i have a samsung galaxy s4 that says its a gt-i9500 on the about device setting but SGH-1337 on odin , i don't know what to do so i can install a custom rom on it or if theres a way to remove the software and install it from the ground up
The phone's motherboard is from an AT&T S4 sgh-i337. It's running at least a 4.3 bootloader and the bootloader is locked which means the phone cannot run custom ROMs.
audit13 said:
The phone's motherboard is from an AT&T S4 sgh-i337. It's running at least a 4.3 bootloader and the bootloader is locked which means the phone cannot run custom ROMs.
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Click to collapse
There are TouchWiz ROMs (Goldeneye for example) that can be flashed with SafeStrap after the NB1 package is flashed via Odin.
When debloated TW is actually surprisingly stable and quick.
Sorry, when I said custom ROMs, I should have stated that the phone can only run custom ROMs that are based off a Samsung ROM and installed via safestrap.
Related
Hi folks, I'm thinking about getting the SGH-I337 (AT&T version of the s4) which from what I've heard is identical to the i9505 but flashed with a different Modem and ROM. What I was wondering was if it was possible to flash the i9505 ROM + Modem onto the SGH-I337 and essentially "convert" it to the i9505. I was wondering if anyone had more details on the hardware and if there were any issues that I'm just not seeing. I see that the ROM is not an issue. More curious about the Modem. I would like to use the phone on LTE in the UK
I'm looking for a 32GB version of the i9505 and so far, the only option I have is the SGH-I337.
Any thoughts?
dilwaala said:
Hi folks, I'm thinking about getting the SGH-I337 (AT&T version of the s4) which from what I've heard is identical to the i9505 but flashed with a different Modem and ROM. What I was wondering was if it was possible to flash the i9505 ROM + Modem onto the SGH-I337 and essentially "convert" it to the i9505. I was wondering if anyone had more details on the hardware and if there were any issues that I'm just not seeing. I see that the ROM is not an issue. More curious about the Modem. I would like to use the phone on LTE in the UK
I'm looking for a 32GB version of the i9505 and so far, the only option I have is the SGH-I337.
Any thoughts?
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Click to collapse
Yes you can flash i9505 rom but not sure if you can flash i9505 modem. The way everybody is doing it, to insure ATT network compatibility, is to flash just the i9505 rom while keeping the ATT radio. By doing so, your device ID will switch to GT-I9505 and the SGH-I337 will be gone.
So from what I'm understanding he can flash the i9505 ROM which by he means stock firmware? So I can flash i9505 5.0.1 lollipop stock firmware on my i337? That's what I understood. Is it true?
The bootloader on the i337 may be locked so flashing the i9505 stock firmware onto the i337 may not be possible. I am just guessing here as I have the i337m which does not have a locked bootloader.
audit13 said:
The bootloader on the i337 may be locked so flashing the i9505 stock firmware onto the i337 may not be possible. I am just guessing here as I have the i337m which does not have a locked bootloader.
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Click to collapse
Mine is not locked, I bought it used and it was rooted already, so I installed twrp through flashify and I am using cm12. The reason I'm asking is because in sammobile there isn't any lollipop not even kitkat firmwares for my i337 model. So I wanted to know if flashing the i9505 kitkat/lollipop stock firmware on my device could be fine. If not, I can keep on using cm12.
Att never released a complete kk or LP rom. These were only available via ota updates which explains why they cannot be found on sammobile.com.
audit13 said:
Att never released a complete kk or LP rom. These were only available via ota updates which explains why they cannot be found on sammobile.com.
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Click to collapse
How could I update it then? I'll be stock in jellybean 4.2.2 because with no root I never received the ota update nor for kikat and not even lollipop.
The rom must be running a completely stock 4.2.2 rom, including stock recovery with no root, to install ota updates.
You could look in the general or development forum to see if anyone has made a flashable zip for the ota updates. The again, the ota updates may not work without an updated bootloader and modem which may mean locking the bootloader.
