[Q] Flashing to MK2 - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

I recently got a SGH-i337 S4 as a gift from a relative, but i'm not sure if it was rooted. I checked with two apps, Root Checker Basic and Root Status, and they are saying my phone is rooted. I'll take these into consideration, but I am not able to contact my relative to ask if they really did root it or not, and if they unrooted it.
Anyways, I want to flash my galaxy to the latest stock firmware, and I have downloaded the the MK2 tar files. Do i just proceed and connect my phone and press start, and then my phone will be essentially fresh-out-of-the-store firmware? Using Odin, I do not have to be rooted, so because of the previous ambiguity, am i able to use Odin without knowing for sure?

unluckypatron said:
I recently got a SGH-i337 S4 as a gift from a relative, but i'm not sure if it was rooted. I checked with two apps, Root Checker Basic and Root Status, and they are saying my phone is rooted. I'll take these into consideration, but I am not able to contact my relative to ask if they really did root it or not, and if they unrooted it.
Anyways, I want to flash my galaxy to the latest stock firmware, and I have downloaded the the MK2 tar files. Do i just proceed and connect my phone and press start, and then my phone will be essentially fresh-out-of-the-store firmware? Using Odin, I do not have to be rooted, so because of the previous ambiguity, am i able to use Odin without knowing for sure?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can use the Odin files to update to MK2, but mind you there is NO way to ever go back to MF3. If you have any sort of need of custom rom's I recommend staying with MF3 until the MK2 branches grow some more. But if you plan on using the phone complete stock go ahead and upgrade, your still be able to reroot and get Safestrap your just have a small amount of TW 4.3 roms.

unluckypatron said:
I recently got a SGH-i337 S4 as a gift from a relative, but i'm not sure if it was rooted. I checked with two apps, Root Checker Basic and Root Status, and they are saying my phone is rooted. I'll take these into consideration, but I am not able to contact my relative to ask if they really did root it or not, and if they unrooted it.
Anyways, I want to flash my galaxy to the latest stock firmware, and I have downloaded the the MK2 tar files. Do i just proceed and connect my phone and press start, and then my phone will be essentially fresh-out-of-the-store firmware? Using Odin, I do not have to be rooted, so because of the previous ambiguity, am i able to use Odin without knowing for sure?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A few questions. Do you know what firmware you are on right now ? Is it MF3 or MDL ? i only ask because with MDL you are able to try out MK2 firmware (not using odin) instead of having to use Odin to flash the firmware.
I was unable to determine from your post if you want it rooted or not. If the app says you are rooted then you more than likely are. Is there a superuser app on there or superSU ? If you aren't interested in being rooted then I suggest you avoid odin to update and go the Kies way to update to the new firmware.
Let us know your intentions so we can best help. Thanks !

