[Q] Advice on Updating the 4.4.2 OTA - AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III

Hi Guys,
Running a i747m, Telus model, but usually load the Bell OTA.
I have read a lot of threads about what I should do and what I should not do however I am not 100% sure of what to do.
I currently have a phone that was upgraded to the 4.3 OTA update sometime last year, so it is running the 4.3 baseband and bootloader. I am currently running Quantum 5.2 (AOSP) but I want to go back to stock since I found out that Cynagenmod doesn't support the aptx codec.
Can I just update straight to 4.4.2 OTA? I grabbed the zip from sammobile. So I am pretty much ready to just load the tar.md5 into odin and let it do its thing. However from what I have read, people are recommending to go back to 4.3 via odin first for some reason?
Just want some clarification. Thanks!

I would flash back to 4.3 first just to be safe

You should be just fine fladhing the new firmware via Odin. (DO NOT USE MOBILE ODIN!) The recommendations for flashing 4.3 first are mostly for those updating via OTA. Odin will fully write the firmware regardless of what you have prior. So if you first fladh the 4.3 firmware, then the 4.4.2, you're just writing over what you wrote to it with the first flash.
If you feel more comfortable by using the extra step, then by all means do so. But I dont believe it will make much difference either way.
You will have to factory reset though, so back up your data. Including the internal sd card.

Related

[Q] Manually update At&t samsung galaxy s3 I747

I have i747 and update is only possible through ota that's what written on official website kies is not updating my phone as it is showing 4.1.1 is the latest firmware.
Please help me how can i update my Sgh-i747 manually or any other method.
I don't wanna root my phone.. I have also downloaded leaked 4.3 ROM I747UCUEMJ2.7z and after extracting i get different files.I didn't get any .md5 or .tar file which odin recognizes. So i can't update my phone maually to 4.3 by odin
Please help me how can i update my sgh-i747.
I have official samsung firmware 4.1.1.
samoudwfr said:
I have i747 and update is only possible through ota that's what written on official website kies is not updating my phone as it is showing 4.1.1 is the latest firmware.
Please help me how can i update my Sgh-i747 manually or any other method.
I don't wanna root my phone.. I have also downloaded leaked 4.3 ROM I747UCUEMJ2.7z and after extracting i get different files.I didn't get any .md5 or .tar file which odin recognizes. So i can't update my phone maually to 4.3 by odin
Please help me how can i update my sgh-i747.
I have official samsung firmware 4.1.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The update IS possible OTA. It does not show up in KIES for some reason.
A couple of things before you do this.
Be aware that once you have the MJB bootloader that comes with the 4.3 update, you cannot go back to anything lower without bricking the phone. Plenty of articles here about it. Until someone here finds a way, it's a one way trip, and there is no stock firmware available yet to flash via Odin. I'm also not sure if you can load one of the other 4.3 versions found here without bricking it after the OTA 4.3.
Some new features are added in 4.3, and some are broken. For me, after the update, s-voice no longer works via Bluetooth, and I'm pretty sure it is an S-voice and not BT issue. Others are reporting battery life issues, constant updates, etc. Research research research. (I wish I had)
Go to settings - about device - software update and follow the prompts to get an OTA. I don't think AT&T is pushing it, but is available. Probably not a bad idea to boot to recovery first and wipe the cache before you do.
You have to be running a stock recovery for it to install and its about a 1gig download, so be on wireless and have a fully charged battery.
In my case, I had the phone rooted with a toggles mod. The update went partially and broke some things. I had to flash to an unmodded unrooted 4.1.1 via Odin to get the update to go.
I made the mistake of trying to flash MJ2 bootloader after having the MJB bootloader. It boots now with the "unbrick" sd card. Would it be possible to ODIN stock 4.1 and still boot with the SD card so it could take the 4.3 OTA again?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
RichMD said:
I made the mistake of trying to flash MJ2 bootloader after having the MJB bootloader. It boots now with the "unbrick" sd card. Would it be possible to ODIN stock 4.1 and still boot with the SD card so it could take the 4.3 OTA again?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know. I've never bricked a phone. As I understand it, 4.3 BL blows e-fuses making it impossible to downgrade. If that is in fact an accurate description, then even if you were to get it to boot via SD card and installed 4.1.1, it would brick it again (double brick?)
Considering the dangers involved, I'm afraid to even sideload a different MJB 4.3 on mine.
You might just have to suck it up and send it off for a J-tag service. I've never done it, but I think others here have.
here's the link I've seen most.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Unbrick-AT-T-SGH-I747-S3-SGH-T999-JTAG-service-I747-T999-Hard-Brick-Fix-USA-/160896407164
Sorry for your loss.
Michael503 said:
I don't know. I've never bricked a phone. As I understand it, 4.3 BL blows e-fuses making it impossible to downgrade. If that is in fact an accurate description, then even if you were to get it to boot via SD card and installed 4.1.1, it would brick it again (double brick?)
Considering the dangers involved, I'm afraid to even sideload a different MJB 4.3 on mine.
You might just have to suck it up and send it off for a J-tag service. I've never done it, but I think others here have.
here's the link I've seen most.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Unbrick-AT-T-SGH-I747-S3-SGH-T999-JTAG-service-I747-T999-Hard-Brick-Fix-USA-/160896407164
Sorry for your loss.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am trying to learn more about it but my "initial" understanding is that the "blown efuse" thing is that you can no longer boot from an earlier bootloader but it doesn't "damage" anything else. Therefore, since I already have a phone in that state but it can boot off the SD card I'm wondering if it doesn't make things worse to flash a 4.1 stock image. It would still fail to boot via EMMC but then boot off SD? Then the OTA could "possibly" happen? I doubt it is possible or someone would have posted about it but I haven't seen that you definitely CAN'T do it so I am continuing to look.

