A bit of guidance please with S4 SGH-I337 - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

I have a S4 Samsung SGH-I337 which is grey import to the UK. It is unlocked for any carrier but still bloated with ATT.
I would like to install and alternative ROM but am getting confused as whether this is possible or not. Have read so many threads and just as I think it is ok, I find another obstacle in the way.
So far I have found that the SGH I337 has a locked bootloader but it can be bypassed by using the loki method. I have now found that this has the MF3 firmware (I337UCUAMF3) and from reading through various threads I am not sure if installing another ROM is possible.
I would welcome some help with this please.

With a locked bootloader, you are limited to flashing tw-based ROMs with safestrap.

audit13 said:
With a locked bootloader, you are limited to flashing tw-based ROMs with safestrap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done a lot more reading on SGH I337 MF3 Non Active version running 4.2.2.
It seems that Safeguard will install but the only custom ROMS you can install are the Touchwiz and GED. Having looked at them neither appeal. So will have to give up on this or will end up bricking it.

MF3 is android jelly bean and it is an old OS. May be you prefer jelly beam. If I were you , I would upgrade my phone to Kitkat NB1 , root the phone and debloat the ATT stuff. There are also some cool kitkat custom there though.

sway8966 said:
MF3 is android jelly bean and it is an old OS. May be you prefer jelly beam. If I were you , I would upgrade my phone to Kitkat NB1 , root the phone and debloat the ATT stuff. There are also some cool kitkat custom there though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but I don't know if it is possible on this phone because of the AT&T on it, also I am using it in the UK.
I tried Kies and that comes up with "sgh i337 does not support initialising". Don't know if it would help if I did a factory reset. I have backed up everything to Kies.
I have looked at various threads about upgrading the o/s but seems to be the same as installing another ROM and is fraught with the same warnings.

dg2016 said:
Thanks, but I don't know if it is possible on this phone because of the AT&T on it, also I am using it in the UK.
I tried Kies and that comes up with "sgh i337 does not support initialising". Don't know if it would help if I did a factory reset. I have backed up everything to Kies.
I have looked at various threads about upgrading the o/s but seems to be the same as installing another ROM and is fraught with the same warnings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is possible for your phone. Here is a guide for the AT&T S4. I used that guide for my i337.
I use kies to check whether I have proper usb driver installed on my pic for the phone. That's it. I did try once to use kies to upgrade the firmware and it did not let me do it. Then again my phone was rooted and I was on a custom rom.
Factory reset will clear your caches. That is all.
The thread I mentioned is a guide to upgrade to lollipop rom . If you do not want to go to lollipop and stay in Kitkat , you could stop after the step one in Post #2. Then use twol root to root the phone.
If you want to stay in Jelly bean just to root the phone, there is a guide near the end of Post #2.
If you want just to root your mf3, here is a guide.

Thanks for the links. I am reading through them slowly.
Need my phone for work tomorrow so will try later in the week.
I have seen mentioned many times about the boot screen showing "Custom" and unlocked padlock. Does this have any effect on the process? Can't remember when it appeared or if it has always been there.

dg2016 said:
Thanks for the links. I am reading through them slowly.
Need my phone for work tomorrow so will try later in the week.
I have seen mentioned many times about the boot screen showing "Custom" and unlocked padlock. Does this have any effect on the process? Can't remember when it appeared or if it has always been there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that "custom" only shows up on the boot screen. I had that once. Has no effect on the operation of the phone. Only that you wont be able to get it fixed under warranty but with a device this old, I doubt you still have warranty.
I used kies to revert back to stock to get rid of the custom boot screen then re rooted. But then again I'm on MDL and I got custom by flashing a recovery that wasn't loki'd.

dg2016 said:
Thanks for the links. I am reading through them slowly.
Need my phone for work tomorrow so will try later in the week.
I have seen mentioned many times about the boot screen showing "Custom" and unlocked padlock. Does this have any effect on the process? Can't remember when it appeared or if it has always been there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The boot screen showing "Custom" and unlocked padlock means you have rooted OS and saying your warranty is void. It will not have any effect on the process. But I have one more information from you that your phone might be rooted. If your phone is rooted you have an admin right.
Download app like Root checker and see whether you have a proper root.
Check your app drawer and see you have app calls superSU installed and properly working.
Since your main concern was AT&T bloatware so you can start debloating those apps.
If you still want to upgrade the phone, follow the guides that I mentioned.