Related

MDL to MF9 Help

First off let me say I am a noob I have rooted several phones but just stay stock and do simple mods.... that said....
I got my s4 a week ago, didn't know there was the mf9 update available, so I rooted my phone (on mdl), with CF-Auto Root.
Did the hotspot mod, did a camera tweak, got xposed installer, prl write enable...that's all I've done.
I want to upgrade to MF9 (since I keep getting "message unresponsive" on MDL which it's supposed to fix) ...
I've read the the threads and it seems a lot of people are getting stuck and things occurring when they go from rooted MDL to MF9
so I need help please =DDD
Right now I am
Kernel
Linux version 3.4.0-529760
I tried to be as descriptive as I could since I don't want to run in to any problems..
I want to be able to add all the stuff I currently have on my phone but I don't care if the memory is lost since I can just add it again..
I would REALLY appreciate some help!! since I just got the phone and I don't want to brick it
P.S I got the "system update" notification on my phone telling me to install regarding MF9, would I be able to do it that way and then root (since it would unroot my phone)???
I did that with the s3 and I was unable access root again, it just said I was rooted but I really wasn't....
Or should I unroot, update mf9, then root again?? Is that easier??
helpp!!! Again I read the threads but it dooesn't seem anyone is my situation
Glitterloveglamour said:
First off let me say I am a noob I have rooted several phones but just stay stock and do simple mods.... that said....
I got my s4 a week ago, didn't know there was the mf9 update available, so I rooted my phone (on mdl), with CF-Auto Root.
Did the hotspot mod, did a camera tweak, got xposed installer, prl write enable...that's all I've done.
I want to upgrade to MF9 (since I keep getting "message unresponsive" on MDL which it's supposed to fix) ...
I've read the the threads and it seems a lot of people are getting stuck and things occurring when they go from rooted MDL to MF9
so I need help please =DDD
Right now I am
Kernel
Linux version 3.4.0-529760
I tried to be as descriptive as I could since I don't want to run in to any problems..
I want to be able to add all the stuff I currently have on my phone but I don't care if the memory is lost since I can just add it again..
I would REALLY appreciate some help!! since I just got the phone and I don't want to brick it
P.S I got the "system update" notification on my phone telling me to install regarding MF9, would I be able to do it that way and then root (since it would unroot my phone)???
I did that with the s3 and I was unable access root again, it just said I was rooted but I really wasn't....
Or should I unroot, update mf9, then root again?? Is that easier??
helpp!!! Again I read the threads but it dooesn't seem anyone is my situation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong section....please use the "Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting" section of the Sprint Galaxy S4 Forums
Oooh you are in big trouble. Lol, I kid, I kid... A Moderator will move this. It is in the wrong section... But while I'm here, use superSU to unroot (there is a setting in it to unroot) reverse any mods, you have got to be 100% stock. Stock kernel, stock recovery, and everything has to match....In download mode if it says you have anything but a zero count, and, or if it says custom, use triangle away to clear the flash count, and if you have custom in about phone.
Once you are unrooted, and everything is stock, do a factory reset, I read you should do it 2 our 3 times. Only when it is like it was when you got it, accept the MF9 update, then root, and you will be all good
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
cerj said:
Oooh you are in big trouble. Lol, I kid, I kid... A Moderator will move this. It is in the wrong section... But while I'm here, use superSU to unroot (there is a setting in it to unroot) reverse any mods, you have got to be 100% stock. Stock kernel, stock recovery, and everything has to match....In download mode if it says you have anything but a zero count, and, or if it says custom, use triangle away to clear the flash count, and if you have custom in about phone.
Once you are unrooted, and everything is stock, do a factory reset, I read you should do it 2 our 3 times. Only when it is like it was when you got it, accept the MF9 update, then root, and you will be all good
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is that one of the easiest ways to just go back to stock then upgrade then root again?
I found the following way to be simple and it worked:
1. Flash your phone with the Samsung MDL tar using Odin. Reboot.
2. Perform a factory reset from Settings. Reboot.
3. Go into stock recovery and flash the official MDL to MF9 zip file from a microSD card. Reboot.
4. To get root back, flash a custom recovery of your choice with Odin.
5. Within custom recovery, flash the latest SuperSU zip. Reboot.
You should now be rooted and you can start modding.
If you are staying stock rooted this is by far the easiest way: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2357471
No reason to even mess with flashing the OTA push.
I ended up doing an unroot flash stock, factory reset. Add mf9. Cf root
and now im on mf9 rooted
it seems like the hard method mostly that stock took like 2 hours to download
cerj said:
Oooh you are in big trouble. Lol, I kid, I kid... A Moderator will move this. It is in the wrong section... But while I'm here, use superSU to unroot (there is a setting in it to unroot) reverse any mods, you have got to be 100% stock. Stock kernel, stock recovery, and everything has to match....In download mode if it says you have anything but a zero count, and, or if it says custom, use triangle away to clear the flash count, and if you have custom in about phone.
Once you are unrooted, and everything is stock, do a factory reset, I read you should do it 2 our 3 times. Only when it is like it was when you got it, accept the MF9 update, then root, and you will be all good
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this the order these steps should be done in?

MK2 Update. Should I?

