Hey guys...I trade phones a lot. I was trying out the blackberry q10, and its a neat phone, just miss a full out android phone. So I got a s4 tonight. I am kind of lost...Usually I can figure this stuff out...Basicall I have VRUEMJ7...I am rooted right now. I want to install safestrap and go with custom roms...My understanding is that you cannot install a recovery on VRUEMJ7....I would like to downgrade I guess in order to install a recovery and flash roms. Can I ODIN and then safestrap?
matholland said:
Hey guys...I trade phones a lot. I was trying out the blackberry q10, and its a neat phone, just miss a full out android phone. So I got a s4 tonight. I am kind of lost...Usually I can figure this stuff out...Basicall I have VRUEMJ7...I am rooted right now. I want to install safestrap and go with custom roms...My understanding is that you cannot install a recovery on VRUEMJ7....I would like to downgrade I guess in order to install a recovery and flash roms. Can I ODIN and then safestrap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As of right now, NO downgrading, NO Safestrap, NO custom recovery AND NO custom ROMs with MJ7. Only root.
Read, read, read.
I have been reading...I had just stumbled across the answers after I posted this...Thanks for cleariying though.
68353958 i505
I found another one for a good price...It has vruddmi1...My understanding is that I CAN safestrap this one correct? I don't want to buy another one and not be able to install roms to it lol.
Yes but the screen rotation is broken if you run a custom rom on mi1.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
If you're going to buy another one, just buy the developer edition. Then you have a truly unlocked bootloader and done... no more worries.
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
Hi everyone,
Just recently made the switch from an iPhone to a Galaxy S4, and happy to be here. I have my S4 on Verizon and unfortunately when I bought it it was already updated to ME7. I rooted it yesterday and, being a noob to Android, tried installing TWRP and CWM on it (obviously failed both times.) I have been reading a little on Safestrap and am sort of confused...
Is Safestrap a recovery for people like myself that have ME7 VZW S4's that want to install custom ROMs, or is it still in testing stages...?
Again, I am new to this whole thing. Any help will be appreciated! Also, let me know what I CAN do in the meantime with my now rooted S4!
morourke1117 said:
Hi everyone,
Just recently made the switch from an iPhone to a Galaxy S4, and happy to be here. I have my S4 on Verizon and unfortunately when I bought it it was already updated to ME7. I rooted it yesterday and, being a noob to Android, tried installing TWRP and CWM on it (obviously failed both times.) I have been reading a little on Safestrap and am sort of confused...
Is Safestrap a recovery for people like myself that have ME7 VZW S4's that want to install custom ROMs, or is it still in testing stages...?
Again, I am new to this whole thing. Any help will be appreciated! Also, let me know what I CAN do in the meantime with my now rooted S4!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It hijacks the boot process and loads a specialized version of twrp. It is for people on me7 that would like custom roms. I dont believe its got the stable tag on it but you are able to flash and run custom roms.
Hit thanks if I helped you out. Doing a little bit of reading goes a long way. Sent via tapatalk.
Welcome to the forums! I also just switched from iPhone to android. Safari is basically TWRP except it's specialized for me7 devices. You can install roms using that once you root.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
hexitnow said:
It hijacks the boot process and loads a specialized version of twrp. It is for people on me7 that would like custom roms. I dont believe its got the stable tag on it but you are able to flash and run custom roms.
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
Safe Strap is SAFE. And stable. Have fun!
Check this out:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2448726
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Note 3 MI9 (AT&T) Safestrap / Darthstalker
Hello everyone,
Recently I bailed from the iPhone revolution for a Note 3 - Absolutely love it!
Anyway with that said, could someone point me in the right direction and help me find some answers to my noob questions? I did a fair amount of reading on this before deciding to post. I have a lot to learn, I want to install the Darthstalker ROM on my Note 3 with firmware MI9 (AT&T) using Safestrap 3.71.
My phone is already rooted and has Safestap installed with BusyBox.
From everything I have read, Darthstalker is only compatible with MI7 on the Note 3. I have backed up the stock ROM and verified that it boots and works properly.
