[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] spunky168:
I recently decided to pick up my old Samsung Galaxy S3 which I no longer use as a daily phone (love my Huawei and Moto G) and give it some updated love. I first updated it with stock L710VPUDNJ2 tar package with Odin3 v3.10.0

After successful update, I noticed I had lost root but in addition, the phone booted up with additional system update package which I accepted and successfully updated to L710VPUDOH1

I tried previous root methods but none of them worked for me (included CF-auto root, and also trying to push CWMS3 package through Odin etc.). So I decided to try Kingroot 4.9.3 which rooted the device but I do not like Kingroot so I then flash TWRP 3.0.2 through flashify, uninstalled Kingroot, and pushed SuperSU zip package through TWRP recovery and now I have a rooted stock L710VPUDOH1

Here are the step by step (assumes you already have ADB/minimal ADB, and Samsung drivers installed on your PC):

1. Download the Odin zip, L710VPUDOH1 tar, UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.00 zip, and twrp-3.0.2-0-d2spr img files onto your desktop. Transfer the twrp img file onto your phone internal or SD card storage

2. Extract the Odin zip package and have the unzip folder on your desktop for convenience

3. Run Odin3 as administrator

4. Start up your Galaxy S3 in download mode (vol down+Home+Pwr) and connect it to your PC with USB cable. Verify connect on Odin as it shows it connected with a COM port number

5. Make sure "Auto reboot" and "Reset time" is checked (by default they are checked). Check the AP box and click on AP and find the downloaded L710VPUDOH1 tar file, select it, and click OK. Then click Start button on Odin3

6. Once updated is successful, your phone should reboot and also the dialog box on the lower left corner of Odin should state update was successful

7. You should receive an OTA message on your phone regarding System Update Available (make sure your are on Wi-Fi or reliable data connection). Accept the update. Phone will update and reboot (you are now running L710VPUDOH1)

8. Download and install Kingroot from the following website (using your phone browser): http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/kingro...elease/kingroot-4-9-3-2-android-apk-download/

9. Run the app package (Avast Security and possibly other antivirus apps may give warning). It will install Kingroot and another app call Purify

10. Root your phone using Kingroot. You will get a pop up message regarding Knox. Tap on "Deny"

11. Go to Google Play Store and download and install Flashify. Run Flashify and grant permission with Kingroot. Flash the twrp img file (you now have custom recovery)

12. Uninstall Purify app (using the stock app manager on your phone) and uninstall Kingroot by going into Kingroot, then Settings (on the upper right hand corner), and scroll all the way down to the bottom and select "Uninstall Kingroot". After uninstall you will lose root

13. After uninstall, turn off your phone and boot into Recovery (vol up+Home+PWR). Your phone should boot into TWRP recovery. Now install the SuperSu zip file using TWRP to inject root back into your system

14. Reboot your phone. Go to Google Play Store to update to the latest SuperSU version (2.65) and then go to SuperSu to update the binary and reboot

15. You now have a rooted stock 4.4.2 version L710VPUDOH1. Use your program of choice to debloat and remove system apps (I personally use System App Remover by Jumobile)

I am NOT RESPONSIBLE for any brick devices and/or voided warranties. Always proceed with caution and read and re-read instructions carefully. This is just one simple man's experience. I have attached some of the necessary files (some files cannot be included due to size limits) if you do not want to download them directly from other sites.

TWRP:

https://dl.twrp.me/d2spr/twrp-3.0.2-0-d2spr.img.html

Samsung update package:

http://xdaforums.com/galaxy-s3-sprint/development/stock-l710vpudnj2-pc-odin-flashable-t3007847