Database Develop

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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

Successful Unroot Options

I am returning my phone back to stock so I can trade it in. I found a few threads on here that have ways to unroot but some seem questionable. Can anyone point me in the right direction to unroot an official Kit Kat updated device?
Thanks

Assuming you have supersu, uninstall all of your apps that have root access (for safestrap, busybox, etc make sure to uninstall the in-app stuff first), i would reboot here but that may not be necessary...then open up supersu and choose "full unroot". Then factory reset and double check status is official ☺
If you get a custom screen after that try rerooting then full unroot with supersu again
Edit: I stand corrected - flashing NC2 with Odin is easiest

Yeah I have su. So before I do this should I restore my stock rom I have backed up via safestrap? I am currently running dynamic kat 5.0

You can also reinstall factory firmware with Odin, then factory reset.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703006

Awesome, I will give that a try when my upgrade is closer. Thank you

440bro said:
You can also reinstall factory firmware with Odin, then factory reset.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703006
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
konaman said:
Awesome, I will give that a try when my upgrade is closer. Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea @440bro 's suggestion is way easier since Odin removes all of that! unroot with SuperSU does work but it's a long way around for just returning to stock

please help
440bro said:
You can also reinstall factory firmware with Odin, then factory reset.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703006[/QUOTE
]I have similar situation except I have an iMac running OS X Mavericks. Could anyone tell me if it's possible to unroot my AT&T Note 3 to stock ROM to sell? I installed stock custom rom using safestrap but when I reboot or turn device on, I get a safestrap enabled cartoon thing asking to continue or recover. I don't think people will want to buy phone if they saw this sick looking robot thing when they switch it on. Please help...Phone too big for my hands. Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

braddy66 said:
440bro said:
You can also reinstall factory firmware with Odin, then factory reset.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703006[/QUOTE
]I have similar situation except I have an iMac running OS X Mavericks. Could anyone tell me if it's possible to unroot my AT&T Note 3 to stock ROM to sell? I installed stock custom rom using safestrap but when I reboot or turn device on, I get a safestrap enabled cartoon thing asking to continue or recover. I don't think people will want to buy phone if they saw this sick looking robot thing when they switch it on. Please help...Phone too big for my hands. Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you backup stock rom before you flashed the custom rom in safestrap? if yes, reflash your backup in safestrap then the steps in post #2 should work. If no, I'm really not sure how going through that unroot process with SuperSU while still on a custom rom would work out...Odin is much easier and more reliable so if there's any way you can get to a PC you might want to go that route.
Also if you're selling online you might find some people who do want to buy a rooted Note 3...I sold a phone on swappa a few months ago and there were people looking specifically for rooted phones. The 'cartoon thing' is safestrap and is exactly what you want to see when you turn on a rooted AT&T Note 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

thank you
braddy66 said:
440bro said:
You can also reinstall factory firmware with Odin, then factory reset.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2703006[/QUOTE
]I have similar situation except I have an iMac running OS X Mavericks. Could anyone tell me if it's possible to unroot my AT&T Note 3 to stock ROM to sell? I installed stock custom rom using safestrap but when I reboot or turn device on, I get a safestrap enabled cartoon thing asking to continue or recover. I don't think people will want to buy phone if they saw this sick looking robot thing when they switch it on. Please help...Phone too big for my hands. Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
brisinger08 said:
braddy66 said:
Did you backup stock rom before you flashed the custom rom in safestrap? if yes, reflash your backup in safestrap then the steps in post #2 should work. If no, I'm really not sure how going through that unroot process with SuperSU while still on a custom rom would work out...Odin is much easier and more reliable so if there's any way you can get to a PC you might want to go that route.
Also if you're selling online you might find some people who do want to buy a rooted Note 3...I sold a phone on swappa a few months ago and there were people looking specifically for rooted phones. The 'cartoon thing' is safestrap and is exactly what you want to see when you turn on a rooted AT&T Note 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your feel good message...made my day. I thought I backed up stock rom however being an obviously root virgin...When I went to factory reset, everything was gone except for my ugly cartoony friend. Luckily I am able to read in small doses so I was able to do whatever it was I did to get her running factory...still rooted and unlocked. When you mentioned that people on swappa might be interested in a rooted device WITH my lonely friend at startup? I felt all fuzzy. I will post an ad on swappa later today in your honor my mysterious phoneguardian angel. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Looks like I'll need to go the long route to unroot. I have a Mac book and I can't find Odin for it

