Database Users

[Q] OTA updates with stock ROM/stock recovery but rooted

I ran a few searched but none provided me with the answer - sorry if it's been covered.
I am on pure stock right now (JDQ39 - 4.2.2) and getting the constant prompt to update to 4.3
For reasons too long to get into here I absolutely do not want to install 4.3
I do however want to turn off the OTA update prompt and have found several ways of doing that - the simplest and easiest way is using Autorun manager to disable the updater in part of the Google Services Framework apk, however I need to have root to do that.
I can root the phone, and keep everything else stock including the recovery, and then disable OTA updates for 4.3
My question is this:
If I do this, but am interested in installing Kit Kat OTA if it's released next week, is it as simple as re-enabling the updater using the reverse procedure in Autorun manager and then I should see the update for 4.4 Kit Kat?
Or will the system still want to update to OTA 4.3 before then giving me another update for 4.4? I refuse point blank to every have 4.3 on my phone, again I have a long list of valid reasons why I want to avoid 4.3 like the plague.
If so, my only option then would be to wait until someone posts a stock rooted version of 4.4 and then flash using the Nexus Toolkit in fastboot mode?
Appreciate any replies.
Thanks.

Globespy said:
Or will the system still want to update to OTA 4.3 before then giving me another update for 4.4? I refuse point blank to every have 4.3 on my phone, again I have a long list of valid reasons why I want to avoid 4.3 like the plague.
If so, my only option then would be to wait until someone posts a stock rooted version of 4.4 and then flash using the Nexus Toolkit in fastboot mode?.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would appear from other threads on this subject and various other sites, that you'll have to wait for the 4.4 images from Google if you don't want to first upgrade to 4.3. From what I gather researching the same question, to do the OTA to 4.4, you'd first have to accept the 4.3 upgrade, then the 4.3.1 upgrade and finally the 4.4.

That seems odd that you won't let it even touch your device. You should be able to update directly to the latest version, no need to do each update in between.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

korockinout13 said:
That seems odd that you won't let it even touch your device. You should be able to update directly to the latest version, no need to do each update in between.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4.3 was a horrible alpha release IMO, creating many issues.
I'm rocking slim 4.2.2 build 8 until kit Kat hits.

On Rooted MF3, should I upgrade to 4.3?

Well I am on the horrible MF3 that requires the safestrap recovery to flash any compatible file. So I am not on a custom ROM I am only rooted.
I recently saw the notification that the new 4.3 update is ready to download .
My question is if I update will it still update and just take the root away? Or will I have to unroot and then upgrade?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

VeryCoolAlan said:
Well I am on the horrible MF3 that requires the safestrap recovery to flash any compatible file. So I am not on a custom ROM I am only rooted.
I recently saw the notification that the new 4.3 update is ready to download .
My question is if I update will it still update and just take the root away? Or will I have to unroot and then upgrade?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am still waiting on an answer for this also. I do know that it has been confirmed working to retain root when upgrading to 4.3 using "survival mode" in SuperSU. I purchased SuperSU Pro and enabled "survival mode". Then I defrosted the AT&T software updater (had it frozen previously to avoid the update) and Let the update to 4.3 download. I tried this twice and both times the 4.3 update failed to install at 25%. Maybe because I had previously uninstalled some of the AT&T BS apps. So I think I wasted $2.50 for SuperSU Pro. I have searched the forum and there are many people talking about having upgraded and retained root via this method, but nobody seems to want to clarify the steps of the process.
Some I am guessing maybe if you haven't removed any of the bloatware from your phone, you can use survival mode in SuperSU to retain root and take the 4.3 OTA update as normal. If you try it, let me know your mileage.
If I had any idea about MF3 and the locked bootloader I never would have gotten this phone. I hated iOS 7 and decided to come over to Android thinking modification would be much easier on the platform. With carriers locking bootloaders now, it's actually WORSE than having to wait for a jailbreak for an iOS version.

I accidently ota to mk2 from mf3 and re rooted with the mj6 method on att s4
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

jsgates said:
I am still waiting on an answer for this also. I do know that it has been confirmed working to retain root when upgrading to 4.3 using "survival mode" in SuperSU. I purchased SuperSU Pro and enabled "survival mode". Then I defrosted the AT&T software updater (had it frozen previously to avoid the update) and Let the update to 4.3 download. I tried this twice and both times the 4.3 update failed to install at 25%. Maybe because I had previously uninstalled some of the AT&T BS apps. So I think I wasted $2.50 for SuperSU Pro. I have searched the forum and there are many people talking about having upgraded and retained root via this method, but nobody seems to want to clarify the steps of the process.
Some I am guessing maybe if you haven't removed any of the bloatware from your phone, you can use survival mode in SuperSU to retain root and take the 4.3 OTA update as normal. If you try it, let me know your mileage.
If I had any idea about MF3 and the locked bootloader I never would have gotten this phone. I hated iOS 7 and decided to come over to Android thinking modification would be much easier on the platform. With carriers locking bootloaders now, it's actually WORSE than having to wait for a jailbreak for an iOS version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a chill pill bro. This phone is still better than an iPhone. There is a safe root method now so no need to use survival mode just have to find a way to get to 4.3 which is all over the discussion boards.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

