yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] namitutonka:
:confused: I haven't figured out how yet, but I thought I could create a backup image of my phone and have that image ready to restore in case I altered my phone into something I didn't like. Some android version similar to how Acronis True Image can backup and restore a complete Windows 7 image.

I thought I could backup my Samsung Galayx S4 Active, into a restorable, flashable ROM image. Usable like other flashable ROMs for myself or anyone who has the same basic hardware of a smartphone.

Now I am a curiously confused noob smartphone owner. I have much to learn, and assumptions to unlearn.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
You can absolutely do that if you have a custom recovery installed, its called a nandroid backup (do a little research on it). Unfortunately, since the i537 has a locked bootloader you cannot install a custom recovery. The stock recovery will allow you to flash things to your phone, but they have to be signed by Samsung and since we don't have the Samsung key we cannot flash backups.

Really everything you're talking about is possible in Android on phones with an unlocked bootloader. Most international versions of phones have unlocked bootloaders (like the i9295), but for some reason the big US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint) seem to think it's better to lock the phones down.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] namitutonka:
I bought my I537 S4 Active with baseband version I537UCUAMF3 last week and it is factory unlocked. I've installed busybox (required for nandroid backup), and Online Nandroid Backup Pro (Thomas Otero). It has successfully created a complete backup with MD5 sum in just over 4 minutes, without having to go into recovery mode. Online Backup Pro worked just like any other normal app. Saving my 3.2Gb backup to sdcard/2014-04-24.16.01.20. :highfive: :D
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Kallisti23:
Regarding the issues people have had with burn-in, hot battery, and touchscreen fails when using the OTA for 4.4.2 on an I537, can anyone confirm these issues do not occur when flashing with the update.zip in the way this post suggests?

Thanks in advance for any response, and I'm sorry if I have posted in the wrong place. I'm a first-time poster here, and just got my SGH-I537. I am an IT professional and this is my first smartphone.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
I tried to say this above, but maybe I wasn't clear enough. You can make a Nandroid backup, but unless you have a custom recovery installed, there is no way to restore the Nandroid. Typically when you have a custom recovery installed and you brick your phone, you can simply restore your last Nandroid and you'll be back to where you started. But, since the i537 has a locked bootloader you can only flash things that have been signed by Samsung, and since your Nandroid isn't signed by Samsung, you have no way to restore it.

That said, SafeStrap does have the ability to backup and restore slots on your phone, but it's not a complete Nandroid like you would have with a custom recovery.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
Welcome. To answer your question, it seems like problems with the OTA are kind of hit and miss, nobody can say for sure what is causing it but it seems that enough people are having problems with it that they've had to pull the update. The only way to know is to actually flash the phone.

You might have better luck with you question by posting in one of the 2 discussions I linked to above. This thread isn't really supposed to be a support thread, more of an index for firmware.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] namitutonka:
http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB420364&cv=820#fbid=oT1bowswFLM

*The 4.4 KitKat update for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is temporarily unavailable. Please check back later.

Update summary

Effective April 16th, 2014, a software update for the Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active (SGH-i537) will be available to AT&T customers. This software package updates your phone to Android 4.4, and includes multiple improvements.

The update file size varies between 447MB - 877MB depending on your OS version. The update is available over Wi-Fi only.

What's changing?

•	Android 4.4 OS upgrade (http://www.android.com/versions/kit-kat-4-4/)

•	Copy and paste improvements

•	Easier to insert pictures and videos in email or messages

•	Camera app accessibility from the lock screen

•	Call reliability improvements

What to expect after the update

Although there should be no impacts to settings or data, we recommend that you back up your media files to an SD card, a PC, or using a favorite application (from the Play Store), prior to upgrading the software. You can also backing up and restoring your phone using Sansung Kies.

How to update

Customers will receive an alert and be prompted to download the update, or have the option to initiate the update manually. When prompted, you can postpone the update up to 3 times, and 4 hours per occurrence. After the update has been postponed for the maximum allowable time, your device will automatically download and install the update.

1.	To initiate the update manually, connect to a Wi-Fi network.

2.	Drag down the notification bar, and then tap > from the "More" tab, scroll to and tap About device > Software update > Check for updates.

3.	Tap OK.

4.	Tap Continue.

5.	The device will automatically start downloading the software update. Once complete, tap Continueand the device will update and restart.

6.	Please wait until your phone reboots completely, and an "Update complete" message displays, and then select Done.

How to verify the update

1.	Drag down the notification bar, and then tap Settings .

2.	From the "More" tab, tap About device.

3.	The following information will be displayed:

o	Android version: 4.4.2

o	Baseband version: I537UCUCNC9

o	Build number: KOT49H.I537UCUCNC9

---------- Post added at 12:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 PM ----------

I think I will go back to my /system/apps folder and rename the original two files back to their original names, i.e. wssyncmldm.apk and KnoxAgent.apk. And then wait as has been advised by a senior member's post I came across.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
All of this information is posted in the OP, why are you wasting space and posting it again?

