Database Users

[Q] Should I update from 4.3 JB to 4.4.2 KK ?

Hello
I recently got my S4 i9505. I'm planning to root it
I have Android version 4.3
I used to flash costum roms on my s2 but I'm not really planning to do much flashing on my S4. not soon anyway
So as I connected the phone to Kies to make sure the drivers were downloaded so I can proceed with rooting
Firmware update popped up
I'm not sure what the best option for me now.
Should I root now and then I'd be able to flash a costume KK rom? and are there any stable ones that are better than the stock?
Can I use kies to update my rooted phone?
Maybe I should stick with JB 4.3? Which one is better 4.3 or 4.4.2?
I remember facing some issues when I update my s2 back. So I searched for the KK Update for the s4 and some people weren't so happy with their KK update
I know that doesn't represent the majority but still it could happen to me
So I confused myself
What is your advice to me?
sorry for the long post
Also I have an extra question What is KNOX? and do I need it?

egy_b0y said:
Hello
I recently got my S4 i9505. I'm planning to root it
I have Android version 4.3
I used to flash costum roms on my s2 but I'm not really planning to do much flashing on my S4. not soon anyway
So as I connected the phone to Kies to make sure the drivers were downloaded so I can proceed with rooting
Firmware update popped up
I'm not sure what the best option for me now.
Should I root now and then I'd be able to flash a costume KK rom? and are there any stable ones that are better than the stock?
Can I use kies to update my rooted phone?
Maybe I should stick with JB 4.3? Which one is better 4.3 or 4.4.2?
I remember facing some issues when I update my s2 back. So I searched for the KK Update for the s4 and some people weren't so happy with their KK update
I know that doesn't represent the majority but still it could happen to me
So I confused myself
What is your advice to me?
sorry for the long post
Also I have an extra question What is KNOX? and do I need it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, the most problems in 4.4.2 are fixed, so if you flash the officical, latest firmware of your country you shouldn't have any problem.
An important thing: if you flash a custom rom, your warranty will be set 0x1, that means, you lost your garanty if you flash a custom rom, that's the so called KNOX. You can use knox like a second system on your phone, with all secure data in it, you can only access with a passwort and all datas are locked without this passwort.
Root your phone after the software update if you want to root it.

Tkkg1994 said:
First, the most problems in 4.4.2 are fixed, so if you flash the officical, latest firmware of your country you shouldn't have any problem.
An important thing: if you flash a custom rom, your warranty will be set 0x1, that means, you lost your garanty if you flash a custom rom, that's the so called KNOX. You can use knox like a second system on your phone, with all secure data in it, you can only access with a passwort and all datas are locked without this passwort.
Root your phone after the software update if you want to root it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the fact is that 4.4.2 GNG8 international version cannot be rooted....

christty31 said:
the fact is that 4.4.2 GNG8 international version cannot be rooted....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's wrong, just not with towelroot.

thank you for your input

Samsung S5 - Lollipop - can i downgrade back to KitKat

Hi Guys,
I stupidly got excited and installed the official Lollipop (S5 on THREE UK network) update when i was notified.
BUT...
I want to go back to KitKat as i preferred it (i wont go into reasons why)
Is there a downgrade path for me, either officially or unofficially?> I dont think there is at the moment.
Thanks guys!

Yep, this forum is literally packed with instructions on how to do it, a simple search will bring up what you need

hi thanks, i thought with the new protected bootloader i didnt think it possible.
this is what i read:
Note: The G900FXXU1BNL9 Android 5.0 Lollipop update comes with a protected bootloader it is clearly emphasize that the “SE for Android Status – Enforcing” that might cause issues when you try to downgrade to the old software updates. This also applies if you are planning into rooting and installs any custom recovery and any unsigned firmware once you are on Android 5.0 Lollipop , so please be aware with that.

manikm303 said:
hi thanks, i thought with the new protected bootloader i didnt think it possible.
this is what i read:
Note: The G900FXXU1BNL9 Android 5.0 Lollipop update comes with a protected bootloader it is clearly emphasize that the “SE for Android Status – Enforcing” that might cause issues when you try to downgrade to the old software updates. This also applies if you are planning into rooting and installs any custom recovery and any unsigned firmware once you are on Android 5.0 Lollipop , so please be aware with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yesterday I tried out AllianceROM 6.0 and a few hours ago I went back to 4.4.2 'cause I liked it better than Lollipop. Here's what I did :
1. Enter Download Mode and flash STOCK 4.4.2 KitKat firmware in Odin (I used 3.10.6) and let it start booting.
2. It won't boot, this is normal (I panicked when this happened though ).
3. Go to recovery and factory reset/wipe data your phone.
4. Now hit reboot in recovery and your phone will boot up again (YAY :sun.
5. OPTIONAL : If you've made a nandroid backup before going to 5.0 you can now flash TWRP and restore it over your STOCK 4.4.2 KitKat firmware.
Hope I helped Let me know if it works out for you!