[Q] Need Absolutely Pure AT&T 4.4.2

I apologize in advance if this seems like a repeated question.
I have a carrier-locked Galaxy S3 from AT&T. I have a modified 4.4.2 image running. As a result it appears the network unlock code does not work. I've tried a couple of alternatives ways to unlock but none have worked. I'm on my fifth attempt... and if this doesn't work the device will be permanently locked to AT&T's network.
I'd like to flash with ODIN a completely stock 4.4.2 image. No root, no busybox, no additions, no subtractions, no changes whatsoever.
I cannot seem to find a link which has an absolutely pure AT&T image. If someone would post a link to a pristine 4.4.2 image I'd appreciate it. Thank you in advance
I'm running 4,4,2 baseband NE4, The "about" shows "Device status Custom".
From everything I have seen and read, there is no such thing as a pure stock ATT 4.3 or 4.4.2 ROM. ATT never released a full 4.3 or 4.4.2 Odin flashable ROM for the i747. 4.3 and 4.4.2 were only available as OTA updates.
Now that you are on 4.4.2 bootloader and modem, don't flash anything that attempts to downgrade the bootloader.
When you say "modified image", do you mean a custom ROM?
The closest I have seen is the stock rom posted by enewman17. However, it does still have busybox and root. He does give a download of the stock recovery. Maybe it would be possible to install, remove root and busybox, then go back to stock recovery. Keep in mind that you only have one attempt remaining and I have not tried this.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2789917
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2788357
Audit13, I say modified because, as best I can remember, I used this process: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2789917
I typically keep records of what I do to my phones but I figured that 4.4.2 would be the last upgrade from AT&T. I never expected network unlocking to be such an ordeal.
Dawgdoc, I think I will try to reflash the OTA. I think I saw a post suggesting it can't be done twice. I'll do a little research and report what I find.
I suspect this phone will end up a gift to one of my niecies or nephews. Thanks for your advice.
You can't reflash the ota. You MUST be running stock MJB for it to work because all it does is patch the files on your device.
It'll be late before I can try, but I'll try to put up a purely stock NE4 rom. I've seen several people needing one, and am sure it will be needed again down the road...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

