Help with Rooting - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

Helping out a friend with an S4 with on NB1. Phone has been sitting for a while. He wants me to set it up with a custom rom or at least root it. Have dabbled with the Verizon S4 but never with the AT&T version.
Can the bootloader be unlocked on NB1?
If not, an you go back to an older release to unlock the bootloader?
Is there a prefered root method for NB1?
Is there any benefit in staying with Nb1 vs taking the OTA?
Thanks
BB

Bad Bimr said:
Helping out a friend with an S4 with on NB1. Phone has been sitting for a while. He wants me to set it up with a custom rom or at least root it. Have dabbled with the Verizon S4 but never with the AT&T version.
Can the bootloader be unlocked on NB1?
If not, an you go back to an older release to unlock the bootloader?
Is there a prefered root method for NB1?
Is there any benefit in staying with Nb1 vs taking the OTA?
Thanks
BB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bootloader stlll cannot be unlocked on ATT S4. We still have a working recovery "safestrap". Safestrap doesnt replace existing stock recovery but is available during normal boot mode through a splash screen on bootup. Use safestrap version 3.72 or 3.75 and flash into stock slot itself. In case of issues, the phone can be recovered by Odin flashing the full NB1 firmware.
NB1 is not rootable. The next version NC1 is rootable with "towelroot". The latest NI1 is not directly rootable but can be rooted by Odin flashing the NC1 kernel.
You can manually update to NC1 and root.
There are a large number of ROMS that can be flashed on I337 including google play edition ones. AOSP/AOKP roms dont work though.
More info: All Thing AT&T

jmjoyas said:
The bootloader stlll cannot be unlocked on ATT S4. We still have a working recovery "safestrap". Safestrap doesnt replace existing stock recovery but is available during normal boot mode through a splash screen on bootup. Use safestrap version 3.72 or 3.75 and flash into stock slot itself. In case of issues, the phone can be recovered by Odin flashing the full NB1 firmware.
NB1 is not rootable. The next version NC1 is rootable with "towelroot". The latest NI1 is not directly rootable but can be rooted by Odin flashing the NC1 kernel.
You can manually update to NC1 and root.
There are a large number of ROMS that can be flashed on I337 including google play edition ones. AOSP/AOKP roms dont work though.
More info: All Thing AT&T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the easiest would be to Odin to a stock NC1 and you towelroot.
Any links to the stock NC1?
Thanks
BB

Bad Bimr said:
So the easiest would be to Odin to a stock NC1 and you towelroot.
Any links to the stock NC1?
Thanks
BB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We do not have odin file for both NC1 and NI1. There is an update file that can be used with "adb sideload" to update your phone. How to update to NC1 is there in the link I provided.

jmjoyas said:
We do not have odin file for both NC1 and NI1. There is an update file that can be used with "adb sideload" to update your phone. How to update to NC1 is there in the link I provided.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried towelroot to see if it works. It worked without a hitch. So I guesss the newest version works with NB1.
Thanks

Related

S4 Back to Stock, TowelRoot NC1(I Think)

Right now I am running a AT&T Galaxy S4 rooted with towel root 4.4.2, and I have to send in my phone for repair because the screen is messed up. I think it is running the NC1 bootloader, as under Setting->About Device-> Baseband version and it is i337UCUFNC1. I have looked over the ODIN back to stock guides and do not see a stock rom for the NC1. Was wondering if its alright to use the NB1 update or should I be looking for something else. The build number is KOT49H.I337UCUFNC1. Thank you for any help.
seandidk said:
Right now I am running a AT&T Galaxy S4 rooted with towel root 4.4.2, and I have to send in my phone for repair because the screen is messed up. I think it is running the NC1 bootloader, as under Setting->About Device-> Baseband version and it is i337UCUFNC1. I have looked over the ODIN back to stock guides and do not see a stock rom for the NC1. Was wondering if its alright to use the NB1 update or should I be looking for something else. The build number is KOT49H.I337UCUFNC1. Thank you for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no full firmware for NC1. We only have an update over NB1.
You can safely flash NB1 using Odin.
Gotcha, thank you for the clarification .
So I can grab any NB1 stock file? Also is there any reason why not to grab the file from Sam Mobile?
seandidk said:
So I can grab any NB1 stock file? Also is there any reason why not to grab the file from Sam Mobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sammobile for some reason doesnt have the newer firmwares, has only MDB and MDL.
Read the return to stock of All Things AT&T

