Hey guys... I need some help.I have many questions.
So as the title says. My S4 over heated. It's actually been happening for a while and the glass had begun separating from the digitizer over the last few months. A few day ago I awoke to a blotched out black screen that blacks out every so often.
I held off getting a replacement because I was rooted, loki'd on the MDK bootloader.
My replacement arrived today and it was the MK2 baseband. Upon start up VZW tried to push the OTA to me. i stopped it and postponed it to 6:00 AM eastern, MDK was easy, but I'm not familiar with this new process and had some questions. So using searches on XDA I have:
1) Rooted with Saferoot
2) Installed Wanam Xposed
3) Renamed SDM.apk & FWUpgrade.apk to .bak's to the update <-- was this right? I dont want to wake up to a voluntarily installed OTA.
Questions
1) Should I install SafeStrap, if so which version? I see there's an ATT version out there for upgrading to NC5, but there's also a MK2 version.
2) I see a lot up people were able to update to NC5 and keep root with Surge's method. Is there an advantage to this?
3) What's everyone doing for hotspot/tethering now on MK2 and up?
4) On MDK, most of the ROMs were debloated. What do I do to get rid of some of this VZW bloat on here.
Now I need help with the old phone.
Even though the other phone over-heated. I can just see VZW rejecting the exchange because I was rooted, Now with the screen being all black blotches and cutting out, I can't really return it to stock. The phone turns on, and works. I just cant see what's on the screen.
Is there a way for me to utilize my computer to unroot, return to stock recovery, and install a stock ROM all without being able to see the screen on the phone?
I don't want to delete my old Clockwork Mod nandroids from my SD card until I can return the old phone to stock.
Thanks for your help in advance.
ymDroid said:
Hey guys... I need some help.I have many questions.
So as the title says. My S4 over heated. It's actually been happening for a while and the glass had begun separating from the digitizer over the last few months. A few day ago I awoke to a blotched out black screen that blacks out every so often.
I held off getting a replacement because I was rooted, loki'd on the MDK bootloader.
My replacement arrived today and it was the MK2 baseband. Upon start up VZW tried to push the OTA to me. i stopped it and postponed it to 6:00 AM eastern, MDK was easy, but I'm not familiar with this new process and had some questions. So using searches on XDA I have:
1) Rooted with Saferoot
2) Installed Wanam Xposed
3) Renamed SDM.apk & FWUpgrade.apk to .bak's to the update <-- was this right? I dont want to wake up to a voluntarily installed OTA.
Questions
1) Should I install SafeStrap, if so which version? I see there's an ATT version out there for upgrading to NC5, but there's also a MK2 version.
2) I see a lot up people were able to update to NC5 and keep root with Surge's method. Is there an advantage to this?
3) What's everyone doing for hotspot/tethering now on MK2 and up?
4) On MDK, most of the ROMs were debloated. What do I do to get rid of some of this VZW bloat on here.
Now I need help with the old phone.
Even though the other phone over-heated. I can just see VZW rejecting the exchange because I was rooted, Now with the screen being all black blotches and cutting out, I can't really return it to stock. The phone turns on, and works. I just cant see what's on the screen.
Is there a way for me to utilize my computer to unroot, return to stock recovery, and install a stock ROM all without being able to see the screen on the phone?
I don't want to delete my old Clockwork Mod nandroids from my SD card until I can return the old phone to stock.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Install Safestrap for your corresponding baseband. If you have mk2 then install safestrap for mk2.
2. If you upgrade to NC5 and keep root you can flash 4.4.2 touchwiz roms on the stock slot usingthe att 3.72 safestrap
3. For tethering you can use foxfi or you could use surges tethering unlock
4. You can debloat stuff by just disabling the apps you dont want.
For your old phone,
1. You should be able to get your data off of it by just connecting it to your computer then copying stuff from your old phone to your computer.
