Best way to unroot and go back to full stock? - Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I want to unroot my phone, go back to stock, and reset Knox if possible so I can update without any issue and do a clean install of a new ROM. I'm finding a few different threads with similar topics but they don't quite seem to fit the same thing, though I am looking at this post by @LMMT that looks like it might do the trick.
I just want to make sure I'm not making a colossal mistake since unrooting your phone tends to be more of a PITA than rooting it in the first place. Thanks in advance for your help!! You all rock.
Edit: This was supposed to go into the Sprint Galaxy Note 4 Q&A forum, I don't want to double post... Still any idea on help? Heh ^_^;;

Caffeinatrix said:
I want to unroot my phone, go back to stock, and reset Knox if possible so I can update without any issue and do a clean install of a new ROM. I'm finding a few different threads with similar topics but they don't quite seem to fit the same thing, though I am looking at this post by @LMMT that looks like it might do the trick.
I just want to make sure I'm not making a colossal mistake since unrooting your phone tends to be more of a PITA than rooting it in the first place. Thanks in advance for your help!! You all rock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using Odin to flash that tar, will unroot your phone and return it to stock. For best results, boot into recovery and do a factory reset first (THIS WILL WIPE ALL OF YOUR DATA), then boot into download mode, and flash the tar in the post you referenced. There is no way to reset Knox.
Edit: To be clear, odining the tar will unroot your phone, no additional steps are needed to unroot.
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

LMMT said:
Using Odin to flash that tar, will unroot your phone and return it to stock. For best results, boot into recovery and do a factory reset first (THIS WILL WIPE ALL OF YOUR DATA), then boot into download mode, and flash the tar in the post you referenced. There is no way to reset Knox.
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't think so but figured it couldn't hurt to ask, awesome. Thank you much!!!!

Related

[Q] how to go back to stock rom?

hi, my first post here
just before i go ahead and root my atrix (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1016060), i want to make sure i can go back to my factory default (or stock rom if they are the same thing) in case i screw up.
since i am with bell canada, the thread showing how to go back to stock doens't have the bell files (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=991072)
so, i found this thread which is useful for backing up the stock rom: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=497511
my question is, am i making things complicated here? i just want to make sure that if i screw up or if there are flaws with the device, i can go back to an unrooted stock phone and get the manufacturer's warranty.
is backing up the stock rom unnessary? will factory reset bring everything back to stock state, even erasing traces of root or attempt to root?
thank you very much in advance
edited: seems like factory reset will not remove root from another thread... but if we still have the stock rom installed, why wouldn't it just overwrite and take away the super user app too?
I screwed up and had to do a factory reset after my 1st tb restore...
Good news for someone else looking for this... I was unrooted after my factory reset - no need to fuse about going back to stock rom to get unrooted
Bell atrix
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
thanks for this thread. im probably going to root tonight. been holding off until the leak showed up, but im impatient
Thank you very much for sharing this, I just got the phone today and I'm gonna root it tonight

