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I rooted my galaxy s4, OTA MF3 updated, I accidently installed Chainfire 3d and tapped 'install CF3D driver', and instantly the device reboots and stuck at at&t logo. i tried latest stock firmware to flash with Odin 3.07, but it says
<NAND write start>
<FAIL(Auth)>
.
also did factory reset but it stuck at the at&t logo every time.
what should i do!!
I sent my device to MobileTechVideos for JTAG brick repair and ROM/root upgrade.
do you think they can fix it with JTAG?
Please tell me this isn't the same guy from a few days ago with a different username.
If not. You did not accidentally install it! You have to click install and accept in the play store then install the drivers through the app. You intentionally installed it but you were too busy NOT reading anything that says that it is only compatible on specific hardware. Now you are screwed and have no way to fix it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Way too coincidental...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2419863
If it's not you, please read that thread so we don't have to keep cluttering the board up with the same stuff over and over again. Any help you will find for your issue has been posted in that thread.
If it is you, I hope you are banned for multiple accounts.
OH NO
graydiggy said:
Please tell me this isn't the same guy from a few days ago with a different username.
If not. You did not accidentally install it! You have to click install and accept in the play store. You intentionally installed it but you were too busy NOT reading anything that says that it is only compatible on specific hardware. Now you are screwed and have no way to fix it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Click to collapse
it can't be fixed ANYWAY? by the way, why do you think the Odin doesn't work? i want to know why my device can't be fixed. explain to me please, why can't it be fixed and what is the problem that make it unable to fix.
You are on MF3. Thee is no custom recovery on MF3. There is no ODIN flashable MF3 ROMs, there is no MF3 on Kies.
If you would read the stickies and most MF3 related threads, you would know that there is no way to come back from messing up on MF3.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Nope i'm not that guy
graydiggy said:
Please tell me this isn't the same guy from a few days ago with a different username.
If not. You did not accidentally install it! You have to click install and accept in the play store then install the drivers through the app. You intentionally installed it but you were too busy NOT reading anything that says that it is only compatible on specific hardware. Now you are screwed and have no way to fix it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you mean the guy who posted same problem few days ago?
Yep... Created multiple threads on it too.. scott14719 posted a link.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
.
graydiggy said:
You are on MF3. Thee is no custom recovery on MF3. There is no ODIN flashable MF3 ROMs, there is no MF3 on Kies.
If you would read the stickies and most MF3 related threads, you would know that there is no way to come back from messing up on MF3.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Click to collapse
I installed Clockworkmod recovery and did the factory reset. isn't Clockworkmod recovery a custom recovery? so that means, i have to collect 400 dollars and switch the mainboard at at&t or should i wait until odin flashable MF3 comes out? i just bought galaxy s4 a week ago.
anyway i'll find my way to solve this even if that means i have to switch mainboard. thanks for replying.
If you are truly on MF3,you would not be able to install CWM.
It means that you have a $650 paperweight for the time being until you
A: Get it replaced
B: Get a new motherboard
C: learn ADB and can fix it with that
D: Try a J-Tag repair
E: Wait until the bootloader gets unlocked. If it is even possible.
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graydiggy said:
If you are truly on MF3,you would not be able to install CWM.
It means that you have a $650 paperweight for the time being until you
A: Get it replaced
B: Get a new motherboard
C: learn ADB and can fix it with that
D: Try a J-Tag repair
E: Wait until the bootloader gets unlocked. If it is even possible.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Click to collapse
A: Yep
B: Would be better off getting another phone. I'm not sure if the NV memory is located on the Motherboard or not?
C: ADB might not be able to connect if he can't get the phone booted.
D: So far JTAG is a no-go on MF3.
C: Yep, but hopefully Samsung will release the full MF3 firmware (hopefully through KIES as well) that will be able to reflash the firmware to the phone.
I would say replace it or be screwed until MF3 firmware drops.
Noooooooooooo
scott14719 said:
A: Yep
B: Would be better off getting another phone. I'm not sure if the NV memory is located on the Motherboard or not?
C: ADB might not be able to connect if he can't get the phone booted.
D: So far JTAG is a no-go on MF3.
C: Yep, but hopefully Samsung will release the full MF3 firmware (hopefully through KIES as well) that will be able to reflash the firmware to the phone.
