N00b w/ "new SGH-I337 that is running original kernel & 4.2.2 & needs to be updated
I am going to apologize from the start. I've read through a lot of threads here and have ended up more confused (and somewhat scared lol). I am a tad more skilled than average when it comes to PCs but I'm a complete mess when it comes to phones!
For various reasons, I like my old ATT Samsung S4 SGH-I337 but am hard on them and need to replace them about every 2 years (I usually wear out the power port among other things). I buy a replacement, copy over my apps, etc, maybe run a minor update and I'm good to go. This time, I bought a "new" open box S4 on Ebay for a great price but when I went to install all my apps, discovered that it was STILL (since it was "brand new") running Android 4.2.2 and the original kernel from the release in 2013! Ok, no big I thought, I will just run the ATT update and I will be good. Nope. Too far out of date and no one at ATT or Samsung is willing to help. I did learn that if I can get 4.4.4 on the phone, then I should be able to update it via ATT to 5.0.1 but I can't even find those files (or at the least any links to them that are still any good!)
Due to life issues, it is critical that I get this phone updated ASAP. Please, can someone spell out step by step in N00b-speak where I can get the needed files and how I update this phone to 5.0.1 or better? I'd really rather not root it if I can avoid it but will do what is needed. I'll buy you a beer (or reasonable beverage of your choice! )
Samsung Galaxy S4 (ATT) SGH_I337
Android 4.2.2
Baseband ver: I337UCUAMDL
Kernel ver: 3.4.0-453947
[email protected]#1
Sat April 27 17:06:05 KST 2013
SilkRoadDog said:
I am going to apologize from the start. I've read through a lot of threads here and have ended up more confused (and somewhat scared lol). I am a tad more skilled than average when it comes to PCs but I'm a complete mess when it comes to phones!
For various reasons, I like my old ATT Samsung S4 SGH-I337 but am hard on them and need to replace them about every 2 years (I usually wear out the power port among other things). I buy a replacement, copy over my apps, etc, maybe run a minor update and I'm good to go. This time, I bought a "new" open box S4 on Ebay for a great price but when I went to install all my apps, discovered that it was STILL (since it was "brand new") running Android 4.2.2 and the original kernel from the release in 2013! Ok, no big I thought, I will just run the ATT update and I will be good. Nope. Too far out of date and no one at ATT or Samsung is willing to help. I did learn that if I can get 4.4.4 on the phone, then I should be able to update it via ATT to 5.0.1 but I can't even find those files (or at the least any links to them that are still any good!)
Due to life issues, it is critical that I get this phone updated ASAP. Please, can someone spell out step by step in N00b-speak where I can get the needed files and how I update this phone to 5.0.1 or better? I'd really rather not root it if I can avoid it but will do what is needed. I'll buy you a beer (or reasonable beverage of your choice! )
Samsung Galaxy S4 (ATT) SGH_I337
Android 4.2.2
Baseband ver: I337UCUAMDL
Kernel ver: 3.4.0-453947
[email protected]#1
Sat April 27 17:06:05 KST 2013
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too was lucky enough to snag a S4 off ebay with the original kernel still on it. So with that said....do NOT update your phone! You're on the very special Android 4.2.2 jelly bean MDL bootloader! If you update, you will lose the ability to boot AOSP ROMs and install a custom recovery like TWRP.
AOSP ROMs can take you past Android 5.0.x lollipop and give you Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat. You can also boot custom touchwiz ROMs that will take you to Android 5.0.x lollipop. Use the towel root app to root the phone and then freeze any OTA with the titanium backup app. You can also benefit from my guide here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/how-to-one-guide-to-mdl-bootloader-t3584122
StoneyJSG said:
I too was lucky enough to snag a S4 off ebay with the original kernel still on it. So with that said....do NOT update your phone! You're on the very special Android 4.2.2 jelly bean MDL bootloader! If you update, you will lose the ability to boot AOSP ROMs and install a custom recovery like TWRP.
AOSP ROMs can take you past Android 5.0.x lollipop and give you Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat. You can also boot custom touchwiz ROMs that will take you to Android 5.0.x lollipop. Use the towel root app to root the phone and then freeze any OTA with the titanium backup app. You can also benefit from my guide here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/how-to-one-guide-to-mdl-bootloader-t3584122
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. So I root it, then where do I go from there? How do I know what ROM is what and which one will give me at the least what I had on the old phone (less bloatware would be nice but right now I am so up a creek that I would be ok with stock)? Also, do you have good links to the tools you recommend? One issue I have been having searching here is that the 3-4-year-old posts here have sketchy or dead links.
SilkRoadDog said:
Thank you for your reply. So I root it, then where do I go from there? How do I know what ROM is what and which one will give me at the least what I had on the old phone (less bloatware would be nice but right now I am so up a creek that I would be ok with stock)? Also, do you have good links to the tools you recommend? One issue I have been having searching here is that the 3-4-year-old posts here have sketchy or dead links.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem, I always try to help when possible. After rooting you can follow my guide to get Loki doki installed. Then you can install a custom recovery like TWRP or clock work mod. My guide gets you clock work mod recovery installed but it's an old version. I use it though and it works fine for me. If you want TWRP recovery, you will have to search the web on how to install it with loki doki.
After a custom recovery is installed you can choose to boot touchwiz based ROMs or AOSP based ROMs like cyanogen mod. Custom touchwiz ROMs will look just like stock only modified (deodex, debloated, etc.) and AOSP ROMs will look like bone stock Android only with added features.
You can find AOSP ROMs in the original Android development forum here in the s4 forums. You can find touchwiz ROMs in Android development which is right under original Android development forum. Sorry, but I don't have any links to tools handy except for the link to my guide which I posted above in my last post. I use golden eye ROM on my s4 which is a stock based touchwiz ROM on Android 5.0 lollipop.
When booting ROMs, be sure that they do not have a bootloader update or else it'll override everything and will patch the loki doki exploit and lock down everything for good.
StoneyJSG said:
No problem, I always try to help when possible. After rooting you can follow my guide to get Loki doki installed. Then you can install a custom recovery like TWRP or clock work mod. My guide gets you clock work mod recovery installed but it's an old version. I use it though and it works fine for me. If you want TWRP recovery, you will have to search the web on how to install it with loki doki.
After a custom recovery is installed you can choose to boot touchwiz based ROMs or AOSP based ROMs like cyanogen mod. Custom touchwiz ROMs will look just like stock only modified (deodex, debloated, etc.) and AOSP ROMs will look like bone stock Android only with added features.
You can find AOSP ROMs in the original Android development forum here in the s4 forums. You can find touchwiz ROMs in Android development which is right under original Android development forum. Sorry, but I don't have any links to tools handy except for the link to my guide which I posted above in my last post. I use golden eye ROM on my s4 which is a stock based touchwiz ROM on Android 5.0 lollipop.
When booting ROMs, be sure that they do not have a bootloader update or else it'll override everything and will patch the loki doki exploit and lock down everything for good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for the reply. While I am very grateful, with all due respect, I understood only about half of it. Here is the deal. I'm an older guy N00b with chronic pain issues under an extreme amount of stress, and my cognitive abilities are not what they should be. There was a step by step guide posted back in 2015 that is what I need but most of the links are bad or sketchy. Like I said above, I really need something along the lines of "go here and here to get this software and put it in "X" place. Then press these keys and do "Y", then press those keys and do "Z". I'm really sorry to be so difficult but I am trying my best to get it.
