Firstly, thank you for your time in reading this, I appreciate it.
I made the mistake of rooting and installing safestrap on my AT&T S4 (SGH-I337) and even after unrooting,and removing safestrap, I am unable to take OTA updates. It reaches 25% in the recovery, and then fails.
This leads me to believe that in order to take the Kitkat update, I will have to flash the NB1 update using odin (In the PDA slot??), allowing me to go all the way back to stock and be able to take OTA's from then on out. I am probably wrong though.
Alternatively, I could just stay on 4.3 for the rest of my time on the phone before I upgrade in one (ish) years. I'm not really a poweruser, and only really use my phone for texting and internet, so it's probably not a big deal, although I would prefer to be running the newest version of android if possible.
In order to go completely back to stock, what would I have to do, and is it worth the risk of a brick to get to that point?
Thank you again, and have a nice day.
Follow this thread to install a pre-rooted KitKat ROM from a large list of Roms - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2680868
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Related
I purchased my S4 shortly after its release...around the beginning of the summer.
I immediately rooted it and, at the advice of these forums, froze with Titanium Backup the service that calls for OS updates (so I wouldnt loose the ability to roor, custom backup and ROM). I am running stock ROM on a rooted phone and for now dont intend to put anything custom on.
I know since then there have been a number of updates, none of which I have received as I have frozen my update service.
Im totally unaware of what improvements, if any, these updates may have brought and am wondering whether I should allow AT&T to update my phone (and get whatever benefits come from 4.3, etc.) or whether I should stick to my 4.2.2 which (I think) is the MF3 that people recommended Id want to preserve.
Advice?
Thanks.
lirong said:
I purchased my S4 shortly after its release...around the beginning of the summer.
I immediately rooted it and, at the advice of these forums, froze with Titanium Backup the service that calls for OS updates (so I wouldnt loose the ability to roor, custom backup and ROM). I am running stock ROM on a rooted phone and for now dont intend to put anything custom on.
I know since then there have been a number of updates, none of which I have received as I have frozen my update service.
Im totally unaware of what improvements, if any, these updates may have brought and am wondering whether I should allow AT&T to update my phone (and get whatever benefits come from 4.3, etc.) or whether I should stick to my 4.2.2 which (I think) is the MF3 that people recommended Id want to preserve.
Advice?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you really have no interest in roms then you can go ahead and update. I'm on mf3 on a rom, so am not 100% sure on root, but it looks like some people have been able to upgrade and keep root, you might want to look more into that. But if you have no interest in roms and you can update and still root then I would say go for it.
However, if you are pre mf3 that's when it becomes tricky. If you are pre mf3 and update you lose a lot of freedom with ROMs. So if you have interest in other roms and are currently pre mf3, I would stick with pre mf3 and not update.
lirong said:
I purchased my S4 shortly after its release...around the beginning of the summer.
I immediately rooted it and, at the advice of these forums, froze with Titanium Backup the service that calls for OS updates (so I wouldnt loose the ability to roor, custom backup and ROM). I am running stock ROM on a rooted phone and for now dont intend to put anything custom on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm kind of in the same position, and I've been wondering the same thing.
I got my S 4 in May 2013. It came with 4.2.2 on MDL. I immediately rooted and froze the update service. I installed a custom recovery with the intention of exploring newer roms at some point, but I'm not sure what I'm missing by staying on 4.2.2 vs. 4.3. So much of the activity now surrounds the capabilities of 4.3, that I am feeling a bit left out!
mikew99 said:
I'm kind of in the same position, and I've been wondering the same thing.
I got my S 4 in May 2013. It came with 4.2.2 on MDL. I immediately rooted and froze the update service. I installed a custom recovery with the intention of exploring newer roms at some point, but I'm not sure what I'm missing by staying on 4.2.2 vs. 4.3. So much of the activity now surrounds the capabilities of 4.3, that I am feeling a bit left out!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Youre one of the few that actually still have a custom recovery! Use it to your advantage to flash a MK9 rom, as I think thats the latest software version from samsung
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
bennyboy78 said:
Youre one of the few that actually still have a custom recovery! Use it to your advantage to flash a MK9 rom, as I think thats the latest software version from samsung
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All Canadian variants can run custom recovery. No locked bootloaders in canada. However doing so, does trip knox. If you don't care about knox, and have an sgh-i337m then custom recovery away. This includes latest mk6 jb4.3
Sent from my SGH-I337M
Here's my $.02
If you STILL have MDB or MDL bootloaders that CAME on your phone keep the same bootloaders and DO NOT UPDATE with the OTA's.
