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Hi Team recently grabbed one of these as an upgrade from my old Huawei phone that i smashed.
Some questions i was keen to know...(before the fone arrives)
If it comes with 2.2.1 will i have to downgrade to install a custom rom? or can most custom roms work with 2.2.1, i searched for some info but no dice sorry
I will most prob use Z4 to root (if it supports 2.2.1) else ill use SuperOneClick??
ROM CHOICE...
Seems where pretty spoilt here, my old fone had maybe 4 custom roms, i dont know where to start here!
Megatron seems to be what ive read most people running, im looking for a slight speed increase, bloatware removal, and optimized battery life, am i looking at the right rom for my needs?
Anyone who can spit me off some answers... Thank You
Viva
Z4root will do the job quite nicely .. you should take a look @ devoid rom definitely .
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA Premium App
Vivasanti said:
If it comes with 2.2.1 will i have to downgrade to install a custom rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For now, yes. Android 2.2.1 is still unrootable. Without root you can't install custom recovery and without custom recovery you can't install custom ROMs.
I will most prob use Z4 to root (if it supports 2.2.1) else ill use SuperOneClick??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. But z4root should work.
ROM CHOICE...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Void or devoid. Void still has some google apps. I find most of them to be useful, not bloatware. Devoid is completely stripped of everything that is not absolutely necessary for the phone to function. I haven't used devoid.
Void has control over CPU overclock and hardware acceleration, and you can disable them if you need more battery life.
Don't worry; you'll learn how to do a nandroid backup using the custom recovery and you will be able to test any ROM. If you're unhappy with it, restore the backup to your previous one.
z4root works great on 2.2. As far as I know there are no rooting techniques that work for 2.2.1 so if you phone comes with that version, you will have to downgrade before rooting. Then after rooting, install the custom recovery and start flashing ROMs.
I think that void is the best general-use ROM out there, although I've now started with devoid and built up the things that I needed and I like having just what I need and nothing else.
Agree with the previous poster that using nandroid backups it is possible to have multiple ROMs stored on your SD card that you can switch back and forth between. It's a pretty amazing feeling to be able to triple boot three (or more!) different versions of an operating system on one device.
My best ROM+kernel combo is : Void without any modules installed ( the google apps you want you can just get them from market ) + Der-Cavemen's kernel . I do not use a2sd thus I did not make an ext partition and everything works perfectly . Actually I just couldn't ask for more.... well I could be asking for the 2.3.3 update
Thanks for the replies guys, means alot!
Ok Void sounds great as long as its got some over clocking options, also i was worried about losing the LG turn by turn navigation app that comes with the phone, is this easily installed again or is this left intact in this rom being talked about??
As far as downgrading ill have to wait for the phone to arrive to check what its running , if i have to this will be the most part im worried about as ive never done that before and ill have to find some 2.2 firmware for New Zealand which is where im from, can someone point me to a simplistic guide?
Thanks once again team !
Viva
When I install void rom will I have only english language, or my national (polish)?
OK reading about void has scared me, not used to installing roms that complicated!
might just go for something a tad easier?
Ubuntdroid is one of my faves
Sent from my LG-P509 using XDA Premium App
Vivasanti said:
OK reading about void has scared me, not used to installing roms that complicated!
might just go for something a tad easier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not really complicated at all, just flash like any other normal rom, and create some folders with some reboots in between.thats all.
Layio said:
When I install void rom will I have only english language, or my national (polish)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have all languages available in Android, Polish included
Vivasanti said:
OK reading about void has scared me, not used to installing roms that complicated!
might just go for something a tad easier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installing void looks so complicated because it includes all the steps starting with downgrade, installing custom recovery and so on. Those are steps which you have to take anyway, no matter what custom ROM you settle for. So don't be scared, just read everything really careful before applying and you're gonna be fine.
[This stays between the two of us : void was the first (and only) custom ROM I have ever flashed, one week after I got my phone. I never had an Android phone before and I didn't know anything about all this stuff, yet everything worked perfect. Think positive!]
Thanks man, after reading through the Void instructions im def gona give it a whirl, ive installed quite a few roms before but never had to do the folder thing, not even sure if i have to downgrade yet till my fone arrives which will hopefully be tomoro?
Heres hoping its 2.2 and not 2.2.1,
thanks for all the help guys
I've used the stock rom for some time, and it worked sweet, so if you're not so sure about custom roms, just root and get the custom recovery on your stock rom, make a nand bkp, than start playing. Android os is a pretty neat os, but still complex, you'll probably wanna do some readin' on how it works before start messing around with it. You should pay attention in getting the right drivers for your pc (that could be complicated as the LG drivers for adb are pretty unstable on windows), and get into some adb working, it will allow you to do pretty EVERYTHING with your phone.
If you're afraid to loose the warranty, you should know this: the service knows you messed up with the os by seeing your custom recovery installed (of course the custom roms too, but it's logic that you'll get that one out once you decide to take the phone to service). So best/easy thing to do when you take your device to service using the warranty is to upgrade it to 2.2.2 via LG Updater (you downgraded to install custom roms, remember?). This will erase the bootloader and recovery to the stock ones, and guys from service will never know you messed that up.