I would say replace it or be screwed until MF3 firmware drops.
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Click to collapse
Why did AT&T updated to MF3!!!!!!!!!! do if MF3 comes out, does that mean i can flash that with Odin?
i should say MF3 stands for Mother+F word times 3. anyway thanks for replying.
I sent my device for JTAG yesterday. they might not fix it
ryujeff said:
Why did AT&T updated to MF3!!!!!!!!!! do if MF3 comes out, does that mean i can flash that with Odin?
i should say MF3 stands for Mother+F word times 3. anyway thanks for replying.
I sent my device for JTAG yesterday. they might not fix it
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Click to collapse
I'm sure AT&T views MF3 as a complete success. It's just the people interested in customizing and modding their phones (XDA minded people) that hate it.
When Samsung releases the full MF3 firmware, you should be able to use ODIN to flash back to stock. However, no one will know for sure until it is released. It has been a while since the MF3 OTA started to roll out, so if Samsung is going to release the full MF3 firmware, it should be soon.
As far as JTAG goes, I haven't seen a successful flash yet. I think the JTAG people are waiting for the firmware release as well.
I thought J-Tag works for flashing MF3 but doesn't work for downgrade. It doesn't work for both?
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scott14719 said:
I'm sure AT&T views MF3 as a complete success. It's just the people interested in customizing and modding their phones (XDA minded people) that hate it.
When Samsung releases the full MF3 firmware, you should be able to use ODIN to flash back to stock. However, no one will know for sure until it is released. It has been a while since the MF3 OTA started to roll out, so if Samsung is going to release the full MF3 firmware, it should be soon.
As far as JTAG goes, I haven't seen a successful flash yet. I think the JTAG people are waiting for the firmware release as well.
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Click to collapse
Yay! thank you so much for at least giving me hope to fix my device. i was very experienced developer of galaxy a, you may never heard of galaxy a. it was released only in Korea. i thought galaxy s4 might be similar to galaxy a. i should've studied more. in Korea, we used to make custom roms flashable by Odin. XDA doesn't seem to have roms that are flashable with Odin. i used to make my own roms. please could you help me fixing my phone when MF3 releases? i don't know a lot about galaxy s4. again, thank you.
XDA is full of ODIN flashable Stuff. MF3 is just locked tight. We are working on some stuff to make it better for now until there is a bootloader unlock.
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graydiggy said:
XDA is full of ODIN flashable Stuff. MF3 is just locked tight. We are working on some stuff to make it better for now until there is a bootloader unlock.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Click to collapse
Didn't know that! thanks!
graydiggy said:
I thought J-Tag works for flashing MF3 but doesn't work for downgrade. It doesn't work for both?
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This is from the thread when Aou was trying to JTAG his device...
well i finally got in touch with mobile tech and got a refund/explanation of our problem it seems the qfuse being blown is the main reason this is happening..
Unfortunately, we were not able to repair your device. The device's onboard EMMC controller was in a non-responsive state. It is advised to try out warranty replacement if possible or to search for a parts device and use it's mainboard for the swap.
The blown fuse is the reason JTAG (or ODIN / KIES) for that matter) can not revert the device to a previous firmware.
Once the full MF3 firmware is available, it will probably be possible to restore the device via JTAG to MF3, but as we know, the MF3 firmware is not yet available. Therefore, it can not be done (yet). And once / if it is released, there is no guarantee it will work until it is tried.
The quote from Mobile Tech above mentions swapping mainboards, but I don't think it will work due to the NV memory I mentioned before (but maybe it can?).
Anyway, the key seems to be wait until the full MF3 firmware is released or wait until / if the bootloader is unlocked. I think the firmware is the better bet and it isn't guaranteed.
Switching out motherboards should be no issue. All that is being done is dropping it into the back of the screen, plugging in some flex cables, slap it back together and booting it up. I know why we can't downgrade, just didn't realize that a full system dump of MF3 was not enough for J-Tag.
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ryujeff said:
Didn't know that! thanks!
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Click to collapse
Well, be careful. The SGH-I337 (AT&T S4) has a locked bootloader, so only official firmware (signed by Samsung's encrypted key) can be flashed via ODIN. To complicate things, the MF3 update (which you have) made the previous firmwares unflashable via ODIN. Phones that did not update to MF3 (still on MDB or MDL firmware) have the ability to flash Custom recoveries and Roms because of an exploit called "LOKI". LOKI was patched when the MF3 OTA was released. So any phone on MF3 can not flash recoveries or ROMs at this point. ODIN is basically useless for the time being.
