Alright, I have a Virgin Mobile S4. I rooted it a year ago with towelroot and installed clockwork mod on it to install cyanogenmod. I tried it, didn't like it so I restored my backup of the stock rom using CWM.
Fast forward to now. I tried to update my S4 OTA for Lollipop, but it would give me an error. I figured it was because I had changed the recovery software. So I went and downloaded the virgin mobile lollipop stock rom from sammobile. ( I337MVLUGOC4_I337MOYAGOC4_VMC ).
I tried to flash it onto my S4 using Odin 3.09. To no avail, it always failed at the system4.img.ext or something. From there I tried to make it work by using 3.10. Still failed. I googled for a fix or workaround and found something about reinstalling clockwork mod. I also tried reinstalling the PIT file for I337M. It was still not working. So I tried to flash back to my stock backup.
1st time I flashed, I kept having program that didn't want to start errors. I wiped dalvik, I wiped cache, I factory reset. Still bugged. So as a last resort I restored the backup again after having done all this. It worked! But...
Well, I'm at a lost now, I can't update using OTA, I can't update with Odin, I can't update with Kies. Now what? Is there a way to go back to the stock recovery and let the OTA or Kies update go through unhindered?
The proper place to ask this is in the AT&T S4 Forum as there are more people with that device who are able to help you. This is the International S4 forum, and while we can help you in a general sense, there may be something device specific we'll miss.
With that out of the way, with the ROM you downloaded, there would be no OTA updates when you installed it as it is the most current ROM available. Since Odin should have worked but didn't, you likely need to use a different USB port, and make sure you're not using a hub. Changing the port can often fix issues with Odin.
As @Strephon Alkhalikoi says this is not the place for it.
But there is one thing I notice. You are flashing an I337M firmware. Are you sure that's your model and you don't have an I337 (without M.
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I think i bricked my s4. This is what i've done.
I had echoe illusion rom installed on my s4 and it worked fine but then i wanted to remove it to get a vanilla phone with a simple root. So i deleted cache and everything that you're suppose to do, and it worekd fine i had a vanilla phone with root, then i wanted to use gamekiller 2.6 but that wouldnt work unless i had a custom rom, so i download PAC rom and tried to flash that onto my device by installing zip from odin menu on the phone. it failed because there was a type error in the file and this made my phone brick, I get the message firmware upgrade encountered an issue. please select recovery mode in kies & try again.
what i've tried:
Flash a stock rom using odin (used 4 files, bootloader, pda, phone and csc) did not work it failed.
Re-root the phone. It passes but then it restarts and goes to the startup logo and stay there forever, i left it for half an hour and nothing happened.
flash a custom rom. doesn't work it fail.
use the recovery in kies, doesn't work i dont know what my number is.
I really need help with this as i have important things to do with my phone and i need it on ASAP!
samsung galaxy s4 GT-I9505
If your phone gets download mode there is still a hope..
Reinstall samsung drivers on your pc again. restart it , change your data cable USB port (choice another port), try to flash... sometimes datacables and ports are tricky trolls.
Enviado desde mi Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500
re: stock rom
Frennesson said:
I think i bricked my s4. This is what i've done.
I had echoe illusion rom installed on my s4 and it worked fine but then i wanted to remove it to get a vanilla phone with a simple root. So i deleted cache and everything that you're suppose to do, and it worekd fine i had a vanilla phone with root, then i wanted to use gamekiller 2.6 but that wouldnt work unless i had a custom rom, so i download PAC rom and tried to flash that onto my device by installing zip from odin menu on the phone. it failed because there was a type error in the file and this made my phone brick, I get the message firmware upgrade encountered an issue. please select recovery mode in kies & try again.
what i've tried:
Flash a stock rom using odin (used 4 files, bootloader, pda, phone and csc) did not work it failed.
Re-root the phone. It passes but then it restarts and goes to the startup logo and stay there forever, i left it for half an hour and nothing happened.
flash a custom rom. doesn't work it fail.
use the recovery in kies, doesn't work i dont know what my number is.
I really need help with this as i have important things to do with my phone and i need it on ASAP!
samsung galaxy s4 GT-I9505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
#1: go to http://SamMobile.com and download the 1 file official firmware for your specific phone's model.(TAR.MD5)
#2: go into recovery and do a complete wipe including Factory Reset, Wipe Cache, Data, System and
Dalvik cache.
#3: odin flash the original stock firmware which you downloaded from http://SamMobile.com
Doing that should fix the problems you are experiencing.
Good luck!
