[Q] ODIN to unbrick Locked S4 - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4

I have a Verizon S4 (build VRUFNC5) with locked boot loader. I'm interested in using Xposed Installer but want to have a way to recover if anything goes wrong. So I was looking through different methods and the only one I can find that I think will work with a locked boot loader is using Odin to flash a factory image. However, I just wanted to be sure that it will before I do anything with Xposed.
The files I found to use in Odin are found on this page:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172
Can someone just help me out and confirm that I will be able to use Odin and that those are the correct files I would use.
Thanks

cac595 said:
I have a Verizon S4 (build VRUFNC5) with locked boot loader. I'm interested in using Xposed Installer but want to have a way to recover if anything goes wrong. So I was looking through different methods and the only one I can find that I think will work with a locked boot loader is using Odin to flash a factory image. However, I just wanted to be sure that it will before I do anything with Xposed.
The files I found to use in Odin are found on this page:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172
Can someone just help me out and confirm that I will be able to use Odin and that those are the correct files I would use.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's the right way to restore factory NC5.

k1mu said:
Yes, that's the right way to restore factory NC5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, and I shouldn't have any problems since I used the "over the air" method to update to what I have now? Even though I'm 100% stock, besides root, this method will work to unbrick and wont cause any other issues? Also, one last thing. I can't use Odin to go back to a previous build can I? As in anything before NC5 will cause problems or brick.

cac595 said:
Ok, and I shouldn't have any problems since I used the "over the air" method to update to what I have now? Even though I'm 100% stock, besides root, this method will work to unbrick and wont cause any other issues? Also, one last thing. I can't use Odin to go back to a previous build can I? As in anything before NC5 will cause problems or brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this won't cause any problems as long as you flash whatever your bootloader expects or anything later.
You can't flash back. (FAQ #1).

k1mu said:
Yes, this won't cause any problems as long as you flash whatever your bootloader expects or anything later.
You can't flash back. (FAQ #1).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, thanks a lot for your help.

Related

Help me revert my S4 back to the factory image - MI1 Build

I had no success with roms (im new to all of this, but i was able to root) and already unrooted.. I just want to clean my phone up for good. I tried installing the 4.3 OTA update and got an error most likely thanks to some safestrap crap still on my phone.
I also tried this..http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301259 but the zip file for the MI1 build is corrupt or empty or whatever but it wont work...
So I dont care if i lose data at this point, i just want to go back to stock and be able to get the 4.3 OTA update. Please help!
also, I already have odin v3.07 on my computer.
DITTO!!
Dekdo said:
I had no success with roms (im new to all of this, but i was able to root) and already unrooted.. I just want to clean my phone up for good. I tried installing the 4.3 OTA update and got an error most likely thanks to some safestrap crap still on my phone.
I also tried this..http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301259 but the zip file for the MI1 build is corrupt or empty or whatever but it wont work...
So I dont care if i lose data at this point, i just want to go back to stock and be able to get the 4.3 OTA update. Please help!
also, I already have odin v3.07 on my computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im WITH YOU ON THIS.. I need to know everything, step by step. This 4.3 update crap is the DEVIL!!!
The method you are using is an issue or the browser you are using to download is creating an issue.
I downloaded the file in that link and did not have an issue.
Dekdo said:
I had no success with roms (im new to all of this, but i was able to root) and already unrooted.. I just want to clean my phone up for good. I tried installing the 4.3 OTA update and got an error most likely thanks to some safestrap crap still on my phone.
I also tried this..http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301259 but the zip file for the MI1 build is corrupt or empty or whatever but it wont work...
So I dont care if i lose data at this point, i just want to go back to stock and be able to get the 4.3 OTA update. Please help!
also, I already have odin v3.07 on my computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that's not working for you, then you need to retry the download. If it continues to be corrupt, then you need to try a better network.
I've sent people to Panera and Starbucks to fix problems they're having with getting good downloads.
The only other reason for the download from that thread to fail is when you're not on a MI1 build when you start. You can't flash MI1 on anything later.
ok so got the download to work..
started the flash and then it read "FAIL" and my phone was stuck downloading and now its stuck in emergency mode even after pulling the battery. I cant boot to anything else. HELP
Dekdo said:
ok so got the download to work..
started the flash and then it read "FAIL" and my phone was stuck downloading and now its stuck in emergency mode even after pulling the battery. I cant boot to anything else. HELP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have any updates? Were you able to fix the issue? Im kinda in the same situation.
Dekdo said:
ok so got the download to work..
started the flash and then it read "FAIL" and my phone was stuck downloading and now its stuck in emergency mode even after pulling the battery. I cant boot to anything else. HELP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You flashed the wrong software for your phone, and must find an image that matches your phone or use the recovery assistant to repair it.
You can't go backwards. I.e. flashing MDK on a ME2 phone.
You can't install custom recovery other than on MDK.