Fell free to ask anything else, i'll think of more advices and write them.
Thanks for the advice, this is my 2nd android phone, ive installed alot of custom roms, i also have the Android SDK kit on my comp here ive pushed a few boot animations via ADB im pretty sure ill be fine
just never had to downgrade a firmware before as my old huawei fone was stuck on 2.1 and that was it
ccdreadcc said:
its not really complicated at all, just flash like any other normal rom, and create some folders with some reboots in between.thats all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Beware though, I lost everything when installing it, photos, contacts, the lot.
I'm sure there's a way of saving them but I can't work it out.
It's the one thing putting me off trying other ROMs
Err well i hope i dont lose my contacts there saved to the sim!
ive never had this happen.
Who told u will lose sim contacts.?¿
ccdreadcc said:
Who told u will lose sim contacts.?¿
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd said I lost all my contacts, I wasn't clear as to where they were stored, presumably not on the SIM
Vivasanti said:
Err well i hope i dont lose my contacts there saved to the sim!
ive never had this happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can backup your contacts on PC before attempting the custom ROM flash. There are various ways of doing that: using LG PCSuite, using MyPhoneExplorer, using the export functions in Contacts etc. But if your contacts are stored in the SIM card, you won't lose them.
hello all,
i have followed entropy512's thread here to get my at&t samsung galaxy s2 rooted with stock settings...i then wanted clockworkmod recovery so i went to this and followed directions to get everything installed...everything was ok and working until a few weeks ago when the 'Check Update' option under Setting stopped working...
basically what happens is when i goto Settings-> Software Update->Check for updates->Hit OK (Check the AT&T server for new software update?) a dialog comes up that says 'Checking for software updates...' and nothing happens...i have left the phone over night with device management app checking for software updates... when this used to work, it took less than 1 minute to check...
finally, the only way for me to stop this is to go and force stop Device Manager under Applications->All, so before i restore the phone to factory, i was wondering if anyone knows what might be the issue here?
Thanks,
FI
fastindy said:
hello all,
i have followed entropy512's thread here to get my at&t samsung galaxy s2 rooted with stock settings...i then wanted clockworkmod recovery so i went to this and followed directions to get everything installed...everything was ok and working until a few weeks ago when the 'Check Update' option under Setting stopped working...
basically what happens is when i goto Settings-> Software Update->Check for updates->Hit OK (Check the AT&T server for new software update?) a dialog comes up that says 'Checking for software updates...' and nothing happens...i have left the phone over night with device management app checking for software updates... when this used to work, it took less than 1 minute to check...
finally, the only way for me to stop this is to go and force stop Device Manager under Applications->All, so before i restore the phone to factory, i was wondering if anyone knows what might be the issue here?
Thanks,
FI
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue is that you're rooted, I wish people would search more
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
Nick281051 said:
The issue is that you're rooted, I wish people would search more
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
umm this option was working until a few weeks ago and it randomly stopped so im not sure what rooting has to do with it...furthermore, i did search using various permutations of words around the issue at hand, and i did not find threads that addressed this issue...
fastindy said:
umm this option was working until a few weeks ago and it randomly stopped so im not sure what rooting has to do with it...furthermore, i did search using various permutations of words around the issue at hand, and i did not find threads that addressed this issue...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being rooted you shouldn't even worry about updates, if you had actually searched you would have seen that
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
fastindy said:
umm this option was working until a few weeks ago and it randomly stopped so im not sure what rooting has to do with it...furthermore, i did search using various permutations of words around the issue at hand, and i did not find threads that addressed this issue...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OTA updates require factory recovery. I'm a bit hazy on the details but I believe CWM, in short, replaces that.
It might also be because you either turned off/uninstalled or inadvertently removed factory bloatware.
BROKKANIC said:
OTA updates require factory recovery. I'm a bit hazy on the details but I believe CWM, in short, replaces that.
It might also be because you either turned off/uninstalled or inadvertently removed factory bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. Amongst other things. If u insist on trying to eventually upgrade to whatever crap gets pushed out to us yer best bet is to do a full wipe to completely stock firmware.
Nick281051 said:
Being rooted you shouldn't even worry about updates, if you had actually searched you would have seen that
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
once again, the issue is not weather i should worry about updates or not nor did i search for if i should worry about updates...this option was working and something happened that caused it to stop working...and my searches i did was around getting device management to connect to the dm server (which is where the 'Checking for update' got stuck)
BROKKANIC said:
OTA updates require factory recovery. I'm a bit hazy on the details but I believe CWM, in short, replaces that.
