[Q] First timer with restoring Rogers GS3 to factory but keep unlocked - AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III

Hey there!
So here's my situation: I recently got rid of a Rogers cellphone plan and decided to sell my GS3. Someone I know, immediately showed interest and decided to buy it from me. Good! At that moment, the device was locked to Rogers and was running stock Samsung GS3 (SGH-i747M) firmware.
That person decided to play with the phone, try to root it, flash Cyanogenmod or whatever it may be, and having failed several times, he decided to return the phone and get his money back. I shouldn't have accepted to reimburse him knowing how much he fiddled with it but I did.
Anyways too late now. The good thing is that I believe the phone is 100% functional (it boots, runs perfect and under system info shows everything as usual except under Status > Device Status, it shows modified.
I am not 100% sure of that what means but I believe it has something to do with a modified ROM or something like that.
That person supposedly unlocked the device because he was with another carrier.
Now I am putting the phone in the classifieds. Obviously I would like to have the phone back to 100% factory settings and ROM, no aftermarket stuff whatsoever BUT I'd like to keep it unlocked (if that's possible).
That way, it will be easier to resell.
So here's my questions:
What does "Device Status: Modified" really means?
How can I find out if the phone has been altered in any ways?
If it has been altered, is there a LINUX based procedure to restore EVERYTHING back to factory?
If I restore whatever has to be restored, will it re-lock the device?
As you can see, I am a total noob in that field. I would appreciate if someone can help me to prepare this device to be resold.
I don't want to cause any problems to anyone, that wouldn't be fair.
I appreciate. Thanks!!!

Okay a lot of questions, you can download the stock firmware from Samsung updates and if it is rooted you can get triangle away on the play store and reset the counter the using kies or the Samsung galaxy s3 toolkit from mskip's to flash the original firmware, your phone should be unlocked as none of the procedures should/could reloj the simple card
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 4

jimchee said:
Okay a lot of questions, you can download the stock firmware from Samsung updates and if it is rooted you can get triangle away on the play store and reset the counter the using kies or the Samsung galaxy s3 toolkit from mskip's to flash the original firmware, your phone should be unlocked as none of the procedures should/could reloj the simple card
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I have verified with an app called Root Checker Basic, and it said that the device wasn't rooted. I wonder if this is reliable.
I wiull check mskip's toolkit or Kies to restore the stock firmware.
What a pain..
Thanks jimchee for replying!!

Actually it's pretty easy but you can probably sell it just as easy if it's rooted and that way you can clear the counter, there is also a post in the Samsung sIII THREAD for AT&T that will walk you through restoring to stock, just make sure you download the file for your device the link is also in the att thread, if you have any trouble pm me and I can help, I am just a tinkerer but been doing it since my 1st original Motorola Droid
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 4

Probably the easiest approach would be to look for the Samsung S3 V7.0 toolkit post. This is a flash (programming) tool. It would easily root your phone if it needs that. Then you can use the app referred to earlier to reset the phone to an "unmodified" status.
Then finally go to the Samsung updates site as suggested and flash the phone with a stock Rogers firmware. I'd recommend a 4.1.1. version. Probably your phone will still be unlocked at this point. But if not, the stock v 4.1.1. Rogers firmware will allow you to unlock it again from an onscreen menu (search for "S3 unlock code *#197328640#"). And your phone will report an unmodified status at the end.

