Related
Fairly new to the flashing scene, but seriously loving the freedom and features available to my flashed handsets. Currently using Wicked v1 on my SGS3 and now he's got a new one out that I want to install asap. At nearly the same time an OTA has apparently dropped and there's a new (and improved?) radio/modem flash out there.
My main concern is making sure my handset is as rock solid as possible while having the best available functionality (btw, Wicked rom is an amazing daily driver). Would it be in my best interest to unroot and go back to stock so I can get the OTA and then reroot, flash a rom, flash a radio etc?
OR
Can I just flash Ev1l's new Wicked rom, flash the new radio and not worry about the OTA at all?
I guess you could sum this up as a 'What would you (the experienced pro flasher) do?'
Thanks all.
Krazeee said:
Fairly new to the flashing scene, but seriously loving the freedom and features available to my flashed handsets. Currently using Wicked v1 on my SGS3 and now he's got a new one out that I want to install asap. At nearly the same time an OTA has apparently dropped and there's a new (and improved?) radio/modem flash out there.
My main concern is making sure my handset is as rock solid as possible while having the best available functionality (btw, Wicked rom is an amazing daily driver). Would it be in my best interest to unroot and go back to stock so I can get the OTA and then reroot, flash a rom, flash a radio etc?
OR
Can I just flash Ev1l's new Wicked rom, flash the new radio and not worry about the OTA at all?
I guess you could sum this up as a 'What would you (the experienced pro flasher) do?'
Thanks all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never worry about the OTA's...go for it. The Devs fix all that anyway.
I flashed the new radio over the latest euroskank nightly
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Thanks!
TheAxman said:
I never worry about the OTA's...go for it. The Devs fix all that anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. I figured as much, but it's good to know the likelyhood of my opening a wormhole in my livingroom is slightly smaller now.
While you probably won't experience any problems by not worrying about the OTAs, especially since you are not on stock, there are often other elements to an update than just radios. There can also be updates to other partitions on the phone. Sometimes bootloaders, parameters, etc. can be updated also. You won't get these (if you care about them) if you skip the update and just flash the radio. If it were me, I would go back to complete stock with the update and start over. Probably not necessary, but you may want to consider it.
I'm sure this has been asked many times before, but I just wanted to make absolutely sure I'm ready before I flash, so I don't brick my phone. I have been reading the forums for a few days now. I have an S3 (i747M) with Fido. I'm not totally sure which ROM to go with. From what I understand so far, I'm thinking StockMOD or Dandroid. I want a fairly minimalistic OS, latest version (4.3 vs 4.4?), so I can play the occasion game on it and get good idle battery life. I believe I have rooted my stock rom and I have disabled some of the bloat through the "Application Management" option under settings. Any advice on flashing? I have spent many years building, modding and generally tinkering with windows pcs but I haven't done anything with phones, android or linux. Any advice? Obviously do the backup of my current phone with the app mentioned on the related ROM installation page. I assume I can restore my phone back to this stock ROM is the new one fails? After the backup, do a full phone wipe and default restore. Then hook the phone to my PC via USB and use the related program to flash the phone? Thank you for any and all replies in advance. :good:
Kwijybow said:
I'm sure this has been asked many times before, but I just wanted to make absolutely sure I'm ready before I flash, so I don't brick my phone. I have been reading the forums for a few days now. I have an S3 (i747M) with Fido. I'm not totally sure which ROM to go with. From what I understand so far, I'm thinking StockMOD or Dandroid. I want a fairly minimalistic OS, latest version (4.3 vs 4.4?), so I can play the occasion game on it and get good idle battery life. I believe I have rooted my stock rom and I have disabled some of the bloat through the "Application Management" option under settings. Any advice on flashing? I have spent many years building, modding and generally tinkering with windows pcs but I haven't done anything with phones, android or linux. Any advice? Obviously do the backup of my current phone with the app mentioned on the related ROM installation page. I assume I can restore my phone back to this stock ROM is the new one fails? After the backup, do a full phone wipe and default restore. Then hook the phone to my PC via USB and use the related program to flash the phone? Thank you for any and all replies in advance. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in my opinion or anyone will say that 4.3 is the most stable right now, and 4.4 is only available for CM based roms.....Samsung Touchwiz will always be the last to update their devices to 4.4 while custom roms AOKP, SLIM BEAM, PAC ROM, BEAN STALK, CM, PARANOID, ETC they will always have nightlies on latest the Android version but will take sometime for stable roms to be released
1st before you think of flashing please research and know what you're getting into
2nd read all the info. ROOT your i747m with cf-auto root (i recommend it cuz its the simplest, easiest, safest way to root)
3rd install custom recovery there are two that i know of but am confident and comfortable with clockworkmod recovery....u can try TWRP
4th yu can either wish to stay stock touchwiz, 2types of stock
-one that comes from samsung all bloated and no tweaks and
-the one that is taken by devs debloated, modded, customized, xposed mod, minimalistic, faster and better.