It might also be because you either turned off/uninstalled or inadvertently removed factory bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phalanx7621 said:
This. Amongst other things. If u insist on trying to eventually upgrade to whatever crap gets pushed out to us yer best bet is to do a full wipe to completely stock firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
both of you seem to be spot on...i didnt realize that removing bloatware which was marked as 'ok to remove' on the document of things to remove safely could have been the issue...initially i had frozen them using titanium...neway i restored the phone using the CWM backup i had and the option started working like expected...thanks for the input
I'm curious...why do you want that option to work?
mattdm said:
I'm curious...why do you want that option to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so that i can get ICS when AT&T releases the official one... i know there are leaked versions out there, but i dont mind the wait, especially, from the research, i have found people having issues with various features
fastindy said:
so that i can get ICS when AT&T releases the official one... i know there are leaked versions out there, but i dont mind the wait, especially, from the research, i have found people having issues with various features
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you recall all the issues with UCKK6 Gingerbread? That was an AT&T release. The devs had to tear it apart to debug and try to fix it. Any build will have bugs in it. But generally, custom firmwares will have fewer bugs than AT&T firmware.
mattdm said:
Do you recall all the issues with UCKK6 Gingerbread? That was an AT&T release. The devs had to tear it apart to debug and try to fix it. Any build will have bugs in it. But generally, custom firmwares will have fewer bugs than AT&T firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unfortunately, i joined the android bandwagon only when i got my samsung galaxy s2, which was a little late in the game, so i have no clue on all the start up issues that people experienced with Gingerbread release...
for now ill need to stick with stock/At&T firmware however ill make the switch to custom firmwares when i stop being lazy and create a USB jig for myself...
fastindy said:
for now ill need to stick with stock/At&T firmware however ill make the switch to custom firmwares when i stop being lazy and create a USB jig for myself...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you need a jig? You're already rooted with CWM.
fastindy said:
so that i can get ICS when AT&T releases the official one... i know there are leaked versions out there, but i dont mind the wait, especially, from the research, i have found people having issues with various features
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been running AOKP by Task for a while and have never had a serious issue. The one's I have had were self inflicted and with some reading were quite easy to fix.
BROKKANIC said:
Why would you need a jig? You're already rooted with CWM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if my research that i conducted a while ago is right, then basically samsung has implemented a flash counter which increments each time you flash a custom, non-stock rom...it might also be applied to non-stock kernels/firmwares as well (im not too sure)...so to prevent the flash counter from ever incrementing, ill need to put the phone in download mode using the jig and continue from there...
grubby0 said:
I've been running AOKP by Task for a while and have never had a serious issue. The one's I have had were self inflicted and with some reading were quite easy to fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
alright thanks, ill check it out
fastindy said:
if my research that i conducted a while ago is right, then basically samsung has implemented a flash counter which increments each time you flash a custom, non-stock rom...it might also be applied to non-stock kernels/firmwares as well (im not too sure)...so to prevent the flash counter from ever incrementing, ill need to put the phone in download mode using the jig and continue from there...
alright thanks, ill check it out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is wrong. It is only incremented when you use ODIN to flash nonstock items. CWM has no bearing on flash counters.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
fastindy said:
if my research that i conducted a while ago is right, then basically samsung has implemented a flash counter which increments each time you flash a custom, non-stock rom...it might also be applied to non-stock kernels/firmwares as well (im not too sure)...so to prevent the flash counter from ever incrementing, ill need to put the phone in download mode using the jig and continue from there...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have some bad information...but I have some good news for you.
The flash counter only counts the number of times you've flashed a custom kernel in download mode via Odin. Using CWM to flash anything can't touch the flash counter. Same goes for Mobile Odin. I've been rooted and flashing for months, I don't have a jig, and my counter is still at zero.
EDIT: Ninja'd by a pirate!
fastindy said:
unfortunately, i joined the android bandwagon only when i got my samsung galaxy s2, which was a little late in the game, so i have no clue on all the start up issues that people experienced with Gingerbread release...
for now ill need to stick with stock/At&T firmware however ill make the switch to custom firmwares when i stop being lazy and create a USB jig for myself...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any GB issues only surfaced if you updated to 2.3.6. 2.3.4 for a "stock" firmware was pretty awesome. I'm on the latest ICS leak from ATT (LD4) and aside from the emmc bug (I'm using a safe kernel so I don't have it) IMHO its more complete then CM9 was. I stopped using CM9 at the end of May and don't miss it at all now.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
alright well i learnt something new today...and now that i have the freedom to flash like a mad man without worrying about flash counter (via CWM), i will surely checkout some of the leaked versions of ICS that you guys are using, and see which one works best for me...thanks for all the new info
fastindy said:
alright well i learnt something new today...and now that i have the freedom to flash like a mad man without worrying about flash counter (via CWM), i will surely checkout some of the leaked versions of ICS that you guys are using, and see which one works best for me...thanks for all the new info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I reccomend roms that use i9100 bases as they are usually better, roms like phonebricker, and shostock2 are good, my favorite touchwiz based rom though is serendipity 9. But thats my experiences so try them for yourself (i use aokp as my daily though.)
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2
Remove Triangle and Reset Counter
http://shetalksandroid.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-reset-sgs2-flash-counter-and.html
Please read the above link.
I just did it last night and really works!
