[Q] How to upgrade rooted phone without wiping data? - T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S 4

Please forgive my newbie questions. Have been searching but couldn't find a straightforward answer:
I'm running stock 4.2.2 rom. The only changes I made were installing CWM recovery and rooting. How do I upgrade to the 4.4.2 without wiping the data? Is there a rooted-nodata-upgrade I can use?
If there is no way to do so: Can I recover to 4.4 from a 4.2 nandroid?
[This happens to be a relatively new phone for me ... but with my earlier phones Titanium etc. always left some settings that I needed to do manually, which is why nandroid would be the best].
Thanks for taking the time to answer. If the answer is already found clearly in some other thread ... please point me to it that will be enough.

Chabsin said:
Please forgive my newbie questions. Have been searching but couldn't find a straightforward answer:
I'm running stock 4.2.2 rom. The only changes I made were installing CWM recovery and rooting. How do I upgrade to the 4.4.2 without wiping the data? Is there a rooted-nodata-upgrade I can use?
If there is no way to do so: Can I recover to 4.4 from a 4.2 nandroid?
[This happens to be a relatively new phone for me ... but with my earlier phones Titanium etc. always left some settings that I needed to do manually, which is why nandroid would be the best].
Thanks for taking the time to answer. If the answer is already found clearly in some other thread ... please point me to it that will be enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can just Odin flash the update right over what you have now. You don't need to wipe. Everything will be the same after you Odin flash the update but you won't have root or CWM recovery anymore. Once you do this though you will have the Knox bootloader now and if you don't care about warranty don't worry. Otherwise you won't be able to put a custom recovery on without tripping Knox. I'm not sure if you can root 4.4 without tripping Knox either but then again if you don't care about tripping Knox then CF Autoroot works great then install your custom recovery of choice.

Related

[Q] GS3 unrooted-how to reset flash counter

I am super sorry if this has been covered, but I have indeed searched, several sites, and I haven't found anything on my specific problem. I had my Galaxy S3 rooted for a time then decided to unroot it. The unroot worked and the phone status now says "normal," but I still cannot receive any OTA updates and my flash counter does not say "0." I suppose my first question is would resetting the flash counter solve the problem with getting the updates? And if so, How can I go about doing that with an already unrooted phone? I searched through the thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1904099
- but was not allowed to post in it since I'm a noob. Thanks for any help.
Use triangle away to reset the flash counter, however you will need to reroot to run triangle away and then unroot again once your finished.
Could always PM the OP of the thread. Sure he wouldnt mind :laugh: That being said, flash the jb version of that rom. Youll be up to date w/ no root and a counter at 0.
Thanks. I'll reroot then follow that thread's guide and use the rom files linked. I know enough about rooting to root, but if I ever run into an issue, I have no idea what I'm doing. We all appreciate your guys' help!
Stupid question, but I want to be sure. I can easily root, then use the triangle away app. But, when I go to unroot, am I just using the JB.zip file from the above mentioned thread and that itself will unroot? Or do I unroot completely first then flash that zip?
Sorry, maybe is offtopic but I need this information badly...
I rooted my GS3 and installed some Incredible HD rom...now, I wanted to get back to stock rom! So, I restored to my Stock rom which I previously backed up in clockwork recovery...Now I have a stock rom but UNABLE to update my phone via KIES or OTA????? It sais > your device curred fw isnt supported ....
What should I do? Should I reset my flash counter or unroot it first before update or what???
THANKSSSS