--OR you can go completely Android vanilla stock, which has nothing but the normal google staff (ITS LIKE A NEXUS DEVICE from Google) you dont have any bloatware, or features/addons just plain stock
5th Once yu know the basic, the universe is yours, with Android comes endless customization and possibilities just like Microsoft Windows, Linux, ubuntu or even OSX
6th wish to become a DEV its your choice, wish to modify, play with the filesystem its your choice but without knowledge of what you're doing bricking is easy as just deleting a file yu think its not important
7th help the rest with android as you do with PC
PS am learning to code now but one thing at a time so am starting with Web design, plan to learn some computer languages, hacking, etc computer science :laugh: maybe yu can help me out
everything you need to know about what i said or root http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1725839
Thanks for the reply. It's been a while since I originally posted this. I decided to hold off on a custom ROM at that time but I find myself back again, still wanting to customize my phone (especially now that my contract is about to expire). I figure that if I do brick my phone beyond repair, I'll just get another phone anyways so not so worried about it now.
Anyways, one concern I have about flashing a custom ROM on my S3 is can I go backwards in Android versions? I can confirm that I am running the stock (Rogers / Fido) Android 4.4.2 which I believe is Kitkat? I am very interested in going either StockMOD or Dandroid, which as far as I can tell are 4.3 Jellybean? Can I do that?
Yes, you can run a 4.3 rom on your phone as long as you do not try to downgrade the bootloader.
You can go back to completely stock Rogers by using Odin to flash as stock kk rom from sammobile.com.
audit13 said:
Yes, you can run a 4.3 rom on your phone as long as you do not try to downgrade the bootloader.
You can go back to completely stock Rogers by using Odin to flash as stock kk rom from sammobile.com.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. Regarding the bootloader, the versions of Android I'm looking to install say they need the 4.3 bootloader. How can I check which bootloader I am running on my phone?
If you're phone is running stock Rogers kit kit, you have a kit kat bootloader which you can't downgrade.
If the rom needs a 4.3 bootloader and since you have a newer bootloader, you can probably load the rom.
Kwijybow said:
I'm not totally sure which ROM to go with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using the most recent build of the most popular ROM has it's advantages.
cm-12.1-20150807-NIGHTLY-d2att.zip
fast, light, stable, secure, supported
My note 2 has always been stable on 4.1.1 stock and I debloated it myself. So when ever an update came out rather than risking my stable phone I would just flash the new baseband from it and keep 4.1.1, until tesh stopped updating his thread. Recently my screen cracked so I used my insurance for the first time. The new phone came with 4.3 and the knox bootloader plus the CMK7 baseband. I did a cwm backup on my cracked screen phone. Used odin to flash cwm onto the new phone, which did cause knox to show I did but who really cares since the phone is so far out of warranty anyway. Then loaded my cwm backup onto the new phone. What I ended up with is my nice stable phone with everything working plus the new baseband CMK7 stayed but the bootloader is still the new knox one. Everything is working just fine, so whats the big thing with everyone saying you cant go back from 4.3? I went from 4.3 to 4.1.1 just fine via cwm.