2. To reset it back to mdk stock, you should boot into odin mode doing the keypress when your phone is off, then after a few seconds press volume up to comfirm boot into odin mode. Then you should be able to odin mdk stock from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2751461
Best of Luck
joshuabg;52899257
2. To reset it back to mdk stock said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2751461[/url]
Best of Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANK YOU.
Quick question. Does this odin MDK flash install the stock recovery back.
ymDroid said:
THANK YOU.
Quick question. Does this odin MDK flash install the stock recovery back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should, I think it goes over all partitions, boot, persdata, system, recovery, modem, etc.
Won't hurt to try.
Related
I had ME7 and rooted that, MODded some stuff, tweaked settings, disabled/froze bloatware... and everything was fine. Stable, fast enough.
Then I allowed (because I couldn't stand the constant Update Nag!!!) the MI1 update and DeLaVega Rooted that and things have been unstable since. Seemingly random apps are crashing and occasionally causing rebooting, sometimes it needs the battery pulled. The most critical app, and the one that leads to reboots the most, is Google Maps Nav - the one app I need most.
I am thinking I would like to revert to factory stock ME7, then re-root it, and maybe TWRP (and I have Titanium). There's nothing in MJ7 I need or want and I don't trust MI1 (it was out what... three weeks?)
I would do this myself but I can seem to find a ME7 Image that WIPES and unroots the phone.
It would probably help if someone would explain a bit more how the pieces work. I gather there's a bootloader, a kernal, the ROM and user data. Rooting deals with the boot cycle, the kernal is the main OS, the ROM contains OS layer above the kernal along with system apps and such. Obviously, those three have to get along. So my question is, if I used DeLaVega to root MI1, Can I just flash a non-wipe ME7 ROM? It seesm to me that the MI1 root tool would not get along with the ME7 ROM -- is that right?
BTW, I'm not a ROMmer. I get how ODIN works but I've never flashed anything (via Odin) to my phone(s) other than that MI1 root image (and WHY/WHAT is that 1.3gb?!? The ME7 exploit was a few KB)
Thank you VERY MUCH in advance for explanations, links and so on.
-- Bear
lordbear said:
I had ME7 and rooted that, MODded some stuff, tweaked settings, disabled/froze bloatware... and everything was fine. Stable, fast enough.
Then I allowed (because I couldn't stand the constant Update Nag!!!) the MI1 update and DeLaVega Rooted that and things have been unstable since. Seemingly random apps are crashing and occasionally causing rebooting, sometimes it needs the battery pulled. The most critical app, and the one that leads to reboots the most, is Google Maps Nav - the one app I need most.
I am thinking I would like to revert to factory stock ME7, then re-root it, and maybe TWRP (and I have Titanium). There's nothing in MJ7 I need or want and I don't trust MI1 (it was out what... three weeks?)
I would do this myself but I can seem to find a ME7 Image that WIPES and unroots the phone.
It would probably help if someone would explain a bit more how the pieces work. I gather there's a bootloader, a kernal, the ROM and user data. Rooting deals with the boot cycle, the kernal is the main OS, the ROM contains OS layer above the kernal along with system apps and such. Obviously, those three have to get along. So my question is, if I used DeLaVega to root MI1, Can I just flash a non-wipe ME7 ROM? It seesm to me that the MI1 root tool would not get along with the ME7 ROM -- is that right?
BTW, I'm not a ROMmer. I get how ODIN works but I've never flashed anything (via Odin) to my phone(s) other than that MI1 root image (and WHY/WHAT is that 1.3gb?!? The ME7 exploit was a few KB)
Thank you VERY MUCH in advance for explanations, links and so on.
-- Bear
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as for as i know there is no method to downgrade once you have taken an update, not even with ODIN. once you take an OTA or update it you are stuck with it, you cannot go backwords
th3bl3d said:
as for as i know there is no method to downgrade once you have taken an update, not even with ODIN. once you take an OTA or update it you are stuck with it, you cannot go backwords
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1.
