[Q] I337M advice request. - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

I'm going looking into flashing a custom ROM on my sister's i337m (on Rogers) . Currently it is on Lollipop OTA update, and she says that ever since the update it has been super slow and laggy. I told her i can flash a custom ROM and it should be much better performance (in my experience good custom roms can provide much better performance than stock firmware in most cases).
I'm not familiar with the S4 specifically but have been using custom ROMs myself on various other phones so i generally familiar with the procedures involved. Just want to ask for advice on a couple points.
1) From what i've read so far i am trying to decide between Goldeneye and Kangapop. both seem to be pretty solid options. I noticed in the install instructions for both it mention that the i337m useres need to have 4.4.2 baseband and bootloader. Is there any specific one that works better than others i see a few different stock versions of 4.4.2 for i337m Rogers on sammobile (MG1, NC1, NE1, NI2) I am currently downloading the most recent NI2. Just not sure if specific versions have any bugs, flaws or advantages/disadvantages to worry about..
2) I figured while i'm going to have to downgrade the firmware to install the custom ROM i might as well try the Root/Unlock procedure from this thread . Is this still working? I think i would need to flash the stock NI2 firmware then follow the procedure in that thread to root and unlock the phone then from there i could install Goldeneye or Kangapop? Has anyone done this or can confirm if it should work this way.
Thanks