Simply renaming those files back won't allow you to take the OTA, clearly you were rooted since you were able to access the /system/app/ folder. Since you were rooted, the OTA will fail to install as has been mentioned when the ML2 OTA came out. The only way to install an OTA from AT&T is to flash your phone back to stock MF2, MF3 or ML2 without any modifications. Since we don't have the Odin images for MF2 or MF3, your only option is to flash ML2 and wait for AT&T/Samsung to re-release the 4.4.2 OTA. If you don't want to wait then just flash 4.4.2 yourself. Either way you're going to end up completely wiping your phone.

In the future, please reserve this thread for posting links to firmware and post all questions related to firmware in the respective discussion threads.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] csctracy1151:
Very helpful
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Erlotaza:
WiFi problems on 4.4 stock

Hi everyone) I'am on stock official 4.4 update and I have problem with wifi: the phone finds some networks, but doesn't "see" others (including my home network, - and only my, my friend's as well).

Tried to downgade to 4.3, but I couldn't even TURN it ON, because it just wouldn't switch to "ON".

Is there any way to fix the problem?

(I guess it's a known samsung-software bug on i537)
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
Same with mine, add it manually and you'll be fine thereafter.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Xanthos58:
4.4.2 pulled from i537

Replaced by S4 active today with a new one from at&t and it came with 4.3 ML2. I checked software updates and it said up todate, as did the latest Kies, how can i update without root?
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Erlotaza:
read the previous 2 messages - DON'T UPDATE, 4.4 has problems with Wi-Fi
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
The OTA is no longer offered due to a few bugs, see the stock firmware section for more on this. You may however update to KK via stock recovery by renaming the OTA config file linked to in that firmware section to "update.zip" and copying it to your SD card and when in stock recovery, select the "apply update from external storage" option. I updated this way and have no Wi-Fi or other maladies associated with 4.4.2.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
Added the re-issued 4.4.2 firmware to the OP.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] mikelets456:
Can someone please help me? I'm on stock rooted MF2 4.2.2 and have been told that I have to get to ML2 4.3 then I can get to 4.4.2. Can I Update.zip to 4.3 ML2 then I can simply get to 4.4.2 from that point? Or can I go through the ODIN process to 4.3 stock (unrooted) then to 4.4.2? Sorry, I simply don't have the time for trying to figure it out, etc. Thanks in advance....
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
When you say that you "simply don't have the time for trying to figure it out", it comes across as lazy and that you don't want to have to read or do any research. If you would read the threads I linked to in the OP for 4.3 and 4.4.2, they tell you exactly how to get 4.3 on your phone and then update to 4.4.2. Please read and understand what you are about to do because there is a chance you could brick your $600 phone.

In hopes of limiting discussion in this thread, since you are rooted on 4.2.2 you first need to flash the 4.3 Odin package through Odin. This will completely wipe your phone so you need to backup anything you want to save. Once you are on stock 4.3 you can flash the 4.4.2 update by following the instructions in the 4.4.2 threads linked in the OP.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] mikelets456:
No, not being lazy, I'm simply used to doing it other ways and have studied doing this on the S4A for weeks and something just ain't "clicking" in my head. I've rooted, flashed many Motorola phones over the years without issue. This, however, I'm finding it harder with ADB, Kernals, MF1, 2 and 3...ML2, MD5? I'm married, have kids, job and a thousand other things on my plate.I have read post after post and I guess not willing to take the risk vs the reward right now. Thanks for the reply and I'll wait for a rainy summer day to give it a shot and gather everything. Thanks for your reply... hoping for an easier way in the future like wipe clean and flash. Until the bootloader is unlocked, I guess that will never happen.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] blaz1nr:
[MENTION=3047491]Devo7v[/MENTION] hey thanks for link. I have this thread linked for firmware info on my OP.:D
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] stevedrz:
Do we know specifically what was changed on the kitkat re-release? Touch was likely a big piece, anything else?
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
See here
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] stevedrz:
Saw that, doesn't specify anything that I can see different from the first kitkat release...
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
Right, well the intention of this update is to fix several of the original improvements which it seems to have done by all accounts.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Hatsune Meo:
What is " flash it through stock recovery" ?

I don't good at it. So can you explain it?

Thank you.

Ah. If I update my device by Odin. Can It be 100% success? I don't good at English. Sorry.