Now the only thing I can say is backup using TI and do a FDR (factory data reset).
This should clean up your issue. You will not lose root.
After that restore your apps one at a time and by all means make sure you *DO NOT* take the MJ7 update.
You think you are stuck now????
I have MI1 and it's rock solid with no crashes.
I have all the bloat frozen or disabled.
My phone never reboots or hangs.
tech_head said:
+1.
Now the only thing I can say is backup using TI and do a FDR (factory data reset).
This should clean up your issue. You will not lose root.
After that restore your apps one at a time and by all means make sure you *DO NOT* take the MJ7 update.
You think you are stuck now????
I have MI1 and it's rock solid with no crashes.
I have all the bloat frozen or disabled.
My phone never reboots or hangs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did FDR twice. Turned off restore of Google stuff during setup wizard, turned of AutoUpdate in Store so I could control what apps loaded, too.
After first FDR it appears I still had root. I think that MAYBE something went funky because I was rooted on ME7, let MI1 come via OTA, then DeLaVega'ed that. I just don't know.
Now, I have a different phone, I am going to need to UNroot and FDR the phone I will send back. Haven't found info on UNroot for Mi1/DeLaVega yet. I've seen ROMs for ME7-nowipe and MJ7-wipe.
Thanks
Bear
lordbear said:
I did FDR twice. Turned off restore of Google stuff during setup wizard, turned of AutoUpdate in Store so I could control what apps loaded, too.
After first FDR it appears I still had root. I think that MAYBE something went funky because I was rooted on ME7, let MI1 come via OTA, then DeLaVega'ed that. I just don't know.
Now, I have a different phone, I am going to need to UNroot and FDR the phone I will send back. Haven't found info on UNroot for Mi1/DeLaVega yet. I've seen ROMs for ME7-nowipe and MJ7-wipe.
Thanks
Bear
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look at this thread. -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301259
Hi All,
I picked up an MI1 GS4 a month ago and after a few nights of scrolling through the forums I was able to get HD 10.2 loaded onto my phone via Safestrap. During the root process, I got a little bit a head of myself and flashed a custom recovery. After some research (and a presumed brick scare) I found that there is no way to get CWM recovery on the phone. While it's a major disappointment, it is what it is. So I have two questions:
So right now, my phone doesnt have a recovery and if I try to boot into it, it will go into Odin mode and give me some sort of an error. I assume I need to flash a new recovery through Odin, but am wondering if someone could point me in the direction of the correct file.
Is MJ7 the latest OTA from VZW? Should I wipe my device completely, go back to stock, and take the latest OTA? From what I am gathering, safestap is now working on MJ7, but I want to be sure that is what I will get to if I take the OTA. If I do want to take the OTA, how would I go about doing this and is the problem listed above an issue?
Thanks!
madtomatoes said:
Hi All,
I picked up an MI1 GS4 a month ago and after a few nights of scrolling through the forums I was able to get HD 10.2 loaded onto my phone via Safestrap. During the root process, I got a little bit a head of myself and flashed a custom recovery. After some research (and a presumed brick scare) I found that there is no way to get CWM recovery on the phone. While it's a major disappointment, it is what it is. So I have two questions:
So right now, my phone doesnt have a recovery and if I try to boot into it, it will go into Odin mode and give me some sort of an error. I assume I need to flash a new recovery through Odin, but am wondering if someone could point me in the direction of the correct file.
Is MJ7 the latest OTA from VZW? Should I wipe my device completely, go back to stock, and take the latest OTA? From what I am gathering, safestap is now working on MJ7, but I want to be sure that is what I will get to if I take the OTA. If I do want to take the OTA, how would I go about doing this and is the problem listed above an issue?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
safestrap is a recovery of sorts, so what you are saying, you rooted, installed safestrap, installed HD10.2 than installed a recovery on top of that like CWM? So you soft bricked your phone?