Hey guys,
My brother has the S4 i337 model and he's on 4.4.2
This phone is unlocked and he's using Tmobile on it.
For some reason it cannot find 4.4.4 via OTA and Kies
Is this because it's on tmobile or this model didn't get 4.4.4 yet.
Do I need to root it and flash a rom on it?
Thanks
krazyq said:
Hey guys,
My brother has the S4 i337 model and he's on 4.4.2
This phone is unlocked and he's using Tmobile on it.
For some reason it cannot find 4.4.4 via OTA and Kies
Is this because it's on tmobile or this model didn't get 4.4.4 yet.
Do I need to root it and flash a rom on it?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some models of the Samsung Galaxy S4 just didn't get the update, for instance my i337 didn't even get the 4.4.2 Kitkat update and was stuck on JellyBean. Your best bet is to just flash a 4.4.4 Rom on it. Clears out the bloated stock software.
Brandon.Black said:
Some models of the Samsung Galaxy S4 just didn't get the update, for instance my i337 didn't even get the 4.4.2 Kitkat update and was stuck on JellyBean. Your best bet is to just flash a 4.4.4 Rom on it. Clears out the bloated stock software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's really lame
So to make sure I do this the right way
I have to root the phone first
then install custom recovery
then flash rom right?
Or does the boot loader need to be unlocked?
Any rom recommendations?
I'd like for it to be stock so it's stable since my brother needs this for testing purposes
krazyq said:
that's really lame
So to make sure I do this the right way
I have to root the phone first
then install custom recovery
then flash rom right?
Or does the boot loader need to be unlocked?
Any rom recommendations?
I'd like for it to be stock so it's stable since my brother needs this for testing purposes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes correct, but if your boot loader is locked then you're going to need to download SafeStrap Recovery for locked bootloaders. Then once you have installed that, there's only very limited amount of Roms you can install because of the kernel, if you find a ROM that changes the kernel your phone won't boot. But a ROM that is fully working is called "GoldenEye ROM" its a 4.4.2 ROM but is really clean, stock, and clears out all that bloated nonsense. There's no 4.4.4 Roms for locked bootloaders yet.
Brandon.Black said:
Yes correct, but if your boot loader is locked then you're going to need to download SafeStrap Recovery for locked bootloaders. Then once you have installed that, there's only very limited amount of Roms you can install because of the kernel, if you find a ROM that changes the kernel your phone won't boot. But a ROM that is fully working is called "GoldenEye ROM" its a 4.4.2 ROM but is really clean, stock, and clears out all that bloated nonsense. There's no 4.4.4 Roms for locked bootloaders yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for this info
I'll look into it
I am running a rooted stock verizon galaxy s5 4.4.4 with safestrap installed. I just need to know whether I need to flash capable firmware before or after installing custom optimal rom with safestrap
[email protected] said:
I am running a rooted stock verizon galaxy s5 4.4.4 with safestrap installed. I just need to know whether I need to flash capable firmware before or after installing custom optimal rom with safestrap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could ask the question in the Optimal ROM thread...
Either or. It doesn't matter unless Safestrap requires a different version. Just make sure to NOT boot into the OS if you flash the firmware later unless you already flashed it before you boot.
I currently have AT&T stock (I used to have a custom ROM then had to flash to stock ROM to be able to flash to another custom ROM--however, I accidentally flashed a newer version of the AT&T stock ROM which locked my bootloader and I could no longer flash to a custom ROM). I updated my AT&T stock ROM recently and now my back/menu buttons don't work, so I want to see if I can flash to a custom ROM now.
I don't remember the procedure to flash a custom ROM--do I first need to get root in order to unlock the bootloader to be able to flash ROMs (i.e. if I have root then I am guaranteed to be able to unlock bootloader in order to flash ROM)? Is the baseband version the only thing that determines whether I can unlock the bootloader and then be able to flash ROMs?