[TUTORIAL] UNROOT the Galaxy S II on ICS to COMPLETE stock

How to get your rooted Galaxy S II I9100 back to complete stock
This means that you will have:
Stock Bootloader
Stock ROM
Flash Counter Set To Zero
Stock Recovery
INTRODUCTION:​So, the vibration on my SGS2 is broken, but I also rooted my phone, because, well, Samsung TouchWiz sucks. So anyway, being pedantic old me, I wanted to develop a method to reset my phone ENTIRELY to stock so that I could send it off to get repaired. I have found this method.
My main problem derived from the fact that USB Jigs no longer work on ICS which is irritating because I only just got it. I made this guide so there is finally something on the Internet where all the information is in one place.
NB: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU DOING ANYTHING TO YOUR GALAXY S II AND THAT INCLUDES BRICKING THE DEVICE. YOU ARE DOING THIS WITH FULL-KNOWLEDGE OF ANY DAMAGE THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE TO YOUR PHONE.
NB: ROMs like I9100XWLPM and I9100XXLQ5 are vulnerable to the eMMC bug and that willl brick your phone if you do a wipe/factory reset with CMW (probably stock too) Thanks cpl.Bower
Here's your shopping list:
A Windows PC or if you have a Mac, a Windows Virtual Machine (haven't used a vitual machine so not sure if it works, but give it a try and let me know!)
Odin which you can get here.
Chainfire's Triangle Away Application which you can get here or on the android market if you feel you want to donate to him.
ClockworkMod ROM Manager you can get here (I would highly doubt that as root user you don't have this)
Download your corresponding Stock Kernel from here.
So here is the method:
1) Open Chainfire's Triangle Away app and press "Reset flash counter" to reset the counter and remove the triangle. It does not matter if there is no triangle already.
2) Do a nandroid backup using Clockworkmod recovery if necessary (to get to it; turn off your phone, press the power button, volume up button, and home button at the same time and hold it down for a while). This is done so that you can restore your original OS like I would want to after getting my phone back from Samsung if you're restoring it for that sole purpose.
3) (Mandatory) Wipe Data/Factory Reset in recovery menu. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, YOUR PHONE WILL BECOME STUCK ON THE "S" LOADING SCREEN. You also should wipe the cache partition and the internal SD card. The internal SD card in case you have any directories which may link you to rooting your phone, such as clockwork mod.
4) Restart into Download Mode and plug your phone into a windows computer.
5) Open Odin , click PDA, choose the STOCK kernel. Make sure that F. Reset Time, Auto Reboot and the PDA checkboxes are checked and NOTHING ELSE.
6) Click Start. The phone will restart now. It takes a while to load up as the applications need to install. Keep an eye on the phone, it'll ask you for your carrier. This does NOT mean the phone will be locked to a network.
7) Follow the instructions and set your phone up.
8) ???????
9) PROFIT
10) (Optional) You may want to check to see if your phone is set to stock to confirm. I cannot guarantee 100% that there will be no evidence of root on your phone, but hey, I still got warranty service after doing something similar to this on the old firmware.
To check to see if your flash counter is set to zero: hold down the power button, volume down button and home button until a "Warning!!" screen appears. Press volume up and make sure it says CUSTOM BINARY DOWNLOAD: NO and CURRENT BINARY: SAMSUNG OFFICIAL. You may also want to make sure that there is no warning triangle on the first screen when you start your phone
To check to see if your recovery is set to stock: hold down the power button, volume up button and the home button until your phone goes black after the first boot screen. To make sure it is stock, there should be no "CWM-based Recovery" at the top or anything indicating clockworkmod or any other custom recovery.
Any errors in the process (besides the one in the Q&A), I may not know what you have done. I have done this with my phone and it worked fine.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO RATE AND THANK ME
Q&A:
Q: I'm stuck on the "S" loading screen, what did I do wrong?
A: You didn't do a factory reset! To fix this, turn off your phone, go to recovery, wipe the data, reflash with the stock kernel and it'll be okay. If not, I have no idea what's wrong.
Q: How do I get to recovery?
A: Turn off your phone and hold down the power/sleep button, the volume up button and the home button at the same time until the first boot logo goes black, then you need to let go.
Q: DUDE, THIS TUTORIAL IS AWESOME, HOW CAN I EVER REPAY YOU OH MIGHTY MIKE?!
A: Rate this thread 5 stars and thank me.
Thanks for reading
If anyone can give feedback when they try this, I'd be thankful
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Good job
If I were sending a phone in for warranty service/replacement, I'd go a step further with the factory reset & format cache, data, system, & internal sd card in CWM, then flash stock rom in Odin, then Triangle Away (If flashing stock ICS and assuming you have new bootloader) or flash old bootloader & use jig (if flashing stock GB).
Edit to add - Obviously also do a Nandroid before the above steps so you can get up & running when you get your phone back/new phone as you said
MistahBungle said:
Good job
If I were sending a phone in for warranty service/replacement, I'd go a step further with the factory reset & format cache, data, system, & internal sd card in CWM, then flash stock rom in Odin, then Triangle Away (If flashing stock ICS and assuming you have new bootloader) or flash old bootloader & use jig (if flashing stock GB).
Edit to add - Obviously also do a Nandroid before the above steps so you can get up & running when you get your phone back/new phone as you said
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yes, I remember wiping cache and dalvik cache too I will be sure to edit my post to add that! The internal SD card's contents may give away root, haha! I'll be sure to add that too! Thanks a lot, I'll credit you!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Nah, not wiping cache/Dalvik, actually formatting the cache partition in CWRecovery. And yeah, if you want to be absolutely sure; well as sure as possible in any event; you can't get a 100% guarantee of warranty service once you've gone down the custom firmware route, formatting the internal SD card should get rid of any potentially 'incriminating evidence'
No need to credit me, it's your guide, you deserve the credit
MiKenning said:
