[GUIDE] How to Unbrick your AT&T S4 I337 OTA UCUAMF3

[nkhater]

damn, and here I got excited over nothing. Thanks for the FYI.

What are you trying to accomplish?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

 

[jd1639]

Not true, it will not brick him, it will do nothing, he will boot normal,

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

Sorry man, but pit files can be dangerous for someone who doesn't know what they're using it for.

 

[scott14719]

Not true, it will not brick him, it will do nothing, he will boot normal,

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

As I explained, you are correct that in this case it will not brick him because the PIT file isn't working. The EXACT same thing can be accomplished by manually entering ODIN / download mode and then manually cancelling out. If this PIT file was actually working it would DEFINITELY brick the phone because there isn't a proper ROM / Kernel TAR to be ODIN flashed immediately after the PIT file is used.

This PIT file will not work because it is not properly signed. The DEV that posted the original PIT file closed that thread (go check) because the PIT file does not work.

So normally, this would be dangerous and would cause bricks but because the PIT file does not work, it isn't even a needed method ( just manually enter and exit ODIN mode). But knock yourselves out and do whatever you like.

 

[nkhater]

As I explained, you are correct that in this case it will not brick him because the PIT file isn't working. The EXACT same thing can be accomplished by manually entering ODIN / download mode and then manually cancelling out. If this PIT file was actually working it would DEFINITELY brick the phone because there isn't a proper ROM / Kernel TAR to be ODIN flashed immediately after the PIT file is used.

This PIT file will not work because it is not properly signed. The DEV that posted the original PIT file closed that thread (go check) because the PIT file does not work.

So normally, this would be dangerous and would cause bricks but because the PIT file does not work, it isn't even a needed method ( just manually enter and exit ODIN mode). But knock yourselves out and do whatever you like.

I am commenting only on the "manually going to Odin and existing", I tried that method, it did not recover my soft brick, but this file did, as well as for others that used it, if it doesn't do anything, then why does it get me out of my soft brick,


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

 

[scott14719]

I am commenting only on the "manually going to Odin and existing", I tried that method, it did not recover my soft brick, but this file did, as well as for others that used it, if it doesn't do anything, then why does it get me out of my soft brick,


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

I've already explained to you why the PIT file isn't working. I also said earlier, that it might be the interaction of ODIN itself rebooting the phone that corrects the bootloop. For most people, just going into ODIN mode on the phone and manually cancelling is enough, if a few people are getting extra benefit from ODIN doing this for them...that is great.

If the PIT file was working as it should, you wouldn't be posting any of this, you would be in the Q&A section asking why your phone is bricked.

So now that I have explained (several times) why the PIT file isn't working, maybe you can explain to me how you think it is? And saying, "well, I don't know, I did this and the phone just started to work..." is not an explanation. PIT files all work in a certain way. How is this one working?


****EDIT*****

Also, telling people to do something when you don't completely understand what it is doing is HIGHLY dangerous and irresponsible.

Posting:

"Hey guys, I tried XXXXX and XXXXX seemed to help me, I'm not sure why, can anyone help explain this?

...is one thing...

Posting:

"Hey guys, do try XXXXX, it will fix your phone!"

...is completely irresponsible when you don't know what it is you are doing.


It's like the "Unlock for free" thread. Sure I it has helped some sim unlock their phones but it has also screwed a lot of phones up. Why....because the person / people that posted it failed to put up a warning stating that they were not exactly sure how it worked or what it does to peoples phones so there is a risk that it could mess your phone up. There are several warnings within the thread, but most people are too lazy to read...just as they would be in this thread. So a guy comes along with a Canadian phone (non-locked bootloader) and he sees your post about how a PIT file fixed your bootloop. What does he do? He tries to flash a PIT file to fix his phone. Guess what happens to his phone? Sure it's his fault for being ingnorant and not reading, but the damage is done.

So like I said, show me how this PIT file is working and fixing phones and I'll tell you how correct you were all along.

 

[jd1639]

Personally I think this thread should be locked and removed. It doesn't do anything and luckily seems not to do any harm. Pit's can be very dangerous and shouldn't be available to anyone who doesn't know the dangers.

 

[nkhater]

I've already explained to you why the PIT file isn't working. I also said earlier, that it might be the interaction of ODIN itself rebooting the phone that corrects the bootloop. For most people, just going into ODIN mode on the phone and manually cancelling is enough, if a few people are getting extra benefit from ODIN doing this for them...that is great.

If the PIT file was working as it should, you wouldn't be posting any of this, you would be in the Q&A section asking why your phone is bricked.

So now that I have explained (several times) why the PIT file isn't working, maybe you can explain to me how you think it is? And saying, "well, I don't know, I did this and the phone just started to work..." is not an explanation. PIT files all work in a certain way. How is this one working?


****EDIT*****

Also, telling people to do something when you don't completely understand what it is doing is HIGHLY dangerous and irresponsible.

Posting:

"Hey guys, I tried XXXXX and XXXXX seemed to help me, I'm not sure why, can anyone help explain this?

...is one thing...

Posting:

"Hey guys, do try XXXXX, it will fix your phone!"

...is completely irresponsible when you don't know what it is you are doing.


It's like the "Unlock for free" thread. Sure I it has helped some sim unlock their phones but it has also screwed a lot of phones up. Why....because the person / people that posted it failed to put up a warning stating that they were not exactly sure how it worked or what it does to peoples phones so there is a risk that it could mess your phone up. There are several warnings within the thread, but most people are too lazy to read...just as they would be in this thread. So a guy comes along with a Canadian phone (non-locked bootloader) and he sees your post about how a PIT file fixed your bootloop. What does he do? He tries to flash a PIT file to fix his phone. Guess what happens to his phone? Sure it's his fault for being ingnorant and not reading, but the damage is done.