mrwhite0732 said:
Hey there!
So here's my situation: I recently got rid of a Rogers cellphone plan and decided to sell my GS3. Someone I know, immediately showed interest and decided to buy it from me. Good! At that moment, the device was locked to Rogers and was running stock Samsung GS3 (SGH-i747M) firmware.
That person decided to play with the phone, try to root it, flash Cyanogenmod or whatever it may be, and having failed several times, he decided to return the phone and get his money back. I shouldn't have accepted to reimburse him knowing how much he fiddled with it but I did.
Anyways too late now. The good thing is that I believe the phone is 100% functional (it boots, runs perfect and under system info shows everything as usual except under Status > Device Status, it shows modified.
I am not 100% sure of that what means but I believe it has something to do with a modified ROM or something like that.
That person supposedly unlocked the device because he was with another carrier.
Now I am putting the phone in the classifieds. Obviously I would like to have the phone back to 100% factory settings and ROM, no aftermarket stuff whatsoever BUT I'd like to keep it unlocked (if that's possible).
That way, it will be easier to resell.
So here's my questions:
What does "Device Status: Modified" really means?
How can I find out if the phone has been altered in any ways?
If it has been altered, is there a LINUX based procedure to restore EVERYTHING back to factory?
If I restore whatever has to be restored, will it re-lock the device?
As you can see, I am a total noob in that field. I would appreciate if someone can help me to prepare this device to be resold.
I don't want to cause any problems to anyone, that wouldn't be fair.
I appreciate. Thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Give this a shot.........works well. I've used it a number of times on both my phones ( SH-I747M/SH-I747 )
[ROM/RESTORE][AT&T/ROGERS/TELUS/BELL]Return to UNROOTED STOCK WITH FLASH COUNT RESET
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2363882
Once the phone is unlocked it will stay that way whether you go back to stock or not.

Related

Original Verizon Factory State!

Hello, I have a quick question for you guys that I want to verify before I do so. I am giving my brother my GNex (Verizon) and have unlocked the bootloader/rooted the GNex. My question is, since I will be transferring this phone over to him and would need to speak to a Verizon tech, Do I just reset the GNex back to the original build #? I re-locked the phone and bootloader completly using Nexus RootTool Kit. Now I am running Android Version 4.0.4 with Build Number IMM76K. I had tried to transfer it last night but the tech ended up telling me that I compromised the phone by rooting it and he could not transfer it since the Gnex was trying to pick up Sprints network and not Verizons...Although I had relocked it before calling them, I do not believe I did so with he original stock build number and Android version. Am I safe now to try and call to do the swap again? Any info will be appreciated, thanks!
marco.roman89 said:
Hello, I have a quick question for you guys that I want to verify before I do so. I am giving my brother my GNex (Verizon) and have unlocked the bootloader/rooted the GNex. My question is, since I will be transferring this phone over to him and would need to speak to a Verizon tech, Do I just reset the GNex back to the original build #? I re-locked the phone and bootloader completly using Nexus RootTool Kit. Now I am running Android Version 4.0.4 with Build Number IMM76K. I had tried to transfer it last night but the tech ended up telling me that I compromised the phone by rooting it and he could not transfer it since the Gnex was trying to pick up Sprints network and not Verizons...Although I had relocked it before calling them, I do not believe I did so with he original stock build number and Android version. Am I safe now to try and call to do the swap again? Any info will be appreciated, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They probably put notes on your account that you rooted the phone. Hopefully you played dumb on the phone and the rep didnt note the account - but even if they know you are rooted it shouldnt affect activation, just your warranty.
Im not sure how the toolkit does it, I just use ADB and Fastboot and I pushed the image over manually, relocking the bootloader after. The most recent image is for 4.1.1 Jellybean...so if you are magically on an old software they may think something is fishy.
tincbtrar said:
They probably put notes on your account that you rooted the phone. Hopefully you played dumb on the phone and the rep didnt note the account - but even if they know you are rooted it shouldnt affect activation, just your warranty.
Im not sure how the toolkit does it, I just use ADB and Fastboot and I pushed the image over manually, relocking the bootloader after. The most recent image is for 4.1.1 Jellybean...so if you are magically on an old software they may think something is fishy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I actually have the GNex with the system update software to 4.1.1 Jelly Bean ready to be installed and will just install it right now but I hope I am good to go after the install which is the latest image. I hope I am not flagged but I don't see why they can't rety now and transfer the GNex to my brothers account...thanks for the help!

