Database Develop

HELP!

I have just rooted my phone and am wondering , am i able to upgrade my firmware after rooting via SamSung Kies?

I would be surprised if you can even connect to Kies never mind updating firmware after root.

then how am i gonna update my firmware? pls help >.<

It looks like you might have a lot of reading to do. I was in the same position as you not so long back and it was only by reading though a hefty amount of posts on this excellent forum I managed to root, update firmware lag fix and make phone calls.
It may sound like a rough reply, but there appears to be several ways to either trash your SGS or update it.
I wish you luck.

riz157 said:
I would be surprised if you can even connect to Kies never mind updating firmware after root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no issues with updating firmware nor connect to Kies on my phone. Rooting it and installing leaked firmwares has made no difference whatsoever.
So, if Kies worked before you rooted, it'll work fine after too. (Depending on what firmware you got on your phone you may or may not need to do some basic registry editing to upgrade the phone though)
And also... Next time write a more descriptive topic, HELP! doesn't really say much.

thanks a lot and sorry for the trouble, should have check before asking. =X thanks again!

riz157 said:
I would be surprised if you can even connect to Kies never mind updating firmware after root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting has no effect whatsoever on Kies, Kies can't tell the difference. Surprise!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

[Q] 3.0 upgrade and CWM

I have Streak 7 that came with Android 2.2. I was planning to try and root it, but after I got CWM installed, I found that instructions for flashing a different ROM were a bit more complicated than I was comfortable working with, and never did actually root my tablet. So it's got the CWM mod on it, but I do NOT have superuser access.
I saw a post at the Dell site talking about an Android 3.0 upgrade being available for Streak 7, but the article is from back in October from what I can tell. It said that you would get a notification on your Streak when the upgrade was ready, unless you had rooted your device, in which case you'd have to revert it to factory condition before you could upgrade the OS.
I never did get a notification for the upgrade. Did that ever actually happen? Or did I not get the notice because I have the CWM on my device, even though I haven't actually rooted it? If there IS an upgrade and if the reason I didn't get the message is because I have the CWM on there, how do I get rid of it? I've read some of the threads here about removing CWM, but the one's I've found have all focused on unrooting the device, I haven't found anything that just explains how to get CWM off an unrooted device.
I"m still very much a novice at these things, so if you can offer information on how to get CWM off my Streak, please explain it as simply and clearly as possible. I'm sorry for needing the extra effort, but I haven't learned all the jargon yet, so I get confused pretty easily.
Thank you for any assistance or guidance you can offer!

Hi, this might help you. It is a quote from "TheManii" who is a great help to everyone using the Streak.
"Intro:
The official updates are out for all regions that are going to recieve them.
If you can update via "to settings -> about device -> check for updates" you should use that. If you cannot for some reason here are update zips to manually install them for your device."
-------------
From his explanation on this thread it appears that installing CWM will not prevent an update since you aren't rooted yet. I am not an expert on this device, I rooted my Streak 7 last week using TheManii's instructions. Read this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1286295

Thanks!
I will definitely check that out!

Just wanted to let you know that your suggestion was exactly what I needed. I now have the new version up and running on my tablet!
Take care!!
~k

thorswitch said:
Just wanted to let you know that your suggestion was exactly what I needed. I now have the new version up and running on my tablet!
Take care!!
~k
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great to hear! Glad I could help in a small way.
DC

[Q] Is it possible to update if you flashed a different stock rom?

Hi!
Is it possible? I just bought a white Note Open Line but didn't noticed that it was released from India, My Blue one came from Singapore and already getting official update while the white one did not. Now my question is If I flash a stock ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1424997&page=3, would I be able to get an official update OTA? I wanna change the firmware the same as the blue one.
Many Thanks!

If you flash new firmware like LA4 you can't update using Kies .
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App

ranjan.alva said:
If you flash new firmware like LA4 you can't update using Kies .
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying! I update mine over the air. Currently I'm on KL2, if I change the white note with KL2 same as mine will I be able to download updates over the air if there is new update? Or if I flash any of the stock rom even if there's an update I won't be able download official update over the air?
Thanks!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

bratboo said:
Thanks for replying! I update mine over the air. Currently I'm on KL2, if I change the white note with KL2 same as mine will I be able to download updates over the air if there is new update? Or if I flash any of the stock rom even if there's an update I won't be able download official update over the air?
Thanks!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you will get updates. find the latest update available for your region then flash it.