SilkRoadDog said:
Thank you so much for the reply. While I am very grateful, with all due respect, I understood only about half of it. Here is the deal. I'm an older guy N00b with chronic pain issues under an extreme amount of stress, and my cognitive abilities are not what they should be. There was a step by step guide posted back in 2015 that is what I need but most of the links are bad or sketchy. Like I said above, I really need something along the lines of "go here and here to get this software and put it in "X" place. Then press these keys and do "Y", then press those keys and do "Z". I'm really sorry to be so difficult but I am trying my best to get it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gotcha, no problem. Okay so what's the status of your phone now? Rooted? Not rooted? To root, goto https://towelroot.com on your phone and click the big red thing in the middle of the page. Make sure you have a Wi-Fi or data connection to the internet, as this will root your phone. Then goto https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...tt-or-verizon-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337sch-i545/amp/ to get loki doki installed and clockwork mod recovery. You can also install TWRP recovery instead of clockwork mod recovery, I THINK this is the link: https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...rp-on-rooted-galaxy-s4-using-goo-manager/amp/
Galaxys4root.com is a reputable site ran by Mr. HIGH ON ANDROID himself, Xedomax aka Max Lee. The tools you need should be on his site for download and the links shouldn't be dead. He also has a YouTube channel with videos on how to do different things with your phone. My guide I wrote that I linked before, has step by step instructions on how to root and install a custom recovery and how to boot custom ROMs.
StoneyJSG said:
I gotcha, no problem. Okay so what's the status of your phone now? Rooted? Not rooted? To root, goto https://towelroot.com on your phone and click the big red thing in the middle of the page. Make sure you have a Wi-Fi or data connection to the internet, as this will root your phone. Then goto https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...tt-or-verizon-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337sch-i545/amp/ to get loki doki installed and clockwork mod recovery. You can also install TWRP recovery instead of clockwork mod recovery, I THINK this is the link: https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...rp-on-rooted-galaxy-s4-using-goo-manager/amp/
Galaxys4root.com is a reputable site ran by Mr. HIGH ON ANDROID himself, Xedomax aka Max Lee. The tools you need should be on his site for download and the links shouldn't be dead. He also has a YouTube channel with videos on how to do different things with your phone. My guide I wrote that I linked before, has step by step instructions on how to root and install a custom recovery and how to boot custom ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, It's not rooted yet so I will start down the path laid out. What do you recommend as a source for Touchwiz (wth is that anyway? lol) ROMs? I don't know enough about Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat to make the call there but I do want to be able to access the Google apps and play store as before.
SilkRoadDog said:
Ok, It's not rooted yet so I will start down the path laid out. What do you recommend as a source for Touchwiz (wth is that anyway? lol) ROMs? I don't know enough about Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat to make the call there but I do want to be able to access the Google apps and play store as before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your instructions say " Next, you're going to want to freeze the OTA update so the phone won't update off the MDL bootloader (after installing SuperSU of course). You can do this via the Titanium Backup app or the MyBackup Root app (now called just MyBackup I think).
Let's recap...you will need a copy of the towel root app, then SuperSU, then TB or MyBackup Root app. SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you." Do I do that before "loki doki installed and clockwork mod recovery."? If so, where is a good source for them? If not, when do I do I install them?
".
StoneyJSG said:
I gotcha, no problem. Okay so what's the status of your phone now? Rooted? Not rooted? To root, goto https://towelroot.com on your phone and click the big red thing in the middle of the page. Make sure you have a Wi-Fi or data connection to the internet, as this will root your phone. Then goto https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...tt-or-verizon-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337sch-i545/amp/ to get loki doki installed and clockwork mod recovery. You can also install TWRP recovery instead of clockwork mod recovery, I THINK this is the link: https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...rp-on-rooted-galaxy-s4-using-goo-manager/amp/
Galaxys4root.com is a reputable site ran by Mr. HIGH ON ANDROID himself, Xedomax aka Max Lee. The tools you need should be on his site for download and the links shouldn't be dead. He also has a YouTube channel with videos on how to do different things with your phone. My guide I wrote that I linked before, has step by step instructions on how to root and install a custom recovery and how to boot custom ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, forget anything I typed here in the last hour lol. Somehow there were two locals and I was in the wrong one. So far so good. So back to the other question above. " " Next, you're going to want to freeze the OTA update so the phone won't update off the MDL bootloader (after installing SuperSU of course). You can do this via the Titanium Backup app or the MyBackup Root app (now called just MyBackup I think).
Let's recap...you will need a copy of the towel root app, then SuperSU, then TB or MyBackup Root app. SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you."" I still need to do that, right? if so, where do I find those apps?
Thank you so much.
SilkRoadDog said:
Ok, It's not rooted yet so I will start down the path laid out. What do you recommend as a source for Touchwiz (wth is that anyway? lol) ROMs? I don't know enough about Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat to make the call there but I do want to be able to access the Google apps and play store as before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Touchwiz is the "skin" user interface that Samsung puts on top of Android. It is the stock SAMSUNG rom. Just Google touchwiz then Google stock Android, you'll see a difference. I like touchwiz so I am running a custom ROM called "Golden eye". You can download it from the Android development forum here in the S4 section. Other people like stock Android. The magic of being on the MDL bootloader is that you can boot touchwiz and bone stock Android ROMs. Most custom ROMs both stock Android and touchwiz based will let you access Google apps and the play store.
---------- Post added at 10:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 PM ----------
SilkRoadDog said:
Ok, forget anything I typed here in the last hour lol. Somehow there were two locals and I was in the wrong one. So far so good. So back to the other question above. " " Next, you're going to want to freeze the OTA update so the phone won't update off the MDL bootloader (after installing SuperSU of course). You can do this via the Titanium Backup app or the MyBackup Root app (now called just MyBackup I think).
Let's recap...you will need a copy of the towel root app, then SuperSU, then TB or MyBackup Root app. SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you."" I still need to do that, right? if so, where do I find those apps?
Thank you so much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get all those app except towel root on the play store. Once installed you can use ES file explorer to back them up to apk files then use the my files app that's on ya phone to move them to your SD card for use with your new ROM or keep them where they are since my guide tells you how to keep your data in tact...well for touch wiz ROMs anyway.
StoneyJSG said:
Touchwiz is the "skin" user interface that Samsung puts on top of Android. It is the stock SAMSUNG rom. Just Google touchwiz then Google stock Android, you'll see a difference. I like touchwiz so I am running a custom ROM called "Golden eye". You can download it from the Android development forum here in the S4 section. Other people like stock Android. The magic of being on the MDL bootloader is that you can boot touchwiz and bone stock Android ROMs. Most custom ROMs both stock Android and touchwiz based will let you access Google apps and the play store.
---------- Post added at 10:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 PM ----------
You can get all those app except towel root on the play store. Once installed you can use ES file explorer to back them up to apk files then use the my files app that's on ya phone to move them to your SD card for use with your new ROM or keep them where they are since my guide tells you how to keep your data in tact...well for touch wiz ROMs anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since this is a "new" phone and I have nothing to back up yet, do I need to run a backup or can I follow your guide from that point, clean things up and install the ROM of choice?
SilkRoadDog said:
Since this is a "new" phone and I have nothing to back up yet, do I need to run a backup or can I follow your guide from that point, clean things up and install the ROM of choice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's always good to make a backup in case anything goes wrong with your phone down the road you can get back to where you started without having to flash the MDL stock Rom in ODIN by connecting your phone to your computer. You should though keep a copy of ODIN and the MDL bootloader .tar ODIN file. However, it's entirely optional to make a back up so you could just follow the guide from that point and clean up for a ROM install if you don't want to make a backup.
You can also boot a ROM and then make a backup after you have everything set up. You can back up the stock Rom or any ROM you boot/install. That's the magic of having a custom recovery like TWRP or clock work mod.
StoneyJSG said:
It's always good to make a backup in case anything goes wrong with your phone down the road you can get back to where you started without having to flash the MDL stock Rom in ODIN by connecting your phone to your computer. You should though keep a copy of ODIN and the MDL bootloader .tar ODIN file. However, it's entirely optional to make a back up so you could just follow the guide from that point and clean up for a ROM install if you don't want to make a backup.