[Q] help changing status from modified to normal/original

hey guys I'm having some issue changing my phone back to stock, i did some digging around and found some stuff on different models though. I'm on a t-mobile galaxy s3 sgh-t999, i rooted my phone to get WiFi tethering. found out later that the new jellybean firmware blocks it so its pretty much useless now. i unrooted my phone using mobile odin, triangle away to rest count and cwm recovery to do so. wiped cache partition and did a factory reset. the unroot was successful but my phone says modified now instead of normal or original like its supposed to. the stock rom that i flashed takes me back to 4.0.4 ics when it goes to download updates it stops at 4.1.1 after that i get a message saying my phone is modified and updates are not available. all i want is my phone back to normal like i just bought it, I'm thinking about exchanging it and I'm pretty sure they wont take it if the status reads modified. i read this thread about a root66_TMO_T889UVALL4 rom with odin that keeps everything stock and keeps the count at zero thought the whole wipe and boot process. is that something i could use on my phone? any info on how i can fix this is extremely appreciated guys thanks.
Do not flash anything.
Open the battery compartment of your phone, take the battery out, and tell us what the model number says.
Aerowinder said:
Do not flash anything.
Open the battery compartment of your phone, take the battery out, and tell us what the model number says.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tmobile SGH-T999
Use the firmware from this page, so you don't brick your phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1949687
Aerowinder said:
Use the firmware from this page, so you don't brick your phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1949687
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
one more question, like i said i just unrooted my phone do i have to root it again in order to flash the rom you liked me to?
You don't need to be rooted to flash a ROM.

[HELP]T889V Back to stock

Hi!
I have the T889V variant of the Note 2 and I have been rooted for quite a while now, but I need to go stock as I am selling my phone and the buyer wants it absolute stock. I am running Jedi X. I remember when I flashed Jedi, I chose the carrier files for Bell as I am a Virgin Mobile user (although the phone is with Wind but it is unlocked).
I have found a back-to-stock guide on here which basically told me to Odin back to stock image > root > triangle away > super SU unroot
One of the threads also has a stock BUT rooted image file. Can I use that instead to make the first two steps as one? And also, will flashing that give me stock recovery?
Finally, will I run into trouble because I chose another network's carrier files during installation (instead of Wind)?
Please someone help me. I am using the money to buy my parents their 25th anniversary gift. I am a university student and I'm on a student budget and selling this will likely be my only source of money.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app
I got your PM. Have you at any point flashed a baseband meant for any other model than the T889V? (e.g. if you applied my LTE mod or while installing some ROMs.)
If no: contact me, I'm looking for some partition dumps. Then just flash the 4.1.2 BMA3 mrRobinson rooted image through Odin. Triangle Away, then unroot (or cleaner yet: flash the stock unrooted Odin ROM.)
If yes: remember how I said in my LTE guide that the "mod permanently damages your phone, and irrevocably voids your warranty"? Well... That's the exact thing I was referring to. I haven't found a way to go back to the T889V modems, which means any attempts to genuinely go back to stock will end in boot loops and frustration. (That's what I'm thinking those partition dumps may help relieve, but I haven't tested it out yet.)
Jedi ROMs are TouchWiz based and thus contain "carrier specific content" a.k.a. CSC files, the "carrier" files which you chose on install. Since you're doing a factory reset and changing them back to Wind's, they're not going to be much of a concern here.

[Q] T-Mobile branded S3 somehow became AT&T.

