I accidentally installed a factory image with the ME7 baseband. My phone is now on ME7 and there is apparently nothing I can do to bypass the bootloader (aside from Safestrap) until someone hacks it - if anyone is ever able to. I am also aware that you can't flash an MDK based ROM from the stock recovery. But one thing I did notice is that I have multiple backups on my computer from when I had MDK. (I know they are MDK because of the names of the folders; for example "2013-10-07.11.02.07_JDQ39.I545VRUAMDK".)
My assumption is that restoring these backups would not work, and for the same reason, but since I'm having flashing withdrawal I figured it wouldn't hurt to confirm that this is the case. Also, I can imagine that if this did work someone would have made a generic backup of an MDK-based ROM long ago and posted it publicly, and with this in mind I am not holding particularly high hopes, but it sure would be nice. So, to restate the question, is it possible (and safe) to restore an MDK backup while on ME7? Thanks in advance.
Super Sam Galaxy said:
I accidentally installed a factory image with the ME7 baseband. My phone is now on ME7 and there is apparently nothing I can do to bypass the bootloader (aside from Safestrap) until someone hacks it - if anyone is ever able to. I am also aware that you can't flash an MDK based ROM from the stock recovery. But one thing I did notice is that I have multiple backups on my computer from when I had MDK. (I know they are MDK because of the names of the folders; for example "2013-10-07.11.02.07_JDQ39.I545VRUAMDK".)
My assumption is that restoring these backups would not work, and for the same reason, but since I'm having flashing withdrawal I figured it wouldn't hurt to confirm that this is the case. Also, I can imagine that if this did work someone would have made a generic backup of an MDK-based ROM long ago and posted it publicly, and with this in mind I am not holding particularly high hopes, but it sure would be nice. So, to restate the question, is it possible (and safe) to restore an MDK backup while on ME7? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, you can't downgrade. You're stuck with ME7 or later now. Trying to flash those backups will fail and leave you soft-bricked in downloader mode.
k1mu said:
Nope, you can't downgrade. You're stuck with ME7 or later now. Trying to flash those backups will fail and leave you soft-bricked in downloader mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhhhhhh, that's what I was afraid of. :crying: What a bummer, it would be nice if things were that simple but I guess I didn't really expect them to be. :silly: Thanks for the reply.
Super Sam Galaxy said:
Ahhhhhhh, that's what I was afraid of. :crying: What a bummer, it would be nice if things were that simple but I guess I didn't really expect them to be. :silly: Thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can load safestap to run several 4.2 base ROMS and hashcode is working on safestrap for 4.3 based ROMS right now.
decaturbob said:
you can load safestap to run several 4.2 base ROMS and hashcode is working on safestrap for 4.3 based ROMS right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply! I am familiar with Safestrap, and I appreciate the suggestion but I think I'm going to hold of and try to figure out a way (or wait until a method becomes available) to get KitKat on it. I was using KitKat for a few weeks and really enjoyed it.
Related
So I have my stock S4 on MJ7 rooted already, now I want to flash custom recovery or boot strap recovery, but when I run the safestrap .apk on my phone it just makes Titanium Backup and KNOX both crash, and then I try booting into recovery but my phone just boots like normal, with no recovery option. How can I get this custom recovery on my MJ7 phone so I can start flashing custom ROMs? I absolutely can not stand this stock touchwiz crap. Sorry if this has been explained before, but the verizon section is so full of threads its impossible to find anything.
All we have is root on 4.3 right now. No Safestrap or Loki, so no custom recovery. Sorry.
We should presumably be able to get Safestrap soon since hashcode has it working on the Note 3 with 4.3 but at this point yes there is currently nothing other than a root. A totally unlocked bootloader isn't anywhere in sight either.
thcaddict said:
So I have my stock S4 on MJ7 rooted already, now I want to flash custom recovery or boot strap recovery, but when I run the safestrap .apk on my phone it just makes Titanium Backup and KNOX both crash, and then I try booting into recovery but my phone just boots like normal, with no recovery option. How can I get this custom recovery on my MJ7 phone so I can start flashing custom ROMs? I absolutely can not stand this stock touchwiz crap. Sorry if this has been explained before, but the verizon section is so full of threads its impossible to find anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's sort of an understatement. You could have used search and found your answer in about 5 seconds.