Your only recourse is odin the full wipe stock image back and start over.
I suggest a thorough reading of the forum threads here first so you know better what to do.
I have a guide in the general forum here that lists steps to go from ME7 to MJ7 and root, install safestrap 3.65 and HD11....I'm not sure how it would play with your MI1 base phone so proceed at your own risk
decaturbob said:
safestrap is a recovery of sorts, so what you are saying, you rooted, installed safestrap, installed HD10.2 than installed a recovery on top of that like CWM? So you soft bricked your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The other way around. I first rooted and attempted to install CWM. After that failed, I read further and discoved that only MDK roms are truly unlocked. From that point, I installed safestrap and HD. My phone is functional right now, I just have no way of getting into the stock recovery.
It's my understanding that I will need to use Odin to flash the stock MI1 image. I just want to confirm what happens from there. After flashing the stock image, I will be stock MI1, unrooted, with the opportunity to OTA to MJ7 (?). From that point, I'll take the OTA, re-root, reinstall safestrap, and finally HD11/12. Is all of this correct?
Thanks
madtomatoes said:
The other way around. I first rooted and attempted to install CWM. After that failed, I read further and discoved that only MDK roms are truly unlocked. From that point, I installed safestrap and HD. My phone is functional right now, I just have no way of getting into the stock recovery.
It's my understanding that I will need to use Odin to flash the stock MI1 image. I just want to confirm what happens from there. After flashing the stock image, I will be stock MI1, unrooted, with the opportunity to OTA to MJ7 (?). From that point, I'll take the OTA, re-root, reinstall safestrap, and finally HD11/12. Is all of this correct?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that sounds about right. When you do HD12, be sure you have the safestrap version....
So my VWZ S4 crapped out on me. About 2 weeks ago, the USB port died completely. I bought some replacement batteries and and external charger and figured I would just swap out the battery every day. Last week, the microphone seemed to go too. On every call, my voice sounded "tinny" and robotic. I brought it to a Verizon store and the rep offered to send me a warranty replacement (I only had 3 days left before the 1 year warranty expired!).
The problem I have is that I had the MDK bootloader unlocked and had a custom ROM install. When I get the replacement phone in a few days, I will have to send my old one back to Verizon. The guy at the store told me I had to unroot and get the phone back to stock, otherwise Verizon charges a $300 penalty (ouch!).
My main problem it that I don't have USB access. It's completely dead. I was wondering if these steps would work:
(I'm currently running Vanir ROM and latest CWM)
1.) Flash TW 4.4.2 Stock Verizon I545VRUFNC5 (found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2721118)
2.) Download/run Triangle Away to reset the Flash Counter.
3.) Use the SuperSU settings to "Full Unroot"
4.) OTA update that will lock bootloader???? (I think this is where I am screwed)
Any other thoughts or suggestions?
to me that sounds legit on how it should be done. or even doing the Kies way of update after you put stock (any bl version) or buy a usb charging port and microphone and fix the phone. couple bucks on ebay or amazon n an easy fix
FordNate, I wish I had the technical skills to replace both. Unfortunately, I do not!
I wonder if this method will be good enough for Verizon. I don't know that this will re-lock the bootloader if I do the steps above?
double zero said:
FordNate, I wish I had the technical skills to replace both. Unfortunately, I do not!
I wonder if this method will be good enough for Verizon. I don't know that this will re-lock the bootloader if I do the steps above?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should, since the bootloader was never unlocked anyway. Loki was a convenient workaround.
wtherrell said:
It should, since the bootloader was never unlocked anyway. Loki was a convenient workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Sounds good. Do you know for a fact that there will be an OTA update to take if I flash the TW 4.4.2 Stock Verizon I545VRUFNC5. Should I flash something else instead?
double zero said:
Thanks. Sounds good. Do you know for a fact that there will be an OTA update to take if I flash the TW 4.4.2 Stock Verizon I545VRUFNC5. Should I flash something else instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Idk.
wtherrell said:
Idk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me neither. I'm not sure what the final step should be. However, I feel like if I flash a stock ROM and unroot, I should be good enough for Verizon.