Time to hit the Thanks button
EDIT:
This not only makes the meter go back to zero, but also removes the yellow triangle, without the JIG.
Thanks to Chainfire, its free! Just read the above link. (And please "Search" more
Hey all,
Just a very quick question.
Setup:
Unlocked I9300 16GB White on I9300XXEMC2 and rooted with CFTool.
Counter is at 1, naturally. This means that the phone wont check for OTAs. What Im wondering is if I use Triangleaway to clear it to 0 will the phone then check for OTA updates again(pretty sure it will) but more importantly is that safe with CFTool root still applied? Dont want to use triangleaway unnecessarily either as its risky.
Thanks,
Scratchling(Still getting used to this new plaything)
Root means no ota updates if I am not wrong, you could get updates via kies though if firmware and csc are aligned. Updating will result in loss of root though.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
The counter has nothing to do with it checking for ota, in settings under about phone it will say "modified" thats why it wont search for OTA updates.... ive never used kies so cant comment there, I just use XDA to get the most recent updates
Ivw used Triangle Away loads of times with no problems so have many many of people... the warning is just disclaimer.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Anything you flash to your phone should rightly be treated with caution, if you read and follow the guidance you shouldn't have any problems, but the warning is mainly for people who might not have read anything up to that point and flash the wrong file, bricking their Iphone.
elspanish88 said:
The counter has nothing to do with it checking for ota, in settings under about phone it will say "modified" thats why it wont search for OTA updates.... ive never used kies so cant comment there, I just use XDA to get the most recent updates
Ivw used Triangle Away loads of times with no problems so have many many of people... the warning is just disclaimer.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really its just convenient to not have to manually look and see if theres an update every few weeks.
Went ahead and gave TriangleAway a punt. It reset the counter alright but:
Code:
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: GT-I9300
CUSTOM BINARY DOWNLOAD: No
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official
SYSTEM STATUS: Custom
So while the flash count is reset it can still tell its non standard. Oh well. Its no biggie, just would have been nice. May not even end up keeping it anyways, still sort of attached to my Xperia S.
Scratchling said:
Really its just convenient to not have to manually look and see if theres an update every few weeks.
Went ahead and gave TriangleAway a punt. It reset the counter alright but:
Code:
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: GT-I9300
CUSTOM BINARY DOWNLOAD: No
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official
SYSTEM STATUS: Custom
So while the flash count is reset it can still tell its non standard. Oh well. Its no biggie, just would have been nice. May not even end up keeping it anyways, still sort of attached to my Xperia S.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A factory reset will put the status back to normal mate or if you dont want to lose your data go back in triangle away and right at the bottom there is an option to put it to normal I think its called "allow tracker to run"
And make sure you have stock kernel and recovery
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Scratchling said:
So while the flash count is reset it can still tell its non standard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends on the bootloader version you have. If it was a JB bootloader (which means you were on JB before you rooted) then every reboot triggers the custom status if you have a custom recovery or kernel.
May I ask, why are you rooted? What I mean by that is - what are your actual requirements?
TB would be the number one reason, followed by the option to underclock and a few other apps that I wont mention here.
I updated to I9300XXEMC2 before rooting so yeah, it would be a JB Bootloader.
Scratchling said:
TB would be the number one reason, followed by the option to underclock and a few other apps that I wont mention here.
I updated to I9300XXEMC2 before rooting so yeah, it would be a JB Bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're using those sorts of functions anyway, I would suggest using CWM recovery to flash de-odexed custom touchwiz ROMs would be a better way. Sure, you have to check for updates manually and download to SD card, but you get the updates quicker this way and also you get better fixes than the official updates, that devs apply themselves and extra functionality.
That was my plan in a month or so, only just got the phone a week ago(free, sammy were dumping stock pre S4 release) so I'm giving stock a shot for a little while to then see what I want in a ROM. Likely go to CM10.1 first.
Scratchling said:
That was my plan in a month or so, only just got the phone a week ago(free, sammy were dumping stock pre S4 release) so I'm giving stock a shot for a little while to then see what I want in a ROM. Likely go to CM10.1 first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a lot of ROM's based on stock too though. There are definitely a lot of Samsung features I'd recommend you check out before going AOSP.
But as far as Stock (Touchwiz) custom ROMs, Wanam Lite is my favourite. Fast, stable and Lite. Good ROM.
Yeah, only ever used Touchwiz on the mothers S2 and for short periods. Not going to dump it until Im sure I wont use its features.
Scratchling said:
Yeah, only ever used Touchwiz on the mothers S2 and for short periods. Not going to dump it until Im sure I wont use its features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even as a massive AOSP advocate, I stuck with Touchwiz from between May until only last month. Nearly a year
Only pressing thing is the low ram overhead sometimes(shame they didnt give us 2GB). Thanks for all the feedback anyways
If you use triangle away from the playstore it has a work aeound where it disables supersu for a few minutes at boot allowing you to check for OTA updates
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
k6? said:
If you use triangle away from the playstore it has a work aeound where it disables supersu for a few minutes at boot allowing you to check for OTA updates
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting....
