Develop Bugs

[Q] Going from 4.3 to 4.4,Stock and Bootloader

Hi all i need some quick clarification,
1) I am full aware that if you purchased a Note 3 on 4.3 and you updated to stock via either OTA, Kies or Odin the bootloader is upgraded and you cannot downgrade to 4.3 stock.
2) So my question is if you are stock 4.4 and install root, install custom recovery, Can you still downgrade to a 4.3 rom via custom recovery? or will it not allow me to downgrade at all?
3) Finally You can't downgrade to a 4.3 bootloader correct?

1) correct
2) 4.3 kernels do not boot with the 4.4 bootloader, so no
3) correct
Sent from my leanKernel 2.2 powered stock 4.4.2 SM-N900T

If u have the w8 Canadian variant u can downgrade your bootloader.

thanks

toastido said:
1) correct
2) 4.3 kernels do not boot with the 4.4 bootloader, so no
3) correct
Sent from my leanKernel 2.2 powered stock 4.4.2 SM-N900T
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is 4.4.2 that bad for the n900t?
it seems people are trying to avoid upgrading the bootloader. and are trying to downgrade if already on kitkat. whats wrong with the kitkat bootloader?

Help with gs3 root

Hey guys. This may have been asked already but i am coming from verizons gs4. and over there you can oly get custom recovery if youre on mdk bootloader.
I just bought this phone for my brother and it came with 4.12 (MG2)
I see everywhere that people were able to get 4.3. i tried updating through phone and through kies and says its up to date. so now my question i guess is what bootloader do i need to be on or what 4.x.x do i need to be on in order to root and get custom recovery to flash custom roms?
any help will be greatly appreciated.

I recommend not updating to stock 4.3 ROM as this will install Knox and you will have a non-downgradeable bootloader. You can use Odin to flash Philz Touch which is based on CWM. From there, you can flash custom ROMs.
Some ROMs require a 4.3 bootloader, but these would tend to be based on the stock Samsung ROM. I am running the latest Validus 4.4.2 on a stock Bell 4.1.2 bootloader without a problem.

audit13 said:
I recommend not updating to stock 4.3 ROM as this will install Knox and you will have a non-downgradeable bootloader. You can use Odin to flash Philz Touch which is based on CWM. From there, you can flash custom ROMs.
Some ROMs require a 4.3 bootloader, but these would tend to be based on the stock Samsung ROM. I am running the latest Validus 4.4.2 on a stock Bell 4.1.2 bootloader without a problem.
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Oh ok. Well I just succesfully rotted and installed latest touch cwm.
so if I stay on 4.1.2 I can basically flash any kitkat roms? Because I dont want to install a tw rom.
So another question what are some good 4.4 kk roms? As in stable for daily use that I could flash
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Most kitkat ROMs will work with a 4.1.2 bootloader based on my experience.
I like the Ground Zero ROMs and use them on the s3, Moto Atrix HD, and Nexus 4.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2550340

How to have custom recovery

Hey guys its been a week since i bought the note 2 and i rooted it. But i cannot find how to flash a custom recovery tutorial anywhere. I am on jellybean 4.1 and the rest of the details (firmware etc) can be found on the screenshots attached..
I would highly appreciate if someone can send me a link to the guide for flashing.. thanks a lot in advance
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Just simply flash via Odin
You can choose CWM, Philz touch or TWRP

RazaVakil7995 said:
Hey guys its been a week since i bought the note 2 and i rooted it. But i cannot find how to flash a custom recovery tutorial anywhere. I am on jellybean 4.1 and the rest of the details (firmware etc) can be found on the screenshots attached..
I would highly appreciate if someone can send me a link to the guide for flashing.. thanks a lot in advance
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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You got two options either root your phone while being on 4.1.2 or upgrade to official Indian 4.4.2 and then root it.Ofcourse once you root your current 4.1.2 you can try custom 4.4 ROM and if you don't like it you can go back to 4.1.2 or flash a 4.3 custom ROM. To root your 4.1.2 rom read this guide.If you decide to upgrade to 4.4.2 Indian firmware download it from here.
To flash the 4.4.2 ROM on your phone download it from the above link(there are 3 links where the ROM is uploaded) ,use any of the links and download the zip file,extract it you'll get a tar file,put your phone into download mode ,open odin v3.09 on pc and flash the official stock rom by checking the AP tab on odin.You can find tutorials on youtube on how to use odin to flash official stock firmware so just look them up if you need it.Once you flash stock ROM you can root your phone via this guide.
Okay so now things to remember.If you root your 4.1.2 ROM and want to try 4.3 or 4.4 custom ROM you need to flash MJ5 bootloader in order to have working wifi.Bootloader is flashed directly on your mother board and it cannot be downgraded only be upgraded.MJ5 is the last 4.3 bootloader which is KNOX free(what is knox ,blah blah,you can read about it on google).Advantage of MJ5 is you can try 4.1.2/4.3/4.4.2 rom and your warranty and knox remain intact but if you upgrade to official 4.3 or 4.4.2 ROM you'll be on knoxed bootlooader which means you cannot downgrade to 4.1.2 anymore plus rooting a phone with knoxed bootloader will trigger knox 0x1 and your warranty if any will be void (no way yet to reset Knox).So if you have warranty on your phone then my advise is root your 4.1.2 Rom,download any 4.3 or 4.4.2 custom ROM,you wont have wifi working then flash the MJ5 bootloader from here and read this post on how to flash bootloader.
I know it's a lot of info to you but your best guide is self reading from the above links i hooked you up with.Also read comments from people cause that's how I learned I read and read a lot before i jumped the rooting bandwagon cause wanted to make sure i don't brick my phone. Ofcourse whenever in doubt STOP RIGHT THERE and ask us.Dont attempt things that you are not sure of.Good luck.