Related

[Q] Bricked(?) Galaxy S4 AT&T SGH-I337

I successfully rooted my phone with saferoot, then began following the steps of this video ("CyanogenMod 11 (CM11) on the Samsung Galaxy S4! (Install, Setup, First Look, and etc)" on YouTube by wwjoshdew) and when I got to the part where I boot into recovery to begin installing cyanogenmod, a message appeared on the screen saying "System software not authorized by AT&T" and I cannot boot into Android or get past this screen. I have tried using Kies to restore my phone, but Kies says that my device is not supported even though I used it to create a backup before I started all of this. I have also heard that Odin can be used to restore, but I don't have a stock AT&T ROM to flash. What should I do to restore my phone to the point where I can use it, or to finish installing cyanogenmod? Either of these options would be fine by me.
Solved
I fixed this but I'm not sure how, sorry. If anyone would still like to walk me through a safe way to install cyanogenmod, I would appreciate the help! I have full root access still and am running Andoird 4.3 on AT&T. I'm not sure if my bootloader is unlocked however.
FastSloth said:
I fixed this but I'm not sure how, sorry. If anyone would still like to walk me through a safe way to install cyanogenmod, I would appreciate the help! I have full root access still and am running Andoird 4.3 on AT&T. I'm not sure if my bootloader is unlocked however.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, your boot loader is locked. You can only flash 4.3 based touchwiz Roms.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
how did u fix
FastSloth said:
I fixed this but I'm not sure how, sorry. If anyone would still like to walk me through a safe way to install cyanogenmod, I would appreciate the help! I have full root access still and am running Andoird 4.3 on AT&T. I'm not sure if my bootloader is unlocked however.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
plz tell me how u fixed it im stuck with same thing watched same video
imtootatted said:
plz tell me how u fixed it im stuck with same thing watched same video
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably this thread can help you. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2621279
FastSloth said:
I successfully rooted my phone with saferoot, then began following the steps of this video ("CyanogenMod 11 (CM11) on the Samsung Galaxy S4! (Install, Setup, First Look, and etc)" on YouTube by wwjoshdew) and when I got to the part where I boot into recovery to begin installing cyanogenmod, a message appeared on the screen saying "System software not authorized by AT&T" and I cannot boot into Android or get past this screen. I have tried using Kies to restore my phone, but Kies says that my device is not supported even though I used it to create a backup before I started all of this. I have also heard that Odin can be used to restore, but I don't have a stock AT&T ROM to flash. What should I do to restore my phone to the point where I can use it, or to finish installing cyanogenmod? Either of these options would be fine by me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The video you watched was not for your version of the S-4. Likely an international or Google Play edition, or even Sprint version. The At&t version is MK2 with a locked boot loader with KNOX software. Much of what you know about flashing CWM, custom kernels, Cyanogen Mod is meaningless now & will likely brick it or trip KNOX. Ah but do not despair. Look what I found with my trusty XDA search button.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2621279
Once you've restored your phone, read this guide to learn how to root, install Safestrap recovery & flash a dizzying amount of available roms for 4.3 Jellybean & now 4.4.2 Kit Kat.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221.
You tube videos brick phones & reading forums on XDA Developers saves them
Good luck & happy reading.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2692825
Sent from my Deadly Venom SS 3.0.1 S4 (team: @Venom0642 @ted77usa @rebel1699) ~ 20GB free cloud https://copy.com?r=vtiraF

[Q] Please Help!