Cool story bro
Joe333x said:
My note 2 has always been stable on 4.1.1 stock and I debloated it myself. So when ever an update came out rather than risking my stable phone I would just flash the new baseband from it and keep 4.1.1, until tesh stopped updating his thread. Recently my screen cracked so I used my insurance for the first time. The new phone came with 4.3 and the knox bootloader plus the CMK7 baseband. I did a cwm backup on my cracked screen phone. Used odin to flash cwm onto the new phone, which did cause knox to show I did but who really cares since the phone is so far out of warranty anyway. Then loaded my cwm backup onto the new phone. What I ended up with is my nice stable phone with everything working plus the new baseband CMK7 stayed but the bootloader is still the new knox one. Everything is working just fine, so whats the big thing with everyone saying you cant go back from 4.3? I went from 4.3 to 4.1.1 just fine via cwm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use PC Odin to go backwards there are uncomfortable results.
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement
Double0EK said:
Cool story bro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How many of your posts are worthless? All of them? You sir are whats wrong with xda. The fact that every one thinks you cant go backwards from 4.3 just got proven wrong as long as you do it with cwm and not odin apparently.
There are multiple threads regarding your cool story.
The issue people are having is not being able to downgrade to 4.1.x OS. Its the bootloader that people were discussing and when coming from a 4.3 bootloader is impossible to downgrade to the 4.1.x bootloader/s.
Maybe doing a search in the future will get you some answers about the whole 4.3 bootloader and downgrading that you're taking about.
Good luck to you..
Ok but like I said I have the 4.3 bootloader and a 4.1 rom with no issues using cwm. So there is no issue with having a 4.1.1 rom and the 4.3 bootloader. If you have nothing constructive to add then dont post anything.
I mostly Lurk on XDA, But you sir are a different kind of stupid.
Clearly you haven't played with 4.1 long enough to see what the issues are, Its been well known that you can return to a older rom.
but knox has issues by doing so.
Joe333x said:
Ok but like I said I have the 4.3 bootloader and a 4.1 rom with no issues using cwm. So there is no issue with having a 4.1.1 rom and the 4.3 bootloader. If you have nothing constructive to add then dont post anything.
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Click to collapse
smokeingit said:
I mostly Lurk on XDA, But you sir are a different kind of stupid.
Clearly you haven't played with 4.1 long enough to see what the issues are, Its been well known that you can return to a older rom.
but knox has issues by doing so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol long enough? How about since release day when I bought it? My phone is stable as can be with no force closes completely self deblaoted, working wifi tether, bunch of xposed modules and everything is pefect. For the most part the OS that a phone releases with is typically the most stable, there are obviously exceptions but I have been doing this since the G1 days and as soon as you start getting flash happy is when you have issues. Only thing I update is the baseband/modem. Also dont name call over the Internet its childish but then again most people on here are typically teenagers. Could you elaborate on the issues knox should be causing me but isn't?
This topic has been mentioned many times, there's no room for the useless bickering going on in here.
Thread closed
Have a great day!
Just wondering if there's anything special or cool about getting your phone updated to the newest version available, I got my phone already with a custom rom on it(modified), can't update it thru OTA, or 4.2.2. is till a pretty decent Version to sit and and still kick ass? ;p
IMO, i like KitKat (4.4+) more than Jellybean (4.3-). You can update via Kies if you want but you can't go back. Or you can just stay with the bootloader you have now and just flash custom ROMs, kernels and modem. 4.3+ has KNOX security but if you don't have a warranty then tripping the "KNOX counter" is nothing to worry about.
Nah, dont have a warranty on it. Got it with a custom rom, i guess some1 flashed it before selling it to me, it runs good n wut not, just was wondering wut i might have been missing out n w.e. xD if newer versions improve battery life consumption, makes it faster, etc, then it sounds good xD ill prolly try thru kies later n see if it goes thru
You dont HAVE to upgrade. Try Insane KitKat. Its a great custom ROM. Fast and good battery life. And if you download the sickness mods v5 (4.4.2) before he uploads v6(4.4.4), you can add whatever you want from the AROMA options.
Never used any of those custom roms.