You can also boot a ROM and then make a backup after you have everything set up. You can back up the stock Rom or any ROM you boot/install. That's the magic of having a custom recovery like TWRP or clock work mod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, since I already started the install before seeing this, I have no idea what I backed up or where it is. :crying:
First off, I want to thank you so much for the help. I owe you and would like to buy you a beer or the like. I have my phone back now! There were issues with the Golden Eye install (it froze at the Samsung logo for over an hour) and I had to wipe everything and start over then I was able to get it up and running. Is this the right one? https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2313469
Quick question: Do you know if that ROM supports an external SD card larger than 32gig?
I am having some issues and so far am not thrilled with this ROM and am wondering if it's the right one or if I screwed up. It hasn't been worked on since 2015 and the dev is hasn't been responsive in years. On my phone, it's really buggy. It boots slow, apps hang when loading, a few don't work right, the screen can flash or freeze and TouchWiz keeps crashing like it was doing at the end on my old phone's life. Any ideas as to why?
SilkRoadDog said:
Unfortunately, since I already started the install before seeing this, I have no idea what I backed up or where it is. :crying:
First off, I want to thank you so much for the help. I owe you and would like to buy you a beer or the like. I have my phone back now! There were issues with the Golden Eye install (it froze at the Samsung logo for over an hour) and I had to wipe everything and start over then I was able to get it up and running. Is this the right one? https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2313469
Quick question: Do you know if that ROM supports an external SD card larger than 32gig?
I am having some issues and so far am not thrilled with this ROM and am wondering if it's the right one or if I screwed up. It hasn't been worked on since 2015 and the dev is hasn't been responsive in years. On my phone, it's really buggy. It boots slow, apps hang when loading, a few don't work right, the screen can flash or freeze and TouchWiz keeps crashing like it was doing at the end on my old phone's life. Any ideas as to why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you made a nandroid backup with TWRP recovery or clockwork mod recovery, then the backup file will be on your phone SD card or internal memory. Use the my files app to find it. It should be under a folder called TWRP or clockwork mod.
Hey no problem man, I know how it is to goto a forum and have 87,000 people view your post yet nothing is said. Yes that link is the correct link to golden eye ROM. When booting a ROM for the first time it will get stuck at the Samsung logo for awhile, this is normal but it shouldn't be more than 20 minutes. I think the S4 can handle SD cards up to 128GB, it might only be 64GB though.
Very odd golden eye ROM is giving you issues, I have only had one problem with it and that was the text message app acting up every so often. When you booted golden eye did you use the Aroma installer so it just asks you questions and you pick what you want? If not wipe and start over using aroma, it's built into the ROM. Also be sure to tell Aroma you want to use the "imperium kernel". That's the kernel I am using. Golden eye ROM doesn't have a bootloader update in it, so you'll stay on MDL and not have to worry about your phone patching the loki exploit.
I think you can also use the hybrid max kernel, but I don't think it's in the Aroma installer so if you want it you will have to download it from the forums here and flash it separately.
Another thing you can try is just "nuking your phone" as explained in my guide that wipes everything and gives you a nice clean install. The only reason I included the "keep your data" method in my guide is because I just stumbled upon it by doing it on my phone.
If all else fails and as a last ditch effort, you could send the phone to me and I will see if I can get it up and running with golden eye ROM, then send it back. No guarantees though as I'm no developer or anything, just a guy that knows the basics of Android ROMs and root.
Final report. It turns out the problems I've been having were related to the SU Super App. There have been complaints about the recent version. I thought that it was a corrupt install of Golden Eye so got a clean DL from another mirror and was getting ready to start all over. This time I was going to follow the dev's install instructions step by step instead of yours and his. However, I couldn't install TWRP as he instructed. It hung at 100% and never completed. I thought that maybe Super SU was the issue there so I uninstalled it and all of my other problems went away! So happy. Thank you for everything. I do owe you a drink!
SilkRoadDog said:
Final report. It turns out the problems I've been having were related to the SU Super App. There have been complaints about the recent version. I thought that it was a corrupt install of Golden Eye so got a clean DL from another mirror and was getting ready to start all over. This time I was going to follow the dev's install instructions step by step instead of yours and his. However, I couldn't install TWRP as he instructed. It hung at 100% and never completed. I thought that maybe Super SU was the issue there so I uninstalled it and all of my other problems went away! So happy. Thank you for everything. I do owe you a drink!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey glad it finally worked out for you. You will need superSU though, try a different version of it and that might fix the issue you're having with the latest version. That is unless you have the kingroot super user app, then you can use that but it's not as good as superSU. I had problems with it authorizing my root apps so I got rid of it and installed superSU. No problem glad to help and no thanks needed but if you really wanna buy me a beer go for it lol.
Related
Hello. Sorry for the noobie question. I tried to search the forums, and I did find the noob beginner guide, but I still wasn't sure, so I prefer to ask before I screw up my phone lol.
I have the AT&T SG4 SGH-I337 Phone. It was fine before it was upgraded to 4.4.2 (I didn't want to upgrade, but it did it on its own one day). Once it went to 4.4.2, everything is just DOG SLOW. I mean everything. In Car Audio takes forever to connect, phone calls takes like 5 secs to answer, even after I press the answer button. To unlock the phone I have to press the code 2-3 times, as I can see the keys I press is lagging behind.
What I wanted to ask is this: How can I bring this phone back to the previous OS? Or How can I modify this phone to a stock OS, where all this bloatware crap is not installed?
All I care for is my Bluetooth, in car audio and calls and have a phone that's fast enough as it was originally.
can someone point me to the right thread where it gives me step by step instructions? Ive never modified a Samsung Phone before.
I found this thread, but wasn't sure if its the right one for my phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2261573
Thank you VERY MUCH. Thanks....
Don't use those links, some are redirecting me to questionable sites. Not sure if it does to you also.
I don't have time atm but someone will get you the correct info. :good:
It may have been a bad download that updated you--
Also, those files are too old for you if you look at thread date--
---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:25 PM ----------
This would be a starting point
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221
Assume you are now on NC1
Believe you will need to Odin back to NB1 then update to NC1
If you want to root other steps involved--This thread covers it pretty well
Some one else more familiar can be exact, as I am on old bootloader and no handson exp--
Read the OP on the link very well and generally not a good idea to use links outside xda unless you are 120% sure of what you are doing--good luck--
Cornelp said:
Hello. Sorry for the noobie question. I tried to search the forums, and I did find the noob beginner guide, but I still wasn't sure, so I prefer to ask before I screw up my phone lol.
I have the AT&T SG4 SGH-I337 Phone. It was fine before it was upgraded to 4.4.2 (I didn't want to upgrade, but it did it on its own one day). Once it went to 4.4.2, everything is just DOG SLOW. I mean everything. In Car Audio takes forever to connect, phone calls takes like 5 secs to answer, even after I press the answer button. To unlock the phone I have to press the code 2-3 times, as I can see the keys I press is lagging behind.
What I wanted to ask is this: How can I bring this phone back to the previous OS? Or How can I modify this phone to a stock OS, where all this bloatware crap is not installed?
All I care for is my Bluetooth, in car audio and calls and have a phone that's fast enough as it was originally.
can someone point me to the right thread where it gives me step by step instructions? Ive never modified a Samsung Phone before.
I found this thread, but wasn't sure if its the right one for my phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2261573
Thank you VERY MUCH. Thanks....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suggest getting the Google Play Edition rom as stock android is much better optimized. Tutorials are available on the all things NC1 post. This will require root and installing a custom rom. Your warranty (if still applicable) will be void if you choose to do this. Regardless, the software on the device is not well optimized and the touchwiz UI is unnecessary imo. The GPE rom also does not have the samsung or at&t bloatware.
cxzzcx said:
I would suggest getting the Google Play Edition rom as stock android is much better optimized. Tutorials are available on the all things NC1 post. This will require root and installing a custom rom. Your warranty (if still applicable) will be void if you choose to do this. Regardless, the software on the device is not well optimized and the touchwiz UI is unnecessary imo. The GPE rom also does not have the samsung or at&t bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The google play ROM I would not mind, but I cant seem to find a way to root my SG4 NC1 firmware.