Ooooh. Nice! Missed that before. Just tried and it works.
Waiting for SU to return now so I can then disable the option and safely check for OTA(there wont be anything but just as a proof of concept).
OTA check worked.
Swish. Thanks guys, exactly the kind of solution I wanted.
Scratchling said:
OTA check worked.
Swish. Thanks guys, exactly the kind of solution I wanted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't thank us. Thank chainfire.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Hey lads, two things that are bugging me, thought I'd be better put them here than a new thread:
Screenshots: Over compressed, look terrible, really bad banding at times
Menu capacative button: Activates all the time while typing with left hand, if I hit Y etc it opens the menu so I dont hit the key and instead open up a settings menu
No clear answers from googling, thoughts?
Hey folks.
The S4 is my first smartphone. Ever. I rooted it a few weeks ago and have been playing with different tools and utilities. I love the extra control it gives me.
Been using Smartlauncher Pro as my launcher as well, but it doesn't give me the customization I want. I dig the UI though, it's minimalist just the way I like.
I've been keeping my eye out for ROM's I can try out, and I think I want to try Cynogen for the S4. However, I am terrified of destroying my investment. I've read horror stories of flashes gone wrong... I don't want to permanently brick my device.
Is there anyone here who can hold my hand while I install my ROM? I seriously have no idea what I'm doing, instructions or no.
...I sound so pathetic right now.
Thanks folks.
shaddz said:
Hey folks.
The S4 is my first smartphone. Ever. I rooted it a few weeks ago and have been playing with different tools and utilities. I love the extra control it gives me.
Been using Smartlauncher Pro as my launcher as well, but it doesn't give me the customization I want. I dig the UI though, it's minimalist just the way I like.
I've been keeping my eye out for ROM's I can try out, and I think I want to try Cynogen for the S4. However, I am terrified of destroying my investment. I've read horror stories of flashes gone wrong... I don't want to permanently brick my device.
Is there anyone here who can hold my hand while I install my ROM? I seriously have no idea what I'm doing, instructions or no.
...I sound so pathetic right now.
Thanks folks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a custom recovery installed like TWRP or CWM? If you do all you need to do is download the rom (I put them on ext sd)....and gapps if your flashing cyanogen, boot into recovery, make a backup (I put this on my ext sd card too), wipe, flash rom, flash gapps and reboot.
shaddz said:
Hey folks.
The S4 is my first smartphone. Ever. I rooted it a few weeks ago and have been playing with different tools and utilities. I love the extra control it gives me.
Been using Smartlauncher Pro as my launcher as well, but it doesn't give me the customization I want. I dig the UI though, it's minimalist just the way I like.
I've been keeping my eye out for ROM's I can try out, and I think I want to try Cynogen for the S4. However, I am terrified of destroying my investment. I've read horror stories of flashes gone wrong... I don't want to permanently brick my device.
Is there anyone here who can hold my hand while I install my ROM? I seriously have no idea what I'm doing, instructions or no.
...I sound so pathetic right now.
Thanks folks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi!
The first thing you need to find out is what build number you have. This will tell you if you are able to root and install recovery in order to put a new rom on the phone. Do NOT update your phone by the over the air update that is currently available! To find your build number go to settings: the more tab: about phone, then scroll down. If you have JDQ39.I545VRUAME7 then you are in the same boat as many of us and accidently did the upgrade which at this moment has no way to root. If you haven't done the upgrade than you need to find one of the many threads on here that will walk you through the process.
Hope this helps some, there are others on here that can give you a much more detailed walkthrough of how to root if you are on the correct older build.
The best advice I can give is to read the entire original post (OP) for the ROM you like, and as much of the thread as you can. 9 times out of 10 when someone has a problem with the ROM it's been discussed, and is often listed in the OP. Usually there are step by step instructions on installing the ROM. I believe there's a general ROM flashing guide in this forum somewhere as well.
Good luck and have fun :good:
Questions and help issues go in Q&A and Help section
Thread moved
FNM
shaddz said:
Hey folks.
The S4 is my first smartphone. Ever. I rooted it a few weeks ago and have been playing with different tools and utilities. I love the extra control it gives me.
Been using Smartlauncher Pro as my launcher as well, but it doesn't give me the customization I want. I dig the UI though, it's minimalist just the way I like.
I've been keeping my eye out for ROM's I can try out, and I think I want to try Cynogen for the S4. However, I am terrified of destroying my investment. I've read horror stories of flashes gone wrong... I don't want to permanently brick my device.
Is there anyone here who can hold my hand while I install my ROM? I seriously have no idea what I'm doing, instructions or no.
...I sound so pathetic right now.
Thanks folks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to start reading, period.
srphoenix said:
Hi!
The first thing you need to find out is what build number you have. This will tell you if you are able to root and install recovery in order to put a new rom on the phone. Do NOT update your phone by the over the air update that is currently available! To find your build number go to settings: the more tab: about phone, then scroll down. If you have JDQ39.I545VRUAME7 then you are in the same boat as many of us and accidently did the upgrade which at this moment has no way to root. If you haven't done the upgrade than you need to find one of the many threads on here that will walk you through the process.