On other hand, today i opened my phone to do some stuff on it, and it felt like some1 touched it(one of my bros), it wanted me to restart my phone to upgrade to 4.3 update. I guess somehow i got t-mobile OTA update and they clicked on it and downloaded the 700mb+ file. Oh well i guess, how good is the 4.3? Much better then 4.2.2? Or so so?
The new nh7 modem is tight. You can do this update because you are still on the MDL bootloader.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2898809
Oh awesome, so i can still do other stuff if needed eh? xD This update will just update modem etc, but not touch the bootloader. So im good?
Den Den said:
Oh awesome, so i can still do other stuff if needed eh? xD This update will just update modem etc, but not touch the bootloader. So im good?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An OTA update will update your whole firmware. You might get another update for NH7 after you do that one.
Ahh I see, but OTA's don't usually change your bootloader eh? Just everything else.
Den Den said:
Ahh I see, but OTA's don't usually change your bootloader eh? Just everything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloader also
Kriptik210 said:
Bootloader also
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Click to collapse
Oh well I guess. Someone took my phone while playing games, and downloaded the new OTA, now it's going to keep bugging me to update it. Loved it at 4.2.2. Hope the nh7 is going to be better, heard tons of ppl having battery draining, bad reception, etc, maybe just a small % of ppl. not sure o.o Someone said nh7 is going to be smooth and fast, etc, haha that would be great rofl.
I updated with Odin and then flashed Insane NH7 ROM and haven't have any problems. But I have seen people saying bad things about their signal. I guess it's a hit or miss
Kriptik210 said:
I updated with Odin and then flashed Insane NH7 ROM and haven't have any problems. But I have seen people saying bad things about their signal. I guess it's a hit or miss
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, thats y i dont want to update it to newest firmware atm, dont want to deal with all the bs that comes with it. Can i keep delaying the update eh? As for what you did, was pretty fast eh? And were u rooted? Just hate readding all my apps n info n **** back on here that i use daily.
Once you update whether OTA or Odin, you will have to root again. You can ignore the update. There is a way to stop the notifications, just use Google.
Kriptik210 said:
Once you update whether OTA or Odin, you will have to root again. You can ignore the update. There is a way to stop the notifications, just use Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How good is that insane rom? I mainly use my gs4 for calling, navigation, listening to music(downloaded/streaming), streaming movies sometimes thru wifi, games sometimes, use apps to remove wasted ram/Junk files/help with battery drain, etc. Main thing is really i need is the good signal at all times, so navigation and all that crap works awesome, calling, net. Tbh id love to remove all the unwanted bloatware that i never use(but that can be done by rooting). Did you stay on mdl bootloader, n just flashed ur custom rom eh?
Den Den said:
How good is that insane rom? I mainly use my gs4 for calling, navigation, listening to music(downloaded/streaming), streaming movies sometimes thru wifi, games sometimes, use apps to remove wasted ram/Junk files/help with battery drain, etc. Main thing is really i need is the good signal at all times, so navigation and all that crap works awesome, calling, net. Tbh id love to remove all the unwanted bloatware that i never use(but that can be done by rooting). Did you stay on mdl bootloader, n just flashed ur custom rom eh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Insane ROM is a great one. It does have bloat (Insane 4.4.4 NH7) but it is easy to get rid of. I stayed on my MK5 bootloader but just recently switched to NH7.
Kriptik210 said:
The Insane ROM is a great one. It does have bloat (Insane 4.4.4 NH7) but it is easy to get rid of. I stayed on my MK5 bootloader but just recently switched to NH7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh i see, anything good with the nh7 bootloader asude from mdl i got atm? I also read somewhere on here that some1 just updated their phone up to date w/ ota, then flashed nh7 modem to fix the bad signal n w.e. Not sure wut to for atm, dont have much time on my hands.
