[Q]Restore Galaxy S4 Active to Stock AT&T Firmware? - Galaxy S 4 Active Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello! This is my going to be my first post, so please bear with me.
I own a Samsung Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-I537) from AT&T. I've owned the device for about 6 months now and love it. Recently, I encountered a problem with connecting to GApps/Google services and adding a Google Account.
I rooted my S4 Active with this method from geohot I found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2347793
After tooling around with it for a day, I had trouble getting on the Play Store. My screen displayed "No Connection; Retry). After trying various solutions I removed my Google Account from the device.
When I couldn't log back in to my Google Account, I disabled 2-step verification and tried application-specific passwords. No avail.
I performed many factory reset, both from the Settings page and by a hard reset. I've wiped all the user data, so I have no apps or anything.
I keep getting this error message, see attachment below.
TD;LR #1 : I rooted my GS4a and I can't use my Google Account. Period.
My guess is that I need to restore the stock firmware onto my Galaxy S4 Active. I haven't been able to find a safe method of doing this yet. I think that this will "restore" my device as if I was doing this to an iOS device (I'm a convert from the Apple ecosystem )
Does anyone know how to flash the stock TouchWiz firmware onto the Galaxy S4 Active. I'm open to alternative solutions too, such as Cyanogenmod or stock Android 4.4.
TD;LR #2 : I need to flash stock firmware or something on my GS4a!
I appreciate all the help I can get. For now, I'm sitting with the Amazon Appstore and Google Chrome for Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, etc.
-Z3RODay

The method used for rooting shouldn't cause any problems with your phone since it only touches a couple files. I doubt that rooting your phone caused GApps to stop working, I'm guessing that either a root file got deleted or another app is incompatible and causing problems.
You're asking how to return your phone to stock and you're correct in that it will "restore" your device, but in doing so it will completely wipe your device and you will lose everything. It will essentially return your phone to the state of when you first pulled it out of the box. This question has been asked and answered a few times and you could probably find the answer by searching, but I'll post the answer here too. For the i537 below are the only known ways to get stock firmware back on your phone:
Devo7v said:
You can Odin back to a pre-release version and have a fully functioning phone, but you will no longer receive official OTA updates (read more about this option here), or
You can take it to the Samsung Experience Shop at your local Best Buy and have them restore your phone to official stock MF3 (read more about this option here).
Other than that I don't really know what else you can do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Devo7v said:
The method used for rooting shouldn't cause any problems with your phone since it only touches a couple files. I doubt that rooting your phone caused GApps to stop working, I'm guessing that either a root file got deleted or another app is incompatible and causing problems.
You're asking how to return your phone to stock and you're correct in that it will "restore" your device, but in doing so it will completely wipe your device and you will lose everything. It will essentially return your phone to the state of when you first pulled it out of the box. This question has been asked and answered a few times and you could probably find the answer by searching, but I'll post the answer here too. For the i537 below are the only known ways to get stock firmware back on your phone:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much! I'm going to take my phone to Best Buy tonight. I backed up everything on my SD card which is still intact (Thank God!).