I highly suggest you read the "pinned" threads in the "general" and Q & A sections. Alsor ead the threads that have "MF3" in the titles. This will give you a good understanding of what your options are if / when you can repair your phone. There is a method being developed that would allow several custom Roms to exist on the phone (MF3), but it hasn't been tested or released yet. The thread about it is in the "general" section as well. However, again, it will do you no good unless you get your phone repaired / replaced.
---------- Post added at 12:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:09 AM ----------
graydiggy said:
Switching out motherboards should be no issue. All that is being done is dropping it into the back of the screen, plugging in some flex cables, slap it back together and booting it up. I know why we can't downgrade, just didn't realize that a full system dump of MF3 was not enough for J-Tag.
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I realize the physical action of switching motherboards isn't an issue, I was just wondering if it would do any good? If the NV memory remains in another area of the circuitry, or other memory remains that still has a part of the MF3 bootloader structure intact, switching the motherboard by itself won't do any good. If all structures of the MF3 bootloader are included on the motherboard, maybe it would work.
Also, last I knew, bootloaders can't be pulled via system dump. They have to be obtained via official firmware release. In the case of MF3, the bootloader parts from the OTA can't be combined with a system dump from a post OTA MF3 device because of signing issues. It just doesn't work. It's been tried. I know there are a couple of MF3 Tar balls floating around but they are only good for parting out. Aou has tried a bunch of this stuff. Honestly, I do not know 100% of the technical reasons why it won't work. I have a pretty good understanding but that is it. Truly, the MF3 Bootloader is the problem and until the full, official, MF3 firmware is released from Samsung (or a signing key is released / leaked) I don't see much happening in the area of repairing / restoring bricked MF3 devices.
It shouldn't remain. The only other parts that are separate from the motherboard and screen assembly. Are the charging port assembly/flex,the camera, the softkeys/home button assembly and the back housing that just holds antennas. None of that should have anything on it that would hold any residual MF3 data. Even if something did, it would have to hold the whole update to possibly do any kind of damage in eras of installation and blowing the Qfuse. If it did not and it blew the fuse without updating, it would instantly render the device useless if the motherboard had MDL on it.
All data is stored in the motherboard.
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So I am upgrading from my beloved S3 to the Red S4 now, getting it in on Tues. Thank you employee line deals.. So anyways, I saw some stickies about to avoid the OTA otherwise can not flash a diff kernel, correct? That there are no odin files of the new update.
That being said, How will I know when I get my device in, if they already gave it to me updated or if its where I can custom rom it. Would figure its a certain thing in the status menu part for a version. Dont wanna mess this up, so doing my research now.
Also any custom roms that are super worth it? I know on my S3, I use a nice one with the multi window and floating windows. So if there is a super good one to use, IF I can use one, what is it?
Also does the toolbox program we used for the S3 work for S4? (Havent checked on updates in awhile) cause I need to least root this sucker if I wanna restore my titanium backups.
Anyways thanks for any points in the right direction, this is the part I always hated.. working with a new phone then sitting with it till I study up on all the roms and tweaking of it.
When you get your device got to settings>more>about device and if the the last three characters of the baseband is MF3 then you can only use stock kernels with safestrap recovery and if it is MDL or MDB you can have custom recovery, custom roms with motochopper root. There are some pretty good roms out there. Unfortunately i'm on MF3 cause i got the OTA and it updated overnight.
Also when you first get your box with the phone inside. Look on the outside of the box and it will show which firmware is on it. It will have the last three letters of mdb, MDL, or MF3. All I can say is HOPE for MDL which may or may not be possible. But the red colored ones do not seem to go as fast so HOPEFULLY it is MDL.
Next course of action IF it is MDL is DO NOT connect to WiFi, and I would also suggest NOT putting in the Sim card yet. Download Motochopper by Jbliss and or Casual+motochopper by Adam Outler which will root and install tarp recovery. Then read up from there and flash a ROM.