So I just rooted my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with Kingo. All I have installed so far is SuperSu Pro and Titanium backup. Im on android 4.3 and I have the MJE version. (which seems to be the most uncommon because I cant find any help anywhere, so im posting this thread). All I want to know is how or if I even can get the CyanogenMod rom on my phone. This is my first android device ever and I've had it for 5 months and Im definitely never going back to Apple devices. Anyway, I just rooted, I dont care about tripping Knox because I dont have a warranty anyways. I just need someone to explain to me how to get all the things I need including CM. From what ive read I need CWM and GAPPS.
khampton_03 said:
So I just rooted my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with Kingo. All I have installed so far is SuperSu Pro and Titanium backup. Im on android 4.3 and I have the MJE version. (which seems to be the most uncommon because I cant find any help anywhere, so im posting this thread). All I want to know is how or if I even can get the CyanogenMod rom on my phone. This is my first android device ever and I've had it for 5 months and Im definitely never going back to Apple devices. Anyway, I just rooted, I dont care about tripping Knox because I dont have a warranty anyways. I just need someone to explain to me how to get all the things I need including CM. From what ive read I need CWM and GAPPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slow down there. Lol. Do you have a developer edition Note 3 or just a regular retail Note 3 you purchased from Verizon?
Adam Browning said:
Slow down there. Lol. Do you have a developer edition Note 3 or just a regular retail Note 3 you purchased from Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol sorry Im very new to android. I got it from Verizon but i enabled Developer mode if thats what youre asking haha.
khampton_03 said:
Lol sorry Im very new to android. I got it from Verizon but i enabled Developer mode if thats what youre asking haha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's all good lol. No, developer mode just gives you some extra features if you want to debug your device. A developer edition Note 3 is a phone that was available directly from Samsung in a small quantity. It had the bootloader unlocked, which is a must for a AOSP ROM such as Cyanogenmod. Cyanogenmod requires a custom kernal, which a retail Note 3 (that you purchase through Verizon or another retail store) can not flash due to the locked bootloader. I would suggest peeking over in the Android Development section to check out the ROMs you are able to flash. Just steer clear of the ones saying for the developer edition or DE (for short). If you're wanting a ROM that has an AOSP feel to it though, check out Eclipse.
Here is a link for the Eclipse thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2620723
Adam Browning said:
It's all good lol. No, developer mode just gives you some extra features if you want to debug your device. A developer edition Note 3 is a phone that was available directly from Samsung in a small quantity. It had the bootloader unlocked, which is a must for a AOSP ROM such as Cyanogenmod. Cyanogenmod requires a custom kernal, which a retail Note 3 (that you purchase through Verizon or another retail store) can not flash due to the locked bootloader. I would suggest peeking over in the Android Development section to check out the ROMs you are able to flash. Just steer clear of the ones saying for the developer edition or DE (for short). If you're wanting a ROM that has an AOSP feel to it though, check out Eclipse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So could I somehow unlock the bootloader??
khampton_03 said:
So could I somehow unlock the bootloader??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many people have looked into that, and no luck so far. It is still locked for devices such as ours. Kind of sucks, I know. Almost every Android phone I've owned, I have ran Cyanogenmod on it. With Verizon being difficult about locking the bootloaders, and Samsung introducing Knox, I don't think we will see a bootloader unlock anytime soon, if ever. With the new 4.4.2 leak that BeansTown106 has made available for us here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2726558
Kernal modules are enabled, so we may have a workaround in the near future for the locked bootloader. I would suggest not taking the OTA for 4.4.2, but instead flashing the leaked 4.4.2 that is available via that thread. Once you take the OTA, it isn't known if you'll ever be able to flash this leak, which may allow for a modified kernal and therefore AOSP ROMs. I may be mistaken in some of the details, and someone can correct me if I have said something wrong in this, but this thread will explain it a little better:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2727876
Adam Browning said:
Many people have looked into that, and no luck so far. It is still locked for devices such as ours. Kind of sucks, I know. Almost every Android phone I've owned, I have ran Cyanogenmod on it. With Verizon being difficult about locking the bootloaders, and Samsung introducing Knox, I don't think we will see a bootloader unlock anytime soon, if ever. With the new 4.4.2 leak that BeansTown106 has made available for us here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2726558