What if your phone is rooted?
I would like to know if OTA updates are possible if you have rooted it. I gather from my experience in the past that you cannot. My phone now fails to connect to the server.
TBH, it is not a drama form me, I have no lag, and the phone seems to work brilliantly, apart from battery life. I had to root in order to get even reasonable battery life, as the bloatware was killing it.
The other issue is, as far as I can tell, we cannot get root access for stock LA4 OTA updates. Is this true, and can anyone say why? Of course, I may have that completely wrong.
Generally, after my attempt at using the Note without root for a month, I prefer root to a new ROM, at least until ICS. Even then, I think I'll wait until the bugs are ironed out, and then get an update that is rootable.
---------- Post added at 09:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:09 AM ----------
OK, I have just read another of dr.ketan's most excellent and informative posts, and I think I can see the answer.
Real soon now, I'll have enough information and courage (and enough time) to start flashing custom roms at will!

After rooting phone you wont get OTA updates. and no warranty.

ranjan.alva said:
After rooting phone you wont get OTA updates. and no warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know many people in this forum who continue to have updates OTA with rooted phones.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

You may get OTA after root,Only if you have selected right ROM for your region.
But remember if you update with OTA, you will lose Root. And now a days newer update is non rootable. so you cant root it again after update.

dr.ketan said:
You may get OTA after root,Only if you have selected right ROM for your region.
But remember if you update with OTA, you will lose Root. And now a days newer update is non rootable. so you cant root it again after update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for this info! I just found out that my white note came from Samsung India and from what I heard they update pretty long. I won't mind if I will lose the root after as long as I got the white one the same firmware with my blue one so they will update at the same time. Thanks again!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

What is the overall strategy for someone like me who is not intending (yet) to flash
dr.ketan said:
You may get OTA after root,Only if you have selected right ROM for your region.
But remember if you update with OTA, you will lose Root. And now a days newer update is non rootable. so you cant root it again after update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for that, but what is the overall strategy for someone like me who is not intending (yet) to flash ROMs? Should I wait until an OTA ROM is rootable, then unroot, get an OTA update, and the root again? Or should I go the whole hog and start flashing stock ROMs instead.
I am not (yet) talking about flashing custom ROMs. All I want is root access and the stock ROM.
BTW, I sincerely appreciate the time you personally have spent helping all of us with an enormous range of issues on this and related matters. I run my own support forums for a particular software product (which I was involved with writing) and I understand very well how much time and effort is involved with keeping up this level of support.

One thing i like to say what is wrong to update it manually rather then OTA?
OTA is the choice, who dont care Root. If you like to Root your device, just forget OTA, there is no guarranty wat thing when gets available, just try to use your device in best way with watever available right Now.
I dont see near future someone find out a method to root latest Or each n every ROM. this is hide n seek game, if someone find it, samsung will patch that thing in next update. so it become non usable.
What i believe is get Root n CWM/Mobile Odin Pro. Install any ROM, you like to try with Rooting function active. If you dont like just change it. Itz just simple.
Root also get you facility to keep Backup of your data n all.

dr.ketan said:
One thing i like to say what is wrong to update it manually rather then OTA?
OTA is the choice, who dont care Root. If you like to Root your device, just forget OTA, there is no guarranty wat thing when gets available, just try to use your device in best way with watever available right Now.
I dont see near future someone find out a method to root latest Or each n every ROM. this is hide n seek game, if someone find it, samsung will patch that thing in next update. so it become non usable.
What i believe is get Root n CWM/Mobile Odin Pro. Install any ROM, you like to try with Rooting function active. If you dont like just change it. Itz just simple.
Root also get you facility to keep Backup of your data n all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 .. Totally agreed..