I'm using MF3 now. i don't want to root again after update. so i'm asking if SuperSU's survival mode will prevent unrooting during the update, and also I'm thinking of staying MF3 until KitKat, unless MK2 is very important or fabulous update (such as bootloader unlock).
ryujeff said:
I have no idea how AT&T can get benefit by locking bootloaders. Why do they want it locked? They also said they are going to lock bootloaders for further devices. Does that mean AT&T will lock KitKat's bootloader? KitKat's my only hope unless Dan Rosenberg releases unlocking method. When is he gonna release the method? It's been a while. I really want custom ROMs. Safestrap's choices are too limited and eats up my storage.
Sadly, I bought the device right after MF3. I'm not updating to MK2 in order to not encounter another bootloader problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T locks bootloaders so that they can guarantee everyone will have and use exactly what they give access to. It makes it harder for us to get rid of their restrictions such as locking tethering and using apps they hide in the play store. It keeps us on their stock system where they can have more control basically. KitKat will be locked, just like everything else was/is. Don Rosenberg's unlock method has been out for a while, it's only an exploit known as loki and was patched by MF3. It was never a full unlock.
DeadlySin9 said:
AT&T locks bootloaders so that they can guarantee everyone will have and use exactly what they give access to. It makes it harder for us to get rid of their restrictions such as locking tethering and using apps they hide in the play store. It keeps us on their stock system where they can have more control basically. KitKat will be locked, just like everything else was/is. Don Rosenberg's unlock method has been out for a while, it's only an exploit known as loki and was patched by MF3. It was never a full unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for spending your precious time on answering such a stupid question.
now i edited my question into another question:laugh:
ryujeff said:
thanks for spending your precious time on answering such a stupid question.
now i edited my question into another question:laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me.....alot of users hanging on MF3 because we have MF3 FULL TAR FILES, but not Mk2. Last night my buddy @muniz_ri shared mk2 files and now we have ......MK2 FULL TAR FILES .....it mean u can go back to stock MK2 firmware just in case something goes wrong....i think u should now.... plus we confirmed more than 20 custom roms worked with MK2 + SafeStrap v3.71 Recovery .....check this MK2_INDEX_ROMS_LIST thread by @guut13 ......anything u need to know for MK2.....get your READING MODE ON..........GOODLUCK.....:good::good:
ted77usa said:
For me.....alot of users hanging on MF3 because we have MF3 FULL TAR FILES, but not Mk2. Last night my buddy @muniz_ri shared mk2 files and now we have ......MK2 FULL TAR FILES .....it mean u can go back to stock MK2 firmware just in case something goes wrong....i think u should now.... plus we confirmed more than 20 custom roms worked with MK2 + SafeStrap v3.71 Recovery .....check this MK2_INDEX_ROMS_LIST thread by @guut13 ......anything u need to know for MK2.....get your READING MODE ON..........GOODLUCK.....:good::good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for making time to reply my question. I've got a little problem. I used survive mode in supersu and tried to update into MK2, but at 25% during the installation, it goes off and fails everytime. I uninstalled safestrap recovery just in case but the installation fails. Is there a way to flash MK2 on MF3 with Odin? What if i cant update forever? So im planning to factory reset and unroot if there is no other way
ryujeff said:
Thanks for making time to reply my question. I've got a little problem. I used survive mode in supersu and tried to update into MK2, but at 25% during the installation, it goes off and fails everytime. I uninstalled safestrap recovery just in case but the installation fails. Is there a way to flash MK2 on MF3 with Odin? What if i cant update forever? So im planning to factory reset and unroot if there is no other way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SuperSu known for updating failure... so It work better if you coming from mf3 .... u need to flash to mf3 stock firmware by flashing mf3.tar from my update. Zip thread. ... Or u can just flash the mk2 full tar files. ... u would end up on mk2.....If you check my other thread about update.zip.....u would see couples peoples confirmed work ......... Goodluck
Swyped from MK2 Dark Venomous X1

[Q] Can't root or unroot?? Ota firmware update didn't set root but no root privileges

I recently upgraded my phone from a SGS2 i777 to the SGS4 i337. Of course after years of custom ROMs and kernels on the S2 I wanted to do the same on the S4. I attempted to perform the hack associated with the Loki exploit while running stock Mk2. After trying several methods and receiving the failure to root message I gave up and decided stock wasn't that bad and I could make do. I noticed that even after these attempts failed either Super User or Super sure would be installed. Sadly the super su binary needed to be updated but it never actually updated. I also noticed that I was getting the custom boot screen but no real root. Anyway I looked around the Web and xda for a solution, either a way to gain full root or to reset back to full stock. I was interested in trying some of samsung's apps as well as At&t's Isis wallet so I decided to try to unroot and "play by the rules" for a little while before I started using custom roms. I read in several places that a firmware update removes root (as well as patches the exploit) but I decided it was the easiest way to "unroot" because I didn't have any root privileges which of course were needed to unroot if I used any guide online. After an ota update from 4.2.2 MK2 firmware to 4.4 NB1 is still have the custom boot screen and Is is still things my phone is rooted and therefore will not run. Some how I have enough root to trip the custom screen and stop Isis but not enough root to unroot. Does anyone have a solution to bring my phone back to full stock without root in such a way that I don't lose or can reinstall samsung's app and a few if At&t's ? All relatively safe suggestions welcome. Thanks for taking the time to read and any help.
Since youre on nb1 now, download a copy of the stock nb1 rom and download odin v3.09. right click on odin and run as administrator. Boot your phone into download mode by turning it on holding volume down, power, and the home buttkn. Plug your phone in and odin should say <added!>. Load the stock rom on the pda slot then hit start. Your phone should reset as a 100% stock phone with the custom splash gone.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Noob Question on upgrading to 4.4.2 for Canadian Variant SGH-I337M

