[Q] Is it safe to flash the bootloader and the modem ? - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi
I'm planning to install the FoxHound Rom (here), but it requires to flash the new bootloader and modems.
As a newbie in the Android world, and after some searches, i would like to know if it is possible to backup the current bootloader and modems, and will i be able to downgrade ?
Moreover, i've seen that by flashing a new bootloader, it will not be possible to flash some ROM, am i right ?
Thank you

If your on the old bootloader you do not need the new one to flash a custom rom via recovery. It's recommend to install a kit kat modem. I'm on the old bootloader and no issues running the custom roms. There is no way to backup the old bootloader. Once your on the new knox bootloader you can not downgrade no longer.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

So, you mean that i can flash the FoxHound Rom by flashing the new modems only ?
Thank you.

Initially it is recommended you flash a kit kat modem. You can change this later. I'm running an old modem on kit kat
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Related

Bootloader and Radio.

Hello!
I have installed new Radio and Bootloader on my Nexus 4 because I wanted to install PandroidAndroid 3.92.
How can I get my old Radio and Bootloader?
Is this new Radio and Bootloader are from google?
Is it possible to install on this new Radio and Bootloader roms of version 4.2.2 or I have to install 4.3 roms only?
Please help me!
If you want to get the old version just download the 4.2.2 factory image from Google and flash them again...
https://dl.google.com/dl/android/aosp/occam-jdq39-factory-345dc199.tgz
Choose the first one and flash it via recovery: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2147194
Only flash it when you are about to flash a Android 4.2.2 rom.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

[Q] how to downgared the bootloader ?

hi all,
I have flashed a new bootloader comes with BTUMJ3 official firmware and now I wanna flash an older bootloader, so is it possible
now ? if so, how to do ? or how to bypass the bootloader check ?
thank you all
AFAIK downgrading isn't possible...from MJ3
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
If You have a Nandroid backup from a older Rom You can restore it, no problems. I think the problems are whit Odin only.
If you flash a Customer Rom like Omega MI7 by recovery, work well also. We have a example already.
The bootloader continue MJ3.

[Q] 4.4.2 Downgrade to 4.2.2, is this possible yet?

Hey guys, my question is there:
Its possible to downgrade from 4.4.2 to 4.2.2 ?
I have been reading alot of threads with similar question but i gives to many answer.
Im on a rooted 4.4.2 and i will just back to 4.2.2 because i will a !!completely!! Knox free rom and bootloader.
I dont care about the warrenty, my is run out.
I dont will not only a downgraded rom but also a downgraded bootloader.
When someone have trying a to downgrade from 4.4.2 to 4.2.2 please post here the result.
When a downgrade to 4.4.2 is not possible than which is the lowest firmware which i can flash?
Please try to keep the thread clear and give a usefull answer. Thank you guys
And please dont kill me for my english :good:
Once the bootloader has been upgraded to a Knox-enabled version, you cannot downgrade it. The ROM can be downgraded regardless of the bootloader, but running a Knox-free ROM with a Knox-enabled bootloader will result in a "Kernel is not SEAndroid Enforcing" message to appear on the splash screen every time the device is rebooted.
Okay too Bad...
A question more, i have been reading that a downgrade (Rom+Bootloader) is possible to 4.3, because there have the same Bootloader but just less aggressiv. Is that true?
When yes you can share a stock samsung rom 4.3 without knox?
Thank you for the answer
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Free mobile app
You can downgrade with a custom 4.2.2 rom. You just need to look for one.
Okay that i understand but can i downgrade the Bootloader to 4.3? Because there is similar to our one.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Free mobile app
Can we use official ROM
Can we downgrade without using Custom ROM?
If we unpack Official tar ROM and remove the bootloader and modem of it and then repack it to tar.
Can that downgrade the Android version from 4.4.2 to 4.2.2?
Or it is not working?
Andro-Man said:
Can we downgrade without using Custom ROM?
If we unpack Official tar ROM and remove the bootloader and modem of it and then repack it to tar.
Can that downgrade the Android version from 4.4.2 to 4.2.2?
Or it is not working?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible to downgrade to stock 4.2.2 but a custom kernel such as KT-SGS4 will probably be needed to get the WiFi working.
Simply reinstalling the 4.2.2 modem files using Odin should be sufficient to get the WiFi working. No need of a custom kernel. It is also possible to downgrade the ROM without going through the routine of unpacking and repacking the ROM. Simply flash it through Odin, although you'd need to flash the modem files a second time to get the radios fully functional, as previously mentioned. Just be aware that the bootloader will not change, so every time you boot the 4.2.2 ROM with the Knox-enabled bootloader you will get a message on the splash screen about the kernel not being in enforcing mode.
I have trying this:
I take a orginal XXUBMF8 4.2.2 delete inside the zip bootloader and some other files repack back to .tar
Flash it all fine but then the error, the software is not authorized and on the top secure fail: kernel.
I tried flash a custom 4.2.2 kernel through odin but the same result.
My DL Modus look so: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/93311676/DSC_0014.JPG
Now i get back to 4.4.2 GNG8

OK2, Android 5.0.1--what are my options?

