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Root [International] KitKat - should I update...and how?

H

hongman

Member
Hi

I'm on 4.3 currently, rooted, set up as I like it. All the teething issues I had are now gone.

However today the dreaded Internet Connection Unstable bug is kicking my ass! So much so I think I want to upgrade....however I have been seeing a lot of reports of a battery drain issue.

My main concern is I dont want to update to find a myriad of other bugs which restrict my phone, so question is, general consensus - safe to upgrade, or wait?
 
Been on KitKat 4.4.2 for 3 months with no problems.

As you are rooted, you could either flash a pre rooted KitKat ROM for your model of phone or flash a stock Samsung KitKat firmware for your phone and re-root.
 
Hi,

Do you happen to have a download link for KitKat on the international I9505? I'm having a brainfart with Google!

Never used Nandroid before, but I'll google that myself :)
 
hongman said:
Hi,

Do you happen to have a download link for KitKat on the international I9505? I'm having a brainfart with Google!

Never used Nandroid before, but I'll google that myself :)
Click to expand...

You can only revert back to 4.3 if you have the non Knox'd bootloader... MH1 or prior.

DjeMBeY has both full and super slim, pre rooted KitKat ROMs for old and new bootloaders...

[ROM]><I9505 XXUFNC9 4.4.2><06/04/14><Pre-Rooted STOCK ROM's><Odin/CWM><Odex/DeOdex> - xda-developers

See also, DjeMBeY ROM's i9505 - Dummies Guide
 
I feel a little out of depth here with some of the terminology (even in the dummies guide!) so I'll either leave it or need to learn!

Odexed, Knox 0x1, etc...all means pretty much nothing to me currently....and I'd rather go into this knowing what is what!

Is there a dummies guide for super dummies? :-P
 
So basically my Knox counter has already been tripped, so my warranty is at risk (which is weird as I just got it back from a warranty repair :p)

So...does this mean I can or cant upgrade my firmware?

I found out what (de)odexed means also :p
 
hongman said:
So basically my Knox counter has already been tripped, so my warranty is at risk (which is weird as I just got it back from a warranty repair :p)
Click to expand...

As per my previous link, you tripped the Knox warranty by rooting and installing a custom recovery.

So...does this mean I can or cant upgrade my firmware?
Click to expand...

No. Since you have the new Knox bootloader and your Knox counter is tripped, then you can install whatever you want.
Click to expand...
 
Ok, great.

So I have established that my knox flag has already been tripped, but I can still load a custom ROM onto my phone in the way of kitkat.

As my Know flag has been tripped, does this mean my nandroid backup wont work should I need to restore?

Just 2 other things:

I assume when I load kitkat on, I will need to reinstall all my apps etc...as in it will all be back to default. What is the fastest/safest way to get all my settings back on? I heard using Titanium Backup Pro (which I have) is not wise when doing a major firmware change?

Also, with the debloated version, is there a full list of stuff that is taken out,cant seem to find one?
 
Ok, found the list of apps removed.

Having scrolled down a bit more, I'm getting more and more confused as to which firmware I should be downloading, there's so many! And which set of instructions to follow?!

Can you help me make sure I'm putting the right one in the right way for my phone??

Thanks in advance.
 
gsfrider said:
I would wait until the kitkat problems have been sorted, it made my s4 virtually Unusable
Click to expand...

Not particularly helpful or useful gsfrider, but still.
KitKat had not caused any issues to any of the three SGS4's and their owners I know. One of which was my old SGS4. All updated OTA and did nothing an ordinary average user would do.

I think if your still having issues you should post a new thread, explaining what model SGS4 you have, how you updated it to 4.4.2 and what issues you are having. It could be a few things ranging from a rogue app not yet updated for KitKat or a "dirty" Install causing clashes with previous Jelly Bean data, all of which are quite easily solveable.

Back on Topic.

To the OP, if you follow any of Ironass' excellent "Dummies Guides", just follow the instructions to the letter, you'll not go far wrong. If you want to keep Root and have a fast 4.4.2 ROM then I too would recommend a DjeMBeY version. PM me if you like. I'll get you up and running.
 
Thanks Dyno :)

I'm ok at following instructions, and the guides are good except they contain multiple guides and I'm not sure which one to follow.