If it comes with MF3 then you will need to flash SafeStrap to be able to out "some Roms" onto your phone and have root. But safestrap is more limited than what you are used to/what I posted in the paragraph above.
I am GUESSING you are buying it from ATT? Then chances may be slim of anything other than mf3. But I did get a MDL from Walmart (they had black and white if I remember correctly, not sure about red). I got a black one with MDL about a month ago and they had two others in stock. So places like that MAY be a better bet for you.
Now this is MY opinion and take it for what it is worth. I will NEVER be buying another ATT phone due to how hard they are locking the boitloaders down. NEVER... So my next suggestion is get a T-Mobile S4 and you can use it on ATT and it does not have locked bootloaders at this time and hopefully never.
Read all the sticky threads about MF3 and prepare yourself in case you want to keep it. Good luck to you
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
You will have to try out different roms and see for yourself what they have to offer.if it turns out to be MF3 take the most important advice "!!READ!!"
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Before you get your phone read a whole lot about it. Read all the pinned (stickies) threads first. Then keep reading before you do anything with it. Good luck!
RockRatt said:
Also when you first get your box with the phone inside. Look on the outside of the box and it will show which firmware is on it. It will have the last three letters of mdb, MDL, or MF3. All I can say is HOPE for MDL which may or may not be possible. But the red colored ones do not seem to go as fast so HOPEFULLY it is MDL.
Next course of action IF it is MDL is DO NOT connect to WiFi, and I would also suggest NOT putting in the Sim card yet. Download Motochopper by Jbliss and or Casual+motochopper by Adam Outler which will root and install tarp recovery. Then read up from there and flash a ROM.
If it comes with MF3 then you will need to flash SafeStrap to be able to out "some Roms" onto your phone and have root. But safestrap is more limited than what you are used to/what I posted in the paragraph above.
I am GUESSING you are buying it from ATT?
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Click to collapse
Yes, getting from ATT dealer accounts, while I know I can use T-Mobiles stuff, I wouldnt have the "LTE" ability, which is what is happening now with my TMO S3, I have 4G, yes, but not LTE. So giving that phone to my friend for her upgrade, so she can get LTE with TMO while upgrading myself. Now if I am MDL, then woot, I take it its almost business as usual with the way I worked my roms and so of the past?
Then lets say I am MF3, now that in itself. may not be "as bad" since honestly, the S3's rom was pretty solid out of the box, just root it and go. Could I assume if I dont wanna put a diff rom on MF3, I could least root the stock rom easy enough and move on? (Plus could use titanium backup to remove the bloat) Seems abit crazy on MF3 and safe strap, sounds like its using the internal storage space to run the rom off of.
Now in regards to if I am MDL, I assume you mean download motochopper for the pc, then hook up and let it run. Now after that point, is my phone safe from OTA? Do I need to install a new rom right then and there or can I use stock rom and know that I am safe from it updating to MF3. Just making sure I got my notes right for tm morning when it comes in by fedex heh.
Qbeezy24 said:
When you get your device got to settings>more>about device and if the the last three characters of the baseband is MF3 then you can only use stock kernels with safestrap recovery and if it is MDL or MDB you can have custom recovery, custom roms with motochopper root. There are some pretty good roms out there. Unfortunately i'm on MF3 cause i got the OTA and it updated overnight.
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Click to collapse
So there is no difference in MDL and MDB? Or was MDL still better? Sounds like really the next couple days are gonna be research and testing.. thats after I put my screen protector on it heh.
Mysticales said:
Now if I am MDL, then woot, I take it its almost business as usual with the way I worked my roms and so of the past?
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Click to collapse
Yes it would be almost exactly business as usual. Of course READ any Roms HOW TO INSTALL section. About the only difference from the S3 flashing is if you are flashing kernels/Roms make sure the are loki'd or use Loki doki during flashing. Again read up on this.
Mysticales said:
Then lets say I am MF3, now that in itself. may not be "as bad" since honestly, the S3's rom was pretty solid out of the box, just root it and go. Could I assume if I dont wanna put a diff rom on MF3, I could least root the stock rom easy enough and move on? (Plus could use titanium backup to remove the bloat) Seems abit crazy on MF3 and safe strap, sounds like its using the internal storage space to run the rom off of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can flash some Roms (4.2.2 based Roms) with Safestrap. Read all about safestrap as I do not have it and don't know many if the answers since I cannot test. But the one thing is be VERY CAREFUL removing bloat with tibu, once it is gone you will NOT be able to get it back. Read many horror stories if debloating gone wrong and phone not working.