Den Den said:
Ahh i see, anything good with the nh7 bootloader asude from mdl i got atm? I also read somewhere on here that some1 just updated their phone up to date w/ ota, then flashed nh7 modem to fix the bad signal n w.e. Not sure wut to for atm, dont have much time on my hands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If all you've done is download the OTA but you haven't actually applied it AND you are still on the 4.2.2 MDL bootloader, I'd say leave your bootloader on MDL. I'm not saying don't run updated ROMs, I'm just saying not to take an official update. Use Odin to flash the newest modem and use custom recovery to flash any of the 4.4.x ROMs in the Android Development section, Original Android Development, or Unified Development sections. If you use custom recovery to flash the newer ROMs you still get the benefits of having updated firmware, you just don't end up having KNOX. Myself, along with numerous other users here, are still on the MDL bootloader, NH7 modem, and running modified/stock 4.4.4 NH7 TouchWiz ROM with no problems to speak of. The only thing about keeping the old bootloader, the only modem you can update is your GSM modem, not LTE; although as I said, I really haven't noticed any drop in reception... I still get full LTE whenever I'm in an area which has LTE penetration...
lordcheeto03 said:
If all you've done is download the OTA but you haven't actually applied it AND you are still on the 4.2.2 MDL bootloader, I'd say leave your bootloader on MDL. I'm not saying don't run updated ROMs, I'm just saying not to take an official update. Use Odin to flash the newest modem and use custom recovery to flash any of the 4.4.x ROMs in the Android Development section, Original Android Development, or Unified Development sections. If you use custom recovery to flash the newer ROMs you still get the benefits of having updated firmware, you just don't end up having KNOX. Myself, along with numerous other users here, are still on the MDL bootloader, NH7 modem, and running modified/stock 4.4.4 NH7 TouchWiz ROM with no problems to speak of. The only thing about keeping the old bootloader, the only modem you can update is your GSM modem, not LTE; although as I said, I really haven't noticed any drop in reception... I still get full LTE whenever I'm in an area which has LTE penetration...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was bored and decided to explore my phone, installed super user, installed titanium back up xD Not really sure how decent this rom or if its stock as it looks like this phone was rooted before i bought it lol. To think i was afraid to root it, yet it was rooted all along, funny tbh xD But yeah i still have decent signal etc in diff location, but sometimes wished it was better lol.
Kriptik210 said:
Bootloader also
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lordcheeto03 said:
If all you've done is download the OTA but you haven't actually applied it AND you are still on the 4.2.2 MDL bootloader, I'd say leave your bootloader on MDL. I'm not saying don't run updated ROMs, I'm just saying not to take an official update. Use Odin to flash the newest modem and use custom recovery to flash any of the 4.4.x ROMs in the Android Development section, Original Android Development, or Unified Development sections. If you use custom recovery to flash the newer ROMs you still get the benefits of having updated firmware, you just don't end up having KNOX. Myself, along with numerous other users here, are still on the MDL bootloader, NH7 modem, and running modified/stock 4.4.4 NH7 TouchWiz ROM with no problems to speak of. The only thing about keeping the old bootloader, the only modem you can update is your GSM modem, not LTE; although as I said, I really haven't noticed any drop in reception... I still get full LTE whenever I'm in an area which has LTE penetration...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should i upgrade my modem or anything to 4.4.4 version, or get a custom rom? I'm also running on network: LTE/GSM/WCDMA, or should i use something else that would run better everywhere? ;p I'm on simple mobile atm which under t-mobile i guess. Also, what are cool useful apps for gs4 for rooted phones? And anything else that might be useful to add here Thanks!
Hello folks.
I am new here and am not sure how it all works so please forgive me if I have posted in the wrong spot or am asking something that has been beaten to death already.
I have a AT&T GS3 I747 . I received the OTA 4.4.2 update for it and used it just fine. One day i got a bug in me to root and flash it. I rooted it, installed CWM 6.0.47 or something like that and installed Gummy Rom running kitKat 4.4.4.
I would love to return my phone to 4.4.2 with or without root. Is this possible? I have read and read to NOT take these backwards after JB 4.3
I have looked until I was blue in the face for a rom to use and am drawing blanks. I probably found one once and didnt know it. I can flash and all that and do it regularly, I just don't understand all the fancy lingo so I probably overlooked what I am looking for.
