Root [Virgin Mobile] Return to stock before updating to 4.3?

[imaballer23]

do I need to unroot my phone and go to stock recovery before updating to 4.3? I am just planning to do it through the system update and not interested in flashing other roms

 

[Rukbat]

Assuming you haven't read all the problems with 4.3, or you have and still want to risk the update, it depends on what su app you're running, or whether you want to do it manually through adb. (Personal opinion? Not on my phone. I'm not accepting any updates for ANY Samsung phone until Samsung hires live people for its update department again.)

 

[struckn]

If you want all the look/feel/options of stock along with the benefits from being rooted, flash the MK5 ROM posted by jdsingle76. Basically one million times better than accepting the official update and the Knox garbage that comes with it. Just reading about all the Knox issues and potential implications for further down the road makes me think this phone will be my first and last Samsung device.

 

[Flipper3]

Assuming you haven't read all the problems with 4.3, or you have and still want to risk the update, it depends on what su app you're running, or whether you want to do it manually through adb. (Personal opinion? Not on my phone. I'm not accepting any updates for ANY Samsung phone until Samsung hires live people for its update department again.)

I currently have Superuser installed along with CWM Recovery and the stock ROM. I want to upgrade to 4.3 and am not looking into using custom ROM's. I simply am looking to use the stock ROM with root and nothing further. Do I still need to worry about anything?

I am still trying to figure out if I need to revert back to stock recovery as I haven't seen it answered yet.

 

[SgtMacabre]

No...stock rexovery is not necessary.... I flashed with cwm touch...althoigh I could not gain root by using cwm recovery ... I used philz cwm and I was successful in flashing the supersu 1.80 update zip ...that was the ONLY way to get root when flashing from stock 4.1.2.. if u use jdsingles xda post and flash all the extras.. (u must use the philz cwm to get root again) everything works well... make sure u flash the mk5 modem too... if u have issues with data after that then change your network to 3g only so the network provision completes... then u can put lte back on ...this happened to me also...I am very happy with the stock 4.3. It was well worth it....it seems even the colors on the display look better!!

 

[struckn]

I currently have Superuser installed along with CWM Recovery and the stock ROM. I want to upgrade to 4.3 and am not looking into using custom ROM's. I simply am looking to use the stock ROM with root and nothing further. Do I still need to worry about anything?

I am still trying to figure out if I need to revert back to stock recovery as I haven't seen it answered yet.

If you mean the official update via OTA or Kies, then everything must be stock, recovery included. The MK5 ROM posted by jdsingle76 is a much better option, it matches your criteria exactly-stock 4.3, with root access. Personally, Knox is to be avoided at all costs, but that's just my opinion. No need to change recovery back to stock, but using Philz Touch is recommended.

 

[TheBritton]

I currently have Superuser installed along with CWM Recovery and the stock ROM. I want to upgrade to 4.3 and am not looking into using custom ROM's. I simply am looking to use the stock ROM with root and nothing further. Do I still need to worry about anything?

I am still trying to figure out if I need to revert back to stock recovery as I haven't seen it answered yet.

You have two options for updating. One option includes the Knox bootloader and Knox apps which is returning to stock recovery and taking the update. The other option does not include the Knox bootloader and apps which is to flash jdsingle76's stock rom with a custom recovery. Both options will leave you with the stock 4.3 ROM but only one doesn't include the dreaded Knox bootloader.

So the method that your prefer to update determines whether you need to revert to stock or not.

 

[struckn]

Britton, it's a little scary that we posted the same thing at virtually the same time. LOL!

 

[TheBritton]

Britton, it's a little scary that we posted the same thing at virtually the same time. LOL!

I got ninja'ed!

 

[Flipper3]

If you mean the official update via OTA or Kies, then everything must be stock, recovery included. The MK5 ROM posted by jdsingle76 is a much better option, it matches your criteria exactly-stock 4.3, with root access. Personally, Knox is to be avoided at all costs, but that's just my opinion. No need to change recovery back to stock, but using Philz Touch is recommended.