You can find Roms JUST LIKE YOUR ON that are PURE STOCK 4.2.2 MF3 or PURE STOCK 4.3 MK2 without losing any of the functionality of those on the 4.3 or 4.2.2 stock firmwares.
OR you can use some STOCK BASED Roms Like ShoStock-MF3 that has some added benefits WITHOUT sacrificing anything. Or try even NEWER 4.3 Roms Like ShoStock-i 4.3 MK8 with all the added benefits of stock firmwares with some slight added benefits as well. Basically if you keep your original bootloaders you CAN DO anything you WANT without sacrificing what those users lost by upgrading or buying with MF3 or newer already installed.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
And like "RockRatt" +$.02
I know for myself I haven't been on MDL for a long time so until this nut gets cracked I'm up to date .those that are pre MF3 should hold on to what you have. cause like I tell most normal people that don't mess with there phones like we at XDA do that have a problem with there stock phone.Samsung devs do the same thing as XDA devs do minus the mad improvements/mods , so expect bugs of any sort from either. What I'm getting at is pre MF3 you have the option to find perfection using "Loki".
I will add that the newest update (MK2) runs pretty good
ROOTED ATT MK2 using Tapatalk
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.
My Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 (rooted with CF-Auto-Root) has been repeatedly downloading and notifying me of a 398.8MB update. It comes up every couple of weeks and I have allowed it to install several times.
I maintain root after the reboot, but it keeps coming back. I'm currently on Android version 4.3 (MK2 build).
Is there anything I can do to get past this update and hopefully get 4.4?
Thanks in advance.
Krosscheck NYC said:
My Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 (rooted with CF-Auto-Root) has been repeatedly downloading and notifying me of a 398.8MB update. It comes up every couple of weeks and I have allowed it to install several times.
I maintain root after the reboot, but it keeps coming back. I'm currently on Android version 4.3 (MK2 build).
Is there anything I can do to get past this update and hopefully get 4.4?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure you can stop the update box from going away (short of a custom rom).
I believe you just have to deal with it, if you want to stay on 4.3
VandyCWG said:
I am not sure you can stop the update box from going away (short of a custom rom).
I believe you just have to deal with it, if you want to stay on 4.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Vandy. Sorry if I wasn't clear in my question. I don't want to stay on 4.3...I want to get to 4.4 (Kit Kat), but it seems like I'm stuck on this 389.8MB update that keeps coming back even after I have allowed it to install.
I'm hoping that someone else has experienced this "repeated" update and can tell me how I can go about moving past it so that I can get to some newer updates.
Thanks - Chung in NYC
Your best option is to install the full NAE stock tar file with Odin. The update is failing because you either have a custom recovery installed, modified system files, or deleted something. OTAs can't complete unless your stock. Look for a thread from random45 in the android development thread and download the NAE stock tar from there. You won't lose any of your data, but you will have to reroot your phone afterwards.
Sent from my icrap 2 using Tapatalk HD
cruise350 said:
Your best option is to install the full NAE stock tar file with Odin. The update is failing because you either have a custom recovery installed, modified system files, or deleted something. OTAs can't complete unless your stock. Look for a thread from random45 in the android development thread and download the NAE stock tar from there. You won't lose any of your data, but you will have to reroot your phone afterwards.
Sent from my icrap 2 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot - I will try that now!
- Chung in NYC:good:
Hey guys,
I ran a search but I don't understand half the things people are writing. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could please explain to me my options. In layman's terms, as I do not understand half the abbreviations and jargons here.