LemonSlice said:
We should presumably be able to get Safestrap soon since hashcode has it working on the Note 3 with 4.3 but at this point yes there is currently nothing other than a root. A totally unlocked bootloader isn't anywhere in sight either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the reply. I was unaware there is no custom recovery, or anything else besides root. I can't wait until I can put a new ROM on this phone. I really wish I would not have ran the update as soon as I bought it. Coming from an s3 with custom roms for the last year its a real bummer having to run TouchWiz.
may I ask what is loki? I just moved to Verizon from another carrier... didn't have to put up with locked bootloaders or anything ridiculous like that with my old carrier
Loki is an exploitation method to bypass bootloader checks, which allows you to run full custom recoveries, kernels, etc.
Unfortunately, only the first firmware that this phone came out with, MDK, can use Loki.
I was in your situation, if you want to run AOSP on a VZW S4, buy an MDK version on Swappa, that's what I did.
Sent from the 215
Crawshayi said:
That's sort of an understatement. You could have used search and found your answer in about 5 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So true, someone needs to make a sticky so we don't get 5+ new threads a week with the same question.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
richii0207 said:
So true, someone needs to make a sticky so we don't get 5+ new threads a week with the same question
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That won't help. Sadly, most people won't read the sticky threads.
mateopase said:
All we have is root on 4.3 right now. No Safestrap or Loki, so no custom recovery. Sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is the directions for root on MJ7
Crawshayi said:
That's sort of an understatement. You could have used search and found your answer in about 5 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if the OP tried to use the search - but I've tried to use it several times over the past week and have gotten error messages from the site each & every time.
As a matter of fact - prior to submitting this reply - I received two different error messages when trying to search the word "root" in the "Search This Forum" box - just to test it out before I reply.
The "usual" error I get is: Search is temporarily unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The other one lists actual trouble codes & has a link to notify an admin.
Believe me - I'm all for searching out info on forums - but when there are 7 sub-forums for the Verizon Galaxy S4 - and the search function isn't working - it's pretty easy to not find the info you're looking for.
Also - to the person asking about root on MJ7 - see the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4 General forum - and find the post titled "How to Root Build MJ7 and get SuperSU installed"
skny said:
Not sure if the OP tried to use the search - but I've tried to use it several times over the past week and have gotten error messages from the site each & every time.
As a matter of fact - prior to submitting this reply - I received two different error messages when trying to search the word "root" in the "Search This Forum" box - just to test it out before I reply.
The "usual" error I get is: Search is temporarily unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The other one lists actual trouble codes & has a link to notify an admin.
Believe me - I'm all for searching out info on forums - but when there are 7 sub-forums for the Verizon Galaxy S4 - and the search function isn't working - it's pretty easy to not find the info you're looking for.
Also - to the person asking about root on MJ7 - see the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4 General forum - and find the post titled "How to Root Build MJ7 and get SuperSU installed"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no working safestrap version or custom recovery for MJ7. Custom recovery can only be installed on MDK. Safestrap works on ME7 and MI1, but flaky on MI1 from what I have read. You are SOL.
dincodee said:
Where is the directions for root on MJ7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2511815&page=1
If we are all SOL for now, do we know if anyone is working on this? I would love to flash a custom ROM and rid myself of this garbage....
MJ7 Root
dincodee said:
Where is the directions for root on MJ7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is also this video by Tomsgt123 which lays it out nicely and tells you how to delete the chinese superuser app (if you are worried about that). I have not tried this method myself, just found the video while searching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5mCsDyW-TI&feature=youtu.be
Good luck.