Hope this helps some, there are others on here that can give you a much more detailed walkthrough of how to root if you are on the correct older build.
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JDQ39.I545VRUAMDK is the version I have. I froze the updater using Titanium a couple weeks ago... And my phone is already rooted.
shaddz said:
JDQ39.I545VRUAMDK is the version I have. I froze the updater using Titanium a couple weeks ago... And my phone is already rooted.
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Click to collapse
That's good! You haven't been updated which means you can still flash ROMs. Are you familiar with both types of ROMs, TouchWiz and AOSP? CyanogenMod is an AOSP ROM, which will be completely different from what you're running right now, TouchWiz. You're rooted, but have you installed a custom recovery? You need one to flash ROM's, either TWRP or CWM. You can also make a nandroid backup in recovery, and if anything goes wrong, you can go back to exactly how you are now. Definitely read the OP of the ROM thread multiple times and follow the flashing instructions correctly.
thesoldier said:
That's good! You haven't been updated which means you can still flash ROMs. Are you familiar with both types of ROMs, TouchWiz and AOSP? CyanogenMod is an AOSP ROM, which will be completely different from what you're running right now, TouchWiz. You're rooted, but have you installed a custom recovery? You need one to flash ROM's, either TWRP or CWM. You can also make a nandroid backup in recovery, and if anything goes wrong, you can go back to exactly how you are now. Definitely read the OP of the ROM thread multiple times and follow the flashing instructions correctly.
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Okay, I just made a full phone backup using GooManager/TWRP.
Now for the next step...
shaddz said:
Okay, I just made a full phone backup using GooManager/TWRP.
Now for the next step...
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Click to collapse
If anything goes wrong with the flash in the next step, go to restore and you'll be back to how you are now.
Did you download the ROM to your phone along with Gapps? For AOSP Roms you need a separate gapps package, which is Google apps.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
thesoldier said:
If anything goes wrong with the flash in the next step, go to restore and you'll be back to how you are now.
Did you download the ROM to your phone along with Gapps? For AOSP Roms you need a separate gapps package, which is Google apps.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
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I just started the download for gapps package using Goomanager.
I checked out the Cyanogenmod site, apparently there's no stable versions for the VZW GS4?
Oh wells, flash anyway! That's what I do!
Worst case scenario, you have to use Odin to get back to stock. I used to keep a nandroid on my PC for just in case scenarios as well. One time on my GNex I flashed something really bad and had to adb pull everything off my phone, wipe the whole thing, and start over.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
jova33 said:
Oh wells, flash anyway! That's what I do!
Worst case scenario, you have to use Odin to get back to stock. I used to keep a nandroid on my PC for just in case scenarios as well. One time on my GNex I flashed something really bad and had to adb pull everything off my phone, wipe the whole thing, and start over.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
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Downloading the most recent nightly.
What do I do to get it on here?
shaddz said:
Downloading the most recent nightly.
What do I do to get it on here?
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Yeah you'll have to download a nightly, I don't think there are any stable versions out yet. Are you downloading it directly on your phone? Or on your PC?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Thread cleaned of useless comments.
Thread is also closed - as XDA, even though full of helpful and nice people, is not a direct support site.
Users are expected to do some reading before they post and blatantly ask for hand holding. And, as you have seen, other users have a tendency to not be so nice and make trolling comments because of that.
This is a development site and is about development - so, please, study up first, then post questions based from what you have learned.
I've been running CyanogenMod 11 for about a month now. I like it a lot, however there are instabilities. Youtube cannot play videos at all, for example; Snapchat totally fails to work; and one or two apps I've tried to install wouldn't even open. Occasionally a program will crash with a "Such-and such service has stopped" error notice.
Can anyone suggest a more stable ROM? I'm a newbie to flashing, I'm not experienced or interested in trying out different ROMs. I'm not a power user, I just want a stable, reliable ROM. Is cm11 known to have the issues I'm experiencing? Can anyone suggest an alternative?
Thanks.
AidanBell said:
I've been running CyanogenMod 11 for about a month now. I like it a lot, however there are instabilities. Youtube cannot play videos at all, for example; Snapchat totally fails to work; and one or two apps I've tried to install wouldn't even open. Occasionally a program will crash with a "Such-and such service has stopped" error notice.
Can anyone suggest a more stable ROM? I'm a newbie to flashing, I'm not experienced or interested in trying out different ROMs. I'm not a power user, I just want a stable, reliable ROM. Is cm11 known to have the issues I'm experiencing? Can anyone suggest an alternative?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
megalomanic14's MegaFire ROM works great. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2608110
AidanBell said:
I've been running CyanogenMod 11 for about a month now. I like it a lot, however there are instabilities. Youtube cannot play videos at all, for example; Snapchat totally fails to work; and one or two apps I've tried to install wouldn't even open. Occasionally a program will crash with a "Such-and such service has stopped" error notice.