Restoring to stock to start from scratch - cont boot into recovery at all

I was originally trying to just go to the new kitkat rom, i believe that was CM11 or something of the sort. But for some reason i cannot do anything with my phone when it comes to installing or changing the recovery. Odin fails every time. One-Click-Root fails every time (which i think is what i used from the beginning to root). I even upgraded ROM manager to pro so i could try the touch based recovery and it will not successfully install a recovery that i can boot into even though it says that it has and shows(ed) the current recovery being the most up-to-date version. And now since ive tried several different today, i have lost root somehow...even thought i just had it and didnt change anything with the root process...just trying to regain even the stock recovery. Basically what happens if i try to boot into recovery mode is it tries for half a second then boots to ODIN mode and in the top left corner it says failed normal boot or something of the sort.
Can someone point me in the right direction? would a factory reset within the android OS help anything? every thing is backed up, so that wont be an issue as far as apps/data and important files goes.
The phone still boots to my "rooted" 4.3 that i have installed, just dont have root privelages any longer...the phone still works as normal...just cant do anything root based...like run titanium backup or supersu, and even ROM manager is NOW giving me an error when trying to install a custom recovery.
I would like to restore to stock MDK so i can start from scratch and install the CM11 KitKat Rom if at all possible...
So you were mdk and loki'd correct...
safestrap powered Hyperdrive 12
decaturbob said:
So you were mdk and loki'd correct...
safestrap powered Hyperdrive 12
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MDK yes, the loki part im not sure of...but i did try to do that again since having this problem...with no success...
MURD3RD said:
MDK yes, the loki part im not sure of...but i did try to do that again since having this problem...with no success...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you would have to to use the loki process to gain root and install the custom recovery at the time. I really can't help as I got into the S4 with ME7 base and been using safestrap.
i also tried following this link
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2290798
and it doesnt get past the first ODIN step and gets a fail
attached are some snips of the ODIN screen when it fails
decaturbob said:
you would have to to use the loki process to gain root and install the custom recovery at the time. I really can't help as I got into the S4 with ME7 base and been using safestrap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you got a link to a good working Loki tutorial?
Here's a link to the stock mdk tar file. This will totally wipe your phone. http://www.sxtpdevelopers.com/showthread.php?t=237
Ryno77 said:
Here's a link to the stock mdk tar file. This will totally wipe your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did find that link before and am currently downloading it...but it is taking forever...everything else i download is blazing fast (50Mb D/L speed here at my buddies apartment) but yet this file is only downloading at 50KB/s...and is showing over 9-10 hours for the download to be complete...does anybody have a faster download source?
i know my connection is phenomenal since i downloaded a 9 gig file last night from a different source and it took under an hour...this .tar is less than 2 gigs...shouldnt take that damn long...
i also tried flashing the recovery .tar.md5 from that link...same exact result...
Questions and Help issues go in Q&A and Help section
Thread moved
Thanks
FNSM
kennyglass123 said:
Questions and Help issues go in Q&A and Help section
Thread moved
Thanks
FNSM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANKS!!!
I knew i hadn't put it in the right place...hopefully it'll get more view here...and i can get this thing sorted out
so right now the screen shows (phone)--(yellow triangle)--(computer) and says "Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies & try again"
this is after trying to install the stock restore .tar files in the link mentioned above...the device will NO LONGER boot the os and goes to this screen every time. I can still get it into download (Odin) mode though.
MURD3RD said:
i also tried following this link
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2290798
and it doesnt get past the first ODIN step and gets a fail