Related

Multiple questions regarding knox/tw/cwm/kernels

coming from the g2x which was incredibly straight forward to deal with not having a locked bootloader or any other nonsense to deal with i have a few questions regarding a rogers s4 i337m
1. KNOX, as far as i have read this is a feature to detect tampering with the device and set a flag in place when tampered with. Specifically what sets off KNOX? as to that i have not really discovered a more direct answer. The repercussions to setting off KNOX is unable to use KNOX secured software aka roms/kernels? Is there any current updates by any of the providers that actually utilize this? or is it just more a enterprise feature being tested out in the s4 for additional security measures.
2. editions of roms, i honestly found a thread earlier for this but am failing to find it again i cant remember which s4 sub forum had it regarding the differences between google/asop/tw roms.
3. What are the mainstream Roms/kernels used, i noticed faux123 combined his rom/kernel of which i was not a fan of. for the G2x you had faux/morfic for kernels and just running stock cm7 was quite flawless for a combination.
4. I need a link to the latest CWM or has that been replaced for another recovery software? I know you can download it through rommanager but i thought that was like a fake flash more so then acutually pushing it to the phone via some other method. Is that done through rommanager as another step to avoid tripping knox? touch CWM is not essential and i recall the g2x touch CWM had issues so i don't really care if a legacy version can be used. stability > features for core components.
5. Having the unlocked bootloader has any other gains other then just not having to downgrade to a unlocked bootloader for flashing custom kernels/roms? flashing the roms even with the unlocked bootloader will still trigger knox correct?
I am quite aware of the safestrap feature and may try that if knox is required in any way. for warranty purposes i dont really care, if the phone runs for a month then it will probably last me 2-3 years. hell even the g2x survived 3 years now only with the power button becoming a tad problematic to turn on the phone. its more is there any software that may require it that as of now rom wise or app wise.
oh finally whats the difference between odin v3/v4? is there any real reason to use the newer. seems 3.09 is common revision to be used.
Seems like you may need to do a little more reading...but heres a little info for you
First let me ask you a question, what firmware is your s4 on, and is it an i337 (att branded)
As far as knox goes, I don't know much kore about it than you do...havent really looked into it, If you root your phone amd go in the superuser app it will ask you if you want to remove knox
Aosp vs touckwiz roms:
AOSP based roms can vary from pure AOSP, which is exactly what google intended android to be, no gimicks no extra features. But they can also be much more customizable such as cyanogenmod or aokp. Again these roms are built from the android source code, so it looks the way android was meant to be, the non pure ones having mamy added features
Touchwiz roms are simply based off stock realeases, they are often rooted and debloated, with a few tweaks thrown in and maybe a few mods...they typically loom and feel like a cleaner, smoother, and more polished stock rom, and with a lot less bloat
Recoveries: there are several recoveries available, you still got the basic CWM, than you got Touch CWM, Oudahs auto-loki recovery, phils cwm *I think thats the name lol* and than TWRP (may be missing some)***IMPORTANT: I asked earlier what firmware you were on, and this is way, if you have the mf3 firmware or mk2 firmware you CAN NOT flash any of the above recoveries due to our locked bootloader***
Safestrap: this is the recovery alternative which essentially is a recovery, however it is currently unable to flash kernels...which means you can only flash touchwiz roms, that are compatible with the stock kernel you currently have...so if your on mf3 with safestrap only 4.2.2 roms, if your on mk2 only 4.3 roms. Keep in kind safestrap is still in beta for mk2 so not every rom is working.
If you have an att phone with a locked bootloader there is currently and never has been any way to unlock the bootloader, so you are stuck with a locked bootloader. What this means is you can not downgrade to an earlier firmware, and if your mf3 or later you can not get a recovery and flash cyanogenmod aokp aosp or amy other aosp based roms
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
mg2195 said:
Seems like you may need to do a little more reading...but heres a little info for you
First let me ask you a question, what firmware is your s4 on, and is it an i337 (att branded)
As far as knox goes, I don't know much kore about it than you do...havent really looked into it, If you root your phone amd go in the superuser app it will ask you if you want to remove knox
Aosp vs touckwiz roms:
AOSP based roms can vary from pure AOSP, which is exactly what google intended android to be, no gimicks no extra features. But they can also be much more customizable such as cyanogenmod or aokp. Again these roms are built from the android source code, so it looks the way android was meant to be, the non pure ones having mamy added features
Touchwiz roms are simply based off stock realeases, they are often rooted and debloated, with a few tweaks thrown in and maybe a few mods...they typically loom and feel like a cleaner, smoother, and more polished stock rom, and with a lot less bloat
Recoveries: there are several recoveries available, you still got the basic CWM, than you got Touch CWM, Oudahs auto-loki recovery, phils cwm *I think thats the name lol* and than TWRP (may be missing some)***IMPORTANT: I asked earlier what firmware you were on, and this is way, if you have the mf3 firmware or mk2 firmware you CAN NOT flash any of the above recoveries due to our locked bootloader***
Safestrap: this is the recovery alternative which essentially is a recovery, however it is currently unable to flash kernels...which means you can only flash touchwiz roms, that are compatible with the stock kernel you currently have...so if your on mf3 with safestrap only 4.2.2 roms, if your on mk2 only 4.3 roms. Keep in kind safestrap is still in beta for mk2 so not every rom is working.
If you have an att phone with a locked bootloader there is currently and never has been any way to unlock the bootloader, so you are stuck with a locked bootloader. What this means is you can not downgrade to an earlier firmware, and if your mf3 or later you can not get a recovery and flash cyanogenmod aokp aosp or amy other aosp based roms
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so if i were to upgrade to 4.3 ota it would flash MK3 giving me a locked bootloader? i was under the impression that the i337m canadian models all have unlocked bootloaders. only the i337 US models had locked loaders. i listed the model earlier and everything is stock out of the box
baseband/build is MG1 on 4.2.2
actually ill just check that latest firmware thread, the candian models are equiv to the m919 tmobile models basically. we also have the m919v for wind/mobilicity.
100% my bad I missed that you had the i337m
So with that said, you dont have a locked bootloader, and theres nothing you can do that will lock it
You can flash any of the recoveries, cwm twrp or whatever. They are all stable and seem to be working fjne...so its just whatever you perfer
Personally I like twrp, and that can be installed using goomanager if youre rooted, rommamager should also work if your rooted for cwm recovery
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[Q] [QA] Been googling/searching... confusion on rooting AT&T i337 UCUFNI1