[Q] Questions about the new 4.3 ROM: downgrading, KNOX and others

Hi there, I'm about to flash the brand new official 4.3 ROM in my Note 2 N7105. I've read some concerns about KNOX and it changing the bootloader and making impossible to downgrade, it that true?
If I flash this new 4.3, can't I reflash the 4.1.2 ROM using a nandroid backup, or even with Odin?
What about using 3rd party ROMs, would I still be able to do it as I do now? Any risk of EFS / IMEI problems? I am currently using both the 4.1.2 and CM 10.3.1 (I alternate frequently using nandroid backups with CWM), don't know if it's worth the risk of upgrading to the official 4.3 right now before knowing this and if CF-AutoRoot can root the 4.3 ROM.
Note: I don't care about warranty and KNOX at all, if those are the only issues.
It is fairly simple - if you flash 4.3 with Knox, you can't ever again flash any other custom ROM without loosing Knox. What it means is that, once you flash anything else, Knox will burn something inside your chip - and this is irreversible - and it will know your device has been modded. And you can never again use Knox.
If you don't care about Knox - this is no issue....
dalanik said:
It is fairly simple - if you flash 4.3 with Knox, you can't ever again flash any other custom ROM without loosing Knox. What it means is that, once you flash anything else, Knox will burn something inside your chip - and this is irreversible - and it will know your device has been modded. And you can never again use Knox.
If you don't care about Knox - this is no issue....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed with Odin and lost WiFi. I tried to install a patch from another thread, but it seems that doesn't work on for the N7105, as I lost my IMEI and the phone doesn't get signal. I have an EFS backup, gonna try downgrading to 4.1.2 and restore the EFS (it doesn't allow me to do it on 4.3, it says that "a dangerous action has been blocked").
Help, I can't get my IMEI back, it seems that the EFS backup was useless Have I bricked my phone? I think it hasn't really lost the IMEI, it just forgot how to search for it, because I installed the wifi correction .bin file for the n7100. Any help?
good questions.. waiting for replys?
topaloglu321 said:
good questions.. waiting for replys?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Managed it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2533822
Now I will stay away from the 4.3 ROM, because I can't make WiFi work with it.

Super Problem!!! Need help quick please!

Ok I think I'm really f*cked.
I had installed ProBAM 1.2.4 but because I had some serious problems with data loss and not making backups properly I decided to flash official 4.1.2 and then root+install recovery and install Phoenix ROM. After trying to install the 4.1.2 from SamMobile for my carrier(Cosmote GR) using dr.ketan's instructions for stock ROM ODIN said failed. Then my phone booted up and It said something like "Corrupt Android upgrade please use emergency install using Kies". So I installed Kies, followed the instructions and my phone finally booted up, all working! Now here's the problem. I opened settings and it said I had Android 4.3(it also prompted me to make a new update/OTA). So what I want is:
*How can I downgrade to official 4.1.2? I dont care about warranty.
"*How can I reset KNOX WARRANTY AVOID: 1" ? Or at least how can I root 4.3 without tripping KNOX so that I install custom recovery and install new ROM?
Thanks in advance, really need help quick.
You and me again
1. After official update to 4.3 via Kies, afaik no more downgrade to 4.1.2 cause you flashed knox-enabled bootloader too. (Check this!)
2. At this moment there is nothing known to reset knox-counter
3. Knox counter has tripped already, therefor I recommend http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2531965 to root.
Stay cool and now you are in the same situation as most people here: You can test as many custom roms as you like.
Androidwizzard said:
You and me again
1. After official update to 4.3 via Kies, afaik no more downgrade to 4.1.2 cause you flashed knox-enabled bootloader too. (Check this!)
2. At this moment there is nothing known to reset knox-counter
3. Knox counter has tripped already, therefor I recommend http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2531965 to root.
Stay cool and now you are in the same situation as most people here: You can test as many custom roms as you like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Androidwizzard YOU ARE THE MAN!!! OMG you are SOOOOO helpful!! I love when members here are soo nice and helpful to others Anyway tomorrow I will try rooting my phone using that method(I will first for to service to replace the screen like I told you ) but now after reading so many knox threads I'm confused. Here's my question. After rooting and installing Philz recovery, can I flash MJ5 Bootloader and then Phoenix ROM? I want a KNOX free ROM Thanks again
Please check your bootloader with the app z-device, cause I think after that kies-update you should have a newer BL than MJ5 and then downgrading the BL is impossible, don't even try that (in many threads you can read about that failure!)
With the newer BL you can flash all roms 4.3+ here without even thinking about wifi and so on.
Androidwizzard said:
Please check your bootloader with the app z-device, cause I think after that kies-update you should have a newer BL than MJ5 and then downgrading the BL is impossible, don't even try that (in many threads you can read about that failure!)
With the newer BL you can flash all roms 4.3+ here without even thinking about wifi and so on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Androidwizzard Heres what I got from z-device test
https://imageshack.com/i/0wn8lep and https://imageshack.com/i/ngyrblp
So after rooting I can flash any 4.3+ ROM without problems? And how to remove KNOX?
As I have told you: It is a newer BL! (Trying to downgrade will end in bootloop and errors).
And as mentioned in Post #2 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2531965
for me the best and easy way to root and deknox :good: if you are sure, that knox-count is x1
Androidwizzard said:
As I have told you: It is a newer BL! (Trying to downgrade will end in bootloop and errors).
And as mentioned in Post #2 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2531965
for me the best and easy way to root and deknox :good: if you are sure, that knox-count is x1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Androidwizzard So first I flash Philz recovery with ODIN and then boot into recovery and flash dr.ketan's aroma tool to root and deKNOX right? Do I have to DeKNOX everytime I flash a new ROM or just once?
You do it only one time, cause custom roms are deknoxed :good:
In the moment you have an official rom with knox.
Androidwizzard said:
You do it only one time, cause custom roms are deknoxed :good:
In the moment you have an official rom with knox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Androidwizzard Soo(sorry for being annoying :/) Flash Philz with odin->Flash dr.ketan's tool with recovery->Root->DeKNOX->Flash Phoenix ROM
NickVXD said:
@Androidwizzard Soo(sorry for being annoying :/) Flash Philz with odin->Flash dr.ketan's tool with recovery->Root->DeKNOX->Flash Phoenix ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well not really 100% sure, you need to deknox with the tool, if you flash a custom rom immediatly, but it won't be wrong, so do it that way.

