[Q] "IF" Samsung Exp can downgrade from 4.3...what would help others? - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

So after a bunch of searching, apparently going to a Samsung Experience store inside Best Buy, they can and usually will downgrade from MK2. I've checked and my local BB has the Samsung Exp. So I'm going to call after work and see if this is true...
What, if anything could I do right after I get it done, to possibly help others to do this...
like make an image or a recovery file or what ever would be necessary for others...
I won't have a lot of time as this is my only phone and I'll need to get it up and running ASAP. but I can do what I can to help if possible.
Please provide app names & or exact steps necessary to do what you suggest. Thanks.
Will let you know tonight if it gets done & what I can provide.
Will ask for this thread to be deleted if I can't get downgraded.

MoodSwinger said:
So after a bunch of searching, apparently going to a Samsung Experience store inside Best Buy, they can and usually will downgrade from MK2. I've checked and my local BB has the Samsung Exp. So I'm going to call after work and see if this is true...
What, if anything could I do right after I get it done, to possibly help others to do this...
like make an image or a recovery file or what ever would be necessary for others...
I won't have a lot of time as this is my only phone and I'll need to get it up and running ASAP. but I can do what I can to help if possible.
Please provide app names & or exact steps necessary to do what you suggest. Thanks.
Will let you know tonight if it gets done & what I can provide.
Will ask for this thread to be deleted if I can't get downgraded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one can downgrade from MK2. Not you, not AT&T, and not Best Buys. The only way Samsung can do it is to switch motherboards. It is possible to downgrade from NB1 to MK2...sort of. There is a thread about it in the general section. For all applicable purposes, it is downgrading back to MK2, though the bootloader isn't actually reverted, it just excepts the MK2 files with a few modifications.

scott14719 said:
No one can downgrade from MK2. Not you, not AT&T, and not Best Buys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This makes me feel useless (which I probably am)

Dabreaker9 said:
This makes me feel useless (which I probably am)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why? Samsung / ATT made it this way. The Devs here at XDA have done an amazing job of finding a way to put MK2 system files back with the NB1 bootloader. It has made things possible that otherwise couldn't be done at this point...and others are still working on other possibilities.

Related

4.1.52 to more current version

I am trying to get my phone to update with no luck. I spent about an hour on the phone with Motorola trying to see if they could just push updates to my phone and apparently this is not an option. They say it shows my phone is up to date.
I currently am on 2.2.1 system version 4.1.52 which is not supported on their website to do any kind of updates. I am using a Mac and Motorola has mac compatible stuff on their website. Can anyone please direct me to something as simple as what is on Motorolas website? I would like to get 2.3.
when I go into my phone and check for updates, it says I am already up to date. Has anyone else had this issue? I have searched on here and 2-3 other forums and cannot find a solution to my problem. Motorola said I could send them my phone and they could update it, but I am trying to avoid having to do that.
PS: I am not familiar with this stuff so if you could dumb down your responses I would greatly appreciate it
thats because 4.1.52 isnt an OFFICIAL ota man..
you have to downgrade your device to 1.26 ota to > 1.57 ota to > 1.83 ota to> 4.5.91 Gingerbread.
well that makes sense. It would have been nice if Motorola could have told me that.
Is there an easy way to get 1.26 on my phone with a macbook?
Not that I know of. I could be wrong. But using RSD on a windows PC is super easy to downgrade your device.
I dug around for you, and may be able to help...The previous poster is right, you can't be on 4.1.52 in order to receive updates. You need to flash an official OTA first. On mac, use this guide...I don't have a mac, never used this guide, can't guarantee it...but just read the thread a little bit to know all you need to know
You can go here to select the SBF of your choosing I suppose... or, in the Development Section, maybe read about the Pudding thread, and see if you want to unlock your bootloader or not.
Lemme know if you have any more specific questions...Like I said, I haven't been in your situation and don't know every detail, but I could help you get in the right direction.
thebeardedchild said:
I dug around for you, and may be able to help...The previous poster is right, you can't be on 4.1.52 in order to receive updates. You need to flash an official OTA first. On mac, use this guide...I don't have a mac, never used this guide, can't guarantee it...but just read the thread a little bit to know all you need to know
You can go here to select the SBF of your choosing I suppose... or, in the Development Section, maybe read about the Pudding thread, and see if you want to unlock your bootloader or not.
Lemme know if you have any more specific questions...Like I said, I haven't been in your situation and don't know every detail, but I could help you get in the right direction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool thank you! I read through that stuff and dont feel comfortable doing it. I gave my atrix to a co-worker. He is going to flash it to 4.1.26 and then hopefully update to gingerbread after that.
I appreciate the help guys
j.aussie said:
cool thank you! I read through that stuff and dont feel comfortable doing it. I gave my atrix to a co-worker. He is going to flash it to 4.1.26 and then hopefully update to gingerbread after that.
I appreciate the help guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha no worries. Are you sure this is a trustworthy co worker?
But yeah, I understand not feeling comfortable...if you read through it all and make sure you know what COULD go wrong, it's all easier than you think. Just for future reference