I'm not trying to be lazy. I've spent time searching for how to root my S4 i337, but for a newb like myself the process is extremely confusing since there seems to be so much different information out there, and not a lot about i337. From what I've discovered Towelroot no longer works as an option after I upgraded to 4.4.2 and I've tried other approaches which have failed as well. So without further ado
Is it possible to root a galaxy AT&T galaxy s4 i337 running 4.4.2 baseband I337UCUFNI1 ? If so, could someone share the links I should look at to accomplish this task?
Maybe I need to revert back to an earlier android release ? which I'm fine doing assuming something like this link should work: http://www.teamandroid.com/2014/03/30/update-att-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337-android-442-kitkat-goldeneye-rom/2/
After I revert (assuming it's needed) could someone recommend the next steps(links/threads) to get me to either a custom rom or latest 4.4.2 stock build (I'd prefer a custom rom for fun, but i'm fine with whatever is easiest.)
I have Odin installed and understanding getting to download mode, but deciding which "link" to follow out there for instructions is not easy for a beginner so any recommended 'easiest' approaches for my device would be appreciated.
TIA
rickcr said:
I'm not trying to be lazy. I've spent time searching for how to root my S4 i337, but for a newb like myself the process is extremely confusing since there seems to be so much different information out there, and not a lot about i337. From what I've discovered Towelroot no longer works as an option after I upgraded to 4.4.2 and I've tried other approaches which have failed as well. So without further ado
Is it possible to root a galaxy AT&T galaxy s4 i337 running 4.4.2 baseband I337UCUFNI1 ? If so, could someone share the links I should look at to accomplish this task?
Maybe I need to revert back to an earlier android release ? which I'm fine doing assuming something like this link should work: http://www.teamandroid.com/2014/03/30/update-att-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337-android-442-kitkat-goldeneye-rom/2/
After I revert (assuming it's needed) could someone recommend the next steps(links/threads) to get me to either a custom rom or latest 4.4.2 stock build (I'd prefer a custom rom for fun, but i'm fine with whatever is easiest.)
I have Odin installed and understanding getting to download mode, but deciding which "link" to follow out there for instructions is not easy for a beginner so any recommended 'easiest' approaches for my device would be appreciated.
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Subscribe to All Thing AT&T. It has all the information needed, including how to root NI1.
root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...php?p=55537351
look there for instructions. it works . Flash the older kernal using odin, if it fails to flash the first time. Repeat. After u get it to flash. Then run towelroot. After u install towelroot. Flash the ni1 kernal. You will keep root. Thats how I did mine.

[Q] Some fairly Noob Clarifications (TWRP/CWM/MDL Related)