I don't know if they ever turn them on once they get them.
I recently sent a Galaxy S3 in with full root and the "Custom" text on the screen for replacement.
The only email I ever got was that the phone had been received. YMMV.
tech_head said:
I don't know if they ever turn them on once they get them.
I recently sent a Galaxy S3 in with full root and the "Custom" text on the screen for replacement.
The only email I ever got was that the phone had been received. YMMV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. When I was at the Verizon store, the guy at the customer service area told me to return it to stock, because they would definitely check to see if the software was modified. That's why I'm worried about trying to return to stock (or as close to possible) before sending it in.
It seems like if I do the steps I suggested above, it would "appear" to be stock, but it would still have CWM installed. Maybe that will be good enough? I don't think I have any other choice.
@Surge1223 Unique situation I think I remember you having a solution for awhile back. Any advice on this OP?
double zero said:
Interesting. When I was at the Verizon store, the guy at the customer service area told me to return it to stock, because they would definitely check to see if the software was modified. That's why I'm worried about trying to return to stock (or as close to possible) before sending it in.
It seems like if I do the steps I suggested above, it would "appear" to be stock, but it would still have CWM installed. Maybe that will be good enough? I don't think I have any other choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easiest method would be to find an me7 ota zip and stock mdk recovery.img and boot.img, if you have a stock mdk back up. Otherwise id suggest going to mk2 instead of nc5 that way you would get an ota notification...although I think flashing a stock rom, recovery and kernel then using supersus full unroot method should do the trick.
Surge1223 said:
Easiest method would be to find an me7 ota zip and stock mdk recovery.img and boot.img, if you have a stock mdk back up. Otherwise id suggest going to mk2 instead of nc5 that way you would get an ota notification...although I think flashing a stock rom, recovery and kernel then using supersus full unroot method should do the trick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surge, I don't have a stock mdk back up, unfortunately. I went through the forums and found this MK2 Rom (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2581072). Do you think that would work?
1.) Flash the http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2581072 ROM
2.) Download/run Triangle Away
3.) SuperSU (Full Unroot)
4.) OTA update to NC5 (lock bootloader)?
Hi all,
Today I set aside my 900T and purchased a 900V on a contract. I got it home and Rooted it within minutes using Towel Root. I'm not 100% sure about Safestrap. I have never owned a locked bootloader phone before this, so this is new territory for me.
I want to be able to install a Modded Stock ROM at the very least, safely. I would also like a Custom Recovery for Nandroid backups.
Does anyone have any suggestions, tips or advice they may want to share? My 900T was owned outright, this V is under contract (no warranty obviously) so I just want to be that much more safe is all. The Rooting process was easy peasy, which surprised me. Is there anything I should be aware of when I install SafeStrap?
Thanks everyone. Glad to be back on the Verizon Network again.
Welcome to the locked bl club. Install safe strap. Download any TouchWiz rom and reboot. At the ss splash screen tap recovery. It's like twrp. Backup. Then do a factory reset. Install rom. Reboot to download mode. Odin the nc2 kernel. Reboot and enjoy!
What's gained or lost by flashing the NC2 kernel? Just curious. It's on build NC4 now.
Ed Murray said:
What's gained or lost by flashing the NC2 kernel? Just curious. It's on build NC4 now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are already on nc4 so don't bother with nc2 it is of no use to you. The good news is that you can use titanium backup to debloat your stock setup.
I'm a little saddened that it appears I will not be running Cyanogenmod. (CURSE YOU VERIZON)
I just got a good conditioned Galaxy S4 unlocked for Verizon.
It is running what I've now learned is the NK1 boot loader? After helping my girlfriend put CM on her Evo 4G LTE I figured this would be a piece of cake for a phone as mainstream as a GS4, but apparently not.