My first question is, is there a risk of bricking or destroying my phone if I use the Darkstalker ROM on one of Safestrap slots?
And second question, couldn't I just boot into recovery and delete it if there was an issue?
Thanks for reading my post everyone.
BrickFace said:
Hello everyone,
Recently I bailed from the iPhone revolution for a Note 3 - Absolutely love it!
Anyway with that said, could someone point me in the right direction and help me find some answers to my noob questions? I did a fair amount of reading on this before deciding to post. I have a lot to learn, I want to install the Darthstalker ROM on my Note 3 with firmware MI9 (AT&T) using Safestrap 3.71.
My phone is already rooted and has Safestap installed with BusyBox.
From everything I have read, Darthstalker is only compatible with MI7 on the Note 3. I have backed up the stock ROM and verified that it boots and works properly.
My first question is, is there a risk of bricking or destroying my phone if I use the Darkstalker ROM on one of Safestrap slots?
And second question, couldn't I just boot into recovery and delete it if there was an issue?
Thanks for reading my post everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have a Note 3 - reading here, the forum for the Verizon Galaxy S4, may mislead you.
I suggest you read the Note 3 forums and ask your questions there.
Hey guys,
I'm sorry if this question has already been asked, I currently have a verizon Gs4 that is running the new MK2 update. I have been looking around at ROMS online and I would like to install a kit kat rom onto my phone. My question is after rooting am I limited to what type of recovery and roms i can use? My co worker has a GS4 for sprint and uses PHILZ custom recovery.
Can anybody help me with some explanation? I am trying to figure out if it is worth rooting the phone. I also want to make sure I have all my ducks lined up before plunging into the process.
Thank you,
kendeezy said:
Hey guys,
I'm sorry if this question has already been asked, I currently have a verizon Gs4 that is running the new MK2 update. I have been looking around at ROMS online and I would like to install a kit kat rom onto my phone. My question is after rooting am I limited to what type of recovery and roms i can use? My co worker has a GS4 for sprint and uses PHILZ custom recovery.
Can anybody help me with some explanation? I am trying to figure out if it is worth rooting the phone. I also want to make sure I have all my ducks lined up before plunging into the process.
Thank you,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No custom recovery exists for mk2...hashcode is working on safestrap recovery but it is buggy at best right now and only works for touchwiz ROMs...others are working tirelessly toward unlock or workaround...mk2 is very new...give it time and read up on mk2...more will come
You can't flash a custom rom or recovery if your on the MK2 update. You can only root MK2. The devs are working hard to make that possible for us that are on the MK2 update.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
It is absolutely worth rooting, but being on MK2 your recovery options are limited to Safe strap. Philztouch will only work on the original MDK firmware. I haven't used Safe strap since the Bionic but Hashcode and his work are amazing. Head over to his blog and his thread for more info. If you are just looking to theme your phone you can stay stock rooted and use Xposed with Wanam settings. All of this info is right here on XDA and most likely on the first page of their respective forums. My first recommendation is to read a lot first. Second, before you start the process have all emergency restore files downloaded and ready to go with your device recognized by your computer. (Always have Odin, your current Factory Firmware, and USB drivers ready)
You're on MK2....you can't install a custom ROM. This topic has been discussed many times.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
kendeezy said:
Hey guys,
I'm sorry if this question has already been asked, I currently have a verizon Gs4 that is running the new MK2 update. I have been looking around at ROMS online and I would like to install a kit kat rom onto my phone. My question is after rooting am I limited to what type of recovery and roms i can use? My co worker has a GS4 for sprint and uses PHILZ custom recovery.
Can anybody help me with some explanation? I am trying to figure out if it is worth rooting the phone. I also want to make sure I have all my ducks lined up before plunging into the process.
Thank you,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to be rude, but this has been answered 1,000,000 times, you couldn't have searched or even read a few posts down. The only version of the S4 that can install a custom recovery is MDK. You can root, and Hashcode just released a version of safestrap that works with MJ7, but this just happened. As far as I am aware, only Hyperdrive will work on a phone on MJ7 or MK2.