SUCCESS!!!
All sorted.
The hardest part was finding a link to the rom. sammobile kept giving me a gateway 502 error.
im now back to kitkat, AND no THREE UK rubbish.

manikm303 said:
SUCCESS!!!
All sorted.
The hardest part was finding a link to the rom. sammobile kept giving me a gateway 502 error.
im now back to kitkat, AND no THREE UK rubbish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol.....so which firmware did you flash? I'm with 3 as well......though for me, all the 3 c**p was frozen with TiBu as soon as I rooted (along with 100+ other 'system' apps too)......I don't want/need all that knox/Samsung/Google rubbish either.......lol
Sent from my rooted kn0x0 SM-G900F S5

I used a stock Samsung 4.4.2 btu mate...took me forever to find a good link though
Still got the Samsung rubbish on it though but I prefer an official rom to a 3rd party one.

Guide me Please
manikm303 said:
I used a stock Samsung 4.4.2 btu mate...took me forever to find a good link though
Still got the Samsung rubbish on it though but I prefer an official rom to a 3rd party one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okey so i want to downgrade mine s5 from Lolipop to Kitkat 4.4.2. But i wonder if i breaks my varanty and can you make like an min guide and add the links you used also please
Would be really helpful since i'm not sure on where to download the things required. And can i get the Stock samsung 4.4.2, whitout messing up anything, incase i turn my phone in for repairs some time and what not. (cause they can complain that you have touched up stuff in the programs ect )
i appriciate any help peace

answer
hey guys i just followed this tutorial to downgrade it was so easy took several minutes now im running kitkat again yaaay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glNRCuH4Yyw

downgrade official lollipop to official kitkat 4.4?

Has anyone successfully downgrade official lollipop 5.0 to official kitkat 4.4? How? Is it safe to do it? Please help [emoji38]

I am quite sure a lot of people have gone back to KitKat from Lollipop, including me. In the course of last one week I have flashed Lollipop at least six times and came back to KK each time. So yes, downgrading is absolutely problem free.

Thank you devil

need help.
i have problem downgrading from lollipop to kitkat. after i downgrade. my phone baseband change to unknown and i cannot receive any signal. i try flashing kitkat baseband still no luck. any help? please i want to go back to KK.

IzArsha said:
i have problem downgrading from lollipop to kitkat. after i downgrade. my phone baseband change to unknown and i cannot receive any signal. i try flashing kitkat baseband still no luck. any help? please i want to go back to KK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would save all your personal data to the PC desktop. Wipe everything ( twice ), and then do a factory reset. Now odin flash back to whatever version of KK OS you want to run. Make sure you use a complete stock .tar firmware ( system/modem/bootloader ) from xda or sammoblie has them. Once you flash back to stock, odin flash it again to make sure everything installs. Then root and reinstall your data. If you do a lot of flashing from lollipop to KK, your going to have to take out the trash every once in while for lack of better words. I do a lot of flashing and end going back to bone stock about once a week, this helps from corrupting vital programs like efs. So in other words there is no magic pill. For more info click my signature the versions of KK might be different but the procedure is the same.

jimzweb1 said:
I would save all your personal data to the PC desktop. Wipe everything ( twice ), and then do a factory reset. Now odin flash back to whatever version of KK OS you want to run. Make sure you use a complete stock .tar firmware ( system/modem/bootloader ) from xda or sammoblie has them. Once you flash back to stock, odin flash it again to make sure everything installs. Then root and reinstall your data. If you do a lot of flashing from lollipop to KK, your going to have to take out the trash every once in while for lack of better words. I do a lot of flashing and end going back to bone stock about once a week, this helps from corrupting vital programs like efs. So in other words there is no magic pill. For more info click my signature the versions of KK might be different but the procedure is the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry i already fix this. After flashing KK i flashed Lolipop modem manually then it connect to my network. Then i flashed back to KK modem which is GNG1 and its working like a charm.

Hi, I am using Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and recently updated to Lollipop(Not any ROM). Now I want to do factory reset and want to know that after factory reset process Will my phone land on Kitkat or Lollipop?
It would be greatly appreciated If someone can help me on this.
Thanks

problem whit recovery
devilsdouble said:
I am quite sure a lot of people have gone back to KitKat from Lollipop, including me. In the course of last one week I have flashed Lollipop at least six times and came back to KK each time. So yes, downgrading is absolutely problem free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have n7100, installed lollipop beta, then i tried hawkish rom runing 4.1.x rom, finally i installed dr ketans ron v14 runing 4.4.4, but on the recovey i still see the hawkish rom folder i pasted to the internal sd, i cant delete it using root explorer or any other program, i can only see this folder on recovery, any idea?