Rooting from Kitkat

Hello, I've been doing a bit of research on my own, and I haven't found any straight answers. Recently, I downloaded the leaked Verizon Kitkat OS. From what I hear, this is the build I should be staying on. That's great and all, but I was wondering if there is any way for me to be able to root from 4.4.2 and be able to install some custom roms. Sorry if this is redundant in any way to what you guys normally see on here, but I am really confused on where all to start with this rooting process.
Also, I've seen people running custom roms on kitkat on the SM-900V, so I know it's possible. I just need a guide for dummies on how to do it.
Thanks again

The best way to root kitkat is installing twrp and when you boot system it asks if you want to root.
Sent from my P6-U06 using XDA Free mobile app

Philfactor said:
Hello, I've been doing a bit of research on my own, and I haven't found any straight answers. Recently, I downloaded the leaked Verizon Kitkat OS. From what I hear, this is the build I should be staying on. That's great and all, but I was wondering if there is any way for me to be able to root from 4.4.2 and be able to install some custom roms. Sorry if this is redundant in any way to what you guys normally see on here, but I am really confused on where all to start with this rooting process.
Also, I've seen people running custom roms on kitkat on the SM-900V, so I know it's possible. I just need a guide for dummies on how to do it.
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use towelroot method then install latest superuser from chainfire website and then install safestrap. After you've done this you will be able to flash some custom TW roms. You cant get AOSP roms on the vzw retail note 3 yet because the bootloader is still locked.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Will an OTA remove root access?

Hello there,
I've had an AT&T Galaxy S4 for about a year now and I've been on custom ROMs since January of this year. When I was last on Stock, I had Android 4.2.2 Jellybean. Recently, I've been running into a lot of problems with my ROM so I tried installing other ROMs only to find more issues that were bothering me. I decided to just go back to stock but I was curious as to whether taking an OTA update will ruin my root? I do apologize for asking this but I'm still rather new at this. I was also curious if taking the OTA will remove my custom recovery as well as re-lock my bootloader? If I'm not supplying enough information for someone to determine the answer, please let me know and I'll provide that information.

BrokeEven said:
Hello there,
I've had an AT&T Galaxy S4 for about a year now and I've been on custom ROMs since January of this year. When I was last on Stock, I had Android 4.2.2 Jellybean. Recently, I've been running into a lot of problems with my ROM so I tried installing other ROMs only to find more issues that were bothering me. I decided to just go back to stock but I was curious as to whether taking an OTA update will ruin my root? I do apologize for asking this but I'm still rather new at this. I was also curious if taking the OTA will remove my custom recovery as well as re-lock my bootloader? If I'm not supplying enough information for someone to determine the answer, please let me know and I'll provide that information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One question my bro, what galaxy s4 do you have?
Sent from my SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app

I don't know the specific model name but I know it's the Galaxy S4 for AT&T

BrokeEven said:
I don't know the specific model name but I know it's the Galaxy S4 for AT&T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't know what model you're on you shouldn't be rooted. The at&t version is the i337, and yes if the ota works you'll lose root.
And questions go in the q&a forum, not general
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

you need to know your build first, so you can install right .tar
odin will replace everything. except sdcards. best to back up cards anyway and/or pull ext card.
use terminal emulator and type in
SU
getprop ro.bootloader
it will give you your build--:good:
btw your bootloader was never unlocked on an i337.
EDIT: Beat me jd

Oh really? Cuz whenever I turn my phone on it shows a pad lock unlocked. The same animation appeared on my Galaxy Nexus when I had it so I just assumed the bootloader was unlocked

No, that comes up in the rooting process. The i337 has not been unlocked. There is an exploit called loki-doki for pre MF3 builds that bypasses Sammy's security checks. It allows those of us on early build to flash custom recoveries/kernels. Otherwise you need to use SafeStrap and only TW roms. If you are not familiar with SafeStrap then you are probably on a pre MF3 build.
Some people refer to the exploit as unlocking the phone. That's incorrect though--

You should get the ota root keeper, it backs up the root, then after ota update, you can restore back.
Sent from my XT1031 using XDA Free mobile app