Purchased my S4 at launch, only rooted it and never really got around to tweaking it much. It has slowed down a bit so now is the time.
I'm on MDL, stock 4.2.2, and rooted with TWRP 2.5.0.2 On to the questions/clarifications, hopefully these aren't egregious. I know the info is out there but for actually finding specific information, the xda forums are a bit overwhelming and sometimes conflicting...
1) Recovery - Latest/preferred recovery for the s4 (on MDL) with auto-loki baked in? Are any of the latest versions of TWRP/CWM dangerous/incompatible or can I just install the latest/greatest with ROM Installers and go from there?
2) Modem - Flashing an updated modem, regardless of ROM/OS # should not break anything and/or lock down the bootloader any more so than it already is at MDL, correct? Updating the baseband will have no effect on the build # and thus loki is still and option (versus safestrap)? Preferred modem at this time? (ATT, SF Bay Area)
3) ROMS - Any ROM, followed by loki patch or flashed via an auto-loki capable recovery should be fine, correct? Is a ROM specifically built for safestrap applications and thus would not work with MDL, or are ROMs noted as being safestrap ready just able to be used via safestrap, but loki as well?
4) Hard to keep track of all the ROMs and the builds and branches etc - Can anyone point me in the right direction of either a) the latest stock touch-wiz 4.4.4 ROM that can be flashed over MDL without essentially updating past MDL? b) the best/most recent pure google (Play Store S4 Edition) ROM, same story with not breaking MDL?
Again, I apologize I am sure the info is all buried in here somewhere, it just gets to a point where pointed questions rather than multiple 500+ post threads are hopefully less likely to brick my phone. Ideally I just want to get on the latest software (and enable screen casting, for one). Assuming it comes quick enough, once I get this process down I will probably make the jump to 5.0 when it is ready, anticipate a couple months? Who knows.
Thanks, much appreciated.
Norcalz71 said:
Purchased my S4 at launch, only rooted it and never really got around to tweaking it much. It has slowed down a bit so now is the time.
I'm on MDL, stock 4.2.2, and rooted with TWRP 2.5.0.2 On to the questions/clarifications, hopefully these aren't egregious. I know the info is out there but for actually finding specific information, the xda forums are a bit overwhelming and sometimes conflicting...
1) Recovery - Latest/preferred recovery for the s4 (on MDL) with auto-loki baked in? Are any of the latest versions of TWRP/CWM dangerous/incompatible or can I just install the latest/greatest with ROM Installers and go from there?
2) Modem - Flashing an updated modem, regardless of ROM/OS # should not break anything and/or lock down the bootloader any more so than it already is at MDL, correct? Updating the baseband will have no effect on the build # and thus loki is still and option (versus safestrap)? Preferred modem at this time? (ATT, SF Bay Area)
3) ROMS - Any ROM, followed by loki patch or flashed via an auto-loki capable recovery should be fine, correct? Is a ROM specifically built for safestrap applications and thus would not work with MDL, or are ROMs noted as being safestrap ready just able to be used via safestrap, but loki as well?
4) Hard to keep track of all the ROMs and the builds and branches etc - Can anyone point me in the right direction of either a) the latest stock touch-wiz 4.4.4 ROM that can be flashed over MDL without essentially updating past MDL? b) the best/most recent pure google (Play Store S4 Edition) ROM, same story with not breaking MDL?
Again, I apologize I am sure the info is all buried in here somewhere, it just gets to a point where pointed questions rather than multiple 500+ post threads are hopefully less likely to brick my phone. Ideally I just want to get on the latest software (and enable screen casting, for one). Assuming it comes quick enough, once I get this process down I will probably make the jump to 5.0 when it is ready, anticipate a couple months? Who knows.
Thanks, much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try to help with a few of these questions, but others I am not familiar with very much. On that note DO NOT update your bootloader!!! It will be locked down further and Loki will NOT WORK. And you could NOT flash any kernels with safestrap. So with safestrap ONLY the stock kernel can be used. Now on to your questions...
1) I am using TWRP 8.1 if I remember correctly. You can find it in the Original Android Development section. It does NOT Auto Loki, so keep the loki-doki flashable zip on your sdcard OR use Roms that already have/use the boot.Loki kernels like ShoStock-i 8.1
2) Modem flashing will NOT lock anything up further as far as the bootloader. You can flash ANY or ALL of them from my modem thread. See which works BEST FOR YOU in YOUR AREA. I am in So Cal and the best for me has been either MDL. But I have and do test ALL of them. You can always flash back to whichever one works best for you.
3.) Like I said I use ShoStock-i 8.1 because it has and does EVERYTHING I need my phone to do and does it without any issues. I have NOT tried to use a Safestrap modified ROM so I have very little experience with that. Normally most devs will have two separate versions, one for safestrap compatible and one for us without safestrap. ShoStock-i is already built with Loki in the kernel so you do not NEED to flash Loki-Doki patch.
4) there are NO Touchwiz 4.4.4 Stock Roms for ATT yet. But I did try out one of the Touchwiz 4.4.4 T-Mobile based Roms and it worked perfectly. You can either get it from the ATT forums and I believe it is already lokified, or get it from the T-Mobile forum and make sure to flash Loki-Doki patch before booting up phone after flashing the ROM. Again the will NOT update your bootloader past your MDL bootloader, so you are good as you are with no worries. By the way on ShoStock-i 8.1 the screen casting to Chromecast works PERFECTLY without having to flash any other .apk's or mess with ANYTHING
This is the exact same boat I'm in. Trying to track down the answers as well. Will keep an eye here as well to watch for answers.
awesome reply thanks RockRatt, that just about covers it. I will maybe give the ShoStock ROM a go and see how I like it. As long as all the normal features are working fine, I should be good.
One last thing I forgot - Odin. I have the stock odin firmware files from when my phone was new (The MDL package). As long as I dont update the bootloader, I should be able to Odin back to the brand new in box state should something go awry or not dig the other ROMs, correct?
Thanks again,
Norcalz71 said:
awesome reply thanks RockRatt, that just about covers it. I will maybe give the ShoStock ROM a go and see how I like it. As long as all the normal features are working fine, I should be good.
One last thing I forgot - Odin. I have the stock odin firmware files from when my phone was new (The MDL package). As long as I dont update the bootloader, I should be able to Odin back to the brand new in box state should something go awry or not dig the other ROMs, correct?
Thanks again,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. Just don't update the bootloader...So no flashing newer firmware that contains the bootloader files. Most if not all custom Roms do not have the bootloader files in them. So no problem flashing back to MDL stock if the need never arises. I still in fact have the original MDB bootloader installed that came with the phone before the MDL firmware update.

