It's been awhile, and I'm not too clear on what I should watch for in regards to KNOX.... Getting it to the latest stock OTA is my main concern.
I have 2 in this state, the other I'm going to flash a custom ROM and bootloader, so... Are there plenty of stable full featured ROM's out these days? How about bootloaders? The forum doesn't seem as "updated" as usual (older device now, I know).
I'd like to be able to load a custom ROM on my MicroSD and flash it via the bootloader. What's the most stable bootloader/kernel combo around?
Related
Hello,
I've looked around the forums and just want to confirm the answer to my question. I'm currently on Omega Rom v9 XXUBMGA, and want to update to a newer version or try some other roms. I am fairly certain that it's safe for me to flash the newer roms (since locked boot loader) as long as I do not flash a stock ROM thru Odin. Is this correct? Sorry, I have looked on the forums but want to be sure. i don't want to lose the ability to change roms!
AT&T S4 with 4.2.2 MDL. I rooted it way back when. I have CWM recovery installed. No AT&T Updates have happened because they always fail At the same time what are my options for getting 4.3 or for that matter when 4.4 comes out?
I have bloatware still. Use root for backups and a few other root required apps. I've run custom roms before when I was on my HTC Evo 3D. If I install a custom rom will I loose my current root / status?
If you want a stock rom minus bloat...
Here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2280556
For a stock international rom
Here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2313469
Or... Google Edition rom, no sammy features
Here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2349077
I would use these as starting points because they're modded slightly and if you want more, explore other roms.
Make sure you update your recovery to avoid any errors in flashing. You can also flash to the latest radio and revert if it doesn't work for you.
You won't lose root. You already have recovery, so you can always get it back.
There are 4.3 custom roms out there, there are people who want an S4 that came with MDL. I'd flash a custom 4.3 rom. We can even ugrade (flash) our modems to MF3, MJ5, MJ6 and flash back to MDL without ruining the phone like those who took the upgrades prior to root and got screwed by Samsung.
Do some research like above and for gods sake dont unroot your phone and take any OTA updates or you will regret it.
Just my advice.
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.
Hi,
i want to buy a new note 4 - the version 910f.
If i update the new phone with stock 4.4.4 rom to the latest 5.1.1 - will there be any problem if i want to install root or anything like this later on? Can i still install custom roms?
I want to now this, becqause if i update my new amazon fire 7 (2015) to latest stock 5.1.1 rom - there is no chance to start recovery anymore for installing custom rom. With only 5.0.1 all is good and i can install custom rom with recovery.
Is there a similar problem with note 4 or can i install latest stock rom and won´t get any problems later?
Only thing i found is that i can´t go back to 4.4.4 when installing 5.1.1? And i can´t go back to 5 when i´m installaing marshmallow because of changing partitions size?
So if i go to stock 5.1.1 it doesn´t matter, because i don´t want to use 4.4.4 and i can still use all stock roms and change to marshmallow later?
Bib_x said:
Hi,
i want to buy a new note 4 - the version 910f.
If i update the new phone with stock 4.4.4 rom to the latest 5.1.1 - will there be any problem if i want to install root or anything like this later on? Can i still install custom roms?
I want to now this, becqause if i update my new amazon fire 7 (2015) to latest stock 5.1.1 rom - there is no chance to start recovery anymore for installing custom rom. With only 5.0.1 all is good and i can install custom rom with recovery.
Is there a similar problem with note 4 or can i install latest stock rom and won´t get any problems later?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem if you don't plan to use 4.4.4. Note that if you update to latest 5.1.1
>your bootloader will be locked you can't go back to previous roms or use custom roms which are based on earlier versions such as 4.4.4 custom roms or 5.0.1 custom roms.
>you can still root your phone install custom recovery and install custom roms which have newer bootloaders. However rooting 5.1.1 is bit different because with android 5.1.1 there is an extra security layer in the kernel which detects and stops device from being rooted you need a "permissive kernel" to root 5.1.1. And then you can do whatever you like.
Would it be a better decision to stay on 5.0.1 for the moment and later install 5.1.1 custom rom? To not loose unlocked bootloader?
And one more question: if I deactivate bloatware in application setting off stock rom, is bloatware complete deactivated or is it still running in the background somehow?
Bib_x said:
Would it be a better decision to stay on 5.0.1 for the moment and later install 5.1.1 custom rom? To not loose unlocked bootloader?
And one more question: if I deactivate bloatware in application setting off stock rom, is bloatware complete deactivated or is it still running in the background somehow?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can install 5.1.1 with these bootloaders coj3, coi3, pok1 , coh4 these are safe and won't lock your bootloader. i'd recommend 5.1.1 over 5.0.1 because the difference is day and night in long term use (when u have many apps) 5.1.1 is much smoother and better battery life just don't install coj5 or newer bootloaders. I don't use custom roms because in my experience stock rom is the best custom roms have some bugs etc. If you deactivate bloatware in application settings then its no more running in background.
OK, thank you. But so I should deactivate ota updates and flash latest stock update with Odin, so that I don't get latest locked bootloader?
How can i update to latest 5.1.1 update and keeping the (old) unlocked bootloader?
Do i have to donwload version from smamobile and flash with odin? How can i disallow to update bootloader too?
And if i update with ota - i will get latest (locked) bootlader automatically - no chance anymore to remove it?
-----------------------------
I don´t want to root my phone the first time (because of knox) but later on i maybe want to root too.
Bib_x said:
How can i update to latest 5.1.1 update and keeping the (old) unlocked bootloader?
Do i have to donwload version from smamobile and flash with odin? How can i disallow to update bootloader too?
And if i update with ota - i will get latest (locked) bootlader automatically - no chance anymore to remove it?
-----------------------------
I don´t want to root my phone the first time (because of knox) but later on i maybe want to root too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way to be sure if the older bootloader will work with latest 5.1.1 rom. So its better to stick with the bootloader which comes with the rom and yes if you update with OTA you will get latest 5.1.1 and bootloader automatically. Just go to sammobile and download 5.1.1 with COJ3, COi3, or POK1 (nordic countries). and Flash with odin.
Hello,
I have a rooted i337 with MDL baseband, running stock 4.2.2 firmware. I am currently out of the US and therefore cannot receive any OTA. I want to upgrade to Lollipop or Marshmallow based custom ROMs, esp those that can still use the IR feature of the S4.
Can anyone guide me on how I do this upgrade, without bricking my phone? Would truly appreciate your help. Thanks.
Have you tried running ota updates via wifi without a SIM card in the phone.
To run a custom rom, you would need to install a custom recovery to flash the rom. Some mm and LP ROMs may not work with a 4.2.2 modem and bootloader.
If you want to use a custom ROM, DO NOT take any OTA updates. If you take an OTA and it is successful, then you will no longer be able to install a custom ROM.
Here is the Cyanogenmod thread to install CM to your phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3008609
If you would like to update to official ATT/Samsung lollipop(there is also a way to have root)[remember, once you take an official update from MDL, then you will no longer be able to install a custom ROM and you may never be able to get Marshmallow]: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2926642