How To Update and Root to 4.4.4

Hi, sorry this is probably a noob question but I've been reading through the forums and got confused how to update my rooted s4. Normally I would just install the custom rom with the update but it seems like this isnt the case right now.
I'm currently on 4.2.2, rooted, and have wicked as my rom. How would I update to 4.4.4? From what I understand there is a new modem and firmware... something to do with NH7? Can someone explain to me what NH7 does. Thanks for all your help!
NH7 is the newest firmware based on 4.4.4 and it is recommended if you plan of using 4.4.4 tw roms. To update it just download the NH7 firmware from general thread and flash it with Odin, after that you can use cf-auto root to root, or if you're just planning to flash a ROM then just flash recovery and then flash ROM.. If you care about tripping your Knox counter then just know that flashing recovery or rooting will trip it
babexdragon said:
Hi, sorry this is probably a noob question but I've been reading through the forums and got confused how to update my rooted s4. Normally I would just install the custom rom with the update but it seems like this isnt the case right now.
I'm currently on 4.2.2, rooted, and have wicked as my rom. How would I update to 4.4.4? From what I understand there is a new modem and firmware... something to do with NH7? Can someone explain to me what NH7 does. Thanks for all your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mention that you want to update and that under normal circumstances you would simply flash the an updated custom ROM... yet you say you've read it isn't that simple, right?
You are correct, it isn't THAT simple, but it is ALMOST that simple. Being as that you are still on the old 4.2.2 pre-KNOX bootloader and all, you can flash and flash and flash all day long and a single use of Triangle Away is all you'd need to still be able to revert your device back to 100% stock, both firmware AND flash counters if you ever needed to for some reason. If you use Odin, Kies, or take an OTA update you will lose that ability. Anything you flash once you go through official channels to update will trip your KNOX counter... and that cannot be reset. The problems you've read about simply flashing an updated custom ROM is that you will have problems with data.
The data drops can be avoided by flashing the newest modem, which would be NH7. Understand though, that method only updates your GSM modem; your LTE modem would be unaffected. This would only be a problem though if you are having trouble receiving LTE where others with the same carrier can get it with no problem. If you aren't having any problems with LTE, then I would recommend to simply update your GSM modem and use the custom recovery of your choice (ClockWorkMod, Philz Touch, or TWRP) to flash any of the ROMs in the T-Mobile GS4 Android Development section.
To update your GSM modem, follow the instructions in this thread. That thread is for updating to the 4.4.2 NB4 modem, which that modem would actually be all you need; but if you wish to have the NH7 modem, just use the modem.bin ONLY file from this post instead of the modem package included in the tutorial thread. After that little bit of work, you can flash any Android version you want; from 4.2.2 all the way up to 4.4.4... AOSP, TouchWiz, or the Google Play Edition ROMs.
So from what I understand...
1. Update the modem not firmware
2. Flash ROM
So I don't need to re-root?
You are correct.
No need to re-root.