Please help me.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Ashique1:
s4 active

No matter what I do my phone keeps saying software update search interrupted and it doesnt find new software any one know how to fix this tried factory reset and flashed it twice
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] alphabeast:
OK I got this problem too but I guess is the phone cause this was the cause last time my phone brake up and I was not able to use it for about 3 months until transformix get the solution for me.

Well leaving that apart I tried to update through the software update system in the settings of my phone and what I get the same thing software update Interrupted well that sucks but for me there was a way. I downloaded the the Ota file that devo7 upload in this thread.

But for my phone it failed. And my phone got completely wiped out.

And since I fix the modem of my phone with solution that transformix provide I thought with my phone displaying that my baseband is the mf1 I won't be able to upgrade the software like that.

And since my phone was wiped out because of the fail attempt to upgrade I decided to flash the ml2 software again and once the phone complete that .

I use the Ota file(rename it as update.zip) in the recovery mode of my phone (power+Volume up) and use apply update from SD card.

Since the phone had no baseband the update went through and I finally got the kit Kat in my phone then I just reflash the ml2 modem.bin from the transformix thread and I got my phone working perfectly with kit Kat.

I hope that will help if someone has the same problem as I had.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] blaz1nr:
If you want stock kitkat. You have to get all the 4.3 odin files except bl to flash in odin. Then let the phone download and install the ota(easiest way). If you want a rooted KK rom. There is only one way to get it period. There are links on the op that take you right to it. Certain conditions must be met or ota will fail. If you are not on 4.3 you can't update to 4.4 rooted or not. I figured out every possible way already for everyone. If you want to know what kitkat brought us, just look at what Google says they gave us. You got all of that except ART. Some people need to do repair first such as alphabeast did. Then you still have to follow the instructions exactly afterwards, to have kitkat with or without root. There are no exceptions to either process.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
Updated the OP with a download link for the OTA to get from NC9 to NE3.

Can someone do me a favor and confirm that towel root works on ML2, NC9, and NE3? Once I have confirmation I will update the OP.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
Definitely NE3, didn't think of trying it on ML2 or NC9 but those kernels pre-date June so they should work
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
I agree that it should work, I just want somebody to actually go through the process and confirm it before I recommend it. I don't want to post something that could cause problems.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
exactly, if you like I can guinea pig it on mine for the two, though the BL would be tied to NE3
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
If you're bored, give it a shot and let me know.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
Not that bored actually, but in all seriousness it would be better for someone coming from 4.2.2 and go incrementally.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
Fair enough. Hopefully somebody will step up and help me out.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] blaz1nr:
On newest KitKat ota the kernel changed the way digitizer drivers are called. (UCUCNE3) This fixed the screen blackout and flicker. Also the wifi driver was rebuilt. I tore both kk kernels apart, that is all I saw different. I'm not a kernel expert, but these were noticable different. I should also note, without the source code. I can't say for sure 100%. Towelroot still checks for the 4.2.2/4.3 vulnerability. It should root them no problem. I can rip the 4.2.2 kernel apart and make sure if someone post it. I already have unsecured kernels if we get a BL expliot. So let's hope someone finds one.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Ashique1:
odin mirror

When will you guys have a odin mirror, because every time I try to update my phone it says software update interrupted, I'm running on 4.3 stock unrooted and I dont know how to flash the OTA file
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
Download the OTA config, rename the file to "update.zip" (w/o qutes), copy it to your SD card root then flash it via stock recovery by turning off the phone first, then simultaneously pressing the Home/Power/Vol+ buttons until the splash screen just begins to show then let go immediately. Then using your Vol- button, arrow down to "apply update from external storage" then select that with your power button and select the update.zip you copied earlier and let it proceed, it'll reboot on it's own to be set up as new
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
I CAN'T

Hello, I want to know if an update will come for the S4 Active I537 4.2.2 Android Jelly Bean (I537UCUAMF3), to the Kitkat 4.4.2.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
You would think but unfortunately no, you would need to flash 4.3 OTA under stock recovery after renaming it to update.zip. If you do and don't mind, try the towel root on ML2 first then NC9 before going to the current NE3 as it will help [MENTION=3047491]Devo7v[/MENTION] in documenting towel root on these earlier builds.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

How do I upgrade from 4.2.2 to 4.3 Jelly Bean MF3?, My cell I is not root.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
What build of 4.2.2 are you on, MF1, MF2 or MF3? If on MF3, you would flash to 4.3 ML2 first manually, then to NE3 4.4.2 either thru the software update in the phone or stock recovery as many of us choose to do for a variety of reasons, either they can't seem to complete the update process due to interruptions or manually updating for root reasons. I find manually doing it via stock recovery the easiest frankly and I can help with that if you decide to, let me know.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

mf3, not root.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
See my post# 91 above to get the general directions except you'll need to download the 4.3 ML2 OTA config here then proceed with those directions given. You could of course ODIN flash the 4.3 ML2 package but it is 1.2G download, but either way will achieve the same goal, I will assist you in any way I can so don't hesitate to ask.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

---Quote (Originally by briubirod)---

mf3, not root.