[Q] need help understanding some things

OK so I'm coming from the galaxy note 1 which I had no problems with due to the unlocked bootloader I presume and. I've been trying to figure out things on my own but I'm having trouble finding reliable information on some things and some other stuff I just don't know how to research even 1/10th as fast as asking about here. Any help or links to info are greatly appreciated. So I grabbed sm-n900v and not sure what may have changed since rooting installing SS and flashing alliance rom but rest of current info is kit Kat 4.4.2, N900VVRUCNC4, kernel version 3.4.0, hardware version N900v.07. Now the phone is unlocked and I'm using it on AT&T, I've got it all working with only couple issues. First I can't get any roms except alliance rom to work which is apparently related to kernel, baseband, firmware, or god knows. Then I've read some threads discussing either unified firmware or a leaked firmware being ideal and some stuff about certain modems/bootloaders/radios/firmwares/recoveries being better between NC2 and NC4 and even combinations working best I've followed some guides to just installing other roms but they don't work for me and have resulted in soft bricking so now I just need an full answer all in one instead of trying to figure it out from so many different sources. What modem/radio/bootloader/recovery/firmware/kernel should I be using to try out some roms keeping in mind I'm with ATT. Also should I be looking at ATT roms I assumed not to but figured worth asking. Also any other recommendations would be great I'm really just wanting a slim, stable, fast experience thanks for any help again.
insanethomas5 said:
OK so I'm coming from the galaxy note 1 which I had no problems with due to the unlocked bootloader I presume and. I've been trying to figure out things on my own but I'm having trouble finding reliable information on some things and some other stuff I just don't know how to research even 1/10th as fast as asking about here. Any help or links to info are greatly appreciated. So I grabbed sm-n900v and not sure what may have changed since rooting installing SS and flashing alliance rom but rest of current info is kit Kat 4.4.2, N900VVRUCNC4, kernel version 3.4.0, hardware version N900v.07. Now the phone is unlocked and I'm using it on AT&T, I've got it all working with only couple issues. First I can't get any roms except alliance rom to work which is apparently related to kernel, baseband, firmware, or god knows. Then I've read some threads discussing either unified firmware or a leaked firmware being ideal and some stuff about certain modems/bootloaders/radios/firmwares/recoveries being better between NC2 and NC4 and even combinations working best I've followed some guides to just installing other roms but they don't work for me and have resulted in soft bricking so now I just need an full answer all in one instead of trying to figure it out from so many different sources. What modem/radio/bootloader/recovery/firmware/kernel should I be using to try out some roms keeping in mind I'm with ATT. Also should I be looking at ATT roms I assumed not to but figured worth asking. Also any other recommendations would be great I'm really just wanting a slim, stable, fast experience thanks for any help again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some use Verizon roms on att and t Mobil for roms on NC4 you need to Odin NC2 try looking up some instructions it helps. Safe strap is what you can use for recovery have busy box it's needed for it to work. Modems is for your signal I wouldn't bother. Firmwares are for ppl wanting to go back to stock mostly ect. But I'm sure the step you skipped was getting NC2 on there. Be careful before you do anything make sure your 100 percent sure or you can't have a bad day.
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app