When I received my S3, it was on a T-Mobile branded stock firmware 4.1.1. I wanted to try CyanogenMod, so I installed it, but didn't like it.
Here's where my problem begins. Upon wiping my phone back to stock to get rid of CyanogenMod, I find that it's now AT&T branded, despite the physical phone being a T-Mobile T999.
I tried rooting it and using CSC changers, but those tell me that the PreconfigUI is SingleCSC, and thus apparently unchangeable.
What I want to do is somehow get my phone back to T-Mobile branded stock.
P.S. I do not have a MicroSIM yet.
GraphicsApathy said:
When I received my S3, it was on a T-Mobile branded stock firmware 4.1.1. I wanted to try CyanogenMod, so I installed it, but didn't like it.
Here's where my problem begins. Upon wiping my phone back to stock to get rid of CyanogenMod, I find that it's now AT&T branded, despite the physical phone being a T-Mobile T999.
I tried rooting it and using CSC changers, but those tell me that the PreconfigUI is SingleCSC, and thus apparently unchangeable.
What I want to do is somehow get my phone back to T-Mobile branded stock.
P.S. I do not have a MicroSIM yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you go to your phone's settings => about device and check what the firmware settings are? Let's see what you have under firmware version, baseband version & build number. If possible, you may post a screen shot. Did you say you returned to stock by wiping your phone? Hardly seems likely and you would have probably needed to flash some firmware. Would you recall what you flashed?
Thanks for stepping up. My phone's info is:
Android Version is 4.1.1
Baseband is I747UCDLK3
Build is JRO03L.I747UCDLK3
I did not flash any firmware, as I had no reason to.
GraphicsApathy said:
Thanks for stepping up. My phone's info is:
Android Version is 4.1.1
Baseband is I747UCDLK3
Build is JRO03L.I747UCDLK3
I did not flash any firmware, as I had no reason to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's definitely on AT&T firmware. Apologies if I sound like I'm doubting you but are you certain it had T-Mobile firmware when you acquired it? I'd guess it was probably already an AT&T phone. If you bought it in the secondary market, there could have been some previous repairs involving parts swaps. Your safest bet may be to leave it as is and unlock for you use on T-Mobile. Trying to force on T-Mobile firmware now could result in a brick. As it is on 4.1.1, you can easily free unlock it by following the well tested method you'll find elsewhere in this forum.
No apologies needed. I forgot to state that the phone was purchased with the T-Mobile boot animation and bloatware already present, and that the model number printed below the battery is T999. I've got no clue if there was a parts swap or not. Is the method to unlock that's posted elsewhere that you're referring to the one that begins with you dialing *#197328640#? If so, i've tried it but never got the unlock message to show.
GraphicsApathy said:
No apologies needed. I forgot to state that the phone was purchased with the T-Mobile boot animation and bloatware already present, and that the model number printed below the battery is T999. I've got no clue if there was a parts swap or not. Is the method to unlock that's posted elsewhere that you're referring to the one that begins with you dialing *#197328640#? If so, i've tried it but never got the unlock message to show.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There could have been a previous JTag operation involving forced firmware installation on the MB. I've seen previous hybrid firmware involving one or other partition belonging to a different model - e.g. the modem, bootloader or something else but not the complete system.
Yes, that's the unlock method I was referring to. You won't get any confirmation that the process worked at the end. However, if you did it correctly, you would know it worked when you insert a non-compatible SIM card and it works. You should also be able to install T-Mobile apps especially the Wi-Fi calling app which is a really nice feature of T-Mobile.
I'm getting it microSIM'ed tomorrow. I'll see how that goes.
UPDATE: Successfully obtained and installed T-Mobile microSIM. Still wish to replace AT&T boot animation and bloatware with T-Mobile's, though.
GraphicsApathy said:
I'm getting it microSIM'ed tomorrow. I'll see how that goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. I'd be interested in knowing the outcome but I'll be surprised if it isn't unlocked already. Did some further research and there have been some reports of people successfully 'flashing' AT&T firmware on T-Mobile phones, and vice versa. Not sure why this should happen and conventional logic suggests the result should be a hard brick which is indeed the most common outcome. I'll also suggest you boot into download mode and see the information under bootloader. If the device has a T-Mobile bootloader, it may be possible to remove the OS via custom recovery and re-flash T-Mobile firmware.
Download mode currently gives Product Name as SGH-I747. Wiping AT&T OS via custom recovery and then installing the proper one sounds like a good lead. I eagerly await your instruction
GraphicsApathy said:
Download mode currently gives Product Name as SGH-I747. Wiping AT&T OS via custom recovery and then installing the proper one sounds like a good lead. I eagerly await your instruction
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If download mode info shows secure bootloader enabled, the phone is, to all intents and purposes, now an AT&T phone. Attempting to flash T-Mobile firmware may likely result in a brick which would require a JTag fix. I was hoping download mode would show it still had a T-Mobile bootloader which could have allowed for safe firmware installation but this does not appear to be the case. Likely the motherboard was previously replaced or it suffered a brick and AT&T firmware was JTagged on. Either way, it would be safer to leave it as is.
Bummer. I'll leave it as is then. Thank you for all the help.