Do you happen to have a link or directions, please?
Thanks...
Cornelp said:
The google play ROM I would not mind, but I cant seem to find a way to root my SG4 NC1 firmware.
Do you happen to have a link or directions, please?
Thanks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can root using geohot's towelroot.
Cornelp said:
The google play ROM I would not mind, but I cant seem to find a way to root my SG4 NC1 firmware.
Do you happen to have a link or directions, please?
Thanks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the "All things ATT" link rugmankc gave you. In the first posts in that thread you will get links to the root method, safestrap, and a list of compatible ROMs. A few thoughtsL
1. Before making any changes to you phone, charge it to 100 %, unplug the charger, and let it sit idle for some number of hours. Then check to see what services are using most of the power. For a while my own 4.4.2 GS4 was slow, and it turned out to be google play framework services bogging things down, and this showed up as an excessive battery drain during idle. If you phone uses more than say 0.5% battery per hour when completely idle / screen off (but with cell and wifi on), something's up. Fix it and maybe your problems will resolve.
2. Next step: back up any data / photos etc. and do a factory data reset from the settings menu. After it has been reset, perhaps whatever problem is going on will be cleared up.
3. You don't need to root the phone to ODIN a stock firmware (NB1 then flash update to NC1). Links are on the ALL Things ATT thread. This should take it all the way back to proper NC1, bypassing any mess that might have happened if you got a corrupt flash during your OTA update.
If the phone still performs so poorly as you describe after a flash back to stock, there's a problem that's more than the OS/ROM. Sure, the stock build is a bit laggy and bloated, but it's not so bad as what you are seeing.
If you find a restored stock ROM to be better but still laggier than you like, I have had good results with the GoldenEye ROM, flashed according to the instructions in the ATT thread. To flash, you must first root and install safestrap (selinux mode changer set to permissive may be required). You then boot to the safestrap recovery, wipe everything but the SD card, then flash the rom, SuperSU, ATT Module, and ATT BuildProp/APN. That should get you up and running on a new ROM.
I'm a died in the wool geek but I read through this forum and others for two weeks before attempting... but I'm very happy with the phone as it works on GoldenEye. I'm on V36, but V38 is current.
Good luck
Frankenscript said:
Use the "All things ATT" link rugmankc gave you. In the first posts in that thread you will get links to the root method, safestrap, and a list of compatible ROMs. A few thoughtsL
1. Before making any changes to you phone, charge it to 100 %, unplug the charger, and let it sit idle for some number of hours. Then check to see what services are using most of the power. For a while my own 4.4.2 GS4 was slow, and it turned out to be google play framework services bogging things down, and this showed up as an excessive battery drain during idle. If you phone uses more than say 0.5% battery per hour when completely idle / screen off (but with cell and wifi on), something's up. Fix it and maybe your problems will resolve.
2. Next step: back up any data / photos etc. and do a factory data reset from the settings menu. After it has been reset, perhaps whatever problem is going on will be cleared up.
3. You don't need to root the phone to ODIN a stock firmware (NB1 then flash update to NC1). Links are on the ALL Things ATT thread. This should take it all the way back to proper NC1, bypassing any mess that might have happened if you got a corrupt flash during your OTA update.
If the phone still performs so poorly as you describe after a flash back to stock, there's a problem that's more than the OS/ROM. Sure, the stock build is a bit laggy and bloated, but it's not so bad as what you are seeing.
If you find a restored stock ROM to be better but still laggier than you like, I have had good results with the GoldenEye ROM, flashed according to the instructions in the ATT thread. To flash, you must first root and install safestrap (selinux mode changer set to permissive may be required). You then boot to the safestrap recovery, wipe everything but the SD card, then flash the rom, SuperSU, ATT Module, and ATT BuildProp/APN. That should get you up and running on a new ROM.
I'm a died in the wool geek but I read through this forum and others for two weeks before attempting... but I'm very happy with the phone as it works on GoldenEye. I'm on V36, but V38 is current.
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your help. Yeah everytime I redo my phone, from scratch, it works OK for about an hour. Then bam, it goes back to being a low pain in the rear. This is ONLY after the phone upgraded to 4.4.2. I didn't choose that upgrade, actually I didn't want to upgrade, but OTA upgrade took over and BAM, I got screwed.
OK I just installed the Safestrap and rooted the phone. Now I gotta figure out the rom part.
Im still going thru that link that rugmankc gave me above. Now im trying to figure out how to change the OS, since I just rooted the phone. I have to do this. Ive gotten really really tired of the phone being so slow, I basically give up on many tasks that I need to do, just cause its too slow.
Ill update once I get it figured out, hopefully I wont brick it, that's the only thing that im afraid of.
Don't remember, did you consider Odin back to stock and start over. If not, whatever was causing the slow downs may still be there. Could have been a bad update.
Read the SafeStrap thread by HashCode carefully. I read the OP 100% and last 30 pages or so of thread and don't even use it. It is complicated to me. IE which slot to flash to stock or rom. I think stock, Flash Modules. Install Selinux and set to permissive. And using correct SafeStrap. Gives me a headache and I am not even needing to use it--
Good Luck--as mentioned just backup whenever you can before moving to next major step. :good::good:
rugmankc said:
Don't remember, did you consider Odin back to stock and start over. If not, whatever was causing the slow downs may still be there. Could have been a bad update.
Read the SafeStrap thread by HashCode carefully. I read the OP 100% and last 30 pages or so of thread and don't even use it. It is complicated to me. IE which slot to flash to stock or rom. I think stock, Flash Modules. Install Selinux and set to permissive. And using correct SafeStrap. Gives me a headache and I am not even needing to use it--
Good Luck--as mentioned just backup whenever you can before moving to next major step. :good::good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Actually I backed up my phone already, as I reformatted it last night again. I don't know how to Odin back to stock. What is that? Is that a stock Android? Sorry I don't know.
Thanks...
It's in the same All Things ATT, MK2 thread under Returning to Stock Odin. An option if you still have issues. Takes you back to stock NB1, firmware and all. Kinda like your update, but think you may have got a bad update. Other options are to wipe internal in case bad stuff still there. Frankenscript was pretty thorough--:good:
SafeStrap is how you are going to flash a new OS/Rom. You can't flash custom kernels and aosp roms unless TW based like a couple GPE mentioned.
Read/Scan the two mentioned threads, as in OP and first and last couple dozen pages. Probably the last are more important. You will see folks asking the same questions you will eventually ask. I have read thousands of pages over the years and it has kept me out of trouble--most of the time--
rugmankc said:
It's in the same All Things ATT, MK2 thread under Returning to Stock Odin. An option if you still have issues. Takes you back to stock NB1, firmware and all. Kinda like your update, but think you may have got a bad update. Other options are to wipe internal in case bad stuff still there. Frankenscript was pretty thorough--:good:
SafeStrap is how you are going to flash a new OS/Rom. You can't flash custom kernels and aosp roms unless TW based like a couple GPE mentioned.
Read/Scan the two mentioned threads, as in OP and first and last couple dozen pages. Probably the last are more important. You will see folks asking the same questions you will eventually ask. I have read thousands of pages over the years and it has kept me out of trouble--most of the time--
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man, that link really got me confused as heck lol. Ive been reading that link the entire weekend and still im a bit confused.
I rooted the phone with towelroot. Ive installed SafeStrap, but it worked the first time I ran it. Now if I want to run it again it crashes my phone. Not sure what that is about.
Either way, now my understanding is that I should be able to download a rom for my phone and flash it. From that link that I was given, its very confusing.
Could someone PLEASE PLEASE help me here with this?