My apology if this has been asked as I've scanned through a few with not much luck.
Came across this and i went to sammobile and dl the TELUS 4.4.2 firmware and judging by this article, this is an non-wipe install via Odin3.
I know it is best to wipe and start fresh but hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction as I would like to upgrade without wiping.
Thanks a bunch!
http://www.howtoroot.mobi/2014/04/install-i337mvlufnc1-442-for-galaxy-s4.html
shuweee said:
My apology if this has been asked as I've scanned through a few with not much luck.
Came across this and i went to sammobile and dl the TELUS 4.4.2 firmware and judging by this article, this is an non-wipe install via Odin3.
I know it is best to wipe and start fresh but hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction as I would like to upgrade without wiping.
Thanks a bunch!
http://www.howtoroot.mobi/2014/04/install-i337mvlufnc1-442-for-galaxy-s4.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cant update your phone without whipping your device if using odin unless its an OTA cause if you do you will most like end up in boot llop thus just backup and then flash using odin, what i assume from the article is that it wont wipe your internal sd card but will wipe your data i.e applications and settings etc.
Depends where you are trying to get to..... if you are not rooted on 4.3 and just want to go to 4.4.2, I would just use Kies. If you are rooted and want to go to 4.4.2 then yes this looks like the right method. Things to concider are.... do you want to be able to go back to 4.3 at anytime is so, you really shouldn't use this method as I believe it is going to update your bootloader which means no going back... If you intend on rooting anyway, I would suggest using CF- auto root, added a custom recovery and flashing Mapleleaf rom..... plus the NC1 modem... this is mostly stock, you will have root access and retain the 4.3 bootloader should you want to revert back to 4.3.......this will trip you Knox so if you want to keep warrenty well this isn't a good way to go either... unless of course you have already tripped it...

[Q] MF3 to 4.4.2 with root

Greetings,
My wife's S4 is on 4.2.2 (MF3) and it drives me nuts. I've been looking around the forums, but haven't found anything conclusive as to if there is a way to go from 4.2.2 to 4.4.2 and keep or reroot.
Normally I'd throw caution to the wind, close my eyes, and hit start... but, being that this is the wife's phone and that she is perfectly content with 4.2.2, the last thing I want to do is screw up her phone.
So I guess the question is: Does anyone know of a guide they can point me to that upgrades a rooted 4.2.2 to 4.4.2?
Thank you!
PS
I found this guide (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2728462), but it just seems strange that the thread was all but ignored, so there is no feedback from users/testers.
You can upgrade to 4.4.2, but you don't keep root. You'll have to re-root it. And you have to use Odin which means you'll wipe the phone. If it was my wife's phone I wouldn't want to put up with the complaining of having to setup everything again.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
tarikakleh said:
Greetings,
My wife's S4 is on 4.2.2 (MF3) and it drives me nuts. I've been looking around the forums, but haven't found anything conclusive as to if there is a way to go from 4.2.2 to 4.4.2 and keep or reroot.
Normally I'd throw caution to the wind, close my eyes, and hit start... but, being that this is the wife's phone and that she is perfectly content with 4.2.2, the last thing I want to do is screw up her phone.
So I guess the question is: Does anyone know of a guide they can point me to that upgrades a rooted 4.2.2 to 4.4.2?
Thank you!
PS
I found this guide (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2728462), but it just seems strange that the thread was all but ignored, so there is no feedback from users/testers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can first unroot then go to settings---->more----->about device----> software update and take the OTA to MK2. Once on MK2 take the OTA to NB1, then to NC1, then re-root using towelroot: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2783157
The above process will leave your current set-up intact and rooted.
muniz_ri said:
You can first unroot then go to settings---->more----->about device----> software update and take the OTA to MK2. Once on MK2 take the OTA to NB1, then to NC1, then re-root using towelroot: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2783157
The above process will leave your current set-up intact and rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would this method be the best way to unroot, starting with step 2 in my case since I still have root...or is there a different route I can take?
Originally Posted by ou812bkewl
So, here is what I did and what you must do:
1. Re-root again using the same method you did before for MF3, then:
--a) Reboot, update SuperSU app and it's binary
--b) Reboot again, verify device status is back to"Official"
--c) Reboot again, verifying that, this time, the boot screen is back to normal again
2. Download a file manager app in the Play Store called "Total Commander" and enable "Root functions everywhere" in its settings.
3. Navigate to a folder called "/system/xbin"
4. Delete ONLY files in that folder with the word "busybox" within its filename or symlink path. You should end up with three files left. I did. Two of them are SuperSU related. DO NOT DELETE ANY OF THEM!
5.Open SuperSU and, in its settings, select the "Full un-root" option. Once SuperSU closes, reboot.
When you reboot, wait a full minute and check on device status. It should still say "Official" and you will be fully un-rooted.
Why does it stay "Official" with Busybox present ONLY when SuperSU's most recently updated apk and binary are present? I have no clue... But I hope this helps you out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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