[Q] How to root

Hi guys, I just got a galaxy s4 for t mobile and it came with 4.2.2 version of android. I'm scared to brick the phone but I really want to root it. Can someone point me to the right direction? Been reading some tutorials but they are for different versions of android. How do I root my phone without bricking it or tripping Knox?
itsfredo said:
Hi guys, I just got a galaxy s4 for t mobile and it came with 4.2.2 version of android. I'm scared to brick the phone but I really want to root it. Can someone point me to the right direction? Been reading some tutorials but they are for different versions of android. How do I root my phone without bricking it or tripping Knox?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4.2.2 doesnt have Knox. Use CF-Auto Root by Chainfire to root.
The Sickness said:
4.2.2 doesnt have Knox. Use CF-Auto Root by Chainfire to root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Now it seems that cf auto root comes with a stock kernel and recovery. Is this changeable? Can I install a custom recovery and kernel after using cf auto root? Or should I find a different method of rooting for this? Are there any safe ones out there. It seems that a lot is outdated and I'm afraid of installing the wrong thing.
itsfredo said:
Thanks! Now it seems that cf auto root comes with a stock kernel and recovery. Is this changeable? Can I install a custom recovery and kernel after using cf auto root? Or should I find a different method of rooting for this? Are there any safe ones out there. It seems that a lot is outdated and I'm afraid of installing the wrong thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if towelroot will root 4.2.2, but it doesn't install a recovery.
Rob
itsfredo said:
Thanks! Now it seems that cf auto root comes with a stock kernel and recovery. Is this changeable? Can I install a custom recovery and kernel after using cf auto root? Or should I find a different method of rooting for this? Are there any safe ones out there. It seems that a lot is outdated and I'm afraid of installing the wrong thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're calling a rooting method outdated while using the exact "outdated" software it was meant to root in the first place. CF-autoroot is as safe as safe can be. In fact, I know it still works for 4.3 and I THINK 4.4.2; it just trips the KNOX counter on them... still gets the job done though.
As far as your concern of installing the recovery; it first flashes its own recovery so it can use an exploit, then reverts it back to stock. I believe the kernel is untouched.
If your end goal is to move on to custom recoveries and custom ROMs you can bypass the rooting process altogether and go straight for the recovery/ROM.
lordcheeto03 said:
You're calling a rooting method outdated while using the exact "outdated" software it was meant to root in the first place. CF-autoroot is as safe as safe can be. In fact, I know it still works for 4.3 and I THINK 4.4.2; it just trips the KNOX counter on them... still gets the job done though.
As far as your concern of installing the recovery; it first flashes its own recovery so it can use an exploit, then reverts it back to stock. I believe the kernel is untouched.
If your end goal is to move on to custom recoveries and custom ROMs you can bypass the rooting process altogether and go straight for the recovery/ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This.
You really don't need CF Auto Root at all until all you want to do is root the stock rom.
If you want to install a customer rom, use Odin to install a custom recovery and flash whatever you want from there.
lordcheeto03 said:
If your end goal is to move on to custom recoveries and custom ROMs you can bypass the rooting process altogether and go straight for the recovery/ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's precisely my end goal. And I guess my question is how to do this safely with the Android version I have.
I didn't mean the root method was outdated; I was talking about some of the information that's on the general forum regarding root. There is even a post on one of the stickies asking for updated info in May. This scares me because for all I know I can follow one of these methods to root or install a custom recovery/rom and end up with a brick because something is no longer compatible.
I guess my question is: what is the best (updated) method of installing a custom rom/recovery for my tmobile s4 with android 4.2.2?
Use cf autoroot and flash clockworkmod through Odin. Download rommanager. Download a rom. Hit install rom from SD card. Pick your ROM from downloads.
itsfredo said:
That's precisely my end goal. And I guess my question is how to do this safely with the Android version I have.
I didn't mean the root method was outdated; I was talking about some of the information that's on the general forum regarding root. There is even a post on one of the stickies asking for updated info in May. This scares me because for all I know I can follow one of these methods to root or install a custom recovery/rom and end up with a brick because something is no longer compatible.
I guess my question is: what is the best (updated) method of installing a custom rom/recovery for my tmobile s4 with android 4.2.2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand your apprehension, i really do. What I've said to do has worked for me when i got the phone over a year ago, and has worked here recently when i did it again. I'm trying to tell you there is no need for an updated way of doing what you want. If you want root, use CFauto root. Like i said, that method was done specifically for MDB and MDL firmwares, there is no better choice. Newer yeah, but better? Not a chance. Your firmware is equally outdated and it's worked for millions of users without fail.
As far as a custom ROM goes, find one you want to use, put it on your SD card, pick a recovery (CWM, Philz, or TWRP), flash that in Odin, boot to recovery (power+volume up) , do a full wipe (system, data, and cache) select the ROM, and flash. No need to root at all if you want to go straight to a custom ROM.
EDIT: Obviously, you might want to perform a nandroid backup once you flash your recovery... but that's really optional as long as you have the stock Odin-flashable firmware. Totally up to you.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] What is the best & safest rooting method