My phone is an AT&T US SG4. Here are the details:
SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
Android 4.4.2
BaseBand I337UCUFNC1
Kernel Ver 3.4.0-1125940
Build # KOT49H.I337UCUFNC1
Which ROM can I use for my phone? As long as its stock, I don't care which version, Google Play ROM or CY or Golden, whichever, as long as I get rid of this crappy Samsung and AT&T stuff off my phone.
Could someone please help me out here? I know that link says everything, but jeez, im trying to make sense of it, and so far, I got the phone rooted, but just cant figure out the ROM part.
Thanks...
I can't help with specifics as I don't need SS.
Make sure you have correct SS--3.72, afaik
Flash, I believe, to stock slot not rom slot but confirm that
Install Selinux app from Play and set Permissive--afaik
The above items are things people get into trouble with, so reconfirm them
Just keep reviewing the thread and the SafeStrap thread in Dev section by HashCode. Maybe go back more pages from end of threads as you have time. You can post in All things thread now for help and at 10 posts in Dev section. It will come together in time--:good:
Flash roms only for you build, think there is a list within that thread or another one in General or Q&A.
iB's Goldeneye 38 is good and you can use the Aroma to select SafeStrap and the Slimmed down version.
Read his SS flashing instructions first.
Make sure you use SafeStrap recovery to wipe ALL--System/Data/Caches before flashing--:good:
Cornelp: Having recently been through all this, I wrote up a short summary with some links for another user, and it might help you to look through it. It's an overview written from my end-user perspective, not a replacement for the detailed posts the devs have done.
However, based on your description, I would say the best thing to do is ODIN back to stock because I have a sneaking suspicious you got a bad OTA flash. It happens. Going back to stock will be the best way to eliminate that as a source of problems. Learn how in the All things ATT thread OP.
Best of luck to you!
Marc
Frankenscript said:
Cornelp: Having recently been through all this, I wrote up a short summary with some links for another user, and it might help you to look through it. It's an overview written from my end-user perspective, not a replacement for the detailed posts the devs have done.
However, based on your description, I would say the best thing to do is ODIN back to stock because I have a sneaking suspicious you got a bad OTA flash. It happens. Going back to stock will be the best way to eliminate that as a source of problems. Learn how in the All things ATT thread OP.
Best of luck to you!
Marc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Frankenscript,
Thank you very much, I will read up on that link you gave me. How would I ODIN back to stock? Do you have specific details on that? I did read something about that on the All things ATT, but wasn't clear.
Thanks...
Cornelp said:
Frankenscript,
Thank you very much, I will read up on that link you gave me. How would I ODIN back to stock? Do you have specific details on that? I did read something about that on the All things ATT, but wasn't clear.
Thanks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Complete instructions here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=51130818&postcount=5
Basically, download ODIN to your PC, run it, get phone into download mode, connect phone to PC via USB, in ODIN select the NB1 file, tell it to start. When done, reboot phone. Then flash the NC1 update from an SD card using stock recovery.
A good pictorial description of how to flash can be found in this S3 thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/guide-odin-flash-guide-t1671969
Though for a different phone (the S3, not our S4), the process is still the same.
Good luck. I'm headed off to a work trip and won't be on the forum much this week!
Frankenscript said:
Complete instructions here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=51130818&postcount=5
Basically, download ODIN to your PC, run it, get phone into download mode, connect phone to PC via USB, in ODIN select the NB1 file, tell it to start. When done, reboot phone. Then flash the NC1 update from an SD card using stock recovery.
A good pictorial description of how to flash can be found in this S3 thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/guide-odin-flash-guide-t1671969
Though for a different phone (the S3, not our S4), the process is still the same.
Good luck. I'm headed off to a work trip and won't be on the forum much this week!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you all. I was able to revert back to the NB1 stock, but it failed the first time. I had to download and install the NB1 Rootable Odin. For some reason, the NB1 Odin didn't work, but the Rootable one worked.
So im glad I was able to go back. Now I just gotta test it and see if it does slow down as it did before. I will post update, in case anyone else has the same problem, maybe this would be a good solution.
Thanks again to all of you guys, really appreciate it. I really hope it worked.
Ok guys, here's the deal. i bought a secondhand s4 which was advertised as a google edition. it has a couple of annoying issues, first i noticed it switching itself off and on. the worst problem with it is that when my battery goes reeeally dead it just bootloops when i have recharged. the only way i can get it back on is to start it in recovery mode (which is clockworkmod v6.0.4.4) then do a factory wipe. so yeah thats a major pain. the s4 itself is a red model and behind the battery it says its a gt-19505, however in the settings on the phone it says its a gt-19505g.
my goal is to install an official firmware if possible that i may be able to update easily, the worry that i have is that i dont know if it would then accept my network as although it appears to run google edition custom firmware it may not once i install something official on it. this may be a nooby statement i know but a noob i am lol.
if its at all possible could i keep the cwm recovery?
and if its any help when i load the other boot loader thingy (with the green android on it) in the top left it says gt-19505, im just sayin cus im sure its vital which ever this phone actually is.
here are as many details as i can give but please ask if im missing anything
ANDROID VERSION 4.4.2
KERNEL VERSION 3.4.0-faux123-KK44-GE-Custom
[email protected]omain #20
Sun Dec 1 02:30:28 CST 2013
BASEBAND VERSION 19505XXUFNA1
BUILD NUMBER KOT49H.S001.131204
also upon booting in the top left it says "kernel is not seandroid enforcing
set warranty bit:kernel"
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME And please tell me where to start as i tried updating it via kies to fix it but it just wont connect, i assume due to custom firmware.
The Google Play Edition S4 devices didn't come in any color but white. Therefore, this is an I9505 with a custom ROM on it. The download mode screen reading GT-I9505 confirmed it.
Since this is an I9505 and not an I9505G, the main question is whether this device will work with your SIM card. For that, simply insert your SIM card and boot the device. If you get signal, you're good. Otherwise you'll have to unlock the device, either by purchasing an unlock code from one of the sites that sells them, or by trying the unlock methods available on the forums.
This will also help answer the question of which stock ROM you can install on the device. If the S4 doesn't prompt you to unlock the device, then you can install one of the unbranded S4 ROMs available on sammobile.com. After that, you can put the recovery of your choice on the S4, though I recommend TWRP over the other options.
Thanks for your help. I'm a little confused though, at the moment with this custom google edition ROM it does take my sim, in fact I bet it takes any sim, I heard that was a feature of google play devices. What I meant was after I install the stock ROM will it then not take my sim. So if it has already been unlocked How would I know which ROM to install? As I now know its not a google edition, is it possible to install an official google edition ROM? Do i use this download mode, Odin, or cwm to install a firmware. I'm just not sure what my starting point is. I don't wanna follow someone's guide yet to installing something just in case I'm jumping the gun and need to uninstall this custom ROM somehow.
Sorry for asking questions that I'm sure seem dumb I'm really just trying to learn at the moment I'm green as they come with android. BTW thanks for your suggestions so far, you def seem like you know what you're talking about, cheers
Google Play devices are carrier unlocked, but this is not a Google Play Edition S4. Therefore the device was carrier unlocked at some point in its past. The unknown here is how the original owner unlocked the device. If he or she used the unlocking methods found on XDA there is a chance the lock will be lost when installing a stock ROM.
If the S4 is unlocked, you aren't restricted to a particular region and can install any I9505 ROM using Odin, though I recommend the carrier unbranded ROMs. You cannot install a stock Google Play Edition ROM on the device as the model number of a GPE device is not the same as the device you have. However, you're already rooted and have a custom recovery installed. In I9505 Development here on XDA there is a Google Play Edition ROM that can be installed on your device. Download it to your S4, wipe everything in recovery, then flash the ROM's flashable zip in recovery. I've used said ROM and it works quite well.
OK I have found the 5.0.1 ge ROM , but in there it says I must use latest recovery or whatever plus it recommended one different to mine, is it safe to install using my version of cwm or do I need to learn how to change it??
