STOCK and ROOTED SGH-I257M

[Omega2513]

Thanks to @spyke555 for his backup copy of the Rogers version of the SGH-I257M firmware. I managed to root it with vroot, so there is a chinese version of SU on there but it works. I also stuck busy box on it and tried to get rid of most of Rogers apps.

Now to use this, you must stick it into your backup folder (i.e: clockworkmod/backup) it is NOT a flashable rom, it is a backup. If anyone wants to turn it into a flash rom, or create custom roms out of it, please do. Need to see some I257M roms popping up.

Dropbox
Box.com
G Drive

We also have @dsavard copy of the stock firmware from Koodo, which you can flash with Odin
Dropbox
Mirror 1

And here we have all of the STOCK and UNROOTED firmware for the Canadian I257M over at Sammobile

All vroot does is give root access without changing the rom. It uses the chinese program Superuser 1.0.4. You can get rid of this by following these steps:

1. Go to play store and install SuperSU.
2. Start SuperSU and you will be asked for permission by Superuser 1.0.4, choose 允许(means allow). (Should be the right side option.)
3. SuperSU will prompt to install SU binary, go ahead with OK and it will display successful.
4. Now, freeze Superuser 1.0.4 in titanium backup, just in case you need it again.
   Note: If you uninstall straight away from app manager, you need to make sure SuperSU updated the binary.
5. Re-run SuperSU to make sure everything is alright. You will be prompt again to install SU binary, just do what it asked.
6. After that, you are rooted with SuperSU and Superuser 1.0.4 will not be there anymore.

Once you do that, SuperSU will be the default and will be in english.

 

[Skyty]

Good to see this here. I just picked up my S4 Mini today. I'm from Canada so I'm assuming it's a slightly different version than the other models? Cause mine in an SGH-1257M. Is it a different process to root it?

I'm not too familiar with vroot. My last phone was an HTC Evo 3D.

 

[Omega2513]

Good to see this here. I just picked up my S4 Mini today. I'm from Canada so I'm assuming it's a slightly different version than the other models? Cause mine in an SGH-1257M. Is it a different process to root it?

I'm not too familiar with vroot. My last phone was an HTC Evo 3D.

vroot is like SRS or any other one touch root program, but it's in chinese. Easy to use and has a high success rate for most phones. the I257M is slightly different from what we can tell from the other models; different features. As far as I can tell there isn't a different way to root this but I'm not to sure how the others were rooted. I also don't know if there is anything different between the Bell, Rogers, Fido, etc. versions besides their own bloatware. I hope I can get all the different versions uploaded.

 

[Skyty]

vroot is like SRS or any other one touch root program, but it's in chinese. Easy to use and has a high success rate for most phones. the I257M is slightly different from what we can tell from the other models; different features. As far as I can tell there isn't a different way to root this but I'm not to sure how the others were rooted. I also don't know if there is anything different between the Bell, Rogers, Fido, etc. versions besides their own bloatware. I hope I can get all the different versions uploaded.

Yeah, I have a Rogers phone. Just got it yesterday.

Is there a guide on here how to root with vroot? I'm not too good at rooting and whatnot. I've only done it once on my Evo 3D and that was more than a year a go haha!

 

[Omega2513]

Just google it. The vroot forum has step by step with pictures

Sent from my SGH-I257M disguised as a GT-I9195

 

[infamouskid]

hey can someone help me?
i have a telus version and i would like to back mine up and post an image for you guys. we can then update the first post with the different carrier versions if we ever need to go back to stock for warranty purposes. i'd also like to see if there are different files from the carriers.

 

[Skyty]

Just google it. The vroot forum has step by step with pictures

Sent from my SGH-I257M disguised as a GT-I9195

Will do!

Edit: So I found this post:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2455822

It mentions select the drivers for your phone? Is the S4 Mini supported?

 

[Omega2513]

hey can someone help me?
i have a telus version and i would like to back mine up and post an image for you guys. we can then update the first post with the different carrier versions if we ever need to go back to stock for warranty purposes. i'd also like to see if there are different files from the carriers.

There are forums here on how to temporarily give root and install CMW to make a backup.

 

[Skyty]

Well, I just rooted my phone using VROOT. It is still recognized as an SGH-I257M. However, when any of my apps update it's all in Mandarin (I think?). Would I simply use the backup you posted? Would that solve that issue?

Will the I9195 roms work with phone even though I didn't root it as a I9195?

 

[Omega2513]

Well, I just rooted my phone using VROOT. It is still recognized as an SGH-I257M. However, when any of my apps update it's all in Mandarin (I think?). Would I simply use the backup you posted? Would that solve that issue?

Will the I9195 roms work with phone even though I didn't root it as a I9195?

All vroot does is give root access without changing the rom. It uses the chinese program Superuser 1.0.4. You can get rid of this by following these steps:

1. Go to play store and install SuperSU.
2. Start SuperSU and you will be asked for permission by Superuser 1.0.4, choose 允许(means allow). (Should be the right side option.)
3. SuperSU will prompt to install SU binary, go ahead with OK and it will display successful.
4. Now, freeze Superuser 1.0.4 in titanium backup, just in case you need it again.
   Note: If you uninstall straight away from app manager, you need to make sure SuperSU updated the binary.
5. Re-run SuperSU to make sure everything is alright. You will be prompt again to install SU binary, just do what it asked.
6. After that, you are rooted with SuperSU and Superuser 1.0.4 will not be there anymore.

Once you do that, SuperSU will be the default and will be in english.

You can use the backup that I posted but it would be the same as your stock rom. The backup is just for those who don't want to root their own rom, doesn't trust the program, etc. The I9195 roms will still work, but when you flash them, your phone will recognize itself as a GT-I9195 instead of SGH-I257M

 

[Skyty]

Sorry for bumping this, but I wanted to ask, did you have any trouble installing CWM after you rooted with VROOT?

It keeps telling me that SGH-I257M is unsupported.

 

[Omega2513]

What I did was use the I9195 rooting method to get CWM installed then switch back with I257M backup. It turns your phone back to I257M but CWM stays installed. You could also try installing twrp

Sent from my SGH-I257M disguised as a GT-I9195

 

[Skyty]

What I did was use the I9195 rooting method to get CWM installed then switch back with I257M backup. It turns your phone back to I257M but CWM stays installed. You could also try installing twrp

Sent from my SGH-I257M disguised as a GT-I9195

Ah... that's why I'm having issues. I'll look into TWRP.

Edit: Just tried TWRP. No luck.

It wouldn't backup my ROM. Just booted me into recovery with no option of backing up.

Edit #2:

Slowly figuring this out. I unrooted my phone and re-rooted with the I9195 method. I now have CWM.

 

[Omega2513]

What I think it is, the I9195 method unlocks the bootloader where just rooting the I257M doesn't do that

Sent from my SGH-I257M disguised as a GT-I9195

 

[dsavard]

Be warned, VRoot and Kingo rooting methods have been temporarily banned from XDA forums. All links to the software have been removed from the posts.

During the rooting process, they collects sensitive data like IMEI and send it to remote servers. XDA moderators are currently investigating the issue to determine if it was done with bad intention or not.

For more information, check this thread : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2516942

 

[Skyty]

Be warned, VRoot and Kingo rooting methods have been temporarily banned from XDA forums. All links to the software have been removed from the posts.

During the rooting process, they collects sensitive data like IMEI and send it to remote servers. XDA moderators are currently investigating the issue to determine if it was done with bad intention or not.

For more information, check this thread : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2516942

Hmm... good to know... thanks!

I unrooted my phone and re-rooted via the I9195 so I could get CWM. Hopefully it removed anything that VROOT left.

 

[Omega2513]

Be warned, VRoot and Kingo rooting methods have been temporarily banned from XDA forums. All links to the software have been removed from the posts.

During the rooting process, they collects sensitive data like IMEI and send it to remote servers. XDA moderators are currently investigating the issue to determine if it was done with bad intention or not.

For more information, check this thread : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2516942

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize that was possible

 

[dsavard]

@Omega2513 As a safer alternative, why not install the S4Mini_RootKit_v1.zip from arco68 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2364980) from CWM Recovery ? It is the same for all s4 mini (I9190, I9192 and I9195), so I suppose it will work for the SGH-I257M too.

 

[Omega2513]

It's possible it could work. Never tried it, but since it does the other models, I don't see why not.

Sent from my SGH-I257M disguised as a GT-I9195

 

[dsavard]

I've got a backup of the latest Koodo SGH-I257M stock firmware [MK5 (KDO)]) by following this recipe:

​

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=23188887

I've uploaded it online for anyone who could need it :

​

[EDIT: Download not available anymore. Anyway the firmware is now available on Sammobile.]

It seems to be in the same format than firmwares found on the sammobile web site. So, it could be useful for those who wish to revert to stock with Odin... and know how to do it.