attached are some snips of the ODIN screen when it fails
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "fail (auth)" means that you're likely no longer running an MDK bootloader. It's refusing to load the MD2 that's used by Loki.
Do you get the same failure when you try to flash the stock MDK ROM image? What text shows up on your phone when you try to flash the stock?
Since you're stuck at the "Firmware upgrade encountered an issue." it indicates that the bootloader rejected a flash, which means you may have somehow updated to MI1 or later. The message on the phone when the flash fails will tell for sure.
k1mu said:
The "fail (auth)" means that you're likely no longer running an MDK bootloader. It's refusing to load the MD2 that's used by Loki.
Do you get the same failure when you try to flash the stock MDK ROM image? What text shows up on your phone when you try to flash the stock?
Since you're stuck at the "Firmware upgrade encountered an issue." it indicates that the bootloader rejected a flash, which means you may have somehow updated to MI1 or later. The message on the phone when the flash fails will tell for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i can't remember what exactly the messages were right now...but currently Kies is trying a recovery "upgrade and initialization"...hopefully this works and my phone can at least be usable again...and THEN ill get back at trying to get the new KitKat, lol
MURD3RD said:
i can't remember what exactly the messages were right now...but currently Kies is trying a recovery "upgrade and initialization"...hopefully this works and my phone can at least be usable again...and THEN ill get back at trying to get the new KitKat, lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't be on MDK, so no KitKat.
k1mu said:
You won't be on MDK, so no KitKat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but i have had no problem flashing back to get rooted when i first got the device...even though several threads said it couldnt be done...all i need is to get back to stock and start from scratch...at least i hope this is the case. If it goes ahead and installs the newest 4.3 update...and i truly cant change it due to no exploits yet...then i guess ill have to wait...lol, it could be worse, haha
so kies just finished doing its thing and the phone booted up and is now running 4.3 MK2
MURD3RD said:
so kies just finished doing its thing and the phone booted up and is now running 4.3 MK2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means you lost the mdk bootloader and can only use Safestrap to boot custom rooms :/ you will need to root via saferoot in the development thread first. Then load Safestrap which only has one ROM that currently works (hyper drive 12).
gnubian said:
That means you lost the mdk bootloader and can only use Safestrap to boot custom rooms :/ you will need to root via saferoot in the development thread first. Then load Safestrap which only has one ROM that currently works (hyper drive 12).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT: well nevermind...i think i was just crazy to think something different...i am definitely running the latest release of 4.3 from vzw...fml...well at least it can still be rooted. Is there any development for KitKat on the new MK2 software? Ill do some searching around...
i do remember, however, doing something that a tutorial said specifically not to do...and it worked anyway...even though several people responding to the thread said not to do or it would brick the phone...o well i guess...if i find the link ill post it up...
gnubian said:
That means you lost the mdk bootloader and can only use Safestrap to boot custom rooms :/ you will need to root via saferoot in the development thread first. Then load Safestrap which only has one ROM that currently works (hyper drive 12).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
would you happen to have a link to the safestrap tutorial? i cant seem to locate it...im gunna do some more searching, but if you had a link at the ready, that'd be awesome!!!
EDIT: Found it...no worries
gnubian said:
That means you lost the mdk bootloader and can only use Safestrap to boot custom rooms :/ you will need to root via saferoot in the development thread first. Then load Safestrap which only has one ROM that currently works (hyper drive 12).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so i found the thread for this ROM and it doesnt say anything about being able to run on MK2 build...can anyone shed some light on this? it only says MJ7...