Kernal modules are enabled, so we may have a workaround in the near future for the locked bootloader. I would suggest not taking the OTA for 4.4.2, but instead flashing the leaked 4.4.2 that is available via that thread. Once you take the OTA, it isn't known if you'll ever be able to flash this leak, which may allow for a modified kernal and therefore AOSP ROMs. I may be mistaken in some of the details, and someone can correct me if I have said something wrong in this, but this thread will explain it a little better:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2727876
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So back to the beginning haha how do I flash a rom or what should I do since I just rooted and only have supersu haha
khampton_03 said:
So back to the beginning haha how do I flash a rom or what should I do since I just rooted and only have supersu haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all depends on what you want to do. How knowledgeable are you with rooting, Odin, and flashing in general?
Adam Browning said:
It all depends on what you want to do. How knowledgeable are you with rooting, Odin, and flashing in general?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive never flashed anything and I dont know how to use odin. Lol
khampton_03 said:
Ive never flashed anything and I dont know how to use odin. Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol. Oh goody. Well you're in for a lot of reading then. If you're already rooted and have supersu installed, then at least you have that part out of the way. The way that we install custom ROMs onto our phones (since the bootloader is locked) is by using Safestrap, developed by Hashcode. You can find any and all information you will need on it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2517610
Safestrap gives you the ability to have multiple custom ROMs on your phone, without having to flash directly over your stock ROM (if you don't want). It is an application that you download onto your phone, you then open it up and install custom recovery. Once that is completed, you will then see a Safestrap screen everytime you turn on or restart your phone. I would suggest reading through or at least skimming the thread via the link provided above.
Once you have created a ROM slot and have it selected as the active slot, you can then proceed to install a custom ROM into that slot. Once you have everything set up, you can then switch between the custom ROM in "Slot x" to the stock ROM slot, giving you a cushion in case you completely screw up.
You're going to have to decide whether or not you want to stay on the 4.3 base, or update to the 4.4.2 base leak. The only advantages of either one are strictly your personal preference. There are a few that prefer the 4.4.2 base over the 4.3 base due to one reason or another. If you want to update the the newest 4.4.2 base leak though, follow the instructions provided via this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2726558
Adam Browning said:
Lol. Oh goody. Well you're in for a lot of reading then. If you're already rooted and have supersu installed, then at least you have that part out of the way. The way that we install custom ROMs onto our phones (since the bootloader is locked) is by using Safestrap, developed by Hashcode. You can find any and all information you will need on it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2517610
Safestrap gives you the ability to have multiple custom ROMs on your phone, without having to flash directly over your stock ROM (if you don't want). It is an application that you download onto your phone, you then open it up and install custom recovery. Once that is completed, you will then see a Safestrap screen everytime you turn on or restart your phone. I would suggest reading through or at least skimming the thread via the link provided above.
Once you have created a ROM slot and have it selected as the active slot, you can then proceed to install a custom ROM into that slot. Once you have everything set up, you can then switch between the custom ROM in "Slot x" to the stock ROM slot, giving you a cushion in case you completely screw up.
You're going to have to decide whether or not you want to stay on the 4.3 base, or update to the 4.4.2 base leak. The only advantages of either one are strictly your personal preference. There are a few that prefer the 4.4.2 base over the 4.3 base due to one reason or another. If you want to update the the newest 4.4.2 base leak though, follow the instructions provided via this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2726558
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I am going to install Kitkat by watching the video on the thread. He said something about making sure the "MD5's match". What does that mean?
khampton_03 said:
So I am going to install Kitkat by watching the video on the thread. He said something about making sure the "MD5's match". What does that mean?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That, you don't really have to worry about honestly. I never check, though it may be good practice to. Just follow along with the video in the thread and you will be good to go. Just remember that after you install 4.4.2, you cannot flash 4.3 based ROMs. Also, there is a bug in Safestrap right now that renders the ROM slots somewhat useless, though you can attempt to use them at your own risk. If you want to flash one of the 4.4.2 based ROMs afterwards, it is suggested to back up the stock ROM, and flash the custom ROM in the stock ROM slot. All I can say is, goodluck. Lol. It is a fun process, though somewhat difficult at times. If you have anymore questions after the fact, just reply here. I'll help out as much as I can. It always puts a smile on my face to help convert an Apple fanboy/girl over to Android.

