Database Users

[Q] *** Cant Find Info On MDL - Return To Stock Rooted ?!?

Currently, im rooted and running a custom rom and recovery on my ATT S4 with MDL. I'd like to return to stock rooted with the option to flash custom roms in the future. I know there have been a lot of changes recently with the various versions so I would also like to update to the safest and latest firmware possible(still be able to flash custom recovery and rom if I wanted to in the future).
So... What would be the best method to go about returning to an updated stock rooted state with the ability to flash roms and recoveries in the future?
I've been searching all morning but can't find much info on working with MDL. Can anyone point me in the direction or offer any assistance?
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance :good:

Go to sammobile.com for the mdl firmware. You'll download a zip, extract the .tar.md5 file from it and flash that in Odin. After you do that the phone will want to update to the newest firmware so look for the files to delete or flash a custom rom. It'll also wrote the device so backup first
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
Go to sammobile.com for the mdl firmware. You'll download a zip, extract the .tar.md5 file from it and flash that in Odin. After you do that the phone will want to update to the newest firmware so look for the files to delete or flash a custom rom. It'll also wrote the device so backup first
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great. Thanks a bunch but I will no longer be rooted after flashing stock through ODIN correct? Should I use CASUAL from there to regain root and a custom recovery? Also, how would I update to a newer firmware after that? One that is "safe" or least problematic?

R.Suave said:
Great. Thanks a bunch but I will no longer be rooted after flashing stock through ODIN correct? Should I use CASUAL from there to regain root and a custom recovery? Also, how would I update to a newer firmware after that? One that is "safe" or least problematic?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will lose root. CASUAL will still work and you'll still be able to use twrp or cwm. For newer firmware you're going to want to flash a custom rom based 4.4.4. You don't want to update your firmware as you won't be able to use twrp or cwm any more
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
You will lose root. CASUAL will still work and you'll still be able to use twrp or cwm. For newer firmware you're going to want to flash a custom rom based 4.4.4. You don't want to update your firmware as you won't be able to use twrp or cwm any more
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perfect. Just the info I was looking for. Thanks! :good:

[newbie] galaxy s4 att UCUAMDL

hi all , sorry but my english is so bad
i just bought a galaxy s4 att secondhand , this had bassband UCUAMDL . and i checked the lastest version of it is 4.2.2
can i upgrade my phone up to 4.4 ?
and i dont know terminology about "MF3 - MK2 ............."
could you tell me ?
thanks so much :victory::victory::victory:

Root. Install TWRP recovery. Flash a rom 4.4.4 or try some lollipop love!! You are lucky enough to have an unlocked bootloader..

HORiZUN said:
Root. Install TWRP recovery. Flash a rom 4.4.4 or try some lollipop love!! You are lucky enough to have an unlocked bootloader..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks so much ,
can you get me links :crying:
but MF3 - MK2 ............. what is it ?
when i flash rom , what i have to notice ?

I hope you don't have MF3. If that's the case, I'm pretty sure that SafeStrap is your only recovery option.

HORiZUN said:
I hope you don't have MF3. If that's the case, I'm pretty sure that SafeStrap is your only recovery option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but i dont know MF3 >"<
what is it ?
how check it on my phone ?

HORiZUN said:
I hope you don't have MF3. If that's the case, I'm pretty sure that SafeStrap is your only recovery option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am in 4.2.2

sonluyen94 said:
but i dont know MF3 >"<
what is it ?
how check it on my phone ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same question. hopefully someone will be able to explain it to us.