I just need someone to tell me what information they need from me about my S4, and then point me to the exact guide I need to follow :)

I promise you I'm not being lazy, I have read every page that has been linked, and then some...I think I'm just getting confused between information on each page etc.
 
Hi
I'm pleased for those people who have done the update and had no problems with it, I would appreciate any help that gets my phone working normally as Samsung can't offer any feasible solutions, thanks

Pete
 
gsfrider said:
Hi
I'm pleased for those people who have done the update and had no problems with it, I would appreciate any help that gets my phone working normally as Samsung can't offer any feasible solutions, thanks

Pete
Click to expand...

Hang on, just tapping into my psychic powers now.....

Function ESP_Connect
ESP.server=spiritualunderworld.com
ESP.login="ColinFry"
ESP.password="BogusGit"
do while not ESP.connected
ESP.connect
if ESP.timeout then
exit do​
endif
​
loop

if ESP.connected then
goto tescos to do the lottery​
else
print "Error 404. The spiritual world is currently under maintenance"​
endif
​
End Function

Bah! I just got a 404 error!
I'm just not getting it today. I'll have to start eating more kelp. :banghead:

Perhaps some sort of clue as to what problems your experiencing may be a start? :idea:
If this information is top secret, then all my extremely murky crystal ball is just telling me today is to factory reset the Mother Hubbard.
 
The problems I'm experiencing are as follows
All apps close upon opening them
Phone constantly freezes
Blue tooth keeps switching itself on & off constantly
As I type the phone alters what I type with ineligible words that I have to correct
I can't access packet data at all
I alter settings to my preferences only to have the phone alter them to some completely different
 
Basically the only thing that works properly is the ability to make phone calls,the phone worked perfect up until installing the kitkat update, thanks
 
gsfrider said:
The problems I'm experiencing are as follows
All apps close upon opening them
Phone constantly freezes
Blue tooth keeps switching itself on & off constantly
As I type the phone alters what I type with ineligible words that I have to correct
I can't access packet data at all
I alter settings to my preferences only to have the phone alter them to some completely different
Click to expand...

Did you upgrade to 4.4.2, or did it have 4.4.2 out of the box?
I suspect it was through an upgrade, so what version firmware were you previously on, and how did you upgrade to 4.4.2? Was it OTA or through a flash?
Have you tried a factory reset?
 
Hi it was through a flash upgrade, I was on 4.3, factory reset made things worse as in my battery now drains very rapidly, thanks
 
Ignoring that sarcastic remark, how exactly did you perform the factory reset? through the menus, or via recovery?
have you also tried formatting entire internal SD card with the reset (back everything up first)
 
Thread is getting a tad messy, maybe if I compile a single post with all the questions and fact I have to hand this will be clearer!

My Phone:

S4 I9505
*#1234# details:
AP: I9505XXUENA4
CP: I9505XXUENA4
CSC: I9505YXXENA5

SETTINGS > ABOUT DEVICE
Android Version: 4.3
Baseband Version: I9505XXUENA4
Kernel Version: 3.4.0-2082040 / se.infra@R0210-06 #1
Build Number: JSS15J.I9505XXEUNA4
SE for Android Status: Enforcing SEPF_GT-I9505_4_3_0021
Secure Boot Status: Samsung

1. Based on the above, is I9505XXUBMH1-PRE-ROOTED-DEODEX-SuperSlim.zip suitable?

2. How do I know which install method to follow - Odin Flash or Recovery Mode install? Basically I dont know if I have a Custom Recovery already installed.

3. As the DjeMBeY ROM is pre-rooted, can I just re-apply my SuperSU Pro Key to relicense it?

4. Will all my data (games, any media held on internal memory, rinbgtones, wallpaper, apps etc be lost or can this install without touching those?

5. Anything else I should know?
 
MH1 is the last knox-free version of 4.3. It isn't 4.4

As you are on 4.3, to go to 4.4 it's pretty much essential to do a factory reset, or you will almost certainly run into problems sooner or later.
If you want to go over to KK then you may as well use This one

with djembey, if it says CWM in the filename, then it means just that...flash via CWM.
but rule of thumb, if you download a zip use CWM, if you download a .tar or .md5, then use Odin
 
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