Mysticales said:
Now in regards to if I am MDL, I assume you mean download motochopper for the pc, then hook up and let it run. Now after that point, is my phone safe from OTA? Do I need to install a new rom right then and there or can I use stock rom and know that I am safe from it updating to MF3. Just making sure I got my notes right for tm morning when it comes in by fedex heh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes download either Motochopper or I like "Casual+Motochopper" as it gives you a recovery as well. Either cwm or twrp.
No at that point it is NOT safe from OTA updates, you will need to FREEZE certain apps with tibu.
Check out the Roms section. I haven't used it but I believe there is a "neutered mf3 stock firmware" that has the ota updating parts removed already. If you do NOT freeze the apps ATT set up mf3 to Auto Download and INSTALL mf3. Most users got it while they were sleeping, even if they were only stock and rooted. But IF you have a custom recovery and a ROM on it you will not get the auto update and install.
Mysticales said:
So there is no difference in MDL and MDB? Or was MDL still better? Sounds like really the next couple days are gonna be research and testing.. thats after I put my screen protector on it heh.
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MDB was what came with the phone and MDL was updated within a few weeks if I remember correctly. I believe I still have the mdb bootloaders on my phone and my wife's came with MDL and has those bootloaders. I have seen NO DIFFERENCE as far as flashing or things working differently in my case.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
So, being on MF3 will not allow us to flash kernals and we are limited to specific Roms? Are those the major differences? Also, should we stay away from the OTA...I keep hearing about it.
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nash2000 said:
So, being on MF3 will not allow us to flash kernals and we are limited to specific Roms? Are those the major differences? Also, should we stay away from the OTA...I keep hearing about it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Click to collapse
Yes I believe you cannot flash kernels with safestrap. And only 4.2.2 based Roms will work and possibly on tw Roms, but there might be one cm variant that would work. Just check out the safestrap thread for more info on all if this. I think they even have a list if tested working Roms there.
No one knows FOR SURE but I believe the new 4.3 update blows a second qfuse, this will make it so you cannot downgrade to anything lower than MJ6.
MF3 blows the first qfuse which is why you cannot downgrade to MDL bases.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
Well I have a mf3 gs4 :/ sooo now then. I don't "mind" stock really too much.. ill miss my drop down toggles I thing more from my gs3. I saw one post that explains using terminal to get root access which is something I know I need for sure. So now then those on mf3 are you too staying on stock and just rooting?
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Mysticales said:
Well I have a mf3 gs4 :/ sooo now then. I don't "mind" stock really too much.. ill miss my drop down toggles I thing more from my gs3. I saw one post that explains using terminal to get root access which is something I know I need for sure. So now then those on mf3 are you too staying on stock and just rooting?
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Kingo root method is an easy one click method that works also. Why stay stock when you can root easily? I was rooted but now on 4.3.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
I just got my phone!!!! I got mine at Costco which I normally get my phone through best buy but there insurance plan stinks now.
Anyways, My phone had the MDF!! So get your phone at Costco!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
[email protected] said:
Kingo root method is an easy one click method that works also. Why stay stock when you can root easily? I was rooted but now on 4.3.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
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Of course I am rooted... you think after being a pioneer with a beloved Htc G1, that I would EVER be on a device without root. =p (Man.. the reinstalling of a 100 apps manually alone without titanium backup along with its prefs, config and data would take a week to get right) I used that exFat method.
But yea, even tho I am rooted, I wouldnt "mind" a diff rom.. or least debloat this sucker. Half tempted to see which ATT apps I could get rid of, issue is... no odin to restore to if something messes up. I am sure someone will do a mf3 recovery sometime eh?
Oh... btw, how would I disable any auto OTA that could come in the future?
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
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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
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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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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
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
---------- 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
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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.
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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.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
I would like to know if this exists.
Is there a time line starting with the stock Rom (that came with my phone) to where we are now. Maybe somewhere this exist. I can't seem to find it though. If it doesn't, maybe this would be a helpful tool for us Noobs. Like a family tree. In the beginning there was version 4.2. Then Sac ate of the forbidden fruit, which beget so on and so on. It would be great if it compared each stock version to the appropriate mod options as well.