I currently have AT&T stock (I used to have a custom ROM then had to flash to stock ROM to be able to flash to another custom ROM--however, I accidentally flashed a newer version of the AT&T stock ROM which locked my bootloader and I could no longer flash to a custom ROM). I updated my AT&T stock ROM recently and now my back/menu buttons don't work, so I want to see if I can flash to a custom ROM now.
I don't remember the procedure to flash a custom ROM--do I first need to get root in order to unlock the bootloader to be able to flash ROMs (i.e. if I have root then I am guaranteed to be able to unlock bootloader in order to flash ROM)? Is the baseband version the only thing that determines whether I can unlock the bootloader and then be able to flash ROMs?
I currently have OK2 as broadband version and checked one of the stickied threads which said this:
" ROOT
OK2 -- No direct root method. Must Odin OC4 kernel, use Kingroot, then Odin OK2 kernel back."
Does that mean what I have to do is use Odin to get OC4 kernel, then use Kingroot, then Odin OK2 kernel and then I will be able to have root, which means I can then unlock my bootloader and be able to flash to ANY ROM (not just TouchWiz-based ROMs)? Is there anything else I need to consider or is this 100% foolproof? In the future, what should I be careful of in order to prevent getting my bootloader locked again--just that I don't flash a stock (AT&T) ROM that is known to lock back the bootloader?
Thank you all!
There's no way to unlock the bootloader if you have updated your device to the lastest firmware version. The only thing you can do is flash SafeStrap and use Stock Kernel Based ROMs which are compatible with Safestrap.
As regards to the procedure of rooting an OK2 firmware, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you.
Have a happy new year.
mindstormer said:
...however, I accidentally flashed a newer version of the AT&T stock ROM which locked my bootloader ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was just about to sit down and flash a stock ROM. Can you explain what you mean by this? Did you flash OK2 and it caused you a problem?
smock9 said:
I was just about to sit down and flash a stock ROM. Can you explain what you mean by this? Did you flash OK2 and it caused you a problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was a while ago but I used to have I believe an MDL broadband version which meant I could flash any ROM available. I tried a different ROM, didn't like it, then decided to flash back to the stock ROM but accidentally flashed a newer version of it, which meant that my bootloader is now locked. With a locked bootloader, apparently I can only flash to a newer stock ROM (not other ROMs like Cyanogenmod) via Safestrap.
I think if you don't have the MDL broadband version you shouldn't worry about it anyway because it is locked and you will only be limited to flashing stock ROMs.
Slight correction
The previous entry is not entirely correct. Like the OP, I was originally on an unlocked bootloader on my i337. I'd purchased my i337 on the first day and eschewed OTA updates. I wanted to try a touchwiz based ROM, Hyperdrive, and in doing so I recall flashing the stock NB1 firmware. Every firmware beginning with NB1 has a locked bootloader and there has been no progress for more than a year in unlocking the bootloader again. This can limit you to either stock ROMs OR other touchwiz based ROMs like Hyperdrive. I love the Hyperdrive ROM (now on release 21) but its developer has moved on to a newer phone, so it's stuck at Android 4.4.2 and no one has picked up the project in many months. There are several other touchwiz based ROMs for the i337 version of the S4 which I have also tried but I prefer Hyperdrive's myriad customization, even without proper patching. I'll be moving on soon to the Nexus 6P as my daily driver, but would very much like to keep my S4 up to date with a custom ROM. Given the number of people that have been in this same situation, where a newer stock ROM from AT&T locked a previously unlocked bootloader, it's been surprising that the issues have not been overcome on a phone as popular as the Galaxy S4 was and continues to be. I've seen unlocked versions of the S4 selling for just under $400 in the last week of 2015.
Use the desktop version of Kingoroot to root and use Super su and update the binary. Don't forget to hit thanks if this helped.
The bootloader for the at&t s4 was never unlocked. The MDL bootloader had a flaw in it that allowed you to use LOKI which is a lock bypass, not a way to unlock the bootloader.

work custom kk base rom on lollipop modem and bl?

Hello friends now my gti9505 have custom lollipop rom.UHOJ2 base modem and bl.one suggest me can I flash custom kk base rom?any problem after flash kk base modem bl over on lollipop modem and bl?
Yes it will probably work.
Be sure no problem about baseband and imei lost?
chashmaa said:
Be sure no problem about baseband and imei lost?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A custom rom never contains a modem or bootloader. So no that does not apply.
It mean no any problems after flashing?
Some custom ROMs require an up-to-date modem and bootloader. If you flash a custom ROM, the imei may disappear or wifi/calls may not work if the ROM is too new for the phone's bootloader and modem.
Before installing a custom ROM on a phone, I make sure that the phone is working properly with the latest stock ROM.
audit13 said:
Some custom ROMs require an up-to-date modem and bootloader. If you flash a custom ROM, the imei may disappear or wifi/calls may not work if the ROM is too new for the phone's bootloader and modem.
Before installing a custom ROM on a phone, I make sure that the phone is working properly with the latest stock ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He means it the other way around. He wants to use a kitkat rom on a lollipop bootloader and modem. That's shouldn't be a problem.
I see the OP asking 2 questions:
1) Can a KK ROM be flashed to a phone running an LP bootloader and modem. Generally, I would say yes but whether all functions work will depend on the KK ROM. Some custom KK ROMs I ran on my Nexus 5 required me to downgrade the bootloader and radio to KK versions.
2) Can a KK modem and bootloader be flashed over an existing LP modem and bootloader? I think it depends on the phone's installed bootloader.
Yes audit13 brother my quistion is no1. I have now albe95 astra v2 on UHOJ2 base modem and bl lollipop. And goes to goldfinger kk base.now confused what can I do?
Did not try on i9505 but it works on i9500. I think it will work but u should backup your EFS partition
I say try the KK ROM on the LP bootloader and modem. If it doesn't work, you'll either have to find another ROM or you'll have to try and flash a KK bootloader and modem over a LP bootloader and modem.

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