CoMtnMan said:
There is also this video by Tomsgt123 which lays it out nicely and tells you how to delete the chinese superuser app (if you are worried about that). I have not tried this method myself, just found the video while searching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5mCsDyW-TI&feature=youtu.be
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works well, rooted my dad's S4 this way and it put the american/english supersu app in there in place of the chinese one at the end
No unlocked boot loader/custom recovery yet but I check back every week
Can you achieve more on loki than safestrap?
Specifically, can you flash custom kernels?
If so I may jump ship for the g2 since it has loki support
I thought they had the same limitations.
crazysoccerman said:
Can you achieve more on loki than safestrap?
Specifically, can you flash custom kernels?
If so I may jump ship for the g2 since it has loki support
I thought they had the same limitations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not speaking about the G2, but loki allows you to bypass the locked bootloader, which then permits you to flash whatever recovery, kernels, and ROMs that you want. On the I545, once you're past MDK, Loki won't work.
k1mu said:
Not speaking about the G2, but loki allows you to bypass the locked bootloader, which then permits you to flash whatever recovery, kernels, and ROMs that you want. On the I545, once you're past MDK, Loki won't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought safestrap did the same thing?
You can't flash kernels on safestrap, right?
crazysoccerman said:
I thought safestrap did the same thing?
You can't flash kernels on safestrap, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, which is why it's not the same thing as Loki'd MDK. On anything later than MDK, you can't replace the stock recovery (but can boot into a Safestrap recovery), can't flash custom kernels, etc. On MDK, you can flash any ROM that's compatible with the phone's hardware. Using Safestrap, you can only use ROMs that are compatible with the stock kernel.
Safestrap gets you most of what you get from an unlocked bootloader, just not everything.
Thanks for your help. I made sure to hit the thanks button.
I'm going to return my s4 for a g2.
I don't think samsung and verizon considered the cost of returned phones because of lack of mod ability. Hopefully users on verizon and at&t aren't witnessing the end of a modding era.
It's sad to see what two years since I purchased my gnex has brought to the modding community. Rather than making awesome new features, developers are fighting for the ability to mod at all.
I also find it hypocritical that newer versions of android and proprietary interfaces have copied features that were originally on custom mods.
Ok, so I'm under the impression that there is no possible way at all to get on a custom ROM with mj7 rooted with vroot crap trap as there is no way to flash a custom recovery... And there osnt anyway to go backwards with the firmware.(bologna).. Odins out with fladhing new kernel? or odin repart-wipe flash a complete rooted W/ CWM with stock mj7 firmware? I'm new to the S4 but had the great grand daddy the original galaxy S for years and mastered that.. I just need a lil clarification with this Safe Strap (if that is indeed a possibility). Also I definitely want to gey this vroot off my phone and use the saferoot™ way.... Any help, or maybe a point in the right direction would be awesome... this is depressing that my s1 was cooler than my s4... Hey Samsung can I atleast get a reach around.... jajaha Thanks in advance to any and all that can help a NooB out...