Can anyone suggest a more stable ROM? I'm a newbie to flashing, I'm not experienced or interested in trying out different ROMs. I'm not a power user, I just want a stable, reliable ROM. Is cm11 known to have the issues I'm experiencing? Can anyone suggest an alternative?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since cm-11.0 for this device is not in nightlies major bugs should be expected. Sorry, I don't have a suggestion, but I have a question. Does the headphone jack work on cm11?
interloper said:
Since cm-11.0 for this device is not in nightlies major bugs should be expected. Sorry, I don't have a suggestion, but I have a question. Does the headphone jack work on cm11?
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Yes, the headphone jack works fine.
I've made the decision to return to the official Samsung ROM, so if anybody could point me in the direction of a safe, reliable download for that I'd be very grateful.
Incidentally, what's "nightlies "?
AidanBell said:
Yes, the headphone jack works fine.
I've made the decision to return to the official Samsung ROM, so if anybody could point me in the direction of a safe, reliable download for that I'd be very grateful.
Incidentally, what's "nightlies "?
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Nightly is the first "Official" status of a device from CM. If the device is very stable, with all system working properly and with minimal buggy behaviors CM begins building the ROM officially as a "Nightly" assuming the dev is following best practices etc.
AidanBell said:
Yes, the headphone jack works fine.
I've made the decision to return to the official Samsung ROM, so if anybody could point me in the direction of a safe, reliable download for that I'd be very grateful.
Incidentally, what's "nightlies "?
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Click to collapse
I don't think that anyone has the stock rom for the Mega(s) yet, waiting patiently for the guys upstairs to crack the bootloader.
however you might try to restore with Kies.
Unicorn69 said:
I don't think that anyone has the stock rom for the Mega(s) yet, waiting patiently for the guys upstairs to crack the bootloader.
however you might try to restore with Kies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are not right, I for instance have stock ROM on my Mega and I am quite satisfied... Ohhh, maybe I'm a little lying... :silly: it is MegaFireMj2V5 from megalomanic14 which is based upon a stock ROM but is greatly improved - if you are looking for alternative to stock or CM11 rom's it's worth a shot.
As for return to stock ROM - be careful to choose right version: all new firmware (beginning from CNA1) are 'enhanced' with new bootloader and Samsung KIES which is new security system. If you upgrade your Mega by Kies or by Odin with newest firmware you will be lacked possibility to downgrade AND every attempt to root or flash custom recovery will result in tipping flashing counter without any possibility to clear it. So be extremely cautious if you want to mod your Mega with no problems.
You can choose older firmware on Sammobile an flash it thru Odin - then you will have fresh stock ROM on your unit. There are many tutorials how to do it.
trurl3 said:
You are not right, I for instance have stock ROM on my Mega and I am quite satisfied... Ohhh, maybe I'm a little lying... :silly: it is MegaFireMj2V5 from megalomanic14 which is based upon a stock ROM but is greatly improved - if you are looking for alternative to stock or CM11 rom's it's worth a shot.
As for return to stock ROM - be careful to choose right version: all new firmware (beginning from CNA1) are 'enhanced' with new bootloader and Samsung KIES which is new security system. If you upgrade your Mega by Kies or by Odin with newest firmware you will be lacked possibility to downgrade AND every attempt to root or flash custom recovery will result in tipping flashing counter without any possibility to clear it. So be extremely cautious if you want to mod your Mega with no problems.
You can choose older firmware on Sammobile an flash it thru Odin - then you will have fresh stock ROM on your unit. There are many tutorials how to do it.
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Click to collapse
Many thanks, guys.
I've been on Sammobile and selected "I9205XXUCNA2_I9205BTUCNA1_BTU.zip", which I intend to install in the next couple of hours unless anyone on here screams at me that I shouldn't! I'm in the UK with a GT-i9250, so I believe that's the right version for me.
To be honest, I'm not worried about tipping the flashing counter (if I even understand properly what that means). I rooted my phone some time ago, and liked that. Two weeks ago I decided to try Cyanogenmod since I've never used a different ROM. I wasn't impressed, and have decided I want to go back to Samsung original. If, in the process, I prevent myself from ever being able to flash another alternative ROM, or I void the phone's warrenty in any way, I can live with that.
AidanBell said:
Many thanks, guys.
I've been on Sammobile and selected "I9205XXUCNA2_I9205BTUCNA1_BTU.zip", which I intend to install in the next couple of hours unless anyone on here screams at me that I shouldn't! I'm in the UK with a GT-i9250, so I believe that's the right version for me.
To be honest, I'm not worried about tipping the flashing counter (if I even understand properly what that means). I rooted my phone some time ago, and liked that. Two weeks ago I decided to try Cyanogenmod since I've never used a different ROM. I wasn't impressed, and have decided I want to go back to Samsung original. If, in the process, I prevent myself from ever being able to flash another alternative ROM, or I void the phone's warrenty in any way, I can live with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, it's your choice... in fact newest firmware do not offer nothing new but bootloder without return and KNOX. CNA2 it's firmware with KNOX embedded. For mundane user this means nothing special, but for somebody who plan to root and mod it could be pain in... Try to read a little about rooting firmware with KNOX... but as I said, you are warned... tipping counter means setting flag which shows to e.g. service so there was installed unofficial software and it means so you are lacking your warranty. With firmware with KNOX this is irreversible because setting such flag physically burns efuse in system making hardware change. Cheers...
