into the world of android i have done some digging on the site before i created a post because i honestly felt absolutely lost. I have a I337 MDL 4.2.2 galaxy S4 in my posession. I previously was not interested in any custom ROMs or rooting in particular,however i ended up rooting my phone using the motochopper tool a while back. since the release of jellybean 4.3 i have been desperately searching for a way to get the upgrade,however my OTA updates don't work because I'm always told to try again in 24 hours,even though i know full well the update is available. I am not sure if this is due to me using the phone in the caribbean where i live,or it being rooted. However,since the MDL baseband seems to be some sort of software gold,I would like to install a custom rom,and i really really need instructions so simple that an idiot would get it,cause I seem to not be getting this at all. Any redirections to other threads would be appreciated,such as GoldenEye which seems to be a decent ROM based on my internet travels lol. Also if there is a way to bypass all the drama and simply do the OTA update to 4.3,it would be greatly appreciated. I apologize for any rules broken or annoyances created and appreciate any help I can get.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2314494
do not take the ota.
cheers
saba243 said:
Ok so having just come into the world of android i have done some digging on the site before i created a post because i honestly felt absolutely lost. I have a I337 MDL 4.2.2 galaxy S4 in my posession. I previously was not interested in any custom ROMs or rooting in particular,however i ended up rooting my phone using the motochopper tool a while back. since the release of jellybean 4.3 i have been desperately searching for a way to get the upgrade,however my OTA updates don't work because I'm always told to try again in 24 hours,even though i know full well the update is available. I am not sure if this is due to me using the phone in the caribbean where i live,or it being rooted. However,since the MDL baseband seems to be some sort of software gold,I would like to install a custom rom,and i really really need instructions so simple that an idiot would get it,cause I seem to not be getting this at all. Any redirections to other threads would be appreciated,such as GoldenEye which seems to be a decent ROM based on my internet travels lol. Also if there is a way to bypass all the drama and simply do the OTA update to 4.3,it would be greatly appreciated. I apologize for any rules broken or annoyances created and appreciate any help I can get.
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Click to collapse
As xBeerdroiDx said, do not take the update. The easiest thing to do is use the CASUAL root method, and then you can use the custom recovery it installs to flash StockUp MK2 if you want the 4.3 update as that way you can get it and still keep your custom recovery to change at any time. You may need the MK2 modem from the thread if your cell and data service stops working right but it should be good.
Related
OK this section says noob questions welcome, so I'm hoping I can get some advice. I actually did pretty well on the OG evo but when I came to the S4 I rooted, flashed frees rom, and didn't look back. Well as much of a tribute that it is to the rom, I really fell behind. I'm on 4.2.2 MDL and I've missed several updates. Now there's MJA, MK2 and maybe one in-between I missed. So my question is how do I upgrade ? Can I simply upgrade to a custom rom? I think I read that I need to upgrade my recovery. Can I just download that recovery and flash it like a custom rom? Do I even want to go to MJA or MK2 because everyone complains about Knox. I read you can upgrade but keep your boot loader...the problem is that I feel like my phone is way far behind. Any suggestions? As far as from preferences I'm happy with touchwiz and it looking fairly stock so long as I have hotspots mod the rom will work for me. Hopefully I can get some advice from anyone. If you read this I appreciate your time and consideration. Thanks.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
My opinion is I haven't taken it and won't just for the fact I Dont like the idea of Sammy locking me down!! Lol and that I Dont care for tw but reality is almost all the custom tw ROMs are 4.3 now so you'll still have plenty to choose from if you make the leap! But IMHO 4.4 kit kat is where its at!
Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
Download the MK2 firmware and the latest Philz touch recovery from the dev section. This will allow you to flash 4.3 ROMs and get you up to date.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2277480
This is another option working for me. You would have to flash mf9 firmware 1st.
First off thank you for the link to those instructions they were very easy to follow. Everything is updated to 4.3 and I'm on MJA baseband. I did mess up and forgot to flash the MF9 firmware first so when I booted up I had a system update notification. I simply held it down, went to app info and unchecked notifications. I'm assuming nothing should effect me since all my other stuff is correct. Thanks again for the assistance in this thread. Awesome getting the answers and guidance necessary.
I have had my S4 since switching to ATT in late November and have been following the XDA forums very closely since then. It was thanks to the XDA forums that I was able to root my S4.
However, no matter how far, wide, and meticulously I look on the site, there is no mention of the existence of running KIT-KAT on the i337 S4 for AT&T, save for the Google Play Edition and the version with the octacore etc.