In Need of GREAT help

Okay well...I was messing around with some roms and such and found i needed to have "You must be on MJ5 bootloader or higher, or you will have reboots & freezes!!!"
Alright well I have/had no idea what that was and seen a thread that showed me a link to mj5 bL and all it said was flash it thru odin so i figured it was a good idea and I did that
Now to give some info I have a NOTE 2 for verizon
16gb
and from what I knew it was the one with I605VRAMC3 <--- this lol
cant think of the wording.. my product name WAS sch-i605
Ok now for some reason I flashed a BL in odin and now my phone says GT-N7100!!!
I have lost my imei and efs and all that =(
I cannot figure out how the hell to get back to my regular firmware i guess..I am so lost lol
I tried to flash "KIES_HOME_I605VRAMC3_I605VZWAMC3_1098177_REV0 4_us er_low_ship.tar.md5" and it doesnt work always fails at system.img
and i tried to flash
I605VRUEMJ9_I605VZWEMJ9_VZW.zip and it doesnt work fails also at system img
Please any +++++ feedback is good feedback
I know Im missing info for you to make a judgement , maybe, just ask me and I will tell. Im a nervous wreck atm xD
This is not development so you should not have posted here. You are trying to flash things when you don't know what you are doing and are not thoroughly reading things. There are several stickied guides to help you out. Read them.
Sent From My Sticky Note, Too?
You bricked your phone. Why are so many people flashing bootloaders for other variants? Read, read, read people.
akellar said:
You bricked your phone. Why are so many people flashing bootloaders for other variants? Read, read, read people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not really bricked. I can work my way around things pretty easy.
I just need to know how can i change it from gt-n7100 to sch-i650
homeboy773 said:
Its not really bricked. I can work my way around things pretty easy.
I just need to know how can i change it from gt-n7100 to sch-i650
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it boot? Can you Odin back to stock? If not, its bricked. If you can you would be the first I've ever heard of being able to.
akellar said:
Does it boot? Can you Odin back to stock? If not, its bricked. If you can you would be the first I've ever heard of being able to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats whats really messing with my head. I know i fd up but I sort of understand all this.
I can flash a rom doing certain steps going back to philz recovery.
The thing is I can do anything GT-N7100 Wise... I can flash that pit and that stock... But the problem is thats not my the original firmware so basically my phone service wont work.
Its odd
I can get into download mode easily
I tried to flash my original pit file but it just fails at system.img
I also tried just flashing the "I605VRAMC3_I605VZWAMC3_VZW" in pda but it fails also.
Its confusing why it even let me flash a different firmware in the first place but it wont let me flash back?
homeboy773 said:
Thats whats really messing with my head. I know i fd up but I sort of understand all this.
I can flash a rom doing certain steps going back to philz recovery.
The thing is I can do anything GT-N7100 Wise... I can flash that pit and that stock... But the problem is thats not my the original firmware so basically my phone service wont work.
Its odd
I can get into download mode easily
I tried to flash my original pit file but it just fails at system.img
I also tried just flashing the "I605VRAMC3_I605VZWAMC3_VZW" in pda but it fails also.
Its confusing why it even let me flash a different firmware in the first place but it wont let me flash back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just flashed twrp and a rom, maybe the BL re locked? going to see if re rooting will help to flash a new BL IDK lol
homeboy773 said:
just flashed twrp and a rom, maybe the BL re locked? going to see if re rooting will help to flash a new BL IDK lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the bootloader was locked you wouldn't be able to flash twrp.
akellar said:
If the bootloader was locked you wouldn't be able to flash twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok
akellar said:
If the bootloader was locked you wouldn't be able to flash twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is going to sound ignorant but is I605VRAMC3_I605VZWAMC3_VZW a boot loader?
Or where can i find i605 bootloader?
akellar said:
If the bootloader was locked you wouldn't be able to flash twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In a backup file from a past rom, Where, If, Would efs be located?

update and unroot

I am on rooted mk2 with safestrap, can i unroot and upgrade all in one shot with this?: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172
as well is it safe to use the one that retains my data while updating to a new release?
thanks in advance
npesa92 said:
I am on rooted mk2 with safestrap, can i unroot and upgrade all in one shot with this?: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172
as well is it safe to use the one that retains my data while updating to a new release?
thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you really mean that you have safestrap or are you on a "LOKI" rom? Do you have a custom recovery installed? Although I haven't used this, if you are actually using safestrap, then yes, you can use this.
npesa92 said:
I am on rooted mk2 with safestrap, can i unroot and upgrade all in one shot with this?: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172
as well is it safe to use the one that retains my data while updating to a new release?
thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's "safe" if you follow the instructions. I have done it.
It will wipe your phone....... Not the SD stuff but everything else it wiped.
You should backup and before doing this with Titanium Backup or ADB.
This will leave you rooted with MK2 still as your bootloader with the ability to ODIN back to MK2 at some point, if need be.
This puts you off the ranch, but ODIN can get you back on the ranch later.
There is currently no other way to have root on KitKat. So if root is important and you want KitKat, this is it.
Now if you don't care about root, go flash the MK2 No-Wipe found on this forum, then take the OTA.
You need to remove SS to do that though.
tech_head said:
Yes, it's "safe" if you follow the instructions. I have done it.
It will wipe your phone....... Not the SD stuff but everything else it wiped.
You should backup and before doing this with Titanium Backup or ADB.
This will leave you rooted with MK2 still as your bootloader with the ability to ODIN back to MK2 at some point, if need be.
This puts you off the ranch, but ODIN can get you back on the ranch later.
There is currently no other way to have root on KitKat. So if root is important and you want KitKat, this is it.
Now if you don't care about root, go flash the MK2 No-Wipe found on this forum, then take the OTA.
You need to remove SS to do that though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The No Wipe Odin MK2 method will remove SS.
help! was rooted 4.3 tried flashing stock 4.4.2 failed
I had 4.3 rooted and i tried flashing stock 4.4.2 not im pretty much bricked! please if someone can help me i would really appreciate it
mancolla said:
I had 4.3 rooted and i tried flashing stock 4.4.2 not im pretty much bricked! please if someone can help me i would really appreciate it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How'd you try flashing it that led you to here? If you can get into download mode just use the Odin file... Since I don't know exactly what you did you could try mk2but may not work and you may have to Odin NC5.. Little more info will help
Sent from my jflte using Tapatalk
I tried to ota update but I get an error. Phone is Custom unlock,was rooted. I unrooted.