Ok, a little info on me. I have had an iPhone since 2007. I decided to buy a used G S4 to see if I would like it. So far I like it a lot but need help getting it just right.
I am trying to install custom roms on my device. I want to try CM.10 first. So far I have achieved root aaccess, and installed gooManager.
The problem is that when I install a custom recovery script so I can have a custom recovery the phone locks up. What could I be doing wrong? I am sure this has been covered a hundred times but there is so much info on here its overwhelming to someone new to android. Thanks to everyone for the great work and contributions s already made.
Try odin to flash!
iPhone*convert said:
Ok, a little info on me. I have had an iPhone since 2007. I decided to buy a used G S4 to see if I would like it. So far I like it a lot but need help getting it just right.
I am trying to install custom roms on my device. I want to try CM.10 first. So far I have achieved root aaccess, and installed gooManager.
The problem is that when I install a custom recovery script so I can have a custom recovery the phone locks up. What could I be doing wrong? I am sure this has been covered a hundred times but there is so much info on here its overwhelming to someone new to android. Thanks to everyone for the great work and contributions s already made.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when i installed my custom recovery i used cwm recovery (my preference) and used odin to flash it. its not as easy but its more reliable to me just look up a tutorial on how to flash custom recovery on odin. There are many vids on youtube
mylifeandroid said:
when i installed my custom recovery i used cwm recovery (my preference) and used odin to flash it. its not as easy but its more reliable to me just look up a tutorial on how to flash custom recovery on odin. There are many vids on youtube
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I watched all of the videos. Do I have a locked boot loader? Does that keep me from installing open recovery script? If so do I need a device with an older baseband in order to root, install custom recovery, and run custom roms?
I have a SCH-I545 running 4.3 with an mk2 baseband.
Yes, your bootloader is locked and currently there is no way to unlock it. Safestrap is your only option for ROMs now. Start with reading the OP.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2441441
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
How do I find an older gs4 with an unlocked bootloader? How will I know when I find one? What baseband version should I be looking for?
iPhone*convert said:
How do I find an older gs4 with an unlocked bootloader? How will I know when I find one? What baseband version should I be looking for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where your phone says mk2 the other will say mdk. . As far as finding one people sell them on ebay
iPhone*convert said:
How do I find an older gs4 with an unlocked bootloader? How will I know when I find one? What baseband version should I be looking for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out www.swappa.com
People have em up for sale, just look for the last three letters of the build (or baseband I suppose) to be MDK. Anything newer than that is locked down.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
iPhone*convert said:
How do I find an older gs4 with an unlocked bootloader? How will I know when I find one? What baseband version should I be looking for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Information is easily available in these forums concerning bootloaders and rooting and recoveries....with you phone your only option is safestrap and just one or 2 roms are available..
look before you jump
Nobody posts the build number in their adds on ebay or that swappers site. I'm messaging them all individually haha. Lmfao why didn't I read about this more before buying this boot locked pos lol.
Me7 and mj7 are worthless right?
iPhone*convert said:
Me7 and mj7 are worthless right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be honest this is the first phone that i have ever been satisfied with rooted debloated stock but I am very greatful my flashing itch is able to be somewhat scratched with safestrap. The above builds aren't worthless but I guess that all depends on your point of view and what your wanting to do with your device.
iPhone*convert said:
Me7 and mj7 are worthless right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't understand the statement?
the stock roms run extremely well and with root you can debloat pretty easily. S4 phone is a superior device to most anything else out there at this moment whether you mod it or not
Hey your in luck there is a guy selling his mdk s4 for 330 on the general thread.
Hello, not new to rooting and such but I'm a little confused. Just got this Note 2 after breaking my G2. I'm on ND7, managed to root and install safestrap. I've made a stock back up and flashed over my stock as there is no rom slot support yet. I've flashed Alliance 30 and it worked well. My question is, can I flash other Rom's like Wilson's CM12? My bootloader is still locked. Is there a safe way to unlock it? I've searched and found that if you have a locked bootloader you can't flash kernels. I think? Not trying to be annoying. Just confused. I haven't used safestrap since my old Razr days, lol. Any help would be awesome. Thanks in advance. ..