Hi everyone.
Is there any way to root the Note 2 N7100 on Samsung official firmware Kitkat without tripping Knox. ??
My bootloader is ND4
My baseband is ND3
My PDA is ND4
If there is a safe method, what is it ...
I tried TR but got that my device is not supported.
My Knox is 0x0
If there isn't & I must trip Knox to root, so what's the best & safest method for rooting my N7100?? My warranty is gone long time ago anyway.
And if I'm gonna trip Knox so I prefer to have a custom recovery, what should I use? I thought of TWRP but found some complaining that 2.8.6 caused loss of signal... What should I use??
One more question, please.
Will rooting my phone & tripping Knox prevent future OTA update to the long awaited official Samsung Lollipop??
If the answer is yes is there a way around it ?? Will I be able to flash it by Odin after getting it from any where like Sammobile ?
Sorry for being long & Thanks
zoghrob said:
Hi everyone.
Is there any way to root the Note 2 N7100 on Samsung official firmware Kitkat without tripping Knox. ??
My bootloader is ND4
My baseband is ND3
My PDA is ND4
If there is a safe method, what is it ...
I tried TR but got that my device is not supported.
My Knox is 0x0
If there isn't & I must trip Knox to root, so what's the best & safest method for rooting my N7100?? My warranty is gone long time ago anyway.
And if I'm gonna trip Knox so I prefer to have a custom recovery, what should I use? I thought of TWRP but found some complaining that 2.8.6 caused loss of signal... What should I use??
One more question, please.
Will rooting my phone & tripping Knox prevent future OTA update to the long awaited official Samsung Lollipop??
If the answer is yes is there a way around it ?? Will I be able to flash it by Odin after getting it from any where like Sammobile ?
Sorry for being long & Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just root it as posted in sticky thread.
You don't have warranty, so just don't bother. Use odin, root and install recovery, then rom.
You can flash stock rom via odin if you want, you can install custom roms via recovery.
I'm using TWRP for 2 years and never had any problem. You can also use Philz. For normal user it doesn't really matter.
yaro666 said:
Just root it as posted in sticky thread.
You don't have warranty, so just don't bother. Use odin, root and install recovery, then rom.
You can flash stock rom via odin if you want, you can install custom roms via recovery.
I'm using TWRP for 2 years and never had any problem. You can also use Philz. For normal user it doesn't really matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your help.
Actually I found no sticky threads for rooting 4.4.2. Most of the sticky threads are dating since 2012 with 4.1.2 & 4.3.
However by searching I found 2 threads for 4.4.2, one of them is
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2767604
This one uses CF-auto-root... but no mention about any custom recovery. Will I lose root or mess things up if I install TWRP after that??
The other thread is
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2730764
This one uses the typical steps that I know, custom recovery then SuperSU. But it uses Philz recovery. Can I substitute it with TWRP??
Thank you for your help & patience.
The most important question: Why do you want to root?
If you like to flash a custom rom no need for root, any custom recovery - TWRP or CWM - flashed with Odin will do.
Androidwizzard said:
The most important question: Why do you want to root?
If you like to flash a custom rom no need for root, any custom recovery - TWRP or CWM - flashed with Odin will do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not planning to flash custom rom right now, may be later.
I want to root to be able to use some apps that require root. Plus, having full control over my phone.
In odin you have option to choose recovery file - AP.