jeromepearce said:
Should I wait until an OTA ROM is rootable, then unroot, get an OTA update, and the root again? Or should I go the whole hog and start flashing stock ROMs instead.
I am not (yet) talking about flashing custom ROMs. All I want is root access and the stock ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
C'mon, mate, you're an Aussie: since when do the Aussies let others decide what they should or shouldn't do? You're going to wait for Samsung to let you have what you need when they see fit? Or are you going to take it yourself when and how you want?
Rooting is the way to go for the most people around here. That way you:
1. get the newest updates only a couple of days after they are released (good people in Dev section need just a day or two to let you download new stock Roms, already rooted)
2. get to play with lots of custom Roms out there - it's such fun, you wouldn't believe
3. get to backup your phone - system and data both - so you are safe to play on without fear that something bad is going to happen: you always have your backups to fall back on if it does
4. get to test various kernels, themes, rooted apps and whatnot to your heart's content
5. get enormous fun doing all of the above
Just follow the first link in DrKetan's signiture, read carefully, follow the instructions to the letter, and you'll never look back.

OK, I am getting the message
chasmodo said:
C'mon, mate, you're an Aussie: since when do the Aussies let others decide what they should or shouldn't do? You're going to wait for Samsung to let you have what you need when they see fit? Or are you going to take it yourself when and how you want?
Rooting is the way to go for the most people around here.
...
Just follow the first link in DrKetan's signiture, read carefully, follow the instructions to the letter, and you'll never look back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I am getting the message
BTW, I'm not just an Aussie, I'm an Aussie By Choice! Took me 10 years to get citizenship because my wife is disabled and they kept refusing us based on that (it went to the minister in the end). So, no, I definitely do not let others decide what I can and cannot do!

chasmodo said:
Just follow the first link in DrKetan's signiture, read carefully, follow the instructions to the letter, and you'll never look back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amen - this is all you need to know. Don't worry about getting updates from Samsung... your in better hands here.

Samsung Galaxy S4 REFRESH Software Update - NC6

For 720T owners
Coming our way taken from sprint commnuity forum:
Samsung Galaxy S4 REFRESH Software Update - L720TVPUBNC6
Enhancements/Fixes
- Wi-Fi Calling
Important Notes
- Software version is L720TVPUBNC6
- This update will roll-out in a phased manner from 4/9 - 4/22
- Refer to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Software Update article in Support for install instructions

And these threads begin
... One already closed regarding this update. Please move your discussion to the 4.4.2 update thread that covers both regular and T model. There's also the everything for Triband version in the Q&A section.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 08:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 AM ----------
Actually I just saw that you already posted in one of those threads so why start another thread?
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

daniel4653 said:
And these threads begin
... One already closed regarding this update. Please move your discussion to the 4.4.2 update thread that covers both regular and T model. There's also the everything for Triband version in the Q&A section.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 08:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 AM ----------
Actually I just saw that you already posted in one of those threads so why start another thread?
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it's on general section and It's information that should be available to all.
The thread you referring to is exclusively for 720T so I asked the question there first but since no one responded I searched and I thought It would be useful to let know the others on the thread!!
If the information about 4.4.2 update thread is already there provide the link.
Before posting I searched and wasn't able to find any OTA info.
So remove threads and pardon my ignorance but my intent was to help!!!

I really do think it is about time to add a SPH-L720T section, it is already quite difficult to find post about this phone, they are mixed in with the standard SPH-720.
Anyone agree?

I wouldn't mind a subform.....It is hard, but a little reading and searching will get you to where you need.

NC6 On a custom recovery.
Does anyone know how to apply this update using a custom recovery?

sarcigon said:
Does anyone know how to apply this update using a custom recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't. have to be unrooted to apply the update.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

I believe you can be rooted, but you have to run the stock recovery
Sent from my SPH-L720T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

VandyCWG said:
I believe you can be rooted, but you have to run the stock recovery
Sent from my SPH-L720T using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To clarify his post. You can be rooted but you have to be running pure stock with no mods of any kind. No deleted system apps and also be running stock recovery.