Thanks for the help
singhpratik87 said:
You got two options either root your phone while being on 4.1.2 or upgrade to official Indian 4.4.2 and then root it.Ofcourse once you root your current 4.1.2 you can try custom 4.4 ROM and if you don't like it you can go back to 4.1.2 or flash a 4.3 custom ROM. To root your 4.1.2 rom read this guide.If you decide to upgrade to 4.4.2 Indian firmware download it from here.
To flash the 4.4.2 ROM on your phone download it from the above link(there are 3 links where the ROM is uploaded) ,use any of the links and download the zip file,extract it you'll get a tar file,put your phone into download mode ,open odin v3.09 on pc and flash the official stock rom by checking the AP tab on odin.You can find tutorials on youtube on how to use odin to flash official stock firmware so just look them up if you need it.Once you flash stock ROM you can root your phone via this guide.
Okay so now things to remember.If you root your 4.1.2 ROM and want to try 4.3 or 4.4 custom ROM you need to flash MJ5 bootloader in order to have working wifi.Bootloader is flashed directly on your mother board and it cannot be downgraded only be upgraded.MJ5 is the last 4.3 bootloader which is KNOX free(what is knox ,blah blah,you can read about it on google).Advantage of MJ5 is you can try 4.1.2/4.3/4.4.2 rom and your warranty and knox remain intact but if you upgrade to official 4.3 or 4.4.2 ROM you'll be on knoxed bootlooader which means you cannot downgrade to 4.1.2 anymore plus rooting a phone with knoxed bootloader will trigger knox 0x1 and your warranty if any will be void (no way yet to reset Knox).So if you have warranty on your phone then my advise is root your 4.1.2 Rom,download any 4.3 or 4.4.2 custom ROM,you wont have wifi working then flash the MJ5 bootloader from here and read this post on how to flash bootloader.
I know it's a lot of info to you but your best guide is self reading from the above links i hooked you up with.Also read comments from people cause that's how I learned I read and read a lot before i jumped the rooting bandwagon cause wanted to make sure i don't brick my phone. Ofcourse whenever in doubt STOP RIGHT THERE and ask us.Dont attempt things that you are not sure of.Good luck.
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Click to collapse
Wow that's a lot of info you provided there, thanks. I am not new to rooting as far it goes I have rooted and flashed many roms on my galaxy s advance and my micromax A87 before that. But note 2 was a flagship device so there are many complications that come along which got me confused. As for now, I have my rooted 4.1.2 stock rom along with cwm recovery flashed via rom manager. I am planning to flash either DN3 or the Xperia Z-ized rom. So my question is: do I have to flash mj5 bootloader to flash DN3 and xperia z-ized or can I directly flash it from cwm (with factory reset and necessary wipes of course)?
BTW, I have heard that knox is a security application that prohibits rooting on samsung phones. It also had a reward for $18k for those who can bypass the knox on the S5 and root it. If I am right, then I think I am fairly acquainted to knox.
Once again, thanks a lot for helping! Appreciate it