Related

For seasoned developers: I337 NC1 At&t crisis-help sought

Note: Relevant device info will be provided below.
Dear techwizards and wannabe,
I've been trying to root my phone for a while, I've done it before: both my S II and S III were international variants, and rooting those devices was very simple. But after getting an S IV from America and consensually downloading a samsung issued update -- I had yet to read up on the disadvantages of knox -- my rooting and android experience took a turn for the worse.
Long story short -- I know developers are a proud bunch who value their time -- I tried rooting my phone yesterday after almost smashing my phone on a coffee table. They say it's a well known side effect of Touchwiz, but I'll leave that to you.
I used a towelroot.com root -- a wonderful tool, if I may say so. After that, I visited the CM website and picked out the compatible CM11. I never got to flashing it though, as my problems arose while installing a recovery.
I had downloaded an app, a something recovery or another. They had an option to flash recoveries on there--it would download your recovery for you and do all the work, which seemed plausible as most video tutorials demonstrated. To my astonishment, doing so bricked my phone.
I tracked back, looked for the samsung stock rom, downloaded all 2.2 gb's of it and flashed it. It worked. My phone was functional but I suspect something within it stinks. My device, apparently for security reasons, wont let my wifi or 4g to establish a connection. It's making it impossible for me to fix this problem as I can't root my device or flash a custom rom.
About Device:
Pre problem I was running a:
SGH-I337UCUFNC1 baseband. Build Number ending with: NC1.
Android version: 4.2.2
Post problem:
Baseband: I337UCUFNC1
Build Number: JSS15J.I337UCUEMK2
Android version 4.3.
If I could find my original stock 4.2.2 NC1 version and get simple instructions on how to re-install it back to stock version, I'd be very grateful.
If you know how I could fix the internet issue on the MK2 one, and provide some simple instructions of how to root it, I'd be grateful too.
If you think neither would work, and have something else in mind, Im open to your suggestions.
Much Regards,
Y
androidshmandroid said:
Note: Relevant device info will be provided below.
Dear techwizards and wannabe,
I've been trying to root my phone for a while, I've done it before: both my S II and S III were international variants, and rooting those devices was very simple. But after getting an S IV from America and consensually downloading a samsung issued update -- I had yet to read up on the disadvantages of knox -- my rooting and android experience took a turn for the worse.
Long story short -- I know developers are a proud bunch who value their time -- I tried rooting my phone yesterday after almost smashing my phone on a coffee table. They say it's a well known side effect of Touchwiz, but I'll leave that to you.
I used a towelroot.com root -- a wonderful tool, if I may say so. After that, I visited the CM website and picked out the compatible CM11. I never got to flashing it though, as my problems arose while installing a recovery.
I had downloaded an app, a something recovery or another. They had an option to flash recoveries on there--it would download your recovery for you and do all the work, which seemed plausible as most video tutorials demonstrated. To my astonishment, doing so bricked my phone.
I tracked back, looked for the samsung stock rom, downloaded all 2.2 gb's of it and flashed it. It worked. My phone was functional but I suspect something within it stinks. My device, apparently for security reasons, wont let my wifi or 4g to establish a connection. It's making it impossible for me to fix this problem as I can't root my device or flash a custom rom.
About Device:
Pre problem I was running a:
SGH-I337UCUFNC1 baseband. Build Number ending with: NC1.
Android version: 4.2.2
Post problem:
Baseband: I337UCUFNC1
Build Number: JSS15J.I337UCUEMK2
Android version 4.3.
If I could find my original stock 4.2.2 NC1 version and get simple instructions on how to re-install it back to stock version, I'd be very grateful.
If you know how I could fix the internet issue on the MK2 one, and provide some simple instructions of how to root it, I'd be grateful too.
If you think neither would work, and have something else in mind, Im open to your suggestions.
Much Regards,
Y
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two things:
1. You're posting in the wrong forum, this is the forum for the S4 Active i537, a different phone than the regular S4 i337.
2. The i337 had a locked bootloader that cannot be unlocked. Therefore it is impossible to install a custom recovery other than SafeStrap and it is impossible to install ROMs that are not TouchWiz-based ROMs.
Good luck.

[Q] Note 3 Circling the drain?

I used the towelroot method last June (I think) to root my AT&T Note 3. Stupid me, accidentally deleted Magazine rather than freezing it. Ever since, I keep getting Touchwhiz has stopped working with the OK prompt at various intervals. no matter what; when I receive a new email, It gives me the email has stopped working routine. I can hit the OK button and tap my email icon and access my email without a problem.
I tried reinstalling Magazine and Lounge, but that didn't help. Now; as of Friday; the latest update of Kies fails to read my phone.
I've read so many different causes and solutions, and tried nearly all of them that made any sense, but to no avail. I've searched the forum, and Googled it for months now, but haven't found a solution.
Last ditch effort is to be scolded and told how stupid I am (which I already know) and to search the forum, which I have and found multiple hits. Most with a different solution, but, so far; no fix.
Sorry. Edited to include: AT&T Note 3 SM-900A Ver. 4.4.2 N900AUCCUCN2 Build KOT 49H.N900AUCUCNC2
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!
Fix
So I would suggest a complete wipe and using Odin to go back to a full stock install. The link below will walk you through it and you have to use the individual files and not the all in one, but it should fix the issues. You wont have Root anymore but I have found you can get a lot of the things you wanted root for without it now.
http://http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-3-att/general/kitkat-4-4-4-n900aucudnl1-odin-tars-t2999317
Link appears to be broken.
I need root access. If I flashed back to stock ROM, couldn't I re-root with towelroot and be a little more careful this time?
I've done that exact thing before