You have two options for updating. One option includes the Knox bootloader and Knox apps which is returning to stock recovery and taking the update. The other option does not include the Knox bootloader and apps which is to flash jdsingle76's stock rom with a custom recovery. Both options will leave you with the stock 4.3 ROM but only one doesn't include the dreaded Knox bootloader.

So the method that your prefer to update determines whether you need to revert to stock or not.

I understand that Knox should be avoided, but is there a way to root 4.3 Knox? I found this thread: http://androidforums.com/virgin-mob...gs-root/799711-mk5-wip-rooting-mk5-4-3-a.html ?


I am starting to agree that the jdsingle6 MK5 ROM is probably the best option for me. There don't seem to be any problems with the ROM as there were with some of the other ones where the LTE/MMS had issues? Also, is there a difference between the odexed or deodexed for me to use?

 

[TheBritton]

I understand that Knox should be avoided, but is there a way to root 4.3 Knox? I found this thread: http://androidforums.com/virgin-mob...gs-root/799711-mk5-wip-rooting-mk5-4-3-a.html ?


I am starting to agree that the jdsingle6 MK5 ROM is probably the best option for me. There don't seem to be any problems with the ROM as there were with some of the other ones where the LTE/MMS had issues? Also, is there a difference between the odexed or deodexed for me to use?

I would go with odexed unless you're planning on customizing the framework of the stock rom. Odexed is typically faster in my experience. No LTE or mms issues that we know of.

Knox can be rooted. I personally reverted to stock recovery, took the update, and was able to root which led me to create the thread you have linked there. Some have not been so lucky.

 

[Flipper3]

I would go with odexed unless you're planning on customizing the framework of the stock rom. Odexed is typically faster in my experience. No LTE or mms issues that we know of.

Knox can be rooted. I personally reverted to stock recovery, took the update, and was able to root which led me to create the thread you have linked there. Some have not been so lucky.

Ah I didn't even realize that the thread was by you. (Thanks for all of the contributions!)

Well I'm wondering then why you went to Knox instead of flashing the jdsingle76 stock ROM? Do you still advise to avoid Knox even if I follow all of your steps that you had taken?

Also, if I flash the jdsingle76 ROM...what happens if I do a factory reset from the settings menu? Just a side question that I'm curious about.

 

[struckn]

Ah I didn't even realize that the thread was by you. (Thanks for all of the contributions!)

Well I'm wondering then why you went to Knox instead of flashing the jdsingle76 stock ROM? Do you still advise to avoid Knox even if I follow all of your steps that you had taken?

Also, if I flash the jdsingle76 ROM...what happens if I do a factory reset from the settings menu? Just a side question that I'm curious about.

Britton was a pioneer in taking the update before anything else was available, like the MK5 ROM. As far as LTE/MMS, those issues arise from flashing AOSP ROM's designed for Sprint users that have been modified to work for VM; anything based on stock TW should function virtually 100%. As far as factory reset, pretty sure that rooted users want to avoid that option; it is OK to use the one offered in custom recoveries in order to do fresh installs though.

 

[Darien153]

Britton was a pioneer in taking the update before anything else was available, like the MK5 ROM. As far as LTE/MMS, those issues arise from flashing AOSP ROM's designed for Sprint users that have been modified to work for VM; anything based on stock TW should function virtually 100%. As far as factory reset, pretty sure that rooted users want to avoid that option; it is OK to use the one offered in custom recoveries in order to do fresh installs though.

Im a pioneer too. I'm the smart one who took the Knox bootloader lol.... If only we knew..

 

[TheBritton]

Im a pioneer too. I'm the smart one who took the Knox bootloader lol.... If only we knew..

Tell me about it! LOL!

If I had waited just a few hours.. literally.. I could have flashed the MK5 rom without the bootloader! :thumbdown:

 

[struckn]

Tell me about it! LOL!

If I had waited just a few hours.. literally.. I could have flashed the MK5 rom without the bootloader! :thumbdown:

It's funny how the desire to have the latest and greatest just makes us forge ahead with a flash or the push of an "accept" button! I am certainly guilty too in that area. I have seen posted from time to time, and it is certainly holding true here, that OTA's are poison if you have rooted your phone, some advice I will pay attention to from here on out thanks to the struggles of my "pioneer" buddies!