at&t stock firmware download

hi
i need to download at&t latest stock firmware to flash it on my note5 as i soft bricked it.
where can i find it?
nothing on sam mobile ..
please help

please help

Unfortunately, the only way to get firmware for att devices is usually from att Ota updates... rarely does it get posted on sammobile.
You may need to take the phone to att and see if they can reflash it. I was on att for many years and I recently left their service because of this issue and their cost.

dandroid7 said:
Unfortunately, the only way to get firmware for att devices is usually from att Ota updates... rarely does it get posted on sammobile.
You may need to take the phone to att and see if they can reflash it. I was on att for many years and I recently left their service because of this issue and their cost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is false, you can pull it yourself using the Samsung new kies tool(or whatever it's called). Look up the instructions, but be warned it will factory wipe your phone.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

I was not able to do so on my previous note 3 or my note 8... both were att. Maybe I did something wrong, but it never worked for me when I tried it.
If my info is incorrect on this, my apologies.
Give it a try and see if it works.

oh.. didn't know it is so complicated .. i always used no phones from carrier .
all i want to do is download tar file and flash it through odin..
i hate kies and otas...

I found att phones to be a pain in the butt... that was one of the biggest reasons I went to tmobile... because I like to root.
Att is terrible at providing updates, their Ota process is stupid - why can't their updates also be available online for download? the locked bootloaders totally Rob you of the joys of android.
Good riddance att!

How long does it take to get 5.1.1 OTA?

AT&T released 5.1.1 a couple of weeks ago, and I still haven't gotten a notification on my phone that the OTA update is ready to be installed. I check manually every day, too, but every time it says that the "update was interrupted" and I have to wait 24 hours. Is that because the server is busy and I'll just have to wait patiently as the update is being rolled out to AT&T phones over the air? (Yes, I know I can simply move the date forward one day and try again manually, but I don't want to inadvertently mess up the automatic OTA checks.)
I would really like to install 5.1.1 on my S6. Is there a way to speed things up? Is there an official AT&T image I can install through Kies or some other way?
Thanks!
--Ron

Make sure you have at least 4GB of storage free when you try the update. I have heard of this sort of thing happening if you don't have enough free space.

I had read that, too, but I have a 64 GB S6, with some 30 GB free, so that's not an issue.

Same here
i'm not sure why i'm not getting the update...i have an unlocked galaxy S6 at&t version.
i'm living outside the US so i'm using another sim card. Is that the problem?

I also have an unlocked AT&T S6, but I live in the U.S., so that shouldn't be an issue either.
--Ron

I know the feeling. I have been checking daily too and finally got it late last night.

Does root effect updating from SmartSwitch?

Still nothing (10/13). Is anyone else seeing the same thing? Should it really take weeks and weeks before we get this update after it's been officially released?
--Ron

Dude just flash the damn thing using odin and be at peace

How?
timde9 said:
Dude just flash the damn thing using odin and be at peace
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how I do? I download the correct file, I followed all the steps and do not work for me. I get FAIL in Odin. If someone could help me, please

Is there an *official*, AT&T-sanctioned image that I can use? Will this trip Knox?
--Ron

Is it the one in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s6/general/stock-odin-tar-files-g920aucu3boi2-t3213306
--Ron