MF3 would be the last three digits of your system software version

HORiZUN said:
MF3 would be the last three digits of your system software version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my baseband : I337UCUAMDL
kernel version : 3.4.0-453947 - [email protected] #1
android version : 4.2.2
build number : JDQ39.I337UCUAMDL
it is my phone >"<

You don't have MF3, and that's a good thing. You can install a custom recovery. You need to root, install a custom recovery, and then you can start flashing roms.

sonluyen94 said:
my baseband : I337UCUAMDL
kernel version : 3.4.0-453947 - [email protected] #1
android version : 4.2.2
build number : JDQ39.I337UCUAMDL
it is my phone >"<
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nogods said:
I have the same question. hopefully someone will be able to explain it to us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, use TowelRoot.com to root the phone, and use TWRP manager to install TWRP on your device. After that check out the development section of this very forum and flash any ROM you wish. 4.2.2 or 4.4.4 or 5.0 or anywhere in between (Just read the thread and instructions first!!!). Whatever you do, never update using the OTA updater on the stock ROM! Also, dotn ever flash an image in Odin that isn't MDL, because if you go higher than MDL, you lose the ability to have a custom recovery. You are one of the lucky ones, cherish the ability, and read through threads before flashing, stuff. Good Luck!
Also, you don't have to worry if the ROM says safestrap compatible, because you don't have to use Safestrap, you can have TWRP instead (which is better), because all Safestrap ROMS are TWRP compatible, but not vice-versa.

npjohnson said:
Ok, use TowelRoot.com to root the phone, and use TWRP manager to install TWRP on your device. After that check out the development section of this very forum and flash any ROM you wish. 4.2.2 or 4.4.4 or 5.0 or anywhere in between (Just read the thread and instructions first!!!). Whatever you do, never update using the OTA updater on the stock ROM! Also, dotn ever flash an image in Odin that isn't MDL, because if you go higher than MDL, you lose the ability to have a custom recovery. You are one of the lucky ones, cherish the ability, and read through threads before flashing, stuff. Good Luck!
Also, you don't have to worry if the ROM says safestrap compatible, because you don't have to use Safestrap, you can have TWRP instead (which is better), because all Safestrap ROMS are TWRP compatible, but not vice-versa.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks so much :fingers-crossed:
but can you talk to me what rom is good about battery ?

sonluyen94 said:
thanks so much :fingers-crossed:
but can you talk to me what rom is good about battery ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most if not all. They're all built from either GPE or CM.

All good advice. Plus when you root and get Twrp recovery installed do a backup thru Twrp (Nandroid) and keep on phone and put a copy on pc. That way you have something to restore if you get in trouble. Also, your bootloader is not unlocked. No Att i337s are. Instead devs use an exploit called Loki-Doki to bypass Sammy's security checks to allow custom roms/kernels etc to flash. You can google Loki Doki and read up on it. If the rom or kernel is not loki'd you will have to flash the zip thru recovery to allow the rom or kernel to flash. You will come across this when flashing International roms and kernels. I don't have link any more so maybe someone else can link it. Keep it on SD card. Like noted read OP carefully and last 20 pages of rom thread. Builds newer than MDL are blocked by Att from using Loki and require SafeStrap. Which you don't need to worry about. Although you can read up on it. Good Luck. [emoji1]
Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using Tapatalk

I hope you won't mind me jumping in your thread.,
I've recently had to odin my mdl phone back to stock. I haven't done that in a long time. I have root, and supersu, and busybox. The TWRP Manager app is malfunctioning and I cannot use it to install recovery. They list the crash I am experiencing in the play store as a known problem, and they say it will take time to fix. I have a good loki'd copy of twrp but the stock recovery doesn't want to install it. I even changed the name to "update.zip" and it fails. So my problem is I need a recovery. I am considering installing Clockworkmod's ROM Manager to install their recovery, and then using their recovery to install the good loki'd twrp that I want. Does this sound like a good plan? I have been away from this hobby for a while.