I currently have OK2 as broadband version and checked one of the stickied threads which said this:
" ROOT
OK2 -- No direct root method. Must Odin OC4 kernel, use Kingroot, then Odin OK2 kernel back."
Does that mean what I have to do is use Odin to get OC4 kernel, then use Kingroot, then Odin OK2 kernel and then I will be able to have root, which means I can then unlock my bootloader and be able to flash to ANY ROM (not just TouchWiz-based ROMs)? Is there anything else I need to consider or is this 100% foolproof? In the future, what should I be careful of in order to prevent getting my bootloader locked again--just that I don't flash a stock (AT&T) ROM that is known to lock back the bootloader?
Thank you all!
There's no way to unlock the bootloader if you have updated your device to the lastest firmware version. The only thing you can do is flash SafeStrap and use Stock Kernel Based ROMs which are compatible with Safestrap.
As regards to the procedure of rooting an OK2 firmware, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you.
Have a happy new year.
mindstormer said:
...however, I accidentally flashed a newer version of the AT&T stock ROM which locked my bootloader ...
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Click to collapse
I was just about to sit down and flash a stock ROM. Can you explain what you mean by this? Did you flash OK2 and it caused you a problem?
smock9 said:
I was just about to sit down and flash a stock ROM. Can you explain what you mean by this? Did you flash OK2 and it caused you a problem?
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Click to collapse
It was a while ago but I used to have I believe an MDL broadband version which meant I could flash any ROM available. I tried a different ROM, didn't like it, then decided to flash back to the stock ROM but accidentally flashed a newer version of it, which meant that my bootloader is now locked. With a locked bootloader, apparently I can only flash to a newer stock ROM (not other ROMs like Cyanogenmod) via Safestrap.
I think if you don't have the MDL broadband version you shouldn't worry about it anyway because it is locked and you will only be limited to flashing stock ROMs.
Slight correction
The previous entry is not entirely correct. Like the OP, I was originally on an unlocked bootloader on my i337. I'd purchased my i337 on the first day and eschewed OTA updates. I wanted to try a touchwiz based ROM, Hyperdrive, and in doing so I recall flashing the stock NB1 firmware. Every firmware beginning with NB1 has a locked bootloader and there has been no progress for more than a year in unlocking the bootloader again. This can limit you to either stock ROMs OR other touchwiz based ROMs like Hyperdrive. I love the Hyperdrive ROM (now on release 21) but its developer has moved on to a newer phone, so it's stuck at Android 4.4.2 and no one has picked up the project in many months. There are several other touchwiz based ROMs for the i337 version of the S4 which I have also tried but I prefer Hyperdrive's myriad customization, even without proper patching. I'll be moving on soon to the Nexus 6P as my daily driver, but would very much like to keep my S4 up to date with a custom ROM. Given the number of people that have been in this same situation, where a newer stock ROM from AT&T locked a previously unlocked bootloader, it's been surprising that the issues have not been overcome on a phone as popular as the Galaxy S4 was and continues to be. I've seen unlocked versions of the S4 selling for just under $400 in the last week of 2015.
Use the desktop version of Kingoroot to root and use Super su and update the binary. Don't forget to hit thanks if this helped.
The bootloader for the at&t s4 was never unlocked. The MDL bootloader had a flaw in it that allowed you to use LOKI which is a lock bypass, not a way to unlock the bootloader.
Hello
My LG V10 came across the famous bootloop issue, and I shipped it to LG. In the meantime, I am using an old S4 that was saved for emergencies like this one. It is running 4.4.4, I337UCUFNJ4, and I rooted it with Kingoroot.
I understand that it should OTA to 5.1 in pronably a day or 2 if I check for a software update; it sat turned off since 2014, so it did not receive anything.