So bottom line, is it poissible for me to go back to stock 4.4.2? I would love a stock rom minus all the at&t bloatware since I will be unlocking it to straight talk.
Thanks for your time and once again, my apologies for dragging this all up again if it has been covered already.
First thing to do is update that custom recovery, or at least confirm you're on the latest version. I think that version you quoted is a little dated, and that has potential to cause you some problems flashing ROMs. An easy way to get and install the latest recovery is an app called Flashify.
Next have a look around the development section: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3-att/development
You'll find some debloated TW ROMs for that stock feel without the AT&T & Samsung junk along with plenty of other good ROMs to choose from.
It's wise of you to be cautious @DjPorkchop.
You are correct, you should never again downgrade your bootloader and modem, also called firmware and baseband. The very latest AT&T OTA updated bootloader and modem to NJ1, it is part of the 4.4.2 stock install. The OTA before that loaded NE4 bootloader and modem, they were also in a 4.4.2 stock rom, but you can not downgrade to them if you are on NJ1. AT&T has not issued an newer bootloader and modem than NJ1.
The good news is that the custom ROMs do not flash bootloaders and modems. You are safe to install even a 4.4.2 custom ROM on NJ1 firmware for this reason. There are stock system dumps available, with these you have to use caution because the bootloader and modem may be present, not always however. Talkingmonkeys has a TouchWiz based 4.4.2 ROM, TMS3KK, that is available in two versions, the second is heavily debloated. I am using the 4.3 Android version and will be soon updating to the heavily debloated 4.4.2 version. (He's still doing some minor theme tweaking on the newer version.)
How do I tell if I am on NJ1 or NE4? As I recall, I got the 4.4.2 update and all but immidiatly after had my phone shut off. I don't recall ever getting a 2nd update to 4.4.2 as long as my phone was active. I have been known to be wrong before though.
And I thank you much for the info. I will go check that thread out as soon as possible.
DjPorkchop said:
How do I tell if I am on NJ1 or NE4? As I recall, I got the 4.4.2 update and all but immidiatly after had my phone shut off. I don't recall ever getting a 2nd update to 4.4.2 as long as my phone was active. I have been known to be wrong before though.
And I thank you much for the info. I will go check that thread out as soon as possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a "Samsung Info" app in the PlayStore that will give you the info.
Or, in a terminal emulator you could enter:
Code:
getprop ro. bootloader
and
Code:
getprop | grep version.baseband
Thanks for letting me in on that app. It shows me on NE4.
So off I go to figure out what I am going to do to this phone. I am going to visit that thread you mentioned to me and see if I can make heads or tails of it and get a rom for this phone. I ike Gummy rom but it is a bit to much for me. I really want to get back to as close to stock as I can get safely without bricking my phone.
DjPorkchop said:
Thanks for letting me in on that app. It shows me on NE4.
So off I go to figure out what I am going to do to this phone. I am going to visit that thread you mentioned to me and see if I can make heads or tails of it and get a rom for this phone. I ike Gummy rom but it is a bit to much for me. I really want to get back to as close to stock as I can get safely without bricking my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so I revisited that page again and I can't make heads or tails of what to do. I know for certain I am on NE4. That is all I know. Any suggestions from that page to get me as close to stock as I can? I see there is a stock theme revert as well on that page.
Sorry to be such a pain. I am one of those guys that figured out how to root and flash and never should have.
Have a look here to return to stock: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3-att/general/ucuemjb-to-ucufne4-firmware-update-t2808654
DjPorkchop said:
Ok so I revisited that page again and I can't make heads or tails of what to do. I know for certain I am on NE4. That is all I know. Any suggestions from that page to get me as close to stock as I can? I see there is a stock theme revert as well on that page.
Sorry to be such a pain. I am one of those guys that figured out how to root and flash and never should have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That room comes with a dark theme. The revert is not needed unless you want the lighter colored stock theme. I use the dark because, supposedly, a dark setup is a little easier on battery drain compared to light or white themes. I didn't install the extra battery mod, he had enough options built into the rom to suit me.