plasticglock said:
I hope you won't mind me jumping in your thread.,
I've recently had to odin my mdl phone back to stock. I haven't done that in a long time. I have root, and supersu, and busybox. The TWRP Manager app is malfunctioning and I cannot use it to install recovery. They list the crash I am experiencing in the play store as a known problem, and they say it will take time to fix. I have a good loki'd copy of twrp but the stock recovery doesn't want to install it. I even changed the name to "update.zip" and it fails. So my problem is I need a recovery. I am considering installing Clockworkmod's ROM Manager to install their recovery, and then using their recovery to install the good loki'd twrp that I want. Does this sound like a good plan? I have been away from this hobby for a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash a recovery zip in a custom recovery. So if you have the loki'd twrp in a zip file, flashing cwm first will work
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
You can flash a recovery zip in a custom recovery. So if you have the loki'd twrp in a zip file, flashing cwm first will work
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man, that's exactly what I was planning. I remember avoiding CWM last year due to some issue on this device so I just wanted to make sure it wasn't going to do more harm than good. :good:

plasticglock said:
Thanks man, that's exactly what I was planning. I remember avoiding CWM last year due to some issue on this device so I just wanted to make sure it wasn't going to do more harm than good. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROM manager didn't work. It said it installed cwm recovery but it didn't. I was able to install the latest TWRP with this ROM Installer and it worked like a charm! I then installed my custom TWRP from there, rebooted recovery, and installed Danvh's Google edition. I'm setting it up right now. I'm so happy to get my phone back. I just hope the odin flash fixed my problems.
To the OP try ROM installer to get your custom recovery going. Also if you like simple and fast AOSP check out Danvh's google edition rom, but stick to 4.4.4 for now. 5.0 is out but its buggy. Here's a link to the custom version of twrp that I use. https://www.dropbox.com/l/iDQQqlzNbyiFbQrMF4XcRc It's already loki'd so you can flash it if you have any problems with the latest build.

[Q] Custom Roms, Recovery & Rooting

Hi. I've rooted a tablet and a phone before but I have no experience with custom roms and recovery.
My question is if I install a custom rom, is my tablet automatically rooted? Or I have to root before I can install custom rom?
And is root needed for installing recovery? Its for Samsung Galaxt Tab 4 (10.1")
Thank you.

ROOT is needed to access system as RW mode.
To flash recovery you need root,
To flash ROM you need recovery
And no, not all ROMs are pre-rooted. But you can download CHAINFIRE's SuperSU.zip and paste it in sdcard. So whenever you flash a ROM, flash supersu.zip and you will be rooted. Hit thanks if I helped you
Instead of thanking me by posting, HIT Thanks if you like my post or if I helped you in any way!
-------------------------------------------
My work:
[TOOL]Kernel/Boot.img (un)packer

jdscott666 said:
Hi. I've rooted a tablet and a phone before but I have no experience with custom roms and recovery.
My question is if I install a custom rom, is my tablet automatically rooted? Or I have to root before I can install custom rom?
And is root needed for installing recovery?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That depends on the specific model of your phone/tablet. All custom roms come pre-rooted. On Samsung/HTC phones (and some more) you don't need root acces to flash recovery. Please ask your question for spcecific devices.

LS.xD said:
That depends on the specific model of your phone/tablet. All custom roms come pre-rooted. On Samsung/HTC phones (and some more) you don't need root acces to flash recovery. Please ask your question for spcecific devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry. Forgot to mention the unit. Its Samsung Galaxy Tab 4.

jdscott666 said:
Sorry. Forgot to mention the unit. Its Samsung Galaxy Tab 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For a Samsung device you can use an app called ODIN to flash a custom recovery. If you google for flashing recovery with ODIN there are many guides. You do not need root to do this but you will trip a counter internally that marks your device as warranty voided. You can get PhilZ Recovery for Galaxy Tab 4 in the Tab 4 forums. Make sure to note your model number as the different sizes of the tab have different builds. Once you have that you can flash a custom rom. Make sure to back up stack first in case you want to go back. Once you have a custom recovery you can do this from the menu

[Q] As a first timer on samsung what do i need to do ?