I know these forums are strict (and should be) about questions being asked more than once, but I am not asking when KITKAT will be released through AT&T or even Samsung because I honestly don't care. I simply want to get KitKat on my device running with relative stability. I know there are custom roms out there, but most of them were released...a month ago or so? MAYBE I'm missing something, but if anyone here is in similar shoes, I would appreciate it if you'd echo my sentiments/request to find out if it can be done and how.
Anyone who knows how I can learn more about loading ASOP onto my i337 S4, I would greatly appreciate it. If the limitation is a locked boot loader that you CANNOT get around (excluding safestrap), do let me know! I'm sure a lot of people would benefit from the answer to this question.
Otherwise I'm going to go buy the Google Play Edition of one of the Android devices that has an unlocked boot loader.
Cheers,
Justin
justintime001 said:
I have had my S4 since switching to ATT in late November and have been following the XDA forums very closely since then. It was thanks to the XDA forums that I was able to root my S4.
However, no matter how far, wide, and meticulously I look on the site, there is no mention of the existence of running KIT-KAT on the i337 S4 for AT&T, save for the Google Play Edition and the version with the octacore etc.
I know these forums are strict (and should be) about questions being asked more than once, but I am not asking when KITKAT will be released through AT&T or even Samsung because I honestly don't care. I simply want to get KitKat on my device running with relative stability. I know there are custom roms out there, but most of them were released...a month ago or so? MAYBE I'm missing something, but if anyone here is in similar shoes, I would appreciate it if you'd echo my sentiments/request to find out if it can be done and how.
Anyone who knows how I can learn more about loading ASOP onto my i337 S4, I would greatly appreciate it. If the limitation is a locked boot loader that you CANNOT get around (excluding safestrap), do let me know! I'm sure a lot of people would benefit from the answer to this question.
Otherwise I'm going to go buy the Google Play Edition of one of the Android devices that has an unlocked boot loader.
Cheers,
Justin
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Click to collapse
What version are you currently running. Go to about phone and post your baseband version. If the 2nd to last digit is f or higher you can't get kit kat yet. If it is before f then you are free to do whatever you want., If you are rooted you can just download rom manager from the play store and flash a recovery the easy way. Then get cyanogenmod or something for your device.
failedjedi said:
What version are you currently running. Go to about phone and post your baseband version. If the 2nd to last digit is f or higher you can't get kit kat yet. If it is before f then you are free to do whatever you want., If you are rooted you can just download rom manager from the play store and flash a recovery the easy way. Then get cyanogenmod or something for your device.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply!!!
That is most unfortunate, since it is i337UCUEMK2 - even if I did some crazy stuff to go back to MF3, I'd be right at f anyway. ROM Manager and flashing a recovery the easy way seemed simple enough and I was going to do that but it ended up not working, then I tried using Goo Manager and that soft-bricked my phone and I spent hours getting it back to MK2 again. It's back to the way it was, but I still want to update to Kit-Kat.
Btw, could you tell me why it isn't possible because of my baseband? Thanks failedjedi, and anyone else that can offer useful information.
Cheers,
J
justintime001 said:
Thank you for your reply!!!
That is most unfortunate, since it is i337UCUEMK2 - even if I did some crazy stuff to go back to MF3, I'd be right at f anyway. ROM Manager and flashing a recovery the easy way seemed simple enough and I was going to do that but it ended up not working, then I tried using Goo Manager and that soft-bricked my phone and I spent hours getting it back to MK2 again. It's back to the way it was, but I still want to update to Kit-Kat.
Btw, could you tell me why it isn't possible because of my baseband? Thanks failedjedi, and anyone else that can offer useful information.
Cheers,
J
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Click to collapse
With mf3 they locked down the bootloader. So before mf3 you were able to put a custom recovery and custom roms. Since MF3 no one has figured out how to bypass it yet. With mf3 you can use safestrap to sort of get some custom roms, but it still needs to boot the stock kernel as you can't yet use a custom kernel. As a result you are limited to only 4.2.2 Touchwiz based roms working. Now safestrap has a beta for newer versions, not 100% sure what it does and does not support yet as I'm sticking with my mf3 and a 4.2.2 jellybean rom. But the beta is new and probably still buggy.
But basically since you need the stock kernel, you are limited to only the android version your current stock version is.
Yeah as an android developer, I accept that, but am not going to permit it to remain true. This might take awhile...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
If you are a developer there are bounties out for someone to get this working on mf3>
I don't have that issue but good luck if you try--:good:
Thanks! Didn't really know there were bounties for that - worthwhile ones anyway given that im dev apps and messing with AOSP and mainly my att s4 every chance I get.