[Q]Want GPE, but can't get custom recovery - Help please! :(

Hey guys... Before I get into this, I would like to say that i'm very new to this whole rooting thing, so please forgive me for my lack of knowledge on various terms and such, and I'm a first time user here at xda.
What's written below might get a little bit complicated so i will try to make it as detailed as possible. Please bare with me here.
So I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 sgh-i337 (AT&T) running on android 4.4.4 (with touchwiz, you guys know the deal). I really wanted stock android lollipop, because I really like the look and feel to it. When I decided to root the phone, I went through many tutorials and I tried many different methods, and none of them worked. The phone still worked fine, but SuperSU was not installed and Root Checker said the phone was not rooted. After scouring the internet, I found one tutorial that had my S4 type and the same version. At that point I realized that my android version was hindering my rooting process. The tutorial used Odin to flash a kernel (NC1), root the phone using towelroot, install SuperSU, (Root Checker too to check if it worked), and then flashing the original kernel again (my original kernel was NJ4). After following this process, my phone was rooted, and everything worked fine.
As I said before, I wanted a GPE ROM, and so I needed a custom recovery. I decided to install CWM, since most GPE ROMs used this specific recovery. Again, I followed many different tutorials, and after each and every one, I would try to go into Recovery mode, and it would just launch the stock recovery. I found another tutorial on another website that involved flashing the recovery from an app in the google play store, so I decided to try it out. I now regret this as it led to more problems. I followed these instructions, and when launching into recovery mode from that point on, I get the yellow triangle with the error message "System software is not authorized by AT&T"
Sure, I could get around it by going into download mode from there, canceling, and it would reboot like normal, and the phone still worked, but I needed to get ride of that error message.
Once again doing my research, I figured out that if I flash a stock firmware specific to my phone, it will reset the phone (the only stock firmware available has android version 4.2.2, which is a really popular version, and is compatible with most custom recoveries and ROMs, so I decided to flash the firmware, as it would also change the version back, right?) When I flashed it using Odin like the directions said, it failed. i then figured out that it failed because my binary counter is not 0. I looked into resetting the binary counter for the AT&T S4, and I found Triangle Away. However, in order to reset your binary counter, you need an unlocked bootloader, and the AT&T S4 (sgh-i337) has a locked bootloader (I don't want to use Triangle Away if it's going to brick my phone, i'd rather unroot and keep touchwiz than brick). In the process of finding this out, I also figured out that the only custom recovery that you could use on a locked bootloader S4 sgh-i337 is SafeStrap. But i heard when using SafeStrap you are limited as far as ROMs go? Would I be able to get a GPE 5.0 Lollipop ROM with SafeStrap? Cause if not I might just unroot using SuperSU and software update my phone (will that fix the error when trying to get to Recovery mode?) Also, if I install Safestrap, will it fix the error message?
Again, sorry for my inexperience in all of this, and thanks for staying with me here. Any help and additional information on what I should do (or any GPE Lollipop ROMs I should use that are compatible with my phone and version and such), as well as any links to tutorials are greatly appreciated (also, keep in mind that all of the vocab I know when rooting is used in this post, I am not aware of most other terms - again, forgive me).

You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, thanks for the help! The phone currently works fine, and it is rooted, but when I go into Recovery Mode it gives me the yellow triangle with the error... Will installing SafeStrap fix that? Regardless, thanks for the help, really do appreciate it!

jd1639 said:
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, if i were to update the phone to the next version (i heard there is a way to bump the S4 up in android version) would that reset the error in Recovery Mode? And I also heard that with SafeStrap, you are limited to ROMs on the same android version as the one on your phone? I really like 5.0, but if it's not possible to get it as the moment (and I haven't found any 5.0 ROMs for the sgh-i337 yet - you were right) i might just unroot using SuperSU and just update my version, unrooted and all. I'd rather have my phone be nice and clean than to have root on it with a corrupted recovery mode, and not make use of the root at all (I've seen other ROMs and I prefer 5.0). I might just try to make the phone feel as close to stock as possible by using more google apps and such (keyboard, messages, etc.). Regardless, thanks for the help and additional input, really do appreciate it!

EvilLemon said:
Also, if i were to update the phone to the next version (i heard there is a way to bump the S4 up in android version) would that reset the error in Recovery Mode? And I also heard that with SafeStrap, you are limited to ROMs on the same android version as the one on your phone? I really like 5.0, but if it's not possible to get it as the moment (and I haven't found any 5.0 ROMs for the sgh-i337 yet - you were right) i might just unroot using SuperSU and just update my version, unrooted and all. I'd rather have my phone be nice and clean than to have root on it with a corrupted recovery mode, and not make use of the root at all (I've seen other ROMs and I prefer 5.0). I might just try to make the phone feel as close to stock as possible by using more google apps and such (keyboard, messages, etc.). Regardless, thanks for the help and additional input, really do appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would recommend you flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll bring your device to like new. Then you can let it ota nj4. There are root methods for nc1 and nj4. See this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56453100
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
I would recommend you flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll bring your device to like new. Then you can let it ota nj4. There are root methods for nc1 and nj4. See this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56453100
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much! I followed the instructions and now my phone is back to normal, Recovery mode and all! Really do appreciate it, thanks!

EvilLemon said:
Thanks so much! I followed the instructions and now my phone is back to normal, Recovery mode and all! Really do appreciate it, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. I'm glad you got it working again
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app