[Q] Downgrading i9300 from 4.3 > 4.1.2 - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi guys. I just upgraded my GS3 from 4.1.2 to 4.3 and from the title, obviously I didn't like the upgrade .__.
Being a total noob and keeping my phone as simple as possible, I never rooted my phone. I did think of rooting it soon though (Just when the upgrade came. Sigh.)
After a bunch of problems: (can be omitted)
1) I couldn't use the GS3 Toolkit (from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1703488) cos my build was no longer 4.1.2. I do backups pretty often and I can't find any other backup programs that are easy to use.
2) Some of the widgets were gone.
3) Annoying settings ._.
I DID made a full backup. But it's not a NANDROID backup. Just a normal backup (.bak) file
I tried searching online to downgrade and there were a few questions I wanna make sure before diving into the downgrade process.
Q:
1) Especially when I don't have root, I saw some people saying their EFS being lost after downgrading http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2640696 . I suppose have to root my 4.3 first then backup my EFS? After downgrading to 4.1.2, would my device still be rooted?
2) I shouldn't have to worry about my data being wiped because of the downgrade, right? Since I made a full backup for the 4.1.2, I can just restore my data back after I downgrade?
3) I see a lot of people talking about their phones BRICKING after downgrading few months ago. I suppose that's your phone breaking down. Would there any bricking problems if I follow this guide here? http://www.androidpit.com/how-to-downgrade-galaxy-s3
4) To be extra safe, I want to backup my apps (probably SMS, but not priority) again so I have 2 files just in case. I can't use Titanium cos I'm not rooted, any other suggestions? Or is it still recommended to root then backup then flash stock ROM?

danielkzlai said:
Hi
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just open my thread(How to Recover....)
download the stock rom that you want, and flash it
details on that thread

i have a i9300 with 4.3 that is sim locked on a carrier from my country. as far as i know, there are no free methods to unlock 4.3, but i read that 4.1.2 can be unlocked at home for free, or at least with galaxsim (it's not free but it's cheap ~ 3 euros). but i read that it isn't possible to downgrade to an older rom (the phone will brick/bootloop), is that true? i also saw that alot of people lost their imei. is it safe to try downgrading if i make a efs backup?

UNDERSTAND FIRST
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2362743
Network IMEI EFS
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2393289
Downgrade and network problems .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2531221

Related

[Q] Shall I update firmware?

Hi all,
I have a rooted device. Kies is showing me an update from XWKE1 to KF4. If I update this will I lose my data? Also will I lose my root?
I couldn't see the KF4 in this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278
Any help will be great....
Yes i am a noob
Being a noob is no excuse not searching a little bit more.
You could update, read this thread for getting root again.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
I have been reading actually, since 8.30. That post doesn't help me though, I know how to root, I only want to know whether updating my firmware through kies with remove my root and remove data
Yes it will remove root. And I don't don't know if it will wipe your data, probably not. That's why you should always make nandroid backups before flashing so you could always go back should it go wrong.
Updating official firmware packages will not wipe your data. (but always backup important data before updating anyway),
But you will loose root.
Simply re-root in exactly the same way you did the first time ( or in a new way if you want to ), then re-flash the stock KF4 kernel to restore to stock KF4 status (except for having root).
Get stock KF4 kernel here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278
Ok thanks guys.

[Q] Backup before root

Hi i just got my SGSII Im ready to root it but before install anything I want to make a backup, but im not sure. Can I install clockworkmode CWM before root it and make my backup?? I have read but can not fine the specific answer. I really want to have my stock rom in case something goes wrong even with out root
You can back up some data using Samsung Kies. But if you wanna create a nandroid backup, you need to root first. Rooting is safe and does not mod your stock rom. It will add some extra features like ClockWorkMod, busybox etc:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
You can flash CF-root and then start to install apps and then use for example Titanium Backup to make backups. If you for some reason want to flash your original firmware back, your apps won't be wiped.
ok then i will use the chainfire root files. I had the doubt because when i root one tab i first made the backup, i thought i would be the same
you can simply get the firmware for your phone at sammobile.com. if you ever need to restore your phone back to the state before rooting, just flash that firmware with odin and you are done.
awesome, every where i checked on the web i never find the specific firmware (not even mention my carrier) i was afraid i could not find it, but with that page i got it
Once you have done what you are doing, get kTool and backup efs too. Very important data in the efs.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
kTool saved my life twice.
DO NOT neglect it !