1. Do I OTA and reroot?
2. Can I manually jump to 5.1?
Ultimately, I would like to install TWRP and the Blissrom or some other ROM, but I don't want to take an OTA that may screw me up for later. I read that there's a loki thing that will prevent future installations of recovery or something like that. I realize that I will be using a short time (2-3 weeks), but I would like to leave it rooted and with a good ROM.
Thank you
The bootloader is locked so that means TWRP cannot be flashed to the phone and the phone will only run custom ROMs based off a stock Samsung ROM.
OTA updates will not work if the phone is rooted.
audit13 said:
The bootloader is locked so that means TWRP cannot be flashed to the phone and the phone will only run custom ROMs based off a stock Samsung ROM.
OTA updates will not work if the phone is rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm confused or perhaps you are misinformed. I have seen a lot of ROMs for this device including Blissrom and many others. All od them get flashed through twrp or Safeway or aome name like that.
You mean safestrap?
Maybe you are thinking of the non-AT&T models of the s4 that work with custom ROMs such as Lineage and Validus. Only the AT&T version of the s4 has a locked bootloader, starting with Android 4.3 and up.
There has never been an sgh-i337 s4 with a locked bootloader than can run TWRP. Same goes for the AT&T sm-n900a note 3 with a locked bootloader.
audit13 said:
You mean safestrap?
Maybe you are thinking of the non-AT&T models of the s4 that work with custom ROMs such as Lineage and Validus. Only the AT&T version of the s4 has a locked bootloader, starting with Android 4.3 and up.
There has never been an sgh-i337 s4 with a locked bootloader than can run TWRP. Same goes for the AT&T sm-n900a note 3 with a locked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But there's a forum dedicated to AT&T development full of roms here on xda.
Yes, there is a full section but you need to look at the ROM requirements. Some of these ROMs were developed before AT&T pushed out an OTA update that locked the bootloader. Other ROMs are made for the non-AT&T s4 such as the sgh-i337m and gt-i9505.
You will not see any ROM that is not based off a stock Samsung ROM that can be installed onto an AT&T s4 that has a locked bootloader. Also, you will not see any version of TWRP/CWM/Philz that can be installed onto an AT&T s4 that has a locked bootloader. Same goes for the AT&T sm-n900a.
I understand your skepticism and appreciate your posts as we are all here to learn from each other.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2785166
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/help/ez-unlock-bricked-phone-galaxy-att-s4-t3703235
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/help/help-installed-chainfire3d-phone-doesnt-t3700830
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/help/samsung-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337-ok2-locked-t3458353
Thanks for the clarification. So how do I know if my bootloader is locked? If I took that ota update that messed things up?
The bootloader becomes locked when the phone is updated to Android 4.3 or newer. I think it needs to be on the MDL bootloader to be unlocked. Anything beginning with an "N" or "O" means that the bootloader is locked.
Thanks audit. And I assume that there's no way to go backwards to a pre-4.3 rom and unlock that bootloader.
So. I'm on 4.44 rooted. Do i remove root and take any ota and reroot? I guess that I'll settle for going as high as possible with the stock rom but rooted with the ability to disable some of the bloatware.
How can I proceed?
In those links that you mentioned, it states that we can flash debloated TouchWiz roms that might be better than stock. Is that right? So can I do that?
You will need to install safestrap to flash a custom ROM. The debloated ROMs must be based off a ROM that is designed for the AT&T s4.
I recommend reading through this thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221
Audit... I odined back to nb1, rooted, and used flashify to get to rooted stock oc3.
How can I get to ok3? And should I leave ota services frozen so as to not ruin and loose root?
OTA will not work with a rooted phone.
Maybe this will help: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=56453108&postcount=2
I don't have an sgh-i337 so I can't tell you how to get back to a completely stock ROM to get OTA updates. I have the sgh-i337m which is the Canadian version of the s4 without a locked bootloader.
I wrote a guide and FAQ revolving around the MDL bootloader here (if anyone cares to read it):
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/how-to-one-guide-to-mdl-bootloader-t3584122