Hello everyone, I have been looking for either a ROM or the stock ME7 OTA upgrade for my s4 I have been searching the past couple days and I haven't pin pointed which one I should attempt to flash to my phone. Just like http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2376140, but I also found another place that claimed to have the stock update but I have no way to be sure it is what it says it is. Also I have rooted my s4 by flashing and downgrading. So I'm wondering on the link I provided would I be able to perform a flash just by using Odin like I had before, or is there something else that needs to be done.
pyrow_14 said:
Hello everyone, I have been looking for either a ROM or the stock ME7 OTA upgrade for my s4 I have been searching the past couple days and I haven't pin pointed which one I should attempt to flash to my phone. Just like http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2376140, but I also found another place that claimed to have the stock update but I have no way to be sure it is what it says it is. Also I have rooted my s4 by flashing and downgrading. So I'm wondering on the link I provided would I be able to perform a flash just by using Odin like I had before, or is there something else that needs to be done.
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The Darkslide ROM you linked to can be flashed in a custom recovery just like any other custom ROM. If you take the OTA you will no longer be able to flash custom ROMs. Search the forums for more information. The bounty thread in the general section would be a good place to start.
thanks man, i looked where you said to go and couldn't find it, and i got lazy so i said f it i will just install a recovery and try the rom and if all else fails go ahead and just remove everything and install the orginal OTA upgrade and then root it again just to have my multi window manager back. love that app.
i did the rom update and it works very well so far, everything went off without a hitch and everything is updating and all my apps are being reinstalled ...now just the long process of messing with all those darn settings, thanks again man:good:
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Hi everyone. Im real good with tech but i cant find anyone having asked...
I want to go buy the S4 and I will definitely root it (following the posted instructions on here) but before i do, will i be able to instal OTA updates after and if not, is there another way id be able to install updates? I used Voodoo rootkeeper on my tablet after rooting and the 1st ota went fine and kept root, the 2nd ota killed the root even while using Voodoo...
Please, any any all responses asap appreciated. I want to get the phone asap as i am tired of my rooted Bionic.
Thank all.
bobstone said:
Hi everyone. Im real good with tech but i cant find anyone having asked...
I want to go buy the S4 and I will definitely root it (following the posted instructions on here) but before i do, will i be able to instal OTA updates after and if not, is there another way id be able to install updates? I used Voodoo rootkeeper on my tablet after rooting and the 1st ota went fine and kept root, the 2nd ota killed the root even while using Voodoo...
Please, any any all responses asap appreciated. I want to get the phone asap as i am tired of my rooted Bionic.
Thank all.
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Just wait for a rooted stock ROM based on the OTA to be made by a dev. You never NEED to take an OTA.
Thanks but im not sure what you mean. I have no interest in loading custom roms nor over-screwing around with the phone. Do you mean wait for another root process or wait for a download for an ota update?
Thanks again
Im guessing you mean a rom will be released again after the ota is out with the ota integrated in it... That process makes me kind of nervous as i need my phone for work as well as personal and cant risk screwing up the phone or erasing data eta...
There is pretty much always someone that releases the stock ROM flashable in a custom recovery so you can have a rooted stock ROM. Look at the dev beanstownm106 ROM in the development section. It is basically the stock ROM rooted with some very minor tweaks, but flashable with a custom recovery like TWRP.
BUT...there is almost never anything you can't do with basically any ROM that you can do with the stock ROM. So you really don't need the stock ROM...some people just prefer it. For my old Thunderbolt, it was pretty well known that for a long time there was a custom ROM, very similar to the stock ROM, that was more stable than stock (SkyRaider Zeus).
Another BUT: if you need Good for work, prepare for a constant fight with root detection. And you will want to back up your data often. I have a BB for work that I leave untouched (its not mine).
One more thing...the Loki workaround has its advantages...the bootloader is still locked and untouched, so it would be pretty hard to brick the device because you can get back into download mode and use odin to flash back to factory.
Whats the loki workaround? Also, im dont want to be doing any kind of flashing... I just simply want to root the s4 (which i now have) and be able to run ota updates or if not, download the ota and install the update manually. And if i get an ota, if it will kill root, even if i run voodoo.
Please, if someone could, let us all know if ota wont run or will kill root on say the s3 or s4 and if downloadable updates are another option... without flashing anything or going to crazy.
Thanks again in advance.
As the title states im just looking for the files that I need to put my phone back to stock. exactly how it was when I got it from Verizon. It already had the OTA nc5 update installed so I did not have to update. please help ive done searching and I haven't been able to find the actual stock files. any help is wanted thanks in advance. also would like to state that I mean the files used in ODIN.
sk8erbrad said:
As the title states im just looking for the files that I need to put my phone back to stock. exactly how it was when I got it from Verizon. It already had the OTA nc2 update installed so I did not have to update. please help ive done searching and I haven't been able to find the actual stock files. any help is wanted thanks in advance. also would like to state that I mean the files used in ODIN.