[Q] Root for US OTA 2.0

So I'm going to go out on a limb and say that there is no solution to root a TP that's already applied the 2.0 update?
I've tried the root methods already obtainable on here and they don't work. I'm guessing (more hoping) that someone is working on finding a solution.
Makes me sad. A co-worker updated it for me because "it said it needed to update it so I did it for you"... *sigh*
OTA2 removed the exploit unless you were already rooted and used Voodoo Rootkeeper to maintain root during the update. I haven't heard the outcome with regards to 2.5. I don't want to risk root so won't be updating unless it's safe.
2.5 is out ? which your version of tablet ?
16gb us. Was delivered last week.
Yeah, I didn't have it rooted before so yeah.
Either people like us find a way to downgrade or wait until a new exploit is found. The former seems easier but my knowledge of these things isn't very high...
Yeah, I'm not sure how to either. I'm good at following directions but when a "friend" upgrades your device for you...
As for downgrading, I don't think that'll be an option until someone finds a Lenovo rom flash utility.
byersbw said:
16gb us. Was delivered last week.
Yeah, I didn't have it rooted before so yeah.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2. 5 was not available to US last week. How did you get it? Supposedly it's still going through certification. 0086_US is 2.0. What version are you?
Oh hell.... I've been reading too many posts on the Lenovo forums. My apologies, I am running OTA 2.0 NOT 2.5. I will correct my first post and title.
I'm running ThinkPadTablet_A310_02_0039_0086_US.
Okay. Thanks. No worries, but was scratching my head, looking puzzled.
Haha! I can understand. I have that look a lot sadly. I appreciate you telling me as I had no clue as to what exactly I was saying.
Now, if anyone knows someone on the inside at Lenovo that could get the flash utility...
LOL If only.
And now we wait. Did NOT expect CM9 to come out so fast and be working so didn't care much for root otherwise. Oh well, that was my fault and I knew I'd lose root for the time being. Now I wait patiently, since the primary work of the developers now is making CM9 to work properly so w/e.
Why isn't there a way to downgrade the rom to 075? The tab has a recovery boot. If it could be downgraded, it could then be rooted , then updated.
No way to downgrade, unless you know something the rest of us are unaware of. There's a bunch of folks that either can't root at all, or took OTA2 before getting root/without preserving root. We've been told that there's nothing to be done for the time being.
I don't know how to do it, but I know that's how other tabs got around the problem. I only say it in case someone does.
AFAIK, the problem is the recovery's signature check.. if it recognizes that the update.zip to flash is older than the build actually installed, it won't install the new ROM.
Thanks. Noob enough that I couldn't explain it, just knew it doesn't work.
YassinTP said:
AFAIK, the problem is the recovery's signature check.. if it recognizes that the update.zip to flash is older than the build actually installed, it won't install the new ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder what it takes to defeat the check? There must be an update script that performs that check. Editing elements of the update script has been the key to other "can't be done" situations.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=22918839[WIP][4.0.3]ICS CM9 ThinkPad Tablet PORT
I'm going to keep putting forth suggestions instead of claiming something can't be done. Afterall, the point of this entire forum is to work togther to overcome obstacles.
While I don't know a lot about these things, if it could be done, it would have been. This forum is overflowing with posts from owners of all kinds devices asking how to downgrade their respective device so they can take root. It's not an uncommon request, and one that I have researched for another device, only to find the same answer. Hey if you find out how to do it, you'll make a fortune.
Two other tablets, the Flyer and the View downgrade to gingerbread, then unlock bootloader, then root, then update to honeycomb, then custom roms are applied. They got the idea from another tab, the Iconia, who got it from the Transformer . . .
I'm just trying to push good and bad ideas to someone with the skills. It's about not taking 'no' as an answer.
Here's the thread for Flyer/View:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=21028879[Procedure]No HTC unlock downgrade HC-GB for official OTA

[Q] Help with some of the basics (root&unroot)