Deleted by user
TWRP is recommended as there are people who are still maintaining it, unlike Clockworkmod and Philz. While you probably can get the ROM installed using the version of Clockworkmod you have, learning how to change recoveries is useful.
OK thank you for all your help my friend, I will now find out how to do this, I'm sure there is a section on this somewhere, BTW I think you are right about my device being rooted, but I wanted to check and I followed a guide and used super su but apparently its not rooted so I guess something must've gone wrong. Bit scary if I try to change my recovery or my firmware and this causes a brick hmmmmm
It's virtually impossible to brick the S4, especially as the recovery is flashed through Odin.
Phew that's a relief. Thanks man.... Well I'm gonna just risk using cwm for now as I'm new to this........ Thanks a whole lot for your time I really mean that.
KlLLFRENZY said:
Phew that's a relief. Thanks man.... Well I'm gonna just risk using cwm for now as I'm new to this........ Thanks a whole lot for your time I really mean that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use TWRP. CMW is outdated.
Lennyz1988 said:
Use TWRP. CMW is outdated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want to, I really do but I'm struggling here. Before I wrote that last comment I tried to find a guide on this forum for swapping to twrp, but couldn't and didn't wanna bug this guy as he had helped enough. Anyway I went to the place he told me and have hit another wall anyway because I don't know how to use the firmware the relevant kernel or the git. My life is so busy and I'm getting about an hour on this subject a day and its gonna take forever lol
If you can help me on my way even a little its much appreciated, I would like to use twrp and the 5.0.1 ge plus the right kernel of course
KlLLFRENZY said:
I want to, I really do but I'm struggling here. Before I wrote that last comment I tried to find a guide on this forum for swapping to twrp, but couldn't and didn't wanna bug this guy as he had helped enough. Anyway I went to the place he told me and have hit another wall anyway because I don't know how to use the firmware the relevant kernel or the git. My life is so busy and I'm getting about an hour on this subject a day and its gonna take forever lol
If you can help me on my way even a little its much appreciated, I would like to use twrp and the 5.0.1 ge plus the right kernel of course
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://twrp.me/devices/samsunggalaxys4internationalqualcomm.html
Follow the Odin guide. It's excactly the same when you flashed CWM.
@Lennyz1988: The S4 was bought secondhand and already had CWM on it from the original owner.
@killfrenzy: Follow the guide Lenny mentioned, but don't worry about the second paragraph. Our device isn't one of those that restores the original recovery on boot.
ok will do, i just tried the app install method but as i suspected, it said root is required for this app and promptly exited so i shall do the odin method, i heard that some people remove root or it could be that it was done wrong. also after reading a few posts here and there i found out that someone had similar issues with their phone random re-booting and they had custom ge with the wrong kernel so it seems once im done my issues should be history if i learn how to install fw + kernel, after this twrp thing i will be one step closer for sure. i also know ppl slate lollipop but once im all done with this im sure i will have picked up enough terminology to install cfw's to my hearts content. hooray for forums and people like you, sounds like im kissin ass but its just gratitude
so using the twrp install guide i gotta install using the odin method i have now got 3.07 odin but this is the next step.........
Odin Install Method (No Root Required):
You will need to download and install Odin on your PC. Once you have Odin installed, download the proper .tar file for your device from the download link above. Power off your device. Turn on your device using the proper key combo to get into download mode and attach the device to your computer via a USB cable. Use the PDA tab or button to browse to and select the tar file that you downloaded and flash the device.
lololol nothins ever simple i see the list of tar files in the link above but no mention at all as to which is the proper .tar for my device, i guess they assume the guide is for people who have done it before. more research tomorrow maybe i gotta be up early ugh
Lennyz1988 said:
https://twrp.me/devices/samsunggalaxys4internationalqualcomm.html
Follow the Odin guide. It's excactly the same when you flashed CWM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think you misunderstood, I have flashed nothing yet I got it like this. I'm completely green
Don't suppose anybody knows which is the tar file for my device?? S4gt-19505
OK now I get it, the list of tars in that section are all the same just newer builds of the same version. Seems obvious if you have done this before, but I wasn't to know that and cannot assume things. I'm also gonna guess and say Lenny thinks my s4 needs this particular version for an international, am I right?? Anyway it would've made a lot of sense but how does he know. I have no idea what this phone was I have never owned it new.
Different devices have different codes. For example, jfltexx is the I9505. A T-Mobile S4 would be jfltetmo, and so on.The link Lenny provided is for the I9505. Download the 2.8.6.0 version as its the latest.
As to how you were supposed to know, having never owned one, you weren't. There are tutorials in the General forum though that can help.
Yesterday I bit the bullet, rooted and flashed my N9005 with CWM and Temasek's CM12.1 rom.. and wow, wished Id done this sooner..
Device is now so clean and slick, and I just need to hunt down and find the apps I want to put on. I did think I may lose some functionality, but I wasn't a heavy user of some of the Note's features, so wasn't too worried, and since I found Spen Command, the stylus is now better than before!
The process was very easy, and the guides I used were very good.. however, I seemed to have some screens that weren't referred to or documented, and although everything seems to be working.. I just had a few question...
After I used ODIN to install CWM Recovery, the phone booted, however, the guide implied the device should fully reboot to then copy SuperSU... but I was prompted with a recovery menu asking if I wanted to root the phone, so I said yes.. then rebooted to copy the SuperSU over, reboot into recovery and install the zip, rebooted and confirmed root.
Nothing I had read had mentioned about the first menu asking if I wanted to root, and I thought the rooting process was the installation of SuperSU?
I then flash the ROM and Gapps... few issues at first, but after applying the Rom OTA update, all is well! SuperSU is gone, but I assume that being a Custom Rom it is essentially already rooted so doesn't need it.
I installed CW Rom Manager but this actually told me the latest version of recovery was actually older than the one I had installed, and that my devices wasn't actually supported... Also, much of the content available through it seem out of date, so I removed it.
Think ill stick with this ROM anyway and await the Offical Note3 CM12.1.. although not really seeing much info about it, so don't even know if it will!
DocSoton said:
Yesterday I bit the bullet, rooted and flashed my N9005 with CWM and Temasek's CM12.1 rom.. and wow, wished Id done this sooner..
Device is now so clean and slick, and I just need to hunt down and find the apps I want to put on. I did think I may lose some functionality, but I wasn't a heavy user of some of the Note's features, so wasn't too worried, and since I found Spen Command, the stylus is now better than before!
The process was very easy, and the guides I used were very good.. however, I seemed to have some screens that weren't referred to or documented, and although everything seems to be working.. I just had a few question...
After I used ODIN to install CWM Recovery, the phone booted, however, the guide implied the device should fully reboot to then copy SuperSU... but I was prompted with a recovery menu asking if I wanted to root the phone, so I said yes.. then rebooted to copy the SuperSU over, reboot into recovery and install the zip, rebooted and confirmed root.
Nothing I had read had mentioned about the first menu asking if I wanted to root, and I thought the rooting process was the installation of SuperSU?
I then flash the ROM and Gapps... few issues at first, but after applying the Rom OTA update, all is well! SuperSU is gone, but I assume that being a Custom Rom it is essentially already rooted so doesn't need it.
I installed CW Rom Manager but this actually told me the latest version of recovery was actually older than the one I had installed, and that my devices wasn't actually supported... Also, much of the content available through it seem out of date, so I removed it.
Think ill stick with this ROM anyway and await the Offical Note3 CM12.1.. although not really seeing much info about it, so don't even know if it will!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously dude. Go to temaseks thread and care to read at least first two posts. Please do it for all roms. Because if you did you would know that :
TWRP is RECOMMENDED.
To get root access you have to flash SUPERSU in RECOVERY. In that rom at least.
Unbelievable
Tracfone version
I'm having no luck with Kingroot. It says no root available for device.
According to 'one-click-root' website, the device has no way of rooting it.