Ah yes, I remember wiping cache and dalvik cache too I will be sure to edit my post to add that! The internal SD card's contents may give away root, haha! I'll be sure to add that too! Thanks a lot, I'll credit you!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MistahBungle said:
Nah, not wiping cache/Dalvik, actually formatting the cache partition in CWRecovery. And yeah, if you want to be absolutely sure; well as sure as possible in any event; you can't get a 100% guarantee of warranty service once you've gone down the custom firmware route, formatting the internal SD card should get rid of any potentially 'incriminating evidence'
No need to credit me, it's your guide, you deserve the credit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah right sorry, I misunderstood you haha! Well, I rooted my phone before and I honestly couldn't find a trace of root and got warranty service, but you never know!
I actually got warranty service while my HTC Wildfire was rooted, so I never see at as impossible!
I shall correct the mistakes, thank you once again
My method
Seeing as I bought the USB jig, I prefer to just do a full, thorough wipe as described above, then flash back to stock GB. A quick plug in of the old jig and it's clean. Also, the warnings about messing with bootloaders being a gateway to a fully bricked device put me off.
This thread is a great idea, though. I had to trawl over so many sites to find information about things like this. Good work.
scayre32 said:
Seeing as I bought the USB jig, I prefer to just do a full, thorough wipe as described above, then flash back to stock GB. A quick plug in of the old jig and it's clean. Also, the warnings about messing with bootloaders being a gateway to a fully bricked device put me off.
This thread is a great idea, though. I had to trawl over so many sites to find information about things like this. Good work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I don't think the bootloader flash is entirely necessary, I may point that out on the method...
And thank you, i made this thread for that very reason
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Great guide, and just in time too. My SGS2 seems to have launched itself into its deathbed less than a week after the ICS update here in Australia. Battery life is barely holding overnight.
Thanks!
What are the benefits of flashing the ICS bootloader?
MaKTaiL said:
What are the benefits of flashing the ICS bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I put it there because it is the stock Bootloader for ICS... I had it at my disposal because I was going to flash an older bootloader so I could use USB jig and then flash back to the stock with the bootloader in the download section.
Honestly, unless you flashed some other bootloader, I wouldn't bother with it. It makes no difference really, I managed to get back to stock without doing that
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Its been along time since I last flashed through Odin (I normally flash rom's through cwm), but to get back to stock don't you simply just flash back an original rom which corresponds which your region ?
The rom should already have the correct bootloader and you should not have the yellow triangle as you have not flashed an insecure kernel ?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
ultramic said:
Its been along time since I last flashed through Odin (I normally flash rom's through cwm), but to get back to stock don't you simply just flash back an original rom which corresponds which your region ?
The rom should already have the correct bootloader and you should not have the yellow triangle as you have not flashed an insecure kernel ?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because this is the only technique I find which ensures removed root and full stock on everything. Main reason for doing this instead of flashing via cwm is because this technique is extremely thorough. And what you flash in ODIN isn't a rom.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
MaKTaiL said:
What are the benefits of flashing the ICS bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing as flashing a stock ROM via Odin will flash the same Bootloader anyway.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
I'm currently running a rooted GT-l900T on ICS 4.0.3 (Australia/Vodafone) and am trying to follow your guide, but there's one thing I'm unclear about.
You say to download a stock kernel for my phone. How do I tell which kernel to download? I'm currently running a rooted XWLP9, should I be flashing a stock version of this? Will it do any damage if it's the incorrect kernel?
I found the XWLP9 stock kernel in the link you provided, but it says that the region is Netherlands and the carrier is also different to mine. Does this matter?
I'm trying to claim warranty tomorrow for a hardware problem, and would appreciate an answer ASAP. Thanks for your time!
hey if i use custom rom like resurrection remix can i unroot my phone but still use the custom rom?
Squiddo said:
I'm currently running a rooted GT-l900T on ICS 4.0.3 (Australia/Vodafone) and am trying to follow your guide, but there's one thing I'm unclear about.
You say to download a stock kernel for my phone. How do I tell which kernel to download? I'm currently running a rooted XWLP9, should I be flashing a stock version of this? Will it do any damage if it's the incorrect kernel?
I found the XWLP9 stock kernel in the link you provided, but it says that the region is Netherlands and the carrier is also different to mine. Does this matter?
I'm trying to claim warranty tomorrow for a hardware problem, and would appreciate an answer ASAP. Thanks for your time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, sorry for the wait, I've been doing important exams and have been occupied!
I just saw you're comment and I'm sorry you've had trouble. I have been doing much searching to help solve your problem and I *may* have found it.
I do warn you, i do not know the safety of this kernel and thus am not responsible for damage done this will be of your own consent if you did decide to proceed.
Here is a post I found while searching and it contains an international version of the XWLP9 firmware, maybe this is what you are looking for? I hope this helps!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
@thunderbald
I don't think this guide would work for you, sorry.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Rated and thanked cheers fella.
Juan Kerzhoff said:
Rated and thanked cheers fella.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem thank you
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