Awesome "Samsung Experience"
I hadn't noticed until last night that since I got this (NC6) update on my phone, that several things were screwed up. Namely, the Hotspot Toggle was gone from the "Connections" settings tab, Sprint Zone was replaced by something called Mobile Zone that always errored out when you tried to open it. And lastly, the Tethering and Roaming settings were completely missing - as in gone, as in not there. After much frustration I tried a factory reset, but to no avail. Nothing changed. Same problems. On a whim, I decided to see what the guys at the Samsung Experience at Best Buy could do for me. I was pleasantly surprised to be helped by a sharp, knowledgeable guy who really knew his stuff. He was a fellow geek and was familiar with XDA and all the ins and outs of Samsung/Android phones. He did not have the NC6 version available to flash, but he did have NAF (KitKat update). So he flashed NAF to my phone with Samsung's SMART firmware tool (a glorified Kies that I would love to have access to!). And unlike going to the Sprint store, I didn't have to wait 30 minutes to be helped and my phone didn't disappear to the back room for another 30 minutes to be abused and mishandled by an overworked and probably under-trained and underpaid sprint employee. I stood right there beside the guy at his laptop while he showed me the software and flashing process. Totally awesome!
This fixed all the above issues plus another interesting thing too. Some of you are probably familiar with a little quirk in the S4 (and S3 too) in the stock recovery - when you reboot, it would show "Error!" under the little android robot. This always bugged me because I knew it shouldn't do that. Well my newly flashed S4 no longer says "Error!" when you reboot from recovery. I have no idea why it did it before or what changed to make it go away, but I feel better now that it's gone. It's probably major placebo effect but my phone seems snappier and smoother than ever.
So to make a long story short, "Samsung Experience" is totally awesome compared to going to the Sprint store. I will be going back when they get the NC6 (and possibly every future update as well) to have it flashed properly to my phone. I know I probably could have done the same thing myself with Odin and the firmware packages from Sammobile.com, but having them do it makes them responsible if anything goes wrong. And since I'm still under warranty, I don't want to do anything to void my warranty.
Amazing when things actually work the way they're supposed to...

Upon further investigation, it looks like I actually can re-initialize my phone using Kies now. I had tried doing it before going to the Samsung place at Best Buy, but when I tried the "Firmware Upgrade and Initialization", it said is was unsupported or something to that effect. That was because I already had NC6 on my phone, which wasn't available in Kies yet - just like even the Samsung guys didn't have it yet. But now that I have NAF, when I try "Firmware Upgrade and Initialization" it does give me the option to actually do it. The message says it will delete all user data and write the current software to the device - which is what I think they did for me at Best Buy. Only Kies couldn't load NAF for me while I had NC6 on my phone. So once NC6 makes it to Kies (if it ever does) I should be able to do a pristine flash using Kies instead of going to Best Buy if my phone starts acting up again.
You guys probably know all of this already, but I'm still learning...

Cooljb said:
Upon further investigation, it looks like I actually can re-initialize my phone using Kies now. I had tried doing it before going to the Samsung place at Best Buy, but when I tried the "Firmware Upgrade and Initialization", it said is was unsupported or something to that effect. That was because I already had NC6 on my phone, which wasn't available in Kies yet - just like even the Samsung guys didn't have it yet. But now that I have NAF, when I try "Firmware Upgrade and Initialization" it does give me the option to actually do it. The message says it will delete all user data and write the current software to the device - which is what I think they did for me at Best Buy. Only Kies couldn't load NAF for me while I had NC6 on my phone. So once NC6 makes it to Kies (if it ever does) I should be able to do a pristine flash using Kies instead of going to Best Buy if my phone starts acting up again.
You guys probably know all of this already, but I'm still learning...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So You can flash NAF over NC6 Is that what you're saying or I misunderstood?

frukyyy said:
So You can flash NAF over NC6 Is that what you're saying or I misunderstood?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you CAN'T. That was my original problem. Kies still thinks NAF is the latest version so it can't do anything with NC6 - it doesn't recognize it as the latest verstion - in fact it doesn't know NC6 exists at all. It will only initialize with what it thinks is the latest version. But since I have NAF now, Kies can do the full initialization with NAF. Like if I ever hosed my phone while it had NAF, I could fix it by doing a clean flash of NAF with Kies. And eventually I would think NC6 would become available in Kies. Then you should be able to do a clean flash of NC6 using Kies too.

frukyyy said:
So You can flash NAF over NC6 Is that what you're saying or I misunderstood?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you never tried to Odin NAF over NC6? Thanks.
Sent from my SPH-L720T using xda app-developers app

ROMANTiC KiD said:
To clarify his post. You can be rooted but you have to be running pure stock with no mods of any kind. No deleted system apps and also be running stock recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It makes sense.
Thank you!