Is there any updated information?
.
device specifics:
model: SM-S920LZAATFN
android: 5.0.2
build: LRX22G.S920LUDU1APK2
hardware version: S920L.03
.
[edit: was hoping to change the title to reflect that this post is about the tracfone version]
TWRP recovery method?
TWRP recovery method?
I've read that a phone may possibly be able to be rooted by using odin to download a TWRP recovery, then booting into that new recovery using hardware keys, instead of rebooting normally. And this results in a rooted phone?
I think I have seen a TWRP that may work with this phone. Any help is appreciated. I'd like to be able to update this thread to include a step by step approach to this and other versions of the same model 920.
I'll continue to post updates as I discover more information.
DIY time : crash course in brain surgery
Ok, so I've read a bit of stuff in the forums on the SM-S920L, mostly about the StraightTalk variant, which apparently uses the same system rom, though I'm not so sure.
At any rate, rather than just throw carp at the phone and hope it sticks, I'm going to teach myself how to do it all myself, a-z, 1,2,3... etc., starting with making stock images of the various components, for recovery purposes. Perhaps the phone can be used as a TracFone again someday, though I have no desire to do so, having already bought another for cheaper that even works better, though not as fancy, just newer.
So, I'll leave it here for now and just update the primary with new information as I discover it, starting with the extraction of the stock images, hopefully without goofing up the phone, lol.
This is an unpopular phone, at least for hackers. But it will be a good tool for expanding my knowledge.
Any help appreciated, such as, 'Is this even necessary? There are files here here and here that will do it all'.
(lol, nope... so far I've discovered there is no root option, kingroot no work, etc. There seems to be no posts with information specifically regarding the TracFone 'variant' of this model. It suggests that i can use the StraightTalk files for it, which may work, but there are many questionable unanswered problems.)
friimynd said:
Ok, so I've read a bit of stuff in the forums on the SM-S920L, mostly about the StraightTalk variant, which apparently uses the same system rom, though I'm not so sure.
At any rate, rather than just throw carp at the phone and hope it sticks, I'm going to teach myself how to do it all myself, a-z, 1,2,3... etc., starting with making stock images of the various components, for recovery purposes. Perhaps the phone can be used as a TracFone again someday, though I have no desire to do so, having already bought another for cheaper that even works better, though not as fancy, just newer.
So, I'll leave it here for now and just update the primary with new information as I discover it, starting with the extraction of the stock images, hopefully without goofing up the phone, lol.
This is an unpopular phone, at least for hackers. But it will be a good tool for expanding my knowledge.
Any help appreciated, such as, 'Is this even necessary? There are files here here and here that will do it all'.
(lol, nope... so far I've discovered there is no root option, kingroot no work, etc. There seems to be no posts with information specifically regarding the TracFone 'variant' of this model. It suggests that i can use the StraightTalk files for it, which may work, but there are many questionable unanswered problems.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely don't use kingroot.
Do you have a laptop or pc? If so I can help you out. I have the same phone. Mine is straight talk, but it's sm-s920l a tracefone just through straight talk.
c3p0u812 said:
Definitely don't use kingroot.
Do you have a laptop or pc? If so I can help you out. I have the same phone. Mine is straight talk, but it's sm-s920l a tracefone just through straight talk.
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Ya I got the straight talk, I have been using king root but I totally bricked and wiped my phone on purpose because I wanted to start fresh and let it update. Having a problem though I used twrp and nuked all my ****, or so I thought. I'm trying to OTA update I'm currently on 5.0.2 and it's saying I have a system update and even after I checked everything to be deleted it still says error and one of my files is modified or some**** like that. I think it's like admin.prop so **** it. I do however want to go systemless root. What do you suggest is the best root and rom for our device?
To answer op question yes your phone is the same as ours. Mine even shows tracphone on boot.
Inuyashian said:
Ya I got the straight talk, I have been using king root but I totally bricked and wiped my phone on purpose because I wanted to start fresh and let it update. Having a problem though I used twrp and nuked all my ****, or so I thought. I'm trying to OTA update I'm currently on 5.0.2 and it's saying I have a system update and even after I checked everything to be deleted it still says error and one of my files is modified or some**** like that. I think it's like admin.prop so **** it. I do however want to go systemless root. What do you suggest is the best root and rom for our device?
To answer op question yes your phone is the same as ours. Mine even shows tracphone on boot.
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Well for our phone there is only one custom ROM and it's LineageOS 13.0 https://forum.xda-developers.com/grand-prime/development/unofficial-cyanogenmod-13-0-galaxy-t3491494 It's android 6.0 and it can be rooted too. It's not being updated anymore for our device as far as I know. There is Lineage 14.* but not for our variant.
For systemless root you'll want to go with Magisk. https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 I had Lineage, and don't get me wrong it's worth checking out, but I downgraded back to stock and went with Magisk. You can even get Xposed throughMagisk.
If I was you, I would flash back to stock. You can go to this thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 and download the first two, Stock Boot and Stock Recovery. Make sure to unzip them because you need the md5 files they extract. I'd wipe everything again and then get into download mode. On your PC fire up Odin, I'm using version 3.10 http://odindownload.com/download/clean/Odin_3.10.0.zip Click BL use the stick boot md5 and then under ap use the stock recovery md5. When it reboots and you set it up do not turn reactivation lock on.
If you don't already have Magisk on your sd card get it on there and install through twrp. It will ask if you want to root. Might make a back up after. I always make backups and then transfer from sd to my pc. I can restore to like 6 different versions of my phone right now lol I'm no expert, I haven't been messing around with all this for long so I hope that all makes sense. :fingers-crossed:
c3p0u812 said:
Well for our phone there is only one custom ROM and it's LineageOS 13.0 https://forum.xda-developers.com/grand-prime/development/unofficial-cyanogenmod-13-0-galaxy-t3491494 It's android 6.0 and it can be rooted too. It's not being updated anymore for our device as far as I know. There is Lineage 14.* but not for our variant.
For systemless root you'll want to go with Magisk. https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 I had Lineage, and don't get me wrong it's worth checking out, but I downgraded back to stock and went with Magisk. You can even get Xposed throughMagisk.
If I was you, I would flash back to stock. You can go to this thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 and download the first two, Stock Boot and Stock Recovery. Make sure to unzip them because you need the md5 files they extract. I'd wipe everything again and then get into download mode. On your PC fire up Odin, I'm using version 3.10 http://odindownload.com/download/clean/Odin_3.10.0.zip Click BL use the stick boot md5 and then under ap use the stock recovery md5. When it reboots and you set it up do not turn reactivation lock on.
If you don't already have Magisk on your sd card get it on there and install through twrp. It will ask if you want to root. Might make a back up after. I always make backups and then transfer from sd to my pc. I can restore to like 6 different versions of my phone right now lol I'm no expert, I haven't been messing around with all this for long so I hope that all makes sense. :fingers-crossed:
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Haha ya it does I just wish they didn't treat our phone like it has Ebola or some****. All kinds of **** for the other ones. I agree on the magisk because I really want to try that out. Alright thanks for all the helpful links I come to this site to find **** for ours and I end up looking at a bunch of cool stuff I can't have.
I'm waiting on the pixel 2 XL before I upgrade. We just missing out on too much stuff. I think magisk will keep me busy in the meantime though. Thanks again man I'm Soo add once I get here on all the stuff then I wonder well will this work or this work and by then just like awwww **** it.
Inuyashian said:
Haha ya it does I just wish they didn't treat our phone like it has Ebola or some****. All kinds of **** for the other ones. I agree on the magisk because I really want to try that out. Alright thanks for all the helpful links I come to this site to find **** for ours and I end up looking at a bunch of cool stuff I can't have.
I'm waiting on the pixel 2 XL before I upgrade. We just missing out on too much stuff. I think magisk will keep me busy in the meantime though. Thanks again man I'm Soo add once I get here on all the stuff then I wonder well will this work or this work and by then just like awwww **** it.