Cant take update (Q)

So first off im gonna start off and say that I dont really care about being rooted in the first place. I thought id be flashing a lot more stuff but It turns out that I never flashed anything. So on my phone as of now I just have root and I have twrp installed onto it. I did that process to take off the custom recovery status from using motochopper as well. Now my problem is that every time i try to take the ota I get booted right into twrp and then i am unable to take the update. I even downloaded the zip file and tried flashing it and I just get a failed message. Can anyone tell me whats going on? Or point me into the right direction so i can uninstall twrp so I can take the update?
Odin back to stock, then do a factory reset in settings.
Sledutah said:
Odin back to stock, then do a factory reset in settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this make everything on my phone get deleted?
blackguy101 said:
Will this make everything on my phone get deleted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It did not wipe either internal or extral sdcards when I used odin, been awhile though.
TheAxman said:
It did not wipe either internal or extral sdcards when I used odin, been awhile though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well actually I have one more question. Arent I already stock? I havent even flashed another rom. I literally just got root status and put twrp recovery on it. Do I still need to use odin?
blackguy101 said:
Well actually I have one more question. Arent I already stock? I havent even flashed another rom. I literally just got root status and put twrp recovery on it. Do I still need to use odin?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You say you are rooted, then do a factory reset, and un-root, then you will be able to get the update.
blackguy101 said:
Will this make everything on my phone get deleted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like axman said, flashing with Odin to stock nothing gets deleted. If you do a factory wipe, everything gets deleted.
You could also try to update with kies instead of ota. Maybe that will work.
The problem is not that you removed root you still are using a custom recovery you need to get back to full stock use odin to get the phone back to full stockso you'll have a stock recovery
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Where can I find a good copy of the full stock recovery for odin
Roadk1ng said:
Where can I find a good copy of the full stock recovery for odin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=40976805

Starting from scratch.