[Q] Options for Stock Unrooted S5 requiring airwatch and encryption

I have an ATT S5 (SM-G900A), completely stock, unrooted, updated to the latest 5.0 OTA update. My requirements for my phone are that it be able to pass Airwatch checks and that it be able to be encrypted (Personal device used at work). Some background first:
Last time I tried to play around with rooting, other mods, and whatnot was on my ATT S3 (I think I747?) and I discovered that an unspecified combination of rooting, installing a custom loader (CWM in my case) and installing a custom mod (Cyanogenmod at the time) made my phone unable to encrypt. At the time I was not required to use Airwatch, but encryption was required for my phone to connect to work, so I gave up on the whole lot.
I have now discovered that ATT, in their infinite wisdom, has replaced the S Voice drive mode with their own "ATT Drive Mode", and it's been verified they went so far as to remove the related APKs from the phone entirely. For those unaware, S Voice Drive mode is an feature of S Voice that (when turned on) reads out all callers and text messages, and then verbally prompts you for actions; reply, answer, ignore, etc. It allows fully hands free functionality. ATT Drive Mode, on the other hand, automatically kicks in whenever speeds of 20 MPH are detected (even if you're a passenger), rejects all calls and texts excluding a user-defined 5 person list, and essentially makes your phone useless anytime you're in a car. The goal is to "reduce texting and distracted driving", but as I'm on-call as part of my job and need to at least be aware of texts that come in within 10 minutes of receipt, it actually makes my drive much more dangerous. ATT Drive mode is a good idea for teens, perhaps, but i'm not a teen.
This brings me to my question: What are my options?
--Does rooting break my ability to encrypt? I know airwatch will flag, but I'm thinking there's a possibility of being able to root, put a custom loader on my phone, and then restore stock with that custom loader, whereupon I can try to install the drive mode APK...which leads me to my next question:
--Does having a custom loader (like safestrap or CWM or whatever is in use nowadays) break my ability to encrypt?
--Does anyone know of a way to install the S Voice drive mode in the G900A? I tried searching, but the only references involved being rooted, or ended with something vague like "download a stock rom and find the apk using root explorer" as the solution (which is vague to me because I don't know which stock rom to use, what apk to look for, and last time I used root explorer on my s3, it needed root...)
Honestly, the ideal solution would be something like the stock rom from the international version that would run on my ATT version...but I don't know if such a thing exists or is possible. I don't mind Samsung's cruft, but I do dislike ATT's lobotomizing of my phone to push their own little product that treats me like a kid. I know that I am less safe as a driver without the S Voice drive mode than I was with it.
I take it I have no options? And that no one knows how rooting affects encryption?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
sheaiden said:
I take it I have no options? And that no one knows how rooting affects encryption?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will make it easy for you. Since you took the 5.0 OTA update rooting is not possible anymore. Also there is no way to downgrade to KitKat which was rootable. Sorry. Not much you can do until someone finds a way to root 5.0. If you find the S Voice Drive app, you can side load it and see if it works.
Waiting4MyAndroid said:
I will make it easy for you. Since you took the 5.0 OTA update rooting is not possible anymore. Also there is no way to downgrade to KitKat which was rootable. Sorry. Not much you can do until someone finds a way to root 5.0. If you find the S Voice Drive app, you can side load it and see if it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, while I greatly appreciate the fact that you took the time to reply (seriously! at least you took the time!), this is neither easy nor related to the questions I asked. If you look at my post, I'm not asking "how can I root", I'm asking three rather different questions:
--Does rooting break my ability to encrypt? I know airwatch will flag, but I'm thinking there's a possibility of being able to root, put a custom loader on my phone, and then restore stock with that custom loader, whereupon I can try to install the drive mode APK...which leads me to my next question:
--Does having a custom loader (like safestrap or CWM or whatever is in use nowadays) break my ability to encrypt?
--Does anyone know of a way to install the S Voice drive mode in the G900A? I tried searching, but the only references involved being rooted, or ended with something vague like "download a stock rom and find the apk using root explorer" as the solution (which is vague to me because I don't know which stock rom to use, what apk to look for, and last time I used root explorer on my s3, it needed root...)
In fact, I am unable to remain rooted (Airwatch; it's part of the post title), and the whole point and thrust of my question lies in the fact that I am looking to find out what affects encryption and what options I have as far as getting S Voice Drive mode on my phone while staying Airwatch compliant (not rooted). In addition, "if you can find the s voice drive app" is part of the problem too, as evidenced by the third question I asked above; I don't know where to find said app.
Does anyone know anything regarding what I was actually asking?
Everything that you want to do requires ROOT! Safstrap needs root, CWM will brick you phone since the bootloader is locked. Again, there is no way as of now to root the S5 with 5.0 att OTA.