Check my last few threads for solutions
TechArena.IN

Downgrading official lollipop (XEO) to Kitkat (BTU)
Hello Note 3 users. I would like to ask (maybe someone already tried) to downgrade official (not leaked one with bugs as was mentioned) lollipop to kitkat? My phone originally had BTU kitkat, but I wanted to test lollipop and downloaded one from sammobile (XEO). Flashed as it was described in Sammobile website, everything went well. Rom is working well, but gps takes ages to fix, and only a few satellites. They are always lost while driving. Because of this reason I would like to come back to BTU kitkat again (get gps working normally again and receive future OTA updates). Can I flash Kitkat like it's described in sammobile? Wouldn't I mess the bootloader or something? (XEO Lollipop to BTU Kitkat)

I successfully downgraded from Samsung's official 5.0 to 4.4.2. I wiped the phone first in recovery. Then flashed using Odin version 3.09.
My Note 3 is an SM-N9005.
After receiving the 5.0 update yesterday for my Note 3 (product code XSI) and not liking it very much I will be downgrading again. At least the newer build in the XSI ROM seems more stable than the BTU ROM I tried before but I will still downgrade. One of my favourite apps, Delayed Lock, isn't working on 5.0.

Flash Stock ROM [Q/A]

Hey Guys,
today i got a Galaxy s4 black edition and there is a ROM called: Phoenix Rom. So i want to flash back to Stock ROM but im really not sure which one i want to flash on it because i dont want to brick my phone or something. Can i flash this http://www.handy-faq.de/forum/galaxy-s4-i9505xxugng8-kk-4-4-odin-kies-dbt-1t-23-07-2014-t306745/ without any problems?
Phone: GT-I9505
Basisbandversion: I9505XXUGNG8
Buildnumber: KOT49H.I9505XXUGNF1

That ROM will work without a problem. However, that may not have the added wallpapers and sounds the black edition devices have. Is there a reason you're not wanting Android 5.0.1 on your device?

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
That ROM will work without a problem. However, that may not have the added wallpapers and sounds the black edition devices have. Is there a reason you're not wanting Android 5.0.1 on your device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your Answer, i flashed that rom and it works perfectly. There is also an OTA update for Lollipop but im not sure to do that because i heard that lollipop has a lot of bugs like battery draining and so on. Im afraid if i upgrade it to lollipop i cannot downgrade it to KK. But do u think i should update?

I'm inclined to believe Samsung patched the battery drain bug, but you'd have to try it and find out. If you end up not liking it, going back down to the earlier version shouldn't be an issue, especially as you already have a Knox-enabled bootloader on your S4. There are tutorials on the forums here that I believe walk you through the process. Take a look at them before doing the OTA update.

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
I'm inclined to believe Samsung patched the battery drain bug, but you'd have to try it and find out. If you end up not liking it, going back down to the earlier version shouldn't be an issue, especially as you already have a Knox-enabled bootloader on your S4. There are tutorials on the forums here that I believe walk you through the process. Take a look at them before doing the OTA update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it really that my knox bootloader is enabled or not if i do the OTA update? And how can i see that it is enabled or not? Anyway can i root my phone if im on lollipop with CF auto root trough odin ?

You installed Android 4.4.2. 100% positive you have Knox, as all Samsung firmware from 4.3 on has it. Installing the OTA update will restore the Knox apps. Fortunately, CF-AutoRoot still works so you'll have no issues rooting if you install the update.

Ok thank you for your helpful advises, i will flash a kernel on my s4 to stop this overheating issue.

Can I downgrade my S5 from Lollipop 5.1.1 to Kitkat?

So I had to finally use my warranty for my S5 with Tmobile. I have the replacement but it came with Lollipop 5.1.1 and not Kitkat. I've started using Lollipop and it's a nightmare. I absolutely hate it and many of my apps are incompatible. I am a bit new to this but am well aware Samsung has pretty lousy performance with S5 and lollipop.
Knowing this, is there an efficient and safe way to downgrade without tripping knox? I did some googling but find more information on 5.0 Lollipop than 5.1.1. I'm surprised S5's got that update.

you can with no problem ( right now no one have problem with imei )

popmpopm said:
you can with no problem ( right now no one have problem with imei )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. What is the best way to get started reading up on that? I am a bit new to the rooting scene etc. I don't want anyone to spoonfeed me an answer--just kind of a general "where can I get started" thing so I can understand what firmware I need etc.

1. Go to sammobile website and click Firmware button.
2. Enter your device model in the search box
3. Select your country and the android version you want (in your case select 4.4.2)
4. Click Download button to download the firmware (you need to register to be able to download, don't worry it's free).
5. Download Odin and use it to flash the firmware you've downloaded (Google how to use it if you don't know how).
By the way, your phone doesn't need to be rooted to do all this. In the contrary, if it is already rooted, it will lose the root after doing these steps.
Hope that helps