Unrooting i9300 non flashed rom(4.1.1),while retaining data?

Hey I recently rooted my i9300( 4.1.1) using odin and cf-root and now I realised I never used the benefits of rooting and it seems to do me more harm than good (No offense) .I've got tons of apps installed and backuped via titanium backup and I heard your can't restore the backup once you unroot as titanium backup requires root access.
So I was wondering if its possible to unroot and without losing date or getting ota update to 4.1.2 and losing the root that way without losing data?
Kies doesn't seem to work well for updates though it seems.
Thanks
I'm curious, what's the harm the rooting caused you?
You can press Full unroot in the SU app
well harm was probably the wrong word ,it's just I messed with titanium backup and I tend to factory restore my phone a lot because it would never connect to kies . I just wanted to use stock rom because it seems to just work ,actually the whole point was because I wanted 4.1.2 without losing data and I thought it could only be done if I unrooted and use the ota update on kies.
So is there anyways to get that update while retaining root and data?

[Q] [HELP] Won't update anymore

Hi,
First of all I'm new here so please don't be too hard on my nooby actions from the past.
I have a rooted Galaxy S3 and 6 months ago I wanted to flash custom roms. I've read a lot about it and thought I couldn't do anything wrong anymore, so I made a nandroid backup (to switch roms when I wanted to).
Now here comes the noob part I didn't read about or I've looked over, my stock rom was android version 4.1.2, and the new rom was 4.2, when I wanted to go back to stock I softbricked my Galaxy s3, it was stuck in a bootloop.
I managed to get into Clockwerk Recovery and fix it, though I don't remember how I did it. I ended up with a factory resetted stock rom, but I was happy everything worked again!
So everything was okay and now that a new update will be available, I wanted to check if the update was available in my country yet, but my phone said that it wouldn't update because my phone is customized, so I checked in download mode and it says flash count 1, custom binary and custom system storage.
Is there a way I can get my updates again without factory resetting my phone again or without flashing the stock rom again?
I would like my phone how it is now with all its data, but just be able to get the official updates.
Oh and I freezed some system apps and bloatware with app quarantine, maybe that's important too.
thanks in advance for the help!
No, you can't get official ota updates unless your phone is unmodified, yours is very much modified.
If you want to go back to full stock, unroot and remove flash count then there are guides in general forum, stickies. You'll lose all your data in the process.
Instead just flash the 4.3 stock rom using odin, you might not even need to factory reset doing this. Follow the guides again, back up your efs first.
Vinceee said:
Hi,
First of all I'm new here so please don't be too hard on my nooby actions from the past.
I have a rooted Galaxy S3 and 6 months ago I wanted to flash custom roms. I've read a lot about it and thought I couldn't do anything wrong anymore, so I made a nandroid backup (to switch roms when I wanted to).
Now here comes the noob part I didn't read about or I've looked over, my stock rom was android version 4.1.2, and the new rom was 4.2, when I wanted to go back to stock I softbricked my Galaxy s3, it was stuck in a bootloop.
I managed to get into Clockwerk Recovery and fix it, though I don't remember how I did it. I ended up with a factory resetted stock rom, but I was happy everything worked again!
So everything was okay and now that a new update will be available, I wanted to check if the update was available in my country yet, but my phone said that it wouldn't update because my phone is customized, so I checked in download mode and it says flash count 1, custom binary and custom system storage.
Is there a way I can get my updates again without factory resetting my phone again or without flashing the stock rom again?
I would like my phone how it is now with all its data, but just be able to get the official updates.
Oh and I freezed some system apps and bloatware with app quarantine, maybe that's important too.
thanks in advance for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you must be rooted first and make the flash counter 0. use triangle away for that. would be better to follow some guides available here at xda..
---------- Post added at 08:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:52 PM ----------
boomboomer said:
No, you can't get official ota updates unless your phone is unmodified, yours is very much modified.
If you want to go back to full stock, unroot and remove flash count then there are guides in general forum, stickies. You'll lose all your data in the process.
Instead just flash the 4.3 stock rom using odin, you might not even need to factory reset doing this. Follow the guides again, back up your efs first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just by flashing 4.3 stock firmware from odin wont work, he will need to factory reset, else he may be stuck in boot loop..
Okay so if I understand correctly: I can't get the official updates directly from samsung, unless I factory reset + flash stock rom again (because now I'm also on stock but download mode says custom) + triangle away + unroot?
Now all I want is the official stock rom 4.3 of the Galaxy S3 + root (doesn't matter if it's done via odin), without losing what I have now.
Is this possible to do in any way?
I would think of
1. making a full nandroid backup
2. titanium backup
3. flash 4.3 rom + root
4. restore via titanium backup
will this work for what I want as a result?
I will read some guides too if I know that this is the way to go, I just want to be sure of everything before I do anything, I don't want to screw things up like last time..
And can I choose what 4.3 I download? (European or even more specific like Belgium in my case?)
Thanks again everyone!
Basics read first.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2344125
Critical you read the first two posts .
JJEgan said:
Basics read first.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2344125
Critical you read the first two posts .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
okay so I've read this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2362743 and there was a lot I already know (I'm not that new to rooting and stuff like that) but I didn't know the radio part yet, this gives me even more questions.
If I flash stock 4.3, will I have to flash a radio of my region too or won't the radio be effected by the rom flash?
I'm just confused now.. can somebody just help me with my questions? I'm not new to the forums I just never made an account, I've read many threads on here, watched videos, ect.
Thanks again
I would also do some reading up on the new 4.3 update whether you would want to upgrade to it or not when you fix the update problem because at the moment there are a few issues with it! All though that will change when bug fixes are released in the future but at the moment it has problems.
If I flash stock 4.3, will I have to flash a radio of my region too or won't the radio be effected by the rom flash?
Depends upon what region modem is in the firmware .
personally i am not updating to 4.3 until we get a better release .
Okay thanks for the advice everyone!
I will wait until a more stable version is released
And when it comes out, will titanium backup fix all my apps and paid apps as if the update was done officially?
What would be the steps I have to do, and please don't say google it or read every thread there is about rooting I came here for your help and clear answers, I need help from people who know more about this stuff because I'm no IT pro

