Hello! I apologize for asking something that's fairly basic. I went to install some ROMs onto my Verizon Galaxy S4 and realized something. The ROM I was about to install is i9505, which I figured was my phone. But when I'm on the Verizon S4 forums and while I was checking my phone's model number, I realized everything says SCH-I545. Which leads me to a few questions.
What exactly should I be looking for when I want to install a ROM onto my phone?
Are Verizon S4 phones bootloader locked? or is it just the newest update? What does that mean for us?
What exactly are i9505 phones?
Sometimes it's hard for me to find direct answers to questions like these as I'm not a super active member in rooting forums. I appreciate your help very much.
Zantillian said:
Hello! I apologize for asking something that's fairly basic. I went to install some ROMs onto my Verizon Galaxy S4 and realized something. The ROM I was about to install is i9505, which I figured was my phone. But when I'm on the Verizon S4 forums and while I was checking my phone's model number, I realized everything says SCH-I545. Which leads me to a few questions.
What exactly should I be looking for when I want to install a ROM onto my phone?
Are Verizon S4 phones bootloader locked? or is it just the newest update? What does that mean for us?
What exactly are i9505 phones?
Sometimes it's hard for me to find direct answers to questions like these as I'm not a super active member in rooting forums. I appreciate your help very much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome!
First of all, those (i9505 and SCH-I545) are model numbers. 9505 is international and I545 is verizon.
Secondly, the bootloader is unlocked for all versions of the Verizon model. However, there is a workaround for a custom recovery for the MDK build. If you are on the ME7 build, you can only root.
Rooting guides should be on the general form, and MDK loki exploit (which allows recovery installation) is also here. If you are on ME7, you can install safestrap after rooting, which kinda lets you install ROMs, through booting on top of stock.
For ROMS that work with Verizon's check out Verizon Samsung Galaxy s 4 > Android Development or Original Android Devlopment.
JaeKay said:
Welcome!
First of all, those (i9505 and SCH-I545) are model numbers. 9505 is international and I545 is verizon.
Secondly, the bootloader is unlocked for all versions of the Verizon model. However, there is a workaround for a custom recovery for the MDK build. If you are on the ME7 build, you can only root.
Rooting guides should be on the general form, and MDK loki exploit (which allows recovery installation) is also here. If you are on ME7, you can install safestrap after rooting, which kinda lets you install ROMs, through booting on top of stock.
For ROMS that work with Verizon's check out Verizon Samsung Galaxy s 4 > Android Development or Original Android Devlopment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to clarify he means the bootloader is LOCKED for all verizon s4's. In the development section there is several touch wiz based roms, hyperdrive seems to be the most popular at the moment. the original dev section houses mostly aosp based roms, so between the 2 sections there is a ton of different rom choices. Battery life, stability, and customization are generally the most sought after features.
Hit thanks if I helped you out. Doing a little bit of reading goes a long way. Sent via tapatalk.
JaeKay said:
Welcome!
First of all, those (i9505 and SCH-I545) are model numbers. 9505 is international and I545 is verizon.
Secondly, the bootloader is unlocked for all versions of the Verizon model. However, there is a workaround for a custom recovery for the MDK build. If you are on the ME7 build, you can only root.
Rooting guides should be on the general form, and MDK loki exploit (which allows recovery installation) is also here. If you are on ME7, you can install safestrap after rooting, which kinda lets you install ROMs, through booting on top of stock.
For ROMS that work with Verizon's check out Verizon Samsung Galaxy s 4 > Android Development or Original Android Devlopment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I do have MDK build and have stayed there from hearing about ME7. Thanks for your help.
hexitnow said:
Just to clarify he means the bootloader is LOCKED for all verizon s4's. In the development section there is several touch wiz based roms, hyperdrive seems to be the most popular at the moment. the original dev section houses mostly aosp based roms, so between the 2 sections there is a ton of different rom choices. Battery life, stability, and customization are generally the most sought after features.
Hit thanks if I helped you out. Doing a little bit of reading goes a long way. Sent via tapatalk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you also for your help.
Please read forum rules before posting.
Questions and request for assistance go in the Q&A section.
Thread has been moved.
Thank you for your future attention to this.
Have a great day!
Related
[Q] Can I use non-carrier specific ROMs found under the "Samsung GS4" section?
I've noticed there is a section for the Samsung Galaxy S4 not specific to any American carriers. Are these ROMs usable for the Verizon GS4's? Roms such as Omega, Echoe, GoldenEye, etc.
My apologies for what seems like such a basic question, thanks guys!
space_pimp said:
I've noticed there is a section for the Samsung Galaxy S4 not specific to any American carriers. Are these ROMs usable for the Verizon GS4's? Roms such as Omega, Echoe, GoldenEye, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem with many of the non-Verizon ROMs is that they don't have the CDMA bits that Verizon requires. With some tweaking and driver hacking you might be able to make them work.
HOWEVER: that is ONLY the case if your phone has the MDK bootloader.
If you're updated past MDK, you will not be able to install most ROMs since the only choice is Safestrap, which requires the use of a stock kernel (or at least very close to stock.)
k1mu said:
The problem with many of the non-Verizon ROMs is that they don't have the CDMA bits that Verizon requires. With some tweaking and driver hacking you might be able to make them work.
HOWEVER: that is ONLY the case if your phone has the MDK bootloader.
If you're updated past MDK, you will not be able to install most ROMs since the only choice is Safestrap, which requires the use of a stock kernel (or at least very close to stock.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
Yes, I still have the MDK bootloader. Is the hacking process for the CDMA bits a difficult process? Can you lead me in the right direction?
Hello all!
Please excuse the n00b questions!
Here are all the phone specs ---
Android Version: 4.4.2
Baseband Version: I545VRUFNC5
Kernel Version: 3.4.0 [email protected] #1
Build Number: KOT49H.I545VRUFNC5
SE for Android Status: Enforcing SEPF_SCH-I5445_4.4.2_0011
Secure Boot Status - Type: Samsung
Hardware Version: I545.07
Security Software Version: MDF v1.0 Release 2
Now I have disabled and *removed* KNOX (using NoBloat)
Like a lot of people, I absolutely HATE the new look of the UI (the S3 was great).
I would like to know what new ROMs I can use with this unit, and also what steps I need to take to install them.
Thanks SO much for any assistance!
(Sorry, I didn't realize this should have been posted in the Q&A section, and I can't seem to move it)
Can A Mod Please move This Post?
I don't want to cross-post it in the Q&A before someone tries to move it.
Surprised that no one has responded (or bothered to)
DeathStalker77 said:
I don't want to cross-post it in the Q&A before someone tries to move it.
Surprised that no one has responded (or bothered to)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple research.... There is a stickie in general forum
sent via safestrap 3.72 and echo v25.1! !
decaturbob said:
Simple research.... There is a stickie in general forum
sent via safestrap 3.72 and echo v25.1! !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I *did* look in the General forum - I did not find anything that matched my specs - LOTS for other specs, but not mine.
Some *specifics* would be appreciated.
DeathStalker77 said:
I *did* look in the General forum - I did not find anything that matched my specs - LOTS for other specs, but not mine.
Some *specifics* would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have a nc5 Kitkat base phone.... Plenty of info and I said before there is a stickie in the general forum you need to look at
sent via safestrap 3.72 and echo v25.1! !
In the time it took you to post 2 referrals to the same forum you *could* have simply ANSWERED the question.
There is plenty of info on MDK and ME7 versions, I do not see ANY posts on my specific version, and YES, I have looked.
Doing a search in the general forum for "MDF" turns up ZERO results.
So again, YOU say there are posts specific to my model and firmware, yet the site's search indicates that is not the case.
Please prove the site wrong.
DeathStalker77 said:
In the time it took you to post 2 referrals to the same forum you *could* have simply ANSWERED the question.
There is plenty of info on MDK and ME7 versions, I do not see ANY posts on my specific version, and YES, I have looked.
Doing a search in the general forum for "MDF" turns up ZERO results.
So again, YOU say there are posts specific to my model and firmware, yet the site's search indicates that is not the case.
Please prove the site wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um I'm might've just answered this in another thread, not sure if that was you, but you have to look at the last three letters of the alphanumeric code under "build number". The security software is irrelevant. As @decaturbob said, you have an nc5 phone, we have lots of helpful members who spent a lot of time making guides to teach you about what you can and can't do with your phone. These guides are either stickied or in one of the couple first pages of the general section. Good luck
Hi joshm!
I saw the stickies and I saw the references to NC5, but most of them also make reference to MDK, so I'm confused - NC5 is one build and MDK is another build?
I see this note (and DOH! I didn't even realize it was decaturbob who made the post <faceplant>) - All revisions of the I545 after MDK (ME7, MI1, MJ7, MK2) can NOT have a custom recovery, only Safestrap can be used.
I see posts about dropping back to MK2 from NC5 in order to root (mine is already rooted with TowelRoot).
If the *only* way to get a custom ROM on my unit at this time (and I'm looking at CM11 mostly) is with SafeStrap and bootslots, then I'll just wait it out - can't be bothered with that much hassle
You have to remember, what seems *simple* for you experts, may not be for the layman. By the same token, the stuff *I* do for a living, might seem complicated to you I know Windoze, but not jack-squat about Linux/Android. I can do just about anything technical on a desktop in my sleep, but phones are still pretty much a mystery to me
DeathStalker77 said:
Hi joshm!
I saw the stickies and I saw the references to NC5, but most of them also make reference to MDK, so I'm confused - NC5 is one build and MDK is another build?
I see this note (and DOH! I didn't even realize it was decaturbob who made the post <faceplant>) - All revisions of the I545 after MDK (ME7, MI1, MJ7, MK2) can NOT have a custom recovery, only Safestrap can be used.
I see posts about dropping back to MK2 from NC5 in order to root (mine is already rooted with TowelRoot).
If the *only* way to get a custom ROM on my unit at this time (and I'm looking at CM11 mostly) is with SafeStrap and bootslots, then I'll just wait it out - can't be bothered with that much hassle
You have to remember, what seems *simple* for you experts, may not be for the layman. By the same token, the stuff *I* do for a living, might seem complicated to you I know Windoze, but not jack-squat about Linux/Android. I can do just about anything technical on a desktop in my sleep, but phones are still pretty much a mystery to me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use towel root method to root.... You can install 3.72 safestrap and then install any ss compatible roms.... The process isn't complicate but you have to take some time to read and research. Several YouTube videos available....
sent via safestrap 3.72 and echo v25.1! !
So I just got handed an S4 from a co-worker, I just spent an hour looking up info on root and stuff to load custom roms (looking mainly for CM11). My main problem seems to be all the shortened terms and everything associated with this phone, root vs unlocked bootloader vs etc, MK2?? NC5??. I can't seem to find any "newb" friendly breakdown of all of this. This isn't my first hacked device by far (I got an old DiNC and a ReZound for my last 2), but definitely the most confusing one. So here's the info I got on my phone: Galaxy S4, Verizon, SCH-I545, Android 4.4.2, VRUFNC5, hardware version: I545.06.
Can anyone point me in the right directions to understand better, and get me to my final destination of Custom rom? Or at least get me to understand this better?
I did search the first 5 pages of every section to see if there was a "newb-friendly" sticky but didn't seem to go anywhere fast, just made me more confused.
tong6998 said:
So I just got handed an S4 from a co-worker, I just spent an hour looking up info on root and stuff to load custom roms (looking mainly for CM11). My main problem seems to be all the shortened terms and everything associated with this phone, root vs unlocked bootloader vs etc, MK2?? NC5??. I can't seem to find any "newb" friendly breakdown of all of this. This isn't my first hacked device by far (I got an old DiNC and a ReZound for my last 2), but definitely the most confusing one. So here's the info I got on my phone: Galaxy S4, Verizon, SCH-I545, Android 4.4.2, VRUFNC5, hardware version: I545.06.
Can anyone point me in the right directions to understand better, and get me to my final destination of Custom rom? Or at least get me to understand this better?
I did search the first 5 pages of every section to see if there was a "newb-friendly" sticky but didn't seem to go anywhere fast, just made me more confused.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem with a simple "newb friendly" page is that every update to the phone changes what you need to do to root and what you can run.
For your NC5 phone, you need to use Towelroot to root it. That gets you root, but you're stuck with the stock bootloader. That means that you can't directly run a custom ROM. You can use Safestrap to allocate space for an alternative ROM, which is almost the same as a fully unlocked phone. The big thing you lose is that you can't run arbitrary ROMs, just what's compatible with the stock kernel. No CM, no AOSP.
So, read up on Towelroot and Safestrap. Once you have those down, you should be n the way.
Yeah, I got towel root already installed, supersu running and added to system and Knox disabled. Where should I be looking at roms that I can run under safestrap? Or should I say which section of the forums? Thank you for your response btw.
tong6998 said:
Yeah, I got towel root already installed, supersu running and added to system and Knox disabled. Where should I be looking at roms that I can run under safestrap? Or should I say which section of the forums? Thank you for your response btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually, roms that are compatible with safestrap are labeled as such. Since nc5 doesn't allow custom kernels, you will stuck with touchwiz kernels, so usually the roms will look like the stock samsung experience or a themed version. If you want an aosp themed safestrap rom, get eclipse rom. If you want a 99% gpe s4 rom download the gpe edition safestrap rom( it has some bugs though).
Usually roms are located at the "Android development" section of the forum. The gpe rom thread is in the general section.
tong6998 said:
Yeah, I got towel root already installed, supersu running and added to system and Knox disabled. Where should I be looking at roms that I can run under safestrap? Or should I say which section of the forums? Thank you for your response btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing to keep in mind, is that safestrap loads too late to be able to replace the kernel. This is the limiting factor, your stuck on the stock kernel... Different versions of android and different versions of kernels may have slightly different functions/parameters coded into the kernel, so calling a newer function or calling a function with parameters that no longer match the new style will fail.... so if the rom wasn't directly designed for the stock kernel of the same version your using it likely won't work.
In practice that means you need a rom based on TW, that is the same version (NC5) as you are currently using. Not sure but there are likely a few changes the Rom make needs to add for safe strap compatibility... Basically when you look at the Rom's thread it will list a baseband (NC5) and say its safestrap compatible.
Thanks to all of you, that clears up a lot of confusion I had. Now where do I find out (or how do I decifer) if I'm MJ7/MK2/ME7/MI1? Or am I correct in assuming I'm NOT (all the builds I see for safestrap mention those only no NC5.
Hello everyone,
Let me preface this by saying that I have googled this extensively and used the search feature on XDA but so far I have come up with no clear results. Apologize if this has been asked before (it probably has). I hope you guys can help me by providing me with some definite answers.
Background:
I've been researching about getting Lollipop on my device (I had it on my rooted sprint s4 and I miss it dearly). I've heard that the MetroPCS S5 is the exact phone as the T-Mobile S5. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to confirm whether that's the case or not. I have a MetroPCS S5 (SM-G900T1), and I would greatly appreciate it if you guys took the time to answer these questions for me:
1) Are they really the same phone?
AFTER SIM-UNLOCKING THE PHONE
2) Can I put T-Mobile S5 custom recoveries on the Metro Version?
3) Can I put T-Mobile S5 custom ROMs on the Metro version?
If the answers to question 2 and 3 is "NO" then where can I find a place where people are developing for the MetroPCS S5 or that place doesn't exist?
Thank you all for reading and for any help.
1) They are mostly the same as they do use the same network.
2) Any KLTE recovery will work.
3) Any KLTE rom SHOULD work, check the OP of the roms developer. Any KLTE AOSP rom will work.
Here is a site showing the recoveries are the same. -->HERE<--
Brian_svc said:
Hello everyone,
Let me preface this by saying that I have googled this extensively and used the search feature on XDA but so far I have come up with no clear results. Apologize if this has been asked before (it probably has). I hope you guys can help me by providing me with some definite answers.
Background:
I've been researching about getting Lollipop on my device (I had it on my rooted sprint s4 and I miss it dearly). I've heard that the MetroPCS S5 is the exact phone as the T-Mobile S5. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to confirm whether that's the case or not. I have a MetroPCS S5 (SM-G900T1), and I would greatly appreciate it if you guys took the time to answer these questions for me:
1) Are they really the same phone?
AFTER SIM-UNLOCKING THE PHONE
2) Can I put T-Mobile S5 custom recoveries on the Metro Version?
3) Can I put T-Mobile S5 custom ROMs on the Metro version?
If the answers to question 2 and 3 is "NO" then where can I find a place where people are developing for the MetroPCS S5 or that place doesn't exist?
Thank you all for reading and for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can actually flash the stock firmware and have the new modem and everything.(won't have metro bloat anymore but will have tmo which you can delete all that and grab metro bloat if you wanted it) But yes firmware, recoveries, roms, etc
esjames said:
1) They are mostly the same as they do use the same network.
2) Any KLTE recovery will work.
3) Any KLTE rom SHOULD work, check the OP of the roms developer. Any KLTE AOSP rom will work.
Here is a site showing the recoveries are the same. --><--
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your answer and your time.
ShinySide said:
You can actually flash the stock firmware and have the new modem and everything.(won't have metro bloat anymore but will have tmo which you can delete all that and grab metro bloat if you wanted it) But yes firmware, recoveries, roms, etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. It's cool to hear everything is compatible although I'm still very nervous about trying it lol
Can you expect in the distant future a way to install a custom recovery without tripping the knox count (I believe that's what it's called)? As far as I know there's no way to reset that.
Brian_svc said:
Can you expect in the distant future a way to install a custom recovery without tripping the knox count (I believe that's what it's called)? As far as I know there's no way to reset that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doubtful that Knox will be figured out anytime in the near future. And you are correct, you cannot reset it once it's tripped.
But if you look around at the Knox threads, the vast majority of users that have tripped Knox have not had any problem getting service or warranty work. So for the most part it's a non issue.
Of course YMMV
I have what was a Verizon Samsung S4. After switching SIMS from my old LG Leon LTE, and some help from MetroPCS, it is now running on the MetroPCS (T-Mobile) network. The phone is currently at Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop).I would like to upgrade it to Marshmallow. My question: Should my questions here about custom ROMS be addressed to the Verizon Samsung S4 forum, since the stock rom has not been upgraded or customized, other than being rooted, or should my questions be directed to the T-Mobile Samsung S4 forum, since I'm on their network now, and an upgrade of my rom, still using their network, is what I wish to achieve. As the thread title denotes, this is an extreme Noob question, but I'd appreciate an answer. Thank you in advance.
You are gonna have to stick with the Verizon Galaxy S4 forums for your device. The firmware for the Verizon and T-Mobile variants are different and if you attempted to flash the wrong software you would likely end up with a bricked device. My best suggestion for you is to use your Google-Fu and search for everything you can find about using a Verizon Galaxy S4 on MetroPCS. There is a ton of good, useful information in the Verizon Galaxy S4 General forums and the Q & A Forums. Scroll through the stickies and read, read, read. This will give you the most relevant answers to your questions. Also, are you currently rooted? Do you have a custom recovery installed like CWM or TWRP?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers mobile app
fast69mopar said:
You are gonna have to stick with the Verizon Galaxy S4 forums for your device. The firmware for the Verizon and T-Mobile variants are different and if you attempted to flash the wrong software you would likely end up with a bricked device. My best suggestion for you is to use your Google-Fu and search for everything you can find about using a Verizon Galaxy S4 on MetroPCS. There is a ton of good, useful information in the Verizon Galaxy S4 General forums and the Q & A Forums. Scroll through the stickies and read, read, read. This will give you the most relevant answers to your questions. Also, are you currently rooted? Do you have a custom recovery installed like CWM or TWRP?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for your reply. As noted in my post, "the stock rom has not been upgraded or customized, other than being rooted". I have done nothing to the phone aside from rooting it via Kingo Root, and getting MetroPCS to switch the IMEI from Verizon to MetroPCS. I guess my real question was: Am I now running a Verizon Samsung S4 on the T-Mobile (MetroPCS) network or, since I'm successfully on the T-Mobile (MetroPCS) network am I now running a T-Mobile (MetroPCS) Samsung S4? My hesitation is based on what you stated. I don't want to brick my phone based on loading the wrong carrier based ROM.
Thanks Meter: 0
More
I don't want to waste Verizon guys time with T-Mobile (MetroPCS) questions, or vice-versa. Thanks again.
delete
No problem. Hope I helped in at least some way. Good luck with your S4.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers mobile app