]>oPeR83 said:
Ok, so I'm under the impression that there is no possible way at all to get on a custom ROM with mj7 rooted with vroot crap trap as there is no way to flash a custom recovery... And there osnt anyway to go backwards with the firmware.(bologna).. Odins out with fladhing new kernel? or odin repart-wipe flash a complete rooted W/ CWM with stock mj7 firmware? I'm new to the S4 but had the great grand daddy the original galaxy S for years and mastered that.. I just need a lil clarification with this Safe Strap (if that is indeed a possibility). Also I definitely want to gey this vroot off my phone and use the saferoot™ way.... Any help, or maybe a point in the right direction would be awesome... this is depressing that my s1 was cooler than my s4... Hey Samsung can I atleast get a reach around.... jajaha Thanks in advance to any and all that can help a NooB out...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
plenty of info at your disposal. As I have said many times before, read, read and read more. I believe there are instructions on everything you want to do, but you need to have a real good understand beforehand
decaturbob said:
plenty of info at your disposal. As I have said many times before, read, read and read more. I believe there are instructions on everything you want to do, but you need to have a real good understand beforehand
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I indeed do, links to files, would be awesome.. I've rooted flashed and tweaked many a phone.. this one here has been a pain right in the arse. I'm very capable, I debloated and de-odexed this phone but didn't trip the knox counter, it the route to the files, and the tutorials.. believe me I've spent two days reading the dev section and all ive seen is the bootlader is locked so to push custom recovery via odin wont twerk.... I used to brick my S1 for fun and recover it.. couldn't kill the thing.. my understanding is sufficient... any thread you could point me to or link me up, and I'm set.... Need a Galaxy Rescue Squad..... Thanks again for your help man
]>oPeR83 said:
I indeed do, links to files, would be awesome.. I've rooted flashed and tweaked many a phone.. this one here has been a pain right in the arse. I'm very capable, I debloated and de-odexed this phone but didn't trip the knox counter, it the route to the files, and the tutorials.. believe me I've spent two days reading the dev section and all ive seen is the bootlader is locked so to push custom recovery via odin wont twerk.... I used to brick my S1 for fun and recover it.. couldn't kill the thing.. my understanding is sufficient... any thread you could point me to or link me up, and I'm set.... Need a Galaxy Rescue Squad..... Thanks again for your help man
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the easiest thing to do is probably do a full wipe Odin process so you can start over.
I made a guide to take phone from ME7 to MJ7....saferoot, safestrap and hyperdrive intall. Some adjustments to guide would have to be made as now SS3.71 is out and HD12 is out but the process is the same. Links are there or easily found.
as always, not for the faint of heart.. I suggest downloading all files to PC and verifying the MD5 checksum. So many people try to direct download to phone which is problematic in itself and many don't check the MD5. I have never had issues because of bad files or downloads because I'll take the time to download to PC and check it before copying over to phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2579278
couple things, don't try to restore apps thru Tibu...clean install from playstore. I have had limited success with restoring "data only" from Tibu...Also have an extsd card, this is a must as you really need to keep data located on that and redirect data to it....like pics, movies, photos and that is where you would keep your flash files for the HD12 ROM, kernel modules and where Safestrap would place the backup as well as directing Titanium Backup to keep its back up files there too.
good luck
what if I'm already mj7?
]>oPeR83 said:
what if I'm already mj7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
doesn't matter, MJ7 tar is a clean wipe I believe..should give you a fresh base with vroot gone. If you have safestrap, follow the manual uninstall instructions
decaturbob said:
doesn't matter, MJ7 tar is a clean wipe I believe..should give you a fresh base with vroot gone. If you have safestrap, follow the manual uninstall instructions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome.... bout to giver a rip.. surely things will go smoothly... Thank you again.....
Hey, first post here but I've been reading some threads since 2011.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 (I have experience with custom roms and such with the Droid Charge, also Samsung. See a pattern?).
I rooted it a while back, but recently have been experiencing quite a bit of instability so I wanted to try a custom rom (Hyperdrive is the one that I'm looking at but that's kinda irrelevant to this post).
The problem for me is that every guide expects me to be rooted with the custom recovery. I am rooted, and I did have CWM installed to perform the root, but now for some reason recovery boots into stock and I haven't been able to load any custom recoveries. I tried the CWM Rom Manager app to get CWM back, but it didn't seem to work (touch or normal). I have also tried Goo Manager to get TWRP and that was a complete bust.
I noticed one or two other methods involving safe-strap but I cannot for the life of me get safe-strap working on my phone and I've followed a couple guides several times without success.
I need someone to point me in the right direction to get a custom recovery back on my phone. I'm assuming something got screwed up somewhere along the line, so I'm not confident in these other methods but I'm trying to find a guide using Odin. Part of the problem seems to be that the Verizon phones aren't too common so all the guides and downloads are for a different model.