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Hey, I thought I'd let you know LineageOS 14.1 is available to us now. I can't find a specific thread on it, but you can download it from http://grandprime.ddns.net/jenkins/job/LOS_Builds/# Flash it with twrp. You will want to flash that and then flash open gapps [ARM - 7.1] and then whichever from here http://opengapps.org/ I did all that first, set it up rebooted and then installed Magisk.
It has Substratum pre-installed and it let's you theme it nicely. There is only an unofficial xposed version so far.
Anywho, thought I'd throw that out there.
thanks for the replies, gives me inspiration to keep on trying; the phone is pretty ho-hum with default stuff and the general blah blah of social media, etc.;
thanks for the tips, feel free to post more details as they come in
My Turn
I'm about to try and put 14.1 and Magisk on mine. Wish me luck!
downloading twrp recovery and rooting
in google search up twrp click on the first link then click on devices on the top right corner then search up your phone download the twrp.img.tar file
power off your phone and press volume down + home button + power button to boot into download mode
in odin select AP then select the twrp.img.tar you downloaded then press start
your phone will reboot then download the SuperSU zip file
then go to settings then go to find my mobile you have to get a samsung account then you will see reactivation lock option turn that off
then power off your phone then press volume up + home button + power button to reboot into twrp recovery
once booted tap the install option then select where you downloaded the supersu zip file swipe to flash it once done flashing you will see the reboot system option to reboot your phone
then your phone should be rooted!
My Prior thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/help/n00b-sgh-i337-running-original-kernel-4-t3850783
I obtained a stock MDL i337 S4 running 4.2.2 and following the instructions in the prior thread I rooted with TowelRoot and updated to Lollipop 5.0.1/ GoldenEye and I've had nothing but problems ever since, so much so that the phone has almost gotten me lost in Oakland and has made me late for work twice!
The phone freezes, sometimes randomly reboots, shuts down applications without reason or warning (LIKE MY ALARM CLOCK!!!), apps can freeze while in use (like Google Maps at a critical time!), it eats power like me at a Chinese buffet and runs hot sometimes, apps are slow to load or won't load (sucks when a call comes in. By the time I am able to answer it, the caller has hung up!), app updates hang, and more. I suspect that part of the issue is that the instructions I got for rooting it and installing a custom ROM were a bit different than those of the GoldenEYe dev (who abandoned his project years ago and no longer answers questions) but I'm not sure.
The first time I did the upgrade, it froze at the Samsung screen for almost 30 min and I had to start over. Then when it was complete the phone was almost unusable. I read that there were issues with SuperSU so I started uninstalling some of the dev apps (I really don't know what the hell I'm doing but was desperate) and when I disabled SuperSU and did clean up to switch to another superuser app" then thought I uninstalled it and all the problems seemed to go away. A few days later while doing something else in the play store, I find that SuperSU is running even though it no longer shows in my apps! So thinking something nefarious was going on, I uninstalled it via the play store and my phone was back to being hosed again. Ok, yes I'm an idiot and deserved that.
I go back to the beginning and started all over AGAIN, reinstall/upgrade but with a different kernel (thinking maybe that?, I tried leaving my apps and settings but that didn't take. Any clue how many times I've now configured my email and office tools? lol) and ended up with what I have now, ie the issues above. I thought about trying to just somehow go back to stock 4.2.2 then just finding the stock ATT Lollipop firmware and saying to hell with root but those instructions are not clear and most post links to the firmware are now dead (I REALLY don't want to brick my phone. I have no money for another and I need my phone for my job). I'd really like to go above Lollipop if at all possible but would be happy just to have GoldenEye work!
Does anyone have any idea what the heck is going on with my phone and how I fix it? This is a serious problem for me.
SGi337
Android 5.0.1
Baseband I337UCUAMDL
Kernel Ver: 3.4.0-S4-AELKerel-v4.3-LP [email protected] #36 Wed Apr 8 19:56:06 EEST 2015
Build number LRX22C.I9505XXUHOD7
Rom Ver: GOLDENEYE 53 XXUHOD7
Dev iB4STid
SuperSU PseudoPro (had Pro, didn't reinstall it the last time) is installed but disabled
ES Task Manager and ES File Manager
Titanium Backup Pro
And so we meet again! Okay so forget golden eye. What you should do is get ODIN for your PC. Then get the MDL firmware and flash it with ODIN by connect your phone to your PC. You might also need Samsung Kies for your PC for this as it has the drivers for your phone.
Once you're back on Android jelly bean, use towel root to root, install Loki, install clockwork mod or TWRP recovery (for TWRP go here https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2262996 and for clockwork mod just use my guide again).
Then flash this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/development/rom-100-stock-i337oc3-5-0-mdl-t3098197
This will give you the latest stock Rom for your phone. It's from AT&T but has been modified to work with the MDL bootloader so it doesn't patch the Loki exploit.
Also remember that you need superSU installed or else you won't have any root management for your root apps.
Hi! lol
Any idea why this is happening? I'd really like to go to something like Marshmallow or the like but if stock is it, that will have to do.
I tried finding the MDL firmware but so far all the links are old dead ones. Have you seen anything more current?
StoneyJSG said:
And so we meet again! Okay so forget golden eye. What you should do is get ODIN for your PC. Then get the MDL firmware and flash it with ODIN by connect your phone to your PC. You might also need Samsung Kies for your PC for this as it has the drivers for your phone.
Once you're back on Android jelly bean, use towel root to root, install Loki, install clockwork mod or TWRP recovery (for TWRP go here https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2262996 and for clockwork mod just use my guide again).
Then flash this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/development/rom-100-stock-i337oc3-5-0-mdl-t3098197
This will give you the latest stock Rom for your phone. It's from AT&T but has been modified to work with the MDL bootloader so it doesn't patch the Loki exploit.
Also remember that you need superSU installed or else you won't have any root management for your root apps.
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I have no idea why golden eye is giving you issues. It works fine for me and you followed my guide just like I did. Anyway, you can goto marshmallow but it'll be AOSP based rather than touchwiz based so the look and feel will be way different than that of golden eye or any other stock Samsung ROM.
You can also just try going into clockwork mod and do a wipe (I forgot the sequence, it's wipe system, data, cache I THINK but it's in my guide on the order of how to do it) for a clean install of a ROM from there. This will eliminate the need for ODIN. You should however, keep ODIN on standby in case anything goes south you can go back to how the phone was when you first got it. I have the ODIN MDL firmware on a USB drive, let me find it over the weekend and upload it to my Google drive and will link you to it.
SilkRoadDog said:
I tried finding the MDL firmware but so far all the links are old dead ones. Have you seen anything more current?
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Hey dude, here's the link to the MDL firmware for ODIN off my Google drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZXv9FAcDbfkbFZzh078SSMZ85jbMVPSx/view?usp=drivesdk
StoneyJSG said:
Hey dude, here's the link to the MDL firmware for ODIN off my Google drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZXv9FAcDbfkbFZzh078SSMZ85jbMVPSx/view?usp=drivesdk
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Well after putting up with the phone issues for 2 months, I reset everything following your instructions to the best of my abilities (except couldn't get towelroot to load so went with another). Let's see how this works! lol
Your instructions say "SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you." What is that and how do I do this?
SilkRoadDog said:
Your instructions say "SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you." What is that and how do I do this?
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Once rooted, goto the Google play store and download the SuperSU app, open it and it will ask you some stuff then do the rest. Towel root needs internet access to work. I was starting to have issues with golden eye rom off and on until I flashed the OC3 modem, you may wanna try that after you get back to golden eye.
There's also another ROM on here called i337_OC3_stock_rooted_rom(MDL) , you may want to try it out as it's 100% stock and hasn't been modified like golden eye rom has. I am not sure it works with clock work mod recovery so you might need TWRP recovery for it.