Hey guys i just bought this international exynos note 3 (N900) and i have some questions about it ;
1. I want to install all the roms kernels and mods i could find but in order to do that (I'm %100 stock btw) ,do i need to first unlock the device ( i dont know how i couldnt find it), then root it with CF- Auto root( my warranty is over so i dont need to think about KNOX i think??) Then use the dd method to flash a recovery and flash whatever i want. Am i right about the things i said on all above ? Is there an easier way to do it ?
2. Do KNOX ever prevents me from flashing things in ODIN if something gets triggered ?
3. If i am not right about the first question starting from %100 stock what do i need to do to get this baby rockin ? I'm thinking about flashing a stock lollipop rom with a custom kernel and root ofc. Any suggestions ?
4. Do we need to flash modems from odin ? Because when reading the AryaMods thread i saw something about updating the modem. I'm on 4.4.2 right now. Can we flash modems or even kernels from recovery ?
Thanks already!!

ymcc said:
Hey guys i just bought this international note 3 and i have some questions about it ;
1. I want to install all the roms kernels and mods i could find but in order to do that (I'm %100 stock btw) ,do i need to first unlock the device ( i dont know how i couldnt find it), then root it with CF- Auto root( my warranty is over so i dont need to think about KNOX i think??) Then use the dd method to flash a recovery and flash whatever i want. Am i right about the things i said on all above ? Is there an easier way to do it ?
2. Do KNOX ever prevents me from flashing things in ODIN if something gets triggered ?
3. If i am not right about the first question starting from %100 stock what do i need to do to get this baby rockin ? I'm thinking about flashing a stock lollipop rom with a custom kernel and root ofc. Any suggestions ?
4. Do we need to flash modems from odin ? Because when reading the AryaMods thread i saw something about updating the modem. I'm on 4.4.2 right now. Can we flash modems or even kernels from recovery ?
Thanks already!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Care to mention what model?

kenny1991 said:
Care to mention what model?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry my bad it's a N9000 Exynos device.
Thanks !

ymcc said:
Sorry my bad it's a N9000 Exynos device.
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no much of roms to choose for this one. 9005 is most supported here.
Root using cf auto root.
Make back up of ta partion/imei.
Flash recovery with odin. Then flash roms in twrp (watch the ere about how to use twrp or YT).
flash stock roms using odin.

Can't i just flash recovery from odin then flash a custom rom after that without rooting ? Thanks!

ymcc said:
Can't i just flash recovery from odin then flash a custom rom after that without rooting ? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are going to flash roms based on lollipop, update your phone to latest stock rom for your model using odin so you get latest bootloader.
Dude, you need root access to access system and write to it. Don't custom roms require root, if you take a look? (don't answer to this [emoji61] )
If you want that way, flash twrp with ? odin. Then flash supersu for your model using twrp. That way too you get root. Then flash roms after (read rom instructions).
Ask if all wondering. ?
?

kenny1991 said:
If you are going to flash roms based on lollipop, update your phone to latest stock rom for your model using odin so you get latest bootloader.
Dude, you need root access to access system and write to it. Don't custom roms require root, if you take a look? (don't answer to this [emoji61] )
If you want that way, flash twrp with odin. Then flash supersu for your model using twrp. That way too you get root. Then flash roms after (read rom instructions).
Ask if all wondering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No my question was; not rooting the device in the first place before flashing the recovery and the rom. The roms already comes with the root in it. So just to be clear first upgrade the base to lollipop from odin then flash a recovery and lastly flash a lollipop rom. Would this be your sequence when you just bought a new note 3 ?

ymcc said:
No my question was; not rooting the device in the first place before flashing the recovery and the rom. The roms already comes with the root in it. So just to be clear first upgrade the base to lollipop from odin then flash a recovery and lastly flash a lollipop rom. Would this be your sequence when you just bought a new note 3 ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash latest firmware then custom recovery then flash the custom rom of your choice. No need to root after flash official firmware but it's good to root first as you may want to backup efs before you start messing the phone. I backed up the efs for the past 1.5years but so far never need it.
Sent from my SM-N9005