RazaVakil7995 said:
Wow that's a lot of info you provided there, thanks. I am not new to rooting as far it goes I have rooted and flashed many roms on my galaxy s advance and my micromax A87 before that. But note 2 was a flagship device so there are many complications that come along which got me confused. As for now, I have my rooted 4.1.2 stock rom along with cwm recovery flashed via rom manager. I am planning to flash either DN3 or the Xperia Z-ized rom. So my question is: do I have to flash mj5 bootloader to flash DN3 and xperia z-ized or can I directly flash it from cwm (with factory reset and necessary wipes of course)?
BTW, I have heard that knox is a security application that prohibits rooting on samsung phones. It also had a reward for $18k for those who can bypass the knox on the S5 and root it. If I am right, then I think I am fairly acquainted to knox.
Once again, thanks a lot for helping! Appreciate it
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Click to collapse
Since you are on stock 4.1.2 MJ5 is required for wifi to work.i learned 2 weeks ago that even mj5 is not required as previously thought by us at least not while flashing 4.4.2 TW rom.When you flash 4.4.2 custom ROM you wont have wifi working,then flash custom kernel like agni or nadia and wifi works flawlessly so one doesn't need to flash mj5 bootloader.I am not sure if this would work on 4.3 ROM you could try xperia z'd 4.3 custom ROM then flash a compatible 4.3 custom kernel and see if wifi works if it does you're set.This was new to most of us so I asked the person who told me about this how did he manage to do this and he told me apparently custom kernels have some sort of wifi drivers on them so when we flash custom kernels on 4.4.2 ROM wifi works but it wont work on stock kernel unless you upgrade to MJ5 and on stock kernel.MJ5 is safe to flash anyways since its knox free bootloader.
Actually 4.3 and 4.4.2 note 2 phones and others got knox on them but we found a way to disable knox after rooting our phone SuperSu disables it but knox is triggered to 0x1 and there's no way to reset KNOX since it's concerned with the motherboard of the phone which is the heart and soul of out note 2.So that bounty you might be talking about how to reset it perhaps.Even if they succeed in reversing it doesn't necessarily mean it would work on note 3 or note 2 cause of the phones being of different hardware .i don't know the technicalities of this.

singhpratik87 said:
Since you are on stock 4.1.2 MJ5 is required for wifi to work.i learned 2 weeks ago that even mj5 is not required as previously thought by us at least not while flashing 4.4.2 TW rom.When you flash 4.4.2 custom ROM you wont have wifi working,then flash custom kernel like agni or nadia and wifi works flawlessly so one doesn't need to flash mj5 bootloader.I am not sure if this would work on 4.3 ROM you could try xperia z'd 4.3 custom ROM then flash a compatible 4.3 custom kernel and see if wifi works if it does you're set.This was new to most of us so I asked the person who told me about this how did he manage to do this and he told me apparently custom kernels have some sort of wifi drivers on them so when we flash custom kernels on 4.4.2 ROM wifi works but it wont work on stock kernel unless you upgrade to MJ5 and on stock kernel.MJ5 is safe to flash anyways since its knox free bootloader.
Actually 4.3 and 4.4.2 note 2 phones and others got knox on them but we found a way to disable knox after rooting our phone SuperSu disables it but knox is triggered to 0x1 and there's no way to reset KNOX since it's concerned with the motherboard of the phone which is the heart and soul of out note 2.So that bounty you might be talking about how to reset it perhaps.Even if they succeed in reversing it doesn't necessarily mean it would work on note 3 or note 2 cause of the phones being of different hardware .i don't know the technicalities of this.
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How do you know all this man??

RazaVakil7995 said:
How do you know all this man??
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Lurking around in xda and reading as much as I can and participating in discussions related to Knox.I was clueless to all this Knox and how it works.My previous phone was HTC HD2 so samsung note II was the first serious smartphone I owned so just wanted to be extra careful that I don't end up bricking my device so read and read and asked questions.

Can't flash Liquid Smooth ROM

Hi first of all I want to ask that I had stock 4.1.2 when I bought the phone, rooted it, flashed mj5 bootloader and successfully flashed the xperia z-ized rom based on 4.3 on my N7100. Then I wished to switch to dn3 rom but I still did not like it so I reverted back to stock 4.1.2 and updated to stock 4.4.2 via OTA updates. My question is, while updating via OTA to stock 4.4.2, can it be possible that I lost my mj5 bootloader and it was replaced by samsung's proprietary bootloader?
After using stock 4.4.2 I thought to check out the LS rom so I rooted, flashed philz recovery but the ROM does not boot at all and while trying to revert back to stock 4.1.2, ODIN displays the fail message. What did I do wrong and what should I do to overcome this? Thanks.

You've locked your bootloader because you upgraded to latest official which also comes with Knoxx.

[Q] Stock 4.4.2 to Stock 4.3 via Odin?

Hello!
I'm just got a replacement Note3 because I cracked the screen and it is running 4.4.2. My phone is still on 4.3. I've been reading about how you can't go back to 4.3 from 4.4.2 because of bootloader reasons, but it seems to be mostly people with custom roms. Is is possible for me to flash a stock 4.3 to the new 4.4.2 phone without any problems, or will the bootloader issues apply.?
Rk

re: downgrading firmware
rkwarner2 said:
Hello!
I'm just got a replacement Note3 because I cracked the screen and it is running 4.4.2. My phone is still on 4.3. I've been reading about how you can't go back to 4.3 from 4.4.2 because of bootloader reasons, but it seems to be mostly people with custom roms. Is is possible for me to flash a stock 4.3 to the new 4.4.2 phone without any problems, or will the bootloader issues apply.?
Rk
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No, you cannot odin back or downgrade from android 4.4.2 to 4.3
even if you never rooted or flashed any custom roms.
Good luck!