I included a screen shot of what I'm running now. I got through it last go round but I felt like i had no idea what the hell i was doing or why. Free hot spot was my motivation. Now there is a new software update. I want to keep up but I feel lost as to what I am supposed to be doing. I wanna be smart too! Any good reading material available? (PDA soft Ware basics for dummies )
Thanks for the patience and help it's greatly appreciated.
Robert out!
If you want to upgrade to rooted custom 4.4rom you will have to flash the NAE modem firmware, use Unkownforces. Most of the custom roms have specific instructions on how to flash so follow them
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Here is the version path: MDC, MDL, MF9 were all 4.2 then, MJA, MK2 were 4.3, then NAE IS 4.4.2.
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I do not have an S4. I ordered one from Swappa expecting to use it on Straighttalks LTE service. Already ordered the sim card as well.
However, of course right after this I started digging a bit more and found that it is currently impossible to root an S4 after it's updated to 4.4.2. The one I ordered is updated.
I'd highly prefer to have root. I don't "need" it. But, if I can achieve root without much issue I'd prefer it.
I did find a few posts about using something called Odin and safestrap. I didn't read fully through them yet. But, I'm curious if doing these methods actually work for downgrading? If they do what are the "limits"? Can I put any Rom in or is it only a specific Rom?
Will I likely run into issues doing this while using the ST LTE settings?
Just trying to cover my bases before I start on this phone. It's not here yet and I'd rather resell it if I'm better off doing that.
I am curious what would be suggested purchase for the ST LTE service since it seems the AT&T S4 is out of question if I can't even update the damn thing. I'd rather be capable of updates and having root. I don't care about being able to do Roms and stuff.
Dude, you can have root on any firmware but it may not be easy to get it. Do you know what firmware your device will have?
Odin flashes the stock firmware onto your device. Safestrap is a custom recovery that you'll need to flash custom touch wiz roms
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
Dude, you can have root on any firmware but it may not be easy to get it. Do you know what firmware your device will have?
Odin flashes the stock firmware onto your device. Safestrap is a custom recovery that you'll need to flash custom touch wiz roms
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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I've been reading nonstop that the 4.4.2 AT&T Galaxy s4 is not rootable? If this is inaccurate can you lead me to a post that shows the method for rooting this version?
I do not know anything about the phone other than it being updated to 4.4.2.
GamerXavier said:
I've been reading nonstop that the 4.4.2 AT&T Galaxy s4 is not rootable? If this is inaccurate can you lead me to a post that shows the method for rooting this version?
I do not know anything about the phone other than it being updated to 4.4.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can be rooted. You'll need to downgrade thru Odin to mk2 firmware, root it with saferoot then instill safestrap and flash a 4.4.2 rooted rom Start here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49562527
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
And keep asking questions. You're limited to the roms you can flash but you can get root
jd1639 said:
It can be rooted. You'll need to downgrade thru Odin to mk2 firmware, root it with saferoot then instill safestrap and flash a 4.4.2 rooted rom Start here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49562527
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
And keep asking questions. You're limited to the roms you can flash but you can get root
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I'm curious about Cyanogenmod? If it's worth it or possible atm?
Once I get the phone probably later this week I'll get started on the process.
GamerXavier said:
I'm curious about Cyanogenmod? If it's worth it or possible atm?
Once I get the phone probably later this week I'll get started on the process.
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No, cm is not possible. Only touch wiz based roms
Edit, as an fyi, if your phone is on 4.4.2 it'll be on nb1 or nc1 firmware. Read up on how to downgrade to mk2. Look in the general forum. Also look at rebel1699's venom magic tool kit. There's a lot of reading and studying to do before you get your phone
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/0...ve-and-maybe-almost-any-other-current-device/
Is this going to work on the ATT S4? It's stated that it would. Would save me the trouble of doing all of this other stuff.
GamerXavier said:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/0...ve-and-maybe-almost-any-other-current-device/
Is this going to work on the ATT S4? It's stated that it would. Would save me the trouble of doing all of this other stuff.
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Click to collapse
Yes it does if you're on nc1 firmware. Seems it didn't work on nb1
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I shall hope to get lucky and have the NC1 firmware