Note 3 flashing and updating

I just got myself a Verizon Note 3. This is one power house of a phone. I noticed the kid I got it from does have it rooted. The only annoyance I see is allot of stuff is showing in the status bar with Chinese writing. is this normal or did he use some dumb way to root it? Also it still has 4.3 on it. I tried to update it but I get the message that "software update is currently unavailable". Is this because the Note is rooted?
I have done some searching and I did get the files for flashing it back to stock. Odin, .mkz, and the Samsung drivers. So if this update message is because it's rooted, I do have the stuff to flash it back to stock. I do also know how to use Odin as it's the same program for flashing the Note 1, which I did have. But any insight you guys can give me would be great. Thanks
cougar214 said:
I just got myself a Verizon Note 3. This is one power house of a phone. I noticed the kid I got it from does have it rooted. The only annoyance I see is allot of stuff is showing in the status bar with Chinese writing. is this normal or did he use some dumb way to root it? Also it still has 4.3 on it. I tried to update it but I get the message that "software update is currently unavailable". Is this because the Note is rooted?
I have done some searching and I did get the files for flashing it back to stock. Odin, .mkz, and the Samsung drivers. So if this update message is because it's rooted, I do have the stuff to flash it back to stock. I do also know how to use Odin as it's the same program for flashing the Note 1, which I did have. But any insight you guys can give me would be great. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out this post of mine. It will point you in all the right directions : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55003142&postcount=3
Since you're on MJE 4.3 see this thread and go to post 2 NC2/MJE instructions...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2787627
Thanks for the info gamer but I'm not looking to root or flash roms. with this phone. At least not yet anyway. It's new to me so I really need to be as familiar with it as possible before I go flashing roms and tweaks and such. I'm not familiar with the names MJE, NC2, NC4 etc. so trying to explain that to me is just like speaking German to me right now. All I want to do for the here and now is get it back to stock un rooted 4.3, take the update to 4.4.2, and then check on the need for root then.
I also will need to look into what's safe to flash, what needs to be run, app wise, in order to flash some things. Take for instance my last phone, lg optimus g pro, you needed an app called freegee to get past the bootloader. If you screwed that up, you bricked yer phone. I'm sure some of the processes for this phone are similar in that respect. So no fiddling for me just yet. So in short, could you just tell me in simple terms if I have the correct stuff to flash it back to stock?
I currently have the latest Samsung drivers, Odin 3 V3.0.9, and the tar file named "ALL_N900VVRUBMJE_N900VVZWMJE_2106277_REV03_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5.7z"
Is this what is needed to flash it to stock 4.3? Also, if you don't mind, could you tell me if there is ANY way, a modem flash perhaps, to get my LTE working with this AT&T Straight Talk sim card? Currently I am getting H+ which isn't bad but it's no LTE. Thanks a bunch.
EDIT: Well, that was easy. My computer ran the Verizon software and it failed to update it so it did the repair and repaired it with kitkat. So one issue solved. Now If I can just get LTE working on here it would be great....lol
cougar214 said:
Thanks for the info gamer but I'm not looking to root or flash roms. with this phone. At least not yet anyway. It's new to me so I really need to be as familiar with it as possible before I go flashing roms and tweaks and such. I'm not familiar with the names MJE, NC2, NC4 etc. so trying to explain that to me is just like speaking German to me right now. All I want to do for the here and now is get it back to stock un rooted 4.3, take the update to 4.4.2, and then check on the need for root then.
I also will need to look into what's safe to flash, what needs to be run, app wise, in order to flash some things. Take for instance my last phone, lg optimus g pro, you needed an app called freegee to get past the bootloader. If you screwed that up, you bricked yer phone. I'm sure some of the processes for this phone are similar in that respect. So no fiddling for me just yet. So in short, could you just tell me in simple terms if I have the correct stuff to flash it back to stock?
I currently have the latest Samsung drivers, Odin 3 V3.0.9, and the tar file named "ALL_N900VVRUBMJE_N900VVZWMJE_2106277_REV03_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5.7z"
Is this what is needed to flash it to stock 4.3? Also, if you don't mind, could you tell me if there is ANY way, a modem flash perhaps, to get my LTE working with this AT&T Straight Talk sim card? Currently I am getting H+ which isn't bad but it's no LTE. Thanks a bunch.
EDIT: Well, that was easy. My computer ran the Verizon software and it failed to update it so it did the repair and repaired it with kitkat. So one issue solved. Now If I can just get LTE working on here it would be great....lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash different modems in Odin but I don't know if they'll get you running on AT&T Straight Talk, someone else will have to chime in on that.
Att straight talk might work if you have the correct apn settings but you will not get 4g
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Yeah I am finding this out Roger. I want to root and enable the hidden menu. I am seeing posts about doing this and getting the 4g LTE working. The problem is most of these posts pertain to the T-Mobile branded note 3.