[Q] A little guidance for a galaxy newbie

Hello,
I just bought my first Galaxy device (had a CDMA LG for a while, and I have a Nexus Tablet), and I am looking at how to get this new phone set up right. I bought my i747 retail, so I was unable to unlock it. However, now I'm struggling with finding the right method for upgrading, rooting, etc. I know nothing about knox or any of these Samsung intricacies. Could someone please give me a little guidance on how to go about getting to the OS and status that I'm looking for? This is what I've done so far:
Came unrooted with 4.1.2 stock rom
Unlocked using legit unlock code
Tried OTA updates, but none were available (must be because of unlock)
Rooted w/ ODIN using 4.1.1 file based of MrRobinson method. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1739426)
Now I keep getting popups like process. ... .acore,media, etc. stopped.
I'm looking to ideally get a custom recovery (either CWM or TWRP, whichever is better) and either kitkat Touchwiz or possibly kitkat nexus stock (I read somewhere that it was possible). Also, i just bought it, and have the code still, so I don't mind deleting everything if needed. Regardless, I'd like the ability to get it back to pure stock with no flash counter (I have a manufacturer's warranty I want to use if need be).
Could someone please just give me a little guidance? I'm pretty capable with rooting, etc., so you'd only need to lead me to other threads, etc. that will take me where I want to go. Thank you very much.
Before flashing or doing anything else, confirm the bootloader on your phone. Download and install the Samsung Phone Info app from the playstore and post your bootloader.
audit13 said:
Before flashing or doing anything else, confirm the bootloader on your phone. Download and install the Samsung Phone Info app from the playstore and post your bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the bad news is I already flashed using MrRobinson's instructions, and now my phone is barely workable, as things like process.android.media and Touchwiz keep crashing. I was able to install the info app though, and my bootloader is listed as I747UCDLK3. Thanks again though, and let me know what else you need from me.
I recommend starting over by flashing the stock AT&T 4.1.1 firmware from sammobile. Once flashed, boot the phone and make sure your phone is sim unlocked. If it isn't sim unlocked, unlock it using the free method or your unlock code.
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/SGH-I747/
After sim unlocking, run OTA updates until you have the latest stock AT&T ROM on your phone. Upgrading the phone's bootloader and modem is the easiest way to do it for someone that is new to the phone and custom ROMs.
audit13 said:
I recommend starting over by flashing the stock AT&T 4.1.1 firmware from sammobile. Once flashed, boot the phone and make sure your phone is sim unlocked. If it isn't sim unlocked, unlock it using the free method or your unlock code.
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/SGH-I747/
After sim unlocking, run OTA updates until you have the latest stock AT&T ROM on your phone. Upgrading the phone's bootloader and modem is the easiest way to do it for someone that is new to the phone and custom ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, but wouldn't OTA updates install Knox, which would basically void my warranty if I tried to flash anything after that? And, I've checked for OTA updates twice, once on 4.1.2 and on 4.1.1, and both times it said my software was up to date.
I spoke with StoneyJSG about my situation, and he suggested that I go to stock 4.1, root w/ saferoot, then flash a kitkat custom rom without Knox through TWRP. That way, I could use triangle away and flash stock unrooted if I needed to send it in.
Although, I'm not sure if I should do that, as I thought I read that you need to update the radio and bootloader first before you can install a custom kitkat rom from jelly bean, but I'm still not entirely sure how that works.
The most recent release of many custom ROMs will not work but you may not have a signal without an updated modem and you should not be running updated modems on an older bootloader. Doing this could brick your phone.