frukyyy said:
So you never tried to Odin NAF over NC6? Thanks.
Sent from my SPH-L720T using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I didn't. I thought about it, and it probably would have worked, but everything I read said that would trip the Knox warranty flag. However now that I see the Samsung guy was able to do it - and it DIDN'T trip the Knox flag - I checked afterwards. And I even asked him if it would before he flashed my phone. So assuming the Samsung SMART firmware tool uses Odin at it's core, maybe I could have done it myself and not tripped the Knox flag. Or maybe the Samsung software has something that Odin doesn't that keeps it from tripping Knox. I just didn't want to use my phone as a guinea pig to prove or disprove whether or not downgrading firmware would trip Knox. Again, everything I read indicated that even flashing official Knox-enabled firmware that was a lower version than what was currently on the device would trip Knox.

My phone has downloaded this update automatically, and when it boots into stock recovery gives me an Error and aborted message. I'm assuming that's because I am stock rooted. So, can I download the zip and flash it myself through recovery? I honestly don't recall what recovery I'm running. It's been a couple months, and as a recovering flashaholic, I haven't gone beyond stock. I only wanted root to get rid of the bloat.

AuGmENTor said:
My phone has downloaded this update automatically, and when it boots into stock recovery gives me an Error and aborted message. I'm assuming that's because I am stock rooted. So, can I download the zip and flash it myself through recovery? I honestly don't recall what recovery I'm running. It's been a couple months, and as a recovering flashaholic, I haven't gone beyond stock. I only wanted root to get rid of the bloat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to completely be unmodified. I think root has not stopped it, but you'll likely lose it afterwards. If you stripped the Rom, themed, or installed a custom recovery, you have to revert back to stock.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app

krnfrk6663 said:
You have to completely be unmodified. I think root has not stopped it, but you'll likely lose it afterwards. If you stripped the Rom, themed, or installed a custom recovery, you have to revert back to stock.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Blech. Really? And then I can reroot?

AuGmENTor said:
Blech. Really? And then I can reroot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i believe you can re-root once you take the update.
Mine has yet to get the update. Anyone have the NC6 zip up?

After being scared to do it, I flashed my Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active (I537) to KitKat