Please help, I'd prefer an Odin method but I'm open to suggestions.
cdroid93 said:
Hey, first post here but I've been reading some threads since 2011.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 (I have experience with custom roms and such with the Droid Charge, also Samsung. See a pattern?).
I rooted it a while back, but recently have been experiencing quite a bit of instability so I wanted to try a custom rom (Hyperdrive is the one that I'm looking at but that's kinda irrelevant to this post).
The problem for me is that every guide expects me to be rooted with the custom recovery. I am rooted, and I did have CWM installed to perform the root, but now for some reason recovery boots into stock and I haven't been able to load any custom recoveries. I tried the CWM Rom Manager app to get CWM back, but it didn't seem to work (touch or normal). I have also tried Goo Manager to get TWRP and that was a complete bust.
I noticed one or two other methods involving safe-strap but I cannot for the life of me get safe-strap working on my phone and I've followed a couple guides several times without success.
I need someone to point me in the right direction to get a custom recovery back on my phone. I'm assuming something got screwed up somewhere along the line, so I'm not confident in these other methods but I'm trying to find a guide using Odin. Part of the problem seems to be that the Verizon phones aren't too common so all the guides and downloads are for a different model.
Please help, I'd prefer an Odin method but I'm open to suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are on NC5 then Safestrap is your only option. You are going to brick your phone if you just keep throwing recoveries at your phone until one sticks. If you are on MDK then your bootloader is unlocked and you can do what you want. Read the threads, that's what they're there for.
Jesus loves you!
Phone version
liljoe727 said:
If you are on NC5 then Safestrap is your only option. You are going to brick your phone if you just keep throwing recoveries at your phone until one sticks. If you are on MDK then your bootloader is unlocked and you can do what you want. Read the threads, that's what they're there for.
Jesus loves you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm actually on ME7. I haven't updated in a very long while because I wanted to root and then stop tinkering. That's not an option for me anymore for the stability reasons. I had over a year of rock solid performance though so it was a good run.
I was searching threads on this forum and others. This one seems to be more reliable than others (and a whole lot friendlier), but I still can't find what I'm looking for.
Maybe you can help me out by pointing out one of the threads that has what I need?
Thanks much.
cdroid93 said:
I'm actually on ME7. I haven't updated in a very long while because I wanted to root and then stop tinkering. That's not an option for me anymore for the stability reasons. I had over a year of rock solid performance though so it was a good run.
I was searching threads on this forum and others. This one seems to be more reliable than others (and a whole lot friendlier), but I still can't find what I'm looking for.
Maybe you can help me out by pointing out one of the threads that has what I need?
Thanks much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MDK, as I understand it, is the only bootloader that has been unlocked thus far. If you are still on ME7 and it's locked anyway, you may be better off just taking the update.
Jesus loves you!
liljoe727 said:
MDK, as I understand it, is the only bootloader that has been unlocked thus far. If you are still on ME7 and it's locked anyway, you may be better off just taking the update.
Jesus loves you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, well obviously I've messed up my phone somehow, I don't think it's possible for me to just go to system settings and update. How do I go about this if that doesn't work?
cdroid93 said:
Okay, well obviously I've messed up my phone somehow, I don't think it's possible for me to just go to system settings and update. How do I go about this if that doesn't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you can update via Samsung Keis, or if you know how to use ODIN you can flash the latest NC5 through ODIN. You'll find everything you'll need from here.
Forgot to say that after you upgrade you can root through towelroot which you can by searching this forum or Google it.
After you install busybox you should be able to install Safestrap, but if you can't, you need to download and install an app calle SElinuxmodechanger and set SElinux to permissive. Then you will be able to install Safestrap. Once you have SS you can only install ROMs on the Stock slot. non of the other slots work.
skeezer308 said:
Well you can update via Samsung Keis, or if you know how to use ODIN you can flash the latest NC5 through ODIN. You'll find everything you'll need from here.
Forgot to say that after you upgrade you can root through towelroot which you can by searching this forum or Google it.