I had an interesting issue I thought I'd share with folks in case they run into it. I have an N900W8 on the Rogers network. I used CF Auto-root to root, installed Philz recovery through Odin (3.07). I backed up the stock OS using Philz, then installed CM11 M5. I played for a couple of days, and then decided I wanted to head back to stock. I'm probably going to sell the phone soon so I wanted to make sure everything was clean. I restored the stock ROM, and when Philz warned that the stock ROM would likely overwrite recovery, I let it. I booted into my previous stock ROM and all was good. I checked software update and it said "your system has been modified". Shoot. I boot back out into download mode and see System and Firmware are set to Custom. All stock 0s everywhere else though, Knox hadn't been tripped. I was about to flash a stock firmware through Odin and I thought.. I wonder if I could use Kies? Sure enough, I fired up Kies 3 and did a Firmware Upgrade and Installation and 10 minutes later I had a stock phone. System and Firmware back to Official Samsung! All I did was boot the phone up in my restored stock ROM, plugged it in, ran Kies 3 and said "Firmware Upgrade and Installation" done.
Hope that might be helpful to someone!
Ok so now I have a brand new S4. Came in the mail yesterday. So I rooted it. No problem...... went to add a custom rom. (Sacs custom rom to be exact) reboots ok. Galaxy S4 screen. Then the custom rom screen and it stays there........ phone gets extremely hot. I went into recovery. Wiped data. Wiped cache. Wiped dalvik cache. Nothing. So I says ok, forget it. I'm going to Just take the root off and go back to stock firmware. Odin fails to unroot every time. I get Fail (Auth). I downloaded the right tar files to unroot. I even deleted them and re downloaded them. Same results. I'm going crazy because I just got this phone and I can't use it. Any help on what I'm doing wrong? Mind you I've been rooting for years and I've never had this problem before. Also it's a newer S4 that has the Sprint Spark screen. Anything would help. Thanks
sonny82 said:
Ok so now I have a brand new S4. Came in the mail yesterday. So I rooted it. No problem...... went to add a custom rom. (Sacs custom rom to be exact) reboots ok. Galaxy S4 screen. Then the custom rom screen and it stays there........ phone gets extremely hot. I went into recovery. Wiped data. Wiped cache. Wiped dalvik cache. Nothing. So I says ok, forget it. I'm going to Just take the root off and go back to stock firmware. Odin fails to unroot every time. I get Fail (Auth). I downloaded the right tar files to unroot. I even deleted them and re downloaded them. Same results. I'm going crazy because I just got this phone and I can't use it. Any help on what I'm doing wrong? Mind you I've been rooting for years and I've never had this problem before. Also it's a newer S4 that has the Sprint Spark screen. Anything would help. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sph-l720t?? I've heard conflicting reports about compatibility with custom sph-l720 ROMs and spark capable sph-l720t. Best case scenario is you get it to boot, I doubt you will have working Spark functionality, however.
With the galaxy s4 TW custom ROMs you need to reboot recovery after doing your wipes and before flashing your ROM. Also, IIRC, it is best to boot to download mode from fully powered off (maybe even recovery, but I've never needed to do so).
It is also best to be on the newest custom recoveries, like twrp 2.7.0.1 and latest philz (6.25?? not sure on this one)
The steps should look like this.
1 - boot to recovery and do all your wipes.
2 - reboot recovery
3 - flash rom
3.1 wipe dalvik and cache
4 - Boot and let it settle, if you are stuck on the splash screen for longer than 10 minutes chances are it is not going to boot.
Holler back and let us know.
sonny82 said:
Ok so now I have a brand new S4. Came in the mail yesterday. So I rooted it. No problem...... went to add a custom rom. (Sacs custom rom to be exact) reboots ok. Galaxy S4 screen. Then the custom rom screen and it stays there........ phone gets extremely hot. I went into recovery. Wiped data. Wiped cache. Wiped dalvik cache. Nothing. So I says ok, forget it. I'm going to Just take the root off and go back to stock firmware. Odin fails to unroot every time. I get Fail (Auth). I downloaded the right tar files to unroot. I even deleted them and re downloaded them. Same results. I'm going crazy because I just got this phone and I can't use it. Any help on what I'm doing wrong? Mind you I've been rooting for years and I've never had this problem before. Also it's a newer S4 that has the Sprint Spark screen. Anything would help. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If Odin fails then you DID download the wrong tar file. Since you said you just got your phone then you need to know what version you have, there are 2: the L720 & the L720T. If your phone was brand new when you bought it than most likely it is the L720T and none of the roms on this site are compatible with your phone. Some of them will work but you will loose features or have to take extra steps to get the rom working. Once you know which phone you have, you will need to download the correct tar file. If you do have the L720 than the only tar file that will get your phone up and working is the full NAE tar. If you have the L720T then you will need the NC6 ful tar. Any older tar files will fail.
wilzard said:
sph-l720t?? I've heard conflicting reports about compatibility with custom sph-l720 ROMs and spark capable sph-l720t. Best case scenario is you get it to boot, I doubt you will have working Spark functionality, however.