This is my first post and I'm going to try my best to not break a rule. If I do, I apologize in advance.
Thread thread is a sort of, "This is how I updated my phone from 4.2.2 to 4.4.2 and rooted it but your mileage may vary."
First, thanks goes to Sunderwear for his directions on how to push KitKat to the Samsung S4 Active as well as ROOT it. I rooted my 4.2.2 phone a few months ago and didn't realize doing so would prevent OTA updates. I went to the AT&T store to have them put 4.4.2 on the phone only to be told that the store didn't have the image (or whatever they said) and couldn't put it on my phone. Instead, they put 4.3, which turned out to be great because the directions pretty much have you going back to 4.3 in order to root.
BTW, if you are uninitiated, you may want to read this glossary page.
After having root in 4.2, I knew I wanted it in 4.4.2!
For the most part, I've been hesitant to flash the phone. I tried like hell to flash my first Android (Samsung S2 Skyrocket) only to brick it. (FWIW, if you can tell me how to fix it, I'd be gracious! It buzzes once and then twice and repeats.)
Anyway, I started in the thread above only to find that I now needed to download Odin. This, surprisingly, was difficult. I found this site (http://odindownload.com/) which I am convinced is some sort of hacked version of Odin because when I tried to install from there, my Symantic warned me. When I disabled it, the file tried to install a bunch of bloatware/spyware. It EVENTUALLY gave me Odin.
FYI, this thread was of no use. No download links.
Later on, after searching for something unrelated, I got to a "better" site. Unlike the link above, this site has a zip file compared to the bloat-ridden executable.
I learned that I had to use Odin 3.07 and NOT Odin 3.09. Odin 3.09 did not have the PDA button that would be central to me flashing the ROM to the phone.
I started my journey on the thread for the Stock AT&T Firmware Collection. I learned that the thread uses the last three characters of the build name to identify the build. For example, 4.3's build name is I537UCUBML2 but was referred to as "ML2". This was a bit confusing but I got the hang of it. I then went over to the 4.4.2 rooting thread. It was there that I read Sunderwear says that you need to downgrade to 4.3 to root 4.4. I was grateful that AT&T only updated me to 4.3!
Sunderwear's second post described how to root 4.4.2 if you had a rooted 4.3. Since I hadn't done that yet, I proceeded back to the firmware collection and found the thread to root my 4.3 phone.
I downloaded the files and loaded up the first file to flash. I made the mistake of keeping my phone plugged in while trying to put it in download mode. It was when I stumbled upon this page that gave me the clue that my phone had to be disconnected first before going into download mode.
Once done, I clicked Start and Odin flashed my phone! It took about 2-3 minutes.
The next step was to do saferoot. The thread didn't link it so here it is.
SafeRoot requires your phone to be in USB debugging mode. Directions were found by googling. You go to Settings, About Device, and click Build Number until you get a message saying you have enabled developer mode. Then go back out one screen and go into Debugging options and enable USB debugging.
One installed I rebooted the phone and everything worked...except for wifi and "some other stuff". The thread warned you about this so I didn't worry. I flashed the next file and rebooted. Updated SuperSU and everything worked!!
I verified that I had root by installing Root Checker.
All was great with 4.3! Now for what turned out to be the more agonizing part: Upgrading to 4.4.2.
Going back to the 4.4.2 rooting thread, I learned that all I needed to do was install SafeTrap to update to KitKat and then flash a couple more files. I downloaded pwnedkitkat.zip (link in the thread) and then installed SafeTrap. I presume that SafeTrap is some sort of bootstraping method of updating the firmware.
I copied the SafeTrap apk file, along with pwnedkitkat and the updated superSU zip files to my external SD card. Once everything was copied, I installed SafeTrap and then opened it. SafeTrap then offered me the option to install Recovery Mode. Once done, I restarted my phone.
I noticed a new splash screen after the Samsung splashscreen. I clicked the Menu button (left of home) to start the recovery process. I clicked "Install" and pointed it to the pwnedkitkat.zip file. This took the longest. Probably took 15 minutes but felt like an eternity. I wasn't sure if my phone bricked when the screen turned off! But upon turning it back on, it was still going.
The bar moved very slowly. But remained patient. After a long 15-20 minutes, it updated! SafeTrap gave me the option to reboot there but I followed the directions and installed SuperSU from the SD card. It was a quick install.
I restarted the phone! I was done!! Right?
My phone got stuck on the AT&T splash screen! I started to panic! What did I do wrong?!
I missed Sunderwear's step five:
5.Put your phone in download mode and flash the 4.4.2 stock boot.tar.md5 kernel and your phone will boot after a few minutes with root access enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Goes to show you to read everything. I missed it due to the line break. I downloaded the boot.tar.md5 file and put the phone back into download mode and push it via PDA in Odin (I presume PDA. It wasn't explicit.)
After a few hours of chewing my nails and wondering if I bricked it:
http://imgur.com/a/UFg6u#F5qFTdq
So thanks to everyone! Now if I could only unbrick my Skyrocket!

Outstanding instructions! Thank you for this. I wish all the instructions were as clear and detailed as this is.
:good:

I tried like hell to flash my first Android (Samsung S2 Skyrocket) only to brick it. (FWIW, if you can tell me how to fix it, I'd be gracious! It buzzes once and then twice and repeats.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you mean it vibrates every 2 seconds and doesn't turn on?

:good:

Great instructions and great story. Sounds like what most people like me go through every time we try to do something like this.

jimmietilt said:
do you mean it vibrates every 2 seconds and doesn't turn on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. The last time I looked into this was almost two years ago. It just sits in my drawer now.

dajabec said:
Great instructions and great story. Sounds like what most people like me go through every time we try to do something like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what got me was all the new terminology and unfamiliarity of flashing. Jailbreaking an iPhone (which I've done before I had an Android) is pretty simple. It's pretty much point and click. But ROMs, flashing...these all have definitions which can be a bit overwhelming, even to a technical person such as myself. I've compiled Linux kernels from scratch!
But there's something about making your phone unusable. Something that I cannot live without, especially as I'm searching for a job.
It's nerve-wracking and I especially got nervous when I was putting KitKat on since it took so long. But overall, I'm glad I did it.

Mike, I wish everyone's instructions were like yours. I am in a similar boat as you, currently on 4.2.2 rooted and unable to do an OTA. I am not really sure what to do as I do not want my phone to be wiped. Did you bring your phone to an ATT store or a Device Support Center? And when they flashed 4.3 did your phone lose anything?