[Q] sgh-i747 original updates

Hi all, I have an SGH-i747 with ver 4.0.4 which has been rooted. I will like to update my version systematically with the original updates i believe there where from 4.0.4 to 4.1.1 then 4.1.2. then 4.3, 4.4.2 etcc.. its there a place where i can find the original ups, my phone will not take the original firmware updates on its own. Reason is once i try to flash any ROM pass 4.1.1 i loose the Mobile Data getting the no sim inserted msg and no signal, forcing me to go back the original state in order to work. seems there is a problem with the modem once i go pass 4.1.1. .. thank you.
What bootloader version is on the phone? Where did you get the firmware to flash? You're using desktop Odin to flash?
Are ota updates an option for you? If they are you can unroot and flash the stock recovery; it might be easiest just to Odin back to stock.
Otherwise enewman has posted firmware updates to xda. They are bootloader + modem zips you can flash in custom recovery. You have to flash them incrementally, mjb then ne4 then nj1. Search the forum here and you'll find them. Just be careful and read read read those threads. Messing with bootloaders is the best way to hard brick this phone.
I'm in a similar situation - I've been on a custom version of the Stock ROM for 4.1.2 - never bothered to update the bootloader because I had the soft unlock done, didn't want to lose it. Now I'm bored with it. I'd love to get up to 4.4, or even a 5.0 ROM... but not sure the steps needed to do so. I'm vaguely aware that I have to update the bootloader/kernel, etc... but it seems like I'm 4 years behind the curve with all the ROMs and threads about bootloaders, and I've lost my touch.
That thread with the list of bootloaders sounds good though, I'll go looking for it to start I guess.
gfinockio said:
I'm in a similar situation - I've been on a custom version of the Stock ROM for 4.1.2 - never bothered to update the bootloader because I had the soft unlock done, didn't want to lose it. Now I'm bored with it. I'd love to get up to 4.4, or even a 5.0 ROM... but not sure the steps needed to do so. I'm vaguely aware that I have to update the bootloader/kernel, etc... but it seems like I'm 4 years behind the curve with all the ROMs and threads about bootloaders, and I've lost my touch.
That thread with the list of bootloaders sounds good though, I'll go looking for it to start I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here you go. This TLDR post has all enewman's firmware update threads linked to it.
jason2678 said:
Here you go. This TLDR post has all enewman's firmware update threads linked to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I'll give it a look, down a couple of shots of liquid courage, and give it a go this weekend.
EDIT: Yikes, didn't take long for that to fizzle out. I'm using a i747M. Noticed that my current baseband version isn't listed anywhere on that thread. Hmmm. Oh well, guess I'll do some more digging later...
With an i747m, you can flash the latest 4.4.2 using firmware from sammobile.com and desktop Odin.
Do I need to do them in sequence, or can I jump to the latest? I'm assuming once I've flashed the stock firmware, I can load any current custom ROM?
@gfinockio, is your phone sim unlocked? If not and you don't see any mention of the warranty bit in download mode, you could flash back to stock 4.1.1, use the free method to sim unlock, and then run OTA updates until you are running the latest ROM. OTA updates are the safest route to upgrade the phone.
If you phone is sim unlocked already, you could flash directly to the latest ROM; however, you will not be able to downgrade the bootloader as any attempts to downgrade the bootloader could hard brick you phone.
audit13 said:
@gfinockio, is your phone sim unlocked? If not and you don't see any mention of the warranty bit in download mode, you could flash back to stock 4.1.1, use the free method to sim unlock, and then run OTA updates until you are running the latest ROM. OTA updates are the safest route to upgrade the phone.
If you phone is sim unlocked already, you could flash directly to the latest ROM; however, you will not be able to downgrade the bootloader as any attempts to downgrade the bootloader could hard brick you phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the "free unlock" in 4.1.2 (so it's unlocked) but I thought when you upgraded the bootloader you lost that lock. Now that I believe that isn't the case (and I've used a different tool to unlock as well), I may just try the OTA updates. I was with MTS (Manitoba), but now I'm with Rogers, so I guess I would just use the Rogers OTA images to upgrade from 4.1.2 to 4.4? Do I use Odin or whatever to do that? Once I upgrade to a "stock" image, won't the updater just prompt me to upgrade again and again until I'm "up to date"?
Unlocking the phone via code or the free method is permanent even after upgrading the ROM, bootloader, and modem.
The carrier ROMs for the i747m are pretty much identical but I always recommend sticking with the original carrier's ROM. If you download the stock image from sammobile.com, use Odin to flash the ROM.
OTA updates will not work with a rooted stock ROM too.
When i search for the stock firmware on sammobile for the i747m, it doesn't have any listings. Are you able to find it on there? I don't see it.
Search for the sgh-i747m.
komali2 said:
When i search for the stock firmware on sammobile for the i747m, it doesn't have any listings. Are you able to find it on there? I don't see it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check here: http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/SGH-I747M/
you can sort by carrier or country.
delete

Return to Stock From CM12.1

I'm currently running CM12.1 on my phone. I love it, but I want to return to stock and give my phone an "out of the box" feel, and return it to the way Samsung made it to be.
I follow the typical instructions found here, but I always get an error (no screenshot available. Sorry!). I'm running Windows 10 and I have the proper drivers installed. Is there something I'm missing?
If the phone is running a 4.3 or newer bootloader, you cannot flash back to stock using a stock rom from sammobile.
Before flashing anything, I recommend verifying the bootloader and modem before flashing anything else. An improper bootloader and modem combination could brick the phone.
audit13 said:
If the phone is running a 4.3 or newer bootloader, you cannot flash back to stock using a stock rom from sammobile.
Before flashing anything, I recommend verifying the bootloader and modem before flashing anything else. An improper bootloader and modem combination could brick the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright. Thanks. A bit disappointed, but thanks anyway. Besides, CyanogenMod isn't bad.
I was just running CM 12.1 / 13 and I was able to revert back to Roger's Stock ROM Android 4.4.2
Try Odin3 and installing the stock rom. But you should always verify the bootloader.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...13-nightly-t3356062/post66306367#post66306367
If the OP is running the i747, it is the the AT&T version of the s3. AT&T never released a full firmware release for use in Odin after 4.1.1. AT&T only released OTA updates that upgraded the phones from 4.1.1 to 4.4.2. In order to flash a stock AT&T 4.4.2 ROM, it needs to be done from TWRP.
This may help: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3-att/general/ucufne4-to-ucufnj1-update-t2941792

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