Rosli59564 said:
Flash latest firmware then custom recovery then flash the custom rom of your choice. No need to root after flash official firmware but it's good to root first as you may want to backup efs before you start messing the phone. I backed up the efs for the past 1.5years but so far never need it.
Sent from my SM-N9005
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks you very much mate!
Edit: I couldn't find the 5.0 version for my device the latest one is 4.4.2 for SM-N900Q. But there are 5.0 versions for SM-N900 for india and such. Can i flash one of them ? Does it interfere with anything so like just for a base ?

ymcc said:
Thanks you very much mate!
Edit: I couldn't find the 5.0 version for my device the latest one is 4.4.2 for SM-N900Q. But there are 5.0 versions for SM-N900 for india and such. Can i flash one of them ? Does it interfere with anything so like just for a base ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then it's the latest. Don't flash other variants roms cause it will brick your ?.

kenny1991 said:
Then it's the latest. Don't flash other variants roms cause it will brick your .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. Thank you !

TWRP for SM-T330nu Galaxy Tab 4 8.0??

Does this exist? I have found a TWRP for a regular T330, but not the T330NU. Basically I am looking for a way to get my 5.1.1 rooted. I know there is a method listed on this forum that involves installing a new kernal that is rootable, but once again, I need a custom recovery to even flash that file. Or do I? Any help would be highly appreciated. I apologize if this has been addressed, but after many Google searches, and even searches on XDA, i was not able to find any definite instructions on how to do this. I would happily downgrade to 4.4.2 Kitkat if thats even possible, but I hit a dead end there also trying to use ODIN to flash the stock 4.4.2 firmware. I made the stupid mistake of upgrading to 5.1.1, and now am suffering do to all the bloatware installed with it. Please direct me to the proper files i need to use to get my device rooted! I'm not worried about knox because it has already been triggered. I just dont understand how or where to get TWRP for my tablet because all the files I found specifically left the T330NU out of its list of compatible devices. I have tried Kingo-Root, KingRoot, and no success. Help, I need ROOT!

A TWRP build for the SM-T330 will also work on the SM-T330NU, so you can use this thread for TWRP. There is also Philz touch, a touch version of CWM which can be found in this thread. All that said however, there is only one way to root the SM-T330NU on 5.1.1, and that is the kernel method you mentioned, for which the thread can be found here

Install new kernel
thisisapoorusernamechoice said:
A TWRP build for the SM-T330 will also work on the SM-T330NU, so you can use this thread for TWRP. There is also Philz touch, a touch version of CWM which can be found in this thread. All that said however, there is only one way to root the SM-T330NU on 5.1.1, and that is the kernel method you mentioned, for which the thread can be found here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok... heres my next question? Do i just simply use ODIN to install the custom recovery, then use the custom recovery to flash that new kernel??? Because I still have the stock recovery on right now, and just need the basic instructions h on how to achieve this. Thanks

beatbreakee said:
Ok... heres my next question? Do i just simply use ODIN to install the custom recovery, then use the custom recovery to flash that new kernel???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I believe so, although the kernel thread should have instructions

Success with Custom recovery and Kernel Flash
Ok i performed the Kernel flash using Philz recovery... and flashed the SuperSU file posted on that thread. Now I ran a program called "Root Checker" from the app store and it says Root not installed... BUT when I run the SuperSU app it says "Super User Enabled" ... So am i rooted or not?? Is there another program i need to use to check root status? or am i done?...
***DUH, my fault... did not realize i needed to grant super user access to the program.... Did that and SUCCESS!!***
Thanks dude... you're very helpful and patient... Wish i had a customer comment card I could fill out about you!

rootedI
I have the exact same tab and have not found much support for it however I believe I rooted it using old school towel root. And there are some cool things u can do with it but I've been back in kit Kat land all this time.