i337 ATT S4 downgrade from 5.0.1

So I'm on 5.0.1 I want to root my device, install a custom recovery so that I can sim unlock the device. Everywhere I read, it's only possible from 4.4.4 and lower. So my question is, how do I downgrade? I know how to get into recovery. I know how to sideload files. I'm all ears right now. Someone show me the way.
Update: I followed this tutorial and everything worked out fine. I am now rooted on 4.4.4
If you have an Galaxy S4 AT&T you have a locked bootloader, that means you cannot install a custom recovery.
You can go from 5.0.1 OC3 to 4.4.3 NB1 using Odin.
emptyPD said:
If you have an Galaxy S4 AT&T you have a locked bootloader, that means you cannot install a custom recovery.
You can go from 5.0.1 OC3 to 4.4.3 NB1 using Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does oc3 lock the bootloader? will going back to nb1 give me access to Safestrap again?
Tank87 said:
does oc3 lock the bootloader? will going back to nb1 give me access to Safestrap again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bootloader is always blocked.
emptyPD said:
If you have an Galaxy S4 AT&T you have a locked bootloader, that means you cannot install a custom recovery.
You can go from 5.0.1 OC3 to 4.4.3 NB1 using Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
emptyPD said:
The bootloader is always blocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so if the BL has always been blocked how have i been able to install custom recoveries? ie TWRP and SafeStrap... am i wrong in thinking they were custom recoveries?
Ahhh you have a i337 with LOKI exploit. Im.not sure but if you install a stock system(vía Odin) you will lock your bootloader for ever. Search in the forum.
emptyPD said:
Ahhh you have a i337 with LOKI exploit. Im.not sure but if you install a stock system(vía Odin) you will lock your bootloader for ever. Search in the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i been searching and i guess i finally got my answer.... so i just locked my bootloader and i wont be able to downgrade, right?
Update: I followed this tutorial and everything worked out fine. I am now rooted on 4.4.4

SGH-i337 OC3 Bootloader, what options to I have for custom recovery/root?

I have an SGH-i337 and had an MDL bootloader before moving to Cyanogenmod and then moved on to OC3 bootloader (stock Android 5.0.1). With OC3 bootloader, I did some google search but couldn't find a way to get a custom bootloader as well as root so I can flash into another ROM (the last time I did any unlocking, flashing, and rooting was ~ 2 years ago and methods/tools have changed so I'm not sure what my best options are right now). I read that TWRP doesn't work for newer bootloaders such as OC3 because loki is patched. Any advice/guidance will be much appreciated.
Thank you!
Safestrap is going to be your only option I believe
On MDL, the boot loader could be by-passed with loki, but everything since MDL, including OC3 has a locked bootloader and you are limited to stock kernel. Safestrap allows custom roms that are touchwiz based but no AOSP type roms. Also safestrap only works on 4.4.4 and below, not on 5.0.1. No root method has been discovered or posted for stock 5.0.1, but there is a keeproot upgrade method, so if you want to root, flash back to nb1, and then use the keeproot method.
creepyncrawly said:
On MDL, the boot loader could be by-passed with loki, but everything since MDL, including OC3 has a locked bootloader and you are limited to stock kernel. Safestrap allows custom roms that are touchwiz based but no AOSP type roms. Also safestrap only works on 4.4.4 and below, not on 5.0.1. No root method has been discovered or posted for stock 5.0.1, but there is a keeproot upgrade method, so if you want to root, flash back to nb1, and then use the keeproot method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So even if I flash back to nb1, I can only root it and not be able to flash to either Google Edition or Cyanogenmod (both if which are my ideal ROMs)? Could I not flash back to MDL, unlock the bootloader + root it, then flash to either of these two ROMs?
No now they have nc1 flash for 5.0.1 look at the i337 thread in xda
So I am essentially stuck with the stock AT&T Touchwiz ROM forever unless something like SafeStrap is available for OC3 bootloader? I'd do anything for being able to flash to Cyanogenmod or Google Play Edition--can't believe I flashed to an updated stock ROM by accident and now I lose all ability to flash to a custom ROM...
mindstormer said:
So I am essentially stuck with the stock AT&T Touchwiz ROM forever unless something like SafeStrap is available for OC3 bootloader? I'd do anything for being able to flash to Cyanogenmod or Google Play Edition--can't believe I flashed to an updated stock ROM by accident and now I lose all ability to flash to a custom ROM...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it sucks and I feel your pain. But you are essentially correct. If you want to stay on Lollipop, then that's pretty much it.
You could flash back to nb1, root and install Safestrap, update to nj4, or install a custom TW based rom on 4.4.4.
You could flash back to nb1, root and use the keeproot method back to OC3, and then at least you'd have rooted Lollipop.
creepyncrawly said:
Yeah, it sucks and I feel your pain. But you are essentially correct. If you want to stay on Lollipop, then that's pretty much it.
You could flash back to nb1, root and install Safestrap, update to nj4, or install a custom TW based rom on 4.4.4.
You could flash back to nb1, root and use the keeproot method back to OC3, and then at least you'd have rooted Lollipop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the clarification--I'll check periodically to see if anything is available for OC3/NB1.
The only GPE ROM I've seen work on this phone is the dandvh 4.4.4 one and even then a few things were buggy. Though I enjoyed it.
iB4stid posted goldeneye v53 which is 5.0.1 for our phone which is pre-rooted and deodexed . It's still TouchWiz based, but with it being pre-rooted and deodexed you can use arter97's workaround and get Xposed working!
And lastly, you can use safestrap while on OC3, You just have to flash an Nj4 kernel in Odin, boot to safestrap, perform your actions, and then flash OC3 kernel back so lollipop will boot.
There are instructions for it on here somewhere. I would check in the "general" section. Sorry for not linking it, I'm on mobile.
Trying to use the keeproot method to get from NB1 (rooted) to OC3 (rooted). Problem is I can flash the ROM, but i need to Odin the OC3 bootloader after the ROM is flashed but I cannot find the OC3 bootloader for the life of me, I can only find the newer OK2 bootloader. Please help! Trying to at least get to Goldeneye on my I337!!
Don't tell me to just use the OK2 ROM and bootloader because when I used that to upgrade to Goldeneye I actually lost root access and had to go all the way back to NB1 and that's where I am now. Can I use OC3 Rom with OK2 bootloader??? God it seems like no one cares about I337s, the step-by-step guides are all over the place and quite hard to follow but I know where I'm getting tripped up. Please help!