Ok so i know i am a newbie to this sort of thing but i wanted to wrap my head around everything and also specifically to my phone before i decide to do something and the results are permanent.
Firstly ill start off with saying im a Canadian Virgin Mobile customer and i just got the Galaxy S4 (SGH-i337m).
Ok so i want to root my device but i am confused about some of the basic concepts. I saw the tutorial video posted for my specific phone by the smoking android (link for those who havent seen it: youtube. com/watch?v=cI9r5dEcNo4) and i understand that the rooting process is fairly simple.
What i am confused about though is my options once i am a root user and if i ever chose to revert back to original. Lets say i went ahead and rooted my phone. Will i be able to software update through the updates that virgin sends me? also if i am able to then will i maintain root acess?
my second biggest question is lets say for whatever reason i want to go back to the way my phone is now, with the stock virgin firmware. is this possible? and with no trace of the root before (is this the same as achieving original status instead of a custom one)? i know that you can remove the root and then reset the binary counter but im not too sure how all of this works, its a lot to take in at once.
im just trying to clear things up and yes i am quite new to all this (got my s4 yesterday) but i am a quick learner and im just trying to get a grip on everything.
thanks in advance for bearing with me
shibby123 said:
Ok so i know i am a newbie to this sort of thing but i wanted to wrap my head around everything and also specifically to my phone before i decide to do something and the results are permanent.
Firstly ill start off with saying im a Canadian Virgin Mobile customer and i just got the Galaxy S4 (SGH-i337m).
Ok so i want to root my device but i am confused about some of the basic concepts. I saw the tutorial video posted for my specific phone by the smoking android (link for those who havent seen it: youtube. com/watch?v=cI9r5dEcNo4) and i understand that the rooting process is fairly simple.
What i am confused about though is my options once i am a root user and if i ever chose to revert back to original. Lets say i went ahead and rooted my phone. Will i be able to software update through the updates that virgin sends me? also if i am able to then will i maintain root acess?
my second biggest question is lets say for whatever reason i want to go back to the way my phone is now, with the stock virgin firmware. is this possible? and with no trace of the root before (is this the same as achieving original status instead of a custom one)? i know that you can remove the root and then reset the binary counter but im not too sure how all of this works, its a lot to take in at once.
im just trying to clear things up and yes i am quite new to all this (got my s4 yesterday) but i am a quick learner and im just trying to get a grip on everything.
thanks in advance for bearing with me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read these threads...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301762
and
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2312444
Information that isn't in those threads are definitely linked to in those threads. Good luck.
scott14719 said:
Read these threads...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301762
and
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2312444
Information that isn't in those threads are definitely linked to in those threads. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok so i read the threads an i understand a lot more now. It seems to me like i have the ability to easily root and then go back to the stock firmware if i please with no consequences. i just have to flash the with the correct rom [and modem?] to put it back to stock and everything should work fine.
i hope i have this straight
shibby123 said:
ok so i read the threads an i understand a lot more now. It seems to me like i have the ability to easily root and then go back to the stock firmware if i please with no consequences. i just have to flash the with the correct rom [and modem?] to put it back to stock and everything should work fine.
i hope i have this straight
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why modem? is that really necessary, I think you mean kernel.
if you flash back to stock, modem and kernel will be included.
Have you tried this thread also? you do have a i337m
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2269304
Good Luck
Is there a way to unroot my AT&T S4 with a Mac?
blbeesley said:
Is there a way to unroot my AT&T S4 with a Mac?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flash the latest at&t official firmware via heimdall
TheAxman said:
Why modem? is that really necessary, I think you mean kernel.
if you flash back to stock, modem and kernel will be included.
Have you tried this thread also? you do have a i337m
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2269304
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so if i just flash to that stock firmware in the link you gave me everything will be back to normal? how would i achieve original and not "custom" status if i have to send the phone back to samsung. would i have to unroot then flash then reset the binary counter? would that be it and im back to the very original state i got my phone in?
shibby123 said:
so if i just flash to that stock firmware in the link you gave me everything will be back to normal? how would i achieve original and not "custom" status if i have to send the phone back to samsung. would i have to unroot then flash then reset the binary counter? would that be it and im back to the very original state i got my phone in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
also check out this post
xBeerdroiDx said:
flash the latest at&t official firmware via heimdall
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will heimdall use the zip downloaded from sammobile or do you have to extract the .tar.md5 from the zip?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
xBeerdroiDx said:
also check out this post
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your good sir, you got 2 thanks from me today...no more for you actually, I'm out of thanks, get you tomorrow.
Good help.
TheAxman said:
your good sir, you got 2 thanks from me today...no more for you actually, I'm out of thanks, get you tomorrow.
Good help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:highfive:
community
cheers, buddy