With the galaxy s4 TW custom ROMs you need to reboot recovery after doing your wipes and before flashing your ROM. Also, IIRC, it is best to boot to download mode from fully powered off (maybe even recovery, but I've never needed to do so).
It is also best to be on the newest custom recoveries, like twrp 2.7.0.1 and latest philz (6.25?? not sure on this one)
The steps should look like this.
1 - boot to recovery and do all your wipes.
2 - reboot recovery
3 - flash rom
3.1 wipe dalvik and cache
4 - Boot and let it settle, if you are stuck on the splash screen for longer than 10 minutes chances are it is not going to boot.
Holler back and let us know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it worked!!!!! you are the man!!!! thanks a lot!!!!!
cruise350 said:
If Odin fails then you DID download the wrong tar file. Since you said you just got your phone then you need to know what version you have, there are 2: the L720 & the L720T. If your phone was brand new when you bought it than most likely it is the L720T and none of the roms on this site are compatible with your phone. Some of them will work but you will loose features or have to take extra steps to get the rom working. Once you know which phone you have, you will need to download the correct tar file. If you do have the L720 than the only tar file that will get your phone up and working is the full NAE tar. If you have the L720T then you will need the NC6 ful tar. Any older tar files will fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool so where would i find these new tar files?
cruise350 said:
If Odin fails then you DID download the wrong tar file. Since you said you just got your phone then you need to know what version you have, there are 2: the L720 & the L720T. If your phone was brand new when you bought it than most likely it is the L720T and none of the roms on this site are compatible with your phone. Some of them will work but you will loose features or have to take extra steps to get the rom working. Once you know which phone you have, you will need to download the correct tar file. If you do have the L720 than the only tar file that will get your phone up and working is the full NAE tar. If you have the L720T then you will need the NC6 ful tar. Any older tar files will fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im on L720. now this new NAE tar. will it put me back to stock firmware? because thats what i want to do. no rrot on this phone.
sonny82 said:
im on L720. now this new NAE tar. will it put me back to stock firmware? because thats what i want to do. no rrot on this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can download the NAE tar file from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2663619
You should use Odin 3.07 or 3.09 to install. Make sure you run Odin in administrator mode.
sonny82 said:
it worked!!!!! you are the man!!!! thanks a lot!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, dude. Very happy to hear that.
tar files
Where can I get the NC6 tar file. I have the SPH720T , I rooted it fine, then tried to get the native tether to work and now my phone starts up and then gets stuck on the Sprint Sparks screen, I've tried 4 different tar files and all fail. I'm using Odin 3.9
So, I'm a noob when it comes to flashing custom ROMs. I've had my S4 rooted for a while and have had no issues. Decided recently to try a custom ROM.
I tried installing UltimaROM (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2537495) and everything seemed to work fine during install, but once the final reboot happened I am stuck in a Download Mode loop. Reading more, I am now not so sure this ROM will work on my phone (duh.) I am assuming that I am going to have to use Odin to flash a stock ROM back to my phone.. is this true? And, if so, how can I tell which ROM to install? I looked at the SamMobile site and there are two f/w downloads that appear to apply to my phone, but they are labeled I337UCUAMDL and I337UCUAMDB. Neither one of these seem to match what I was at, so I'm not sure if I should use either.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. I did use Safestrap/TWRP to take a full backup of my phone before trying to install the ROM. Is there any way to flash just a new recovery and do a restore, instead of flashing a full stock ROM back?
You're right that the rom won't work with safestrap. You'll have to Odin the nb1 tar file. Look in the general forum for it
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Thanks. I'm trying that now.
I'm not a complete noob but somehow while trying to wipe my phone and re-install Jasmine ROM 5.X (I was already on Alliance ROM with NC4 before, installed Jasmine but somehow didn't actually wipe everything) the recovery got erased and nwt I get the wonderful Yellow Alert warning while booting saying the software is unauthorized and turn your phone off and go to Verizon.
I have tried using Odin 3.09 to install TWRP and then realized I used Safestrap a long time ago. At that point it was too late and everything I've tried flashing with Odin now Fails almost immediately after starting.
I last tried the stock N900VVRUCNC4_N900VVZWCNC4_N900VVRUCNC4_HOME.tar.md5 file and it failed as well.
I did read other threads but most just flashed the NC4 firmware and were fine.
Can anyone direct me to the actual files I need to get it running again? I really appreciate it.
No one? I still haven't found any working solutions.
All I can tell you is that when I got that "go to Verizon" message, I rebooted to download mode and then canceled out of it to reboot my phone to a working system.
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