I rooted my phone over a year ago and really don't remember much about the process. I can't download important apps from Google Play anymore as they require newer versions than 4.2.2... So I'm stuck on this old version and need to update ASAP.
I have ONLY rooted the phone. I haven't done any mods or installed any ROMS. It's on stock AT&T Rom. (sometimes I wonder why I even bothered in the first place).
Can someone please point me in the right direction, I want a regular STOCK AT&T newest version, whether it stays rooted or not that's fine, but a newer version, KitKat preferably. What are my options? The simplest method would help me the most.
Things I really need backed up: My Text Messages, Voicemail, Call Logs, Whatsapp Messages etc. What is the best way to back that up? If I use Titanium Backup, and I don't have root after I update, Titanium Backup would be obsolete. So what would my other option?
Please help.
Much appreciated,
Are you sure you want to update from 4.2.2. You probably have the option to flash custom roms on your phone. There are many custom roms that that'll put 4.4.4 on your phone. Since you're rooted get terminal emulator from the play store. In it type
getprop ro.bootloader
If the last three characters are mdb or mdl you have a lot of options. I can help walk you through on how to get a custom rom on your phone.
You can update your firmware and bootloader to 4.4.4 too but you'll lose the option to flash most custom roms.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
Are you sure you want to update from 4.2.2. You probably have the option to flash custom roms on your phone. There are many custom roms that that'll put 4.4.4 on your phone. Since you're rooted get terminal emulator from the play store. In it type
getprop ro.bootloader
If the last three characters are mdb or mdl you have a lot of options. I can help walk you through on how to get a custom rom on your phone.
You can update your firmware and bootloader to 4.4.4 too but you'll lose the option to flash most custom roms.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bud,
I got I337UCUAMF3
I'll be honest, I haven't really messed with any custom ROMS before. I just use the stock AT&T one. But I would like to upgrade to KitKat so my phone is faster and can download / upgrade the latest Apps. Lollipop isn't out for the AT&T Samsung S4 right?
Kepela523 said:
Thanks bud,
I got I337UCUAMF3
I'll be honest, I haven't really messed with any custom ROMS before. I just use the stock AT&T one. But I would like to upgrade to KitKat so my phone is faster and can download / upgrade the latest Apps. Lollipop isn't out for the AT&T Samsung S4 right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will the phone Not download the latest 4.4.4 from the phone settings?? Settings/More/About Device/Software Update. It must be connected to WiFi to download!!! Or you can get the AT&T S4 i337 to Stock 4.4.4 NJ4 Kit Kat Scroll down this page, easy to do. http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/guide-odin-to-stock-updating-rooting-t2926642
tailgunner9 said:
Will the phone Not download the latest 4.4.4 from the phone settings?? Settings/More/About Device/Software Update. It must be connected to WiFi to download!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. My phone is rooted... Is it supposed to download to 4.4? And also couldn't there be issues with that?
I found this post. So I know this is ONE option: But I'll lose my Root. Which is fine if that's my only option.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2728462
As the OP says, I will lose ROOT. So my question would be, If I back up using Titanium Backup, how can I restore my backup if Titanium Backup works only on ROOT? This is very important.
@ jd1639 - He had mentioned there were several other options, so I will wait to hear them, and I can make a decision from there. Otherwise, I may have to fork out another $150 - $200 Bucks on a Samsung Galaxy S5 or S6. depending which suits my needs.
Many thanks for the replies!
Kepela523 said:
I found this post. So I know this is ONE option: But I'll lose my Root. Which is fine if that's my only option.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2728462
As the OP says, I will lose ROOT. So my question would be, If I back up using Titanium Backup, how can I restore my backup if Titanium Backup works only on ROOT? This is very important.
@ jd1639 - He had mentioned there were several other options, so I will wait to hear them, and I can make a decision from there. Otherwise, I may have to fork out another $150 - $200 Bucks on a Samsung Galaxy S5 or S6. depending which suits my needs.
Many thanks for the replies!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're on mf3 bootloader which doesn't really allow you to flash any roms anyway. You'd have to use safestrap.