[Q] Galaxy S3 root and reset - avoid upgrade?

I have an unrooted Galaxy S3 (GT-I9300, Android 4.1.2) that I would like to factory reset, but I have a few questions and would really appreciate some info.
1. Backup apps: I would like to backup my apps and I know to do this I need to root and use Titanium Backup (or similar software). I have experience of this from an HTC phone a while ago, but is it the case that I can root the S3 without losing my app data? I have read conflicting information on this over the years.
2. Avoid upgrade: So far I have been avoiding Samsung's repeated attempts to upgrade my S3 to the latest version of Android due to poor reviews of it running on this phone. If I root, save app data, then factory reset, will returning to stock automatically update to the latest version? Or the version the phone was originally installed with? Is therefore the best option to go with ROM that is a clone of the 4.1.2 stock? (I'm not keen on a custom ROM due to issues I had with the "best available" ROM on my HTC phone - video camera not working, issue changing ringtone, etc).
3. Returning to stock: If I DO wish to return to stock, regardless of the Android upgrade, is this easy enough to do? Is it through Samsung Kies?
To summarise, I want to factory reset my phone while saving app data but avoiding the latest Android update on this phone (to begin with at least).
Thanks in advance.
Azz1844
You have confused yourself, factory reset will only wipe the data from your current firmware -it will not update anything.
CF auto root (recommended) itself will not wipe anything, provided you follow the instructions exactly.
To be frank you are better off with the latest 4.3 firmware, even stock 4.3 once you freeze all the bloatware. 4.1 sucks in comparison, the only reason to stay on 4.1 is if your efs has been damaged and now can't be updated to efs v2.
Only follow the guides in general forum, sticky threads.
Thanks for your reply boomboomer.
In that case I think I will probably upgrade to 4.3 to check if it resolves any of my issues, then if not I will CF auto root, backup my apps/data, factory reset and avoid the update to 4.3. Does this sound like a reasonable course of action?
I have heard a lot of criticism about 4.3 on this device which is why I want to avoid it - do you (or anyone) know if these issues still exist?
Many thanks,
azz1844
boomboomer said:
You have confused yourself, factory reset will only wipe the data from your current firmware -it will not update anything.
CF auto root (recommended) itself will not wipe anything, provided you follow the instructions exactly.
To be frank you are better off with the latest 4.3 firmware, even stock 4.3 once you freeze all the bloatware. 4.1 sucks in comparison, the only reason to stay on 4.1 is if your efs has been damaged and now can't be updated to efs v2.
Only follow the guides in general forum, sticky threads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

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