New to I337 somewhat confused

New to the I337. AT&T with NC1. Android 4.4.2. Stock ROM with the 3.4.0-1125940 kernel. Rooted, SE Linux permissive, Safestrap installed. Compared to other phones I have owned, rooted and installed custom ROMS for this one is way more complex.
Today I tried to Safestrap flash a couple of different ROM's- the Goole Play edition (jflte GPE) and the Lollipop 5.1 ROM 2015061jflte both times using Safestrap. Neither worked. In the case of the Google Play edition, it wanted to install a new kernel as well, I tried with the recommended kernel on the install GUI (wow an install GUI on Android). Both times stuck in a boot loop. I ended up using for the second time, the excellent information here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/guide-odin-to-stock-updating-rooting-t2926642
to get back to stock NC1 (thanks again guut13 for the excellent guide and links to resources) and restored via Safestrap the present stock configuration.
My questions are as follows (I am posting this after a LOT of reading here)
1)Can I use LokiDoki ? I understand it resolves problems with the locked boot loader where one can flash pretty much any S4 ROM on the I337.Is this true?
2) I wanted to give the two ROMS I mentioned today a try. Neither worked although I followed the instructions carefully (wipe, install and reboot). I also would like to try the Phoenix ROM. Is it compatible with Safestrap? Are the two I tried today compatible with Safestrap?
3) I am on 4.4.2. I understand that 4.4.4 is out there as well as 5 but when I check either via Kies or OTA I am told this is the latest firmware for my phone. Any way to update this?
As I said earlier this phone is a lot more complex from a modding standpoint than any other I have experience with. I am unclear on which ROM's will work with the NC1. Before I knew about Safestrap and the boot loader problem I tried installing TWERP and ended up having to rebuild things with guut13's excellent thread.
With NC1 am I stuck on the stock ROM ? Can kernels be updated on NC1 using LokiDoki?
Any light or advice to be shed on my confusion wold be very much appreciated.
Expat
Look at this other excellent thread started I by guut13,î answers all.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221
Loki doki is not an option for you, and you can only install tw based roms.
Cats_PJ's
Thanks for the link. Have seen this thread. So I am on 4.4.2. So can I flash a 5.x ROM on the phone provided its TW --or does the phone have to be updated via OTH or another method to 5.x first? Or am I stuck on the ROMS specifically available on 4.4.2?
Thanks again very much for your interest and the link. Wish I had shopped more carefully and bought a non AT&T phone, one of the 5xxx models but I couldn't find anything other than the AT&T ones here in Ecuador.
Expat
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-to-update-to-i337oc3-5-0-1-keeproot-t3075814
That will get you to 5.0.1. You can flash the lollipop roms after that.
I wish I had known more before I bought my phone too. Live and learn, I'm about do for an upgrade though. Good luck.
Cats_PJs said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-to-update-to-i337oc3-5-0-1-keeproot-t3075814
That will get you to 5.0.1. You can flash the lollipop roms after that.
I wish I had known more before I bought my phone too. Live and learn, I'm about do for an upgrade though. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again many kind thanks for the help. This is the most complicated chain of BS to go through just to update a ROM thanks to the locked boot loader I have ever seen..... however you and others here deserve a lot of credit for finding workarounds...... the phone has been made needlessly complex with the BL and efforts by Google and AT&T to "protect" their turf and monetise the user. I would upgrade today were I not in Ecuador where everything costs double what it does in the US. The phone thief crop here is thick- this is the fourth phone in 2 years although the Galaxy Grand Prime I bought after the last robbery I still have. Broke the screen on that one and it was repaired improperly, I get a blank white screen on startup so can't get into recovery so its worthless to me for what I want it for..... so I have the S4 AT&T. Ah well.
Many thanks and enough of my *****ing.
Expat

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