Agent. said:
Mike, I wish everyone's instructions were like yours. I am in a similar boat as you, currently on 4.2.2 rooted and unable to do an OTA. I am not really sure what to do as I do not want my phone to be wiped. Did you bring your phone to an ATT store or a Device Support Center? And when they flashed 4.3 did your phone lose anything?
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Backup using Samsung kies and go find the 4.3 Odin package. Hell I just use the Google backup feature which is good enough for me.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

rdh28 said:
Backup using Samsung kies and go find the 4.3 Odin package. Hell I just use the Google backup feature which is good enough for me.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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I don't want to go through all of the trouble of reconfiguring all of my settings, restoring all of my app specific stuff, and just getting everything back the way I had it. Does Kies backup every little thing or just app data and contacts etc?

Agent. said:
I don't want to go through all of the trouble of reconfiguring all of my settings, restoring all of my app specific stuff, and just getting everything back the way I had it. Does Kies backup every little thing or just app data and contacts etc?
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Not sure but if you really want to upgrade it's worth the thirty minutes it takes to reconfigure
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Agent. said:
I don't want to go through all of the trouble of reconfiguring all of my settings, restoring all of my app specific stuff, and just getting everything back the way I had it. Does Kies backup every little thing or just app data and contacts etc?
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Use Titanium Backup. Just make sure you don't restore system apps and you'll be fine.

rdh28 said:
Not sure but if you really want to upgrade it's worth the thirty minutes it takes to reconfigure
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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I know, I will probably do it this summer, I'm just really busy right now and can't afford to risk anything happen to my phone
Devo7v said:
Use Titanium Backup. Just make sure you don't restore system apps and you'll be fine.
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The system apps are one of the primary issues as that is what needs to be reconfigured, other apps can be backed up and restored easily.

Agent. said:
I am not really sure what to do as I do not want my phone to be wiped. Did you bring your phone to an ATT store or a Device Support Center? And when they flashed 4.3 did your phone lose anything?
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I took mine to the AT&T device support center. I called before going in and they pretty much told me it was going to be destructive. I had previously wiped my phone earlier that day in the hopes that it would receive the OTA update.
I'm not going to lie: it's nerve-wracking, but straight forward. I know sometimes it helps to have someone hold your hand while you do it. And for me, it was definitely in the camp of, "What am I going to do if my phone craps out on me?"
But like what someone else said: you can back up your settings within Keis. I didn't. I just did a wipe. I backed up my photos but that's about it. Everything else was in the cloud. The one thing I should have done was transfer my Authenticator keys to another device because I couldn't log into AWS (which does not give out backup codes like Google). I did end up switching to Authy (I can't link to it since I'm such a new user but you can find it in the Play Store) which allows you to have more than one device. It shares your secret key between devices so it's technically less secure. But I needed the flexibility in case my phone crapped out on me again.
Pro Tip: to install all your apps again, go to the Google play store on your device and click "My Apps". Long hold one of the apps and then select the check boxes of the apps you want to install.

And hey if you run into anything there's plenty of people who check this forum regularly. I've managed to root 4.2.2 , 4.3, and 4.4.2 while retaining full functionality, just from this forum...the information is out there good luck!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Agent. said:
I know, I will probably do it this summer, I'm just really busy right now and can't afford to risk anything happen to my phone
The system apps are one of the primary issues as that is what needs to be reconfigured, other apps can be backed up and restored easily.
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Click to collapse
What system apps need to be reconfigured? I can't really see that many that it would take you more than 15 to 20 minutes.

Thank you guys, I need to get my phone serviced anyway as there is a yellow dot in the top left of the screen that won't go away. So if AT&T sends me a new phone I can do all of the dirty work and then transfer everything side by side from the old device. If they won't for whatever reason I will do what you guys suggested. So just to be clear I should follow the instructions to Odin to 4.3, root, then follow the upgrade/root instructions to 4.4.2?

Agent. said:
So just to be clear I should follow the instructions to Odin to 4.3, root, then follow the upgrade/root instructions to 4.4.2?
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I personally thing this is better since if you have 4.4.2 already, you have to downgrade to 4.3, root it and then put 4.4.2 on it.