With a rooted system, OTA updates will not work.
Thank you again for helping walk me through the minutia around this phone.
I think I have a much better understanding of everything now. I read the following article on Knox (http://omegadroid.co/wanted-knox-void-warranty-0x1/) and with an understanding of that, I get now that there is no way to load any custom rom on 4.3 or higher without losing my warranty.
So, basically my options are to stay at 4.1 and flash whatever, using triangle away to erase my tracks. Or, I could update to 4.3, but only be able to use saferoot/towelroot, otherwise I'd trip the warranty void. But, if all I did use was towelroot (no custom recovery or rom), then I could just unroot the phone using the full unroot option in SuperSU and send it on in for service if needed, right?
Also, I did unroot my phone and did a factory reset, so it's back at 4.1.1 and unrooted. Yet, I still do not see any software updates available from Samsung. I even plugged it into Kies, and nothing (http://i.imgur.com/E0xPGpf.png). Does anyone know why this could be? Does it have something to do with my not having a carrier for the phone yet? I'm sorry for all the questions, but I do appreciate your help.
jateed said:
Thank you again for helping walk me through the minutia around this phone.
I think I have a much better understanding of everything now. I read the following article on Knox (http://omegadroid.co/wanted-knox-void-warranty-0x1/) and with an understanding of that, I get now that there is no way to load any custom rom on 4.3 or higher without losing my warranty.
So, basically my options are to stay at 4.1 and flash whatever, using triangle away to erase my tracks. Or, I could update to 4.3, but only be able to use saferoot/towelroot, otherwise I'd trip the warranty void. But, if all I did use was towelroot (no custom recovery or rom), then I could just unroot the phone using the full unroot option in SuperSU and send it on in for service if needed, right?
Also, I did unroot my phone and did a factory reset, so it's back at 4.1.1 and unrooted. Yet, I still do not see any software updates available from Samsung. I even plugged it into Kies, and nothing (http://i.imgur.com/E0xPGpf.png). Does anyone know why this could be? Does it have something to do with my not having a carrier for the phone yet? I'm sorry for all the questions, but I do appreciate your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is your cell service? If not AT&T, you will never get OTA.
Whether you get OTA can vary from carrier to carrier and phone to phone in my opinion.
I have a Rogers HTC One X that gets OTA updates from HTC even though I am on the Bell network.
I have a Bell S3 that is running on the Rogers network and it receives OTA updates from Bell even though it has a Rogers sim card in the phone.
I have a Telus Moto G running on the Bell network and it received the Telus KK OTA update while connected to the Bell network.
audit13 said:
Whether you get OTA can vary from carrier to carrier and phone to phone in my opinion.
I have a Rogers HTC One X that gets OTA updates from HTC even though I am on the Bell network.
I have a Bell S3 that is running on the Rogers network and it receives OTA updates from Bell even though it has a Rogers sim card in the phone.
I have a Telus Moto G running on the Bell network and it received the Telus KK OTA update while connected to the Bell network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I have an AT&T model which I unlocked and will be putting on Cricket at the end of the week (when my plan month is set to end). Right now there's no SIM in it, and I've been doing everything over wifi. I looked up whether the carrier had something to do with the OTAs, and I was told that Samsung sent the updates out, not AT&T, so I figured that the carrier info was irrelevant. I now wonder what my options are.
Can I manually flash 4.3 stock without tripping the knox warranty void?
Does Towelroot/Xposed framework trip the Knox void flag?