After flashing recovery just install superSU via recovery.
DO a backup of your device and EFS before you flash anything.
yaro666 said:
In odin you have option to choose recovery file - AP.
After flashing recovery just install superSU via recovery.
DO a backup of your device and EFS before you flash anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your help.
I don't know how to make a backup without recovery. So I flashed TWRP 2.8.6, took a backup then installed SuperSU via TWRP.
All went well except that I lost the signal and IMEI.
I found that I flashed TWRP t03gup while I should flashed t03g.
I reflashed the correct file then flashed the modem.bin of XXUFND3.
Everything thing is back to normal again except 2 things:
The icon of my service provider shifts place to the last app page after reboot, no matter where I place it...
The phone status shows custom (expected) but stays so even after using Triangle Away.
Is it better if I flash the stock firmware then recovery then SuperSU? ?? Or flashing the modem as I did was enough to straighten things up? ?
Thank you for your patience and help.
zoghrob said:
Thank you for your help.
I don't know how to make a backup without recovery. So I flashed TWRP 2.8.6, took a backup then installed SuperSU via TWRP.
All went well except that I lost the signal and IMEI.
I found that I flashed TWRP t03gup while I should flashed t03g.
I reflashed the correct file then flashed the modem.bin of XXUFND3.
Everything thing is back to normal again except 2 things:
The icon of my service provider shifts place to the last app page after reboot, no matter where I place it...
The phone status shows custom (expected) but stays so even after using Triangle Away.
Is it better if I flash the stock firmware then recovery then SuperSU? ?? Or flashing the modem as I did was enough to straighten things up? ?
Thank you for your patience and help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should be OK just as it is now, but if you have 30min free time, you can flash stock, root, custom rom with full wipe to make sure you have everything straighten up
yaro666 said:
It should be OK just as it is now, but if you have 30min free time, you can flash stock, root, custom rom with full wipe to make sure you have everything straighten up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
30 min or even an hour is ok by me...
I'll do it right away. Flash stock, TWRP recovery then root with SuperSU.
As for the custom rom it'll have to wait as I didn't make up my mind which Lollipop to get... I'm kinda confused about it very much. I can't decide which to get.
I'm open for suggestions. lol
Thanks a million for your support.
If you need your phone for business don't flash lollipop. Still in beta phase, so bugs are occuring often.
I use dr. ketan's V14 and it's the most stable rom I have used
yaro666 said:
If you need your phone for business don't flash lollipop. Still in beta phase, so bugs are occuring often.
I use dr. ketan's V14 and it's the most stable rom I have used
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is for personal use not for business.
But I think I'll follow your advice & give Dr. Ketan's V14 a try.
I did flash stock firmware then flashed TWRP 2.8.6 (correct file this time.. lol) then installed root.
I did backup my phone & EFS by TWRP. All is excellent now.
Now I'll backup my contacts, sms, apps & data using Titanium back up then go for Dr. ketan's rom.
Wish me luck.
Thanks.
you will be positively surprised if youhad stock the whole time.
cheers
salute
yaro666 said:
you will be positively surprised if youhad stock the whole time.
cheers
salute
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow... it's awesome. ..
Thumbs up. ..
You are right.
I'm wondering right now how did I stuck to the stock firmware all the past time.
Thanks.

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