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Free mobile app
I think you can flash any rom using safestrap. The only ones I tried so far are DN3 and Alliancerom. They flashed with no problems. I would like to add on to this question though, Can I flash any mods using safestrap?
Right. Or kernels for that matter? It's strange because there's some people with unlocked bootloader's, some with safe strap, and some just plain old stock rooted (which was a pain in it's self).
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Free mobile app
Did a little more digging into the thread, basically if your bootloader is locked, the only Rom's that you can flash are those with the same build and kernel that you are currently on. So you were right. As far as flashing mods with safestrap, still unsure. ???
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Free mobile app
No other ROMs besides the above mentioned? Seems almost worth sending it to that company to downgrade
any group pricing?
Installed Mocha DrIzzle, liking it so far except the network speed mod
If I couldnt stand to be without telelphone....
stoph8n24 said:
No other ROMs besides the above mentioned? Seems almost worth sending it to that company to downgrade
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd be on the "Send it Off" wagon.
I've seen destructions for using ODIN to flash a KIES image in, and then go about fixing it that way but many many more posts saying this is impossible.
What I'd like to know, if I have to go with the same darn kernel etc, is how the everloving **** to get rid of ALL and I mean *ALL* of the crapware/verizonware/amazonware/etc and completely strip the touchwhiz down to just what I need....
This phone thing is a nasty addiction....:cyclops:
stoph8n24 said:
No other ROMs besides the above mentioned? Seems almost worth sending it to that company to downgrade
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone know if there is a list? I was just given this phone. I rooted it, but also stuck with the locked boot loader. I did install Safestrap and did a back up, and was able to create a ROM slot, but that is all I've done so far.
Since I'm "developmentally chsllenged" (I can follow instructions, but I can't do any development work or anything) I try to just go with trusted info, which has worked so far. I just came from a RAZR Maxx HD with CM12 and am not happy with the way this phone runs.
I'm in the same boat as you guys, and I believe you can only flash 4.4.2 ROMs. That's what I gathered from the Safestrap thread. However, you can (and should) backup your stock ROM in Safestrap and flash other ROMs over that.
I'm currently using Alliance, and it's decent. Nowhere near the amount of modifications as CyanideL, which is really what I want, but can't install because it's currently on Android 5.x.
Ridiculous what Samsung has done to this phone. Glad it was relatively cheap though, good lesson to avoid any manufacturer who locks the bootloader in the future.
Does anyone know if we can just flash an older version of the stock ROM? Couldn't we odin, or something, down to 4.1.x and go from there?
adobrakic said:
I'm in the same boat as you guys, and I believe you can only flash 4.4.2 ROMs. That's what I gathered from the Safestrap thread. However, you can (and should) backup your stock ROM in Safestrap and flash other ROMs over that.
I'm currently using Alliance, and it's decent. Nowhere near the amount of modifications as CyanideL, which is really what I want, but can't install because it's currently on Android 5.x.
Ridiculous what Samsung has done to this phone. Glad it was relatively cheap though, good lesson to avoid any manufacturer who locks the bootloader in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have SS and did a back up, but I thought I read about people running into problems and then bricking? I think they got them back after doing some stuff but since I am no where as talented with this stuff I try to be cautious. I've rooted and SS' ed a Bionic and ran several ROM's on that one until replacing it with a RAZR Maxx HD that I rooted (and was able to take advantage of the exploit before they pushed a patch and unlocked the bootloader).
If I can just flash over the stock ROM safely, then I'll get flashing right away
I read the issues with bricking as well, but I think those people were trying to flash 5.x ROMs. I agree about wanting to avoid it though. I have a HTC One S that I saved from being bricked a few times, but I don't even wanna have to go through the process of that for the Note 2. Here's the Safestrap thread, if you're a little wary and would like to read more about it.
As far as I can tell, you should be good with flashing 4.4.2 ROMs, since that's what I did and we seem to have the same config (4.4.2 Note 2, Safestrap 3.72). The only thing I wonder is what TWRP you have. I have the latest 2.7.0.x. If that's what you have, you should be just fine with flashing a 4.4.2 ROM over the stock ROM.