Should I upgrade to Lollipop?

So I'm currently on the Hyperdrive rom on Android 4.4.2, and I am thinking of upgrading to Lollipop, but the only thing that is holding me back is that if I upgrade to lollipop, I will not be able to unlock the SIM.
safwanz1 said:
So I'm currently on the Hyperdrive rom on Android 4.4.2, and I am thinking of upgrading to Lollipop, but the only thing that is holding me back is that if I upgrade to lollipop, I will not be able to unlock the SIM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure you are not talking about bootloader unlock (exploit).
I am using lollipop now. I unlocked my sim when I was using jelly bean. Sim unlock is based on the phone IMEI. As long as your EFS partition is intact, you should not be worrying about that.
So if I do Odin/FlashFire to Lollipop, my phone will remain SIM unlocked?
safwanz1 said:
So if I do Odin/FlashFire to Lollipop, my phone will remain SIM unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which bootloader are you on? If you're on MDL or MDB , do not upgrade to lollipop unless you flash the stock based golden eye or gold finger roms or any other AOSP lollipop rom. If you are on any other bootloader aside from MDL or MDB, go ahead and upgrade officially.
Your phone should remain sim unlocked if you use a custom rom to upgrade like the ones meantioned above.
StoneyJSG said:
Which bootloader are you on? If you're on MDL or MDB , do not upgrade to lollipop unless you flash the stock based golden eye or gold finger roms or any other AOSP lollipop rom. If you are on any other bootloader aside from MDL or MDB, go ahead and upgrade officially.
Your phone should remain sim unlocked if you use a custom rom to upgrade like the ones meantioned above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my bootloader appears to be NC1. Which method do you recommend for upgrading to Lollipop?
safwanz1 said:
my bootloader appears to be NC1. Which method do you recommend for upgrading to Lollipop?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you on safestrap? If you are, safestrap works well only in kit-kat. It is a pain to use safestrap in llolipop. I use fashfire instead.
Since you are on custom rom all you have to do is install flashfire and flash the rooted lollipop rom. The instructions can be found at here.
The instruction are written for the latest lollipop rooted rom (OK2). I stay with OC4. If you want to upgrade to OC4 do let me know. I will give you the link for the OC4.
All the necessary files and instructions can be found at here.
You might also want to download the NB1 firmware cooked by Muniz_ri. If you soft-brick your phone in the process or in the near future, that is where have to start with.
If you have questions please quote this in the reply so that I know you have a question.
sway8966 said:
Are you on safestrap? If you are, safestrap works well only in kit-kat. It is a pain to use safestrap in llolipop. I use fashfire instead.
Since you are on custom rom all you have to do is install flashfire and flash the rooted lollipop rom. The instructions can be found at here.
The instruction are written for the latest lollipop rooted rom (OK2). I stay with OC4. If you want to upgrade to OC4 do let me know. I will give you the link for the OC4.
All the necessary files and instructions can be found at here.
You might also want to download the NB1 firmware cooked by Muniz_ri. If you soft-brick your phone in the process or in the near future, that is where have to start with.
If you have questions please quote this in the reply so that I know you have a question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the main differences between OK4 and OC4?
Yes I am on Safestrap
safwanz1 said:
What's the main differences between OK4 and OC4?
Yes I am on Safestrap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are on safestrap, you might need to uninstall it first before you upgrade to lollipop.
Well OK2 was released after OC4 so it might have some better features. But I did not have a chance to be on OK2 for long to notice it. When I was on OK2 my back button stop working so I had to downgrade to OC4.
sway8966 said:
If you are on safestrap, you might need to uninstall it first before you upgrade to lollipop.
Well OK2 was released after OC4 so it might have some better features. But I did not have a chance to be on OK2 for long to notice it. When I was on OK2 my back button stop working so I had to downgrade to OC4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for clearing the air man, really appreciate it. I think I will go with the Thor ROM because it looks to be the best.
You mentioned safe strap was wierd with lollipop, in what way?
safwanz1 said:
Thanks for clearing the air man, really appreciate it. I think I will go with the Thor ROM because it looks to be the best.
You mentioned safe strap was wierd with lollipop, in what way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They did not make safestrap for the lollipop. Safestrap only works on NC1 kernel. So if you were on lollipop and safestrap installed, everytime you reboot you need to tap the proceed several time finish the boot. Also if you want to use the safestrap to flash something or backup, you need to run NC1 flasher to reinstall the NC1 kernel first. Once you finish your deed, you need to flash the lollipop kernel back. That was why I said using safestrap in lollipop is a pain. You can read about that in this forum.
Download and keep this NB1 firmware. If you softbrick your phone this is the only thing that can save you.
sway8966 said:
They did not make safestrap for the lollipop. Safestrap only works on NC1 kernel. So if you were on lollipop and safestrap installed, everytime you reboot you need to tap the proceed several time finish the boot. Also if you want to use the safestrap to flash something or backup, you need to run NC1 flasher to reinstall the NC1 kernel first. Once you finish your deed, you need to flash the lollipop kernel back. That was why I said using safestrap in lollipop is a pain. You can read about that in this forum.
Download and keep this NB1 firmware. If you softbrick your phone this is the only thing that can save you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downloading the file and I'm gonna keep it on my SD card. The several time pressing thing I already have to do on my phone so I'm fine with that. Where do I get the NC1 Flasher?
safwanz1 said:
Downloading the file and I'm gonna keep it on my SD card. The several time pressing thing I already have to do on my phone so I'm fine with that. Where do I get the NC1 Flasher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, I forgot to set the reboot to download, and now I have booted into the Lollipop OS. What should I do?
safwanz1 said:
So, I forgot to set the reboot to download, and now I have booted into the Lollipop OS. What should I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to go to download mode so that you can flash the lollipop bootloader . If you boot into lollipop your modem, etc might not work properly.