So what are my options? Ideally I'd love to run TWRP / Cyanogenmod. But that appears to not be a thing anymore. I dont really care about Lollipop but if its nice I'll run it. I still think the pinnacle for phone UI design was Holo back in whatever CM 10.1 used. I want that ideally but yeah.
I'm reading about safestrap. It looks like I might be doing that. What is a good guide for NK1 S4s?
I saw in some threads that you can downgrade to NC5 with ODIN (which is desirable?) and then would that let me put TWRP and CM on or no?
With all the other phones I've messed with they had clear and concise guides, this one is very confusing, so I figured I'd put this out here and see if anyone can answer. Just want to see my options. I've been looking around this forum for a few days now and I have no clear answer of what to do and what I can do safely.
Model number: SCH-I545
Android Version: 4.4.2
Baseband version: I545VRUFNK1
Kernel version: 3.4.0
[email protected] #1
Tue Nov 4 23:03:49 KST 2014
Build number: KOT49H.I545VRUFNK1
Well,
so far I've made my phone quite unhappy with me. I got safestrap on and root, and then I installed hyperdrive. I must have made an error because it got rid of safestrap and then com.android.keyguard constantly crashes and makes the phone unusable. I'm currently waiting six hours for a unbricking image for odin to download. Sigh.
OKAY.
recovered. ugh. the first time I odin flashed it android was seriously broken but then I learned you have to wipe it in recovery first.
Anyway. Does anyone know how to install hyperdrive RL21 on an NK1 without overwriting safestrap?
Yeah. You have to flash the Hyperdrive UI. The trick is, when it tells you to reboot, on the bottom, above the home button, there are three squares, which represent a button. Click on that, select quit install(install finishes) and flash the Hyperdrive UI and SuperSU. If needed go back to Safestrap/Reinstall and flash the nc5 modules to get wifi back.
XxD34THxX said:
Yeah. You have to flash the Hyperdrive UI. The trick is, when it tells you to reboot, on the bottom, above the home button, there are three squares, which represent a button. Click on that, select quit install(install finishes) and flash the Hyperdrive UI and SuperSU. If needed go back to Safestrap/Reinstall and flash the nc5 modules to get wifi back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on NK1, will NC5 modules work?
Or the NK1 modules. Either/Or.
I use nc5 because I am on NC5.
ProTip:You can flash back to nc5 since you still have NK1.
XxD34THxX said:
Or the NK1 modules. Either/Or.
I use nc5 because I am on NC5.
ProTip:You can flash back to nc5 since you still have NK1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds reasonable. I was thinking of going to Lollipop, but.. I think on second thought I'll stay here until people get good at messing with it. It works just fine and I can downgrade and do custom stuff. I just renamed the updater apps to make them shut the heck up. Now to enjoy the slow motion goodness of the camera. I came from a Razr M XT907 that COULD have had the bootloader unlocked but the original device bricked its eMMC (flash write failures at random points in whatever the motorola equivalent to Odin is) and completely murdered itself during a kitkat ota update, having to be exchanged. It came back unrootable and un-unlockable (ha)
I'm just gonna de-bloat this install and see how it goes until the community figures out Lollipop (or if they already have figured it out, I get told)
Thanks!
Lollipop is somewhat figured out. As it stands, there are three Lollipop ROMs:
-Stang5litre's ROM
-Super6
- Muniz_it's stock debloat/deodex
XxD34THxX said:
Lollipop is somewhat figured out. As it stands, there are three Lollipop ROMs:
-Stang5litre's ROM
-Super6
- Muniz_it's stock debloat/deodex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are they worth it? If you need to factory wipe for whatever reason is there a way to get root again reliably without having to have come from root in kitkat?
All ROMs come prerooted. If you have to factory reset, it should still stick. To be safe, get flashfire, wipe the cache and data and third party apps, THEN flash SuperSU v2.49