How to downgrade to 4.1.1 from 4.3 Galaxy S3 SGH-I747M

Hi, a month ago I did something wrong with my Galaxy S3 SGH-I747M for not read here before do an upgrade that the new bootloader are locked and have a new counter called Knox but I upgrade to 4.3 from Rogers because I don't want to wait for the official 4.3 Claro Network, then I want to downgrade but Odin FAIL Oh noooo and trip the new counter to 1, when I knew what the problem was, I do a mixed Rom and works Very good on Claro Puerto Rico Network and I want to share my knowledge and what I do to this Model of S3 variation, I want to help and to be helped too. Just follow this simple instruction:

JUST FOR GALAXY SGH-I747M DEVICES

I don’t know if works with other variant of S3 or Samsung Devices.

I want to Share the way to downgrade your S3 Canadian Version to previous version, I do it with 4.1.1 no network or Wi-Fi problems, and you don’t need any patch for this.

1- From Sammobile download your Rom 4.3 JB version.
2- From Sammobile download your Rom 4.1.1 JB version.
3- Download Odin307.zip and extract.
4- Only Windows users, download this program and install it Cygwin.
5- To extract Tar file you need 7zip or Winrar, then extract from 4.3 JB the following file: NON-HLOS.bin. I know you’re asking why NON-HLOS.bin, because this is the modem and network file and the 4.3 bootloader installed in you’re phone don’t work with the older, we need the newer from 4.3 for the phone works correctly.

6- Extract from 4.1.1 JB all the files except aboot.mbn and NON-HLOS.bin.
7- Go to C:/cygwin/home/'win_user_name' just cut & paste all the extracted file there without making any folder.

8- Open Cygwin Terminal cut & paste the following codes:

First Code:
tar -H ustar -c boot.img cache.img.ext4 NON-HLOS.bin recovery.img rpm.mbn sbl2.mbn sbl3.mbn system.img.ext4 tz.mbn > S3ModedRom.tar

When Finish

Second Code:
md5sum -t S3ModedRom.tar >> S3ModedRom.tar

Then

Third Code:
mv S3ModedRom.tar S3ModedRom.tar.md5

9- Run Odin, go to PDA bottom and Find new Rom called S3ModedRom.tar.md5.
10-Restart you’re Phone and after it vibrate press Volume Down + Menu Button will show Download Mode press volume up and connect your device through usb cable to PC.
11- On Odin Hit start, when it’s complete and say PASS you’re done!!

If this helps please hit Thanks :good:

NV files and IMEI Restore

To let you know, besides having the problem for upgrade from 4.1.1 to the version 4.3 and then downgrade to the previous version apparently I deleted with the CWM-Recovery the EFS folder and NV files, but I had read a post about it and it worked, of course this is for the one who wipes these files, but since I had made a backup of the EFS folder, so what I needed was to rewrite the NV files, but I did not have a backup of my NV Files and now WHAT, but thanks to God my wife has the same phone and I copy their NV Files and everything worked fine following the steps here: (FIX)(SOLVED) Deleted or Injected IMEI and No signal or stock on Edge :good::highfive:

maxoooo said:

Did you know what gonna be if this dont work?

On 4.1.1 i have 5h screen and now on 4.3 its onli 3,5h...
I will try it If I do not sell s3 soon.

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Hi , all about downgrade from 4.3 is real because this happened to me and I did all of I wrote here for downgrade, this was my experience and all I do I wrote it here, I know this works, and you're phone will be fine, BUT WARNING if you try to root the phone maybe you can trip the Knox counter to 1, I recomend to you search about root without trip Knox counter, but if you already trip the Knox counter do not worry to root it. :laugh:

DexedrineXR said:

Or you could flash a 4.1.1 Rom from recovery... Just to simplify your steps... Hyperdrive is a superb Rom even on android version 4.1.2.

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If you have a backup from 4.1.1 you can restore from recovery, but remember you need the new modem.

melkis said:

Does this work for i747 att? I mean doing this file change with the 4.3 att to 4.1.1 att..

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Yes this works too for att i747.

audit13 said:

Does downgrading allow you to unlock the phone for free?

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Yes, but I don't test it in this type of case where the bootloader is 4.3, you can try if not we need to wait that Chainfire found a way to remove knox bootloader and downgrade to previews version of bootloader 4.1.1 or 4.1.2.

audit13 said:

Did you use this method to unlock your phone for free since you were able to downgrade the OS to 4.1.1?

Can you check to see if the options are available from this thread?

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2176719

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Give me a few days to tell you if works because my wife have the same version but is untouched, but I need a sim card from other network, then I let you know:laugh:.

audit13 said:

Excellent. Thank you :fingers-crossed:

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This is what happened with my wife phone i747m from Puerto Rico Claro Network with 4.1.1 can't unlock, I read that's only works for Rogers, Telcel and Bell, then I need to download 4.1.1 Rom from Rogers network to do the following:

Just dial the following keys *#197328640#

Main Menu
[1] UMTS
[1] Debug Screen
[8] Phone Control
[6] Network Lock
Options [3]Perso SHA256 OFF
(after choosing this option, wait about 30 seconds, then go back one step by pressing the Menu button then select Back, now you are in
[6] Network Lock then choose
[4] NW Lock NV Data INITIALLIZ ..... wait for a minute then reboot your phone

and it's work for my wife phone. If you want to unlocked download 4.1.1 Rom from Rogers network on Sammobile. My phone is unlocked since 1 year ago other method I use that no remember right now.

audit13 said:

Was the phone running 4.3 with a stock 4.3 bootloader? How did you flash the Rogers 4.1.1?

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No, I told in early post that is for a virgin phone with Stock 4.1.1 not 4.3 not rooted, that's my wife phone is virgin.