[Q]Want GPE, but can't get custom recovery - Help please! :(

Hey guys... Before I get into this, I would like to say that i'm very new to this whole rooting thing, so please forgive me for my lack of knowledge on various terms and such, and I'm a first time user here at xda.
What's written below might get a little bit complicated so i will try to make it as detailed as possible. Please bare with me here.
So I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 sgh-i337 (AT&T) running on android 4.4.4 (with touchwiz, you guys know the deal). I really wanted stock android lollipop, because I really like the look and feel to it. When I decided to root the phone, I went through many tutorials and I tried many different methods, and none of them worked. The phone still worked fine, but SuperSU was not installed and Root Checker said the phone was not rooted. After scouring the internet, I found one tutorial that had my S4 type and the same version. At that point I realized that my android version was hindering my rooting process. The tutorial used Odin to flash a kernel (NC1), root the phone using towelroot, install SuperSU, (Root Checker too to check if it worked), and then flashing the original kernel again (my original kernel was NJ4). After following this process, my phone was rooted, and everything worked fine.
As I said before, I wanted a GPE ROM, and so I needed a custom recovery. I decided to install CWM, since most GPE ROMs used this specific recovery. Again, I followed many different tutorials, and after each and every one, I would try to go into Recovery mode, and it would just launch the stock recovery. I found another tutorial on another website that involved flashing the recovery from an app in the google play store, so I decided to try it out. I now regret this as it led to more problems. I followed these instructions, and when launching into recovery mode from that point on, I get the yellow triangle with the error message "System software is not authorized by AT&T"
Sure, I could get around it by going into download mode from there, canceling, and it would reboot like normal, and the phone still worked, but I needed to get ride of that error message.
Once again doing my research, I figured out that if I flash a stock firmware specific to my phone, it will reset the phone (the only stock firmware available has android version 4.2.2, which is a really popular version, and is compatible with most custom recoveries and ROMs, so I decided to flash the firmware, as it would also change the version back, right?) When I flashed it using Odin like the directions said, it failed. i then figured out that it failed because my binary counter is not 0. I looked into resetting the binary counter for the AT&T S4, and I found Triangle Away. However, in order to reset your binary counter, you need an unlocked bootloader, and the AT&T S4 (sgh-i337) has a locked bootloader (I don't want to use Triangle Away if it's going to brick my phone, i'd rather unroot and keep touchwiz than brick). In the process of finding this out, I also figured out that the only custom recovery that you could use on a locked bootloader S4 sgh-i337 is SafeStrap. But i heard when using SafeStrap you are limited as far as ROMs go? Would I be able to get a GPE 5.0 Lollipop ROM with SafeStrap? Cause if not I might just unroot using SuperSU and software update my phone (will that fix the error when trying to get to Recovery mode?) Also, if I install Safestrap, will it fix the error message?