Here is the link to download the GS4 S Voice app. You can try and side load it,
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oe7i2g81iuhjv38/S-Voice_Android_phone_J.apk?dl=0
Waiting4MyAndroid said:
Everything that you want to do requires ROOT! Safstrap needs root, CWM will brick you phone since the bootloader is locked. Again, there is no way as of now to root the S5 with 5.0 att OTA.
Here is the link to download the GS4 S Voice app. You can try and side load it,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, I'll start with that sideloading, and test it out. Thanks! As far as the rest, I suppose that does clarify some things (that I admittedly already knew), so I do appreciate it, but it still does leave the answers to the other questions. I can infer, of course, that the answer to whether having a custom bootloader on the Galaxy S5 breaks encryption will be dependent on whether root breaks the encryption, since as you pointed out custom bootloaders need root to install, but the fantasy I entertained for a little while was rooting when there's a method (hope springs eternal, so I'm hoping it will eventually be possible), installing a custom bootloader so I can do things like backups and sideload, getting the proper apk's installed for the drive app, and then unrooting it so I can connect it via airwatch to my work's network. Perhaps I should have marked this as a solidly theoretical question, since as you said, there currently exists no root. I just want to know, with the unique way that Samsung implemented Knox and the encryption on the S5, what will break encryption and what won't?
Of course, there is a side question brought up by all this...how possible is it to load another firmware on my phone? as in, use Odin to put the tmobile image on my phone. That is likely a bad example, since I'm fairly certain there are actual hardware differences between the ATT and the tmobile models, but the concept still stands. At what level are the hardware configurations different between phone companies?
sheaiden said:
Awesome, I'll start with that sideloading, and test it out. Thanks! As far as the rest, I suppose that does clarify some things (that I admittedly already knew), so I do appreciate it, but it still does leave the answers to the other questions. I can infer, of course, that the answer to whether having a custom bootloader on the Galaxy S5 breaks encryption will be dependent on whether root breaks the encryption, since as you pointed out custom bootloaders need root to install, but the fantasy I entertained for a little while was rooting when there's a method (hope springs eternal, so I'm hoping it will eventually be possible), installing a custom bootloader so I can do things like backups and sideload, getting the proper apk's installed for the drive app, and then unrooting it so I can connect it via airwatch to my work's network. Perhaps I should have marked this as a solidly theoretical question, since as you said, there currently exists no root. I just want to know, with the unique way that Samsung implemented Knox and the encryption on the S5, what will break encryption and what won't?
Of course, there is a side question brought up by all this...how possible is it to load another firmware on my phone? as in, use Odin to put the tmobile image on my phone. That is likely a bad example, since I'm fairly certain there are actual hardware differences between the ATT and the tmobile models, but the concept still stands. At what level are the hardware configurations different between phone companies?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will not be able to change your bootloader period... At this point the locked bootloader is unbreakable. That leads to your next question about tmobile and that's a no as well due to the locked down bootloader.
Even with root you won't be able to do anything you've suggested due to the locked bootloader.
OPOfreak said:
You will not be able to change your bootloader period... At this point the locked bootloader is unbreakable. That leads to your next question about tmobile and that's a no as well due to the locked down bootloader.
Even with root you won't be able to do anything you've suggested due to the locked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. I had been under the impression that I had seen people referring to installing clockworkmod or some similar thing on an S5, but I think I may be getting caught up in terminology; those are recoveries, aren't they? not bootloaders? Or perhaps people were posting about the other S5s with unlocked bootloaders. 15 different versions of S5, and I get stuck with the most apple-like of all the carriers....(in the sense of "you take what we give you and don't play with it!")
So, assuming I don't manage to get it installed via the link Waiting4MyAndroid was kind enough to post, I think that rules out anything other than the method of:
--wait for a root method to be established for the new OTA
--root, install the drive apk
--unroot, so I can encrypt and pass airwatch
Does anyone know if the old method of rooting broke encryption? and whether encryption was able to be performed after unrooting again?
Edit: Attempted to Sideload. Sadly, it is telling me "App not installed" (other sideloads do work; it's not the unknown sources setting). I'm thinking either the apk is marked for s4, and it's not compatible, or it's trying to overwrite files from the established svoice system, and that's not allowed. I suppose if someone has the drive apks from a tmobile S5 image or some such thing (same model, different carrier), then I could try again, but unfortunately this apk doesn't work. Thanks for the attempt, Waiting4MyAndroid!