What I'd do is flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll update you to 4.4 and the device should then ota update itself from there. You will lose root, you can root it again if you want. See this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50912149
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
You're on mf3 bootloader which doesn't really allow you to flash any roms anyway. You'd have to use safestrap.
What I'd do is flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll update you to 4.4 and the device should then ota update itself from there. You will lose root, you can root it again if you want. See this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50912149
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks JD, do you know if this wipes my phone? In other words, does it factory reset my phone?
Yes Flash the NB1 Stock file as he said. But you are going to loose Root and any pictures etc. stored on phone memory, so copy them to your PC or SD card. I always like to take SD card out just in case when I flash just in case it may erase it. But after you flash NB1 Stock or the Stock Root it is like a phone and have to set it up. Then it should Update to 4.4.4 itself from the settings/ Software update. Good luck. Any problem let us now.
Ah cheers,
Last question: Do you recommend the First or second option?
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Rootable_Stock_Odin_tar
Just a bit confusing as why he would post two separate links? I'm interpreting the first cannot be rooted ever.
Thanks again to the both of you for helping with this.
Kepela523 said:
Ah cheers,
Last question: Do you recommend the First or second option?
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Rootable_Stock_Odin_tar
Just a bit confusing as why he would post two separate links? I'm interpreting the first cannot be rooted ever.
Thanks again to the both of you for helping with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible to root even the 4.4.4. It just gets a little trickier to do it and you have to flash modules in Odin. In the general forum see "all things at&t....." by guut13
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Kepela523 said:
Ah cheers,
Last question: Do you recommend the First or second option?
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar
I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Rootable_Stock_Odin_tar
Just a bit confusing as why he would post two separate links? I'm interpreting the first cannot be rooted ever.
Thanks again to the both of you for helping with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep I think you are correct. So if you want to root again use the Rootable to flash in Odin. Once you go from Jelly Bean to Kit Kat bootloaders are Locked for some .tar Same for Lollipop, they have not been able to root and unlock bootloader as yet. Just follow the steps and take your time and all will be good. Have done it several times on mine with Odin.
Hey guys, I just wanted to take the time and thank you both for the help. I finally updated today. After backing up all my data and making sure everything was safe to go. Bam! I did exactly as you suggested and had zero issues... I am now on 4.4.2
There were a couple hiccups along the way, but I figured them out without too much of a hassle.
Cheers again and best of luck to the both of you!
Here's my situation. Last year I bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 unlocked AT&T (SGH-i337) phone from ebay. I am using Cricket. A few months back I tried updating it by going to the update area and checking for an update. I am on 4.2.2 and wanted to upgrade to KitKat. Well my phone tells me every single time it's up to date even though I know it's not. I decided to use Kies to see if I could update it using that instead. Kies tells me my firmware is also up to date. I gave up for a few months.
Now that Lollipop is out for my phone I tried once again doing the same things. Once again both ways say my phone is up to date. I looked through multiple forums to finally find a possible answer. My phone may have been rooted at some point and apparently if it was, it can't be upgraded. I read it needs flashed back to stock. I looked at a nice long guide on here on how to flash back to stock and saw you need to know which boot loader you have?
Please help me guys. I'm assuming my phone was rooted and have never rooted myself but I want to flash to stock so that I can upgrade to Lollipop. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Flash the nb1 tar file in Odin and then let it ota up to 5.0.1. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50912149
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
I flashed it successfully and am now on 4.4.2 however OTA and Kies both still say my device is up to date. At this point it doesn't look like I will ever be able to update using these two ways. I looked around trying to find a Lollipop flash but didn't know if any of them were safe. Can anybody point me toward a safe stock flash for Lollipop, or does this not exist yet?
GMLancers58 said:
I flashed it successfully and am now on 4.4.2 however OTA and Kies both still say my device is up to date. At this point it doesn't look like I will ever be able to update using these two ways. I looked around trying to find a Lollipop flash but didn't know if any of them were safe. Can anybody point me toward a safe stock flash for Lollipop, or does this not exist yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ota's are rolled out in phases. You might have to wait a day or two for it to show up
Edit, alternatively you can read thru this carefully, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53758227
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app