Again, sorry for my inexperience in all of this, and thanks for staying with me here. Any help and additional information on what I should do (or any GPE Lollipop ROMs I should use that are compatible with my phone and version and such), as well as any links to tutorials are greatly appreciated (also, keep in mind that all of the vocab I know when rooting is used in this post, I am not aware of most other terms - again, forgive me).
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, thanks for the help! The phone currently works fine, and it is rooted, but when I go into Recovery Mode it gives me the yellow triangle with the error... Will installing SafeStrap fix that? Regardless, thanks for the help, really do appreciate it!
jd1639 said:
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
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Also, if i were to update the phone to the next version (i heard there is a way to bump the S4 up in android version) would that reset the error in Recovery Mode? And I also heard that with SafeStrap, you are limited to ROMs on the same android version as the one on your phone? I really like 5.0, but if it's not possible to get it as the moment (and I haven't found any 5.0 ROMs for the sgh-i337 yet - you were right) i might just unroot using SuperSU and just update my version, unrooted and all. I'd rather have my phone be nice and clean than to have root on it with a corrupted recovery mode, and not make use of the root at all (I've seen other ROMs and I prefer 5.0). I might just try to make the phone feel as close to stock as possible by using more google apps and such (keyboard, messages, etc.). Regardless, thanks for the help and additional input, really do appreciate it!
EvilLemon said:
Also, if i were to update the phone to the next version (i heard there is a way to bump the S4 up in android version) would that reset the error in Recovery Mode? And I also heard that with SafeStrap, you are limited to ROMs on the same android version as the one on your phone? I really like 5.0, but if it's not possible to get it as the moment (and I haven't found any 5.0 ROMs for the sgh-i337 yet - you were right) i might just unroot using SuperSU and just update my version, unrooted and all. I'd rather have my phone be nice and clean than to have root on it with a corrupted recovery mode, and not make use of the root at all (I've seen other ROMs and I prefer 5.0). I might just try to make the phone feel as close to stock as possible by using more google apps and such (keyboard, messages, etc.). Regardless, thanks for the help and additional input, really do appreciate it!
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Click to collapse
I would recommend you flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll bring your device to like new. Then you can let it ota nj4. There are root methods for nc1 and nj4. See this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56453100
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
I would recommend you flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll bring your device to like new. Then you can let it ota nj4. There are root methods for nc1 and nj4. See this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56453100
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
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Thanks so much! I followed the instructions and now my phone is back to normal, Recovery mode and all! Really do appreciate it, thanks!
EvilLemon said:
Thanks so much! I followed the instructions and now my phone is back to normal, Recovery mode and all! Really do appreciate it, thanks!
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Click to collapse
No problem. I'm glad you got it working again
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

Tried two roms, getting the 'com.android.phone' has stopped responding (immediately)