Actually id be doing it for mk2, and if it becomes apparent that mf3 is easier to do it with ill do with that since I'd just DANGEROUSLY use Odin to go back, root, sideload titpro and block the sht out of the autoupdate. From what ive seen, the intermediary version between mf3 and mk2 might be most likely. This is all conjecture anyway. Sooner or later I will allow people to be free even with contracted or used phones.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Hi guys, fairly new to Android, been an iPhone user for a very long time. Didn't like it, but they were always JB. I got the S4 and was hoping to get it in a custom rom since all this AT&T jargon is annoying. Not to mention the slow stock apps and useless apps.
Heres my phone specs.
ANDROID VERSION: 4.2.2
MODEL: SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
BASE BAND VERSION: I337UCUAMF3
BUILD NUMBER: JDQ39.I337UCUAMF3
It's an MF3 to the max I believe. And as far as I have seen, there is no option for it using any AOSP roms or any roms that use the 4.4. roms.
I may be wrong and was wondering what my options are for custom roms? I would like to go cyagen or google, but it seems I may be out of luck with either. I can't find help on the forums since most people claim they got a rom, while many others claim its impossible, while others have bricked phones. I dont even know which recover to use.
My phone is rooted, I have clockwork.
aermis said:
Hi guys, fairly new to Android, been an iPhone user for a very long time. Didn't like it, but they were always JB. I got the S4 and was hoping to get it in a custom rom since all this AT&T jargon is annoying. Not to mention the slow stock apps and useless apps.
Heres my phone specs.
ANDROID VERSION: 4.2.2
MODEL: SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
BASE BAND VERSION: I337UCUAMF3
BUILD NUMBER: JDQ39.I337UCUAMF3
It's an MF3 to the max I believe. And as far as I have seen, there is no option for it using any AOSP roms or any roms that use the 4.4. roms.
I may be wrong and was wondering what my options are for custom roms? I would like to go cyagen or google, but it seems I may be out of luck with either. I can't find help on the forums since most people claim they got a rom, while many others claim its impossible, while others have bricked phones. I dont even know which recover to use.
My phone is rooted, I have clockwork.
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Click to collapse
Unless you can boot into clockwork, you don't have it. Chances are your recovery is broken at the moment. Your only option on MF3 is to use Safestrap, and if you stay on MF3 then you can use a 4.2.2 Google Edition ROM but that's the most you'll get besides other touchwiz. Otherwise, if you do have clockwork then you're either still on MDL with an MF3 ROM or on a different model. There's plenty of threads with information.
DeadlySin9 said:
Unless you can boot into clockwork, you don't have it. Chances are your recovery is broken at the moment. Your only option on MF3 is to use Safestrap, and if you stay on MF3 then you can use a 4.2.2 Google Edition ROM but that's the most you'll get besides other touchwiz. Otherwise, if you do have clockwork then you're either still on MDL with an MF3 ROM or on a different model. There's plenty of threads with information.
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Click to collapse
Awesome. Thank you for the information. You may be right with the Clockwork being broken. I do get into the boot load but I don't think I got a recovery. OK so my best options are a 4.2.2 google edition rom. How about with cyogen? If you can point me to the proper forums I'd gladly stop annoying you lol. I'm sorry for being difficult. It's hard for me to dig for information correctly.
Keep Digging. You have a lot to learn. Read up on what you can and can not do on mf3. Look for safestrap
Mf3 shostock v2.3 was good... Try rooted stock with the wanam clean up w.e apps you don't need... Regardless its only TW and I'm holding off updating faithfully
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
you won't be able to use cyanogen, it's aosp
and you will have to use the recovery that comes with safestrap--no custom recoveries or kernels
you can, i believe update to mk2 and with latest Safestrap 3.7? and use 4.3 roms. not expert on SafeStrap as I don't need it, so not 100% on that
first step is getting recovery back
Everyone thanks a lot for the replies. I will look into all that was said and see what my best options are. Whether to update to mk2 and get 4.3 roms but risk the update or keep mf3 and hope for some custom recoveries.
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
Click to expand...
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
Long time XDA reader here and I am in a bit of a pickle here and I haven't been able to come across a difinitive answer. I apologize ahead of time if this question was answered elsewhere, but know that I have just become more confused as I continue to dig. I have some very basic experience with Odin, CWM, TWRP, Safestrap, from past modding/ROM loading. Please be gentle.
I've just recently finished my contract with Verizon, where I was running a Galaxy S3. I intended to hop over to Straight Talk but determined my S3 could only receive Edge data. So, off to sell my phone and buy something new. Swappa fulfilled both purposes easily and fast (shameless plug). I purchased an i337 and am running her on Straight Talk. So far, I am loving every second of the service and, most importantly, the phone.