[Q] Upgrade Question

Hi,
I am currently running stock rooted MDL with TWRP on my AT&T SGH-I337. I used Motochopper to obtain root. I'd like to get to the latest update released by AT&T and still have root. I will not be running custom ROMs in the future. Can someone point me to the process I should use? I've done a fair amount of reading but I am suffering from a bit of information overload. Thanks in advance.
boone8576 said:
Hi,
I am currently running stock rooted MDL with TWRP on my AT&T SGH-I337. I used Motochopper to obtain root. I'd like to get to the latest update released by AT&T and still have root. I will not be running custom ROMs in the future. Can someone point me to the process I should use? I've done a fair amount of reading but I am suffering from a bit of information overload. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm saying this for your own good. If you don't understand what it is you are reading, don't do anything. Are you sure you want to do something that will brick your phone if you don't understand 100% of what it is you are doing to it? You said you have done some reading so you obviously know where to look for information. I suggest you take as much time as you need to re-read the information, research the parts you don't understand, and then when you know what is being discussed and what the possible complications are proceed. Taking shortcuts when you don't understand things will only mess your phone up.
If you decide to not take this advice, that's fine, just ignore it (no need to reply), but I highly recommend you take the suggestion. Good luck.
Definitely make sure you understand what you're reading. If you want a stick update without losing root, use the StockUp ROM. Read before flashing. You'll need a 4.3 kernel and loki. Make sure you know exactly what you're doing before you start to avoid bricks.
Sent from Black<3's I337 running Foxhound ROM
scott14719 said:
I'm saying this for your own good. If you don't understand what it is you are reading, don't do anything. Are you sure you want to do something that will brick your phone if you don't understand 100% of what it is you are doing to it? You said you have done some reading so you obviously know where to look for information. I suggest you take as much time as you need to re-read the information, research the parts you don't understand, and then when you know what is being discussed and what the possible complications are proceed. Taking shortcuts when you don't understand things will only mess your phone up.
If you decide to not take this advice, that's fine, just ignore it (no need to reply), but I highly recommend you take the suggestion. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the word of caution. I know you don't know me from Adam but if you did you'd know that I wouldn't attempt anything until I was completely comfortable with the process.
DeadlySin9 said:
Definitely make sure you understand what you're reading. If you want a stick update without losing root, use the StockUp ROM. Read before flashing. You'll need a 4.3 kernel and loki. Make sure you know exactly what you're doing before you start to avoid bricks.
Sent from Black<3's I337 running Foxhound ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This gives me the direction I was looking for. I'll do the research on the items you mentioned and go from there. Thanks a million.

[Q] How to unroot 4.3 so I can update to 4.4.2

Hello!
I am new to this and I rooted my phone to 4.3. There is now an update for 4.4.2 and I want to update to it. I have tried uninstalling my root and apparently, I still can't update to 4.4.2. How do I completely uninstall the root so I can go to 4.4.2. I have even tried factory resetting my phone.
Thanks!
irokatcod4 said:
Hello!
I am new to this and I rooted my phone to 4.3. There is now an update for 4.4.2 and I want to update to it. I have tried uninstalling my root and apparently, I still can't update to 4.4.2. How do I completely uninstall the root so I can go to 4.4.2. I have even tried factory resetting my phone.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you rooted you shouldn't be new to this. Return to stock. See the general forum and look for the mk2 tar files.
Sent from my Nexus 5
jd1639 said:
If you rooted you shouldn't be new to this. Return to stock. See the general forum and look for the mk2 tar files.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do I do when I find the MK2 tar files? I used an easy way to root my phone and I don't know how to completely unroot it. How do I return to stock?
Search for how to return to stock using Odin
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
jd1639 said:
If you rooted you shouldn't be new to this. Return to stock. See the general forum and look for the mk2 tar files.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so obviously you're a very experienced user on this site. I just wanted to know what is the point of your comment? Do you think that the op will suddenly know what to do because you told him that he should know it?
Update
miamibeachlife said:
so obviously you're a very experienced user on this site. I just wanted to know what is the point of your comment? Do you think that the op will suddenly know what to do because you told him that he should know it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Galaxy S4 was rooted and I got and installed Kit Kat 4.4.2 yesterday with No Problem. Some roots maybe different. I did not have CWM installed.
miamibeachlife said:
so obviously you're a very experienced user on this site. I just wanted to know what is the point of your comment? Do you think that the op will suddenly know what to do because you told him that he should know it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's the point:
You don't buy/get a high end phone and just take the quick way to doing everything. I have seen dozens and dozens of folks get into trouble that way. I spent a month just reviewing how to root my Nexus One before I even got it. That may have been overkill but was awaiting back surgery and wanted something to do while recuperating. You need to take the time to learn not only what to do, but why you are doing it. If not, you guys see the consequences. XDA asks that you search before asking questions and this one has been addressed numerous times. By the question itself, you know whether the OP made any attempt at all to look for answers or just wants spoon fed.
That said, we all feel bad when someone messes up their phone and if asked properly they will get help. Just reminded that they need to research some before asking or jumping into something. I know it is water under the bridge at this time, just FYI--
Do hope you all get it sorted. Also, it can get confusing when others hijack the OP's thread. I see that a lot too. Makes it hard to follow and give correct answers to the OP.
BTW, if you unroot and update, you are not re-rooting at this time--
Good Luck on it--:good:
Nothing meant personal here, just trying to get some advice out that can take time to get on your own--

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