Ok folks,
I'm having a hell of a time with my phone.
No matter what rom I flash, seems to have issues from lockups to reboot.
I have tried every kind of wipe in CWM, inluding making sure I have the latest version of CWM and modem, same.
Is there a way to TOTALLY wipe everything on the phone and go back to true factory default, even as far as the phone number programming? Like it was when it came from Splint?
(Yes, I'd then want to unlock with Odin and put a new ROM).
Thanks much!
Watch,read and read some more...
http://qbking77.com/development/how-to-root-the-sprint-and-international-exynos-samsung-galaxy-s4/
Youthanasia said:
Watch,read and read some more...
http://qbking77.com/development/how-to-root-the-sprint-and-international-exynos-samsung-galaxy-s4/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, that'll come in handy one I wipe this thing to oblivion but how do I get to that point?!
I want no trace of any setting, rom, nothing left except a brand new spankin phone.
If you are already rooted ande won't to go back to a completely stock phone use this method..Make sure to watch the Video a couple times before attempting..
http://qbking77.com/development/how-to-unroot-and-unbrick-the-samsung-galaxy-s4/
Youthanasia said:
If you are already rooted ande won't to go back to a completely stock phone use this method..Make sure to watch the Video a couple times before attempting..
http://qbking77.com/development/how-to-unroot-and-unbrick-the-samsung-galaxy-s4/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this a TOTAL Wipe?
He says internal storage wont be wiped, so how is it a total wipe?
beachcomp.com said:
Is this a TOTAL Wipe?
He says internal storage wont be wiped, so how is it a total wipe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it will put the phone back to when you took it out of the box..I think he means that if you have any files that you downloaded to the internal storage ie pics,music,contacts things like that they won't be touched.
Just download the Odin file and the Sprint file which is the stock software the phone came with and use is procedure.
Just to worn you The Sprint file is large and will take awhile to download to your comp
Get the full mf9 tar.md5. Remove sd card. Flash with pc Odin. After phone boots up to home screen and settles down, don't set up anything. Go into settings, accounts, backup, then do full factory reset with wipe of internal storage. After it reboots and settles down again, you're completely back to stock. No need to wipe your phone number and associated settings. If it were me, I'd stay away from custom roms if they're giving you nothing but problems.
oscarthegrouch said:
I'd stay away from custom roms if they're giving you nothing but problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I did just rooted the mf9 and got rid of all the bloat.No problems to speak of..
Not to be unappreciative, but, w/o a reset all the data was still there.
Which makes me nervous wondering if there is some crap left over.
Yes, I realize a wipe will get rid of the apps but I want to make sure I'm truly starting from point 0.
beachcomp.com said:
Not to be unappreciative, but, w/o a reset all the data was still there.
Which makes me nervous wondering if there is some crap left over.
Yes, I realize a wipe will get rid of the apps but I want to make sure I'm truly starting from point 0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple if rooted have twrp installed and select to wipe everything. Then Odin back to stock unrooted.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
beachcomp.com said:
Ok folks,
I'm having a hell of a time with my phone.
No matter what rom I flash, seems to have issues from lockups to reboot.
I have tried every kind of wipe in CWM, inluding making sure I have the latest version of CWM and modem, same.
Is there a way to TOTALLY wipe everything on the phone and go back to true factory default, even as far as the phone number programming? Like it was when it came from Splint?
(Yes, I'd then want to unlock with Odin and put a new ROM).
Thanks much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, you can do a factory reset with Odin. Here's the stock ROM: Stock
Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and help issues go in Q&A and Help section
Thread moved
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
Salil999 said:
Yeah, you can do a factory reset with Odin. Here's the stock ROM: Stock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Repartition?
No, just do auto boot (or some option like that) and f.reset time
Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
So if you are on MF9 good luck with going back to stock everything. Because the methods mentioned above don't get rid of the MF9 Firmware just the Build. Also You have use triangle away which only works on MDC and MDL to get to fully clean stock. Everything mentioned in this thread will not do what you want if you are wanting it out of the box like new condition.
GiantJay said:
So if you are on MF9 good luck with going back to stock everything. Because the methods mentioned above don't get rid of the MF9 Firmware just the Build. Also You have use triangle away which only works on MDC and MDL to get to fully clean stock. Everything mentioned in this thread will not do what you want if you are wanting it out of the box like new condition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So,what are the steps necessary to bring it back to "brand new, out of the box, condition"?
ObrienDave said:
So,what are the steps necessary to bring it back to "brand new, out of the box, condition"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a great question. I have another thread about it but I tried last night with no luck.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4

Question about going back to stock

Hey im wanting to go back to stock unrooted to get the ota that just dropped here in NZ. Its not on sammobile or anywhere and i hate waiting.
Now my question is this:
If i make a data backup in twrp can i put that back on after i reroot etc?
Also is this the correct procedure to go back to stock (never done it before... never had too)
Flash AP of my stock rom in odin? Nothing else?
That will kill my twrp wont it as it will flash back the stock recovery?
Phone will be able to OTA even though i was previously rooted?
Will i need to wipe my data etc to go back to stock completly if so how?
Think thats all i need to know...
Thanks in advance
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
****... so tried to flash stock in odin and it failed. why?
whooo second time it worked. made me pucker up the old bung...
MRDOCA said:
Hey im wanting to go back to stock unrooted to get the ota that just dropped here in NZ. Its not on sammobile or anywhere and i hate waiting.
Now my question is this:
If i make a data backup in twrp can i put that back on after i reroot etc? No idea, I always use Titanium Backup
Also is this the correct procedure to go back to stock (never done it before... never had too) Yes
Flash AP of my stock rom in odin? Nothing else? Correct
That will kill my twrp wont it as it will flash back the stock recovery? Also, correct
Phone will be able to OTA even though i was previously rooted? Based on prior experience with S5, yes.
Will i need to wipe my data etc to go back to stock completly if so how? Nope! I didn't wipe anything and am firmly back to stock.
Think thats all i need to know...
Thanks in advance
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I stumbled on your thread because I had these same questions. I skipped the S6 series & forgot what I'd learned from my S5. I figured, what the hell, lets see what happens.
For anyone else with the same questions, my answers are in red above.
It did wipe it cos i had twrp so it couldnt read my phone on stock. Bit of a pain but oh well thank goodness for smart switch. Now my phone still wont see the OTA. So did this for nothing lol. Rang samsung to see why they are calling me back. It didnt find the OTA before rooting either it always says im on the latest firmware... which im not
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Categories

Resources