My new i337 came loaded with the stock AT&T loadset, running 4.2.2, and the MF3 build. I immediately made my way to Cyanogenmod's (CM) site to take advantage of the new Installer. Much to my dismay, the i337 isn't compatible with the new installer. So, off to research and find out how to manually install CM. http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_jflteatt I hit a wall with the Loki installer portion. I've done a lot of digging and find that AT&T has apparently locked us in a cage and has limited our recovery options.
I have successfully rooted and installed safestrap. I have used script manager to disable the updates that attempted to download while on wi-fi. For now, I am holding tight on 4.2.2 and MF3. If I understand correctly, I can only use safestrap and not TWRP or CWM. I have read that I can only run TouchWiz ROMs. I am also understanding that I will have to maintain all of the AT&T bloatware ROM on the stock partition (taking up storage space) and place any new TouchWiz-only ROM on a new partition. I am not dead set on Cyanogenmod, just looking to get away from TouchWiz and not have to partition to take up more storage space. I just want one ROM on my phone.
Can anyone please shed some light on any of the following:
1. Should I stay at MF3 or accept the OTA updates?
2.a. What is my best choice for ever running Cyanogenmod?
2.b. If not Cyanogen, what is the next best non-TouchWiz possibility?
Thanks in advance folks!
I would upgrade to NB1 or NC1. More roms like 4.4's
You won't ever "probably" run CM or aosp roms.
No custom recoveries/kernels, only SafeStrap
There is a GPE rom here that is TW based so you can try it. Not perfect but gets you away from some TW. I forget name. Someone may have link.
If not already done, check out Genenal and Q&A for SafeStrap threads and All things MK2 etc. Also an MF3 upgrade thread. I am on MDL so don't need SafeStrap, hence don't have all the links handy.
First off, questions go in Q&A.
Best option would be to sell your device and get the T-Mobile version (bootloader is unlocked).
If you plan to keep this one, you may want to consider doing a carrier unlock while you still can.
Otherwise this guy ^^^ is correct.
Edit:
Two more things...
1) If you decide to sell this device (sell not return), it is worth more if you carrier unlock.
2) Pretty sure this device is no longer supported by CM (last update was February), so you are not missing anything.
rugmankc said:
I would upgrade to NB1 or NC1. More roms like 4.4's
You won't ever "probably" run CM or aosp roms.
No custom recoveries/kernels, only SafeStrap
There is a GPE rom here that is TW based so you can try it. Not perfect but gets you away from some TW. I forget name. Someone may have link.
If not already done, check out Genenal and Q&A for SafeStrap threads and All things MK2 etc. Also an MF3 upgrade thread. I am on MDL so don't need SafeStrap, hence don't have all the links handy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are still here the GE rom is in General. Give Thanks to the OP jmsq--:good:
rugmankc said:
If you are still here the GE rom is in General. Give Thanks to the OP jmsq--:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I decided to take the plunge and accept my fate with this I337. I followed the great guide at the "[INDEX] All things AT&T MK2, NB1, and NC1 (including ROMs)" thread in the General Forum. I am now on NC1 and enjoying the Hyperdrive ROM. Took a little trial and error to get everything up and running (wi-fi in particular), but I'm happy to have dropped the AT&T baggage.
Thank you for the clear cut truth about my poor decision to trust that an AT&T S4 was going to be smooth sailing. If the great minds ever come up with a way to break the bootloader obstacle, I'll be ready to try something new. For now, I'm satisfied with what I have and I'll be trying out some of the other NC1 ROMS around here. I'll give the GE a go next!
Thanks again for the help!
kingamateur said:
I decided to take the plunge and accept my fate with this I337. I followed the great guide at the "[INDEX] All things AT&T MK2, NB1, and NC1 (including ROMs)" thread in the General Forum. I am now on NC1 and enjoying the Hyperdrive ROM. Took a little trial and error to get everything up and running (wi-fi in particular), but I'm happy to have dropped the AT&T baggage.
Thank you for the clear cut truth about my poor decision to trust that an AT&T S4 was going to be smooth sailing. If the great minds ever come up with a way to break the bootloader obstacle, I'll be ready to try something new. For now, I'm satisfied with what I have and I'll be trying out some of the other NC1 ROMS around here. I'll give the GE a go next!
Thanks again for the help!
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Click to collapse
Fantastic, glad you are up and running. The GE has some "not working" items. But, OP page spells that out. Personal choice, but I like reading last 20 pages of any thread I am going to be using, plus all of OP page.
Good Luck--:good: