Your way to update to MD4

**meyerweb** · 04-25-2013, 08:39 AM

With many thanks to SkunkApe, whose shoes are much larger than mine, I fear....

[note]This will be the way to manually update your phone if you are:

Using a Sprint SPH-L710 Galaxy S3. Do not attempt to install this on any other version or phone.

And if you have the Stock Rom (rooted or unrooted) with all needed bloatware and Stock recovery. If you are using Clockwork Mod or TWRP recovery, see post #2. Note: You must be current and have MB1 on your phone before using the update file. This process will apparently remove root in some cases.
[/note]
Download the following update zip and place it on your external SD card. Go to settings/security and make sure unknown sources is unchecked. This may be unnecessary.

Shut off phone. Press volume up, power and home button at the same time. As soon as you see a flash, let go of the buttons. This will put you in stock recovery. Using the volume bar to select and power button to activate, select update from external storage. Choose the file you previously put there. Push your power button. Your update will begin.

[INFO] The official Sprint changelog is here: [/INFO]

**meyerweb** · 04-25-2013, 08:56 AM

[NOTE]If you are Rooted and have custom recovery (CWM or TWRP) this is for you. This method will bring you up to date no matter which version you are on.You do not need to update to MB1 first. This is for the Sprint SPH-L710 device only. Do not attempt to flash on any other phone or carrier version.[/NOTE]
This is the Full Stock MD4 Pre-Rooted in a zip file. You would flash these files like you would any other ROM. The Rom includes the kernel, but the firmware (radio) is a separate zip.

1. Perform a Nandroid backup, just in case.
2. Download the modem / firmware file, and one of the MD4 ROM files and put them on your external or internal sdcard.
3. Wipe cache, wipe dalvik,
4. Factory Reset (optional, see note below)
5. Flash Firmware
6. Flash ROM
7. Reboot

[Note]If you are currently running stock, rooted MB1 ROM you may be able to skip the Factory reset step and do a "dirty flash." This will preserve all your installed apps and settings, but runs this risk that you will run into problems with some apps. If so, you can perform the Factory reset step later. The safest method is to do a full backup with Titanium Backup or similar tool before you start, and do a full wipe, including factory reset, but many people here have skipped the Factory reset step without ill effects.[/Note]

**Juan_Ponce_de_Leon** · 04-25-2013, 10:26 AM

Still haven't gotten the OTA update. Is there any advantage to downloading the 'official' OTA update as opposed to the freeza method?

**TimmyTwo2** · 04-25-2013, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Juan_Ponce_de_Leon

Still haven't gotten the OTA update. Is there any advantage to downloading the 'official' OTA update as opposed to the freeza method?

Nope, I have downloaded the official zip for all of the 4.1.2 updates, no differences other than you don't have to wait for Sprint.

**palmpreboss** · 04-25-2013, 11:14 AM

so if im not rooted i use the second post method? and if so with the second post when i use that it will root my phone and update?

**phippsy84** · 04-25-2013, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by killswitch651

so if im not rooted i use the second post method? and if so with the second post when i use that it will root my phone and update?

If you are not rooted use post one instructions.

**meyerweb** · 04-25-2013, 11:36 AM

No, if you're not rooted you need to use post 1 method. Alternatively, you can follow Skunkape's process in the Sprint rooting forum first, and then you can use the post 2 method to update.

Sent from my Sprint Galaxy S3. Please forgive any typos or auto-correct errors.

**adlebo** · 04-25-2013, 12:02 PM

Wish the download would be quicker. It's painfully slow!

**tat21985** · 04-25-2013, 12:37 PM

When moving the files onto the internal memory of the phone, do they need to be unzipped? If so, which files need to be selected? I'm having a bit of a brain fart apparently

**HOLLYWOODANT215** · 04-25-2013, 12:38 PM

Mines say failed to verify

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**jhill110** · 04-25-2013, 12:46 PM

Download error (from My PC)... Can't read source file... (from download page). To much traffic maybe?

**meyerweb** · 04-25-2013, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by tat21985

When moving the files onto the internal memory of the phone, do they need to be unzipped? If so, which files need to be selected? I'm having a bit of a brain fart apparently

No, do not unzip them. Copy the zip file(s) to your internal or external SD card, and apply the process to the zip file(s).

**meyerweb** · 04-25-2013, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by HOLLYWOODANT215

Mines say failed to verify

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

Originally Posted by jhill110

Download error (from My PC)... Can't read source file... (from download page). To much traffic maybe?

I suspect the servers are getting hit pretty hard. Hollywood, it's possibly a bad download. I'd try again, maybe later when things settle down a little.

**HOLLYWOODANT215** · 04-25-2013, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by meyerweb

I suspect the servers are getting hit pretty hard. Hollywood, it's possibly a bad download. I'd try again, maybe later when things settle down a little.

OK thx

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**HOLLYWOODANT215** · 04-25-2013, 01:23 PM

I keep getting this failed to verify

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**phippsy84** · 04-25-2013, 01:23 PM

Big thanks to meyerweb for running this thread.

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by HOLLYWOODANT215

I keep getting this failed to verify

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

Are you using the instructions from the first or second post?

**meyerweb** · 04-25-2013, 01:32 PM

Hollywood, which file did you download? Did you try downloading it a second time, in case the first one was corrupted? And which set of instructions (Post #1 or #2) are you following?

**HOLLYWOODANT215** · 04-25-2013, 01:37 PM

First file

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**HOLLYWOODANT215** · 04-25-2013, 01:38 PM

I downloaded the first instructions.... Didnt work first couple times....so I downloaded zip again still getting error....

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

**The WheelMan** · 04-25-2013, 01:48 PM

Just used the zip to update and it seemed to have gone flawlessly.

**mc_gusto** · 04-25-2013, 02:10 PM

Worked flawlessly from stock. Thanks Meyer. Skunkape would be proud.

Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk HD

**meyerweb** · 04-25-2013, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by HOLLYWOODANT215

Mines say failed to verify

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

Originally Posted by mc_gusto

Worked flawlessly from stock. Thanks Meyer. Skunkape would be proud.

Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk HD

Thanks. If it weren't for SkunkApe, I wouldn't have known where to begin.

**meyerweb** · 04-25-2013, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by HOLLYWOODANT215

Mines say failed to verify

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

My device is rooted, so at the moment I can't try what's in the first post, but if necessary I can unroot tonight and give it a try.

Let's go back to the beginning: Is your phone currently working, on the prior version of the software? If so, go to Settings / About device, and tell me what the last three characters of the Build Number and Baseband are.
From that screen, tap on Status. What does it say at the very bottom, for Device status?
Has your phone ever been rooted?
Is the update file in the top level of your SD card, or in a folder? If it's in a folder, try putting it at the top level instead.

Originally Posted by HOLLYWOODANT215

I downloaded the first instructions.... Didn't work first couple times....so I downloaded zip again still getting error....

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

Originally Posted by mc_gusto

Worked flawlessly from stock. Thanks Meyer. Skunkape would be proud.

MC, did you follow post #1?