bricked verzon galaxy s4

I went to upgrade to the new hyperdrive since they sent me the ota. Phone has been acting weird so I was going to do a complete wipe. I took my sd card out which my son took and lost on me and OI can find anywhere. I had another card so d/l new hyperdrive onto other card. I went to wipe cache and install new rom. phone wiped data and now wouldnt install new rom. I dont remember all the build I was on on the phone but I had Hyperdrive 16 before I started this if that helps at all. I am stuck on samsung custom boot screen. I can get into odin recovery and tried recovery but keeps failing. can I get some help I need my phone i have to go to work soon. Thanks
ive tried the rootjunky video with both no wipe and full wipe neither worked. odin failed.
FlipFlop425 said:
ive tried the rootjunky video with both no wipe and full wipe neither worked. odin failed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What files are you trying to flash? Did you use Safestrap to install RLS16?
Sent from my NCC-1701 using Tapatalk.
i had downloaded the new update for hyper drive. Right now my biggest probelm is I cannot get past the splash screen. I can get into download mode though so can we try to figure out how to unbrick me first. Download mode is the only thing I can seem to get into right now
FlipFlop425 said:
i had downloaded the new update for hyper drive. Right now my biggest probelm is I cannot get past the splash screen. I can get into download mode though so can we try to figure out how to unbrick me first. Download mode is the only thing I can seem to get into right now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I need to know if you used Safestrap as your recovery. It's very likely you're trying to flash the wrong file with Odin.
If you had Safestrap your build wasn't MDK. If you didn't need Safestrap then your build was MDK.
So I'll ask again, what file are you trying to flash, with Odin, that keeps failing?
riker147 said:
That's why I need to know if you used Safestrap as your recovery. It's very likely you're trying to flash the wrong file with Odin.
If you had Safestrap your build wasn't MDK. If you didn't need Safestrap then your build was MDK.
So I'll ask again, what file are you trying to flash, with Odin, that keeps failing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to have to use safestrap. I was trying to flash the mdk file from rootjunky's video on unbricking your phone
FlipFlop425 said:
I used to have to use safestrap. I was trying to flash the mdk file from rootjunky's video on unbricking your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO!!! You cannot flash the MDK file, you cannot downgrade the S4! Always ends badly, go to the general section and grab the NC5 full-wipe tar and flash with ODIN.
npjohnson said:
NO!!! You cannot flash the MDK file, you cannot downgrade the S4! Always ends badly, go to the general section and grab the NC5 full-wipe tar and flash with ODIN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried that from SUrge1223. That did not work for me. I cannot get in to my phone to re root it. Is that the right file the one from him?
FlipFlop425 said:
I have tried that from SUrge1223. That did not work for me. I cannot get in to my phone to re root it. Is that the right file the one from him?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172. I would choose the "Full Wipe" version. Make sure you have a good download. Check MD5. Make sure you follow the directions for Odin. If you verify all of that, and it still doesn't work, I'm afraid I won't be any more help. Someone with more knowledge than I have will have to step in. Good luck.
riker147 said:
From here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172. I would choose the "Full Wipe" version. Make sure you have a good download. Check MD5. Make sure you follow the directions for Odin. If you verify all of that, and it still doesn't work, I'm afraid I won't be any more help. Someone with more knowledge than I have will have to step in. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can vouch for the full Version. Saved my bacon.
You have to boot the phone into a special mode that will allow ODIN to funtion
Turn off the SGS4 and boot it into Download/Odin Mode: press and hold the Volume Down, Home and Power buttons simultaneously for a couple of seconds till you see a warning screen. Then press Volume Upkey to enter Download Mode.
I got it!!! Found my Samsung cable and all went well. TY for ALL the help!
FlipFlop425 said:
I got it!!! Found my Samsung cable and all went well. TY for ALL the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it is a really good feeling when that ODIN starts to run like it means it. Nothing beats that first boot up!

Categories

Resources