I've tried Paranoid Android 4.6 and CM 11, both with the same result.
I could not get any custom bootloader to install, aside from safestrap. This seems to be on there ok now, and I can install PA or CM roms from my sd card.
When they are finished installing though (along with Gapps), when it boots into the OS I instantly get the popup telling me the process com.android.phone has stopped. I hit ok and it comes back immediately, no matter how many times I hit it. I can't get into the menus or setup screens, the popup comes back instantly.
Since PA and CM both did this same thing, I am guessing my problem is perhaps not the rom. Any ideas please on what I might try next? The phone is basically bricked at this point.
Taymar said:
I've tried Paranoid Android 4.6 and CM 11, both with the same result.
I could not get any custom bootloader to install, aside from safestrap. This seems to be on there ok now, and I can install PA or CM roms from my sd card.
When they are finished installing though (along with Gapps), when it boots into the OS I instantly get the popup telling me the process com.android.phone has stopped. I hit ok and it comes back immediately, no matter how many times I hit it. I can't get into the menus or setup screens, the popup comes back instantly.
Since PA and CM both did this same thing, I am guessing my problem is perhaps not the rom. Any ideas please on what I might try next? The phone is basically bricked at this point.
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Click to collapse
Yea, you can't flash cm or pa on your device. They can only be flashed on devices with the mdb or mdl bootloader. If you're using safestrap, and it's the only recovery you can use, you're probably on 4.4.4, nb1 or nc1 or nj4, bootloader. You'll need tw based roms. See the ones that work with safestrap.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Thank you,
I flashed to NJ4 after rooting. Could you recommend any custom rom that is tw based please, or am I basically limited to stock?
I tried flashing a new TW rom but now I'm stuck in a recovery mode bootloop (safestrap seems to be gone).
edit: tw = touchwiz? (Sorry, I'm new at this).
Really appreciate the explanation, thanks again.
Taymar said:
Thank you,
I flashed to NJ4 after rooting. Could you recommend any custom rom that is tw based please, or am I basically limited to stock?
I tried flashing a new TW rom but now I'm stuck in a recovery mode bootloop (safestrap seems to be gone).
edit: tw = touchwiz? (Sorry, I'm new at this).
Really appreciate the explanation, thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your stuck to 4.4.4 unless you do the method mentioned on the forums and GoldenEye comments.
But a caution its not for the new, is risky and you lose the safestrap recovery boot because safestrap is not lollipop compatible right now.
Got it. Thank you.
I finally found a 'stock' firmware that I managed to load via Odin. Looks like AT&T just pushed the lollopop update to my phone as well so I guess stock lollipop will work for me until I upgrade my phone.
Out of interest, I'm looking at the oneplus one phone. Am I correct in thinking I should have way less problems trying to root & install custom roms on that, since it comes loaded with CM and the carrier isn't going to be constantly fixing exploits that allow root?
Really appreciate the help guys, thanks again.
Taymar said:
Got it. Thank you.
I finally found a 'stock' firmware that I managed to load via Odin. Looks like AT&T just pushed the lollopop update to my phone as well so I guess stock lollipop will work for me until I upgrade my phone.
Out of interest, I'm looking at the oneplus one phone. Am I correct in thinking I should have way less problems trying to root & install custom roms on that, since it comes loaded with CM and the carrier isn't going to be constantly fixing exploits that allow root?
Really appreciate the help guys, thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't own it so I couldn't tell you but I would look up the forum for it before hand and see what they say about it.
If it's not an ATT and Verizon phone most likely it's not boot loader locked.
Taymar said:
Got it. Thank you.
I finally found a 'stock' firmware that I managed to load via Odin. Looks like AT&T just pushed the lollopop update to my phone as well so I guess stock lollipop will work for me until I upgrade my phone.
Out of interest, I'm looking at the oneplus one phone. Am I correct in thinking I should have way less problems trying to root & install custom roms on that, since it comes loaded with CM and the carrier isn't going to be constantly fixing exploits that allow root?
Really appreciate the help guys, thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oneplus you will be able to root and recovery, I believe even unlock the bootloader. You just have to pay full price of the phone of course, but it's separate from carrier so no root patching OTAs.
Awesome. Thank you so much guys. I think I'm going to try out the oneplus one. Sounds like it'll be a lot more straightforward than with AT&T's devices.

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