So like I said, show me how this PIT file is working and fixing phones and I'll tell you how correct you were all along.

Being on XDA DEV is diff not for everyone, as we all know, no one is held responsible, try at your own risk,

Bottom line, this knowledge helped me and others to get them out of their soft brick, and people got their phones working again, instead of stuck with a brick

Until there is a true solution to this stupid Samsung signed bootloader, to prevent people from falling into this trap, I guess this knowledge will do more good than harm,

 

[nkhater]

Personally I think this thread should be locked and removed. It doesn't do anything and luckily seems not to do any harm. Pit's can be very dangerous and shouldn't be available to anyone who doesn't know the dangers.

Please read post#67

 

[achang9523]

so i finally fixed my phone. i was in the same boot loop going into download. so i ended up flashing into factory AMDB. i lost all root and recovery but atleast i have a working phone again. plus i can re root and start over. which is ok seeing as rooting and starting over isnt so bad. just thought id give a heads up.:good::good::good::good:

 

[nkhater]

so i finally fixed my phone. i was in the same boot loop going into download. so i ended up flashing into factory AMDB. i lost all root and recovery but atleast i have a working phone again. plus i can re root and start over. which is ok seeing as rooting and starting over isnt so bad. just thought id give a heads up.:good::good::good::good:

I am guessing you were on MF3 right?

 

[Poulius]

so i finally fixed my phone. i was in the same boot loop going into download. so i ended up flashing into factory AMDB. i lost all root and recovery but atleast i have a working phone again. plus i can re root and start over. which is ok seeing as rooting and starting over isnt so bad. just thought id give a heads up.:good::good::good::good:

Could you please explain in more detail? I am so fu**ed up, I am having bootloops and i can't flash anything :///

 

[scott14719]

so i finally fixed my phone. i was in the same boot loop going into download. so i ended up flashing into factory AMDB. i lost all root and recovery but atleast i have a working phone again. plus i can re root and start over. which is ok seeing as rooting and starting over isnt so bad. just thought id give a heads up.:good::good::good::good:

I am guessing you were on MF3 right?

So now people are claiming they went from MF3 back to MDB?

If not, achang9523 please explain what you mean so others will not try to do so.

If, so, once again, that is not possible. Do you guys understand that people will read these posts, try these things, and brick their phones as a result?

 

[nkhater]

So now people are claiming they went from MF3 back to MDB?

If not, achang9523 please explain what you mean so others will not try to do so.

If, so, once again, that is not possible. Do you guys understand that people will read these posts, try these things, and brick their phones as a result?

Scott, people need to read, and most people don't, and there will always be some kind of a price to pay. I did, and I have noted this in the first thread, and indeed this thread was open to get people back on track and unbrick their phones.

There is no WAY to downgrade or flash custom recovery with MF3, period....... if you attempt to monkey around with your phone, there will be consequences

 

[asj2583]

Would this pit restore the stock recovery? I have some dude that wants to trade his s4 for my note 2 but his phone wont boot into recovery so that he can factory reset it. phone is rooted and running mf3 and I'm assuming from what i've been reading he probably flashed a custom recovery that now causes him to boot into download mode whenever he tries to boot in the recovery. i just want to be able to factory reset the phone so that the trade can happen or should i just stay clear from this phone?

Edit: I did what everyone has done and took it to Best Buy and had it restored. Fortunate for me the guy there knew exactly what to do!

 

[achang9523]

So now people are claiming they went from MF3 back to MDB?

If not, achang9523 please explain what you mean so others will not try to do so.

If, so, once again, that is not possible. Do you guys understand that people will read these posts, try these things, and brick their phones as a result?

all i said was i was in that same boot loop. i flashed an twrp upgrade through goo man. then all of a sudden when i restarted it went into odin instead of the rom. nothing i did changed that until i odined into factory out of box. then i stupidly agreed to upgrade software and it took me into mf3. now im on mf3 patiently waiting on a work around to get my flashing fix.

 

[nkhater]

Would this pit restore the stock recovery? I have some dude that wants to trade his s4 for my note 2 but his phone wont boot into recovery so that he can factory reset it. phone is rooted and running mf3 and I'm assuming from what i've been reading he probably flashed a custom recovery that now causes him to boot into download mode whenever he tries to boot in the recovery. i just want to be able to factory reset the phone so that the trade can happen or should i just stay clear from this phone?

Edit: I did what everyone has done and took it to Best Buy and had it restored. Fortunate for me the guy there knew exactly what to do!

I am not sure, but it will not hurt to try, that's how I found out about this solution

 

[XCnathan32]

With me not reading about Samsung latest OTA locked bootloader , I rooted my phone, installed TWRP and updated SU, them I am stuck at a soft brick at the download mod, I have tried every possible way with ODIN to no luck, I always kept booting to the damn download mod, then accidentally I was able to flash this pit file to bypass the stuck download mod and was able to boot normally

All you need is ODIN and the attached pit file,

1. Download attached file and unzip it
2. Run ODIN
3. Click on pit
4. Loacate the unziped SGS-I337_16GB.pit file and load it
5. Click start, phone will reboot when when compelete
6. Done


Thought to share my findings

Good Luck

It didnt work

 

[jd1639]

It didnt work

Luckily, this device seems to be almost impossible to hard brick. But you're working on it. Take it to best buy.

 

[XCnathan32]

Luckily, this device seems to be almost impossible to hard brick. But you're working on it. Take it to best buy.

Yeah ive heard, but i kinda wanted to do it by myself. oh well. Best Buy is free right?

 

[PaulieP]

Yeah what is the exact dialogue to get Best Buy to restore?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app