Don't know what to tell you other than the basics.. The correct file is available in the android developnent portion of this forum.. Download make sure you put all four files in proper slots in odin and hit start.. Should wipe everything and complete unless you using the wrong model of s6 or the wrong files in the slots.. Honestly nothing is worth losing root though in my opinion.. I only want 5.1.1 so I can use. Xposed but without the ability to root the update is meaningless to me and really more of a regression to me.. But no it won't trip knox

timde9 said:
Don't know what to tell you other than the basics.. The correct file is available in the android developnent portion of this forum.. Download make sure you put all four files in proper slots in odin and hit start.. Should wipe everything and complete unless you using the wrong model of s6 or the wrong files in the slots.. Honestly nothing is worth losing root though in my opinion.. I only want 5.1.1 so I can use. Xposed but without the ability to root the update is meaningless to me and really more of a regression to me.. But no it won't trip knox
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I downloaded the correct file, unzipped and I did these 4 files, which put in its proper place and time to flash the firmware gives me error.
I'm in the OF4 version and have not received the update by air today. I restored the phone several times to see if I update and nothing appears. I searched around in various forums and can not find the solution
I bought the galaxy used and I'm not sure if the USB cable is original. Anyway, I've tried other cables and various USB ports. The last thing I did was to restore the PC and start from scratch ... it still did not work for me
I am very good at following tutorials. I have not damaged a phone or electronic equipment and has not gone bad in the process, I always get everything right, but it is the first time you see me in this situation where I can not find the solution
I think it's the cable. Anyway, where I live not sell the USB cable separately. Buy by amazon and I'm waiting for it to arrive, but if not the USB cable and anyone knows anything please help me

Make sure you. Put phone in download mode. I overlooked that when I was a noob

Finally bit the bullet and just flashed the 5.1.1 update using Odin. Very smooth process. My phone is running 5.1.1 now. And with Google automatic backup, it didn't even take that long to set up my phone again.
--Ron

Help me bring my SM-G870A back to life.

So I don't keep up with android news, and I Upgraded OTA to what I believe was 5.1.1 on my S5 Active. Then a few weeks later I accidentally deleted some pictures and saw the best way to recover them was to root the phone. So I thought no biggie I'm sure it's much easier nowadays to root and followed this guide
http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s5/general/g900and3tong3keeprootota-zip-t2862299
Odin gave me a pass result I was like cool that was easy, but when the phone rebooted it just got stuck at the Samsung Android screen.
I have probably searched every single forum on the internet with every possible keyword to fix my problem, and I just can't find a solution so I hope you guys can help.
The phone goes into download mode and recovery mode and my computer recognizes it., so that gives me a little bit of hope.
My brother has an S5 active as well if this would be of any help. I can't find the 5.1.1 G870A FW on sammobile so is there a way to extract that from another S5 Active on 5.1.1?
I hope someone can help, I did learn the lesson though never buy a phone with a locked bootloader since I'm prone to stupid mistakes like this.
Cheers

Do you know exactly what 5.1.1 version you were on? or what date you received the OTA? I can point you in the right direction for the OTA but I don't know if that will help. I have never repaired a soft brick but if I had the OTA I would load it to my SD card and try to load it in recovery mode. Maybe someone reading this can jump in and tell us if this would work.

Odin Back to s5 Active Stock. NE4
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2799754

Sgt.CM said:
Do you know exactly what 5.1.1 version you were on? or what date you received the OTA? I can point you in the right direction for the OTA but I don't know if that will help. I have never repaired a soft brick but if I had the OTA I would load it to my SD card and try to load it in recovery mode. Maybe someone reading this can jump in and tell us if this would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It shows this update in the android recovery menu, not sure if that was my current version at the time i bricked my phone
LRX21T.G870AUCU1BOC5
This is apparently 5.0 but I'm sure I got an update from att in april or may.
more info
thanhvien89 said:
Odin Back to s5 Active Stock. NE4
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2799754
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried that already but i'll try it again
EDIT: just tried it getting [aboot] Fused 2 > Binary 1

thanhvien89 said:
Odin Back to s5 Active Stock. NE4
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2799754
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This only works if you are already rooted. Can't go back if you are 5.0 or above.