After you install busybox you should be able to install Safestrap, but if you can't, you need to download and install an app calle SElinuxmodechanger and set SElinux to permissive. Then you will be able to install Safestrap. Once you have SS you can only install ROMs on the Stock slot. non of the other slots work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, for starters thank you. This is almost exactly what I needed. I've just got one more issue;
I cannot discern from what I've found on the forums or elsewhere what safestrap is safe for my phone now that I'm on NC5?
Thanks again for this, was a big help.
cdroid93 said:
Okay, for starters thank you. This is almost exactly what I needed. I've just got one more issue;
I cannot discern from what I've found on the forums or elsewhere what safestrap is safe for my phone now that I'm on NC5?
Thanks again for this, was a big help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3.72
Jesus loves you!
Also keep in mind that you can only install TW ROMs or GPE ROMs that are SS friendly. If you try to install Cyanogen or other AOSP ROMs that require custom kernels you run the chance of bricking your phone
Hello, from some what site, I heard that Safestrap 3.75 allowed to install Cyanogen Mod. I installed Safestrap 3.75, made a back up, and installed a nightly version from Cyanogen Mod
After installing CM from safestrap and rebooting, I got the yellow sign with "System Software Not Authorized By Verizon Wireless". I couldn't even go back to Safestrap to restore back. I used the NC5 build rooted with Towelroot.
From some websites, I found that I could just flash the stock firmware using Odin_v3.07 but even installing the correct "I545VZWFNC5" md5 file, I get an error saying
"Can't open the specified file. (line 1949)"
Is there a way I could apply my back up made using safestrap or just clean wipe my phone so that I can make my phone functioning? Thanks!
-Edit
I am trying again using Odin_v1.83 since I saw some posts that Odin_v3.07 had problems on my phone.
-Edit
lol Using Odin_v1.83 solved the issue. Thanks myself XD
coreymu said:
Hello, from some what site, I heard that Safestrap 3.75 allowed to install Cyanogen Mod. I installed Safestrap 3.75, made a back up, and installed a nightly version from Cyanogen Mod
After installing CM from safestrap and rebooting, I got the yellow sign with "System Software Not Authorized By Verizon Wireless". I couldn't even go back to Safestrap to restore back. I used the NC5 build rooted with Towelroot.
From some websites, I found that I could just flash the stock firmware using Odin_v3.07 but even installing the correct "I545VZWFNC5" md5 file, I get an error saying
"Can't open the specified file. (line 1949)"
Is there a way I could apply my back up made using safestrap or just clean wipe my phone so that I can make my phone functioning? Thanks!
-Edit
I am trying again using Odin_v1.83 since I saw some posts that Odin_v3.07 had problems on my phone.
-Edit
lol Using Odin_v1.83 solved the issue. Thanks myself XD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if you figured it out but safestrap and CM(and pretty much all other aosp roms) aren't compatible, sorry to break it to you
Quite Sad :S
Raymondlikesroot said:
I don't know if you figured it out but safestrap and CM(and pretty much all other aosp roms) aren't compatible, sorry to break it to you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh, That's unfortunate :S
I've been so fond with CM ever since I used it on my old GS3.
I bet the smart developers are working on it right? I gotta cheer for them
coreymu said:
Ahh, That's unfortunate :S
I've been so fond with CM ever since I used it on my old GS3.
I bet the smart developers are working on it right? I gotta cheer for them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, not really. A dev called surge was making great progress but he has since left the s4. Really, our hope is some dude on the s5 forums claiming to have a universal root and bootloader unlock. However, it is becoming more and more likely that it is just hoax.
coreymu said:
Ahh, That's unfortunate :S
I've been so fond with CM ever since I used it on my old GS3.
I bet the smart developers are working on it right? I gotta cheer for them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really.
CM requires its own kernel (or at least a kernel designed to work with what ever custom features it has), safestrap is loaded AFTER the kernel so it cannot load a different one. There has been work done on this, but nothing really came of it and its closer to abandoned then working at this point.
