My work upgraded their phones recently and gave the employees the old S4s (l337M), convenient timing because my S3 happened to die that day, but that's a different story.
Anyway, coming from my AOSP ROM'd S3 to a touchwiz 5.0.1 ROM is driving me nuts, so I came here to get a ROM/learn...and every tutorial I read seems to be from 2013 (out of date?), and most mention locked bootloaders and having to use Safestrap.
Is safestrap only needed for ATT versions?
Can I not just use ODIN to flash TWRP recovery and then flash SUPERSU, and then a custom ROM (after a nandroid backup).
If it matters the phone was SIM locked to Rogers, now sim unlocked (using my Koodo SIM currently). And the baseband/build # is showing OH1 as the last 3 digits
Thanks
Safestrap is for the AT&T sgh-i337 only.
The sgh-i337m does not have a locked bootloader.
To flash a custom ROM, just use Odin to flash a tar version of TWRP and then flash the ROM of your choice.
Running an i337m myself, I forget the original process, but I just recently switched to Resurrection remix ROM.. (6.0.1 marshmallow based ROM.) I finally get to play with xposed, and I believe no more touchwiz woes...
Anyways, I'd recommend it as the first ROM to look into, its my fav so far..
Sent from my i337M (that thinks its an sgh-m919) using Taptalk
Related
Hi,
I have samsung galaxy AT&T S4 I337, MDL baseband version.
I rooted the phone long back with Motochopper.
Last week, I installed TWRP 2.7.1.0 with "Rom Installer" app and I came to know that it is loki-fied TWRP.
I tried to flash couple of ROMs, but none of them worked except CM11. I tried foxhound ROM, Wanamlite ROM and Wicked ROM. On flashing any of these, I am getting a message "System software not authorized by AT&T is found on your phone", irrespective of whether I flash loki-doki.zip or not.
CM11 flashed fine (with out even flashing loki) and I am currently using it. My S4's firmware doesn't support call recording and I need it.
I searched the forums about the error message and I came to know that I need to flash an AT&T compatible kernel after flashing the ROM. Where can I find the AT&T compatible kernel? Can I flash the same kernel when I try different ROMs?
I installed xposed installer in CM11 and I have activated the module "EnableCMCallRecording". Does this really work?
FYI, I am able to get into TWRP recovery with out any issues when I am stuck in bootloop.
I have some knowledge about ODIN as I have used it in the past.
Thanks,
Balaji.
I searched through a lot of posts with the similar issue but none of them were quite similar to what I had in mind.
So the thing is, my Galaxy S4 came stock with 4.4.2. I installed SlimKat 4.4.4 Rom on my S4. It's great but I get the occasional "Camera Freeze" and "Camera can't connect" issue.
I wanted to go back to my stock T-Mobile stock rom. The latest version they have I believe are 4.4.2. I came across this Rom which is stock AND rooted. Google "stock rooted galaxy s4 rom", it's the first result. They said I can just flash this Rom using TWRP or ClockWork.
Can I install this tom? What I had in mind was to completely wipe KitKat from TWRP, Factory Reset, and then Install the Stock Rooted 4.4.2 rom from TWRP. Can it be simple as that or do I need to do more complicated stuff with ODIN? If so, what is the best way for me to go back to T-Mobile stock?
My device is S4-M919
Thanks
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-tmobile
This section is for the International S4, its variants, and the Google Play Edition S4. ROMs tailor-made for your S4 can be found at the above link. In general though, if installing a ROM through TWRP, make sure to wipe data and cache before installing. You shouldn't need to use Odin at all unless you plan on rooting again and customizing the stock ROM T-Mobile provides.
Results
I just want to reply and let everyone know that I've flashed it and it went smoothly. ClockWorkMod gave the status 7 error. So I flashed TWRP and it went perfect. Best of all, CAMERA IS FIXED !!!!!!!!!!!
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 ...
Click to expand...
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?
Click to expand...
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.
I would really like to get rid of stock samsung rom. I have i9505 S4. So far, I am convinced that the bootloader cannot be unlocked, but then I see there are custom roms (like CM14) in i9505 section. So what is it? Can the bootloader be unlocked for i9505 or is there another way to flash custom roms on S4?
I have been reading and watching youtube videos for 2 days and I am finally giving up and asking the xda community.
You don't need to unlock the bootloader. The phone is old enough that you shouldn't care about setting the knox flag either.
It's actually really easy. Use CF-autoroot to root. Install twrp. Use twrp to back your current rom, then wipe and flash a new one.
You may need to update modem / baseband but only do that to cure a problem if necessary.
I wouldn't recommend CM14 / nougat based roms yet, it's too early for them to be used day to day.
CM13 or a CM13 / MM based rom should suffice. I would recommend Resurrection Remix on i9505 myself...
Most S4 models don't have a locked bootloader. So there is absolutely nothing to unlock, unless it's Verizon or AT&T. In which case, it's impossible to unlock.
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