If I can update to 4.3/4.4 and root without tripping the knox flag, I might just manually update and just run towelroot and xposed to modify my OS the best I can until my warranty runs out.
If I can't root it at all once I'm on 4.3+, then I'll just sit on 4.1.1 for a few months until I can't stand it anymore and just void the warranty anyway.
Thanks again everyone. This whole knox/binary counter thing is not something I dealt with on my CDMA LG or Nexus, so I was totally in the dark about how it all worked. This is also my first GSM phone, so all those intricacies are new to me too. Once I know about manually flashing stock and running towelroot/xposed, I think I'll be in good shape.
Flashing the stock 4.3 ROM should not trip the counter as long as you do not need to install a custom recovery to flash it.
Apparently, the latest KK stock ROM cannot be rooted using Towelroot.
If you want a custom ROM, use one that will work with a 4.1.1 bootloader and modem. Once on 4.3 or higher, it's a little harder to recover from a soft brick.
audit13 said:
Flashing the stock 4.3 ROM should not trip the counter as long as you do not need to install a custom recovery to flash it.
Apparently, the latest KK stock ROM cannot be rooted using Towelroot.
If you want a custom ROM, use one that will work with a 4.1.1 bootloader and modem. Once on 4.3 or higher, it's a little harder to recover from a soft brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent. If I did flash stock, i would just use ODIN, then factory reset to wipe the caches. And that's good to know about the KK rom, as I would probably update straight to 4.4 if at all (I've read a lot of bad things about 4.3 on the S3), but not if it means I cannot root safely and cleanly.
I'll check out the custom roms for 4.1.1. I know that flashing the rom and/or a custom recovery will trip the binary counter, but I can just use triangle away to clean that up. Do you know if there is a list of custom 4.1.1/4.1.2 roms somewhere, or do I need to scour the older threads here?
Thank you very much audit13 (thanks to StoneyJSG and pre4speed as well). You have been immensely helpful and really brought me up to speed on everything surrounding S3 customization. Needless to say it's way more complicated than what I've dealt with from LG and Google/Asus. (I mean, i could root my nexus with a single click using Wugfresh's toolkit)
4.1.1 is the only complete stock ROM that AT&T released for flashing via Odin.
4.3 ROMS and higher were prepared by XDA members for flashing in either a custom recovery or Odin.
audit13 said:
4.1.1 is the only complete stock ROM that AT&T released for flashing via Odin.
4.3 ROMS and higher were prepared by XDA members for flashing in either a custom recovery or Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, so what other way can you flash a stock rom, if not through ODIN or a custom recovery? Regardless, it seems as though I really should not dive into 4.3+ until I'm ready to concede that my warranty is over. There are just too many potential pitfalls and headaches.
On the lighter side, I've found a few 4.1.2 based custom roms that have some promise. I'm going to post them here in case anyone has opinions on them, or if someone else in my situation sees this thread and wants to go custom 4.1 too:
Hyperdrive RLS16
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2176793
Slim Bean-d2
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1865262
Jedi Academy
http://www.teamandroid.com/2013/12/...oid-412-jedi-academy-jelly-bean-custom-rom/2/
Jelly ‘Beans’
http://www.teamandroid.com/2013/04/...ndroid-412-att-galaxy-s3-sgh-i747-custom-rom/
I was also torn when I got my s3 that was running 4.1.2. I downgraded to 4.1.1, sim unlocked the phone, used it on stock 4.1.2 for about a week to make sure everything was working, hardware wise, upgraded to stock 4.4.2, installed a custom recovery and a custom ROM. I wasn't too concerned about the warranty since I got the phone as a free upgrade and had no intention of using the s3 as my daily phone. I kept it as a backup until my niece needed and phone and then it went to her. It's been over a year and there are still no problems with the phone.

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