Would there then be a way to install a lower version bootloader, which is unlockable, using safestrap so that I could install CM's kernel? Or is that impossible since NC5 is still locked?
Thanks for the information!
coreymu said:
Would there then be a way to install a lower version bootloader, which is unlockable, using safestrap so that I could install CM's kernel? Or is that impossible since NC5 is still locked?
Thanks for the information!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In a word - NO. Even going back to the MDK bootloader is not possible once you have taken the OTAs. And even then, MDK is still locked. The likelihood of the bootloader getting unlocked is slim and none. Kexec is the next choice and even its development has slowed as it is very hard to crack the bootloader issue.
As is often repeated, read the FAQs and search topics before posting.
Hi all. Please excuse if this has been asked (and answered), but I just spent two days with this phone and have just about torn my hair out.
I have a Verizon S4 (SCH-I545). I got it second-hand, so I don't know if the previous owner took any OTA updates. I wanted to put CM12 on it. However, in that thread, it's made very clear that it won't work without being on the MDK bootloader.
Well, when I execute the command "getprop ro.bootloader" from within Safestrap, I get "I545VRUFNC5".
Obviously, this is not MDK. Is this a bootloader that came after MDK as part of an OTA update? Either way, am I no longer able to Odin flash the MDK bootloader?
Thanks in advance.
Yes..This Bootloader is newer, and locked and cannot be reverted using ODIN. You would need to find a manual copy/change method to revert the Bootloader.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Hi KaosMaster. Thanks for your quick reply. So, does a manual copy/change method exist? You can probably surmise that I tried Odin'ing several stock ROMs with MDK packaged in and each one failed for various reasons. Can I do this copy/change action or would Verizon themselves have to do it? If the latter, would they do it without charging me a small fortune?
While I'm on the subject, are there any other gotchas you know of regarding this I545VRUFNC5 bootloader? What other ROMs won't work with it?
Thanks again!
Odin Won't work.
JTAG won't work(tested, phone bricks)
nc5 has root and safestap + limited ROMs with a touchwiz base
Some ROMs:
Hyperdrive
Echoe
Super6 Port
KitPop
Eclipse
Hi XxD34THxX. When you say the phone bricks using JTAG, do you mean it brick bricks? As in, turning the phone into a doorstop?
Do you know if Verizon would revert it back if you made such a request? If so, would it cost anything?
Well... with JTAG, I am pretty sure it turns into a soft brick. I can't confirm.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Verizon will just laugh in your face if you asked them that.
XxD34THxX said:
Well... with JTAG, I am pretty sure it turns into a soft brick. I can't confirm.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Verizon will just laugh in your face if you asked them that.
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Click to collapse
Arggh! Locked bootloaders are a complete and utter PITA.
What I don't understand is why CM12 requires a specific bootloader to function. To me, that sounds like Windows needing a specific BIOS or bootstrap to work.
Does CM10 have this requirement as well?
BTW, thanks for the rom list. I'll definitely check 'em out.
Yes, it needs an unlocked bootloader(any CM). It DOES need a specific bootstrap to work...
fleggett1 said:
Arggh! Locked bootloaders are a complete and utter PITA.
What I don't understand is why CM12 requires a specific bootloader to function. To me, that sounds like Windows needing a specific BIOS or bootstrap to work.
Does CM10 have this requirement as well?
BTW, thanks for the rom list. I'll definitely check 'em out.
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately you are stuck as no one has successfully downgraded the bootloader. Many developers have tried without success.
CyanogenMod will only work on an MDK device because the kernel is replaced during the flash process. This can only be accomplished with a custom recovery or unlocked bootloader.
FWIW, the MDK bootloader is technically not unlocked. There is a process called "loki" that took advantage of an exploit that was present on MDK which allowed the installation of a custom recovery. It did not unlock or overwrite the MDK recovery.
All bootloader versions past MDK have had this exploit closed.