I stay on firmware without KNOX because of possibility to change ROMs and easy install custom software. Waiting for KK which for sure will have 'new type' bootloader and then will be no choice...
trurl3 said:
OK, it's your choice... in fact newest firmware do not offer nothing new but bootloder without return and KNOX. CNA2 it's firmware with KNOX embedded. For mundane user this means nothing special, but for somebody who plan to root and mod it could be pain in... Try to read a little about rooting firmware with KNOX... but as I said, you are warned... tipping counter means setting flag which shows to e.g. service so there was installed unofficial software and it means so you are lacking your warranty. With firmware with KNOX this is irreversible because setting such flag physically burns efuse in system making hardware change. Cheers...
I stay on firmware without KNOX because of possibility to change ROMs and easy install custom software. Waiting for KK which for sure will have 'new type' bootloader and then will be no choice...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You make a good case, and perhaps I should install an earlier version, then. Thanks. However, I've looked on Sammobile and they seem to offer only the latest version. Where can I download an earlier KNOX-free version, please?
trurl3 said:
OK, it's your choice... in fact newest firmware do not offer nothing new but bootloder without return and KNOX. CNA2 it's firmware with KNOX embedded. For mundane user this means nothing special, but for somebody who plan to root and mod it could be pain in... Try to read a little about rooting firmware with KNOX... but as I said, you are warned... tipping counter means setting flag which shows to e.g. service so there was installed unofficial software and it means so you are lacking your warranty. With firmware with KNOX this is irreversible because setting such flag physically burns efuse in system making hardware change. Cheers...
I stay on firmware without KNOX because of possibility to change ROMs and easy install custom software. Waiting for KK which for sure will have 'new type' bootloader and then will be no choice...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like you,i still stay on old firmware,new firmware have knox,knox make your phone brick if you root.
rizky123 said:
Like you,i still stay on old firmware,new firmware have knox,knox make your phone brick if you root.
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Agreed. You guys have convinced me that I should be flashing an old version of Samsung, not the latest with KNOX. But I can only do that if I can find one! Can anyone please point me in the right direction?
AidanBell said:
You make a good case, and perhaps I should install an earlier version, then. Thanks. However, I've looked on Sammobile and they seem to offer only the latest version. Where can I download an earlier KNOX-free version, please?
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Click to collapse
Hmmm, you are right... In such case i recommend you to install custom ROM MegaFireMJ2V6 made by megalomanic14 on basis stock MJ2 which you can find HERE.
Actually I am using this ROM and can say it is very good - looks like stock but is much faster. It's rooted already. Version X offer firmware stripped from unneeded apps to the extent.
trurl3 said:
Hmmm, you are right... In such case i recommend you to install custom ROM MegaFireMJ2V6 made by megalomanic14 on basis stock MJ2 which you can find HERE.
Actually I am using this ROM and can say it is very good - looks like stock but is much faster. It's rooted already. Version X offer firmware stripped from unneeded apps to the extent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much. Most of that sentences was Greek to me, but I get the idea! The truth is, I put my foot into the water of flashing custom ROMS, and decided it wasn't for me. I just want one, reliable ROM that I can live with for many months without having to change it. That's why I decided to go back to Samsung, because there were too many bugs in Cyanogenmod and I don't want to start testing one ROM after the next. I just want to install a reliable, bug-free ROM now, and have done with it. So you think that MegaFireMJ2V6 would be such a ROM in my case?
PS:
It seems MegaFireMJ2V6 can't be downloaded from that link anyway?
Type your phone model in the link below and choose the one you want. Create a free account if you need faster download speeds.
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/
Silesh.Nair said:
Type your phone model in the link below and choose the one you want. Create a free account if you need faster download speeds.
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/
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Thank you, but I've tried this several times, and the only download available is the most recent.
You are wrong. It shows all the firmwares released for a model. I can see all the releases for GT-I9200. Attached is a screenshot of the older firmware without knox....
As far as I understand it, these are all the same ROM, simply different versions for different countries. When I put in my phone, GT-i9250, I am presented with a similar page, but it's only the one ROM; 4.2.2 with KNOX.
Ok man, I am done trying to explain things to you. The list you showed only displays Knox firmware, but what you said is not true. Here is another site with older firmware displayed for the I9205. There is no I9250 model Mega afaik..
Silesh.Nair said:
Ok man, I am done trying to explain things to you. The list you showed only displays Knox firmware, but what you said is not true. Here is another site with older firmware displayed for the I9205. There is no I9250 model Mega afaik..
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Click to collapse
I apologise if I have offended you in any way, that certainly wasn't my intention. I'm simply new to all of this and don't understand it well. I appreciate the new link, and thank you for your help.