Upgrading straight to Lollipop

Below thread makes it seem like one can directly upgrade to Lollipop regardless of base ROM. I currently have stock 4.4.2.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/guide-odin-to-stock-updating-rooting-t2926642
If you have a stock 4.4.2 rom, are you able to update via OTA?
audit13 said:
If you have a stock 4.4.2 rom, are you able to update via OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I am unfortunately not able to. I have an unlocked ATT phone on TMobile.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/guide-odin-to-stock-updating-rooting-t2926642
Based on this thread, it seems like if I can get to NB1 then I can use Stock Recovery to apply updates.
I am currently on NC1. Can I use Safestrap to install stock NB1? (I am unable to get Odin to work on Windows 10)
It does not look like you can use Safestrap to downgrade from NC1 to NB1 because the guide specifically mentions Odin; therefore, I would follow the guide. It's a bit more complicated to recover the sgh-i337 from a softbrick because of its locked bootloader. I'm in Canada and Canadian carriers have the sgh-i337m which has the same hardware as the American version except the bootloader is not locked.
Have you tried different versions of Odin? I have had great success using Odin 3.07 for my flashing requirements.
audit13 said:
It does not look like you can use Safestrap to downgrade from NC1 to NB1 because the guide specifically mentions Odin; therefore, I would follow the guide. It's a bit more complicated to recover the sgh-i337 from a softbrick because of its locked bootloader. I'm in Canada and Canadian carriers have the sgh-i337m which has the same hardware as the American version except the bootloader is not locked.
Have you tried different versions of Odin? I have had great success using Odin 3.07 for my flashing requirements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried 3.07 and 3.13.1. Let me see if I can install an older version of Windows for it.
Regarding "STEP 2 - Flash Updates in Stock Recovery", can those be done off the internal storage or must they be done off external storage?
I used Odin to flash the base and did all the updates afer that using ADB and worked great!
Thanks @guut13

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