Note 4 problems after marshmallow and tmobile update, am trying to root/problems

My note 4 was bought used, no warranty. When I bought it, it was rooted, but no custom rom, worked great. Once lollipop came out, I wiped and returned to non-root and was able to get the update through tmobile. Didn't bother rerooting as things were ok. Marshmallow udpate came, and I noticed a lot of screen lag. Less than a week ago, tmobile did some sort of update and now, the phone shuts off and restarts on it's own, has very slow screen response (nothing, and then tries to do the same function 10 times in a row, messaging is very slow, types the same words several times over). I did a factory re-set twice. Once, I reloaded all my favorite apps, etc. still bad, so then I did factory reset but did not add anything or bring in my contacts, etc. I am planning on buying the note 7 in a 3-4 months, but in the meantime, would like to continue to use my note 4. I tried doing the rooting method using odin, it appeared to work ok (got the successful notice), triggered the knox thing, but..when I use a root checker, it says phone is not rooted. I am hoping that by rooting and putting a new rom on there I can fix this thing in the interim. So..suggestions on what to do next? Let me know what additional information you need. Could it be the phone itself and not the software? Suggestions on a cheap interim phone? links to relevant threads also appreciated. Is there a better way to wipe everything and start new that I am did not do? I did a factory reset. I have two batteries, which I changed out intermittently to see if it as a bad battery. Android version 6.0.1, security patch level july 1, 2016 Kernel 3.10.40-7804088
Knox version 2.6
You need to give more information on what you did to root. What version is your phone, what files did you odin, and did you flash SuperSU?
more info
goosa23 said:
You need to give more information on what you did to root. What version is your phone, what files did you odin, and did you flash SuperSU?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No to supersu? it's sm N910t, I think what finally worked what odin 3.9 version and flashed the stock that is meant to go with this particular phone to downgrade it down to lollipop. The first few times, I got fail with Odin, but realized that I had marked the option on the phone to keep it from being wiped/flashed if someone found it, once I got that off, I got a successful message. I used the following link and did all of the things mentioned on a link that I am too newbie to be allowed to post, apparently.
but it goes with 3.7 odin, flash the stock firmware from the phone model, and get to the reset button, if successul and then supersu appears.
I got as far as step 8, with odin showing the green 'reset'. But when I went back to the phone, I did not have supersu.
I've tried to do it again, but I get 'fail'
Try out the toolkit that is in the forum. https://tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=...share_tid=2997946&share_fid=3793&share_type=t
[TOOLKIT] SKIPSOFT ANDROID TOOLKIT - GALAXY NOTE 4 - Drivers, Root, Recovery + MORE
Sent from my SM-N910T3 using XDA-Developers mobile app
The link takes me to a 404 page not found, is part of it missing?
send me the link by private message so i can see what you are doing?

Google pay not working after unroot

Hi I've been using a custom rom for quite some time now but I decided to go back to stock as I don't really see the benefits.
the issue I'm having is despite flashing a stock rom in Odin and seemingly completely unrooting the device, apps like google pay aren't allowing me to use them as they say the device has been rooted or modified in some way.
in the settings it clearly says my device is official status, does anyone know how to overcome this issue please? I prefer to use google pay to my cards as I often lose them if I take them out
thanks
Drizzy xS said:
Hi I've been using a custom rom for quite some time now but I decided to go back to stock as I don't really see the benefits.
the issue I'm having is despite flashing a stock rom in Odin and seemingly completely unrooting the device, apps like google pay aren't allowing me to use them as they say the device has been rooted or modified in some way.
in the settings it clearly says my device is official status, does anyone know how to overcome this issue please? I prefer to use google pay to my cards as I often lose them if I take them out
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well it was probably written in every thread when you downloaded twrp and followed the guide to root that this was going to happen. its pretty wide spread knowledge if you'd care to have investigate a bit before jumping ship. been like this for years and years so nothing new or "hidden".
reading goes a long way. even now if you'd have taken a minute to investigate you'd see the futility of what you want to accomplish. ( going to stock and expecting it to be as it once was before knox was tripped)
moreover there are guides on how to hide google pay and installing a version that does not detect root or a modified system.
search is your friend.
edit
there is one thing that i just though of that you might have forgotten to do and just might work though.
during the rooting/twrp process you had to go to dev options and toggle the OEM unlock.
go there and lock back OEM. this will wipe device so beware.
also when you fully flashed back the 4 md5 files with odin, was data wiped?

Categories

Resources