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I would say just flash the one of these. I would personally use the full wipe so that you can get rid of all of your data as well.
Worked perfect thanks a lot.
I was one of the idiots that accidentally upgraded to the newest firmware when it first came out. My device is totally rooted, but I've been reading that I'm required to use things such as SafeStrap or Loki to install custom roms. I'm not sure if this is still the case as its been months since this was discovered. I've been trying to search the forums extensively for a fix, but I've been unable to find one. One thing I came across: here seems to be a very simple way to install TWRP on the Galaxy S4, however, I don't wan to run the risk of bricking my phone and being SOL because I have ****ty firmware and no way to custom recover my phone.
Point blank, would I be able to install TWRP manager via GooManager given that I've updated to NC5? Or even if not, what are my options for custom recovery/roms? End game, I want to walk away with 5.0.1 GPE or Cyanogenmod 12. Hopefully.
I'd really appreciate any and all help. Attached is a screenshot of my phone information.
zQueal said:
I was one of the idiots that accidentally upgraded to the newest firmware when it first came out. My device is totally rooted, but I've been reading that I'm required to use things such as SafeStrap or Loki to install custom roms. I'm not sure if this is still the case as its been months since this was discovered. I've been trying to search the forums extensively for a fix, but I've been unable to find one. One thing I came across: here seems to be a very simple way to install TWRP on the Galaxy S4, however, I don't wan to run the risk of bricking my phone and being SOL because I have ****ty firmware and no way to custom recover my phone.
Point blank, would I be able to install TWRP manager via GooManager given that I've updated to NC5? Or even if not, what are my options for custom recovery/roms? End game, I want to walk away with 5.0.1 GPE or Cyanogenmod 12. Hopefully.
I'd really appreciate any and all help. Attached is a screenshot of my phone information.
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Once you updated to anything past MDK there's no going back . Safestrap is the only option to install Touchwiz ROMS.
scrillakev said:
Once you updated to anything past MDK there's no going back . Safestrap is the only option to install Touchwiz ROMS.
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Damn! That's what I figured. I followed [this guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLHZfPwLkPM) and installed the SafeStrap APK, but stopped at the "install recovery" step. I've been reading that this can soft brick your phone. Do you have any input? Is it safe to do? If it does brick my phone will I be able to factory reset with Odin?
Sorry for the barrage of questions, I'm a bit of a noob.
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EDIT:
Well, I decided to go ahead with it. It worked fine. I rebooted to SafeStrap and went right to do a backup. It failed. I tried to reboot into my stock rom, and it was 0MB. I really might blow up Verizon HQ.
zQueal said:
Damn! That's what I figured. I followed [this guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLHZfPwLkPM) and installed the SafeStrap APK, but stopped at the "install recovery" step. I've been reading that this can soft brick your phone. Do you have any input? Is it safe to do? If it does brick my phone will I be able to factory reset with Odin?
Sorry for the barrage of questions, I'm a bit of a noob.
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EDIT:
Well, I decided to go ahead with it. It worked fine. I rebooted to SafeStrap and went right to do a backup. It failed. I tried to reboot into my stock rom, and it was 0MB. I really might blow up Verizon HQ.
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Click to collapse
I never used SafeStrap so I doubt I will be much help. But once you rebooted your stock ROM is no longer there? Might have to just flash a stock image via ODIN and try again. Verizon isn't going to help you either with modding your phone, XDA is the place to be.
Has there been anything new since this thread was posted or is it impossible still?
mcbeat257 said:
Has there been anything new since this thread was posted or is it impossible still?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry buddy you're SOL
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
If you are rooted use a terminal editor app and type:
getprop ro.bootloader
If it says anything other than I545VRUAMDK your only choice is SafeStrap.
That means if you bought an S4 and it came with MK1, NC5, NK1, or anything other than MDK you cannot flash a custom recovery. The same applies if you took an OTA from VZW. This has been stated 1000's of times here.
Hint:
Look on the box that your S4 came in and read the last three characters where it says what build the phone has.
mcbeat257 said:
Has there been anything new since this thread was posted or is it impossible still?
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Keep checking up on SS they are working on the ability to also use custom kernels on top which would make it essentially as efficient as a custom recovery, with some storage loss.
safestrap version
Well, I decided to go ahead with it. It worked fine. I rebooted to SafeStrap and went right to do a backup. It failed. I tried to reboot into my stock rom, and it was 0MB. I really might blow up Verizon HQ.[/QUOTE]
***Make sure you are using the correct version of safestrap for your current baseband
another good app from the google play store to download is samsung info
I have used safestrap in the past as I was in the same scenario as you. I currently now have a MDK phone
Illogi.xbone said:
Keep checking up on SS they are working on the ability to also use custom kernels on top which would make it essentially as efficient as a custom recovery, with some storage loss.
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Click to collapse
How come they haven't been able to unlock the bootloader when only the build version is changing......
There should have been an exploit awhile ago....and why haven't they made an odin option for MDK yet?
mcbeat257 said:
How come they haven't been able to unlock the bootloader when only the build version is changing......
There should have been an exploit awhile ago....and why haven't they made an odin option for MDK yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The exploit was weeded out after MDK
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
The bootloader was never "unlocked" on MDK, there was just an exploit available that allowed the installation of a custom recovery. That exploit was closed in the first update from MDK and a new one has not been discovered. The bootloader itself has some pretty strong encryption so it may never be unlocked.
[I just realized I'm in the wrong subforum, please move to Verizon i535 forum, thanks]
My initial intention was to backup the phone before attempting to install Cyanogenmod on it.
I ran towelroot and installed Rom Manager, and flashed the custom recovery.
Upon attempting to enter recovery, it's telling me that some non-Verizon system software is detected so I can't even get in there to backup my phone. I researched and apparently after 4.2 all the bootloaders are locked and cannot be rommed. That sucks, but anyway, this thing is already running 4.4.2 (just got in from Ebay purchase).
How can I get back the stock recovery? I've searched all over the forums but can't quite find what to do. Something with Odin and a stock image? Does that exist for 4.4.2?
TIA
You can get stock recoveries on the net but if you cant flash it you need to go to samsung-updates.com and download the latest rom for that device, flash it with odin then re root it. If there's a cf-autoroot for it you should use that, otherwise any other recommended method.
If your lastest rom on the website is earlier than 4.3 then dont worry about efs etc as custom roms dont change that
If it IS 4.3 or later do not flash anything lower than 4.3. This is because you dont know what the last stock version was.
Going back to stock via odin should solve any issues with all sammy devices. Common sense and reading a lot goes a long way.
Dont forget to reset to factory when flashing back to stock, most common cause of boot loop.
Sent from a stolen phone!
I've had my VZ S4 since sometime around Dec of 2013. Previously was on a DroidX, I've really honestly never had any problems rooting or installing custom rom's on my phones (A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU HERE that made that possible) so I'm not a noob...but I'm not an expert either. I usually wait and read a lot of threads, follow the instructions and I've always been good to go. My S4 started at MK2, (took the OTA right out of the box, now I now better ) and with the help of K1mu's post on rooting the S4 with Saferoot everything went off with out a hitch (thank you!!). After successfully rooting the phone, I installed Safestrap, backed up the stock rom slot, created a custom rom slot and installed Hyperdrive 11...everything is working flawlessly.
So fast forward a year to KitKat I returned to XDA...read and read and read and followed the Dev's instructions and was good to go again. I know it involved Safestrap-I545-3.75-KitKat-A03.apk, TowelRoot, Odin and ALL_VZW_I545VRUFNC5_I545VZWFNC5_1151670_REV06_user_low_ship_Multi_Cert_Tar.md5. Definitely was one of muniz_ri post. Any way I basically used Odin...flashed back to factory stock followed muniz_ri post and was good to go again with KitKat(Thank You!!)
So now to the present, about a week or so ago I had an OTA screen pop asking to update, it actually showed 2 updates available (don't know if there is a log in the S4 that keeps track of the updates). So I came back here of course and started reading and reading and reading...and I was ready to begin the process in this thread by muniz_ri: http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-to-update-to-i545oc1-5-0-1-keeproot-t3096558 which again I am sure would have went flawlessly. Then I had an accident...I had been dismissing the update (it popped up a lot ) when the unthinkable happened...I pressed yes, the phone went thru the update process and I don't know what update it was but it wasn't Lolllipop...so I was like phewwww, clicked on my RootCheck (JRummy) and it said Rooted 4.4.2 KitKat (NK4), SuperSu 2.46 so I figured everything was ok. Not so, I don't know what the upgrade was but I no longer have root or access to safestrap, SuperSu or any apps that require root...and this is where I need guidance from the masters. I have a TWRP/Safestrap back up (stock-2014-12-08--19-33-37 KOT49H.I545VRUFNK1) from right after rooting for KitKat, nothing else...just root I'm pretty sure of that. So what would be the best way to fix? Is there a way to re-root the phone in it's present condition? Can I use the TWRP back up some how with out SafeStrap? How far back can I down grade with Odin using a VWZ factory image? Any idea what happened with the update prior to Lollipop? Sorry if this was long winded, just trying to figure out the best way moving forward. I don't really care about the data on the phone. Before going forward I'll do A Keis back up of the stuff I want to save. I appreciate any help/answers/suggestions...Jinx