---End Quote---

See my *post# 91 (http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=53521649&postcount=91)* above to get the general directions except you'll need to download the 4.3 ML2 OTA config here (http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23311191640114158) then proceed with those directions given in my post#91 (http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=53521649&postcount=91). You could pf course ODIN (http://www.android.gs/download-odin-3-09/) flash the 4.3 ML2 package (http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407587767) but it is 1.2G download, but either way will achieve the same goal, I will assist you in any way I can so don't hesitate to ask.

..............................................................................................................................................................................................

I did it, but it seems that is locked or something, because I formatted everything and go back to 4.2.2 MF3. (Says packet error or something).
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
Did you back up any necessary files and then do a factory data reset? Then you would need to enable developer options and enable USB debugging, disconnect and turn off the phone, enter download mode (Power/Home/Vol- buttons simultaneously, then press Vol+ afterwards) load ML2 package in ODIN (if going this route), then when that is done, connect your phone and then start the flash. For me I prefer flashing the OTA via stock recovery.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

..............................................................................................................................................................................................

I did it, but it seems that is locked or something, because I formatted everything and go back to 4.2.2 MF3. (Says packet error or something).

---End Quote---

Did you back up any necessary files and then do a factory data reset? Then you would need to enable developer options and enable USB debugging.

***************

I knew that pressing 7 times (compilation) went developer options. But not "enable USB debugging". Does that make you update to 4.3 ML2 correctly?, I already tried twice varis access recovery mode, and I ah formatted several times. : (
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
[MENTION=5911306]briubirod[/MENTION] you go into developer options and enable USB debugging yes.

PM sent, will have results up in a few...
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

******************************************************************************************************************************

I do not want to upgrade to Kitkat through Odin, and that maybe I can not go back to 4.2.2, so I prefer to do it somehow OTA. My cell phone, do not know why, but it is taking too long to charge the battery.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
I can understand, then you can update via stock recovery which is just as easy. How are you charging your phone?
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP! :(

Does the usb debug mode is for Odin, or also for the recovery mode?. I charge my phone normally, but takes nearly 6 hours of charging off.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
USB debugging is just for ODIN flashing, flashing via recovery mode is doing so from the phone itself and the SD card.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

hmm, is it only for ODIN?, but I wanted via OTA, I'll have to wait for Samsung Kies then exit. Thanks for all your help, one day I will try to update it as it takes to backup. See you soon.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
Yes just for ODIN, because OTA is fine now for most with NE3 but you would have to be at ML2 first, for some interruptions occur hence why recovery is preferable.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

Hi, what I meant if that can be upgraded 4.2.2 MF3 to 4.3 ML2 (OTA) correctly through recovery mode; since I've done but it seems that the process ends unpacking or something, and returns to Jelly Bean 4.2.2 again, maybe my device is locked, now nose if as you say me, enabling usb mode developer can accept the update.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
Two questions:

1. Were you ever rooted at any point? You could have been rooted and then removed root.

2. Have you made any modifications? Have you removed stock apps? Changed theming? Used Xposed?
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

not even I know how it's done :(
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
Did you purchase your phone from AT&T? The Odin package should work. Maybe you have a bad download, did you check the MD5 to make sure?
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

Yes it is locked by AT & T, get the logo at startup, but is currently released to work with another operator. I'm in Peru, so they may not reach the update via OTA.

---------- Post added at 01:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:49 PM ----------

Please, could you tell me how to flash my I537 MF3 to ML2 via ODIN? (steps)
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
The discussion thread that I linked to tells you exactly how to flash the ML2 Odin package. Please do a little more research and post questions in that thread if you need additional help. This isn't supposed to be a support thread.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] briubirod:
HELP!

Excuse me, these are the steps? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3w6Qq2Oxjg
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] Devo7v:
No, that is for the international version of the S4 Active and won't work with the i537. I've linked to the exact steps in the first post of this thread. Read the discussion thread in the ML2 section, all the answers are there.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] phat0074:
I got a galaxy s4 active running kitkat and there's no widget for the stock music player or Google play music on the lock screen. Does anybody else have one because there use to be one there before the update?
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] jkeuclid:
Wrong thread for this, try here or here.
[Galaxy S 4 Active General] xAjCx:
anyone having problems getting OTA NE3 (the 4.4.2 reissue)? I'm on stock 4.3 ML2 w/ no root. Whenever I hit check for update, it just says check again in 24hrs.