[AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin] Epiclectic:
Same issue but mk2 has me struggling

Sorry to hijack, but I didn't want to start a new thread on this same issue.

I have the AT&T S4 i337 , running MK2. I bought it used, and every time it boots up it shows "safestrap disabled" with 2 buttons below: recovery or system. Recovery button takes you to the TWRP recovery, the other button boots the phone. The phone worked well but the stock rom and bloat were killing me (my previous phones were rooted Epic and Relay). I wanted to root and flash a custom ROM but I wasn't aware of the locked bootloader and mk2/mf3 issues with this phone. Now I am soft bricked, and I've tried many ways to fix (odin, recovery flash,adb ), but it always fails. Here is my path, and what I've tried:

1. I rooted using Saferoot.

2. Tried to flash Philz Touch CWM from SD card in recovery (1st BIG mistake). Didn't work, but didn't brick either.

3. I saw guut13's index and ran backups on twrp recovery and on kies.

4. decided to update (before proceeding with a new rom). tried to OTA update, but it failed.

5. tried to install nb1 (stock odin tar) using heimdall (it couldn't find pit file) and odin (failed to complete write).

6. unrooted (hoping to fix update issues) and then tried Kies firmware upgrade. This process hung and I had to force quit. And thus began the soft brick.

This pattern repeated a few times:

7. flash stock mf3 tar with odin [Complete(Write) operation failed]

8. odin'd mk2 tar , then md1, then mf3 again, all fail to complete write.

9. Phone freezes and will only go into download mode (or bootloop).

10. the ONLY thing that odin can flash is a mj9 recovery file (sometimes). then recovery comes up, I wipe dalvik/cache/system (everything but the sd card) and fix permissions.

11. rinse and repeat. lol

12. I find a jflte pit file that will flash by odin.

13. I start trying stock tars again in odin, hoping the pit helps. same failure.

14. tried to odin an entire mf3 package (bootloader, modem, csc, the works). still same write fail.

15. the only file that flashes other than the pit, is a stock mk2 recovery file.

16. tried to slip a stock mk2 rom zip on my sd and flash from there... failed.

17. installed sdk and tried to sideload, but my computer won't recognize my S4. also can't run adb shell. (yes, i installed the platform tools, and opened prompt window from inside the platform tools folder). {perhaps my vmware fusion (Win8) running on my mac (OS 10.9) is causing a port id issue, but odin connects easily every time....hmm....}

18. Tried rubbing the phone against my head and laughing while trying not to cry, softly whispering "I hate your soul...."

19. Tried 5 different usb cables, including 2 blackberry cables that always connect other samsungs to odin.

20. tried factory reset thru stock recovery , which I can still reach by booting and holding volume up. odd note, this recovery says "i337ucufnb1".

So, I have tried odin-flashing every stock rom for i337 (mdl-nc1), but odin fails to write complete, and my phone says "bar 240, 400" or "sw rev check fail".

What can I try next? I can only think maybe to try using a different PC (not easy since I don't know anyone here but mac users) or smashing the phone under my tire..... would uninstalling safestrap help? I feel like theres a confilct between the stock nb1 recovery and safestrap..... but I can't get in the adb shell to delete it.

anyone had these write fails with odin before? I have always thought no matter what happens, I could always factory wipe and start over with a stock rom in odin, but now, the locksmith says no dice. :(

Thanks for any advice, I am sure I've forgotten a few details, but I hope I gave enough info for those who wish to assist. Thanks.

:confused: