I'm currently rooted on VRUAMDK with (what I believe to be anyway) the first method from when the phone was released. I didn't have much time to bother with it when ME7 came out so I just froze SDM in TiBu and ignored it until now.
Today I saw the info about the MI1 update and decided to give it a shot updating. I saw that it was already rooted so I figured I'd just go for it and do an OTA after unfreezing SDM. However, when I tried that the install restarted the phone into Team Win Recovery and didn't complete. I assume this was because TWR blocks the install to avoid you losing root or something like that.
What I'm wondering is if there's a way to update to MI1 through TWR or some other alternative to the Verizon OTA so I don't lose root at all? I would like to know if there's a similar method for rooted phones with ME7 (since my girlfriends phone is rooted on that.).
Thanks in advance.
Don't take the OTA. Just get an MI1 stock deodex ROM. For the love of God keep your bootloader intact. The newer ones are not exploitable.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
ozzzzysh said:
Don't take the OTA. Just get an MI1 stock deodex ROM. For the love of God keep your bootloader intact. The newer ones are not exploitable.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, I thought that might be the right course of action but wasn't sure that the ROMs were equivalent of an OTA or just a custom rebuild of the old version.
As for my Girlfriend whose phone came with ME7? Should she just take the OTA and then Root again?
The MI1 OTA, from what I've gathered, enables a custom software counter. So unless she's planning on staying fully stock I would avoid the update. MI1 didn't really change enough to justify anyone to update as far as I know.
By custom software counter, I mean that if you were to tinker with your phone too much, it would blow a permanent qfuse that would let Samsung know not to grant your warranty when the time comes.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Reonar_Dauth said:
Okay, I thought that might be the right course of action but wasn't sure that the ROMs were equivalent of an OTA or just a custom rebuild of the old version.
As for my Girlfriend whose phone came with ME7? Should she just take the OTA and then Root again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Neither update offers anything of real value that the custom rom's aren't bringing to the table. Hell there are flashable radios even. Apps to SD for me7 might be the only useful feature. But there are custom me7 roms. Wait on the devs to update you.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
No real value over the MDK release. It just locks things down.
Get one of the ROMs based on MI1.
Move along,,,, Nothing to see....
Bump
If I am still on MDK, can I use any rom (4.3/4.4) or only roms for 4.2.2 MDK?
Things were much simpler on my GNex
PeterifficX said:
Bump
If I am still on MDK, can I use any rom (4.3/4.4) or only roms for 4.2.2 MDK?
Things were much simpler on my GNex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash any rom you want. The only way you'll lock yourself down is if you take an official update.
Verification please
PeterifficX said:
Bump
If I am still on MDK, can I use any rom (4.3/4.4) or only roms for 4.2.2 MDK?
Things were much simpler on my GNex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Crawshayi said:
You can flash any rom you want. The only way you'll lock yourself down is if you take an official update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey folks...... :highfive: I'm currently working on my Ex Wifes phone SCH-I545. I've not updated or done anything to her phone since I rooted and installed Beanstown. Quite some time ago. Any way, Her Android version is 4.2.2/VRUAMDK. :good: TWRP for recovery, not sure the version. My question is, Can I just flash any of the latest ROMs to her phone? I just want to make sure I don't screw her phone up. @Crawshayi, I see your answer right there. I just want to double check and know that I won't lock her phone down.
I really appreciate you guys. Without you and XDA, I'd be completely lost.
Sincerely
David C
Edit: Thanks guys. Everything worked perfect. My phones are running flawless.
Showing off here. NOTE 2 left side this on my right.
Related
Is this downgrading from ME7 to MDK possible? If so please guide me in the right direction.
Its not possible... Once you take the update theres no going back...
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
So I am new to the s4 and rooting. I really want to install the Hyperdrive ROM. I have been researching and researching what to do and I think i have found my answer for now and im not happy about it.
From what i gathered, since i installed the update and I am now on ME7, there is no root method bc they locked the phone down. Is this correct?
hondabomdc5 said:
So I am new to the s4 and rooting. I really want to install the Hyperdrive ROM. I have been researching and researching what to do and I think i have found my answer for now and im not happy about it.
From what i gathered, since i installed the update and I am now on ME7, there is no root method bc they locked the phone down. Is this correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the search button...this has been posted about a 1000 times...but yes you can root it but no custom recovery.
hondabomdc5 said:
So I am new to the s4 and rooting. I really want to install the Hyperdrive ROM. I have been researching and researching what to do and I think i have found my answer for now and im not happy about it.
From what i gathered, since i installed the update and I am now on ME7, there is no root method bc they locked the phone down. Is this correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can root, but cant install custom recoveries or roms.
bfmetcalf said:
You can root, but cant install custom recoveries or roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for being kind and thanks for the info. I did state that I was new and have been looking. I could have started a whole new thread but instead asked the question in here. I do want to install the Hyperdrive rom but since with ME7 you cant install roms...looks like i wont be rooting until somebody gets this figured out. Again, thanks for being cool and answering my question.
y can't we just odin back to mdk?
Stauf99 said:
y can't we just odin back to mdk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because of the bootloader will only allow signed packages to be installed on the phone and checks against older firmware and will not allow it. Unless you have the signed key you ain't flashing anything unless we find a workaround.
magneticzero said:
Use the search button...this has been posted about a 1000 times...but yes you can root it but no custom recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So why is there ROMs for the ME7 build if they can't be flashed?
This [email protected] sucks!
So, I'm stuck on ME7 as well (32GB S4, otherwise I'd just go down to the store and swap it, complaining about something -- seems they don't stock them at any local corporate stores).
I'm coming from a Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and we have OMAP-Flash, which is like a low-level PROM flashing tool from the Samsung R&D team, and I could fix even a DEAD, or bricked phone with that. Is there something like that here to get back the original bootloader? I cant believe we're stuck on this crap... How 'bout a 2nd-init like my Droid-x days, or something slick like SafeStrap on the RAZR family?
...Just thinkin' "out loud".
IMGetwired said:
So, I'm stuck on ME7 as well (32GB S4, otherwise I'd just go down to the store and swap it, complaining about something -- seems they don't stock them at any local corporate stores).
I'm coming from a Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and we have OMAP-Flash, which is like a low-level PROM flashing tool from the Samsung R&D team, and I could fix even a DEAD, or bricked phone with that. Is there something like that here to get back the original bootloader? I cant believe we're stuck on this crap... How 'bout a 2nd-init like my Droid-x days, or something slick like SafeStrap on the RAZR family?
...Just thinkin' "out loud".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short answer is 'no' - you're currently stuck with root as your best option. Hopefully this will change in the not-too-distant future.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Yeah, this does suck.
Seems like we need someone to pick up the Dragonboard 8074 development kit to help us figure this out...even then, I'm sure Samsung has so many mods in there it'd be nuts to reverse engineer... Ugh, I'm so impatient! :silly:
Slimfast35 said:
So why is there ROMs for the ME7 build if they can't be flashed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because there for people that didn't get robbed by Samsung and update through the evil over the air update lol
Slimfast35 said:
So why is there ROMs for the ME7 build if they can't be flashed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not quite understanding what a rom is and is not. There is no such thing as a rom for ME7. There are roms that use the ME7 base. They are flashable only by those who have the MDK bootloader. When a build number is listed for a rom, it is the build that the rom is based from.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4
Slimfast35 said:
So why is there ROMs for the ME7 build if they can't be flashed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ROM's that the devs based on MDK have been updated with the ME7 code just like any good developer does. But the bootloader those users have is still from their MDK (original) install. Once you go ME7 you can never go back, downgrade, crossgrade or get beyond the bootloader, for now anyways. Someone will find a way.
Nm
im on build JDQ39.I545VRUAMDK and rooted. I have removed a lot of bloat on the phone and it is not stock anymore. I want to flash a factory image so I could update to 4.3. Any guide I could follow to get there ?
Thanks in advance.
Jalh said:
im on build JDQ39.I545VRUAMDK and rooted. I have removed a lot of bloat on the phone and it is not stock anymore. I want to flash a factory image so I could update to 4.3. Any guide I could follow to get there ?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theres a short guide in the thread that has the odin images. Basically download the image and flash under pda. Make sure you got all the proper drivers.
Hit thanks if I helped you out. Doing a little bit of reading goes a long way. Sent via tapatalk.
Jalh said:
im on build JDQ39.I545VRUAMDK and rooted. I have removed a lot of bloat on the phone and it is not stock anymore. I want to flash a factory image so I could update to 4.3. Any guide I could follow to get there ?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In case you're not aware, you're lucky enough to be on MDK which is the ONLY build to allow you to unlock the bootloader and flash custom roms. If you take any updates past MDK you will lose the ability to unlock the bootloader and will only be able to root. Also, THERE IS NO GOING BACK once you take the updates, so if you change your mind, tough luck. Most people here including myself would strongly advice to stay on MDK.
Crawshayi said:
In case you're not aware, you're lucky enough to be on MDK which is the ONLY build to allow you to unlock the bootloader and flash custom roms. If you take any updates past MDK you will lose the ability to unlock the bootloader and will only be able to root. Also, THERE IS NO GOING BACK once you take the updates, so if you change your mind, tough luck. Most people here including myself would strongly advice to stay on MDK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your recommendation at this point ? I just dont know what to do .... i want to upgrade to 4.3, but i dont want to lose the opportunity to be on MDK.
Jalh said:
Your recommendation at this point ? I just dont know what to do .... i want to upgrade to 4.3, but i dont want to lose the opportunity to be on MDK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stay on MDK. A 4.3 touch wiz rom won't be far behind. Be patient. Nitro had an alpha release already. Data isn't working but it'll get there.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Also very little difference you will see between 4.2 and 4.3. Not worth giving up bootloader for.
Thank you all for your recommendations, I would definitely stay with the MDK for a while.
I asked a similar question back in October, but fell out of the loop again and didn't want to necro an old post. I just want to verify that the information I got back then is still relavent.
Is installing custom ROMs still the best way to bring my MDK S4 up to the current version? If so, what should I be looking for in a ROM title to tell me that it's just a stock ROM that gives the same experience as the OTA? Someone mentioned Deodex'd in my last post, but I have no idea what that means or if it's what I should be looking for.
And for an S4 that came stock with ME7? Should my girlfriend (with an ME7 update) just take the newest OTA and root that, or is there a benefit to sticking with ME7 and installing a ROM? If the answer is to go with a ROM then she'll want the stock new OTA experience as well for now, are there any ME7 ROMs available that can do that?
Thanks again guys!
Don't touch your MDK S4. Leave it on MDK with Loki. It's practically an unlocked bootloader with actual TWRP and CWM. You can still install 4.3 TouchWiz stock ROMs on it because you can change the kernel. Plus you can run AOSP ROMs, which is awesome.
Reonar_Dauth said:
I asked a similar question back in October, but fell out of the loop again and didn't want to necro an old post. I just want to verify that the information I got back then is still relavent.
Is installing custom ROMs still the best way to bring my MDK S4 up to the current version? If so, what should I be looking for in a ROM title to tell me that it's just a stock ROM that gives the same experience as the OTA? Someone mentioned Deodex'd in my last post, but I have no idea what that means or if it's what I should be looking for.
And for an S4 that came stock with ME7? Should my girlfriend (with an ME7 update) just take the newest OTA and root that, or is there a benefit to sticking with ME7 and installing a ROM? If the answer is to go with a ROM then she'll want the stock new OTA experience as well for now, are there any ME7 ROMs available that can do that?
Thanks again guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're girls me7 s4 might as well update to mj7 or mk2 (4.3) as then she'll still be using Safestrap. Mostly everyone is running Hyperdrive anyways. Great performance and battery life with that. Update it, throw Safestrap 3.71 on there then Hyperdrive 12....pretty much bug free.
As far as you're MDK phone just grab whatever AOSP 4.3 or 4.4 ROM you like. You're lucky to have that phone!!
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I have ME7 on my phone and decided to update to be compatible with hyperdrive.
I started the installation like 6 hours ago; is it supposed to take this long?
I had it rooted and got rid of all the bloatware from Verizon using titanium. Would that have something to do with it? Otherwise, I don't know what's going on. Thank you, and I apologize if this was addressed in any other thread.
TheDarkAbed said:
I have ME7 on my phone and decided to update to be compatible with hyperdrive.
I started the installation like 6 hours ago; is it supposed to take this long?
I had it rooted and got rid of all the bloatware from Verizon using titanium. Would that have something to do with it? Otherwise, I don't know what's going on. Thank you, and I apologize if this was addressed in any other thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No its not supposed to take that long. So you're trying to take the ota from me7 you're saying right? You may have to Odin if that doesn't work for you. Sometimes unfreezing and removing mods just doesn't do it
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Mistertac said:
No its not supposed to take that long. So you're trying to take the ota from me7 you're saying right? You may have to Odin if that doesn't work for you. Sometimes unfreezing and removing mods just doesn't do it
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry. Can you link me to where I can find how to do that
Thanks again
TheDarkAbed said:
Sorry. Can you link me to where I can find how to do that
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Several youtube videos on Odin process
safestrap enabled, Hyperdrive driven
decaturbob said:
Several youtube videos on Odin process
safestrap enabled, Hyperdrive driven
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went on youtube, but all of them say that they are for I9505. I'm not sure where I'm supposed to look, but my model number says SCH-I545. Does that mean I'm unable to use the process?
Sorry again for asking so many questions.
TheDarkAbed said:
I went on youtube, but all of them say that they are for I9505. I'm not sure where I'm supposed to look, but my model number says SCH-I545. Does that mean I'm unable to use the process?
Sorry again for asking so many questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Process is similar. ..you just need to have correct image file.
safestrap enabled, Hyperdrive driven
TheDarkAbed said:
I went on youtube, but all of them say that they are for I9505. I'm not sure where I'm supposed to look, but my model number says SCH-I545. Does that mean I'm unable to use the process?
Sorry again for asking so many questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same process, but get the image for your i545 from the Android Development forum for this phone.
is there any benefit to keeping ME7 or just update to most recent update? thanks for the help.
Okay guys so I got my S4 for Christmas as an upgrade from an S3. I love it. Its a beast and it is just amazing. Here's my problem, after a bunch of head scratching and reading, I finally found out how I was supposed to root it while running the latest jail cell of an update, MK2. The only thing I did to my phone is root it. No custom recovery or anything. Now that the android 4.4.2 update is coming soon, I really want to update to it, but obviously I can't just take the OTA when it comes out, so I need to go back to stock, no root, nothing, the thing is I have no idea how to safely do it and I have very bad dyslexia so keeping track of all the threads that tell me what to do is impossible for me. Can someone please give me a simple step by step on how to do go back to stock? And where I can get the firmware from?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
My recommendation would be to search the Samsung website for an MK2 Odin.tar stock firmware image for your s4. If you can't find it there then I recommend looking on XDA for a no data wipe MK2 image. Once the OTA hits for 4.4.2 touchwiz KitKat I recommend you wait for the devs to find a root exploit for it. Or if you don't mind spending a few bucks you could buy super su pro and enable root survival mode and it keeps root over an ota. But I'll see if I can link you to a non data wipe stock MK2 image.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578209
Here are the stock MK2 images just in case. There are full data wipes and no data wipes available. Hope I was able to help!
damnyouwaffles said:
Okay guys so I got my S4 for Christmas as an upgrade from an S3. I love it. Its a beast and it is just amazing. Here's my problem, after a bunch of head scratching and reading, I finally found out how I was supposed to root it while running the latest jail cell of an update, MK2. The only thing I did to my phone is root it. No custom recovery or anything. Now that the android 4.4.2 update is coming soon, I really want to update to it, but obviously I can't just take the OTA when it comes out, so I need to go back to stock, no root, nothing, the thing is I have no idea how to safely do it and I have very bad dyslexia so keeping track of all the threads that tell me what to do is impossible for me. Can someone please give me a simple step by step on how to do go back to stock? And where I can get the firmware from?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please understand that currently there is no way to root KitKat on bootloader locked devices.
Yes, you can restore a no-wipe MK2 ROM and return to stock, then take the 4.4 update when it's rolled out, but you may be stuck on stock for good if you do that.
k1mu said:
Please understand that currently there is no way to root KitKat on bootloader locked devices.
Yes, you can restore a no-wipe MK2 ROM and return to stock, then take the 4.4 update when it's rolled out, but you may be stuck on stock for good if you do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
k1mu, we will be repeating this countless times when the OTA happens
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/10/1...date-with-knox-2-0-connectivity-improvements/
...Sigh. When will vzw pull their heads out of their..
Surge1223 said:
...Sigh. When will vzw pull their heads out of their..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Until they realize they are not doing their customers any favors, never.
I knew better. Got an MDK device, rooted it immediately and have been running CM ever since. [emoji41]
If you guys are talking about Knox 2.0...get used to it. Knox is being incorporated by Google in Android "L".
Remember, with all the hackers out there, the average Joe and Joan want their privacy secured...all the banking that is done from the phones now?
And also Verizon is the largest carrier for military and commercial contracts...to keep them and get more the phones have to be as secure as possible.
Anyone try to see if Towelroot works with this build?
I think they need to find another root method. Towelroot only works on kernels june 3 and below. I have no idea if it will work if you used it
I'm not upgrading. All flashaholics like me will DEFINITELY just wait for a possible exploit for NC5 than hope for the almost nonexistent chance there will be an unlock in the new firmware. Just my $0.02
Sent from an S4 Lost in the Echoe
SolidSnakeUS said:
Anyone try to see if Towelroot works with this build?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have been able to use towelroot on the latest updates for the att S4, S5, and Vz S5 by flashing back the previous kernel, rooting, then reflashing the new unexploitable kernel. Vz S4 users will likely be able to do the same on NG6.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app
Least they could have done was give us 4.4.4 at the same time.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
Anyone get this yet. What android version is it still 4.4.2
Does towelroot work on this update? I want to know before I take the plunge...
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Downloading now. I don't care if I lose root. I'll test towelroot after the update.
MedleHed said:
Downloading now. I don't care if I lose root. I'll test towelroot after the update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Towelroot is guaranteed not to work. A better option is to grab the update from your cache/fota folder and post so that we can make a workaround to keep root.
Yep id give it to muniz.
Theres no way im going through the drama we had last time.
Surge1223 said:
Yep id give it to muniz.
Theres no way im going through the drama we had last time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, I remember and don't blame you at all.
It's confirmed that towelroot doesn't work. The version is still 4.4.2. The first thing I noticed was the GPS toggle in the notification area is now a Location toggle.
Any method of rooting?
Now that Towelroot is out, is there any way of rooting on the latest version? Downgrading, flashing an image in Odin, etc? Or are we pretty much screwed until a work around is found?
asalkowskineo said:
Now that Towelroot is out, is there any way of rooting on the latest version? Downgrading, flashing an image in Odin, etc? Or are we pretty much screwed until a work around is found?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a very good chance that the kernel swap method will work on this latest build.
Someone just needs to grab the ota from their device. We'll take the kernel from the new update and package it into an Odin flashable .tar. You'll then flash the old NC5 kernel after taking the update, re-boot and root using towelroot, then reflash the new kernel. No guarantees but this method has been working on all of the latest Sammy updates.
muniz_ri said:
There is a very good chance that the kernel swap method will work on this latest build.
Someone just needs to grab the ota from their device. We'll take the kernel from the new update and package it into an Odin flashable .tar. You'll then flash the old NC5 kernel after taking the update, re-boot and root using towelroot, then reflash the new kernel. No guarantees but this method has been working on all of the latest Sammy updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could give you guys the OTA if you tell me how to do it. I'm by no means an expert at rooting, but I've had a few years experience. So basically you'll modify the new kernel to allow downgrading to NC5, root, then update again? I had Towelroot before I updated, had OTA survival mode enabled in SuperSU, and had it installed as a system app, but I still lost root on this latest update. :crying:
muniz_ri said:
There is a very good chance that the kernel swap method will work on this latest build.
Someone just needs to grab the ota from their device. We'll take the kernel from the new update and package it into an Odin flashable .tar. You'll then flash the old NC5 kernel after taking the update, re-boot and root using towelroot, then reflash the new kernel. No guarantees but this method has been working on all of the latest Sammy updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When they finally block us from doing this, it will be a dark day lol.